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The Significance of Prop 2’s Victory: Veal Crates, Gestation Crates and Battery Cages Banned
By Wayne Pacelle
President and Chief Executive Officer
Humane Society of the United States
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, California voters approved a historic ballot measure to halt the inhumane confinement of animals on factory farms-by an overwhelming margin of 63.3 to 36.7 percent.
What Proposition 2 Does
Proposition 2 ends the practice of confining breeding pigs, veal calves and egg laying hens in crates and cages so small the animals can barely move. Prop 2 requires that factory farms provide enough space for animals to stand up, turn around and extend their limbs. It goes into effect in January of 2015, giving factory farms six years to shift to different housing systems.
Its Significance
By so strongly supporting this ballot measure, California voters have taken a stand for decency and compassion. They have said that the systemic mistreatment of animals on factory farms cannot continue and that all animals deserve humane treatment, including animals raised for food.
Prop 2 is widely regarded as the most ambitious ballot measure for animals ever undertaken in the United States. Its passage will make life better for 20 million farm animals.
Building Momentum
The historic victory for farm animals builds on momentum established in other US states. Colorado and Arizona are phasing out the use of gestation crates and veal crates, and the states of Florida and Oregon have similar measures phasing out gestation crates.
Throughout North America, producers are changing the way they house and care for animals in response to this momentum. Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pig producer, and Maple Leaf, the largest pig producer in Canada, are phasing-out gestation crates. The American Veal Association voted to urge the entire US veal industry to phase out veal crates.
By adopting these measures, the United States is moving in the same direction as Europe. The entire European Union is phasing out barren battery cages by 2012 and gestation crates by 2013, and has already banned veal crates. Several European countries already have enacted protections for farm animals that exceed the European Union's measures.
A Groundswell of Support
The Humane Society of the United States was a lead supporter of this measure. In addition, Prop 2 attracted support from a broad coalition of organizations and leaders, including the California Veterinary Medical Association, United Farm Workers, State Humane Association of California, the Center for Food Safety and the Consumer Federation of America.
The Yes! on Prop 2 campaign received donations from 25,000 individual contributors across the country. Thousands of volunteers worked to collect signatures, distribute campaign literature and rallied to get out the vote for Prop 2.
The opponents of Proposition 2, agribusiness companies from throughout the nation, spent $9 million in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat the ballot initiative.
A Precedent-Setting Victory
California has the highest population and the largest economy of any state in the United States of America. Agriculture is a major industry there.
The overwhelming passage of Prop 2 in this state is expected to usher in a new era in animal agriculture. The Humane Society of the United States will continue to advocate on behalf of farm animals domestically, while Humane Society International works to improve the lives of farm animals in countries around the world, including Brazil, China, Costa Rica and India.
Wayne Pacelle is president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States.
Comments
Thank you to HSUS, Farm Sanctuary, Animal Place, the Animal Legal Defense Fund and the countless other groups and individuals across the U.S. who helped make history.
Posted by: Mark Hawthorne at November 17, 2008 11:53 AM
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