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AR-NEWS Digest 383
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) "An Idea for Peace"
by "Lega Italiana dei Diritti dell'Animale"
2) (NO) Dog's Death Linked to Brit Dog Food
by allen schubert
3) [UK] Safety code launched after criticism of genetic crops
by David J Knowles
4) [UK/HK] Widow fights to keep =?iso-8859-1?Q?=A38m_?= legacy to
RSPCA
by David J Knowles
5) Mary Midgely's husband died
by Vegetarian Resource Center
6) bull mastiff rescue
by ckelly
7) (US) Downside to genetically altered crops
by allen schubert
8) (US) BionAnimals!!!!
by "H. Morris"
9) Senate Hearings on Joe Bruner Confirmation
by SMatthes@aol.com
10) (US) Endangered fly caught in trap between economy, ecology
by allen schubert
11) Fwd: Aluminum Can Recycling Raises $1 Million for Animal Shelters, Says Ameri...
by LMANHEIM@aol.com
12) (US) Endangered fly caught in trap between economy, ecology
by allen schubert
13) (US) Yale Primate Cocaine Studies
by "H. Morris"
14) Yale Injuring Newborn Beagles
by "H. Morris"
15) bull mastiff rescue
by ckelly
16) (US) AMP--Animal Shelters Should Tell Animal Rights Groups
Show Us the Money!
by allen schubert
17) (US) FROG-FRIENDLY SCIENCE PROGRAM HITS HAMPTON ROADS HIGH
SCHOOLS
by allen schubert
18) (TW) INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS CALL ON PRESIDENT
LEE TO HALT CRUEL PIG SLAUGHTER
by allen schubert
19) (US) MARCH OF DIMES BLASTED OVER ANIMAL TESTS
by allen schubert
20) EMERGENCY REQUEST/RE: VEGAN HUNGERSTRIKER
by nnetwork@cwnet.com
21) [CA] Forest protests promised
by David J Knowles
22) (US) NASA ENDS DEADLY BION SPACE MONKEY EXPERIMENTS
by allen schubert
23) Pot Bellied Pig Help
by bchorush@paws.org (pawsinfo)
24) Missions Statements Wanted
by bchorush@paws.org (pawsinfo)
25) Bonobo Society: Amicable, Amorous and Run by Females
by Vegetarian Resource Center
26) NASA CONCURS WITH INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BION 11 MISSION
by Vegetarian Resource Center
27) Fwd: HSUS Warns That Pet Reptiles Can Transmit Salmonella
by LMANHEIM@aol.com
28) Re: (US) THe Ethics of Hunting
by Marisul@aol.com
29) HELPING PEOPLE HELP BIRDS
by shadowrunner@voyager.net
30) (US) Boy Mauled by Pet Wolf
by allen schubert
31) (US) N.D. Flood Victims Worry About Pets
by allen schubert
32) (US) NASA Out of Space Monkey Research
by allen schubert
33) (US) N.S.F.: Cloning Must Be Explained
by allen schubert
34) (JA) Deaths in Japan Linked to `Mad Cow'
by allen schubert
35) Re: COK DELAYS RINGLING BROS!!!
by Franklin Wade
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 1997 18:42:48 -0700
>From: "Lega Italiana dei Diritti dell'Animale"
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: "An Idea for Peace"
Message-ID: <33582318.2C3F@mclink.it>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
COMUNICATO LIDA del 17 aprile 1997
La LIDA, lega italiana dei diritti dell'animale, ha invitato i bambini
delle Scuole Elementari e Medie, in occasione del "Conto alla
rovescia" all'anno 2000 iniziato il 6 aprile scorso, a depositare
presso le loro scuole le "ARMI-GIOCATTOLO" e a inventare "GIOCHI
PACIFICI" per dimostrare che i ragazzi sono contro le guerre. I primi
a rispondere sono stati i bambini della Scuola Elementare "Maceo" in
provincia di Messina in occasione della Mostra Europea del 9 aprile
scorso ed ora stanno depositando le loro "armi" nell'atrio della
scuola e invitano gli altri bambini a fare altettanto per convincere
gli adulti ad arrivare al 2000 in pace con gli uomini, gli animali e
la natura. Hanno scritto letterine a tutti i bambini del mondo perche'
non comprino armi-giocattolo e alle FABBRICHE DI GIOCATTOLI
invitandole a NON PRODURRE PIU' ARMI-GIOCATTOLO.
Italian League for Animal Rights
http://www.mclink.it/assoc/lida/lidaen.htm
"LONG LIVE NON-VIOLENT TOYS!"
http://www.mclink.it/assoc/lida/peace.htm
-------------------------------------------------
LIDAmatic, il sito Internet della LIDA
http://www.mclink.it/assoc/lida
lida@mclink.it
"Un'idea per la Pace"
http://www.mclink.it/assoc/lida/idea.htm
--------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 02:06:14 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (NO) Dog's Death Linked to Brit Dog Food
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423020612.006a3720@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
BSE linked to dog food......
from New York Times web page (AP section):
----------------------------------------------------------------
April 21, 1997
Dog's Death Linked to Brit Dog Food
Filed at 10:43 p.m. EDT
By The Associated Press
OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Dog lovers in Norway are nervous
over reports that a golden retriever's death looks
similar to ``mad-cow disease.''
Norway's TV2 reported that an autopsy of the
11-year-old dog showed changes in the brain consistent
with those seen in the brains of cows who die of the
disease.
The disease, formally known as bovine spongiform
encephalopathy, is similar to the fatal
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.
Last year, the European Union ordered a halt to exports
of beef from Britain, where the disease had infected
many cattle, after scientists said humans might
contract Creutzfeldt-Jakob from eating infected beef.
If the dog contracted the brain ailment, it probably
was through dog food in the late 1980s, national animal
health board director Eivind Liven told the national
news agency NTB.
Almost all dog and cat food in Norway is imported,
mainly from England, and before 1994 there was no
quality-control inspection.
British and Irish news media have reported research
showing that spongiform encephalopathy affects a
variety of other species, including sheep, goats, cats,
hamsters, mules, mice, elk and minks.
There are suspicions in Britain that sheep may have
contracted the brain disease by eating tainted beef.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 01:38:58 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Safety code launched after criticism of genetic crops
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970422013932.3fa77244@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday April 22nd, 1997
Safety code launched after criticism of genetic crops
By David Brown, Agriculture Editor
SAFEGUARDS on genetically-modified crops and foods were launched by farmers
yesterday in an attempt to stem increasing opposition from consumers and
conservation groups.
The move came as farmers laid plans to plant Britain's first
genetically-altered commercial crops - oilseed rape which is resistant to
pesticides - next spring.
Under a voluntary code of practice, farmers will be expected to keep records
of all genetically-modified crops planted and any genetically-altered foods
used for livestock. They will also be expected to ensure all
genetically-modified materials are accurately labelled and fully traceable.
The code has been drawn up by the National Farmers' Union of England and
Wales to meet attacks on the genetic crops by the conservation group
Greenpeace and increasing pressure from Euro-MPs and European consumers.
The European Parliament has demanded that the EU Commission in Brussels
cancels its decision last December to approve genetically-altered maize for
sale in Europe. The maize, produced in the United States, is resistant to
Roundup, one of the most commonly used weedkillers.
But it contains an antibiotic marker gene which has aroused fierce criticism
on the grounds that it might lead to resistance to medicinal antiobiotics
among consumers. The company denies that the product, which has been
approved in the United States and Europe, is unsafe.
In an effort to placate Euro- MPs, Brussels plans to extend food labelling
laws to all genetically-modified maize and soya crops.
Sir David Naish, president of the National Farmers' Union, said: "Accurate
labelling of crops and food products produced using genetically-modified
organisms is essential if the consumer is to make an informed choice."
Genetic crops, which are resistant to weedkillers and diseases, are expected
to revolutionise the intensive production of food. They enable farmers to
boost yields and cut costs by wiping out weeds with chemicals which do not
harm crops.
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 01:39:01 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/HK] Widow fights to keep £8m legacy to
RSPCA
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970422013935.3fa741f4@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday, April 22nd, 1997
Widow fights to keep £8m legacy to RSPCA
By Sandra Barwick
THE RSPCA is fighting a widow in the Hong Kong courts over an £8 million
legacy left to it by her husband, a dog-loving American businessman.
Margie Richardson is seeking to overturn her husband Leon Richardson's will,
claiming he made it when he was not of sound mind. Mr Richardson was a
lifelong dog-lover who latterly owned a poodle dyed with a pink rinse. It
died in 1994, at around the time he separated from his wife.
Mrs Richardson, 76, says her husband, who was 77 when he died in May 1995,
then suffered from "morbid jealousy". She claims her husband accused her of
hiring triads to kill him three times, and had delusions which made him
falsely accuse her of infidelity. As a result, she believes, he left his
millions to the charity to spite her.
But the RSPCA, which was first told of the legacy two years ago when Mr
Richardson died in the colony where he lived, says he was not only sane but
had already made provision for his wife.
"He had legally separated from his wife the year before he died, and had set
up a trust fund for her and her daughter," a spokesman said yesterday. "We
believe he was of sound mind. He used to broadcast on Hong Kong radio giving
financial advice, and he made a broadcast
just before he died of a heart attack."
His entire estate at death was valued at more than $50 million (£30
million), $30 million (£18 million) of which was held in Hong Kong. Mrs
Richardson claims her husband made a will in late 1991 leaving her all his
money, but later destroyed it and hand-wrote a new one eight
days before his death, leaving a large sum to the RSPCA.
In a writ filed before the case began, Mrs Richardson said she had received
a letter in February 1995 in which her husband accused her of "infamous,
heinous, sinning, fiend-like, immoral depravity".
His mental condition had poisoned his affections, she alleged, and prevented
the exercise of his natural faculties. Besides giving financial advice in
newspapers and on the radio, Mr Richardson wrote regularly in the American
Kennel Club magazine, where he was a
particularly enthusiastic supporter of the Newfoundland breed.
Mr Richardson was kidnapped in 1981 while on a business visit to Guatemala
and spent 100 days in confinement in an underground cell. He later lectured
on how to avoid abduction.
The RSPCA is not certain how much money it will receive after legal fees
even if it wins the case, which began in the Supreme Court of Hong Kong
yesterday, and is expected to last 10 days.
Psychiatrists will give evidence on Mr Richardson's mental state at the time
he made his will. The RSPCA costs £40 million a year to run, but £8 million
would fund one of its animal hospitals for eight years. "It would make an
enormous difference if we received that amount, and we would be extremely
grateful," said an RSPCA spokesman.
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 07:32:42 -0400
>From: Vegetarian Resource Center
To: AR-News@envirolink.org
Subject: Mary Midgely's husband died
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422072516.0147b994@pop.tiac.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Many of you have been familiar with the writings
of animal rights philosopher, Mary Midgley.
I just received notice that her husband Geoffrey
died recently, on April 16.
We extend our sympathies to Mary, whose books
we greatly admired.
-Maynard S. Clark
____________________________________
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 09:56:11 BST
Reply-To: I.R.Ground@newcastle.ac.uk
Originator: philos-l@liverpool.ac.uk
Sender: philos-l-request@liverpool.ac.uk
>From: Ian Ground
To: Members of the list
Subject: Geoffrey Midgley
X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas
X-Comment: Philosophy in Europe
Geoffrey Midgley, head of the former philosophy department at Newcastle
University, died on April, 16, 1997, suddenly, after a short illness. The
funeral will be held at Westgate Road Crematorium, Newcastle upon Tyne on
Friday, 25th April at 3.30 pm. No flowers please but donations to charities
by those who knew Geoff would be appreciated by Mary and family. A memorial
service is to be arranged.
Geoff will be greatly missed by family, friends and colleagues.
Ian Ground
Development Officer
Centre for Continuing Education
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
UK
Email: I.R.Ground@newcastle.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 222 5436
Fax: 0191 222 7090
WWW:
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 07:51:47 -0500
>From: ckelly
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: bull mastiff rescue
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19970422125147.00670dac@sagelink.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Does anyone know of a rescue organization devoted to bull mastiffs. If so,
please forward by private e-mail any info. Mastiff a legacy of successful
cruelty prosecution against owner. Must find home. He will be neutered prior
to adoption. Beautiful, gentle, and huge!
Thank you, Chris.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 09:20:04 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Downside to genetically altered crops
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423092001.006ce154@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from USA Today web page:
--------------------------------------
Downside to genetically altered crops
Agricultural pests could develop resistance to a pesticide implanted in
genetically engineered crops sooner
than anticipated, researchers at North Carolina State University say.
Results of a five-year study, published in a
recent issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show a
cotton-eating moth called Heliothis
virescens could become resistant in 10 years to a natural pest-killer,
Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, that has
been encoded in transgenic cotton. Bt, a natural bacterium in soil, is used
by organic farmers to control pests
and in transgenic crops to reduce the need for chemical pesticides. Some
environmentalists worry that if Bt is
used too widely, bugs will develop resistance and organic farmers will be
left without an organic pest control.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 09:26:27 -0400
>From: "H. Morris"
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: (US) BionAnimals!!!!
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422092617.006e1ac4@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Shades of Orwell
The following AP covers the latest earnings from a company called Bion
Environmental Technologies. Boring, right? Well, read on....this is the
first I've heard of these "manure producing units" aka BIONANIMALS...
DENVER, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc.,
(OTC: BIET) reported today the following highlights of the Company's progress
for the quarter ended March 31, 1997.
Of the results being reported, Jon Northrop, Chief Executive
Officer said,
"During the last three months the Company clearly has demonstrated that it is
successfully achieving the transition from a development stage company to a
commercial business. The progress in the business being summarized in this
announcement highlights the strongest quarter performance we have had in
the nearly eight years of our Company's history."
Growth:
During the last three months the Company signed agreements for the
design, construction and operation of six new BionSoil NMS(TM) systems on
large dairy and hog farms in New York and North Carolina. This activity is
compared to two in the prior quarter and one in the same quarter of 1996.
This increases
the Company's base of systems from 20 as of December 31, 1996, to 26 as of
March 31, 1997, and represents a 30% gain in the total number of BionSoil NMS
systems during the quarter.
[THIS IS WHERE THEY DISCUSS THEY 'BIONANIMALS' AS "MANURE PRODDUCING
UNITS
!!!]
Further, the recently signed agreements are for farms averaging 967
BionAnimals per system whereas the prior 20 systems averaged only 537
BionAnimals per system, an increase in average size of each system of 80%.
The Company defines a BionAnimal as a manure producing unit (made up of one or
more animals) which produces wastes equivalent to one dairy cow. The total
wastes produced by one BionAnimal, when processed in a BionSoil NMS system,
produce approximately ten cubic yards of BionSoil per year. As a result of
the quarter's activity, the Company now has agreements covering 16,530
BionAnimals vs 10,730 as of December 31, 1996, an increase of 54% in the
number of BionAnimals.
As of March 31, the Company had 11 BionSoil NMS systems,
containing 5,730
BionAnimals, in full operation. These systems are capable of producing
approximately 57,000 cubic yards of BionSoil(TM) annually (see "BionSoil"
below). The additional 15 systems, containing 10,800 BionAnimals, are in
various stages of completion from preliminary design to final construction.
When these additional systems are brought in to full production of
BionSoil, they are projected to increase the Company's total BionSoil output
by 108,000 cubic yards per year to a level of 165,000 cubic yards per year.
Based on the Company's best current projections this production is anticipated
to result in gross annual revenue from the sales of BionSoil and BionSoil
products alone of between $5.0 to $19.8 million. The ultimate revenue that
the Company anticipates receiving is based on the degree of processing and
product diversification established. Once the systems are in operation and
BionSoil is being harvested, the revenue stream is anticipated to continue for
each year of the fifteen year life of the system contracts.
Not only has the Company increased the anticipated output of
BionSoil by
54% as a result of the quarter's performance, it also has been able to shift
its operations in the BionSoil systems area to a more business-like basis.
The Company has, for the last several years, been designing and installing
basically "one-of-a-kind" development systems as it refined its technology.
Now, based on its experience, the systems are being designed, permitted and
installed as a commercial product with substantially improved efficiency and
commensurately reduced time and cost.
During the quarter, the Company also signed a contract to conduct a
feasibility study for a small residential wastewater treatment system in New
York State. This system will represent the first application of the Company's
technology to a municipal wastewater project.
Staffing:
On February 1st, C. Duane Kennedy joined the Company to fill the newly
created position of President of Bion Technologies, Inc., and BionSoil, Inc.,
the Company's wholly owned operating subsidiaries. Mr. Kennedy came to the
Company from the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Pursell
Industries, Inc., a privately-held lawn and garden products company based in
Alabama. At the time that Mr. Kennedy's hiring was announced, Northrop said,
"We are delighted to have Duane join us in this key position as Bion moves
forward in the exciting growth phase of our business. He brings a very
successful growth oriented track record, combined with strong management and
marketing skills in related industry sectors."
Additionally, on February 1st, Cindy Flinn joined the Company
working in
horticultural research. Ms. Flinn, who holds a Ph.D. in Horticulture from
Purdue University, was most recently Horticultural Agent for the North
Carolina Cooperative Extension Service in Johnston County, North Carolina.
Northrop said, "Cindy will be designing and implementing the Company's program
for soils development, quality, blending, and testing. Additionally, she will
be designing and conducting a variety of horticultural research programs aimed
at developing the best product blends for various markets utilizing dairy and
hog BionSoil."
BionSoil:
The term "BionSoil" is used by the Company to refer to both the
unprocessed material harvested from the BionSoil NMS system, as well as the
processed end product being sold by the Company. In reality, BionSoil as a
marketable product exists only after appropriate processing has been
completed, processing which may include one or more of curing, blending,
screening, and in most cases, bagging.
During the quarter ended March 31, 1997, the Company completed the
installation of its first full bagging line for BionSoil production in its
Gainesville, New York facility. The bagging line has now come into full
production and is capable of producing up to 600 bags (at 25 pounds per bag)
per hour. Additionally, the Company continues to operate a manual bagging
operation in its Okeechobee, Florida facility.
During the quarter the Company received notification of very
positive
results from growth tests of its BionSoil product conducted by North Carolina
State University (hog based BionSoil) and Washington State University (dairy
cow based BionSoil). These tests confirm the results of Company conducted
growth tests, all of which show that BionSoil, when added to growing plant
media, significantly enhances the growth performance of plants.
Similar work is continuing within the Company and at university
research
centers to determine the optimum BionSoil product mixes for various growing
plant categories, and to develop the best handling and bagging techniques for
high volume BionSoil processing and bagging. At the same time, the Company is
designing highly professional artwork for its product bags, and is developing
an aggressive marketing program to move BionSoil in to the retail market as
soon as possible.
At the end of the quarter the Company had 2,115,792 shares of
common stock
issued and outstanding.
Management anticipates the financial results of the quarter will
show
limited sales revenue and a substantial loss from operations. The Company
expects to continue to incur losses for at least the next three quarters, but
currently targets reaching "cash flow break even" on an operating basis by the
end of fiscal 1998 (June 30, 1998). Financial results for the quarter will be
reported at the time that the Company files its Form 1O-QSB for the quarter.
This press release contains forward looking information that is
subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. Without limitation, these risks and
uncertainties include economic recessions or downturns in the business
environment of both BionSoil NMS systems and/or BionSoil customers, the
inability of the Company to raise sufficient capital to install additional
BionSoil processing facilities or the inability to cover operating cash
shortfalls until "cash flow break even" is achieved. Readers are urged to
carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in
this press release and in the Company's periodic reports on its form 10-KSB
and 1O-QSB.
Bion Environmental Technologies, Inc., (OTC: BIET) provides
biological
systems for the treatment of waste and wastewater by combining chemical
engineering, biophysics and management principles to enhance ecological
recycling and the conversion of wastes. Founded in 1989, the company has
offices in Colorado, Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Washington.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 10:45:36 -0400 (EDT)
>From: SMatthes@aol.com
To:
Subject: Senate Hearings on Joe Bruner Confirmation
Message-ID: <970422104535_-1333929830@emout14.mail.aol.com>
The Florida Senate committee hearings on the confirmation of convicted felon
Joe Bruner to the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission are scheduled
for April 23, 1997. Bruner has been previously convicted of hunting
violations, but nevertheless was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the
Game Commission which is charged with the protection of Florida's wildlife.
Bruner has been serving on the Game Commission since July 1996 even though
he has not yet been confirmed by the Florida Senate.
Senator Charlie Crist, 20th District, is chairing the hearings on Bruner's
appointment. To register your disapproval of Bruner's confirmation, call
Senator Crist at one of the following numbers (no e-mail address listed):
(813) 893-5463
(813) 229-2859
(904) 487-5075
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 12:25:06 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Endangered fly caught in trap between economy, ecology
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423122504.006a9164@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
(2nd attempt)
BTW...next to last paragraph...nice statement there.
from CNN web page:
---------------------------------
Endangered fly caught in trap between economy,
ecology
April 21, 1997
Web posted at:
11:15 p.m. EDT
From Correspondent Jim Hill
COLTON, California (CNN) -- The delhi
flower-loving fly has a face only another fly --
or perhaps the federal government -- could love.
The delhi is the only fly on the government's
endangered species list. But an attempt to
preserve its last known remaining breeding ground
has the town of Colton, California, all abuzz.
"Why do you want to pay your taxes to go ahead and
build a fly park?" says developer G.W. Singletary.
"They call them animals. They're not animals.
They're vectors. Vectors carry diseases."
"It's difficult to have citizens take a look at
this who are not outraged at the expenditure of
public funds for this kind of purpose," says Julie
Biggs, Colton's city attorney.
But fans of the fly say
fencing off its rather
unimpressive habitat just off busy Interstate 10
is a small price to pay to preserve a species.
"If one listens to some of the critics, one would
get the impression that Western civilization would
collapse if we have to protect this insect," says
Grey Ballmer from the University of
California-Riverside. "But in fact, we're talking
about a very small area of land."
But that very small piece of land, which contains
the kind of sand dunes that the species calls
home, is seen by some industrial developers as
their habitat, not the fly's
A state lawmaker has written a
bill to have the delhi taken off
the endangered species list. The National
Association of Home Builders has sued to do the
same.
Scientists, though, remain confident that the
fly's place on the list will remain secure.
"There is a rather humorous absurdity, you know --
a fly for jobs," says Rudi Mattoni of the
University of California-Los Angeles. "But is this
any different that a chimpanzee or any other form
of life?"
The answer to that question may depend on whether
one is trying to have a cookout next door.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 12:37:54 -0400 (EDT)
>From: LMANHEIM@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: Aluminum Can Recycling Raises $1 Million for Animal Shelters, Says Ameri...
Message-ID: <970422123753_-1099798512@emout20.mail.aol.com>
In a message dated 97-04-22 06:40:47 EDT, AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net writes:
<< Subj:Aluminum Can Recycling Raises $1 Million for Animal Shelters, Says
American Huma
Date:97-04-22 06:40:47 EDT
From:AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
PITTSBURGH, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- They may not be doggie biscuits,
but
aluminum cans are quickly becoming the preferred "treat" of animal shelters
nationwide, for which they've already earned $1 million.
In just three years, animal lovers in 46 states have recycled
nearly
3 million pounds of cans in support of their local animal shelters. This
grassroots effort is all part of a campaign called Paws to Recycle, the
first
national aluminum can recycling drive benefitting animal shelters and
non-profit animal groups. The program's cosponsors, the American Humane
Association (AHA), Friskies PetCare Company and Alcoa, reward the aluminum
can
drives of shelters with grand prizes, free promotional materials and free
pet
food. Those interested in helping should call their local shelters (or call
800-646-PAWS for details).
"The best thing about this program is that it doesn't cost
anything to
help the animal shelter in your community," said Joyce Briggs, director of
public relations for AHA. "Recycling aluminum cans is a great way to raise
money for animals and benefit the environment at the same time."
Now entering its fourth year, Paws to Recycle brings young and
old, school
groups and scout troops, businesses and senior citizens together to help out
the animals at their local shelters. Although many shelters recycle
aluminum
cans year-round for added revenue, they receive extra incentives --
including
free pet food -- through Paws to Recycle for their collection efforts from
September through November.
"With Paws to Recycle, everyone's a winner," said Barbara Royer,
manager
of public relations for Friskies, the nation's largest user of aluminum pet
food cans. "Animal shelters earn monies they need to continue valuable
programs such as spay/neuter campaigns. And the increased community
awareness
leads to higher adoption rates and donations."
Although Paws to Recycle 1997's official collection time doesn't
begin
until September, shelters can register as early as May. For more
information,
or to pre-register, call 1-800-646-PAWS.
CO: Alcoa; Paws to Recycle; American Humans Association; Friskies
PetCare
Company >>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
>From:AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
Date: 97-04-22 06:40:47 EDT
PITTSBURGH, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- They may not be doggie biscuits, but
aluminum cans are quickly becoming the preferred "treat" of animal shelters
nationwide, for which they've already earned $1 million.
In just three years, animal lovers in 46 states have recycled
nearly
3 million pounds of cans in support of their local animal shelters. This
grassroots effort is all part of a campaign called Paws to Recycle, the first
national aluminum can recycling drive benefitting animal shelters and
non-profit animal groups. The program's cosponsors, the American Humane
Association (AHA), Friskies PetCare Company and Alcoa, reward the aluminum
can
drives of shelters with grand prizes, free promotional materials and free pet
food. Those interested in helping should call their local shelters (or call
800-646-PAWS for details).
"The best thing about this program is that it doesn't cost anything
to
help the animal shelter in your community," said Joyce Briggs, director of
public relations for AHA. "Recycling aluminum cans is a great way to raise
money for animals and benefit the environment at the same time."
Now entering its fourth year, Paws to Recycle brings young and old,
school
groups and scout troops, businesses and senior citizens together to help out
the animals at their local shelters. Although many shelters recycle aluminum
cans year-round for added revenue, they receive extra incentives -- including
free pet food -- through Paws to Recycle for their collection efforts from
September through November.
"With Paws to Recycle, everyone's a winner," said Barbara Royer,
manager
of public relations for Friskies, the nation's largest user of aluminum pet
food cans. "Animal shelters earn monies they need to continue valuable
programs such as spay/neuter campaigns. And the increased community
awareness
leads to higher adoption rates and donations."
Although Paws to Recycle 1997's official collection time doesn't
begin
until September, shelters can register as early as May. For more
information,
or to pre-register, call 1-800-646-PAWS.
CO: Alcoa; Paws to Recycle; American Humans Association; Friskies
PetCare
Company
ST: Pennsylvania
IN: ENV
SU:
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 11:54:02 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Endangered fly caught in trap between economy, ecology
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423115353.006aca34@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from CNN web page:
---------------------------------
Endangered fly caught in trap between economy,
ecology
April 21, 1997
Web posted at:
11:15 p.m. EDT
From Correspondent Jim Hill
COLTON, California (CNN) -- The delhi
flower-loving fly has a face only another fly --
or perhaps the federal government -- could love.
The delhi is the only fly on the government's
endangered species list. But an attempt to
preserve its last known remaining breeding ground
has the town of Colton, California, all abuzz.
"Why do you want to pay your taxes to go ahead and
build a fly park?" says developer G.W. Singletary.
"They call them animals. They're not animals.
They're vectors. Vectors carry diseases."
"It's difficult to have citizens take a look at
this who are not outraged at the expenditure of
public funds for this kind of purpose," says Julie
Biggs, Colton's city attorney.
But fans of the fly say
fencing off its rather
unimpressive habitat just off busy Interstate 10
is a small price to pay to preserve a species.
"If one listens to some of the critics, one would
get the impression that Western civilization would
collapse if we have to protect this insect," says
Grey Ballmer from the University of
California-Riverside. "But in fact, we're talking
about a very small area of land."
But that very small piece of land, which contains
the kind of sand dunes that the species calls
home, is seen by some industrial developers as
their habitat, not the fly's
A state lawmaker has written a
bill to have the delhi taken off
the endangered species list. The National
Association of Home Builders has sued to do the
same.
Scientists, though, remain confident that the
fly's place on the list will remain secure.
"There is a rather humorous absurdity, you know --
a fly for jobs," says Rudi Mattoni of the
University of California-Los Angeles. "But is this
any different that a chimpanzee or any other form
of life?"
The answer to that question may depend on whether
one is trying to have a cookout next door.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:17:53 -0400
>From: "H. Morris"
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Yale Primate Cocaine Studies
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422131734.006d4da0@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Project Number: 2 P50 DA04060-11 SUB: 0010
Principal Investigator:
INNIS, ROBERT B
YALE UNIVERSITY
34 PARK STREET NEW HAVEN CT 06519
Performing Organization: YALE UNIVERSITY
Title: CLINICAL RESEARCH CENTER FOR OPIOID AND COCAINE ABUSE SUBTITLE
SPECT
AND MICRODIALYSIS MEASUREMENT OF COCAINE ABUSE
Grant Expires in : 2 Fiscal Year(s)
Abstract:
The goals of the current application are to either develop or apply methods
to study the dopaminergic system with SPECT (single photon emission
computed tomography) and microdialysis to assess the neurochemical
alterations in the brain which are induced by chronic
cocaine administration. During the previous funding cycle, we successfully
implemented SPECT methods (first in monkeys and then in humans) to quantify
dopamine D2 receptors and dopamine
transporters; to combine i.v. amphetamine,challenge with D2 receptor
imaging as an indirect measure of synaptic dopamine levels; and to combine
microdialysis with SPECT imaging to
provide direct measurements of extracellular dopamine levels.
[SNIP]
In the animal studies, we will use SPECT imaging of the D2 receptor before
and after depletion of DA by AMPT (alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine) and
reserpine to examine D2 receptor occupancy induced by basal levels of
endogenous DA (Aim #3). In addition, we will examine the ability of the
ability of both SPECT receptor imaging and microdialysis to measure
sensitization induced by chronic amphetamine administration (Aim #4). The
animal studies have been designed so that, if
they generate positive results, we will have gathered critical data to
extend these paradigms to study human subjects who abuse cocaine.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:22:21 -0400
>From: "H. Morris"
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org"
Subject: Yale Injuring Newborn Beagles
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422132212.006d8a30@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Project Number: 5 P20 NS32578-03 SUB: 0001
Principal Investigator:
MENT, LAURA R
YALE UNIVERSITY
333 CEDAR ST NEW HAVEN, CT 06510
Performing Organization: YALE UNIVERSITY
Title: BASIC MECHANISMS OF CORTICAL INJURY--RELEVANCE TO IVH SUB TITLE
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF GERMINAL MATRIX
MICROVASCULAR MATURATION
Grant Expires in : This Fiscal Year
Abstract:
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), or hemorrhage into the germinal matrix
(GM) tissues of the developing brain, occurs in over 45% of preterm
neonates. The newborn beagle pup provides a good model for the study of
neonatal IVH. This animal has a germinal matrix similar to that of a 28 -
30 week neonate, and IVH similar to those in preterm infants may be made by
clinically-relevant models. The risk period for IVH in this animal is also
the first 4 postnatal days. Data in both preterm neonates and the beagle
pup model suggest a rapid perinatal induction of GM microvascular maturity.
GM microvascular maturation in the newborn beagle pup and the preterm
infant is likely mediated by soluble factors which induce, at the molecular
level, level, local vascular endothelial cell
maturation. This maturation is dependent on the presence of astrocytes and
is characterized in part by the increased vascular deposition of basement
membrane proteins and the formation of
endothelial cell tight junctions. Both functional and structural genes are
induced on the transcriptional level.
The overall goal of this project is to identify those genes which are
responsible for the induction of
GM maturation in the newborn beagle pup. The first aim is to perform
neuropathologic studies of
the developing GM microvasculature during the risk period for IVH in this
model. The second
aim is to test the hypothesis that astrocytes are necessary for modulation
of angiogenesis and
vessel stability in this model in vitro. The third aim will be to perform a
differential screen of
cDNA libraries prepared from beagle pup GM microvascular endothelium in
culture from two
different stages of development - before and after maturation, as evidenced
by the formation of
tube-like structures in vitro. The differentially expressed clones will be
characterized using
sequence analysis, and we will study the spatial and temporal expression of
these candidate genes
using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:16:12 -0500
>From: ckelly
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: bull mastiff rescue
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19970422181612.00664da8@sagelink.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thanks to all who offered help for the mastiff. He is currently living in a
kennel in the central texas area. I have spent many hours surfing the net
and have decided that we need to protect him by having him neutered first,
hence ensuring a life of a companion rather than a money-making enterprise
(mastiffs sell for a lot I am told). I would LOVE to have a personal
recommendation from someone on the ar network, but I know that is a
long-shot. While he is "pedigreed" (hate that term), we want someone to love
him - that's all. Someone who has had this kind of dog before, would be
great. Just thought I would put the word out. He should be neutered and
ready to go within the next week. We are negotiating with our vet friends
for a price we can afford (he's so big that the cost is around $200).
I know there are millions out there who need our help, I keep my sanity by
doing one at a time!!
Chris
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 14:33:58 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) AMP--Animal Shelters Should Tell Animal Rights Groups
Show Us the Money!
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423143355.006ad414@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
found at talk.politics.animals (isn't on the AMP web page
http://www.ampef.org/ at the moment):
-----------------------------------------------
Animal Shelters Should Tell Animal Rights Groups
Show Us the Money!
By Susan E. Paris
President, Americans for Medical Progress
For the amount of money raised and spent by U.S. animal
rights groups every cat and dog in America ought to have its
own condominium. Why then, do more than 15 million pets
a year end up in underfunded local humane shelters with
overworked staff who are frustrated that they cannot even
adequately feed and care for them? And why are 11 million
of these animals-three out of every four cats and two out
of every three dogs-destroyed for lack of a home?
The true measure of the success or failure of the animal rights
movement in America ought to be the number and condition
of animals in local humane shelters. Animal rights groups
claim to corner the market on compassion for animals, so
what more valuable a service could they provide? What
more deserving an animal than one that has no home, food
and medical care?
Scores of news stories from around the country attest to the
deplorable condition of local animal shelters. Among the
problems cited: food shortages, overcrowding, open sewage
pits of animal waste, rodent, ant and cockroach infestation
and lack of medical treatment. At least one shelter, due to a
lack of funds, had been forced to destroy unwanted animals
using an old carbon monoxide chamber, or worse, because
of difficulties obtaining the drug needed for a less painful death.
Euthanizing an animal using carbon monoxide is considered
inhumane because it is often a prolonged death which causes
fear and suffering to the animal.
In a 1995 direct mail solicitation, the president of People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, Ingrid Newkirk,
wrote about the condition of one local humane shelter.
She noted that the animals "suffered from overcrowding,
lack of regular food and water, and a failure to provide
veterinary care." Newkirk wrote that, "Shelter services
have been drastically curtailed to the point where...people
with animals have been turned away at the door."
So what has PETA done to help these homeless, hungry
and sick animals and others that suffer and die in shelters
each year? According to its FY 1995 tax documents, next
to nothing.
Less than $5,000, or .03%, of PETA's $13.4 million
budget was allocated to shelter or spay and neuter programs
in the U.S.
90% of the $1,485,076 PETA donated, or $1.3 million,
went to itself-that is, PETA's satellite offices in Germany,
The Netherlands, and England.
Next to PETA's overseas offices, the next largest donation,
$45,200, was sent to animal rights terrorist Rodney Coronado
to help him avoid going to jail for firebombing medical research
facilities. Coronado is now serving a 57 month jail sentence.
The Humane Society of the United States, for its part, raises
and spends close to $50 million, enough to bankroll at least
one well-run animal shelter in every state and have enough
left over to spay, neuter, feed and save the lives of tens of
thousands of dogs and cats every year. So how many
HSUS-run animal shelters benefit from the HSUS budget?
None. Yet the HSUS managed to pinch enough of its precious
pennies to pay its president, Paul Irwin, $237,831 and its chief
executive officer, John Hoyt, $209,051 in addition to providing
tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses to the pair.
What programs did the HSUS fund, besides the
Paul Irwin and John Hoyt "Luxury Living Fund?"
Legislative initiatives to ban horse tripping.
National effort to ban bear wrestling.
Contraception programs for elephants and deer.
Why do animal rights groups refuse to help shelter animals,
who need it most? Why attack the biomedical community
for working with fewer than 150,000 dogs and cats, which
live in comfortable surroundings and receive the best medical
care, and yet do nothing for the 11 million hungry, sick animals
are destroyed in animal shelters each year?
The animal rights movement's main goal is not, and
never has been, to save or help individual animals. Its
mission is to market its philosophy and lifestyle to the
American public-a lifestyle which is predicated on the
belief that the life of a rodent deserves the same moral
consideration as the life of a child. This sales pitch is
most effectively done through massive media events,
attention-grabbing legislative initiatives and fancy Hollywood
galas. Shelter animals are sacrificed in the short-term so that
animal rights groups can gain the money, power and influence
needed to sell their view in the long-term.
Animal rights activists cannot blame researchers,
hunters, circus owners, meat-eaters, fur-and leather-wearers,
fishermen or zoo keepers for the sorry condition of shelter
animals. It is the animal rights movement which has turned its
back on the suffering of these animals. Every local humane
shelter should demand that animal rights groups show
them the money. And every animal rights donor should
find a local humane shelter to support rather than PETA's
"naked celebrity" campaign or some executive's bank account.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 15:03:38 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) FROG-FRIENDLY SCIENCE PROGRAM HITS HAMPTON ROADS HIGH
SCHOOLS
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423150335.006b0bc0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA web page:
--------------------------------
FROG-FRIENDLY SCIENCE PROGRAM HITS HAMPTON ROADS HIGH
SCHOOLS
"Kermit" Presents Green Run High School With Dissection Alternative
For Immediate Release:
April 17, 1997
Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382, ext. 310
Norfolk, Va. -- "Kermit"--PETA's 6-foot-tall dissection-buster--is
jumping at the chance to help students
choose an alternative to dissecting animals in the classroom. He will
greet students and teachers at Green
Run High School in Virginia Beach:
Friday, April 18, 12 noon, 1700 Dahlia Drive
PETA has donated Dissection Works--a computer program for use in biology
classes that simulates
animal physiology--to 39 public high schools in Virginia Beach, Norfolk,
Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk,
Hampton, Newport News, and York County. PETA estimates that the computer
programs will save the lives
of nearly 16,000 animals over the next three years.
This semester, PETA launched a national "Cut Out Dissection" Campaign
featuring Alicia Silverstone in a
30-second TV spot in which she urges students to use their right to
choose an alternative to dissecting
animals in the classroom. Nationwide, students are taking a stand against
cutting open dead animals to
"learn about life." Most non-animal tools and lessons last for many years
and cost far less than preserved
animal bodies, which are used once and thrown away. The typical science
lab at many schools now offers
computer models as an alternative to animal cadavers.
We're happy to help make it easier for students in Hampton Roads to
choose alternatives to dissecting
animals," says PETA's Violet Kelly. "Our children deserve 1997-style
teaching methods. Students leap at the
chance to work with modern, interactive computer programs and
sophisticated models. We can't teach
about life by studying a corpse."
Broadcast-quality copies of Alicia Silverstone's new TV spot will be
available on site.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 15:05:00 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS CALL ON
PRESIDENT
LEE TO HALT CRUEL PIG SLAUGHTER
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423150457.006b0bc0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA web page:
------------------------------
INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL PROTECTION GROUPS CALL ON PRESIDENT LEE
TO HALT CRUEL PIG SLAUGHTER
For Immediate Release:
April 21, 1997
Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382, ext. 310
Taipei, Taiwan -- More than 100 international animal protection
organizations are expected to join People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in support of PETA's urgent
appeal to Taiwan's president, Lee
Teng-hui, to halt grotesquely cruel methods used to slaughter pigs
following a national outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease and to adopt an entirely different approach to
curbing the epidemic.
It is estimated that nearly 3 million pigs will have been slaughtered by
this week's end by any method
imaginable, due to the availability of only several dozen electrical
stunning devices in the whole of Taiwan.
PETA-affiliated organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom,
Australia, Germany, India, Holland,
and other parts of the world are calling on President Lee to impose a
quarantine and a ban on the transport
of live pigs to stop the spread of the disease until humane slaughter
methods are put in place.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk points out that Germany and Holland are
currently experiencing swine fever
outbreaks, but that both countries have promised to insure that pigs are
rendered unconscious before they
are cut open or buried. This is not the case in Taiwan, where farmers are
reported to be beating pigs to
death and even feeding them poison in order to qualify for a government
carcass subsidy of approximately
$2.25 per hog.
Says Newkirk, "Worldwide, the poor chicken is the most abused animal used
for food. That wretched
distinction has now fallen to the pig, at least in Taiwan."
The appeal to President Lee comes at a time when pig farmers in the U.S.
are being criticized for cruelties
to their charges, ranging from castration without anesthesia, beating of
crippled animals, suffocation due to
overcrowded transport trucks, contamination of water ways from hog waste,
and producing a product
unequivocally linked to human heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer,
and stroke.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 15:06:31 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) MARCH OF DIMES BLASTED OVER ANIMAL TESTS
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423150628.006b0bc0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA web page:
------------------------------
MARCH OF DIMES BLASTED OVER ANIMAL TESTS
Charity Kills Animals With $1 Million Meant to Help Babies
For Immediate Release:
April 21, 1997
Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382, ext. 310
White Plains, N.Y. -- Carrying a giant banner reading, "March of Crimes:
Stop Torturing Animals,"
members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals dressed as
"bloody" cats will gather outside of
March of Dimes headquarters to protest its cruel animal experiments.
Tuesday, April 22, 12 noon to 1 p.m., 1275 Mamaroneck Ave.
While many charities, including Easter Seals and the Association of Birth
Defect Children (ABDC), conduct
birth-defect research using human data and clinical studies, the March of
Dimes spends nearly $1 million
annually on tests that have included sewing kittens' eyes shut and giving
nicotine, cocaine, and alcohol to
pregnant animals--rather than funding programs that directly help mothers
and babies.
Attempting to apply data from animal tests to humans has proved
unreliable, counterproductive, and
dangerous. One example: Thalidomide was determined safe for human use
after extensive experiments on
animals, yet it resulted in serious birth defects when used by human
mothers.
"Many mothers go without basic prenatal care and education to prevent
birth defects, while the March of
Dimes wastes money torturing animals," says PETA president Ingrid
Newkirk. "Donors have the right to
know whether a charity is helping people or hurting animals with their
money."
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:04:42 -0700 (PDT)
>From: nnetwork@cwnet.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: EMERGENCY REQUEST/RE: VEGAN HUNGERSTRIKER
Message-ID: <199704222004.NAA20354@main.cwnet.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Is there anyone on this list that KNOWS, or can DECLARE, or knows someone
who can do that (especially someone with an offical capacity) what the
designation, in front of an ingredient listing, of a circle with a U inside
and then a dash and a "D" is????
We also are attempting to find out if Taurine is ALWAYS animal-based. My
understanding is that it is, that cats cannot be vegan, because if they eat
vegicat food, you must add Taurine to do it to prevent blindness.
The legal team for Tony Wong, who is being forcefed what is believed to be a
product that has animal products contained in it, must KNOW this before a
court date in federal court Wednesday a.m.
Please call 916/452-7179 immediately or email this address ASAP.
Thanks
cres
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 13:51:01 -0700 (PDT)
>From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Forest protests promised
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970422135137.23ef6d74@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>From The Vancouver Sun - Tuesday, April 22nd, 1997
Forest protests promised.
Premier Glen Clark says Greenpeace campaigners are enemies of B.C.
By Justine Hunter
Sun Legislative Bureau
VICTORIA - Greenpeace is promising another battle in B.C. forests this
summer after releasing a report accusing the B.C. government of misleading
the public about forest practices.
Premier Glen Clark responded by denouncing the environmental organiation's
members as "enemies of B.C."
The "Boken Promises" report - released Monday in Victoria, Toronto, five
major European cities and at the United Nations in New York - argues the
government's rhetoric about having improved the way it manages forestry does
not stand up to scrutiny.
Greenpeace campaigner Tzeporah Berman said whatever progress was made under
the New Democratic Party government under Mike Harcourt's direction is being
undone by Clark's administration.
"Glen Clark is turning back the clock," she told reporters, by slashing
funding in the forest and environment ministries and bargaining with
industry leaders to water down the Forest Practices Code.
"What we founde is a government that many of us thought to be the guard dog
of the environment has ended up being little more than the lapdog of the
logging industry."
The report concludes that, despite the government's claims that logging
practices are improving, forestry continues at unsustainable rates and
threatens endangered wildlife. And Berman said B.C. can expect to see
another round of anti-logging demonstrations this summer - a campaign
environmentalists hope will have the same effect as the high-profile
protests in Clayoquot Sound in 1993, which led to mass arrests and treatened
B.C.'s forest exports.
The impact of that campaign recently became clear: MacMillan Bloedel used to
harvest 400,000 cubic metres a year from Clayoquot Sound. It suspended
operations in the wake of the protests and, under a new joint venture, is
expected to harvest just 40,000 cubic metres a year.
But Greenpeace's target this year will be a largely inaccessible region - a
section of the central mainland coast that Greenpeace has dubbed the Great
Bear Rainforest. Berman said logging in the region had been approved at an
unsutainable rate.
"In the mid-coast, where most of the remaining temperate rainforest is
concentrated, the cut level is estimated to be double the long-term harvest
level," she said.
The report also found:
- The annual amount of forest logged in B.C. is 20 per cent above the
ministry of forests' estimates of a sustainable level.
- Of the cutting permits issued, 92 per cent allow for clearcut logging and
in "fragile temperate rainforests" that rises to 97 per cent.
- Despite promises to impose "toough enforcement" and "million dollar fines"
on the industry, fines for violations of forestry standards average just
$5,000
Clark called Greenpeace "extremists who are trying to raise money and
destroy B.C." and vowed to counter efforts in Europe to attack B.C. forestry
practices. "They are really enemies of British Columbia," he said.
B.C.'s forest product exports made up a significant portion of the the
economy: $ 641 million worth of products were sold to the United States,
$205 million worth went to Japan and $184 million worth was shipped to Europe.
Berman said it will be difficult to mount protests in the "Great Bear
Rainforest" but Greenpeace will use ships and floatplanes to reach the
sites. "Is it going to be another Clayoquot Sound? I think that
internationally it might be," she said.
In Europe, Greenpeace will be lobbying consumers of B.C. forest products
although the group says it is not calling for a boycott.
If the government wants to prevent that action, she said, it will have to
bring in legislation to protect endangered species and ban clear-cut
logging, among other things.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 17:04:57 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) NASA ENDS DEADLY BION SPACE MONKEY EXPERIMENTS
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423170359.0069ffc4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA web page:
--------------------------------
NASA ENDS DEADLY BION SPACE MONKEY EXPERIMENTS
Agency Pressured by International Animal Rights Group
For Immediate Release:
April 22, 1997
Contact:
Mary Beth Sweetland 757-622-7382, ext.
334
Norfolk, Va.-- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has
learned that NASA will announce its
pullout from the cruel U.S./French/Russian Bion monkey experiments.
In the Bion project, monkeys are launched alone into space with
electrodes sunk into their brains and
muscles to study the effects of weightlessness. The Bion experiments have
been condemned by PETA and
the scientific community since a NASA veterinarian resigned in March of
1995 in protest of the way the
monkeys were treated.
PETA's actions against Bion and the results of those actions included:
25 letters to NASA, resulting in the formation of the Bion Task Force
Three mailings to every member of Congress
Testimony by San Francisco neurologist Robert Hoffman before the
House Subcommittee on
Appropriations in opposition to Bion
Passage of the Roemer/Ganske amendment in the House to kill funding
for Bion
Occupation of NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin's office
25 protests in France, Moscow, the United Kingdom, Germany, the
Netherlands, and the U.S.
Celebrity participation with letters to Congress from Alec Baldwin,
Ed Asner, Brigitte Bardot, Oliver
Stone, and Leslie Alexander, owner of the Houston Rockets
Bion 11, launched on Christmas Eve in 1996, resulted in the death of one
of the monkeys less than 24
hours after landing.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 16:58:37 -0700 (PDT)
>From: bchorush@paws.org (pawsinfo)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Pot Bellied Pig Help
Message-ID: <199704222358.QAA29217@olympic.brigadoon.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
PAWS currently has a 9 week old female pot bellied pig. We are looking for
some help on obedience training.
Would anyone with experience in this, please contact the sender directly at
bchorush@paws.org.
Bob Chorush Web Administrator, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
15305 44th Ave West (P.O. Box 1037)Lynnwood, WA 98046 (206) 787-2500 ext
862, (206) 742-5711 fax
email bchorush@paws.org http://www.paws.org
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 17:02:21 -0700 (PDT)
>From: bchorush@paws.org (pawsinfo)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Missions Statements Wanted
Message-ID: <199704230002.RAA29989@olympic.brigadoon.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Lynnwood, WA is currently
in the process of revising its mission statement.
We would appreciate samples of animal or environmental group mission
statements, core value statements or vision statements.
If you have such statements on the www, please forward appropriate URLs; or
email or fax statements to sender at addresses and numbers shown in
signature below.
Thanks in advance.
Bob Chorush Web Administrator, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
15305 44th Ave West (P.O. Box 1037)Lynnwood, WA 98046 (206) 787-2500 ext
862, (206) 742-5711 fax
email bchorush@paws.org http://www.paws.org
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 20:08:14 -0400
>From: Vegetarian Resource Center
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Bonobo Society: Amicable, Amorous and Run by Females
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422193312.00684ca0@pop.tiac.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
April 22, 1997
New York Times
Bonobo Society: Amicable, Amorous and Run by Females
By NATALIE ANGIER
ature's raucous bestiary rarely serves up good role models
for human behavior, unless you happen to work on the
trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. But there is one
creature that stands out from the chest-thumping masses as an
example of amicability, sensitivity and, well, humaneness: a
little-known ape called the bonobo, or, less accurately, the
pygmy chimpanzee.
Before bonobos can be fully appreciated, however, two human
prejudices must be overcome. The first is, fellows, the female
bonobo is the dominant sex, though the dominance is so mild
and unobnoxious that some researchers view bonobo society
as a matter of "co-dominance," or equality between the sexes.
Fancy that.
The second hurdle is human squeamishness about what in the
80s were called PDAs, or public displays of affection, in this
case very graphic ones. Bonobos lubricate the gears of social
harmony with sex, in all possible permutations and
combinations: males with females, males with males, females
with females, and even infants with adults. The sexual acts
include intercourse, genital-to-genital rubbing, oral sex, mutual
masturbation and even a practice that people once thought they
had a patent on: French kissing.
Bonobos use sex to appease, to bond, to make up after a fight,
to ease tensions, to cement alliances. Humans generally wait
until after a nice meal to make love; bonobos do it beforehand,
to alleviate the stress and competitiveness often seen among
animals when they encounter a source of food.
Lest this all sound like a nonstop Caligulean orgy, Dr. Frans de
Waal, a primatologist at Emory University in Atlanta who is the
author of "Bonobo: The Forgotten Ape," emphasizes otherwise.
"Sex is there, it's pervasive, it's critical, and bonobo society
would collapse without it," he said in an interview. "But it's not
what people think it is. It's not driven by orgasm or seeking
release. Nor is it often reproductively driven. Sex for a bonobo is
casual, it's quick and once you're used to watching it, it begins
to look like any other social interaction." The new book, with
photographs by Frans Lanting, will be published in May by the
University of California Press.
In "Bonobo," de Waal draws upon his own research as well as
that of many other primatologists to sketch a portrait of a
species much less familiar to most people than are the other
great apes -- the gorilla, the orangutan and the so-called
common chimpanzee. The bonobo, found in the dense
equatorial rain forests of Zaire, was not officially discovered
until
1929, long after the other apes had been described in the
scientific literature.
Even today there are only about 100 in zoos around the country,
compared with the many thousands of chimpanzees in captivity.
Bonobos are closely related to chimpanzees, but they have a
more graceful and slender build, with smaller heads, slimmer
necks, longer legs and less burly upper torsos. When standing
or walking upright, bonobos have straighter backs than do the
chimpanzees, and so assume a more humanlike posture.
Far more dramatic than their physical differences are their
behavioral distinctions. Bonobos are much less aggressive and
hot-tempered than are chimpanzees, and are not nearly as
prone to physical violence. They are less obsessed with power
and status than are their chimpanzee cousins, and more
consumed with Eros.
As de Waal puts it in his book, "The chimpanzee resolves
sexual issues with power; the bonobo resolves power issues
with sex." Or more coyly, chimpanzees are from Mars, bonobos
are from Venus.
All of which has relevance for understanding the roots of human
nature. De Waal seeks to correct the image of humanity's
ancestors as invariably chimpanzee-like, driven by aggression,
hierarchical machinations, hunting, warfare and male
dominance. He points out that bonobos are as genetically close
to humans as are chimpanzees, and that both are astonishingly
similar to mankind, sharing at least 98 percent of humans' DNA.
"The take-home message is, there's more flexibility in our
lineage than we thought," de Waal said. "Bonobos are just as
close to us as are chimpanzees, so we can't push them aside."
Indeed, humans appear to possess at least some bonobo-like
characteristics, particularly the extracurricular use of sex beyond
that needed for reproduction, and perhaps a more robust
capacity for cooperation than some die-hard social Darwinists
might care to admit.
One unusual aspect of bonobo society is the ability of females to
form strong alliances with other unrelated females. In most
primates, the males leave their birthplaces on reaching maturity
as a means of avoiding incest, and so the females that form the
social core are knit together by kinship. Among bonobos,
females disperse at adolescence, and have to insinuate
themselves into a group of strangers. They make friends with
sexual overtures, and are particularly solicitous of the resident
females.
The constructed sisterhood appears to give females a slight
edge over resident males, who, though they may be related to
one another, do not tend to act as an organized alliance. For
example, the females usually have priority when it comes to
eating, and they will stick up for one another should the bigger
and more muscular male try to act aggressively. Female
alliances may have arisen to counter the threat of infanticide by
males, which is quite common in other species, including the
chimpanzee, but has never been observed among bonobos.
De Waal said that many men grow indignant when they learn of
the bonobo's social structure. "After one of my talks, a famous
German professor jumped up and said, 'What is wrong with
these males?' " he recalled. Yet de Waal said the bonobo males
might not have reason to rebel. "They seem to be in a perfectly
good situation," he said. "The females have sex with them all the
time, and they don't have to fight over it so much among
themselves. I'm not sure they've lost anything, except for their
dominance."
Other Places of Interest on the Web
Cincinnati Zoo's Bonobo Page
Bonobo Sex and Society: The behavior of a close relative
challenges assumptions about male supremacy in human
evolution
Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 21:31:38 -0400
>From: Vegetarian Resource Center
To: AR-News@envirolink.org
Subject: NASA CONCURS WITH INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BION 11 MISSION
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970422213134.021b9750@pop.tiac.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 15:20:12 -0400 (EDT)
>From: NASANews@hq.nasa.gov
Subject: NASA Concurs with Independent Review of Bion 11 Mission
Sender: owner-press-release@spinoza.hq.nasa.gov
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington, DC April 22, 1997
(Phone: 202/358-1979)
RELEASE: 97-77
NASA CONCURS WITH INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BION 11 MISSION
NASA is suspending its participation in primate research on
the Bion 12 mission, part of an international project to study the
physiological effects of low gravity and space radiation. NASA's
decision is based on the recommendations of an independent review
board requested by the Agency to look into the post-flight death
of a rhesus monkey following the successful flight and landing of
the Bion 11 satellite.
The panel found that there was an unexpected mortality risk
associated with anesthesia for surgical procedures (biopsy of bone
and muscle) on the day following return from space. NASA has
determined that this risk is unacceptable and is therefore
discontinuing its participation in the primate experiments on Bion 12.
The independent review was led by Dr. Ronald Merrell,
chairman, Department of Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT.
Dr. Merrell closely consulted with the Russian Bioethics
Commission of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which conducted the
Russian inquiry.
Based on the difficulty encountered with post-flight
anesthesia on the Bion 11 mission, the research protocols
originally developed for the Bion 12 mission cannot be conducted
without an unacceptable risk to the primates. NASA therefore
plans to:
- incorporate lessons learned from this mission into ongoing
scientific research, reviews and medical considerations for
space flight;
- in concert with the biomedical community, conduct research with
the appropriate models to investigate medical care in relation
to space physiology;
- work with the biomedical research community to develop new
technologies for collecting critical data needed to continue
this important research.
The Bion program is a cooperative space venture among the
U.S., Russian and French space agencies for conducting biomedical
research using Russian-owned rhesus monkeys. The 14-day Bion 11
mission, carrying two rhesus monkeys as well as other life science
and microgravity experiments, began on Dec. 24, 1996, with its
launch from Russia's Plesetsk launch site. The flight was
successfully completed when the spacecraft landed in Kazakhstan on
Jan. 7, 1997.
Experiments flown on the Bion missions encompass a broad
range of important investigations that expand our understanding of
a variety of fundamental and applied life sciences questions.
In space, as on the ground, biomedical research on animals
plays a vital role in expanding NASA's capacity to understand and
treat medical problems. NASA is deeply concerned with the welfare
of its animals and is fully committed to conducting its animal
research programs in conformance with the highest ethical
standards. The Bion experiments were thoroughly reviewed four
times by NASA and outside panels to ensure that they met ethical
standards, and that they pursued worthwhile and important
scientific objectives that could not be achieved without the use
of animals.
-end-
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 22:04:56 -0400 (EDT)
>From: LMANHEIM@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: HSUS Warns That Pet Reptiles Can Transmit Salmonella
Message-ID: <970422220242_1389025185@emout15.mail.aol.com>
In a message dated 97-04-22 07:40:37 EDT, AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net writes:
<< Subj:HSUS Warns That Pet Reptiles Can Transmit Salmonella
Date:97-04-22 07:40:37 EDT
From:AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS) today joined the medical journal Pediatrics and the Centers
for
Disease Control and Prevention in warning potential purchasers of pet
iguanas
and other reptiles that the animals carry a significant risk of transmitting
the salmonella bacteria to their human, especially infant, companions.
"The Humane Society of the United States urges people who consider
adding
an iguana or other reptile to their home to take the threat of salmonella
infection very seriously," says Leslie Sinclair, DVM, HSUS director for
companion animal care. "Domesticated animals such as dogs and cats can be
wonderful companions for humans but The HSUS strongly discourages pet owners
from bringing a non-domesticated animal who poses a health threat into their
home."
Richard Farinato, director of captive wildlife protection for The
HSUS,
adds, "Like all wild animals, reptiles are demanding and have specific care
requirements that are not easily met by the average pet owner. Poor care
weakens and stresses the animal, and can increase the possibility of
transmission of the salmonella bacteria."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have characterized
the
issue of reptile-associated salmonella as a public health threat and health
departments in 13 states have reported unusual strains of salmonella linked
to
reptiles over the last two years.
According to an article in the March 1997 issue of Pediatrics, the
increased incidence of salmonella infections because of reptile exposure has
paralleled a rise in reptile ownership in the United States. The article
also
concludes that infants and children are more likely to suffer serious
complications from salmonella infection.
According to a 1996 survey by the American Pet Products
Manufacturers
Association, three million American households have reptiles as pets and 68%
of all reptile owners have children. A quarter of reptile owners have
iguanas.
"Most marketed reptiles are caught from the wild and the marketing
of
iguanas and other reptiles as the latest fad is irresponsible to the
animals,
to their conservation, and to the people who will share their home with the
animal," concludes Farinato.
CO: Humane Society of the United States; Centers for Disease Control
and
Prevention >>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
>From:AOLNewsProfiles@aol.net
Date: 97-04-22 07:40:37 EDT
WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS) today joined the medical journal Pediatrics and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention in warning potential purchasers of pet iguanas
and other reptiles that the animals carry a significant risk of transmitting
the salmonella bacteria to their human, especially infant, companions.
"The Humane Society of the United States urges people who consider
adding
an iguana or other reptile to their home to take the threat of salmonella
infection very seriously," says Leslie Sinclair, DVM, HSUS director for
companion animal care. "Domesticated animals such as dogs and cats can be
wonderful companions for humans but The HSUS strongly discourages pet owners
from bringing a non-domesticated animal who poses a health threat into their
home."
Richard Farinato, director of captive wildlife protection for The
HSUS,
adds, "Like all wild animals, reptiles are demanding and have specific care
requirements that are not easily met by the average pet owner. Poor care
weakens and stresses the animal, and can increase the possibility of
transmission of the salmonella bacteria."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have characterized
the
issue of reptile-associated salmonella as a public health threat and health
departments in 13 states have reported unusual strains of salmonella linked
to
reptiles over the last two years.
According to an article in the March 1997 issue of Pediatrics, the
increased incidence of salmonella infections because of reptile exposure has
paralleled a rise in reptile ownership in the United States. The article
also
concludes that infants and children are more likely to suffer serious
complications from salmonella infection.
According to a 1996 survey by the American Pet Products
Manufacturers
Association, three million American households have reptiles as pets and 68%
of all reptile owners have children. A quarter of reptile owners have
iguanas.
"Most marketed reptiles are caught from the wild and the marketing
of
iguanas and other reptiles as the latest fad is irresponsible to the animals,
to their conservation, and to the people who will share their home with the
animal," concludes Farinato.
CO: Humane Society of the United States; Centers for Disease Control
and
Prevention
ST: District of Columbia
IN: HEA
SU:
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 1997 22:06:48 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Marisul@aol.com
To: oceana@ibm.net, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: (US) THe Ethics of Hunting
Message-ID: <970422220455_-1601603278@emout08.mail.aol.com>
These are the responses the NY Times printed to the recent pro-hunting
article posted to the list by Hillary. The original article is at the end.
Copyright 1997 The New York Times Company
The New York Times; April 20, 1997, Sunday, Late Edition - Final ;SECTION:
Section 8; Page 9; Column 1; Sports Desk
OUTDOORS MAILBOX;
Hunting Logic
To the Sports Editor:
As a onetime hunter, I read the first words of Pete Bodo's recent article
("A Hunter Defends the Killing of Animals, Even If They Feel," The Times,
April 6) with hopeful anticipation. Here at last, I thought, was a welcome
change from the blinkered rejection of animal sensibility that characterizes
so much writing by sport hunting's apologists.
But far from delivering the thoughtful analysis that his first sentences
promised, Bodo took an easier course, rejecting one threadbare and
discreditable rationalization only to substitute others even less credible
and convincing.
That the animals raised and slaughtered for our tables frequently live
miserable lives and die badly is indisputably true. That modern agriculture
often entails cruelty cannot, however, excuse killing done in the name of
sport. My vegetarian friends would suggest that the intelligent response to
the abuses of industrial agriculture lies in forgoing meat, and not in
becoming a hunter.
Nor can appeals to the Judeo-Christian tradition rescue Bodo and other
hunters from the need for constructive moral choice. God's authority, after
all, has been invoked by earnest apologists in defense of genocide, slavery
and the subjugation of women. It is not immediately obvious that divine
sanction is any more appropriate when cited in defense of sport hunting.
Bodo's assertion that the contemporary hunter must "fill the niche left by
the eradication or scarcity of traditional predators" is even less
persuasive. Hunters past and present have waged relentless war on America's
wild carnivores. The resulting "scarcity" that Bodo laments is indeed a
tragedy, but it is a tragedy hunters have worked tirelessly to effect.
To suggest now that these same hunters should assume the role of "damage
control specialist" to redress the balance that they have themselves
destroyed is, at best, disingenuous.
FORREST M. BROWNELL
Hannawa Falls, N.Y.
The writer is the editor of WildLife Magazine.
The New York Times; April 20, 1997, Sunday, Late Edition - Final SECTION:
Section 8; Page 9; Column 2; Sports Desk
OUTDOORS MAILBOX;
Idealistic View
To the Sports Editor:
Although I do not agree with Pete Bodo, he has made an intelligent
decision based on forethought. Unfortunately, most hunters are not rational,
ecologically minded individuals. When I lived on the East End of Long Island,
I saw gangs of pimply adolescents who were often illegally poaching and
endangering others in a too-populated area. Bodo is very idealistic to assume
that his fellow hunters think the way he does.
LINDA EKSTRAND
Manhattan
The New York Times April 20, 1997, Sunday, Late Edition - Final SECTION:
Section 8; Page 9; Column 2; Sports Desk
OUTDOORS MAILBOX;
Pleasure Killing
To the Sports Editor:
Pete Bodo's article is remarkable. The fact that a hunter wrote this
thoughtful essay spotlights just how great an impact the concept of animal
rights is making on mainstream America.
Bodo concedes that animals have feelings. He disapproves of the miserable
nonlives imposed on factory-farmed animals. In the end, his arguments for
killing come down to game management and the correct observation that the
animals he kills surely led a happier life than the ones that wind up on most
dinner plates.
I understand these arguments. What I don't understand is what pleasure a
human gets by aiming a gun at other living creatures and snuffing out their
existence. If there is one clear difference between humans and other animals,
it is the humans' ability to make an ethical decision that killing for
pleasure is wrong.
HENRY SPIRA
Manhattan
----------------------------------------------------
In a message dated 97-04-06 12:13:17 EDT, oceana@ibm.net (H. Morris) writes:
<< This article appeared in today's (SUnday) NY Times. I would like someone
who is informed on hunting to write a letter to the editor. Please post to
ar-views if you are interested.
April 6, 1997
Outdoors: The Ethics of Hunting
By PETER BODO
The ritual occurs every blessed day when you return home. As you
approach, your dog Max, is hurling himself at the door. He knows it is you
and not the Fed Ex guy. Whimpering and moaning, Max beats his tail against
the umbrella stand and the tower of old newspapers and takeout menus bound
up for recycling.
An ordinary person usually takes this display to mean that slobbering Max
really, truly does love you, and experiences reckless joy at the mere
prospect of your presence. A classically trained scientist will chuckle at
this sentimental idea and insist that love and joy as we know them have
nothing to do with it. Max is merely exhibiting a specific set of behaviors
proved over time to contain survival advantages. End of story. Or is it?
In their absorbing 1995 book, "When Elephants Weep: The Emotional Lives
of Animals" (Delacorte), Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy
catalogued and explored a remarkable range of incidents suggesting what
most pet owners believe -- that animals, far from being mere survival
machines, not only appear to have emotions, but also often exhibit
behaviors that are determined by them.
These authors are part of a growing chorus that challenges one of the
scientific community's overarching commandments: Thou Shalt Not
Anthropomorphize. In other words, don't ever attribute emotions such as
joy, fear or anger to animals, because they cannot be proved to exist.
The heretical notion that animals have "sensibility" has profound
implications. For instance, it poses a serious threat to the tidy empirical
world built upon the work of Charles Darwin.
Although the concepts of animal sensibility and evolution are in many
ways compatible, the idea that living creatures may be driven by factors
other than pure survival throws a monkey wrench into the commonly held
notion that life is merely a matter of chemistry and adaptation. Life
becomes precious and miraculous, instead of merely interesting, when it
represents something greater than the organic sum of its components.
If there is such a thing as animal sensibility, how can you justify
hunting deer, duck, rabbit or turkey, or even practice catch-and-release
fly fishing?
I believe in animal sensibility. I try to avoid foods made tender or rich
through cruel methods (such as veal and pate). But I also hunt, and cannot
accept the "animal rights" agenda that grows from the biodemocratic notion
that life is a guaranteed, equal right of all creatures.
I embrace the world view articulated by the ultimate authority in the
Judeo-Christian tradition, the Bible. I believe mankind is radically,
spiritually different from animals -- even animals that are capable of
feeling. Our power is remarkable, and much too often horrifying. The
scientifically tidy idea that we are just an evolutionary hop, skip and a
jump removed from the apes seems to me simultaneously preposterous and
empirically supportable. This is not contradictory to me because I accept
science but cannot give it ascendancy over the authority of my God. And as
I understand the plan of the creator, we are not equal partners on the
planet. As human beings, we are both superior to, and responsible for, the
welfare of all creatures.
It is inarguable that in nature, prey and predator relationships are
complex and essential. Life and death in the outdoors are not ethically
supercharged issues, but, rather, part of an astonishing, beautiful
process. Animals may have feelings, but that doesn't elevate them out of
the natural order. Nature is a kind of society, but unlike our own, it is
one in which death and killing are not synonymous with murder.
Nevertheless, the idea that animals have sensibility should make us think
that much harder about what we kill, and why and how we kill it.
The hunter's role is to fill the niche left by the eradication or
scarcity of traditional predators. The hunter is a manager, a damage
control specialist, who harvests food in a traditional and increasingly
quaint way, under regulations designed to maintain the balance of nature.
Harvesting food is infinitely more humane than manufacturing it. The grouse
shot and eaten by a hunter has led a far better life than a chicken raised
in a horrid, cramped pen indoors under artificial lights.
This is why I can believe that animals have emotions, and also justify
taking their lives. And it is also why I wouldn't hold it against Max if he
killed a squirrel. And why I wouldn't take that act to mean that the dog
has no feelings.
Copyright 1997 The New York Times
>>
Date: Tue, 22 Apr 97 22:38:26 -0000
>From: shadowrunner@voyager.net
To:
Subject: HELPING PEOPLE HELP BIRDS
Message-ID: <199704230235.WAA01730@vixa.voyager.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
HELPING PEOPLE HELP BIRDS IS THEME
OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRATORY BIRD DAY ON MAY 10
Much has improved in the 35 years since former U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service biologist Rachel Carson awakened America to the
problem of pesticides with her book Silent Spring. The Nation's
air and water are cleaner. Harmful chemicals such as DDT have
been banned and the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and other
species have rebounded as a result.
But unfortunately, many of the Nation's 800 migratory bird
species are still in peril because of loss of habitat and misuse
of common pesticides that can be found at any hardware store.
Populations of some species are declining as fast as 2 percent to
4 percent per year.
"Join the Flock . . . Be Part of the Solution" is the theme of
the fifth annual International Migratory Bird Day to be observed
this year on Saturday, May 10. IMBD is a celebration of spring
migration and the return of millions of birds to their nesting
areas. IMBD features bird walks, family activities, bird banding
demonstrations, and other events throughout the United States and
the Western Hemisphere. These events will be held at many
national wildlife refuges, city and state parks, national
forests, national parks, National Audubon sanctuaries and other
nature reserves.
"People will have an opportunity not only to enjoy watching and
photographing wild birds but also to learn what they can do to
conserve them," said Service Acting Director John Rogers.
"Average citizens can play an important role in stopping the
decline of some bird populations," Rogers said. "Something as
simple as learning the appropriate time and way to apply
pesticides to your lawn or garden can make a big difference.
Many people are inadvertently poisoning birds by misusing these
chemicals or applying them when birds are especially vulnerable,
such as when they are nesting."
The deaths of 20,000 Swainson's hawks in Argentina last year
highlighted the problem of pesticides killing birds. The
Service, working with the Argentine government, received a
commitment from a major chemical company, Ciba-Geigy, to limit
use of the pesticide responsible for the deaths and to expand
education and training efforts among Argentine farmers.
Pesticides are still a domestic concern. Every year, 4 million
tons of pesticides are applied across the United States
everywhere from farm fields to homes and gardens. In addition,
well over 100,000 tons of pesticides no longer permitted to be
used in the United States are shipped to developing countries
where migratory birds spend the winter.
Loss and fragmentation of habitat also is a major reason for the
decline of many bird species. For example, the United States has
lost more than half its wetlands, nearly all its tallgrass
prairie and virgin forest, and 75 percent of its shortgrass
prairie. Similar destruction and degradation of native habitat
is ongoing in many other countries along migration routes.
Last year on International Migratory Bird Day, the Service
unveiled a national strategy to better conserve bird habitat by
coordinating conservation efforts at the local, state, and
national levels. The plan was developed by Partners in Flight, a
partnership of 16 Federal agencies, 60 state and provincial fish
and wildlife agencies, and more than 100 businesses and
conservation organizations.
Under the strategy, dubbed the "Flight Plan," teams of biologists
are identifying and ranking bird species most in need of
conservation and then setting population and habitat objectives
for each species. They are also designating geographic areas
critical to birds and developing a conservation blueprint for
each species.
By the end of 1998, the Service and its partners expect to
complete 50 regional conservation plans. These plans will help
landowners who voluntarily conserve birds coordinate their
efforts with their neighbors.
"Regardless of much or how little property they own, landowners
can become part of a larger voluntary effort to conserve birds,"
Rogers said. "They can get together with a local bird or garden
club, or coordinate land management or landscaping activities
with neighbors and nearby parks or refuges. By combining our
efforts, we can help ensure future generations will not have to
face a silent spring."
Migratory bird conservation also has significant benefits for the
economy, Rogers said. The 65 million adults who watch birds
spend up to $9 billion a year on everything from bird seed to
birding trips, according to a 1995 study commissioned by the
Service.
One of the easiest and most effective things Americans can do for
birds is to purchase a Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp,
commonly known as the "Duck Stamp," available for $15 from post
offices and national wildlife refuges around the country.
Ninety-eight cents of every dollar raised by Duck Stamp sales is
used to buy wetland habitat, which benefits migratory waterfowl
and a host of other species of birds and wildlife.
"Our birds are not only a priceless treasure enjoyed by old and
young alike but they are also significant to our economy,
supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs," Rogers said.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 23:14:41 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Boy Mauled by Pet Wolf
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423231438.006c1708@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
from AP Wire page:
----------------------------
04/22/1997 23:07 EST
Boy Mauled by Pet Wolf
HARRAH, Okla. (AP) -- A woman found her 3-year-old son lying unconscious
Tuesday with deep bite marks on his neck, mauled by one of the 11 wolves the
family raised.
``The dog was standing over him as if its prey had been killed and it was
protecting
its prey,'' Police Chief Rick Reier said.
Colt Rannals underwent a 3½ hour operation at Children's Hospital and was in
serious condition, said spokesman Jake Lowery. He had wounds to his neck and
chest.
The 11 wolves that are raised and bred at the family's home outside Harrah
are kept
in a cage, although the one that attacked the boy was on a chain outside a
fence,
police said.
It will be up to the family to decide if the wolf should be destroyed.
Reier said police were checking to be sure the family was in compliance
with state
and federal breeding regulations.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 23:17:46 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) N.D. Flood Victims Worry About Pets
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423231744.006c1708@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
---------------------------
04/22/1997 19:13 EST
N.D. Flood Victims Worry About Pets
By JEREMIAH GARDNER
Associated Press Writer
GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) -- They made it to dry ground, but now hundreds of
anxious flooding victims are worrying about the pets they left behind.
``We've cried as much as we can, and now we're just hoping and waiting,''
said
Christy McBride, who had to flee her flooded home Friday night. Two cats,
Monster
and Betsy, remain in the house above her basement apartment.
McBride, desperate to find her pets, bought 10 submarine sandwiches
Tuesday and
offered them to busy volunteers at the Emergency Animal Rescue Service,
west of
town at the Humane Society. By late Tuesday, her pets had not been found.
The rescue service, mobilized at various disaster sites, has been using Coast
Guard boats to find pets separated from their owners during the city's mass
evacuation last weekend. Nine volunteers work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., using
boats
that crawl through the Red River's dirty floodwaters.
More than 500 rescue requests had come in by Tuesday afternoon, and a steady
stream of pet owners shuffled through the Humane Society. About a dozen
pets had
been found alive. A few had drowned.
``We've only been in the field really today. It's a real slow process.
It's dangerous.
The currents are real strong,'' said Ellen Brown, one of the volunteers.
A radio station has had phone calls from several people disappointed with the
speed of the rescue efforts.
``I've been crying all day off and on, saying why can't they hurry up,''
said Heather
Storey, who is missing three cats. ``But it's understandable. They can
only do so
much.''
Storey, who fled to Argyle, Minn., drove six hours Tuesday to get her
pets. Though
they hadn't been found by mid-afternoon, Storey planned to wait as long as
it took.
``They're like my little babies,'' she said.
Kurt Borg and his wife, Holly Brown-Borg, refugees at the Grand Forks Air
Force
Base, got their two cats back Tuesday.
``It was a relief,'' Kurt Borg said. ``Now we can leave. We're going to
stay with
relatives in Nebraska.''
McBride sat in the Humane Society parking lot, waiting patiently and
reflecting on a
flood that destroyed her home and a fire that gutted her workplace. Unsure
what life
held for her next, McBride said she wanted only to reunite with her pets.
``That's all
you have left,'' she said.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 23:29:29 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) NASA Out of Space Monkey Research
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423232926.006e195c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
---------------------------
04/22/1997 22:43 EST
NASA Out of Space Monkey Research
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- NASA is pulling out of Russian space monkey
research following an investigation into the death of an animal that flew
in space four
months ago, officials said Tuesday.
The rhesus monkey died in January after postflight surgery to collect
samples of
bone and muscle cells.
Although the other monkey on the two-week spaceflight survived the
operation, an
independent review board found an unexpected mortality risk associated with
anesthesia for bone and muscle biopsies upon return to Earth.
NASA said it has determined the risk is unacceptable and discontinued its
participation in monkey experiments on the next Bion mission, scheduled
for 1998.
The two monkeys were launched Dec. 24 from Russia. They had restraining rings
screwed into their skulls and electrodes embedded in their muscles as part
of the
biomedical tests.
NASA had targeted about $35 million for the two monkey missions, intended
to shed
light on the debilitating side effects of space travel.
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which had protested NASA's
involvement in the monkey missions, was thrilled with Tuesday's news.
``Our point was always that it's far too dangerous, much too painful for
the monkeys
to endure,'' said Mary Beth Sweetland, director of research and
investigations for
PETA.
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 23:30:53 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) N.S.F.: Cloning Must Be Explained
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423233051.006e318c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
------------------------------
04/22/1997 18:53 EST
N.S.F.: Cloning Must Be Explained
By PAUL RECER
AP Science Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The cloning of an adult sheep by Scottish scientists is a
fundamental advance in biology that the public must understand and
scientists must
explain, the director of the National Science Foundation said Tuesday.
``The American public does not have a good grounding for the imminent debate
about cloning,'' said Dr. Neal Lane, who heads the principal federal
agency for
dispensing general science research grants. ``And the science and engineering
community does not have a good grounding in dialogue with the public about
the
science....''
``As a civilization, we cannot afford for this situation to continue,'' he
added.
By creating a new adult animal, a sheep named Dolly, from the cells of
another adult
animal, said Lane, ``it is likely that a whole new chapter in biology will
be opened,
with potential health, medical and economic benefits.'
Speaking at the National Press Club, he warned that the cloning discovery
is a
double-edged sword that ``may well outstrip or violate society's
definition of what
constitutes our concept of human individuality.''
This new science, said Lane, demands extensive public discussion and requires
scientists to give careful, clear explanations of what cloning and other
discoveries
mean and how they might affect society.
``As a society, let us not be naysayers about new knowledge, nor timid about
technology,'' said Lane. ``But let us not shirk the societal
responsibility for their use
and misuse.''
Science is neither good nor evil, he said. The good or evil is in how it
is used.
``It is very important that religious leaders be involved in this
discussion,'' said Lane.
``Many people look to them for guidance.''
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 1997 23:31:48 -0400
>From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (JA) Deaths in Japan Linked to `Mad Cow'
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970423233146.006e425c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
04/22/1997 18:39 EST
Deaths in Japan Linked to `Mad Cow'
TOKYO (AP) -- Dozens of Japanese brain surgery patients died from a rare
contagion linked to ``mad cow'' disease after Japanese health officials
failed to act
on a U.S. warning, a newspaper reported Tuesday.
The officials were aware of a 1987 warning by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration that the deadly disease could be contracted from
transplants of the
tissue that covers the brain and upper spinal column, the newspaper
Mainichi said.
Although the warning was translated into Japanese by the end of 1987,
officials at
the Health and Welfare Ministry failed to ensure the safety of transplants
or imports
of the tissue, called dura matter.
The newspaper quoted Takeshi Kitamura, former director of Japan's National
Institute of Health, as saying he told ministry officials of the warning
in 1987.
The health ministry's own research now indicates infected dura matter is
the most
likely cause of 43 cases of mad cow disease since 1985. Most victims of the
disease were infected after the FDA issued its warning, Kitamura said.
Japanese officials did not recall the products listed in the FDA warning
until last
month, the Mainichi said. The delay, it said, was partly due to assurances
by a
German exporter named in the FDA warning that its products were safe.
No one answered the telephones at the ministry after business hours Tuesday.
Mad cow disease causes the brain to shrink, leading t |