Life The Size Of A Sheet Of Paper

What is a sheet of paper? For my writer husband, a sheet of paper signifies a myriad world of stories to tell, for a first grader it may represent a canvas for great art, but for most chickens in California, a sheet of paper represents home.

That is because egg-producing chickens spend their entire lives in barren conditions, several chickens cramped in a cage with personal space that is smaller than an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper. These chickens cannot spread their wings or do anything else that comes naturally to them like pecking or grooming or acting like, well, chickens. Battery cages are cruel and unusual punishment for creatures who did nothing to deserve such treatment. The same is to be said for pigs in gestation crates and baby cows in veal crates. photo credit: Farm Sanctuary

That's why I'm looking forward to Election Day, when my fellow California voters will turn their attention to a unique and important proposition that will phase out some of the state's most cruel and inhumane factory farming practices.

Proposition 2--the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act--will simply ensure that certain farm animals in California can turn around and extend their limbs. When approved, it will phase out three of the worst factory farm abuses: veal crates for calves, battery cages for egg-laying hens, and gestation crates for breeding pigs.
photo credit: East Bay Animal Advocates

It's not much to ask factory farms to merely give animals a bit of room to move, but as we saw earlier this year with a shocking undercover investigation into a California dairy cow slaughter plant, we can't trust factory farms to regulate themselves.

It's early in the election cycle, but there's already a tidal wave of support for Prop 2, with hundreds of endorsements including Senator Feinstein, The California Democratic Party, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and city councils like Los Angeles and Davis. Groups like The Humane Society of the United States, Center for Food Safety, Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Sierra Club-California have endorsed, as well as hundreds of California veterinarians and the California Veterinary Medical Association. Almost 800,000 California voters signed petitions to place the initiative on November's ballot.

At the same time that humane groups are getting the word out about Prop 2, agribusiness companies and factory farms are funneling millions of dollars into a massive opposition campaign. This is despite the fact that Arizona and Florida voters have overwhelmingly approved similar citizen initiatives, and state legislators in Colorado and Oregon have passed similar laws.

For those of us who care about animal welfare, there's never been a better time to donate and get involved--even for people who don't live in California. Watch this new video about Prop 2, and then make a donation or volunteer to support the campaign.

Comments

[spayus]

I'm a former rancher who believed that we were doing right by the animals in our care back in our day. Since, CPAs took over farming operations, quality of life for the animals is no longer of any concern whatsoever. All farm animals suffer and Prop 2 is a good start but only a start. Have you ever been in a gas station next to a cattle hauling truck? Trucks crammed with animals urinating and defecating all over each other on their way to the feedlots where they stand in feet of feces until its time for slaughter. I can't believe people aren't disgusted and screaming about it. Just another example of the blinders we wear when it comes to animals raised for food. I really don't care if one chooses to eat meat but is torture necessary?

[ElizO]

Wow, what an amazing piece. Thank you for bringing such an important issue to the table. I hope everyone gets behind this important piece of legislation.

[alissa]

i'm really glad to know about this proposition. your post was really powerful and makes a true statement about how horribly the animals are treated. please keep posting more about ways to help the animals and ways that we can help. thank you.

[jkosmik]

Cheri --
Thanks for posting this on Prop 2. I was not aware that this initiative was on the ballot. Your posting is very informative and helps to explain this critical issue.
With all the news recently about slaughterhouses, I think this is a well-timed proposition.
I cant help but feel that we have made little progress since Upton Sinclair first penned "The Jungle." Slaughterhouses continue to be an awful place for the animals and for the workers that toil in them.
I will be sure to vote Yes on Prop 2 and I will tell friends and family to vote Yes as well.

[enveg01]

Thank you for this wonderful post. Most people have no idea how animals are treated in factory farms. It's horrifying and wrong. Animals deserve our compassion and mercy. I'm so happy I live in California so I can support this proposition and help alleviate their suffering.

[mamacat]

It would probably be wise for us to each voluntarily cut down on the amount of meat that we consume, as well. I went on a tour of an egg farm, and it was very depressing. When we had the room, we penned off some space for free range hens, and the eggs we got as a result were delicious. Now we might be able to have a few small fruit trees.

I wonder how much of the chemicals used in these animal factories ends up in the "dead zones" in our oceans.

[Roryfreedman]

Such an informative, well written piece on a hugely important measure.

Voting YES on Prop. 2 is a no-brainer for all Californians. Endorsed by Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, California farmers and farming organizations, more than one hundred animal protection charities, more than fifty other leading non-profits, over three hundred California business, multiple religious leaders at the state and national level, and countless everyday consumers, it simply proposes more space for farm animals.

Whether a vegetarian, vegan, or meat-eater, we can all agree that making animals live their lives relegated to space the size of a sheet of paper is inhumane and unnecessary.

I'm thrilled to be a California resident at such an exciting time and to help make history for animals by voting YES on Prop. 2.

[dctackett]

I was unaware of this proposition, but will definately support it... thank you.