Friends of Animals calls for boycott
by Cat Urbigkit, Pinedale Online!
August 28, 2009
The animal rights group Friends of Animals has called for an Idaho potato boycott because Idaho Governor Butch Otter supports the hunting of wolves.
Here's the press release issued by FoA's Priscialla Feral:
"Even though wolves were only taken off the Endangered Species List in Idaho in May, 2009, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is not only endorsing the proposed trophy hunt this fall, he’s vowed to participate in it. He told a group of hunters, "I’m prepared to bid for the first ticket to shoot a wolf myself." The wolf hunt is an apparent effort to boost elk populations for hunters to slaughter, and will begin on September 1, 2009. The permit to kill a wolf costs $11.50—with 220 wolves set to be killed statewide.
Equally dismaying is the fact that Gov. Otter claims to "respect" wolves—making the nonsensical claim, in an interview with The Idaho Statesman, "You can still hate them and respect their cunning and their place in nature."
Friends of Animals’ president, Priscilla Feral says, "Gov. Otter’s enthusiasm for wolf killing not only demonstrates a complete lack of conscience and understanding of the word ‘respect,’ it shows a lack of respect for nature and the ecosystem; wolves don’t need Gov. Otter—or anyone else—to manage them."
Friends of Animals is calling for a boycott of potatoes grown in Idaho—the largest producer in the United States. One-third of all potatoes are grown in Idaho. Feral adds: "As long as Idaho is in the business of killing wolves, the nature-respecting public should stop buying potatoes there." Look for potatoes grown in Maine, Colorado, North Dakota, Oregon, Washington and other states."
When a reader to the FoA blog commented that such a boycott would only hurt farmers who have nothing to do with the hunt, the FoA Blog Editor responded: "Economic boycotts turn the lights on and Gov. Otter’s a slob who is getting away with murder. Let the potato farmers sound off and put pressure on Gov. Otter who pledges to be first in line to kill a wolf. It’s elk hunters more than ranchers calling for the decimation of wolves. Who in the world here can appease them? They’re antiquated menaces."
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