Have you seen EARTHLINGS?

These 'things' aren't 'allowed' anywhere, yet they are happenening everywhere, including Australia - hence WHY that abbatoir was shut down in Victoria.
It's naive to insinuate a film such as Earthlings is a load of horse shit aimed at cushy folk, because such cruelty is a common occurence the world over, we're just not present in every single place to witness it.

Anywhere? Tell that to Indonesia or pretty much every developing or 3rd world country with little to no animal cruelty laws.

No, it isn't naive to be sceptical. I don't know where this footage comes from - for all I know it could be from some slaughterhouse somewhere in China. I didn't say it was a load of shit, but I am certainly going to question it. It's even more naive to take one single video as gospel without actually doing your own research. Now, I am fully aware that there are cruel practices in slaughterhouses but at the end of the day that comes down to bad management and individual psychopaths who get their jollies from inflicting pain (because these are the sort of people who couldn't find work any where else).

The fact that there are animal welfare laws on such things leads me to believe that not every slaughterhouse is like this, and that plenty of them follow regulations because they're a) not all full of psychopaths b) realise they will get into trouble if they don't comply and c) have welfare in mind when they spend a lot of their money on improving conditions and killing techniques.

You say cruelty is a common occurrence - and I don't disagree with that. But so is improving humaneness and kindness. A couple of decades ago it was even worse, we are slowly getting there. Eventually we will have the technology that we will not need to farm animals for food, rather relying on synthetic meat. This would not only ease suffering, but will clear more land, release less emissions and reduce pollution.

But not all slaughterhouses are terrible, torturous places. You can tell my now that I am a meat eater... but I'd prefer to see two sides of the story before making a conclusion.

Ahh earthlings the veg revolution well once they get it live.

I'm too afraid to watch this...I'm really sensitive...  

I've watched it and tried to get others to watch it too, most people can't, which doesnt make sense to me. Why can't people make the connection?

I stumbled across it a few years ago and have watched it 4 times now.
It's horrific but I was saying the same thing to my friends "it should be shown in schools" - even though it's incredibly graphic, we should know where our food comes from. Not that I eat meat anymore but people who do eat it... definitely should know what factory farming is.

Excellent documentary.
It is all devestating but the thing that makes me scream every time I see it is the skinning of the foxes for fur. That was just outrageous.

I agree. I think year 10 would be a good year to show it. Old enough to deal with it for the most part (I was that age when watching it. I know people in my class would have walked out but still). And in year 10, you can show the kids before a lot of them drop out.

For some reason I only cried when they shot the elephant. Though I think thats not only because I love elephants so much, but because it was near the end and everything I saw was compounding. I think the fact that I was vegetarian turning vegan and had done other researched helped me be less shocked. Though I actually thought circus animals were trained with positive reinforcement before earthlings, as in most movies thats how animals are trained since it is the quickest way...

I watched the documentary today at work. It was absolutely heart-breaking and thought provoking. And it inspired me to go back to being a Vegetarian. I had lost site of why I was one in the first place: and went back to my old ways. I will never forget again. Just showed my mother this and she's definitely thinking about the issues it brought up. I thought it was a wonderful, eye opening piece of art.

Yes, I have. I posted a link to it on my facebook page. It had been there for like a month or so and my daughter watched it and is now Vegan!! I was amazed by her sudden transformation but none the less glad that she had taken this step and that was without me even nagging or a saying a word.!!!    

I have been vegan for 7 days from today.
I made the decision mainly for my diet and health as well as the animal ethics.

Now after crying for the entire length of that film almost I'm pretty cemented into the decision. I'm pretty sure there is absolutely nothing that could possibly make me eat/wear any animal product ever again.

Its like, you're aware of the things going on but until you see this documentary you never really realise the extent and disgusting harm humans have been doing on innocent animals for so long.

Now when people tell me to get over this vegan phase or ask me why i am vegan they really should prepare for a pretty stern lecture.