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Intuitive Animals

By Ruth Ostrow on 25 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

I once witnessed the loyalty of a dog who sensed his Master was soon to die, and sat at the foot of the bed whimpering for days before an operation. The dog never left the spot by the bed until he was dragged away.

The story I have talked about is one that is dear to my heart. The man going to have the operation was my father and the dog was our loyal family pet Pipi who lived with my father and adored him. For a few days Pipi cried before my father went into hospital. Dad, sadly, never returned. And somehow his dog knew what none of us would have dared to face. Continue Reading →

Alpaca on the Menu

By Ruth Ostrow on 19 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

Machu Picchu dinner menu shocks me

Trends in food come and go. But the latest has caused even the hard-hearted to squirm. Breeders on the North Coast are investigating whether there is a market for the fluffy South American delicacy as an alternative meat source.

The Australian Alpaca Association said they were looking at what cuts people would buy while Mr Steve Ridout, of La Viande, the only Australian farm that breeds them for meat thinks they should be used for more than their wool.

What do you think? Continue Reading →

Customers want animal welfare: Coles

By Ruth Ostrow on 18 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

Coles told me today, that their push to stock only hormone-free, free-range meat is a marketing ploy. “It’s what consumers want!” Woolworths will not be following suit.

Would you walk over it?

Coles spokesman Jim Cooper admitted to being swayed by consumer demand on animal welfare. “You bet!” says he said today, answering claims that their move to hormone-free, free-range meat is a marketing ploy. “It’s what consumers want!” Continue Reading →

Animal Land Rights?

By Ruth Ostrow on 15 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

A new proposal by academics to introduce land rights for animals has been slammed by farming associations across the country. Under the proposal, certain animals would be given legal property rights. President of the S.A Farmers Federation Peter White has attacked the proposal saying farmers will suffer. But University of Western Sydney’s Dr Hadley argues the move will protect biodiversity.

I stand for protecting animals. My partner argues: Whose protecting our farmers?

Read the full story The Australian

But first watch News satirists The Onion debating the issue of Animal Rights.

On a serious and poignant note watch David Icke debate a mooted Animal Rights Bill in the U.K
Continue Reading →

Conflict of Interest?

By Ruth Ostrow on 14 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

By Nathan Edwards The Daily Telegraph

ANIMAL ISSUE NEWS FOR THIS WEEK

• Alpacas are on the menu;
• Voiceless fundraiser Wednesday, with Emile Sherman who made The King’s Speech;
• Proud Dad Brian Sherman, founder of Voiceless, challenges our Uni’s to a duel; •While the RSPCA joins the hormone-free debate

The King’s Speech

Voiceless Animal Rights group are having their major fund raising night this Wednesday 18th May. Special guests will include Voiceless Director Emile Sherman (winner of the 2011 Best Picture Oscar for The King’s Speech), Dr Charlie Teo (internationally renowned neurosurgeon), Akira Isogawa (acclaimed fashion designer), Continue Reading →

Stop criticising

By Ruth Ostrow on 13 May 2011 in All Posts, Weekend Magazine Columns

Do friends/family and our partners ever have a right to criticise, or interfere if not invited? Share your stories.

A FRIEND recently stood in open judgment of me. She criticised my parenting without invitation. She’d clearly felt the way she did for a long time, given her eloquence. She also chimed in that “other people” had agreed with her, which clearly buoyed her up enough to liberally share her views.

For a few days I stewed about it, then decided it was a topic worthy of public debate. To what extent are people entitled to intrude on our lives and pass judgment or offer righteous advice on the decisions we make? I mean if our children’s lives are not at stake and we’re not heroin addicts. Continue Reading →

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Hormone-free meat debate continues

By Ruth Ostrow on 7 May 2011 in All Posts, Animal Welfare

Farmers and producers commenting here on Coles decision to stock hormone-free, compassionately-reared animals are worried. They say that while Coles is asking these standards from Australian producers, it is still importing processed meat from countries where humane practices are not adhered to. I will be ringing Coles this week for their comments on the Farmers’ claims. I will also gauge their response to the extraordinary, huge response I’ve had on this site to their decision.

Meanwhile animal rights group Voiceless continues to fight what it calls conflict of interest in the debate. Here Voiceless Chairman Brian Sherman again challenges Professor Ian Lean and his colleagues to justify their position on hormone-fed meat.

BRIAN SHERMAN SPEAKS TO RUTH OSTROW

Brian Sherman by Ruth Ostrow
Continue Reading →

Should we have babies by 29?

By Ruth Ostrow on 7 May 2011 in All Posts, Weekend Magazine Columns

The Australian Newspaper

On this Mother’s Day weekend, and with a teenage daughter of my own, there’s something I want to canvass opinions on. What’s the latest time in a woman’s life that she should have kids?

The reason I ask is that, as peri-menopause creeps up on me, I find I haven’t got the energy or the patience to manage our mutual hormonal dysfunctions. I anger easily, and often wonder about the decision I made to nurture my career like a mother-hen until it was old enough to walk. Did I leave child-bearing too late? Continue Reading →