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Hedy and Che
2. U.S.: Farmed Animal Slaughter in Public Schools
Publicly-funded high schools throughout the United States slaughter animals as part of their agricultural science curricula, despite growing objections from parents and animal advocates. At Clackamas High School in Oregon, a 15-year-old student and her mother recently protested the slaughter of sheep and won several concessions from the school district. Krista Brandtner, a freshman, was "horrified" when the school hired a contractor to slaughter several sheep by breaking their necks and slitting their throats. Since the complaint, the district has implemented several changes to the program, including requiring parental approval and barring freshmen from observing the slaughter process. However, the district has said it will continue to allow the slaughtering animals during class, a practice that has been in place for 36 years. Up to five years ago, students took part in the actual slaughter rather than just observing. In the Oregon case, it was unclear whether the sheep were slaughtered according to humane standards, and at least one local animal advocate claims it was a violation of the Humane Slaughter Act. In California, activists from Animal Place, a farmed animal sanctuary, are working to influence California's Department of Education to include ethics and animal welfare in the department's learning objectives. Until November 11, the California Department of Education is accepting comments on the standards they have developed for animal agriculture education.
 "District Scrutinized for Slaughter," The Oregonian, October 8, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/6p8ay
(The Oregonian website)
"Agribusiness in Our Schools," Animal Place E-News,
October 18, 2004
http://www.animalplace.org/eoctober.html
California Career Technical Education Standards and Framework Initiative
[Includes comment form]
http://www.sonoma.edu/cihs/cte/
3. Consumer Issues:
Vegan Youths; Australian Wool; Chickens and Formaldehyde
VEGAN YOUTHS: Nearly a fourth (24%) of college students say that having vegan dishes available on campus is important to them, compared to only 18% who say the same for low-carbohydrate foods. These findings are from ARAMARK, one of the world's leading suppliers and operators of cafeterias for colleges, hospitals, and other facilities, ranked number one in its industry. Because of this study, ARAMARK has significantly expanded its vegan menu by adding dozens of items and offering staff training on ingredients and other issues of importance to vegans.
AUSTRALIAN WOOL: On October 15, animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) announced it had secured an agreement from clothing maker Abercrombie & Fitch not to purchase Australian merino wool. The agreement comes as a result of PETA's complaints about "mulesing," the practice of removing skin from the backside of farmed sheep in order to prevent the bites and breeding of blowflies. PETA is also targeting at least twenty more US clothing companies in an attempt to impact the approximately 3,000 tons of Australian wool imported into the US each year.
CHICKENS AND FORMALDEHYDE: A scientific advisory committee for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) of the European Union has recommended allowing formaldehyde as a fattening agent for producing chickens. In addition to relying on only a single study before making the recommendation, the panel also cautions that there is "little margin for error (over dosage) before adverse effects were apparent." Formaldehyde is a toxic chemical regularly used as both a disinfectant and a preservative.
"One Out of Every Four College Students Wants Vegan Meals," Aramark / Business Wire, October 19, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/5gh39
(BusinessWire.com website)
"Animal Rights Threat to Merino Wool," News.com au, October 16, 2004
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,11086300%255E2682,00.html
"Australian Farmers Defend 'Mulesing' After US Company Bans Aussie Wool," Agence France Presse, October 15, 2004
http://131.104.74.73/archives/animalnet/2004/10-2004/animalnet_oct_15.htm#story6
"EFSA Says Formaldehyde Can be Fed to Chickens," Justfood.com, October 14, 2004
http://www.just-food.com/news_detail.asp?art=58923&dm=yes
EFSA Opinion: http://www.efsa.eu.int/science/feedap/feedap_opinions/637_en.html
4. Antibiotics and Other Contaminants in U.S. Waterways
Pollution of US waterways from antibiotics, hormones, and other contaminants has been on the rise for decades, but several recent findings underscore the potential environmental and health impacts. In 1999 and 2000, antibiotics were found in 80% of rivers and streams, according to the US Geological Survey. Researchers from Colorado State University are the first to show definitively that antibiotics used on farmed animals can be found in public waterways. The scientists also found that the riverbed sediment contained antibiotic concentrations 20 to 1,000 times greater than the water itself, although both are believed to be at levels that will not harm the environment. The Colorado State team is currently working with farmers to implement better waste handling procedures. Not everyone agrees that the use of antibiotics on farmed animals is a risk to human health, however. According to a study recently published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, "most of the (antibiotic) resistance problem in humans has arisen from human use." The article goes on to say that "even if pathogens do reach man, the clinical consequences of resistance may be small."
In Moorefield, West Virginia, researchers have discovered that a majority of male bass in the Potomac River is producing eggs, possibly as a result of hormone contamination in the water. The researchers cite two potential sources: chicken estrogen from poultry manure and human hormones processed and pumped into rivers along with human waste. A study in summer 2003 showed that 42% of male bass in the South Branch of the Potomac had produced eggs; by spring 2004 the number had increased to 79%. A similar situation occurred in Colorado, where researchers found that fish, who appear to easily absorb hormones, also showed signs of gender "inversion."
"Antibiotics Used for Growth in Food Animals Making Their Way into Waterways," Colorado State University, October 19, 2004
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/507755/
"Male Bass in Potomac Producing Eggs," Washington Post, October 15, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/6gwk8
(WashingtonPost.com website)
"Does the Use of Antibiotics in Food Animals Pose a Risk to Human Health?" Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2004
Study: http://jac.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/53/1/28
Data (PDF File): http://www.ahi.org/Documents/Antibioticuse2003.pdf
5. Disease Updates: Avian Influenza and BSE
AVIAN INFLUENZA: Researchers in The Netherlands have found that last year's Avian Influenza outbreak in this country had a larger impact on human health than previously thought. According to new findings, at least 1,000 workers likely contracted the virus and those who developed symptoms after infection transmitted the disease to a surprisingly high 59% of the members of their household. In other news, an Australian company's effort to produce a vaccine to prevent chickens from contracting Avian Influenza failed recently when it was able only to inoculate a "small percentage" of the chickens.
BSE: In the United Kingdom, an inquiry commissioned by the government's Food Standards Agency has found that a number of slaughtered cows are entering the food supply without being tested for BSE ("mad cow" disease). According to the report, there have been 128 known and 133 possible cases of "casualty" cows being slaughtered and processed without being tested for BSE. Casualty animals are those that are affected by injury or illness, often referred to as "downer" animals in the US. Although the source of the error is not entirely known, some officials cite a high turnover rate among farmed animal veterinarians. The inquiry also found that 2,800 sick and injured animals had been tested and were free of BSE, concluding that any risk to humans from the error is "very low."
"Dutch Bird Flu Infected 1,000," Science Now, October 18, 2004
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2004/1018/2
(Subscription Required)
"Bird Flu Vaccine Fails First Trial," NEWS.com.au, October 18, 2004
http://www.news.com.au/common/printpage/0,6093,11108558,00.html
"U.K. Investigation Indicates BSE Rules Being Ignored," Meatingplace.com, October 13, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13200
"Abattoirs Report Cites Anti-BSE Test Failures," The Guardian, October 12, 2004
http://www.guardian.co.uk/bse/article/0,2763,1325018,00.html
6. Canada: Farmed Animal-Related Resources and Statistics
Please see below for a compilation of research and statistics from Canada, including those from Statistics Canada, an agency of the Canadian government, and a comprehensive list of links from Alberta Farm Animal Care, a provincial coalition of farmers.
Canadian Agricultural Statistics
http://www.statcan.ca/english/Pgdb/agricul.htm
"Dairy Statistics - August 2004 (preliminary)," Statistics Canada, October 15, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041015/d041015b.htm
"Production of Eggs and Poultry - August 2004 (preliminary)," Statistics Canada, October 8, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041008/d041008b.htm
"Food Consumption - 2003," Statistics Canada, October 14, 2004
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041014/d041014d.htm
Alberta Farm Animal Care Industry Links
http://www.afac.ab.ca/links.htm
7. Other Items of Interest
Farmer and radio personality Trent Loos comments on the criticisms of modern industrial agriculture coming from unlikely sources, including religious leaders and conservatives such as Matthew Scully.
"Trent Loos: Modern Agriculture the Devil's Work?" Meatingplace.com, October 20, 2004
http://www.meatingplace.com/DailyNews/init.asp?iID=13246
Former Bush speechwriter Matthew Scully uses St. Francis of Assisi as an example to opine about the recent foie gras ban in California, modern pig farms, and other issues.
"Matthew Scully: Factory Farm Meat Not on Menu for Feast of St. Francis," Dallas News, October 4, 2004
http://tinyurl.com/6yf4o
(DallasNews.com website - Subscription Required)
The USDA is funding a National Research Initiative, awarding grants to "assess the behavior and well-being of genetically modified food animals enhancing animal well-being throughout the food production cycle." The deadline for grant proposals is December 3, 2004.
"National Research Initiative: Animal Protection Funding Opportunity," ISB News Report, October 2004
http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2004/news04.oct.html#oct0401
According to the LA Times, $70 million of California State government money for reducing pollution was used to fund the expansion of large dairy farms; $24 million of loans approved this year have been frozen by the State Treasurer.
"Report: Millions of State Dollars Helped Polluting Dairies Expand in California," Associated Press, October 11, 2004
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/10/11/national1345EDT0549.DTL
The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals shows some of the ways in which pigs and chickens express emotions, reasoning, and other complex behaviors, including expert references.
"The Hidden Lives of Pigs and Chickens," GoVeg.com (from PETA)
Pigs: http://www.goveg.com/feat/Pigslife/experts.asp
Chickens: http://www.peta.org/feat/hiddenlives/
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