Halo wonderful viewers
and welcome to
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
Pigs are among the
most intelligent animals
on Earth.
In fact, according to
scientific studies,
their intelligence level
surpasses that of
a three-year old child.
They are also
very sensitive and
caring beings as shown
by the fact that
mother pigs sing to
their piglets
while they are nursing.
The Pig Preserve is
a non-profit sanctuary
for abandoned, neglected,
abused and homeless pigs
in Tennessee, USA
run by
Richard and Laura Hoyle.
Currently the facility
houses approximately
60 residents.
Having had a chance
to closely observe pigs
for many years,
Mr. Hoyle has the
following observations
about their nature.
These animals crave
the companionship
of other pigs.
They bond very closely
with other pigs.
(For) the farm pigs
it’s a matriarchal society.
The dominant pig is
one of the big females.
And everybody in that herd
knows his or her place
in the social order, and
they are very comfortable
with that.
They stay with one another
when a pig is sick.
Within the herd
there is this very intricate
social structure,
and friendships are made.
You have to be here when
one of the pigs gets sick
and goes through
a lengthy process,
to appreciate
how the other pigs will
stand guard over the pig,
sleep with that pig,
look over your shoulder
when you’re trying to do
something,
give shots or something;
there will be three or four
of the pig’s companions
looking over your shoulder
making sure
that you’re not hurting
their buddy.
The depth of their feelings
and the depth of their
social structure never,
even after 25 years
of doing it, still never
cease to amaze me.
Recognizing
the sentient nature of
our porcine friends,
many pig farmers have
made the noble decision
to leave the industry
and seek
a peaceful livelihood.
Today will introduce you
to some of their heart-felt
stories on the first of
a two-part series entitled,
“Courageous Pig Farmers
Transition to
a Peaceful Lifestyle.”
We now totally negate
their suffering,
their well-being,
what they're really here
on the planet for and turn
them into these things
that we're ingesting.
Randall Ball, a vegan,
comes from a family
of pig farmers,
but left the business to
create Paradise Found,
a local organic produce
distribution service
in Ohio, USA.
My family historically
have been pig farmers
right here in Ohio.
I want to say one of the
things that really got me
interested in health
and why I'm in the field
that I am
is my father died when
I was two years old.
I'm number five out of
six children and he died
of a heart attack and
we were pig farmers
and every single one of
his siblings also died of
a heart attack.
And it made me
really wonder about
that connection and
the more I looked into it,
the connection is obvious
to anyone who's willing
to look at the science.
From heart disease,
cancer, diabetes,
and obesity to
untreatable infections
that originate
from livestock, it is clear
meat consumption
severely threatens
our health.
Drug-resistant infections
such as
Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus Aureus
(MRSA) are being linked
to livestock that are fed
huge amounts of antibiotics
daily to artificially
promote growth and
counteract the diseases
that prevail in their
utterly filthy, overcrowded
living conditions.
I come from
the medical industry.
I spent 10 years in
diagnostics and when I
look at the factory farms,
they can only be
described as
an abomination to me,
both health-wise and
from an environmental
standpoint.
And personally
I don't choose to, and
I encourage everyone
not to, put this terror,
this pain, this suffering,
this total pollution
into their bodies.
In addition, it's
a virtual breeding ground
for all diseases,
the swine flu, the bird flu,
all these really aren't
inherent in pigs.
Pigs are actually one
of the cleanest animals
on the planet.
Intensive livestock
production has spawned
other harmful new
illnesses such as variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease,
from Mad Cow disease,
and is responsible
for the current
swine flu pandemic.
The official number
of swine flu fatalities
globally is now
over 12,000, with tallies
of all infections being
far too many to count.
For two former
pig farmers in southern
Âu Lạc (Vietnam), both
of whom are now vegans,
the swine flu and
environmental concerns
caused them to stop
livestock farming
and switch to growing
organic dragon fruit.
Nowadays, I’ve heard
television reports
from around the world
informing us that H1N1
(swine flu) has been
very quickly affecting
human health.
Also, everyday I see
animals’ waste polluting
water supplies and
surrounding communities,
affecting our own
health first, then
the communities’ health.
For that reason,
I switched to
growing dragon fruit.
Why did you change
your job?
The reason is that
the radio continually
reported about H1N1
(swine flu) transmission
between humans,
and then I saw that
raising pigs affected
the environment and the
water source that people
around here are using.
I felt bad and decided
to change my job.
We’ll return after
these messages
with our program on
courageous pig farmers
adopting
sustainable livelihoods.
Please stay tuned to
Supreme Master
Television.
When it comes to
factory farms, I think
there's tremendous
amount of scientific data
showing how bad
they are, the health risk
and so forth and
I really want to say that
I really thank and admire
Supreme Master TV
for all the collection
of the data that they do.
They (pigs) are
our good friends, so
we should not eat them.
Welcome back to
Animal World:
Our Co-inhabitants
for our show featuring
heroic pig farmers who
have transitioned to
a noble lifestyle for
the sake of the animals,
their own health
and the environment.
Pigs are clean, loyal,
affectionate and
have excellent memories.
Much scientific research
has been done
in to the inner life of
these interesting animal
co-inhabitants which
show just how complex
and social they are.
Professor Donald Broom
of Cambridge University
Veterinary School
in the UK has stated that
pigs “have
the cognitive ability to be
quite sophisticated.”
In raising pigs, I found
that sows were just
like us women.
When they went into labor
I also felt pain
as if they are
my younger sisters.
They couldn’t talk like us,
so I pitied for them a lot.
I think we really have to
look deeper than
just the science.
How do we feel about
that and how does that
resonate with our heart
and our gut and I think
it's obvious that we have
this disconnect with
the rest of life on Earth
and taken these beings
that have an equal right
to be here and done
whatever we pleased.
These intelligent and
sensitive animals endure
unspeakable atrocities
on pig farms.
Their noses contain
almost 200 times
the concentration of
scent cells possessed
by humans. With
their innate cleanliness
and acute sense of smell,
factory farmed pigs
suffer endlessly in the
wretched filth and stench
caused by
being crammed by
the thousands into sheds.
Although their operation
was small in comparison
to large-scale
factory farms,
these sensitive farmers
in Âu Lạc (Vietnam)
realized the inherent
cruelty in confining
and slaughtering their
fellow sentient beings.
Cao Đài’s teachings
forbid killing.
At that time, I also felt
very ashamed, “Why do
I, a Cao Đài follower,
still raise animals
for food?”
How ashamed I was!
Before when I raised pigs,
the waste from
raising pigs caused
pneumonia, and my wife
and children’s health
were not good, and
we weren’t very happy.
Raising pigs also created
a lot of problems.
For example,
when a pig was sick,
I didn’t know the reason,
so I had to buy medicine
for them.
I worried for them.
When a pig was sick,
I too felt sick.
Seeing them sick, I felt
pity for them, because
they couldn’t speak.
Each time I sold a pig,
they kept going back in,
not wanting to leave me,
because they had already
grown attached to me.
I did not want the pig
to be slaughtered.
I thought of the pig
being tied up.
“My God! Tonight,
the pig will be killed.”
I prayed for her a lot.
Each time, I sold a pig,
I fell ill for a month,
even longer.
Then I told my husband,
“Oh honey, we should
stop raising pigs!” And
he said, “All right then.”
I had no heart to sell
the pigs, because I felt
so much love for them.
I couldn’t raise them
for meat anymore.
Many noble former
pig farmers like
Hsu Chun-De of
Formosa (Taiwan)
left the industry despite
pressure to continue on.
Mr. Hsu is now
the president of
Yunlin County’s Nature
Research Institute and
founder of Noah’s Ark,
a project to preserve
the island’s
water plant species.
In 2000, I closed
my pig farm and began
doing work related to
environmental protection.
I had to give up
several millions dollars
of income.
But we should insist on
doing the right thing.
In taking on difficulties,
I insist on doing
what’s right.
Without persistence, we
can’t transform our lives
successfully.
How did you support
your husband’s decision?
In the beginning, I was
also very reluctant
to close the pig farm.
We could make
several million New
Taiwan dollars a year.
But considering
the environment and
our future generations,
even though we are not
as wealthy, our life is
very relaxed and happy.
The kind farmers
in Âu Lạc (Vietnam)
also initially experienced
similar worries and
challenges in changing
their occupation
but they shared the same
fortitude in walking
the righteous path.
It was rather difficult,
but I was determined,
therefore, I could
overcome all hardships.
My brothers, sisters
and in-laws said,
“Your pigpen is good,
and you stop now?
What a pity!”
I answered, “No, I’ve
already made up my mind.
Besides,
the dragon fruit trees
now bear fruits.
for me to harvest.
So I stopped raising pigs.”
How did your family
react to this?
At first, my family was
puzzled about my decision,
but my brother Tám
explained clearly about
the karmic debt and
spiritual aspect of this
so that we all understood.
First, it harms
everyone’s health.
Secondly, it pollutes
water sources.
Therefore, I was
determined to change
my occupation at once.
The resolve of
these tender-hearted
pig farmers to switch to
a loving and eco-friendly
way of life is
truly admirable.
We will continue with
their touching accounts
tomorrow on
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
For more information
about Hsu Chun-De,
please visit
Steadfast viewers,
thank you for joining us
for today’s program.
Next up is
Enlightening Entertainment,
after Noteworthy News.
May miracles bless you
as you lead a life
of caring and dignity.
Daddy wherever you are,
remember me
Daddy whatever you do,
I love you.
And it’s music
that lifts our spirit up,
(Yes) and motivates
the other people,
our refugee brothers
who have been
in the same stress
as we were,
and to help them forget
about their past.
Singing from their heart
to comfort others
is the Refugee All Stars,
from Sierra Leone,
Africa.
To learn more about them,
please join us
this coming Sunday,
October 11, right on
Good People, Good Works.
Wishing all
our Jewish Viewers
a Happy Hanukkah
Wishing all
our Muslim Viewers
a happy Al-Hijrah
Greetings lovely viewers
and thank you
for joining us on
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants.
Pigs are among the
most intelligent animals
on Earth.
In fact, according to
scientific studies,
their intelligence level
surpasses that of
a three-year old child.
They are also
very sensitive and
caring beings as shown
by the fact that
mother pigs sing to
their piglets
while they are nursing.
Dr. Sarah Boysen
of Pennsylvania State
University in the US
concluded that
pigs are able to focus
with a greater intensity
than a chimpanzee.
In fact pigs are also
very sociable and are
always communicating
using body language
and oinks or squeals.
Recognizing
the sentient nature of
our porcine friends,
many pig farmers have
made the noble decision
to leave the industry
and seek
a peaceful livelihood.
Today will introduce you
to more of their heart-felt
stories for the conclusion of our
two-part series entitled,
“Courageous Pig Farmers
Transition to
a Peaceful Lifestyle.”
And every time
a pig had a fever,
I felt pity for them
and also cried. Once,
a pig had a fever, I used
a wet towel to wipe them
and placed it on the pig
like I did for my child.
After I kept setting
the wet towel on them
for awhile, they became
conscious again.
How happy I was!
I felt that pigs are just
like me, so I loved them.
Now I cannot
raise animals for meat
any more.
Graciously sharing their
inspirational changes
are Randall Ball from
Ohio, USA who now
owns Paradise Found,
a local organic produce
distribution service,
Thái Nguyễn and Kim
Phạm from southern
Âu Lạc (Vietnam),
who are now organic
dragon fruit cultivators,
and Hsu Chun-De
in Formosa (Taiwan),
now the president of
Yunlin County’s
Nature Research Institute
and the founder of
Noah’s Ark, a project
to preserve the island’s
water plants.
Livestock production is
a breeding ground for
all sorts of diseases
such as mad cow disease
and swine flu, as well as
for violence and cruelty.
There are a host
of reasons why all
factory farms should be
immediately closed
including
the safeguarding of
our health, enhancing
economic well-being,
improving animal
welfare, ethics and
environmental protection.
Pig farming was
industrialized and
pigs were raised
in high density.
Eventually even the rivers
became putrid, and
we have to deal with the
water pollution problem.
First, the swine flu is
spreading very rapidly
around the world,
bringing death to people.
This flu acts very fast,
and is very powerful.
Second, the daily waste
from raising animals
pollutes the environment
and our health and
our community’s health.
The contaminated water
also seeps into
our groundwater, and
pollutes our water source.
For example,
in some places like
Yin Lin County, people
still use the groundwater,
which is very bad
for our body.
It is because there are
some harmful substances
in pig feed,
like zinc, copper…etc.
These minerals
more or less affect
our health.
The waste from pig farms
has a terrible impact
on the surrounding
ecosphere.
The untreated waste from
thousands of pigs is often
dumped into deep pits
known as “lagoons.”
Typically several
hectares in size,
these lagoons release
toxic gases and odors,
while eventually leaching
millions of liters of
the dangerous liquid
into the ground.
The air is also
contaminated with
noxious gases such as
hydrogen sulfide,
the inhalation of which
can cause severe
respiratory illnesses
and even death.
Enormous amounts of
deadly greenhouse gases
like methane and
nitrous oxide that rapidly
accelerate climate change
are released by
factory farms as well.
Looking back, we have
been polluting the Earth
ever since we started
to raise pigs.
The streams have
become filthy and stinky.
We used to play
in the streams
when we were little.
Now, no one dares
get close to the creeks.
The water is always
dirty and smelly.
All the fish have died off,
and the water plants
have become extinct. The
pollution is very serious.
I think anyone can see
there's just
ecological disaster,
the amount of waste
and pollution they're
putting into the air and
just to be around them,
the stink is unbelievable.
But it really means that
more nutrients have gone
into the water than
they can assimilate and
heats up the oxygen;
the stream becomes
devoid of oxygen
and the fish die.
Well, there's probably
no greater pollution
than what's coming out
of these factory farms.
We should try our best
to stop killing, because
eating animals consumes
a lot of grains, and it is
bad for the environment.
In order to fill up
our stomach, we use up
tens of kilograms of
feedstock in exchange
for one kilogram of meat.
It’s very harmful
to our Mother Earth.
So of course
being veg is better.
And we support it.
Adopting more frugal
ways to reduce waste and
eliminating the overuse
of our precious resources
is also an important point
that Mr. Hsu notes.
By leading a more
virtuous lifestyle,
inner contentment can be
more easily realized.
We should reduce
our material desire, and
elevate the quality of life,
which doesn’t necessarily
cost a lot of money.
You can be very content
with such a life.
It’s very good.
Oh God! Now I feel
so light and can
fully love the animals.
Now I love animals
so much. So,
I advise people to stop
raising animals for food.
Growing dragon fruit
like this makes me feel
so carefree and much
happier than before.
Please stay tuned to
Supreme Master
Television.
Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants
will be right back after
these brief messages.
For the health of
the community and
the world, to preserve
the environment,
to keep the water
fresh and clean, I ask
that people change jobs
to keep our environment
pure and to avoid
harming our community.
We know that
they (livestock) need to
eat grains.
How many kilograms of
grains do they have to eat
in order for us to have
a kilogram of meat?
Approximately 20.
Lambs need to eat
50 kilograms of grains
to produce
one kilogram of meat.
We are in a food crisis;
it’s more economical and
eco-friendly to be veg.
Thank you for joining us
for today’s program
on Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants
featuring pig farmers
who have made
the highly admirable
transition to
peaceful occupations.
Not only do the farmers
grow crops now,
but they apply organic
agricultural methods that
are healthy for humans
and the environment.
In one of the longest
studies ever conducted
on organic farming
practices, research
by the US-based
Rodale Institute has
found that organic soil
management not only
minimizes fossil fuel use,
it can also reduce
atmospheric carbon dioxide
by up to 40 percent
by acting as
an effective carbon sink.
Scientists recommend us
to use organic fertilizers.
I scatter this coconut
powder on top, and
the trees grow very well.
When I changed to using
organic fertilizers
for dragon fruit, then
there isn’t any trace
of nitrate
in the dragon fruit. So
the dragon fruit I grow
are clean and safe to eat.
What are you spreading?
I am spreading
coconut fibers.
It is very good for trees.
We bury organic
fertilizer below and
put coconut fibers
on top of it, trees will
grow roots faster than
using chemical fertilizers.
Trees like this very much,
producing big fruits
because coconut fibers
give nourishment
to the roots.
Roots actually will die
if you use too much
chemical fertilizer.
Located in Yunlin,
Noah’s Ark is Mr. Hsu’s
ongoing effort to prevent
precious local water
plants from extinction
after dams were built
in the area
without consideration
of their harmful
ecological impact.
Wetlands dried up and
biodiversity is threatened.
Mr. Hsu has collected
about 100 species
of plants that now safely
grow in Noah’s Ark.
How did you come up
with the idea of
the eco farm?
What’s the motive
and reason behind it?
When we raised pigs, we
polluted the environment.
Some life forms
in the streams have
disappeared. Our
motive is to compensate
and make up for our sin.
That’s why
we are involved in using
waterwheels to generate
power, and we are
concerned about
the bio-food chains
in the lakes and wetlands.
We used to cause pollution
to these ecosystems.
And the organisms
in the rivers have
all disappeared.
We want to get them back.
Lightness of heart,
ease of conscience,
better health,
improved relations,
spiritual peace of mind…
these are just some of
the amazing benefits that
these former pig farmers
and many others
like them have reaped
through their more
tranquil and benevolent
lifestyle.
The key point is to have
a deep understanding
about the environmental
issues, then you will feel
it is natural to switch
and opt for an alternative,
a better way of life.
With their steadfastness
of spirit and persistence
to do what’s right
by their conscience, the
animals and environment,
these former pig farmers
have stirring words of
encouragement for those
still in animal farming –
walk away from
the industry and
step into a new life of
tranquility and bliss.
My sincere advice from
my heart is that people
should change jobs,
do not raise animals
for food anymore.
Raising animals for food
affects the environment
and waste water
goes into our canal,
polluting the only
water source we all use
everyday. Also,
H1N1 (swine flu) can be
transmitted to humans.
We don’t know
when or who among us
will be infected.
I advise people to
switch from raising
animals for food to
growing vegetables to
assure good health for
everyone in the society.
When I got the deeper
level spiritual aspect
to my connection
to all beings and
my relationship to them
then I became a vegan
and it's really been easier.
This idea that
with our meals, we
caused the suffering and
create this destruction,
it's like a ceremony
that we carry into
every aspect of our life.
Are we going to
celebrate life or are we
going to celebrate death
and destruction? So
that's really the choice.
Let’s together
Be Veg,
Go Green,
and Save the Planet!
Supreme Master Ching Hai
was the invited
the Guest of Honor for
a videoconference on
climate change entitled,
“Global Unity: Together
in Saving Lives,”
held in Hong Kong
on October 3, 2009.
She gave her full support
to all the heroes that
are making a switch to
organic vegan farming.
Nowadays, there are
more and more
good opportunities for
the farmers, retailers,
transporters.
They just do the same,
instead of transporting
pigs, they transport
organic vegetables, etc.
Or the farmer retailers,
they could switch
from the meat business
to organic
vegetable farming.
It took a great amount of
courage in the beginning
to change their whole life
career around,
but all of them would
guarantee that
it was worth it,
more than worth it.
It’s worth the great
freedom of their heart,
their spirit and happiness
of their family as well,
and health.
We are truly grateful for
such courageous people
as Randall Ball,
Thái Nguyễn, Kim Phạm,
and Hsu Chun-De
for their endeavors to
protect human health,
help the animals and heal
the planet through their
eco-friendly lifestyles.
We pray more farmers
will very soon join
this life-saving and
planet-sustaining organic
vegan agriculture trend.
For more information
about Hsu Chun-De,
please visit
Thank you for joining us
today on Animal World:
Our Co-Inhabitants
here on Supreme Master
Television.
Coming up next is
Enlightening
Entertainment
after Noteworthy News.
May all God’s creations
live in great harmony
and true happiness.
Can we avoid today’s
common medical
conditions such as
heart disease,
diabetes and cancer?
I knew that diet cause
disease and I knew that
there was a possibility
for people to stay
healthy living on a diet,
primarily of starches,
rice like in this case.
And it wasn’t inevitable
you had to get sick.
Be sure to watch Part 1
of “Dr. John McDougall,
Enjoy Optimal Health
for Life”
Monday, December 14
on Healthy Living.