Stranded sheep will go to Iraq

[dArKeR]

Australia is in negotiations to buy back over 50,000 sheep stranded at sea for about a month and give them to Iraq to calm mounting protests over the nation's live export trade, a newspaper reported yesterday.

The Age said the deal would cost the industry up to A$10 million (US$6.8 million) and may trigger a new levy on live exports but it would end the uncertainty over the shipload of sheep adrift in the Gulf after being rejected by Saudi Arabia on grounds of disease.

However, the Australian government refused to say if it was planning to buy the sheep on board the Dutch-owned Cormo Express from their Saudi importer, or if it was in talks with Iraq where there are about 150,000 foreign military personnel.

"The government will not comment until we have a level of comfort that any commercial arrangements regarding the sheep are firm and the diplomatic relations are bedded down," said a spokesman for Agriculture Minister Warren Truss.

http://www.etaiwannews.com/Asia/2003/09/27/1064627791.htm

[izzie]

1. This type of stuff makes me ill.

Sheep, living things, being treated like boxes of spare parts.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

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[dusty64]

3. I agree.

No regard for anything that isn't human (and very little for humans). If no one takes them then what? The sheep must be dealing with extremely horrid living conditions.

[WillParkinson]

4. Oh, who cares?

I mean, after all, they are only animals, right.

Isn't that what they said about slaves, too?

<Sigh> The most evolved species my ass.

[cliss]

5. Poor little sheep!

They're going into a war zone! I hope they know what they're getting themselves into.

[SOS]

6. 50,000 doomed sheep on one ship?

Some quotes come to mind....

"I abjure the use of meat. He who does not value life does not deserve it."
-Leonardo da Vinci

"I tremble for my species when I reflect that God is just."
-Thomas Jefferson

"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated."
-Gandhi

Make today one of the best days of your life...adopt a dog from your local shelter!