AZ Republic editorial: Arizona voters truly made difference

[Guest guest]

Awesome!Paul Shapiro <pshapiro wrote: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0131wed2-31.html Arizona voters truly made difference Jan. 31, 2007 12:00 AM In the Chinese zodiac, 2007 is the Year of the Pig, which is remarkably appropriate.America's largest pork producer has announced it will no longer confine pregnant pigs in crates so small the animal cannot turn around. You probably remember these "gestation stalls." Use of such cruel and inhumane

enclosures was banned in Arizona when voters approved Proposition 204 this past November.There was quite a campaign to discredit the proposition and characterize it as the product of vegans gone wild. The hog industry, opponents of the ban claimed, would go out of business if they couldn't use gestation crates. But voters didn't buy that. The vote wasn't even close. Sixty-two percent said to ban the crates.Before the campaign, most people didn't even know about how factory-farmed animals live. When they were made aware of what was going on, people wanted it stopped. Arizonans recognize the responsibility that comes from having power over other living things.Arizona was the second state to ban confining pregnant animals to these tiny stalls. Florida did it in 2002. The Humane Society of the United States was considering taking the campaign to other states.The pork industry was paying attention.In announcing a 10-year

phase-out of gestation stalls, C. Larry Pope, chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods Inc., said, "Working with our customers, who have made their views known on the issue of gestation stalls, we are pleased to be taking this precedent-setting step." Customers told them "they feel group housing is a more animal-friendly form of sow housing," he said.Smithfield doesn't have a hog-raising facility in Arizona, but the Virginia-based company owns 187 sow farms in eight states.Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, said Arizona's vote was a "major factor" in the Smithfield decision.Of course it was. Industry responds to public pressure, and the public's feeling on this issue was clearly stated.This makes speaking up look like a remarkably appropriate thing to do. Interested in taking action online to help

animals? Then join our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go to www.hsus.org/join . Please attend the SENTENCING on FEB. 9 in Atlanta, GA, for the pit x pup

torture case. Brothers pled guilty to 9 felony counts.

[Guest guest]

YES - YES - YES !!! This is wonderful!

 

, Deedee <d2or3 wrote:

>

> Awesome!

>

> Paul Shapiro <pshapiro wrote:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0131wed2-

31.html

>

> Arizona voters truly made difference Jan. 31, 2007 12:00 AM

> In the Chinese zodiac, 2007 is the Year of the Pig, which is

remarkably appropriate.

>

> America's largest pork producer has announced it will no longer

confine pregnant pigs in crates so small the animal cannot turn

around. You probably remember these " gestation stalls. " Use of such

cruel and inhumane enclosures was banned in Arizona when voters

approved Proposition 204 this past November.

>

> There was quite a campaign to discredit the proposition and

characterize it as the product of vegans gone wild.

>

> The hog industry, opponents of the ban claimed, would go out of

business if they couldn't use gestation crates.

>

> But voters didn't buy that. The vote wasn't even close. Sixty-two

percent said to ban the crates.

>

> Before the campaign, most people didn't even know about how

factory-farmed animals live. When they were made aware of what was

going on, people wanted it stopped. Arizonans recognize the

responsibility that comes from having power over other living things.

>

> Arizona was the second state to ban confining pregnant animals to

these tiny stalls. Florida did it in 2002. The Humane Society of the

United States was considering taking the campaign to other states.

>

> The pork industry was paying attention.

>

> In announcing a 10-year phase-out of gestation stalls, C. Larry

Pope, chief executive officer of Smithfield Foods Inc.,

said, " Working with our customers, who have made their views known

on the issue of gestation stalls, we are pleased to be taking this

precedent-setting step. " Customers told them " they feel group

housing is a more animal-friendly form of sow housing, " he said.

>

> Smithfield doesn't have a hog-raising facility in Arizona, but the

Virginia-based company owns 187 sow farms in eight states.

>

> Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States,

said Arizona's vote was a " major factor " in the Smithfield decision.

>

> Of course it was. Industry responds to public pressure, and the

public's feeling on this issue was clearly stated.

>

> This makes speaking up look like a remarkably appropriate thing to

do.

>

>

>

>

>

> Interested in taking action online to help animals? Then join

our online community and sign up for our Humane Action Network. Go

to www.hsus.org/join .

Please attend the SENTENCING

on FEB. 9 in Atlanta, GA, for the pit x pup torture case. Brothers

pled guilty to 9 felony counts.

>