Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
by Ted Genoways Shawn Lyons was dead to rights—and he knew it. More than a month had passed since People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had released a video of savage mistreatment at the MowMar Farms hog confinement facility where he worked as an entry-level herdsman in the breeding room. The three enormous sow […]
by Alastair Bland For years, undercover videos documenting animal cruelty at farms and slaughterhouses have cast the nation’s meat and dairy farmers in a grim light. In response, the livestock industry supported legislative efforts in multiple states designed to keep cameras from recording without permission in livestock plants. The Salt reported on these efforts, which […]
WPEA Protections Affect Millions of Federal Workers (Washington, D.C.) – Today, the Government Accountability Project’s (GAP) Food Integrity Campaign (FIC) is praising Congress for passing the strongest federal whistleblower protections in history. The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) passed the House of Representative in late September and the Senate today, and is being sent to […]
by Kristen Rasmussen A recent spate of nationwide legislative measures designed to curb undercover recording at farms and other agricultural facilities may potentially restrict reporters’ ability to gather and publish important information about the food industry. Some of the measures would directly prohibit journalists from photographing or recording farm animals and other items and activities […]
The following op-ed was written by FIC Director Amanda Hitt. Editor’s Note: While the Iowa Senate amendment did remove the specific language restricting undercover video, the bill is clearly aimed at holding whistleblowers who use such means to convey the truth legally accountable (More on this here). Some things people just have to see to […]
Update (2/29/12, 9:15 AM ET): Last night, the Iowa House agreed to the Senate language on this Ag Gag legislation. The bill has now been sent to the Governor for approval. Although legislators removed the language that specifically restricts the recording of undercover video, the bill is clearly aimed at whistleblowers who use such, as […]
Comforting news in Florida this week: Proposed “ag-gag” legislation – criminalizing whistleblowers who take photographs or video to expose wrongdoing at farm operations – was killed in both the House and Senate. Sound familiar? Similar bills in Florida and a few other states were introduced but then failed to pass last year. Unfortunately, they have all […]
An undercover video released Wednesday documents the shocking treatment of hogs at one of the nation’s largest pork production facilities. The footage — which shows pigs being thrown across the room, and being castrated and having their tails removed without painkillers — was taken by advocacy group Mercy for Animals at Iowa Select Farms from […]
When it comes to bringing horrific truths to the public eye, undercover footage and images are often an effective outlet for whistleblowers who otherwise risk retaliation when speaking up. Such use of media to promote transparency in our food system has come under attack, however, in recently proposed legislation. Florida state Senator Jim Norman (R-Tampa) […]
Government Accountability Project mourns the passing of our client, Dr. Dean Wyatt, who succumbed to brain cancer on November 11, 2010 at the age of 59. Dr. Wyatt came to Government Accountability Project roughly three years ago for legal assistance. During the course of our representation, we came to know Dr. Wyatt not only as […]