Dear South Korean Embassy
I am writing to you from Viva!, the largest campaigning vegetarian and vegan organisation in Europe, regarding the shocking news that live burials of pigs (an estimated 2 million) are being carried out in South Korea.
Whilst Viva! are against the slaughter of all animals, these methods are too extreme for us to pass by without calling on you, the embassy, and your government to abandon such horrific practices.
Pigs are naturally intelligent creatures, and as such they share the same emotions as any human. The terror that burying them alive must cause has been accurately described by the president of the Korea Association for Animal Protection (KAAP) as reported by the Korea Times on 16 January, 2011.
Not only does this issue raise animal welfare concerns, it also raises environmental concerns. Adequate measures, it seems, have not been taken to reduce of the risk of water contamination and land contamination. It begs the question of why this policy was introduced if there was a risk of Foot and Mouth being spread further.
It comes as welcome news that the South Korean government have decided to vaccinate against the Foot and Mouth Disease. After a year of live burials and unnecessary ‘culling’ measures – not to mention the reported cost to the economy, reported to be around 230 billion won – the measures now being taken will achieve the goals that countless deaths have not.
In addition to stopping the live burial of any animals, I implore you to extend vaccinations across all animals. It has been reported that an estimated 60 per cent of cows have been vaccinated so far, in contrast to the estimated 8 per cent of pigs vaccinated. Adequate measures need to be taken to stop this barbaric treatment of animals.
Until a time when the South Korean government extends respect and protection to all animals and the proper measures to solve the Foot and Mouth Disease – including ending the horrific practices we have seen – the boycott on South Korean goods will continue. This is only a detriment to South Korea and its international reputation.
Yours faithfully,
Liam Nolan, Campaigns Assistant
