Articles : Metal Obsession Goes Animal Obsession For World Animal Day

October 4th is World Animal Day and, to show its support, Metal Obsession is going animal obsession.

So what exactly is World Animal Day? The celebration of World Animal Day began in 1931 at a convention of ecologists and was originally aimed at raising awareness around threatened and endangered species, but has since grown to be a day to recognise the rights and welfare of all animals.

And what does that have to do with metal you ask? Like most people, metal bands and metal fans love animals, but the public support of animal related causes has become increasingly common within the metal community. Of course, the first band that will spring to mind is Cattle Decapitation, whose lyrics and videos clearly demonstrate their views on animal rights and factory farming.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8mkkZH0cuY]

But Cattle Decapitation aren’t the only band to support animal rights organisations or speak out against the mistreatment of animals. Between the Buried and Me, Black Sabbath’s Geezer Buttler, Lamb of God and Megadeth’s Chris Adler, Asking Alexandria, GWAR, Brian Fair of the now disbanded Shadows Fall, Arch Enemy’s former singer Angela Gossow and DevilDriver’s Dez Fafara are all supporters of PETA; Gojira are set to release an EP to raise money for Sea Shepherd; Arch Enemy, Carcass’ Bill Steer and Jeff Walker, Napalm Death’s Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway, Sepultura’s Derrick Green, Rob Zombie, Machine Head’s Rob Flynn and Heaven Shall Burn have all spoken out about animal rights and/or have been involved in animal rights campaigns plus Megadeth’s song ‘Countdown to Extinction’ even won the Humane Society’s Genesis Award in 1993.

If that’s not enough, earlier this year Jeremy Wagner, guitarist of Broken Hope, donated his whole farm to an animal rescue organisation. Wagner and a number of other members of metal bands have been kind enough to provide us with some photos of themselves with animals to show their support for World Animal Day, but before we get to the cute animal photos, let’s get back to the point of World Animal Day: animal rights and welfare. We had a word to Jodie Jankevics of Animals Australia, Australia’s leading animal protection organisation, on the state of animal rights in this country.

Unfortunately, the awareness of inhumane treatment of animals in Australia, especially in relation to factory farming, is particularly low, which Jankevics attributes to the industry being invested in keeping it that way. Jankevics tells, “Often there is misleading marketing on packaging and other materials, in the knowing that Australians simply wouldn’t purchase the product if the whole truth was being told about how animals are being treated.”

Animals Australia has a number of campaigns targeting the areas which they feel that animals are in the greatest need, including campaigns against factory farming, live animal export and various other activities that involve the mistreatment of animals. Jankevics explains, “What all of these issues have in common is that animal cruelty is not only legal, but it’s considered justifiable by these industries and the governments that support them – whether in the name of profit, pleasure or convenience… We believe in a word where what is ethical matters more than what is profitable.”

Animals Australia isn’t a vegan or vegetarian organisation and doesn’t try to ram those philosophies down your throat as the only way to help animals (although it does consider they’re the most effective). Part of Animals Australia’s Make It Possible campaign to end factory farming aims to encourage people to make ethical and informed decisions when purchasing meat and animal products. If people want to do something to end animal cruelty, Jankevics says the best place to start is by choosing cruelty-free products. “The humble act of grocery shopping is our most powerful opportunity to vote against animal cruelty. Every time you shop, there are important decisions to make.” She continues, “Opting for cruelty-free alternatives is the single best way to ensure that farm animals — who have been excluded from critical animal cruelty laws in Australia — are protected from abuse.”

If you’d like to donate to Animals Australia or learn more about their campaigns, then check out their website.

And now, it’s time for the cute animal photos!

Jeremy Wagner from Broken Hope with Dalton the cross-breed pooch and Melody the husky – Photo by Kim Foglia

Jayson Keyser from Origin with his rescued pets Richard the Quaker Parrot and Kitty the cat

Greg Burgess from Allegaeon with his cat Decibel

Brandon Park from Allegaeon with a chicken

Mik from Frankenbok with a Little Penguin -Photo courtesy of Michael Weinhardt Photography

Azza from Frankenbok, Heaven The Axe and Never with Ja’mie the Coastal Carpet Python -Photo courtesy of Michael Weinhardt Photography

Mitch Alexander from Eye of the Enemy with his friend Alicia’s pomeranian, Misfit

Sham from Nothing Sacred with Leroy the Whitetail Black Cockatoo

Thomas Waterhouse from Earth Rot with Ripley the Boston Terrier

Miki from Annihilist with Ghost the Siberian Husky – Photo by Sean James

Related Posts

• 

  HJELVIK – Welcome to Hel
• 

  AC/DC – Power Up
• 

  Depravity – Grand Malevolence
• 

  Pioneering Aussie metal drummer Matt ‘Skitz’ announces 2021 national tour.