I have received FARM's newsletter last week. (fall 2007)
Farm president Alex Hershaft states, on page 2
I would like to know what does everybody think about it ?
quote,
" The world won't go vegan in the near future, so let's reduce the suffering of
innocent animals though welfare reforms. " Few people who care about animals
can resist a proposition so enticing. And that included myself, when I founded
Farm Animal Reform Movement more than 30 years ago.
For half of those years, I vigorously pursued campaigns to ban the veal crate
and to fund and enforce the Humane Slaughter Act.
However entincing, this proposition is based on several faulty premises.
First, our work is not about the world going vegan at any specific date, but
about reducing animals suffering by cutting their consumption, one person
and one meal at a time. Each friend, relative, or passerby who " kicks the
meat habit" saves 34 land animals per year (in excess of 2000 in a lifetime),
from factory farm and slaughterhouse atorocities, as well as countless aquatic
animals.
Second, significant welfare reforms would require a great deal of money, land,
energy, manpower, and other resouces, and thus, a fundamental restruturing
of the meat and dairy industries. This is much more far-fetched than the likeli-
hood of a significant number of consumers cutting their meat consumption.
But the worst consequence of advocating welfare reforms is the public perception
that such advocacy sanctions continued abuse and slaughter of animals for food.
Sadly, on the campaign trail, welfare reform advocates are frequently forced to
deny their animal liberetion ideology.
The statistics are clear: 93 percent of Americans consumers oppose farmed
animal abuse and 97 percent continue eating them. Welfare reforms are a win-
win situation for consumers and industry. Only the animals lose. We need to
send a clear message that the only way to help animals is to stop eating them.
Did I mention that we are now the Farm Animal Rights Movement?
- Alex Hershaft
