Organic Consumers Association

The Organic Consumers Association was formed in 1998 and campaigns for health, justice, and sustainability on behalf of the millions of organic consumers. Their main political program, the Organic Agenda, contains six points addressing the changes that need to take place in the food industry, with the fourth stating they would like to see "a phase-out of the most dangerous industrial agriculture and factory farming practices."

Here's the bad news about factory farming:

1. Each full-grown chicken in a factory farm has as little as six-tenths of a square foot of space. Because of the crowding, they often become aggressive and sometimes eat each other. This has lead to the painful practice of debeaking the birds.
2. Hogs become aggressive in tight spaces and often bite each other's tails, which has caused many farmers to cut the tails off.
3. Concrete or slatted floors allow for easy removal of manure, but because they are unnatural surfaces for pigs, the animals often suffer skeletal deformities.
4. Ammonia and other gases from manure irritate animals' lungs, to the point where over 80% of US pigs have pneumonia upon slaughter.
5. Due to genetic manipulation, 90% of broiler chickens have trouble walking.

A great way to get swine flu!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbaks/3486354284/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Also, as you probably know, the swine flu started at a hog farm in North Carolina because of the awful conditions of factory farming. It quickly spread across the world, leaving behind numerous health risks. However, what you may not know, is that the vaccines treating the H1N1 virus actually may contribute to the already present safety concerns of the illness:

1. A leaked memo revealed that the swine flu vaccine has been linked to paralysis.
2. The fast-tracked vaccine contains novel adjuvants, including dangerous qualene which is linked to Gulf War syndrome.

To learn more about the swine flu and other issues concerning the welfare of animals and humans visit this website. The OCA also provides information in areas such as organics, agriculture and climate, genetic engineering, food safety, fair trade/social justice, and politics and democracy. Take action, find organics, and donate today at www.organicconsumers.org!

-Jennifer Rochefort