All in all its just another chip in the wall....
11-06-2002 | 02:23 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 40
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From: Mill Creek WA USA
All in all its just another chip in the wall....
(Folks in WA, OR, CA, and CO will relate to this. WA sportsmen should join the WWC and help fund the HHC-PAC. Cuz they will be back here and our warchest must be strong!)
ELECTION 2002
Pigs win constitutional protection
National animal-rights groups wage 'big money' campaign in Florida
--------------------------------------------------
Posted: November 6, 2002
12:01 p.m. Eastern
By Diana Lynne
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
Despite a consumer group's warning to voters not to fall prey to the "big money" politics of national animal-rights groups whom it claims are using the state as a guinea pig in their war against the $38 billion-a-year pork industry, Floridians have resoundingly approved a ballot initiative to extend constitutional protection to pregnant pigs.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Amendment 10 to the Florida Constitution limits the "cruel and inhumane confinement of pigs during pregnancy." The referendum specifically outlaws caging pigs in gestation stalls which are metal enclosures that measure two feet across and prevent sows from turning around freely.
The stalls cause the sows to suffer from crippling foot and joint disorders, and to experience chronic stress, depression and other psychological disorders throughout their four-month pregnancy, according to advocates.
Pigs featured in gestation stalls
To the dismay of the Center for Consumer Freedom, the measure won 55 percent to 45 percent, according to the Florida Department of State.
Floridians for Humane Farms, a coalition of animal-protection groups, conservation organizations and concerned citizens sponsored the initiative.
According to election records, the coalition's political action committee, or PAC, raised just under $1.4 million dollars to mount its campaign. The lion's share of funds came from national organizations that are coordinating its campaign, such as the New York-based Farm Sanctuary, which donated $355,880; New York-based Fund for Animals, which contributed $290,671 and the Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS, which doled out $308,335 as of yesterday. Combined, these three organizations account for 70 percent of the PAC's total contributions.
A press release sent out today by the heads of the HSUS, The Fund for Animals and Farm Sanctuary boasts victory in "5 of 6 key statewide ballot contests."
"Voters again have demonstrated they care about the protection of animals, whether the abuse involves intensive confinement on factory farms or staged animal fights," stated Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of HSUS.
Oklahoma voters made their state the 48th to ban cockfighting.
The agenda
"We strongly believe that cruelty to animals is morally wrong whether you're talking about pets or farm animals and gestation crates are one of the cruelest practices found on factory farms," Rebecca Fry, spokeswoman for Floridians for Humane Farms told WorldNetDaily.
David Martosko, director of research for the Center for Consumer Freedom claims the real agenda of these groups is "total animal liberation," in the words of activists.
"'Total animal liberation' means no beef, no pork, no leather, no fur ... " Martosko told WND. If you drive up the production cost for hog farmers, he argues, they're forced to pass the added expense to consumers, who will be inclined to consume less pork until production is ultimately driven out of the country. Martosko pointed out that the cost of pork in Sweden where gestation stalls are not used runs $11 a pound.
The money
"They are a political machine giving off the illusion of kindly grandmas and bunny huggers," Martosko said. "But animal rights is big business run by people with big agendas and with big wallets."
The largest contributor, Farm Sanctuary, has apparently run afoul of the law with its "big money" support for Amendment 10. The Florida Elections Commission charged the organization and its president, Gene Bauston, with 210 counts of breaking campaign-finance laws by soliciting and gathering donations for the initiative, then passing them along to the PAC. The commission also found probable cause that the violations were "willful."
In the words of the commission, "Farm Sanctuary is a well-financed, sophisticated, well-organized and experienced political organization."
One solicitation for donations for the Florida campaign mailed to Farm Sanctuary members claimed the contributions would be tax deductible.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if the IRS doesn't look very closely at Farm Sanctuary's [tax-exempt] status," Martosko told WND.
Calls for comment from Farm Sanctuary and the PAC regarding the charges were not returned.
"The passage of Amendment 10 in Florida marks the first time that any state has halted the intensive confinement of animals on factory farms. It is an historic step in the effort to combat cruelty to farm animals," Bauston said in the press release.
In addition to the solicitation of out-of-state donations to fund the initiative, doubt has been raised over the signatures gathered to get the measure on the ballot. Election records show the PAC paid a Carson City, Nev., marketing company $271,766 to collect signatures. Police reported numerous complaints from out-of-state tourists who were solicited for their signatures.
The strategy
Activists readily admit their whole-hog efforts are aimed at a hypothetical problem: Florida does not have a large-scale hog-farming industry. The coalition named exactly two farms in the state that currently use gestation stalls.
"That's why we need to do this now, to prevent the mega hog factories from moving into Florida as they have in North Carolina. There, the environment has been severely damaged, property values have gone down, and the tourism industry has suffered," Fry told WND. She further defined "mega hog factories" as farms where "animals are treated as commodities instead of intelligent animals."
Steve Basford, one of the pig farmers targeted by the coalition stresses pigs' needs differ from those of people. ''One of the biggest problems is people humanize them. Those animal rights groups are talking about inhumane treatment. Well, pigs aren't human,'' Basford told the Miami Herald.
According to the Herald, Basford has 200 gestation stalls but most of them are empty because his 175 sows are at different stages of their reproductive life. Some are even milling around a communal pen, the method of treatment preferred by animal-rights activists.
The Florida Farm Bureau is outraged by the initiative.
"It is a cynical one might say greasy attempt by national animal-rights groups that would lard up our state's constitution in order to advance a national agenda and perhaps to fatten those organizations' treasuries," said Pat Cockrell, the bureau's director of agricultural policies.
Cockrell and Martosko believe the campaign targeted Florida precisely because of the paltry resistance it would meet from hog farmers.
"There's no opposition in Florida. That's exactly why they're pushing it. They're trying to get a victory on the books before they take it to a state like Iowa where it'll have direct impact," Martosko said.
According to the American Meat Institute, the Sunshine State ranked 38th in the nation in 2000 for hogs, with 40,000 animals. By contrast, Iowa had 15.4 million hogs.
In the ballot review hearing before the Florida Supreme Court, Pacelle pointed out that Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina states with the biggest use of gestation crates do not have the initiative process Florida has.
Florida is viewed as a bellwether state.
"We think a successful Florida initiative will encourage citizens in other states to push similar reforms," Michael Makarian, president of the Fund for Animals, told the Fort Myers News-Press.
Martosko suspects the grass roots support is "manufactured for public relations' purposes."
"The $1.5 million raised is not grass roots, it's pure Astroturf," he said.
Constitutional protection
Activists resorted to a ballot initiative after an attempt to pass legislation protecting the pigs was defeated.
Many of those who express concern over the plight of the pigs question the appropriateness of a constitutional amendment to improve their situation.
"I have no problem saying we need to be humane with animals it's a noble cause it doesn't belong in the constitution," Florida Christian Coalition executive director Matt DuPree told WND. "If we put this on the constitution for humans, that would be another story," he added.
ELECTION 2002
Pigs win constitutional protection
National animal-rights groups wage 'big money' campaign in Florida
--------------------------------------------------
Posted: November 6, 2002
12:01 p.m. Eastern
By Diana Lynne
© 2002 WorldNetDaily.com
Despite a consumer group's warning to voters not to fall prey to the "big money" politics of national animal-rights groups whom it claims are using the state as a guinea pig in their war against the $38 billion-a-year pork industry, Floridians have resoundingly approved a ballot initiative to extend constitutional protection to pregnant pigs.
As WorldNetDaily reported, Amendment 10 to the Florida Constitution limits the "cruel and inhumane confinement of pigs during pregnancy." The referendum specifically outlaws caging pigs in gestation stalls which are metal enclosures that measure two feet across and prevent sows from turning around freely.
The stalls cause the sows to suffer from crippling foot and joint disorders, and to experience chronic stress, depression and other psychological disorders throughout their four-month pregnancy, according to advocates.
Pigs featured in gestation stalls
To the dismay of the Center for Consumer Freedom, the measure won 55 percent to 45 percent, according to the Florida Department of State.
Floridians for Humane Farms, a coalition of animal-protection groups, conservation organizations and concerned citizens sponsored the initiative.
According to election records, the coalition's political action committee, or PAC, raised just under $1.4 million dollars to mount its campaign. The lion's share of funds came from national organizations that are coordinating its campaign, such as the New York-based Farm Sanctuary, which donated $355,880; New York-based Fund for Animals, which contributed $290,671 and the Humane Society of the United States, or HSUS, which doled out $308,335 as of yesterday. Combined, these three organizations account for 70 percent of the PAC's total contributions.
A press release sent out today by the heads of the HSUS, The Fund for Animals and Farm Sanctuary boasts victory in "5 of 6 key statewide ballot contests."
"Voters again have demonstrated they care about the protection of animals, whether the abuse involves intensive confinement on factory farms or staged animal fights," stated Wayne Pacelle, a senior vice president of HSUS.
Oklahoma voters made their state the 48th to ban cockfighting.
The agenda
"We strongly believe that cruelty to animals is morally wrong whether you're talking about pets or farm animals and gestation crates are one of the cruelest practices found on factory farms," Rebecca Fry, spokeswoman for Floridians for Humane Farms told WorldNetDaily.
David Martosko, director of research for the Center for Consumer Freedom claims the real agenda of these groups is "total animal liberation," in the words of activists.
"'Total animal liberation' means no beef, no pork, no leather, no fur ... " Martosko told WND. If you drive up the production cost for hog farmers, he argues, they're forced to pass the added expense to consumers, who will be inclined to consume less pork until production is ultimately driven out of the country. Martosko pointed out that the cost of pork in Sweden where gestation stalls are not used runs $11 a pound.
The money
"They are a political machine giving off the illusion of kindly grandmas and bunny huggers," Martosko said. "But animal rights is big business run by people with big agendas and with big wallets."
The largest contributor, Farm Sanctuary, has apparently run afoul of the law with its "big money" support for Amendment 10. The Florida Elections Commission charged the organization and its president, Gene Bauston, with 210 counts of breaking campaign-finance laws by soliciting and gathering donations for the initiative, then passing them along to the PAC. The commission also found probable cause that the violations were "willful."
In the words of the commission, "Farm Sanctuary is a well-financed, sophisticated, well-organized and experienced political organization."
One solicitation for donations for the Florida campaign mailed to Farm Sanctuary members claimed the contributions would be tax deductible.
"I wouldn't be surprised at all if the IRS doesn't look very closely at Farm Sanctuary's [tax-exempt] status," Martosko told WND.
Calls for comment from Farm Sanctuary and the PAC regarding the charges were not returned.
"The passage of Amendment 10 in Florida marks the first time that any state has halted the intensive confinement of animals on factory farms. It is an historic step in the effort to combat cruelty to farm animals," Bauston said in the press release.
In addition to the solicitation of out-of-state donations to fund the initiative, doubt has been raised over the signatures gathered to get the measure on the ballot. Election records show the PAC paid a Carson City, Nev., marketing company $271,766 to collect signatures. Police reported numerous complaints from out-of-state tourists who were solicited for their signatures.
The strategy
Activists readily admit their whole-hog efforts are aimed at a hypothetical problem: Florida does not have a large-scale hog-farming industry. The coalition named exactly two farms in the state that currently use gestation stalls.
"That's why we need to do this now, to prevent the mega hog factories from moving into Florida as they have in North Carolina. There, the environment has been severely damaged, property values have gone down, and the tourism industry has suffered," Fry told WND. She further defined "mega hog factories" as farms where "animals are treated as commodities instead of intelligent animals."
Steve Basford, one of the pig farmers targeted by the coalition stresses pigs' needs differ from those of people. ''One of the biggest problems is people humanize them. Those animal rights groups are talking about inhumane treatment. Well, pigs aren't human,'' Basford told the Miami Herald.
According to the Herald, Basford has 200 gestation stalls but most of them are empty because his 175 sows are at different stages of their reproductive life. Some are even milling around a communal pen, the method of treatment preferred by animal-rights activists.
The Florida Farm Bureau is outraged by the initiative.
"It is a cynical one might say greasy attempt by national animal-rights groups that would lard up our state's constitution in order to advance a national agenda and perhaps to fatten those organizations' treasuries," said Pat Cockrell, the bureau's director of agricultural policies.
Cockrell and Martosko believe the campaign targeted Florida precisely because of the paltry resistance it would meet from hog farmers.
"There's no opposition in Florida. That's exactly why they're pushing it. They're trying to get a victory on the books before they take it to a state like Iowa where it'll have direct impact," Martosko said.
According to the American Meat Institute, the Sunshine State ranked 38th in the nation in 2000 for hogs, with 40,000 animals. By contrast, Iowa had 15.4 million hogs.
In the ballot review hearing before the Florida Supreme Court, Pacelle pointed out that Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina states with the biggest use of gestation crates do not have the initiative process Florida has.
Florida is viewed as a bellwether state.
"We think a successful Florida initiative will encourage citizens in other states to push similar reforms," Michael Makarian, president of the Fund for Animals, told the Fort Myers News-Press.
Martosko suspects the grass roots support is "manufactured for public relations' purposes."
"The $1.5 million raised is not grass roots, it's pure Astroturf," he said.
Constitutional protection
Activists resorted to a ballot initiative after an attempt to pass legislation protecting the pigs was defeated.
Many of those who express concern over the plight of the pigs question the appropriateness of a constitutional amendment to improve their situation.
"I have no problem saying we need to be humane with animals it's a noble cause it doesn't belong in the constitution," Florida Christian Coalition executive director Matt DuPree told WND. "If we put this on the constitution for humans, that would be another story," he added.
11-06-2002 | 03:33 PM
#2
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Mill Creek WA USA
RE: All in all its just another chip in the wall....
Looks like they won 5 out of 6 ballot iniatives this election as well as shot down Sunday hunting in West Virginia. In 2000 they won 5 out of 9.
A few quotes from the USSA:
"Arkansas voters appear to have overwhelmingly rejected Initiated Act 1, a poorly worded animal cruelty act opposed by the states sporting and agriculture communities. With 69 percent of the vote tabulated, the Act was being defeated 64 percent to 36 percent"
"In Oklahoma, animal rights groups successfully banned cockfighting with the passage of Ballot Question 687 by a vote of 56 percent to 44 percent. At the same time, they defeated Ballot Question 698 that would have raised the bar to qualify future ballot issues attempting to restrict animal uses. The issue was defeated 53 percent to 47 percent."
"In Florida, animal rights organizations successfully championed a constitutional amendment granting special rights to pregnant hogs. Amendment 10, which passed 55 percent to 45 percent, is viewed by many as a trial balloon for similar ballot issues in hog producing states in future years."
The Initiative process is the prefered (and most successful) tool of the AR movement. They have used it to ban trapping in a number of states, and hound hunting and baiting in at least three. It is important to organize early and have the finacial 'warchest' and structure in place with which to fight. Through the HHC-PAC, CRWM, and the WWC we have all of this. The WWC has individual memeberships as well as group members. They are opposed to box box biology - game management thru the intiative process. They are helping fund two lawsuits at this time, one of which would end use of the initiative process for game mamagement in Washington State and would also overturn the ban on hounds, bait, and traps.
Please get involved and have your organizations get involved as well:
http://www.w4wc.org
A few quotes from the USSA:
"Arkansas voters appear to have overwhelmingly rejected Initiated Act 1, a poorly worded animal cruelty act opposed by the states sporting and agriculture communities. With 69 percent of the vote tabulated, the Act was being defeated 64 percent to 36 percent"
"In Oklahoma, animal rights groups successfully banned cockfighting with the passage of Ballot Question 687 by a vote of 56 percent to 44 percent. At the same time, they defeated Ballot Question 698 that would have raised the bar to qualify future ballot issues attempting to restrict animal uses. The issue was defeated 53 percent to 47 percent."
"In Florida, animal rights organizations successfully championed a constitutional amendment granting special rights to pregnant hogs. Amendment 10, which passed 55 percent to 45 percent, is viewed by many as a trial balloon for similar ballot issues in hog producing states in future years."
The Initiative process is the prefered (and most successful) tool of the AR movement. They have used it to ban trapping in a number of states, and hound hunting and baiting in at least three. It is important to organize early and have the finacial 'warchest' and structure in place with which to fight. Through the HHC-PAC, CRWM, and the WWC we have all of this. The WWC has individual memeberships as well as group members. They are opposed to box box biology - game management thru the intiative process. They are helping fund two lawsuits at this time, one of which would end use of the initiative process for game mamagement in Washington State and would also overturn the ban on hounds, bait, and traps.
Please get involved and have your organizations get involved as well:
http://www.w4wc.org
11-07-2002 | 01:04 AM
#3
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Mill Creek WA USA
RE: All in all its just another chip in the wall....
November 6, 2002
ELECTION UPDATE: Florida's pigs get wings
Animal rights activists had several dogs in yesterdays election fight, including a statewide ban on cockfighting in Oklahoma (approved), a bid to expand gaming at greyhound racing tracks in Arizona (not approved), and a measure to turn vaguely-defined animal cruelty into a felony in Arkansas (defeated).
The agenda of Arkansas animal rights activists was stopped in its tracks last night, largely due to the investment of time and money by a coalition of farming and animal industry groups called Arkansans For Responsible Animal Laws.
But the most watched battle on the animal-rights radar screen was a heavily funded and unethically run effort to give pregnant pigs specific protections under Floridas constitution. This was approved by a 55-to-45 margin yesterday.
Ironically, the election season is not quite over for Farm Sanctuary, the national animal rights group that donated over $465,000 to this campaign. On November 14 and 15, the Florida Elections Commission will hear evidence that Farm Sanctuary broke campaign finance laws (210 counts in all) in its zeal to get the pregnant pigs amendment on the ballot.
News coverage of this story so far has missed the boat completely. The Reuters news wire, for instance, claimed last night that the measure will have only limited effect, since only two Florida farms currently use the now-banned gestation crates.
But animal rights activists are already looking ahead to the next series of battlegrounds.
Shortly after the votes were tallied, Farm Sanctuary issued a press release predicting that the Florida victory will lead to similar reforms across the nation. The radical group In Defense of Animals is saying in its e-mail newsletter that it will have far-reaching influence in other states. And individual activists are reading yesterdays tea leaves, claiming that this is just the very, very beginning of future moves toward their goal of total animal liberation.
After talking to Florida Farm Bureau spokesperson Frankie Hall, the Associated Press concluded that the passage of the amendment was not surprising, as supporters actively campaigned and the opponents did not.
Hall summed up the animal rights political climate nicely: Youve got millions of dollars going into the campaign on one side and none on the other. What do you expect?
ELECTION UPDATE: Florida's pigs get wings
Animal rights activists had several dogs in yesterdays election fight, including a statewide ban on cockfighting in Oklahoma (approved), a bid to expand gaming at greyhound racing tracks in Arizona (not approved), and a measure to turn vaguely-defined animal cruelty into a felony in Arkansas (defeated).
The agenda of Arkansas animal rights activists was stopped in its tracks last night, largely due to the investment of time and money by a coalition of farming and animal industry groups called Arkansans For Responsible Animal Laws.
But the most watched battle on the animal-rights radar screen was a heavily funded and unethically run effort to give pregnant pigs specific protections under Floridas constitution. This was approved by a 55-to-45 margin yesterday.
Ironically, the election season is not quite over for Farm Sanctuary, the national animal rights group that donated over $465,000 to this campaign. On November 14 and 15, the Florida Elections Commission will hear evidence that Farm Sanctuary broke campaign finance laws (210 counts in all) in its zeal to get the pregnant pigs amendment on the ballot.
News coverage of this story so far has missed the boat completely. The Reuters news wire, for instance, claimed last night that the measure will have only limited effect, since only two Florida farms currently use the now-banned gestation crates.
But animal rights activists are already looking ahead to the next series of battlegrounds.
Shortly after the votes were tallied, Farm Sanctuary issued a press release predicting that the Florida victory will lead to similar reforms across the nation. The radical group In Defense of Animals is saying in its e-mail newsletter that it will have far-reaching influence in other states. And individual activists are reading yesterdays tea leaves, claiming that this is just the very, very beginning of future moves toward their goal of total animal liberation.
After talking to Florida Farm Bureau spokesperson Frankie Hall, the Associated Press concluded that the passage of the amendment was not surprising, as supporters actively campaigned and the opponents did not.
Hall summed up the animal rights political climate nicely: Youve got millions of dollars going into the campaign on one side and none on the other. What do you expect?
11-07-2002 | 08:56 AM
#4
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: NWWA
RE: All in all its just another chip in the wall....
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Hall summed up the animal rights political climate nicely: Youve got millions of dollars going into the campaign on one side and none on the other. What do you expect?<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
Yeppers,, same thing here! ya better get another raffle going and keep the losing trend alive..
Some fundraising I have noticed your competition doing is a benifit concert! Wow what a concept no time spent printing, distributing, counting making sure all ducks are in a row with the gaming commission etc.etc.
Dont worry folks it has already been shot down, so you will not see anything fun and profitable like that happening anytime soon..
Now back to the raffle,,why havent the twenty plus people I noted from the last raffle that wanted their name added to mailings so they could potentially become members, havenet recieved anything?
No time? to costly? well then put a spot for an email address so they can be sent your monthly newsletter..
No, No, that would be creative thinking and ya couldnt do that now! get back in your box! before you break the trend..
Yeppers,, same thing here! ya better get another raffle going and keep the losing trend alive..
Some fundraising I have noticed your competition doing is a benifit concert! Wow what a concept no time spent printing, distributing, counting making sure all ducks are in a row with the gaming commission etc.etc.
Dont worry folks it has already been shot down, so you will not see anything fun and profitable like that happening anytime soon..
Now back to the raffle,,why havent the twenty plus people I noted from the last raffle that wanted their name added to mailings so they could potentially become members, havenet recieved anything?
No time? to costly? well then put a spot for an email address so they can be sent your monthly newsletter..
No, No, that would be creative thinking and ya couldnt do that now! get back in your box! before you break the trend..
11-09-2002 | 01:44 PM
#6
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: NWWA
RE: All in all its just another chip in the wall....
Just remebered that I am still a memeber since I bought the 100.00 dinner package at the banquet last June, so how come its been months since I recieved my snail mail newsletter?
What is the frequency of these newsletters? More than three months? four months?
Now there a few un-answerd questions this member would like clarification on.
What is the frequency of these newsletters? More than three months? four months?
Now there a few un-answerd questions this member would like clarification on.
