Who are we?
Who are we?
There are five administrators of the Starfish Bobby Calf supporters page, all with our own points of view and way of expressing ourselves. Three of us are teachers/academics and two are students. We all love animals, and we all eat a vegan diet so as not to cause suffering to the animals we love. The problem we have with dairy farming is the killing and milking of dairy cows and the removal and slaughter of their calves in their first week of life. We consider this a a form of institutionalized violence and abuse of these innocent creatures.
Our Vision
We decided to start the Starfish Bobby Calf project to save a tiny amount of bobbies who would otherwise have gone to the works, to encourage others to think about the issues involved in the farming of animals, and to stimulate debate about alternatives to farming.
We believe that we are living in dramatically changing times where not only technology is changing the world, but our consciousness is also undergoing a transformation.
The way we see other animals, the way we use them for our own purposes without regard to their own freedom, instincts and other needs, is a part of this transformation.
We consider animal agriculture a a form of institutionalized violence and abuse of these innocent creatures and our purpose is to promote veganism and protect animals from expoitation and abuse.
About The Starfish Bobby Calf Project
Why this page, and why now?
We decided to start the Starfish Bobby Calf project to save a tiny amount of bobbies who would otherwise have gone to the works, to encourage others to think about the issues involved in the farming of animals, and to stimulate debate about alternatives to farming. Last year (2014) we saved 30. This year we have saved 7. We believe that we are living in dramatically changing times where not only technology is changing the world, but our consciousness is also undergoing a transformation. The way we see other animals, the way we use them for our own purposes without regard to their own freedom, instincts and other needs, is a part of this transformation.What do we believe about animals, and our relationship to them?We believe that animals are sentient beings (feel pain, emotions etc) and they have rights. Animals have interests in not feeling pain and discomfort, and in following their natural instincts as a species. When we prevent this (as we constantly do) we are violating their natural rights. We believe that we are ethically obliged to give consideration to the rights of all sentient beings (Peter Singer, Animal Ethics)We believe that using animals for food, experiments, entertainment etc, inflicts suffering on innocent animals who are powerless to prevent this suffering.
Using animals for food
There are many studies and assumptions regarding what man 'always' ate. Even if humans have eaten meat for hundreds of thousands of years, we have only factory farmed for a few decades. Never before have we abused animals to the extent that we have in the 20th century, and this is mainly because of factory farming. The numbers are astronomical - about 700 billion land animals killed every year, and many more in the sea. Meat eating is inherently wasteful of the world’s resources. It wastes vast quantities of food (ie cattle eat grain that could be fed to hungry people). Significantly, when an animal eats plants, it absorbs only about 20 percent of the energy in that food to grow and repair its body, and fuel its activity, the rest is lost as waste heat. So when a human eats the animal it consumes a relatively small percentage of the food value that was present in the original plant.
“Vegans must be really unhealthy”
Humans don't need meat or milk to survive or thrive. Vegetarians and vegans have existed since the time of Pythagorus. Many studies show that vegans have lower rates of diseases such as high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, cancers, and heart disease. By not eating hormones and antibiotics that have been pumped into the animals, vegans are much less prone to all the problems that those compounds bring forth.A healthy vegan diet is based around whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits, and legumes. This diet is low in fat, has no cholesterol, and provides plenty of protein, calcium, fiber, and other nutrients for optimal nutrition.6 Farming and its effect on the environmentFarming pollutes waterways and soils, and livestock production is a bigger contributor to climate change than global transport. There are many studies on this, and the internet is full of information about it.
Our calves are healthy and happy. We will make sure that our little guys will live for the entirety of their natural lives, and will receive all the care they need. This is our commitment to them.
We hope that this has gone some way in explaining what we are about, and look forward to growing our support in the future.
The true cost of Milk
The truth about Milk?
Myth: There are no victims and animals are not killed as a result of consuming dairy products.
Reality: Millions of animals are killed every year in NZ as a direct result of the Dairy industry. Either as a result of becoming "by-products" or "waste' products of milk production, or by simply becoming an unproductive dairy cow. READ MORE >>>>
How can you help
>We need volunteers to help with all areas of Starfish including fundraising, animal care, promotion and education.
>Can you offer a home for rescue calves, we need life long forever homes for our rescue calves
> Financial support for the rescue and care of the Starfish Bobby calves you can donate via our givealittle page here.
>Stop directly supporting animal abusing industries and make a lifestyle change to veganism. You cannot help animals by contining to eat them and consume products like dairy derived from the suffering, abuse, slavery and death of animals. For more information about veganism here.
>Share the truth about the dairy industry and help promote compassion and veganism to family, friends and workmates.