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AR-NEWS Digest 369
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) The breakthrough of the week
by Andrew Gach
2) (MX) Red Tide Blamed for Dolphin Deaths
by allen schubert
3) No.VA (USA) Wildlife Rescue League
by Anna
4) API's article on Evolution Pet Food
by BKMACKAY@aol.com
5) Chatham 4 Update
by GLYNN@envirolink.org (Gina Lynn)
6) [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in National re-run
by David J Knowles
7) [UK] Sea Empress 'only one of 60 mishaps'
by David J Knowles
8) [UK] Jail for nurse with 30 dogs in her caravan'
by David J Knowles
9) [UK] Avocets on the move as numbers continue to rise
by David J Knowles
10) re-subscribe
by Tuam@aol.com
11) Admin Note--subscription options
by allen schubert
12) (FR) Euro Parliament Nixes Genetic Corn
by allen schubert
13) Fund Offers Mont. Co. $5,000 for Strieter-Lite Reflectors
by Mike Markarian
14) Coyote Hunting in PA
by Mike Markarian
15) Make-A-Wish Foundation hunting update
by Mike Markarian
16) Fund Offers Mont. Co. $5,000 for Strieter-Lite Reflectors
by Mike Markarian
17) (US) Slaughter Near End in Wyoming
by allen schubert
18) (US) Article from Indianapolis Star about Tony and Stacy
by allen schubert
19) URGENT ALERT: Dolphin Death Bill Moving Through Congress
by "Christine M. Wolf"
20) RFI:Zinc Phosphide information (urgent)
by bunny
21) RFI:ZINC PHOSPHIDE (Need any effects on humans too)
by bunny
22) Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in National re-run
by marcia
23) AR-News Admin Note--Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in
National re-run
by allen schubert
24) Re: AR-News Admin Note--Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in
National re-run
by marcia
25) AR-News Admin Note
by allen schubert
26) (US) EDWARD FURLONG WANTS BOYS TOWN'S CAT EXPERIMENTS
"TERMINATED"
by allen schubert
27) (US) GIANT "RAT" LIGHTS FIRE UNDER GILMORE OVER TOBACCO TESTS
ON ANIMALS
by allen schubert
28) (US) PETA MEMBER ARRESTED AT "TODAY" SHOW WINDOW
by allen schubert
29) (US) PETA RAISES THE DEVIL AT BOYS TOWN
by allen schubert
30) (US) TV SHOWS URGED TO PUT THE BITE ON EXOTIC ANIMAL ACTS
by allen schubert
Date: Mon, 07 Apr 1997 21:05:51 -0700
>From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: The breakthrough of the week
Message-ID: <3349C41F.3ECA@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Virus may be to blame for obesity, scientists say
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (Apr 7, 1997 11:13 a.m. EDT) -- Frustrated dieters searching
for something to blame for those extra pounds might have a new culprit:
A virus may increase some people's chances of obesity, University of
Wisconsin scientists say.
Only circumstantial evidence so far links the virus with human obesity,
researcher Nikhil Dhurandhar emphasized, although he did prove it
fattens animals.
Early study of the virus yielded an intriguing paradox: Obese patients
who show signs of viral infection have normal cholesterol, not the
heart-threatening levels typical of overweight Americans, said
Dhurandhar, who was presenting his findings today at a biology meeting
in New Orleans.
"We cannot prove the virus causes (human) obesity unless we inject
people and they get fat," something clearly impossible, said
co-researcher Dr. Richard Atkinson, a Wisconsin medicine professor who
is president of the American Obesity Association. "But this is
tantalizing evidence."
The findings are preliminary but strong enough to justify prompt
additional research, said Dr. Benjamin Caballero of Johns Hopkins
University, a leading specialist in obesity.
"Look at the larger picture of infectious agents causing chronic
diseases," Caballero said, pointing to recent discoveries that viruses
and bacteria contribute to heart disease and some cancers, even
ulcers.
"I have no reason to believe obesity would be any different," he added.
"I think it's very plausible."
Dr. John Foreyt of the Baylor College of Medicine cautioned that the
Wisconsin scientists cannot yet speculate how the virus, biologically,
could cause obesity. But he said veterinarians have proved that certain
viruses cause obesity in horses and pigs, so one for humans is not
farfetched.
"With the big increase in obesity in the world ... I wouldn't rule it
out," Foreyt said, calling the new study "provocative."
The government estimates that one-third of Americans are obese, about a
25 percent rise in 30 years. The extra pounds cause high blood pressure,
heart disease and diabetes, and obesity-related diseases kill 300,000
Americans a year.
Poor diet and lack of exercise are the overwhelming causes over
overweight, doctors agree.
But Dhurandhar suggested that the Ad-36 virus, from a common family of
adenoviruses that typically cause mild respiratory infections, may play
a role, too.
He studied 105 patients at the University of Wisconsin's obesity clinic,
and 23 lean people for comparison. Eighteen percent of the obese people
showed signs of infection with Ad-36. They were not sick, but they
carried antibodies to the virus, substances the immune system produces
to fight infections.
None of the lean people had those antibodies.
Then Dhurandhar compared the two groups of obese patients.
Both groups were equally overweight, yet they had significantly
different levels of artery-clogging cholesterol and a related blood fat,
triglycerides. Patients believed infected with Ad-36 had normal
cholesterol and triglyceride levels -- about 185 and 104, respectively.
The patients without signs of Ad-36, on the other hand, had elevated
cholesterol and triglycerides -- an average of 213 and 155,
respectively.
Dhurandhar already has proved that Ad-36 fattens animals. In research
presented to the North American Association for the Study of Obesity
last year, he injected chickens with Ad-36 and they grew fat while their
cholesterol and triglycerides stayed as low as virus-free "control"
chickens.
In people, antibodies merely show that someone was exposed to a virus,
not that the virus actually harmed them. Indeed, many healthy people
harbor viruses that appear to cause no symptoms.
All that is known about Ad-36 is that it was discovered in 1978 from a
German girl suffering diarrhea, Dhurandhar said.
But he targeted Ad-36 because it closely resembles a chicken virus that
prompted his research in India several years ago.
A severe outbreak struck Bombay's poultry farms and a veterinarian
mentioned puzzling autopsies showing the chickens full of fat -- not the
wasting typical of viral infections. Dhurandhar investigated, and found
this avian adenovirus indeed fattened chickens while not affecting their
cholesterol.
But the chicken virus never infects people, so Dhurandhar closed his
Bombay medical practice and moved to Wisconsin to hunt a human
adenovirus similar enough to cause the same syndrome.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 00:10:39 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MX) Red Tide Blamed for Dolphin Deaths
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409001036.006ca4b4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Follow up to a post from a while back.....
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
04/07/1997 20:23 EST
Red Tide Blamed for Dolphin Deaths
MEXICO CITY (AP) -- Environmental authorities said Monday that 162
dolphins found
dead on Gulf of California beaches earlier this year died from red tide, a
naturally
occurring toxic algae.
Investigators in the northern state of Sinaloa said they have largely
discounted
hypotheses that toxic wastes or chemical markers used by drug traffickers
could
have caused the deaths.
``It can now be affirmed that the deaths were not caused by a spill of toxic
substances,'' the Sinaloa Committee for Natural Resource Emergencies said
in a
report published by the Mexico City daily Reforma.
The report says the dolphins, four whales and one sea lion, found dead in
January
and February, probably swam through a red-tide bloom in the open ocean,
with their
bodies washing ashore near the state capital of Culiacan.
The Sinaloa coast is a main route for drug traffickers, who occasionally drop
shipments at sea and mark them with a phosphorescent, cyanide-based
chemical.
Final results of an investigation should be available within two weeks.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 02:01:07 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Anna
To: ar-news
Subject: No.VA (USA) Wildlife Rescue League
Message-ID:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Hi,
I lost the message that asked for this information, but it was
about a duck with a broken bill that was found, and I found some numbers
of people that could help...
Teddy Cole (703) 978-4559 is the contact person for Wildlife Rescue
League in Northern Virginia, and could either help you or direct you to
someone who could, and if that does not work you could call the
Chesapeake Wildlife/Bird (I am not sure which it is) Sanctuary in Bowie,
MD, and they could take the duck. I hope that everything works out ok!
Take care,
Anna
TORTURING ONE ANIMAL IS CRUELTY.
TORTURING MANY ANIMALS IS SCIENCE?
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 02:17:10 -0400 (EDT)
>From: BKMACKAY@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: API's article on Evolution Pet Food
Message-ID: <970408021707_1850428578@emout13.mail.aol.com>
Investigating a New Vegan Pet Food
By Elizabeth Colleran, D.V.M.
Mainstream Magazine, Animal Protection Institute, current issue
"The world's most complete pet food." printed claim on a bag of Evolution
Pet Food.
Whether for ethical or health reasons or both, many vegetarians and
vegans believe that
their companion animals' diet ought to conform with their own choices. Other
caregivers have
legitimate concerns that contaminated meat, hormone and antibiotic residues,
and the composition
of "by-products" mean that humans may not be feeding their companions
properly.
Evolution Premium Quality Pet Food is one of many companies attempting
to enter this
burgeoning market through an Internet Web site, direct marketing to animal
advocacy groups,
communication instruments that are seen by animal advocates (e.g. AR-Views on
the Internet),
and distributors who sell products popular with vegetarians and vegans.
Evolution is marketed as a complete and balanced diet for companion
animals.
Understandably, vegetarians, vegans and other animal lovers who heard about
this food were
interested and hopeful that an alternative to animal protein was available.
Most caregivers of companion animals feed a single diet or product line
without
supplements, with the exception of an occasional "treat." Since good
nutrition is the foundation of
good health, a single source complete diet must be carefully formulated.
There are published
guidelines for establishing the nutritional adequacy of dog and cat food.
There are also standards
to which pet food manufacturers are expected to comply. Specific data on
composition, feeding
trials, and other research is required to make an informed decision. The only
information available
on Evolution pet food from the product label, a marketing brochure, and a
World Wide Web
site was inadequate to make a judgment about the acceptability of the
Evolution product line.
The basis upon which Evolution's claims are made becomes very important. The
most appropriate
place to inquire further about Evolution was the company itself.
Unusual Precautions
To speak to Eric Weisman, the president of Evolution Pet Foods, is a
simple matter of
telephoning him; he often answers the phone himself. But in order to ring
through to the
company, a prefix must be dialed that cancels any blocking of caller-ID, an
unusual precaution for
a commercial venture. The reason for this wariness may lie in the
circumstances surrounding the
production and sales of its products.
In Minnesota, where Evolution pet food is headquartered, agricultural
and companion
animal food is regulated by the state Feed Control Board. This board requires
registration of any
food manufactured in the state. (Dr. Weisman says that the wet Evolution pet
food is canned in
Illinois, and the dry is made in Winnipeg, Manitoba.) Labeling information,
including composition
and nutritional claims, in addition to a modest annual fee (about $50 per
product) is required to
register. The board repeatedly asked for compliance from the Evolution
company, but received no
response. Paul Bachman, an employee of the board, felt that Dr. Weisman was
"thumbing his
nose" at the state regulatory agency.
Most states have similar regulatory agencies. Any pet food sold within
California, for
example, must be registered with the State Health Department, Food and Drug
division, and
evidence supplied of compliance with "home-state" regulations. California
also requires copies of
labels and guaranteed analysis. Mr. Jeff Lineberry, with the Food and Drug
division, has never
heard of Evolution pet food, though Dr. Weisman offered to ship the product
to me in California.
The pressing nature of other public health issues, however, makes enforcement
of these
regulations a low priority. Other questions about Evolution may be far more
compelling than lack
of compliance with state regulatory bodies.
Feeding Trials?
When asked for details about the testing to verify the complete and
balanced nature of his
food, Dr. Weisman pointed to Dr. Alfred J. Plechner. He declared that Dr.
Plechner was
responsible for comprehensive feeding trials that validate Evolution pet food
as a sole source of
nutrition for dogs, cats, ferrets, and fish. Dr. Plechner is a veterinarian.
Twenty-five years ago, he
participated in the development of Nature's Recipe dog food which includes
vegetarian recipes.
Dr. Plechner has written extensively on his experiences with pet allergies
and nutrition, including a
book available from Nature's Recipe. Today, he is in private practice in West
Los Angeles,
California, after selling the company to Heinz this year. He also maintains a
wildlife refuge in the
Santa Monica mountains, providing free treatment for injured wild animals.
When asked about Evolution, Dr. Plechner responded from his office in
California, "What
is Evolution?" He said he had never heard of the products or of Dr. Weisman.
The only feeding
trials he had participated in were a part of product development for Nature's
Recipe. Whether
Evolution bears a strong resemblance to Nature's Recipe is unknown.
The United States Food and Drug Administration, moreover, has published
two means by
which a company may substantiate the nutritional adequacy of a cat or dog
food. If the label bears
any claim that the product is complete, balanced, healthy, etc., so that it
is intended to be offered
as sole source of nutrition, the claim can be made only if the food meets
either of the following
alternatives:
1. It is formulated to meet the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control
Officials) dog
and cat food nutrient profiles (so much protein, calcium, etc.). Minimum
nutrient levels are the
presumed lowest that will supply nutritionally adequate amounts for virtually
all animals at a given
life stage. Separate minimums are set for adult maintenance and
growth/reproduction. There are
also maximum nutrient levels for which there is a defined risk of toxicity.
2. It passes feeding trials following AAFCO protocols. There are separate
trial protocols for
adult maintenance, growth, and gestation/lactation. In order to claim that
the food is adequate for
all life stages, the offspring from previous gestation/lactation trials
should pass "growth" feeding
trials.
The label must state the means by which nutritional adequacy was
substantiated. Evolution
declares itself "the world's most complete pet food" without apparent
compliance with eitherform of validation. Furthermore, if the product does
not meet either method, it must state "This
product is intended for intermittent or supplemental use only." Failure to
state one of the above
leaves the product in violation of AAFCO, FDA, and many state regulations.
Feeding trials are costly, so many smaller pet food companies comply
with federal and
state guidelines through documented compliance with AAFCO formulations. These
companies
also often keep a history of smaller feeding tests done by veterinarians or
breeders that confirm
the adequacy of the food. These testimonials are important confirmation that
experience with a
product has been favorable. That is, that at all stages or ages for which it
is intended, the diet,
when fed exclusively, results in healthy animals. When I asked specifically
for this type of
corroboration, Dr. Weisman mailed me a package of marketing brochures and
product order
forms.
Nutritional Requirements
Neither of the AAFCO methods to ensure nutritional adequacy is perfect
and AAFCO is
working to improve the guidelines based on new scientific information.
However, the National
Research Council (NRC) Daily Requirements which Evolution lists on the back
of the dry food
bag are far less satisfactory and could even be described as misleading. The
NRC requirements are
based upon available nutrients, but the presence of nutrients in a diet does
not mean they can be
absorbed or utilized. A diet composed of shoe leather, motor oil, vitamins
and minerals will
analyze in the laboratory to meet NRC nutrient recommendations for dogs or
cats. Thus the claim
"Evolution K-9 Premium Quality Dog Food is a balanced ration for all life
stages of dogs based
on recommendations of the National Research Council, National Academy of
Science" (as
claimed on the Evolution Pet Food bag) is virtually meaningless.
The most important contribution humans can make to the health of their
companions is
excellent nutrition. Unlike other adult family members, animals are
completely dependent upon
humans to provide them with safe and nutritious meals. The choice of pet food
should be an
informed one, based upon an understanding of the unique needs of species and
their respective life
stages, not upon slick marketing. Vague and unsupported promises of improved
health and
enhanced life span do not provide assurance that a food will meet the
nutritional requirements of
an animal.
Debunking Evolution's Claims
There are some claims that Evolution makes, moreover, that can be
examined and these
demonstrate some inaccuracy or disingenuousness.
"Only Evolution guarantees five to ten extra healthy years for your pet."
Eric Weisman, the president of Evolution Pet Food, is a human
chiropractor. He admits
that no one has ever benefited from this guarantee or made a claim on behalf
of a pet who did not
live longer than expected. One interpretation of this phenomenon is that
Evolution is responsible
for increased longevity; another is that most pet owners believe their
companion animals are
incomparable members of the family and would find a replacement request
unimaginable.
"Garlic and onions not only enhance flavor but also help protect your dog,
cat and fish from
parasites, worms, bacteria, and viruses."
Onions and garlic will not control worms or fleas, but may make the
pet's breath
unpleasant. These foods do not increase diet palatability unless the pet has
been fed table food by
a family that uses large amounts of garlic and onions in their diet.
Consumption of a sufficient
amount of onions (an amount equal to more than 0.5% of body weight, e.g. 1.6
ounces for a 20
pound dog) causes the formation of Heinz bodies in red blood cells. This
results in anemia, fever,
darkened urine and death. The toxic principle is n-propyldisuldhide, an
alkaloid.
"Evolution was a pioneer in the use of vitamins as a preservative in pet
food. Not only does
vitamin C, beta-carotene, and vitamin E act as an anti-aging factor in food:
It does so for your pet
as well."
No requirement for Vitamin C has been established for animals.
Nutritional
recommendations for dogs and cats do not include Vitamin C. Vitamin C
requirements do
increase with stress, however. Even though human beings require dietary
Vitamin C, several good
controlled studies in people show no improvement in physical performance as a
result of Vitamin
C supplementation. Since animals do not need Vitamin C, they may only benefit
from it in
stressful circumstances, but no evidence supports this.
Vitamin A occurs naturally only in animal tissue. Both cats and dogs
require equal
amounts of Vitamin A in their diets. Vitamin A precursors (e.g.
beta-carotene) are synthesized by
plants. Omnivorous and herbivorous animals can convert beta-carotene to
Vitamin A; cats lack
this ability. Therefore, dogs may receive adequate Vitamin A supplementation
from this food, but
it is doubtful that cats will.
"All products more than 100-percent complete vegan. We use the same
ingredients in
different concentrations, in both our dog and cat foods."
How can anything be more than 100% of itself?
Cats are not small dogs. Even though both cats and dogs are
taxonomically classed in the
order Carnivora, cats exhibit naturally carnivorous feeding behavior whereas
dogs are naturally
omnivorous.
Glucose is the primary source of energy made available to the body from
carbohydrates.
The livers of most animals have two enzyme systems that convert glucose to a
form in which it
can be used by the liver. The natural diet of cats contains only a small
amount of soluble
carbohydrate. Therefore, cats deliver very little absorbed glucose to the
liver, unlike people, dogs,
and rats who have high liver activity. Cats are designed to rely primarily on
amino acids (from
protein), propionic acid (a volatile fatty acid), lactic acid, and glycerol
for maintenance of blood
glucose and, therefore, available energy for muscular activity, glands, nerve
fibers, cellular
function, absorption of food, and so on.
Differing Requirements
In Evolution pet food, the dry food formula for both dogs and cats is
said to be at least
28% protein; adequate for kittens (who need 30%), cats (25 30%), and puppies
(29%); too high
for adult dogs (18%). (The higher protein requirement of cats is due to the
high activity of the
liver enzymes that convert amino acids to available energy or glucose
production. Unlike
omnivores and herbivores, cats cannot decrease this liver activity when fed a
low protein diet; a
fixed amount of dietary protein is always required.) In adult dogs, the dry
formula may cause
excessive weight gain from surplus protein.
The protein of canned formulas, on the other hand, may be as low as 6 to
8 %, inadequate
for any animal. If the volume of food is primarily dry food, the protein
requirements may be met.
If on the other hand, predominantly canned food is fed, it will likely be
inadequate for any
companion animal.
Moreover, digestibility is an important component of protein absorption.
Digestibility is
determined in feeding trials by the dry weight necessary for maintaining body
weight less the
stool dry weight divided by food dry weight multiplied by 100. This gives a
percentage
digestibility which should be 75% or greater, in order to calculate
nutritional adequacy accurately
using published guidelines. The digestibility of Evolution is undocumented.
In addition, cats have two specific amino acid requirements, arginine
and taurine.
Evolution supplements with taurine, but does not report whether arginine is
supplemented.
Dietary Fat
Cats also have the ability to digest and utilize high levels of dietary
fat, as is present in
animal tissue. They have a special need for arachidonic acid, present in
animal fat. Whether the
sea kelp in Evolution provides absorbable arachidonic acid for cats is
unknown. In general, fat
requirements differ for cats and dogs. The recommended percentage of fat in
dog food also varies
by life stage. A growing puppy, pregnant female, or nursing mother requires a
diet with at least
17% fat, while an adult dog only needs 8 to 10% fat. Adult cats, though, need
10 to 15% fat in
their diet depending upon their age, requiring a higher percentage of fat in
old age.
The reported percentage of fat in Evolution pet food can be as low as 5%
in the dry
formulas, inadequate for either cats or dogs. The dry food may be as low as
15%, adequate for
adults but not other life stages. Like many pet food brands, Evolution claims
to be an "all
purpose" food, one that can be fed at all life stages, in this case for
multiple species. Health,
longevity, and performance may be impaired by feeding a diet that is
inadequate for the particular
needs of very young, aging, stressed, or sick animals. Caloric density,
protein and fat needs may
be vastly different for individual animals as well.
Unlikely to Thrive
Dogs and cats are unlikely to thrive on Evolution Pet Food. Analysis
made of the formulas
documented in the company's materials characterize a diet dangerously
inadequate for cats and
ferrets. Adult dogs without health problems or a stressful life, perhaps, may
be fed this diet
without complication. However, very young or old dogs, working dogs, and
pregnant or nursing
females will not receive satisfactory nourishment.
The search for a healthy diet that is complete, balanced, highly
digestible, and palatable to
companion animals is a worthwhile undertaking. A vegetarian or vegan formula
that meets these
criteria for cats is, while perhaps not impossible, problematic. Because cats
are carnivores, their
metabolic requirements are far more rigid and dissimilar to humans and dogs.
Any dietary decision
to feed cats vegetarian or vegan diet must be made carefully. AAFCO, your
local veterinarian,
animal nutrition references, and nutrition specialists found at most
veterinary schools can help
with this important decision.
A vegetarian formula for dogs is far less difficult. There are tested
formulas of vegetarian
dog foods available commercially. These are available from pet suppliers
and/or veterinarians. In
all cases, adequate documentation of nutritional adequacy should be the basis
upon which dietary
decisions are made. Marketing materials, advertising, and sales promotions
seldom contain
sufficient detail to make an informed decision. Legitimate claims for
complete and balanced diets
are backed up by compliance with AAFCO guidelines, feeding trials, informal
feeding trials,
and/or empirical research. Because humans have nearly complete control over
the food their
companion animals eat, it is our responsibility to make sound choices on
their behalf.
Sidebar:
Vegetarian Diets for Companion Animals
If you are interested in a vegetarian diet for your feline and canine
friends, your best bet,
as always, is to make your companion animals food at home. Several books are
available with
recipes for vegetarian and non-vegetarian diets. One book dedicated to only
vegetarian nutrition is
Vegetarian Cats and Dogs by James A. Peden. This book gives a complete
overview of
vegetarianism for companion animals and the recipes also meet the Association
of American Feed
Control Officials (AAFCO) nutritional standards.
If you choose to feed your animal a processed vegetarian food, your
choices are limited.
Natures Recipe, Wysong, and a couple of other pet food manufacturers have
vegetarian products
available. Some mail order pet supply companies, such as Wow-Bow Distributors
Ltd., carry a
line of vegetarian products as well.
Above all, be certain your companion animal's vegetarian diet meets all
of his or her
nutritional requirements. If you have a vegetarian cat, be certain his or her
diet contains enough
taurine, as taurine is essential to good feline health and is naturally found
in meat.
API recommends discussing your companion animal's diet with your
veterinarian to
ensure completeness, and prior to making any dietary changes. If he or she is
not supportive of
your decision to feed a home prepared diet or a vegetarian diet, do not
hesitate to seek a second
opinion.
Sidebar
API's Actions
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) originally notified Dr.
Weisman of the
registration requirements for distribution of pet food in Minnesota in July
1995. Further MDA
communications with Dr. Weisman over the next 18 months failed to produce any
response.
MDA action against Evolution Premium Pet Food was only taken after API
supplied additional
information and repeatedly urged MDA to investigate.
At press time for this article, David J. Read of the MDA informed API
Executive Director
Alan Berger that Dr. Weisman had met with MDA and "we were told that the
Evolution Pet Food
canned products would not be distributed or offered for distribution in
Minnesota. Dr. Weisman
stated he would work with [MDA] to bring his dry product labels into
compliance with the
Minnesota Commercial Feed Law and regulations so that the products will be
acceptable for
registration." However, this does not mean that Dr. Weisman is not
advertising in other states, or
that Evolution pet food is no longer available, whether by mail from the
company or through an
independent distributor.
You can help. If you see Evolution pet food for sale, either advertised
or on a store's
shelves, please contact Tina Perry at API. Meanwhile, API continues to
explore all available
means to ensure that any vegetarian pet food offered as complete nutrition
for your companion
animal delivers on its claims.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 00:21:53 -0800
>From: GLYNN@envirolink.org (Gina Lynn)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Chatham 4 Update
Message-ID:
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 30, five animal rights
activists were arrested for allegedly raiding a Canadian mink farm.
According to media reports, 1500 mink were released from Ebert's Fur Farm
(RR4 Blenheim, Ontario, N0P 1A0, Canada, 519-676-4969 owned by Tom
McLellan), fences were cut and breeding cards were removed from the cages,
effectively costing the fur farmer 1/2 million dollars!!!
It is believed that he will collect this in insurance money but that the
company will not insure him again and that this action has put him out of
business for good! (The Earth Liberation Front took credit for a similar
action at Ebert's Fur Farm 2 weeks earlier when 250-300 mink were
released).
Those charged in the mink raid are Patricia Dodson, 48, of Michigan; Hilma
Ruby, 59, of Michigan; Robyn Weiner, 25, of Michigan; Gary Yourofsky, 26,
of Michigan, and Alan Hoffman, 47, of Michigan. All are charged with
breaking and entering and mischief. Weiner and Hoffman are also charged
with possession of stolen property. Dodson is charged with possession of
burglary tools.
The 5 had a bail hearing on Tuesday, April 1 where the Crown asked for an
extension of two days to complete research on those held. Another hearing
was scheduled for 10 am Thursday in Chatham.
The second day of bail hearings was long and resulted in the defendants
remaining in jail. The defense presented a full day of character witnesses
on Thursday, April 3 which continued on through Friday, April 4. The crown
is really grilling the witnesses for anything and everything. The case is
weak without more info and they want to find more.
Their bail hearing continues on Wednesday and the judge will not announce
her decision on whether or not they will be elible for bail until Friday.
On Wednesday it is expected that neighboring chicken farmers will testify
that the released mink killed many of their chickens (contrary to the mink
farmers' standard reports that ranch raised mink don't know how to catch
and kill prey) and other animal exploiters will plead to the court to not
let these compassionate commandos out of jail.
Many anti-animal groups--agriculture groups, dairy groups, fur groups,
etc.--are asking police to prosecute these people to the full extent of the
law. This detective denied they'd be treated unfairly because of their
animal rights beliefs, but says he's asking the judge not to grant bail
because they can't be trusted to come back & face trial.
None of the 5 have criminal records and look forward to returning to
Chatham and facing trial.
One of the defendants (Allen Hoffman, a non-activist relative of Gary) has
already made a very damaging statement in court, is cooperating with the
authorities and intends to testify against the others.
They're very bored and would greatly appreciate any letters sent to them.
PLEASE WRITE TO THEM TODAY!!
Hima Ruby, Pat Dodson, and Robyn Weiner
Elgin-Middlesex Detention Center
711 Exeter Rd.
London, Ontario
N6E 1L3
Canada
Gary Yourofsky
Chatham Jail
17 7th St.
Chatham, Ontario
N7M 4J9
Canada
(no booking or prisoner numbers)
They're getting very little acceptable vegan food so folks may want to call
the jail and insist that they be given vegan food.
Men's Jail: (519) 352-0150
Women's Jail: (519) 519-686-1922
The legal fees and other costs yet to be incurred will undoubtedly be
enormous (2 women have already lost their jobs) - any help raising funds
would be greatly appreciated!! Until a proper support committee is set up,
donations can be made to the North American Animal Liberation Front
Supporters Group and earmarked for the Chatham 4 (we don't count
traitors!):
NA-ALFSG
Box 69597
5845 Yonge St.
Willowdale, Ontario
M2M 4K3
Canada
FREE TONY, STACY, JEFF AND THE CHATHAM 4!!!!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
For regular updates, check the Latest from the Frontlines section of the No
Compromise Web Page at the URL below.
Check out the new No Compromise Web Page at
http:www.envirolink.org/arrs/nocompromise/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FREE ALL ANIMAL LIBERATION PRISONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 01:15:31 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in National re-run
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970408011554.19972794@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Two horses lost their lives and one was injured in the postponed running of
the Grand National at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool yesterday. The race
was abandoned Saturday, before it got underway, after a bomb warning was
called in to a local hospital and police station.
Smith's Band, who was trained by Jenny Pitman, quoted as blaming the bomb
threats on animal-rights activists. Pitman was also quoted as saying that
the people who did it (made the threats) had "no concern about the horses.".
He fell at the 20th fence sending jockey Richard Dunwoody crashing to the
ground and died instantly after breaking his neck..
Straight Talk , the other fatility, fell at the 14th fence. He broke a bone
in a fore-leg and was killed by a vet.
Mugoni Beach, who was pulled up by jockey Jamie Evans at the 21st fence, was
noted to
have injured a leg and was taken to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 01:15:35 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Sea Empress 'only one of 60 mishaps'
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970408011559.1997411e@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday, April 8th, 1997
Avocets on the move as numbers continue to rise
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor
AVOCETS, the most distinctive of Britain's wading birds, are moving inland
to breed as their numbers increase in one of the greatest conservation
success stories of the past half century, ornithologists said yesterday.
Avocets now number between 400 and 500 breeding pairs at seven sites -
thanks largely to the Second World War. More than half of these are on the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves at Minsmere and at
Havergate Island in Suffolk, where they were
rediscovered in 1947 after a century of absence from Britain.
Exactly 50 years ago today, Major Esmond Lynn-Allen followed up a chance
remark in the Eel's Foot Inn at Eastbridge and confirmed the presence of
four avocets on the coast at Minsmere. The bird had died out in Britain in
the mid-19th century when avocets and their
eggs were taken for food.
Avocets continued to breed on the Continent and ornithologists now believe
that these may have been disturbed by the last years of the war to seek
breeding grounds this side of the North Sea. The flooding of grazing marsh
at Minsmere to create wartime defences fulfilled the avocets' requirement
for temporary brackish ponds where they use their distinctive bills to feed
on shrimp, worms and midge pupae. At Havergate, a stray shell destroyed a
sluice gate, creating similar habitat.
However, it was not until 1963 that the RSPB perfected their
habitat-creation techniques and avocets bred regularly at Minsmere. The
muddy pools quickly become overgrown if they are not scraped by hand or
rotavated, making the provision of avocet habitat an entirely artificial
operation, according to Geoff Welch, Minsmere reserve manager. Reserves also
have to be tightly fenced against foxes.
Avocets, which were adopted as the RSPB symbol in the 1950s, now winter
regularly on the South-West estuaries and breed in Kent, East Anglia and at
Blacktoft Sands on the Humber. Last year a pair of avocets bred inland at
the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's reserve at
Welney on the Ouse washes in Norfolk and on a disused reservoir in
south-west London. Mr Welch said: "This could well be part of a general
movement inland. Avocets are very much an inland species in Africa."
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 01:15:38 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Jail for nurse with 30 dogs in her caravan'
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970408011601.402fecec@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday, April 8th, 1997
Jail for nurse with 30 dogs in her caravan
A NURSE who had 30 dogs living with her in a caravan at her self-styled
sanctuary was jailed for six months and banned from keeping animals for life
yesterday.
Jane Nichols, 50, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering. Her son
Kevin, 27, was also convicted but did not appear in court and a warrant was
issued for his arrest. They were found to have neglected five cats, two
horses, two donkeys and a Jack Russell terrier.
A chestnut mare named Sunshine was in such a bad condition that she had to
be destroyed when the RSPCA visited the site following a complaint to the
police in April 1996, Durham magistrates were told.
Nichols, who represented herself at the hearing, set up the "sanctuary" with
£60,000 left by her late husband, who died from cancer in 1993. In tears,
she told the court that she had never ill-treated an animal in her life and
that taking the animals away from her would be cruel to them.
She said she loved animals and that she fitted in work at a local nursing
home around the needs of the animals. The five cats were in a hut that was
filthy from overflowing litter trays. The other animals were moved from the
site at Cookes Wood, Broom Park, near Durham, and looked after by the RSPCA.
All were said to have made considerable improvements within a few months.
Kevin Nichols did not attend the hearing because it was claimed that he was
with the remaining animals at the sanctuary. These will now be taken into
care by the RSPCA, which has spent about £12,000 on the case, mostly on
caring for the animals.
Sentencing Nichols, David Balls, chairman of the bench, told her: "You have
refused to acknowledge the state these animals were in and only a custodial
sentence would be appropriate." Nichols indicated that she was planning to
appeal against her sentence. Ian
Smith, an RSPCA inspector, said: "It shows that the courts take this matter
very seriously. It is the maximum penalty allowed. We're very pleased with
the verdict."
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 01:29:46 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Avocets on the move as numbers continue to rise
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970408013010.1997716a@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sorry, This was sent out originally with the wrong heading. I have now sent
out the correct story about "Sea Empress" and put the right heading on this
story. Apologies for any incovenience. David
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday, April 8th, 1997
Avocets on the move as numbers continue to rise
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor
AVOCETS, the most distinctive of Britain's wading birds, are moving inland
to breed as their numbers increase in one of the greatest conservation
success stories of the past half century, ornithologists said yesterday.
Avocets now number between 400 and 500 breeding pairs at seven sites -
thanks largely to the Second World War. More than half of these are on the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds reserves at Minsmere and at
Havergate Island in Suffolk, where they were
rediscovered in 1947 after a century of absence from Britain.
Exactly 50 years ago today, Major Esmond Lynn-Allen followed up a chance
remark in the Eel's Foot Inn at Eastbridge and confirmed the presence of
four avocets on the coast at Minsmere. The bird had died out in Britain in
the mid-19th century when avocets and their
eggs were taken for food.
Avocets continued to breed on the Continent and ornithologists now believe
that these may have been disturbed by the last years of the war to seek
breeding grounds this side of the North Sea. The flooding of grazing marsh
at Minsmere to create wartime defences fulfilled the avocets' requirement
for temporary brackish ponds where they use their distinctive bills to feed
on shrimp, worms and midge pupae. At Havergate, a stray shell destroyed a
sluice gate, creating similar habitat.
However, it was not until 1963 that the RSPB perfected their
habitat-creation techniques and avocets bred regularly at Minsmere. The
muddy pools quickly become overgrown if they are not scraped by hand or
rotavated, making the provision of avocet habitat an entirely artificial
operation, according to Geoff Welch, Minsmere reserve manager. Reserves also
have to be tightly fenced against foxes.
Avocets, which were adopted as the RSPB symbol in the 1950s, now winter
regularly on the South-West estuaries and breed in Kent, East Anglia and at
Blacktoft Sands on the Humber. Last year a pair of avocets bred inland at
the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's reserve at
Welney on the Ouse washes in Norfolk and on a disused reservoir in
south-west London. Mr Welch said: "This could well be part of a general
movement inland. Avocets are very much an inland species in Africa."
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 10:05:45 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Tuam@aol.com
To: AR-News@envirolink.org
Subject: re-subscribe
Message-ID: <970408100544_706312039@emout01.mail.aol.com>
Re-subscribe AR-News: Adele Douglass/ TUAM@aol.com
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 10:51:53 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Admin Note--subscription options
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409105150.0068c028@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Another reminder.........
Please do not post your subscription request to the list--such matters are
not _news_.
If you are concerned about the status of your subscription, read this
carefully.
Here are some items of general information (found in the "welcome letter"
sent when people subscribe--but often lose!)...included: how to post and
how to change your subscription status (useful if you are going on
vacation--either by "unsubscribe" or "postpone").
---------------------------------------------------------------
To post messages to the list, send mail to ar-news@envirolink.org
POSTING
To post a *news-related item* (no discussions), send your message to:
ar-news@envirolink.org
Appropriate postings to AR-News include: posting a news item, requesting
information on some event, or responding to a request for information.
Discussions on AR-News will NOT be allowed and we ask that any
commentary either be taken to AR-Views or to private E-mail.
------------------------------------------
***General Subscription Information***
ALL THE FOLLOWING SHOULD NOT be sent to ar-news !!!
(send them to listproc@envirolink.org)
For all commands, use a blank Subject line.
---------------------------------------------------
To request a digest version, send mail to listproc@envirolink.org
with the following single line:
set ar-news mail digest
To switch back to immediate mail, and to get copies of *your* postings
also, send the following command:
set ar-news mail ack
or the following to not get your own postings:
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To see how you are set up ***(and to see if you are still subscribed!)***, use
set ar-news
To temporarily stop mailings, use:
set ar-news mail postpone
To re-enable it, use ack, noack, or digest as above.
To unsubscribe, use:
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or:
signoff ar-news
If you have to subscribe again, use:
subscribe ar-news first_name last_name (use false name if you want!)
If you have problems, please contact:
Allen Schubert
alathome@clark.net
allen
********
"We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Walk your talk
and no one will be in doubt of where you stand."
-- Howard F. Lyman
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 11:10:22 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (FR) Euro Parliament Nixes Genetic Corn
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409111016.00689e9c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
04/08/1997 10:19 EST
Euro Parliament Nixes Genetic Corn
STRASBOURG, France (AP) -- The European Parliament overwhelmingly voted
Tuesday to recommend an end to the sale of genetically-altered corn in the
15-nation European Union.
By a vote of 407-2, parliament called on the European Commission to
suspend its
authorization for imports of the grain, which was granted last December to
the Swiss
company Ciba-Geigy.
The European Commission, the EU's executive agency, is not bound by the
parliament's resolution to change its policy.
Farmers, environmentalists and consumer groups have protested the imports,
which largely come from the United States, contending the corn hasn't been
adequately proven safe.
Parliament's push to end the corn sales comes as trade officials from
Europe and
the United States prepare to meet in Washington next week to discuss EU
regulations for genetically-altered food products.
Austria and Luxembourg already have banned the corn imports, saying the
herbicides and antibiotic-resistant chemicals used in its production have
not been
sufficiently tested.
France banned the cultivation of genetically-modified corn last February,
but is
permitting the imports that carry special labeling.
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 08:38:34 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Mike Markarian
To: ar-dc@waste.org, ar-news@envirolink.org,
seac+announce@ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu, en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: Fund Offers Mont. Co. $5,000 for Strieter-Lite Reflectors
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970408161010.52872e98@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997
CONTACT: Michael Markarian, (301) 585-2591
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
Fund Offers $5,000 for Deer Management if County Promises No More Hunts
SILVER SPRING -- Today, in a letter to the Maryland-National Capital Park &
Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), The Fund for Animals offered $5,000 toward
the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors on Montgomery County
roads if the M-NCPPC enters into a legal agreement stating there will be no
future deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park, Agricultural History Farm
Park, or any other Montgomery County park under the authority of M-NCPPC.
Michael Markarian, Director of Campaigns for The Fund, wrote: "I think you
will agree that the deer hunts conducted in December and January were a
waste of taxpayer dollars and a public relations nightmare for your agency.
The small number of deer who were killed by hunters will inevitably be
replaced during this spring's birthing season, and nothing has been done to
address the problem of deer/auto collisions."
The Strieter-Lite reflector, when posted at intervals on a road or highway
and maintained properly, deters deer from crossing roads. The Washington
Department of Transportation recorded an 88 percent reduction in deer/auto
collisions after installing the reflectors, and Minnesota state officials
recorded a 91 percent reduction in deer/auto collisions.
Says Markarian, "This is an effective way to spend our money, because it
helps both people and deer. County officials should realize that hunting is
only a band-aid approach, and we need to implement real, long-term, humane
solutions."
# # #
====================
April 8, 1997
BY MAIL AND FAX: (301) 587-6151
Mr. Rob Gibbs
Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
1109 Spring Street, Suite 802
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Dear Mr. Gibbs:
Thank you for your letter of March 25 asking for The Fund for Animals'
assistance in funding the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors
in Montgomery County test sites. As I've mentioned before, we believe the
Strieter-Lite reflectors are an extremely effective way to reduce deer/auto
collisions, as evidenced by the studies in Washington and Minnesota that
indicated an 88 percent and 91 percent reduction, respectively, in deer/auto
collisions after installation.
The estimated cost to install reflectors on Brink Road, Randolph Road, and
Bonifant Road is $29,470. The Fund for Animals is willing to donate $5,000
to this project if you enter into a binding legal agreement assuring us that
there will be no future managed deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park,
Agricultural History Farm Park, or any other Montgomery County park under
the authority of the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
(M-NCPPC).
I think you will agree that the deer hunts conducted in December and January
were a waste of taxpayer dollars and a public relations nightmare for your
agency. The small number of deer who were killed by hunters will inevitably
be replaced during this spring's birthing season, and nothing has been done
to address the problem of deer/auto collisions. The installation of
Strieter-Lite reflectors will be a much more effective use of funds, and
will allow the combining of resources from the Department of Public Works
and Transportation, the M-NCPPC, The Fund for Animals, and other private
organizations wishing to participate. We hope that your agency will abandon
the "band-aid" approach of hunting, and that we can work together to
implement real, long-term, humane solutions such as the use of Strieter-Lite
reflectors.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Michael Markarian
Director of Campaigns
The Fund for Animals
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 10:43:11 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Mike Markarian
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Coyote Hunting in PA
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970408181436.2c5fd7d0@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
There is an article about the central Pennsylvania coyote killing contest at:
http://epicom.com/voices/curriss/coyote.html
by Nancy Gates and "Voices of Central Pennsylvania Inc."
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 10:18:22 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Mike Markarian
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+announce@ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu,
en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Cc: IDA_LS@arc.unm.edu
Subject: Make-A-Wish Foundation hunting update
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970408175015.2c5f3fbe@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
For those who have been following the Make-A-Wish Foundation hunting trip
controversy, we sent the following letter today and released it to the
press. Elvira has just joined the list of celebrities who will not
participate in Make-A-Wish fundraisers until the organization sets a
national policy against granting hunting trips to kids.
====================
April 8, 1997
Mr. Stephen E. Torkelson, President and C.E.O.
Make-A-Wish Foundation of America
100 West Clarendon, Suite 2200
Phoenix, Arizona 85013-3518
Dear Mr. Torkelson:
In our discussions last year concerning bear and moose trophy hunting trips
granted by the Make-A-Wish Foundation's Minnesota and Pennsylvania chapters,
we were informed that your Board of Directors established a task force to
determine a national policy on hunting wishes. While that task force had the
gestation period of an elephant, and while no one from your organization had
the courtesy to inform us of its decision, we have learned from media news
reports that the Board of Directors has decided to allow each state chapter
to make its own decisions on hunting trips.
I would like to raise several concerns over this decision. It is simply
ironic that an organization founded on the principles of kindness and
compassion, an organization that helps thousands of children, would put its
stamp of approval on arming those children and sending them on trips to
assassinate helpless animals. And it is sad that the negative publicity over
the Make-A-Wish Foundation's hunting trips has hurt your individual chapters
financially, and may prevent children from receiving the wishes they
deserve. The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Canada and your chapters in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and St. Louis have expressed opposition to
hunting wishes and concern that this fiasco is costing them donations.
Celebrities such as Kevin Nealon have canceled fundraising appearances for
Make-A-Wish chapters, and the San Francisco chapter reported that it lost as
much as $750,000 in donations because of the hunting controversy.
You may have thought that the controversy had died down. But just last
month, actress Elvira refused to participate in a Make-A-Wish fundraiser in
Syracuse, New York. Her manager wrote: "Over the years, she has made many
contributions of auction items to various chapters of Make-A-Wish
Foundation. Regrettably, she can no longer in good conscience make a
contribution until the national office of Make-A-Wish Foundation signs a
statement of assurance . . . promising that all chapters will not allow the
wishes for hurting or killing of animals." (Letter enclosed.)
We urge you once again to set a national policy against the granting of
hunting trips. We hope that you will put an end to this sad stain on your
organization's good reputation, and that our organizations can work together
to promote compassion for both children and animals.
Sincerely,
Michael Markarian
Director of Campaigns
The Fund for Animals
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 13:58:40 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Mike Markarian
To: ar-dc@waste.org, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fund Offers Mont. Co. $5,000 for Strieter-Lite Reflectors
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970408213039.2db7dc58@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Sorry if this appears twice. I don't think it went through the first time.
-- Mike
====================
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997
CONTACT: Michael Markarian, (301) 585-2591
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS
Fund Offers $5,000 for Deer Management if County Promises No More Hunts
SILVER SPRING -- Today, in a letter to the Maryland-National Capital Park &
Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), The Fund for Animals offered $5,000 toward
the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors on Montgomery County
roads if the M-NCPPC enters into a legal agreement stating there will be no
future deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park, Agricultural History Farm
Park, or any other Montgomery County park under the authority of M-NCPPC.
Michael Markarian, Director of Campaigns for The Fund, wrote: "I think you
will agree that the deer hunts conducted in December and January were a
waste of taxpayer dollars and a public relations nightmare for your agency.
The small number of deer who were killed by hunters will inevitably be
replaced during this spring's birthing season, and nothing has been done to
address the problem of deer/auto collisions."
The Strieter-Lite reflector, when posted at intervals on a road or highway
and maintained properly, deters deer from crossing roads. The Washington
Department of Transportation recorded an 88 percent reduction in deer/auto
collisions after installing the reflectors, and Minnesota state officials
recorded a 91 percent reduction in deer/auto collisions.
Says Markarian, "This is an effective way to spend our money, because it
helps both people and deer. County officials should realize that hunting is
only a band-aid approach, and we need to implement real, long-term, humane
solutions."
# # #
====================
April 8, 1997
BY MAIL AND FAX: (301) 587-6151
Mr. Rob Gibbs
Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
1109 Spring Street, Suite 802
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Dear Mr. Gibbs:
Thank you for your letter of March 25 asking for The Fund for Animals'
assistance in funding the installation of Strieter-Lite wildlife reflectors
in Montgomery County test sites. As I've mentioned before, we believe the
Strieter-Lite reflectors are an extremely effective way to reduce deer/auto
collisions, as evidenced by the studies in Washington and Minnesota that
indicated an 88 percent and 91 percent reduction, respectively, in deer/auto
collisions after installation.
The estimated cost to install reflectors on Brink Road, Randolph Road, and
Bonifant Road is $29,470. The Fund for Animals is willing to donate $5,000
to this project if you enter into a binding legal agreement assuring us that
there will be no future managed deer hunts in Little Bennett Regional Park,
Agricultural History Farm Park, or any other Montgomery County park under
the authority of the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission
(M-NCPPC).
I think you will agree that the deer hunts conducted in December and January
were a waste of taxpayer dollars and a public relations nightmare for your
agency. The small number of deer who were killed by hunters will inevitably
be replaced during this spring's birthing season, and nothing has been done
to address the problem of deer/auto collisions. The installation of
Strieter-Lite reflectors will be a much more effective use of funds, and
will allow the combining of resources from the Department of Public Works
and Transportation, the M-NCPPC, The Fund for Animals, and other private
organizations wishing to participate. We hope that your agency will abandon
the "band-aid" approach of hunting, and that we can work together to
implement real, long-term, humane solutions such as the use of Strieter-Lite
reflectors.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Michael Markarian
Director of Campaigns
The Fund for Animals
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 18:21:20 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Slaughter Near End in Wyoming
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409182117.006d40d0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
(Another attempt--if this is a multiple copy, please delete and accept my
apologies in advance.)
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
04/06/1997 12:13 EST
Slaughter Near End in Wyoming
By BOB MILLER
Associated Press Writer
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) -- While great drifts of snow still
canopy
the mountainsides here, spring finally is creeping into the meadows. And
not a
moment too soon for employees of the National Park Service.
With warmer weather, bison no longer will drift down by the hundreds from
Yellowstone's high country, in search of winter forage in Montana pastures
-- and at
risk of shoot-on-sight slaughter.
Montana, with zero-tolerance for brucellosis-infected bison wandering near
its cattle
herds, has for months been branded the villain. But the truth is more
complicated.
Almost half the 1,080 slaughtered animals have been killed by the Park
Service, the
zealous guardian of Yellowstone wildlife.
``We're participating in a hands-on part of what we know to be the killing
and
slaughter of the bison,'' said Marv Jensen, Yellowstone's assistant
superintendent.
``It's been an extremely distasteful episode.''
Since the onset of winter, the Park Service has captured hundreds of bison
wandering out of the park. Of those, 464 have been processed for slaughter
through
park facilities.
The buffalo that avoid Park Service capture are usually shot by Montana
Department
of Livestock sharpshooters who are summoned by landowners. By natural and
unnatural causes, the Yellowstone buffalo have been culled to just over
1,000, from
3,500 that roamed the park last fall.
For Jensen, the experience wounds the very purpose of the Park Service.
``Here's an agency whose mission it is to protect the wildlife within the
park, and yet
you have a legal system which then boxed us into having to participate in
the killing,''
he said.
The Park Service oversees a cluster of enclosures within a mile-long,
barbed-wire
perimeter on Yellowstone's northern boundary. There the bison are tested for
brucellosis, a disease that can cause cows to abort calves and transmit
undulant
fever to humans. About half test positive and are shipped to slaughter.
Those testing negative are penned; they'll remain, fenced and fed, until
someone
decides what to do with them.
``I like bison. Bison are fascinating,'' said assistant district ranger
Lloyd Kortge
outside the pen. ``But when they're continually hazed, shot or shipped --
no, it isn't
fun.''
Bison have migrated out of the park to forage since the 1940s, Jensen
said, but
never in the numbers seen this season. The winter was harsh, and some say the
mass exit was aided by groomed snowmobile trails.
Critics of the killing say the Park Service should establish feeding
stations within the
park to keep the herd away from cattle country. But that cuts at the
agency's core
conservation philosophy of letting nature run its course.
``What we're finding is that, over time, the more that we manipulate, the
more out of
balance the system gets,'' Jensen said.
That's why the entire capture apparatus drives agency workers crazy.
Everything
about it is unnatural, from the routine feedings, to the confinement, to
the testing. It is
contrary to everything the service believes in, yet it is essential in the
minds of its
neighbors.
``I do not see this as a capitulation ... as much as a helping hand,''
said Montana
Gov. Marc Racicot. ``The unfettered roaming of infected animals is just not
something that will be allowed by other states or the federal
government,'' namely
the Agriculture Department, which demanded controls against brucellosis
infection.
Racicot said the Park Service needs to take a hard look at its hands-off
bison
philosophy and recognize it is an exception, not the rule.
The service actively manages fish populations and has literally carried
Canadian
wolves back to Yellowstone. If the Park Service can put its hands on one
species,
Racicot argued, then it can manage another.
What frustrates Jensen and the Park Service is that this whole brouhaha
turns on
what he calls a questionable assumption -- that bison can transmit
brucellosis to
cattle.
The Agriculture Department ordered Montana to keep the park bison away
from the
cattle or risk quarantine decrees. It bases its case ``on one incident in
Texas in a
corral,'' Jensen said. ``While that's never been proven in the wild, they
say that's
enough evidence for us to act on the conservative side.''
But from Montana's point of view, the question of transmissibility is
irrelevant as long
as other states believe its beef cattle are at risk. And many do.
Oregon considered restrictions on Montana cattle this past winter. Alabama
requires
tests on Wyoming herds. And Washington and Texas have asked Montana officials
to explain how the cattle are protected from infection.
``The risk, and the appearance of risk, are what are being avoided,''
Racicot said.
Some practical suggestions are on the table for a more lasting solution,
and there is
considerable hope science can rescue the policymakers. But even the most
optimistic researchers say a reliable vaccine against brucellosis
infection is still
several years away.
Until then, the problem is trying to work out a compromise between
incompatible
missions: the Park Service's hands-off philosophy and Montana's absolute
need to
shield cattle.
Awaiting a more permanent solution, rangers will have their wire corrals
ready for the
next winter migration and a fresh season of bitter irony for the Park
Service.
``We don't kill them in the park,'' Jensen said. ``But we know where
they're going.'' To
the slaughterhouse.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 18:21:55 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Article from Indianapolis Star about Tony and Stacy
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409182147.006d45b4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
(And another attempt--if this is a multiple copy, please delete and accept
my apologies in advance.)
from private e-mail:
----------------------------------------------------------
More than fur at stake for 2 twice-arrested
teens
By Gerry Lanosga / The Indianapolis Star/News
INDIANAPOLIS (Fri. April 4, 1997) -- They don't take drugs, they don't
drink alcohol, they get good grades, and they do lots of volunteer
work.
So why are Lawrence North High School students Anthony Wong and Stacy
Schierholz doing hard time in the Indiana Department of Correction?
Arrested at an anti-fur protest last November, they are paying the
price for breaking the law and then thumbing their noses at authority,
according to juvenile court officials.
But their parents say authority -- the system -- is misguided in this
case.
Orval Schierholz knows a thing or two about authority. A West Point
graduate and 25-year Army veteran, he recalls being spat on by Vietnam
War protesters.
"I was willing to die to defend their right to protest," he said. "Now
it's very ironic to find out that my daughter apparently doesn't have
that right."
"Here is a good, intelligent kid. If this is what the system does to
her, what does it do for the emotionally disturbed kid who needs help?
If this is what the juvenile justice system does -- put 'em in irons
and slap 'em in the hole -- that's the dark ages," he added.
Wong and Schierholz ran afoul of the law last May, when they were
among eight people arrested in an anti-fur protest at the Lazarus
store in Castleton Square Mall. The day after Thanksgiving, still on
probation from the earlier incident, they were arrested in another
protest at the mall.
Schierholz, who videotaped the protest, was convicted of resisting
arrest. Wong chained himself to three others, blocking a mall
entrance. He was convicted of criminal trespass, obstructing traffic
and resisting arrest.
Each was offered new terms of probation that included 200 hours of
community service work and a prohibition of contact with animal rights
groups. Each refused.
Gary Chavers, chief deputy prosecutor in the juvenile court, said his
office had not made a recommendation for sentencing, leaving the
decision up to the court. But, he said, the refusals left little
alternative.
"They made the decisions not to accept the authority of the court," he
said.
Schierholz, 17, remains in the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional
Facility on the city's Westside after being jailed March 13. Wong, 16,
is in the Plainfield Juvenile Correctional Facility; he first was
locked up Feb. 24.
Wong's case in particular has garnered attention because he is on a
hunger strike. Today is his 40th day.
A slender youth about 5 feet 8 inches tall, Wong had lost about 24
pounds when DOC officials began force-feeding him last week. While he
took it as a further invasion of his rights, his parents admitted to
feeling relief.
An alarming visit
Susan Wong recalled her first visit to him in jail.
"I didn't know if he was still going to be alive when we came back the
next week," she said. "He has almost no body fat."
No fat, but plenty of fervor.
He will eat nothing containing animal products. His parents say he
won't wear leather shoes and even refuses to sit on a leather couch in
their home.
Coming to terms with his extreme devotion to animal rights has been,
in Ricardo Wong's words, "the strongest test of this family."
"You're caught between the excesses of his thinking and us trying to
support him," he said. "I have to respect what he believes in, but by
the same token, I have to let go slowly. He's still my son."
Susan Wong is a high school teacher; Ricardo Wong is an insurance
claims adjuster. Susan Wong said her son's beliefs have been
especially hard for her relatives, who were raised on a farm.
"He's very mature for his age," she said. "He's also very stubborn.
Anthony would like everyone to see everything his way."
Despite being somewhat mystified by their son's beliefs, the Wongs
contend his punishment is excessive. Before sentencing, he already had
completed 72 days of home detention and spent 12 days in juvenile
hall.
No plans to back off
In a telephone interview, Anthony Wong said he became active in animal
rights several years ago after reading about factory farming abuses.
He plans to remain active when he is released, and he plans to hunger
strike until then, passively resisting the feeding tube forced into
his nose three times a day.
"You have to be willing to put something on the line," he said.
Wong said he refused probation because it would have meant an end to
protesting. Schierholz refused for the same reason, and also because
she had been ordered to apologize to Castleton Square.
She could not be reached for comment. But her father said an apology
made no sense because she wasn't on mall property.
Orval Schierholz, the chief executive officer of Arts Indiana
Magazine, said there's a key difference between Wong's case and that
of his daughter. While Wong was blocking traffic, he said, she was
consciously trying not to break the law as she videotaped the event.
The family says the videotape proves she wasn't resisting arrest.
Orval Schierholz complains that juvenile court automatically presumes
kids to be guilty and brooks no quarrel with that presumption.
"What we're dealing with here is not kids who are out doing drugs,
stealing cars," he said. "It's the opposite end of the spectrum."
Juvenile court Judge James Payne declined to comment, citing legal and
ethical considerations.
"We are a nation of laws"
But Chavers resisted the portrayal of Wong and Schierholz as victims
of a mean-spirited system. He said they had the chance to take
probation over jail time.
"We are a nation of laws, and when adults or children violate those
laws, there are consequences," he said.
Ever since Wong and Schierholz's first arrests last May, there have
been suggestions that perhaps they and other teen-agers are being used
by adult activists.
Indeed, Wong's cause has been taken up by the California-based
Activist Civil Liberties Committee. But Wong said he contacted the
group for help after his November arrest. He said he is insulted at
the idea that young people can't act independently on their beliefs.
"I didn't go on hunger strike and I didn't protest because other
people told me to," he said. "I did it because I believe that animals
shouldn't be exploited."
Although they wonder about how much their son has been swayed by
literature on protests and hunger strikes, Wong's parents don't
disagree.
"I think he knows what he's doing, and he's taken a stand," said
Ricardo Wong.
Wong is due to be released in three weeks; Schierholz is to be held
until mid-June, which means she will miss her high school graduation.
Both plan to appeal.
"We're contending with a system that is strong-minded and my son who
is also strong-minded," said Ricardo Wong. "It's a battle."
Date: Tue, 8 Apr 1997 14:42:31 -0700 (PDT)
>From: "Christine M. Wolf"
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: URGENT ALERT: Dolphin Death Bill Moving Through Congress
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19800303140935.1b97a85a@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
URGENT ACTION ALERT !
CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS NOW TO VOICE YOUR OPPOSITION TO THE
DOLPHIN DEATH BILL !
Congress will hold hearings this week on H.R. 408, infamously named the
"Dolphin Death Bill". A vote on the floor of the House of Representatives
could soon follow!
If enacted into law, H.R. 408, introduced by Congressman Wayne Gilchrest
(R-MD), will re-define "Dolphin-Safe" to allow: (1) dolphins to be chased
and encircled in nets, (2) tuna caught by chasing and encircling dolphins to
be labeled dolphin-safe, as long as there are no "visible dolphin deaths,"
and (3) massive consumer confusion, since no one will know whether dolphins
were harmed or harassed in the process of catching tuna.
This legislation passed the House in the last Congress, but was never voted
on in the Senate because the session ended. Five so-called environmental
groups (Greenpeace, Center for Marine Conservation, World Wildlife Fund,
Environmental Defense Fund, and National Wildlife Federation), along with
Congressman Don Young and his wise-use cohorts are attempting to move this
legislation early in the new congress, so that time will not run out on them
again.
PLEASE CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS TODAY! Urge him or her to OPPOSE
H.R.
408, the Wise-Use Dolphin Death Act!
Call the House of Representatives' Switchboard at (202) 225-3121
E-mail addresses for Members of Congress can be accessed at www/thomas.loc.gov
Please call Christine Wolf at The Fund for Animals at (301) 585-2591 for
further information or to find out who your elected officials are.
******************************************************************
Christine Wolf, Director of Government Affairs
The Fund for Animalsphone: 301-585-2591
850 Sligo Ave., #300fax: 301-585-2595
Silver Spring, MD 20910e-mail: ChrisW@fund.org
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." (Margaret Mead)
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 08:07:29 +0800
>From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: RFI:Zinc Phosphide information (urgent)
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970409080417.2347a27e@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi,
Can anyone help with information on zinc phosphide?
It is to be used in our Eastern states as a broadacre mouse control
(they were not allowed strychnine thank God).
I think its being tested under trial.
I would like any info on the dangers of this chemical product'and any
knowledge of studies of long term effects (have there been any studies done?)
and effects on native animals, birds and wildlife biodegadability etc.
Any help much appreciated.
I have looked on the WW web but couldn't find anything much about this
substance.
Strangely enough, in my own part of Australia (Western seaboard)
broadacre baiting is not deemed acceptable according to our state's printed
literature (no specifics given though).
Any help re zinc phosphide would be much appreciated.
Any answers by private email please.
Kind Regards,
Marguerite
Rabbit Information Service
Western Australia
rabbit@wantree.com.au
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere ai te karohirohi
i mua tonu i o koutou huarahi.
-Maori Prayer
(May the calm be widespread, may the sea be as the smooth surface of the
greenstone and may the rays of sunshine forever dance along your pathway)
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 1997 09:13:17 +0800
>From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: RFI:ZINC PHOSPHIDE (Need any effects on humans too)
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970409091008.24cf81b8@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi,
Can anyone help with information on zinc phosphide?
It is to be used in our Eastern states as a broadacre mouse control
(they were not allowed strychnine thank God).
I think its being tested under trial.
I would like any info on the dangers of this chemical product'and any
knowledge of studies of long term effects ON HUMANS from direct contact and
residual - through food etc (have there been any studies done?)
and effects on native animals, birds and wildlife biodegadability etc.
Any help much appreciated.
I have looked on the WW web but couldn't find anything much about this
substance.
Any help much appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Marguerite
Rabbit Information Service
Western Australia
rabbit@wantree.com.au
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere ai te karohirohi
i mua tonu i o koutou huarahi.
-Maori Prayer
(May the calm be widespread, may the sea be as the smooth surface of the
greenstone and may the rays of sunshine forever dance along your pathway)
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 1997 22:13:40 -0400
>From: marcia
To: dknowles@dowco.com
Cc: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in National re-run
Message-ID: <334AFB54.21C3@eci.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Hi All,
Can anyone explain what this story is about? What
did the bomb warning have to do with the two horses
dying?
Marcia
David J Knowles wrote:
>
> Two horses lost their lives and one was injured in the postponed running of
> the Grand National at Aintree racecourse, near Liverpool yesterday. The race
> was abandoned Saturday, before it got underway, after a bomb warning was
> called in to a local hospital and police station.
>
> Smith's Band, who was trained by Jenny Pitman, quoted as blaming the bomb
> threats on animal-rights activists. Pitman was also quoted as saying that
> the people who did it (made the threats) had "no concern about the horses.".
> He fell at the 20th fence sending jockey Richard Dunwoody crashing to the
> ground and died instantly after breaking his neck..
>
> Straight Talk , the other fatility, fell at the 14th fence. He broke a bone
> in a fore-leg and was killed by a vet.
>
> Mugoni Beach, who was pulled up by jockey Jamie Evans at the 21st fence, was
> noted to
> have injured a leg and was taken to a local veterinary hospital for treatment.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 22:36:27 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: marcia@eci.com, dknowles@dowco.com
Cc: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: AR-News Admin Note--Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in
National re-run
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409223617.006c1848@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Please remember that most posts on AR-News are news items from other
sources--"why" is often a matter of speculation as the person who posted
the information to the list usually is not the person who wrote the item.
Please do not post commentary or personal opinions to AR-News. Such posts
are not appropriate to AR-News. Appropriate postings to AR-News include:
posting a news item, requesting information on some event, or responding to
a request for information. Discussions on AR-News will NOT be allowed and
we ask that any
commentary either be taken to AR-Views or to private E-mail.
Continued postings of inappropriate material may result in suspension of
the poster's subscription to AR-News.
Here is subscription info for AR-Views:
Send e-mail to: listproc@envirolink.org
In text/body of e-mail: subscribe ar-views firstname lastname
Also...here are some websites with info on internet resources for Veg and
AR interests:
The Global Directory (IVU)
http://www.veg.org/veg/Orgs/IVU/Internet/netguid1.html
World Guide to Vegetarianism--Internet
http://www.veg.org/veg/Guide/Internet/index.html
allen
********
"We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Walk your talk
and no one will be in doubt of where you stand."
-- Howard F. Lyman
Date: Tue, 08 Apr 1997 22:45:54 -0400
>From: marcia
To: allen schubert
Cc: dknowles@dowco.com, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: AR-News Admin Note--Re: [UK] Two horses killed, one injured in
National re-run
Message-ID: <334B02E2.5471@eci.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Allen,
Are you sure you're not overdoing it? You're assuming
that I'm seeking speculation from the person who posted.
That's not what I'm seeking and that's not what my
post said I was seeking. In fact, I'm seeking information
on this news item from anyone who is familiar with it.
I believe that the subscribers to AR-News include people
from Great Britain. I think that my posting is squarely
within the scope of AR-News.
Marcia
allen schubert wrote:
>
> Please remember that most posts on AR-News are news items from other
> sources--"why" is often a matter of speculation as the person who posted
> the information to the list usually is not the person who wrote the item.
>
> Please do not post commentary or personal opinions to AR-News. Such posts
> are not appropriate to AR-News. Appropriate postings to AR-News include:
> posting a news item, requesting information on some event, or responding to
> a request for information. Discussions on AR-News will NOT be allowed and
> we ask that any
> commentary either be taken to AR-Views or to private E-mail.
>
> Continued postings of inappropriate material may result in suspension of
> the poster's subscription to AR-News.
>
> Here is subscription info for AR-Views:
>
> Send e-mail to: listproc@envirolink.org
>
> In text/body of e-mail: subscribe ar-views firstname lastname
>
> Also...here are some websites with info on internet resources for Veg and
> AR interests:
>
> The Global Directory (IVU)
> http://www.veg.org/veg/Orgs/IVU/Internet/netguid1.html
>
> World Guide to Vegetarianism--Internet
> http://www.veg.org/veg/Guide/Internet/index.html
>
> allen
> ********
> "We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Walk your talk
> and no one will be in doubt of where you stand."
> -- Howard F. Lyman
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:01:27 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: AR-News Admin Note
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409230125.006c2624@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Please, all subscribers, note the difference in you software between
"reply" and "reply-to-all"--that is the responsibility of the person
posting to the list.
If you feel a strong need for a "Request For Information" (aka, RFI),
please ask for responses to private e-mail. AR-News is not a _discussion_
list.
allen
********
"We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Walk your talk
and no one will be in doubt of where you stand."
-- Howard F. Lyman
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:50:25 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) EDWARD FURLONG WANTS BOYS TOWN'S CAT EXPERIMENTS
"TERMINATED"
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409235022.006d59d0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA News Release page:
----------------------------------------------
EDWARD FURLONG WANTS BOYS TOWN'S CAT EXPERIMENTS
"TERMINATED"
Teen Star Offers to Adopt Kittens from Deafness Experiments
For Immediate Release:
April 1, 1997
Contact:
Jenny Woods 757-622-7382, ext. 324
Omaha, Neb. -- Actor Edward Furlong is pouncing at the chance to help
kittens and cats at Boys Town.
After viewing photographs and videotapes of Boys Town's Omaha laboratory
where kittens have their
heads cut open and circle and cry endlessly in their cages, he fired off
a letter to Boys Town director Father
Val J. Peter offering to seek medical attention for the cats and find
loving homes for all of them--on the
condition that the experiments are ended permanently."
Furlong, a PETA member, starred in Terminator II and in The Grass Harp
with Walter Matthau and Sissy
Spacek. He has most recently been featured in Before and After alongside
Liam Neeson and Meryl Streep.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:54:02 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) GIANT "RAT" LIGHTS FIRE UNDER GILMORE OVER TOBACCO TESTS
ON ANIMALS
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409235359.006aea70@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA News Release web page:
------------------------------------------------------
GIANT "RAT" LIGHTS FIRE UNDER GILMORE OVER TOBACCO TESTS ON
ANIMALS
Attorney General Warned: "Tobacco Money Kills Animals and Kids"
For Immediate Release:
April 1, 1997
Contact:
Toni Vernelli 757-622-7382, ext. 342
Richmond, Va. -- As the smoke clears from the controversy surrounding the
financial ties between Attorney
General James Gilmore and tobacco bigwigs, PETA is urging Gilmore to stop
collecting cigarette money for
personal reasons and start collecting it for the sake of animals,
children, and his adult constituents.
While even tobacco companies now admit that smoking causes cancer and
that nicotine is addictive, the
tobacco industry continues to conduct repetitive and painful experiments
on animals.
A giant "rat," holding a sign reading, "Tobacco Money Kills Animals and
Kids," will protest outside of
Gilmore's office:
Wednesday, April 2, 12 noon, Pocahontas Bldg., 900 E. Main St.
Thousands of dogs, cats, monkeys, rabbits, and mice suffer and are killed
in smoking experiments every
year while tobacco companies grasp at data that might allow them to tell
the public that smoking isn't
dangerous. Experimenters cut holes in beagles' throats and strap face
masks to rats, guinea pigs, and
monkeys, forcing them to breathe concentrated cigarette smoke.
"While other states sue the tobacco industry for money to support
anti-smoking programs in schools and
to cover health-care costs for cancer patients, Gilmore lines his pockets
with money from companies that
torture animals," says PETA's Toni Vernelli. "It's time for our attorney
general to recognize that far more living
beings are killed by the tobacco industry than make a living from it."
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:56:39 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) PETA MEMBER ARRESTED AT "TODAY" SHOW WINDOW
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409235636.006c5000@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA News Release web page:
-----------------------------------------------------------
PETA MEMBER ARRESTED AT "TODAY" SHOW WINDOW
Appearance By Notorious Animal Trainer Protested
For Immediate Release:
April 2, 1997
Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382, ext. 310
New York -- To protest Tuesday's Today show appearance by David McMillan,
an exotic animal trainer who
has been videotaped beating his animals, a PETA member was arrested this
morning after she charged
past Al Roker and scrawled the word "SHAME" on the Today show window.
PETA's undercover investigation last summer of McMillan's Tiger's Eye
Productions training school in
Oviedo, Fla., revealed McMillan hit tigers in the face with an ax handle,
shoved an ax handle down a lion's
throat, dragged leopards across the ground by chains around their necks,
and deprived big cats of food to
force them to "perform."
Pancho--one of the lions whose beatings were videotaped--was rented out
to Disney for Elton John's "Lion
King" video. Disney has since announced they will no longer use
McMillan's company. Same goes for Exxon,
which instituted a company-wide policy against all exotic animal
appearances after seeing how McMillan
"trained" his animals.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:58:14 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) PETA RAISES THE DEVIL AT BOYS TOWN
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409235811.006c5000@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA News Release web page:
------------------------------------------------------
PETA RAISES THE DEVIL AT BOYS TOWN
"Satan Loves Boys Town's Kitten Experiments," Says "Devil"
For Immediate Release:
April 2, 1997
Contact:
Jason Baker 757-622-7382, ext. 490
San Antonio, Texas -- Holding a sign reading, "Satan Loves Boys Town
Kitten Experiments," the "Devil" will
distribute leaflets exposing cruel experiments on kittens conducted at
the Boys Town National Research
Hospital in Omaha, Neb., outside the San Antonio chapter of Boys Town:
Thursday, April 3,12 noon to 1p.m., 503 Urban Loop
Why does "Satan" claim Boys Town's cat experimenters are in league with
the Devil? PETA's expose of the
Omaha facility last summer--prompted by a call from a whistleblower--led
to a 7-month undercover
investigation, which resulted in a 53-page complaint to federal
authorities regarding cruelty and neglect.
The federal government found Boys Town:
failed to keep medical records on kittens and cats used in fatal
brain experiments;
failed to notify the veterinarian of ill and debilitated animals;
and failed to provide standard operating procedures for the care
and use of animals in experiments.
"Life is hell for animals in laboratories," says PETA's Mary Beth
Sweetland. "May God forgive Boys Town for
the cruel and painful experiments it is conducting on helpless kittens
and cats."
Broadcast-quality footage of cats and kittens inside the Boys Town
facility will be available on-site.
Date: Wed, 09 Apr 1997 23:59:39 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) TV SHOWS URGED TO PUT THE BITE ON EXOTIC ANIMAL ACTS
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970409235935.006ae8d0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA News Release web page:
----------------------------------------------------
TV SHOWS URGED TO PUT THE BITE ON EXOTIC ANIMAL ACTS
Cruelty Runs Rampant Behind the Scenes, Charges PETA
For Immediate Release:
April 3, 1997
Contact:
Peter Wood 757-622-7382, ext. 344
New York -- Following Tuesday's Today show appearance by David McMillan,
who was caught on videotape
beating the animals he trains, PETA is calling on the nation's TV talk
shows to either leave exotic animals in
the wild or run a background check before booking any animal act.
"No TV rating exists that reflects the violence many exotic animals
endure when forced to perform," writes
PETA Chairman Alex Pacheco to producers of Good Morning America, The
Tonight Show, The Late Show
With David Letterman, Live With Regis & Kathie Lee, and dozens of other
national and local talk shows. A
full-page ad in next Monday's Hollywood Reporter warns that lions,
tigers, elephants, and other unwilling
animal "actors" are often beaten, whipped, deprived of food, and cruelly
shackled when not on the air.
In the McMillan case, the trainer and his students were found ramming an
ax handle down the throat of
Pancho, the lion McMillan rented out to Disney for Elton John's Lion King
video. Disney has since
announced it will no longer use McMillan's company.
Some trainers have beaten apes with sawed-off pool cues and metal rods,
sometimes killing them. Others
have been fined by federal and state authorities for keeping exotic
animals in filthy, cramped trailers.
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