Who is Californians for Humane Farms?
Californians for Humane Farms is sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, Farm Sanctuary and other animal protection groups, family farmers, veterinarians, and public health professionals, who have joined together in an effort to launch a statewide initiative for the November 2008 ballot—one that will improve the lives of millions of farm animals in California.
What will this measure do?
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act provides the most basic protection to farm animals: merely allowing them to turn around and extend their limbs. It's hard to imagine a more moderate initiative. The purpose of the measure is to prevent three of the most cruel and inhumane forms of extreme confinement in the world of animal agribusiness: veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates. All three of these practices have already been legislated against in the European Union.
Why launch this initiative in California?
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will reduce the suffering of nearly 20 million animals confined on California factory farms. The measure will also prevent other out-of-state factory farm operators from setting up shop in our state with veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates.
Will this initiative put farmers out of business?
This measure targets large factory farms that have displaced smaller, independent family farms. Not only will this effort prevent animal cruelty, it can help protect small farmers from massive animal factories. Furthermore, producers will have six years—until 2015—to phase out these cruelest confinement practices, allowing ample time for the transition.
How do these factory farms affect public health?
The tolls factory farms exact on public health are well-documented. In 2003, the American Public Health Association passed a resolution urging officials nationwide to adopt a moratorium on factory farms. Studies have found that neighbors report more frequent occurrences of headaches, excessive coughing, diarrhea, and burning eyes as well as respiratory problems, weakness, and nausea. Furthermore, recent studies have found that children who attend schools near factory farms suffer increased incidences of asthma.
Will food prices increase if this initiative passes?
Published research as well as an analysis by a California-based poultry economist (see page 4) show that it costs producers less than one additional penny per egg not to confine laying hens in battery cages. While it's possible that giving these animals better living conditions may increase consumer prices by a few pennies per dozen, the hidden cost of such inhumane confinement is increased cruelty, and it's the animals who are paying that extra price.
How can I help?
Visit www.humanecalifornia.org for more information on how to support this historic initiative. Contact director@humanecalifornia.org for more information on how to help, including door-to-door canvassing, securing campaign endorsements, fundraising, etc. And of course, vote YES on the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on November 4, 2008!
Californians for Humane Farms
Post Office Box 418202
Sacramento, CA 95841-8202
(323) 896-1126
director@humanecalifornia.org
Vote Yes on Prop 2 in November!!
Perhaps you should read more than one post before deciding exactly where I stand on a topic as big as the animal agriculture.
ReplyDeleteTwo suggestions:
http://jadedhippy.blogspot.com/2007/12/thoughts-on-pagan-vegetarianism.html
http://jadedhippy.blogspot.com/2007/11/on-vegetarianveganism.html
Practical or not, I believe Prop 2 will cut down on the massive agribusiness I grew up around that is absolutely disregarding of the animal suffering it causes, and promote the creation of farms like Polyface.