Why rodeos need to go: Our children deserve better
Steve Glassey, PhD GCTAE CEM FInSTR
International Public Safety Expert | 25 years experience in public safety and higher education | New York Times commentator | PhD with diverse publication history | Leader of change and investor in people
The recent Martinborough Bull Ride highlighted yet again the need to ban rodeos in New Zealand. Any typical kiwi, like me who enjoys a good serving of steak, chips and (free-range) eggs can see this activity is far from installing a sense of compassion and respect for living things. For the average kiwi, this is not about veganism or creating a wedge to ban horse racing – this is about saying no to brutal domination of another sentient being. And despite the cowboy's saying its all fine and family fun focused, no filming is allowed - that is a lot of F's...
Studies show that children exposed to witnessing animal abuse are at a greater risk of becoming perpetrators or victims of crimes of violence, our children deserve better. Rodeos are not conducive for developing empathy in children and at least, children should not be allowed to be part of the audience or partake as a contestant. The recent expose on the attempted assassination of the Queen in Dunedin uncovered the would be teenage assassin came from a family of regular domestic abuse, he in turn was known to have a history of animal abuse having been witnessed to pushing pins into kittens. This is why humane education programmes for children, such as the award winning programme run by Wellington SPCA for over 10 years focuses on building empathy. If one has empathy, it is significantly reduces harmful behaviour to others. How do rodeos create empathy again?
In contrast to the abuse at rodeos seen, we have seen the remarkable kindness (C-bombs aside) of the viral video of Robert Tahau from Whakatane (see it below) caring for an injured seagull. That is what is makes us kiwis, is our ability to show compassion and to protect those that are vulnerable. Sadly, the Code of Welfare (Rodeos) allows for this brutal domination to be acceptable. Chur Robert!
Rodeos will damage our international brand and we should doing all we can to make New Zealand the leading exporter of the most humane product in the world. We should be exporting Green, Clean and Humane to the gold standard. This is about the economy as it is for empathy. We should be known for 100% Pure, not 100% Abused.
I voted for a change of government and it is disappointing that the voices of real kiwis are falling on deaf ears. Banning rodeos should be a no brainer for the government, and this WAS a Labour pre-election promise. Let's do this! We need to give these vulnerable beings a voice #MooToo
Steve Glassey
Former CEO, Wellington SPCA & Animal Welfare Advocate
Consultant Assistant at Feedlot Health Management Services by Telus Agriculture PACCO Certified Meat Plant and Feedlot Animal Welfare Auditor
7 年The article is trying to create a correlation with rodeo and child abuse. Rodeo is a legal sport and family entertainment event. It is not considered animal abuse but only by the few who try to push human emotive values to the animals. If what they say is true, then many of the families who participate and spectate this event would not have the loving family relationships that you see. parents, uncles and aunties, grand parents and siblings competing with and against each other. Where is there another sport who allows ALL ages of the participants to be able to compete with each other.? Rodeo people are one big family where everybody watches each others children, support, care, nourish and teach the correct values in team, individuals need to have for each other as well as their animals. No kids sit around the TV or game boys with this group but all enjoy the closeness and bonding others are jealous of because their children are not interested or cannot participate. Anti groups are now delving into the sleazy world of bullying rodeo children who participate in High School Rodeo, allowing their followers to harras any business that sponsors,and posting on their pages of fake animal deaths, just to garner more sympathy to their cause.
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7 年Sadly I have heard a calf was killed in a roping event this weekend :(
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7 年Great piece Steve. There is no place in NZ for the torturous exploitation that is rodeo. Advocates claim tradition - but it's not ours. Family event? It sends a very poor message to children that animal abuse is fun/sport. Rodeo is not the A&P show that is rich in our rural history. It is violent, sadistic and hopefully, on it's way out.