I was reading the LA Times and came across this comic. I was just in a conversation with a couple of girlfriends this week talking about the Prop as well. My neighbor across the street has a sign up to vote Yes on his fence.
Patrick McDonnell devotes his strip this week to messages he hopes will sway voters to vote “yes” on Proposition 2, which sets size standards for cages housing hens, veal calves and breeding pigs. The New Jersey artist is on the board of the Humane Society of the United States, the major backer of the proposition.
I myself just don’t know. I want what’s best for the animals especially after writing about ( I wish I could be the person my dog thinks I am )and reading Jana Kohl’s book, Rare Breed of Love.
Anyone have any ideas?
If I lived in California I would vote for Prop 2. I was unsure after reading your post why you were unsure about your position on it. Factory Farming is as abusive as puppy mills, a practice I think should be completely illegal. Recently I wrote a post entitled “For Healthy Change, Vote with Your Dollars” which is another way to create better conditions for farm animals. You can read it at http://wildreiki.wordpress.com/2008/10/08/for-healthy-change-vote-with-your-dollars
My hope for the future is that our culture will finally arrive at a better understanding of animals and our connection to them!
Thanks for the comments. Here’s the other side,
Proposition 2 puts Californians AT RISK for AVIAN INFLUENZA, Salmonella contamination, and other diseases. California farmers help protect Californians against Avian Influenza, or BIRD FLU, and other diseases by using modern housing systems to raise egg-laying hens–housing systems effectively banned by Proposition 2. It is so EXTREME that it also effectively bans “cage-free” eggs, forcing hens outdoors for most of the day.
Whether that’s true, I don’t know. Cost of eggs will go up. PS. Glad to see other reiki practitioners addressing the issues as well 😉
To read more on the Humane Society of the United States’ position, visit http://www.yesonprop2.com
To read more on Californians for Safe Food’s position, visit http://www.safecaliforniafood.org
Lisa Ling did a report on how we treat the animals that we eat. Her article stated-
Small family farms aren’t the only ones jumping on the cage-free, free-range bandwagon. Lisa says many corporations are adopting a similar philosophy. In 2000, Chipotle Mexican Grill, a fast-food chain, began using cage-free pork in their burritos and tacos. This year, all 8 million pounds of pork they’ll use will come from cage-free pigs.
In 2005, Whole Foods Market began exclusively selling eggs from cage-free hens. Then, Ben & Jerry’s followed suit and became the first major food manufacturer to commit to using only cage-free eggs in their ice cream. Burger King, the world’s second largest burger chain, has also announced that 5 percent of its eggs and 10 percent of its pork now comes from animals not confined to crates or cages.
Now that you’ve heard both sides of the argument, Oprah says you can start making conscious choices about the food you eat. “California voters, Proposition 2 will be on your ballot next month,” she says. “The rest of us can vote at the grocery store with the food we buy for our tables.”
Thanks for that additional information!
FACT, Food Animal Concerns Trust might be a good resource for information about the concerns for farming practices, cages, and contaminants, http://www.foodanimalconcerns.org
I do know that one of the points of having the hens go outside is that in the places that advertise that the hens are “cage free” only means that they are massively crowded on an inside floor. Conditions are so close and stressful that they must still be fed antibiotics to reduce the risk of respiratory infections and if they are laying hens they are debeaked so that they do not harm each other when they vent their stress.
I am so pleased to see that there are more and more choices available for the human consumer!