AFF Sentinel Vol.5#36
Waging
Political Wars; Now Hijacking Faith
Colorado
Springs, CO August
29, 2008
Edi. Note: The following remarks are the second half of excerpts
from an AFF presentation to the recent National Meat Assn. summer conference. The
first part dealt with the vegetarian goal that underlies the efforts of the
Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS).
We have a message we have to get out to our fellow
Americans. If the "cruelty" and "misery" HSUS
alleges were really common in the livestock industry, the industry would have collapsed
years ago. If today's professional farmers and the rest of the livestock
chain really created conditions in which animals were not contented, did
not thrive and grow, they would lose their livelihood and their money. HSUS
does not understand economics any better than it knows the real instincts and
needs of animals.
But they do understand emotional appeals to voters
and the political approaches to getting what they want. They have been
successful at banning common livestock production practices in Florida,
Arizona, and Oregon. They have forced legislation that is a defensive surrender
in Colorado. Restrictive proposals are on the ballot in California's election
this fall. Observers feel their strategy is to get legislation or
constitutional amendments in 12-15 states and then use those results to
pressure Congress into national legislation.
They have already succeeded in getting horse
slaughter banned on the state level in Texas and Illinois. Now they are supporting
a federal bill (H.R. 6598) in Congress to outlaw the knowing possession,
sale or transport of horses for slaughter for human consumption across state lines
or international borders, punishable with fines and prison terms up
to three years.
And now they are succeeding in turning our
very churches and synagogues against animal agriculture.
Recently, they unveiled, "All Creatures Great and Small," a new
campaign designed to show religious leaders opposing mainstream animal
agriculture. They list bishops of the Methodist, Episcopal, Jewish and
Muslim religions endorsing their campaign. They have scheduled events at Washington's
National Cathedral to highlight their message.
The announcement noted, "In the last 30-40
years, agriculture has taken a harsh turn away from responsible animal
husbandry on family farms to unacceptable mistreatment of animals on industrialized,
factory farms."
The release featured a chief rabbi
"wholeheartedly" endorsing the campaign and the bishop of Washington
D.C. saying "More humane and sustainable dietary choices can be a powerful
testimony of our faith ..."
This particular campaign is initially focused on
reducing egg consumption and regulating cages. Pacelle himself has been cagey
regarding the stepping-stones HSUS contemplates. Asked whether HSUS
would leave animal agriculture alone once laying cages, gestation crates and
veal stalls were eliminated or modified to his liking, Pacelle refused that
promise, saying his organization would decide that when the time came. Of
course, their vegetarian ultimate goal belies anything short of outlawing
meat production, albeit on a step-by-step progression.
My purpose today is to again apprise you of what
this group is about and ask for your help. And we must realize, they are not
the only group with their sights on us - just one of the best known today. The PEW
Charitable Trust has much larger resources, many of the same arguments and
a broader set of goals for restructuring agriculture, though without the
overt vegetarian underlying motivations.
AFF knows it has pricked HSUS's hide a little bit,
from their response to our challenges of their handling of the Portales
livestock market affair. We want to continue to challenge their views and their
attempts to shape the unthinking emotional reactions of people and legislators.
They have patience, lawyers and money. We have the desire to fight and we need
your assistance.
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