Joined Apr 2009
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cental Pennsylvania
Found this in the local paper
Blog takes aim at Humane Society of the United States
By Heather Thorstensen
[email protected]
Date Modified: 07/01/2010 9:11 AM
E-mail article | Print version
WASHINGTON— Efforts of The Humane Society of the United States have come under scrutiny on a blog, HumaneWatch.org.
"They are without a doubt the richest animal rights group in history, with more political power and communication muscle than anyone else...and there's nobody watching them," said HumaneWatch's editor, David Martosko.
HumaneWatch is part of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting consumers' right to choose how to live their lives.
The center is run by Berman and Company, a public affairs firm. Many argue that president Richard Berman's non-profit is simply a "hired gun" for corporate interests.
"I represent a non-profit, educational organization that's managed by a private firm," Martosko said. "That's how a small, non-profit can manage to do something meaningful."
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said HumaneWatch is "false information from a front man who shills for tobacco companies, alcohol interest, junk food companies and now animal abusers."
"It's a gathering place for false information about the Humane Society of the United States and readers of it should view it with a high degree of skepticism," Pacelle said. "...Rick Berman is well known in Washington to create front organizations for corporate interests."
HumaneWatch was launched in February. It includes a document library, which has HSUS-related financial documents, fundraising materials, legal documents and articles.
Approximately one million hits have been made on the blog so far and it's gathered some 70,000 Facebook friends. It's been advertised nationally, including a current a billboard in New York City's Times Square.
"We've learned there's a tremendous appetite for this type of information in America," Martosko said.
His research team questions undercover videos shot at farms, saying some are edited to intentionally show farmers in a bad light and that groups making these videos are linked to The HSUS.
"There's a lot of questions to be asked about phonying up video evidence," he said. "...Nobody should be surprised that they're creatively splicing video. They really are against all kinds of animal farming."
He said one of The HSUS' true agendas is to reduce the number of animals on farms.
Among The HSUS' many campaigns is an effort to stop factory farming. Pacelle defines factory farms as confinement operations where animals are unable to move or behave naturally.
But that doesn't mean The HSUS has an anti-meat agenda, Pacelle said.
"I urge you to look at how we communicate with the public. We have a national advertising campaign. There's not an insinuation of people not eating meat...It's a mischaracterization of our work," he said.
Their efforts to improve farm animal welfare relate to how the animals are treated on the farm, during transport and at slaughter, he said.
The HSUS has an investigative unit, but Pacelle said they aren't involved with all undercover investigations on farms.The organization has worked cooperatively with farmers to improve animal welfare, Pacelle said, including their efforts in California to ban tail docking on cows. The ban was passed last year.
"We had the active support of the California Farm Bureau Federation and California Cattlemen's Association. That was just one of several issues where we have reached an agreement with the ag community on higher welfare standards," he said.
Martosko said one of HumaneWatch's most startling discoveries is how little of The HSUS's money goes to local pet shelters. Most Americans believe The HSUS is an umbrella group for local shelters, according to research commissioned by the Center for Consumer Freedom.
"As it is right now, intentionally or not, HSUS is capturing tens of millions (of dollars) from local communities with no intention of putting it back in communities," Martosko said.
Pacelle said The HSUS was never designated to be a pass-through organization for local humane societies, but it works on national efforts that help local shelters.
Saying The HSUS can only help by giving funds directly to shelters would be like saying American Farm Bureau only can help farmers by giving a grant to every local county bureau, Pacelle said.
"Does the Farm Bureau give a grant to every local Farm Bureau chapter? No, they represent the interests of the industry," he said.
Blog takes aim at Humane Society of the United States
By Heather Thorstensen
[email protected]
Date Modified: 07/01/2010 9:11 AM
E-mail article | Print version
WASHINGTON— Efforts of The Humane Society of the United States have come under scrutiny on a blog, HumaneWatch.org.
"They are without a doubt the richest animal rights group in history, with more political power and communication muscle than anyone else...and there's nobody watching them," said HumaneWatch's editor, David Martosko.
HumaneWatch is part of the Center for Consumer Freedom, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting consumers' right to choose how to live their lives.
The center is run by Berman and Company, a public affairs firm. Many argue that president Richard Berman's non-profit is simply a "hired gun" for corporate interests.
"I represent a non-profit, educational organization that's managed by a private firm," Martosko said. "That's how a small, non-profit can manage to do something meaningful."
Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, said HumaneWatch is "false information from a front man who shills for tobacco companies, alcohol interest, junk food companies and now animal abusers."
"It's a gathering place for false information about the Humane Society of the United States and readers of it should view it with a high degree of skepticism," Pacelle said. "...Rick Berman is well known in Washington to create front organizations for corporate interests."
HumaneWatch was launched in February. It includes a document library, which has HSUS-related financial documents, fundraising materials, legal documents and articles.
Approximately one million hits have been made on the blog so far and it's gathered some 70,000 Facebook friends. It's been advertised nationally, including a current a billboard in New York City's Times Square.
"We've learned there's a tremendous appetite for this type of information in America," Martosko said.
His research team questions undercover videos shot at farms, saying some are edited to intentionally show farmers in a bad light and that groups making these videos are linked to The HSUS.
"There's a lot of questions to be asked about phonying up video evidence," he said. "...Nobody should be surprised that they're creatively splicing video. They really are against all kinds of animal farming."
He said one of The HSUS' true agendas is to reduce the number of animals on farms.
Among The HSUS' many campaigns is an effort to stop factory farming. Pacelle defines factory farms as confinement operations where animals are unable to move or behave naturally.
But that doesn't mean The HSUS has an anti-meat agenda, Pacelle said.
"I urge you to look at how we communicate with the public. We have a national advertising campaign. There's not an insinuation of people not eating meat...It's a mischaracterization of our work," he said.
Their efforts to improve farm animal welfare relate to how the animals are treated on the farm, during transport and at slaughter, he said.
The HSUS has an investigative unit, but Pacelle said they aren't involved with all undercover investigations on farms.The organization has worked cooperatively with farmers to improve animal welfare, Pacelle said, including their efforts in California to ban tail docking on cows. The ban was passed last year.
"We had the active support of the California Farm Bureau Federation and California Cattlemen's Association. That was just one of several issues where we have reached an agreement with the ag community on higher welfare standards," he said.
Martosko said one of HumaneWatch's most startling discoveries is how little of The HSUS's money goes to local pet shelters. Most Americans believe The HSUS is an umbrella group for local shelters, according to research commissioned by the Center for Consumer Freedom.
"As it is right now, intentionally or not, HSUS is capturing tens of millions (of dollars) from local communities with no intention of putting it back in communities," Martosko said.
Pacelle said The HSUS was never designated to be a pass-through organization for local humane societies, but it works on national efforts that help local shelters.
Saying The HSUS can only help by giving funds directly to shelters would be like saying American Farm Bureau only can help farmers by giving a grant to every local county bureau, Pacelle said.
"Does the Farm Bureau give a grant to every local Farm Bureau chapter? No, they represent the interests of the industry," he said.
Iowa Legislature bans secretive videotaping.
Iowa has become the first state to pass legislation that criminalizes the act of surreptitiously getting into a farming operation to videotape animal abuse, setting a precedent for others considering similar measurers.
The bill passed the Senate 40-10, and then was approved by the House 69-28.
Seven other states are pending legislation.
Great News. Could we attach a rider on a bill to help us get preserves in??
Iowa has become the first state to pass legislation that criminalizes the act of surreptitiously getting into a farming operation to videotape animal abuse, setting a precedent for others considering similar measurers.
The bill passed the Senate 40-10, and then was approved by the House 69-28.
Seven other states are pending legislation.
Great News. Could we attach a rider on a bill to help us get preserves in??
I jsut returned from the EWA (Exotic Wildlife Association) annual membership meeting in Kerreville TX. Great meeting. A really proactive group with good direction.
One of the things presented was a video of an interview by the Daily Show.
Be prepared, this is an amazing and eye opening video. Please empty your bladder before viewing as you are very likely to wet yourself.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-15-2012/seaworld-of-pain
Ray
One of the things presented was a video of an interview by the Daily Show.
Be prepared, this is an amazing and eye opening video. Please empty your bladder before viewing as you are very likely to wet yourself.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-15-2012/seaworld-of-pain
Ray
