Anti-Foie Gras Bill Faces Final, Critical Vote in California Assembly

[Guest guest]

Fowarding from a PETA Action Alert.

Chris

~~~

 

URGENT: Anti-Foie Gras Bill Faces Final, Critical Vote in California

Assembly

 

Thanks in part to your letters and calls, the California Assembly Committee

on Business and Professions passed Senate Bill 1520, which would ban foie

gras and its production. The bill now goes to the full assembly for what is

likely the final, critical vote. Please help ensure the passage of this bill

by contacting your assemblymember today to ask him or her to support S.B.

1520.

 

Foie gras is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese up to three times per

day by prying open their bills; shoving long, inflexible pipes down their

throats; and pumping several pounds of feed into each bird's stomach. The

process causes the birds' livers, which are eventually sold as foie gras, to

become diseased and swell to up to 10 times their normal size. Some birds

experience ripped-open necks and ruptured internal organs because of the

intense pressure of the forced feeding. Workers are often given monetary

rewards for not " bursting " birds. The stress and pain frequently result in

the birds' becoming unable to walk and being reduced to propelling

themselves by pushing with their wings.

 

Foie gras production is so cruel that it is illegal in many countries,

including the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway,

Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K. Israel, the world's third-largest

foie gras producer, is expected to join this growing list soon. Yet in

California, Sonoma Foie Gras, one of only two U.S. foie gras producers,

continues to use cruel force-feeding practices to produce this " delicacy. "

 

What You Can Do

The California Assembly is currently considering S.B. 1520, which would

prohibit cruel force-feeding methods and ban foie gras sales after a

phase-out period, and will vote on the measure soon. Please contact your

assemblymember today, and politely urge him or her to support S.B. 1520.

 

If you do not know how to contact your assemblymember, you can find out by

calling 916-322-9900 or visiting Assembly.ca.gov/acs/defaulttext.asp

<http://cl.extm.us/?fe881c777366007a70-fe151179706300787d1279> , clicking on

" Find My District, " and entering your address. The results will provide your

assemblymember's name and telephone number and a link to his or her Web

page, where you can find an e-mail address and fax number.

 

Please also contact Governor Schwarzenegger and urge him to sign S.B. 1520

should it come before him:

 

The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger

Governor of California

State Capitol

Sacramento, CA 95814

916-445-2841

916-445-4633 (fax)

governor

 

Please forward this to as many compassionate California residents as

possible. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at

info. Thank you again for everything that you do for animals!

 

Sincerely,

 

Cem Akin

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals