Animal rights group PETA has been told that they can't bring live pigs to the White House because of swine flu fears, despite the knowledge that swine do not spread the H1N1 virus that is attacking the nation.
The Hill is reporting that a October 23 letter to the animal rights group used the fear of spreading H1N1 virus and nuisance concerns as reasons for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) denial to bring pigs, swine urine and manure to Capitol Hill.
The swine flu fear is not valid according to Carolyn Bridges from the Centers of Disease Control. The H1N1 virus is not the same as the animal strain of swine flu.
PETA had wanted to use a fan to spread the stench from the animals and their waste to bring attention to swine flu and the mistreatment of animals.
The group's goal was to convince people to become vegan after seeing the conditions swine are kept in.
Ashley Byrne, a spokesperson from PETA, told me during a phone interview:
"It's ironic that the conditions of a hog farm is considered to dangerous to be near members of Congress but those same members have no problems with subsidizing the meat industry that infects the same conditions of rural Americans living near these farms."
Byrne stated that the swine flu has been traced to the meat industry during the initial outbreak and that health officials have been warning that the conditions of these farms would be a likely initial site of future outbreaks.
"Congress should think about it, if the hogs are too dangerous for their backyard they should stop those same conditions for all other communities' backyards."
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