ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Suza, you are so right! Giving farm animals enough room to turn around and extend their limbs is so basic, you wouldn't think we need a law for it! And this is just the tip of the iceberg--if only the public knew how bad conditions are for animals on factory farms and how consumers unwittingly support farm animal abuse by buying products such as meat, milk, eggs and leather from animals raised on factory farms, they would probably turn to a small family farm or go vegan, instead.

I wish this initiative were implemented immediately--the animals alive today will not live to benefit from it! It is, however, a step in the right direction. We're circulating the petition in Los Angeles County, too! To read more, just do a google search on The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act--you'll be amazed at the plethora of links that appear! People care. Good luck and thanks for your tireless efforts!

I went to the Ojai Farmer's Market this morning to collect signatures for this ballot initiative. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people willing to sign...even lots coming up to me to ask to sign. So many were shocked that these cruel caging practices are still in effect...saying, "I thought that was banned already." People need to know that no, they are not banned yet. It will take their vote next November to do it. A big thank you to all those who are helping out in taking what seems like such a tiny step. But it is the first step and I have confidence that people care, and together we will eventually end this suffering.

Go Susa. A step in the right direction toward the time when humans will not kill animals period except when the animal is diseased or dangerous. Then we can work on releasing animals from pet bondage. We have a long way to go towards growing up as humans who are free animals.

This is a perfect description of this initiative. I'm confident that once people are aware of the cruelty animals endure on factory farms, they will sign this, and perhaps learn more about decreasing animal products. We are long overdue for a change in the way animals are treated. Animals are not here for our own food, entertainment, etc. Hopefully this initiative can improve conditions for the millions of animals who are sacrificed despite that.

Where else can this petition be signed locally, perhaps on weekdays?

Hi phalarope, Dale Hanson at Ojai Valley Real Estate, has a copy of the petition. She is usually in her office Monday thru Friday during normal business hours. You can call her at 646-7229 if you want to check the time she is in. The address is 221 E. Matilija Street, about a three-minute walk past Rainbow Bridge. Thank you!

Thanks, Suza.

Proof positive that a small group of people can make big changes! This is going to be accomplished solely through the help of volunteers -- caring people like you and me. This is the first time something so ambitious has been proposed in any state. Let's make California the leader in the humane treatment of animals!

A Post reader sent me this quote by Albert Schweitzer:

"Whenever an animal is somehow forced into the service of men, every one of us must be concerned for any suffering it bears on that account. No one of us may permit any preventable pain to be inflicted...No one may appease his conscience by thinking that would be interfering in something that does not concern him. No one may shut his eyes and think the pain, which is therefore not visible to him, is nonexistent."

Assuming this measure makes it to the ballot (which I am afraid is a big assumption), I can't wait to see what the opponents of it are going to say.

Just imagine trying to defend the practice of confining thousands -- millions -- of animals in tiny cages for their entire lives!

And yet we may be sure that the factory farmers will do exactly that -- and very aggressively too. That is when the real battle will be joined.

Believe it or not, I recently read an editorial opposing the measure, arguing that kindness should be reserved for our pets, NOT farm animals! I will address this down the road.

Last year there was a small group of us with the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy hiking up by the Ventura River. There were still cows on the land then, and we came upon a group of them. A mother cow had just given birth (the umbilical cord was still hanging from her). The other cows were scattered around somewhat nearby. But when they saw us approaching, they ALL went over to the baby who was on the ground and made a circle around it to protect it. It was so touching and enlightening as to how smart, sensitive, gentle and aware cows are.

A letter I received today from Californians for Humane Farms points out another reason that we can give to voters for supporting this measure:

Besides reducing the suffering of calves, pigs and hens confined in tiny crates, this measure will prevent more huge factory farms from moving into California.
We don't want California to follow the experience of some other states, where millions of pigs have suffered, water has been polluted, air and water have been putrefied and property values have gone through the floor.
In North Carolina, for example, a pig farm spilled 25 million gallons of feces and urine, killing almost all life in a 17-mile stretch of a local river. This toxic discharge was larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill!

I was watching the TV coverage of the Community Values Action debate and it was filled with people asking what the Presidential candidates would do about certain community issues. There was an abundance of complaints about huge animal production businesses moving into the neighborhoods and causing havoc.