VoteKansas.org

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by Margaret Schaut on http://www.squidoo.com/

Mark of the Beast

RFID Chips, (radio frequency identification) are a very controversial subject for any reason. For the Amish, however, this technological development is extremely alarming. In the normal course of living, they avoid technologies as much as they can. However, numbering themselves, or their animals, to them is the "mark of the beast," something they cannot cooperate with under any circumstances. In two states, Wisconsin and Indiana, the voluntary national program, NAIS, has been made compulsory at the state level. The Amish have opposed cooperating with the states in chipping their animals, feeling that it is only a matter of time before the government chips humans. This lense is about this challenge facing the Amish, and us.

RFID Chips being Forced on Amish Community
Indiana Amish resisting government chipping program

Concerned Amish Farmers Bring this to My Attention.

The Indiana Amish community has been informed by the Indiana State Board of Animal Health that they are required to participate in a 3 phase process which will, at the second phase, put RFID chips in each of their animals.

The 3 phases are:

1. Premise identification.
2. Animal identification (when chips will be implanted in the animals)
3. Animal tracking.

In documents dated June 30, 2006, Jennifer Greiner, DVM, informs the small farmers that effective September 1, 2006, enrollment in the program will be MANDATORY, and all farm animals, defined as cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats, and captive deer or elk, must be entered into the electronic database.

This is phase one, which informs the government exactly how many animals of each kind are on what properties.

Phase two is where the RFID chips will be implanted in each animal. While chipping horses, poultry or pets is "voluntary," it is strongly encouraged.

Phase three is animal tracking, for the purposes of documenting animal movements, origins of birth, point of sale.

The purposes of this program are for "disease identification" and "will help to reduce trade barriers for greater market access, as demand for source-verified meat increases in the United States and worldwide."

In the question and answer section:

"Q. Reports say you're going to charge $1,000 a day for not participating!

A. Although BOAH (Board of Animal Health) does have the authority to impose non-compliance penalties, that is certainly not the goal. BOAH is encouraging producers to have their premises registered prior to the September 1 deadline: nevertheless, if producers arenot registered in time, BOAH staff will make an effort to identify unregistered users and help them become part of the program."

The Amish farmers I spoke with said, "if they are going to do this to our animals, its just a matter of time before they put them in people."

The Amish have historically and consistently resisted certain government impositions that violate their religious convictions. In this case, the principle to be "no part of the world" looks like it may be one of the greatest challenges for the Amish community that they have yet experienced.

Sept. 15, 06 Margaret Schaut

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