Paul Shapiro
Encyclopedia
Paul Shapiro is the Humane Society of the United States
' senior director of its factory farming campaign.
He directs an effort to convince retailers, food service providers, and universities to end their use of eggs from caged birds and expand their vegan options. Additionally, the HSUS factory farming campaign played a significant role in helping enact Proposition 2
in California, a 2008 ballot initiative that phases out veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crate
s in the nation's largest agricultural state. The campaign was also central in Proposition 204
, a successful 2006 Arizona
ballot initiative that phases out gestation crates and veal crates. It has also helped pass laws against gestation crates in Oregon and both gestation and veal crates in Colorado.
Prior to working at the Humane Society of the United States, while still in high school in 1995 Shapiro founded the animal advocacy organization Compassion Over Killing
and served as its campaigns director until 2005. The organization became well known for its investigative work exposing conditions for farm animals on factory farms, at livestock auctions, and at slaughter plants. He was profiled in a 2003 Washington Post Style section article entitled "Animal Pragmatism."
Shapiro helped spearhead the campaign to end the use of the "Animal Care Certified" logo on egg cartons in the United States
. In that case, the egg industry was labeling eggs from hens confined in battery cages as "Animal Care Certified." After Better Business Bureau
rulings, federal petitions, investigations at "Animal Care Certified" egg facilities leading to media exposés, and other efforts, in September 2005, the Federal Trade Commission
announced that the logo would be removed from egg cartons nationwide.
Shapiro was one of several people who provided information used in the writing of the book Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism
(2008) by Mark Hawthorne.
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
' senior director of its factory farming campaign.
He directs an effort to convince retailers, food service providers, and universities to end their use of eggs from caged birds and expand their vegan options. Additionally, the HSUS factory farming campaign played a significant role in helping enact Proposition 2
California Proposition 2 (2008)
Proposition 2 was a California ballot proposition in that state's general election on November 4, 2008. It passed with 63% of the votes in favor and 37% against...
in California, a 2008 ballot initiative that phases out veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crate
Gestation crate
A gestation crate, also known as a sow stall, is a 7 ft by 2 ft metal enclosure used in intensive pig farming, in which a female breeding pig may be confined during pregnancy, and in effect for most of her adult life....
s in the nation's largest agricultural state. The campaign was also central in Proposition 204
Proposition 204
Proposition 204 of 2006 was a law enacted by the voters of Arizona by means of the initiative process. It requires that pigs and calves used for veal on factory farms be given enough room to turn around and fully extend their limbs. The Act was approved in a vote held as part of the 2006 Arizona...
, a successful 2006 Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
ballot initiative that phases out gestation crates and veal crates. It has also helped pass laws against gestation crates in Oregon and both gestation and veal crates in Colorado.
Prior to working at the Humane Society of the United States, while still in high school in 1995 Shapiro founded the animal advocacy organization Compassion Over Killing
Compassion Over Killing
Compassion Over Killing is a nonprofit animal protection organization based in Washington, D.C., founded by Paul Shapiro and currently led by Erica Meier. Formed in 1995, COK's primary campaigns are to advocate against factory farms and promote vegetarian eating...
and served as its campaigns director until 2005. The organization became well known for its investigative work exposing conditions for farm animals on factory farms, at livestock auctions, and at slaughter plants. He was profiled in a 2003 Washington Post Style section article entitled "Animal Pragmatism."
Shapiro helped spearhead the campaign to end the use of the "Animal Care Certified" logo on egg cartons in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In that case, the egg industry was labeling eggs from hens confined in battery cages as "Animal Care Certified." After Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau , founded in 1912, is a corporation consisting of several private business franchises of local BBB organizations based in the United States and Canada, which work through their parent corporation, the Council of Better Business Bureaus .The Better Business Bureau, through...
rulings, federal petitions, investigations at "Animal Care Certified" egg facilities leading to media exposés, and other efforts, in September 2005, the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
announced that the logo would be removed from egg cartons nationwide.
Shapiro was one of several people who provided information used in the writing of the book Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism
Striking at the Roots
Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism is a non-fiction book by Mark Hawthorne that examines a number of strategies for animal activism in countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States...
(2008) by Mark Hawthorne.
External links
- August 2008 About.com Interview with Paul Shapiro
- May 7, 2008 VegTalk Interview with Paul Shapiro and Nathan Runkle
- Paul Shapiro speaks with Wolfgang Puck about food
- April 2006 USA Today article on HSUS battery cage campaign
- June 2005 Satya magazine interview with Paul Shapiro
- July 2004 News Channel 8 interview with Paul Shapiro
- 2003 Veg Family interview with Paul Shapiro