There will be a rally regarding the Henshaw Incident from 9 am to 4 pm on Tuesday, October 24th, 2006 in Richmond, Virginia at the corner of East Broad Street and Governor Street across from the USDA office.
Please protest peacefully and spread the word about this violation of people’s basic rights and NAIS. For more details contact Linda H. of the GrannyWarriors.
If you can’t go, then send postcards, write letters to the editor, contact your own representatives, contact the state representatives in Virginia if you are outside Virginia. Make your voices heard. See the Contacts section of the right sidebar for addresses.
While you’re at it, snag one of those great GrannyWarrior USDA Vulture T-shirts to help support the fight against NAIS and similar infringements of our rights to bear farms. Wear the shirt and spread the message!
Granny Warriors needs us all to step up and send postcards to coincide with their protest.
A worth while tool that can be used for sending postcards to help with this protest can be found here:
Sign up for an account at Premium Postcards .
You can store all your addresses there and custom make your own postcards.
I have my address books labeled in groups. My website mailing groups plus my activism groups. I’ve uploaded a number of my own graphics and create my own custom postcards.
Walter of NoNAIS.org has designed multiple graphics for all to use that can be used for customizing these postcards:
Graphics
When you are through designing the cards and typing in your text, you hit send and pay for your postage.
This postcard company is partnered with the post office and sends the postcards for you as first class mail.
Below is the activism mail from Granny Warriors with a sample letter written by, Doreen Hayes that you are all free to use.
Please, forward this LINK to your other message boards. What happened in Virginia can happen to any of us. We all need to stand together and protect our freedoms.
Lisa Ostella
Breederville.com Online Animal Auctions
Strategic Funding Now Available for Nonprofits!
1-866-954-5625
We need everyone and I mean everyone to print out this message on a postal card or a piece of card stock paper and cut and mail to your senators, congressmen, city council members etc.. everyone you can think of in the government along with the people at the usda in Richmond Va. Doreen Haynes wrote the letter which is a good one and it needs to be copied exactly so the mails are full of the same message. thousands of post cards… letters will take too long to deliver ( they have to be scanned for anthrax still ) so a post card will work better.. mail out on the 20th of Oct so all will start arriving on or
about the 23rd of Oct.
((((((((((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))))))))))))
Dear __________,
I am writing to inform you about the reason we, along with the Granny Warriors, are protesting against the VA Department of Agriculture
and the USDA. Two families, the Henshaws and the Davis’, were raided and arrested under the premise of disease control and “illegal hunting enclosure operation” on the 12th of September in Virginia. In both of these cases, no prior contact was initiated by either the VA Dept of Game and Fisheries or the VA Dept of Agriculture. Both places advertised and were known to be operating PRIVATE hunting enclosures (which is not prohibited by VA law) for wild Russian Boars. In both
cases agents killed hogs without prior testing; against published protocol.
They removed carcasses and delivered notices of their intent to charge the victims for the agencies atrocious behavior. They littered and defecated on these people’s property. It is unconscionable that this type of behavior is allowed and unpunished by our servants in public offices.
We the People of these United States are being pushed beyond the limit of reason by the despotic behavior of governmental agencies against free citizens who have done nothing more than practice their God-given rights with their own property only to have it destroyed and disrespected by lawless officials.
It is our responsibility as citizens to hold our government
accountable. It is your responsibility as a representative of the people to ensure that the Constitution is not infringed upon. Please do your duty and hold these agencies accountable. While I personally cannot be there physically, I want you to know that I am with the Granny Warriors in prayer and in spirit.
Sincerely,
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Address for USDA:
Richard L Wilkes ( state Vet)
102 Governor street
Richmond, Va. 28918
Dept of Agriculture and Consumer Services
PO 1163
Richmond, Va 28918
YOu can find your representives addresses at: www.congress.org
Please get these cards made up and get them stamped and ready to mail out on the morning of Oct. 20th… This is important to flood these offices with the same message and let them know there are thousands willing to stand together against this outrageous conduct.
Comment Breederville — October 8, 2006 @ 6:33 am
Sorry… made some small adjustments to the grammar and to a few phrases that seemed unclear to me. No offense intended…
Dear ,
I am writing to inform you about the reason we, along with the Granny Warriors, are protesting against the VA Department of Agriculture and the USDA. Two families, the Henshaws and the Davises, were raided and arrested under the premise of disease control and “illegal hunting enclosure operation” on the 12th of September in Virginia. In both of these cases, no prior contact was initiated by either the VA Dept of Game and Fisheries or the VA Dept of Agriculture. Both places advertised and were known to be operating PRIVATE hunting enclosures (which is not prohibited by VA law) for wild Russian Boars. In both cases, agents killed hogs without prior testing, an act that is against published USDA protocol.
They removed carcasses and delivered notices of their intent to force the victims to foot the bill for the agencies’ atrocious behavior. They littered and defecated on these people’s property, leaving these honest citizens to clean up the mess. It is unconscionable that this type of behavior is allowed and unpunished by our servants in public offices.
We the People of these United States are being pushed beyond the limit of reason by the despotic behavior of governmental agencies against free citizens who have done nothing more than practice their God-given rights with their own property only to have it destroyed and disrespected by lawless officials.
It is our responsibility as citizens to hold our government accountable. It is your responsibility as a representative of the people to ensure that the Constitution is not infringed upon. Please, do your duty and hold these agencies accountable. While I personally cannot be there physically, I want you to know that I am with the Granny Warriors in prayer and in spirit.
Sincerely,
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 12:53 am
Oh, and I’ve started a little website that I’m adding to every chance I get, which already has a lot of USDA addresses in one place, as well as a lot of other government addresses… just to make it easy to find them all. link It’s still a work in progress, but all the contact information that is posted is, to the best of my knowledge, correct.
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 1:07 am
(Can you tell I have next to no life?) I was just wondering if anyone was planning on contacting the local Richmond news stations/papers and the national media outlets about covering the rally? Someone might want to prepare a press release…
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 1:10 am
A Press Release is short sweet and to the point, who, what, when, where, why.
Comment Sue Karber — October 9, 2006 @ 7:52 am
great job, rachael –and as to no life, i personally am quite aware that you have a pretty diverse, interesting life, and are very dedicated to the goal of bettering the world in general.
Comment susannah smith — October 9, 2006 @ 8:05 am
also…. peeps need to know virginia is a commonwealth, which has several unique differences from being a state. so address your letters to “the commonwealth,” not the state.
Comment susannah smith — October 9, 2006 @ 8:21 am
A couple of thoughts about the postcards. I’ve been messing around with Premium Postcards a bit this morning. (Registering for the service with the USPS was a bit creepy…) Nevertheless, I was trying to get Walter’s rather nifty cow image for my card. After several goes of trying to get it to look good I had a revelation. If everyone’s card says at the outset what it is, ie a NONAIS card via the image, these cards are going to be filed in the circular file without even being counted or read. Sure it’s a great statement for the postcarrier and the postal employees and anyone else who might happen to see it along the way-and perhaps a few should be done that way. However, I am going with the approach that it would be better to show these buffons how widespread the effect of their actions is–so I am choosing one of the standard cards–”Greetings from. . .(your state here)”. If they’re getting cards from all over the country (and can see it at first glance) they might just stop to count and look at them as opposed to saying, “another card from the nutjob brigade. . .” and toss it. Yes we want to get our message across, yes we want to be counted, and even to annoy them, but we don’t want to be dismissed straight away. We’re fighting for our rights, for the rights of others who haven’t even heard of the Henshaw’s or NAIS, so let’s use a bit of a Trojan Horse method here, before it gets tagged.
Comment Podchef — October 9, 2006 @ 8:36 am
Also, if you go the Premium Postcard route–which is really easy and inexpensive, less expensive than printing them at home (Thanks Breederville!)–you will have to truncate the above letter. Here is my shortened postcard version:
(((((((()))))))
I am writing to inform you about the reason I, along with the Granny Warriors, are protesting against the VA Department of Agriculture and the USDA. Two families, the Henshaws and the Davises, were raided and arrested under the premise of disease control and “illegal hunting enclosure operation” on the 12th of September in Virginia. In both cases, no prior contact was initiated by either the VA Dept of Game and Fisheries or the VA Dept of Agriculture. In both cases, agents killed hogs without prior testing, an act that is against published USDA protocol.
It is our responsibility as citizens to hold our government accountable. While I cannot be there physically, I want you to know that I am with the Granny Warriors in prayer and in spirit.
Sincerely,
((((((((())))))))
I think it still captures the spirit of the thing. This is what I’ve sent to the VA addresses. I’ll be writing a more personal version to my Reps as I feel they should be getting to know me quite well by now ;-)
Comment Podchef — October 9, 2006 @ 9:04 am
ALERT:
The zipcode above is wrong–Richmond, VA is 23219.
Comment Podchef — October 9, 2006 @ 9:13 am
Hi Rachael!
If you are still looking for addresses to add to your website, take a look at the right green border margin here.
Walter has all the addresses and contacts in the column titled, “Contacts”.
:)
Comment Breederville — October 9, 2006 @ 9:47 am
Thanks Breederville! I’m working my way through them. I’ve got a Midterm on Wednesday morning though, so the website probably won’t be updated again until this weekend.
Yes, it is true, I have a life, Susan. ;D But at 1:10am after studying for 6 hours at Barnes & Noble, mostly trying to trudge through pointless, 12th century, Moroccan, heretical, Muslim, philosophical texts, which had an influence on the Muslim kingdoms in al-Andalus (have I mentioned that I hate philosophy and “logic”?), and then coming home and thinking about ways the get the USDA’s collective head out from where the sun don’t shine, I didn’t feel like I had much of a life. LOL!
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Just realized something… The contact info on my website (linked above) “for state vets” is not for state vets. That’s actually the contact info for the “Area Veterinarians In Charge.” Don’t know what that means exactly, but here’s the contact info for the “Area Veterinarian In Charge” of Virginia:
Dr. Terry L. Taylor
USDA, APHIS, VS
Federal Building
400 North 8th Street, Room 726
PO Box 10068 (for US Postal Service delivery)
Richmond, VA 23240
And here’s the State Vet, as copied from link:
Richard L. Wilkes, State Veterinarian
Virginia Dept. of Agriculture
Washington Building, Suite 600
1100 Bank Street
Richmond, VA 23219
And for the VA DOA, copied from their website “Contact Us” page:
Commissioner J. Carlton Courter, III.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
Other addresses you might want to send postcards to:
George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Commissioner J. Carlton Courter, III.
Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
102 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Secretary Mike Johanns
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., S.W.
Washington, DC 20250
Dr. Ron DeHaven, APHIS Administrator
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
4700 River Road
Riverdale, MD 20737
Governor Tim Kaine
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, Virginia 23218
Preston Bryant, Secretary of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 1475
Richmond, VA 23218
W. Gerald Massengill, Interim Director
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
P.O. Box 276
Barhamsville, VA 23011
Comment Rachael — October 9, 2006 @ 1:26 pm
Great tips Podchef!
Thank you very much!
Comment Breederville — October 9, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Quote:
pointless, 12th century, Moroccan, heretical, Muslim, philosophical texts, which had an influence on the Muslim kingdoms in al-Andalus
/quote
Careful, now Rachael. . .Al-Andalus and the 12th Century were one of the few times when Jews, Catholics and Muslims actually agreed on anything and worked side by side.
If it weren’t for the RhombBomb–Moses Mammonadies–and Avicenna we wouldn’t have the “0″ (zero), most of algebra, some pretty spiffy laws and the scientific method. More was done and known about then than in the years following Descartes.
Caretesian Theory and Logical Positivism have lead us to the NAIS. If more people were taught the intellectual heresies of the socalled “Enlightenment” and the flawed logic of the scientific Solipsism of today we wouldn’t be fighting depopulation, the NAIS and billion dollar industries who buy their way out of obeying the laws the rest of us must follow.
No, in Philosophy and Logic you have, if not a shield at least greaves against the snakes and sorpions who attack us daily. It may seem pointless now to debate the actuality of souls and whether the soul informs the body or merely inhabits it, but you might just get to the knowledge of whether it is moral and ethical to lie under torture. . . .Hope you ace your class.
Comment Podchef — October 9, 2006 @ 3:51 pm
this is what america is all about. this is what WE THE PEOPLE is all about. when our goverment gets out of line and causes harm to innocent people WE THE PEOPLE rise to the occaison with protest. granny warriors you are truly a WE THE PEOPLE group,but i tell you if we are to win this war ,we must join a group that is against mandatory animal id,for mandatory country of orgin labeling,and has a large membership already in place. just think ,if every one that has left a comment on walters comment page had joined such a group, just how large could such agroup be? check out r-calf. it is on walters nice list
Comment NICK LeCOMPTE — October 9, 2006 @ 9:07 pm
My comment got cut-off… Oh well, here it is:
Actually, seems to me that the belief that Muslims/Jews/Christians got along and everything was peaceful and happy in Al-Andalus is blown out of proportion in the modern myth of the time, and overall cooperation was rather limited and only comparatively speaking.
And I didn’t mean to suggest that there wasn’t some great things going on there and then, which have made a great impact on Western thought to this very day. Sure, yeah, there is… the concept of zero, algebra, Aristotle - woo-hoo and thumbs-up… But that doesn’t mean I have to like reading a long and drawn out argument that ultimately justifies itself *by* itself because “everything that leads to the absurd is absurd.” The Almohad Creed (that’s not the heretical text I was reading, it’s the philosophical one) is absurd in how high-falutin the arguments in it are. It could have been expressed in much simpler and more straight-forward terms. But philosophy in general tends to not want to do either, even when it could… at least from the philosophical writings I’ve read that’s certainly true.
This is why I love the Icelandic sagas and the Vikings. There’s nothing deeper in their writings than trying to wrap one’s head around their world-view, which personally, I find fascinating. Like the fact that there was an everyday moral in a story about a woman who allows her husband to be killed by warriors of a rival faction, knowing that they won’t harm a hair on her head by Viking tradition/law, in order to get revenge on him for him having slapped her face (once) 10 years earlier. As his murderers are closing in and he can do nothing but wait, weaponless, she just says, calm and unconcerned as can be, “I told you I’d pay you back for that slap.” What’s the moral: Don’t hit you’re wife. Ever. She’ll remember it and make you pay in devious and possibly fatal ways. Straight-forward *and* entertaining. Not migraine-making like philosophy is. Oy!
I get that there are people who are into philosophy and that’s all well and good and more power to you, I suppose. ‘Cause, Lord knows, I don’t get the attraction. Sorry, but I’ll take the Clif-Notes version on philosophy *every* time.
Comment Rachael — October 10, 2006 @ 2:14 pm
Excellent Retort Rachael! As I read it I flashed on both ways–the ultra-inane philisophical discourse meant for the brainiacks of the day and the Sagas–were both products of agrarian times when there was no media other than tales, and religion. How far we’ve come, yet not so near.
Comment Podchef — October 10, 2006 @ 4:36 pm
LOL! Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it… It’s very true. We’ve come a long way, but until Star-Trekian Food Replicators are invented to make food of any type out of raw matter, no matter how some people will want to ignore it, human society will always be tied to the farms. I wish more people appreciated that and how vital and noble farming families really are.
Comment Rachael — October 13, 2006 @ 1:07 pm
In preparation for the rally (which I will only be able to attend in spirit), I’ve printed out NoNAIS flyers on my home computer and put them on all the mailboxes in my neighborhood. Ten mailboxes in all and 10 more families who will now know about NAIS (assuming that they actually read the flyers - here’s to hoping!). I think it would be a good idea if others did the same. Walking up and down the street is good exercise besides.
[Careful about putthing things in mailboxes. The Post Office has a monopoly Title 18, Part I, Chapter 83, § 1725.
-WJ]
Comment Rachael — October 19, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
You can also make your own speech at the Soapbox on the Congress.org site for $8.95. It is really worth it and perhaps many people will read it. You have the option of 5 areas of interest in which to place your “speech” as well….such as “civil rights”, “rural issues” and many many more.I will before election day! Make it a good one…but no threats, etc because they will delete stuff like that…
Comment lindeelou — October 19, 2006 @ 3:31 pm
Thank you walter! For that regulation chapter and verse on the post office! I had heard about that sort off thing but had not seen it for real. Good to know that. I won’t be sticking hand outs in to mailboxs for sure!
.Jack
Comment Jackson — October 25, 2006 @ 9:43 am
Becky emailed the following summary comments and a lot more from the rally.
Comment walterj — October 26, 2006 @ 7:43 pm
[Careful about putthing things in mailboxes. The Post Office has a monopoly Title 18, Part I, Chapter 83, § 1725.
Geez……..I paid for my mailbox and installed it - not the USPS. I didn’t realize until now that this was a precursor to NAIS. I own it, but they control it.
Comment Barbara — October 26, 2006 @ 8:35 pm
walter, colorado just received 15 mini grants to push their animal i.d..walter you might want to post on your web. go to www.coanimalid.org,look at press release.it doesnt hurt to tell the nonaisers to get ready. your friend,nick
Comment NICK LeCOMPTE — October 26, 2006 @ 8:46 pm
Thnx for the update!!!!!
Comment PV — October 27, 2006 @ 6:43 am
Many Thanks to you Becky, I was wondering how Va. went, sounds like a step in the right direction.
Comment LEE — October 27, 2006 @ 1:48 pm