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AR-NEWS Digest 609
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Steve Siegel's funeral
by Constance Young
2) (US) Men Get Jail Time for Cat-Killings
by Mesia Quartano
3) (AUST)INFLUENZA, AVIAN, H7 SEROTYPE
by bunny
4) (USA)FOODBORNE OUTBREAK, SALMONELLA - MARYLAND
by bunny
5) Woman with Mad Cow donated EYES
by Hillary
6) Canned Hunting in Pennsylvania
by Hillary
7) FDA Approves Beef Irradiation
by Hillary
8) Beef Farmers Demonstration
by Hillary
9) Avian Flu Vaccine
by Hillary
10) (Aust)ABC "Compass" program tonight
by bunny
11) EU ban of animal ingredients
by Hillary
12) Fund criticized hunting holiday
by Hillary
13) P&G Product List
by Hillary
14) Poachers caught
by Hillary
15) Primate lawsuit dismissed!
by Hillary
16) Pigeon Killing- Hegins Mentioned
by Hillary
17) HUNT HALTED
by Hillary
18) Seals Starving to Death
by Hillary
19) Talk Radio Host hangs up on advocate for dog sentenced to death
by "Bob Schlesinger"
20) Poultry Sales Down in HK
by Hillary
21) African Cows In Mexico
by Hillary
22) US BANS UK BEEF, VEAL AND LAMB
by Hillary
23) HK Poultry Market CLOSED
by Hillary
24) Child Labor in Poultry Factory
by Hillary
25) Lion Escapes
by Hillary
26) ...and she's captured
by Hillary
27) Activists Get Jail Time
by Hillary
28) FWD:S.O.S. SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS IN THE USA!
by bunny
29) Sorry for Overposting
by Hillary
30) Bison and snowmobiles in Yellowstone
by Andrew Gach
31) (UK)RCD/VHD in Australia on BBC radio(UK)this Tuesday
by bunny
32) FWD: new organic food standards - action alert
by Andrew Gach
33) 5 Guilty of Illegal-Hunting Charges
by STFORJEWEL
34) Lost Hummingbird Goes South
by STFORJEWEL
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 06:57:36 -0500
From: Constance Young
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Steve Siegel's funeral
Message-ID: <349BB2B0.5169@idsi.net>
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Sorry, here is a better address and instructions for getting to Steve
Siegel's funeral. (The previous post was not exactly wrong, but it was
somewhat confusing.)
Where: Forest Park Funeral Parlor (formerly called Schwartz's)
114-03 Queens Blvd @ 76th Road
Time: Sunday Dec 21; 2:30 PM
To get there take the E or F train to Union Turnpike then walk three
blocks south on Union Turnpike.
People from the audience can get up and say something about Steve.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 12:09:41 -0500
From: Mesia Quartano
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: (US) Men Get Jail Time for Cat-Killings
Message-ID: <349BFBD5.35B8C2D4@usa.net>
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(AP Online; 12/19/97)
BLOOMFIELD, Iowa (AP) Two men who broke into an animal shelter and
beat 23
cats with baseball bats, killing 16, were sentenced Friday to 23 days in
jail one day for each of the injured or dead animals.
Chad Lamansky and Daniel Myers, both 18, were found guilty last month of
two misdemeanors for offenses against an animal shelter and one
misdemeanor charge
of criminal trespass.
Judge Daniel P. Wilson said he received more than 1,000 letters and
electronic messages from across the country about the case. The men were
given credit for time served; 12 days in Myers' case and three days for
Lamansky.
They were also fined $2,500 each, ordered to pay restitution that will
be determined later, placed on three years probation and ordered to
serve in the Youthful Offenders Program, which will require psychiatric
evaluations, counseling and close supervision.
The men had no comment afterward but apologized just before being
sentenced.
"I'd like to say I'm sorry. ... I'm sorry to my family and to my
friends," Lamansky said.
Myers said: "I'm sorry, your honor, for what I did."
{APWire:Domestic-1219.600} 12/19/97
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 08:25:59 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (AUST)INFLUENZA, AVIAN, H7 SEROTYPE
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971221081913.2b0f0e6c@wantree.com.au>
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INFLUENZA, AVIAN, H7 SEROTYPE - AUSTRALIA
**********************************************
Update on incursion of highly pathogenic avian influenza in New South
Wales, Australia
Further to my previous reports of 1 and 9 December, I wish to advise that a
further infected farm has been detected within the declared infected zone
(Australian terminology refers to restricted area). This third farm was
within 1 kilometre of the first infected farm and is well within the 3 km
surveillance zone. Rigorous surveillance has shown no evidence of any other
infection in farms within the restricted area or the 10 km radius control
area (equivalent to OIE surveillance zone), surrounding the initial
infected farm. All birds on the farm have already been destroyed and
disinfection has commenced.
The third farm was a commercial broiler farm which also raised emu chicks.
These emu chicks were sampled as part of the surveillance program in the
restricted area. Subsequently, the emu chicks were destroyed to enable
commercial day old chicken to be introduced for broiler production.
Sampling of the emus resulted in the isolation of the H7 virus. There was
no evidence of clinical disease in the emus. As a result of the detection
of H7 virus from the destroyed emus, the three day old chickens were
destroyed as a precaution.
An update of relevant details is presented at Attachment 1.
Attachment 1:
Country/Location: Australia, Tamworth in the state of New South Wales.
Date of Notification: 1 December 1997, Updated 9 December 1997, Updated 16
December 1997
Name of Disease: Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza
Nature of Diagnosis: Fluorescent antibody testing of impression smears of
pancreas and
isolation of an influenza virus in inoculated embryonated eggs. The virus
has been typed as H7N4.
Date of initial detection: 25 November 1997
Estimated Date of first infection: Unknown
Number of separate outbreaks: One outbreak involving three infected farms
within 3km restricted area.
Geographical identification: 31° 1' south, 150° 50' east, near Tamworth,
NSW about 400 km north of Sydney.
Details concerning the outbreak:
SpeciesNo. of animals
Farm 1avian128,000
Farm 2avian30,000
Farm 3avian/rattites261 emu chicks/33,000 avians
Comments concerning affected population:
The third affected property is a broiler farm which also had 261 emu
chicks, raised in outdoor pens within several hundred metres of the broiler
sheds on the farm. These emus were clinically healthy, but were destroyed
to enable the introduction of 33,000 day old chickens for broiler
production. Surveillance sampling of the emus prior to slaughter detected
the presence of H7 virus. There were no poultry on the farm at the time
the emus were destroyed. The 33,000 three day old chickens introduced
after removal of the emus, were therefore destroyed as a precaution.
Comments on the epidemiology:
The third farm is located within 1km from the first infected property. The
source of infection in the emus has not been confirmed.
Because of the proximity of the emu pens to the commercial broiler sheds,
the broiler chickens were destroyed as a precaution.
Control measures taken to date:
· The third infected farm was placed in quarantine on 12 December 1997
· The existing restricted zone includes 3km around the third case.
· The surveillance zone has been extended slightly to include 10km around
the third case.
· All birds have been destroyed on the three infected farms.
· Disinfection is nearly complete on the first property, well underway on
the second property and has commenced on the third property.
· A high level of surveillance is being maintained on all poultry
enterprises within the restricted and surveillance zones.
========================================================
Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148
email> rabbit@wantree.com.au
http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)
/`\ /`\
(/\ \-/ /\)
)6 6(
>{= Y =}<
/'-^-'\
(_) (_)
| . |
| |}
jgs \_/^\_/
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 08:28:59 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (USA)FOODBORNE OUTBREAK, SALMONELLA - MARYLAND
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971221082212.2b0f3fec@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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FOODBORNE OUTBREAK, SALMONELLA - USA (MARYLAND)
****************************************************
Food Chemical News published today the following explanation for the
Maryland outbreak [of salmonellosis] that sickened nearly 750 people and
killed at least one.
Apparently the remaining raw ham tested positive for Salmonella, which is
not surprising considering USDA estimates that at least 6% of all hogs in
the country are so infected. This meat was then improperly prepared.
Food handlers packed the hams too tightly in cooking pots, creating uneven
cooking conditions, and only took the internal temperatures for a dozen or
so. The hams were then packed too tightly into freezers, not allowing
proper circulation of cool air, and thereby breeding the bacteria. Finally
a single slicer was used to cut the meat and since it was not sanitized
between hams the bacteria was easily spread. The resulting outbreak struck
more than 50% of the participants in the dinner. The single confirmed
death associated with the outbreak was an 81-year-old woman residing in the
country.
========================================================
Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148
email> rabbit@wantree.com.au
http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)
/`\ /`\
(/\ \-/ /\)
)6 6(
>{= Y =}<
/'-^-'\
(_) (_)
| . |
| |}
jgs \_/^\_/
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:40:26 -0800
From: Hillary
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Woman with Mad Cow donated EYES
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220194024.00fdc380@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Subj:Woman With 'Mad Cow' Donated Eyes
Date:97-11-30 12:28:12 EST
From:AOL News
BCC:FreeAnmls
Woman With 'Mad Cow' Donated Eyes
.c The Associated Press
LONDON (AP) - Scottish health authorities are investigating how tissue
from the eyes of a woman who had suffered from the human form of ``mad cow
disease'' was transplanted into three other people.
``We are aware there is a potential infection risk from tissue retrieved
from a patient in Scotland,'' a spokesman for the government Scottish
Office said Saturday on customary condition of anonymity.
``We do not know the full facts, but we are making urgent inquiries into
how this could have occurred,'' he said.
The 53-year-old woman suffered from lung cancer, but after she died a
post-mortem examination showed she also had Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease. The
brain-destroying disease is the human form of bovine spongiform
encephalopathy, which afflicts cattle and is known as ``mad cow disease.''
No further details were given on the grounds of patient confidentiality.
But the tabloid Sunday Mail said the post-mortem findings were not passed
on to officials handling organ donor arrangements, and parts of her eyes,
including the corneas, were transplanted into two men and a woman in her
eighties.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:43:51 -0800
From: Hillary
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Canned Hunting in Pennsylvania
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220194349.00fdc380@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
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Subj:Pa. Ranch Paradise for Deer Hunters
Date:97-12-01 04:32:28 EST
From:AOL News
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Pa. Ranch Paradise for Deer Hunters
.c The Associated Press
By MICHAEL RAPHAEL
JULIAN, Pa. (AP) - Don Beaver has created just the thing for deer hunters
who don't have the time or patience to sit in the woods for days, hoping a
buck happens to wander by. He calls it Paradise Ranch.
If you love deer and have the checkbook to back it up, the 777-acre tract
is heaven on Earth. The fenced resort in the foothills of the Alleghenies
is crawling with deer, and not just any deer - animals up to 350 pounds
that are the result of carefully monitored and selected breeding.
``The goal was to make the place world class,'' Beaver said. ``It's the
kind of stuff you dream about as a kid.''
More than 150 deer live in the central Pennsylvania resort, eating from
feed stations and alfalfa fields. Another 150 pace inside nine breeding
pastures, where scientists try to match genetic traits to breed bulky bucks.
Beaver has every intention of keeping the herd strong and growing.
At the state-of-the-art breeding center, a computer automatically releases
fresh food spiked with vitamins. Each deer has its DNA mapped, with the
goal of eventually taking the guesswork out of breeding.
The careful planning is intended to benefit hunters, who on an average
hunting day will see 20 to 30 mature bucks. Few go home empty-handed.
The story is different outside Paradise Ranch.
Close to a million hunters were expected to search the Pennsylvania woods
today, when deer season opens. Not all will even see a deer and fewer will
shoot one heavier than 140 pounds. The state's buck season lasts just two
weeks, while Paradise Ranch is open six months each year.
Beaver has hunted for 33 years. As a teen-ager he could spend a week
looking for the best clearing, then sit in the shadows for days before
finding the right target.
Today, with six prospering businesses, he rarely has time for more than a
weekend of hunting, and he believes other businessmen share his desire for
recreational efficiency.
Paradise Ranch is there to make sure such weekends aren't wasted. Private
guides lead hunters through the ridges and hollows, around the streams and
ponds to the blinds where they can wait for the trophy buck of their choice.
A four-day stay, including one buck, top-shelf accommodations and meals
costs $4,900 - and that's only for the average-sized bucks. Bagging a big
animal costs extra.
The deal comes with a guarantee: Leave without bagging a buck and come back
next hunting season for free.
``Guys will go up to Canada three, four times, spend a week out in the
middle of nowhere, not knowing where they're going and not see a single
buck,'' Beaver said. ``If I can get them the big bucks and then give the
camaraderie, I'm pretty excited about my chances.''
Beaver has run into opposition. Several people have written angry letters
and he's found threatening messages on his answering machine. Animal rights
groups denounce the operation as little more than hunting fish in a barrel.
``There's no sense of fair chance when you have penned-in animals,'' said
Heidi Prescott, the national director of the Fund for Animals. ``There's
something rather sick about that.''
Beaver defends Paradise Ranch by pointing out that his deer have a wide
range to roam.
``I've always done things people haven't done before,'' Beaver said. ``I
guess I'm used to the criticism.''
Hunters certainly aren't complaining.
Lee Taylor, publisher of Texas Trophy Hunters Magazine and the holder of
several world deer records, proclaimed Paradise Ranch one of the two best
locations in the country for whitetail.
``They'll come from all over the world here,'' he said.
No matter the success with growing animals ever bigger, Beaver promises to
keep the numbers reasonable.
``I could put 700 deer in here and have them crawling all around us,''
Beaver said. ``But I'd rather make you wait half an hour, get your feet a
little cold first. I wouldn't want it to be too easy. What would be the
point?''
AP-NY-12-01-97 0426EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:45:00 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: FDA Approves Beef Irradiation
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220194458.00fdc380@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Subj:FDA Approves Beef Irradiation
Date:97-12-02 14:17:09 EST
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FDA Approves Beef Irradiation
.c The Associated Press
By CURT ANDERSON
WASHINGTON (AP) - Coming soon to your local meat market: Fresh beef
irradiated with cobalt gamma rays?
The Food and Drug Administration today approved use of irradiation to kill
harmful bacteria such as E. coli in beef, a decision favored by an industry
that was rocked this year by several meat recalls and consumer food safety
fears.
Dr. Michael Friedman, acting FDA commissioner, said in an interview that
irradiation will become a useful tool in combating food-borne illness, but
that ultimate responsibility still will rest with the food handler and
preparer.
``We think it is safe and we think it is appropriate,'' Friedman said of
the procedure. ``But the consumer should not believe that he or she does
not have to use good cooking and handling techniques.''
Some anti-nuclear activists have protested irradiation as unsafe, but
Friedman said FDA scientists determined that the process does not change
the fundamental properties of meat and does not make it radioactive in any
way.
``There is no contact with a radioactive substance. There is nothing left
on the meat,'' Friedman said.
The FDA acted on a three-year-old petition from Isomedix Inc., a New Jersey
company with long experience in medical sterilization that wants to offer
meat processors irradiation with cobalt-60 gamma rays. There are many other
ways to safely irradiate meat and other companies in the market.
Such techniques would enable meat packers to kill bacteria at the end of
the production line, after it is already sealed in packages and cannot be
contaminated further. This is particularly important in ground beef, where
bacteria can easily get beneath the surface during grinding.
Although irradiation has been available for years for poultry, pork, spices
and some fresh produce, interest in the process for beef intensified after
this summer's recall of 25 million pounds of Hudson Food Co. hamburger
tainted with E. coli.
The meat industry lobbied vigorously for irradiation as an alternative to
Clinton administration proposals for greater government authority to recall
contaminated products and punish violators.
``I think there is a greater degree of interest,'' said Patrick Boyle,
president of the American Meat Institute, a meatpacking industry organization.
In this year's FDA spending bill, Congress ordered the agency to act within
60 days on the Isomedix petition. The bill also changed labeling
requirements for all foods treated with irradiation so that the words need
be no larger than those for the ingredients.
The three years it took to act on the petition were necessary, Friedman said.
``There were some very complex scientific issues that had to be dealt
with,'' he said. But, he added: ``We believe the safety of food is so
important that we will be focusing our efforts in a more effective way in
the future.''
The FDA's action today approves safe irradiation dosage levels for various
forms of meat, such as frozen, fresh and so on. It is now up to the
Agriculture Department to issue regulations for processing plants that
conform to those levels.
Once that is done, Boyle said meat plants would have to figure out how to
use irradiation, whether they can afford it and whether there is a consumer
demand. It is uncertain how adaptable the process would be for hamburger
that is ground in the grocery store.
Most likely, consumers would see products marketed in the future that would
offer them the choice of purchasing irradiated meat.
``I think it's going to take a little time for industry and consumers to
move towards the adoption of irradiation as a purchasing option,'' he said.
One reason irradiation is not widely used on other products is consumer
wariness of the process and lack of education about it, said Brian
Folkerts, vice president for governmental affairs at the National Food
Processors Association.
``We need to stop giving consumers the impression that the label is a
warning when it has been found safe,'' Folkerts said.
AP-NY-12-02-97 0943EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:47:38 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Beef Farmers Demonstration
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220194736.00fdc380@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Subj:British Beef Farmers Widen Blockade
Date:97-12-04 14:22:54 EST
From:AOL News
BCC:FreeAnmls
British Beef Farmers Widen Blockade
.c The Associated Press
HOLYHEAD, Wales (AP) - A four-day farmers' protest against falling beef
prices widened today as thousands of cattlemen picketed ports along
Britain's west coast and blocked deliveries of cheap Irish beef.
Police said 3,000 cattlemen blockaded Stranraer and Cairnryan docks in
southwest Scotland, Liverpool in northwest England and Holyhead in
northwest Wales, where the protests began Monday.
``We are not a bunch of greedy farmers asking for more money. All we are
asking for is a level playing field,'' Welsh farmers' spokesman Peter
Rogers told 2,000 demonstrators near Holyhead, 250 miles northwest of London.
The government, which has offered help to farmers, on Wednesday announced a
ban on rib roasts and T-bone steaks after scientists warned that material
contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease,
could reach the human food chain through bone marrow.
The new ban affects only 5 percent of beef sold in Britain, but farmers
said they feared it could further erode consumer confidence.
In Brussels, Belgium, the European Union's executive agency today pressed
the British government to do its best to keep the protests from interfering
with Irish beef imports.
Britain's beef industry has been depressed since March 1996, when the
government announced a link between BSE, which has infected some British
herds, and a new strain of the fatal human form called Creutzfeld-Jakob
disease. At least 20 people have died from the new strain of CJD.
Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham said Wednesday the risk of infection
from bone marrow was ``very, very small,'' but the government could not
afford to take risks with public health.
Farmers say prime cattle which would have sold for $1,600 in early 1996 now
fetch no more than $1,000.
Lamb prices have also fallen by as much as 30 percent, as the British pound
has risen compared to other European currencies, making imports cheaper.
AP-NY-12-04-97 1200EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:49:21 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Avian Flu Vaccine
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220194919.00fdc380@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Subj:Protein Sciences Announces H7 Avian Influenza Vaccine...
Date:97-12-04 17:19:40 EST
From:AOL News
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Protein Sciences Announces H7 Avian Influenza Vaccine Protects Chickens
MERIDEN, Conn.--(BW HealthWire)--Dec. 3, 1997--Protein Sciences
Corporation (PSC), a biopharmaceutical company, announced today the
successful completion of a challenge study by the United States
Department of Agriculture of its new recombinant H7 avian influenza
(AI) vaccine. The patented H7 hemagglutinin vaccine achieved full
protection against virulent strains of AI. Designed to protect
against current H7 strains circulating in the U.S., the vaccine also
protected against older strains. Testing was funded in part by a
research grant from the Southeastern Poultry & Egg Association,
Tucker, Georgia and was done under a Cooperative Research and
Development Agreement with the USDA, Agricultural Research Service.
PSC previously announced the successful testing of its
recombinant H5 vaccine, and the H7 vaccine showed the same beneficial
properties. Test results show that the H5 and H7 vaccines are safer,
more effective and less expensive than current vaccines that are
available only on a limited basis in the United States. PSC's
vaccine also prevented or reduced fecal shedding, which is largely
responsible for spreading AI throughout infected flocks. In
addition, unlike previous vaccines, PSC's vaccine did not interfere
with screening methods used by USDA for surveillance of AI.
Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5 AI in Mexico, Italy,
China and other countries and low pathogenic H7 in Pennsylvania have
caused great concern in the poultry industry. The H5 virus is
widespread in Mexico where it has caused the death or destruction of
millions of chickens in recent years. In 1997, Pennsylvania
officials estimated that 1.75 million birds were infected, which
resulted in quarantine of a 75-square mile area (costing about
$200,000) and destruction of 750,000 birds. The total cost to the
industry has yet to be assessed. New outbreaks of the virus are
frequently reported. Researchers are concerned that when H5 or H7
strains are found in commercial poultry, they could mutate into
highly pathogenic strains.
Daniel D. Adams, PSC's CEO, said, "Avian influenza continues to
be a major threat to the poultry industry worldwide and the recent
`jump' of an H5 virus strain from avians to humans in Hong Kong is
alarming. Our vaccines appear to obviate the objections to current
vaccines." He added, "Thus, there should not be any restriction for
its use in the U.S., and we are in the process of applying for
approval. We also are applying with a Mexican partner for approval
in that country."
PSC, a biotechnology company founded in 1983, develops and
manufactures biopharmaceutical products based on complex, recombinant
(genetically engineered) proteins such as vaccines and monoclonal
antibodies. Such proteins make up a very large class of compounds
that potentially have value as human and animal vaccines and
therapeutics. It develops and manufactures proteins using a
proprietary baculovirus expression vector and insect cell technology
system (BEVS) in proprietary serum free cells (no animal products are
used in the process). Over the past 13 years, PSC has developed a
proprietary BEVS manufacturing system for biopharmaceutical products
that is inherently safer and more versatile with higher yields than
current systems and claimed capabilities of future systems.
Recently, PSC announced enhanced expression and down stream
processing capabilities that make its vaccines more economical, safe
and effective.
BACKGROUNDER PREPARED BY PROTEIN SCIENCES CORPORATION
December 4, 1997
Genetically Engineered Chicken Flu Vaccine Available for Testing
USDA-ARS Study. In a study conducted by U.S. Department of
Agriculture Research Service, 1-day-old chicks vaccinated with the
Protein Sciences Corporation's (PSC) hemagglutinin subunit vaccine
remained healthy when challenged with highly pathogenic strains of AI
virus, while all of the untreated control animals died.
Baculovirus Hemagglutinin Subunit Vaccine. The new vaccine contains
a purified, genetically engineered version of a protein called
hemagglutinin normally found on the surface of the influenza A virus.
The vaccine, manufactured by PSC, is manufactured in insect cells
that are programmed to produce high levels of the influenza
hemagglutinin protein. The purified protein vaccine cannot cause
infection, is safe to manufacture, and was extremely well tolerated
in day-old chicks. The recombinant hemagglutinin protein used in
this study was derived from a current avian strain isolated in New
York, designated: A/Ck/NY/95 (H7N2). Previously, a H5 hemagglutinin
was cloned from A/Jalisco/95 strain of AI by PSC and shown to be
protective in challenge studies with highly pathogenic H5 strains.
Designed to protect against current H7 strains circulating in the
U.S., the vaccine also protected against older strains. The
protection of multiple strains means greater cost benefit and
effectiveness of the vaccine for the poultry industry.
Avian Influenza Epidemics and the Emergence of Highly Pathogenic
Strains. Scientists have shown that the surface of the AI virus
mutates rapidly and continually, much like human influenza viruses.
While weak or mild strains grow only in the respiratory tract or the
digestive tract, the deadliest strains, called highly pathogenic, are
those that can bind to and grow in cells of other organs, especially
the brain and heart of chickens. The emergence of new virulent
strains of influenza A virus can cause devastating pandemics. There
have recently been reports of an outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5
in Italy. Widespread outbreaks of a highly pathogenic strain that
mutated from a mild strain occurred in Mexico in January 1995 and
spread in central Mexico. In April 1983, a mild strain of influenza
virus appeared in chickens of eastern Pennsylvania causing up to 80%
mortality in domestic poultry. In Ireland and England, virulent
influenza virus strains of the H5 subtype also appeared in turkeys in
1983 and 1991. In Australia, virulent outbreaks of strains of the H7
subtype have appeared repeatedly in 1976, 1985, 1992 and 1994.
Eradication Policies. In 1997, Pennsylvania officials estimated
that 1.75 million birds were infected, which resulted in quarantine
of a 75-square mile area (costing about $200,000) and destruction of
750,000 birds. The total cost to the industry has yet to be
assessed. New outbreaks of the virus are being reported.
Researchers are concerned that when H5 or H7 strains are found in
commercial poultry, they could mutate into highly pathogenic strains.
A vaccine offers an additional means to control the spread of this
virulent virus. However, vaccination against the virulent strains of
AI was banned in the U.S. since it interfered with screening for
eradication procedures. A vaccine based on recombinant HA proteins
eliminates the problems associated with surveillance of this disease
since it does not interfere with the USDA's immunodiffusion assay or
many ELISA assay kits used for the surveillance of AI, thus there
should not be any restriction for its use in the U.S.
Research Funding: Development of these vaccines was partially funded
by a research grant from the Southeastern Poultry and & Egg
Association, Tucker, GA and a Cooperative Research and Development
agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Research Service
(USDA-ARS)
Principle Investigators: Dr. Bethanie Wilkinson, Protein Sciences
Corporation, Meriden, CT and Dr. Michael Perdue, USDA-ARS Southeast
Poultry Research Labs, Athens, GA.
CONTACT:
Protein Science Corporation
Daniel D. Adams
(203) 686-0800
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 08:51:42 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (Aust)ABC "Compass" program tonight
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971221084454.0cdfd0d0@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Australia
*********
On ABC TV tonight ("Compass") - There is a program (ex BBC) on genetic
engineering. Last week covered Xenotransplantation and Animal Experimentation.
========================================================
Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148
email> rabbit@wantree.com.au
http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)
/`\ /`\
(/\ \-/ /\)
)6 6(
>{= Y =}<
/'-^-'\
(_) (_)
| . |
| |}
jgs \_/^\_/
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:53:46 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: EU ban of animal ingredients
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220195344.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
US Questions Europe on Mad Cow Move
.c The Associated Press
By LAURAN NEERGAARD
WASHINGTON (AP) - A pending European ban on animal byproducts in medicines
because of fears of mad-cow disease endangers the supply of drugs overseas
and in the United States, U.S. health officials say.
Eighty percent of oral medicines contain animal byproducts that the
European Union has ordered banned by Jan. 1. The EU fears the byproducts
could spread the fatal cattle disease, so named because of cows' symptoms,
to people.
If the EU does not amend the ban, the time needed to change drug
ingredients ``is such that there would be shortages everywhere,'' said
Sharon Smith Holston, deputy commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
``The infinitesimal risk of transmission ... compared to the risks from not
having your needed medications - there's just no comparison,'' she said.
An unusual coalition of FDA regulators and drug manufacturers is pressuring
Europe to back off. The European Commission, the policy-making body of the
15-nation EU, issued a statement this week suggesting a compromise that
could give many drug makers another year to comply.
U.S. companies immediately said even another year is too little time to
find new recipes for vital medicines. At a private meeting in Washington
Friday, U.S. officials reiterated their concerns to European Commission
members.
The Clinton administration has warned Europe the ban could cause a trade
dispute, with $4 billion in U.S. pharmaceutical exports at stake.
But the FDA and the industry's Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers
Association contend public health is a bigger worry. The association
estimates the European ban could cause shortages in 85 percent of medicines
sold on the continent.
Because companies use the same ingredients in U.S. and European versions of
drugs, FDA officials fear domestic shortages also as companies struggle to
change how they make drugs. Agency officials are making repeated flights
across the Atlantic to argue for exemptions.
Mad cow disease caused a panic last year after the British government
announced that eating infected beef may cause a new version of a fatal
human brain illness. It has been blamed for killing about 20 people, mostly
in Britain.
Mad cow disease has not appeared in the United States. But the EU contends
that nowhere is completely safe, particularly because mad cow disease is
from a family of ``transmissible spongiform encephalopathies,'' or TSEs,
that attack different animals. Indeed, U.S. sheep can get one such illness,
called scrapie.
So the EU in July decided to ban from medicines ingredients made with
``risk materials'' such as brains, spinal cords and other bones and tissues.
Yet almost every pill or capsule contains tallow, made from boiled cattle
carcasses, and gelatin, made from animal bones. To use such ingredients,
companies would have to find suppliers who made them from animals specially
slaughtered to avoid the banned parts.
TSEs have never been found in tallow or gelatin, drug makers say. Still,
the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association did a worst-case
estimate and predicted a one in 100 billion chance of sickness.
Finding new supplies of risk-free gelatin could take eight to 12 months,
not counting the time needed to manufacture new pills and win FDA approval
of the manufacturing change, Holston said.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:54:50 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Fund criticized hunting holiday
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220195448.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
W.Va. Hunting Holiday Is Criticized
.c The Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - An animal-rights group sent a letter to the West
Virginia Board of Education on Friday to complain about schools being
allowed to close so students could participate in the start of hunting season.
Heidi Prescott, national director of The Fund for Animals in Silver Spring,
Md., said students should not be allowed to be miss classes for an activity
that has ``no redeeming social or educational value.''
``We find it appalling that the West Virginia school system would put a
stamp of approval on absenteeism for the purpose of killing animals in the
name of recreation,'' Prescott said in the letter.
This year, at least 38 of 55 counties released students for the week of
Thanksgiving, giving students the option of hunting on opening day, Nov. 24.
``It's to the point where school systems have figured it out: There's no
point holding school in some of these counties because so many people go
hunting,'' associate superintendent Bill Luff said.
Prescott urged officials to require school districts to keep classrooms
open and make attendance mandatory during hunting season. Luff said
Prescott should address the Legislature, which regulates hunting.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:56:59 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: P&G Product List
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220195654.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Help End the Suffering
50,000 Animals Die Each Year
Boycott Procter and Gamble Products
An estimated 500,000 animals died because of P&G testing from 1985 thru 1994.
There are other methods of testing to insure the safety of consumers. Why
spill their blood needlessly?
Laundry and Cleaning Products
Biz Bleach, Bold, Bounce, Cascade, Cheer, Comet, Dash, Dawn, Downy, Deft,
Era, Gain, Ivory, Joy, Mr. Clean, Oxydol, Solo, Spic&Span, Tide, Top Job.
Oral Care Products
Benzodent, Cloraseptic, Complete, Crest, Denquel, Fasteeth, Fixodent,
Gleem, Kleenite, Scope.
Hair Care Products
Head&Shoulders, Ivory, Lift, Pantene, Pert, Prell, Vidal Sassoon.
Soaps
Camay, Coast, Ivory, Kirk's, Lava, Safeguard, Zest.
Paper Products
Banner, Bounty, Charmin, Puffs, White Cloud.
Deodorants
Secret, Sure.
Diapers
Attends, Luvs, Pampers.
Nonprescription Medicines
Aleve, Dramamine, Icy Hot Tropical Rub, Metamucil, Norwich Aspirin,
Pepto-Bismol, Percogesic, Vick's Cough and Cold Products. Nyquil?
Feminine Products
Always
Skin Products
Clearasil, Cover Girl, Max Factor, Noxzema Oil of Olay.
Prescription Products
Buprenex, Comhist, Dantrium, Didronel, Entex, Macrodantin, Peridex,
Tolerex, Vivinex.
Food and Beverage Products
Crisco, Duncan Hines, Folgers, Hawaiian Punch, Instant High Point, Jif,
Pringles, Puritan Oil, Speas Farm, Sunny Delight, Tender Leaf, Texsun,
Winter Hill
Cologne
California, Giorgio, Hugo Boss, Incognito, Laura Biagiotti, le Jardin,
NaVy, Old Spice,
Toujours Moi
Pass this on, help boycott P&G.
Write or call John Pepper, CEO
Procter & Gamble, Inc.
P.O. Box 599
Cincinnati,OH 45201
1-800-543-7270
Thanks
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 19:59:41 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Poachers caught
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220195939.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Poaching Line From Fla to NY Capped
.c The Associated Press
LABELLE, Florida (AP) - Law enforcers in Florida think they've ruptured a
poaching pipeline that ran all the way to New York City.
Authorities have arrested a couple, charging that they bought deer, wild
turkeys - and occasionally armadillo, possum and Muscovy duck - from poachers.
The animals were butchered, then driven to Brooklyn for sale to individuals
and restaurants.
Florida game officials say the ring killed and sold at least 150 deer, this
year alone. The officials say the accused couple paid $60 for a deer and $6
for a turkey.
In New York, the meat might sell for four times those amounts.
In all, four people are facing charges in Florida. There may be more
arrests in New York.
AP-NY-12-09-97 1500EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:00:44 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Primate lawsuit dismissed!
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220200042.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Court Dismisses Lawsuit on Primates
.c The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal appeals court on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit
filed by animal rights activists over the treatment of primates.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit reversed a lower court's decision in 1996 that had ordered
the Agriculture Department to write new rules aimed at improving the
animals' treatment.
The judges found that the Animal Legal Defense Fund and four individuals
who brought the lawsuit did not have legal standing to sue because they
suffered no direct injury from the department's current rules.
The activists had detailed what they said were several abuses at zoos -
such as a chimpanzee whose hands were covered with cuts and other primates
housed in isolation - and said they suffered emotionally from seeing the
animals treated that way.
``It is part of the price of living in society, perhaps especially a free
society, that an individual will observe conduct that he or she dislikes,''
Circuit Judge David Sentelle wrote for the court.
The judges also determined that even if the lawsuit caused new rules to be
written, the activists would be unlikely to have their emotional distress
alleviated.
AP-NY-12-09-97 1711EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:04:06 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Pigeon Killing- Hegins Mentioned
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220200404.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Town Poisons Corn To Kill Pigeons
.c The Associated Press
MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) - For Tom Youngblood, pigeons hold little charm.
``They are disease-ridden birds,'' said Youngblood, this town's health
officer. ``Many people refer to them as the rats of the sky.''
First it was a Labor Day shooting spree. Now, pigeons in Meadville face a
different hazard: poisoned corn.
To thin out their resident flock of about 350 pigeons, officials in this
town 34 miles south of Erie are lacing whole-kernel corn with Avitrol, a
poison fatal to the birds. On Monday, 12 pigeons fell from the sky and were
found by residents. Three unfortunate crows also were found.
Youngblood said the town has been using the poison for the past few years
to control the overpopulation of pigeons and minimize the health risks they
pose to humans. Pigeons are often hosts for viruses and bacteria that can
cause meningitis and a fever-inducing illness called psittacosis in humans.
Still, some people oppose efforts to kill the birds.
In September, seven animal rights activists were arrested for creating a
human road block to protest the Hegins Labor Day Pigeon Shoot, an annual
event at which an estimated 5,000 pigeons are released from cages and shot.
AP-NY-12-10-97 0501EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:09:02 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: HUNT HALTED
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220200900.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Judge Halts Deer Executions
.c The Associated Press
By KATHERINE RIZZO
WASHINGTON (AP) - Hundreds of deer got a reprieve Wednesday, a day before
sharpshooters were to start gunning for overpopulated whitetails in an Ohio
preserve.
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman granted a preliminary injunction blocking
the winter-long hunt, set to begin Thursday in Cuyahoga Valley National
Recreation Area.
He said local residents and animal rights organizations showed there would
be irreparable harm if the hunt proceeded before their full case was heard.
The National Park Service had no immediate decision on whether to appeal
the injunction.
The Humane Society of the United States and others complained that the
National Park Service decided to shoot the animals without producing a full
environmental impact statement.
The park did an abbreviated environmental assessment on its deer-control plan.
Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania conducted a full
environmental impact statement before staging hunts to thin out its herd
the past two winters. Further hunts at Gettysburg were put on hold by a
lawsuit brought by the same groups pressing the Cuyahoga case.
John Debo Jr., the recreation area's superintendent, said Park Service
sharpshooters had been scheduled to start hunting deer Thursday at 5 p.m.
The goal was to kill about 470 of the park's 1,030 deer to protect plants,
prevent overgrazing and reduce accidents caused when deer wander into traffic.
Deer also pose a problem in the nation's capital and its suburbs. On
Monday, Fairfax County, Va., supervisors authorized deer hunts in two parks
along the Potomac River in Great Falls, Va. A school librarian was killed
by a deer that crashed through the window of her car in October.
AP-NY-12-10-97 1649EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:11:08 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Seals Starving to Death
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220201100.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
El Nino Depleting Seal Food Supply
.c The Associated Press
By JEFF WONG
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Starving seals and sea lions are waddling ashore along
California's coast, their skin sagging off their gaunt bodies like
oversized coats. Already, thousands have died since summer.
Warmer water from this year's El Nino weather pattern has driven away fish
and squid the mammals eat to survive, forcing them to leave their island
habitats for the mainland to find food.
On islands from San Francisco to San Diego, beaches are littered with
carcasses of California sea lions and northern fur seals. Sea gulls pick at
some bodies. Others lay dying, barely moving.
Seal Samaritans are rescuing some of the emaciated animals as they flounder
on beaches and nursing them back to health. But researchers say it's part
of the natural cycle of life and are making no effort to save the seals.
``Yeah, it's hard to see these pups dying, but it's just a blip on the
long-term population,'' said Bob DeLong, a marine biology expert with the
National Marine Fisheries Service in Seattle, a branch of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Mother seals have been forced to dive deeper and travel farther for food,
exhausting more energy and spending more time away from their pups. The
milk they use to feed their young becomes undernourished, as do the pups
that drink it. Sometimes the mothers have little or no milk to give.
That has led to death.
Of 2,000 northern fur seals born at one research facility on San Miguel
Island since July, 1,500 died by Oct. 1, DeLong said.
More will die.
Among 23,000 California sea lions born on the island since July, 1,200 died
by September, DeLong said. Their death rate is expected to accelerate
during the so-called weaning period, when pups become accustomed to hunting
for their own food.
Experts point out that the populations of both species have soared since
1972. DeLong said the sea lion population since then has increased by 5
percent, with between 85,000 to 180,000 breeding on the Channel Islands, 50
miles off the Ventura County coast.
The northern fur seal population has jumped 20 percent over the same time.
One million live in U.S. waters, including 11,000 on San Miguel.
``Even when major El Ninos occur, like (in 1983) ... they did not arrest
the growth of the population,'' DeLong said.
The mounting carcasses are troubling.
On the seals' offshore breeding areas, such as San Miguel and others in the
Channel Islands chain, the mortality rate will be at least 66 percent -
three times the norm in the first year after birth, DeLong said.
The lucky ones venture away looking for food and wash up on California
beaches to be saved by environmental groups.
``We get animals sick and starving even when it's not El Nino,'' said
wildlife biologist Joe Cordaro, who coordinates a statewide network that
rescues stranded sea life from beaches for the fisheries service.
``These are animals that aren't as fit,'' he said. ``It's something we have
to go through periodically. But nobody likes to see sick and starving
animals dying in front of you.''
Last year, 1,400 sea lions and seals became stranded on the California
coast. During the last El Nino, in 1992, 2,600 washed ashore. Only 8
percent of those were alive.
In the last massive El Nino, in 1982, 2,200 were beached, Cordaro said.
The mounting death toll creates a dilemma for animal activists: How much
should they interfere with natural selection?
The 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act prohibits people from going to
natural habitats such as San Miguel and plucking a dying pup off the beach.
``We don't want people going there, rescuing one animal and scaring away
and perhaps harming 50 or 60 animals that are healthy,'' Cordaro said.
``You'll be separating mothers from pups. It's just not a good situation.''
Instead, rescuers stand wait for strays to appear on beaches.
The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, for example, has rescued 27 northern
fur seals since Sept. 30 on beaches between San Luis Obispo and Mendocino
counties. In a normal year for that area, fewer than five become stranded,
center spokeswoman Susan Andres said.
Biologists believe more sea lions and seals will become stranded on
California beaches by spring, when pups mature to adults and become strong
enough to leave and look for food on their own.
Even if some activists wanted to ignore federal law to try to rescue some
sea lions or seals, chartering a boat to one of the islands and feeding all
the starving animals would be too expensive. Besides, Andres said, the
animals are often picky eaters and do not eat dead fish.
``It's a natural habitat out there,'' Cordaro said. ``This happens every
day.''
AP-NY-12-11-97 0256EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 17:17:41 -0800
From: "Bob Schlesinger"
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Talk Radio Host hangs up on advocate for dog sentenced to death
Message-ID: <199712201717410230.016B95C0@pcez.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
THEN I GET THREATENING PHONE CALLS AFTER THEY USE MY PHONE NUMBER
FROM CALLER ID
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 1997
Ken Lindbloom of station KCMX, Medford Oregon hosts a talk show on Thursdays from 4-5 PM
Pacific time. Frequently Jack Walker, the chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners, is a
guest on his show. On Thursday, December 18th, Mr. Walker was on the show so I called in.
My question to the commissioner was how he could justify pursuing the destruction of Nadas,
knowing full well that the public outrage over killing a dog that did no damage to livestock was
sufficient to probably force a change in the law. My point was that he was actually doing the
livestock owners a disservice by picking on the wrong dog since the ultimate outcome was going
to be a loss of local control over the ability of ranchers to protect their animals from predators.
Walker's response was to say that the matter was out of his hands, it was up to the courts.
However he agreed that he could make a motion before the court to reconsider, but it was clear
he didnt want to.
Walker then blamed the problem on irresponsible dog ownership and while trying to put the blame
on the Roach family (a continuing vendetta by the commissioners), Walker said that this was the
second time that Nadas had been caught chasing livestock. Since I know this to be a lie that they
have been using to justify their actions, I called him on it - I interrupted with the words "Jack, that
is NOT true. You know that is not true. I heard a tape of the hearing and I know what went on".
At this point, Lindbloom, the talk show host quickly interceded to cut me off, and said "Thank
you caller" and hung up. I tried calling back but they would not pick up the phone since
apparently they have caller id. They proceeded to take calls from ranchers that praised the county
commissioners.
About a minute later, I got a call from someone with a VERY LOUD THREATENING VOICE
screaming at me that "YOU WEREN'T AT THE HEARING. YOU @#$@ YOU DONT
KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT. DO YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT A DOG CAN
DO TO LIVESTOCK?" and then hung up before I could calm him down to speak with him.
Shortly thereafter I got a second call, this time from a rancher however I was able to calm this
second individual down considerably and at least we discussed the issues although no one
changed anyone's opinion.
It is curious that someone could figure out how to get my phone number that quickly. My only
assumption is that since the station had caller id, someone in the studio with a big temper used it.
and then passed my number on to others.
I have reason to believe it was one of the other commisioners, since he referred to the fact that I
was not at the hearing (so it had to be an official that was), and I knew it was not Jack Walker's
voice. If this is how county government officials behave, then the citizens of Jackson County
Oregon have a lot more to worry about than I thought.
I called the station and spoke to the station manager indicating that this was harrassment and that
they had a liablity if they permitted people to use their caller id to get at people who called in to
their shows. The station manager wound up chastising me for calling in to his station from out of
the area to 'disrupt' a show.
Incidently, it is Jackson County officials that are claiming that they are receiving threatening
letters from animal advocates. On a broadcast by a Medford TV station on Friday, December 19,
Commissioner Rick Holt waved these alleged letters in front of the camera. This story was
subsequently picked up by Portland, Oregon television stations and the Oregonian newspaper.
However, Sharon Roach, the dog's owner, recognized the letters that Mr. Holt had in his hand,
since she had received copies of them. "They were not threatening letters." she said. "They were
just letters from people asking them to free Nadas."
-Bob Schlesinger
bob@arkonline.com
Full details of the story of Nadas can be found at:
http://www.arkonline.com
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:16:09 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Poultry Sales Down in HK
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220201606.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Flu Scare Hampers Poultry Sales
.c The Associated Press
By DIDI KIRSTEN TATLOW
HONG KONG (AP) - Surrounded by wire cages crammed with twittering brown
chickens, vendor Fat-Boy Lam said today that sales were down by one-third
in a city worried about a bird flu that can be fatal to humans.
In his shop in Hong Kong's Causeway Bay district, the white-aproned,
blood-spattered chicken vendor said shoppers were avoiding poultry out of
fear it may be the source of the influenza A H5N1 virus.
Doctors say they are concerned H5N1 could be the source of the next
worldwide influenza pandemic. Helped by experts from the Centers for
Disease Control in Atlanta, the government is investigating.
As a precaution, the government has told schools to warn kids not to touch
birds, and advised them not to keep birds in the classrooms.
The virus, previously thought to affect only birds, has already claimed two
lives - a 3-year-old boy in May and a 54-year-old man in early December.
Two other people have also contracted the virus. A 2-year-old boy recovered
after hospitalization in November, but a 13-year-old girl is in critical
condition in hospital.
Seventy-five percent of Hong Kong's chickens come from mainland China.
Hong Kong radio reported authorities in south China were testing poultry
for the virus and results would be available in a week.
Doctors say they don't know how the virus is transmitted to humans, but say
if it comes from birds it is likely spread through contact with bird feces.
They are also investigating human-to-human transmission. But they say it is
safe to eat cooked poultry.
Chicken-vendor Lam said he wasn't afraid.
``Hey, I smoke, I could get cancer. Why should I be afraid of catching bird
flu?'' he asked, a cigarette dangling from his fingers.
In a stall down the market road, Li Wing agreed sales were down.
Normally, he'd sell about 200 birds a day, but by late this afternoon he
had sold less than 100, he said.
The birds are bought live and killed on the spot, as is normal in Hong Kong
markets.
Despite the threat of pandemic, students and parents interviewed today did
not seem overly worried.
Picking up her twin 9-year-old sons Max and Moritz after school, Mabel Ho
said they weren't eating chicken at home because of the scare.
``I'm a little bit worried,'' she said.
``But there are so many strange diseases in this world, and there have only
been a few cases. It's so far, so good,'' Ho said.
Ruth Ng said she'd told her 3-year-old daughter Winnie to stay away from
birds, chickens and dogs, just in case.
``I'm not worried. If you clean everything and stay far away from birds,
don't kiss the dog, it's OK,'' she said.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:17:18 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: African Cows In Mexico
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220201716.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
African Cattle Pushed in Mexico
.c The Associated Press
By BILL CORMIER
MEXICO CITY (AP) - Casey Anderson wants to give Mexican consumers more and
better beef - by providing ranchers here with a breed of cattle that has
survived thousands of years in harsh, hot African terrain.
Called Tuli, the African breed is the product of 5,000 years of adaptation
and survival in rugged Zimbabwe. High-tech genetics now means the cattle
that were barred by disease from leaving that continent are on their way.
Anderson, a livestock manager and consultant, also said the cattle provide
a tender, tastier cut of meat than many of the herds currently in Mexico.
Recently he has been crisscrossing Mexico whetting ranchers' appetite for
the new breed.
``The Tuli will do very very well in the hot, dry climate, which is the
majority of Mexico. Southern Zimbabwe is very much like the highlands of
Mexico,'' said Anderson, president of AgManagement Inc. of Kansas City, Mo.
Anderson is starting with embryos and semen of the Tuli cows that have been
genetically cleansed of diseases to take them out of Africa.
Mexico, along with China and Russia, are three nations with the most
potential to sharply improve herds and beef quality, he said.
Beef herds in Mexico have been depleted by drought and economic crisis this
decade that forced many Mexican farmers to sell off cattle. But a recovery
is in swing.
``If Mexico in the next few years increases its beef herd - which it will -
but does it with quality breeds like Tuli, then Mexico will not be a beef
importer but also has the potential of being a beef exporter,'' he said.
``The real winners are Mexico's beef consumers. The average consumer will
be able to buy a much better, much tastier and tender portion of meat for
the same money they are buying other meats now.''
He said Mexicans long accustomed to a Brahman type of cattle originally
from India will be pleased by Tuli's tastier, tender meat.
``Tuli cattle have the attributes of the tropical and semi-tropical Brahman
cattle in that they are disease, parasite and heat-resistant,'' he said.
``But the Tuli breed doesn't have the shortcomings of the Brahman.''
Unlike Brahman, he said, the Tuli are easily handled and breed quickly.
But will Mexican cattle ranchers bite?
Everardo Gonzalez Padilla, professor of veterinarian medicine at the
National Autonomous University of Mexico, said Tuli introduced to
semi-tropical areas could do better than European breeds.
``British breeds such as Angus are more susceptible to several tropical
diseases and do not adapt as well to heat stress and humidity,'' he said.
``I would say that most tropical areas can benefit from the Tuli.''
He said beef consumption in Mexico - now about 30 pounds a year per person
- is growing.
Anderson said Hidalgo state's government will begin a Tuli program in
January with the purchase of enough semen to produce more than 700 calves.
Calls have come in from ranches all over Mexico, he said.
Embryos were first brought out of Zimbabwe via Australia. Genetically
washed of any viruses or diseases, the embryos were implanted in female
animals and the calves, once born, were quarantined until it was determined
they were free of the plagues afflicting African herds.
>From Australia, the Tuli embryos were brought to Canada and then into the
United States.
Startup can be expensive.
Embryos flown in from Australia in frozen tanks - or from the United States
- can cost up to dlrs 1,500. Anderson said he is looking for government or
outside investors who can put down a minimum startup of at least dlrs
150,000 to produce a purebred Tuli herd.
In Texas, the animals seem to be doing well, according to Ray Record,
president of the North American Tuli Association.
``They seem to withstand the heat and humidity we have in Texas really
well,'' he said. ``The tougher the conditions they better they do. That's
because they were bred for centuries to survive in alternating droughts and
floods in Africa.''
Larry North, a Lubbock, Texas, rancher working with Tuli said he has seen
them thrive in the harsh Australian outback where ``the ants are as big as
your fingers and the cows have to walk for miles just for a blade of grass.''
``In the harshest climate, the Tuli always outdo anything else,'' he said.
``This is the first breed in 30 years that I've seen that I believe will
have an impact on the beef industry.''
AP-NY-12-12-97 0014EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:19:52 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: US BANS UK BEEF, VEAL AND LAMB
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220201950.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Mad Cow Fears Prompt U.S. Ban
.c The Associated Press
By CURT ANDERSON
WASHINGTON (AP) - The United States on Friday banned imports of all cattle
and sheep from Europe until the risk of spreading mad cow disease in this
country is fully examined.
``We made this decision to protect human and animal health, to protect the
security of our export markets, and to protect the safety and integrity of
our food supply,'' said Michael V. Dunn, assistant agriculture secretary
for marketing and regulatory programs.
No case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy - the proper name of the
neurological disorder fatal in cattle - has ever been reported in the
United States. Eating meat from cattle tainted by the disease is believed
to cause the brain-wasting Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans, which has
killed at least 20 people, mostly in Britain.
Previously, the Agriculture Department had restricted imports of cattle,
sheep and many products such as fresh meat and bone meal, from nine
European countries where the disease was known to exist.
The action announced late Friday expands that ban to most other European
countries.
Dunn said the decision to expand the import restrictions came after two
animals diagnosed with mad cow disease in Belgium and Luxembourg went into
the animal food processing system. In addition, British scientists earlier
this month discovered that the disease can infect additional parts of the
animals, including bone marrow.
``This import policy is science-based and consistent'' with international
guidelines, Dunn said.
The Agriculture Department will lift the import restrictions for any
country that shows it has a mad cow surveillance program that conforms to
international standards and contains adequate controls for imports, Dunn
added.
In 1996, the United States imported about 381,000 metric tons of beef and
veal from Europe and about 114,000 metric tons of lamb and mutton,
according to the American Meat Institute.
AP-NY-12-12-97 1856EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:23:42 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: HK Poultry Market CLOSED
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220202340.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hong Kong Poultry Market Closed
.c The Associated Press
HONG KONG (AP) - One of Hong Kong's largest wholesale poultry markets was
closed today following the death of two people from a virus that was
previously found only in birds and poultry.
The government said the Cheung Sha Wan Poultry, which sells more than
one-third of the 80,000 chickens imported into Hong Kong daily from China,
will not reopen until Thursday, when a massive cleanup is completed.
Vendors at the market asked for the cleanup to restore public confidence in
poultry. Officials said no infected chickens have been found at the market.
Health inspectors will also step up checks of poultry at other markets.
The moves came after three more people were suspected last week of
contracting the H5NI virus, bringing the number of confirmed or suspected
cases to seven.
A 5-year-old died in May in the first known case of a human contracting the
virus. A 54-year-old man died early this month, and a 2-year-old boy
recovered after hospitalization in November.
Three more people remained hospitalized.
The government also announced today that authorities in the neighboring
Chinese province of Guangdong have agreed to step up the monitoring of
chicken diseases in farms.
Guangdong officials also plan to restrict chicken exports to Hong Kong.
Experts admit they are baffled by the virus, and the Hospital Authority has
issued guidelines to the public and to hospitals to treat the potentially
deadly flu.
Three more experts from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta arrived
in Hong Kong last week to help in the investigation.
So far, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus,
the government said.
Hong Kong health officials have said the World Health Organization has been
asked to alert vaccine production centers worldwide to follow developments,
a step toward preparing a necessary vaccine.
AP-NY-12-15-97 0715EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:24:53 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Child Labor in Poultry Factory
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220202451.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Illegal Child Poultry Workers Found
.c The Associated Press
By TODD SPANGLER
MARYDEL, Md. (AP) - Filomena Simon Perez seems younger than her 15 years.
Her dark, wide eyes move quickly, trying to make sense of things.
She still plays with dolls.
But Filomena passed for 21 at Chestertown Foods, where she worked 40 hours
a week chopping chickens at minimum wage at a plant where they scald birds
in boiling water.
She had papers falsifying her age - and she said she could handle the work.
She said few questions were asked.
Filomena, who has only three years of schooling, came to Maryland's Eastern
Shore from Guatemala with a relative, who charged her $500 to smuggle her
into America.
``He charged that little'' because he's a relative, Filomena said.
Not long after they arrived in Maryland, the relative left for Ohio. She
stayed in Marydel - alone.
``It gets lonely,'' she said through an interpreter, ``but I play with
dolls.''
Filomena's new life was disrupted when U.S. Immigration and Naturalization
Service agents raided the plant on Sept. 9. They expected to find illegal
aliens, INS Baltimore director Benedict Ferro said; they didn't know they
would find kids.
Of the 40 illegals picked up at Chestertown Foods, Filomena and five others
were under 16 - too young to be working there under federal law.
Chestertown Foods needed the help. They had orders for chicken pieces from
big companies, including Campbell Soup Co. and H.J. Heinz. Americans don't
want the messy jobs, plant manager Jack Laird said.
Immigrants do, he said, and ``they all had the work papers.''
When INS agents came, Filomena tried to run, but the area was fenced in.
Behind her, she remembers, a voice shouted: ``Where are you going, senorita?''
The agents released her a short time later, taking her back to the run-down
trailer she shares with two strangers.
Filomena now spends her days sleeping in the empty trailer or playing with
her dolls.
She wonders if she will work again. She wonders if she will be deported.
AP-NY-12-15-97 1150EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:31:29 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Lion Escapes
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220203127.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Lion Escapes Tourist Attraction
.c The Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - A lion remained on the loose in a popular tourist
area today after escaping from a roadside zoo while her handlers tried to
fix her cage to get her off flooded ground.
The full-grown female African lion, named Nala after a character in ``The
Lion King,'' was last seen Monday fleeing into a cypress swamp behind
JungleLand.
The search resumed at first light, with deputies from the Osceola County
Sheriff's Office joining zoo employees and agents from Florida's Game and
Fresh Water Fish Commission in the hunt.
Because of recent rains, a crew was trying to construct a platform in
Nala's cage Monday so she and other lions could stay dry, said Cynthia
Potter, JungleLand spokeswoman. ``She was startled, and she bolted and
squeezed through a narrow opening,'' Ms. Potter said.
Attempts to tranquilize the animal were unsuccessful. Raised in captivity,
the 2 1/2-year-old lion is declawed - but still has her fangs.
JungleLand is located on Highway 192 in the heart of a busy tourist
district of hotels and restaurants near Disney World.
Authorities went from house to house to warn residents not to approach the
lion if they see it, Lt. Tom Quinn of the game commission said.
``Unless this animal is provoked or cornered, she won't do anything,'' he
said this morning on NBC's ``Today'' show.
Rain from most of last week has flooded parts of central Florida.
Temperatures dropped into the 40s overnight, and officials had hoped that
that might help them recapture the lion.
``The cold weather may bring her back to more familiar surroundings,''
Quinn said earlier. Zoo keepers also left a trail of meat around Nala's
JungleLand cage, hoping she would return home.
AP-NY-12-16-97 0842EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:33:03 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: ...and she's captured
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220203255.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Escaped Lion Captured In Florida
.c The Associated Press
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Zoo keepers today fired tranquilizer darts to
capture a 450-pound lion that had escaped from a roadside exhibit near Walt
Disney World and roamed free for two days.
The 2 1/2-year-old female lion named Nala was spotted by a search
helicopter in a cypress swamp near the zoo, then hit with three darts fired
by zoo keepers guided in by the helicopter crew.
``It's in good shape,'' said Capt. Gary Seltz of the Florida Game and Fresh
Water Fish Commission.
The lion escaped from the seven-acre JungleLand Zoo on Monday while her
handlers tried to fix her cage to raise her above flooded ground.
Nala, named after a character in the Disney movie ``The Lion King,'' ran
into the swamp that is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and expensive
homes in a popular tourist district.
Residents and tourists in the area were put on alert, but officials
described the lion as hand-raised, declawed and very sociable.
Nala was spotted several times by helicopter and on the ground Tuesday, but
each time slipped away in the swamp. At one time, she was next to the fence
enclosing the zoo.
Wildlife officials asked that news helicopters stay clear of the search
area to keep from scaring the animal. Searchers had waited until after
daybreak before resuming the search today.
``We didn't want to send anybody in at night for their own safety,'' said
Cynthia Potter, a spokeswoman at JungleLand.
Ms. Potter said zoo workers had been using fresh meat to lure the lion back
to its cage or within range of the tranquilizer-loaded dart gun.
AP-NY-12-17-97 1540EST
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 20:35:24 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Activists Get Jail Time
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220203522.0074dc2c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Utah Animal Rights Criminals Sentenced to Jail, Says Fur Commission USA
SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Animal rights criminals
convicted on felony charges for attacking fur farms have received jail
sentences in Salt Lake County, Utah, according to Fur Commission USA.
On December 16, Clinton Colby Ellerman was sentenced to two consecutive
one year jail terms for attacking fur farms and releasing animals, many of
which died from stress caused by the attack, or were killed on the Salt
Lake County roads. Judge Robert Hilder told Ellerman he would consider
suspending the second one year jail term if Ellerman cooperates with
authorities investigating the fur farm raids and other animal rights crimes.
On December 15, Jacob Lyman Kenison was sentenced to a year in jail and
ordered to pay more than $30,000 in restitution for firebombing a Tandy
Leather store in Murray in June, 1995. Kenison is already serving a 16
month sentence for violating federal firearms laws. He lied on a federal
firearms purchase form when buying an assault-style rifle he later gave as
a gift to Douglas Joshua Ellerman, an animal rights activist under federal
indictment for a bombing attack.
Ryan Holt, a fur farmer whose farm was attacked by Clinton Colby
Ellerman, told the court that attacks by Ellerman and other animal rights
criminals have caused nearly $2 million in damages to Utah farms and
businesses. In addition to attacking fur farms and the leather store,
animal rights criminals burned to the ground a McDonalds restaurant in West
Jordan in August, 1996. An animal rights bombing at the Fur Breeders
Agricultural Cooperative in Sandy resulted in nearly $1 million in damages
in March, 1997. Douglas Joshua Ellerman faces federal charges for the
Sandy attack.
"Utah courts are sending a strong message that animal rights terrorism
won't be tolerated," Holt said after Ellerman was sentenced. "Animal
rights extremists are entitled to their own views, but they have no right
to break the law or force other people to comply with their strange
beliefs. It is tragic that animal rights terrorists kill so many animals
and endanger human beings in the name of 'animal rights,'" Holt said.
So far this year, six Utah animal rights criminals have received jail
sentences. In addition to Ellerman and Kenison, four others were sentenced
to jail for the arson attack against the West Jordan McDonalds.
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 10:22:07 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: FWD:S.O.S. SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS IN THE USA!
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971221101522.2b375506@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
FOOD BYTES
News & Analysis on Genetic Engineering & Factory Farming
Issue #5 (December 20, 1997)
by: Ronnie Cummins, Pure Food Campaign USA
email: alliance@mr.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1527
______________________________________________________________________________
__
ACTION ALERT
S.O.S. SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS IN THE USA!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to redefine organic foods
to include foods that are genetically engineered, irradiated,
factory-farmed, and grown on top of toxic sewage sludge. This represents
nothing less than an "unfriendly take over" of the natural foods industry
by agribusiness, chemical-biotech corporations, and giant supermarket
chains.
On Dec. 16, 1997 the USDA announced their proposed national organic
standards. These standards define what can be legally certified and labeled
as organic. Following their final approval, it basically will be illegal
for producers and retailers to uphold and promote standards stricter than
the USDA allows.
Currently, when we shop for foods labeled "organic," we can be reasonably
certain of what we're getting. But under the proposed USDA laws, there are
no explicit prohibitions against:
* Genetic Engineering - Using genetic engineering to produce foods.
* Factory Farming - Using inhumane, intensive confinement, factory farm
style production methods on farm animals.
* Toxic Sludge - Spreading toxic sewage sludge and industrial wastes,
so-called "biosolids," on farmlands and pastures where animals graze and
food is grown.
* Animal Cannibalism - Feeding back diseased and waste animal body parts,
offal, and blood to farm animals, the practice that has led to Mad Cow
Disease in Europe.
* Food Irradiation - Using radioactive nuclear wastes to "kill bacteria"
and prolong the shelf life of food products.
It's not too late. Continue reading this Action Alert to see what you can
do to Save Organic Standards!
____________________________________________________________________
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS! HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE ORGANIC
STANDARDS!
Form an SOS Action Network in your local area. Collect the names and
contact information (including telephone and fax numbers and email
addresses) of others who feel passionately about these issues and are ready
to take action. Have those with email addresses subscribe to Food Bytes,
our free electronic newsletter, by sending an email to:
majordomo@mr.net
with the simple message:
subscribe pure-food-action
Have natural food retail stores, coops, community restaurants, and
farmers markets contact the SOS campaign by telephone, fax, or email to set
up an in-store leaflet and SOS "ballot box" display. Encourage coops and
businesses to use these displays so that consumers can write official
comment letters to the USDA and their legislators while they are shopping
for organic foods.
Send a letter, fax, or email to the USDA (to the address and docket
number listed below) demanding that they maintain strict organic standards
by explicitly prohibiting the unacceptable agricultural practices listed in
this Alert. Demand also that they allow private and state organic
certification bodies to maintain stricter organic standards than those the
USDA requires. Remind the USDA that this is a basic issue of free speech
and of consumers' right to choose. Ask your organic food store to provide
materials so that consumers can write comment letters while they are
shopping. If you live outside the United States, tell the USDA that USA
organic foods produced under sub-standard certification and labeling
provisions, such as they are now proposing, will not be welcome or
marketable in your country.
Make copies of your letter to the USDA and send them to your legislators
and local media. Follow up with a telephone call to their local district
offices. Tell them that, as a constituent, you want them to put their
position on organic standards in writing so that this can be forwarded on
to the USDA.
Don't forget to contact natural food outlets, consumer coops, farmers
markets, environmental and public interest non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and community-oriented restaurants in your area and get them
involved in the SOS campaign.
Letters to the USDA should be sent to:
USDA--National Organic Standards
Docket # TMD-94-00-2
Address: USDA, AMS, Room 4007-S, AgStop 0275, P.O. Box 96456 Washington,
D.C. 20090-6456
Fax: (Include Docket Number) 202-690-4632
email: see USDA web site http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
______________________________________________________________________________
__
Whose Organic Standards?: USDA'S New Proposed Regulations Are Unacceptable
An Op-Ed Piece on the USDA's 12/16/97 Proposed National Organic Food
Standards by:
Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Pure Food Campaign/SOS (Save Organic
Standards)
Address:
860 Hwy 61 Little Marais, Mn. 55614 USA
Telephone/Fax/email:
(218)-226-4164 Fax (218) 226-4157 email: alliance@mr.net
Watch out what you ask for, you just might get it. Since 1990, the natural
foods industry has been working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to
establish new federal rules to define "organic" food, rules which
supposedly will promote consumer demand and expand the number of organic
farms. Now, in a remarkable turnabout, the rules proposed by the USDA on
December 16 threaten the very credibility and future of the organic and
natural foods industry.
At stake in finalizing the new "organic" standards is the fastest growing
and most profitable segment of the food market. The U.S. organic food
industry has grown from $78 million in 1980 to an estimated $4.2 billion
this year, and is expanding by nearly 20 percent each year. The proposed
rules by the USDA degrade current standards, open the door for large
agribusiness companies, processors, and supermarket chains to enter and
dominate the organic food market, and preempt natural food consumers,
independent retailers, and farmers involvement in future rules regarding
organic food.
The nervous shiver down the spine of the organic foods industry comes from
the USDA's lack of specific prohibitions for genetically engineered foods,
irradiated foods, intensive confinement of farm animals, rendered animal
parts in feed, and the use of toxic sewage sludge spread over farmlands and
pastures.
To allow these controversial practices, the new USDA rules run directly
counter to the practices of organic farmers around the country and in
Europe. Currently the labeling of organic food is dictated by varying, but
relatively strict, standards used by 17 states and 33 private certifying
agencies. None of these agencies currently allow genetic engineering,
irradiation, intensive confinement, rendered animal protein, or toxic
sewage sludge within their definitions of organic food. Besides lowering
pre-existing standards, the new USDA rules would deny states and localities
from setting tougher organic food standards, without first being approved
by the USDA. In this regard industry experts are quite sceptical than the
USDA would allow stricter standards, since strict organic standards would
represent an implicit, if not explicit, condemnation of current
conventional agricultural practices.
In fact, the USDA's rules are a direct affront to the National Organics
Standards Board (NOSB)--composed of industry representatives, farmers,
environmentalists and food processors. The NOSB, established by the Organic
Foods Production Act in 1990, made recommendations to the USDA that
explicitly banned genetically engineered foods, irradiation, farming with
sewage sludge, and intensive confinement factory farm type animal husbandry
practices.
By proposing these watered-down standards, the USDA opens the door for
several powerful industries to enter the organic foods market. The proposed
rules will undergo a 90-120 day comment period, giving the waste disposal,
biotech, and nuclear industries an opportunity to lobby hard to expand the
market for their products. Organic food consumers will have an equal
opportunity to voice their opinions during the comment period, and given
their outrage over the proposed standards, they are likely to generate
large numbers of comments.
The USDA is caught in a familiar predicament given the agency's dual role.
On the one hand it is set up ostensibly to protect consumers by ensuring a
safe food supply and guarantee the economic livelihood of America's
farmers, the majority of whom continue to operate small and medium-sized
farms. On the other hand, USDA also sees as its role to promote the
industrialization and globalization of American agriculture--which means
working closely with large agribusiness, chemical, and biotechnology
corporations. The natural food industry, with its small stores, small
family farms, and discriminating consumers, has begun to pose a direct
threat to the market share of large-scale agribusiness. Therefore
agribusiness would like nothing more than to infiltrate this burgeoning
market.
The strength of the organic food market can be seen in the growing number
of organic sections appearing in major supermarket chains. A quarter of all
shoppers buy "natural" or organic foods in supermarkets at least once a
week, according to the Organic Trade Association. In a national poll last
February 54% of American consumers told industry pollsters that their
preference was for organic production.
In addition to the weak rules on controversial practices, the proposed
standards solidify the power of the USDA for future decisions on organics.
The Organics Food Production Act intended for any additions to the organic
rules, such as the inclusion of new synthetic or genetically engineered
crops, to go through the National Organics Standards Board (NOSB). But the
Preamble to the new rules and the USDA's redefinition of substances such as
sewage sludge as "natural" rather than "synthetic" seem to open the door
for the USDA to make the final decision on new additions on its own. In
addition government officials (under NAFTA regulations the Labor
Department) would have unilateral power to declare the "equivalency" of
organic food standards in other nations such as Mexico. Given the lack of
current regulations and enforcement in Mexico over agricultural production,
this could mean a flood of supposedly "organic" products crossing the
border which would undermine American organic farmers operating under
stricter standards and higher production costs.
On the surface this seems to be a debate over semantics. What is organic
food? But dig deeper and you will find the livelihood of 12,000 or so
organic farmers nationwide, scores of thousands of natural food businesses
and employees, and the right for several million U.S. consumers to buy
organic food that reflects natural farming and production methods. After
the 90-120 day comment period, let's hope the USDA understands that these
standards need to retain the integrity of the word organic. If they don't,
perhaps we're better off without any federal organic standards at all.
###
______________________________________________________________________________
__
Correction: In Food Bytes #4 in the article on Biotech Blunders, there was
a typographical error. The evidence brought to light regarding Monsanto's
biotech sugar beet fiasco was revealed in papers from the Irish government
EPA, not the US EPA.
========================================================
Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148
email> rabbit@wantree.com.au
http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)
/`\ /`\
(/\ \-/ /\)
)6 6(
>{= Y =}<
/'-^-'\
(_) (_)
| . |
| |}
jgs \_/^\_/
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 21:24:11 -0800
From: Hillary
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Sorry for Overposting
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971220212409.00683bd8@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Sorry all. I was just informed that I posted stories that have already been
sent to ar-news. I guess I overdid it in my zealousness--I only realized
when I was done just how many emails I had sent.
And sorry Allen for posting this non-news item! Please forgive me!
Hillary
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 18:31:50 -0800
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Bison and snowmobiles in Yellowstone
Message-ID: <349C7F96.1E25@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Park's winter is struggle between bison and snowmobiles
The Associated Press
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (December 20, 1997 6:48 p.m. EST)
The just-opened winter season in the nation's oldest national park
brings a new conflict between man and bison that can mean life or death
for a national symbol or for dollar-dependent towns.
Each winter, more than 110,000 people pour into the park, many of them
riding some 60,000 snowmobiles that belch blue smoke as they bound
across the landscape, the whine of their engines echoing off the hills.
The machines follow 200 miles of groomed trails carved into the snow
through forest and meadows.
The problem is that bison also are drawn to those open trails because
they allow the big beasts to avoid a tiring struggle through deeper snow
as they search for scarce winter forage. Environmentalists say that
makes it easier for the bison to keep moving, wandering out of the
park and into trouble.
Last year, a record 1,100 bison -- about one-third of Yellowstone's herd
-- were shot or shipped to slaughter because they strayed outside the
protection of Yellowstone's boundaries and into Montana.
Ranchers fear the bison will spread brucellosis to their cattle and that
even the threat of exposure to the calf-threatening disease could mean
their livestock will be shunned by buyers from other states.
Last week, a federal judge refused to stop the killing of bison that
wander out of Yellowstone, but said no more than 100 bison can be killed
without another court hearing.
Two environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the National Park
Service earlier this year to force a study on winter recreation.
"(Bison) share the road with snowmobiles. It may be a great thing to
see, but it's precisely the problem," said D.J. Schubert, a wildlife
biologist in Washington. "What most people don't realize is there are
consequences to bison using (snowmobile) trails."
Snowmobilers and the businesses they support wonder whether the bison
will be used as an excuse to keep them out.
"The bison are simply smoke and mirrors," said Vikki Eggers, executive
director for the West Yellowstone, Mont., Chamber of Commerce. "That's
the vehicle they're using to drive their agenda, which is to stop
snowmobiling in the park."
In response to the lawsuit by the Fund for Animals and the Biodiversity
Legal Foundation, the Park Service agreed to conduct an environmental
impact statement on Yellowstone's winter use.
The Park Service also agreed to consider closing 14 miles of previously
groomed snowmobile trail this winter for a study to determine the effect
on the bison. The park's winter season opened on Wednesday.
Many people who depend on the park for their livelihoods say the
environmentalists are trying to reduce access to Yellowstone.
"This is a small, elite group of individuals trying to carve out a piece
of Yellowstone so only they can visit it," said Bob Coe, the owner of
Pahaska Teepee, a hunting lodge where Buffalo Bill Cody once entertained
dignitaries.
"We have built our town in good faith in our relationship with the Park
Service," said Eggers, who grew up in West Yellowstone and remembers the
years before snowmobiles, when only a handful of businesses could stay
open in the winter. "We're talking about millions and millions of
dollars invested in this community. It feels like the partnership is
strained."
Some people are trying to address the environmental concerns raised by
snowmobiles. For example, service stations in the area sell snowmobile
fuel blended from gasohol and synthetic oil to eliminate the vehicles'
blue smoke.
"We believe there are good, scientific solutions to any problems that
exist," said Paul Hoffman, executive director of the Cody Country
Chamber of Commerce.
But he says that along with decisions based on the environment, the
National Environmental Policy Act says the Park Service also is supposed
to consider economics.
Environmentalists say economic concerns should be secondary to the
plight of wildlife.
"I've lived in the Yellowstone ecosystem for 20 years," said Steve
Thomas, a spokesman for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition in Cody. "I
never felt like the park owed me a living. The gateway communities exist
because the park is over there."
The coalition says some snowmobile traffic can co-exist with bison,
although it also believes action is needed to protect the animals.
The Fund for Animals, however, believes the cost of snowmobiles to the
environment and wildlife is too high.
"There's a cost in terms of impact to air quality, the impact to the
health of employees who are subjected to carbon monoxide," Schubert
said. "When a bison walks out of the park and is shot, that bison is
priceless. That kind of cost has to be figured into the equation as
well."
By JIM ANGELL, The Associated Press
Date: Sun, 21 Dec 1997 10:49:22 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (UK)RCD/VHD in Australia on BBC radio(UK)this Tuesday
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971221104235.0da74b28@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I have just learned that BBC radio (UK) will be putting to air
a program (on Tuesday?) regarding the deliberate spread of RCD/VHD
(Viral Hemorrhagic disease of Rabbits) in Australia.
Apparently their producer was sent to the Eastern states of Australia
and there will also be live interviews with scientists.
Anyone who cares about the future of all species on this planet
and the use of germ warfare to control unwanted species should try and
catch this program . Sorry I haven't got more details.
All I know is the name of the presenter Steven Lyle? It may be on
at 8am UK time but please find out details from the BBC.
regards, Marguerite
========================================================
Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148
email> rabbit@wantree.com.au
http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)
/`\ /`\
(/\ \-/ /\)
)6 6(
>{= Y =}<
/'-^-'\
(_) (_)
| . |
| |}
jgs \_/^\_/
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 18:57:18 -0800
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: FWD: new organic food standards - action alert
Message-ID: <349C858E.2D23@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Subject:Food Bytes #5 (Dec. 20, 1997) SOS Alert
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 97 23:27:41 +0000
From: alliance@MR.Net (Ronnie Cummins)
To: pure-food-action@MR.Net
FOOD BYTES
News & Analysis on Genetic Engineering & Factory Farming
Issue #5 (December 20, 1997)
by: Ronnie Cummins, Pure Food Campaign USA
email: alliance@mr.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1527
________________________________________________________________________
ACTION ALERT
S.O.S. SAVE ORGANIC STANDARDS IN THE USA!
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is attempting to redefine organic
foods to include foods that are genetically engineered, irradiated,
factory-farmed, and grown on top of toxic sewage sludge. This represents
nothing less than an "unfriendly take over" of the natural foods
industry by agribusiness, chemical-biotech corporations, and giant
supermarket chains.
On Dec. 16, 1997 the USDA announced their proposed national organic
standards. These standards define what can be legally certified and
labeled as organic. Following their final approval, it basically will be
illegal for producers and retailers to uphold and promote standards
stricter than the USDA allows.
Currently, when we shop for foods labeled "organic," we can be
reasonably certain of what we're getting. But under the proposed USDA
laws, there are no explicit prohibitions against:
* Genetic Engineering - Using genetic engineering to produce foods.
* Factory Farming - Using inhumane, intensive confinement, factory farm
style production methods on farm animals.
* Toxic Sludge - Spreading toxic sewage sludge and industrial wastes,
so-called "biosolids," on farmlands and pastures where animals graze and
food is grown.
* Animal Cannibalism - Feeding back diseased and waste animal body
parts, offal, and blood to farm animals, the practice that has led to
Mad Cow Disease in Europe.
* Food Irradiation - Using radioactive nuclear wastes to "kill bacteria"
and prolong the shelf life of food products.
It's not too late. Continue reading this Action Alert to see what you
can do to Save Organic Standards!
____________________________________________________________________
STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS! HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE ORGANIC
STANDARDS!
Form an SOS Action Network in your local area. Collect the names and
contact information (including telephone and fax numbers and email
addresses) of others who feel passionately about these issues and are
ready to take action. Have those with email addresses subscribe to Food
Bytes, our free electronic newsletter, by sending an email to:
majordomo@mr.net
with the simple message:
subscribe pure-food-action
Have natural food retail stores, co-ops, community restaurants, and
farmers markets contact the SOS campaign by telephone, fax, or email to
set up an in-store leaflet and SOS "ballot box" display. Encourage
co-ops and businesses to use these displays so that consumers can write
official comment letters to the USDA and their legislators while they
are shopping for organic foods.
Send a letter, fax, or email to the USDA (to the address and docket
number listed below) demanding that they maintain strict organic
standards by explicitly prohibiting the unacceptable agricultural
practices listed in this Alert. Demand also that they allow private and
state organic certification bodies to maintain stricter organic
standards than those the USDA requires. Remind the USDA that this is a
basic issue of free speech and of consumers' right to choose. Ask your
organic food store to provide materials so that consumers can write
comment letters while they are shopping. If you live outside the United
States, tell the USDA that USA organic foods produced under sub-standard
certification and labeling provisions, such as they are now proposing,
will not be welcome or marketable in your country.
Make copies of your letter to the USDA and send them to your
legislators and local media. Follow up with a telephone call to their
local district offices. Tell them that, as a constituent, you want them
to put their position on organic standards in writing so that this can
be forwarded on to the USDA.
Don't forget to contact natural food outlets, consumer coops, farmers
markets, environmental and public interest non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) and community-oriented restaurants in your area and
get them involved in the SOS campaign.
Letters to the USDA should be sent to:
USDA--National Organic Standards
Docket # TMD-94-00-2
Address: USDA, AMS, Room 4007-S, AgStop 0275, P.O. Box 96456 Washington,
D.C. 20090-6456
Fax: (Include Docket Number) 202-690-4632
email: see USDA web site http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop
________________________________________________________________________
Whose Organic Standards?: USDA'S New Proposed Regulations Are
Unacceptable
An Op-Ed Piece on the USDA's 12/16/97 Proposed National Organic Food
Standards by:
Ronnie Cummins, National Director, Pure Food Campaign/SOS (Save Organic
Standards)
Address:
860 Hwy 61 Little Marais, Mn. 55614 USA
Telephone/Fax/email:
(218)-226-4164 Fax (218) 226-4157 email: alliance@mr.net
Watch out what you ask for, you just might get it. Since 1990, the
natural foods industry has been working with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture to establish new federal rules to define "organic" food,
rules which supposedly will promote consumer demand and expand the
number of organic farms. Now, in a remarkable turnabout, the rules
proposed by the USDA on December 16 threaten the very credibility and
future of the organic and natural foods industry.
At stake in finalizing the new "organic" standards is the fastest
growing and most profitable segment of the food market. The U.S. organic
food industry has grown from $78 million in 1980 to an estimated $4.2
billion this year, and is expanding by nearly 20 percent each year. The
proposed rules by the USDA degrade current standards, open the door for
large agribusiness companies, processors, and supermarket chains to
enter and dominate the organic food market, and preempt natural food
consumers, independent retailers, and farmers involvement in future
rules regarding organic food.
The nervous shiver down the spine of the organic foods industry comes
from the USDA's lack of specific prohibitions for genetically engineered
foods, irradiated foods, intensive confinement of farm animals, rendered
animal parts in feed, and the use of toxic sewage sludge spread over
farmlands and pastures.
To allow these controversial practices, the new USDA rules run directly
counter to the practices of organic farmers around the country and in
Europe. Currently the labeling of organic food is dictated by varying,
but relatively strict, standards used by 17 states and 33 private
certifying agencies. None of these agencies currently allow genetic
engineering, irradiation, intensive confinement, rendered animal
protein, or toxic sewage sludge within their definitions of organic
food. Besides lowering pre-existing standards, the new USDA rules would
deny states and localities from setting tougher organic food standards,
without first being approved by the USDA. In this regard industry
experts are quite sceptical than the USDA would allow stricter
standards, since strict organic standards would represent an implicit,
if not explicit, condemnation of current conventional agricultural
practices.
In fact, the USDA's rules are a direct affront to the National Organics
Standards Board (NOSB)--composed of industry representatives, farmers,
environmentalists and food processors. The NOSB, established by the
Organic Foods Production Act in 1990, made recommendations to the USDA
that explicitly banned genetically engineered foods, irradiation,
farming with sewage sludge, and intensive confinement factory farm type
animal husbandry practices.
By proposing these watered-down standards, the USDA opens the door for
several powerful industries to enter the organic foods market. The
proposed rules will undergo a 90-120 day comment period, giving the
waste disposal, biotech, and nuclear industries an opportunity to lobby
hard to expand the market for their products. Organic food consumers
will have an equal opportunity to voice their opinions during the
comment period, and given their outrage over the proposed standards,
they are likely to generate large numbers of comments.
The USDA is caught in a familiar predicament given the agency's dual
role. On the one hand it is set up ostensibly to protect consumers by
ensuring a safe food supply and guarantee the economic livelihood of
America's farmers, the majority of whom continue to operate small and
medium-sized farms. On the other hand, USDA also sees as its role to
promote the industrialization and globalization of American
agriculture--which means working closely with large agribusiness,
chemical, and biotechnology corporations. The natural food industry,
with its small stores, small family farms, and discriminating consumers,
has begun to pose a direct threat to the market share of large-scale
agribusiness. Therefore agribusiness would like nothing more than to
infiltrate this burgeoning market.
The strength of the organic food market can be seen in the growing
number of organic sections appearing in major supermarket chains. A
quarter of all shoppers buy "natural" or organic foods in supermarkets
at least once a week, according to the Organic Trade Association. In a
national poll last February 54% of American consumers told industry
pollsters that their preference was for organic production.
In addition to the weak rules on controversial practices, the proposed
standards solidify the power of the USDA for future decisions on
organics. The Organics Food Production Act intended for any additions
to the organic rules, such as the inclusion of new synthetic or
genetically engineered crops, to go through the National Organics
Standards Board (NOSB). But the Preamble to the new rules and the USDA's
redefinition of substances such as sewage sludge as "natural" rather
than "synthetic" seem to open the door for the USDA to make the final
decision on new additions on its own. In addition government officials
(under NAFTA regulations the Labor Department) would have unilateral
power to declare the "equivalency" of organic food standards in other
nations such as Mexico. Given the lack of current regulations and
enforcement in Mexico over agricultural production, this could mean a
flood of supposedly "organic" products crossing the border which would
undermine American organic farmers operating under stricter standards
and higher production costs.
On the surface this seems to be a debate over semantics. What is organic
food? But dig deeper and you will find the livelihood of 12,000 or so
organic farmers nationwide, scores of thousands of natural food
businesses and employees, and the right for several million U.S.
consumers to buy organic food that reflects natural farming and
production methods. After the 90-120 day comment period, let's hope the
USDA understands that these standards need to retain the integrity of
the word organic. If they don't, perhaps we're better off without any
federal organic standards at all.
------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: In my opinion, if the USDA succedes in establishing the new rules,
the result could be the total annihilation of the organic food industry.
Why would people pay a premium for "organic" fruiys and vegetables that
have been irradiated, genetically altered, grown on toxic sludge,
sprayed with wax and preservatives, and so on?
Andy
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 22:20:39 EST
From: STFORJEWEL
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: 5 Guilty of Illegal-Hunting Charges
Message-ID: <826f7de1.349c8b09@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
>From The Denver Post
By Peter Chronis
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 20, 1997
Five hunters have pleaded guilty and three others have been indicted on
wildlife charges in Colorado, U.S. Attorney Henry Solano has announced.
The cases resulted from a state-federal investigation dubbed "Operation
Dinosaur," which focused on the illegal taking (read: killing-ed.) of elk and
deer on private lands and within the boundaries of Dinosaur National Monument
in western Colorado. Joining Solano in the announcement were Ralph
Morgenwick, regional director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and John
Mumma, director of the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Participating in the investigation, which began about 3-1/2 years ago were the
US Fish and Wildlife Service's Mountain-Prairie Region, and the Colorado
Division of Wildlife.
The violations charged in state and federal court stemmed from the illegal
killing of elk and deer during hunting trips for which the defendants had paid
a fee to be guided or outfitted, Solano said in a statement issued Thursday.
The five who pleaded guilty were sentenced to varying periods of probation and
paid fines and restitution totaling $55,229 for illegal commercialization of
big game, according to the officials.
Those who have pleaded guilty to either state or federal charges were
identified as Ricky Ray Griffin of Tomah, Wisconsin; William Jeff Tucker of
Statesville, North Carolina; Robert Correll, also of Statesville; Scott Beldon
of Punta Gorda, Florida; and Curtis Glenn Thurman of Dallas, Texas. The
violaltions occurred in the fall of 1994, the US Attorney's office said.
Besides probation and fines, the five were stripped of wildlife parts, trophy
mounts, all-terrain vehicles and rifles, the officials said. Also, for some
defendants, hunting privileges in Colorado and eight other Western states will
be revoked for varying periods-from five years to life. (!)
Also on December 9, a federal grand jury indicted Michael Charles McGlone, 44,
and Charles Edward Counts, 51, both of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and Robert
G. Clark, 44, of Wichita, Kansas on 12 federal counts including conspiracy,
violation of the Lacey Act, the MIgratory Bird Act and Park Service statutes.
The Lacy Act forbids commercial gain from illegally killed wildlife and
carries a possible five-year prison term and $250,000 fine.
"The actions of these violators should not be considered a reflection of the
hunting community in general," Mumma said. " Though the public may hear about
poachers from time to time, the majority of big-game hunters comply quite
willingly with the laws and regulations." (Ya right, John)
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 22:33:43 EST
From: STFORJEWEL
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Lost Hummingbird Goes South
Message-ID:
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
>From The Denver Post
By Mary George
Denver Post Staff Writer
December 20, 1997
"Rudolph," the tiny Anna's hummingbird that was swept into a Boulder, Colorado
backyard by Colorado's October blizzard has moved back to warmer climes and
already has a girlfriend, wildlife specialists report.
Ron and Banks Hudson discovered the warm-weather bird in their yard, then kept
him alive for six weeks at their hummingbird feeder. Finally, folks from the
Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary in Longmont, Colorado captured the
little hummer. They took him to their intensive-care unit, where he regained
strength and grams he'd lost fighting the cold and wind during his winter
adventure.
Last weekend, Rudolph flew--on a jet, with a Greenwood volunteer--to his new
home at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum near Tucson.
"He ate the whole way to Arizona," said Elaine Myers, Greenwood's animal care
coordinator.
Museum caretakers put Rudolph into a roomy outdoor refuge known as a flight
cage to give the warm-weather hummer some time to adjust to his latest change
in surroundings.
On Monday morning, caretakers noticed that Rudolph looked happy, strong, and
healthy, Myers said. They also reported that a female Anna's hummingbird was
flirting with him through the cage screen.
Later in the day, they set Rudolph free.
He was last seen doing a springtime mating ritual known among birdwatchers as
aerial display diving: flying high into the air, then plummeting into a
100-foot dive and pulling up just above the ground with an odd little chirp.
"We asked about this behavior," Myers said. "Is he OK? Is he all mixed up?
They said no, he's just showing off for the girls."
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