The following story is written by Ahuva Binyamin, a dedicated activist in Israel. She is with the group, Meat The Victims IL. Submitted courtesy of United Poultry Concerns, Machipongo, VA.

I want to tell you about the action we took in a chicken farm of the broiler industry. I have seen photos and heard stories, but never documented in a chicken coop.

The second I got in, I was extremely shocked by the ammonia smell there. I’ve been to many dairy farms and thought I had smelled everything already. It turned out I hadn’t.

The second shocking thing was the number of the chicks, thousands of them . . . three weeks old, tiny, sweet and deformed.

Some of them couldn’t even raise their head or walk because of the genetic manipulations they have gone through in order to reach a weight of 3 kg (6.5 lbs.) since a smaller weight is not profitable for the industry. A wild chicken weighs only 1 kg (about 2 lbs.) as an adult. We have met chicks who just recently hatched from their egg and already reached the weight of adult chickens.

I took a deep breath and sat down. The moment I sat down was the moment when I and the chicks united. For a few hours I became one of them, one of the small chicks who lives amid feces and urine, and smelling the ammonia vapor instead of fresh air. For a few hours I don’t see the sunrise nor the day light. I’m sitting in the dark on a filthy ground, in artificial light and fan ventilation. Everything is sealed. There’s no window. There’s no air.

I’ve been sitting there, and suddenly the little chicks gathered around me and started playing with the zipper buckles of my bag. Curious babies who crave for a bit of love and empathy.

The moment arrived when we were told that the farmer is willing to release 11 chicks. I was privileged to be one of those who carried them from the prison to freedom.

I went out, deeply excited and overwhelmed by the announcement. I changed into sterile clothes with chills running through my body.

I received the little chick into my hands. I hugged and covered her. I held her pressed against my body and whispered to her: “You are heading for a new life, a life of freedom.”

She understood me. I’m sure. She pressed against me and accepted the hug, leaned on me, her body next to my body.

It’s hard to describe this moment. Any word I may write would belittle the incredible experience, the magnificent moment, the immense excitement. Understanding that now she begins a new life. A life of freedom, love and care. Understanding that she has won life, instead of being a schnitzel or a chicken slice on some plate. I realized that the phrase “Whoever saves one life saves the world entire” is not a cliché. It is true. I had the privilege of doing so.

I was among the first activists who received the rescued chicks, but on my way to the car that was supposed to take her to the sanctuary, I lingered a little. I wanted to be with her for a little while, to keep hugging and wrapping her with the love that rose inside me. To keep giving her the feeling of the pleasant wind and the caressing sun. I knew that from now on she’s going to have a lot of all these: love, sun, wind, fresh air, fresh water to enjoy. But I didn’t want this moment to end. I didn’t want to depart from her yet, while she is hugged and wrapped in my arms, just the two of us in the whole world.

I’m not sure that I’ve managed to convey that emotional and exhilarating moment as I have experienced it. There are no words in the dictionary to describe such a powerful experience.

I hope that I’ve made you understand a little bit of what was happening inside my heart. And if not . . . you are welcome to join us for the next action and maybe you will have the privilege of feeling this way too.

Oceana Calls on Senate Leadership to Pass Important Bipartisan Legislation

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to ban the U.S. shark fin trade. The Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act (H.R. 737), which was introduced by Reps. Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (I-M.P.) and Michael McCaul (R-T.X.), was passed by the House Natural Resources Committee in September and was cosponsored by 287 representatives at the time of its passage on the House floor. Companion legislation (S. 877), which was introduced by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), was passed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in April and now awaits final passage in the Senate.

Following today’s vote, Oceana campaign director Whitney Webber released the following statement:

“Sharks have survived for millions of years – since before the dinosaurs – but their future is now in question. The demand for shark fins is decimating shark populations and the U.S. must now do its part to help protect them. Oceana applauds the House for passing this important legislation. Now it’s time for the Senate to do the same. This legislation is a bright spot of bipartisanship in Congress. Passing this bill into law will take the U.S. out of the fin trade and reduce the demand for fins. It’s time for the U.S. to once again be a leader in shark conservation. The U.S. needs a fin ban now.”

Background:

The demand for shark fins incentivizes shark finning, the cruel and wasteful practice of removing a shark’s fins at sea and throwing its body back overboard where it drowns, starves to death or is eaten alive by other fish. Just as rhino and elephant populations have declined due to the demand for their horns and tusks, the shark fin trade is jeopardizing the continued survival of many shark populations.

Although shark finning is illegal in U.S. waters, fins can still be bought and sold throughout much of the United States. These fins are often imported from countries that have ineffective shark finning bans or otherwise inadequate protections in place for sharks.

The global shark fin trade is a major contributor to the decline of shark populations around the world, with fins from as many as 73 million sharks ending up in the market every year.  Some shark populations have declined by more than 90% in recent decades due to overfishing; and one-third of identified shark species in the Hong Kong fin trade, the historic center of the global trade, are threatened with extinction.

Shark-related dives in Florida generated more than $221 million in revenue and fueled over 3,700 jobs in 2016, according to an Oceana report. This stands in stark contrast with the total U.S. shark fin export market (under $1 million in the same year).

Supporters of shark fin trade bans include 12 U.S. states, 45 airlines, 21 shipping companies, seven major corporations and over 645 U.S. businesses and organizations. According to a 2016 national poll, 8 in 10 Americans support a national ban on the buying and selling of shark fins. Additionally, more than 150 scientists, 150 chefs, 140 fishermen and 85 surfers and surf businesses have sent letters to Congress urging the passage of a national shark fin ban.