ISSUES & FORUMS

Archive / Environmental, Energy & Sustainability:

God, Humanity, and Earth
A Community Conversation on Morality and the Environment

Earth Day
Saturday, April 22, 2006
10 AM - 12 Noon
Davenport Main Library
321 Main Street
Davenport, Iowa 52801

Sponsored by: Reclaiming Moral Values Forum and
Environmental & Energy/Sustainability Forum

General Background for Community Conversation (Environment)
During our first community conversation on Moral Values , "A Community Conversation on Morality and the Environment" we will discuss how deeply held beliefs, faith, and moral values direct humanity?s behavior toward the environment.

We will examine factors that create acceptance and resistance to ecological responsibility in the faith based, business, and advocacy communities. We will also explore the possibility of diverse faith traditions, business interests, and environmental advocates developing a cooperative framework to amplify the message of ecological responsibility across all segments of our society.

The Reclaiming Moral Values Forum has chosen two core values/principles that direct our actions as a forum:
1) Positively Valuing Diversity
2) Spreading Power Broadly

These values can be used to shape and give direction to the community conversation on morality and the environment.

LIGHTNING IN THE SKY, CONFUSION ON THE GROUND

by Molly Regan

Yes, folks, it's that time of year again; the beginning of a new January with unusual phenomena happening. On Monday morning, January 2nd at 6AM in Scott County, there was lightening but no thunder. For nearly 20 minutes this went on, then, the thunder could be heard. It was very bizarre. At first I thought there was a barge going down river, but they quit running over a month ago.

This type of weather has happened before, and in the winter it usually is followed by a large amount of snow. We lucked out this time, though. No snow, just rain and about 35 degrees Fahrenheit.

So what other odd events could be going on? Let's see what's happening in the Eastern IOWA/Western Illinois areas:

HOGS, HOGS, HOGS...Sound familiar? The East Moline, IL, City Council decided on Monday, December 19th to unanimously approve Triumph Corporation proceeding with the process that would allow them to build a slaughterhouse ON A WETLAND. There's no accounting for bad judgement, is there?

The meeting was once again held at United Township High School and attended by over 200 people. These concerned citizens took to the podium to voice their opinions regarding this proposed industry.

One teenager was nearly in tears as she explained what happens to pigs as they are raised for slaughter and how inhumanely they are treated at the slaughterhouse itself.

Speaker Art Norris wondered whether the council would be filing Department of Natural Resource permits. He was told all the proper procedures "would be followed" by East Moline Mayor John Thodos. But, the mayor did admit a DNR permit had NOT been done. Art's concern is for White Pelicans, Great Blue Herons, Eagles, Ospreys and other birds that use this wetland area as well as endangered mussels there. He and his wife are avid outdoor people and photographers.

Just that same afternoon, Terry Spence had sent me some startling information. He is with GRACE (Global Resource Action Center For the Environment) who spoke in Moline & Eldridge on December 3rd about the terrible reality of slaughterhouses and what they do to communities.

He informed me that Triumph is being sued. They are not even open for business and they already had a gas leak, fire and explosion that killed one worker and injured 14 others in October. Eleven of those injured are suing Triumph and 5 other companies, including the local gas company for 66 counts of negligence. A valve had been opened and there had been, according to the lawsuit, no chemical added to the gas to give it an odor. So the gas ended up being ignited somehow and an explosion and fire followed. I asked the council and mayor if this was the type of company, one with no track record and already getting ready to go to court, to be doing business in this area. Apparently those attributes are good to go because of the vote. The mayor asked me if there were any circumstances that would make this slaughterhouse ok with me to build. I said "NO."

That was the end of my statement. Until next time. We are keeping track of what is going to happen next, so stay tuned.

According to the Rock Island, IL, ARGUS newspaper on Wednesday, December 21st, their headline read "PORK PLANT NOT A DONE DEAL YET". According to reporter Jenny Lee, "If certain steps don't fall into place, Triumph Foods LLC still could pull out of its deal with East Moline and build a pork plant somewhere else".(Let?s make it so!)

"The redevelopment agreement between the city and Triumph requires aldermen to approve and create a tax-increment finance district, encompassing the proposed plant site on Barstow Road, on or before Jan. 1, 2007." (That's one year from now!)

"If aldermen don't authorize the creation of a TIF district, the project will not happen." Mayor Thodos said. "In a TIF district, taxing bodies continue to collect existing tax revenue, but any new revenue created by the development goes into a fund to be used for public infrastructure or rebates to developers. The project also would depend on the proposed site's inclusion in an enterprise zone. Moline, East Moline, Silvis, Milan and Rock Island County - members of the zone - each will need to approve including the site in order for developers to receive benefits."

The RI Board of Supervisors would also need to vote on whether or not to pay for widening Barstow Road for the project. The State of Illinois also would need to offer a package incentive to Triumph, and if that is not acceptable the deal could be off.

It was also noted in the article that Alderman Carol Doose "believed opponents exaggerated possible impacts."

Well, we shall see what you think, Ms. Doose, after we make available to you the book "SLAUGHTERHOUSE" -by GAIL EISNITZ. The truth about what goes on in slaughterhouses is told here. The inside cover of the book says in part, "Along the way we encounter example after example of mistreated animals, intolerable working conditions, lax standards, the slow, painful DEATHS OF CHILDREN KILLED AS A RESULT OF EATING CONTAMINATED MEAT, the author's battle with the major television networks, and a dangerously corrupt federal agency that chooses to do nothing rather than risk the wrath of agribusiness"

On the back cover of the book is this critique by Peter Singer, author of "In Defense Of Animals & Animal Liberation": "I have just read "SLAUGHTERHOUSE" at one sitting. It is a stomach-churning, damning indictment of the meat industry. Gail Eisnitz has penetrated the veil that hangs over meat production, and what she has found will shock every reader. Eisnitz is a brilliant investigator, writes superbly, and has the courage and persistence of someone who knows that she is right. No longer can anyone believe that in the United States there is adequate inspection and control of slaughterhouses. As Eisnitz convincingly shows, the meat industry is indifferent to animal suffering, exploitative of its workers, and liable to produce a product that is riddled with dangerous bacteria."

"Whether you eat meat or not - if you care about humans or animals - this
book is a must read."

Past Events:

There will be a public meeting on Saturday December 3rd to discuss HOG CONFINEMENTS IN EASTERN IOWA/WESTERN ILLINOIS AND THE PROPOSED HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE BY BARSTOW, ILLINOIS

The IOWA meeting will be from 2-4PM at the ELDRIDGE PUBLIC LIBRARY/FIRST AMENDMENT ROOM 200 N. 6th Ave., Eldridge, IA

Speakers will be KAREN HUDSON and TERRY SPENCE both of the GRACE (GLOBAL RESOURCE ACTION CENTER for the ENVIRONMENT) FAMILY FARM PROJECT.

Both Karen and Terry are farmers and have been active for years in educating the public on the health, safety, environmental, and community impacts of FACTORY FARMS.

If the proposed HOG SLAUGHTERHOUSE goes up close to Barstow, it will cause an explosion of HOG CONFINEMENTS in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. This will affect everyone in the Quad City area. Just today from Moline, with the strong winds from the North, there was the smell of manure in the air. This will exponentially rise with increased confinements.

Please tell your family & friends about this meeting. It will affect those who live in town as well as rural folks. Very close to where the John Deere Classic is held.
A meeting in Illinois will be scheduled for the morning of Dec. 3rd. Location to be announced soon.

Past Events, continued:

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4TH IN IOWA CITY
311 E. Fairchild St. (Home of Sue Futrell & Will Jennings)

If you care about healthy food, the quality of the air and water in Iowa, sustaining family farms and our rural landscape, come and meet DENISE O'BRIEN, Democratic candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.

Learn why the office of Secretary of Agriculture matters to urban voters.
This event is hosted by:
Sue Futrell & Will Jennings; Regenia Bailey & Jay Berry; Sharon & John Lake; Tom Carsner; Sondra Smith & David Leshtz
RSVPs appreciated - feel free to bring friends!
e-mail Regenia at bailey@avalon.net or call: 351-2068

For more information about Denise O'Brien

Hello Environmentalists

Recently, at the PACG Fall Summit, we facilitated an environmental workshop about CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), specifically HOG CONFINEMENTS. This has been a subject that has gotten off & on again mention in the local media, but has never been discussed in an open forum in this area as far as I know. We can tie this issue into CHILDREN?S HEALTH, SUSTAINABLE FARMING, BEING A VEGITARIAN, THE ECONOMICS OF SMALL & AVERAGE ANIMAL FARMERS AS OPPOSED TO THE CORPORATE FARMING COMPLEX (OUT OF STATE CORPORATE OWNERSHIP), AIR POLLUTION, WATER POLLUTION, LOCAL ECONOMY VS. NATIONAL/GLOBAL ECONOMY, ETC.