Hang in there, Virgil! was: roll call

[Guest guest]

First off, have you ever contacted anyone in PETA

with your story, or let them know about what you do?

I almost feel dumb asking that b/c I don't know how

they can't know about you or appreciate what you

have to offer. I do hope you can find funding for

your activism soon, and can keep going strong.

Hang in there...hopefully those offers and speaking

engagments will be able to support the website.

 

BTW, I have never had garbage soup... sounds alot

like the Saturday " Hash " Supper my dh's father used

to fix them when he was growing up. I don't recall

ever hearing good comments about the taste, but

the stories of some of the concoctions are quite

humorous... in retrospect, and in a Frank McCourt sort of

way.

 

~ pt ~

 

Where her head was lifted, a spring was found...

Healing for every disease is within it...

Making body and soul whole.

~ Life of St. Gwenfrewi, anon. Welsh chronicle

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~>

, " Virgil "

<cybergypsy1964>

wrote:

Unfortunately, that site

> and my email may go down here in about 3 days, since I can't pay my

> phone bill.

> On a happier note, I have been asked to speak at a couple of forums

> this summer, spreading the word about what goes on in those plants

of

> death. That's great, and we are quite excited. They have also

> talked with me about going on a speaking tour around the country.

> Also, I was recently interviewed and written up in a French

> magazine. There's a lot going on behind the scenes that will make

a

> BIG difference if I can just hang on a little bit longer. They are

> even talking about making a movie out of my life! Big things

> happening, for sure. But, I have been working so hard lately to

earn

> money that I just haven't had much time for online activism.

[Guest guest]

, " Feral "

<terebinthus> wrote:

> First off, have you ever contacted anyone in PETA

> with your story, or let them know about what you do?

 

Yes. They were the ones I sent the first email to when I first went

public. They were also the ones that brought the equipment so that I

could get the undercover eyewitness videotapes made to back up my

allegations. They have my story, along with a video interview of me

on their site. In fact, they did another story on me that was in

their most recent issue of Animal Times. The print version is out,

but they haven't put it online quite yet. So, yes, they are very

aware of who I am and what I am doing. If it wasn't for them, I

wouldn't have gotten the coverage I have. They just haven't been

very helpful lately as far as funding goes.

 

> I almost feel dumb asking that b/c I don't know how

> they can't know about you or appreciate what you

> have to offer. I do hope you can find funding for

> your activism soon, and can keep going strong.

> Hang in there...hopefully those offers and speaking

> engagements will be able to support the website.

 

Well, actually, I don't get paid for those speaking engagements.

They only pay for the travel expenses. I speak for free, so it is

not really much help, except to gain more attention to the problems

of what happens in that industry.

 

You know, I really find it odd that so many vegetarians believe that

organic, cage-free eggs are okay. Those chickens are not treated

much better than the others. Cage-free really doesn't mean much, any

more than " Animal Care Certified " does. Cage-free birds are sitting

shoulder-to-shoulder in a windowless warehouse living in their own

manure. They have one little door for access to the outside, which

is often just a small pen. Most of the chickens never see that. My

friend Paul Shapiro at Compassion Over Killing recently did an

investigation that resulted in his undercover video being broadcast

on the news. You can read the story and see pics and video here:

http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/news/2850160/default.html

 

That's why I don't eat any eggs from stores - only from my own

chickens or from those of my neighbor's.

 

>

> BTW, I have never had garbage soup... sounds alot

> like the Saturday " Hash " Supper my dh's father used

> to fix them when he was growing up. I don't recall

> ever hearing good comments about the taste, but

> the stories of some of the concoctions are quite

> humorous... in retrospect, and in a Frank McCourt sort of

> way.

 

Garbage soup is great - and it is different every time! My mother-in-

law is actually the one that named it that years ago. I just thought

the name was humorous, so I decided to use it, too. It's a great way

to finish off those leftovers, especially when you have lots of

little bits of things that aren't really enough to make a meal out

of. You can then just throw it all into a pot, sometimes add a can

of tomato sauce or something if necessary, and enjoy. The last we

put together had leftover Not! chicken soup and spaghetti in it.

sounds weird perhaps, but it was actually quite good. The other day

we boiled some noodles, threw in some leftover cheese sauce from

enchiladas, and the leftover burrito makings, stirred it all up, and

enjoyed. It's amazing the different things you can come up with when

you do this. It keeps you from wasting food, is easy on the budget,

and makes for interesting and tasty meals. Try it some time. We

haven't made anything yet that wasn't good, but then my wife is an

excellent cook! Yumm!!!

 

Oh, and on a brighter note than the one I wrote that post in, I did

manage to gather together enough money to pay the phone bill, so I am

in business for another week! Yay! A reader sent me a small

check, and when I put it with what Laura and I had earned working

through the week, it was enough. Now, we just have to do it all

again this week. It will be a week-to-week thing until it is caught

up. But, you know, the harder it gets to keep this fight going, the

more determined we are to keep on going! It would be nice if we had

a little more support from the AR community, especially from those

who have used the material I have written for their own programs,

groups, articles, etc., but I never got into this for the money. I

got into it for the animals. That's what is important. I would do

it even if no on ever sent my a penny. It's just that important to

me that people know about these things so that they can make informed

choices. And, Tyson (or any other company) should not get away with

deceiving people the way they do, much less allowing the terrible

cruelty to the chickens and the exploitation of the workers. Someone

has to stand up and tell the truth. I guess that's me. I never

thought I would be doing something like this, but then that just goes

to show how much our lives CAN change so quickly if we want them to.

I figure that if someone like me, that was raised on a farm and grew

up catching chickens before moving on to kill them by the thousands

every night, can change their life so very drastically so easily,

then so can the many others who continue to serve up cruelty on their

plates every day. That's what gives me hope. That, and the many

supportive emails I have received from people from all walks of life

all over the world. Before I started this, I didn't have much faith

in the human race, but now I do. There are a lot of good, caring

people out there!

 

Virgil

" The Cyberactivist "

http://cyberactivist.blogspot.com/

activistsagainstfactoryfarming/

 

" A lesser evil, is like a little bit pregnant... " DdC

 

Cree Prophecy

After the last Tree has been cut down,

After the last River has been poisoned,

After the last fish has been caught,

Only then will you find

That money cannot be eaten.

Cree Prophecy

 

> Where her head was lifted, a spring was found...

> Healing for every disease is within it...

> Making body and soul whole.

> ~ Life of St. Gwenfrewi, anon. Welsh chronicle

> ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~>

> , " Virgil "

> <cybergypsy1964>

> wrote:

> Unfortunately, that site

> > and my email may go down here in about 3 days, since I can't pay

my

> > phone bill.

> > On a happier note, I have been asked to speak at a couple of

forums

> > this summer, spreading the word about what goes on in those plants

> of

> > death. That's great, and we are quite excited. They have also

> > talked with me about going on a speaking tour around the

country.

> > Also, I was recently interviewed and written up in a French

> > magazine. There's a lot going on behind the scenes that will make

> a

> > BIG difference if I can just hang on a little bit longer. They

are

> > even talking about making a movie out of my life! Big things

> > happening, for sure. But, I have been working so hard lately to

> earn

> > money that I just haven't had much time for online activism.

[Guest guest]

I don't understand why people would keep chickens this way It's so

unnecessary. Poor chickens.

 

Virgil <cybergypsy1964 wrote: Cage-free birds are sitting

shoulder-to-shoulder in a windowless warehouse living in their own manure. They

have one little door for access to the outside, which is often just a small pen.

Most of the chickens never see that. My friend Paul Shapiro at Compassion Over

Killing recently did an investigation that resulted in his undercover video

being broadcast on the news. You can read the story and see pics and video

here:

http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/news/2850160/default.html

 

That's why I don't eat any eggs from stores - only from my own chickens or from

those of my neighbor's.

 

 

 

 

Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.

 

 

[Guest guest]

There is only one reason - MONEY! Sadly, profit$ are the mo$t

important thing. That's why I wanted to point this out to those that

post things like, " I only eat organic cage-free eggs. " So? That

just means that you have let the corporations suck you in to paying

more for what? Better conditions? Hardly, well maybe marginally,

VERY marginally. I hate that these companies are taking advantage of

the people who are trying to make a more humane choice. They use

these terms, which sound like much more humane alternatives, but they

are deceiving you if you really believe that anything is any better

for the hens. Cage-free means that they are walking around in the

manure, breathing and getting burnt by, the ammonia in that

manure. " Free-range " simply means the same thing, except for the fat

that there will be a very small door at one end of the shed that

leads outside into a tiny pen. Even in the BEST of cases, only a FEW

hens EVER find their way out there. Of those, only a portion can

actually go out there because the size of this outdoor yard is so

much smaller than the size of the overall warehouse-sized barn they

grow them in. This should be obvious to people, but they don't often

think about it or know about it. They are deceived into paying

several times more for eggs from chickens that are being raised just

as inhumanely as the rest. They even have their beaks trimmed, just

like the others. The roosters have also been culled as babies,

either suffocated or ground up alive. Does that sound very humane to

you? That is why Paul Shapiro and Compassion Over Killing did the

undercover investigation they did. There is a case before the Better

Business Bureau (or whoever it is that decides these things) on

whether or not the advertisement is illegal when they call these

eggs " Animal Care Certified. " Anyone who has seen the way these

chickens are being raised knows that it is anything but humane, but

sadly enough, many well-intentioned people pay more for them with the

ill-conceived thought that their purchases are " not as bad. " That is

plainly NOT the case. It really makes me MAD to see this, but I

rarely point that out to the lacto-ovo people because they will get

upset. And I can hardly point fingers when I am somewhat of an lacto-

ovo myself. However, the ONLY true way to make sure that the eggs

you buy are from humanely-raised chickens is to see where they are

raised or to raise them yourself, like I do. I KNOW that my chickens

are raised with love and respect, fed a proper diet,

including " treats " of fresh veggies every day, and NEVER face a

slaughterhouse. They live and die like any other animal on this

place and are buried with the same love and respect I give my dogs

and cats. I also take care of the roosters for life, even though

they do not produce any eggs for me. I just like to hear them

crow. That is another thing to consider when you buy eggs from

someone. If they raise their chickens from birth or buy them as

baby " peepers, " there will be a certain number of roosters that they

get. What do they do with them??? Sell them to slaughter?

Slaughter them for their own food? Or do they care for them for

life, as they do the hens? And bringing that question up, what do

they do with the hens when they no longer produce eggs? These are

all matters to take into consideration if you are going to eat eggs.

Unfortunately, few people that live in urban areas can raise chickens

like I can, so the best thing I could recommend for them to do if

they truly want to make sure that the eggs they buy are from humanely

raised chickens is for them to STAY OUT OF THE STORES! Go to the

nearest small rural town and look for someone that has a few in their

backyard. Now, usually the farmer will probably kill and eat all of

the roosters they get, and do the same with the older hens, but they

can usually be relied upon to take good care of the hens during

their " productive " life span. That's about the best you can hope

for. I have a distinct feeling that there are VERY few people who

raise their chickens the way that we do. Sad, but true. Of course,

barring quitting eggs altogether, the very best choice that you can

make is to raise your own. That is really the ONLY true way to know

FOR SURE that the chickens are treated properly - especially with

regard to the often unwanted roosters.

 

Hope this helps all you lacto-ovos out there make more informed

choices.

 

Virgil

 

" A lesser evil, is like a little bit pregnant. " ..DdC

 

 

, reptile grrl

<reptilegoddess> wrote:

> I don't understand why people would keep chickens this way It's

so unnecessary. Poor chickens.

>

> Virgil <cybergypsy1964> wrote: Cage-free birds are sitting

shoulder-to-shoulder in a windowless warehouse living in their own

manure. They have one little door for access to the outside, which

is often just a small pen. Most of the chickens never see that. My

friend Paul Shapiro at Compassion Over Killing recently did an

investigation that resulted in his undercover video being broadcast

on the news. You can read the story and see pics and video here:

> http://www.thewpbfchannel.com/news/2850160/default.html

>

> That's why I don't eat any eggs from stores - only from my own

chickens or from those of my neighbor's.

>

>

>

>

> Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Virgil,

 

I have to disagree with you here. Most small farmers keep roosters around,

because without roosters, there will be no more chickens. Not only are roosters

necessary for reproduction, but they also defend the flock against predators.

 

On our farm (In rural Louisiana,) and the surrounding farms, chickens were kept

for eggs. Roosters were always kept around, just like the hens. Roosters were

eaten by some people, but they weren't ever culled.

 

- priscilla

 

Virgil <cybergypsy1964 wrote:

 

That is another thing to consider when you buy eggs from

someone. If they raise their chickens from birth or buy them as baby " peepers, "

there will be a certain number of roosters that they get.

 

(deletia)

 

Go to the nearest small rural town and look for someone that has a few in their

backyard. Now, usually the farmer will probably kill and eat all of the

roosters they get, and do the same with the older hens, but they

can usually be relied upon to take good care of the hens during their

" productive " life span.

 

 

 

 

Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.

 

 

[Guest guest]

When I spoke of culling, I was referring to the large hatcheries. As

far as the small rural farms, SOME people keep SOME roosters around,

but not ALL. There are quite a few farmers around here that keep

NONE at ALL, in fact. They simply buy new " peepers " when they need

to restock. They eat any roosters that are raised, even keeping them

in a separate pen in a lot of cases. The only reason I can think of

that they would do this is to keep the roosters from fertiliaing the

eggs so that a half-formed baby chick doesn't fall out of an egg into

someone's frying pan. Gross!

 

I guess I should have clarified that better. But, that is why I was

recommending that if someone went to a rural area to buy eggs, that

they should ask the person raising them what their practices are -

because they DO vary so widely. I thought I had made that point

clear, but obviously not. Sorry about that - I didn't mean to make

it sound like NO farmers kept ANY roosters. That was not what I was

trying to say, and I am sorry if it seemed that way. Thanks for

pointing this out because I would hate to be the one accused of

misleading anyone or skewing facts. I am quite aware that different

farmers have different practices, and some are more humane than

others. I hope this clears that up.

 

Virgil

 

, reptile grrl

<reptilegoddess> wrote:

> Virgil,

>

> I have to disagree with you here. Most small farmers keep roosters

around, because without roosters, there will be no more chickens.

Not only are roosters necessary for reproduction, but they also

defend the flock against predators.

>

> On our farm (In rural Louisiana,) and the surrounding farms,

chickens were kept for eggs. Roosters were always kept around, just

like the hens. Roosters were eaten by some people, but they weren't

ever culled.

>

> - priscilla

>

> Virgil <cybergypsy1964> wrote:

>

> That is another thing to consider when you buy eggs from

> someone. If they raise their chickens from birth or buy them as

baby " peepers, " there will be a certain number of roosters that they

get.

>

> (deletia)

>

> Go to the nearest small rural town and look for someone that has a

few in their backyard. Now, usually the farmer will probably kill

and eat all of the roosters they get, and do the same with the older

hens, but they

> can usually be relied upon to take good care of the hens during

their " productive " life span.

>

>

>

>

> Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.

>

>