New Activist Handbook

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

New Activist Handbook NEW ACTIVIST HANDBOOK 2 3 CONTENTS This handbook is your guide to the SF Bay Area chapter of Direct Action Everywhere (DxE). By getting involved in any of I. INTRODUCTION 5 the varied aspects of the II. VISION, GOALS, AND STRATEGY 5 chapter, we hope to empower you to become III. TACTICS 6 the best activist you can A. Open Rescue 6 be! B. Protests 7 C. Community 8 D.The Liberation Pledge 9 E. Berkeley Animal Rights Center 9 F. Berkeley Coalition for Animals 10 DxE empowers a diverse IV. DxE’S VALUES 10 network of individuals committed to taking V. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE 11 nonviolent direct action to A. Global Network 11 end the exploitation and 11 killing of all animals. B. SF Bay Area Chapter i. Working Groups 11 ii. Chapter Meetings 12 iii. SF Bay Area Core 13 iv. Community Leaderboard 13 C. Finances 13 Questions? Reach out to VI. THE LAST WORD 14 sfbay@directactionevery where.com or stop by the Berkeley Animal Rights Center (2425 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA) during open hours. 4 5 I. INTRODUCTION Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) is a global network of activists committed to ending the exploitation and killing of animals. The SF Bay Area chapter, headquartered in Berkeley, is DxE’s first and largest chapter. Like other revolutionary social justice movements, animal liberation requires thousands of committed activists taking nonviolent direct action together. For this reason, DxE focuses on community building, disruptive protest, and open rescue. Learn more about these tactics in Section III. DxE was founded in Oakland in 2013 by a small group of activists frustrated with the state of the mainstream animal rights movement. Since its founding, DxE’s accomplishments include: • mobilization of thousands of activists • demonstrations in over 165 cities and 34 countries • rescues of dozens of animals from industrial farms • coverage in leading publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post and ABC Nightline • opening the first community center for animal rights in the USA (Berkeley Animal Rights Center) • legislation passed by the Berkeley City Council YOU can be a part of this movement! The first step is just to show up to any of our events. Check out the DxE SF Bay Calendar here. II. VISION, GOALS AND STRATEGY DxE envisions a world where animals are respected as unique individuals with unalienable rights, including bodily autonomy. We use nonviolent direct action to force the subject of animal rights into the public discourse. Here in Berkeley, we’re creating a model of social, political and legal change for animals that, like other social movements, will spread to other regions, states and countries. 6 Roadmap to Liberation DxE activists have developed a 40-Year Roadmap to Liberation - a series of steps leading to a Constitutional Amendment conferring basic rights for animals. The Roadmap is a long-term plan that will be amended over time so as to accommodate movement and societal change. You can read the roadmap here. 2017 Goals DxE’s short-term goals, with an emphasis on the Berkeley hub, include: 1. Open Rescue a. 12 open rescues b. Three long-form pieces on open rescue in mainstream media. 2. Mobilization a. 200+ activists regularly attending SF Bay Area monthly days of Action b. Coalitions with 20 individuals and/or organizations able to mobilize activists c. 15 Activist Houses in the East Bay 3. Liberation Pledge a. 4000 people taking the Liberation Pledge. Read the 2017 Campaign Strategy here. III. TACTICS Open rescue, protest, intentional community building, and the Liberation Pledge are DxE’s primary tactics. We also operate the Berkeley Animal Rights Center and work closely with Berkeley Coalition for Animals, an advocacy group supporting animal rights legislation in Berkeley. A. Open Rescue In open rescue, activists enter farms or other facilities without permission, document the conditions, and remove some sick and injured animals. These animals are given whatever medical attention they require, and then placed in permanent homes, typically sanctuaries, where they spend the rest of their lives happy, safe and free. In open rescue, as opposed to traditional undercover investigations, the investigators act openly, without masks, and publish their full identities. 7 Since their identities are public, open rescue investigators can speak and write about their personal experiences inside industrial farms. People relate to their personal, often emotional, stories. They recognize that investigators are ordinary people simply exposing the conditions inside commercial farms and saving animals. As well, the individual animals’ stories of rescue and recovery can be shared with the world. People feel much more empathy for an individual (human or nonhuman) than for a statistic. Prior to DxE’s open rescue initiative, there had been only about 12 open rescues in the US, and only one since 2005. As of today, DxE has executed nine open rescues including chickens, turkeys, pigs, and dogs. In the coming months and years, DxE will train and empower hundreds of activists to carry out open rescues and eventually complete hundreds of rescues each year. Open rescue involves much more than just entering farms and rescuing animals. It entails extensive research and planning, animal fostering and care, video editing, writing, and sharing stories through protests and the media. By sharing videos on Facebook, coming to protests, and donating to DxE, you are already part of the Open Rescue Network. If you want to learn more, you can attend an intensive open rescue training (hosted about 3 times per year in the Bay Area.) E-mail [email protected]. B. Protests Protest has always been a critical part of every successful social justice movement. Protest, especially when it’s disruptive, forces people to pay attention to injustices being perpetrated on minority or marginalized populations. It addition, they not only demonstrate but also deepen the activists’ seriousness and determination to the cause. DxE protests are nonviolent in word, action and tone. Rather than condemn individuals for their specific consumer choices, we speak out against the systemic oppression of animals. We may protest supermarkets, food festivals that exploit animals, or large political or sporting events. Our goal is to get as many people as possible thinking and talking about animal liberation. Please join our monthly Day of Action, posted on the DxE SF Bay Community Calendar. You can also participate in the two to four additional protests we have each month in the 8 Bay Area. You’ll never be pressured to do more than you feel comfortable doing at a protest. You can simply hold up a sign or just observe if you prefer. C. Community Community is integral to all successful social movements. In the past, movements have originated in pre-existing communities, such as the Black church in the case of the civil rights movement or unions in the case of the labor movement. DxE intentionally cultivates a welcoming and supportive community. DxE SF Bay Area community activities include: Weekly Meetups, Saturday at 11:00am: While the program varies, there is always time for socializing over pastries and coffee. Potlucks at activist houses around Berkeley: New activists can get to know one another and enjoy delicious vegan food. Join a potluck by contacting [email protected]. New Activist Orientations: Newcomers meet the community and learn about our activities and working groups at monthly events. These evenings have fun party themes. Connections Program: Veteran community members spend time (hiking or having coffee, e.g.) with newcomers in small groups so they can get to know one another. E- mail mailto:[email protected] to join. Animal Care: Several times each month, DxE volunteers go to a sanctuary. This is a great way to get to know activists and animals and to learn about animal care. E-mail mailto:[email protected] to find out about upcoming trips. DxE Forum: The Forum is DxE’s annual conference and takes place here in Berkeley during the last weekend of May. The Forum attracts hundreds of activists from around the world. Register for the Forum at dxeforum.com. Activist Houses: There are currently six communal activist houses in the East Bay and more in formation. Activist houses host potlucks and community events, host out-of- town activists visiting Berkeley, and provide safe supportive spaces for resident 9 activists. E-mail [email protected] for more information on activist housing. D. The Liberation Pledge The Liberation Pledge is a way for activists to show their commitment to animals and change the social norms among their respective families and friends. The Liberation Pledge has three components: 1. Publicly refuse to eat animals - live vegan. 2. Publicly refuse to sit where people are eating animals. 3. Encourage others to take the pledge. When you see members of the community wearing a fork bent into a bracelet, it means they’ve taken the Liberation Pledge. They’ll be happy to talk to you about it. Just ask! The Liberation Pledge was modeled after another pledge that had massive success in changing norms - a pledge against foot binding in China. In the late 1800s, after a thousand- year struggle against foot binding, families began pledging to refuse to marry their sons to women who had bound feet. While at first these families were few and far between, the pledge began to spread and foot binding was soon eliminated. We hope to do the same with eating animals. At first glance, the Liberation Pledge may seem isolating and difficult, but many activists who have taken the pledge have seen major changes in their social circles. We have an online Liberation Pledge support group and often discuss aspects of the Pledge at Meetups.
Recommended publications
  • Support for Non-Violent Activists and Protections of Animals in Commercial Operations
    Page 1 of 73 Peace and Justice Commission CONSENT CALENDAR December 10, 2019 To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Peace and Justice Commission Submitted by: Igor Tregub, Chairperson, Peace and Justice Commission Subject: Support for Non-Violent Activists and Protections of Animals in Commercial Operations RECOMMENDATION Adopt a resolution supporting non-violent activists and protecting animals in commercial operations. SUMMARY Berkeley residents currently face felony charges for conducting non-violent investigations and animal rescues involving factory farms in Sonoma County. We urge the Berkeley City Council to adopt a resolution supporting those activists diverting resources to protecting animals in commercial operations. FISCAL IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION Minimal to negligible. CURRENT SITUATION AND ITS EFFECTS At its September 9, 2019 meeting, the Peace and Justice Commission approved the attached resolution with an amendment including, as a footnote, the text of California Penal Code Section 597e. The action taken was as follows: M/S/C: Meola, Tregub Ayes: al-Bazian, Bohn, Lippman, Maran, Meola, Morizawa, Pancoast, Pierce, Rodriguez, Tregub Noes: None Abstain: Gussman, Han Absent: Askary Excused: None Five Berkeley residents – Almira Tanner, Cassie King, Wayne Hsiung, Priya Sawhney, and Jon Frohnmayer – and an Oakland resident – Rachel Ziegler – all of whom are members of the international grassroots activist network Direct Action Everywhere (DxE), presently face seven or eight felonies each in Sonoma County in connection with three 2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7000 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7099 E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.CityofBerkeley.info/Manager Page 2 of 73 Support for Non-Violent Activists and Protections of Animals CONSENT CALENDAR December 10, 2019 demonstrations by DxE in that county.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 7 2014 by Jenni James the Necessity Defense Encourages
    James Stanford Journal of Animal Law & Policy | Vol. 7 2014 Volume 7 2014 WHEN IS RESCUE NECESSARY? APPLYING THE NECESSITY DEFENSE TO THE RESCUE OF ANIMALS By Jenni James ABSTRACT The necessity defense encourages citizens faced with untenable options to choose the action that generates the greatest social utility, even when that act is illegal. Reserved for the rarest occasions, the defense allows a person to argue that his otherwise illegal action should not just be excused, but that it was justified. The defense has the power to transform a criminal defendant into a community hero—but the line between hero and vigilante is thin. As a result, the defense has more vitality in the halls of academia than in courtrooms. The defense proves particularly elusive when invoked by those who rescue nonhuman animals from abusive situations. Although the defense is seldom explicitly barred by the legislature, the defense is generally poorly defined and its application is highly discretionary. This ambiguity in application allows judges to place the defense beyond the reach of animal advocates. This article argues that judges are overly cautious when denying the defense to those who rescue nonhuman animals. It concludes that a more robust application of the defense could ultimately conserve judicial resources while honoring the integrity of our judicial system. By allowing the defense to proceed in what appear to be close cases, judges would preserve their neutrality and allow juries to decide how best to resolve the tension in the law that simultaneously protects and exploits nonhuman animals. James Stanford Journal of Animal Law & Policy | Vol.
    [Show full text]
  • Journal of Animal Law 2005.01.Pdf
    VOL. I 2005 JOURNAL OF ANIMAL LAW Michigan State University College of Law J O U R N A L O F A N I M A L L A W VOL. I 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION The Gathering Momentum…………………………………………………………………. 1 David Favre ARTICLES & ESSAYS Non-Economic Damages: Where does it get us and how do we get there? ……………….. 7 Sonia Waisman A new movement in tort law seeks to provide money damages to persons losing a companion animal. These non-compensatory damages are highly controversial, and spark a debate as to whether such awards are the best thing for the animals—or for the lawyers. Would a change in the property status of companion animals better solve this important and emotional legal question? Invented Cages: The Plight of Wild Animals in Captivity ………………………………... 23 Anuj Shah & Alyce Miller The rate of private possession of wild animals in the United States has escalated in recent years. Laws at the federal, state, and local levels remain woefully inadequate to the task of addressing the treatment and welfare of the animals themselves and many animals “slip through the cracks,” resulting in abuse, neglect, and often death. This article explores numerous facets of problems inherent in the private possession of exotic animals. The Recent Development of Portugese Law in the Field of Animal Rights ………………. 61 Professor Fernando Arajúo Portugal has had a long and bloody tradition of violence against animals, not the least of which includes Spanish-style bullfighting that has shown itself to be quite resistant to legal, cultural, and social reforms that would respect the right of animals to be free from suffering.
    [Show full text]
  • Animal Rights …Legally, with Confidence
    How to Do Animal Rights …legally, with confidence Second edition Contents About This Guide 5 Author & Email 5 Animal Rights Motto 6 1 Introduction 1.1 The Broad Setting 7 - the big problem. 1.2 Mass Extinction 9 - we live in the Sixth Extinction. 1.3 Animal Holocaust 11 - we live in an enduring and worsening Animal Holocaust. 1.4 World Scientists' Warning to Humanity 12 - scientists attempt to alert the world to the impending catastrophe. 2 Philosophy: Key Topics 2.1 Animal Rights 16 - know what animal rights are. 2.2 Equal Consideration 21 - are animal and human moral interests equally important? 2.3 Animal Ethics 23 - defend your animal rights activism rationally. 2.4 Consequentialism 29 - the morality of your action depends only on its consequences. 2.5 Deontology 30 - the morality of your action depends only on doing your duty. 2.6 Virtue Ethics 31 - the morality of your action depends only on your character. 2.7 Comparing Philosophies 33 - comparing animal rights with ethics, welfare & conservation. 2.8 Deep Ecology 37 - contrasts with animal rights and gives it perspective. How to Do Animal Rights 3 Campaigning: Methods for Animal Rights 3.1 How to Start Being Active for Animal Rights 40 - change society for the better. 3.2 Civil Disobedience 46 - campaign to right injustice. 3.3 Direct Action 49 - a stronger form of civil disobedience. 3.4 Action Planning 55 - take care that your activities are successful. 3.5 Lobbying 60 - sway the prominent and influential. 3.6 Picketing 65 - protest your target visibly and publicly.
    [Show full text]
  • Critérium Du Dauphiné (9-16 Juin) Dans La Loire Et La Haute-Loire
    ÉDITION NUMÉRIQUE Mercredi 5 juin 2019 - Supplément - Loire CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ (9-16 JUIN) DANS LA LOIRE ET LA HAUTE-LOIRE Quatre des huit étapes du Critérium du Dauphiné sillonneront les routes de la Loire et de la Haute-Loire. Romain Bardet, Christopher Froome et le peloton devraient assurer le spectacle et se jauger avant le Tour de France. Un rendez-vous très important où de nombreux coureurs ont écrit leur légende. Photo archives Le Progrès/Philippe VACHER 2 SUPPLÉMENT Mercredi 5 juin 2019 CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ Du 9 au 16 juin En Velay, Roannais et Forez, la course promet Pendant quatre jours, la Loire Quintana (Movistar), Dan Martin et la Haute-Loire seront (UAE Team Emirates, 4e l’an pas- au cœur de la 71e édition sé), Jakob Fuglsang (vainqueur du Critérium du Dauphiné 2017, Astana), le vieillissant Ri- qui mènera le peloton et ses chie Porte (Trek-Segafredo), Ste- favoris d’Aurillac à Chambéry. ven Kruijswijk (Team Jumbo-Vis- ma), etc. Le public français attend ui succédera au Britannique aussi le phénomène Julian Alaphi- Q Geraint Thomas, auteur, l’an- lippe ou Warren Barguil (Team Ar- née dernière, d’un fantasti- kea-Samsic) et Pierre Roland (Vi- que doublé Critérium du Dauphi- tal Concept-B & B Hotels) pour né-Tour de France ? Ses dernières des victoires d’étape ou un top 10. années, la vérité de juin est sou- vent celle de juillet même si l’équi- Des premières étapes pe Sky (désormais Ineos) était sou- « piège » vent imbattable et qu’il ne pouvait rien arriver à son leader.
    [Show full text]
  • Wrenn Colostate 0053A 13455.Pdf
    DISSERTATION PROFESSIONALIZATION, FACTIONALISM, AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT SUCCESS: A CASE STUDY ON NONHUMAN ANIMAL RIGHTS MOBILIZATION Submitted by Corey Lee Wrenn Department of Sociology In partial fulfillment of the requirements For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Spring 2016 Doctoral Committee: Advisor: Michael Carolan Lynn Hempel Michael Lacy Marcela Velasco Copyright by Corey Lee Wrenn 2016 All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT PROFESSIONALIZATION, FACTIONALISM, AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT SUCCESS: A CASE STUDY ON NONHUMAN ANIMAL RIGHTS MOBILIZATION This project explores the intra-movement interactions between professionalized and radical factions in the social movement arena using a content analysis of movement literature produced by the Nonhuman Animal rights movement between 1980 and 2013. Professionalized factions with greater symbolic capital are positioned to monopolize claimsmaking, disempower competing factions, and replicate their privilege and legitimacy. Radical factions, argued to be important variables in a movement’s health, are thus marginalized, potentially to the detriment of movement success and the constituency for whom they advocate. Specifically, this study explores the role of professionalization in manipulating the tactics and goals of social movement organizations and how the impacts of professionalization may be aggravating factional boundaries. Boundary maintenance may prevent critical discourse within the movement, and it may also provoke the “mining” of radical claimsmaking for symbols that have begun to resonate within the movement and the public. Analysis demonstrates a number of important consequences to professionalization that appear to influence the direction of factional disputes, and ultimately, the shape of the movement. Results indicate some degree of factional fluidity, but professionalization does appear to be a dominant force on movement trajectories by concentrating power in the social change space.
    [Show full text]
  • 28 1 It Is Important to Do These Actions and It Is Also Important to Talk About Why We Do Them
    28 1 It is important to do these actions and it is also important to talk about why we do them. To talk about why it is not normal to keep To those who say that saving eleven or three hundred or one hen is animals in such conditions and for the purpose of slaughter. But only symbolical, I answer: If there was three hundred people drow- liberate them from such a life is normal. ning in water and you saved only one, would that be symbolical? 2 27 into my foot, which will remain there forever, they took a bit of my pelvis Because the animals do not care if you wear or not a mask with which they filled a hole in my heel and because it was not enough they filled the rest with ceramics. I had another operation the next day because one of the wires got badly between the bones. The doctors told me that I’ll Speech at Tierrechtskongress Wien 2008 (Austria), Nebudme zvery 2008 have problems with that foot from now on. (Bratislava, Slovakia), Animal Liberation Fest 2009 (Brno, Czech Republic) Now I am back from hospital, but I spend most of the time lying down with my foot up, because in any other position it gets swollen quite quickly and it I have personally crawled through many fur farms, cattle rearing farms, gets a kind of happy and healthy looking violet colour. Unfortunately, after poultry houses and pig barns and I am still surprised that all of this is real. the operations there were further problems: part of the foot (the instep and I have seen minks, ferrets and arctic foxes being killed so that an image three fingers) are affected by osteoporosis.
    [Show full text]
  • The Dairy Industry: a Dated and Dying Danger to the Planet
    THE DAIRY INDUSTRY: A DATED AND DYING DANGER TO THE PLANET ISSUES Animal Abuse The U.S. dairy industry subjects over 10 million animals a year to abuse that, if done to dogs or cats, would lead to criminal prosecution. Baby cows are routinely separated from their mothers hours after birth, with mother and baby often crying out for one another for days or even weeks thereafter. Calves, which are very social in nature, are then isolated in small hutches, routinely exposed to both extreme heat and cold with minimal protection. Male calves -- of little value to the dairy industry due to not producing milk -- are often killed at days or weeks of age for the veal industry, or are simply disposed of. Females enter into a cycle of impregnation and familial separation, before being slaughtered once their production decreases. Climate Crisis While the fossil fuel industry has been the focus of public policy to combat climate change, dairy has also been cited as a major contributor, yet remains largely overlooked.1 ​ ​ Public Health Scientists agree that the heavy use of antibiotics in livestock, including in the dairy industry, ​ ​ contributes significantly to the problem of drug resistance.2 3 The dairy industry also threatens ​ ​ public health by increasing pandemic disease risk; COVID-19, like SARS, the Spanish Flu, and many other outbreaks before it, is a zoonotic pathogen -- meaning it is transmitted between ​ ​ humans and animals (usually closely confined animals, such as at dairy farms).4 Animal ​ agriculture uses the majority of the antibiotics
    [Show full text]
  • St Ewe - a Family Business Built on Nutrition and Innovation
    RANGER FEBRUARY 2020 ST EWE - A FAMILY BUSINESS BUILT ON NUTRITION AND INNOVATION NO PROPOSALS TO LOWER POPHOLE HEIGHT, SAYS RSPCA ASSURED BRITISH FREE RANGE EGG PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION The prettiest hen in the house! Producers with Hy-Line flocks know how great they look— fully feathered until the end of lay. Well, now they are officially recognised as the best-looking hen on the market, with nine of the 12 months in BFREPA’s 2020 calendar featuring Hy-Line birds. Along with the best liveability and feed efficiency of any breed, it’s little wonder producers want Hy-Line every month of the year! www.hy-line.co.uk CHAIRMAN’S COMMENT 2020 will be a challenging year for members battling against an unsustainable egg price, especially when margins have been conceded to the discounters. We will shortly have sight of the new Lion we will be launching a new AI/Salmonella Code with anticipated changes to AI and Contingency Planning Workbook. Salmonella control and testing - we will share our thoughts on this in the next Ranger. For the past few years BFREPA have contributed to the European Project for Red Whilst we expect Insurance could be Mite. In association with ADAS we will be mandatory there is some rumours of producing a special supplement in the Ranger discounts being negotiated with to discuss the latest developments as well as underwriters. This issue needs to be resolved reflecting on other treatments for red mite. ASAP, no one should be in any doubt that insurance is essential given the growing It comes around so quickly, but once again we concerns and recent outbreaks in Northern will be hosting the annual BFREPA Awards Ireland of Low Path AI.
    [Show full text]
  • Living with Anxiety
    YOUR PAGE, YOUR STAGE! Community invites you to to send your contributions with contact details and complete description of the images to [email protected]. Select images will appear in both the print edition as well as Community Instagram page @communitygt. — PHOTO ESSAY, Page 10 Tuesday, October 15, 2019 Safar 16, 1441 AH Doha today: 280 - 350 Living with anxiety Health anxiety tends to rise after the age of 50 but it doesn’t COVER STORY have to take over your life. P4-5 2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, October 15, 2019 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT PRAYER TIME Fajr 4.15am Shorooq (sunrise) 5.33am Zuhr (noon) 11.21am Asr (afternoon) 2.40pm Maghreb (sunset) 5.08pm Isha (night) 6.38pm USEFUL NUMBERS Aruvam of corruption, he decides to take his own life instead of giving DIRECTION: Sai Sekhar them a chance to murder him. After this shocking incident, CAST: Siddharth, Catherine Tresa, Sathyaraj there are some paranormal activities going on. Is that his SYNOPSIS: The food safety offi cer has been exposing a spirit? Emergency 999 lot of big shots involved in drugs. They all gang up to murder Worldwide Emergency Number 112 him. Discovering their plan and frustrated with the high level THEATRES: The Mall, Royal Plaza Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care
    [Show full text]
  • Inside Smithfield's Toxic Pig Farms
    INSIDE SMITHFIELD’S TOXIC PIG FARMS A DxE investigation at Smithfield Foods finds animal cruelty, suffering, carcinogenic drugs, air pollution, and death Farmland®, Armour®, Farm- Typically in the pork indus- EXECUTIVE er John®, Kretschmar®, John try, workers “thump” sick, Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwalt- or small piglets in order to ney®, Carando®, Margherita®, kill them. Thumping means SUMMARY Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Mor- smashing their skulls against liny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. a wall. An investigatory team with Direct Action Everywhere At the farms investigated, DxE In addition to being the big- (DxE), an international grass- found animal abuse and air gest producer of pigs in North roots animal rights network, pollution. When a journalist Carolina, Smithfield is also spent nearly a year (early for Vox contacted Smithfield the biggest producer of pig 2017 into 2018) investigating during his reporting of the manure in the state, which Smithfield Foods pig farms DxE investigation, a Smith- in turn has caused massive in North Carolina and found field veterinarian confirmed air and water pollution there. hundreds of animals suf- to him that the company dos- That pollution has been tied fering from what appeared es pigs with carbadox, a car- to various illnesses in hu- to be the potentially deadly cinogenic antibiotic that has mans, fish and other animals Greasy Pig Disease (Staphylo- been banned in Europe and is in North Carolina. coccus hyicus), entire rooms currently under FDA scrutiny. filled with pharmaceuticals In the state, a person who including antibiotics key to DxE rescued one pig from a removes a sick pig from a human health, and sows con- Smithfield farm, whom the in- farm without the owner’s fined in gestation crates only vestigators named Lauri, who permission can be charged slightly bigger than each pigs’ was sick with Greasy Pig Dis- with both larceny, a Class H body despite Smithfield’s an- ease, according to the vet who felony, and with breaking/ nouncement in January 2018 examined her.
    [Show full text]
  • Appellees, V. MURPHY-BROWN, LLC, D/B/A Smithfield Hog
    USCA4 Appeal: 19-1019 Doc: 62-1 Filed: 05/06/2019 Pg: 1 of 45 Total Pages:(1 of 46) NO. 19-1019 JOYCE MCKIVER, et al., Plaintiffs – Appellees, v. MURPHY-BROWN, LLC, d/b/a Smithfield Hog Production Division, Defendant – Appellant. ______________ On Appeal from the United States District Court For the Eastern District Of North Carolina, No. 7:14-cv-00180 ______________ BRIEF OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES AS AMICUS CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES AND AFFIRMANCE _____________________ Anna Frostic Laura Fox THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE Peter Brandt UNITED STATES THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE 1255 23rd Street, NW UNITED STATES Washington, DC 20037 1255 23rd Street, NW (202) 676-2333 Washington, DC 20037 [email protected] (202) 676-2334 [email protected] Attorneys for Amicus Curiae May 6, 2019 USCA4 Appeal: 19-1019 Doc: 62-1 Filed: 05/06/2019 Pg: 2 of 45 Total Pages:(2 of 46) UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT DISCLOSURE OF CORPORATE AFFILIATIONS AND OTHER INTERESTS Disclosures must be filed on behalf of all parties to a civil, agency, bankruptcy or mandamus case, except that a disclosure statement is not required from the United States, from an indigent party, or from a state or local government in a pro se case. In mandamus cases arising from a civil or bankruptcy action, all parties to the action in the district court are considered parties to the mandamus case. Corporate defendants in a criminal or post-conviction case and corporate amici curiae are required to file disclosure statements.
    [Show full text]