The Advocate
Summer 2008, Issue 2
In This Issue: Golden State Democracy Spotlights Farm Animals A Date with Michael Pollan Inside Aquatic Factory Farming The Advocate Welcome to EBAA’s Second Issue Message from the EBAA Board
Mission Statement East Bay Animal Advocates is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the San The East Bay Animal Advocates’ summer dispatch would Francisco Bay Area. California is home to one not be complete without a piece of quirky trivia. Cali- of the most industrious and concentrated animal agriculture areas in the world. East Bay fornia has some bizarre laws on the books. We would Animal Advocates holds an uncompromised like to take this opportunity to quiz you on your knowl- commitment to end animal cruelty in edge of irrelevant legal information: California’s animal agricultural industry through consumer education, corporate Question: In the Golden State, it is legal to throw outreach, direct aid and legal action. which two items from a moving vehicle? P.O. Box 1406 While you ponder your answer to the question, we would like to extend Martinez, CA 94553 our sincere appreciation for your support for animal protection. Thanks [email protected] to your care and concern, EBAA efforts have steadily grown over the past Online at EastBayAnimalAdvocates.org five years to advocate on behalf of millions of animals abused in California Graphic Design meat, dairy and egg production. EBAA is delighted to remember some of Lara Dalinsky, [email protected] our recent triumphs. Our scrapbook includes: Photo credits: CAM/EBAA (cover, page 2, page 6); • Prominent media spotlights from news services like CNN Money, Joelle Katcher (page 8) Associated Press and East Bay Business Times • Formal recognition from the Internal Revenue Service of our organiza- tion's tax-exempt status • The creation of our organization's strategic plan with the guidance from acclaimed consultants at Compass Point Nonprofit Services • Corporate partnerships with local retailers like Andronico’s Market, Rainbow Grocery and Farmer Joe's Marketplace EBAA Donations in Motion • The launch of our turkey factory farming advertising campaign with We strive to keep our overhead as low as The San Francisco Chronicle possible to be able to spend more on our We are gearing up for the release of new reports on animal food advocacy and public education efforts for farm animals in California. Below, you will production and kind-hearted campaign antics to persuade Lunardi's see a pie chart that shows how your contri- Supermarket to end the sale of battery-cage eggs. We are also supporting butions were spent in 2007: Californians for Humane Farms (online at HumaneCalifornia.org). Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your commitment to protecting those in need. We invite you to explore SupportEBAA.org for a 15% variety of ways to contribute to EBAA's advocacy work. Professional We have a retort to the question asked earlier: Development Answer: Clear water and feathers from live birds are the only contents that may be legally ejected from vehicles in California. 13% East Bay Animal Advocates promises to uphold our commitment to 62% General & Administrative Public Education protect animals abused in California food production. Our pledge is a Campaigns 10% simple task: Travel (Animal Rescue Transport, Follow the feathers.n Investigative Projects, Advocacy Conferences, Speaking Engagements) Donate Your Total 2007 Donations: $19,916.33 Ride to EBAA Total 2007 Expenses: $21,555.15 V-DAC.com Donate online at SupportEBAA.org
2 The Advocate Summer 2008 Legal Updates Battle for the Ban: Farm Animals Take Center Stage in November Election veal crates for calves, and gestation the 433,971 signatures needed to crates for breeding sows. qualify this initiative for the ballot— Egg laying hens are confined illustrating just how supportive Califor- in barren wire cages so small that nians are of this anti-cruelty measure. they can hardly move, let alone On April 9th, it became official that walk, nest, or engage in any natural more than enough valid signatures behaviors. Pregnant pigs are kept in had been gathered, and the measure metal crates, a mere two feet wide, would be on the November Ballot. that prevent them from walking or This fall, California will have even turning around. Veal calves are the opportunity to join the ranks of For nearly 20 million animals cruelly tethered by their necks in crates, and Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, confined on factory farms in Cali- are kept not only from moving around and the European Union, where fornia, victory is nigh. This November, but also from lying down comfortably. similar legislation banning the cruel Californians will have the chance to Between October 2007, and confinement of farm animals has vote to phase out the most inhumane February 2008, local grassroots orga- already been passed. With the help confinement systems on factory nizations and concerned individuals of compassionate Californians, we farms: cages so small that the worked with the Humane Society of can take a stand against factory animals within them cannot even turn the United States and Farm Sanctuary farms and improve the lives of around or extend their limbs. This to gather signatures in support of the millions of animals. initiative, known as the Prevention Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty For more information or to get of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, would Act. Thanks to more than 4,000 involved in this campaign, visit prevent California factory farms from volunteers across the state, 790,486 HumaneCalifornia.org n keeping animals confined in restric- signatures were gathered from tive crates or cages—specifically California residents who support this Karin Olsson, Member, EBAA Board battery cages for egg-laying hens, initiative. This number far exceeds of Directors
The Writing is on the Wall Corcpork Inc., one of California’s intolerable cruelty. Smithfield Foods largest pig farms, has announced it in the U.S. and Maple Leaf Foods in will no longer be keeping pregnant Canada are two huge pork producers pigs in gestation crates. Corcpork has who are now phasing out gestation agreed to cease its breeding opera- crates due to consumer pressure. tions after East Bay Animal Advocates Florida, Oregon, Colorado, and and the Animal Legal Defense filed Arizona have all banned the use of a lawsuit against the company for gestation crates, and California may keeping over 9,000 pregnant pigs be the next on this list. This fall, confined in gestation crates. These Californians will vote to phase out crates are so small that they prevent the intensive confinement of animals the sows from turning around or on factory farms. But even before stretching their limbs. the ballots are cast, it seems that The lawsuit was dropped once Corcpork and other animal abusers Corcpork announced it will no longer already realize the writing on the wall be keeping and breeding sows. As and are changing their cruel ways.n awareness grows about the inhu- mane conditions on factory farms, Karin Olsson, Member, EBAA Board the public is speaking out against this of Directors prurealty.com/jayrosenthal
Summer 2008 The Advocate 3 Foodin’ Around with Michael Pollan
Bestselling author Michael Pollan is no stranger to controversy. His 2006 non- fiction, The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals ignited an international deliberation on the importance of our often complicated food choices. Earlier this year, Pollan give birth to the probable offspring of his jack-knife narrative: In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. From his office at UC Berkeley’s North Gate Hall, Pollan recently shared his thoughts with EBAA on his new book’s message, thoughtful decision-making and, of course, life as a farmer
What inspired you to write In message. I am telling them that they The only indefensible posi- Defense of Food? don’t have to worry about nutrients tion is not thinking it through. And I was inspired by the questions I so much, knowing what an antioxi- most Americans have not thought it was hearing from audiences, after I dant is, or whether cholesterol is in through. But they are starting to. published The Omnivore's Dilemma. the food or not, if you really do eat If you have the ethical and moral The question that most engaged real food–the kinds of foods your debate with yourself, I think that’s people was the health question. Is great-grandmother would have recog- great. I have enormous respect for organic worth it? Should I eat meat nized–you are going to be okay...in vegans and vegetarians because they or not? Should I care about where moderation, of course. It’s not as have gone through that process. They the food comes from? As people in complicated as you have been told. came out somewhere I didn’t. But, this world have always known, you It’s a message people really are they went through that process and can motivate people around health embracing because I know the whole that’s their way of advocating. more easily than you can around envi- subject has been over complicated Speaking of hot food topics, what ronmental concerns or even concerns by the journalism they’ve read and do you think about the anti-farm for animals. the nutritional science that they have animal confinement ballot campaign Where I came out on those heard about. And the fact is every underway in California? questions is that in fact the best week there’s another study with a It will probably pass, unless the choice for you as an eater, turns out contradictory message about what industry decides to put a lot of to be the best choice for the land, you should be eating. resources into stopping it. These and, if you going to eat meat, for the What’s your spin on the recent things come down to money. animals. Food grown carefully on beef recall? good soil with animals well-treated is Switching gears to a lighter matter, People are very concerned about going to be more nutritious food as what’s your favorite place to eat in everything they are learning about well. It’s one of the few areas in life the East Bay? the way our meat is produced. Every where the best choice for you is the Chez Panisse. time we have one of these episodes, best choice for the environment with it peels back the curtain on the If you ever retire from writing, would the one important exception of fish. way our food is prepared. People you ponder becoming a farmer? We’ve really not figured out how to don’t like what they see. They start That’s a good question! I think I am grow fish sustainably. looking for alternatives. People are going to stop at gardener. What has been your eater-readers’ open to reconsidering their meat Learn more about the Berkeley-based reaction to your new book? decisions and people come out at author online at MichaelPollan.com.n People have found it be a liberating different places.
4 The Advocate Summer 2008 Why Won’t Lunardi’s Give an Inch? A behind-the-scenes look at the making of our new public service announcement
Lunardi’s Supermarket operates seven high-end As a movement, we cannot walk away from grocery stores, peppered around the Bay Area. the suffering of these defenseless birds. We hope Each store continues to promote animal cruelty our new PSA will encourage humane advocates through the sale of battery-cage eggs. East and consumers to take action against Lunardi’s. Bay Animal Advocates launched their campaign Moreover, we hope this message motivates the against the store in October of 2006 and they store’s management team to enact the changes have yet to change their policy. In response for which we advocate.n to our campaign, Lunardi’s general manager, Tony Lucia, released a misguided letter about Njeri Sims, B.F.A. – East Bay Animal Advocates its humane egg guidelines. Their “humane Interactive Media Director guidelines” are the standard guidelines used by companies throughout the United States. In Spring 2008, EBAA released our first Watch the PSA Online at LunardisAbuse.com. egg-focused public service announcement, Why Won’t Lunardi’s Give An Inch? To educate consumers and encourage change on a corpo- rate level, this announcement delivers a punch of reality to the store’s so-called responsible egg policy. In the PSA, Lunardi’s letter is used to highlight and juxtapose the facts of egg production from that which the store would like Please open your eyes to battery-cage cruelty consumers to believe. and contact Lunardi’s today: The PSA is laced with the inspirational song Walk Away, which is written and preformed by Lunardi’s Supermarket, Inc. Goldfinger’s John Feldmann. The song is meant 432 N. Canal St., Unit 22 to spotlight the plight of animal suffering and South San Francisco, CA 94080-4666 the importance of human beings taking a stand Call: (650) 588-7507 against cruelty. Fax: (650) 588-0811
Summer 2008 The Advocate 5 Below the Surface: Aquatic Factory Farming
On a cool January morning, the tule Due to decreased wild fish similar to operating a cattle feedlot. fog lingers quietly over the aquatic stocks, increased consumer stipu- High density aquaculture has been embankments along East Sandy lation for seafood and substantial described by the USDA as the most Mush Road in Merced, California. The government promotion of farmed- intensive form of agriculture prac- occasional Chevy Silverado blazes raised fish, aquaculture has earned ticed on a large scale in this country down the side road, indifferent to the key spot as the most rapidly today.” the rural, saturated landscape. The expanding sector within the U.S. Daniel Pauly of the University of only other sound within audible range agriculture industry. Growth of the British Columbia in Vancouver told is the squawking of snowy egrets aquaculture industry is expanding The Los Angeles Times that industrial who gracefully stalk the nearly 50 by an impressive five to ten percent fish farms are “like floating pig farms. rectangular-shaped levee ponds, ten annually. They consume a tremendous amount to twenty acres acres each. However, aquaculture is of highly concentrated protein pellets In the murky pond waters, blue commonly operating to the simulta- and they make a terrific mess.” catfish, largemouth bass, white stur- neous detriment of marine environ- Coastly-farmed salmon are raised geon, and common carp swim at the ments, human health and animal in single pens of 15,000 to 90,000. inland commercial aquaculture site, welfare. The living conditions of these carnivo- Dutchman Creek Fish Farm. Nearby, With over 100 species of organ- rous fish are “equivalent to keeping a a large-scale dairy farm and 54-shed isms produced in U.S. aquaculture, strongly migratory, 2-foot-long salmon chicken farm are in operation. The factory fish farmers raise aquatic in a bathtub,” GRACE Factory Farms three neighboring producers have the animals in controlled systems, such Project reports. unifying task of feeding California with as cages, netpens, ponds, raceways, In his 2001 Mother Jones article, industrialized animal-based products. and tanks. “Aquaculture’s Troubled Harvest,” While agriculture-zoned flat- The controlled environments Bruce Barcott observes, “A salmon lands are common to the terrestrial used for farmed-raised fish produc- farm of 200,000 fish releases an farming methods of milk and chicken tion are similar to confinement prac- amount of fecal solids roughly equiva- meat production, the presence of a tices in land animal food production. lent to a town of 62,000 people.” controlled environment for food fish- Critics of industrialized meat, egg and Consumer-driven concerns of rearing in “John Deere Country” is a dairy production lament the system- factory fish farming circle around the betrayal to the term seafood. atic lack of public visibility in animal use of antibiotics, which are used The Dutchman Creek Fish Farm husbandry practices within these to control disease within crowded may seem like an odd site for seafood industries. In seafood production, a rearing set-ups. A factsheet by the production, but, American pesce- public view of aquatic animal care is Institute for Agriculture and Trade consumers today are more likely even more opaque because the living Policy reports, “There is no rigorous to be eating catfish, trout, shrimp subjects are below the surface— monitoring of on-site antibiotic drug and salmon from an inland aquatic literally and figuratively. use practices on feedlot fish farms. dynasty like Dutchman or coastal According to the Southern It has been documented that antibi- confinement farm, than their aquatic Regional Aquaculture Center otic-laced fish have been sold in the cousins in the wild. (SRAC), “operating a fish farm is U.S. market.”n – C.A.M.
6 The Advocate Summer 2008 Interview with Mark Hawthorne
Mark Hawthorne is a fixture in the Bay Area animal rights community, and the author of the invaluable new book, Striking at the Roots. A book that is both inspiring and infor- mative, it should be required reading for budding activists, seasoned advocates, and everyone in between. Guiding us through the myriad ways we can make a difference for animals, from leafleting and corporate outreach to protesting and direct action, Striking at the Roots provides an in-depth yet easy-to-read look into each type of activism. What’s more, this book is chock full of personal anecdotes and advice from activists across the globe that are sure to resonate with anyone working on behalf of the animals.
What are your own personal favorite stand why animals are suffering and animals. People need to understand forms of activism? how their choices do make a differ- animal cruelty is happening all the I love one-on-one activism—getting ence for beings who are no different time, not just when an undercover into discussions with one or two than their dogs and cats – except video is shown on the news, and that people, like when you leaflet or table. that abused animals are being raised our daily choices directly impact how Or when you bring cookies into work for food or fashion or vivisection animals are treated. Businesses and and everyone is amazed you baked or used in circuses or some other policymakers need to know people them without eggs or butter and torture. All these animals feel pain, won’t tolerate animal abuse. people remark that maybe being and they all deserve a life free of In writing this book, you reached out vegan isn’t hard after all. A lot of exploitation by humans. People have to activists across the globe. Did my activism is in the written word: to make that connection. Activists you encounter any methods or forms letters, magazine articles, op-eds, have to connect the dots for them. of activism that were new to you, newsletters and, of course, my book. The title of your book refers to a or that you felt American activists In your research, did you find that quote from Walden by Henry David would benefit from employing? a particular form of activism made Thoreau: “There are a thousand I learned a lot about corporate more of an impact than another hacking at the branches of evil to outreach – that is, encouraging in attempting to eradicate animal one who is striking at the root.” companies to adopt animal-friendly suffering? What do you believe is the funda- policies. In the book, I include restau- All forms are important, because mental root cause of non-human rant outreach as part of that, since you never know what is going to animal abuse? food is such a vital part of veganism inspire someone, and it’s usually not I believe the root cause is the and animal rights – food is our just one thing that does it. Having public’s nearly total lack of knowl- common touchstone. said that, I think it’s hard to beat edge about what is happening to leafleting at a college. It’s easy to animals every moment of every day. Get Connected do, the students are ripe for change This in turn is enabled by animal Read EBAA's extended interview and it helps disabuse people of the enterprises like agribusiness and with Mark: Ruffled-Feathers.com myth that activists are in some way medical researchers, which work to Book Website: different from the mainstream. make people feel good about eating StrikingAtTheRoots.comn I think what is really important animals, using them as test subjects, is how we frame our message to the exploiting them for our amusement public, whether we’re leafleting to and so on. That’s why effective Interview conducted by Karin Olsson one person or speaking in front of animal activism addresses both the and Eileen M. Mello, Members, Board 200. It is critical that people under- public and the businesses abusing of Directors
Summer 2008 The Advocate 7 Good Eats: EBAA Food Picks If you find yourself craving some soul food, you’re now in luck! Oakland’s new Souley Vegan serves up vegan soul food so rich and delicious, you won’t even notice the animal products are gone. From amazingly creamy potato salad and heavenly collard greens to tangy barbequed tofu and gooey mac and cheese, chef Tamearra Dyson cooks up the best vegan comfort food in town. Be sure to pay Souley Vegan a visit at 431 13th Street in down- Shop Right: Micio Mambo town Oakland, conveniently located less than one block EBAA’s Emily Ziebell chats with Ursula Calderon, the from the 13th Street BART. owner of Oakland’s new vegan boutique: What made you decide to open a vegan boutique? I became a vegetarian in 1992 and made the transition to veganism almost four years ago. I had been looking to incorporate non-leather, cruelty-free products in my personal It seems vegan friendly places are popping up every- life, but was never very impressed with the way it was where! Across the bay in San Francisco’s North Beach pulled together in a store and I was tired of buying online. neighborhood, the new vegetarian restaurant Usual My sister, Erika, and I were in New York about 3 years ago Suspects Cafe has just opened. Stop by to sample their when I had an “ah-ha” moment. We were on the subway pressed taquitos and vegan pizzas, all made with their after a day of shopping for fashionable vegan accessories delicious dairy-free cashew cheese. The pesto pasta with and I said to her,”I could do just as good of a job as the house-made seitan and the vegan moussaka are out of stores we visited today”! She looked at me and said “Why this world. But make sure you save room for dessert— don’t you?” I thought why not! I had been in retail for over from creamsicle cupcakes to peanut butter caramel filled 12 years and 10 years in design/advertising and knew that chocolate cake, these amazing concoctions are hands would give me a good foundation for success. Two years down some of the best vegan sweets we’ve ever had! later, I quit my advertising job as an account executive and Usual Suspects Cafe is located at 450 Broadway Street opened up Micio Mambo last November. in San Francisco. What kind of items do you carry? I’m out to prove that you can be stylish and make good choices for the animals and the environment. I have every- thing from shoes, handbags and jewelry to skincare and Get Blogging cosmetics. I also just started carrying shoes, belts and wallets for guys. Everything is leather-free, cruelty-free and with EBAA environmentally friendly. Log on at Ruffled-Feathers.com What’s behind the name, Micio Mambo? Micio is pronounced “Mee-cho” and it means kitty in Italian. My sister Erika lived in Milan for awhile and we’ve been referring to our kitties as “micios” ever since then. Support East Bay Animal Advocates When I was thinking about a name for the store I knew I Mail a tax-deductible contribution to East Bay Animal Advocates, wanted to use micio somehow. Mambo came about as a P.O. Box 1406, Martinez, CA 94553 or donate online at nod to my latin background (my father is from El Salvador). eastbayanimaladvocates.org. I thought Micio Mambo was unique and fun to say! r $10 r $25 r $50 r $100 r $500 r $1,000 Location and contact information: Micio Mambo Name 474 Santa Clara Avenue Oakland, CA 94610 Address (510) 836-4246 miciomambo.com City/Zip Store hours Tuesday – Saturday 11-5; Sunday 12-5.
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