Monday, December 5, 2011

Open The Barn Door Wider, Sleep With the Enemy or Stand and Fight?

My dot connecting is nearly complete.  With a sense of urgency Animal Ag Armed was created to inform and educate fellow animal ag producers.
The reason and facts-plain and simple: Several weeks ago my family was on the brink of handing a list of so called "violations" over to HSUS via a GAP audit. Up until this time, I felt that I was fairly informed about HSUS and their tactics.  I soon realized that I didn't know enough.  Threatened with a cease and desist letter from the auditor, our family witnessed first hand the bizarre and frightening realization of the insidious web of deceit and attacks that has crept into our industry-our society-our lives.

In summary I believe there are three arms being used to destroy small businesses, stifle economic growth (energy-coal, oil etc.)  and undermine animal ag- our livelihoods. It is evident these tentacles over-lap and intertwine creating a financial and legal stronghold on our industries and lives.

It was my intent to tell you what I know, what I've witnessed and experienced and distinguish this web.  You might say "our industry" won't be affected.  I can tell you first hand...it is. These groups, acts, programs, individuals and agencies  have cleverly succeeded in finding their way onto our farms and ranches.
We can choose to ignore the facts, or we can educate the remaining few producers and stand and fight.
We can continue to focus solely on the high road, keeping up appearances with a positive message for the consumer, but at some point we must face the fact that there is an evil army engaged in a one-sided battle gaining victory on the low road and many of the defending troops have retreated.  In some instances the allies have even joined in assisting the enemy with programs to open the barn door wider, video taping request, financially damaging producers via  research and development by individuals who don't own an animal or operate a business. I agree that  R&D has benefited the producer in numerous ways, but "unintended consequences" should have been weighed before implementation of some programs and partnerships took place.


As Dave Delaney, V.P and General Manager of King Ranch  stated,  "The producer is the canary in the coal mine."  We all know what happens to a canary when the oxygen is depleted from the mine. Well, the oxygen is getting low, producer population is minute and dwindling and the balance in staying in business is fragile. These attacks cannot be ignored.  It's up to all of us to share stories such as Karen Budd-Falen's EAJA battle, The Smallhouse's Critical Habitat Story, The Valley (San Joaquin) Hope Forgot , The Dollarhite's Nightmare, Eric Davis' on-going WWP battle and I'm sure many, many more.  Connect your own dots, continue to take the high road with positive stories and images from our ranches...just don't forget the silent battle that continues to be waged by these three:


1. Animal Activists 
                                     HSUS   According to their100 Point Agenda they are using:
                                           EPA
                                           USDA
                                           DOJ and other agencies

Ballot Initiatives are the tools they use to complete their goals such as Prop 2 and Prop B.  They also use deceptive fund raising tactics through emotionally charged media images; uninformed, sympathetic viewers are quick to send funds.
  
2.Environmentalist 
                                     ESA  (declaration of "critical habitat" opportunities)
                                     NEPA
                                     EAJA
                                     WWP
 Guidance and Procedural Law are being  used to reach their goals

3. The Government
                                    USDA (Avalos/ Moran)
                                    EPA (ESA)
                                    APHIS (The Dollarhite's Story, HSUS' Sarah Conant)
                                    
Over-reaching regulation and broadly written rules, all cleverly crafted are being used.  If one avenue fails, another one is pulled from their hat. Remember this administration's regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein believes animals have the right to sue their owners.


Now that the dots have been connected I can move on.  I have had questions for several years...why are these groups so intent on destroying our livelihoods, our ability to feed, heat,fuel and sustain the world?  Last month my friend Mindy Patterson introduced me to Agenda 21 and ICLEI and the reasons for these attacks became perfectly clear. 
Next Time..."NOW it's time to look closer at this global plan."

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