Mass Media... (duplicate post)

... is the sole difference between agricultural corporations/commodity groups and the HSUS. Of course, many people have realized this already as concerned "agvocacy" groups and individuals scramble to educate people on the appropriate and effective use of social media outlets to spread the truth about animal care on America's farms today. And don't get me wrong, this is very important and will lead to better communication on the part of farmers in the future, but this doesn't solve the problem of now. It doesn't help get out the word to counter the lies which spread like weeds on MiracleGro.

Back in the winter (and yes, it's March and 50F outside so I can say that today), Feedstuffs ran a series of articles written by a reporter who got on farm after the chicken footage was released. His articles served as a powerful expose to the creative artwork that went into fabricating the "footage" used to accuse the farm of animal neglect and abuse. Like so many other videos that HSUS, PETA and Mercy for Animals are using to build up their tsunami of uninformed, but extremely concerned consumers, the release turned out to be framed. And after the media hype about the video release had passed and it was found to be posed, who was left to report the truth?

One reporter, as previously mentioned, did a real good job of covering facts and telling the truth and for that he ought to be commended. The same is true for the Smithfield video release back in December, and if you have any interest in reading facts about what happened, follow the link to read some true reporting. The unfortunate thing is that in the end, how far will this article really get? The media has lost the thread on this story long ago. Heck, look how long Egypt stayed on the news and how quickly they trailed off again, eclipsed by some new and unknown TV airtime and advertisement opportunity. Read this if you care about the truth, and then share it. If you want more people to read and to know, you'll have to share it yourself, face-to-face, or wallpost-to-wallpost, or however word gets passed along these days.

Central Ohio Dairy Cruelty Video

In other news, I think that the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation adequately expressed my personal response to the recent Conklin Farm incident publicized by Mercy for Animals. Obviously, if there are issues like this occurring then they must be stopped. The cruelty captured on film is despicable and I hope the guy filmed doing these horrible actions spends jail time. However, this is not typical of farming and we must end it and not defend them.

On the flip side of the issue, I was very happy that the OFBF directly addressed my own specific concerns and frustrations with the filming by Mercy for Animals in their press release. Why didn't they put an end to this? Did they help instigate it? I also want a full investigation to the neglect that their undercover filmer exhibited when refusing to stand up for what he/she claimed to uphold. Instead he/she filmed the cruelty and made no effort to stop it over the period of a WHOLE MONTH! Shameful. Mercy for Animals once again proves to be nothing but a media front for a political agenda that is merely remotely related to animal well-being. If they cared about the animals that they claim to be serving the interests of, then by the traditional definition of animal rights they would care about each individual and stop every act of cruelty as quickly as possible to help save that individual. Read your books people, the founders of the animal rights movement would be disgraced by you.