Moving Forward for Farm Animals
As the inaugural hubbub dies down and Americans turn our collective attention to the future, we're hearing a lot about agriculture policy. One aspect of that policy is something to which, until recently, we haven't given much thought: the welfare of the nine billion animals who domestic factory farms raise and kill every year. But over the past twelve months, our acknowledgement of our responsibility to their welfare has irrevocably and fundamentally changed.
Farm animals, it seems, were everywhere in 2008. One year ago, a shocking slaughterhouse investigation revealed workers torturing downed dairy cows -- and prompted the nation's largest-ever meat recall. And the year ended with California's landslide vote passing Proposition 2, which will free nearly 20 million hens, pigs and calves from tiny, immobilizing cages on factory farms -- in the nation's largest agriculture state, no less.
By any standard, these events were the most high-profile farm animal news stories in U.S. history, attracting an onslaught of media attention and thrusting the issue of farm animal welfare before the public on a completely unprecedented scale. Thousands of news stories across the country and even around the world focused unflinchingly on the institutionalized, extreme cruelties farm animals endure -- captivating the public's attention and exposing millions to the idea that these animals are worthy of our moral consideration.
People listened. Americans were universally outraged when they viewed the slaughter plant footage exposing workers using forklifts, prods and waterboarding to force sick and injured cows to their feet and into the kill box. Congress held eight hearings that addressed not only food safety risks of allowing meat from diseased animals into the food supply, but also on the wanton, extreme cruelty perpetrated against the animals. The California legislature enacted stronger regulations against slaughtering downed cows and other animals. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced plans to prohibit the slaughter of downed cows with no exceptions.
Prop 2 is the most popular citizen ballot initiative in California history, attracting a 63.5 percent landslide. More than eight million people voted in support of the idea that farm animals deserve at least enough room to stand up, turn around and extend their limbs. Oprah devoted an entire show to the issue. The New York Times editorialized in favor of the measure. The media's interest in and public's support for Prop 2 demonstrated one of its basic tenets: that concern for all animals, including those raised for food, is consistent with the better nature of every one of us.
Prop 2 was the most landmark achievement for farm animals in U.S. history, its ramifications extending far beyond California's borders. The measure is part of a growing movement to do nothing less than dispose of some of the worst abuses we inflict upon animals.
In 2008, Americans sent an unmistakable signal to Big Agribusiness that we will not tolerate the kinds of cruelty that have become standard practice. We unequivocally established farm animal protection as a social issue worthy of our concern on a national scale. And we recognized our collective responsibility to show mercy and compassion for those from whom we take so much. As we head into February and the rest of 2009, let's work to accomplish even more.
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so excited to see significant strides made last year for farm animals! its an issue thats becoming increasingly important to the public, and deserves to stand alongside the other critical issues of the day. let's hope that with more hard work by you, erin, and the growing numbers of those who share your passion for this issue, that even more can be done for the welfare of these animals in 2009!
At the very least we should stop killing animals. After we do that we can worry about their rights.
like it or not animals are considered property. This wasn't a triumph for animal rights as much as it was a blow to property rights. Either the farmer owns the animals he is raising or he does not. If he does own them then he should be free to do what he wishes with his property. If he treats his animals in a manner that people find disagreeable, don't buy from him. If he doesn't own his animals and cannot make unilateral decisions on how to treat them then what else does he not own? Does he own anything?
While I agree that animals should not be mistreated and the activities of mistreatment anger me. I have to wonder why exactly you think people will ever treat animals humanely.
I ask this because you say you want animals to be treated humanly, and they should be treated just as people would treat them selves, right?
Well people don't even treat people humanely, even in our own country. Humans are perhaps even more cruel to other humans than they are to animals. While we for the most part don't eat other humans we daily come up with new and even more effective ways to kill one another, are proven daily that we can murder, rape, mistreat and mutilate our own, and some see others lower than themselves because of multitude of differences.
I admire your devotion to ending the mistreatment of animals, however I have to wonder if we can not treat our selves humanly how exactly will we treat animals better than we treat our selves?
What you seem to be attempting is shutting down slaughter houses so you can stop people from eating meat. I would ask that you start picking your own cabbage to end the mistreatment of migrant workers.
When we achieve human equality then I think we can start working on animal equality.
As far as eating meat goes, the day they outlaw it is the day I become an outlaw.
LCRover001,
Going along with your line of thought. How about this?
Until there are no more homeless Americans in this country then...and only then.. should we ever start worrying about migrant workers.
And....btw
We vegans just want to educate people on the benefits of going vegan. The benefits for the animals, peoples health and the environment.
Does anyone know if vegetables suffer when we farm them and eat them? They are living creatures too, so I was wondering if any studies about this have been conducted.
I've been an ethical vegan now for 20 years and nothing has changed for the better for animals raised and killed for food except that there was a time back in the late 90s when it seemed more people were going vegan. However, If you believe Prop 2 is going to do anything for animals rights or if you believe that it will make being turned into a hamburger or hotdog a much more pleasant experience you are having your ethical intuitions blinded by nonsense.
Prop 2 is only going to make things worse for farm animals because people will believe that things are now better for animals and therefore now they can continue eating them more. Prop 2 is a huge joke and will do nothing to reduce animal suffering in the short term. Proposition 2 will not even come into effect, if at all, until 2015. Proposition 2 has numerous exceptions and many qualifications and even if it does come into effect at some point in the distant future, and even if it is enforced, it will result in no meaningful reduction in animal suffering. NONE! These are sad times for animals. And the future now looks even worse. The only thing HSUS should be doing is promoting vegan education. That's it!
What a fabulous article- it's so uplifiting to see how successful Prop 2 was and what a great year 2008 was for farm animals! I'm a huge fan of Ms. Williams' book, Why Animals Matter, and I am so excited to see she is writing for the Huffington Post!
Congratulations Erin, fantasic article. and congrats to all who work so hard everyday to make individuals aware of the importnace of a ruling like Prop 2. Look we all know just because a law was passed does not mean it changes the world today. What it means is that we are another step further to making change happen and stick. So it is up to each and everyone of us to continue to spread the word and do our part to make change and educate others of the importance. Keep up the fantastic job Erin!!
Vegetarian society is nearing. Go Veg. Go Green.
What an informative piece regarding the beginning of a new chapter in American agriculture. As an egg farmer on the West Coast. I am inspired about the progress of 2008. I can't imagine what 2009 will bring. Thank you for sharing your thoughtful insights, Ms. Williams.
I think that preventing food shortages should have been primary into the consideration when designing these humane laws to protect animals. This should have been done gradually to prevent shortages and panic. Lessening the supply of meat will lessen the supply of plant based foods.
The bible teaches that a man, a farmer, must be righteous to all his animals, but of course it does not teach vegetarianism. The underlying principles in this article, then, seem to align with scripture.
Meat eating is a option for the Christian, in particular. I was a vegetarian about for about 15 years long ago because I was opposed to eating critters. Then I went back to a meat eating diet for about 20 years.
I'm back to being a vegetarian again, this time ovo-lacto. This time it is for health reasons. I am enjoying it very much but wouldn't hesitate to eat meat if that was the only option for me.
I can tell you this from recent experience, the poor cannot afford wholesome healthy foods and that is why many of them are obese. The non-meat food supply is completely laced with fattening vegetable oils and sugar too.
I am following Dr. Dean Ornish's regime (but not eating fish or chicken at this time).
Agriculture is not broke, but we can't have that, so in step the food lunatics to make sure we will have shortages of food.
BTW, most people don't have a clue about how animals act. They've never seen chickens peck another to death in an open range. They don't realize that mother pigs will eat their own young and the young of others, yet they think they can write laws to tell others how to raise livestock.
So wonderful to be reminded of how many great strides we've made toward better and more sustainable agriculture. We've become far removed from where our food comes from, making it easy to forget our responsibility to ensure that it's produced in a sustainable, humane way. People are waking up now to the realities of mass-produced food, and choosing local farms and policy reform over our environmentally devastating norm. Erin promises to be a voice encouraging us to take the next step toward better food and a better planet.
So excited to see the excellent Erin Williams writing about Animal Rights on Huffington Post! This site is now my one stop spot for top rate information on the issues I care about it! Keep it up, HuffPo!
Great post by Ms. Erin Williams. Farm animal suffering for too long has gone unnoticed, but 2008 changed things forever. We would never treat dogs or cats the way farm animals are confined in factory farms even though farm animals have the same capacity to suffer as our family pets. It's about time pigs, cows, and chickens are being protected from cruelty, too.
I was excited to see Ms. Williams post since I just read her new book and loved it: http://www
Well said, Erin! It's great that the cruelties of factory farming are getting the attention they so deserve.
People interested in eating a cruelty-free diet can check out www.TryVeg
Great post and it's heartening to see more attention being paid to the miserable plight of today's farm animals. And it's great to see you, Ms. Williams, on this site. I learned a good deal from your highly informative book.
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