CNN SUNDAY covers suit against USDA regarding downed animals

[Guest guest]

Karen Dawn <KarenDawn wrote:

 

DawnWatch: CNN SUNDAY covers suit against USDA regarding downed

animals

Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:21:39 -0800

 

People not in our movement generally think I am pretty radical since I

don't drink milk. After all, it's not like cows are killed for their milk,

right? At AR2001 I learned to inform those incredulous inquirers that eighty

percent of hamburger meat comes from dairy cows.

 

Thanks to a terrific piece that aired on " CNN Sunday, " January 27,

millions more Americans than I get a chance to chat with have now been

disabused of the notion that dairy cows are pampered animals who finish

their idyllic lives in bovine retirement villages. In this story about Farm

Sanctuary's downed animal lawsuit, they have also learned about the

horrendous cruelty of the beef industry and the danger some practices pose

to human health.

 

The piece opened with anchor Catherine Calloway telling us, " One group has

filed a lawsuit against the USDA alleging that some animals allowed to enter

the food chain are diseased, and that the government knows it and still

allows it. "

 

We are warned that we are about to see footage that we might find

disturbing. On a major network - how wonderful!

 

Reporter Thelma Gutierrez opens her story:

 

" The hills of Southern California, where you will find some of the largest

dairy farms in the country. What you may not know is when these milk cows

gets old or injured, they aren't put to pasture, they're sent to

slaughter -- for beef. "

 

We see video footage of sick animals that have been separated from the

herd, then undercover video from Farm Sanctuary, of animals too sick or

injured to walk being dragged to slaughter. Farm Sanctuary's Gene Bauston

says:

 

" Animals with frightening diseases are being approved for human food, and

the USDA knows this... I think consumers would be appalled to learn that

animals that are too sick to walk are routinely entering the food supply. "

 

Bob Feenstra from the California Milk Producers Council says that sickly

animals that have been ill or drugged do not get into the meat supply. He

also says that Farm Sanctuary is against the handling and transport of

injured animals. Calloway tells us that Farm Sanctuary does not deny their

opposition to the practice. We hear from Farm Sanctuary attorney Sheldon

Eisenberg:

 

" Farm Sanctuary's central concern here is the fact that the process of

slaughtering downed animals truly involves acts of terrible cruelty. "

 

Feenstra's response: " We have to handle it as an industry and as a

business, and we do it as humanely as we can. We don't run petting farms. "

 

We are introduced to a dairyman, Syp, who has 3,000 cows that he says are

his whole life. Gutierrez tells us:

 

" It's been a good life. Syp's cows produce $500,000 a month in milk alone.

When his cows stop producing, he sends them to slaughter. "

 

I am so thrilled that the public heard that message twice in one story.

 

The Dairyman says that indeed downed animals go to slaughter but that only

those injured, not those that are ill, are processed for food.

 

Gutierrez comments:

" But according to USDA inspection records obtained by Farm Sanctuary

through the Freedom of Information Act, downed animals from other dairy

farms have passed inspection with diseases like malignant lymphoma,

pneumonia and hepatitis. "

 

We hear that USDA officials declined on camera interviews on this issue

but told CNN, in a written report, that diseased meat is prohibited for

human consumption. But Gutierrez reads part of a USDA document obtained by

CNN:

 

" Federal inspection regulations clearly provide for the slaughter and

processing of diseased animals for human food, and the diseased part can be

removed to make a wholesome product. "

 

DR. Laurene Mascola, a LA CO. " Public Health Expert " says of eating downed

animals, " They are not at risk to give disease that we know of. " Then she

repeats, " that we know of. "

 

Gutierrez signs off with a paraphrase from the dairy farmer, Syp. She

says,

" There is no way to know if you're eating meat from downed animals. Syp

says USDA-inspected meat is healthy, and we shouldn't worry.

As for his animals, he says he respects them. After all, his livelihood

rests on their backs. "

 

Hopefully many viewers could get the irony, the conflict of interest,

apparent in that last comment.

 

Given the many millions of adverting dollars spent annually by the various

aspects of the food production industry, I am always thrilled but surprised

when a station is willing to cover a story like this and show viewers

upsetting footage. Please thank CNN for this coverage.

 

CNN takes feedback at:

http://www.cnn.com/feedback/

 

Here's a link for AOLers:

CNN Feedback

 

Select " CNN Sunday " from the pull-down menu of programs and when the

appropriate box comes us, enter 1/27/01 as the air date.

 

I respectfully ask those activists who write great sample letters to

refrain from attaching them when forwarding DawnWatch alerts. Any activist

is capable of composing his or her own one line heartfelt thank you for a

great piece. That's all that is needed and every single note helps a lot!

 

Yours and the animals',

Karen Dawn

www.DawnWatch.com

 

(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues

in the media and facilitates one click responses to the relevant media

outlets. You can learn more about it at www.DawnWatch.com. To to

DawnWatch, email KarenDawn and tell me you'd like to receive

alerts. If at any time you find DawnWatch is not for you, just let me know

via email and I'll take you off the r list immediately. If you

forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please include this tag line.)

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Folks might want to thank local veggie and animal activist Kathryn Fugere

for her pro-bono (freebee) work writing the legal papers that were filed in

this matter. Let's all wish her and Farm Sanctuary the best of luck.

 

 

-

" Erhhung Yuan " <erhhung

" SF Bay Area Vegetarians "

Tuesday, January 29, 2002 9:24 AM

CNN SUNDAY covers suit against USDA regarding downed

animals

 

 

> Karen Dawn <KarenDawn wrote:

>

> DawnWatch: CNN SUNDAY covers suit against USDA regarding downed

> animals

> Mon, 28 Jan 2002 17:21:39 -0800

>

> People not in our movement generally think I am pretty radical since I

> don't drink milk. After all, it's not like cows are killed for their milk,

> right? At AR2001 I learned to inform those incredulous inquirers that

eighty

> percent of hamburger meat comes from dairy cows.

>

> Thanks to a terrific piece that aired on " CNN Sunday, " January 27,

> millions more Americans than I get a chance to chat with have now been

> disabused of the notion that dairy cows are pampered animals who finish

> their idyllic lives in bovine retirement villages. In this story about

Farm

> Sanctuary's downed animal lawsuit, they have also learned about the

> horrendous cruelty of the beef industry and the danger some practices pose

> to human health.

>

> The piece opened with anchor Catherine Calloway telling us, " One group

has

> filed a lawsuit against the USDA alleging that some animals allowed to

enter

> the food chain are diseased, and that the government knows it and still

> allows it. "

>

> We are warned that we are about to see footage that we might find

> disturbing. On a major network - how wonderful!

>

> Reporter Thelma Gutierrez opens her story:

>

> " The hills of Southern California, where you will find some of the

largest

> dairy farms in the country. What you may not know is when these milk cows

> gets old or injured, they aren't put to pasture, they're sent to

> slaughter -- for beef. "

>

> We see video footage of sick animals that have been separated from the

> herd, then undercover video from Farm Sanctuary, of animals too sick or

> injured to walk being dragged to slaughter. Farm Sanctuary's Gene Bauston

> says:

>

> " Animals with frightening diseases are being approved for human food,

and

> the USDA knows this... I think consumers would be appalled to learn that

> animals that are too sick to walk are routinely entering the food supply. "

>

> Bob Feenstra from the California Milk Producers Council says that sickly

> animals that have been ill or drugged do not get into the meat supply. He

> also says that Farm Sanctuary is against the handling and transport of

> injured animals. Calloway tells us that Farm Sanctuary does not deny their

> opposition to the practice. We hear from Farm Sanctuary attorney Sheldon

> Eisenberg:

>

> " Farm Sanctuary's central concern here is the fact that the process of

> slaughtering downed animals truly involves acts of terrible cruelty. "

>

> Feenstra's response: " We have to handle it as an industry and as a

> business, and we do it as humanely as we can. We don't run petting farms. "

>

> We are introduced to a dairyman, Syp, who has 3,000 cows that he says

are

> his whole life. Gutierrez tells us:

>

> " It's been a good life. Syp's cows produce $500,000 a month in milk

alone.

> When his cows stop producing, he sends them to slaughter. "

>

> I am so thrilled that the public heard that message twice in one story.

>

> The Dairyman says that indeed downed animals go to slaughter but that

only

> those injured, not those that are ill, are processed for food.

>

> Gutierrez comments:

> " But according to USDA inspection records obtained by Farm Sanctuary

> through the Freedom of Information Act, downed animals from other dairy

> farms have passed inspection with diseases like malignant lymphoma,

> pneumonia and hepatitis. "

>

> We hear that USDA officials declined on camera interviews on this issue

> but told CNN, in a written report, that diseased meat is prohibited for

> human consumption. But Gutierrez reads part of a USDA document obtained by

> CNN:

>

> " Federal inspection regulations clearly provide for the slaughter and

> processing of diseased animals for human food, and the diseased part can

be

> removed to make a wholesome product. "

>

> DR. Laurene Mascola, a LA CO. " Public Health Expert " says of eating

downed

> animals, " They are not at risk to give disease that we know of. " Then she

> repeats, " that we know of. "

>

> Gutierrez signs off with a paraphrase from the dairy farmer, Syp. She

> says,

> " There is no way to know if you're eating meat from downed animals. Syp

> says USDA-inspected meat is healthy, and we shouldn't worry.

> As for his animals, he says he respects them. After all, his livelihood

> rests on their backs. "

>

> Hopefully many viewers could get the irony, the conflict of interest,

> apparent in that last comment.

>

> Given the many millions of adverting dollars spent annually by the

various

> aspects of the food production industry, I am always thrilled but

surprised

> when a station is willing to cover a story like this and show viewers

> upsetting footage. Please thank CNN for this coverage.

>

> CNN takes feedback at:

> http://www.cnn.com/feedback/

>

> Here's a link for AOLers:

> CNN Feedback

>

> Select " CNN Sunday " from the pull-down menu of programs and when the

> appropriate box comes us, enter 1/27/01 as the air date.

>

> I respectfully ask those activists who write great sample letters to

> refrain from attaching them when forwarding DawnWatch alerts. Any activist

> is capable of composing his or her own one line heartfelt thank you for a

> great piece. That's all that is needed and every single note helps a lot!

>

> Yours and the animals',

> Karen Dawn

> www.DawnWatch.com

>

> (DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues

> in the media and facilitates one click responses to the relevant media

> outlets. You can learn more about it at www.DawnWatch.com. To to

> DawnWatch, email KarenDawn and tell me you'd like to receive

> alerts. If at any time you find DawnWatch is not for you, just let me know

> via email and I'll take you off the r list immediately. If you

> forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please include this tag line.)

>

>

>