November 6, 2012

Dear President Obama,

Congratulations on your re-election. Agree or disagree with your policies, Americans must recognize your historic and courageous steps for the uninsured, consumers, disabled, children, LGBTs, and women. Now that you don’t have to worry about another election, you have an opportunity to ignite a cultural revolution of compassion over killing by taking a stand for the most abused, neglected, defenseless, and misunderstood among us — animals. You have the power to save billions of animals from the worst forms of cruelty and cement a legacy among millions of animal rights activists throughout the world.

Please consider banning the sale of foie gras in the United States. A 2004 Zogby poll revealed 80% of Americans support such a ban. The process of making foie gras inflicts terrible pain and suffering on ducks and geese. It involves force-feeding the birds until their livers become grotesquely enlarged, up to 10 times their normal size. Force-fed birds often suffer injuries to their bills, throats, and stomachs, such as bruising and lacerations, and they develop life-threatening diseases, including fatty liver disease (that’s what foie gras is–a disease), as well as gastrointestinal diseases and blockages, spleen and blood disorders, and respiratory illnesses. Please take a moment to watch this video so you can learn more about the disturbing methods used to produce foie gras.

Please urge Congress to pass a law banning the sale of foie gras in the United States and the humane community will join forces to publicly support and celebrate this historic step for animals. Why foie gras? It is widely considered the most gratuitous and egregious form of animal agriculture, so much so that 14 countries and California have banned the practice. We’re hopeful after ending the sale of foie gras, a wave of mercy born out of the awareness raised over the foie gras law will cause additional dominoes of cruelty to fall, including an end to the circus, animal testing, puppy mills, horse-drawn carriages, rodeos, and fur farms. Future generations will recognize your stand against the oppression of animals as Lincolnesque. And as President Lincoln said, ““I am in favor of animal rights as well as human rights. That is the way of a whole human being.”

On behalf of the animals,

Andrew Kirschner

Cc: Republican and Democrat U.S. Department of Agriculture Committee Members

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