[Fwd: [Chick-Alerts] HFA PRESS RELEASE ON FOIE GRAS LAW]

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F.Y.I. - This is a press release from Humane Farming Association re SB

1520, the Burton foie gras bill recently signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

 

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] HFA PRESS RELEASE ON FOIE GRAS LAW

Fri, 1 Oct 2004 11:33:59 EDT

 

 

To:

 

 

 

*Sonoma Foie Gras Secures Passage of SB 1520*

 

*Force-Feeding /Legalized/ in California*

 

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“We asked the Governor to sign the bill.â€

 

-- Guillermo Gonzalez, owner, Sonoma Foie Gras

 

 

 

“SB 1520 does not ban the food product, foie gras.â€

 

-- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

 

 

 

San Francisco, CA -- Over the vehement protests of informed animal

activists and concerned citizens, California’s sole foie gras producer,

the notorious Sonoma Foie Gras company, has successfully passed SB 1520

by Senator John Burton.

 

 

 

As a result, California has become the first state in the nation to

explicitly /legalize/ the torturous practice of force-feeding ducks and

geese to produce foie gras.

 

 

 

For promotional purposes, some have attempted to portray SB 1520 as a

“victory†for animals. But, as reported by the San Francisco Chronicle

and other news media outlets, “The state’s lone farm engaged in the

practice, Sonoma Foie Gras, also hailed it as a victory.†It is easy to

understand the /industry’s/ jubilation.

 

 

 

In addition to protecting Sonoma Foie Gras for the next 7 ½ years from

being criminally prosecuted under the state’s existing animal cruelty

laws, SB 1520 also/ takes away the rights of citizens to bring civil

lawsuits/ against the company for its force-feeding practices. And it

effectively eliminates a lawsuit that is currently pending against the

company. These are just some of the reasons why Sonoma Foie Gras went

so far as to hire a lobbyist to secure the bill’s passage.

 

 

 

Proponents would like people to believe that SB 1520 " bans " foie gras.

Governor Schwartzenegger’s official statement on this legislation,

however, dispels any such notions:

 

 

 

“SB 1520 does not ban the food product, foie gras,†Governor

Schwarzenegger stated upon signing the measure. “This bill provides 7 ½

years for agricultural husbandry practices to evolve and perfect a

humane way for a duck to consume grain to increase the size of its liver

through natural processes. If agricultural producers are successful in

this endeavor, the ban on foie gras sales and production in California

will not occur.â€

 

 

 

“This legislation is about the financial, political, and organizational

interests of the /people/ involved,†said Bradley Miller, national

director of the Humane Farming Association. “What has been completely

lost are the interests of the /ducks /that are being tortured right now

– and for years to come. There is nothing, not one single thing, that

alleviates their suffering. This morally bankrupt legislation only adds

insult to injury.â€

 

 

 

For further information: www.hfa.org