Ballot Proposals affecting animals in 6 states-Via the Humane Society

[nam78_two]

http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/ballot_initiatives/2006_ballot_initiatives.html

Arizona: Yes on Proposition 204
Arizonans for Humane Farms is leading the charge to pass Proposition 204 to ban the intensive confinement of pregnant pigs and veal calves on industrialized factory farms. Arizona farmers have traditionally raised animals in a humane manner, allowing them access to the outdoors and the ability to engage in their natural behavior. But today, many family farmers have been displaced by corporate-owned farms where profits, not humane treatment, drive animal husbandry practices. Many animals are confined in small crates, and suffer tremendously. The extreme overcrowded conditions can also pollute the air, contaminate groundwater, and threaten human health.

Proposition 204 would prohibit the cruel confinement of pregnant pigs in gestation crates as well as veal calves in small crates. The measure requires that the animals have enough room to turn around, lie down, and extend their limbs. There are an estimated 16,000 breeding pigs in Arizona. When kept in two-foot-wide metal gestation crates during their pregnancies, these sows cannot turn around or fully extend their limbs. Arizona currently does not have a meaningful crated veal industry. This measure would prevent the establishment of factory farm veal operations in the state.

Volunteer signature gatherers far surpassed their goal of roughly 120,000 signatures and submitted 218,273 signatures of registered Arizona voters to the Secretary of State's office to get this initiative on the ballot. More volunteers will be needed for the next phase of the campaign to increase voter turnout. Click here to sign up.

More at the link.

[Raine]

1. Thumbs Up

I'm not in Arizona but if I was I'd vote yes. Good luck, hope it passes! :thumbsup:

[nam78_two]

2. yep!/nt

[pooja]

3. Meat needs to be consumed a lot less in this country... It is not a

necessary staple to have at every meal... I'm not saying become a vegetarian, but moderation would lead to a healthier way of life and a better quality of product when we eat it. The difference between a farm raised chicken without tons of hormones and vaccinations is amazingly better than the purdue crap.

[OnionPatch]

9. That's the way we did it.

We didn't become vegetarians, we just eat *less* meat, but we now buy good, humanely-raised meat without hormones, etc. It is expensive, yes. But the true price is much less when you factor in the cost of the harm done to the environment, our health, the health of the animals and to small farmers all over America by factory-farms. Also, I'm happy to give my business to a REAL farmer instead of some soul-less mega-corporation.

[dusty64]

4. I truly hope these

measures pass.

[Eric J in MN]

5. kicked and recommnded

http://www.hsus.org/legislation_laws/ballot_initiatives/2006_ballot_initiatives.html

[Benhurst]

6. Recommended #3

[Vidar]

7. K&R.

[nam78_two]

8. Awww-one vote short of making it to the GP

Hint hint-to anyone who might see this ;).

Dis 'ere piglet requests that you do this ;) (shameless manipulation with cute images at work):

[HughLefty1]

10. Kick...

Kick..not enough posts yet to recommend. GL.

[Mend]

11. New York Times Magazine today said when you eat cows, you

are also eating their manure. Rather than clean the over-crowded feedlots, they zap the meat/manure before it gets to your (not our) table. We don't eat animals and wish everyone would know about all the cruelty and filth and toxic substances in the animal factory farming.