The second post of my blog -- back in June, right after my "Welcome" post -- is about Californians for Safe Food, a front group for animal agriculture that opposes a California ballot initiative that will phase out gestation crates, veal crates and battery cages in that state.Ironically, of course, the entities donating to Californians for Safe Food aren't California residents interested in safe food. They are animal abusers -- in the form of egg producers, dairy farms, poultry farms, etc. -- from all over the country. And they are donating millions of dollars to defeat the modest animal-welfare measure.
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act would allow some animals a tiny bit more room than they have now. Pregnant pigs lie in gestation crates that are so small, the pigs cannot turn around. Male calves, only days or weeks old, are forced to stand in veal crates that, again, are so small they cannot turn around. Chickens in battery cages are crowded with other chickens and live in a space that's smaller than a sheet of paper.
Why is the farmed-animal industry opposed to phasing out these cruel cages? Because to do so would mean a loss of profits. This industry, like other animal abusers, only cares about money. Making animals live in confined, squalid conditions requires less money, thereby giving the abusers more of a profit.
Take a look here at the many meat and egg producers who have donated to crush the animal-welfare measure. You may not recognize their names, but when you go to a restaurant or buy meat at the grocery store, how do you know that you're not supporting them?
I don't live in California and can't vote on this initiative. But it still concerns me and affects everyone. The flesh and egg producers think they can deceive the American public by donating millions to quash the ballot initiative.
If you live in California, be sure to vote in support of the initiative. And everyone, regardless where you live, let's show this industry that we don't like their tactics or their abuse of animals. Stop eating eggs and meat at least until after Election Day (Nov. 4) to show this industry we won't stand for deception or animal abuse!
(Photo courtesy of HumaneCalifornia.org. Photo credit: Farm Sanctuary)
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2 comments:
It's VERY important that groundbreaking legislation be passed in California. As much as conservatives like to call California the "Left Coast" or rag on (my personal hero) Barbara Boxer, CA is a microcosm of the entire USA. If it can happen in CA, eventually it will spread to the whole country.
If this animal welfare act passes in CA, then all those "farmers" on that list will be quaking in their boots. God forbid their pigs get to turn their bodies 180 degrees. I feel sorry for the farmers, really.
no.
After I wrote this post, I looked up the businesses from Illinois that have donated to crush the initiative. One was a "farm," and on the top of their Web site they have a picture of several chickens walking happily on open grass. So I e-mailed them and suggested that since they support battery cages, they should change that picture to one of chickens crowded in a battery cage. I haven't gotten a response.
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