The fact that veal is cruel cuisine shouldn’t come as a surprise. If, for some reason, you’ve been eating it with no idea what it is, veal is baby cow. The pale color that chefs and gourmands love so much? That comes from deliberately inducing anemia and weakness, which is done by taking the calves from their mothers (a.k.a. dairy cows, like those at Conklin) and shoving them into crates to ensure that they have an unhealthy existence with as little exercise as possible. In other words, it’s flesh from a sick animal.

That’s what Mercy for Animals found at Buckeye Veal Farm, a Costco supplier. In the video (below), narrated by Bob Barker, the veal crates you see are typical.

The calves are chained by their necks, just in case they try to move around their cramped two-foot wide stall, and forced to live their short lives stuck in their own waste, without the ability to lie down comfortably, run, bond with their mothers, see sunlight, or breathe fresh air. They’re typically slaughtered and on their way to stores like Costco, Giant Eagle and other supermarkets by the time they’re 20 weeks old.

Bob Barker sent a letter to Costco, saying: “As a civilized society, it’s our moral obligation to prevent needless animal cruelty. Chaining baby calves in crates where they cannot even turn around is abusive and totally unacceptable.”

Veal crates are opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association and have been outlawed in the European Union, as well as Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine and Michigan. The Ohio Farm Bureau has agreed to ban veal crates by 2017 as part of an agreement brokered earlier this summer. The calves at Buckeye and other veal farms in Ohio shouldn’t have to wait for when, or if, that happens.

Share this video, so people know the true cost of veal, and tell Costco to take veal off their shelves, and stop supporting cruelty.

Image/Video credit: Mercy for Animals

Investigation Reveals the High Cost of Costco Veal

Contacts:
Patricia Nixon (http://www.linkedin.com/in/pnixon)
Marc Johnson (http://www.linkedin.com/in/marcwjohnson)

CNN Reports: Unemployed Need Not Apply http://bit.ly/aOu1UO

After reading the article above, you must find yourself sickened by this heinous and atrocious practice as many individuals have! Do you find this as reprehensible as we do?? The article uncovers a nasty little secret frequently being practiced during one of the most financially difficult times in modern history.? Respected companies many of us have supported or known of virtually all our lives including Sony Ericsson actively choose not to consider hiring from the vast pool of qualified unemployed candidates.? The Vice President of Adecco Group, the largest staffing firm in the world, admitted this requirement was brought up in 3 out of 4 of the last conversations he had regarding openings.? These may be companies you, your friends or family members may be applying to for jobs right now.

Do not believe this regards only high-level positions.? Latro Consulting was revealed doing the same thing when posting listings for grocery store managers throughout the Southeast.? So even if you have to take a lower-level job to support your family, keep a roof over your head and food on your table, you may also be discriminated against simply because you do not have a job.

We demand that the government we support with our taxes address this head-on.? All discrimination is ugly and this is no exception.? For those of you currently working, you, too, are carrying the weight of this burden.? For those families that are now struggling with the loss of an income their expenses have not decreased in proportion.? Some have to (or soon will) take advantage of discounted or free services just to stay afloat which we know comes out of the pockets of taxpayers struggling with their own finances.? We are losing our homes, our medical benefits, 401(k)s, savings accounts and the college funds of our children.? Unemployed members of our communities who are actively seeking work do not want to further burden the country they have been a backbone to for much of their lives.? Those who can and are willing to work must be allowed opportunities based on experience, credentials and willingness, especially now when many are victims of an economy they did not destroy.? We demand we not be further victimized nor discriminated against!? This country and its people simply cannot afford it!

When businesses fail to support America, America fails as a whole.? We ask you not to fail us now.? Please sign this petition which will be submitted to the White House, local politicians and other media outlets demanding laws be put into place or amended that actively and aggressively investigate, prevent and penalize this discrimination.?

All who participate in this petition can be assured of its delivery as all will be provided an electronic copy of the tracking number once it is sent.? At that time, you can send the form letter that will be provided stating your support and participation in this petition to your local government representatives if you so choose to take additional steps.?

Petitions have been used throughout the history of America to impel changes in laws and policies for the better of all.? We are aiming for 500,000 signatures minimum and we expect to exceed that goal.? Please join us!

And go one step further.? If every single person who signs this petition uses whatever forms of social media (s)he is currently using to spread the word it will add even more leverage behind this effort.? Tweet it, post it in your LinkedIn groups, email a friend, send a text message with the link to this petition.? Every effort will be appreciated.

Your contact information will not be used for any other reason going forward.? We want your support and firm alliance in this endeavor and nothing more.?

America cannot work when America cannot work!
The Unemployed Need Not Apply

If you ask Joseph Casias, not that much. In 2008, Michigan voters legalized medical marijuana. That same year in Battle Creek, MI, Casias was voted Walmart’s Associate of the Year.

After the law passed, Casias’ doctor prescribed him medical marijuana to treat pain from sinus cancer and an inoperable brain tumor. When Walmart found out about his medical decisions, Casias was promptly fired by the retailer that once honored his work ethic.

Casias was abiding by state law, which permits cancer patients to diminish their symptoms with prescribed use. Casias — a hard-working husband and father of two young children — had never arrived at work under the influence or smoked on the job. And yet Walmart dismissed him anyway, after he (predictably) failed to pass a drug test administered by a doctor who treated Casias after he twisted his knee at work.

Walmart’s policy of forcing employees to choose between their health care and their paycheck is now being tested in state court. The ACLU filed suit on Casias’ behalf this week, alleging that Walmart violated the protections provided by Michigan’s medical marijuana law.

In recent months, over 2,000 Change.org readers told Walmart to keep its nose out of employees’ health care decisions, but the company remains obstinate. You can keep up on the latest, and tell Walmart that medical marijuana is medicine, at the ACLU’s new Facebook page dedicated to Casias’ case.

This isn’t the only suit pending against Walmart for unfair and discriminatory employment practices. With Casias, the ACLU and other hitting Walmart in its pocketbook, time will reveal how long the retailer’s reactionary policies will stand.

Photo Credit: Caveman 92223 — On the 2010 US Tour

Walmart’s War on Medical Marijuana