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Posted by Daniel C. Fernandez on April 20, 2004 at 22:00:03:
EMERGENCY ALERT ON HORSE SLAUGHTER!!! SUPPORT FOR SB 1921 DESESPERATELY NEEDED!!!
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 on the next weeks.
The bill didn´t obtained the minimum number of votes (60) to be considerated last March, so it will be revoted again.
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 LEGISLATION THAT WILL BAN HORSE SLAUGHTER FOR HUMAN COMSUPTION!!!! ASK FAMILY, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS AND WORK/CLASS PARTNERS TO DO THE SAME!!!
Center your efforts on the Senators and the Representatives 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.
- It is false and ridiculous that banning horse slaughter will lead to a ban of the slaughter of food producing animals such as cows, pigs or sheeps. Horses are NOT food animals and as such must be protected from slaughter.
The best way to contact Illinois Legislators is by FAXING, CALLING AND EMAILING THEM TO THEIR SPRINGFIELD OFFICES. 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:
http://www.barntowire.com/stophorseslaughter-Illinois-reps.html
http://www.barntowire.com/stophorseslaughter-Illinois-sens.html
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/IllinoisAssembly.htm
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 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
You can find a sample letter for US Congressmen at the bottom of this message.
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)
Dear Representative _______________: I urge you to support legislation introduced by Representative Robert S. Molaro that will 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. There are better ways to deal with unwanted horses like retraining programs and chemical, painless euthanasia. In addition, claims saying that banning horse slaughter will lead to a ban on the slaughter of food producing animals are false and ridiculous. California banned horse slaughter years ago and since then there were no attacks of any kind on farmed food animal slaughter. 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 legislation that will ban the slaugter of horses for human comsuption. Sincerely, Phone Fax ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Phone Fax --------SAMPLE LETTER FOR US CONGRESSMEN (HR 857)------------ Subject: Support HR 857 Dear Representative _________________: I am writing to you in the hope that I can somehow convince you to support and co-sponsor H.R. 857, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. This bill was introduced by Representatives Sweeney and Spratt and would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption, as well as the trade and transport of horseflesh and live horses intended for human consumption. I ask you to support and co-sponsor this legislation as being positive for Americans, American horses and the American horse industry. Also, please let me take this opportunity to remind you of some of the strong arguments I have in asking you to support it. Eating horses in America or killing them for human consumption is ethically and morally unacceptable. 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 two decades. This is intolerable and we should not allow this abominable practice to continue in our country. Since horses are not food animals, nor are they specifically bred for food or fiber, they are medicated with very potent drugs, such as dewormers, painkillers,hormones, anti-inflamatories, and pesticides for fly control. These antibiotics and vaccines become resident in their flesh and are specifically labeled not for human use. Not only do they contain very strong carcinogens but are also extremely toxic when consumed by humans. Some of these drugs are already banned on domestic food animals such as cows or pigs and this indication is clearly stated on their packages (NOT FOR USE IN HORSES INTENDED FOR FOOD). Horsemeat 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, especially in light of recent bans by the European Union on exports of American meat. Since there is no export tariff on horsemeat, no profits from this deplorable business remain in America. In addition, these foreign-owned companies pay no state taxes at all. Therefore, all the profits from horse slaughter are siphoned directly to Belgium and France, the home countries of these corporations. Economically, it is point proven that horses are more valuable for the economy live than dead. While the live horse industry creates millions of dollars each year and provides jobs for thousands of people, the horse slaughter industry only creates profit for these corporations. Horses are taxed as a non-food and recreational animal (although classified as "livestock"), and as such are not exempt from state and local sales taxes, as are animals that are traditionally raised for food. If horses become part of the "food chain", each state will lose millions of dollars annually in sales tax revenue alone. Horses slaughtered by these foreign-owned industries 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-decker 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 many horses remain conscious during their own slaughter, including having their throats slit. Horse slaughter is a barbaric and despicable business. A vast majority of Americans (over 80% according to recent polls) are opposed to it. 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 199 Co-sponsors) enacted in order to ban it entirely from this country. Americans do not eat horses nor do we raise our horses for food. The only reason horse slaughter exists is to satisfy the palates of foreigners who consider horseflesh a delicacy along with 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 has significantly improved. May I also point out that in Texas where the only two operating horse slaughterhouses remaining in the US, horse theft and abuse is rampant. 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; purchased at auction where slaughterhouses middlemen dubbed "killer buyers" will outbid families and farmers looking for pets, riding and working horses. 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 H.R. 857, The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. I look forward to receiving a response from you regarding your position on this issue, which is of significant and great importance to me. Thank you for your time and consideration of my letter. Sincerely, ------------------------------------------------------------ For more information on how to help to stop horse slaughter go to: Find background information about horse slaughter at:
The Honorable ________________
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.
____________________
---------------------------------------------------------------
LIST OF KEY REPRESENTATIVES & SPRINFIELD PHONE AND FAX NUMBERS
Patricia Bailey (217) 782-5971 (217) 558-6370
Mark Beaubien (217) 782-1517 (217) 782-3189
Patricia Bellock (217) 782-1448 (217) 782-2289
Mike Boland (217) 782-3992 (217) 782-5201
Mike Bost (217) 782-0387 (217) 557-7213
John Bradley (217) 782-1051 (217) 782-0882
Dan Brady (217) 782-1118 (217) 558-6271
Rich Brauer (217) 782-0053 (217) 782-0897
James Brosnahan (217) 782-0515 (217) 789-4899
Daniel Burke (217) 782-1117 (217) 782-0927
Marlow H. Colvin (217) 782-8272 (217) 782-2404
Shane Cultra (217) 558-1039 (217) 558-1098
Lee Daniels (217) 782-4014 (217) 782-3234
Kenneth 'Ken' Dunkin (217) 782-5997 (217) 782-2779
Lisa Dugan (217) 782-5981 (217) 782-0945
Joe Dunn (217) 782-6507 (217) 782-5257
Roger L. Eddy (217) 558-1040 (217) 558-3481
Bob Flider (217) 782-8398 (217) 782-2528
Jack Franks (217) 782-1717 (217) 557-7203
John Fritchey (217) 782-2458 (217) 557-7214
Paul Froehlich (217) 782-3725 (217) 782-1336
Calvin Giles (217) 782-5962 (217) 782-2779
Colleen Gordon (217) 782-4535 (217) 782-7631
Bill Grunloh (217) 782-2087 (217) 524-0867
Gary Hannig (217) 782-8071 (217) 524-1794
Brent Hassert (217) 782-4179 (217) 782-1275
Randall Hultgren (217) 782-1653 (217) 782-1139
Charles Jefferson (217) 782-3167 (217) 557-7654
Renee Kosel (217) 782-0424 (217) 557-7249
David Leitch (217) 782-8108 (217) 557-3047
Patricia Lindner (217) 782-1486 (217) 782-1873
Eileen Lyons (217) 782-0494 (217) 557-7209
Jack McGuire (217) 782-8090 (217) 557-6465
John J. Millner (217) 558-1037 none
Charles Morrow (217) 782-1702 (217) 782-9274
Ruth Munson (217) 782-8020 none
JoAnn Osmond (217) 782-8151 (217) 557-7207
Brandon W. Phelps (217) 782-5131 none
Raymond Poe (217) 782-0044 (217) 588-1072
Dan Reitz (217) 782-1018 (217) 782-0945
Chapin Rose (217) 558-1006 (217) 782-1275
Timothy Schmitz (217) 782-5457 (217) 782-1275
Michael Smith (217) 782-8152 (217) 557-4415
Keith Sommer (217) 782-0221 (217) 782-1275
Ron Stephens (217) 782-6401 (217) 557-3047
Arthur Tenhouse (217) 782-8096 (217) 782-7012
Arthur Turner (217) 782-8116 (217) 782-0888
Ron Wait (217) 782-0548 (217) 782-1275
Jim Watson (217) 782-1840 (217) 782-1336
LIST OF IL SENATORS & SPRINGFIELD PHONE AND FAX #
Pamela Althoff (217) 782-8000 (217) 782-3331
Bill Brady (217) 782-6216 (217) 782-0116
James Clayborne (217) 782-5399 (618) 274-3010
Jacqui Collins (217) 782-1607 (773) 483-7583
Daniel Cronin (217) 782-8107 (217) 782-0069
Maggie Crotty (217) 782-9595 (217) 782-3213
John Cullerton (217) 782-7260 (217) 782-5613
Miguel del Valle (217) 782-5652 (217) 782-4450
James DeLeo (217) 782-1035 (217) 558-1042
Vince Demuzio (217) 782-8206 (217) 558-1042
Kirk W. Dillard (217) 782-8148 (217) 782-0650
Gary Forby (217) 782-5509 (217)-782-6895
Susan Garrett (217) 782-3650 (217) 782-2115
Adeline Geo-Karis (217) 782-7353 (217) 782-7818
Bill Haine (217) 782-5247 (618) 465-4816
Debbie Halvorson (217) 782-7419 (217) 558-2068
Don Harmon (217) 782-8176 (217) 782-1631
Rickey Hendon (217) 782-6252 (217) 782-1631
Mattie Hunter (217) 782-5966 (217) 782-3961
Denny Jacobs (217) 782-5957 (217) 588-6006
John O. Jones (217) 782-0471 (217) 782-4079
Wendell Jones (217) 782-4471 (217) 782-0116
Emil Jones Jr. (217) 782-2728 (217) 782-3242
Chris Lauzen (217) 782-0052 (217) 782-0052
Kimberly Lightford (217) 782-8505 (217) 782-0715
Terry Link (217) 782-8181 (217) 558-6006
Ed Maloney (217) 782-5145 (217) 782-3213
Iris Y. Martinez (217) 782-8191 (217) 782-2115
James Meeks (217) 782-8066 (217) 782-1172
Antonio Munoz (217) 782-9415 none
Barack Obama (217) 782-5338 (217) 782-6895
William Peterson (217) 782-8010 (217) 782-4885
Edward Petka (217) 782-0422 (217) 782-7818
Christine Radogno (217) 782-9407 (217) 782-9586
Steve Rauschenberger (217) 782-7746 (217) 782-7746
Dale A. Righter (217) 782-6674 (217) 782-9586
Dale E. Risinger (217) 782-1942 (217) 782-9586
Carol Ronen (217) 782-8492 (217) 782-6895
Peter Roskam (217) 782-8022 (217) 782-8022
Dan Rutherford (217) 782-6597 (217) 782-0116
Martin Sandoval (217) 782-5304 (217) 558-6006
Jeffrey Schoenberg (217) 782-2119 (217) 782-2115
George Shadid (217) 782-8250 (217) 782-2331
Todd Sieben (217) 782-0180 (217) 782-4885
Ira Silverstein (217) 782-5500 (217) 782-4885
Ray Soden (217) 782-3840 (217) 782-3331
Dave Sullivan (217) 782-3875 (217) 782-0650
John Sullivan (217) 782-2479 (217) 558-6006
Dave Syverson (217) 782-5413 (217) 782-4079
Donne Trotter (217) 782-3201 (217) 782-8201
Louis Viverito (217) 782-0054 (217) 782-0715
Larry Walsh (217) 782-8800 (217) 782-2331
Frank Watson (217) 782-5755 (217) 782-7818
Patrick Welch (217) 782-8287 (217) 782-5340
Richard Winkel (217) 782-2507 (217) 782-9586
Kathleen Wojcik (217) 782-8192 (217) 782-0116
The Honorable _________________
_______________________
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/againstslaughter/.
http://www.saplonline.org/Legislation/ahpa.htm
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/horsemeat/index.htm
http://www.justsaywhoa.org/
PLEASE CROSSPOST THIS MESSAGE EVERYWHERE!!! Thanks for your help!!