The Return Of Anti Whistleblower Legislation
January 19th, 2012 | 
Author: Documenting any activity on an animal farming operation my soon be a criminal offense. Last year, because of pressure from the animal agriculture lobby, four states tried to pass bills that would make it illegal to document farm activity without the owner’s consent. Although this legislative effort was defeated in all states, similar bills have cropped up in Florida, New York, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska so far in 2012, and more are expected. These bills are designed to undermine whistleblowers seeking to keep the public informed and to hold the industry accountable to basic levels of food safety and humane standards. These courageous individuals risk their personal safety to go undercover and document the egregious practices inside the closed doors of livestock facilities. But instead of being heralded as heroes, they could soon face criminal prosecution.
So-called “ag-gag” or whistleblower suppression bills are a violation of free speech rights and an attack on the freedom of the press. For democracy to function properly, the public must be well informed. Whistleblowers exposing the wrongdoing in this or in any other industry should be protected, not victimized.
“Big Ag” has a reason to be concerned. These videos are instrumental in furthering laws to protect farm animals from cruel and unnecessary suffering. By informing consumers about the wretched conditions of these facilities, the public may choose to reduce the amount of animal products consumed and create consumer demand for alternatives and more humane production. Humane standards may detract from the inflated revenue streams of industry moguls, so the industry has elected to keep the pubic ignorant.
It is imperative that people continue to have access to factory farming operations to witness and expose their abusive activity. The abuse that years of undercover video has revealed should prompt the USDA and other oversight committees– and, frankly, any farming operation that claims to care about welfare– to mount video cameras themselves throughout animal agriculture facilities, to oversee employees and keep a watchful eye for further abuse, rather than keeping the public in the dark.
These so called “ag-gag” bills are being condemned as unconstitutional by civil liberties, public health, food safety, veterinarian, environmental, food justice, and workers’ rights organizations. They are excessive and unnecessary as there are already extensive trespassing and slander laws that protect private property owners. The public has the right to know about illegal and unethical practices on farms such as food safety issues, working conditions and blatant animal abuse.
IDA has joined a coalition of powerful animal organizations including HSUS, ASPCA, Mercy for Animals, Compassion Over Killing, Farm Sanctuary and more to combine our efforts and defeat these bills. IDA will be sending alerts to states where bills are appearing, asking our members in those states to contact their legislators and tell them that lawmakers should be holding animal agribusiness accountable for cruelty, instead of falling under the influence of industry that seeks to censor whistleblowers and keep the public uninformed for their own financial motives. Be on the lookout for those alerts and please take action against these dangerous and unethical bills.
For more information on the ag-gag bills, contact hope@idausa.org
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Posted in Featured News, Veganism | 
Tags: abuse, Factory Farms, Farm Animals, USDA, vegan, Vegetarian
25 Responses to “The Return Of Anti Whistleblower Legislation”
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Covering up disfunction and cruelty will not make this world a better or safer place for humans or animals. The public has a right to know about what goes on in these farms and factories. We are the voice of the animals. We are the only ones who can protect them. And we must not allow people to get away with hurting people or humans. Life is precious. These animals love life as much as we do.
I am a Barn Supervisor at a major pork production plant, not all of the people that work for these companies are bad people. I am a firm believer in Humane treatment of all animals. I can’t control what happens at the individual farms but, I can control what happens in my barn and on our property. I think alot of the bad that we see is in general not the norm, these people are not your average Animal Handler, they lack training, and basic animal husbandry knowledge, as well as morals in my opinion. I believe that instead of hiding what is happening on farms and in plants, they need to be promoting it and bringing it to the general public. All of us depend on these animals, they pay our bills, they feed our children, and they provide for alot of other people in ways that you would never know unless you are in the business. We as an industry owe it to these animals to be treated when sick or in pain and to make their time here as easy as possible. There are major changes happening in this industry that the average person knows nothing about. It can be done humanely, and it will be done humanely every where before you know it. I rescue dogs and cats and spend thousands of dollars to help animals in need, I love all animals and would rather spend time with them than people. I just wanted to say that the majority of the people that are physically working with these animals are good people with bad training and/or have been told that what they are doing is OK,this causes them to believe that it is. Times are hard and jobs are few and far between in order to provide for their families they do as they are told. All I’m saying is don’t be so quick to judge the whole, when only a small piece is not working correctly.
Jon, I thank you for telling what you have seen, and that you believe changes are coming in this industry. I hope you are correct. I am glad that someone who cares about these issues is working in this field. I could never do that, but you provide a little hope.
Thank you so much for the update, and to all those who do the undercover work. Hugely important! I would not be able to survive witnessing and coming into direct contact with such violence. In fact even watching some of these videos are too much for me, I cannot stomach what these poor beings have to live through everyday of their miserable lives. The whole industry at its core is sadistic. In many ways the industry’s actions to suppress will serve to isolate them further in the ever waning trust with the public. There is nothing more self incriminating than their demand for secrecy, and with every new attempt they look even more guilty and more desperate.
All I can say is this is a sick, pathetic society we have become because all that is important to most people is money and greed. Most don’t give a damn about how any living creature feels. As far as I am concerned those involved in any animal abuse or those who know of it and don’t do anything should be extremely punished. The problem now is that no one is punished for anything and those who are running our country and the corporations in it are only concerned about their wealth and nothing else. Those people should be taken and given a reality check. The harsher the better because nothing seems to work now, we are too concerned about these sub human’s rights. As far as I am concerned, anyone who abuses an animal and that includes those idiotic factory workers who are human trash …
These people are in the business of ABUSE. They want to hide the things they do to these animals. Can you imagine what would be happening if they are not held accountable????? See who it is in your state that wants these type of bills and call and send letters. Everything you do will make a difference
Please put the animal welfare as top priority.
Why woulodnt anyone want to kow if cruelty is happening.
We muct stop animal suffering and not let these monsters get away with it.
I suggest more investigation be done NOW while a law is not created. This horrible treatment done to all animals has to be documented and now is the time. And for better understanding, get the media involved. Lot of the meat of today is produced in such filth aside from barbarism it needs to be known.
agree 100%… there’s other ways to doc than trespass and such… small hidden cams w/an application for work.. heck, here u dont even need to kno English or have your ‘own’ SS #… Dress dwn & you’ll fit right in… smh. Talk to some wrkrs bout what you have to do to get hired.. ask questions like u have not a clue just need a job bad… w/this economy it’ll fly… idk
All that’s necessary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.
Edmund Burke
I think Hitler used this thinking a lot. For he said, if you kill one person it is a murder, but if you kill a million it is a statistic.
I hope my fellow friends who feel the pain of these helpless animals will stay firm in their resolve to help. It is heartbreaking to know these evils go on, and people who are trying to shed light on the problem, could be criminals. When people know better, they do better.
These animals deserve our protection. They are intelligent, sensitive beings.
Animals have rights to be protected against the atrocities that human beings do to them. These are sentinent beings who have flesh, blood, nerves that feel pain and endure horrific suffering and ultimate death at the hands of mankind. Why? all for their flesh and skin for the greed and extreme selfishness of all meaters. This insanity and debauchery must stop. We must all go back to the injunction of the bible that says in genesis we must eat only the grain, vegetables,herbs and fruits that the Creator intended. When the man made practice of animal sacrifices were instituted by the devil was developed so too were the practice of meat eating and animal abuse. We have that today in all cultures of the world. Animal sacrifices are still used today as a result of the false biblical practices. We have slaughterhouses, animal sports, rodeo, bull fighting, dog fighting, cockfighting,etc. trapping, fishing, fur farms, vivisection, animal experimentation, etc. we have cultures worldwide that still practice these and animal sacrifices by the thousands. These cult practices have resulted in the untold horrors and abuse, torture, extreme pain and ultimate death that animals have been facing since the beginning. This is not about cultures, traditions, nationalities, religions, ethnic groups, etc but what is morally right and just to fight for the animals that cannot fight for themselves. We must be the voice for the voiceless to curb these atrocities. We were all inherently born with the feelings of love and compassion for both humans and animals. Because of traditions and upbringing these were suppress for the animals because most people believed what they were told other than saying it is wrong. To be human beings we must first become humane beings. We would not do to the farm animals what we would do to our pets but other cultures except our pets such as cats and dogs prime meat for their meals. In the name of humanity please join animal rights and protection groups: support them, write letters, sign any bills the animal rights groups send to help curtail the wholesale slaughter of our beloved animals. We are their only hope and salvation. The world would be a better place when the world becomes vegetarian/vegan.
Well, I don’t believe that everyone going vegan is the solution. What happens when a severe drought and scorching temps threaten you’re very way of eating? Floods ruin major crop farms? Let me ask u a question, if you raise your own cow, hog, or chickens (some for eggs) would you eat the meat thats raised humanely by you? Cause I kinda get the idea some (not necessarily you) vegetarrians or vegans just dont want to support their sadistic enterprise by eating meat….and i understand.. but I tell ya, personally I eat meat, alot… but I know where it come froom & I hunt and fish as well.. but don’t kill what I don’t eat.. you might call that abuse or inhumane, but I DON’T HUNT HORNS… can’t cook ‘em… that inhumane, shot 4 no reason..other than mounts… Meat has key ingredients for a healthy body… I think what might help is a camera system set inside/out all around.. run by an outtside company thats unknown so survaliance dsnt disappear.. 24 hrs/7 days. It should be passed that you are closed dwn til in compliance. Inspectors should mk more insp. day n night. bein more thorough.. just brainstorming..
its just not realistic to believe that the world could or would raise their own animals for food, nor is it realistic to believe that the animal agriculture industry could feed the population with so-called humanely raised animals.. it just wouldn’t be possible, factory farming is all about efficiency, speed, and money money money.. farms raising animals in a more humane way couldn’t compete.. the only answer is reforming the current system, and encouraging everyone to shift to a more, or completely, plant-based diet, which can provide every single thing you need nutritionally.. and even those that say or think they know where their meat comes from because they buy something that says organic, or certified humane, it all means nothing in the large scheme of things.. no matter what, the animals all end up at the exact same slaughter houses, and no one can ever tell me there is such a thing as “humane slaughter”, those are two words that do not fit together
But there is hope – - – people like US.
The greed & corruption that goes on politically is astounding. What these Republicons & Dem’s will do for money.
It just makes me sick to my stomach. Of course you never hear about these bills, unless someone is really paying attention. They hide these bills or they sign them in the middle of the night. Allyson is right, WE have to be accountable for what we do. The PUBLIC does have the right to know about illegal & unethical practices on factory farms or anywhere else. this just goes to show us …… how we are living in a policed country & it will get worse as time goes on (unfortunately for the animals)
The only ones who want this passed are those who have something to HIDE! They want the inhumane treatment to go on under the darkness of public ignorance to what really goes on behind farm doors; A new version of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy don’t ya think? Hold these people accountable and do not let cowards hide underneath a legal blanket that covers up this cruelty that needs to be addressed and dealt with harshly! Even if new laws must be voted on and passed to hold those found guilty of inhumane treatment accountable and punished through fines and prison time, this may make them think twice if they know they may be being watched. These animals can not defend nor speak up for themselves, it is up to us to be their voice…Peace and Ecology Now!
Trying to cover up the dysfunction, preservation of the status quo, good old boy system. If it is uncovered, it will be known, will have to be dealt with and addressed!!!
When these bills crop up, we should make sure the world knows who is behind them, so we can boycott their products worldwide.
This is just another ex
cuse for activity which is abusive, unethical, and sinful activity towards creatures without a voice.
What have we become,no animal should ever suffer,look what we have done to these animals they came here to live and we have turned generation and generations
Of them into meals washed down with a glass of milk also made from then when will we stop taking?
More info on Ag-gag bills in FL:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/Ag-Gag-Bill-Reintroduced-by-Will-Potter-111214-181.html
This law is absolutely insane. We have to be accountable for what we do. The public has the right to know about illegal and unethical practices on farms such as food safety issues, working conditions and blatant animal abuse. That’s like telling someone that can’t tell about child abuse. People exposing the wrongdoing in this or in any other industry should be protected, not victimized.
I absolutely agree with you. We Humans need protected from wrongdoing on farm and food issues and all animals need to be treated humanely no matter where they are or what they are used for. WE MUST NOT CONTINUE TO LET THESE PEOPLE GET AWAY WITH THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT .
La gente deve sapere la verità,per una scielta più consapevole.