Posted on 05/19/2004 6:22:07 AM PDT by billorites
SPRINGFIELD -- Horse slaughter opponents applied star power Tuesday when they brought in a Hollywood movie star to lobby their cause. Actress Bo Derek, national spokeswoman for the National Horse Protection Coalition, visited Springfield to present complaints from animal-rights activists. Horses, she said, are companions not cuisine.
"They deserve better. It's not humane. We don't raise them for food. We raise them as pets or for sport," said Derek, famous for portraying the woman of Dudley Moore's dreams in the 1979 hit "10."
The House narrowly rejected banning horse slaughtering in March, but supporters in the Senate have resurrected the campaign to close a controversial horse slaughterhouse in DeKalb.
Opponents of the ban say horse slaughtering should be a choice. Currently, horse owners can sell their horses for slaughter to Cavel International in DeKalb or pay to get rid of them when they die.
In addition, supporters say the Belgium-based company helps DeKalb's economy.
Cavel, which is scheduled to open sometime this week after rebuilding from a fire two years ago, will employ 40 people, add $90,000 in property taxes for local government and pour more than $1 million into the economy, said state Rep. Bob Pritchard, R-Hinckley.
"It will allow them to support and care for their children. It will allow them to be active members of society," said Pritchard, who represents DeKalb. "I feel that as this state is losing jobs by the thousands, ... that we need this source of revenue."
Pritchard didn't think Derek's movie-star status would help efforts to end the practice of slaughtering horses.
"I know a lot of people in the drama and movie industry have tried to impose their values on other people, but I think people across Illinois will make that decision based on the respect for choice," he said.
State Sen. Todd Sieben, R-Geneseo, wasn't star-struck. Derek pulled him aside for a five-minute debate after her press conference.
"I'm still a 'no' vote," Sieben said.
Cavel is one of only three horse slaughterhouses in the country. The company sends the meat to Europe for human consumption.
"I'm not going to judge another culture and what they choose to eat, but I don't know why they have to eat our American horses," Derek said.
If the state institutes the ban, Jim Tucker, a Cavel manager, has said he could challenge the law in court because federal law allows the slaughter of horses for human consumption. Also, he said he could file for an injunction, meaning the law wouldn't apply to his company.
Congress also is considering banning horse slaughter for human consumption. The so-called American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act has 180 co-sponsors while only 218 votes are needed to pass the U.S. House.
House Bill 649 is currently pending in the Illinois Senate and could be called for a vote sometime this week.
They slaughter horses for human consumption????
In Germany and France it is quite common. That's where a lot of our retired horses go. I haven't heard of horses being used for food in the US, but personally I don't see it as any less appealing than other large meaty animals.
Dogs, on the other hand...
See?!?!? I told you!
"They slaughter horses for human consumption???? "
I've never eaten horse flesh, but I would give it a try if the opportunity presented.
Ooops, typo on animals ("animales" above.)
BTW: Bo is strongly Conservative, and I support her on this. Prett easy on the eyes as well.
Quite a bit of horse meat is consumed in Japan where they enjoy it raw.
"Springfield, eh? Eeeexxxxxxcellent. Smithers, suddenly I want horsemeat for dinner...make it happen."
"They slaughter horses for human consumption????""
No, not for humans mainly for the french
Eating raw food in this day and age is not the smartest approach. Ever consider the number of parasites that live there and will live in your intestines if you eat it? Sobering thought for the sushi crowd.
Bo is a little off the deep end, here. But I guess everyone is allowed their eccentricities.
" Quite a bit of horse meat is consumed in Japan where they enjoy it raw. "
Ya beat me to it ! I live in Kumamoto which is famous for BA-SASHI !
Yep. And as they say, them's good eatin'.
I can't see how this is a Conservative stance on this issue.
Horses are no different than any other animal if you're hungry.
We don't eat them because we have other animals which our culture accepts.
Horse meat isn’t bad - it’s lean and actually has more flavor than beef.
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