Feature Archives

Christine Morrissey, in the August issue of Fault Lines, writes:
As the nation's largest dairy producer, California serves as the benchmark for industry standards and norms. Annually, the Golden State generates $4.6 billion in revenue from 1.5 million cows at 2,400 farm operations. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, one out of every five dairy cows in the United States is raised in California. Despite exceptional economic and agriculture growth, California's dairy practices have a detrimental effect on animal welfare, environmental sustainability, public health, and occupational safety. Read More

Other Recent Reports Related to Dairy and Dairy Farms:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

At three week's worth of Ringling Brothers Circus appearances in the Bay Area, dozens of activists greeted circus-goers coming and going with informative signs and leaflets. Thousands of leaflets were passed out, some detailing the mistreatment of circus animals, some suggesting animal-free circus alternatives. Other than the occassional hot-head making a scene in front of his children or aggressive circus security details, most people were receptive and a few noted right away that they would never attend another animal circus once they became aware of the inherent cruelty. After the first round of demos in Oakland, activists turned their attention to Ringling Bros. appearances in San Jose the following week and San Francisco the week after that.

Oakland Reports and Pictures: 1 | 2 | 3
San Jose Report: 1
Full Bay Area Leafletting Schedule

Previous coverage of July 2005 Ringling demos in Fresno
Information on Animals in Circuses: Circuses.com

It began with a phone call from PETA’s Bruce Friedrich. An egg farmer in California’s Central Valley had 160,000 “spent” hens he was about to send to slaughter. In other words, they’d been exploited to the point where their eggs were no longer valuable, so, after less than two years of life, it was time to move them out. Since he’d only get a penny each for them (they’d end up as dog and cat food), the farmer had told PETA they could take as many as they wanted. With the help of Animal Place and other rescuers, around 700 hens were saved and most have found good homes. Rescuers are asking for help in placing the last of the hens in suitable homes. Full story here

Nationwide, activists are demonstrating at individual KFC restaurants to pressure the company to adhere to comprehensive guidelines developed by its own animal welfare panelists which thus far KFC has refused to implement. In San Jose, animal rights activists numbers protesting KFC's treatment of chickens continue to grow, due mainly to "increased cross-posting on several websites and helpful email blasts from Peta", says a report from the activists. Organizers report that that the location in San Jose is their "favorite because this location's store manager always stresses out and calls the police on us - meaning that we are REALLY getting to them!" The lastest protest was no exception, as about halfway through the protest a police cruiser showed up and the officer spoke to a few in the group, then remained to watch the duration of the protest. The group handed out leaflets regarding KFC's treatment of the almost 800,000,000 chickens it processes every year, they did street theater, and the activists received a large number of supportive honks from drivers-by.

Read the Full Report

PETA's Ongoing Kentucky Fried Cruelty Campaign
Check Indybay's Animal Liberation Calendar for Future Local Events
Previous Indybay Coverage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Bay Area Vegetarians (BAV) and other local grassroots groups are keeping the pressure on KFC for what activists say are well-documented practices of ongoing abuse to chickens. They claim chickens are routinely scalded alive, beaten and kicked. In addition, they say the chickens are pumped full of hormones and kept in crowded filthy conditions which frequently results in their inability to stand up or flap their wings. KFC has so far refused to implement comprehensive guidelines developed by its own animal welfare panelists to prevent these and other abuses. Until it does, activists everywhere are protesting. This weekend in the Bay Area, actions against KFC took place in S.F., Santa Clara, and other cities.

Photos from S.F. Demo

PETA's Ongoing Kentucky Fried Cruelty Campaign
Check Indybay's Animal Liberation Calendar for Future Local Events
Previous Indybay Coverage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

On July 15, In Defense of Animals (IDA) and other animal protection groups, in solidarity with Animal Freedom Korea, held worldwide protests to coincide with the first of Korea's "Bok days," which literally means the hot, dog days of summer. South Korea's dog meat consumption increases during this time of year because some believe they can keep cool by eating animals that do not sweat. Although consumption of dogs and cats is technically illegal in South Korea, the government is now trying to effectively legalize it by regulating dog meat sanitation. The Government's stamp of approval is said by activists to be particularly indefensible given that the vast majority of Koreans oppose eating dogs and cats.

In San Francisco, activists gathered at the Korean Consulate at 3500 Clay St. to protest the government's actions and to deliver a petition with over 5,000 signatures demanding that the government enforce its own laws against the sale of dog and cat meat.

Video Coverage of SF Demo | Full report and pictures here

Previous Indybay Coverage of Korean Trade Expo Demo

July 12th, 8pm: A rally and vigil for David and Danae started at the Federal courthouse at 8pm, and soon after moved to the Federal Prison down the street. With chants of "Civil Rights are under attack, what do we do? Act Up, Fight Back!" and "Freedom Now!" the 35 demonstrators got responses both from the prisonsers inside (who banged on the windows) and the guards outside (who threatened to arrest anyone on Federal Property). Photos from the Rally
5pm: Michael Cardenas has finished testifying and has been dismissed. He expressed that he does not feel that he shared any information that wasn't already publicly available or already known to the prosecutors. Detailed account
3pm: Danae Kelley and David Agranoff have been taken into federal custody.
Photos from Press Conference
10 am: The judge denied all motions to dismiss the subpoena. The three activists were ordered to go back in court at 1 p.m. to testify and answer all questions from the grand jury. If they refuse to answer questions, the activists will be remanded into custody for as long as the grand jury is convened, or up to 18 months.

Last month, a number of activists were subpoenaed to testify before federal grand juries in both northern and southern California. (San Francisco Grand Jury Coverage) A bay area teach-in on grand juries, entitled The Master’s Tools: How the Government Manipulates the Legal System to Suppress Dissent, was held July 12th at AK Press in Oakland.

Background Report on San Diego Grand Jury

Full Coverage at San Diego Indymedia