Turkey Abusers Convicted: One Jailed! June 29, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at June 29, 2009 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 28 ) | TrackBack

We're starting this week off with another historic victory for animals! Check out this blog from PETA's Karin Bennet!

Late last year, some factory-farm employees were fired from Aviagen Turkeys, Inc. in response to PETA's undercover investigation, which documented that workers were breaking turkeys' necks, stomping on their heads, and shoving feces and feed into turkeys' mouths.

Then, in February, a grand jury handed down 19 indictments, including 11 felony charges, against three former Aviagen workers, marking the first time in U.S. history that factory-farm employees have faced felony cruelty-to-animals charges for abusing birds.

Fast forward: Two of the three ex-employees, Scott Alvin White and Edward Eric Gwinn, recently pleaded guilty to cruelty charges. On June 8, White was sentenced to serve one year in jail—the maximum period permitted by law! Today, Gwinn was sentenced to serve six months' home confinement—the maximum period permitted by law—on each count, concurrently, and is banned from living with, owning, and working with animals for five years. The case against the third ex-employee, Walter Lee Hambrick, is pending.

These historic victories by no means even the score for the turkeys who were punched and thrown or the many other birds who suffered when they were forced to watch as other turkeys were abused at Aviagen. After watching our undercover video, animal behavior expert Dr. Lesley J. Rogers stated, "It is now known that when social animals, like turkeys, see and hear other members of their species under stress or suffering physical injury, their levels of stress become elevated. Hence, the behavioural stress is widespread in the birds in the vicinity of those that have been injured and/or handled roughly."

Still, these convictions will remind workers on other factory farms that if they don't clean up their acts, PETA investigators (and the whistleblowers who tip us off) will have their eyes on them.

Truth on Earth August 27, 2008

Posted by Marta at August 27, 2008 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

I absolutely love to see young people changing the world for the better, which is one of the many reasons I love working for peta2. Seeing everything you all are doing never ceases to amaze me. Young people are most definitely making a huge effort to change the world around us. It's awesome!

I wanted to tell you all about an all-girl band made up of three sisters, called Truth on Earth. Serena, Kiley, and Tess are all vegan and do all they can to help animals. Check out what their band Web site says:

We write original songs about major issues in the world that need attention and sustainable solutions brought to them. We try to make great sounding songs that pull you in and make you want to hear more in the hopes that our lyrics inspire you to take action as you learn that there is a lot that can be done. We believe in the power that music has to reach and connect people around the world.

Sweet, right? Their song, "Factory Farm" is all about—you guessed it—animals on factory farms. Here's a portion of the lyrics:

Is it normal I wonder - to live in fear and pain? Never loved for a minute - just tormenting my brain. What kind of a person - slaughters helpless all day long? If a child kills animals - then humans, is it wrong?

Have a look inside my jail - You eat my suffering. I'll stand in one place all my life while you're - digesting my misery. And when your end is near - you'll feel our agony. Our lives are a holocaust - not just the cow you eat.

When you were a child - you knew the difference. You loved my petting zoo cousin - in the safe little four wall fence. That burger's disguised - you're blinded by apathy. You forget as you eat - the bad karma is me?

Come join my nightmare now You'll be sad you did. Hope you like my body parts, after they slice me into bits. Welcome to our death camp here on the factory farm. The Nazis would be proud - Where the hell's our mom?

Go here to check out the music video for yourself.

Music is definitely a great way to spread a message, so keep doing what you're doing, Truth on Earth!

♥ Marta

Is The West Coast The Best Coast? December 28, 2007

Posted by Pulin Modi at December 28, 2007 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

I've lived on the east coast my entire life. But I have to admit that it seems like the other side of the country is pretty damn cool too. For instance, the group Californians for Humane Farms has launched a groundbreaking ballot initiative campaign to place the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act on the November 2008 ballot. I know all this legislative stuff sounds a bit boring, but it's really important to reduce suffering for all the veal calves, pigs suffering in gestation crates, and egg-laying hens packed into tiny, filthy cages. If this law is put into place, it will really deal a blow to huge factory farms while supporting family farmers and improving conditions for animals!

If you are up for getting involved in this historic step to help animals, please check this out. Tell your parents, teachers, friends, and anyone who is a registered California voter. You need to get registered California voters to sign their support for this important piece of legislation. If you have any questions just look here for the answers. Seriously. It's important to take a long-lasting step in the animal protection movement by getting involved in this campaign. If you're in California help them out... solidarity and all that good stuff, right?

I mean, anyone who has seen the new investigation we did into a pig farm or can imagine the suffering of these poor hens in cages for their entire lives knows that animals on factory farms need your help now. California is a huge state with a lot of influence on agriculture so please work to support the California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act.

In other news about how the west coast is so freaking lucky, I wanted to explain my jealousy towards people in California, Oregon, Washington, and even Nevada. You get to see Last of The Believers (featuring Chris formerly of Rise Against on their tour with legendary hardcore punk band the Circle Jerks. I wish I could go, but since I can't I'd love for you to check out a show in January and let me know how it went. Dates are on the Last of the Believers MySpace page.

And then another reason I'm envious of west coasters is that my favorite musician, Ben Kenney (you might know him better as the vegetarian bass player for an incredible band called Incubus) is playing shows out there! If you have never heard him yet, you're missing out. Dates are on Ben Kenney's MySpace page. And his new video is so amazing that I'm including it here for you to enjoy!

What do you think of humane farms, Last of the Believers, and/or Ben Kenney? I know that I wouldn't mind spending some time in California in January, ya know what I'm saying? Good music and amazing activism are really all that I need to be content. Umm, that and some vegan ice cream.

-Pulin

Halloween Treat: Win a Factory Farming Stinks Tee! October 31, 2007

Posted by Lara Sanders at October 31, 2007 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 44 ) | TrackBack

Have you ever driven by a factory farm? You might not have known it was a factory farm by the looks of it, but you sure as hell could tell it was one by the smell. The truth of the matter is factory farming stinks (and I'm not just talking about the stench).

Here are my top 5 reasons why factory farming stinks:

1. Chickens killed for food in the United States are bred and drugged to grow so quickly that their hearts, lungs, and limbs often can't keep up.
2. Hens used for their eggs live six or seven to a battery cage the size of a file drawer, thousands of which are stacked tier upon tier in huge, filthy warehouses.
3. Cows used for their milk are drugged and bred to produce unnatural amounts of milk; they have their babies stolen from them shortly after birth and sent to notoriously cruel veal farms so that humans can drink the calves' milk.
4. Mother pigs on factory farms are confined to crates so small that they are unable to turn around or even lie down comfortably.
5. Meet Your Meat

Not only do I think factory farming stinks, so do our friends at District Cotton, who created the amazing tee you see below. Lucky for you, we are giving away not one of these lovely tees, but five of them!

For a chance to win, comment below with the #1 reason why you think factory farming stinks. The contest ends November 21st, and the winner will be chosen by November 26th.

Happy Halloween! -Lara

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