I do not think that I will be eating chicken again in China. Yesterday I was sitting alongside a river close to Yangshou, China, and I watched a lady kill a few. Okay, sounds like not a big deal, right? I mean, every chicken I have ever consumed has been killed in some fashion but let me tell you how she went about doing it She would grab a live one, slit its throat, let the blood drain into the river and then throw it onto the pavement close by. The chicken would flop around helplessly for a few seconds until a mangy dog would come and chew its vital organs to bits until it eventually stopped moving. The lady then would take the chicken back to the vier where she would clean it, wash it, and give it to the restaurant next nearby. I wish I could say the river was clean but you could clearly see tons of garbage on the bed. I understand completely that this is how things are done here but it was still quite the sight to see! I was incredibly fascinated the whole time as I watched, but I am also stating for the record that I am not eating chicken again until I arrive in Australia.
In the town there is also a food market where more animal deaths happen right before your eyes. There are tubs of water filled with live fish, toads, snakes, and other slippery slimy things. There are cages of chickens and goats and rabbits waiting for their soon death. Right before your eyes you can see the women kill them, clean them, gut them, and then hang them on a hook for sale. These weren’t the only animals that I saw here. I also saw dogs in cages also awaiting the same fate as their furry friends. Are you vegetarian? No problem, there is also an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies - no worries. Just close your eyes to the death and hacking and you can find lots to eat. By the way, is it so wrong that I found this whole area incredibly fun to watch? Being there was sort of like a car wreck - you don’t want to look but can’t help it.
The question really is whether it really more is humane in the “western world” or here? At home animals are put in tiny cages, forced to eat too much and live a sad life until a factory puts them down. Plus, I’m sure you’ve heard the stories of all the fecal matter getting in the meat because of the way the animals are butchered. Let’s not forget about all the growth hormones as well. At least here you can say that the food is fresh. Seeing this food market certainly makes me think about where my food has come from. Perhaps you will look at your next meal a little differently too!
