Totally disagreed. I think norms vary, but I don’t think that people in poor countries somehow “care less” about animals. You could not explain why there is persistent domestic animal abuse in the U.S. (non-farm domestic animals, I mean). Also, I included factory farming because, unlike the slaughterhouse (which is a clear image of a killing ground), domesticated animals used in meat and dairy production are often kept in squalid, disgusting conditions. I understand your point re: personal mores, but I do think animal-relations are an arena in which cultural relativism is a logical explanation.

Plastic bags ( of a certain thickness) were banned in Delhi,Pune and other municipalities. When I visited India last, vegetable sellers did NOT offer plastic bags to customers in the city that I was in . Therefore I must assume that there are positive changes.Pune,India has an active composting treatment for the last few years and uses vermiculture for food scraps that are gathered separately( something that my town here in the US has just started this year). Change is happening, but slowly.May I gently remind everyone that we are talking of a 3rd world country with 1 billion+ population so to expect its sanitation to keep up with the US – a first world country with 300 million people is unrealistic.

luna, I’m with Amit. While boiling a cat alive may seem disgusting, any exposure to the factory farming / meat-processing industry in the U.S. is equally disgusting, as far as I’m concerned

I was referring to this kind of culture specific horror in an earlier comment here. .While no one would say that they hate animals or advocate actual cruelty towards them, its not right to adopt a holier-than-thou attitude towards other countries/cultures just because their practices towards killing animals for meat are not the same as yours. The only ones who can afford some moral superiority are vegetarians – who I have the utmost respect for. I tried to become one and failed!

My aunt’s driver and his kin performed a sacrifice in a local temple. There was nothing I could to do or say to dissaude him

How would you feel if I tried to dissuade you from interfering in others’ religious practices?

M. Nam

.

Oh my god, really!? Is nothing sacred anymore?

Just discovered on my recent visit to India that some Hindus still perform animal sacrifices during Kali puja – even in South India. My aunt’s driver and his kin performed a sacrifice in a local temple. There was nothing I could to do or say to dissaude him. He says that his family has been doing this for generations. I am still very disallusioned and very, very upset by this discovery. I guess I can’t claim anymore that (South Indian)Hindus only sacrifice coconuts during pujas.

Regarding stray dogs, Hyderabad seemed fairly free of stray dogs as far as I could I tell. I wonder what method they are using for feral dog control.

i love that americans act like eating dog is n*sty. think indian food is messed up, then eat ground cow. i mean, its food. it wouldnt be a countrys natonal food if at some level it wasnt tasty.

Pravin, that information was definitely volunteered to me, and they ate it by boiling it and making a soup and then cutting it up into small pieces. Yes, really. While being unwillingly regaled, I tried to avoid vomiting. You will be happy to note I have an iron-clad stomach in that respect. Personally I find the idea disgusting, and no amount of arguing re: the health/spiritual benefits of placenta-eating could really make me feel otherwise unless I was under the influence of high-class narcotics.

“Malaysia has defended its decision to allow the export of macaque monkeys for meat and scientific research purposes, saying it will help curb their booming population in cities where they attack people and raid homes for food.”

Wait, Malaysia is exporting macacas for scientific research? That’s gotta be a human rights violation

WGiiA, no worries, I was just confused because I was trying to say the same thing (that I don’t think poor people would want to eat dogs, let alone strays, and that it’s actually kind of a disgusting double standard on hunger/malnutrition that ignores larger the larger phenomena driving systematic poverty, and by extension, systematic hunger/malnutrition).

luna, I’m with Amit. While boiling a cat alive may seem disgusting, any exposure to the factory farming / meat-processing industry in the U.S. is equally disgusting, as far as I’m concerned. And what is boiling lobster alive? Isn’t that just as bad? Does it really matter what animal it is? I think we only feel differently about it when it’s an animal we feel, culturally, should not be eaten (e.g. dogs/cats).

Puli, mi amigo. I am no more qualified than you are to answer those questions. Like you, I live in the US. To be fair, last time I was in New Delhi, there were many public signs warning people about the negative effects of plastic bags (and to not throw them on the streets) but I don’t know if they have brought about any positive changes.

is it really expensive to have a pulic sanitation system (in india)? What would be the benefit in terms of human health? Does the state of garbage removal have any public health consequences?