Cal Prop 2 (Farm Animal Confinement) Interview

Learn more about California Proposition 2, regarding cruel confinement of farm animals. Check out my interview below with a representative from the Yes on 2 campaign:

Can't see the video window? Click on this link instead:

http://www.ustream.tv/flash/video/791198 For more info, see my article Torture in the Henhouse. And visit LookAtLA.net for more interview shows.

Follow Jonathan Handel on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jhandel

Comments

[GoVeg]

I'm glad this passed.

[lincheryl]

I don't live in California, but wish I could vote to save the quality of life for these poor animals. I also would like laws to be passed to govern the conditions of the puppy mills, which are horrendous.

Link to puppy mill info: http://www.awarenessday.org/dogs.html

[ruralpolitan]

While the votes for prop 2 may be well intended, there are still consequences that could affect Californians on a daily basis, especially lower income Californians.

(Full disclosure: I am from a farming background and work in the agriculture industry, but not in California and not for anyone associated with concentrated livestock operations, or what critics call "factory farms." I am also hold mostly liberal views and am a loyal HuffPost reader.)

The pork producers will suffer additional losses to their pig crop if gestation crates are banned. Unfortunately, sows have a tendency to unintentionally crush their young while nursing. Even "traditional" (think era of Green Acres, Lassie, etc) methods of swine production involved the use of gestation crates to prevent losses due to crushing.

Egg production will bear much of the brunt. Instead of bringing about the intended improvements in egg layer living conditions, proposition two will simply drive egg production out of the state to neighboring areas with less intrusive regulations. The extra transportation will increase costs at the grocery store and add more "food miles" to the average Californians plate.

As Michael Pollan says, you have three opportunities a day to vote with your plate. If you do not want to eat meat or eggs from "factory farms" then seek out alternatives. Referendum will only cause farms to move further away from demand sources, raise the price of food in a time of food inflation, and bring even more fossil fuels into our meals.

[dayala]

Oprah just did a show in this tuesday this week with Wayne Pacelle from the HSUS who has been spearheading this initiative in CA with PSA's and funding.

The large Agribusine­ss/lobbyin­g groups are fighting back hard with their own propaganda that the animals are happy and not keeping them "confined" is a national security and health risk...the same fear-mongering tactics used in the presidential elections.

thankfully 73% of Californians in a recent poll are in favor and will vote YES!

it's time this nation come to grips with the suffering and atrocities inflicted on these poor beings that are
brought into this world for our own use and consumption, the least we can do is afford them a decent, compassionate, cruelty free existence.

[lsinla]

Wow, that was incredibly informative!
Thank you so much for covering this important topic.
I'll be voting YES ON PROP 2.

[Zali]

We mailed our absentee ballots today - and voted a resounding YES on Prop. 2. Anybody who has ever driven I-5 near Coalinga has seen the miles and miles of livestock packed solid in the yards owned by Harris Ranch ... and that is but one example!

[JScott]

And those California Dairy commercials are total BS. I've seen were they are-Most dairies the cows are in pens-while they are ambulatory they are slogging thru their own sh*t and getting feed at troughs. There are very few cows grazing in green pastures, maybe in northern calif. I've read were some cows who were penned didn't know what to do when they were allowed to graze in pastures. And I have seen some crated calfs (with pics) in Hemet/San Jacinto-inhumane but probably gone now, covered with new homes. I'm voting Y on 2.

[Over40]

Let's all do what we can to help this California proposition pass and to get similar legislation passed in all other states. We have GOT to stop the systematic torture of animals by corporate farming and other corporate interests. We've GOT to get back to where both people and animals live their lives as nature and God intended. The same mindset that turns a blind eye to the torture of animals also must have similar regard for the human population they market to. As in the toleration of human torture, the torture of voiceless,sentient animals degrades us as a nation and as a people.

[jagoneely]

I already decided to vote Yes on 2. But this was informative.

[lacrow]

Yes, Over40. I agree with you totally. I'm disappointed this prop has gotten so little national attention. Can't imagine anyone with a conscience voting against it and hope it appears on 49 more ballots next election.