Foie Gras Protesters return to the Pearl Brasserie

dublin | animal rights | news report

Monday June 09, 2008 22:18

by Laura Broxson - National Animal Rights Association

naracampaigns at gmail dot com

PO Box 11019, Dublin 2

On Saturday 17th May, members of the National Animal Rights Association organised a demonstration outside the Pearl Brasserie restaurant. This was in protest of the fact that they serve foie gras, a so-called 'delicacy' that is produced so barbarically, it is illegal to farm ducks and geese for it in Ireland. Within minutes of the protest starting, activists were hosed by members of staff, and threatened by the owner (which resulted in the Gardai having to be called).

Undeterred by what happened, activists returned to the Pearl Brasserie, on Saturday 31st May. It was a very visual and effective protest, which went by without incident.

A short video clip was taken, which includes footage of the owner of the restaurant, Sebastien Masi (the one who threatened us), recording us with a video-camera. Have a look!

Also, below are some facts on foie gras, for anyone who isn't familiar with the issue.

FOIE GRAS FACTS

Foie gras is made from the forcibly enlarged livers of ducks and geese. Only males are used for foie gras, because they produce larger livers. Females are killed upon hatching, by being either drowned, beaten or crushed to death.

A long metal pipe is rammed down the throats of these ducks and geese, 2 - 3 times a day, to force-feed them a total of 7lbs of grain. This soon results in their livers swelling to up to 10 times their normal size - which is actually a serious disease called hepatic lipidosis.

The metal pipe sometimes ruptures the oesophagus, causing many birds to die, choking on the blood that then fills their lungs. The amount of feed pumped down their throats causes enormous internal pressure, causing some birds to literally burst. Others become so weak that they are unable to move or die a slow, painful, and premature death by suffocating on the inhalation of regurgitated feed. In fact, because of the massive toll taken on the birds during the force-feeding process, the average pre-slaughter mortality rate is up to twenty times higher than on other poultry factory farms.

In addition to enduring force-feeding, the ducks and geese also suffer the same neglectful and abusive treatment of other factory-farmed animals such as overcrowding and mutilations (their beaks are cut off). They are kept in either group or individual cages, made solely from wire or plastic-mesh. Unable to feel the sun on their backs or ground beneath their feet, their cages are so small that they cannot fully stand or stretch their wings. To make matters worse, they are housed without access to swimming water even though ducks need to be able to immerse themselves in water to remain healthy. Access to water on these farms is so limited that they cannot clean their nostrils and eyes, which can lead to blindness. They have no chance to carry out any of their natural instincts, which include interacting in social groups, keeping themselves clean, nurturing their young, and exploring their surroundings.

After living an unbelievably horrific and painful life, they then have to go through a violent death by having their throats slit whilst hung upside-down.

There is no excuse for this barbaric industry to be in existence. Any restaurant or person who chooses to buy foie gras is committing animal abuse.