Subject: [againstslaughter] EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT ON
SB 1921: CROSSPOST WIDELY!!!!
Hi,
Here it is an updated, emergency action alert on SB 1921. Permission
granted to crosspost it widely. Forward it to all your contacts,
either from family, friens, class or work. Try as well to post it on
vet clinics, feed stores, stables and every horsey site you know.
EMERGENCY UPDATE ON HORSE SLAUGHTER!!! SUPPORT FOR SB 1921
DESESPERATELY NEEDED!!!
The vote on Illinois Senate Bill 1921 and its First House Amendment,
which would ban the slaughter of horses in Illinois, preventing Cavel
horse slaughterhosue from operating there will be recalled for a vote
next week.
The bill didn´t obtained the minimum number of votes (60) to be
passed last Thursday, so it will be revoted next week.
THE SITUATION IS CRITICAL: SUPPORT IS DESESPERATELLY NEEDED FOR THIS
BILL. PLEASE, FAX, CALL AND EMAIL AS MANY ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVES
AND SENATORS YOU CAN DURING THE NEXT DAYS ASKING THEM TO SUPPORT AND
VOTE FOR SB 1921 AND ITS FIRST HOUSE AMENDMENT!!!! ASK FAMILY,
FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND WORK/CLASS PARTNERS TO DO THE SAME!!!
Center your efforts on the Republican Representatives and the ones
from the list below. There are some key points that you have to
mention when contacting IL Legislators, do not forget to include them
on your faxes, emails and calls, because they are so very important
for lawmakers! These points are:
- Since horses are NOT food animals nor are breeded for food or
fiber, they receive VERY POTENT DRUGS, such as dewormers,
painkillers, hormones, anti-inflamatories, pesticides. non-for-human
use antibiotics and vaccines THAT BECOME RESIDENT ON THEIR FLESH and
which are not only VERY STRONG CARCINOGENS but also EXTREMELLY TOXIC
WHEN CONSUMED BY HUMANS. These drugs are already BANNED ON FOOD
ANIMALS such as cows or pigs and this is clearly stated on their
packages (not for use in horses intended for food). Horse meat poses
a great risk for the health of people who eat it abroad and therefore
lawmakers must not allow the production and exportation of this
product. Tell Legislators how unconscionable it is to allow a food
product to be exported for human consumption that simply is not safe
to be consumed.
- Horses are taxed as a non food and recreatonal animal, and as such
are not exempt fron Illinois sales taxes as are annimals that are
raised for food. If horses become part of the "food chain" Illinois
will lose millions of dollars annually in just sales taxes alone.
- Since there is no export tariff on horse meat NO PROFITS FROM THIS
DISGUSTING INDUSTRY REMAIN IN ILLINOIS OR AMERICA. They are siphoned
directly to Belgium, the home country of Cavel. In addition, Cavel
pays NO state taxes. Tell Legislators that horses are more valuable
for the economy live than dead and how the horse industry really
provides profits for the community such as money, jobs and
investments.
- Horses in the US are NOT food animals, they are instead pets, like
dogs or cats and sport, leisure animals. Eating horse in America or
allowing their slaughter for comsuption overseas is ETHICALLY AND
MORALLY UNNACEPTABLE; that it is just UN-AMERICAN.
- There are better alternatives to deal with unwanted horses, such as
rescuing, retraining programs or chemical, painless euthanasia.
The best way to contact Illinois Legislators is by FAXING, CALLING
AND EMAILING THEM TO THEIR BOTH THEIR SPRINGFIELD AND DISTRICT
OFFICES, ESPECIALLY THE SPRINGFIELD ONES. Please, do not waste time
and start faxing, emailing and calling today!!! We need your help to
stop horse slaughter and to prevent Cavel horse slaughterhouse from
operating.
The names, addresses, and phone/fax numbers of members of the
Illinois House of Representatives and Senators can been found on:
We have a complete list of contact information for IL Legislators. If
you want a copy, just send a message to fletosojoi@tiscali.es
Below you can find a sample of letter/fax.
Do not forget as well to write your Congressmen and the members of
the US. House Agriculture Committee asking them to SUPPORT AND
COSPONSOR BILL HR 857, "The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act",
a Federal Bill to ban horse slaughter and the exportation of horses
for slaughter in the whole country. If you need more information
about bill HR 857 log on to http://www.saplonline.org/Legislation/ahpa.htm
PLEASE CROSSPOST THIS MESSAGE EVERYWHERE!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR COLLABORATION!!!
Daniel Cordero Fernandez.
-----------SAMPLE LETTER TO THE IL REPS & SENATORS------------
(Cut and paste it on a text file, file the gaps, change the address
and the salutation for "Senator" if it is necessary and then print it
and send it. I encourage you to "customize" it with your own words so
the letters do not look like "form letters"; thanks)
The Honorable ________________
<Fill in with the address>
Dear Representative _______________:
I urge you to support S.B. 1921 and its 1st. House Amendment, an
amendment introduced by Representative Robert S. Molaro that would
prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption in Illinois
and the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended
for human consumption.
I ask you to support and vote for this legislation as being good for
IL people, IL horses and the IL horse industry. Also, please let me
take this opportunity to remember you some of the strong arguments I
have to ask you to support it.
Eating horses in America or killing them for human comsuption is
ethically and morally unnaceptable. Horses in America are considered
pets and sport, leisure animals not food animals. The foreign-owned
horse slaughter industry has slaughtered and exported for human
consumption over 3 million American horses in the last 2 decades.
This is intolerable and we should not allow this abominable practice
to continue in Illinois.
Since horses are NOT food animals nor are breeded for food or fiber,
they are medicated with VERY POTENT DRUGS, such as dewormers,
painkillers, hormones, anti-inflamatories, pesticides. non-for-human
use antibiotics and vaccines that become resident on their flesh and
that are not only VERY STRONG CARCINOGENS but also EXTREMELLY TOXIC
when consumed by humans. These drugs are already BANNED ON FOOD
ANIMALS such as cows or pigs and this is clearly stated on their
packages (NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR FOOD). Horse meat poses
a great risk for the health of people who eat it abroad and therefore
we must not allow the production and exportation of this product. It
is unconscionable to allow a food product to be exported for human
consumption that simply is not safe to be consumed.
Since there is no export tariff on horse meat NO profits from this
deplorable business remain in Illinois. In addition, Cavel pays NO
state taxes at all. Therefore, ALL the profits from it are siphoned
directly to Belgium, the home country of Cavel. Also, point out that
horses are more valuable for the economy live than dead: While all
the profits from horse slaughter goes to Belgium, the profits
originated by the Illinois horse industry remain in the State adding
lots of millions of dollars to GDP each year and providing jobs for
thousands of people and prosperity to economy of Illinois.
Horses are taxed as a non food and recreatonal animals, and as such
are not exempt fron Illinois sales taxes as are animals that are
raised for food. If horses become part of the "food chain" Illinois
will lose millions of dollars annually in just sales taxes alone.
Horses slaughtered by these foreign-owned industry in the United
States have often been hauled several thousand miles over several
days, contrary to acceptable non-slaughter standards for water, food,
and rest. Horses sent to be slaughtered are often shipped on crowded
double deck trucks designed for shorter necked species such as pigs,
cattle and sheep, and are forced to travel in a bent position which
can result in suffering, injury and death.
Callous and extremely inhumane treatment at the slaughterhouse
results in prolonged suffering. Horses endure repeated blows to the
head with stunning equipment that often does not render the animals
unconscious and often horses remain conscious during their own
slaughter, including throat slitting.
Horse slaughter is a barbaric, despicable business, and a vast
majority of Americans (over 75% according to recent polls) are
opposed to it, and they, together with the horse industry´s
professionals and numerous equine welfare and other humanitarian
organizations, are currently working to get the American Horse
Slaughter Prevention Act (which already has 10 Cosponsors from
Illinois) enacted in order to ban it entirely from this country
altogether.
Americans do not eat horses; we do not raise our horses for food. The
only reason horse slaughter exists is to satisfy the palates of
foreigners who consider horseflesh a delicacy and the greed of the
corporations which provide it. "Killer buyers" who travel from one
auction to the next filling up their trucks provide the horses for
this industry. Others are stolen; even our federally protected wild
horse population can end up there. In addition, horse slaughter
promotes horse theft: Since California banned the slaughter of horses
in 1998, horse theft has decreased over 34%, while the welfare of
horses significantly improved. Also point out that in Texas, where
are located of two only operative horse slaughterhouses remaining in
the US horse theft and abuse are rampant.
Also, in spite of contrary claims, the great majority of the horses
slaughtered are not old, sick, crippled or unwanted, but instead, are
young, healthy, fat American horses, including federally protected
wild horses, pregnant mares and mares with very young foals at their
side.
Horses have played a significant role in the history and culture of
the United States. As a non-food and recreational animal, horses
should be protected from slaughter. Again, I urge you to support and
cosponsor S.B. 1921 and its House Amendment #1.
I look forward to receiving a response from you regarding your
position on this issue, which is of importance to me. Thank you for
your time and consideration of my letter.