Since assuming office, Governor Perdue has refused to become involved in any way to reform the pollution practices of the swine industry.
Governor Perdue is from eastern North Carolina and is personally aware of the devastating impacts this industry continues to impose on the water, air, land and communities. She has flown over the swine facilities in airplanes of the Neuse Riverkeeper Foundation on several occasions and understands how these swine facilities negatively impact citizens who are forced to suffer the inhalation of swine odor and its dangerous contents. She has seen, up close and personal, the consequences related to swine pollution, including the algae that covers waterways and the massive fish kills.
On Monday, July 6, 2009 a letter supported by 25 organizations and signed by 33 individuals was hand delivered to Governor Perdue. The letter calls on the state to establish an independent Task Force to examine the link between swine flu and factory farming as well as other health impacts to the general public associated with intensive, industrial livestock operations.
Repeated attempts have been made to meet with the Governor--she refused. In spite of the growing data that suggests serious health concerns associated with industrial swine production, she has taken no action to eastablish the Task Force or investigate any of the the emerging health issues.