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Yaks, Cows, Dogs and Cats: The Nepal Paradoxes of Religiosity, Poverty and the Economy of AnimalsNw veg nepal paradox final minimum size
- 1. COWS, YAKS, DOGS, CATS: NEPAL PARADOXES OF RELIGIOSITY, POVERTY AND THE ECONOMY OF ANIMALS SHARON WARNER METHVIN, PHD SMETHVIN@GMAIL.COM NW VEG POTLUCK, PORTLAND, OR JAN. 19, 2020 DOWNLOADABLE PDF: WWW.NWVEG.ORG
- 2. OUTLINE • INTRODUCTION • COWS AND RELIGION • YAKS AND ECONOMICS • DOGS, CATS AND POVERTY • HELPING HANDS • RELIGIOSITY AND PARADOXES IN HINDU AND BUDDHIST PRACTICES
- 3. INTRODUCTION It was being vegan that eventually led me to Tibetan (Mahayana) Buddhism over a decade ago. It focuses on non harm and being of benefit to all sentient beings, who at one time were relations. This was my second trip to Nepal: The first in 2017 for one month to Buddhist sites. The second in 2018-19 for six months to teach science and health to nuns at Kopan monastery.
- 6. DEMOGRAPHICS POPULATION • IN 2020 POPULATION IS 29.14 MILLION, WHICH RANKS 49TH IN THE WORLD. 1.4 MILLION IN KMD RELIGION • HINDUISM IS THE STATE RELIGION OF NEPAL • HINDU 81.3%, BUDDHIST 9%, MUSLIM 4.4%, KI RANT 3.1%, CHRISTIAN 1.4%, OTHER 0.8%, POVERTY • NEPAL IS AMONG THE LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD. ABOUT ONE-QUARTER OF ITS POPULATION LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. IT RANKS AS THE 31ST (169) POOREST OF 200.
- 8. COWS A SAD AND TANGLED WEB OF RELIGION POVERTY ECONOMY AND EVERYONE PAYS THE PRICE.
- 9. RELIGION • CONSIDERED HOLY AND REVERED • ELEVATED TO STATUS OF MOTHER • ASSOCIATED WITH DEITIES, INCLUDING SHIVA • NATIONAL SYMBOL • KILLING OR HARMING IS FORBIDDEN BY AND FINED
- 10. WORSHIPED • TIHAR (NEPALI: तिहार), ALSO KNOWN AS DEEPAWALI • A FIVE-DAY-LONG HINDU FESTIVAL • THE THIRD DAY IS GAI TIHAR (WORSHIP OF THE COW)
- 11. NON HARM • BUT A NUISANCE • KILLING IS FORBIDDEN • ABANDONED • FINES IF INJURED BY A VEHICLE • NO HUMANE DEATH PERMITTED, EVEN IF IN PAIN • BEEF IS NOT EATEN • MILK IS CONSUMED
- 14. POVERTY AND ECONOMY NO MILK HOW IT ALL BEGAN FOR ME
- 15. BABY MALE CALVES • NO MILK • NO FOOD • NO USE • MOTHERS’ MILK IS MONEY • LEFT ON THE STREET TO EAT GARBAGE AND BRIARS • NO WATER EXCEPT (RUN OFF IN STREETS)
- 18. SPENT DAIRY COWS • SAME SITUATION • NO MILK • NO USE • LEFT IN THE STREETS • (THOSE PICTURED WERE RESCUED FROM THE STREETS)
- 19. OUTCOMES HELP • A FEW LOCAL PEOPLE FEED • ANIMAL RESCUE GROUPS HARM • RUNOFF WITH STICKS • HIT BY VEHICLES AND CAUSE ACCIDENTS • REVERED, YET FEARED • FINED IF YOU KILL ONE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS • PERIODIC ROUND UP’S • TAKEN AWAY OR AUCTIONED
- 20. GOVERNMENT ACTIONS • I WAS TOLD THAT THE GOV DOES PERIODIC ROUNDUPS AND THEN DOES LIVE AUCTIONS • STATE THAT IT IS NOT THEIR CONCERN WHAT THEN HAPPENS • WHILE I WAS IN NEPAL, 2500 COWS WERE ROUNDED UP • SENT TO WESTERN NEPAL AND LEFT WITHOUT FOOD AND WATER (COW MANAGEMENT) • A GROUP: SNEHA’S CARE DISCOVERED THE SITUATION
- 21. SNEHA’S CARE RESPONDS • ONLY AROUND 200 WERE STILL ALIVE OF THE 2,500 • IMMEDIATE FOOD AND WATER • CREATED A SHELTER FOR THE REMAINING ANIMALS AND THEIR CARE IS ONGOING • BUT THIS IS ONLY A TINY BAND AID, NOT A CURE
- 22. YAKS • A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY • ON THE BACKS OF YAKS • AND BOYS • EVERYONE PAYS THE PRICE
- 23. BEASTS OF BURDEN THE LEGAL LIMIT LOAD IS 24K 55 POUNDS
- 25. BOYS OF BURDEN • THE LEGAL LIMIT LOAD IS 24K • 55 POUNDS
- 27. A COMPETITIVE ECONOMY • NO INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS THE HIMALAYAS, ONLY OUT AND BACK FOOT TRAILS • MAJOR SOURCE OF TRANSPORTING GOODS IS BY YAKS AND HUMANS, AND HELI • MOST GOODS SUPPLY THE TREKKING ECONOMY • LOCAL VILLAGES AND VILLAGERS ARE SELF-SUFFICIENT • LEGAL LIMIT IS NOT ENFORCED (AS YOU CAN SEE) • BOTH HUMAN AND ANIMAL COMPETE TO CARRY AS MUCH, AS CHEAP AS POSSIBLE
- 28. YAKS ARE STRAPPED END TO END • WHEN THE LOAD IS ADDED, A SECOND YOKE GOES AROUND THE SHOULDERS • NOT SURE OF TRAVEL DISTANCES • NOTICE THE SWOLLEN JOINTS • OWNED BY COMPANIES. HIRE SHERPAS. A TEAM OF 10-15 YAKS • BELLS SOUND THE WARNING THAT YAKS ARE COMING • YAK MEAT IS ON TEA HOUSE MENUS SUGGESTING THE FINAL DESTINATION FOR SPENT YAKS
- 29. MEN ARE STRAPPED END TO END • BOYS AS YOUNG AS 14 BECOME SHERPAS, IT’S A COOL GIG • THE WORK TAKES ITS TOLL • NOTICE THE SWOLLEN JOINTS • NOT SURE OF TRAVEL DISTANCES • PAY RANGES FROM 10-15 DOLLARS A DAY, DEPENDING ON THE COMPANY • SHERPAS PAY THEIR OWN FOOD AND ACCOMMODATIONS, LEADING TO POOR CONDITIONS
- 31. DOGS • LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE • PETS • GUARDS • NUISANCES • VICTIMS OF POVERTY
- 32. SOME ARE LOVED PETS • STILL LIVE OUTSIDE • MANAGE TO FIND SOME SHELTER • I ONLY SAW ONE WATER BOWL AND IT WAS FOR A PUREBRED KEPT IN A VENDOR SHOP • FOOD IS FROM SHOP SCRAPS AND GARBAGE • UNVACCINATED AND UNSTERILIZED • STERILIZATION AND VACCINATION NGO CAMPAIGNS
- 33. MOST ARE STREET DOGS • LIVE OUTSIDE; LIVE AND LET LIVE • MANAGE TO FIND SOME SHELTER • BARK AT NIGHT, SOME FIGHTS, COMPETE FOR FOOD AND TURF • NO FRESH WATER; FOOD IS FROM SHOP SCRAPS AND GARBAGE • UNVACCINATED AND UNSTERILIZED UNLESS FROM NGO’S, RABIES RISK • VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, MISTREATED AND DISEASE • CONSIDERED A NUISANCE • RABIES IS ENDEMIC IN NEPAL
- 34. GUARD DOGS • CHAINED • FED SCRAPS MOSTLY RICE • SOME HAVE SHELTER • NO WATER BOWL SEEN HERE
- 35. NUISANCES • INJURED OR SICK DOGS (SNEHA’S CARE SHELTER DOGS) • BITES • BARKING • RUMMAGING
- 36. LUCKY DOGS LIVE IN • FOOD SHOPS • MONASTERIES • AT THE STUPA • NO KILL SHELTERS
- 39. IN NO KILL SHELTERS • THERE ARE A FEW SHELTERS • OFTEN BEGUN BY WESTERNERS WHO SAW THE PLIGHT OF ANIMALS • SOME WERE BEGUN BY NEPALIS • GROUPS PUBLICIZE THE ADOPTABLE ANIMALS • CARING LOCALS BRING DONATIONS
- 40. MANY ORGANIZATIONS HELPING STREET DOGS • VACCINATIONS FOR RABIES • SHELTERS FOR AT RISK DOGS • STERILIZATIONS OF STREET DOGS AND FREE VET CARE • EMERGENCY RESCUE FOR INJURED DOGS • EDUCATION PROGRAMS
- 41. STREET DOG CARE • SET UP EVERY SATURDAY AT THE STUPA (SINCE 2009) • FREE CLINIC OPEN TO ANY DOG • MANAGE CARE FOR THE STUPA DOGS • RABIES CLINICS • EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS • HOSPICE/AT RISK DOG SHELTER FUNDED BY SWAG SHOP
- 42. KAT CENTRE (Kathmandu animal treatment centre) Opened in 2004 by a female expat from London Has provided free vet care to 30,000 dogs in Katmandu. Just starting a cat rescue program Rescue and Treatment Animal Birth Control Rabies Prevention Activism
- 43. EMERGENCY RESCUE BY KAT THEY OPERATE A DOGGY AMBULANCE INJURED, ILL AND AT RISK DOGS MAY STAY AT THE CENTRE INDEFINITELY SOME THEIR ENTIRE LIVES OTHERS ARE ADOPTED OTHERS ARE RETURNED TO THEIR HOODS
- 44. ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL AND VET CARE • STREET DOGS ARE BROUGHT TO THE CENTRE FOR STERILIZATION AND THEN RETURNED • SICK DOGS ARE TREATED AND RELEASED IF POSSIBLE • OR PUT UP FOR ADOPTION
- 45. CATS ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE • UNIQUE SITUATION: INDIVIDUAL ISOLATED MALE AND MAMA CATS. FEW FED COMMUNITIES • IGNORED OR RUN OFF. THEY “POLLUTE, MAKE NOISE AND RUMMAGE FOR FOOD”. • FEW SURVIVE. KILLED BY THE DOGS, INJURIES OR DISEASE • SURVIVORS ARE ISOLATED CATS. KEEP A LOW PROFILE. ARE NOT GENERALLY FED • ONLY TWO GROUPS ARE HELPING CATS. KAT CENTRE AND CATMANDU HELPS KITTENS • A FEW ARE PETS AND IN SHOPS AND HOMES OR RODENT CATCHERS • MOST SIMPLY DO NOT LIVE LONG
- 46. FIRST EVER TNR IN NEPAL A LONG BUMPY ROAD INF INFRASTRUCTURE • LACK OF TRANSPORTATION AND VOLUNTEERS • LACK OF EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING • VACCINES AND MEDICINES ARE EXPENSIVE AND CORRUPT CUSTOMS CULTURE • VETS LACK TRAINING TO NEUTER YOUNGER THAN SIX MONTHS • VIEWED DANGEROUS TO STERILIZE LACTATING FEMALES TILL KITTENS (4M) CAT COMMUNITY • CATS LIVE ISOLATED, NOT IN FED COMMUNITIES • MALES LIVE IN SAFELY DEFINED AND DEFENDED TERRITORIES. STERILIZE?
- 47. CAFÉ CATS AT THE STUPA A HUMBLE START AND FAST STOP TNR BEGINS • VOLUNTEERS TRAINED • EQUIPMENT BROUGHT BY VISITORS OR SHIPPED • CARRIERS PURCHASED • CAFÉ CATS IDENTIFIED AROUND STUPA AND VENDORS MET TNR ENDS (AT LEAST FOR NOW) • INFRASTRUCTURE NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED. CULTURAL BUMPS • A SHIFT TO ABC OF CATS BROUGHT IN BY LOCALS FOR STERILIZATION
- 48. A CAT HOSPITAL AT KAT CENTRE • A SMALL BEGINNING TOWARD HELPING CATS • OPEN A THREE STAGE CAT TREATMENT HOSPITAL BUILDING • LONG TERM TARGET OF 50 CATS PER MONTH • HIRE A CAT DR. AND SEND ABROAD FOR TRAINING • HIRE A CAT PROGRAM MANAGER • BUILD A FOUR-SECTION EXPANDED CAT RUN FOR RECOVERING AND ADOPTABLE CATS (COMPLETED)
- 49. New four section outdoor cat enclosure. Room for 40 cats to live. Old cat enclosure New cat enclosure (one section)
- 50. Street Dog Care KAT Centre Helping Hands Sneha’s Care
- 51. CONCLUSIONS • OF COWS AND RELIGIOSITY • OF YAKS AND ECONOMY • OF DOGS AND CATS AND POVERTY • IN MY CONCLUSIONS I WILL FOCUS ON THE FIRST: • RELIGIOSITY
- 52. RELIGIOSITY OF NEPAL AND ANIMAL SUFFERING • RELIGIOSITY IS A TERM USED TO DESCRIBE THE EXTENT TO WHICH RELIGION INFLUENCES SOCIETIES AND INTERSECTS WITH OTHER AREAS OF PUBLIC LIFE. IT DEFINES THE ROLE THAT RELIGION PLAYS IN SOCIETY • IN NEPAL IT CREATES A SITUATION WHERE BOTH HINDUS AND BUDDHISTS AT TIMES FOLLOW THE PROSCRIPTION OR “LETTER” OF THE SUTRAS WITHOUT DEEPER CONSIDERATION OF THE MEANING OR “SPIRIT” OF THE SUTRAS. THIS IS THE PARADOX OF NEPAL RELIGIOSITY. • A PARADOX IS A STATEMENT OR PROPOSITION THAT, DESPITE SOUND (OR APPARENTLY SOUND) REASONING FROM ACCEPTABLE PREMISES, LEADS TO A CONCLUSION THAT SEEMS SENSELESS, LOGICALLY UNACCEPTABLE, OR SELF-CONTRADICTORY.
- 53. HINDUISM • THE BODY OF COWS IS THOUGHT TO REPRESENT NEARLY 330 MILLION GODS AND GODDESSES. • IN SOME VEDIC PASSAGES, THE KILLING OF A COW IS EVEN EQUATED WITH THE KILLING • OF A HUMAN (RAM 1927: 40). BUT THEY WERE ALSO USED IN SOME BRAHAM SACRIFICES. • KILLING OR MISTREATING A COW ISN’T MERELY CONSIDERED A SIN BUT ALSO A PUNISHABLE OFFENCE. • I WAS TOLD THE BIGGEST FEAR WHILE DRIVING IS NOT AN ACCIDENT WITH A VEHICLE BUT AN ACCIDENT WITH A COW. • I WAS TOLD IF A COW DIES WHILE BEING TREATED FOR INJURIES; THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE COMPLEX. SO IF A COW IS SERIOUSLY INJURED IT IS NOT EUTHANIZED OR TREATED, USUALLY LEFT ALONE. • FOR HINDUS, THE MALE CALVES AND NONPRODUCING DAIRY COWS, ARE AN ECONOMIC DRAIN. STRAW IS EXPENSIVE, NO GRASS, SO GARBAGE AND ABANDONMENT ARE THE ONLY OPTIONS. • FOR THE GOVERNMENT, THE ABANDONED ANIMALS ARE A PROBLEM AND SAFETY RISK. SO THEY ARE COLLECTED AND ANY FINAL RESPONSIBILITY AND FATE FOR THESE DEITY SYMBOLS IS EXONERATED.
- 54. BUDDHISM • THE FIRST PRECEPT OF VOWS IS NOT TO KILL. THE SECOND PRECEPT IS NOT TO STEAL. • SU TRA: MEAT SHOULD NOT BE EATEN UNDER THREE CIRCUMSTANCES: (FIRST) WHEN IT IS SEEN OR HEARD OR SUSPECTED (THAT A LIVING BEING HAS BEEN PURPOSELY SLAUGHTERED FOR THE EATER). I DECLARE THERE ARE THREE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH MEAT CAN BE EATEN: (FIRST) WHEN IT IS NOT SEEN OR HEARD OR SUSPECTED (THAT A LIVING BEING HAS BEEN PURPOSELY SLAUGHTERED FOR THE EATER); JIVAKA SUTTA. • THIS STATEMENT IS OFTEN USED AS ALLOWING THE CONSUMPTION OF MEAT: AS “PURE MEAT”, • FIRST: THE ANIMAL WAS NOT KILLED FOR YOU, SECOND: YOU DID NOT SEE IT GET KILLED, THIRD: AND YOU HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT OR CONNECTION TO THAT KILLING • THUS BEING EXONERATED FROM DOING THE KILLING OR SPECIFICALLY CAUSING THE KILLING • SOME BUDDHISTS THEN EAT THE “PURE MEAT” AND SAY A PRAYER FOR THE ANIMAL TO BE BORN IN A HIGHER REALM. PRACTITIONERS JUSTIFY EATING MEAT BY MAKING PRAYERS FOR THE BEINGS THAT THEY ARE EATING. YOU CAN BLESS AND BENEFIT THE DEAD ANIMAL BY RECITING CERTAIN MANTRAS OVER THE MEAT. BASICALLY THE MEANING IS: …AS I AM TAKING THIS MEAT, I PRAY THAT THIS ANIMAL WILL NOT BE BORN AGAIN IN THE LOWER REALMS, THAT THE ANIMAL RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS TO BE REBORN IN THE HIGHER REALM. Kopan Goats rescued from slaughterhouse
- 55. BUDDHISM CONTINUED: LAMA ZOPA’ RESPONDS • “YOU CAN SAY PRAYERS FOR THE ANIMAL THAT WAS KILLED, BUT IF YOU EAT THE MEAT YOU ARE STILL PLAYING A SMALL PART IN THE DEATH OF THE ANIMAL. IF EVERYONE STOPPED EATING MEAT, THEN NO MORE ANIMALS WOULD BE KILLED FOR THAT PURPOSE.” • “THE CONCLUSION IS THAT IF LESS PEOPLE EAT MEAT, THAT MEANS MORE ANIMALS WON’T SUFFER FROM BEING KILLED. THAT’S THE BENEFIT, SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS. DON’T THINK ABOUT THE PLEASURE OF EATING [MEAT] WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT REINCARNATION, KARMA AND THE LOWER REALMS. INSTEAD OF JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PLEASURE OF EATING MEAT, THINK ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF THE ANIMALS WHEN THEY ARE BEING KILLED, AND THINK OF YOURSELF BEING AT THE BUTCHER’S PLACE, ABOUT TO BE KILLED. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? IF YOU’RE ABOUT TO BE KILLED, LIKE THE ANIMALS, HOW DOES THAT FEEL? DO YOU LIKE THAT?” • “BEFORE EATING THE MEAT, THINK OF WHERE IT CAME FROM, THROUGH CUTTING AN ANIMAL’S NECK, AGAINST ITS WILL, AND HOW MUCH SUFFERING THE ANIMAL EXPERIENCED. AFTER THINKING ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN’T EAT THE MEAT! MEAT MAY BE NICE FOR THE PERSON EATING IT, BUT NOT FOR THE ANIMAL WHO SUFFERED SO MUCH AND DIDN’T DIE NATURALLY.”
- 56. • "SO IF POSSIBLE, ABANDON MEAT OR CUT DOWN EATING MEAT. THE CONCLUSION IS THAT IF LESS PEOPLE EAT MEAT, THAT MEANS MORE ANIMALS WON’T SUFFER FROM BEING KILLED. THAT’S THE BENEFIT, SO PLEASE THINK ABOUT THIS.” • RINPOCHE ALSO ADVISED CONSIDERING CAREFULLY THE TEACHINGS OF THE LAMRIM. “DON’T THINK ABOUT THE PLEASURE OF EATING [MEAT] WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT REINCARNATION, KARMA, AND THE LOWER REALMS. INSTEAD OF JUST THINKING ABOUT THE PLEASURE OF EATING MEAT, THINK ABOUT THE SUFFERING OF THE ANIMALS WHEN THEY ARE BEING KILLED, AND THINK OF YOURSELF BEING AT THE BUTCHER’S PLACE, ABOUT TO BE KILLED. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? IF YOU’RE ABOUT TO BE KILLED, LIKE THE ANIMALS, HOW DOES THAT FEEL? DO YOU LIKE THAT? IF YOU REALLY THINK DHARMA IS TO NOT HARM SENTIENT BEINGS, THEN DON’T EAT MEAT, OR AT LEAST EAT VERY LITTLE.” • “NOT ONLY DO YOU CREATE SOME NEGATIVE KARMA FOR YOU BY EATING MEAT, BUT ALSO FOR THE BUTCHER WHO YOU ENCOURAGED TO DO THE KILLING.” (WRONG LIVELIHOOD) • "IT IS SAID IN THE TEACHINGS THAT IF YOU KILL ONE ANIMAL, BECAUSE OF THAT KARMA, YOU WILL BE KILLED FIVE HUNDRED TIMES BY OTHERS. YOU WILL SUFFER IN VERY HOT HELL REALM FOR ONE THOUSAND EONS. IT IS ALSO GOOD TO ASK YOURSELF HOW IT WOULD BE IF SOMEBODY KILLED YOU WITH A KNIFE. HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IN THAT SITUATION? FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU PUT YOUR FINGER IN HOT WATER, CAN YOU BEAR THAT? YOU CAN’T BEAR IT. IT’S THE SAME WHEN YOU KILL ANIMALS. THERE IS NO GOOD RESULT FROM IT. “
- 57. DEDICATION THIS PRESENTATION IS DEDICATED TO THE ANIMALS OF NEPAL, THOSE WHOM I TRIED BUT COULDN’T HELP AND THOSE WHOM I HAVE NEVER MET (MAY YOU KNOW THAT I SAW YOUR SUFFERING AND HEARD YOUR CRIES) AND THE COURAGEOUS PEOPLE HELPING THEM. MAY ALL BEINGS BE FREE OF SUFFERING AND THE CAUSES OF SUFFERING MAY ALL BEINGS KNOW HAPPINESS AND THE CAUSES OF HAPPINESS MAY ALL BEINGS KNOW SAFETY AND THE CAUSES OF SAFETY
- 58. IMAGINE • IMAGINE A NEPAL WHERE MONASTICS CARRIED PLANT SCRAPS FROM THE SHOPS AND THEIR GARDENS IN THEIR BAGS AND OFFERED THEM TO THE COWS ON THE STREET AS AN EXAMPLE OF COMPASSION IN ACTION. • IMAGINE A NEPAL WHERE SMALL PVC ELBOWS HOLDING FRESH WATER WERE INSTALLED ON STREETS SURROUNDED BY SMALL PLOTS OF WILD GRASSES. • IMAGINE A NEPAL WHERE TOURISTS COMMITTED TO HELPING ONE NGO • IMAGINE A NEPAL IN WHICH HINDUS AND BUDDHISTS WERE VEGAN
- 59. ANIMAL ADVOCACY GROUPS MENTIONED • SNEHA’S CARE • STREET DOG CARE • KAT CENTRE • KOPAN GOAT SANCTUARY • CATMANDU