A History of Cow Abuse in ISKCON

November 9, 1999

"WWW: Lola (Devi Dasi) ACBSP (Vancouver - CAN)" wrote:

> [Text 2764733 from COM]

>

> On 08 Nov 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

>

> > 6. In 1996, I learned that devotees at Saranagati Farm in Canada were

> > accepting a $11,000 per year tax exemption in return for grazing beef

> > cattle for slaughter on their land:

> >

>

> I would like to thank Hare Krsna Dasi for all of her work in protecting cows.

> I would also like to give some additional detail about this accusation

against

> Saranagati. The devotees at Saranagati did not want beef cattle on their

> land. The cattle were present only because the 5 miles of fence needed to

> keep them out was not there nor could the devotees at that time afford to

> quickly construct it. The cattle wandered on to the land on their own. I

> will inquire as to the status now in 1999 and let you know

>

> ys

> Lola devi dasi

Dear Lola Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thanks for offering to check into this. The difficulty in fencing out the

animals

was discussed when this issue originally arose. If I recall correctly, I

believe

that the cowherds on the COW conference appreciated the difficulty of the

situation. The objection was that Saranagati was accepting a monetary

equivalent

for their support of the cow slaughter industry. It was felt that Srila

Prabhupada would never have approved of such a practice.

Hopefully, this practice of taking what amounts to a blood-money tax credit at

Saranagati has now ended. If it has not yet ended, Saranagati will be able to

see

clearly that it is by no means alone in failure to meet minimun cow protection

standards. It should simply take heart and work to rectify the situation.

Hopefully, your GBC will provide the appropriate spiritual and legal guidance

in

this matter.

your servant,

Hare Krsna dasi

November 9, 1999

Dear Prabhus,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The point still remains that 12 cows living under the protection of an

ISKCON cow protection facility were slaughtered by an ISKCON authority and

nothing has been forth coming as an Executive statement from the GBC. Can

everyone now just start to forget this heinous act? Have they died in vain?

What is going to be done? Nothing? There is some lack of responsibility here

to be atoned for. As Hare Krsna dasi said, "Will there be any public acts of

contrition for all this abuse? Or will

you continue your mantra: "I'm not responsible. I knew nothing."

We have put together a system of check and balances for ISKCON cow

protection facilities to prevent such abuse from happening. As stated in the

Cow Standards the GBC is to meet quarterly with cowherds, inspect cow

protection facilities, and file a report with ISKCON's Minister of Cow

Protection and Agriculture. The GBC may also appoint a monitor to do this

service, but the GBC must visit the cowherds and facilities at least once a

year. There was only one report from a GBC, there were two reports from

head cowherds who had given their reports to the GBC but the GBC never sent

them to us. No monitors were appointed. If these reports are done timely,

(the monitor is doing his/her service, the GBC is reading the reports and

properly visiting, the ministry is receiving reports), you have a check and

balance system in place. Together then we can work to rectify the situation.

But if there is no cooperation, no reports made, no monitors-then what to

do?

There are still 5 cows remaining at Murari. I spoke with Balavanta prabhu

(who is one of the land trustees for Murari and very aware of the history

of Murari over the last 25 years). He feels that in the last 8 to 10 years

there has crept into Murari a consciousness of irresponsibility and

disrespect for the cows. About 5 or 6 years ago a scheme was concocted to

trade undesirable animals for animals which were considered by some

residents to be more desirable. At that time Jayapataka Maharaja was the GBC

and this scheme was brought to his attention as he was getting into a car

departing his one day visit at the farm. My understanding is that he was

caught off guard and said, "What does this mean, a soul for soul?" The

scheme progressed and twelve so called undesirable animals were traded with

a non devotee farmer for 12 so called desirable animals. Keep in mind that

gving cows to a non-devotte farmer means the cows will be slaugheterd at

some point. The point is these animals took birth at Murari under the

shelter of Lord Chaitanya's sankirtan movement and because they were never

trained and engaged in service they became undesirable. This is not the cows

fault. It is a management shortcoming.

There is a undercurrent of thought by some members of the community there

that because these animals were part beef breed (neighbor's bulls over the

fence) that they are not worth training or even having on the farm.

Unfortunately Drumila was very close with these people and was infected with

this mentally. Hence, 12 more cows were sent away for slaughter.

The GBC and the residents of Murari have made arrangements for the remaining

13 cows remaining cows to be taken to New Talavan. Already 8 have been

taken. Balavanta feels, and the Ministry agrees with him 100 %, that the 5

remaining cows should not be removed from Murari in order to begin the

healing process of taking the responsibility for the innocent dependents

under their care. The ministry is currently drawing up this proposal which

will be presented at Murari at the next Board of Directors meeting November

14.

And what about the 2 cows and 1 bull sold for breeding? It is the

Ministry's recommendation that these animals be sought after and brought

back to Murari.

We pray they have not been slaughtered yet.

Your servant,

Balabhadra das

ISKCON Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture

November 9, 1999