The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act (Prop 2)

[Omaha Steve]

Run time: 02:33 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK5oCR5saLI   Posted on YouTube: January 10, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: September 04, 2008 By DU Member: Omaha Steve Views on DU: 247

 
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=3412&ptid=9

Donald Lathbury

It's been said here before, and it'll be said again. The United Farm Workers may not be one of the largest unions in California, but in many ways, they represent a constituency that goes far beyond union rolls. Today, the union founded by Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta endorsed Prop 2, a measure that would protect farm animals from inhumane treatment.

"At a time when farm workers are making tremendous sacrifices in the fields of California, we recognize the importance of supporting Prop 2, the type of sensible reform that improves public health and stops the worst animal cruelty on factory farms," said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez. "The founding principles of Prop 2 are the same as that of the Farm Worker Movement, built on the vision of Cesar Chavez. During his lifetime, he championed ‘kindness and compassion toward all living things.' He said: 'We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that the animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect them and love them as we love ourselves.'"

The UFW's stance in defense of the most basic needs of battery hens, veal calves, and impregnated pigs is touching, but it's worth remembering the real human toll imposed by factory farms too.

The American Public Health Association has called for a moratorium on factory farms because of their detrimental contribution to water and air quality. Moreover, by closely confining six to eight hens in crates so small that they cannot turn around or extend their wings in large warehouses stacked to the brim with as many as 125,000 hens, the conglomerates that own the 30 egg-producing factory farms in California -- and control almost all production in California -- have created a perfect environment for the spread of avian flu and other diseases transmitted from birds to humans. Clearly, the laborers who work in such retched conditions, on top of developing psychological issues due to the witnessing of daily systematic abuse, are also at a higher risk of exposure to potentially deadly diseases. In this way, it should come as no surprise that the union most closely identified with farm laborers would embrace a measure that helps improve some of the worst farm labor conditions in the state.

[mcg]

1. Prop 2 is important,

I went to a Humane Society fund raising party for prop 2 and got a better understanding of the situation. The factory farm businesses are drawing a line in the stand on this. It's a showdown. I'm confident that it will pass but donated anyway to help with ads to educate people. It's an opportune time to educate people on factory farms because there is something for them to vote on, so they are more likely to listen. It would be good for prop 2 to pass by a wide margin.

There's already a disinformation campaign on the web, complete with PR people posing as concerned moms, etc.