Proposition 204 - Arizona Ballot Measure to Prevent Animal Cruelty |
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July 13, 2006
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USDA
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The tireless efforts of more than 1,200 Arizona volunteers have moved pigs and calves in the Grand Canyon State one step closer to a brighter future. Concerned citizens collected signatures from Arizona voters for ballot initiative "Proposition 204" that, if approved, would prohibit the intensive confinement of pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal inside crates so small the animals cannot even turn around or stretch their limbs.
Arizonans for Humane Farms—a coalition of animal welfare organizations, environmentalists, food safety organizations and concerned citizens—far surpassed their goal of roughly 120,000 signatures. The coalition submitted 218,273 signatures of registered Arizona voters to the Secretary of State's office July 6, a critical step toward ending the use of veal crates and gestation crates in the state.
Big Money from The Opposition
Despite the modesty of the proposed reform—to allow these animals the room to turn around and fully extend their limbs—opposition by the agribusiness industry is growing. Factory-farming interests are making massive donations to defeat this measure, including $5,000 from the American Veal Association, $200,000 from the Arizona Pork Council, $10,000 from the Farm Credit Services Southwest, and $24,000 from the Arizona Cattle Feeders Association.
What's at Stake
Across the country, approximately four million breeding pigs spend nearly their entire lives inside barren metal crates just two feet wide. An estimated 16,000 pigs are kept in gestation crates in Arizona, where they spend their entire pregnancies nearly immobile—four months at a time, at least twice each year. And, in order to produce veal, factory farmers tether nearly one million calves by their necks inside tiny stalls. Both crated pigs and calves cannot turn around, walk or engage in many of their natural behaviors.
These abusive practices are banned throughout the European Union. Numerous American animal scientists also oppose these cruel crates. Farm animal expert Temple Grandin, Ph.D., states, "Gestation crates for pigs are a real problem...Basically, you're asking a sow to live in an airline seat...I think it's something that needs to be phased out."
The Next Step
With signature-gathering successfully completed, Arizonans for Humane Farms is focusing on getting out the humane vote in November. If voters approve Proposition 204, Arizona will be the first state in the country to explicitly ban veal crates and the second to prohibit gestation crates—following Florida, which passed a similar voter initiative in 2002.
To get involved in this historic effort, contact Arizonans for Humane Farms at info@yesforhumanefarms.org or 480-449-7644.
See the Video
Thinking Outside the Crate
Confinement by Crate
Gestation Crates: A Sow's Life
Related Links
Think Outside the Crate Campaign
