Brawley man fights farm-animal cruelty By BRIANNA LUSK, Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 11:45 PM PDT
JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO
Jim Corriere talks about his concern for farm animals raised in restrictive areas while one of Corriere’s cats, this one named Catt, rests on a sofa in his Brawley home Wednesday afternoon.
For hundreds of hours, Jim Corriere talked to people in grocery store parking lots, on Main streets in El Centro and Brawley and held out a clipboard.
The Brawley resident, who teaches General Educational Development classes at a local state prison, collected more than 700 signatures alone from registered voters.
He asked people to support a more humane treatment of animals that provide the state’s nourishment every day.
“We want to alleviate the horrible suffering of these animals,” Corriere, 45, said. “Seeing what these animals go through drove me to the point of saying I can do something about it.”
Corriere and volunteers like him across the state gathered more than 800,000 signatures, enough to place a measure on the November ballot to end farm animal cruelty.
Though the initiative was already taking place on the streets with the help of volunteers, the recent publication of animal cruelty on cattle farms and an egg farm helped bring it to the forefront.
In undercover videos, cattle at a California slaughtering plant were beaten by employees and chickens at an egg plant were stomped and crowded into metal cages.
Paul Shapiro, director of the Humane Society of the United States’ factory farming campaign, said the measure would aim for better treatment of calves, breeding pigs and egg-laying hens.
“It would phase out three of the cruelest and inhumane confinement practices on factory farms,” Shapiro said from Washington D.C. “In California many animals are kept in restrictive cages, barely able to move an inch for their entire lives.”
Similar laws have already been adopted in Arizona, Oregon and Florida.
Corriere said it took him four months to collect the signatures, working for several hours a few days a week spreading the importance of the measure.
“We can make a sea of change on how animals are treated,” Corriere said.
An animal lover at heart with two pets of his own, he added when he initially got involved, he was shocked to discover how some farm animals are being treated.
Shapiro said the inhumane treatment of animals at farm factories are a threat to public health and the environment.
“This is endorsed by the Center for Food Safety, more than 200 California veterinarians, California family farmers and other broad coalitions,” Shapiro said.
The Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act will require 50 percent of the vote plus one to pass.
Corriere said he will continue as an informal spokesperson locally for the measure until the election.
“I couldn’t live like that, I don’t think these animals should have to live like that,” Corriere said.
" Don't mean to take anything from this story and though I didn't mention it before Kudos to you JIM Corriere but I'm FLABBERGASTED at this.
Animal Cruelty in the name of ART-- Check this on YOUTUBE.com (SORRY COMPLICATIONS WITH THE LINK)--But this "so-called" artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas and his exhibition piece titled "ERES lo que lees" tied a stray dog and displayed it till it starved to death. WTF!!!
"
flinares25 wrote on May 10, 2008 11:54 AM:
" Im not the cat whisperer but looking at CATT's impression on his/her face it seemed like a cry out for HELP ME!(meow)! Being an in-door cat (restricted and confined)cat that happens to eat MEOW-MIX (which i'm sure contains some cow by-product). Don't get me wrong, Jim's crusade for a more "humane" treatment of farm animals is admirable and courages BUT before the kill seems....well it's a conflict. Yeah the idea of a cow having it's brains blown out by a high-pressure air gun or electrocuted does make me sick and maybe one day they will use a lethal injection to spare the cow's painful end but all in all they will still end up dead. I like my hamburgers and nuggets and that's THAT. I know that they died, regardless of being stuffed in a small container before reaching their inevitable death and you know what maybe that cow did graze the open fields, saw the starry nights of the imperial valley and sang Kumbaya with it's other milk duds but it's outcome is still death and on my plate. Till a study shows that cows who DIED a humane way -and naturally is humane- meat taste better well... seeyouatjack... "
jsmith wrote on May 9, 2008 6:04 AM:
" Well I think it's great that there are people like this guy who stands up for animals. Too many people just don;t care. Great job, keep up the good work and for the people that don;t care take that hamburger and shove it because you're an idiot. The only person that cares about you is you mother and that may not even be true. "
Tusabes wrote on May 8, 2008 11:18 PM:
" Who cares. Give me a hamburger. "
newsguy wrote on May 8, 2008 10:49 PM:
" wtf "
abelito wrote on May 8, 2008 9:53 PM:
" "There is no reason why man and fish can't co-exist, peacefully!" GWB,Jr. "
jesse1965 wrote on May 8, 2008 9:45 PM:
" UR ALL A BUNCH OF PENDEJOS! "
marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 7:04 PM:
" Bumfights? What are those? I did bring up Vick..simply because he was hammered and possibly put out of commission! Yicks..I use "El Vicks" all the time, but not the guy that was hammered by the media for bettin' on bitin' dogs. Wow, pobres perros. Glad to see there is a defender of Vicks the pooch not so lovin' man..just cashing in on their vicious demeanor. So, what ever happened to that guy? I read and read about him..then he fell off the radar screen. Is he incarcerated..did he just pay financial penalties or is he just hiding until the smoke clears? "
burn33 wrote on May 8, 2008 6:09 PM:
" I new someone would bring up Michael Vick in these comments, which is amazing, how much attention that guy still recieves. Do people ever stop and think that guy was hammered on (publicly and legally) ten times worse than the guys who arranged bumfights? Nice double standard e have going on, dogs are better/more important than bums. This effort to reduce animal cruelty is pathetic, and if passed will do nothing more than raise the price of meat, eggs etc. "
marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 5:28 PM:
" True story: Its in my cookbook..We invited a couple over for dinner. About 3 weeks before he called and asked if I like flowers. (me) "What woman doesn't!" So, he being an artist, painted a beautiful arrangement, framed it and presented it to me the eve of the dinner. Me? I presented them with my best meal (or so I thought!) Place settings, ambiance..you get the pic. ALL HE ATE WERE THE BEANS..AND NO HE IS NOT HISPANIC!! I asked him (dee dee dee noticing all he had eaten were the beans) if there was anything else I could get him. "Another bean burrito would be great, those are the best re-fried beans I have ever had!" Dah..later I found out he was a vegetarian and chicken enchilads, carnitas and all the other "delectables" were not in his list of, "I eats." So, it happens, PETA...go get them..I agree whole heartedly..animals deserve dignity..God created them.. "
marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 5:19 PM:
" I hung around a vegetarian all day yesterday. I had forgotten she was one. Great human being, a little sickly and usually hurting when she walks, stands, or has horrible migrane headaches. So, what did I choose to do yesterday after feeling like I was loosing altitude while shopping? I suggested we stop at Pat and Oscars at the mall. My treat, she had never eaten there. So, she assumed that I knew what she would eat and not eat. Me, que mensa, I forgot, I was a starvin' marvin, only thinking of myself! I ordered Ceasar salad w/chicken, a side of ribs and a little pizza w/peperoni!! Hey, we got our drinks, meandered on down to a perfect table site. Low and behold it hit me! NO MEAT MENSA!! She just pushed everything aside..no complaints, cool as a cucumber and enjoyed the parts of the meal she allows herself to eat. Well, lots of take home needless to say. Wish I had the decipline to just become a vegan..but just can't help my carnivore taste. "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 4:50 PM:
" farm...The only thing I can think of is that a random thought passed through sofie's brain housing group regarding how cruel it must be for male human animals to have to pay for sex with two Asian hookers with an aggregate age of 106! I also wonder how long it took Ole Jimbo to find his missing thumb. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 4:23 PM:
" What was the point of that post? "
sofieheber wrote on May 8, 2008 4:07 PM:
" Police make arrest at Silver Oriental Massage
(Prostitution arrest at a local Massage Parlor)The arrest was the culmination of a two week investigation.
El Centro Police Sergeant Jeff Mason said the investigation into the activities at the Silver Oriental Massage parlor on Fourth Street in El Centro was initiated after the Police Department received several resident complaints. A sting was set-up, whereas an undercover police officer went to the establishment posing as a client Wednesday. Mason says the officer was eventually propositioned for a sexual act in exchange for money. Police converged on the establishment and arrested 54 year old Young Ok Y Kepilino. The native of Annandale, Virginia was charged with prostitution. She was booked into County Jail with bail set at $1,000. Mason says 52 year old Soonae Joo was also present during the operation. Joo was determined to be the owner of the business. A laptop computer belonging to Joo was taken as evidence. She was questioned, but not arrested. Joo is reportedly from Montrose, California. The Sergeant says investigators are working with officials at the El Centro City Hall to determine if action can be taken against the womans business license.
" tricycle: are you a member of the "Fish are people too" crowd? "
bicycle wrote on May 8, 2008 3:20 PM:
" Zanelisk:There are laws protecting children that are abused and neglected, yet none for the animals that are. Abuse and neglect is wrong when it is directed to any living being. "
zanelisk wrote on May 8, 2008 3:10 PM:
" there are children in America treated worse than these animals are, how come you dont get on your soap-boxes and voice some of your subject-specific ignorance on them? "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 3:10 PM:
" bicycle: why not musak and bilingual butchers? "
bicycle wrote on May 8, 2008 3:03 PM:
" HumaneCalifornians.org is not espousing any radical ideas like to be vegan, etc. What we are asking for is to allow those animals that are being brought to slaughter to have enough room to stand up, turn around and be able to stretch their wings and limbs. "
newsguy wrote on May 8, 2008 2:14 PM:
" There's dogs in Mexicali. I saw some stray dogs searching for food in the streets before I crossed back at the border. "
wikiscogg wrote on May 8, 2008 2:08 PM:
" Now we all know why their are no dogs in Mexicali they are in the tacos at the taco stands. "
marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 10:50 AM:
" I love animals..all kinds of animals. We see coyotes, jacks cottontails, and an occassional bobcat. There have been deer spotted and rumor has it, mountain lions too! Ughh, last summer my husbant took about 8 to 10 great pictures of a rattlesnake he named "fang." Animals need to be treated in a "humane way by humans." Animals have feelings too with what we all know to include "animal instincts." I appreciated the protectors of animals that includes PETA. Otherwise we would have men like Vicks..betting on dogs fight and cockfights in backyards. Witnessing animals bleeding and some are killed. Thanks to all the animal lovers out there. Keep it up. No offense to all the "meat and potatoe lovers too." Madcow, salmonella and all those "come with your meal" stuff has made us aware that all delectable as the bite can be, it also comes with some severe consequences at time. P.S. Sorry about my American Idol ranting in previous blogs that had nothing to do with this man's heart of gold! "
sadiegirl wrote on May 8, 2008 10:24 AM:
" There is no excuse for torture of any kind, whether to humans or animals. I eat meat, and have often thought I should stop seeing that I have a deep love for animals and can't stand the thought of them being abused. I just wish people would try to be alittle more humane in dealing with them. Hell, I may need to be put down someday, when I am old and crapping my pants, but I dont want to be beaten and stomped along the way! Can't somone just give me a shot or something so I can go quickly??? No need for cruelty! "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 10:24 AM:
" I won't eat anything that makes a shadow. What a joke!
LexA- I completely agree with your comments. The rule is that the cow needs to be on its feet in order to go to slaughter for human consumption. People will electrocute these cattle and do what ever it takes to get them to stand when they're obviously in pain. I feel this is very cruel. Sometimes you just need to put them down and let them go to the dog food factories.. "
gymjunkie wrote on May 8, 2008 10:16 AM:
" LexA- yes your points are well taken. But because one or two slaughterhouses decide to take shortcuts and abuse the way they do business that is no reason to punish everybody by making it even harder and more expensive to process meat. This is nothing more than PETA meddeling and trying to force people into eating nothing but veggies and soy burgers. "
newsguy wrote on May 8, 2008 10:16 AM:
" ARTICLE OK. BLOG COMMENTS NOT SO GOOD. "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 9:55 AM:
" LexA: Your points are valid and well-taken. "
gymjunkie wrote on May 8, 2008 9:52 AM:
" Caption says "one of Corriere's catts" I wonder how many cats Corriere has? Are they all cooped up in the house? Does he let them run wild in the neighborhood? Are they spayed and nuetered?
Peta, needs to look into this. "
LexA wrote on May 8, 2008 9:40 AM:
" I'm not saying don't eat meat. I'm not a vegetarian I eat burgers like most everyone else does. I'm just saying that the way animals are treated can affect the meat we get from them. That meat can be dangerous and have adverse affects on human health. I agree, Brawley has a great record of humane slaughtering, but what brought this about was the slaughter house in Chino. Those animals were sick and being moved with tractors because they couldn't even walk, yet they were still slaughtered and their meat packaged for school cafeterias. The animals don't need to be "babied" but they need to be healthy to produce healthy quality food. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 9:19 AM:
" don't even know what "hit" them.. Mooooooooo-blah!!! "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 9:19 AM:
" don't even know what "hit" them.. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 9:18 AM:
" I can't speak for any other outfits, but I've been to the local slaughterhouse in Brawley and they are as humane as can be. They don't use electric prods or anything. The second the cow's head pops up inside the plant, he is hit with the bolt gun which immediately knocks him unconscious. They don't even know what them. I'll tell you one thing though, after touring the plant I had to immediately go out have a big cheeseburger just to remind myself how incredibly tasty beef is. "
ikeluva74 wrote on May 8, 2008 9:14 AM:
" OHHHH... Give me a juicy steak!!! Does it matter how the animal gets to the chopping block? Does it matter that the clothes you wear are made at sweat shops around the world? Does it matter that the gas you put in your car is paid for by the sacrifices that our military makes over in Iraq? (Something Bush thinks, but would never say...LOL) You say these are gifts from GOD, and I say you are right. They are gift that goes well with a baked potato and veggies on the side.
I have to agree with gymjunkie... If the farmers "Baby" the animals then the price of meat would skyrocket. Just be glad that we haven't resorted to killing dogs for food like in Korea and of course the taco stands in Mexicali. This is an issue that will never be resolved. Take your compassion and focus on something worthwhile like a skatepark for the kids. Or protesting gas prices. As for me I will eat meat, and will enjoy the gravy all over it. This world has become too sensitive to live in. we need to go back to the days of the wild west....lol "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 9:01 AM:
" windchimney apparently has forgotten that "Soylent Green is people." "
windchime716 wrote on May 8, 2008 8:59 AM:
" PETA AND ASCPA RULE! "
windchime716 wrote on May 8, 2008 8:58 AM:
" I wish I could have been able to sign the petition. Animals are a gift from the most high, and should be regarded as such. If an animal is treated cruelly, what does that show about the character of that indivdual? We need more people like Jim in the valley.. keep up the wonderful work! "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 8:44 AM:
" LexA: Sorry, no sale. Our 16-year-old stopped eating meat about a year ago when a "new friend" invited her to watch a cult movie about so-called animal cruelty. Thse animal rights activists are worse than the Jehovah's Witnesses that hang out at donut shops on the weekends handing out their little Watchtower magazines to proseyltize people with hangovers. "
gymjunkie wrote on May 8, 2008 8:44 AM:
" I know where his thumb is. You can tell by the smile on his face and look on the cats. "
farmallalfalfa wrote on May 8, 2008 8:34 AM:
" Speaking of animal cruelty, the subject of this article needs to get down to the vet ASAP and get some eye drops for his cats infected right eyeball... The humanity!!! Also, I don't see Jim's thumb anywhere in the photograph??? "
gymjunkie wrote on May 8, 2008 8:20 AM:
" Horror of horrors! After all that suffering we then chop them poor critters up and eat them up, Oh my God! I can hear the crop growers against cruelty alliance gearing up now. Those poor crops dusted with poisen, then a guy with a knife comes along and cuts their head off or castrates their fruit and then plows them under. Then we boil em alive, oh the pain!
The idea behind this push is to make it so expensive to raise animals by seperatly housing and coddling them that the farmers will give up . Then we can buy our meat from 3rd world countries that do much worse than what's described here. "
LexA wrote on May 8, 2008 8:19 AM:
" Wow mikegino the insight you have is incredible. The video of the slaughter house in NorCal was horrible, and the thought of that meat being fed to children was even more disgusting. If no one is supporting this for the humanity of it, which in itself should be enough, think about the people who are going to be eating this. "
mikegino wrote on May 8, 2008 8:05 AM:
" I have one comment for the "Save the Whales - Abort the Babies" crowd: the animals would eat us if they had that choice. "
Marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 7:43 AM:
" confinded? No such word..i have no excuse for the "IV grammar patrol" team. I meant to write confined. Although it is: 7:31 A.M.& been awake since: 4: 30 A.M. feeling slightly disgruntled that one of my favorites: American Idol, Castro has been voted off! Que latima..loved his dreadlocks, dreamy eyes and mellow demeanor (know all his songs sounded the same, but who was listening!) But..if I were a bettin' kindah'woman..I would bank my mula on ARCHULETA! Too many rockers out there like Cook (awesome guy too), Mercado is great, and will find herself on broadway or acting. Either way..they are on their way to success! God bless them all. Okay..see early morning blogging dialog goes off if I dont' stay centered and on the subject! Mia Culpa, sorry/perdoname once again. "
Marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 7:29 AM:
" Okay folks, I wrote the blog and exposed my husband's sensitivity! Believe me as tender as he is he is equally as tough. Retired Major Drug Prosecutor, who despised manufacturers, dealers of drugs destroying the fabric of America. One by one, family by family. We eat chicken, little beef, (I eat lots of shrimp, except around my anti-lobster eating friend carma) I will not eat LAMB..cause according to: (okay heresay) they are raised in a small confinded enclosure until they are slaughtered!) Sheesh, I have ground sirloin in my fridge..right now..ready to make albondigas! After reading this article..I am not sure how tasteful that feels to my palate. Corriere: Thanks for love and protective nature towards animals. Noah's Ark needed people like you. An exemplary...difference of mankind vs..animal..God gave us: "the ability to choose." "
Marygb wrote on May 8, 2008 7:15 AM:
" My husband shared a story with me long ago about hunting..he shot a rabbit..the little white tuffs of fur flew..his heart broke and to this day..he has never gotten over it! But, turning back in time for me..My mother raised chickens..we watched them as cutie little precious things..in time they grew to puffed up egg laying hens. Only to: have a boiling aluminum "vandeja" basin, fire glowing under the basin. We had to catch the chickens in the pen..then Mama would whirl them around the neck, stomp on their feet and YANG their neck off!! PETA..I know..from whence I speak. We as children, had to pluck the feathers. I can smell the odor as I write. Oh, did I forget it became dinner for us. Mama's explanation for why Papa got the "breast of chicken, was he was the breadwinner, the head of the house." Now, I have a friend who does not want me to eat Lobster..because..well I will tell you why on another blog or come visit and meet on May 15 at your local El Centro Community Center at 10:00 A.M. I am traveling 2 hours one way, so take 15 min of break and visit. "
Log on
If you have an account already, just enter your Member ID and Password to access this page.
If you're new to our site, please create a new account.
Register FREE
To use certain features of ivpressonline.com, you must register FREE on the form provided. The Imperial Valley Press’ use of any personally identifying information you provide as part of registration is governed by the following privacy policy:
ivpressonline.com does not, and will not, release your personal information to any third party without your consent. We may, however, share some of the information we gather, in aggregate or demographic form, with advertisers and other partners. That is, we may provide general information about ways people use our site without identifying any particular individuals.
The opinions above are from readers of ivpressonline.com and in no way represent the views of the Imperial Valley Press staff or Schurz Communications Inc.
ivpressonline.com encourages readers to offer their opinions on our local stories. We ask readers keep their comments on topic and avoid derogatory comments about fellow readers. Our goal is to promote a civil discussion about the news.
We will never edit or alter comments, but we do reserve the right to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain:
Subscribe Get the Imperial Valley Press every morning at your home or office. Start a subscription for your family, for yourself or give it to someone special. Click here.
Text Message AlertsReceive text message alerts on breaking news, latest updates, sports scores, offers and much more on your cellphone or PDA. Sign up here.
RegisterRegister free and start receiving email alerts on breaking news, a sneak preview of upcoming stories, reminders and much more. Click here to begin.
About UsWant to know more about the Imperial Valley Press? Want to contact us? Get general and contact information. Click here.
flinares25 wrote on May 10, 2008 12:17 PM:
Animal Cruelty in the name of ART-- Check this on YOUTUBE.com (SORRY COMPLICATIONS WITH THE LINK)--But this "so-called" artist Guillermo Habacuc Vargas and his exhibition piece titled "ERES lo que lees" tied a stray dog and displayed it till it starved to death. WTF!!!
"