They don't have a plan -- and the bull calves don't have a prayer

[Guest guest]

"ISCOWP (Balabhadra Dasa & Chaya Dasi - USA)" wrote:

 

> This Ministry has been trying since 1999 to bring awareness to how important

it

> is to control the breeding in India, where it seems to be going on with

> disregard to land capacity and ability to engage the oxen in locales such as

> Mayapur and Vrndavana. Yes, Hare Krsna dasi we have received a very thorough

> report from Mayapur in which it is stated that 40 animals were given away

last

> year on non judical stamped contracts. In other words, these contracts are

not

> legally binding. The goshalla in charge can not meet all his expenses by

> selling milk and is requesting help in meeting the goshalla needs. We have

> recently written a letter to most all in charge of Mayapur about what is

> actually gong on and what can be done about it. No reply as of yet.

> Unfortunately this has been one of many attempts to get some action going in

> the directon of forming solutions.

>

> The Vrndavana scene is somewhat similar except that we have not received an

> acceptable report yet. Two attempts at reports have been made for the April

> 30th deadline. In the first one the numbers of the animals in categories did

> not add up to the total given and there was no breeding count nor names. We

> were promised more information in a few days. A month passed and at our

> prodding, another report was sent. This time the breeding count was not given

> and no names. We have been promised more info in a few days (that was about a

> month ago) and next report is promised to be complete.

 

It appears that both Mayapur and Vrndavana are clearly violating Section 2.9 of

ISKCON's Minimum Cow Protection Standards, which describes as "not permitted"

breeding animals for supplying milk without a plan for the lifetime care,

training

and engagement of resulting offspring. They have no plan whatsoever to train

the

bull calves.

 

Instead, they plan to give the animals away -- but it appears that there are no

legally binding well-monitored contracts to insure that the calves will not be

slaughtered.

 

Because of their inability to properly care for the animals and responsibly

account

for them, they were requested in April 2001 to stop breeding. They

circumvented

this recommendation claiming: "No, we have changed our ways. From now on we

will

care for the animals responsibly and we will present regular reports on their

welfare." They are liars and cheats and should publicly be exposed as such.

 

We need the name and birth date of every single male calf born at ISKCON

Vrndavana

and ISKCON Mayapur. Whether these animals are "leased out" or not, we need to

know

exactly where they are and what their health is for the next 20 years.

 

It seems pretty clear that they should not even be breeding cows if they have

no

plans to train and use the resultant bull calves. If they give these animals

away

without making perfectly certain that they are being protected for the rest of

their lives, then they are simply liars and cheats -- and I am not talking

about

the individual cowherds (who may be doing the best they can) so much as the

temple

presidents and all the GBC officials who are responsible for making sure that

ISKCON laws are faithfully observed. Perhaps only Lord Nrsimhadeva Himself can

cure

them of their damnable irresponsibility.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

COW PROTECTION STANDARDS 2.9:

 

[Excerpt:]

 

Not Allowed

 

1) Animal Acquisition

Procuring or breeding of a cow for the

purpose of supplying milk without any plan

for the care, training and engagement of

offspring.

 

2) Lack of Land and Funds for Animal Care

Failure to provide sufficient land, cowherds,

and funds to support the cow and/or

offspring.

 

4) Leasing Cows

Leasing cows without the legally binding

and well monitored contracts as described

in # 4 of permitted.

 

 

 

> Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 8: Chapter 24, Text 5 Purport

> "Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained;and

> without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled."

>

> Your servants,

> Balabhadra das & Chaydevi

> ISKCON Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture