June 23, 2008
When you fall asleep watching TV, you are subjected to vastly interesting programming that only airs in the middle of the night. I woke up about two in the morning and heard someone talking about the medicinal benefits of emu oil. So I watched the entire program. I learned about emu oil as a treatment for toe fungus, burns, pain killer, sexual lubricant, etc.They made it sound like those happy-go-lucky emus just run around all day and produce their miracle oil for us. They never said HOW one procures emu oil.
I did a little research, and I discovered what I had already feared. Those emu oil producers can spout all the trick marketing words in the book about their hormone-free emu oil from happy emus, but the truth is sad.
The emus must be "harvested" to get the oil. Isn't that an interesting word? I don't usually think of a "harvest" in that way. To me, "harvest" means picking ripe fruit or reaping wheat. I am always unsettled when that word is used to describe the killing of animals. I'm just that way.
When cocoabean and I traveled across Texas, we passed large cattle feed lots. How sad it was to see thousands of cattle standing in the blazing sun with no room to move, waiting to be "harvested." As we passed one large lot owned by Cargill, we saw a large steer in the ditch. It had obviously been hit on the road as it made a dash for freedom. I can still see that steer, and somehow I think he was luckier than the others. At least he died making a choice.
I know that most people never think about how their food or cosmetic oils are "harvested." I think if people actually put a little thought into things like this, we would live in a kinder and gentler world. That is my Pollyanna hope for today.
