Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Protecting Food. Empowering Whistleblowers.
Despite efforts to prevent Iowa’s “Ag Gag” legislation, including a FIC op-ed that appeared in the Cedar Rapids Gazette last week, Gov. Terry Branstad signed the bill into law on Friday. This is disconcerting news, however unsurprising (as the Associated Press points out) given Branstad’s “strong ties to the state’s agricultural industry.” Iowa is a […]
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 […]
The current status of the Iowa bill that criminalizes individuals who produce undercover videos on “agricultural operations” without permission remains pending, as House representatives (who already approved the legislation) wait for a vote on the corresponding Senate bill. Examiner.com did a Q&A with the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Annette Sweeney, who seems to think it […]
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 […]