Slaughterhouse workers dying for a job

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The "head table" at the Quality Pork Processors slaughterhouse inAustin, Minnesota, is not a place of honor. Until recently, it waswhere workers cut up pigs´ heads and shot compressed air into theirskulls, causing their brains to come tumbling out. At least 18employees who worked the head table have developed a mysteriousneurological illness as a result, with symptoms ranging from weaknessand fatigue to acute paralysis.In all, according to figures recently released by researchers, atleast 24 slaughterhouse employees—possibly more—in Minnesota, Indianaand Nebraska have the illness. All of the affected employees worked ina part of the plants that used compressed air to remove pigs´ brains.Researchers believe the air turned some brain matter into a fine mistthat was inhaled by the workers; the plants have since discontinuedthe practice....When employees are forced to work covered in their own waste, you

canimagine how the animals are treated. Improperly stunned hogs kick andscream as they are drowned in tanks of scalding-hot water, used tosoften their skin. Cows struggle as the skin is ripped from theirbodies. Chickens, who aren´t even included in the only federal lawdesigned to protect animals killed for food, have their throats slitwhile they´re still conscious and are scalded to death in tanks of hotwater by the millions.Even if you aren´t sympathetic to the plight of workers or animals,consider this: The same uncaring system that allows workers to beexposed to a toxic mist of animals´ brains and animals to be scaldedalive also allows carcasses contaminated with feces and vomit,tapeworms and abscesses, to be sent down the line. The meat industryis not going to change, but we can: It´s time to leave the brokenbodies of animals off our plates and go vegetarian.Lindsay Rajt is the assistant manager of

vegan campaigns for Peoplefor the Ethical Treatment of Animals; 501 Front St., Norfolk, VA23510; www.GoVeg.com.-- full story:http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/63434 http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join http://www.myspace.com/fortheanimals7