I've been trying to keep folks abreast of Proposition 2, the ballot initiative in California that would cement slightly more humane standards for livestock treatment and egg production. We're hitting the final stages of the campaign, and the ads wars have really begun. For instance:
NO on Prop. 2 from NO on Prop. 2 on Vimeo. That's from the anti-Prop 2 forces, and it's an impressive piece of work. Treatment of animals never gets mentioned. Not once. There's no attempt at a defense, or even a revisionist take, on current livestock standards. Instead, they manage to raise the specters of 1) the financial crisis, 2) higher food prices, 3) Mexican immigrants, and 4) salmonella, all within 30 seconds. It's an impressive piece of work. The pro-Prop 2 advertisements aren't exactly stunning pieces of work. The campaign is mostly funded by the Humane Society, and sadly, the organization is using it as an opportunity for promotion. Most of their ads feature the Humane Society CEO talking into the camera. But they have a couple touting the support of the California Veterinary Association, and they're rather more effective:
And continuing with the recent trend of rappers getting into food issues, here's GZA, of the Wu-Tang Clan, laying it down:
More ads here. If you want a broader view of the current state of play, Carol Ness has a comprehensive and nuanced primer on the ballot measure.
