Prop. 2 Passes in California; Greyhound Racing Banned in Massachusetts
Proposition 2, the ballot initiative to ban battery cages, veal crates and gestation stalls, has passed in California! The ban will take effect in 2015. Prop. 2 requires that animals raised for food in California have enough room to stand up, turn around and spread their wings. The animal agriculture industry and even the US Department of Agriculture fought this initiative.
A few months ago, Paul Shapiro of The Humane Society of the US told me that he thought that Prop. 2 is important not just for the animals, but also for what it says about us. I think that is where the real victory here lies. I know a lot of animal groups are celebrating today, but let’s face it – even if an egg-laying hen has enough room to stand up, turn around and spread her wings, she will still spend her entire life in a cage that is too small to walk around in. She will still be debeaked, she will still be slaughtered when her egg production drops, and male hatchlings will still be killed. Veganism is the only solution to factory farming.
But Prop. 2 is monumental because it shows that animal welfare is a mainstream issue. And not just dogs and cats. People are starting to care about chickens, pigs and cows. Factory farming became an issue not just for California voters. Thanks to nationwide media coverage from Oprah, Ellen Degeneres, The New York Times, and others, the entire country thought about factory farming. In the end, California voters decided that certain practices are not only wrong, but should be illegal.
Another important ballot initiative that passed was Question 3 in Massachusetts, banning dog racing in the state by 2010. After a court battle over the initiative this past summer, voters looked past the industry's economic arguments and put the animals ahead of profits. This is one of those situations where mainstream animal welfare concerns agree with the animal rights position, and banning an entire use of animals is a great victory.
Links:
- Factory Farming FAQ
- What is the solution to factory farming?
- Court Allows Dog Racing Initiative to be Decided by Voters
- Effects of Prop. 2, from About.com's Guide to Environmental Issues
Comments
I think you’ve summed up the meaning of these events very neatly. As a vegan I was happier about the Greyhound racing ban because it effectively put an end to it, but as you said, Proposition 2 is a good thermometer of how society has changed and it gives us hope that we may be closer to generalised veganism. I hope the HSUS and other mainstream groups will focus more of its resources on vegan education.
I agree that prop 2 is a big step forward. It opens up a real dialogue about these issues and of course I am ecstatic about greyhound racing being prohibited in Mass. If we can bring animal rights issues into dialogue in an open and national sphere I believe that we will be successful in building a cruelty free world.
jh
At the same time Californians voted to extend the rights of chickens, pregnant pigs and beef raised for veal, they also voted to take away rights of human beings — gay citizens –by voting no for gay marriage. Many gays voted in favor of the animal rights; however, this is a sad irony. It’s similiar to the story a few years ago about a woman jogging in southern California who was killed by a mountain lion. Remember? Well, the fund for the slaim cougar’s orphaned pups received more donations than the fund for the woman’s orphaned children. A good article on the controversial propositions can be read on Ethic Soup blog at:
http://www.ethicsoup.com/2008/11/controversial-caged-chicken-ban-passed-by-landslide-in-california.html
Sharon McEachern
well, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how’s life? hope it’s introduce branch