Sickening, not humane

To the editor:

Hudson Valley Foie Gras may not keep ducks and geese confined to iron-maiden-like cages like French foie gras producers do, but the intent remains the same: to make ducks sick (“Foie gras battle continues,” December 10-16). Foie gras, which is French for “fatty liver,” has a medical diagnosis: hepatic steatosis. It’s hard to imagine how intentionally sickening animals can be considered humane.

Foie gras farmers ram pipes down the birds’ throats two or three times a day and pump as much as four pounds of grain and fat into the animals’ stomachs. The pipes sometimes puncture birds’ throats, crops or stomachs. Many birds suffer from internal hemorrhaging, ruptured esophagi and livers, fungal and bacterial infections, and hepatic encephalopathy, a brain ailment caused when their livers fail. The mortality rate of birds raised for foie gras has been found to be as much as 20 times higher than that of birds raised normally.

A report by Belgian veterinarians states, “There is absolutely no doubt that force-feeding subjects them [birds] to physiological and behavioral suffering which dramatically reduces their well-being.” The report concludes that “force feeding constitutes a reprehensible practice from an ethical point of view.” The European Union’s Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare has deemed foie gras production inhumane, and a spokesperson for the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association has said that “forcing animals to overeat to the extent that their livers are expanded to 10 to 12 times the normal size and then feeding those livers to humans as a delicacy seems barbaric, senseless and clearly unnecessary.”

Alisa Mullins, Research Specialist

Repeating history?

To the editor:

In response to Kristin Barron’s Root Cellar column in the September 24 issue, I believe we are missing a deeper understanding of the human condition when we portray the horrible actions of Hitler and the Nazis as some kind of “unusual” evil separate from everyone else. We too, as individuals and as a society, and any society for that matter, regardless of race, can descend to similar levels of atrocities evolving from wrong thoughts and actions.

First, German society was in a state of complete chaos with high unemployment, rampant inflation and riots and revolution in the streets. People were looking for a strong leader. Would we as a society or any other society act any differently under similar circumstances? Self-preservation and security are powerful motivators.

Second, we must see ourselves as individuals as being not that far removed or so separate from the likes of the Hitlers of this world. Do we not at times harbor hatred, contempt and envy for others in our thoughts and in our hearts whether they be our enemies, neighbors, family members or those who do not belong to “our” religious sect or secular group?

Take the three incidents reported in the November 5 edition of The River Reporter, i.e. the killing of the albino deer that was one of God’s beautiful creations everyone in the community adored, the pathetic quarrel that preceded the dog attacks on the helpless llamas and alpacas and the arrogance of the developer of the 17B mall. The list goes on. Just turn on the news or read the newspaper.

Our thoughts lead to actions and we are all affected, not just certain individuals we like to label “evil.” If we are to understand and teach correctly for the improvement of mankind, then we must first see and teach history as a part of who we are as individuals and not as some separate evil capable only by certain “unusual” individuals. Otherwise, history will surely repeat itself on the national scale and in our individual lives.

Protect your home

To the editor:

As winter begins and thermostats are turned up, the rate of carbon monoxide poisoning incidents also rises. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania has the highest number of carbon monoxide-related fatalities in the nation, according to a 2007 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To raise awareness of this preventable danger, December has been designated as “Carbon Monoxide Awareness Month” in Pennsylvania.

When appliances such as gas water heaters, propane heaters, stoves and non-electric space heaters aren’t properly ventilated, carbon monoxide can build up to lethal levels. The best way to protect yourself and your family is to install a carbon monoxide alarm on every floor of your home. Alarms can be purchased for $20 to $40.

I am a local firefighter and a member of the Pennsylvania Safe Homes Coalition. I support the coalition’s carbon monoxide alarm legislation, a bill before the Pennsylvania House (HB 1445). If passed, the bill would require all homes to have carbon monoxide alarms—a measure that would save lives. But it’s still very important that you don’t wait for a law to purchase a carbon monoxide alarm.

You should also make sure to have your home heating system and fireplace thoroughly inspected by a qualified service technician, and never use a gas generator inside your home in an enclosed space such as a garage.

Please don’t take a chance this holiday season. Twenty dollars is a small price to pay to possibly save a life. For more information visit www.pasafehomes.org or call your local fire department.

Fred Suljic