Our
Perspective; BEEF Magazine's Cow Calf Weekly (May 29, 2004):
R-CALF Adds Another Blunder
While
the industry reaction to R-CALF's earlier attacks on the safety of U.S. beef
were widely condemned, most critics considered them unfortunate lapses in
judgment that some organizations make in the heat of the battle. R-CALF made it
clear this week, however, that the organization believes that the end does
justify any means.
The group held a press conference on Thursday, hand in hand with radical
anti-beef activist groups, to denounce USDA's handling of the BSE situation. The
press event in Washington, D.C., questioned the safety of beef, and called for
government hearings on the matter.
The decision to align with such radical anti-beef groups seems all the more
surprising considering that many within R-CALF hope to make the organization
mainstream and represent producers on a wide spectrum of issues. Instead, this
latest R-CALF blunder seems to push them more in the direction of radical
activism than mainstream representation.
As could be expected, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and other groups
issued blistering press releases questioning R-CALF's decision and motives. It's
shocking, following the disastrous statements regarding beef safety just a few
weeks ago, that rather than issue an apology, the organization confirms to all
that it is willing to destroy beef demand in order to further its isolationist,
protectionist, anti-trade policies.
R-CALF has some legitimate concerns and issues, and a significant number of good
cattlemen who support its positions. But, it's time for R-CALF to make radical
changes in its leadership structure so such inexcusable mistakes aren't
repeated. R-CALF's members have far too much invested to have the organization
lose all credibility or be subverted by these radical stands.
For a moment, consider the caliber of groups R-CALF publicly aligned itself with
this week:
The
Consumer Federation of America (CFA) is famous for opposing irradiation, and
pushing for the reduction of beef in the school lunch program among other
things. CFA's leader, Carol Tucker Foreman, is famous for her anti-beef
rhetoric and efforts to stir up the hysteria about the safety of our
product.
The
Consumer Union (CU), along with CFA, have been two of the leading groups
pushing since Dec. 23, 2003, the message that beef is unsafe. You've
probably read the multitude of inaccurate statements by CU
"leader" Michael Hansen in the popular press. Hansen and the CU
have also led the crusade against biotechnology and GMOs.
The following is a quote from former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop in
regard to Hansen's rhetoric: "Unfortunately, a few fringe groups are
using misleading statements and blatant falsehoods as part of a long-running
campaign to scare consumers about a perfectly safe food ... it is necessary
to condemn these attacks ... for what they are: baseless, manipulative and
completely irresponsible."
Then there's Public Citizen (PC), which gains its supposed credibility through founder Ralph Nader. But PC is best known for its membership in the Global Safe Food Alliance, formed by such animal rights organizations as Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the Western Organization of Resource Councils, Farm Sanctuary, etc., to put out anti-meat messages. If you want more information on PC, just go to its Web site at www.citizen.org/ , check out the "Meatrix" at www.themeatrix.com/ or the report "Jungle 2000" at www.whistleblower.org/uploads/The%20Jungle%202000%20-.PDF .
-- Troy Marshall