THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANAND NAIDOO, CNN ANCHOR: The spread of mad cow and foot-and- mouth diseases have proved disastrous for much of European food industry this year, and the situation has forced many to turn to organic foods. Jim Gibbons of EUTV explains how international experts now are taking a fresh look at the way farm animals are treated.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JIM GIBBONS, EUTV CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This may look like a scene from the past, but you could just be looking at the future. This is a biological farm in France's (UNINTELLIGIBLE) region, not far from the city of Strasbourg. Here, the animals have a good life, far removed from the often grim conditions of modern industrial agriculture.
But recent scares like BSA have made European consumers more selective about what they buy and more aware of the need to treat animals better.
CRISTINA GARCIA, SPANISH MEMBER: Europeans don't want animals to suffer, the Europeans don't want animals testing where they are not absolutely necessary, and I think that we are going to work in this direction.
GIBBONS: This symposium in the Chateau of Clinentahl (ph) brought together representatives of indigenous peoples from around the world, with academics, religious leaders and other politicians. They have come to discuss how to improve humankind's relationship with the animal kingdom.
JEAN-PIERRE RIBAUT, SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZER: We cannot accept going on in this direction where money is the most important factor, which conditions all of our way of exploiting the nature.
GIBBONS: In the pleasant surroundings of this Alsatian chateau, people from indigenous groups explained how they exploit animals to live, but treat them with greater respect. Many believe it comes from knowing the animals for more than just the product on supermarket shelves.
TATIANA NIGENOVA, INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF SIBERIA: We can help ourselves to protect animals with the promotion of the ideas of indigenous populations.
AMY O'DONOGHUE, CENTRAL LAND COUNCIL, AUSTRALIA: It starts with the children, and educating people to respect animals as a cause.
GIBBONS: But children brought up on a farm life can be a lot of fun. Many town's people have lost the respect that comes from the direct knowledge of the animals that provide their food. One MEP, herself the daughter of a farmer, doesn't want to return to old- fashioned methods, just old-fashioned attitudes.
MARIE ANNE ISLER-BEGUIN, FRENCH MEMBER: The animals were more respected by our parents that now. In the industry, there are farmers that have no respect for the animal.
GIBBONS: Given the chance, animals like to have fun today, and after the food scares of recent years, their prospects are looking up.
(on camera): As farm animal go, these are the lucky ones. It may never be possible for all farm animals in Europe to enjoy this much freedom, but what the public want is for the animals that we eat and raise to be treated more fairly, and that's what the politicians are trying to achieve.
Jim Gibbons, EUTV, for the CNN WORLD REPORT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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