VICTORY! VOTERS PASS PROPOSITION 204

ABUSIVE FACTORY FARMING PRACTICES BANNED IN ARIZONA

On November 7, 2006, Arizonans voted overwhelmingly, by 62 percent, in favor of Proposition 204, to ban the cruel and intensive confinement of veal calves and pregnant pigs on industrialized factory farms. This new law will finally allow these animals enough room to turn around and stretch their limbs.

The passing of this precedent-setting humane proposition makes Arizona the first state in the nation to enact such a measure to ban veal crates and the second state to ban gestation crates for pregnant pigs. The gestation crate for breeding pigs was outlawed through a citizen initiative in Florida in 2002.

Arizonans for Humane Farms, a coalition of animal protection groups including Farm Sanctuary, launched this statewide ballot campaign in September, 2005. In July, 2006, the dedicated volunteers for Arizonans for Humane Farms surpassed the required number of valid signatures to qualify this groundbreaking humane initiative as a proposition for the November 2006 ballot. The goal was to collect at least 200,000 signatures in the ten-month gathering period, but volunteers surpassed expectations, and the campaign turned in over 218,000 signatures. Months of tireless campaigning and educating of consumers have finally paid off: The people of Arizona have made an historic statement against animal cruelty and in favor of the Humane Treatment of Farm Animals Act.

Although the pork industry and their agribusiness allies raised vast amounts of money and ran an an extensive advertising campaign throughout Arizona opposing Prop 204, their efforts were in vain. Voters simply decided that there is no justification for keeping calves raised for veal and pregnant pigs in crates too small to allow them to turn around and stretch their limbs.

Proposition 204 was the subject of extensive media coverage throughout Arizona, thanks to the efforts of activists in getting the word out:

Arizona Republic - January 31, 2007
Arizona voters truly made difference

WASHINGTON POST - January 26, 2007
Largest Pork Processor to Phase Out Crates

Webdiary - December 15, 2006
Pigs, Calves, and American Democracy

Tucson Citizen - November 28, 2006
Stanton: Bless the beasts and the . . . voters

Arizona Capitol Times - November 7, 2006
Humane Farms leading

Time - November 6, 2006
Campaign '06: Treating Pigs Better in Arizona

Range News - October 25, 2006
Range News endorses those who don't mislead voters

Arizona Daily Star - October 22, 2006
Prop. 204: YES

Arizona Republic - October 19, 2006
A simple case of decency

The Daily Courier - October 18, 2006
Voters will decide whether Prop. 204 is 'hogwash'

Northern Arizona University Social Research Laboratory press release - October 17, 2006
Proposition 204, the measure to regulate living conditions for pregnant pigs and veal calves, is supported by 72 percent of likely voters with 55 percent of voters “strongly supporting” humane treatment of farm animals.

Tucson Weekly - October 5, 2006
Hogwash or Humanity? Is outlawing gestation crates for pigs the first step toward a meat-free world?

Paul Harvey asks Arizonans to vote Yes on Prop 204!
ABC Radio Network, Paul Harvey News & Comments- October 3, 2006
*Click on Tuesday - Morning

Arizonans for Humane Farms Press Release: Paul Harvey Endorses Prop 204 Campaign - October 3, 2006

Arizona Republic - September 22, 2006
PRO: Simple reform ends a lot of pain

The Desert Advocate - September 20, 2006
Prop 204 will require humane treatment of farm animals

East Valley Tribune - August 12, 2006
Foes send first volley in farm animal ad war

The Catholic Sun - June 15, 2006
Arizona Catholic fights for humane farming initiative

Mother Jones - March 17, 2006
Arizona citizens mobilize to defeat factory farm control

The Arizona Republic - February 19, 2006
A Sunless Hell by Matthew Scully

Arizona Capital Times - February 2006
Proposed initiative assures humane treatment for veal calves, pregnant pigs

Arizona Capital Times
Farm initiative is not a secret plot called ‘Invasion of the Vegetarians’

Tuscon Weekly - December 29, 2005
Space Restrictions - Animal-rights advocates, ranchers square off in a battle over animal-confinement practices

The Arizona Republic - September 19, 2005
Initiative opposes confined livestock - Activists call practice 'cruel'

Arizona State University - September 9, 2005
Animal cruelty appalling by Laura Graham

Capitol Media Services - September 8, 2005
Petition drive would enlarge small pens of farm animals

These pictures show the tragedy and suffering that animals experience on factory farms everyday. Arizonans for Humane Farms was committed to and successful in passing the ballot measure that will simply allow animals such as these enough room to turn around and extend their limbs.

Defeated/Oppose Arizona Limit on Agriculture Regulations (SCR 1035)
A resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution that no law or rule may limit or restrict agriculture. This bill would have stopped any farm animal protection measures from ever becoming law by nullifying any rules or laws pertaining to agriculture enacted after January 1, 2006.

THANK YOU to all who worked to help make this amazing victory a reality!