Humane Society of the United States: Undermining Efforts to Protect Animals and the Environment from Free Trade Agreements
Until the mid-2000s, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and its international arm, Humane Society International(HSI), were at the forefront of defending animals endangered by global free trade agreements. But recently, HSI has testified before Congress in support of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement and the environmental provisions of the Peru Free Trade Agreement. In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, Rep. Sherrod Brown and other anti-free trade Congressmembers questioned whether HSUS' turnaround was tied to a $500,000 grant the organization received from the Bush Administration's US Agency for International Development on behalf of the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Animal advocates need to tell HSUS and HSI to get back on track. We need them as an ally in fighting animal-unfriendly, anti-environment trade agreements--not as a foe!
Additional Info
Washington Post Article on HSUS DR-CAFTA Controversy
Rep. Sherrod Brown's Letter to GAO Questioning USAID Grant to HSUS
Letter from Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch to Humane Society on DR-CAFTA
HSI was aware that CAFTA would contribute to factory farm expansion - but supported it anyway!
Humane Society International Free Trade Agreements Page
US Trade Representative Press Release Announcing $500,000 Grant to Humane Society CAFTA Fund
HSUS Comments in Report of United States Trade Representative's Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee (TEPAC)
HSI President Patricia Forkan's Congressional Testimony in Support of DR-CAFTA
Position of The Humane Society of the United States on the U.S. Dominican Republic - Central America Free Trade Agreement
Patricia Forkan's Congressional Testimony Supporting Peru FTA Environmental Provisions
Global Justice for Animals Response to HSUS Peru Testimony
Patricia Forkan's Testimony to the Senate Finance Committee on the Peru Free Trade Agreement
GJAE News Release: Animal Rights Group Condemns Humane Society Support of Peru Free Trade Agreement
HSUS on Panama Free Trade Agreement |