Buddhists bless chicken spirits

[Chicago Democrat]

Buddhists bless chicken spirits
February 14, 2004

BUDDHISTS in Thailand have blessed the spirits of more than 26 million chickens who have been slaughtered to halt the spread of bird flu in Thai poultry farms.

Chicken eating fairs also are being held throughout the country to dispel public fears about the disease. The mass chicken slaughter violates Buddhist principles, and the ceremony was aimed at easing public guilt over killing the birds.

About 108 Buddhist monks swathed in yellow robes chanted blessings for the birds in a merit-making ceremony at the Agriculture Ministry in Bangkok before senior officials offered them a meal of fried chicken and chicken curry.

Ten Asian governments - Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam - are battling the disease so it does not grow to the proportions of SARS last year, which devastated tourism and travel to much of Asia. A Thai Government spokesman said the worst of the bird flu outbreak was over and although it had hit the poultry farmers, travel to Thailand had not been harmed

http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8673703%255E401,00.html

[JoFerret]

1. Good

.

[demoman123]

2. Peace be unto these chicken spirits

and the spirits of all fowl.

[Chicago Democrat]

3. They all died to save us!

That is so noble; may they all be enlightened in future lives!