Stop the slaughter with animal-free diet

We are rightfully outraged by visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s taunting denial of the Holocaust. Yet, at every meal, we deny the daily abuse and slaughter of millions of cows, pigs and other innocent animals in U.S. factory farms and slaughterhouses.

From birth, they are caged, crowded, deprived, drugged, and mutilated. At the slaughterhouse, they are frequently dismembered, skinned or scalded while fully conscious. Although 93 percent of consumers condemn such abuses, no state or federal law prevents them.

On Oct. 2, 400 communities in all 50 states and two dozen countries observe World Farm Animals Day to expose and memorialize the tragic use of animals for food and to promote an animal-free diet.

The next time we are outraged by Ahmadinejad’s taunts or other injustices, let’s refuse to subsidize animal cruelty with our food dollars. Let’s observe World Farm Animals Day at the supermarket.

Howard Thatcher

Chico