The Wild Horse Auctions Fallon. Nevada by Martyn Stewart published on 2013-08-23T21:50:48Z Why have we become so disconnected, How have we become so cold and cruel? I watched mothers and youngsters pushed into a semi circle inside the auction arena trembling and scared, shitting themselves as the auctioneer shouted his numbers and bidding over the loudest distorted PA system imaginable. These animals petrified, were held until the price was met and then ushered back outside while the next family came in. I saw people dressed as cowboys sitting on their arses without one drip of empathy in their body. These animals were terrified and I choked up to the point where I had to get outside and leave. I sobbed in the car park and wondered what the fuck I could do. I have hit a low in my life right now, Too much going on in such a short time yet I feel I need to carry this fight on. I just drove 3 hours back down to Topanah and can't remember the drive. What frustrates me is the total lack of commitment of people to the cause. We have the tools but we have forgotten how to use them. The save the whale rally in the 70's pulled out millions of people and we changed the world. We can't get a fraction interested anymore and I'm pissing against the wind. I write this with tears down my cheeks because I have these images in my mind of these horses with their eyes popping out of their heads in fear. I so dislike my own species at this moment. Before anyone tells we how many good people there are (For which there is) there is not enough. We are fighting against greed and the people who should represent us in government are bought by lobbyists and sharks. While the country is corrupt, the animals are the losers and when the animals loose, I have no meaning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnYsRi5rZR8&feature=share Genre Wild Horses Comment by hzandbits Notwithstanding what's on sale here, auctioneers are always fascinating. I recently recorded a fish auction in Northern Denmark. Great sounds - less heartbreaking for some reason. "It's ok to eat fish, cause they don't have any feelings" - right? 2013-09-11T19:09:25Z Comment by sandboa Martin, I really enjoy your recordings. However, I am going to diverge from your opinions in this matter. The "wild horses of the American West" are feral animals no different than the feral pigs of the southeastern states or feral rats in city sewers. They don't belong here. They should be humanely eradicated so our native species (antelope, bison) can be reestablished. 2013-09-07T18:31:03Z Comment by JAnderson Sorry to hear that you witnessed such a sick ritual. Thanks once again for sharing the issue. It was recently uncovered that horse meat or traces thereof were found in many of the prepared frozen dinners of well-established brands here in Sweden. Companies tend to cut corners it would seem when the economy flailing about in deep waters. Many of the companies claimed they weren't aware of the problem, but one has to wonder...esp when illegaly obtained (and therefore cheap) meat is on the menu. It was discovered that the originator of the horse meat infiltration was some meat-packing factory in Romania, yet the illegal inclusion of the meat in beef products was the fault of companies in France. It is not unheard of to eat horse meat here in Sweden but it is uncommon. The point is that the consumer failed to be notified in ingredients and the horses were more than likely illegaly slaughtered. Here's an info graphic detailing the scandal. http://www.foodsafety.com.au/infographics/horsemeat/ 2013-08-25T16:48:18Z
