Apr 09 2010
How the Egg Industry Should Respond to HSUS’s “Investigation”
That's Josh Balk, the "outreach coordinator" for the Humane Society of the United States' animal agriculture department. He's essentially third in the HSUS line of succession (behind Wayne Pacelle and Paul Shapiro) when it comes to cows, pigs, and chickens.
Balk was recruited to HSUS at the same time Shapiro was brought in. They came from the same vegan activist group in Washington, DC—a ragtag bunch that called itself "Compassion Over Killing." (The name reflects where they stand on the idea of slaughtering animals for food, which is to say they believe it shouldn't be allowed. At all.)
On his blog today, Wayne Pacelle (a vegan himself, remember) is waxing sanctimonious about how egg farmers who put chickens in coops are doing something morally unforgivable:
These companies, and all others in the sector, should do the right thing and shift toward cage-free housing systems.
But if cage-free is HSUS's preferred solution, how come Josh was complaining barely nine months ago that "cage free" eggs aren't humane enough?
With this thought in mind, here's how we would respond to the pot-shots Wayne Pacelle is taking at egg farmers:
- As a condition of even having an introductory discussion with HSUS, we would insist on seeing every frame of video shot on our farm. No exceptions. And we would want the legal right to re-cut the more flattering portions to put on our website. Fair is fair.
- If we switched to "cage free" hen housing, we would want HSUS to show its appreciation for the enormous expense this would involve—by actually endorsing our product. Let us print the HSUS logo on every carton of eggs. Put omelet recipes on the HSUS website. Show some good faith.
- Most importantly, if we switched our entire operation to the "cage free" system, we would want a guarantee (in writing) that this is where HSUS's demands will end. Period.
If Wayne Pacelle wants people to believe his organization is only interested in what he calls "modest" reforms, he should, you know ... actually define his endgame in terms of modest reforms.
The fear among America's smarter farmers is that as soon as HSUS strong-arms half the country's egg farmers into going cage-free, he'll come along with yet another bombastic tirade and claim that things are still not "humane" enough to satisfy his political bloodlust.
We think it's a reasonable fear to have. Because while a "cage free America" might look like a touchdown for HSUS, the smart money is on Pacelle seeing it as no more than a "first down."
Move the chains. Huddle up and run another play. Preferably something involving misdirection.
More people are beginning to understand that the Humane Society of the United States has the same long-term goals as PETA and other groups whose radicalism is more obvious. So before anyone thinks about giving Wayne what he wants today, they should have a plan for when he comes knocking tomorrow with yet another series of emotional accusations.
Because there will be a next time. And a next time. And a next time.
Posted on 04/09/2010 at 10:00 AM by the HumaneWatch Team
The Best of HumaneWatch • Animal Agriculture • Eggs • (8) CommentsComments
I would add that the HSUS should open their own “cage free” farms….run by HSUS experts on animal agriculture ( are there any) and HSUS veterinarians.. then as the animals reach slaughter age that the HSUS open their own “humane” slaughter house as an example to all people so that we would actually know what “humane” really means to the HSUS.. cage free.. free range.. ethical hunting.. humane slaughter.. humane pet raising..all terms that are tossed around with abandon.. while there is nothing underneath the facade of words.. except that NOTHING will ever be enough until there are no more domestic animals…if we don’t eat eggs, chickens, cows sheep etc.. why do we need them? Modest reform is Wayne’s mantra.. but we all know that there is nothing “modest’ about the HSUS goals..
Anybody who wants a nice, graphic representation of the HSUS, PETA, etc.‘s goals should rent and watch a little film called “Equilibrium”, starring Christian Bale.
That movie is the best representation of the overreaching goal of the Liberal/Food Cop/Veganist Jihad unholy trinity I have as yet seen.
@maggie b—Completely agree with you. I’d add to that the Overton Window Theory of pol sci. Put a radical idea out there (PETA) then have another idea come along (HSUS) that looks moderate by comparison. Google “overton window” for better explanation.
“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding ...One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” Quote from Wayne Pacelle to
— Animal People News, May 1993
Well… Just one tiny question here… Exactly why is it that we call it “The *Humane* Slaughter Act”? Why is it that everyone in animal agriculture wishes to convince the buying public that things are done “humanely”? Indeed there is no way to profitably “use” an animal and be “nice” about it…
Why don’t you folks just come out with the genuine crux of your position? “Profitably bred animals. Profitably stolen eggs. Profitably stolen milk. Profitably slaughtered animals.” Very simple…
If money is what it’s all about—-Stand up for YOUR truth! Quit beating around the pretense of being “kind” to the animals who you view as commodities. Quit trying to deceive people with the illusion that these animals don’t object to being confined, having their babies taken or being dragged to their death. Quit shielding reality - let the consumer decide what they wish to support based in honesty. Or does that notion quiver your knee caps?
WE ALL MUST VOTE ON 11-30 AGAINST THE HORRORBLE CRUELTY THAT THESE POOR INNOCENT PRAVIDERS OF A BRIRD THAT NEEDS TO SPREAD THEIR WINGS RUN FEEL ALIVE! WHY DOSE MAM TREAT CHICKENS WITH SUCH HORRORBLE HARMFULL HURTFULL NEGLECT!!!!! i HATE THESE CO.!!!!!!!!!
@Bea @Evelyn
Please allow me to invite you to Eat an Animal for PETA Day on Facebook. I had roast pork.
Meat, it’s what’s for dinner and it’s good for the brain.
P.S. My hens gave me 11 eggs yesterday. I gave them laying mash and cracked corn. They thought it was a good exchange. We have a barter system.
No cow yet, so may I please take this opportunity to THANK A FARMER!
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Review all information HSUS gives in the light of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals. “First only tell that truth that pushes your agenda while withholding other facts”. Each change in any form of agriculture via the HSUS machine will ripple out and affect all other forms of agriculture. This is a game of increments. Time to draw the line in the sand.