Earthlings: A Devastating Documentary on Humanity's Lack of Respect for Other Living Creatures

Everyone PERIOD should see this. Why just adults? If kids can sit and watch the mind-numbing violence in films and TV, they should be able to relate such violence to a greater awareness of their role as world citizens--earthlings, as the documentary would say. This will ensure they don't grow up to be comfort zone adults, too lazy to see the difference, too busy to really care.

Mahatma Ghandi, once said something to the effect that the moral and ethical nature of a country can be seen in the treatment of its animals. However, I do not feel that this quote is reserved for any one country or place, but rather, is applicable to the whole of mankind.
Although I have been aware of the subject of this documentary for some years now being once upon a time (but no longer) a member of P.E.T.A. where I first learned of such goings on to meet mankind's daily demands, I have not seen the information put together all in one place quite so well nor so succinctly as in this particular documentary, as this is truly a most difficult and vast subject to cover completely in any one effort. It is very well done indeed!
Upon first learning the truth of such atrocities committed for human benefit several years ago, I immediately gave up the wearing of all fur and leather nor do I use animal-derived products on my person or in my home. However, despite repeated personal attempts over the years to live a vegan, or at the very least, a vegetarian, lifestyle, I must confess to great human weakness of character and so I have always failed in this regard, generating much ongoing and
despicable feelings towards both myself and humanity in general. So, I volunteer and donate monies to a variety of animal charities when and if I am able to do so, in vain attempts to appease my guilty conscience. And I try to placate myself further by telling myself that at least, I do 'something' and that I never stop trying to change. Still, I know that this is not nearly enough and it does very little to help me feel better about my failings.
Whenever I broach the subject to most of the people whom I know, they outright refuse to view or even to read anything at all about the subject. I am sure that they suspect the truths discovered would be too harsh for them to bear and so simply prefer to remain ignorant that we humans are the cause of such continuous, immeasureable agony and suffering inflicted upon the poor creatures below us on the evolutionary scale, each and every single day of each and every single year that we each are alive. We even use an animal-derived saying about just such an avoidance behaviour - saying that he/she is 'like an ostrich with its head in the sand' - in the feeble hope that what we know not of, cannot hurt us.
All I can say is to urge people to at least TRY to change, if even in some small way. It takes a multitude of drops to fill an entire bucket and so I do not believe that anyone's efforts are in vain, no matter how small. All of these cruelties are driven by human demand and so, if the demand were removed, these practices would have to cease.
If you don't succeed, try, try again.

My sentiments exactly. I had to turn away several times and my heart is truly broken. I cannot get the film out of my mind. As an animal lover, this film documents my ultimate fear. Every evening I pray for the well-being of all voiceless creatures of God. They are the innocent ones. What are we doing as a human race?? It is atrocious. I want to do something, anything. But where do I even begin and with whom? So many questions, so few answers. I read about the film in a recent issue of Jane Magazine. There was a small blurb about an actress not wearing leather sandals b/c of her viewing of the film. I googled the name and watched almost all of it. What breaks my heart the most---- that these animals can feel -- feel pain and some are highly intelligent. No matter their position on our so called "social ladder of evolution", everything and everyone needs respect in this world. When will we learn??

Like Kathie, I have not viewed the film. Knowing what people are capable of is frightening. I must take issue however and say that mankind IS "king of the hill" and as such we have a responsibility to care for the earth and her creatures. In these times I can only take comfort in the fact that we have a gracious Creator and that this world is not my home.
Prayers,
CieCie

Yes, Kathy (and others) I also could not push the play button, as, it even bothers me when I see dead animals on the side of the road, I"m on the verge of tears just reading the responses, as well as, the believability of what some people can and will do in the name of the almighty dollar!!!
And as I also believe that it is all humankind that needs to take responsibility for the treatment of animals and mammals alike, no matter where they live, some are better at acknowledging and stepping up-to the plate than others. Ultimately, however, it's up to the people, of any country, to speak-up on the behalf of these animals to stop this type, and other brutalities going on. A few things some can do that don't take much effort- just a little concern- don't purchase Veal, attempt to purchase make-up (if you're a woman)and other personal items that do not, or have the least amount of animal TESTING, as well as, their bi-products etc.

So Sad!!

With regard to changing the hearts & minds of another nation....there is much work to be done right here in the U.S. If you've never seen a downer cow being dragged by chain to its' death, or a Butterball Thanksgiving turkey being bashed against a wall, or a KFC chicken being stomped, you'd know that we need to look at our own food choices and change inwardly before we can think that Japan's collective heart will be moved to compassion. After crying over another dead animal on the side of one of our highways, I made the decision to "go veg" at the age of 53, and am working my way toward veganism. Will I make it? Only God knows. But I know that I have greatly reduced my contribution to the suffering of other species. There is much to be done right here!!! And, we have the power of the dollar we spend to support these cruel companies, or change them by changing our own choices.

yeah there is something you can do...stop eating meat products and stay away from all that, that comes from animals and in some cases even milk....then you can of course stop it...set an example for others..i have done that

I found the video of the dolphins obviously difficult to watch. I myself am vegetarian because I believe meat should be eaten in times of necessity. I wanted to say a big "AMEN" to Jacalyn Miller's comment about losing sight of basic human values. Human life is sacred and animal life is also. Animals were sent to this earth for the use of man BUT!!!, man will be held responsible for their abuse of this blessing from our Creator. Taking that into consideration, imagine the wrath of God after slaughtering so many of his children through abortion!!! So all those vegetarians getting abortions...where are YOUR priorities!?!?!?!?

Jacalyn,you write:'I fear the emphasis on vegetarianism is causing us to lose sight of some basic human values...ie, compassion.' You do not explain why you think this is so, but I have heard this specious argument many times before and it assumes some fallacies. The first is that if we cared less about animals and more about humans we would be more compassionate. In fact, those countries which have the worst records of cruelty towards animals also have some of the worst human rights violations. Humans that are cruel to animals are also cruel to humans. Mahatma Ghandhi said;'The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.'The second fallacy is that humans warrant privilege over other animals. In this regard I would direct you to Peter Singer's essays on speciesism. Animals are neither more, nor less entitled to compassion than humans.They are equal.We,as humans,treat animals today much as we treated each other in the past. This might seem too radical for some humans, but remember that the arguments for enslaving humans in the past are today recruited in the continuing enslavement of animals (intelligence,ability,capacity to suffer,etc.).The third is the fallacy of the belief of the mutual exclusivity of the arguments for the protection of humans and those for the protection of animals.I have no doubt that when foetuses are destroyed suffering is caused as it is when a dolphin is slaughtered. How would less concern for the dolphin raise more concern for a foetus? Vegans (I am one)and vegetarians are among some of the most compassionate people towards all life. There are some who may have some misguided notions,but in that regard we have all been there. What is necessary is the cultivation of ever more compassion for everything,not the distribution of what there is ever and ever for humans.

Because with the internet quickly becoming the biggest form of accessible media, if you want something to be heard by the whole world, if you want people to unite on one medium, the internet is the place to do it. It's not about the tears we shed for this mindless slaughter, this has been going on for years and years. Yet people are JUST starting to notice? The time for tears is long since become a thing of the past. As are the lives of the innocents who've died(animals) to cry for them gains nothing. Be productive and use that overwhelming emotion and instead of shedding water and flooding your mind with questions, turn it into an overwhelming flame of passion and ignite other people's passion towards things like this. You as an individual may not be able to stop this, but a street, a city, a country UNITED cannot be ignored. The voice of one may be ignorable, but the voices of millions is far too loud to drown out.

These comments repulse me. Did you actually watch the full documentary? Did you see the dog skinned while it was still living and struggling to free itself? Did you see the cows in India? They are forced to keep standing and walking for days while being transported out of the country to be slaughtered, because India does not allow the slaughtering of cows in its own country. Along the way, they are deprived of food and water, and forced to remain on their feet. To keep them on their feet, pain is deliberately inflicted on them -- their tails broken, fingers with mace shoved deep into their eye sockets, they are kicked and prodded. Some die. Many appear to be near death and keep falling to the ground by the end of the journey -- only to be forced via pain back onto their feet. And what are these particular cows then used for at the end of all this? Leather jackets, purses, and shoes in the West.

When you say, “They shoot only what is advantageous to their cause and not the whole story,” what context could possibly be added that would justify this horror show? NONE! There is nothing you could add, no “whole story,” that would budge any of this an inch closer to being justified.

I have no problem with anyone eating meat, and I eat it myself. But there is no good reason why a single animal needs to be mistreated in the process -- EVER. Animals can and should be treated humanely while alive, and then killed in such a way that minimizes their pain and suffering. Too often this is not what happens.

When we feel we must kill an animal for some legitimate purpose, death should be instantaneous, unsuspected, and as non-traumatic as possible. If at any time, for any reason, it looks as though a quick, non-traumatic death of an animal is not possible to deliver, then it should be postponed until it IS possible.

“All things in moderation....A gift from God.... all that is on the earth.” What part of a person’s humanity must be missing or underdeveloped that THIS is the comment they wish to make in response to such horrific brutality and suffering as is shown in this documentary? Animals are a gift from god -- therefore we can skin them alive, shove mace-covered fingers into their eyes, make their skin blister with blowtorches, and ram electric rods up their anuses? If a god does exist, and that god has even the smallest measure of decency, then that god is on the side of the makers of this film, not the side of anyone who would do anything other than categorically condemn such brutality.

Dr. Kim, as upsetting as this film was to watch, I can’t thank you enough for recommending it. I would never want to live in ignorance and denial. I will try to get others to watch it.

What does animal rights have to do with abortion? Moreover, how is seeking to end animal cruelty an extreme agenda? Just because you disagree with PETA in some instances does not make these images any less horrifying. Maybe you should watch the videos rather than taking the opportunity to push your views on abortion (which has nothing to do with these videos).

I have seen this over and over - getting off on an unrelated subject such as the Academy Award issue. This documentary speaks for itself - as others filmed and produced by animal advocacy groups. AND, most importantly, is that you and other blind-sighted people always think animal activists have a hidden motive. The motive is nothing but our compassion for the creatures of our world, and our goal is to relieve them from the criminal, immoral acts of man kind in their quest for profit at any expense to the animal. Industrialized Factory Farming and the USDA cares nothing for animals, it is all a profit driven enterprise only interested in a quick, large peice of meat for the ignorant consumers who don't want to know the truth of suffering behind each bite you take. If you think the Earthlings is a manipulated piece of film, then why don't you visit a real production site for "producing" animals for food, and go on to the slaughterhouse Then, state your doubts about the film, if you can.

Great comment Greg!!!! Agree 100%!!

alikatrn, you say:'...a healthy diet,which,by the way,I tend to believe includes saturated fats.'
I believe you meant to say 'animal fats' as all vegetable and nut oils contain saturated fats. The major health problems in the developed world (which is where most meat is consumed) are recognized by medical science to be directly related to meat and animal saturated-fat consumption. These include heart disease (at present the number one killer)but also includes gastrointestinal tract cancers and diseases like Jakob-Creutzfeld and strains of influenza which are zoonotic.The bird-flu viruses are but one of the developing crises as are the continual and growing threats to our water supplies by the meat industries and its effluents, in particular manure and its e.coli content. Only so much manure can be used for fertilizer after that it becomes a liability.
I am a vegan and suffer none of the health problems attributed to a vegan diet. All the rest of my family who are meat eaters are developing or have developed serious problems with their health including heart disease and obesity. I am 49 years old and have no health problems. My resting heart rate is 50-54bpm, my blood pressure is 120/70 and from sea level I can mountain hike at the rate of 3000 vertical feet per hour. I give you those statistics not out of smugness but to demonstrate a proper vegan diet is sufficient to maintain both health and energy levels,which is the criticism leveled most frequently at vegans.
Having said that,let me move on from my health to that of animals which suffers terribly under humans.
You go on to say:'Animals are killed to be eaten by other animals all of the time;that is life.However,animals were created by God for our pleasure,not another source of abuse.'
You don't explain if you eat animals partly or wholly because animals do prey on other animals,but there are meat-eaters who do use this analogy,so I will address this first.There are animals who are obligate carnivores (like cats)who,in the wild, need a meat diet to survive. Other animals are omnivores (like chimps) who supplement their diet with meat even though there is no need. They are ignorant of the suffering they cause to these other animals. We humans can claim neither obligation nor ignorance of suffering as our justification for eating meat.
The view that animals were created by God for our pleasure sounds a lot like Old Testament but remains just that,a view or a belief. Not only that, it is an anthropocentric view that reeks of arrogance and has done its fair share of damage to animals through history.
Even 'God' gives us differing views on the subject (can anyone tell me who is the real 'God'?)and I am most inclined to follow the 'God' described in the Vedic scriptures which pre-date Christianity,Islam and Buddhism. In the Manu-samhita it states:"Meat can never be obtained without injury to living creatures and injury to sentient beings is detrimental to the attainment of heavenly bliss;let him therefore shun the use of meat." The Ten Commandments state, "Thou shalt not kill." There is no clause under it that states "...but animals are OK."
You mention next that native Americans showed 'respect'to the animal as they were killing it and that they did not waste any of it. That is the very least we should expect from a human being, but certainly not the most. I started on the path to veganism this way, it was the first step not the destination.It is of small comfort to the animal as it tries to escape the knife that its executioner 'respects' it or that none of its body will be wasted. It needs, above all, to live.Every animal shows this. I was finally able to see my false piety for what it was; an attempt to assuage what vestige of guilt still lingered as I attempted to justify my lifestyle. Humane killing is still killing and it isn't necessary. I can do without it and so can everyone. And think of how much better we'd treat other human beings.

Thank you
I am vegetarian...and always happy to find information that will speak to anyone of the needless cruelty that goes on Everywhere! I could not continue to watch the short clip and of course did not even attempt the video. I will however pass it on.
Peace for All who live!

I agree and disagree.

Yes, it is ALL WRONG FOR ALL, to include, eating dog meat!
And yes, again, there are some of us that do much as much as they possibly can in attempts of preventing these horrible happenings from occurring. I believe, a criticle factor in some not doing more is their ignorance when it comes to things like this, as, just like all the industrialized countries we look at convenience and not the consequences of these same privileges.

Your point of view represents the view of many, too many, who don't want to admit that the modern Industrialized methods of animal production is wrong. You can quote and refer to any culture you desire, but pain is pain, torture is torture and when we, as human beings commit these acts against innocent beautiful animals, it does not take a bunch of books and education to know that we have sunk to a level in which I, personally, will have no part in. Minimizing the despair, real suffering and comparing weird cultural traditions of cruelty doesn't wash in this area. The public is becoming more educated in regard to so-called modern Agriproduction of animals for food, research and clothing - and we, as animal advocates gather strength and resolve from statements such as yours. We will speak for the voiceless, helpless inmates of a cruel society with every breath we take, until the last breath, realizing these beautiful creatures have NO hope - But us. Just like Porno, one cannot define exactly why it is offensive, wrong. Animal Abuse in any form is definitely wrong, anyway you want to spin it. We don't buy the clever spin anymore.

Hey Ash,

I'm a cannibal, so watch your selective morality ass or I'll sneak up behind you and slash your neck and eat you while you convulse on the pavement with your belly full of goat meat.

One is complicit to evil to the degree that one chooses ignorance over awareness.

Teebs

I saw some fragments of the movie. And read many replies on this subject. And I see we totally miss the point.... I want to ask you all a question. When a human is murdered, we try to prosecute the murderer, right? Even if we catch a glimse, we try to do that (at least some of us do...). Now for some reason, the automatic solution to the murders we see in this footage (because they are nothing but murders), is "we become vegetarians"... Damn, this does not solve the problem. Man needs food. Every kind of food. This is a proven fact. No, man does not need to skin dogs alive, this does not provide any kind of nutrition to him. Nor does he need to "ritualistically" torture a cow alive. This has absolutelly nothing to do with our eating habits. So, becoming a vegetarian is simply a defiance to our nature. It is a passive solution. It does not, in any way, prevent the above seen mockery. The people you saw torturing those poor souls would do so, even if we stopped eating meat. What we should do is to KNOW what we are eating. A deer hunted and killed by a hunter, or a chicken slaughtered in the village by the farm owner is not treated the same way. But man has the tendency to go from one end to another. Man used to eat whatever he hunted. But now it is easy to simply eat a stake or a burger every day for 5 bucks. Well, if we simply considered WHERE our food comes from, and tried to eat what wasn't tortured like that, and keep our good health we live as we should. Meanwhile we fight against those people by exposing them to our friends and hope others will do the same as well. More than half of the atrocities we saw have nothing to do with food. So by excluding entirelly meat from our diet does not stop anything. Yes, I understand excluding furs. We are not in the ice age. A fur is not important for our well-being. The same applies to cosmetics as well. And so on. Yet, still a leather wallet, hand made from a source we are familliar with, and made by leather that came of an animal slaughtered for eating, is more than welcome. Cosmetics not tested on animals are as welll. We miss the forest by looking at the tree. So, instead of focusing on wether we eat meat or not, we simply have to focus on what meat we eat, what artefacts we carry, and so on. Otherwise, we are as ignorant as those we supposedly are trying to enlighten. Focus on passing laws equivalent of those for murder. This is a solution for what we see above. Out of 10 people who would kill a dog, 9 do it because they are not afraid of gong to jail for a life sentence. Yes, there are sick people out there. There will always be sick people in the world. But many of them would not be doing that, if we had proper law and education.