As the ill repute of Jalisco grows – over its murder rate and misdeeds of officials at the city morgue – Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) has opened a Guadalajara office to draw attention to the gross mistreatment of other creatures: hens, chicks, cows, calves, pigs and piglets.
“We are here because Jalisco is the center of the meat industry,” explained Dulce Ramirez, executive director of the “animal abolitionist” group founded in Spain 19 years ago. Animal Equality is now headquartered in the United States, where it enjoys strong support from donors in Silicon Valley, explained Angelica Vega, the local group’s corporate liaison.
At a reception last week, Ramirez, Vega, Igualdad Animal’s 13 paid staff members and a throng of well wishers enjoyed a reception feting the launch of two Web sites (IgualdadAnimal.org and LoveVeg.mx) and a new office on Avenida Chapultepec. Meat eaters kept a low profile while speakers extolled eating vegetables as an easy way to “come to the aid of animals at every meal” and attendees were invited to sample a tasty vegan buffet catered by local chefs.
As in other countries where it operates (Germany, Italy, Venezuela and the U.K.), Igualdad Animal has carried out investigations in Mexico resulting in short, disturbing documentaries. The Mexican group has already been working for five years, completing four investigations.
“We focus on the mistreatment of hens and promoting cage-free eggs,” said Vega. She pointed out that the Mexican group’s best known documentary is “Pollo Hecho en Mexico” (Chicken Made in Mexico).
“We want to give evidence that farm animals don’t have any protection. People assume there are production manuals to ensure the animals suffer as little as possible and that is a lie,” Ramirez emphasized. The documentary shows chickens and chicks crushed, sick and slaughtered, hung and boiled without being first stunned.
Perhaps to neutralize sadness over such animal mistreatment, staff at Igualdad Animal are emphasizing a new project LoveVeg.mx, which provides recipes for dishes that use typically Mexican ingredients and spices. Its Platos Fuertes section explains how to make Ceviche de Mango, Esquites (based on fresh corn kernels), Molotes de Platano Macho (macho banana balls filled with black beans and fried) and more.