State Farm Fair
August 12, 2001
Activists hold vigil for the doomed
ARH activists held a vigil to say goodbye to 4-H animals scheduled to die the
following day, August 13, 2001.
We educated the public about the impending deaths of the cows, pigs
and lambs - on display in the tent. These animals were raised by 4-H
children who then betrayed their trust by selling them by the pound at
auction.
Members of ARH have attempted for several years to save just one doomed
animal; we offered to pay even more than the inflated selling price, but
the bidders' contract stipulates that one is bidding on a dead carcass,
not a living animal. The auction administration, composed of local
ranchers and faculty of the UH College of Tropical Agriculture, have a
vested interest in the status quo. They survive solely from constant
infusion of governmental support, and they resent our presence and our
pleas for compassion.
We gathered in front of the livestock tent, on the last day of life for the
lambs, pigs and cows; we had placards with photos taken of the horrible
conditions in which pigs are raised here in Hawai'i and we distributed 400
brochures documenting the cruelty of the 4-H livestock program.
Mahalo to Barbara, Helen, Joyce, Mary, Maia, Shanna, Ali, Jim and Frank who
sweltered for several hours to speak out for the animals. Special thanks to Jim
for creating the FF brochures
