We can stop NAIS by getting loud. Politicians need to hear our voice, the roar of the common people headed for the polls to vote them out of office this November for letting things like NAIS happen. Our politicians have been either asleep at the switch or actively conspiring with Big Agri-Biz to take away our freedoms.
The comment periods are still open. The USDA needs to know, in no uncertain terms, that people are not going to stand still for this sort of treatment. Big business should not be able to take over every aspect of our lives and profit from everything. Individual independence and freedom are more important to maintaining our national security than profits.
Act now. Speak up. Be heard. Spread the word.
Just say NO! to NAIS.
I just want to put the No NAIS logo on all three websites and spread the word!
Comment Maryann — January 31, 2006 @ 8:43 pm
Yes, that is one of our ewes, Dolly Pardon Me!, posing for the picture. She thinks NAIS is a Baahhd idea. I made up several versions in Photoshop in different sizes and formats. Go to the folder:
http://nonais.org/wp-content/imagesmisc/
and you can pickup images to use. Note that the ones ending in .png are the best quality images. They have transparency. PNG will work in all browsers and I recommend using that format.
1. Click on the image you want so it displays in your browser.
2. Save the image to your local hard drive.
3. Upload it to your web site
4. Add a link to be associated with it that links back to http://NoNAIS.org/
Presto, you’re in business. There is also a picture of a chick with a leg tag that you can use in articles. There will be more images there in the future. Feel free to use them in any way to fight against NAIS. If you are able to give a link back to http://NoNAIS.org/ I appreciate it as that helps to spread the word.
And can we use it on our sites to spread the word?
Please do. You may use anything on the NoNAIS.org website to fight NAIS. Several people have already picked up copies of the logo and put it on their pages with links to NoNAIS.org. Write about how it will hurt your and small farmers and homesteaders in general. Get the word out.
Comment walterj — January 31, 2006 @ 9:51 pm
Could you add a horse saying “Neigh to NAIS”?
Comment Barbara — February 5, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
How are we going to fight when most of the general public is so ignorant to it’s ramifications? How can we put in learning curve for urban/suburban Joe Public. I hope it doesn’t take NAIS to interfere with pet owners or a supreme court battle before it’s stopped.
Comment AislinnFireHorse — February 5, 2006 @ 8:49 pm
AislinnFireHorse, we need to wake up the masses. The USDA and cohorts have been trying to sneak NAIS through without real public comment or knowledge. I view my number one job in fighting NAIS right now to be spreading the word about how bad life with NAIS is goingto be. NAIS is going to hurt consumers, pet owners, homesteaders and small farmers. Even some big farmers are complaining about NAIS now. NAIS could wipe out the Buy Local and Slow Food movements. NAIS could damage organic produce because animal manures are the best fertilizer base for growing organic veggies. NAIS could burst the housing bubble causing real estate prices to plunge when farmers go bankrupt and their land is sold off. NAIS could kill tourism in places like Vermont - who wants to drive across a hundred mile wide strip mall and look at SUVs parked in the drive ways. No, people want to see cows, sheep, pigs and chickens out in the pastures. NAIS will make it a lot harder to have traditional farming.
So, talk to everyone you know about NAIS. Explain how it will affect you and them. Write your legislators, regulators, nespapers, radios, etc. Get the word out. Don’t let the Govi-Corp hush up the taking of our rights.
Comment walterj — February 6, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
Ok Here’s the Call. ATTN Church goers!! Can y’all bring this issue to your pastors attn and ask him to devote some pulpit time to it and maybe pass the awareness on to any ministers he/she may know? Maybe this issue needs some raw church people power to stop it. It worked many times in the past, Civil Rights,Abolistionist movement etc it can work now.
Comment AislinnFireHorse — February 6, 2006 @ 8:33 pm
I really appreciate what you are doing here.
Keep telling everyone about how bad it is
because the government sure is not going
to tell us the truth.
Comment Cindy Mandan — February 15, 2006 @ 4:31 pm
Lincoln freed the slaves in 1965 (i believe it was) The GOVT. still owns the Native Americans, now they are trying to track all the animals that dont belong to them… I dont agree with this. I am not paying ONE CENT of my blue collar’d, hard earned money to put a TRACKING DEVICE in my horses!!! That is just REDICULOUS!!!
Comment Gio — February 19, 2006 @ 10:38 pm
“How are we going to fight when most of the general public is so ignorant to it’s ramifications? ”
Fortunately we live in the freest society in the world. Here are my suggestions
1. Print out some flyers here, copy as many as you can afford, and hang them up everywhere you are allowed to hang flyers (groceries stores, universities, kiosks, your town hall)
2. Send out a mass email to everyone you know explaining the situation. Ask them to write to the state ag dept and usda and their congresspeople.
3. write letters yourself.
4. Let’s get a petition going.
5. If you’re a small market farmer, let your customers know about this, as it will affect them. keep a pamplet at your stand.
6. call in to radio talk shows.
7. use public access TV
8. take out ads in relavant magazines or websites
9. Talk to random people on the street about it.
We’re not at all helpless. This can be stopped
Comment Sloov — February 23, 2006 @ 3:08 pm
also, I forgot, please be polite when writing letters, don’t sound like a conspiracy nut, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t turn this into a “red vs. blue” issue (whether you consider yourself red or blue). As many americans need to become united as we can get on this. It’s a Red white and blue issue!
Comment Sloov — February 23, 2006 @ 3:11 pm
I know how much time a website takes. Thank you for spending your time to do this.
Iam a 41yr Mother of 2 grown sons. My oldest has spent the winter with me to help me care for my stock since Iam alone now. He will move out around the 2nd week of March which means my time to spend away from home with out someone to care for my stock is short. His last week home I plan to take my steer Wally ( www.oneskyranch.com/wally.htm ) to the Des Moins Iowa state capital for a week, rain or shine. I figure if Washinton can camp out with food or warm clothing in winter I can make it a week. It’s been a warm winter anyway. The main lie I see people buying into is this is just fir cattle due to BEZ. You and I know better, but the public is really buying this. Maybe if an old worn out rancher mother sleeps in a cold tent for a while with a riding steer someone will ask why? The answer is I owe them. I raised my kids off welfare becuse I could have enough live stock for cheese, milk and meat. I could sell enough to buy school clothes. They took care of my family for over 25 years, now I owe them. So off we will go about the first week in March to the Des Moins capital alone and see what questions we can raise. Thats all I have to give. Wish it were more.
I will always have computer time but we know that people need to see it in person.
Wish me luck and send me company if you can
Jauson
www.oneskyranch.com
Comment Jauson — February 24, 2006 @ 12:21 am
They can my my chicken from my cold dead hands before I’ll chip it. This is a major invasion of our privacy. No way I’ll do this voluntarialy. Thanks for all the resources. I will be in with you on Egg Day. Keep us all posted.
Comment Carly — February 28, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
I’m totally awed by what you’ve done with this sight. I had no idea about NAIS or how it was going to affect us all. At first I figured it would be something that was okay, for protecting us from disease and stuff but now I know that is just a spin put on it by the goernment. Or the Govi-Corp as you call them. Good name.
Comment CC — February 28, 2006 @ 10:56 pm
I think it is time for a new revolution.
Comment Brian C — March 1, 2006 @ 12:45 pm
I would like to donate to your cause. How do I do it? I want to make sure you have the money it takes to keep fighting against NAIS. It isn’t going to be cheep.
Comment Larry S. L. — March 1, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
I would love to start a petition in my town & surrounding ones, to send to our congressmen. Not sure what to put in it though. I could go by your letter but can’t get it to print for a guideline. Any suggestions? I would like to start a petition to stop the drivers license scanning device too. I know of many people who would be willing to sign these petitions & even start their own if we just had the original petition to start with. Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Angie Hurt
Comment Angie Hurt — March 2, 2006 @ 10:51 pm
Good question. I will look into what we need to do to word a unified petition. Mary Zanoni may have ideas on how to do it.
Comment walterj — March 3, 2006 @ 6:10 am
I would like to start an online petition at www.petitiononline.com and list www.nonais.org as a supporting the petition. There is already one there titled “To: Texas Animal Health Commission and Texas Legislature” but not one for NAIS as a whole. I’ve signed the one for Texas and have emailed it to all I come in contact with. I am basically copying the Texas one and modifying it for the purpose of petitioning against the NAIS as a whole. It states:
To: USDA & NAIS (National Animal Identification System)
WHEREAS, we the undersigned United States residents believe the proposed USDA premises identification regulations as they relate to animal ownership and subsequent animal identification and tracking will unduly burden the family farm, hobby farm, small producer, and 4-H and FFA participant, both fiscally and physically; and
WHEREAS, we believe the animal movements by such owners are already easily traceable through livestock show records, veterinary health certificates, the Scrapie eradication program and sales to end consumers; and
WHEREAS, the USDA National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is neither finalized nor mandatory and is, in fact, undergoing revision; and
WHEREAS, we believe such programs constitute an invasion of personal privacy and such large-scale, computer- and satellite-aided surveillance is unprecedented in this state and country; and
WHEREAS, we believe true food security arises from individual food production or purchases from local farmers; and
WHEREAS, such a program will only serve to benefit corporations and industrial-scale animal production and those in the business of export; and
WHEREAS, such a program places a burden on religious freedom by mandating compliance among those of plain faiths and others who object to government surveillance and control of private property for religious reasons;
NOW, THEREFORE, WE REQUEST the USDA clarify the law to include the following:
The NAIS program should be placed on hold or remain voluntary until such time as the plan has been presented to the people of the United States voted on and approved, finalized and deemed mandatory; and
Exemptions should be granted for the above-named individuals, for animals raised for private consumption, and on the basis of species (small ruminants tracked through the Scrapie eradication program, backyard poultry) and numbers of animals; and
Existing forms of animal identification should be accepted, i.e., registry tattoos, scrapie identification tags, etc.
Please let me know what you all think.
Susan
Comment Susan — March 3, 2006 @ 5:04 pm
No way I am going to comply with this garbage. I will stop selling eggs and broilers rather than play into this ****.
[Keep the language clean, please. -WJ]
Comment James N. — March 12, 2006 @ 6:26 am
While I applaud your dedication to fighting back against the iron boots of the government I think you are wasting your time. Nothing is ever going to come of this NAIS thing. It is too unweldy and is going to cost to much and is not enforceable.
Comment Norelle — March 12, 2006 @ 6:33 am
This is a total waste of my tax dollars. I don’t have any livestock but I don’t want the government doing this sort of garbage. Family farms have it hard enough as it is. I buy local when I can to protest against the big factory farms. I would personally rather do without than eat their chemical and anti-biotic impregnated garbage they claim is meat. I am going to write to all of my legislators. Thank you for doing all this great work on your web site!
Comment Candy Karre — March 12, 2006 @ 11:37 am
I went to a meeting where they were talking about NAIS. The government guy is just totally full of bull. He was saying how this program is mandatory — it isn’t. Later he said it is voluntary and free. It is right now but it is supposed to be mandatory later. He just couldn’t seem to get his facts straight. He also claimed it would help us get higher prices for our meat because we would be offering trace back. That is a lie because if everyone is offering the same thing the meat prices will stay the same for the farmer. The real thing is we’ll just have higher costs. This whole thign is BS.
Comment Sandy — March 12, 2006 @ 2:59 pm
I live in a rural area and the more I talk to people here the more I realize that they are completely unaware of NAIS. So I just submitted this to my local newspaper that reaches about 13,000 readers daily (you have my permission to use it, it’s 260 words):
————–
Did you know that the government wants to implant microchips into all farm animals? Talk about “mark of the beast!” If this passes, and you don’t comply (at your expense, of course), your animals will be seized and destroyed and you will be heavily fined.
This is the National Animal ID System, and it’s already manditory in some states. The USDA, under the wing of “homeland security,” wants to make NAIS required on a national level, so that every horse, cow, chicken, goat, sheep, alpaca, duck or any other farm animal in the country would be chipped, tracked with a satellite through GPS registration of your home, and accounted for.
If you ride your horse off your own property, it must be reported. If your goat dies, you must report it to the government within 48 hours or face a $500 fine. If you have a few lambs to sell, they must all be chipped, reported, and tracked.
One of the excuses given for this program is to “stop the spread of disease,” but it does nothing to prevent disease because Big Ag does not have to comply. That’s right, the giant factory farms don’t have to chip their animals. They are the very ones lobbying the USDA to enact NAIS.
There may still be time to stop this program from becoming national – right now it’s been put on the back burner but will be revisited by the USDA within the next few months. Please visit www.nonais.org or contact the USDA to let them know how you feel about NAIS.
————
Writing a letter to the editor, no matter where you live, is a fantastic way to get the word out to a lot of people for free! It may even get picked up as a news story if an alert reporter sees your letter and runs with it.
Comment Willow — March 15, 2006 @ 11:45 am
If their is a 4th of July parade or something similar in your area sign up for it and make some banners. If only groups are allowed then start the “XYZ County No NAIS Association”
Comment #1 Son — March 17, 2006 @ 11:16 am
It will be mandatory April 1 in El Paso Tx to have every pet chipped or face as much as 2000 dollars in fines. I would like to find a way to get the city counsel members put on notice or fire for this action. Any ideas? We must stop this before they require us to chip our fire arm and Kids. See 666 Mark of the Beast talked about in Revelation in the Bible. “No one will be able to buy sell or save lest they have the Mark.
Comment Bob Nance — March 18, 2006 @ 11:23 am
Hand out anti-NAIS flyers on chick delivery day. A lot of local feed stores take orders for chicks, and they are usually delivered on a single day by the hatchery. Call your feed store and find out the day, then leaflet the people as they come out with their chicks. This will reach a lot of people with backyard flocks at a time when poultry in right there in front of them!
Comment rooster-lover — March 22, 2006 @ 4:14 pm
As a citizen of this country, as an independent small producer, as an advocate for personal freedom, I am ADAMANTLY OPPOSED to the NAIS. This is the most destructive, misguided,intrusive and ill-conceived government program I have ever heard about. We are being told it’s necessary to protect our food sources from viruses and terrorist attacks. Baloney! This has nothing to do with food safety or terrorism. It’s about money and power, concentrated in the hands of a few multi-national agribusinesses (e.g., Monsanto, Cargill) and if it does become law it will destroy the very aspect of farming which CAN protect this country from massive outbreaks of disease: the small, local, independent producer. The factory farms with their confinement operations, with thousands of animals of the same age and genetic makeup in close quarters, are the perfect breeding grounds for viruses which can easily move from animal to animal at warp speed.
The record keeping, the financial burden, the mandatory ‘registration’ of such a program will surely result in the loss of this nation’s greatest food asset: the independent small farmer. It’s more than a philosophy or a way of life — it’s the very foundation of this nation and the USDA has, in its zeal to encourage even greater profitability for the Big Guys, has sold us down the river.
Comment pamela barrows — March 23, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
Here is a link to HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher” Under “Ask Bill” I’m trying to get him to speak out against NAIS. Will you also contact him? You’re the expert on NAIS, I’m certainly not. I seriously doubt that Maher knows anything about about it. Just a suggestion…
Thank You for all that you are doing!!!
Comment Jan Perkins — March 24, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
I just e-mailed Bill O’Reilly. I am horrified that this even exists. I understand the commentor’s point about it not passing, but can we take that chance? So what if it ’s not going to pass? If the majority of people knew this was even on the table they would express their outrage, and big ag & government need to hear it. They need to be brought back to this planet & out of wahtever big brother dictatorship country they’ve been dreaming about! The entire country needs to slap them in the face so they’ll think twice about ever trying something like this again.
And storebought eggs taste like nothing!!
They can take my animals form my cold dead fingers!
Comment Carolyn Sowden — March 31, 2006 @ 12:58 am
I have heard of this idea of tracking animals in my travels. I have heard of it with horse, sheep people and vets at conferinces. I can’t believe the crap the Vets spout. The government can’t even keep track of illegal aliens, and now they want to track animals. I worked corrections long enough to understand all the ramifications of laws that do nothing but are suppose to make the “PEOPLE” feel they are being protected. This is one of those stupid laws. It WILL hurt the small guy. It has already hurt me. I tried to bring my chickens to Hackettstown Market 2 years ago. I needed to sell them so I can pay my bills. I was turned away, like everyone else with poultry. N. J. has laws stating you can’t sell poultry until you have them tested. The testing is free they said. I had to wait 2 weeks though for the test results. I didn’t get my poulty sold that day, like a lot of other people. We weren’t notifided until we showed up at the sale. 2 hour from my 11 ace farm. The end result is I not only lost out but the Market lost a great deal of business. The market is in a bustling town. A half a block away; they just build a Shoprite store. I have talked to people who say this is a conspiracy. It may sound paranoid, but I believe it is. You have know idea who owns the slaughter houses. I know 2 of them in the northeast that are owned by Middle easterners. They can ship in animals from their countries where the farmers are subsidized and make a higher profit. Just like the drug trade. It is a silent killer of our farms and people. Without our farms this country will fall. Who said this is the last Rome? Why did Rome fall? Will hisory repeat itself? As long as we have our TV’s, computers, and other thing to distract us, who cares what happens in the real world. We are to busy in our TV fantasy land. Man kind will go on; but what price will he pay. What price will we pay. They have already stopped live shipments of birds into N. Y.
Comment Shelley Cuevas — April 20, 2006 @ 3:19 pm
Once they get this accomplished, they will tag us.
I am already considering leaving this country, i can’t afford to live here, and i can’t even own my own horse anymore. This is disgusting, how can we safely raise our children in this country anymore, when our government is goin at our throats and takeing our civil and human rights away. We have lost the right to make decisions, for those of us who eat meat won’t have the freedom to raise and eat it as they used to.
Monsanto is the biggest devil in this. small organic farms are his worst enemy, because on his bioengineered seeds, noone wanted his sterile seed. We are in a bad way, i can almost smell a revolution, i never thought i’d hear myself say that. I’m very scared
Comment irene — April 23, 2006 @ 10:03 pm
I don’t think anyone has the right to track when or where or for how long I ride my horses. I would think that is my right alone.
Comment Irene — May 3, 2006 @ 8:10 am
I am not agreeing with the NAIS at all but I do have a question. I have been made aware of this through a small farmer and have just recently started learning about it. My question is why cant there be a compromise? For example set a limit. If a small farmer owns 100 or less livestock for instance then they dont have to follow this. But if they have more than 100 then they do. Once again i am in no way agreeing with the NAIS and am not say 100 is the magic number but if they are going to push it so hard there should almost be a number at which it should not have to be enforced.
Comment Andy — May 4, 2006 @ 5:05 pm
Agreed. But the USDA says no. However, Mr. Hammerschmidt, the USDA Animal ID Coordinator said to me on the phone that they are only concerned with Animal ID for those animals entering the anonymous wholesale commercial food chain and doing significant co-mingling.
This is a tempering of their previous proposed regulations. This would leave farmers selling direct to consumers, homesteaders raising their own food and many pet livestock owners out of the Animal ID and Animal tracking parts of the system. They do seem hardline on Premises ID and issues of co-mingling such as at shows and fairs requiring Animal ID and Animal Tracking.
Mr. Hammerschmidt also said that the regulations are a proposal only, that they are a work in progress and need updating. In July they will be releasing the next round of draft regulations for public comment.
-WalterJ
Comment walterj — May 4, 2006 @ 5:40 pm
do you have an online petition I can sign?
Comment Larry Goodman — May 22, 2006 @ 7:52 pm
Look in the right side bar for petitions. Also read this article.
Comment walterj — May 23, 2006 @ 5:37 am
I am working hard for several candidates in the November elections. I have asked them all where they stand on this issue and they all say they are against it. They happen to be Democrats but I understand all Democrats aren’t against it. I suggest people get involved in their local candidates campaigns and influence these people. Make people aware of this issue and get people to vote for the candidates that support banishing this nonsense. This is an important election and since people are generally fed up with what the government is doing on everything else, we expect to see a huge turnover in both national and state governments. That won’t help much if you aren’t aware of where the new guys stand on NAIS. We need them to know that this is an issue we demand that they address as soon as they are elected. Make yourself heard! One person can do a WHOLE lot!
Comment JeanneK — June 3, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
JeanneK, Can you get them to write position statements and put them up on their web pages, send them to the press, to me, etc? Here is a suggestion:
“While I support industry market driven efforts for safer food it is important that we respect Constitutional rights to life, liberty and privacy. We must protect traditional rights to farm from the burden of programs like the proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS). Livestock owners not selling into the anonymous wholesale commercial food stream must be specifically exempt from Premises ID, Animal ID, Animal Tracking and all parts of NAIS. This includes but is not limited to people who raise meat for consumption by their own family, for friends or for direct sale to other individuals for their consumption. This is in keeping with protecting our traditional rights to homestead and farm without government license, surveillance or interference.”
Comment walterj — June 3, 2006 @ 5:14 pm
Might want to add that if NAIS has passed in any form in “your” state, “I will committ to repealing or amending all NAIS legislation.”
Comment Celeste — June 4, 2006 @ 9:48 am
First the animals…then you and me!
Comment Joe R — June 14, 2006 @ 7:12 am
“America….From Freedom to Facism”. This film might be this country’s saving grace. This film covers every hard hitting point of curruption our current govt, is stained by right now. If you have felt a sense of hopelessness about this fight against NAIS, then take this to heart- we have a chance for MAssive govt. reform once the country sees this documentary by Aaron Russo. It hits theaters NAtionwide on July 28th. Please be sure to tell everyone you know, heck maybe even put up flers in busy places to reach the people you don’t know. We need the momentum from this documentary to start firing the govt. officials associated with all things RFID. The film addresses RFID in the fact that National ID Cards will be required by every person by May of 2008. The film goes into depth on this issue, as well asa so many others that we all REALLY need to know right now. Seeing this film could easily be the most important thing you do this year. I thought I was very well informed, but when I walked out of that theater this last March, I was in state of utter shock. Whenit is made a national film, the country is going to quickly jump on the wagon of massive reform that is very much necessary if we don’t want to end up like NAZI Germany in the near future.
For a way to keep abreast of the info on this film, please log on to this website for the details:
www.GiveMeLiberty.org which is hosted by “We The People Foundation” and they are a really important group trying to protect our last few Constitutional Rights.
I hope this reaches enough people to offer the help we all really need. Please post and cross post this info, it could be our one saving grace.
Comment Rene — June 14, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
Australian “US planning to recruit one in 24 Americans as citizen spies” Link
An article about US Stasi
This is a must read. Also keep in mind, they already are making plans to chip us
Greater Things Link “Chip Implants Already Here”
i hate to say this, but i just can’t and don’t want anymore animals, I am too afraid for my own life and my family. I have read that the US already has concentration camps, empty ones. I don’t know if it’s true, i don’t know why, but even the thought is making me ill.
Comment irene — June 15, 2006 @ 8:10 pm
First country of origen labeling
is voted out,then a packer is not allowed to test for bse at their expense.Its obvious what
their agenda is.
Comment bill — June 26, 2006 @ 3:29 pm
Control the food supply and you control the people…
We all need to contact our legislators and tell them what we think of this. Is there anyone who has a good sample letter to send to our representatives?
Comment Laura — July 2, 2006 @ 9:04 am
The very thought of NAIS is very disturbing to me. I have contacted a Wisconsin Senator and it was obvious that she was not familiar with it-she did contact the USDA and sent me a letter with the info they spout about animal tracking to prevent disease,etc. We cannot allow this to become law. Our rights are being chipped away, little by little and the worst part is the “quietness” of the whole thing! We need to tell everyone about NAIS-don’t sensationalize but do give the facts. Ask everyone to contact their elected officials to tell them to oppose this terrible idea.
Comment lynn p. — July 2, 2006 @ 10:02 pm
NAIS is the closest thing to Big Brother that I have ever heard about. It really is frightening. I am a small breeder of horses, and I feel that NAIS will lead to the death of the horse industry as well as many other animal related industries.
Comment Lea Valentine — July 11, 2006 @ 8:45 am
“She said the NAIS was created by a committee of National Institute of Animal Agriculture, which was composed of large international meat packers and microchip and software companies, including Microsoft.”
This was an article from a link from the Reading Post.
I say the next computer i buy will be an APPLE, because SCREW MICROSOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Good choice, Irene. Look at the new MacBooks. They can even be dual-booted or you can use emulation or virtualization from several companies to run Windows software. Making the transition to Macintosh has never been easier and better. -WJ]
Comment irene — July 18, 2006 @ 8:08 pm
I just heard about this from Old Order Amish bishops from the Cashton, Wisconsin, settlement and this is a crisis for them. The State of Wisconsin, as I understanding it, is running the pilot for the national animal ID/Premise ID project and they are ready to play hard ball with the Amish. Although the Amish may object on the basis of Biblical passages, their real objections are grounded in the compounded problems of government intrusion and “bigness,” which is antithetical to their sense of scale and morality.
Glad to have found this forum am just starting to learn more about this– yet another imposition of the agenda of corporate ag onto small farmers and the citizenry.
Comment Dail M. — July 26, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
Sue the USA!! The people posting on stopanimalid.org are now organizing with attorneys to draw up an outline for a Nationwide class action suit against the States and the United States Govt. if NAIS, National ID or premesis id becomes mandatory or indirectly mandatory through the requirements of businesses, public facilities, and corporations. Wisconsin residents really need to jump on this as they have already made premesis id mandatory. We have contacted Liberty Ark and are asking for their attorney as well as Mary Zanoni to help us outline the lawsuit. We think that if we use what was written into our Constitution as a check and balance for the people in case of a govt. acting in a corrupt fashion, called, the “Petitioning the Govt. in a Redress of Grievances” then we can outline our loss of property values and animal values, as well as our Constitutional Rights being trampled. There are other legal issues as well, and if we can have a class action lawsuit ready and waiting for the word “Go”, we can present our potential class action suit to Congress, the Senate, and the Legislative Branch and say “If you guys allow mandatory or indirectly mandatory implementation, we are ready to put this lawsuit into action. While Wisconsin allowed mandatory premesis id, they made it illegal for bussinesses to require RFID of people, which sounds like a plea bargain to me. Anyway,each one of us protesters could participate in the lawsuit with a signature. With a couple hundred thousand signatures, as well as small contributions from each of us to the attorneys, we have a way to squash the whole idea of RFID in the USA. Without it, I believe we have nothing other than the Dept. of Homeland Security on our doorstep telling us what’s what when they implement this thing. We have not contacted Mary Zanoni yet, but that is next. Our post on stopanimalid.org is under the Forum section in Current Events on “Where will YOU draw the Line?” Feel free to cross post this info so people know how we are going to tell them to “forget the whole RFID thing altogether” because we are the only country that has the ability to say “no” to the worldwide program they have already started.
Comment Rene — July 28, 2006 @ 7:14 am
iS ANYONE IN ***DELAWARE **INTERESTED IN GETTING A METTING TOGETHER… WE HAVE TO WARN PEOPLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. I SPOKE TO THE SUPERVISOR AT THE AG. DEPT. HE SAYS THAT IT IS A UNITED NATIONS BACKED PROGRAM, WAKE UP AMERICA WE ARE NOT UNDER UNITED NATIONS RULE YET…
CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL MCKEOWNFARMS@JUNO.COM
302-653-4361
MARGIE MCKEOWN
Comment margie mckeown — August 9, 2006 @ 10:52 am
United Nations involved in the NAIS…
Walter asked me to post this info. prior to a letter that I wrote to him,
I contacted my Del. Dept. of A.G. around strawberry season here in Delaware, because I recieved a letter saying that I was going to have to take hours of training,and have my kitchen inspected, which intern would lead to 1000’s in upgrades,(stainless steel, and 3 bay sinks ect.) just so I could make bread and sell it for 2.00 a loaf at my farm stand.
I spoke to a supervisor because the lady who answered the phone did not know what to say. We talked about my 2.00 loaf of bread, and the we talked about my 2.00 chicken.
I brought up the NAIS situation, and he started to tell me all the regular nonsense about food safety, diease, ect… And I said to him that I did not think the bird flu was a real threat, and he said it was not about bird flu, and I stopped him and said “sir, this is a united nations based program isnt it, and his reply was “yes it is, and it is also a USDA backed program.” OF course I had to tell him that I was a Christian and would not and could not go along with there system and that they were not chipping my animails or my children. Our conversation turned sour, and he took my name and address and told me he would send me the rules that would make a little housewife in Delaware just tring to help out our family and continue to put food on our table, by selling a little bread for a small fee a criminal .Well, who knows what happens next, but the spy planes were flying.
Comment margie mckeown — August 11, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
Check out: fao.org Biosecurity
On the main page it states the UN/FAO is introducing plant and animal diseases/pests and deploying genetically modified organisms into our forests. Interesting…deploy is a military term. This is brazenly stated. They create a crisis then can come like a knight in shining armor to our resucue…ha!
Here in WA we were made criminals this past session for milking our goats and drinking their real milk-unpasteruized, of course.
A sorry state of affairs as we march towards …..
Comment Celeste — August 12, 2006 @ 6:24 am
Excuse me Walter:)
But would you care for a copy of Noreen Hannes White Paper on the origins of NAIS?
respects, Wm
ps You have my email.
[Is this the one you are thinking of by Doreen Hannes? I have it listed in a link in the right sidebar under Magazine Articles. If it is soemthing else please let me know. -WJ]
Comment Mr Dirty Nails — August 12, 2006 @ 11:23 am
Thanks so much for this website and for your activism. Like everyone else here, I am horrified by this totalitarian proposal.
I have been operating a small family farm for ten years now; we raise alpacas and grow for our very popular Farmers Market. Our community has a burgeoning Buy Local and Slow Food movement, and NAIS would kill it all.
NAIS would kill the alpaca business, for sure — no one in their right mind is going to want to invest in expensive animals only to face this kind of bureaucratic red tape, fees and potentially huge fines for non-compliance. I know I would seriously consider selling all my animals if this monstrous plan becomes a reality.
In talking with other farmers here, we are pretty unanimous that we simply will not comply. I cannot imagine that the incompetent bureacrats where I live would be able to enforce this system in the face of widespread non-compliance.
But if they see this shaping up as a real income stream because people are paying the fees, etc., they will never stop. We have got to say NO and resist this to the last ditch. I am a peaceful person, but any NAIS goon who comes to my place will be looking down the barrel of a shotgun.
Comment Cathy — August 27, 2006 @ 3:30 pm
Last year my wife brought my attention this matter, and I was not really surprised. I’ve seen things like this shaping up since Reagan took office with a former (?) CIA Director sa Vice-President. That was scary then. Over the years I’ve worked as an activists on a number of human rights issues and I’ve learned more about what the government is capable of. When Sept. 11th happened, I backed off on the front lines of activism, and concentrated on my spirituality and looking for a place to live and grow organic foods and raise natural healthy livestock for my family.
The proposed NAIS has genuinely terrified my wife, and she has fears that we could lose everything when this happens. If it happens. I know that if people unite as human beings, regardless of their political and religious idealogy, we will have to unite as one. Otherwise, if there even a bit of comprimise on this issue, then some of us will lose.
I do not agree that implanting chips will secue the peopel from disease or terrorism. As far as terrorists goes, they’ll just find someone who looks like them and cut the chip out of them and leave the body in the ditch.
Fear is being used as a marketing/controlling mechanism here. After events such as the shooting of Brady & Reagan, Oklahoma City Bombing, and Sept. 11th, laws were enacted that severely curtailed the rights of the people, based upon fear that something could happen.
So if chipping livestock is going to help big business, and chipping people is going to keep people safe, when will they outlaw organic seeds? Big business will then be able to corner the market. And I’ll probably be back in the city. Or will I? I know that I won’t be the only one to take a stand against chipping my animals, and I have no reason for violence, but I do believe I have the god given right to defend myself and my family.
So in order to avoid a stand-off over my chicken and pigs, I know that I will have to really get involved. Let my neighbors and community know about NAIS. Gather support, and maybe see if I can have some of my friends write a script about a modest family living the dream of living in the coutry and having a small farm to live independently being surrounded by federal forces. It could prove how ridiculous this situation can become.
Innocent people being criminalized for just living. Please everyone understand that I am not advocating violence, no more than the people who fought against europe for freedoms in a new country they called America, or no more than the Indigenous peoples who created their own unique civilizations here that were later placed in concentration camps, now called Reservations. They were people just wanting a good and safe place to live.
None of can afford the luxury of letting others do the necessary activism for them now, because if we don’t, some family may suffer tragedy in a confrontation. So we really do need to be intelligent about how we proceed and lay out a strategy with a cross section of society. Boycotts of more than one day with the support of truckers, utility workers, multi-faith groups, and even the anarchists that you see in many of the mass demonstrations today. Get as many people involved as you can. Go to College campuses and enlist the support of student organizations. April 21st, Earth Day has a gathering on the Mall in Washington, D.C. Speak to the organizers there to bring this issue up. A lot of ideas has been suggested on this board and there are many links to groups of people who are doing something. Network with as many of those groups as you can then go to any public meetings with thousands of people so the media cannot ignore you.
The real fear here is the governemnt is moving to control the people, rather than serve the peple.
Alley Kat
Comment Alley Kat — August 28, 2006 @ 3:13 am
I don’t mean to sound condescending or like a know-it-all, but we need to be VERY careful what organizations and people we enlist for help. Just like there are many wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing individuals, there are also many, many organizations that are not what we think they are on the surface. WE LIVE IN AN AGE OF DECEPTION. For instance, the deep ecology folks are not all just nature-loving individuals that care about trees and animals. There is an agenda there, too, and I suspect many of the people in the background of these organizations want to see us give up our cars, get rid of our air conditioners, etc., etc., and they will use propaganda to achieve this.
The “peace” movement is pushed by communism. A good dictionary will include a definition of “peace” as a “lack of resistance”. Today, type in “communist party USA”, and scroll to the bottom of the page. Read the article: “The Road to Socialism USA: Unity for Peace, Democracy, Jobs and Equality”. Communism is not, and never has been dead in Russia/USSR, and if you read the constitution of the USSR (there have been many, and I have copies from the library of several of them), you will see that the USSR practices “socialism”, as mentioned in their constitution.
I constantly research individuals bios on the internet, and find that many “heros” have connections to organizations and movements that most of us would find questionable. It’s not what they say, but what they practice.
I don’t mean to sound preachy, but we need to understand that this control is all around us, from people and individuals of both political persuasions. I am not trying to give any current politician a pass - quite the opposite. These schemes take many decades of planning and input to pull off. If it is just one political party that is trying to control us, why isn’t the other party crying out to the people. Our presidents, demos and repubs alike, are merely pathetic puppets, along with congress, and they are taking their marching orders from internationalists - most of whom we will never even know who they are. They are fabulously wealthy and have the power to control the government of any country.
There are several factions in the world that are working for world government. They all know that that is the ultimate goal, and they work together on many fronts, like NAIS, to bring this about, but there is not a concensus on which faction will rule - that is what we see playing out in front of us. They are rivals, not enemies.
This is what 14 years of deep research has proven to me, but if you’ll disagree with me, just consider this the rantings of a woman who has spent too much time talking to her goats. I just had to post this today, because I feel like I am seeing a trend toward blaming one conniving politician for all our troubles. Let’s blame them all!
Comment Texas Goat Gal — August 28, 2006 @ 11:58 am
My goats reminded me I must add that I am not a warmonger. I am not a peacenik, either. If I ever felt like there was a need to defend our borders, here in this country, I would approve. I do not believe in invading other countries on trumped-up charges. We all know about Afghanistan and Iraq, but maybe some of you have not researched to find out why we really went into Kosovo. It wasn’t for humanitarian reasons, but, once again, for what was under the earth. That war, under a different administration, did not receive much scrutiny. THEY ARE ALL TRAITORS!
Comment Texas Goat Gal — August 28, 2006 @ 12:36 pm
Oops! When rereading my #56 post, I spelled you’all as you’ll.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — August 28, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
Texas Goat Gal, I for one will say, “You Go Girl”!! I agree.
Comment LEE — August 29, 2006 @ 8:55 am
Everytime I post an opinion (hopefully fact) comment, I dread thinking that I have gone overboard. I sit and reload the NoNais homepage over and over, hoping I will not get hammered by someone who can disprove my ramblings. Lee, you and I are apparently on the same wavelength, because I always read your comments for support and the furtherance of my education on this grizzly world we live in. Thanks to everyone who bothers to read my remarks, and I hope I do not offend. I just think if we cling to our old thought patterns, especially about political party affiliation, we will never get it.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — August 29, 2006 @ 9:54 am
Regarding Rene’s comment #49, I say hooray, let’s do it! In conjunction with that, I have recently been thinking that we could sue our individual states for forcing us to cede the jurisdiction of our land to the federal government. At least, that is my take on premise ID - that we would be forced to sign an open-ended contract that could/would be expanded to include water rights, building rights, what we can or cannot grow, and even what type of animals Big Government thinks we should be raising, instead of what we love to raise. I think today’s news about Pennsylvania expanding control over plants is good to know now rather than later, because it shows how in-your-face they are, and can be used as added ammunition against NAIS. I believe that is why the feds are trying to implement NAIS through the back door, because most people do not realize the state is ceding their land to the feds. This seems to be the same tactic the feds are using with the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MSEHPA), for forcing vaccinations on all citizens, in case of a disease outbreak. Maybe this is the feds’ new way of doing business - eliminate states’ rights by bribing the states to do the dirty work.
Back to the lawsuits in the individual states, I am serious, and would like to hear what others think of it. Maybe just such state lawsuits could be filed right away, especially in states where premise ID is already mandatory, or like in Texas, where the legislature has given authorization to the TAHC.
Comment Texas Goat Gal — August 29, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
Any thoughts on my comment #61 in response to Rene’s comment #49? Maybe Mary Z. or Judith could lend their expertise to this discussion. I would sure like to explore the possibility of suing the states, also.
[Using the courts to fight NAIS has been suggested. I believe that Mary, Judith and others who are lawyers are working on examining this avenue but I do not know details. For now I’m focusing on fighting the implementation. I think the lawyers who are investigating it want to keep their options close to their chest in order to not have the USDA dodge their salvos. I know very little of the issue. -WJ]
Comment Texas Goat Gal — September 3, 2006 @ 8:11 am
Texas Goat Gal, I think you are doing just fine, many folks do need to take a hard look at the groups they support and find out if these groups are really “friends of personal liberty” or supporters of a hidden agenda that works to limit liberty. And if some folks believe that govt will help fix the world; they are mistaken, Govt is the problem; never the solution. So speak your mind without worrying about what folks think, I want to hear what you and others have to say.
Comment Lee — September 3, 2006 @ 3:53 pm
I agree with alot of these other people on the government trying to control us and our livestock or our animals. what happened to our rights as well as our animals rights on freedom. If this goes in affect we will not be able to raise any type of livestock to live or be able to sell or have the right to buy any livestock or animals from an individual. its just a terrible thing that the government wants to control everything we do and terrorist’s get away with more freedom then we ourselves as americans do. If my family can help stop this from giving our opinion as small farmers then we will stand for “NO NAIS” to cometo our states.I also have a hobby farm and rabbitry website for our animals we sell and raise. I would love to hear htat you would let me hyperlink my web page to yours to maybe get more help on this and nonais. thanks
Comment Tina Shkuratoff — September 5, 2006 @ 4:07 pm
I want to know how the USDA plans to make the Amish and Plain mennonites comply? that is an infringment upon their religious beliefs/freedom
Won’t that be impossible? Is anyone starting a fund to help small farmers sue the government if this goes through?
Comment Kanette — September 5, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
I have personally contacted all of my congressmen and senators and all I have gotten back are patronizing form letters that don’t take a stand for or against NAIS. Does contacting them really do any good?
For all you God-fearing Christians out there I just have to ask you to get down on your knees and pray that the NAIS will not become mandatory. It has been proven to me that only divine intervention is going to stop it. I would be totally depressed if it weren’t for the fact that I know God is still in control of this world.
[I think it does because if we say nothing they will just believe the USDA. In Vermont we have seen our legislators go from being pro-NAIS to slightly anti-NAIS saying they want to protect the rights of the small farmers. That is progress. This change is only because we made a fuss. Keep writing your reps, over and over. Make a schedule to write them once a month. -WJ]
Comment Kanette — September 12, 2006 @ 2:50 pm
Just say no to NAIS AND the NATIONAL ID thru chipped drivers license (May 2008)no new world order.
Comment cr — September 19, 2006 @ 11:27 pm
I have regained some faith in the system! My husband contacted our OK State Representative, Steve Martin, and recieved a personal call in response from Martin himself about a week ago. my husband and he had a great conversasion and today Steve Martin called my husband again just to keep him up-dated. He sounds very positive about our ability to stop NAIS! Everyone keep up the good work! Keep making a fuss. our voices are being heard slowly but surely!
Comment Kanette — September 20, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
I live in Indiana and the nightmare has already begun here. Talk about sneaking one past you! All we were doing was minding our own business, farming as usual and Bang!! This hit us up side the head. Is there anyone in Indiana trying to do something about this??? I’d sure like to contact them.
Comment Rita Jansing — September 20, 2006 @ 1:25 pm
Big Martin Bump!
Comment Breederville — September 20, 2006 @ 1:41 pm
Rita, On the right on side of NONAIS is a Discussion List Indiana has a site.
Comment Gisela — September 20, 2006 @ 5:06 pm
I have sponsored a petition against the NAIS:
link
Keep up the great work, Walt!
Comment J Dunlap — October 2, 2006 @ 3:01 pm
I am not a farmer, but I love animals. I think this is outrageous.I thought that we were suppose to be a Free Country. Any one out there that hasn’t spoke up yet, needs to.
Comment D Ward — October 4, 2006 @ 9:04 am
I have just recently found out about this nonais thing. This is an outrage against our rights!! So every time I ride my horse out of my driveway onto our dirt road, I will have to call someone and report it?? How stupid!! And what about all the Amish were I live?? So every time they go to church, go to the store, ect… And how are they going to call?? I am on a mission to tell everyone I know about this issue. Unfortunatly our governor supports this. And if it becomes the LAW, then we will have to do it!! I dont know about you folks, but I dont have the money to pay those kinds of fines!! I am jsut ill over this whole thing!!
Comment Crystal — October 11, 2006 @ 6:26 am
Crystal,
Welcome to the club of outraged citizens. Make sure to let your state and federal legislators know that you are outraged.
As far as horses are concerned, the rules they are trying to push on us are still in flux and they are starting to realize that trying to track all movements of horses is an impossibility and will kill our industry. However, they are still pushing for premise registration, RFID tags for horses and reporting interstate or large event movement.
As for the Amish, I also asked that question of the PA Dept of Ag and was told “we are working with them”. What the Hell does that mean? I think they have some idea that they will file the reports for the Amish. I think they are kidding themselves if they believe the Amish will go along with this. So much for the First Amendment. I also never got a response when I brought up the Constitutional issues to Hammerschmidt, Weimers, and Dore Mobley at the Berks Co, PA meeting in July.
Comment Barbara — October 11, 2006 @ 8:00 pm
Are they crazy. Who on Gods green earth thought this up?
That should summarize my opinion.
Comment shelby — January 22, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
All of my life I have lived on a small farm in a rural area in which there are many small farms near by me. This is all the life I know, and have ever known, my hopes and dreams for the future is that when I have children they could live a simular life. However, this new proposal is outragious! To have to tell the government everything about my livestock which ones are sick, pregnent, ect is none of their bussness and is a direct infringment upon our rights! I hope and pray that those in power will hear our cries against this outragious act.
Comment Elaine — February 20, 2007 @ 3:19 pm
Here is a list of the persons responsible for implementing NAIS in each state. Please contact your state’s representative and tell them how you feel about NAIS.
http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/contact_us/directories.shtml
Comment smack — April 12, 2007 @ 1:13 pm
I hate to be a pessimist, but I have to respond to the comment by AislinnFireHorse (comment #4):
“I hope it doesn’t take NAIS to interfere with pet owners or a supreme court battle before it’s stopped.”
If it came to that, everyone, I’m very sorry, but I’m pretty sure the urban/suburban pet owners would LOSE the Supreme Court battle. If you don’t believe me – remember the recent ruling giving municipal governments the right to seize our property, with “fair” compensation of course, and give it away to PRIVATE parties for development (and private profit)? From Dred Scott to the court ruling just mentioned, the US Supreme Court has been on the wrong side of almost every legal battle to come before it throughout US history (by “wrong side”, I mean against the little guy, the private US citizen). Just ask any African or Native American. So DO NOT expect the Supreme Court to save us from this! Far from it: I’m sure it will side with agri-business and big govt, if it comes down to it.
And yes, we as Americans are permitted arms under the second amendment, and our Founding Fathers gave us the constitutional right to overthrow our govt if it became tyrannical. And they fully expected it would, by the way. Geez, I wonder how our semi-automatic(fully automatic for the criminals among us)AK 47s will stack up against the current US arsenal? That’s something our founders could not have foreseen, unfortunately. Well, good luck with that (the revolution) then.
Remember in the *Book of Revelations*, everyone, rich or poor, slave or free, will be forced to take the Mark of the Beast? Without it, NO ONE will be permitted to buy or sell *anything*, including the essentials like food (and under NAIS, they’ll apparently know where every last morsel of food is located, huh?) And all the non-believers just laugh at us Christians about that. Well, it looks like they won’t be laughing for much longer. None of us will be. NAIS is just the dry run, folks. They’ll learn from their mistakes, correct them – and apply what they learn to us human beings. And that isn’t even taking into account the Patriot Act, et. al.
Anybody see the South Park episode where Eric Cartman is arrested for committing a Hate Crime? He’s not guilty (amazing, if you know the character), but he loses because the opposing lawyer wears a monkey puppet on his hand, waves it around, and diverts the jury’s attention by chanting, “Look at the monkey! Look at the monkey!” Sound familiar? Reminds me of the current state of American politics – which was Stone & Parker’s intent. The Average Joe & Josephine America are looking at every political monkey, oblivous to things like NAIS, the Patriot Act, FEMA regulations, and so on. The list of laws, regulations and acts designed to steal our rights is well-nigh endless. Even Communist China (Yes! It still IS Communist, and our avowed enemy! Hard to keep that in mind in this present political/business climate, isn’t it?) can’t keep her people off the Internet, though she hasn’t given up trying. But the US government, when the time comes, will manage it quite nicely, thank you. DO NOT DOUBT THAT FOR ONE MOMENT!
I pray all of the petitions and outcry against NAIS work. But I have no real hope.
One final thought: throughout our history, when people in diverse places needed to flee tyranny, oppression, and genocide, they came here to America. To where will WE flee?
Comment Kay — April 29, 2007 @ 7:58 pm
i love the logo. it clearly states the numbers 666, and that’s just what this law is about. It’s such a great site. I am currently doing a report that speaks out against this so called ‘disease ridder.’ Since when do we have malaria in America?
Comment kay — January 23, 2008 @ 5:35 pm
We need to fight this rediculous NAIS.
Comment JaNae — May 25, 2008 @ 3:25 pm
I had heard of this a few years ago, but it kind of disappeared from my radar so I forgot about it until I saw something about it again, yesterday. How horribly terrifying this idea is! I do not own any livestock or poultry, so it won’t affect me directly, but indirectly…I shudder to think where this will lead. I am totally opposed to this blatent intrusion of privacy and intend to write an article about it on the Helium website (online articles) as soon as I do more research and gather enough facts. This is slimy, through and through, and I support your efforts completely. Say NO to NAIS!
Comment Laurie — July 20, 2008 @ 2:22 pm