SAVE THE TURKEYS

Now that Prop. 2 has passed and will help lessen the suffering of millions of chickens, pigs and calves, my thoughts are on turkeys. As the co-founder of Animal Place, a sanctuary for rescued farm animals, I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with several of these sweet, social birds. I would no sooner eat a turkey for Thanksgiving than I would a dog.

Turkeys are smart, friendly birds with individual personalities and interests.

Eliza, who is up for “adoption” through our foster parent program, loves trilling turkey songs to visitors. Although her upper beak has been removed, and her toes severed – routine industry procedures that cause chronic and acute pain – she still enjoys her life at Animal Place.

But millions of turkeys don’t get a second chance at life – they’re hung upside down, electrocuted, slit across the throat, plunged into scalding water, dismembered and, ultimately, eaten.

You can help turkeys simply by having a tasty vegetarian feast for Thanksgiving. Animal Place is having a ThanksLiving event on Nov. 22.

See www.animalplace.org for details.--Kim Sturla, Director, Animal Place | Vacaville

BLAME IS LAME

Our loss on Election Day was but a bump in the road, because we are prepared to continue our fight for full equality and respect. We lost the election by a very narrow margin. Forty-eight percent of the electorate voted to protect equality and fundamental rights for same-sex couples. Millions of voters resisted the Yes on 8 campaign’s relentless lies and scare tactics. These voters included many people of faith, heterosexual, African-American and Latino voters. The only way forward is to continue building our coalition of supporters. We must continue to change hearts and minds, rather than laying blame based on color or faith. We were so close to victory, we could all taste it. We must remain focused on making the case for equality and calling for the Constitution to protect all minorities and fundamental freedoms. We are calling on each of you to rise above the pain of Election Day disappointment to make a higher calling for unity, justice and equality. --Lisa Cisneros | Salinas