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Farm Sanctuary V-Logs
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. – August 13, 2010 – “C’mon,” exclaims Susie Coston,
national shelter director for Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm
animal protection organization, with a swooping arm gesture reminiscent
of a child rallying her friends to follow her on an exciting adventure.
Six male Holstein calves, dairy farm castaways found just months earlier
on a Pennsylvania farm where they had been left to die without food or
water, one by one rise up on their now strong legs to follow their
charismatic leader out of the barn. Truth is, Coston is simply coaxing
them to rotate pastures, a necessary practice at the sanctuary, but
because of the love and affection she radiates for these calves, and for
the more than 500 other farm animals rescued from abuse and neglect who
reside at the shelter, her call is irresistible. These sweet boys would
follow her anywhere.The sight of calves once too weak to stand bounding after Coston like
playful puppies is a joy that used to be reserved only for those lucky
enough to actually visit one of the organization’s bucolic bicoastal
shelters located in upstate New York and northern California, but now,
thanks to the launch of a new video series entitled Reel Life at Farm
Sanctuary, such exclusive sneak peeks at life behind Farm Sanctuary’s
barn doors will be available for anyone with a computer to see on a
monthly basis.These fascinating v-logs, part of the nonprofit’s popular “Sanctuary
Tails” blog, will transport viewers straight to the beautiful, bustling
sanctuaries where they will follow the activities of shelter staff and
animal residents as they carry out their daily routines. In the first
exciting episode, Coston explains the importance of pasture rotation and
takes viewers right along as she shows the New York Shelter cattle,
sheep and goats that the grass really is greener in different parts of
the farm.“We decided to do a video series because there is such abundance here at
Farm Sanctuary it would be greedy to keep all these sweet, funny,
joyful, and poignant moments that we witness on a daily basis all to our
ourselves,” enthused Coston. “By giving viewers an up-close look at the
wide range of emotions and strong friendships experienced by farm
animals, these v-logs will help inspire new ways of viewing and treating
these incredibly complex and intelligent beings, and hopefully move more
people towards treating them with compassion.”You can view the first installment of Reel Life at Farm Sanctuary here
For more videos in this series, as well as
animal photos of the week and countless other inspiring stories from
shelter directors Susie Coston and Leanne Cronquist, keep checking Farm
Sanctuary’s “Sanctuary Tails”If you would like to speak with Farm Sanctuary National Shelter Director
Susie Coston, please contact Meredith Turner at 646-369-6212 or
[email protected] .About Farm Sanctuary
Farm Sanctuary is the nation’s leading farm animal protection
organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to
expose and stop cruel practices of the “food animal” industry through
research and investigations, legal and institutional reforms, public
awareness projects, youth education, and direct rescue and refuge
efforts. Farm Sanctuary shelters in Watkins Glen, N.Y., and Orland,
Calif., provide lifelong care for hundreds of rescued animals, who have
become ambassadors for farm animals everywhere by educating visitors
about the realities of factory farming. Additional information can be
found at farmsanctuary.org or by calling 607-583-2225. -
Animal Rights 2010 National Conference
WHEN/WHERE: July 15-19th. Washington, DC area (Hilton Mark Center Hotel, Alexandria, VA). WHO ATTENDS: People who care about animals. WHAT: Presentations & workshops on topics such as animal abuse, veganism, population growth, and activism. Amazing, inspirational videos – including premieres. Eyewitness reports from Whale Wars and other key campaigns.
SPECIAL ADDRESS by U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich! 90 speakers from 60 animal groups (Gene Baur – Farm Sanctuary, Nathan Runkle – Mercy for Animals, & more)WHY: To learn, network, get INSPIRED, share information & practices, and define new strategies for animal advocacy. MORE REASONS WHY: To CELEBRATE successes and to get motivated & encouraged to continue passionately advocating for the animals. EVEN MORE REASONS: 90 FREE exhibits featuring animal advocacy and social justice groups, compassionate shopping, delicious food, animal art, & more! Celebrity & activist awards. Networking receptions and a banquet. Fundraiser with exciting items such as vegan B&B package, vacations, & vegan artists’ creations. Something for your VEGAN TASTE BUDS: Of course the conference features all the best in vegan foods and products, donated by companies such as Turtle Mountain-SoDelicious, Turtle Island-Tofurky , Match Meats, Tofutti, Edwards & Sons ~ Chreese, Kiss My Face, LÄRABAR, Whole Foods, and more. COST: Registration fees vary based upon the number of days attending. Exhibits are FREE and open to the public Fri-Sun, 10:15 a.m. to 6 p.m.. Exhibit visitors receive a free pass to attend one daytime conference workshop. STILL NEED MORE INFO? For a program schedule, list of speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and donors, promotional video, and previous conference footage, visit www.arconference.org.
AR2010 is hosted by Farm Animal Rights Movement and co-sponsored by several animal advocacy groups, related businesses, and organizations.. For more information or to register for the conference, visit www.arconference.org or call 888-ASK-FARM.
We thank you in advance for helping to promote the Animal Rights 2010 National Conference. We hope to see YOU there!
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Landmark Victory in Federal Court for IDA
In Defense of Animals Wins Landmark FOIA Victory in Federal Court
USDA Forced to Disclose Records from Controversial Animal Test Lab Huntingdon Life Sciences
Washington, DC —After a seven-year court fight, including the first trial in years involving the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been ordered by a federal judge to disclose 1,017 pages of records obtained during an investigation of controversial toxicology lab Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) to In Defense of Animals, the animal protection group said today.
“These records will shed light on the USDA’s failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act,” said IDA Research Director Eric Kleiman. “Why did the USDA, later joined by HLS, fight so hard and so long to prevent the public from seeing these records? We’ll know within the 60 days ordered by the Court.”
The records – 503 pages withheld in full, 514 withheld in part (with most heavily redacted) – include test results, notes of observations of primates involved in toxicology testing, Animal Care and Use Committee minutes as well as necropsy reports and requests for veterinary care from six studies.
IDA filed the lawsuit in 2002 against the USDA, but later HLS “intervened” and also became a defendant. At trial, the USDA did not produce a single witness; HLS had two.
The December 2008 trial, the first in years involving FOIA, resolved the issue of whether HLS would suffer competitive harm if the records were disclosed. These records, obtained by the USDA during its investigation of the lab, formed the basis of the USDA’s formal complaint against HLS, alleging multiple and grave violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The charges included multiple counts of failing to provide adequate veterinary care and inadequate research oversight.
Within days of filing the complaint against HLS, the USDA settled it with what IDA termed a “slap-on-the-wrist” fine. This was consistent with multiple USDA Inspector General reports regarding the agency’s lax enforcement of the AWA. The most recent, in 2005, stated that USDA imposes “minimal” fines that “violators consider…a normal cost of conducting business rather than a deterrent for violating the law.”
The FOIA trial came about as a result of an opinion by another judge, who, after reviewing a sampling of the unredacted records in camera (in private), expressed his doubt that defendants could prevail at a trial focusing on the issue of competitive harm. This judge stated that the USDA and HLS came “mighty close” to “’blatantly’ contradicting the record” in the case. He also noted that the USDA had violated a prior court order by failing to produce an analysis of what could be redacted from the records.
Kleiman noted that IDA has won multiple FOIA victories, including a court-ordered public interest fee waiver for thousands of pages of NIH records after IDA had proven its “dissemination methods and history demonstrate that the disclosure will contribute to a greater understanding” by the public. IDA has also used FOIA records to document data manipulation and researcher misconduct (see “Drug Study Hid Chimp Deaths,” at http://www.startribune.com/templates/Print_This_Story?sid=11617276
“This victory is the latest in a long line of IDA campaigns that often take years,” concluded Kleiman. “No matter how long, IDA will continue to persevere on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.”The public interest law firm Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal represents IDA in this case. The District Court opinion is available online at https://ecf.dcd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/show_public_doc?2002cv0557-121 <file://localhost/cgi-bin/show_public_doc>
In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization located in San Rafael, Calif. dedicated to protecting animals’ rights, welfare, and habitat through education, outreach, and our hands-on rescue facilities in Mumbai, India, Cameroon, Africa, and rural Mississippi.
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IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS · 3010 KERNER BLVD. · SAN RAFAEL, CA 94901 · 415-448-0048
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