On October 18, Terry Thompson released 56 wild exotic animals from his farm in Zanesville Ohio, then committed suicide. The unfortunate incident that followed left 48 animals killed by local law enforcement including 18 endangered Bengal tigers, 17 lions and eight bears. The local law enforcement were untrained and unprepared to properly engage and trap these wild animals and so killing them became the easiest way to deal with the situation.
Mr. Thompson had numerous complaints against him for animal cruelty. In 2004, he was charged with animal cruelty by the local authorities. He had been reported to the USDA in 2008 and 2009 for animal mistreatment and neglect. The USDA decided they did not have jurisdiction and could not act in this matter.
Beyond the animal cruelty and neglect issues is the fact that these animals were wild and in some cases endangered. No one should own these animals as pets. Owning them not only impedes their natural growth and behavior, it also removes their ability to procreate. Removing these animals from their natural habitats is unjust not only because they are wild and are incarcerated, but is also facilitating their extinction. There are only approximately 2,500 Bengal Tigers left in the wild, so the loss of even one is heartbreaking.
Currently, nine states do not have any regulations or rules on exotic pet ownership. There is virtually no oversight on treatment of these animals and no guidelines in place for limits on their trade and ownership. People can own as many tigers and lions as they want with no regard to the animal's welfare or the public safety.
Please join with me in telling the governors of these states that owning a wild animal is unacceptable, not only because it is unjust to the animal but because it endangers people living near these animal zoos.
You can contact the governors of the individual states yourself:
http://www.governor.ohio.gov/Contact/ContacttheGovernor.aspx
http://walker.wi.gov/
http://www.governor.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.governor.sc.gov/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.governor.state.nc.us/
http://gov.nv.gov/
http://governor.mo.gov/
http://gov.idaho.gov/
http://www.alabama.gov/sliverheader/Welcome.do?url=http://governor.alabama.gov/contact.aspx
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Concerning the death penalty
The recent headlines of the Troy Davis case has brought the issue of the death penalty to the forefront of American debate over crime and punishment.
Brief details of the Troy Davis case
August 18, 1989: off duty police officer Mark MacPhail was working as a security guard at a Burger King in Savannah, Georgia. He responded to a nearby disturbance where a homeless man was being beaten by another man. MacPhail was shot and killed while responding to the incident. No physical evidence from the crime was retrieved, apart from the bullets and shell casings, which were determined to have come from a .38-caliber pistol. Witnesses to the shooting agreed that a man in a white shirt had struck the homeless man and then shot MacPhail.
The following day, Redd Coles went to the police. He told them that he had seen Davis with a .38-caliber gun, and that Davis had pistol whipped the homeless man and shot MacPhail. Davis held a permit for a .38 caliber gun.
In the 1991 trial, nine eye witnesses testified they saw Troy Davis beat the homeless man and shoot MacPhail. In this same trial, it was revealed that Redd Coles also owned a .38 caliber gun, a lead that was never pursued by law enforcement. Davis was convicted for the murder of Mark MacPhail and sentenced to death on August 30, 1991.
During the appeal process, seven of the nine eye witnesses recanted their testimony and complained of police coercion and intimidation during the suspect identification process. Four of the witnesses implicated Redd Coles as the shooter in their revised statements, including Larry Young, the homeless man who had been assaulted the night of the murder.
After 22 years of appeals and pleas Troy Davis was put to death on September 21, 2011.
The problems with eye witness testimony
In the 1970's an experiment was conducted to assess the effect 3rd party suggestions have on people forming "false facts" in their memories. Here is an except from the experiment:
"Subjects were shown a slide of a car at an intersection with either a yield sign or a stop sign. Experimenters asked participants questions, falsely introducing the term "stop sign" into the question instead of referring to the yield sign participants had actually seen. Similarly, experimenters falsely substituted the term "yield sign" in questions directed to participants who had actually seen the stop sign slide. The results indicated that subjects remembered seeing the false image. In the initial part of the experiment, subjects also viewed a slide showing a car accident. Some subjects were later asked how fast the cars were traveling when they "hit" each other, others were asked how fast the cars were traveling when they "smashed" into each other. Those subjects questioned using the word "smashed" were more likely to report having seen broken glass in the original slide. The introduction of false cues altered participants’ memories."
The way an eye witness is questioned can introduce bias to their recollections and also aide in "false facts" In addition, a person under stress and fear at the scene of the crime may not have seen all the details or remembered the event exactly as it happened.
Other evidence that eye witness testimony is unreliable is the fact that 75% of DNA exonerations were cases where the conviction was heavily based on eye witness testimony. " At least 40% of these eyewitness identifications involved a cross racial identification (race data is currently only available on the victim, not for non-victim eyewitnesses). Studies have shown that people are less able to recognize faces of a different race than their own." You can read more here.
CBS recently aired a story on eyewitness testimony and wrongful convictions.
Considering these studies, the fact that Troy Davis' case was largely based on eyewitness testimony, and the majority of eyewitnesses recanted their testimony - Troy Davis' sentence should have been at least commuted to life in prison.
The concept of the death penalty
The death penalty as a crime deterrent is an erroneous argument at best. Approximately 54% of murders occur due to alcohol intoxication, most other murders are committed out of extreme emotional incompetency or stress (fear, anger, passion, mental handicap). In these diminished cognitive states, the perpetrator cannot clearly think about the consequences of their actions. They commit the murder within a matter of seconds with no time for reflection and many times without the cognitive ability to do so. At these pivotal moments they are unable to see that the consequence might mean the death penalty.
In the United States, there are 14 states that do not have a death penalty statute and these states have some of the lowest murder rates in the country. In fact, the states that employ the death penalty the most have the highest murder rates in the country. Find statistics here. The largest percentage of executions occur in the southern states. One can draw a correlation between murder rate and poverty level since most of the states with high murder rate also have a high poverty rate. The natural conclusion would be, to deter murders, the states should spend their time and resources on education and social reforms to alleviate poverty ergo causing the murder rate to decrease.
The death penalty as justice. Justice is defined as: the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness and guided by truth, reason, and fairness. Justice does not mean an eye for an eye, or do unto others as they have done to you. The usage of this word in the context of the law and especially as it pertains to the death penalty is largely interchangeable with the word revenge. What many families seek is revenge, they lost someone and the person they think caused their pain should be punished vindictively and put to death.
One cannot cure a disease by treating the symptoms, the root cause must be addressed. There are strong indications that violent crime, including murder, are related to poverty levels and social inequality. If governments and society at large want to solve violent crime problems they must address the conditions that cause it. Building more prisons, and electrocuting and injecting people with lethal drugs does not solve the problem, it only perpetuates it.
Brief details of the Troy Davis case
August 18, 1989: off duty police officer Mark MacPhail was working as a security guard at a Burger King in Savannah, Georgia. He responded to a nearby disturbance where a homeless man was being beaten by another man. MacPhail was shot and killed while responding to the incident. No physical evidence from the crime was retrieved, apart from the bullets and shell casings, which were determined to have come from a .38-caliber pistol. Witnesses to the shooting agreed that a man in a white shirt had struck the homeless man and then shot MacPhail.
The following day, Redd Coles went to the police. He told them that he had seen Davis with a .38-caliber gun, and that Davis had pistol whipped the homeless man and shot MacPhail. Davis held a permit for a .38 caliber gun.
In the 1991 trial, nine eye witnesses testified they saw Troy Davis beat the homeless man and shoot MacPhail. In this same trial, it was revealed that Redd Coles also owned a .38 caliber gun, a lead that was never pursued by law enforcement. Davis was convicted for the murder of Mark MacPhail and sentenced to death on August 30, 1991.
During the appeal process, seven of the nine eye witnesses recanted their testimony and complained of police coercion and intimidation during the suspect identification process. Four of the witnesses implicated Redd Coles as the shooter in their revised statements, including Larry Young, the homeless man who had been assaulted the night of the murder.
After 22 years of appeals and pleas Troy Davis was put to death on September 21, 2011.
The problems with eye witness testimony
In the 1970's an experiment was conducted to assess the effect 3rd party suggestions have on people forming "false facts" in their memories. Here is an except from the experiment:
"Subjects were shown a slide of a car at an intersection with either a yield sign or a stop sign. Experimenters asked participants questions, falsely introducing the term "stop sign" into the question instead of referring to the yield sign participants had actually seen. Similarly, experimenters falsely substituted the term "yield sign" in questions directed to participants who had actually seen the stop sign slide. The results indicated that subjects remembered seeing the false image. In the initial part of the experiment, subjects also viewed a slide showing a car accident. Some subjects were later asked how fast the cars were traveling when they "hit" each other, others were asked how fast the cars were traveling when they "smashed" into each other. Those subjects questioned using the word "smashed" were more likely to report having seen broken glass in the original slide. The introduction of false cues altered participants’ memories."
The way an eye witness is questioned can introduce bias to their recollections and also aide in "false facts" In addition, a person under stress and fear at the scene of the crime may not have seen all the details or remembered the event exactly as it happened.
Other evidence that eye witness testimony is unreliable is the fact that 75% of DNA exonerations were cases where the conviction was heavily based on eye witness testimony. " At least 40% of these eyewitness identifications involved a cross racial identification (race data is currently only available on the victim, not for non-victim eyewitnesses). Studies have shown that people are less able to recognize faces of a different race than their own." You can read more here.
CBS recently aired a story on eyewitness testimony and wrongful convictions.
Considering these studies, the fact that Troy Davis' case was largely based on eyewitness testimony, and the majority of eyewitnesses recanted their testimony - Troy Davis' sentence should have been at least commuted to life in prison.
The concept of the death penalty
The death penalty as a crime deterrent is an erroneous argument at best. Approximately 54% of murders occur due to alcohol intoxication, most other murders are committed out of extreme emotional incompetency or stress (fear, anger, passion, mental handicap). In these diminished cognitive states, the perpetrator cannot clearly think about the consequences of their actions. They commit the murder within a matter of seconds with no time for reflection and many times without the cognitive ability to do so. At these pivotal moments they are unable to see that the consequence might mean the death penalty.
In the United States, there are 14 states that do not have a death penalty statute and these states have some of the lowest murder rates in the country. In fact, the states that employ the death penalty the most have the highest murder rates in the country. Find statistics here. The largest percentage of executions occur in the southern states. One can draw a correlation between murder rate and poverty level since most of the states with high murder rate also have a high poverty rate. The natural conclusion would be, to deter murders, the states should spend their time and resources on education and social reforms to alleviate poverty ergo causing the murder rate to decrease.
The death penalty as justice. Justice is defined as: the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness and guided by truth, reason, and fairness. Justice does not mean an eye for an eye, or do unto others as they have done to you. The usage of this word in the context of the law and especially as it pertains to the death penalty is largely interchangeable with the word revenge. What many families seek is revenge, they lost someone and the person they think caused their pain should be punished vindictively and put to death.
One cannot cure a disease by treating the symptoms, the root cause must be addressed. There are strong indications that violent crime, including murder, are related to poverty levels and social inequality. If governments and society at large want to solve violent crime problems they must address the conditions that cause it. Building more prisons, and electrocuting and injecting people with lethal drugs does not solve the problem, it only perpetuates it.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Dirty tactics for dirtier air, water and land
Right now the House is preparing spending bills for 2012 for the operations of the federal government. House Republicans are attempting to attach anti-environmental provisions to these bills that are not related to spending. The provisions are meant to relax environmental standards that have been in place for decades in order to increase profits for the coal industry, power companies, chemical companies and oil companies. These provisions are called "riders" because they are attached to major legislation or in this case spending bills so that policies can be changed without having to stand on their own in a floor vote. Here is a short list of the "riders" currently being proposed in the Interior and Environment appropration:
Land
(Sec. 437) offered by Rep. Simpson would permanently limit the ability of citizens to challenge Forest Service land use decisions in the courts.
(Sec. 118) offered by Rep. Simpson would make it more difficult to challenge DOI land use decisions in the courts. (Sec. 447) offered by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) would prohibit EPA from modifying, suspending, or cancelling pesticide registrations because of endangered species impacts.
(Sec. 119) offered by Rep. Simpson would permanently prohibit the courts from reviewing any delisting of gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act in Wyoming and in the upper Midwest.(Sec. 445) offered by Rep. Simpson would permanently prevent the DOI and the Forest Service from declaring lands near the Grand Canyon off limits for uranium mining.
Wildlife
(Sec. 503) would prevent the EPA from implementing any measures recommended by federal wildlife experts to protect endangered species from toxic pesticides. This would spell disaster for species, including Pacific Salmon, that are already on the brink of extinction due to pesticides and other harms.Air
(Sec. 462) offered by Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) would delay the EPA from limiting toxic pollution from power plants and delay the EPA from limiting cross-state air pollution.(Sec. 453) offered by Rep. Steve Austria (R-OH) would block the EPA from setting new mileage standards for cars and from allowing California to do so.
(Sec. 443) offered by Rep. Simpson would permanently weaken regulation of air pollution from offshore oil and gas drilling activities, particularly in Alaska. Among other things, the provision exempts certain sources of air pollution from the Clean Air Act.(Sec. 431) offered by Rep. Simpson would prevent the EPA from limiting carbon pollution from power plants and other stationary sources.
Water
(Title V) offered by Rep. Simpson wouldpermanently exempt pesticide application from the Clean Water Act.(Sec. 434) offered by Rep. Simpson would block the EPA from strengthening oversight of coal ash disposal. The EPA was acting in response to the massive release of toxic coal wastes in Tennessee in 2010.
(Sec. 432) offered by Rep. Simpson would block the Department of Interior (DOI) from enforcing safeguards designed to protect streams from pollution from surface coal mining.These hitchhikers should ethically not be affixed to appropriations or budget bills. These proposals are added stealthily to bills in hopes that most Americans will not see their rights being taken away from them. These "riders" do not have to be debated on the floor and usually do not leave the closed door committee discussions. So protections and rights of Americans are quietly taken away without any public discourse on the issues. Organizations like the EPA and Forestry Department are meant to ensure we have safeguards that protect our health and our national parks for future generations to enjoy.
If these House Representatives truly believe these proposals are good policy decisions why not propose one bill with all these policy changes and bring it to the floor for debate and a vote. Bring it all out in the open so all the Representatives can examine the content of these provisions and the American public can see the actions of their elected representatives. They probably do not want their constituents to see that these proposals are meant to increase profits for their campaign contributors and large corporations at the risk of people's health.
Rep Mike Simpson (R-ID) campaign contributions from: FMC Corp (pesticide manufacturer), IDACORP Inc (holdings in power companies), CH2M HILL, (partnering with chemical and power companies) See more here
Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) campaign contributions from: FMC Corp (pesticide manufacturer), Arch Coal (the nation's second largest coal producer), Marathon Oil, Anadarko Petroleum, Alpha Natural Resources (another coal producer) See more here
Also visit these sites to sign petitions:
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Exporting the suffering and slaughter of horses
This year 100,000 horses will be shipped from the USA to Mexico or Canada to be slaughtered for human consumption in parts of Asia and Europe.
Warning! The video below has graphic content, viewer discretion is advised.
Horses are viewed in the U.S. as being more like pets and companions, consuming them is largely taboo. Banning American horse slaughter houses (abattoirs) in 2007 was largely fueled by pressure on local municipalities from their constituents. This action, which had the best of intentions, caused horse meat exporters to move their operations just across the border to Mexico and Canada. The horses are packed into metal shipping containers and transported thousands of miles in over-crowded conditions, abused and then slaughtered the same way cows are: stunned with a captive bolt gun then their neck is slit and they bleed to death. Of course, this is if things go according to plan and run smoothly. But, there are many cases where the horse is not stunned when its throat is cut and a recent report from PETA shows a horse so frightened it rears up and tries to escape before being tied up and killed.
Supply and demand
Most of the horses sent to slaughter are used up race horses. They are usually still full of vitality and are not injured or lame. However, they are not in their racing prime - so owners sell them at auctions, most of them end up in slaughter houses. It is reported that even Kentucky Derby winners such as Ferdinand were sold to slaughterhouses. A racehorse typically races for two years during its racing prime then is either used as a stud for a few years and then sent to a slaughterhouse after it has outlived its usefulness or is sent directly to slaughter at the tender age of five. With the horse racing industry being worth $115 billion and 125 horse tracks operating in the United States alone, there is a large supply of unwanted horses.
In parts of Europe and Asia, horse meat is considered a delicacy and fetches roughly $20 a pound in the market. The demand is high enough to warrant the slaughter of almost 5 million horses per year for human consumption in countries such as China, Italy, France and Japan. These animals are treated no differently to other animals raised for slaughter; they are housed in dirty crowded conditions with little space to move, abused by handlers and slaughterhouse workers, then eventually killed.
The right thing to do
It seems incredible that humans have developed the ability to communicate across the globe, cure innumerable diseases, and travel beyond the Earth, but have held on to archaic, barbaric practices. How can we continue to justify to ourselves that using animals for our entertainment and causing them intense anguish is okay or that we do it because we have the "power" over these creatures? Even if you want to make a Judeo-Christian religious argument for treatment of animals, on the grounds that God gave humans dominion over animals, it does not give permission to torture animals or slaughter them in massive numbers. It would seem to me the Christian God is a creator and any creation from such an entity should be respected.
We have within us the knowledge and virtue of justice, a uniquely human attribute. Our sense of justice and our consciousness endows us with the ability to see the consequences of our actions - for example, the unjust nature of slavery and torture of any creature - and rectify our behavior. To live our lives in perpetual ignorance and seek only what brings us pleasure, disregarding the pain and suffering of others, is base and ignores what it means to be human.
In the U.S., Contact your Representative or Senator and tell them to support legislation: S. 1176: American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011, now circulating in the Senate to ban the export of live horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter.
Withholding your monetary support for horse racing and signing petitions will also help to curb the supply of horses to the international horse meat industry.
Here is another petition
Petition in Australia
Petition in Ireland
Petition in EU
In the U.S., there are also multiple organizations that facilitate the rehabilitation and adoption of race horses here are a few:
http://www.horseadoption.com/
http://www.racehorsereclaim.com/
http://www.canterusa.org/
http://www.rerun.org/
Friday, September 2, 2011
Tar sands and the transcontinental pipeline
Tar sand mining has been in the headlines this week due to the large protests in Washington, D.C. however, it is not a new story. The Tar Sands of Alberta Canada have been in operation since 1967 and have grown with the increased demand of petroleum products. With the price of oil hovering around $90 a barrel, extracting the bitumen from the tar sands is a very lucrative business.
How it is extracted and refined
The most common method is strip mining where large mechanical shovels scoop up the ground which contains sand, clay and bitumen (a thick heavy viscous oil) and carries the slurry to special refining stations where the bitumen can be separated from the impurities. Due to the extremely viscous nature of bitumen, it cannot be pumped from the ground like light crude. The separation method usually uses hot water and caustic soda, then the mixture is agitated and the oil can be skimmed from the top. Occasionally, steam and hot water or solvents are also used in the extraction process to thin out the bitumen making it easier to draw out of the ground - especially if the bitumen is not close to the surface.
It takes approximately two tons of oil sands to produce one barrel of oil (1/8 of a ton). Extraction and refining costs for tar sands are estimated to be around $28 a barrel where light crude costs about $6 a barrel to produce. The energy used to refine bitumen is not the only consideration. To separate the oil from the sediment, a large amount of water is used which depletes the area around refineries of a vital natural resource for the wildlife, environment and people living within the watershed of the water source. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands production are three times those of conventional oil and gas production, and producing synthetic crude oil emits up to 20% more greenhouse gas emissions than low-sulfur, light crude oils.
Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil and refined products to the United States, supplying about 20% of total U.S. imports, and exports more oil and products to the U.S. than it consumes itself. In 2006, bitumen production averaged 1.25 million barrels per day (200,000 m3/d) through 81 oil sands projects (that is roughly 2.5 million tons of tar sand a day), representing 47% of total Canadian petroleum production.
The Pipeline
To secure the future of tar sand mining, the Keystone Pipeline Project is currently underway. This pipeline will stretch from Canada's Tar Sands to refineries in Texas. This pipeline will cross over thousands of miles of prairie lands, farmland and aquifers - any leaks or accidents would be devastating to the surrounding ecosystem, water and food supply. Even the GOP governor of Nebraska is not happy with the proposed pipeline and has asked the Obama Administration to deny the pipeline permit.
Instead of Suncor, Shell and many other oil companies spending more money on research and development of safer and cleaner energies, they have decided to sink $13 billion into the construction of a pipeline and it would seem that the U.S. congress approves of their actions since they still subsidize the oil industry. This is appalling considering that the five largest oil companies this year alone, posted a $38 billion profit. The current subsidies should be reallocated to companies that are developing cleaner, more efficient energy sources for the future, not supporting oil companies that do not need the subsidy.
The extraction and refining of bitumen is time consuming, highly inefficient and dirtier than light crude production. The Keystone Pipeline, running across land that we depend on for our food supply, poses a larger risk than pipelines used in places like Alaska, or even the U.S. gulf coast. Contact your representatives in Congress and let them know your thoughts on these issues.
How it is extracted and refined
The most common method is strip mining where large mechanical shovels scoop up the ground which contains sand, clay and bitumen (a thick heavy viscous oil) and carries the slurry to special refining stations where the bitumen can be separated from the impurities. Due to the extremely viscous nature of bitumen, it cannot be pumped from the ground like light crude. The separation method usually uses hot water and caustic soda, then the mixture is agitated and the oil can be skimmed from the top. Occasionally, steam and hot water or solvents are also used in the extraction process to thin out the bitumen making it easier to draw out of the ground - especially if the bitumen is not close to the surface.
It takes approximately two tons of oil sands to produce one barrel of oil (1/8 of a ton). Extraction and refining costs for tar sands are estimated to be around $28 a barrel where light crude costs about $6 a barrel to produce. The energy used to refine bitumen is not the only consideration. To separate the oil from the sediment, a large amount of water is used which depletes the area around refineries of a vital natural resource for the wildlife, environment and people living within the watershed of the water source. In addition, greenhouse gas emissions from tar sands production are three times those of conventional oil and gas production, and producing synthetic crude oil emits up to 20% more greenhouse gas emissions than low-sulfur, light crude oils.
Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil and refined products to the United States, supplying about 20% of total U.S. imports, and exports more oil and products to the U.S. than it consumes itself. In 2006, bitumen production averaged 1.25 million barrels per day (200,000 m3/d) through 81 oil sands projects (that is roughly 2.5 million tons of tar sand a day), representing 47% of total Canadian petroleum production.
The Pipeline
To secure the future of tar sand mining, the Keystone Pipeline Project is currently underway. This pipeline will stretch from Canada's Tar Sands to refineries in Texas. This pipeline will cross over thousands of miles of prairie lands, farmland and aquifers - any leaks or accidents would be devastating to the surrounding ecosystem, water and food supply. Even the GOP governor of Nebraska is not happy with the proposed pipeline and has asked the Obama Administration to deny the pipeline permit.
Instead of Suncor, Shell and many other oil companies spending more money on research and development of safer and cleaner energies, they have decided to sink $13 billion into the construction of a pipeline and it would seem that the U.S. congress approves of their actions since they still subsidize the oil industry. This is appalling considering that the five largest oil companies this year alone, posted a $38 billion profit. The current subsidies should be reallocated to companies that are developing cleaner, more efficient energy sources for the future, not supporting oil companies that do not need the subsidy.
The extraction and refining of bitumen is time consuming, highly inefficient and dirtier than light crude production. The Keystone Pipeline, running across land that we depend on for our food supply, poses a larger risk than pipelines used in places like Alaska, or even the U.S. gulf coast. Contact your representatives in Congress and let them know your thoughts on these issues.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Discourse on Animal Rights - Part II
“There is a waste and a tragedy when a living creature with an innate or basic capability for some functions that are valued as important and good never [get] the opportunity to perform these functions.” -Martha NussbaumAnimals have a potential and purpose apart from the categorization and designation we assign to them. They are meant to live in nature, grow into adults, and procreate. Animals are an integral part of the ecosystem, contributing to the rich global biodiversity of this planet. They have a proper function to contribute to the well being of the environment through their actions within food chains and food webs. When the species functions well, a balance is kept in the ecosystem.
Their potential is fulfilled when their natural actions are allowed to continue, to impede the potential of another living being is to deprive them of the action(s) that define what it is to be a thing of their kind. For instance, incarcerating wild tigers in small enclosures within a zoo is interfering with their natural interactions within the environment and impeding their ability to fulfill their potential, their purpose of being a tiger. In the wild, tigers prey on animals, grow, thrive and procreate to ensure the continuation of their species. When their species functions well, they help maintain the stability of their habitat and fulfill the purpose of being a tiger. However, when the animal is taken from their natural environment and put in unnatural surroundings where their natural behavior is curtailed or impeded, they are denied their natural right to life, liberty and the pursuit of their purpose, of what it is like to be a tiger. In many cases the animal develops unnatural behavior (stereotypies) like pacing, head bobbing and self mutilation which is thought to be the result of boredom, frustration or depression.
The intrinsic good in animals is in their specific function to their particular end: life, growth, and reproduction. If the ‘good’ resides in the well functioning being, then if the being is prevented from functioning well, this would seem to be wrong. It is true that certain life forms depend on taking the life of others for sustenance, as in the case of carnivores, but what of preventing functions of life forms on a systematically large scale like in the instances of factory farming, animal captivity and animal experiments?
Most natural animal behavior is prevented on a factory farm. An animal in this situation is not allowed to move, being confined to a very small space. They are impeded from engaging in their natural actions like grazing, scratching in the dirt, roaming and engaging others of their kind. They are prevented from reaching their potential - to actualize what it means to be a cow, chicken or pig. Many of these beings are mutilated ‘for health reasons’ and consequently are not able to actualize their proper material form.
It is not only the act of killing these creatures in order to eat them that is unjust - it is more unjust that we prevent them from having a normal, natural life. We deprive them of the essence of life - we incarcerate them, torture them, stifle their instincts and then slaughter them on a massive scale.
Animals have natural rights by virtue of being alive, choosing self-preservation, their ability to feel pain, to suffer and their ability for complex emotions. We cannot consciously ignore these attributes that we share with animals. If we construct rights to protect the most basic human functions, these rights should be extended toward others who have these capacities as well. Animals should have the right to life, liberty and pursuit of their potential. And should not be held in slavery or servitude, or subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. To do anything less would be unconscionable, bowing to base human appetites.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Discourse on Animal Rights - Part I Natural Rights
One of the basic ideas of the modern world is that humans are endowed with certain "inalienable" rights, part of a natural law. The natural law argument was written extensively by the philosopher John Locke and was one of the influences of the American Declaration of Independence which is evident in the second paragraph of the Declaration:
The pursuit of happiness clause is very broad, it could mean the pursuit of every whim and desire - but the authors had something specific in mind which is outlined in their list of grievances to the King. Most of the list refers to the Crown interfering in the colonies pursuit of self determination through heavy taxes and levies without political representation, abolishing local charters and laws, and interfering with commerce and trade. Their action of declaring independence was a movement to protect their natural right to self determination, to preserve what it is to be human.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. This document was largely a reaction to the second World War and the gross violations of human rights in Nazi Germany. This Universal Declaration echoes some of the sentiments present in the Declaration of Independence but is more precise on the universal rights of humans:
We use our talents, grow and strive to reach our potential. Ensuring certain natural rights are inalienable, help each individual to attain their goal and actualize their latent potential. "Rights" are a human concept, designed to minimize suffering and bring human society into a more balanced egalitarian existence. A more balanced, stable society promotes prosperity and growth not only for the individual but also for the city, state and country. In this way, we all evolve as a species.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."The purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to give reasons why it was just and right for revolutionaries to separate from England to form an independent government. However, the document has natural rights overtones, declaring that humans have the right to change their government, especially if their government is tyrannical, they have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The pursuit of happiness clause is very broad, it could mean the pursuit of every whim and desire - but the authors had something specific in mind which is outlined in their list of grievances to the King. Most of the list refers to the Crown interfering in the colonies pursuit of self determination through heavy taxes and levies without political representation, abolishing local charters and laws, and interfering with commerce and trade. Their action of declaring independence was a movement to protect their natural right to self determination, to preserve what it is to be human.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. This document was largely a reaction to the second World War and the gross violations of human rights in Nazi Germany. This Universal Declaration echoes some of the sentiments present in the Declaration of Independence but is more precise on the universal rights of humans:
Article 1. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 3. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 4. No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.
Article 5. No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.The Declaration goes on to describe other rights such as due process, trial rights, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and government participation. All of these rights are expressions of self determination, actualization of humanness - what it means to be human because we "are endowed with reason and conscience."
We use our talents, grow and strive to reach our potential. Ensuring certain natural rights are inalienable, help each individual to attain their goal and actualize their latent potential. "Rights" are a human concept, designed to minimize suffering and bring human society into a more balanced egalitarian existence. A more balanced, stable society promotes prosperity and growth not only for the individual but also for the city, state and country. In this way, we all evolve as a species.
Friday, July 22, 2011
The Myth of Protein
There is evidence that excessive protein consumption adversely affects human health. In recent studies, diets high in protein have been shown to cause kidney problems, loss of calcium resulting in osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and diabetes.
Too much protein is hazardous to your health
Kidney function and osteoporosis : Acids are released from protein when it breaks down in the digestive system of the body. To compensate for the increased level of acid, the body releases calcium to neutralize the effect from the protein. If excessive acid enters the blood stream, the body takes more calcium to maintain a balance. Diets high in protein create high levels of acid in the blood, if high levels of calcium are not readily available to counteract the acidity, the body begins stripping the calcium from bones. This calcium leaching inevitably leads to osteoporosis.
Protein also increases uric acid and oxalate levels in the urine which has been connected to kidney stones. In addition, eating excessive amounts of protein produces high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the urine which the kidneys have to work vigorously to expel from our bodies. This burden can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure. Read more here.
Diabetes & cardiovascular disease : These two afflictions are a result of high fat protein sources, mainly from animals (beef, lamb, pork etc.) Consuming moderate amounts of good fats from avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil provide fuel for healthy brain function and maintain the body's ability to build muscle without adversely effecting weight. Excess weight, especially abdominal fat, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Colorectal, breast, prostate and stomach cancer : Research has suggested chemical compounds produced when meat is cooked (and the world's increased meat consumption) might be partly to blame for the rise in cancer. Heterocyclic Amines (a mutagen) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (a carcinogen) form on meat while it is being cooked. Usually the higher the temperature and the longer the meat is cooked, the more these cancerous compounds are produced in the meat. Read more here. In addition, the saturated fat and iron found in red meat has been linked to causing cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends reducing red and processed meat intake to reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer. To obtain more information, see this article in U.S. News and Report health section and an article on the National Institutes of Health website.
The healthy way
The best option for optimal health is a vegan or vegetarian diet. If meat consumption is part of your routine, it should be consumed in very small portions and only a few times a week instead of at every meal. Choosing protein sources that are low in saturated fat such as lentils, fish, skim milk, yoghurt, nuts and seeds are the best choice for a healthy life. A wise man by the name of Aristotle once said:
The right amount of protein
The average American consumes 3.5 ounces or 100 grams of protein a day and many consume 9 ounces or 255 grams per day. A healthy intake is .8 grams per kilo of body weight or .014 ounces per pound of body weight. So, for an adult weighing 73 kilos or 160 pounds the optimal protein intake is 64 grams or 2.2 ounces per day.
Not all protein is created equal
Protein intake is not the only thing to consider when choosing food for consumption. Some sources of protein are laden with saturated fat and cholesterol. The biggest offenders are beef, lamb, pork, poultry with skin, processed meats such as: bacon, lunch meat, sausage and hot dogs, whole and 2% milk, butter, cheese and lard. Consuming these items for your protein will also bring with it high levels of fat. The accumulation of saturated fat in the diet is the number one cause for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and colon cancer.
The best options for protein are sources that are low in saturated fat and contain fiber. Take for example is excerpt from a Harvard University article:
"A 6-ounce broiled porterhouse steak is a great source of complete protein—38 grams worth. But it also delivers 44 grams of fat, 16 of them saturated. That's almost three-fourths of the recommended daily intake for saturated fat. The same amount of salmon gives you 34 grams of protein and 18 grams of fat, 4 of them saturated. A cup of cooked lentils has 18 grams of protein, but under 1 gram of fat."One cup of lentils also offers 15.6 grams of fiber, which is essential to stave off colon cancer. Click here for a comprehensive list of protein content in common food sources.
Too much protein is hazardous to your health
Kidney function and osteoporosis : Acids are released from protein when it breaks down in the digestive system of the body. To compensate for the increased level of acid, the body releases calcium to neutralize the effect from the protein. If excessive acid enters the blood stream, the body takes more calcium to maintain a balance. Diets high in protein create high levels of acid in the blood, if high levels of calcium are not readily available to counteract the acidity, the body begins stripping the calcium from bones. This calcium leaching inevitably leads to osteoporosis.
Protein also increases uric acid and oxalate levels in the urine which has been connected to kidney stones. In addition, eating excessive amounts of protein produces high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the urine which the kidneys have to work vigorously to expel from our bodies. This burden can lead to kidney disease and even kidney failure. Read more here.
Diabetes & cardiovascular disease : These two afflictions are a result of high fat protein sources, mainly from animals (beef, lamb, pork etc.) Consuming moderate amounts of good fats from avocados, nuts, seeds and olive oil provide fuel for healthy brain function and maintain the body's ability to build muscle without adversely effecting weight. Excess weight, especially abdominal fat, has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Colorectal, breast, prostate and stomach cancer : Research has suggested chemical compounds produced when meat is cooked (and the world's increased meat consumption) might be partly to blame for the rise in cancer. Heterocyclic Amines (a mutagen) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (a carcinogen) form on meat while it is being cooked. Usually the higher the temperature and the longer the meat is cooked, the more these cancerous compounds are produced in the meat. Read more here. In addition, the saturated fat and iron found in red meat has been linked to causing cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends reducing red and processed meat intake to reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer. To obtain more information, see this article in U.S. News and Report health section and an article on the National Institutes of Health website.
The healthy way
The best option for optimal health is a vegan or vegetarian diet. If meat consumption is part of your routine, it should be consumed in very small portions and only a few times a week instead of at every meal. Choosing protein sources that are low in saturated fat such as lentils, fish, skim milk, yoghurt, nuts and seeds are the best choice for a healthy life. A wise man by the name of Aristotle once said:
"... moral qualities are so constituted as to be destroyed by excess and by deficiency—as we see is the case with bodily strength and health. Strength is destroyed both by excessive and by deficient exercises, and similarly health is destroyed both by too much and by too little food and drink; while they are produced, increased and preserved by suitable quantities."Even the ancient Greeks knew the dangers of excessive behavior. The best way to live life in all aspects is in moderation, the mean or middle way between extremes.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Factory farms of the ocean - Part II
There are alternatives to conventional fish farming:
By far, the best practice is sustainable wild fishing. The fish live their entire lives in the open ocean, they are less susceptible to the disease of their farmed counterparts and they have less chemicals in their bodies (except mercury).
What you can do to mitigate the harmful effects of farmed fish
First, I want to point out that being vegan, vegetarian or reducing your consumption of animal protein is the best choice to alleviate the environmental impact of farmed fish or wild fishing. In fact, the average person only needs 46-56 grams or 1.6-1.9 ounces of protein a day. The average American consumes 3.5 ounces and some people consume as much as 9 ounces of animal protein per day.
Purchasing sustainably wild caught fish is the best choice, for environmental as well as health reasons. Wild fish are not anti-biotic laden and have not been treated with other harmful chemicals such as fungicides. Check out this eco-friendly fish guide from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to make better choices for fish consumption. EDF also works with fisheries around the world, helping them set up "catch shares" where quotas are set for wild fishing, helping to ensure fish populations do not collapse.
Some grocery stores clearly display the country of origin and if the fish are farmed or wild - if you are not sure, ask. Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label on packages of fish - they only assess wild caught fisheries. The MSC certifies that fisheries are using sustainable methods of fishing: e.g. avoiding overfishing, limiting bycatch (unintentionally catching other species such as dolphins and turtles) and agree to respect closed zones.
Other animal species depend on stable global fish populations. To ensure we retain the rich biodiversity of this planet, we should only take what we need and leave the rest for others.
- Polyculture and Integrated Aquaculture
- Wild Fishing
Polyculture and Integrated Aquaculture uses an eco-system approach to growing fish. The system can be land-based in tanks or "ponds" or can be open-water in bays or off shore. This approach pairs complementary species such as: Salmon, mussels and kelp. The waste from the salmon produces ammonia and phosphorus which the kelp extracts from the water. Mussels filter organic bottom level organisms. This approach keeps the enclosures cleaner - reducing or eliminating the need for antibiotics and fungicides as well as keeping the fish waste from contaminating waterways. Polyculture and Integrated Aquaculture is not used on a large scale, setting up such a system can be prohibitively expensive and it does not have a fast return on investment, the conventional ways of fish farming are far cheaper and are more lucrative in the short term.
What you can do to mitigate the harmful effects of farmed fish
First, I want to point out that being vegan, vegetarian or reducing your consumption of animal protein is the best choice to alleviate the environmental impact of farmed fish or wild fishing. In fact, the average person only needs 46-56 grams or 1.6-1.9 ounces of protein a day. The average American consumes 3.5 ounces and some people consume as much as 9 ounces of animal protein per day.
Purchasing sustainably wild caught fish is the best choice, for environmental as well as health reasons. Wild fish are not anti-biotic laden and have not been treated with other harmful chemicals such as fungicides. Check out this eco-friendly fish guide from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) to make better choices for fish consumption. EDF also works with fisheries around the world, helping them set up "catch shares" where quotas are set for wild fishing, helping to ensure fish populations do not collapse.
Some grocery stores clearly display the country of origin and if the fish are farmed or wild - if you are not sure, ask. Look for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label on packages of fish - they only assess wild caught fisheries. The MSC certifies that fisheries are using sustainable methods of fishing: e.g. avoiding overfishing, limiting bycatch (unintentionally catching other species such as dolphins and turtles) and agree to respect closed zones.
Other animal species depend on stable global fish populations. To ensure we retain the rich biodiversity of this planet, we should only take what we need and leave the rest for others.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Factory farms of the ocean- Part I
Over 1 billion people today depend on fish as a major source of animal protein in their diet. 40% of the fish consumed are grown in fish farms in a $78 billion aquaculture industry. The business of factory fish farming is the fastest growing food supply source, growing 9% a year since 1975.
Part of the boom is due to the widely publicized health benefits one receives by eating fish and to counteract the overfishing of wild populations. However, eating farmed fish can be a risky business. Like the land-based factory farms, fish farms pack as many fish into the enclosures as possible to increase profits often causing health risks to the fish and people. It is also doubtful that fish farming alleviates the wild fish population dilemma.
Health issues of aqua-farming
On salmon farms, fish spend their entire lives in a space no bigger than a conventional bathtub and trout often have less space with up to 27 fish sharing a bathtub-sized space. Without sufficient space to move and isolated from their natural ecosystems these fish are susceptible to disease, injury and dirty conditions.
In the wild, fish move through the open waters with a large variety of other fish species, their waste is dispersed and sometimes consumed by bottom feeders or other inhabitants of the ocean. Parasites are cleaned off of them by "cleaner fish" keeping them healthy. The mono-species environment of fish farms are so crowded and dirty with fish excrement and sea lice that many fish become diseased. There is evidence that the crowded conditions cause stress in the fish populations making them more prone the lice infestations. Sea lice feed on tissue, blood and mucus, once a fish is infested their immune system breaks down, reducing growth and making disease an inevitability – many do not survive.
To combat the health issues caused by the unnatural surroundings, fish farmers treat their fish population with antibiotics and carcinogenic fungicides. The over use of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistant bacteria to emerge increasing disease susceptibility not only in fish but the people who consume the fish.
Environmental issues of aqua-farming
The largest impact of fish farms is their negative influence on the environment. In the global fish market, demand is high for top of the food chain, carnivorous varieties of fish like: tuna, striped bass, cod and mackerel. These fish eat other smaller pelagic fish which are harvested from the open ocean, depleting the wild fish population. 37% of global seafood is used for fish food and distributed to fish and shrimp farms. This practice takes the food from the oceanic food chain further disrupting the ecosystem and is highly unsustainable.
The lice infestation and disease that farmed fish succumb to are passed on to wild populations. Aqua-farms are usually located around coastal areas close to inlets, rivers, bays and estuaries which are also used by wild fish populations. Wild fish have to navigate around fish farms, frequently coming in contact with contaminated fish contracting their afflictions.
The high concentrations of fish produce a significant amount of condensed faeces, often contaminated with drugs, which affect local waterways. The bacterial growth, resulting from fish waste and uneaten fish meal pellets, strips the water of oxygen, reducing or killing off the local marine life. Algal blooms occur in these nitrogen and phosphorus rich waters further disrupting the surrounding areas, proving to be toxic to wild fish larvae and marine mammals, such as porpoises and seals. It also kills caged farmed fish. Once an area has been so contaminated, the fish farms are moved to new, uncontaminated areas.
Part of the boom is due to the widely publicized health benefits one receives by eating fish and to counteract the overfishing of wild populations. However, eating farmed fish can be a risky business. Like the land-based factory farms, fish farms pack as many fish into the enclosures as possible to increase profits often causing health risks to the fish and people. It is also doubtful that fish farming alleviates the wild fish population dilemma.
Health issues of aqua-farming
On salmon farms, fish spend their entire lives in a space no bigger than a conventional bathtub and trout often have less space with up to 27 fish sharing a bathtub-sized space. Without sufficient space to move and isolated from their natural ecosystems these fish are susceptible to disease, injury and dirty conditions.
In the wild, fish move through the open waters with a large variety of other fish species, their waste is dispersed and sometimes consumed by bottom feeders or other inhabitants of the ocean. Parasites are cleaned off of them by "cleaner fish" keeping them healthy. The mono-species environment of fish farms are so crowded and dirty with fish excrement and sea lice that many fish become diseased. There is evidence that the crowded conditions cause stress in the fish populations making them more prone the lice infestations. Sea lice feed on tissue, blood and mucus, once a fish is infested their immune system breaks down, reducing growth and making disease an inevitability – many do not survive.
To combat the health issues caused by the unnatural surroundings, fish farmers treat their fish population with antibiotics and carcinogenic fungicides. The over use of antibiotics causes antibiotic resistant bacteria to emerge increasing disease susceptibility not only in fish but the people who consume the fish.
Environmental issues of aqua-farming
The largest impact of fish farms is their negative influence on the environment. In the global fish market, demand is high for top of the food chain, carnivorous varieties of fish like: tuna, striped bass, cod and mackerel. These fish eat other smaller pelagic fish which are harvested from the open ocean, depleting the wild fish population. 37% of global seafood is used for fish food and distributed to fish and shrimp farms. This practice takes the food from the oceanic food chain further disrupting the ecosystem and is highly unsustainable.
The lice infestation and disease that farmed fish succumb to are passed on to wild populations. Aqua-farms are usually located around coastal areas close to inlets, rivers, bays and estuaries which are also used by wild fish populations. Wild fish have to navigate around fish farms, frequently coming in contact with contaminated fish contracting their afflictions.
The high concentrations of fish produce a significant amount of condensed faeces, often contaminated with drugs, which affect local waterways. The bacterial growth, resulting from fish waste and uneaten fish meal pellets, strips the water of oxygen, reducing or killing off the local marine life. Algal blooms occur in these nitrogen and phosphorus rich waters further disrupting the surrounding areas, proving to be toxic to wild fish larvae and marine mammals, such as porpoises and seals. It also kills caged farmed fish. Once an area has been so contaminated, the fish farms are moved to new, uncontaminated areas.
Monday, May 2, 2011
A Factory Farm's Chicken Story Part II
Do something about inhumane chicken farming
In the U.S. the labeling of farm products is not regulated or verified independently by the USDA. So, a meat or egg producer can claim anything they want on their packages for marketing purposes – it does not mean it is true.
For example, "free range" does not necessarily mean the chickens are outside with plenty of room to roam. More often than not, it just means the egg laying hens are not crammed in cages, they are packed tightly into a shed, similar to the facilities used for broiler chickens. Eggland's Best defines cage-free as: "hens allowed to move freely within their house" which sounds good, but with thousands of chickens in a house the reality is not much better than the cage scenario.
Perdue, one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S., started marketing some of their chicken as humanely raised and USDA Process Verified which includes these claims:
About the claim "free range"
The USDA definition of free range or free roaming: Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed continuous, free access to the outside for over 51 percent of their lives. Producers can demonstrate this through testimonials and affidavits, or through certifications from certifying entities if USDA has evaluated the entity's "free range" or "free roaming" animal raising standards and determined that they are truthful and not misleading.
The USDA does not physically inspect the "free range" facilities, they take the word of the producers. Any group that has no oversight and is left to regulate itself will inevitably become corrupt. In the quest for profit, corporations often cut corners to reduce the cost of production to the point of jeopardizing safety and welfare of people and animals.
Broiler chickens have always been cage-free and packed into an environmentally controlled shed. Advertising that the chicken is free roaming is misleading to the consumer who believes they are making a more humane choice. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States has filed a lawsuit against Purdue for the fraudulent claims on its packaging.
About the claims "natural, no hormones, no antibiotics and organic"
"All Natural" is a strange claim since this refers to chemically altered food the "additives and preservatives" in packaged food which has never been used in poultry production.
The "no hormones" claim is also deceptive since growth hormones have no been used in poultry since the late 1950's. The rapid growth is due to selective breeding and environmental manipulation.
The claim that Perdue chickens are organic and antibiotic free is unable to be independently verified since the USDA does not investigate these claims from producers. USDA defines the no antibiotics certification as: The term "no antibiotics added" may be used on labels for meat or poultry products if sufficient documentation is provided by the producer to the Agency demonstrating that the animals were raised without antibiotics. It is unclear what documentation is provided to prove antibiotics were not used during meat production.
Resources for Making Healthy Humane Choices
One of the best things you can do is attend local farmer's markets, these smaller and usually family owned farms tend to have more sustainable farming and husbandry practices. Ask them how they raise their livestock and grow their food. Most farmers do not mind if you want to visit their farm to see for yourself how they operate. Apart from the humane choice to buy from a farm that practices old-fashioned husbandry, buying local is also more environmentally friendly since the farms are relatively close and do not need to ship their products, therefore less carbon is emitted into the air.
If you live in Virginia and Maryland here is an excellent source for meat and eggs:
http://www.polyfacefarms.com/taste.aspx
The farm uses true free roaming and free range practices which are also environmentally sustainable.
Other resources
Animal Welfare Approved: http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/product-search/
type in your zip code and click submit, the database will search for farms, restaurants and stores in your area that are animal welfare approved or sell animal welfare approved items.
American Humane Certified: http://thehumanetouch.org/certified-producers/profiles
This organization is enthusiastically endorsed by the ASPCA.
Making these choices will improve the welfare of animals, improve your health, lessen your carbon footprint, and if you buy from farmers markets you support your local community.
In the U.S. the labeling of farm products is not regulated or verified independently by the USDA. So, a meat or egg producer can claim anything they want on their packages for marketing purposes – it does not mean it is true.
For example, "free range" does not necessarily mean the chickens are outside with plenty of room to roam. More often than not, it just means the egg laying hens are not crammed in cages, they are packed tightly into a shed, similar to the facilities used for broiler chickens. Eggland's Best defines cage-free as: "hens allowed to move freely within their house" which sounds good, but with thousands of chickens in a house the reality is not much better than the cage scenario.
Perdue, one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S., started marketing some of their chicken as humanely raised and USDA Process Verified which includes these claims:
About the claim "free range"
The USDA definition of free range or free roaming: Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed continuous, free access to the outside for over 51 percent of their lives. Producers can demonstrate this through testimonials and affidavits, or through certifications from certifying entities if USDA has evaluated the entity's "free range" or "free roaming" animal raising standards and determined that they are truthful and not misleading.
The USDA does not physically inspect the "free range" facilities, they take the word of the producers. Any group that has no oversight and is left to regulate itself will inevitably become corrupt. In the quest for profit, corporations often cut corners to reduce the cost of production to the point of jeopardizing safety and welfare of people and animals.
Broiler chickens have always been cage-free and packed into an environmentally controlled shed. Advertising that the chicken is free roaming is misleading to the consumer who believes they are making a more humane choice. In fact, the Humane Society of the United States has filed a lawsuit against Purdue for the fraudulent claims on its packaging.
About the claims "natural, no hormones, no antibiotics and organic"
"All Natural" is a strange claim since this refers to chemically altered food the "additives and preservatives" in packaged food which has never been used in poultry production.
The "no hormones" claim is also deceptive since growth hormones have no been used in poultry since the late 1950's. The rapid growth is due to selective breeding and environmental manipulation.
The claim that Perdue chickens are organic and antibiotic free is unable to be independently verified since the USDA does not investigate these claims from producers. USDA defines the no antibiotics certification as: The term "no antibiotics added" may be used on labels for meat or poultry products if sufficient documentation is provided by the producer to the Agency demonstrating that the animals were raised without antibiotics. It is unclear what documentation is provided to prove antibiotics were not used during meat production.
Resources for Making Healthy Humane Choices
One of the best things you can do is attend local farmer's markets, these smaller and usually family owned farms tend to have more sustainable farming and husbandry practices. Ask them how they raise their livestock and grow their food. Most farmers do not mind if you want to visit their farm to see for yourself how they operate. Apart from the humane choice to buy from a farm that practices old-fashioned husbandry, buying local is also more environmentally friendly since the farms are relatively close and do not need to ship their products, therefore less carbon is emitted into the air.
If you live in Virginia and Maryland here is an excellent source for meat and eggs:
http://www.polyfacefarms.com/taste.aspx
The farm uses true free roaming and free range practices which are also environmentally sustainable.
Other resources
Animal Welfare Approved: http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/product-search/
type in your zip code and click submit, the database will search for farms, restaurants and stores in your area that are animal welfare approved or sell animal welfare approved items.
American Humane Certified: http://thehumanetouch.org/certified-producers/profiles
This organization is enthusiastically endorsed by the ASPCA.
Making these choices will improve the welfare of animals, improve your health, lessen your carbon footprint, and if you buy from farmers markets you support your local community.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
A Factory Farm's Chicken Story
There are two groups of chickens in food production. Chickens that are raised for their meat (broilers) and chickens that are raised for egg laying (battery). In both cases female chickens are preferred, for egg production and because they have a tendency to grow faster than their male counterparts. Here is the life story of chickens in a factory farm:
The chickens are incubated and hatched at a large hatchery and shipped to the processing plant where they are sorted. The sorting is for the sole purpose of weeding out the undesirable chicks, most of which are male since they cannot lay eggs and they do not grow fat fast enough to produce a high enough return on investment, others are discarded if they are visibly scrawny or lame. The sorting procedure is fast and rough, the "sexers" - people who inspect the chicks for their sex handle them quickly and harshly so they can process thousands of birds a day. The sexing takes place in a few ways:
After the sexing, the desirable chicks are sent to be debeaked. The practice of debeaking began in the 1930's to minimize flock loss due to cannibalism and feather pecking. The extremely crowded living conditions creates a stressful environment for the chickens which results in abnormal behavior and eventual profit loss for the company.
Debeaking is performed by a machine that cuts part of the chick's beak off either with a laser or a small guillotine device. In 1990, Michael Gentle and his associates at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh, Scotland demonstrated the effects of debeaking:
"To enable the animal to perform this wide range of activities, the beak of the chicken has an extensive nerve supply with numerous ... [nerve endings sensitive to mechanical pressures, heat and pain]....Beak amputation results in extensive neuromas [tumors] being formed in the healed stump of the beak which give rise to abnormal spontaneous neural activity in the trigeminal [threefold] nerve. The nociceptors present in the beak of the chicken have similar properties to those found in mammalian skin and the neural activity arising from the trigeminal neuromas is similar to that reported in the rat, mouse, cat and the baboon. Therefore, in terms of the peripheral neural activity, partial beak amputation is likely to be a painful procedure leading not only to phantom and stump pain, but also to other characteristics of the hyperpathic syndrome, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia [the stress resulting from, and extreme sensitiveness to, painful stimuli]." – Applied Animal Behavior Science, Vol. 27.
Broiler chicks are debeaked once since they only live for seven weeks. Egg laying chickens are debeaked numerous times during their life.
Battery chickens are put into cages, usually 8-10 birds are in a cage the size of a filing cabinet drawer. The space available to battery hens has often been described as less than the size of a piece of paper. This is not enough space for the chicken to spread its wings or even sit. Usually the cages are wire mesh which causes the chickens to develop sores on their feet that are not attended to and can become infected. The extreme crowding creates a stressful environment for the birds which results in feather loss and attacking other birds. Chickens that attempt to break out of their cages become injured and entangled in the wire mesh left to suffer and die slowly. The cages often deteriorate creating holes in the mesh where birds fall through the cage floor becoming injured and unable to reach food they slowly starve. Birds that are found injured by poultry workers usually have their necks broken, however with so many chickens per cage and sometimes thousands of cages per facility many hens are neglected to suffer a slow death. In addition to this daily existence, many poultry workers have been filmed abusing chickens, throwing them indiscriminately, hanging them alive on cages to languish, and throwing injured live chickens in trash cans to suffocate under numerous dead birds. Once the hens have decreased their egg production, they are slaughtered.
Broiler chickens are grown by the hundreds of thousands in large windowless sheds. These sheds are environmentally controlled, the temperature and lighting are set for optimal growth. The lighting is manipulated to stimulate more eating and growth in a shorter period of time. For the first few weeks the light cycles every few hours to simulate daytime and night time. This causes the chickens to eat more and sleep less.
The chickens are selectively bred to grow bigger and faster. This unnatural growth rate creates problems for the birds. Their bodies grow so quickly that their legs and feet cannot support the weight of their bodies, as a result they develop hip and leg deformities and lameness. Many birds develop lung and heart problems and as many as 19 million chickens die each year from heart failure long before they make it to slaughter. Thousands of birds are packed into these sheds, usually with little or no ventilation. The chickens live for seven weeks walking in their accumulating droppings, since the sheds are only cleaned after they are taken to slaughter, causing hock burns (foot ulcers and blisters) The inadequate ventilation creates ammonia build-up burning their eyes and lungs. In the last few weeks the lights in the shed are dimmed significantly to reduce the stress the chickens encounter from overcrowding.
When the chickens are ready for slaughter, they are forcibly stuffed into mesh crates and transported by truck to the slaughterhouse. The chickens are shackled upside down on a conveyor belt where they are dipped into an electrified "stunning" bath. their throats are cut then they are pulled through scalding water that removes their feathers. The procedure rarely resembles this description. Often chickens are not stunned when they have their throats cut and suffer tremendously by malfunctioning equipment or because they moved to try to avoid the cutting machine. Some are still alive and conscious when they are pulled through the boiling water. In addition, it is well documented that many poultry workers abuse and prolong the suffering of these animals.
Approximately 80% of meat and egg production uses factory farming techniques in the U.S. and 60% in the EU.
The chickens are incubated and hatched at a large hatchery and shipped to the processing plant where they are sorted. The sorting is for the sole purpose of weeding out the undesirable chicks, most of which are male since they cannot lay eggs and they do not grow fat fast enough to produce a high enough return on investment, others are discarded if they are visibly scrawny or lame. The sorting procedure is fast and rough, the "sexers" - people who inspect the chicks for their sex handle them quickly and harshly so they can process thousands of birds a day. The sexing takes place in a few ways:
- Feather sexing - Some chickens have been bred so that female chick's wing pinfeathers are longer than the male for easy detection.
- Vent sexing - involves literally squeezing the feces out of the chick, which opens up the chick's anal vent slightly, allowing the chicken sexer to see if the chick has a small "bump," which would indicate that the chick is a male.
- Pubic bone sexing - placing an index finger on the pubic bones. If the index finger fits, then the chick is likely a female.
- Maceration - an automated method where the chicks are dropped into a meat grinder alive and fully conscious where they are ground up. At the Hy-line Hatchery this technique is used to cull 150,000 chicks a day.
- Gassing - the chicks are gassed usually with carbon monoxide.
- Cervical dislocation - the spine is dislocated from the skull.
- Electrocution - a new method that has been touted as being cheap, reliable, and humane by its developers.
After the sexing, the desirable chicks are sent to be debeaked. The practice of debeaking began in the 1930's to minimize flock loss due to cannibalism and feather pecking. The extremely crowded living conditions creates a stressful environment for the chickens which results in abnormal behavior and eventual profit loss for the company.
Debeaking is performed by a machine that cuts part of the chick's beak off either with a laser or a small guillotine device. In 1990, Michael Gentle and his associates at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research, Edinburgh, Scotland demonstrated the effects of debeaking:
"To enable the animal to perform this wide range of activities, the beak of the chicken has an extensive nerve supply with numerous ... [nerve endings sensitive to mechanical pressures, heat and pain]....Beak amputation results in extensive neuromas [tumors] being formed in the healed stump of the beak which give rise to abnormal spontaneous neural activity in the trigeminal [threefold] nerve. The nociceptors present in the beak of the chicken have similar properties to those found in mammalian skin and the neural activity arising from the trigeminal neuromas is similar to that reported in the rat, mouse, cat and the baboon. Therefore, in terms of the peripheral neural activity, partial beak amputation is likely to be a painful procedure leading not only to phantom and stump pain, but also to other characteristics of the hyperpathic syndrome, such as allodynia and hyperalgesia [the stress resulting from, and extreme sensitiveness to, painful stimuli]." – Applied Animal Behavior Science, Vol. 27.
Broiler chicks are debeaked once since they only live for seven weeks. Egg laying chickens are debeaked numerous times during their life.
Battery chickens are put into cages, usually 8-10 birds are in a cage the size of a filing cabinet drawer. The space available to battery hens has often been described as less than the size of a piece of paper. This is not enough space for the chicken to spread its wings or even sit. Usually the cages are wire mesh which causes the chickens to develop sores on their feet that are not attended to and can become infected. The extreme crowding creates a stressful environment for the birds which results in feather loss and attacking other birds. Chickens that attempt to break out of their cages become injured and entangled in the wire mesh left to suffer and die slowly. The cages often deteriorate creating holes in the mesh where birds fall through the cage floor becoming injured and unable to reach food they slowly starve. Birds that are found injured by poultry workers usually have their necks broken, however with so many chickens per cage and sometimes thousands of cages per facility many hens are neglected to suffer a slow death. In addition to this daily existence, many poultry workers have been filmed abusing chickens, throwing them indiscriminately, hanging them alive on cages to languish, and throwing injured live chickens in trash cans to suffocate under numerous dead birds. Once the hens have decreased their egg production, they are slaughtered.
Broiler chickens are grown by the hundreds of thousands in large windowless sheds. These sheds are environmentally controlled, the temperature and lighting are set for optimal growth. The lighting is manipulated to stimulate more eating and growth in a shorter period of time. For the first few weeks the light cycles every few hours to simulate daytime and night time. This causes the chickens to eat more and sleep less.
The chickens are selectively bred to grow bigger and faster. This unnatural growth rate creates problems for the birds. Their bodies grow so quickly that their legs and feet cannot support the weight of their bodies, as a result they develop hip and leg deformities and lameness. Many birds develop lung and heart problems and as many as 19 million chickens die each year from heart failure long before they make it to slaughter. Thousands of birds are packed into these sheds, usually with little or no ventilation. The chickens live for seven weeks walking in their accumulating droppings, since the sheds are only cleaned after they are taken to slaughter, causing hock burns (foot ulcers and blisters) The inadequate ventilation creates ammonia build-up burning their eyes and lungs. In the last few weeks the lights in the shed are dimmed significantly to reduce the stress the chickens encounter from overcrowding.
When the chickens are ready for slaughter, they are forcibly stuffed into mesh crates and transported by truck to the slaughterhouse. The chickens are shackled upside down on a conveyor belt where they are dipped into an electrified "stunning" bath. their throats are cut then they are pulled through scalding water that removes their feathers. The procedure rarely resembles this description. Often chickens are not stunned when they have their throats cut and suffer tremendously by malfunctioning equipment or because they moved to try to avoid the cutting machine. Some are still alive and conscious when they are pulled through the boiling water. In addition, it is well documented that many poultry workers abuse and prolong the suffering of these animals.
Approximately 80% of meat and egg production uses factory farming techniques in the U.S. and 60% in the EU.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Animal Liberation Revisited
“The question is not, Can they reason? Nor can they talk? But, can they suffer?”
– Jeremy Bentham
All mammals have at least 92% of the same genes humans do. They share many of the same primary functions – they metabolize food, reproduce, bear young, feed and protect their young, sense danger, display the “fight or flight” response to fear, and feel pain the same way we do. They possess a central nervous system that senses pain stimuli and a brain that processes the pain. The neurons that travel in an animal to communicate to the brain that bodily harm is occurring are the same neurons that course through humans when we are injured.
Given that both animals and humans have the same basic physiology, neurologically speaking, it is safe to say that both species experience physical pain. Emotional pain is more difficult to quantitatively measure since this type of pain is measured through observation of behavior.
One such measurement was done by academics at the University of Bristol. They demonstrated that chickens possess one of the important attributes that underpins empathy toward other chickens. When chicks were exposed to sudden puffs of air, the hens became alert, discontinuing their natural habits, such as preening, and stood for long periods, their heart rate increased, the hens made more clucking noises toward the chicks, and they showed elevated signs of stress and fear. To read more go here.
Other animals currently used in husbandry practices also exhibit complex cognitive behavior, cows have exhibited joy and delight after solving a complex puzzle and sheep have been known to form deep friendship bonds with other sheep.
These observations do not scientifically “prove” the existence of abstract emotion in animals, but at the very least it throws into doubt the human conviction that animals do not have “feelings.” Given the scientific data and observations of animal behavior, humans should at least look at their current actions toward animals.
Each year, 100 million cows, pigs and sheep and 5 billion chickens are slaughtered in factory farms. If one really contemplates the juxtaposition of the words “factory” and “farm,” one may infer what these places are doing, they are “producing” meat on a massive scale for massive consumption. Just as factories produce consumer products for a profit, factory farms produce meat for a profit. Long gone is the family farm where cows are sent out to pasture and chickens scratch the dirt in the yard. Now, the capitalization of husbandry has reached the pinnacle of meat production.
Like industrial factories, these factory farms seek to have the highest return for their investment. To this end, they pack animals tightly together in large warehouse-like buildings in order to produce as much meat as possible in as little space as possible. This saves money on overhead and maximizes their profit. These animals are not only confined in tiny spaces but are routinely abused by their handlers – See cows in a factory farm. Factory farming is also harmful to human health. In 2008 the largest beef recall in U.S. history occurred because of contaminated meat entering the food supply by factory farms slaughtering and distributing meat from downed and severely sick cows. The meat from these cows was added to the supplies for school lunch programs, endangering the lives of children.
Our individual choices and actions make a difference. Nothing speaks louder than our wallets, and withholding our monetary support of these practices will improve our health and the well-being of our animal co-inhabitants.
What can you do? The best choice to alleviate suffering and protect yourself from contaminated food is to become a vegetarian or vegan. The next best thing is to buy free range eggs, meat and dairy. Ask your local restaurants to only serve free range, organic, and hormone free products. Educate yourself – see where your food comes from so you can make a good choice for yourself and your family.
I intend to discuss these topics in-depth in future posts.
– Jeremy Bentham
All mammals have at least 92% of the same genes humans do. They share many of the same primary functions – they metabolize food, reproduce, bear young, feed and protect their young, sense danger, display the “fight or flight” response to fear, and feel pain the same way we do. They possess a central nervous system that senses pain stimuli and a brain that processes the pain. The neurons that travel in an animal to communicate to the brain that bodily harm is occurring are the same neurons that course through humans when we are injured.
Given that both animals and humans have the same basic physiology, neurologically speaking, it is safe to say that both species experience physical pain. Emotional pain is more difficult to quantitatively measure since this type of pain is measured through observation of behavior.
One such measurement was done by academics at the University of Bristol. They demonstrated that chickens possess one of the important attributes that underpins empathy toward other chickens. When chicks were exposed to sudden puffs of air, the hens became alert, discontinuing their natural habits, such as preening, and stood for long periods, their heart rate increased, the hens made more clucking noises toward the chicks, and they showed elevated signs of stress and fear. To read more go here.
Other animals currently used in husbandry practices also exhibit complex cognitive behavior, cows have exhibited joy and delight after solving a complex puzzle and sheep have been known to form deep friendship bonds with other sheep.
These observations do not scientifically “prove” the existence of abstract emotion in animals, but at the very least it throws into doubt the human conviction that animals do not have “feelings.” Given the scientific data and observations of animal behavior, humans should at least look at their current actions toward animals.
Each year, 100 million cows, pigs and sheep and 5 billion chickens are slaughtered in factory farms. If one really contemplates the juxtaposition of the words “factory” and “farm,” one may infer what these places are doing, they are “producing” meat on a massive scale for massive consumption. Just as factories produce consumer products for a profit, factory farms produce meat for a profit. Long gone is the family farm where cows are sent out to pasture and chickens scratch the dirt in the yard. Now, the capitalization of husbandry has reached the pinnacle of meat production.
Like industrial factories, these factory farms seek to have the highest return for their investment. To this end, they pack animals tightly together in large warehouse-like buildings in order to produce as much meat as possible in as little space as possible. This saves money on overhead and maximizes their profit. These animals are not only confined in tiny spaces but are routinely abused by their handlers – See cows in a factory farm. Factory farming is also harmful to human health. In 2008 the largest beef recall in U.S. history occurred because of contaminated meat entering the food supply by factory farms slaughtering and distributing meat from downed and severely sick cows. The meat from these cows was added to the supplies for school lunch programs, endangering the lives of children.
Our individual choices and actions make a difference. Nothing speaks louder than our wallets, and withholding our monetary support of these practices will improve our health and the well-being of our animal co-inhabitants.
What can you do? The best choice to alleviate suffering and protect yourself from contaminated food is to become a vegetarian or vegan. The next best thing is to buy free range eggs, meat and dairy. Ask your local restaurants to only serve free range, organic, and hormone free products. Educate yourself – see where your food comes from so you can make a good choice for yourself and your family.
I intend to discuss these topics in-depth in future posts.
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