CL
Compassionate Living
- FREE -
Go ahead, take it.
THE MAG OF MFA. FALL/WINTER 2007 ISSUE 2
Inside:
HOUSE OF
HORROR
Pleasurable
+
Kingdom
Exclusive Interview
Mouthwatering
Holiday Recipes
MercyForAnimals.org
Happy Holidays! This issue of
CL is packed full of inspiring information
and resources – tasty veg recipes, a
heartwarming interview with the author of
the groundbreaking book, Pleasurable Kingdom,
a spotlight on a lovable animal activist family,
health tips from the always candid Anya “The
Vegan Dietitian” Todd, and much more.
Inside these pages we also dare to expose the
often untold story behind the life and death
of millions of turkeys who will wind up
the centerpieces of dinner tables across the
country this holiday season. We take you on an
unforgettable journey to a place few have been
and most have no intention of visiting – one of
our nation’s largest poultry slaughterhouses.
Propelled by shocking evidence recently
documented on video footage secretly recorded
at the plant by an undercover Mercy For
Animals investigator, the disturbing truth
behind the turkey meat industry is revealed. As
heartbreaking and disturbing as the story is – it
is one that must be told.
Yet, amidst such upsetting reminders of the
cruelty still taking place behind the closed
doors of the meat industry, animal rights
activists have much to be thankful for. Simply
put, we are making major strides, preventing
massive amounts of cruelty, and gaining new
supporters in droves.
on animal-based agriculture. The series
aimed to prompt animal-abuse industries to
perk up and take notice of the strides we are
making, admitting that activists “have gained
a voice,” are “forcing change,” and are
“gaining mainstream acceptance.” I couldn’t
agree more. The writing is certainly on the
wall, and compassion and justice will prevail.
But these heartless industries aren’t giving up
without a fight; they are trying desperately
to defend the indefensible. Among the tired
old sound bites of factory farmers is their
“commitment to following science-based
research” to determine the best “welfare”
standards for confining cows, pigs, and
chickens. Yet it seems that the only progress
the industry is capable of making is meager,
at best. They try to keep a straight face as
they argue that science tells them chickens
are content in cages where they can’t spread
their wings and pigs are happy in stalls where
they can’t turn around. Who do they think
they’re fooling? It doesn’t take a veterinarian
or scientist to understand that animals with
legs want to walk, birds with wings want to
fly, and fish with fins want to swim.
As the tables begin to turn in favor of
animal rights, deep-pocketed agribusiness
leaders now find themselves scurrying to
hire media-savvy PR firms who attempt
to sanitize and further conceal the sort
of egregious abuse MFA’s slaughterhouse
investigation exposed. What is now an
ever-growing headache for animal abusers
is a welcoming sign of hope for billions of
animals exploited and killed at their hands.
We must remember, however, that even with
all the progress we have made and all the
hope shining over the horizon, there is still
much work to be done. Unlike other justice
movements, those being exploited - the
animals - cannot organize boycotts or lobby
Congress on their own behalf. They need
us to stand tall and give them the powerful
voices they so desperately deserve.
The industries that abuse animals are
willing to lie, mislead, and deceive all of us
so their businesses will continue as usual.
However, we will win this important struggle
because we embody something they do not
– kindness, compassion, and truth.
Buckeye Farm News, a publication largely
produced and read by meat companies, recently
dedicated a four-part, cover-page series to the
ever-growing impact animal activists are making
2 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
Nathan Runkle
Executive Director
CL
Compassionate Living
dearfriends
Contributors
Derek Coons
Maureen Jacob
Amy MacKenzie
Rhiannon Mehring
Priya Shanker
Martha Rosenberg
Nathan Runkle
Anya Todd R.D.
Freeman Wicklund
Mercy For Animals (MFA) is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal
advocacy organization that
believes non-human animals are
irreplaceable individuals who have
morally significant interests and
hence rights, including the right to
live free of unnecessary suffering.
MFA is dedicated to establishing
and defending the rights of all
animals.
Given that over 97% of animal
cruelty occurs in the production of
meat, dairy, and eggs, MFA’s main
function is promoting a vegetarian
diet. MFA works to be a voice for
animals through public education
and advertisement campaigns,
research and investigations, working
with news media, and grassroots
activism.
MFA relies on the generous support
of compassionate individuals to
carry on our life-saving work. To
become a member, simply send a
contribution of $15 to:
Mercy For Animals
3712 N. Broadway, Ste. 560
Chicago, IL 60613
1-866-632-6446
[email protected]
Thank you for your commitment to
making the world a kinder and more
compassionate place for all beings.
newswatch
The Moo Effect
Think those monstrous, gas-guzzling SUV’s are
the biggest threats to the environment and the
increasing global warming trend? Well, think again.
The most looming threat to our planet has a hairy
coat, hooves, and four stomachs…that’s right…
good ole Betsy the cow (and her barnyard friends).
So how can those cute and harmless looking cows,
chickens, turkeys, and pigs be causing so much
environmental damage? It may seem strange at first,
until you consider just how many animals are being
bred for food every year. It’s all about quantity. We
are not talking about millions of animals -- we are
talking tens of billions.
According to the United Nations Food and
Agricultural Organization, this huge population
of farmed animals (and the energy used to feed
them) is contributing significantly to practically
every major environmental problem we see today:
climate change, deforestation, land degradation,
water and air pollution, water shortage and loss of
biodiversity.
The increased demand for meat is causing massive
deforestation. According to the United Nations,
livestock production now occupies an astonishing
30% percent of the land surface of the planet.
Much of this land used to be forests. As the forests
disappear, the CO2 escapes from the dying trees
and heats up the atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous
oxide are also emitted by the livestock directly in
their burps, flatulence, and manure.
In total, livestock accounts for 18% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing
transportation which acccounts for 13.5% of total
emissions. Learn more on page 20.
There Ought’a Be a Law
On August 28, 2007, New York became the first state in the
U.S. to ban the practice of electrocuting animals to make fur
coats and fur-trimmed jackets.
Ironically, New York holds the title as the U.S.’s top fur
market, and legislators have decided that even though fur
won’t be completely banned from the NY textile industry, at
least one inhumane and cruel practice of fur production will
be. This electrocution ban came just thirteen days after the
same legislators made another landmark decision: making it
illegal for sellers of fur trim to not disclose if their clothing
contains fur, thus getting rid of the fur-labeling loophole.
President Bush passed a bill in May that makes animal
fighting a felony. Currently, cockfighting is illegal in 49 states
(a felony in 33) remaining legal only in Louisiana, where
state legislators recently put the final nail in the coffin of this
blood sport by passing a ban that takes effect in August 2008.
Pregnant pigs in Oregon won’t be confined to cruel gestation
crates (metal stalls only 2 feet wide used on factory farms)
for more than 12 hours (essentially banning their use) thanks
to a bill that was passed in the House. Gestation in pigs lasts
116 days (3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.) Violators will be
charged with a misdemeanor. The law will prevent great
suffering for the state’s 4,000 breeding sows. The ban will
transition in the coming six years and be in full effect in
2013.
tip
Want to keep up-to-date on all of
the important animal rights and
vegetarian headlines? We have you
covered. Sign up today for MFA’s
free monthly e-newsletter, The Voice, at
MercyForAnimals.org.
It’s Karma Baby
Devourers of the so-called “delicacy,” foie gras—
which is prevalent in French cuisine and comes
from ducks and geese being force-fed and then
slaughtered for their fatty livers—may be getting
more than a mouthful of “gourmet” food.
According to researchers, animal liver can transmit
a disease in humans known as amyloidosis, which
causes damaging deposits of abnormal proteins,
Fall/Winter 07
known as amyloids, to accumulate and affect
various organ systems in the body. The heart,
kidneys, nervous system and gastrointestinal tract
are most often affected by amyloidosis and it can
also cause a blood condition. Alzheimer’s disease,
the most common form of dementia, is described
as a type of amyloidosis as well.
Symptoms range from fatigue and weight loss to
swelling and kidney damage.
meetmfa
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Activist Spotlight: The Smithberger Family
Vegetarian since: 1987 (vegan since 2005)
MFA Activist since: November 2005
Featured Activism: Demonstrations,
Leafleting, & Tabling at Festivals
Resides in: Granville, Ohio
Favorite Foods: Sun-Dried Tomato Ziti
from MFA’s Vegetarian Starter Kit &
Chocolate Cake from ChooseVeg.com
iving on 10 acres of naturally preserved land in
Granville, Ohio, Jay and Shelly Smithberger are
committed to protecting the environment locally
and globally by reducing energy use, purchasing from
local farmers’ markets, recycling and living a sustainable
lifestyle.
Jay, a competitive ultra-marathon trail runner,
also enjoys mountain biking, hiking, and
working on projects at the homestead. Shelly
also enjoys hiking and running, and has trained
for and competed in several long-distance
running events, including a marathon and a 40k
trail run. Elliot, a bright and energetic 8-yearold, loves reading, drawing, playing soccer,
mountain biking, and playing with his animal
companions.
The Smithbergers are dedicated activists
- attending most local MFA events. Whether
leafleting or participating in demonstrations,
they show passion, commitment and
camaraderie. Most importantly, Jay and Shelly
are loving parents who instill and nurture the
values of sustainable living, integrity and
compassion in their son Elliot.
Q. What are the challenges you’ve encountered in
raising a vegan child?
A. The biggest challenge has been deciding on
the amount of information that Elliot should
learn about the factory farm industry, given
his young age. We want him to have a clear
understanding of why we are vegan, but
realize that some of the subject matter and
images are even difficult for adults to deal
with.
Q. What do your friends and relatives
think of your vegan lifestyle?
A. Our friends and family are very supportive. Everyone
respects our food choices and some have even embraced the
lifestyle. Occasionally, we’ll get asked questions about specific
nutritional details or choices, such as “where do you get your
protein?” or “what’s wrong with eggs?” We try to answer
these questions in a casual, informed, and non-combative way,
often referring people to a book or website for more
4 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
information. We’ll typically bring a vegan dish to social
gatherings so that people get an opportunity to enjoy some
great vegan food!
Jay’s mother has always made sure that there is a selection of
vegan goodies for our family during family gatherings. She’s
become very good at ‘veganizing’ many favorite recipes.
Q. Do you have any advice you’d like to share
with families transitioning to veganism?
A. Read and learn as much as you can about veganism
and vegan nutrition. Find a local vegan/animal activism
group so that you can stay informed, motivated, and
have a sense of community with like-minded people.
Enjoy the journey! Becoming vegan is a process that
makes you keenly aware that the choices you make every
day impact more than your own life.
Q. What are your favorite cookbooks or recipes,
and where do you shop for vegan food items?
A. We’ve found great recipes in vegan cookbooks (like
The Garden of Vegan) but for the most part just try to
focus on keeping a varied diet of fresh fruits, whole
grains and vegetables. Often times, we just tweak our old
favorites a bit to make them vegan.
We regularly support our local grocery, health food store, and
farmer’s market.
Q. How has a vegan diet affected your health,
fitness and athletic performance?
A. As a competitive athlete, Jay has always had
increased dietary requirements. The switch to a vegan
diet coincided with him moving up from marathon
racing to ultra-marathon trail running in 30-100 mile
races. Our healthier vegan diet has allowed him to
increase training volume and has resulted in some great
race results. In the last 2 years he has won 2 of the 5
ultra-marathons entered and most recently completed his
first 100-mile trail race.
Q. Elliot, what questions do your friends ask you
about veganism, and what do you say to them?
A. My friends ask “why are you vegan?” and I tell them “I just
don’t want to eat animals.” It feels good to be vegan and it’s
important to me because I’m helping animals.
actionreport
MFA Takes on the Rotten Egg Industry
Holding signs and banners depicting shocking images of animal cruelty on factory
egg farms, dozens of Mercy For Animals’ members confronted attendees of the
United Egg Producers’ (UEP) annual board meeting in downtown Chicago on
October 17, 2007. Media coverage from the protest raised awareness about the
mutilation and intensive confinement of the nation’s 250 million egg-laying hens.
The UEP, a trade agency representing more than 80 percent of egg factories,
allows its members to cut off the beaks of baby chicks and cram five to six hens in
tiny, wire cages so small each bird is given less floor space than a notebook-size
piece of paper. The birds are forced to spend their lives in a cramped position,
unable to even stretch their wings or walk.
Such protests are sending shockwaves through the egg industry. In a recent Poultry
Times article, UEP president Gene Gregory summed up the increasing pressure
from animal rights groups by declaring “we are at war,” admitting in another
story, “I’m afraid we’re losing the battle.”
Here We Grow Again!
Just months after completing a groundbreaking undercover investigation at one of
North Carolina’s largest slaughterhouses, MFA has taken root in the state by setting
up a new branch in Asheville, NC. Headed by Kayla Worden, an Asheville resident
with over 16 years of experience in the animal rights movement, the new MFA
North Carolina chapter is bringing the message of justice for animals to Carolinians
with MFA’s signature public outreach events, demonstrations, lectures, exhibits, and
advertisement campaigns.
Also, Mercy For Animals is thrilled to welcome our new Director of Campaigns:
Freeman Wicklund. Freeman recently relocated from Maryland to Columbus, where
he is now spearheading campaigns and outreach efforts throughout Ohio.
Freeman has an extraordinary history in the animal protection movement, which
includes serving as the Executive Director of two animal rights non-profits,
coordinating countless events, and working extensively with media and volunteers. In 2001, Freeman made waves when he led the first
open rescue of battery-caged hens in the United States. Topping off the list, Freeman is a top notch humane educator – having given over
a thousand presentations on animal rights issues to students and community members around the nation.
The Fur Flies: Anti-Fur Ads Reach Millions of Holiday Shoppers
In November 2007, MFA launched over 80 anti-fur
advertisements on the Washington, DC subway system.
The campaign urges residents, students and tourists to “Choose
Compassion, Choose Fur-Free Fashion.” Over the course of the
month, MFA’s ads were viewed by over 3 million riders.
The powerful ads picture a young fox cub looking up from
inside a log and proclaim that “She Needs Her Fur More
Than We Do,” along with the sobering fact that “Animals are
trapped, drowned, gassed, electrocuted, clubbed & skinned
alive to make fur-trimmed garments.”
The ads hit the subways just in time to combat the fur industry’s
winter sales push in Washington, DC - the fifth largest fur
market in the country.
By the Num6ers: 12 Months of Action
Over the past 12 months, MFA members have been working tirelessly on behalf of animals.
The numbers are in, and they speak volumes to the work of our dedicated supporters. In the
past 365 days, MFA: • Conducted over 200 public outreach events, including lectures by
our humane educators at high schools and colleges, video showings, educational exhibits at
festivals and conferences, vegan feed-ins, protests, and leafleting outreach on busy street
corners, outside concerts, and on campuses • Distributed over 200,000 pieces of vegetarian
literature • Received more than 1.5 million page views from 400,000 visitors to our
popular pro-vegetarian website ChooseVeg.com.
Fall/Winter 07
| veganhealth
AskAnya
Anya Todd is a vegan
registered and licensed dietitian
who graduated from Case
Western Reserve University and
completed her internship at the
Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
Residing in Ohio with her
husband and flock of rescued
animals, Anya’s daydreams
involve starting a farmed
animal sanctuary and a café
specializing in cupcakes,
especially of the chocolate
chip-banana variety. Yes, even
healthnuts have a sweet tooth.
Q:
A:
As a vegan, do I need to make
an effort to get Vitamin B12?
The simple answer is YES! Vitamin B12 is
absolutely essential to the body for maintenance
of the nervous system. A deficiency can lead to
neurological damage including blurred vision and memory
loss. Recent research has also shown that adequate vitamin
B12 levels can lower homocysteine levels in the blood, which
is great news since elevated homocysteine
levels can cause heart disease and strokes.
Unfortunately, there is no reliable plant
food that will provide vegans with this
essential vitamin. Therefore, it is critical
to include a fortified food or supplement
of Vitamin B12 in your diet. The daily
recommended intake is 2.4 micrograms
for healthy adults.
Q:
A:
What are omega-3 fatty acids,
and why do I need them?
Omega-3 fatty acid, also known as alpha linolenic
acid (ALA), is considered an essential fatty acid.
It is essential because the body does not produce
it and is the first “ingredient” in a chain reaction that yields
docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Aren’t you now wishing you paid
a little more attention in Biochemistry? These fatty acids are
renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties and in turn,
aid in reducing one’s risk of illnesses such as cardiovascular
disease and diabetes.
Until recently, fish and fish oil were viewed as the only sources
of omega-3 fatty acid, but times are changing. Walnuts, dark
leafy greens, hemp seed, pumpkin seed, soy
and canola oils are also good sources of
omega-3; however, flax is the richest source
of omega-3 fatty acid. Unlike fish, your risk
of consuming toxins, such as mercury and
lead, is essentially zero when consuming flax.
And, you will not contribute to the needless
death of any living creature.
Unlike fish, your
risk of consuming
toxins, such as
mercury and lead, is
essentially zero when
consuming flax.
Many vegans feel that because Vitamin B12 is needed in such
a little amount, they do not need to concern themselves with
taking it regularly; however, deficiencies do occur. The news
that it has protective cardiac properties should be reason
alone to include Vitamin B12 in your daily food routine.
Fortified foods such as cereals, meat analogs, non-dairy milk,
and fortified nutritional yeast are good choices. Two to three
servings per day should provide the necessary intake of
Vitamin B12. Supplements can be found in liquid and tablet
forms, as well as through injections. If a tablet is chosen,
one that is chewable will increase the vitamin’s absorption.
A supplement should provide at least 10 micrograms per
tablet.
6 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
Like with Vitamin B12, vegans need to
make an effort to include omega-3 fatty acids in their diets.
Along with omega-3 fatty acids, there are omega-6 fatty acids,
which are found mainly in cottonseed, corn, sunflower and
safflower oils. When we eat too many omega-6 fatty acids, we
inhibit the absorption of omega-3 fatty acid. Ideally, we would
be consuming a ratio of omega-6: omega-3 of 4:1; however,
most vegans typically consume a whacked out ratio of 15:1!
So what does this mean for you? Ditch the corn oil for olive
or canola oils. Flax should become your new best friend.
Though there is no gold standard amount of how much flax
one should eat, 1 tablespoon of flax oil or 2 tablespoons of
ground flax seed per day is a great place to start. The oil can
be added to dressings, hummus, or smoothies. Ground flax
seed can easily be added to muffins, pancakes, and smoothies
as well. Now go grab that coffee grinder and get to grinding!
Winter Squash and Red
Lentil Stew
| veganflavor
•1 cup red lentils (masoor
Creamy Pasta Salad
With Artichoke Hearts
•1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise
(e.g. Vegenaise or Nayonaise)
•2 Tbsp. lemon juice
•2 cups cooked pasta
•4 green onions, chopped
•1 6-oz. jar artichoke hearts,
drained and sliced
•1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh or 1/2
Tbsp. dried basil
•1/2 tsp. salt
Stir the mayonnaise and lemon
juice into the pasta.
dal) or yellow split peas
•4 cups water
•1 onion, chopped
•1/2 tsp. each mustard seeds,
turmeric, ginger, and cumin
•1/4 tsp. cinnamon
•1/8 tsp. cayenne
•4 cups peeled and diced
winter squash (2 pounds)
•1 Tbsp. lemon juice
•1/2 tsp. salt or to taste
Place the lentils and 2 cups water
in a pot and bring to a simmer.
Cook until the lentils are tender,
about 20 minutes.
Braise the onion in 1/2 cup
water until translucent, then
add spices, remaining 1-1/2
cups water, and diced squash.
Cook over medium heat about 15
minutes. Stir in the lemon juice,
cooked lentils, and salt to taste.
Yam Spice Muffins
•2 cups whole wheat flour
•1/2 cup sugar
•1 Tbsp. baking powder
•1/2 tsp. baking soda
•1/2 tsp. salt
•1/2 tsp. cinnamon
•1/4 tsp. nutmeg
•1 1/2 cups cooked, mashed
yams
•1/2 cup water
•1/2 cup raisins
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Add the green onions,
artichoke hearts, basil, and
salt and mix well.
In a large bowl mix whole
wheat flour, sugar, baking
powder, baking soda, salt,
cinnamon, and nutmeg.
If the salad is too dry, add
more mayonnaise and/or
lemon juice.
Add yams, water, and raisins;
stir until just mixed.
Serve chilled. Enjoy topped
with fresh tomato slices.
Visit ChooseVeg.com for over 300
free vegan recipes!
Lightly coat a muffin pan with
vegetable-oil spray. Fill cups
to the top. Bake approximately
25 to 30 minutes.
FeaturedProduct
Thanks to the complete Earth Balance line of better-thanbutter vegan substitutes, bakers and bread lovers who want
to save animals can enjoy dairy-free sticks, spreads and
shortening that rival the artery-clogging originals. For use
in your favorite recipe or on a warm piece of toast, this
cruelty-free selection satisfies all cooking and baking
needs of any kitchen.
Earth Balance Buttery Sticks and Shortening can be
used part-for-part in any recipe that calls for sticks
of butter or shortening, making them easy to use—no
adjustments necessary! Try them in your brownies, pies,
cookies, and cakes. You can even use the shortening to fry up
hash browns or French fries.
Fall/Winter 07
Organic Earth Balance Whipped, Soy Garden, Natucol,
and Margarine products provide gluten-free, non-GMO
options for the conscientious consumer who won’t sacrifice
spread-ability or delicious flavor—sample from this tasty
assortment to find your new favorite toast-topper!
coverstory
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8 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
The alarm rings at 3:45 a.m. I
reach for the ibuprofen. Without it
my hands are too sore and swollen
to even close, much less hold a
turkey’s legs. Wearing a pair of
rubber gloves, cotton gloves and
taping them doesn’t help when
they’re hit by shackles all day.
I dress with the carefully hidden
video cam that’s become part
of my daily outfit and fortify
myself with enough food to get
through the work day.
When I arrive at House of Raeford
the trucks filled with live turkeys
are already waiting to be unloaded;
it’s not even 5:30 a.m.
I
So begins the diary of “Sam” (not his real name), who
works as an undercover investigator for Mercy For
Animals. Earlier this year, Sam gained employment at
House of Raeford’s poultry slaughterhouse in Raeford,
North Carolina.
House of Raeford Farms Inc. (HORF), headquartered
in Raeford, is the seventh largest turkey producer in the
U.S. with seven facilities in North and South Carolina
and Louisiana where it breeds, slaughters, and processes
chickens and turkeys. It was chosen randomly by Mercy
For Animals and serves as a representative of the
conditions inside our nation’s slaughterhouses.
During the month-long investigation at House of
Raeford, Sam worked as a “live hanger” alongside
a group of slaughterhouse employees. The birds
arrived on trucks and were immediately pulled
from their cages and shackled - hung upside down
by their feet and ankles on a moving conveyor.
The cages are very cramped, and by the time they
arrive, many are dead, have visible abscesses and
have sustained broken wings and legs from being
slammed into the crates.
Fall/Winter 07
coverstory
A Culture of Cruelty
Sam went to work every day, doing his best to film the
abuse around him. There was a clear culture of cruelty
among workers at the plant - no recognition was given
that a turkey or chicken was a living creature capable of
experiencing pain and fear.
During the process of removing the turkeys from the
trucks--each held 1,500 birds--and shackling them
upside down by their feet, workers routinely abused the
animals.
Nearly every day, Sam wrote in his diary about workers
kicking, throwing or punching turkeys and chickens.
Scenes captured on the undercover video show a
worker on the assembly line violently slugging turkeys
as if they are mere punching bags.
1/10/07
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1/12/07
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1/17/07
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They threw and swung them from one tier to another-and when birds fell 8 feet, they threw them again. Sam
even filmed workers intentionally dropping a live turkey
under a moving truck’s wheels to be crushed.
Much of this took place out of sheer frustration and
boredom, with company management witnessing,
tolerating, and participating in the abuse.
Workers pulled heads off birds who couldn’t be
dislodged and were stuck in crates.
The hidden camera Sam wore even captured workers
sexually abusing live birds--inserting their fingers or
hands into their cloacae (vaginal cavities) and squeezing
their abdomens to dislodge eggs. They would then
throw the eggs at co-workers as a “joke.”
Each worker hangs more than 2,000 birds a day on a
moving conveyor belt.
After the turkeys are shackled, they move to a dimly
lit kill floor, at which point their heads are submerged
in a stun bath – electrically charged water that aims
to temporarily paralyze them. Much of the time the
turkeys are still conscious and violently flapping their
wings after this process.
From the electric stun bath, they reach a spinning blade, which
is designed to slit their throats. Moments later, the blood of the
dying birds begins to gush out of their bodies from the gashes in
their necks.
The next step is the scalding tank to remove the feathers. There
is no one to stop the belt if the turkey is still conscious before
going into the scalding tank.
The turkey is then moved to a de-boning process before being
neatly packaged and sold to consumers.
Life on the Factory Farm
Of course the abuse these birds had to endure did not begin at the
slaughterhouse.
It started at the factory farm, in this case Nash Johnson Farms, which
“grew” HORF’s turkeys.
“There were 100 turkeys and chickens dead upon arrival today, many
missing feathers with open wounds and with large sores on their
feet,” writes Sam in his investigator’s diary on January 12, 2007. “I
saw a chicken with an abscess on her left leg about the size of a tennis
ball and another chicken whose right leg was mashed to the point of
bloody pulp.”
Other birds arrived with missing feathers, open cuts and gashes, and broken
wings with their bones exposed.
As with all factory farms (including so called “free range” farms) the turkeys who
ended up at HORF hatch in incubators, the result of artificial insemination, and
never get to know their parents. They are then mutilated without painkillers. Part
of their beaks are cut off to prevent fatalities from the stress-induced aggression
that results from having to live their entire lives in an overcrowded, filthy shed with
thousands of other birds. Parts of their toes are chopped off and the males’ snoods
(the flap of skin that hangs over their beaks) are also hacked off.
Because modern day factory farms focus entirely on increasing productivity and profit,
commercially raised turkeys are genetically manipulated to grow more than twice as fast
and twice as large as their ancestors - so quickly that their legs can’t support their own
weight. A seven-pound human baby growing at the same rate would weigh a massive
1,500 pounds at 18 weeks.
The unnatural weight and accelerated growth forced
upon modern turkeys causes tremendous pressure on
vital organs, resulting in heart problems and weakened
immune systems.
The overcrowding and confinement increases
pathogens, and turkeys become more vulnerable to
infection. Turkeys are forced to sit and stand in their
own excrement, which burns their feet and eyes and
leads to respiratory diseases from breathing ammonia
fumes.
This confined living also makes it impossible for turkeys
to exercise basic natural behaviors, such as foraging,
dust bathing, and breathing fresh air.
.
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Unleashing the Truth
Mercy For Animals broke the story about the
abuses at House of Raeford on May 21 at a news
conference in Raleigh, N.C.
12 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING
When turkeys reach slaughter weight, typically over 30
pounds, “live throwers” load them onto transport trucks
as brutally and expediently as they are unloaded at the
other end.
Unleashing the Truth
Mercy For Animals publicly broke the story about the abuse
taking place behind the closed doors of the House of Raeford
slaughterhouse on May 21, 2007 at a news conference in Raleigh,
N.C.
Presenting the undercover video, along with Sam’s written
records, a 14-page legal petition, and the expert testimony
of eight poultry specialists and veterinarians who viewed the
material, MFA called on Hoke County prosecutor, Kristy
Newton, to file felony-level cruelty-to-animal charges against
the employees and the operator of HORF for violating
North Carolina’s anti-cruelty statutes.
The materials documented HORF’s violations of North
Carolina’s General Statute 14-360, which finds it unlawful
“to maliciously torture, mutilate, maim, cruelly beat,
disfigure, poison, or kill” an animal. According to affidavits
from animal health experts, the documented abuses met
the law’s definition of “unjustifiable pain,” often times
being “malicious,” and they were not excluded under the
law’s exemption for “Lawful activities conducted for the
primary purpose of providing food for human or animal
consumption.”
“This is a sloppy poorly managed plant where employees
are allowed to abuse animals,” said nationally renowned
animal scientist Dr. Temple Grandin who has
consulted to the U.S. Department
of Agriculture (USDA),
McDonald’s, and
Burger King.
The Noble Turkey
In recent years, university studies have documented
discernible avian and poultry intelligence. A 2005
research paper published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience
acknowledges and attests to the overwhelming evidence
that avian and mammalian brains are remarkably similar.
at their complex social relationships and their many
different methods of communicating with each other,
both visual and vocal.”
The study found that 75 percent of a bird’s brain is an
intricately wired mass that processes much in the same
way as the vaunted human cerebral cortex.
When not confined on factory farms, turkeys enjoy
building nests and having their feathers stroked. In the
wild, turkeys are agile and can fly 55 miles per hour and
run 25 miles per hour. Male turkeys attract females with
the colorful wattles around their necks--like us, turkeys
have full-color vision--and females fiercely defend their
young, who remain with their mothers for five months.
Poultry specialist, Dr. Ian Duncan of the University of
Guelph, Ontario, states that “turkeys possess marked
intelligence as revealed by such behavioral indices
Benjamin Franklin acknowledged such traits and had
tremendous respect for turkeys’ resourcefulness, agility,
and beauty, calling them “true American originals.”
“In my view, this plant should be shut down,”
concluded Dr. Bernard Rollin, Ph. D. a distinguished
professor of Animal Science at Colorado State
University.
The videotaped removal of eggs from live chickens
amounted to “unjustifiably extreme cruelty,” said
Dr. Mohan Raj, a veterinary scientist with the World
Organization of Animal Health who specializes in
stunning, slaughter methods, and interpreting animal
pain.
Following five press conferences, the investigation
was picked up by FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC
news affiliates, the Associated Press, local radio
stations, and over a dozen newspapers. As a result,
hundreds of thousands of viewers and readers were
exposed to animal abuse occurring in our nation’s
slaughterhouses, many for the first time.
Denny’s, the largest U.S. full-service restaurant
chain with 1,543 international locations that were
buying sliced turkey from HORF, announced it was
immediately suspending its supplier relationship with
the slaughterhouse the same day it received a letter
from MFA outlining the abuses uncovered.
Fall/Winter 07
“In light of the severity of these allegations, we believe
it is appropriate to suspend further purchases from this
supplier,” announced Debbie Atkins, Denny’s Director
of Public Relations. “The acts [on the video] are
unconscionable.”
Legalized Cruelty?
There is no record that Hoke County District Attorney,
Kristy Newton, ever initiated cruelty investigations or
brought charges against HORF. Sadly, such inaction is
all too common with farmed animal abuse cases, as local
prosecutors are reluctant to take on institutionalized
abuse perpetrated by big business.
Arby’s, another HORF customer, which was pushing its
“new popcorn chicken” at the time of the exposé, never
even bothered to acknowledge the abuse at its supplier
– ignoring MFA’s letters to the company’s CEO.
In a letter sent on May 24, 2007 to Mike Johanns,
Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA), MFA urged the agency to protect
poultry from egregious abuse by fully enforcing the
Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA), a federal
law passed by congress in 1958. Intended to protect
“livestock” from mistreatment during slaughter – the act
has a poor track record of actually being enforced.
coverstory
In response, a USDA representative bluntly
stated in an August 7, 2007 letter to MFA’s
executive director, Nathan Runkle, “[T]he
HMSA does not include poultry...”
The USDA’s current interpretation of the term
“livestock” to “not include poultry” is totally
without basis, as the HMSA contains no definition
of the term or explicit exemption of poultry.
Common sense, and even the 1958 edition of
the Webster’s dictionary, categorizes “livestock”
as “domestic animals used or raised on a farm.”
The USDA’s unfounded interpretation of the term
“livestock” essentially strips over 95% of the land
animals killed in the United States from protection
under the law. This translates into the over 9 billion
birds killed in our nation’s slaughterhouses having
no federal protection from any of the cruelty that
Sam documented.
In fact, Sam reports that USDA inspectors were on
HORF premises while he filmed the abuses –inspecting
carcasses rather than protecting animals.
A Systemic Problem
Back at other poultry slaughterhouses across America
the abuses continues at a breakneck speed. House
of Raeford is not simply a “bad apple” of the meat
processing industry; the whole bushel is rotten. Numerous
investigations have recently been conducted across the
nation, each unveiling similar abuses that seem to be
commonplace in these plants. Exposés at Pilgrim’s Pride
(KFC’s supplier), Tyson Foods, Perdue and Butterball have
revealed workers:
• stomping on chickens
• kicking birds
• slamming chickens against floors and walls
• twisting chickens’ beaks completely off
• spitting tobacco in birds eyes and throats
• slitting the throats of fully-conscious birds
• submerging live birds in scalding water “featherremoval tanks”
According to an article in Gourmet magazine, two-percent
of the chickens processed in the U.S.—a staggering 180
million a year—are scalded alive in de-feathering tanks.
“When this happens, the chickens flop, scream, kick, and
their eyeballs pop out of their heads,” wrote the late Virgil
Butler in 2003, a former live hanger at Tyson’s Grannis,
Arkansas plant. “Then, they often come out the other end
with broken bones and disfigured and missing body parts
because they’ve struggled so much in the tank.”
14 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
Going Cold Turkey
Since leaving House of Raeford, Sam’s injured hands, sore
wrists, and bruised body have healed. However, Sam is left
deeply changed - forever haunted by what he witnessed.
“It’s happening while we are there, when we’re not there,
week after week until we cut back on meat consumption,”
he says.
Many consumers are quick to point their finger of blame
at the overworked plant employees, the companies who
market their finished “products,” and the government who
essentially rubber stamps these atrocities. And while these
parties are certainly major players in what has become the
shameful industrialization of mass slaughter and animal
exploitation, the solution to this global issue is a simple
one. Consumers – many unaware of the horror turkeys
and chickens endure for their patties and nuggets – hold
absolute power in stopping the slaughterhouse lines; once
and for all.
Like all industry, animal agriculture is based on basic
supply and demand. Essentially, when we choose to eat
turkey products we are hiring someone – perhaps a worker
mentioned in this article – to kill animals on our behalf. As
more consumers choose to include farmed animals in their
circle of compassion by adopting a vegetarian diet, more
animals will be spared a miserable existence and death.
Conscious consumers must work to create a society that
respects all of its members, including the weakest and most
vulnerable amongst us: animals. Adopting a meat-free diet
is an essential first step toward putting this vision into
practice.
Today the vegetarian food market is booming. Never before
has their been such a wealth of options, including faux meat
products that mimic the taste and texture of the real thing,
yet are free of suffering and artery-clogging cholesterol.
This holiday season, ditch the turkey and reach for a
delicious, protein-rich, Tofurky. The birds will thank you.
ONE
GREAT REASON TO GO VEGAN
Over 50 billion others
need your voice.
actionalert
Bring an End to
Eggs-Aggerated Claims
Lack of Regulations Permit Misleading Labels & Consumer Fraud
Walk into any grocery store in the United
States today, and you’ll likely find cartons
of eggs bearing a variety of misleading
advertising schemes ranging from images
of happy hens roaming around outside
in the sunny barnyard to claims such as
“animal-friendly.”
Yet, what consumers see on the outside of an egg carton doesn’t
necessarily represent how the hens who laid those eggs were
treated. Animal welfare claims on egg cartons are currently
unregulated in the U.S., enabling egg producers to blatantly
mislead consumers with exaggerated and false claims.
LIE
REALITY
More than 95% of eggs sold in America come from birds
confined in wire battery cages so small, they can barely even
move—a practice that, according to recent polls, most consumers
find unacceptable. Furthermore, many experts agree that
confining hens in battery cages causes tremendous suffering.
However, without any federal oversight, claims on egg cartons
can—and commonly do—misrepresent to consumers how those
eggs were produced.
A petition recently submitted to the Food and Drug
Administration would protect consumers against a broad scope
of misrepresentations on egg cartons by establishing a uniform,
market-wide regulation mandating the labeling of egg production
methods on egg cartons (i.e. “eggs from caged hens”).
Similar labeling requirements on egg cartons have already been
implemented throughout the European Union and parts of
Australia. Consumers—and hens—in the U.S. deserve the same.
Eggs from hens confined in cruel cages are often
sold in cartons baring misleading images of happy
chickens running free in the barnyard.
TIME TO SPEAK UP!
It’s important that the FDA hear from you!
Please send a letter to the FDA in support of this
petition. Be sure to include the petition’s docket
number on all correspondence with the FDA:
Docket # 2006P - 0394.
1 Write a Letter to:
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305)
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
Sample Text:
I strongly support the petition requesting regulation
of egg carton labeling (Docket # 2006P - 0394:
Change Labeling Requirements for Eggs Sold in
the U.S.). Requiring egg producers to disclose on
their cartons whether the hens producing the eggs
were caged is necessary to protect consumers and
prevent confusion in the grocery store.
16 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
ANIMAL CRUELTY
Tell Wendy’s to
Stop Torturing Hens
Wendy’s attitude toward preventing animal cruelty is…
frosty.
After months of discussions with an animal protection
organization, the cold-hearted, Dublin, Ohio based
company is still lagging behind its competitors Burger
King, Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s when it comes to reducing
cruelty to egg-laying hens. Shockingly, executives of
the iconic-redhead joint insist on purchasing 100% of
the chain’s eggs from hens confined on factory farms
in crowded battery cages. In such systems each animal
is given less space than a sheet of letter-sized paper in
which to live their lives.
While Burger King began phasing in the use of eggs from
hens not packed in the inherently cruel cages back in
March, Wendy’s refuses to follow its lead – condemning
countless hens to a life of misery.
Urge Wendy’s to stop turning a blind eye to animal abuse
by moving away from eggs from caged hens. It’s time
the company takes steps to reduce the suffering of these
sentient creatures.
WRITE & CALL NOW!
1 Contact Wendy’s today and urge them
to stop selling eggs from hens confined in
cruel battery-cages.
2 Make a Call:
1-800-443-7266, ext. 2032
3 Write a Letter to:
Wendy’s International
One Dave Thomas Blvd.
Dublin, OH 43017
Fall/Winter 07
exclusiveinterview
feels
Because,
it
good.
havorist
and author, Dr.
Jonathan Balcombe,
chats with MFA’s
Freeman Wicklund about his latest book,
Pleasurable Kingdom, and the natural joys of being an animal.
What inspired you to write Pleasurable
Kingdom?
I got the idea while watching two crows in Virginia. One
repeatedly sidled up to the other and offered the nape of
his/her neck to the other, who preened the soliciting bird.
It was clearly intentional, and it looked pleasurable.
People argue that we can never know what
animals feel. How do you respond to them,
and what evidence exists to show they have
emotions?
The claim that we can never know what animals feel is
terribly defeatist and cynical. We don’t deny feelings to
other humans just because we can’t, in the absolute physical
sense, feel what they feel. We know animals can feel
because having feelings aids survival, because
18 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
feelings arise from nervous and sensory systems shared
by other creatures, and because their emotional and
physical responses echo ours in similar situations. Some
scientists are now suggesting that certain animals may
have more intense feelings than we do. I agree.
You argue that animals have rich emotional
lives. In your opinion what emotions do
animals have that the current science
supports?
Whole books are now being written on animal emotions,
most recently The Emotional Lives of Animals, by
prominent ethologist Marc Bekoff. Emotions are ancient,
and they probably evolved even before consciousness. In
addition to primary emotions like fear, anger, lust, sadness
and joy, emotions described in animals include jealousy,
embarrassment, elation, surprise, exhilaration, disgust,
depression, satisfaction and curiosity, and many, many
others. I sometimes wonder if a vulture can feel disgust,
but I bet discovering a glass eye is disappointing. But
seriously, it’s very likely there are some animal emotions
that fall outside of human experience.
Your book tells many stories that portray
animal enjoyment; from maternal love
and play, to drug use and varied sexual
behaviors. What are your favorite animal
stories that show animal joy?
I used to love watching our little mongrel dog, Begs,
elated after having a bath. He quite disliked the actual
bathing process, looking forlorn with his tail slack as the
squeegees oozed suds down his sides. But ten minutes
later, after being rinsed and dried, he would explode with
glee, sprinting about the house, veering in and out of
rooms and bouncing off shins and furniture. Perhaps he
was celebrating liberation from the ordeal, but I couldn’t
help thinking he was simply feeling fantastic, as we often
do after a bath or shower.
Novelist Stephen Crane described the joyous response
of mules being let out into the sunshine following
months or years in the coal mines. At first they trembled,
bewildered by the sudden change. Then, as they came to
grips with the full splendor of the open spaces, the fresh
air and the radiant sunshine, the mules became ecstatic.
You say that our view of nature as violent
and “red in tooth and claw” is inaccurate
and that life for most wild animals is fairly
pleasurable. What is your reasoning behind
that?
For whatever reason (I have my pet theories), we tend
to view wild nature as little more than a competitive
struggle for survival. Ironically, it’s one of the products
of Darwin’s phrase “survival of the fittest,” though
he surely didn’t intend it that way. Now, scientists are
finally realizing just how much cooperation and virtue
there is in nature. Animals are not locked in a mad rush
to maximize their reproductive success. They have
down-time. On the weekend I watched two mourning
doves resting in the shade of a bush; they were alert
but relaxed, occasionally preening or making desultory
probes at the earth. It’s also crucial to realize that
survival behaviors are in themselves rewarding. Just
because a reindeer has to migrate a thousand miles or
a prairie dog needs to dig a burrow to survive, doesn’t
mean there’s no pleasure in it.
Fall/Winter 07
What is Pleasurable Kingdom’s take home
message?
Because animals feel good things, their lives are worth
living. They have a quality of life, and it follows that we
shouldn’t deprive them of their opportunity to enjoy their
existence, particularly if we do so for relatively trivial
reasons—which surely accounts for over 99.9 percent of
our exploitation of animals. A pleasurable kingdom (or
queendom if you prefer) is a richer place that warrants a
compassionate ethic.
How has the scientific community responded to
your book? Is the study of hedonic ethologythe study of pleasure in animals—growing as a
field?
By and large, the response has been largely positive (see
the reviews on my website, PleasurableKingdom.com).
Inevitably, there have been criticisms of my not being
scientific and relying too heavily on anecdote, but the
scarcity of such reviews illustrates, I think, that the scientific
establishment is beginning to awaken from a prolonged
period of agnosticism regarding animal feelings. A week
doesn’t pass now without a new study showing starling
optimism, orangutan problem solving, or rats knowing what
they know.
You are now working on a video project. Tell us
about that and how it is coming along.
My employer (PCRM.org) has asked me to develop a
documentary film which showcases, through captivating
examples, the intelligence, sensitivity and social nature of
the animals who share the planet with us, and questions
the validity of our might-makes-right relationship to them.
We have a full outline for the film, several scientists have
expressed keen willingness to be interviewed for it, and we
are currently raising funds to support the project.
To purchase Jonathan Balcombe’s book, Pleasurable Kingdom,
visit PleasurableKingdom.org.
“
A pleasurable kingdom
(or queendom if you
prefer) is a richer
place that warrants a
compassionate ethic.
mustknow
theburningtruth
The ghastly connection between
animal agriculture and climate
change that some politicians and
big environmental organizations are
conveniently leaving out of the global
warming debate.
A groundbreaking 2006 United Nations report
found that raising animals for food generates more
greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the
world combined.
Luckily, we can help fix this problem by changing our diet.
According to a 2006 study done by researchers at the
University of Chicago, most Americans can reduce more
greenhouse gas emissions by becoming a vegan than they can
by switching to a hybrid electric car.
They found that eating a vegan diet prevents the equivalent
of 1.5 tons of CO2 emissions every year, more than the 1 ton
of CO2 emissions prevented by switching from a typical large
sedan to a Toyota Prius.
So why does meat cause so much global
warming? There are a number of factors.
Here are a few:
Manure. Pee Ewwww. The tens of
billions of farmed animals of the world
produce massive amounts of manure,
which emit greenhouse gases such as
methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon
dioxide.
Cow Burps. That’s right, burps!
Ruminant animals such as cows and
sheep, also emit huge quantities
of methane via burping and
flatulence. Methane has 23
times the global warming
potential of CO2, and the
livestock industry alone is
responsible for 37 percent
of human-induced
methane emissions.
20 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
“
The livestock sector
emerges as one of the
top two or three most
significant contributors
to the most serious
environmental
problems, at every
scale from local to
global.
-The United Nations
Deforestation. Forests are being destroyed to
make room for cattle to graze or to grow crops to feed
chicken and other livestock. When the trees are cut down
or burned, the CO2 they store escapes back into the air.
Synthetic Fertilizer. Growing feed for farmed
animals requires intense use of synthetic fertilizers
manufactured with fossil fuels. This process emits a
tremendous amount of CO2, and the fertilizer releases
nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas that is 296 times more
potent than carbon dioxide.
Burning Fossil Fuels. The burning of
fossil fuels releases CO2, one of the primary gases
responsible for global warming. In addition to fertilizer
manufacturing, the meat industry uses fossil fuels to heat
and cool the buildings that house the animals, to produce
all the crops to feed to the animals, and to transport,
process, and refrigerate all of the meat. Cornell ecologist
David Pimentel estimates that animal protein consumes
about eight times as much fossil fuel than a comparable
amount of plant protein.
Why should we care? Global warming is a problem that
could have devastating long term consequences. As the
National Resource Defense Council notes, if we don’t
do something soon to prevent this, “Sea levels will rise,
flooding coastal areas. Heat waves will be more frequent
and more intense. Droughts and wildfires will occur more
often. Disease-carrying mosquitos will expand their range.
And species will be pushed to extinction.”
Feel Beautiful
inside
& out!
Many of these changes have already begun. It might be an
inconvenient truth, but it’s time to ditch the burgers and
nuggets for the sake of the planet (and all its inhabitants).
Never ever tested on animals.
I know of...no scientific discovery
that could not have been obtained
without such barbarism and cruelty.
- Dr. Charles Mayo, Mayo Clinic,
comments on animal testing.
Feel beautiful inside and out with Arbonne International. Enjoy
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The livestock sector now
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Livestock are responsible
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methane emissions, a
greenhouse gas 23 times
more powerful than CO2
Livestock are responsible
for 65% of human-caused
nitrous oxide emissions, a
greenhouse gas 296 times
more powerful than CO2
Fall/Winter 07
bonne is dermatologist tested, but never tested on animals.
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22 I COMPASSIONATE LIVING I www.MercyForAnimals.org
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Y MEAL
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Heart Disease
Pain
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Fear
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Global
Warming
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Cruelty
Cut cruelty out of your diet.
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