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Andrew Skowron has been an animal rights activist for over 20 years, and for many years he's been documenting the reality of animals in factory farms. The places he visits and the images he sees on a daily basis are unbearable for most people, but Andrew keeps coming back and fighting even harder for the world to see the animals for who they truly are - friends, not food.

For the new decade, Andrew wrote a letter to everybody who loves animals and wants to see them free and happy.

Andrew

More info: andrewskowron.org | Instagram | Facebook

#1

A Fox Making An Eye Contact During An Intervention On A Fur Farm

A Fox Making An Eye Contact During An Intervention On A Fur Farm

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"Hi, my name is Andrew. I've been working as a farm animal photographer for many years. Today, I want to ask you a favor for the new decade."

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    "Every year, I visit numerous factory farms. Very often people don't want to look at my photos, not because they are bad, but because they show the reality our society doesn't want to see. We don't want to see the pain, the neglect, the suffering. We don't want to acknowledge the terrible crime we, as humans, committed towards the animals. And I get it, trust me. I know how difficult it is to see another living creature hurt. I've been to more factory farms than I can count, and the things I've seen will haunt me forever."

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    #5

    A Sleeping Chinchilla On A Fur Farm

    A Sleeping Chinchilla On A Fur Farm

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    MacDudu
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What a miserable existence before they are finally killed for their skins

    tara
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How could anyone want an ugly coat, instead of this adorable little thing?!

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    "Calves crying for their mothers, as they are taken away from them right after birth. Exhausted, exploited laying hens, practically featherless, barely breathing. Broiler chickens too heavy to lift their own bodies, unable to get to water or food. Minks and foxes going crazy in tiny cages of fur farms, with injuries to their paws and bodies. Quails kept in cages so small and dirty, they couldn't even dream of spreading their wings. Piglets having their tails cut off, teeth clipped, castrated with no anesthesia, screaming for help. Sows kept in farrowing crates, where they can't even turn around. Geese transported to slaughter in 40-degree heat."

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    #6

    Motherhood In Factory Farms, Pig Farm

    Motherhood In Factory Farms, Pig Farm

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    #7

    Pigs Consoling Each Other, Pig Farm

    Pigs Consoling Each Other, Pig Farm

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    Ronald odom
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    How do they know they at consoling each other. I wish people had this kind of love for their fellow humans.

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    "I've been to hell and I keep coming back. I get it - it's difficult to watch. But we cannot turn a blind eye on the way animals are treated on factory farms anymore. We cannot pretend they are not there, just because we can't hear their screams from our apartments. It's time to wake up. It's time to make an uprising."

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    #9

    A Piglet Having Its Tail Cut Off Without Anesthesia

    A Piglet Having Its Tail Cut Off Without Anesthesia

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    Kelley Shy
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Teeth are cut because they are super sharp and while nursing, they will cause damage while nursing. This leads to a huge increase in mama pig getting an infection and possibly sick or worse, die. The piglets will also fight each other over where to nurse, causing injuries that can produce life long struggles...like losing an eye etc. Teeth cutting, tail docking, and castration are all done without anesthesia because...pigs do HORRIBLE on anesthesia. The risk of the pig dying while under the influence of anesthesia, for a procedure that takes less than 5mins, is not worth it...basic risk benefit analysis. The procedures are done sterile and quickly as possible...for the sake of the pig. They are back to doing Pig Things in less than 5minutes from being let go after procedure. Under anesthesia, the recover is hours and dying is a huge possibility.

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    "This next decade, I am asking you to be more open-minded. To do your research. I am asking you not to skip that slaughterhouse video. I am asking you to live according to your values - if you really love animals, help them. Don't eat them. Support animal rights activists, fight for the better world with us. Open your mind, eyes, and heart. The nightmare we created for the animals is real and difficult to accept, but if we unite and act now, as a community - we will win this fight and make this world a better place for the animals. And for ourselves."

    #10

    Broiler Chicken, Unable To Move

    Broiler Chicken, Unable To Move

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    Laura Thai
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    meat chickens are designed for this unfortunately. generally people slaughter them a bit before they splay out. Eventually they are too heavy. I raised meat birds. They lived a happy life until they died.

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    #11

    A Piglet Screaming In Pain, Pig Farm

    A Piglet Screaming In Pain, Pig Farm

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    Samantha Lomb
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Pigs scream at literally everything they dislike, its their main defense mechanism. There is no guarantee this one is in pain rather than just unhappy

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    "I believe in you. I believe your heart is stronger than your taste buds. I believe you don't want animals to suffer. I believe we're in this together. Let's make this new decade a new era."

    #12

    Terrified Fox, Waiting To Be Rescued, Fur Farm

    Terrified Fox, Waiting To Be Rescued, Fur Farm

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    Brenda Pereira
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I hope he got rescued. There is no reason to wear fur in a world where it can be made from fabrics that are hard to tell from the real thing. What benefit is there in owning real fur?

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    #13

    Determining The Sex Of The Chickens

    Determining The Sex Of The Chickens

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    Slune
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm only buying eggs where they don't shred the masculine chicks. Costs a bit more but makes me feeling better.

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    #14

    Dirty And Exhausted Pig On A Pig Farm In Poland

    Dirty And Exhausted Pig On A Pig Farm In Poland

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    Erling Brendefur
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is how pigs look. It is not possible to tell if this pig is sad or not from this picture.

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    #15

    A Pig Breathing Fresh Air For The First Time

    A Pig Breathing Fresh Air For The First Time

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    Ronald odom
    Community Member
    4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    1) there is no context to show where they are at. 2) carbon dioxide and oxygen are colorless so you can not tell how fresh it is. 3) if they did not get fresh air they would be dead.

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    #17

    Pigs Going To Slaughter In An Overcrowded Truck

    Pigs Going To Slaughter In An Overcrowded Truck

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    Charlese Bonca
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look like they just came from a fair. I can tell because of the blue stripes on the back.

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    #19

    A Raccoon Dog, Fur Farm In Poland

    A Raccoon Dog, Fur Farm In Poland

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    The Girl on Fire
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    People buy raccoon fur? And fox fur? Why. It's not only inhumane and stupid, it's ugly too

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    #21

    An Activist Holding A One-Day-Old Broiler Chicken

    An Activist Holding A One-Day-Old Broiler Chicken

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    Samantha Lomb
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You can't rescue broilers. They are genetically bred to get so heavy so fast they break legs, end up with deformed beaks etc. They cannot have quality of life beyond 6-8 weeks

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    #22

    A Crying Cow On The Way To Slaughterhouse

    A Crying Cow On The Way To Slaughterhouse

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    Charlese Bonca
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Animals don't shed tears due to sadness. It's to clean their eyes. Just like dogs and cats and pigs and lambs.

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    #24

    Laboratory Rabbit

    Laboratory Rabbit

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    The Random Merp
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's so much wrong in this picture! Bunnies need a carpeted flooring, or else they'll get feet pains with their overly fluffy feet bottoms. Bunny has nothing to do, either, and nowhere to hide!

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    #25

    A Terrified Raccoon Dog, Fur Farm In Poland

    A Terrified Raccoon Dog, Fur Farm In Poland

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    #26

    Calves In Igloo Booths, Dairy Farm

    Calves In Igloo Booths, Dairy Farm

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    Lauren Misek
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is actually pretty nice compared to the single sheet uninsulated plywood calf shacks I've seen in my local rural areas. It's very sad but these little guys have it better than most.

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    #27

    Calves Separated From Their Mothers And Each Other, Dairy Farm

    Calves Separated From Their Mothers And Each Other, Dairy Farm

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    #28

    Pigs Going To Slaughter, Trying To Breathe Fresh Air For The First Time

    Pigs Going To Slaughter, Trying To Breathe Fresh Air For The First Time

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    Kelley Shy
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    To assume that the pigs are "struggling to get fresh air" is absurd. Pigs are like dogs in a lot of ways. They are very curious in nature, have great hearing, and incredible sense of smell...for rooting out food that is underneath the soil. Pigs will always smell to get a sense of their surroundings, when their vision is blocked by something...just like dogs. If you have ever seen a pig pile (where all the pigs lay all over each other while they sleep), their snouts are crammed quite often, which they don't care...otherwise they would move to a more comfortable position.

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    #29

    Pig Screaming In Pain

    Pig Screaming In Pain

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    L McN
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or, just screaming for attention. Or just because they want to. You know, because they do that....

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    #30

    A Calf On A Dairy Farm, Kept In An Igloo Booth

    A Calf On A Dairy Farm, Kept In An Igloo Booth

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    Erling Brendefur
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The calf is happy, waiting for its next meal. That is what most of them are all about. That and sleeping. Like human babies. 🙂

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    #31

    Piglets Hugging And Playing, Pig Farm

    Piglets Hugging And Playing, Pig Farm

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    Rosa Rose
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    At least here they have sand under their feet in stead of hard plastic...

    #32

    A Chicken Transported To Slaughter

    A Chicken Transported To Slaughter

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    JayJayKay
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Chickens are so smart and full of personality! They have the intelligence of a 3 year old human child!

    #33

    A Sick Quail On A Ukrainian Quail Farm

    A Sick Quail On A Ukrainian Quail Farm

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    Iapetos
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do the idiots constructing those farms not see that they get their throats stuck in those bars when everything is overcrowded?!

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    #35

    Exhausted Broiler Chicken

    Exhausted Broiler Chicken

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    Ava Florine
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think that chicken is molting. It's completely normal. It just means they lose their feathers and grow new ones. I think chickens like this are in horrible conditions so don't get me wrong when I say this chicken is normal besides the fact that they're in bad conditions.

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    #36

    A Dirty, Scared Pig, Pig Factory Farm

    A Dirty, Scared Pig, Pig Factory Farm

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    #37

    A Scared Piglet Looking At The Photographer

    A Scared Piglet Looking At The Photographer

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    #38

    A Terrified Piglet Before Castration, Pig Farm

    A Terrified Piglet Before Castration, Pig Farm

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    #39

    Minks Living In Dirt, Fur Farm

    Minks Living In Dirt, Fur Farm

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    #40

    One-Day-Old Broiler Chickens

    One-Day-Old Broiler Chickens

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    Claire
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And for the males, the first day is also the last day of their lives.

    #41

    Awful Conditions Sows Must Live In Factory Farms

    Awful Conditions Sows Must Live In Factory Farms

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    #42

    Horrific Conditions On A Quail Farm

    Horrific Conditions On A Quail Farm

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    #43

    Pig Interacting With Activists, Pig Farm

    Pig Interacting With Activists, Pig Farm

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    #44

    Piglets Cuddling With Mom, Pig Farm

    Piglets Cuddling With Mom, Pig Farm

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    Brenda Pereira
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They may be cuddling with mom, but mom is confined in a space so small she can barely stand.

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    #45

    Silent Victims, Laying Hen Farm

    Silent Victims, Laying Hen Farm

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    Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That title got me. Then seeing the poor dead little baby being trampled on..So sad!

    #46

    Foxes Interacting With Activists, Fur Farm

    Foxes Interacting With Activists, Fur Farm

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    #47

    Piglets Keeping Each Other Warm, Pig Farm

    Piglets Keeping Each Other Warm, Pig Farm

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    #48

    Chinchilla Fur Farm, Ukraine

    Chinchilla Fur Farm, Ukraine

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    hunger games
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this still isn't good but it is better than the other one where the wire appeared to be cutting into his feet

    #49

    Curious Pigs On A Pig Farm In Poland

    Curious Pigs On A Pig Farm In Poland

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    #50

    Mink Farm In Poland

    Mink Farm In Poland

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    #51

    Baby Chinchillas Hugging, Fur Farm

    Baby Chinchillas Hugging, Fur Farm

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    #52

    Broiler Chickens, Interacting With Each Other

    Broiler Chickens, Interacting With Each Other

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    #53

    Fox Fur Farm In Poland

    Fox Fur Farm In Poland

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    #54

    Hatched Chicks Waiting To Be Transported, Hatchery

    Hatched Chicks Waiting To Be Transported, Hatchery

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    #55

    The Beginning Of New Life, Hatchery

    The Beginning Of New Life, Hatchery

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    #56

    Laying Hens In Cage System

    Laying Hens In Cage System

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    #57

    Broiler Chicken With An Injured Beak, Ukraine

    Broiler Chicken With An Injured Beak, Ukraine

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    Samantha Lomb
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is not injured. Broilers are genetic monstrosities. Deformed beaks are common

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    #58

    Chickens Going To Slaughter In Broken Containers

    Chickens Going To Slaughter In Broken Containers

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    #59

    Laying Hens In Cage System

    Laying Hens In Cage System

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    #60

    Longing For Freedom, Geese Farm

    Longing For Freedom, Geese Farm

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    Jette Wang Wahnon
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This poor goose has had his feathers yanked out and is now set aside till he has had new feathers long enough for the «harvesting« Try having your hair pulled out and you will know what he suffers.All for the duvets IKEA and other companies sell.IKEA was caught in the act and put out a statement that they did not know and would stop buying...LIES,they just found another supplier..

    #61

    Terrified Piglet, Right Before Tail Docking

    Terrified Piglet, Right Before Tail Docking

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    #62

    A Curious Mink On A Fur Farm, Poland

    A Curious Mink On A Fur Farm, Poland

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    #63

    The First Day Of Broiler Chickens In Poultry House

    The First Day Of Broiler Chickens In Poultry House

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    Jette Wang Wahnon
    Community Member
    4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is the stuff nightmares are made of !!These photos will be haunting me for ever...I am literally sitting here crying snot, and at the same time SO VERY angry with myself that I have been living in ignorance of so many of the things depicted here.I knew about the Polish geese having their feathers yanked out,time and time again,while screaming in anguish and stopped using duvets...IKEA sells them though..and stopped eating suckling pigs after I accidentally wandered into the kitchen of a restaurant well-known for roast suckling pig.My elderly neighbour has the most pampered poultry I have ever seen and spends hours every day taking care of them.He supplies me with fresh eggs. The agonising thing about this post is this overwhelming feeling of helplessness.I am just one elderly lady that take in abused greyhounds and donate to shelters,but it is such «a p**s-ant« effort taking into consideration this horrific post.I admire the photographer,HE IS TRULY A GREAT HUMAN BEING !!

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