By Rowena
Written in December 2015

At a time of year when much is spoken about good will to all, we must surely spare a thought for turkeys.

I was prompted to create this post when I had the very good fortune to come across this heart-warming podcast from Big Fat Vegan Radio in which several people are asked to tell a story celebrating the lives of the Turkeys closest to them.  It is such a delight to hear about happy, healthy turkeys living life to the full.  As shown in this Video from Farm Sanctuary:

For those that don’t know or need a simple way of showing the heart-wrenching reality that most of our turkey friends face we can’t go past this recent offering from the amazing Bite Size Vegan:

And no!  It doesn’t just “happen like that in other countries” it happens right here in Australia too! Check out this highly informative website and activist materials by Canberran Vegan and Animal Activist, Lara Drew for Animal Liberation ACT:

http://www.bigbirdsbigcruelty.org/facts

http://bigbirdsbigcruelty.org/materials

Here is Lara being interviewed about the launch of the campaign by Leigh-Chantelle of Viva La Vegan.com in 2011.

Thank goodness for Bede Carmody and his A Poultry Place sanctuary!  You can read his latest newsletter here (which includes bank details for very welcome donations).  You can also keep up with the latest from the sanctuary by liking the fantastic facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/apoultryplace

As we have seen and heard, it is clear that turkeys just want to have fun so let’s end with this wonderful Christmas poem dedicated to our fine feathered friends.  Merry Christmas EVERYONE!

Talking Turkeys!! By Benjamin Zephaniah

Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas
Cos turkeys jus wanna hav fun
Turkeys are cool, an turkeys are wicked
An every turkey has a Mum.
Be nice to yu turkeys dis christmas,
Don’t eat it, keep it alive,
It could be yu mate an not on yu plate
Say, Yo! Turkey I’m on your side.

I got lots of friends who are turkeys
An all of dem fear christmas time,
Dey say ‘Benj man, eh, I wanna enjoy it,
But dose humans destroyed it
An humans are out of dere mind,
Yeah, I got lots of friends who are turkeys
Dey all hav a right to a life,
Not to be caged up an genetically made up
By any farmer an his wife.

Turkeys jus wanna play reggae
Turkeys jus wanna hip-hop
Havey you ever seen a nice young turkey saying,
‘I cannot wait for de chop’?
Turkeys like getting presents, dey wanna watch christmas TV,
Turkeys hav brains an turkeys feel pain
In many ways like yu an me.

I once knew a turkey His name was Turkey
He said ‘Benji explain to me please,
Who put de turkey in christmas
An what happens to christmas trees?’
I said, ‘I am not too sure Turkey
But it’s nothing to do wid Christ Mass
Humans get greedy and waste more dan need be
An business men mek loadsa cash.’

So, be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
Invite dem indoors fe sum greens
Let dem eat cake an let dem partake
In a plate of organic grown beans,
Be nice to yu turkey dis christmas
An spare dem de cut of de knife,
Join Turkeys United an dey’ll be delighted
An yu will mek new friends ‘FOR LIFE’.

And just one more video :).  This 2015 Farm Sanctuary Thanksgiving feast for Turkeys!