AR-NEWS Digest 534

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Indonesia Burning - animals dying
     by Shirley McGreal 
  2) (TW) THE STRAY DOG SITUATION IN TAIWAN
     by jwed 
  3) Illegal nets kill whales, dolphins 
     by jwed 
  4) (HK) Pet Fair Asia 97
     by jwed 
  5) Bullfighting in Macau
     by jwed 
  6) Bullfights in Macau to face fury of Euro MPs 
     by jwed 
  7) (US) Food Associated With Illnesses
     by allen schubert 
  8) (US) USDA Probes Trio of Tainted Meat Reports
     by allen schubert 
  9) (US) Govt Plans to Beef Up Food Safety
     by allen schubert 
 10) (US) Authorities: Pets Weren't Cremated
     by allen schubert 
 11) (US) Jury Probes Hudson Beef Recall
     by allen schubert 
 12) (US) Cattle Futures Plunge
     by allen schubert 
 13) (TW) THE STRAY DOG SITUATION IN TAIWAN (photos)
     by jwed 
 14) (NO) Norway Whale Hunter Joins Politics
     by allen schubert 
 15) The singer and the wolfhound
     by Andrew Gach 
 16) First thing first
     by Andrew Gach 
 17) A low-tech, low-cost AIDS medicine
     by Andrew Gach 
 18) [CA] 'Sick' dog-poisoner strikes in Winnnipeg; eight pets die
     by David J Knowles 
 19) [US] Smog blows on an ill wind 
     by David J Knowles 
 20) [CA] Saved foals arrive in Surrey
     by David J Knowles 
 21) [UK] Sale of ostrich and kangaroo halted by Tesco
     by David J Knowles 
 22) Addresses for British supermarkets
     by David J Knowles 
 23) [UK/FR] Paris gangsters turn dogs loose on police
     by David J Knowles 
 24) [UK/FR] Mountain bear shot "in self defence"
     by David J Knowles 
 25) [UK] Britain 'may face new wave of CJD cases' 
     by David J Knowles 
 26) [UK/US] A climate of change for Clinton
     by David J Knowles 
 27) [UK] Ministers plot to kill hunt Bill
     by David J Knowles 
 28) [UK/] EU judge upholds British beef ban
     by David J Knowles 
 29) [EU] Press release from European Court [Long]
     by David J Knowles 
 30) [FR] Orphaned bears await their fate
     by David J Knowles 
 31) [DE] Barking ban for sausage dog
     by David J Knowles 
 32) [US] Pig racing on Jay Leno
     by David J Knowles 
 33) [UK] Blind man bites guide dog in drunken rage
     by David J Knowles 
 34) [UK]Blair warned over climate
     by David J Knowles 
 35) POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
     by BreachEnv@aol.com
 36) 6 Arrested at Slaughterhouse (US)
     by civillib@cwnet.com
 37) Anecdotal evidence Myxomatosis/RHD/humans
     by bunny 
 38) (USA)Pfiesteria, Fish Kills & The Chesapeake Bay
     by bunny 
 39) Rodent Control Conference
     by bunny 
 40) (PH/AU) Hope through legislation
     by Vadivu Govind 
 41) (PH) Birds drop dead from sky on Philippine island 
     by Vadivu Govind 
 42) (TW) Goodall Association in Taiwan
     by Vadivu Govind 
 43) (CN) Portuguese-style bullfighting may enter China
     by Vadivu Govind 
 44) (MO) Bullfights washed out in Macau
     by Vadivu Govind 
 45) 
     by wargnier 
 46) (US) Pfiesteria Exposure Suspected in Illness Of Virginia
  Worker
     by allen schubert 
 47) Fur Back?
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 48) Animal protection list
     by Animal Alliance of Canada 
 49) USDA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING IN VITRO TESTING
     by Wyandotte Animal Group 
 50) Local Beekeeper Has Mite Answer
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 51) (CA)  Kudos to Scarborough citizens for protesting (leghold trap) cruelty
     by BKMACKAY@aol.com
 52) (VA) Hunters and fisherman endorse GOP's Gilmore
     by NOVENAANN@aol.com
 53) Upcoming Richmond Events (VA)
     by NOVENAANN@aol.com
 54) King Royal Vigils Planned
     by PAWS 
 55) Toronto Area Fundraising Event
     by "Zoocheck Canada Inc." 
 56) Action Alerts- Dogs Shot in Riverside County
     by In Defense of Animals 
 57) ACTION ALERT- Reptile Transport Regulations
     by hsuswild@ix.netcom.com (HSUS Wildlife)
 58) Requiem Service for the Great Whales
     by BreachEnv@aol.com
 59) MO Alert: Gather Signatures to Ban Cockfighting
     by Michael Markarian 
 60) VT Alert: Moose Vigil on Oct. 17
     by Michael Markarian 
 61) Pigeon Shoot Protestor Enters Jail on Hunger Strike
     by Michael Markarian 
 62) (NJ) Rodeo Protest October 4
     by CircusInfo@aol.com
 63) (KR) S. Korea Restricts Nebraska Beef
     by allen schubert 
 64) (US) Beef Industry on Defensive Again
     by allen schubert 
 65) Federated survey
     by "veegman@qed.net" 
 66) Hegins call-in
     by "veegman@qed.net" 
 67) (HK) Smuggling `threat' to rabies-free status 
     by Vadivu Govind 
 68) (HK) Pet show man scoffs at dog-eater views
     by Vadivu Govind 
 69) (HK) Animal lovers to teach students their pet subject
     by Vadivu Govind 
 70) Re: Fur Back?
     by Hillary 
 71) NY Times Pro Fur Article
     by Hillary 
 72) More Primate shipments reach US from Indonesia
     by Shirley McGreal 
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 00:14:17 -0400
From: Shirley McGreal 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Indonesia Burning - animals dying
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19971002041417.0072b020@awod.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

WALHI, an Indonesian environmental NGO, has issued a press release which
mentions the effects on wildlife.

NATIONAL MOBILIZATION FOR COPING WITH THE NATIONAL FOREST FIRE
DISASTER

Apparently, there are no signs yet that the national emergency due to the
forest fires will end.  The burning of forests, which has had the impact of
destroying biological diversity, disrupting environmental functions,
disrupting air, sea, and land transportation, and also disrupting the health
of communities has yet to be responded to in an optimal manner by the
government and the businessmen who clearly played the greatest role in
burning the forests.  This mater is clearly apparent from the continuing
influence of smoke resulting from the burning of forests on several areas of
Sumatra, Kalimantan, the Malaysian Peninsula, Singapore, and Sarawak.  In
fact,  in back of this is the spreading of smoke which is already reaching
areas of Thailand and the Southern Philippines.

There are other consequences from the burning forests. Several areas in
Indonesia already beginning to experience a food crisis and the emergence of
several types of sickness.  Several diseases emerge as a result of the haze
of smoke such as disrupted breathing functions and eye irritation.  At the
same time, a result of a food crisis is emergence of a cholera epidemic.  At
this time there are 20 million of our people who are in the grip of the
smoky haze.  It is thought that this situation will continue until the end
of November 1997.

Specific to the Aliran River Area (DAS) Mengkatip, Central Kalimantan, which
includes the Kabupaten of Kapuas ( the towns of Desa Muara Dadahup, Telekung
Punai, Dadajup and Tambak Bejai) and the Kabupaten of Barito Selatan (the
towns of Desa Sungai Jaya, Desa Mahanendau, and Desa Mengkatip) the
development of canals for the Peat Land Project has joined in worsening the
forest fire disaster this extended dry season.  A two week long
investigation in the field by WALHI collected the following facts and
information from the communities of the area:

1. Along the canals which have been developed, forests have been burned
throughout this dry season.  According to the local communities, the burning
began in July and glowed of fire through August and September this year.
The areas along the canals which were burned and have had the opportunity to
be observed are along canal SPI-2 id the area of Rantau Upak - part of the
northernmost  DAS Mangkatip which is included in the Kecematan of Dusun
Hilir.  Along this canal lie the villages of Desa Sungai Jaya, Desa Tambak
Bejaj, and Desa Dadahup.

2. Development of the canals has created access making the transport of
small (diameter of 25 cm) to large logs easier.  Logging is done by a
business which owns IPK.  The local community members and newcomers employed
to fulfill the request for wood are sent by them to transmigrant housing
areas.  This matter was strengthened with the luster of the growth of in saw
milling  (Serkel and Bansaw/Saw Mill) along the DAS Mengkatip since the
development of the transmigration housing project in PLG.  A result aside
from the logging and burning mentioned above by the community of newcomers
is that the price of turtles, which were sold for Rp. 8,000/kg before, has
now dropped to Rp. 4,000/kg after the supply increased. 

3.  Another impact from the forest fires in the area of DAS Mengkatip is the
death of local deer because they run to the canal looking for water and then
are shot by the local inhabitants for food because their source of river
fish has already decreased and river fish are almost no longer available.
According to the few river fishermen which could be found, their catch of
fish from the river has decreased greatly.  In fact, there are those among
them who have started to abandon traditional net fishing (meaning hand held
casting nets and fishing poles) and started using electricity and poisons.

4. The smoke which surrounds the DAS Mengkatip area with thick haze (average
visibility is from 5 to 20 meters at noon) with the result that community
health is threatened and local fauna (orangutan, monkeys, birds, and a small
species of tiger) are in weakened condition.  In fact, in the transmigrant
area of Dadahup, several times birds have been found which have fallen while
in flight.  Clear air almost never occurs, and the condition of  hazy smoke
has gone on for three months. In the village of Mengkatip, according to
information from local leaders who have lived in the village since 1959,
they have never seen smoke like this before, nor have they ever seen their
beje-beje (traditional fish ponds) dry out because their water sources were
cut off by the canals.

5. The community's rattan gardens have been continuously burned until almost
90% of the community=92s livelihood (owning gardens, working gardens, and
rattan artisans) has been lost.  Rattan garden owners in general have
already made efforts to prevent the fire from spreading by making tatas
(cleaning the boundaries of the gardens) and cleaning out dried leaves
though both gotong royong (sharing voluntary community labor) and paying
wages for the work. 

Based on the matters described above, WALHI is pushing the government to:

1. Seriously overcome the burning of the forests and the central fires --
working with the local communities by preparing water spraying equipment
and long, fire resistant hoses.  The hoses/pipes must be able to stretch one
to two kilometers in order to bring water from the river.

2.  Bring in a medical team to the villages which are surrounded by smoke
and carefully analyze the content of the smoke.  For the city communities
most affected by the disaster of smoke, it is expected that they will
receive free medical service for the risks of sicknesses which have emerged
due to the smoke.

3.  Help the existing food supply for communities whose livelihoods have
been uprooted and sources of water reduced to the point they have to pay
extra for clean drinking water and staple foods such as fish, which they are
usually able to get free from the river and even sell in Banjarmasin. 

4.  For the broader leafy forest, the location of the burning would best be
immediately localized in areas made by fire breaks wide enough (0.5
kilometers) so that the fire can not spread directly or through wood sparks
carried by the wind.

5.  Sue the businessmen who are involved in burning the forest for their
responsibility in creating this national forest fire disaster.

Finally, WALHI  calls out for:

1. The broader community to participate in coping with the burning of the
forests in order to decrease the suffering of 20 million of our brothers and
sisters who are engulfed by the haze.

2.  Entire groups or individual nature lovers to unify and shoulder to
shoulder help cope with the national disaster in the field.

3.  With the blessing of the communities, WALHI is opening a temporary
center for supporting local communities to cope with the national forest
fire disaster. Furthermore, WALHI is also preparing temporary assistance
centers in Banjarmasin, Pontianak, Palangkaraya, and Samarinda.

Jakarta, 26 September 1997

-----------------------------------------

Also, according to the Thursday, October 2, 1997, issue of the Herald:

Forest minister offers to quit over smoke pall 

By LOUISE WILLIAMS, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta and agencies

Indonesia's Forestry Minister, Mr Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo, has offered to
resign over the deadly smoke haze blanketing south-east Asia, as new fires
in Indonesia's east threaten the tourist island of Bali...

Meteorologists interpreting weather patterns for the Indonesian Government's
fire response centre said strong westerly winds across much of the country
would shift smoke-clouds from Lombok to Bali. The capital, Jakarta, is
likely to be seriously smoke-affected by fires in central Java within one or
two days...

Indonesian officials appealed to villagers not to shoot tigers and monkeys
fleeing fires in national parks around Mount Tumpeng, Mount Merbabu and
Mount Malabar in Java.

|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Dr. Shirley McGreal             |   PHONE: 803-871-2280                  | 
| Int. Primate Protection League  |   FAX: 803-871-7988                    |
| POB 766                         |   E-MAIL: ippl@awod.com                |
| Summerville SC 29484            |   Web: http://www.ippl.org             | 
|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|


Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 12:35:07 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) THE STRAY DOG SITUATION IN TAIWAN
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002123507.006a3cc4@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

As some of you know, even months after WSPA revealed to the world
the heinously inhumane handling of the stray dogs in Taiwan, there is
still a tremendous lack of progress in this regard. The homeless,
abandoned dogs in Taiwan are left to starve and rot in crowded cages,
often next to the ones that have long been dead, in the most painful and
torturous way. Many resort to cannibalism to stay alive.

To learn more about the situation and the steps currently taken to curb
it, your support of the Taipei Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation
(T-AARF) mailing list is very much appreciated. To subscribe, send an
e-mail to: listserv@toapayoh.com and in the body of the message, type:

Subscribe taarf your-email-address

If you don't want to subscribe to the list but still have something you
would like to add,  write to: taarf@toapayoh.com

Thank you!










Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 12:34:13 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Illegal nets kill whales, dolphins 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002123413.006ac42c@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

South China Morning Post 30th September 1997
Indonesia 

JENNY GRANT at Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi 

A string of buoys stretching 500 metres across the Lembeh Strait marks an
illegal fishing operation that has netted thousands of endangered fish and
marine mammals bound for Taiwan, Japan and Hong Kong.

Two nets covering 2,000 square metres have caught at least 577 pilot
whales, 326 sharks, 257 dolphins, nine dugong, 84 turtles and 1,424 manta
rays.

Many of these species are protected under international conventions.

Taiwanese-Indonesian joint venture PT Eka Sapta Usahamina has run the
illegal operation since March 1996.

In May, recreational divers captured on video company workers cutting up a
live whale shark that was trapped in the nets along with turtles and manta
rays.

The company claims to have caught only 30 tonnes of prime fish in the past
six months valued at 90 million rupiah (HK$207,000).

The regional Government takes 5 per cent of the cost price of the catch.
Sources say the company has been protected because its silent partner is a
Jakarta-based retired general.

"Anybody who wants to do an operation like that has to be powerful and
well-connected. It's a must or they don't go into fishing," Lembeh Strait
Protection Society chairman Billy Matindas said.

The company took the nets down in May after a furore when the slaughter
video was made public. They went back up early this month.

Eka Sapta Usahamina was awarded a licence in 1996 to run a "scientific
operation" north of the strait, which lies between the southern coast of
north Sulawesi and Lembeh Island.

The deep channel is a crucial migratory path for marine mammals such as
whales and dolphins making their way south to Australia.

The company spent US$100,000 (HK$773,000) on the two hi-tech nets which are
set only 50 metres off the Tangkoko Batuangus National Park. The 2.5
centimetre mesh nets capture all small fish in their path.






Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 12:33:53 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Pet Fair Asia 97
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002123353.006a26b0@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


South China Morning Post - Thursday  October 2  1997

Anger as animal welfare body chairman opens pet trade fair 
FIONA HOLLAND 

Animal rights activists are at loggerheads with the chairman of the
Government's Animal Welfare Advisory Group over his decision to open a pet
trade fair today.

Hong Kong University pro-vice-chancellor Professor Samuel Chan Ting-hon
will deliver the opening address at today's Pet Fair Asia 97.

Organisers of the three-day event at Kowloon Bay's International Trade and
Exhibition Centre, which features more than 100 wholesalers of pet food and
accessories from 18 countries, says Asia has "great market potential".

"It is projected the annual growth to be 10 per cent," say organisers,
Royal Dutch Jaarbeurs and Exhicon Asia.

Members of the advisory group, which was set up to provide information on
welfare issues, said Professor Chan's attendance would send the wrong message.

Doreen Davies, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, said the aim of the fair was to sell more pets - yet
every year the society humanely destroys thousands of unwanted dogs and cats.

"What we are most concerned about is a lot of the literature is just
slogans like 'small animals are big business' - it is really misleading."

Ms Davies, who expressed her concerns at a meeting of the advisory group on
Tuesday, added: "It came as a surprise to me. We don't want this to look as
if the Animal Welfare Advisory Group is endorsing the pet fair, which could
have an unfortunate side effect."

Jill Robinson, China director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare,
said millions of unwanted dogs were being dumped across Asia and the
exploitation of animals by the pet trade was "disgusting".

"There is just an explosion of pedigree dogs in the market in all countries
in Asia and this is like a ploy to promote them as some kind of merchandise."

Last night, Professor Chan said he would be speaking in his capacity as
pro-vice-chancellor and as an educator.

"This [chairman of the Animal Welfare Advisory Group] is one of the hats I
am wearing. I am an internationally renowned zoologist. I am a professor of
zoology of Hong Kong - all that adds together . . . I am an educator."

He said the major function of the advisory group was to advise the
Agriculture and Fisheries Department and educate the public.

"They have a booth and I am an educator and this would be an occasion for
me to pass on the message about animal welfare."

Copyright ©1997 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.
All Rights Reserved. 







Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 12:34:39 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Bullfighting in Macau
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002123439.006a3a28@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

On 27th September Members of EarthCare, SPCA(HK) and IFAW  travelled to
Macau to protest the start of the Bullfighting.  24 bulls had been imported
in crates to promote Portuguese "culture".  On this opening day 4 bulls
were tortured almost unto death but were kept alive so that their meat
would be fresh at the slaughterhouse the next day.  
While the SPCA and IFAW members worked the crowd and gathered signatures
for the petition, EarthCare demonstrated with a banner and slogans in 4
languages.  They were ejected  from the stadium grounds but continued
demonstrating to the arriving customers  in the street. They marched down
the road in front of the parade of matadors so that the tv cameras were
filming them with a backdrop of horses and colourful uniforms. Many people
signed the petition, even those who had tickets. Most said that they had
only come from curiosity and would never go to a bull fight again.
For photos see:
http://www.earth.org.hk/macauphot.html




Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 12:44:12 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Bullfights in Macau to face fury of Euro MPs 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002124412.006abce0@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


South China Morning Post - Thursday  October 2  1997

OLIVER POOLE 
Portugal is likely to face the wrath of the European Parliament at a
meeting this month over the staging of bullfights in Macau.

Several Members of the European Parliament are expected to attack the
tournament - which held its latest tourada yesterday - as brutal and barbaric.

British member Simon Murphy demanded quick action against the blood sport.

"Bullfighting must not become a bloody tourist sport," he said. "The vast
majority of Europeans detest bullfighting. It is nothing short of animal
torture."

The subject will be raised in the European Parliament in Strasbourg,
France, at the Eurogroup for Animal Welfare and Conservation meeting on
October 23.

Members are concerned the Macau event could trigger the spread of the sport
beyond its traditional homelands of Spain and Portugal.

Sonje van Tithelen, deputy director of the Eurogroup Secretariat of Animal
Welfare, said Portuguese representatives could be summoned to explain why
they had allowed the event to go ahead.

Members were expected to sign a letter of criticism rebuking Portugal for
staging the event.

Ms van Tithelen said such action would greatly embarrass the Government of
Portugal, which only joined the European Community in 1986.

Speaking at the meeting will be veteran bullfight protester Vicki Moore,
who filmed parts of the Macau touradas.

The Macau Government contributed $2.5 million to help stage the $5 million
tournament.

The possibility of international condemnation is just the latest crisis to
spear the trouble-prone fiesta.

Last Sunday, a tourada was cancelled due to heavy rain and a pre-tournament
parade on Friday was postponed because bullfighters were stuck in
haze-stricken Malaysia.

Animal rights protesters gathered outside last Saturday's bullfight urging
people not to go in. Yesterday, about 5,000 people watched the two-hour show.

Spokesman Paula Monteiro said the turnout showed the event was popular.
"This is an enjoyable event," she said.

However, she said she knew nothing of the upcoming European Parliament debate.

Copyright ©1997 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd.
All Rights Reserved. 





Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 00:47:02 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Food Associated With Illnesses
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002004700.006fc7b4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
------------------------------------
 10/01/1997 18:13 EST

 Food Associated With Illnesses

 By The Associated Press

 The largest disease outbreak associated with fresh produce involved the
 parasite cyclospora, which sickened an estimated 1,400 Americans who ate
 Guatemalan raspberries this spring.

 Other pathogens that have been linked to outbreaks in fresh produce,
 according to the government:

 --E. coli: unpasteurized apple juice and apple cider, lettuce, alfalfa
 sprouts.

 --Hepatitis A: Lettuce, raspberries, strawberries, tomatoes.

 --Salmonella: Tomatoes, sprouts, watermelon, cantaloupe.

 --Cyclospora: Berries, lettuce, basil.

 --Cholera: Coconut milk.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 00:47:10 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) USDA Probes Trio of Tainted Meat Reports
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971001235655.006fa8d4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Yahoo news page:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday October 1 11:39 PM EDT

USDA Probes Trio of Tainted Meat Reports

By Julie Vorman

WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The U.S. Agriculture Department has asked federal
prosecutors to assist in the probe of tainted meat sold by Hudson Foods Inc
that prompted the nation's biggest beef recall, USDA sources said
Wednesday.

The expansion of the Hudson investigation comes as the USDA is
investigating contamination of a batch of ground beef produced by Beef
America Co. plant, and a complaint from South Korea that it found the same
E.coli bacteria in a U.S. beef shipment.

USDA officials declined to provide details on any of the three cases,
saying only that the agency was continuing to gather information.

"We have an ongoing investigation and we have auditors looking into it,"
said a spokeswoman for the USDA's Office of Inspector General, refusing to
comment further on Hudson.

But other USDA sources said that the inspector general's office had asked
federal prosecutors to help investigate possible criminal violations by the
Hudson plant or officials. "There is a lot going on right now with the
investigation," one source said.

A spokesman for Hudson was not immediately available for comment.

In August Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman forced Hudson to recall an
eventual 25 million pounds of hamburger produced at the company's
state-of-the-art plant in Nebraska after several Colorado consumers became
ill. Hudson has since agreed to sell the plant to Tyson Foods Inc.

Investigators have not yet determined whether the potentially deadly E.coli
0157:H7 strain entered the meat at a slaughterhouse that handled the
carcass or at the Hudson processing plant.

Jacque Knight, a spokeswoman for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection
Service, said two agency compliance officers were at the suspected Beef
America plant processing plant in Norfolk, Nebraska, and were checking
records and paperwork to determine whether any additional meat might have
been infected.

At the USDA's request, Beef America one month ago ordered a recall of about
200 pounds of ground beef shipped from the plant to a Virginia grocery
store. No illnesses have been linked to the Beef America meat.

Keith Dehaan, vice president of technical operations at the Omaha,
Neb.,-based company, said the government had not asked it to recall
additional amounts of beef.

"USDA has not requested a voluntary recall, to our company anyway, today,"
Dehaan told Reuters late Wednesday.

Rumors circulated in U.S. livestock markets Wednesday that a larger recall
involving Beef America beef was pending. The rumors were cited as a reason
Chicago Mercantile Exchange December cattle prices fell to a 9-month low
Wednesday.

A team of USDA investigators was also en route to South Korea to verify
that nation's claim that it found the E.coli strain in 18 tons s of
imported U.S. frozen beef.

Glickman, who met Korean Ambassador Kum Woo Park late Tuesday, told
reporters he was frustrated by South Korea's lack of cooperation in sharing
information from its samples of the beef.

U.S. cattlemen have expressed concern at the South Korea claim, suggesting
that South Korea is using the issue as a way to slow trade.

The E.coli 0157:H7 strain of bacteria can cause kidney failure and even
death.

Cattle carry the E.coli bacteria in their intestines, but the bacteria can
be destroyed by thorough cooking of meat at a temperature of 160 degrees
Fahrenheit.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 00:53:17 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Govt Plans to Beef Up Food Safety
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002005314.007008c0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP wire page:
---------------------------------------
 10/01/1997 18:00 EST

 Govt Plans to Beef Up Food Safety

 By LAURAN NEERGAARD
 Associated Press Writer

 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Faced with soaring food imports, disease-tainted
 fruits and vegetables and far fewer safety inspections, the Clinton
 administration is moving aggressively to police the world's food.

 Under a plan President Clinton is to announce Thursday, the government
 would spend up to $24 million inspecting farms overseas. Those failing to
 meet certain food-safety standards would not be allowed to import to the
 United States.

 U.S. farmers also would face new sanitation guidelines, The Associated
 Press has learned, in part to forestall any complaints that the United
 States would hold foreign farmers to higher standards.

 Critics charge that the food plan is an effort to counter opposition to
 free-trade legislation Clinton has pending in Congress. They argue that
 the U.S. food supply already is the world's safest.

 ``Clearly, being the world food police complicates the trade environment
 we operate in,'' said John Aguirre of the United Fresh Fruit and
 Vegetable Association. Risks from produce are low enough that ``this is
 unwarranted,'' he added.

 But the Food and Drug Administration, which has been pushing for the
 changes since 1993, said it hasn't kept pace with Americans' food supply.

 ``The whole infrastructure of food safety needs to be strengthened,''
 said Associate Commissioner William Hubbard.

 FDA figures show budget constraints made its inspections of domestic food
 supplies plummet from 21,000 in 1981 to just 5,000 last year. Foreign
 food imports have doubled to 2.2 million shipments a year since 1992,
 while FDA border inspections were cut in half. A mere 2 percent of
 imported foods are sampled for contamination at the docks.

 Why the focus on fruits and vegetables? From 1973 through 1987, tainted
 produce accounted for just 2 percent of disease outbreaks in which the
 federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified a food
 culprit -- a proportion that jumped to 5 percent of outbreaks from 1988
 through 1991.

 Then doctors uncovered pathogens previously unknown in produce, like the
 cyclospora in Guatemalan raspberries that sickened some 1,400 Americans
 this spring and the E. coli that contaminated unpasteurized U.S. apple
 juices.

 There is no evidence that imports are more dangerous than U.S.-grown
 produce, said Morris Potter, CDC's assistant director of foodborne
 diseases. ``The concern is arising now because imports are on the rise,''
 he said.

 Last year, 38 percent of fruits and 12 percent of vegetables eaten in the
 United States came from other countries, a doubling since 1986.

 Under the Clinton plan, a new corps of FDA inspectors would check foreign
 food-safety systems and ban imported fruits and vegetables from countries
 that don't regulate strictly enough, said an administration official.
 Such authority is identical to the Agriculture Department's practice of
 banning meat imports from countries that don't have U.S.-equivalent meat
 regulations.

 Key to the produce plan would be ``good agricultural practices'' that can
 build safety into a crop. In the case of the Guatemalan raspberries, it
 is not known how they were tainted with the parasite cyclospora. But
 potential protections could include certifying that fields are irrigated
 with clean water, and providing field latrines for berry pickers and
 teaching them to wash their hands, explained the administration official,
 speaking on condition of anonymity.

 Some U.S. inspection is already done in Mexico to prevent flies and other
 pests from entering the United States, but a Mexican farm official
 denounced the food-safety plan.

 ``It is very clear to us that behind all this are economic interests
 which want to prevent Mexican vegetables from entering the U.S.,'' said
 Luis Cardenas, of an agriculture group in the state of Sinaloa, a big
 tomato producer.

 At home, U.S. fruit and vegetable growers would have to comply with
 similar standards, everything from testing irrigation supplies to hiring
 farm workers free of such diseases as hepatitis and composting manure
 used as fertilizer so any E. coli is killed, the official said.

 Technically, the standards would be just guidelines for U.S. farmers, and
 the FDA plans no new money to enforce them.

 But the FDA could use lack of compliance against a farmer if it suspects
 domestic crop contamination -- and farmers who did follow the guidelines
 would have some legal protection in case of an outbreak.

 Worries about unsafe food imports have threatened Clinton's pending
 attempts to expand free-trade agreements. Indeed, farmers' groups contend
 the food plan was rushed out to save the trade legislation, arguing that
 Thursday's announcement comes a month before an FDA advisory committee
 was set to recommend new food safety measures.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 00:56:49 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Authorities: Pets Weren't Cremated
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002005646.0068d6a4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-------------------------------
 10/01/1997 02:08 EST

 Authorities: Pets Weren't Cremated

 By CHRIS CAROLA
 Associated Press Writer

 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) -- Four years after Rita Bell paid  
 to have her German shepherd cremated, she's worried that Sheba  
 -- along with 37,000 other pets -- was dumped in a plastic bag  
 and left to decay in a shallow pit on a dilapidated farm.       

                                                     
 Authorities say Terence McGlashan told customers he would       
 cremate their pets for prices ranging from $25 to $100, and     
 then paid a farmer $2 per animal to dump the carcasses in a     
 field.

 ``It's not the idea of how much you paid, it's the idea that you don't
 want your dog or pet thrown into a pile somewhere,'' Mrs. Bell said.
 ``They're part of the family.''

 State investigators are looking at whether McGlashan, a Saratoga
 businessman, and farmer Ralph Seaman broke any laws.

 The possibility that Fluffy or Fido were tossed in a heap rather than
 receiving the dignified handling pet owners expected has the pet-owning
 community in an uproar.

 The site was discovered last week after a woman stumbled upon it while
 chasing her dog, which had gotten away from her during a walk. At least
 one of the carcasses was found with a tag indicating it was supposed to
 be cremated.

 Kevin Veitch, the city codes administrator, said the stench emanating
 from the pits was unbelievable.

 Police and local veterinarians have been deluged with calls from pet
 owners concerned their deceased animals might be among those dumped at
 the farm.

 On Monday, McGlashan and his lawyer met with Saratoga police and state
 investigators. No charges have been filed.

 McGlashan's company, CAP Inc., disposes of animal carcasses for
 veterinary hospitals in the Albany area, authorities said. Messages left
 on the answering machine at his office were not returned.

 In New York, pet cemeteries and crematoriums must be licensed by the
 state. Mishandling the disposal of pets is a crime under a law that was
 enacted after a Suffolk County cemetery buried animals in mass graves
 after telling owners their pets would receive proper burial.

 Seaman's property is not a licensed pet cemetery. McGlashan is licensed
 to operate a pet crematorium owned by veterinarian Robert Sofarelli.

 ``Every vet who has known him for years says this is not the type of
 person we've been dealing with for 20 years,'' Sofarelli said. ``I'm just
 hoping the only illegal thing he did was use an illegal piece of
 property.''

 Seaman has been using a portion of his 500-acre farm to dispose of dead
 animals for about 30 years, the last 15 with McGlashan, authorities said.

 While the discovery of the carcass-filled pits shocked many in this town
 of 26,000, neighbors on his dead-end road say they've known for years
 that Seaman was burying animals.

 ``We all knew it was going on,'' said neighbor Mary Zetterstrom. ``We all
 mind our own business. You just don't try to get a neighbor in trouble.

 ``It's not easy living on a farm, and when you could earn a few extra
 bucks ...''
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 01:00:01 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Jury Probes Hudson Beef Recall
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002005952.006fb1c4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------------
 10/01/1997 16:41 EST

 Jury Probes Hudson Beef Recall

 By CURT ANDERSON
 AP Farm Writer

 WASHINGTON (AP) -- A federal grand jury is investigating whether Hudson
 Foods Inc. tried to hide the extent of potential E. coli bacteria
 contamination in what eventually became the nation's biggest meat recall.

 Tom Monaghan, the U.S. attorney for Nebraska, issued a statement saying
 the investigation arose from information received last month from the
 Agriculture Department's inspector general regarding the August recall of
 25 million pounds of hamburger produced at the Hudson plant in Columbus,
 Neb.

 Monaghan would provide no other details, but Hudson officials confirmed
 Wednesday that they had received a subpoena for documents related to the
 recall and expected some employees to be called to testify before the
 grand jury in Omaha, Neb.

 ``As it has in the past, Hudson Foods will continue to cooperate fully
 and completely with the government's investigation,'' Rogers, Ark.-based
 Hudson said in a statement. ``Hudson Foods is confident that a thorough
 and fair investigation of the facts will confirm that it has violated no
 law.''

 Hudson shut down the Columbus plant at Agriculture Department insistence
 after the amount of meat recalled due to possible E. coli contamination
 rose from 20,000 pounds initially to 25 million pounds -- by far the
 largest meat recall in U.S. history.

 Sale of the still-closed plant to meatpacking giant IBP Inc. is nearly
 complete. Hudson, which lost a big Burger King contract because of the
 recall, is itself in the process of being sold to Arkansas rival Tyson
 Foods Co.

 Nancy Bartel, spokeswoman for the USDA inspector general, would not
 discuss specifics but did confirm that the agency had been auditing
 Hudson's records regarding the recall and that Monaghan's office was
 apprised.

 ``We have discussed this investigation with the U.S. attorney in Omaha,''
 she said. ``He has been brought on board.''

 Monaghan's statement said that his office had received a criminal
 referral from the inspector general. That would mean that the inspector
 general found evidence suggesting that Hudson employees may have lied to
 food safety inspectors about the extent of the E. coli contamination or
 that they may have falsified or failed to properly keep records. A
 prosecutor could pursue a criminal case or seek civil penalties.

 When the recall rose quickly from 20,000 pounds to 1.2 million pounds to
 25 million pounds, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman cited a ``lack of
 confidence in the records provided to investigators'' as one reason to
 shut down the Nebraska plant.

 Agriculture Department officials believe the contaminated hamburgers that
 sickened 16 people in Colorado originally came from a Hudson supplier,
 but they have not identified which one. That phase of the investigation
 is also continuing.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 01:02:09 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Cattle Futures Plunge
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002010206.00690f74@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------------
 10/01/1997 16:32 EST

 Cattle Futures Plunge

 By PAUL A. DRISCOLL
 Associated Press Writer

 Cattle futures plunged to their lowest level since late June on
 Wednesday, with E. coli back in the news and a large backup of meat
 supplies in the making.

 Hudson Foods Inc. revealed that it has been subpoenaed in a federal grand
 jury investigation in this summer's recall of 25 million pounds of ground
 beef. The government is trying to determine whether company officials
 lied about the extend of possible E. coli contamination of the meat.

 ``The concern is that with E. coli out in the national media tonight, the
 public's finally going to say, `Oh, man, the entire meat issue is too
 much','' said Dale Durchholz, an analyst in Bloomington, Ill., with
 Agri-Visor Services Inc.

 Even before the Hudson Foods announcement, traders already were edgy
 about vague, unconfirmed rumors of contaminated U.S. beef found in South
 Korea and in grocery store on the East Coast.

 Another analyst, Charles Levitt of Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago said
 that while E. coli was a concern, the real weakness in cattle futures
 came from a super-abundant supply of meat in this country.

 ``They're trying to take 10 pounds of meat and stuff it into a 5-pound
 bag,'' Levitt said.

 ``There's an increasing supply of pork in the country, record supplies of
 poultry and a record number of cattle were placed on feed this summer,''
 he said.

 ``The market is beginning to recognize that we're well supplied from now
 until the end of the year. Competition for the meat dollar is going to be
 fierce.''

 Live cattle for delivery in October settled 1.12 cents lower at 66.57
 cents a pound; October feeder cattle were .52 cent lower at 77.42 cents a
 pound; October hogs were .22 cent lower at 67.57 cents a pound; and
 February pork bellies were 1.10 cents lower at 62.42 cents a pound.

 Elsewhere on futures markets, November crude oil lost 13 cents a barrel
 on an unexpected buildup in supplies during the past week.

 The American Petroleum Institute reported on Tuesday that crude stocks
 were up 1.914 million barrels. Heating oil and gasoline stocks also
 increased, but that was expected.

 At the New York Mercantile Exchange, the November delivery of light sweet
 crude oil closed at $21.05 a barrel, down 13 cents.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 13:07:00 +0000
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) THE STRAY DOG SITUATION IN TAIWAN (photos)
Message-ID: <3.0.3.32.19971002130700.006a6c14@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

As some of you know, even months after WSPA revealed to the world
the heinously inhumane handling of the stray dogs in Taiwan, there is
still a tremendous lack of progress in this regard. The homeless,
abandoned dogs in Taiwan are left to starve and rot in crowded cages,
often next to the ones that have long been dead, in the most painful and
torturous way. Many resort to cannibalism to stay alive.

Photos at: http://www.earth.org.hk/twpound.html

To learn more about the situation and the steps currently taken to curb
it, your support of the Taipei Abandoned Animal Rescue Foundation
(T-AARF) mailing list is very much appreciated. To subscribe, send an
e-mail to: listserv@toapayoh.com and in the body of the message, type:

Subscribe taarf your-email-address

If you don't want to subscribe to the list but still have something you
would like to add,  write to: taarf@toapayoh.com

Thank you!












Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 01:11:30 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (NO) Norway Whale Hunter Joins Politics
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002011127.007012d0@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
---------------------------------
 10/01/1997 03:44 EST

 Norway Whale Hunter Joins Politics

 By DOUG MELLGREN
 Associated Press Writer

 OSLO, Norway (AP) -- Norway's top whale-hunter who has been labeled by
 others as a barbarian, murderer, fool and clown has acquired a new title
 -- politician.

 Steinar Bastesen, known for drinking whale oil and wearing seal-pelt
 clothing, takes his seat today as a new member of Norway's parliament.

 As chairman of the Norwegian Whalers Association for 12 years, Bastesen
 became a folk hero to many for his fierce defense of whaling.

 Norway resumed commercial whale hunting in 1993, after a grudging
 six-year break under international pressure. Since then, it has faced
 protests, sanction threats, and attacks on whaling boats -- all of which
 helped Bastesen's cause in a region where whaling is seen as a natural
 part of making a living.

 He once said protesters who illegally board whaling boats should have to
 walk the plank. In one protest, a knife-wielding Bastesen tried to throw
 demonstrators off his boat.

 ``If it hadn't been for the whaling issue, I wouldn't have made it into
 the national legislature,'' Bastesen, 52, said by telephone Tuesday. He
 won his seat running as an independent in his home province of Nordland,
 in Norway's Arctic.

 ``We see that people are getting frustrated and tired of all the
 centralization of power and the economy,'' he said.

 Like many whalers, Bastesen says there was no scientific basis for the
 hunting ban declared by the International Whaling Commission in 1986. And
 he'd love to tell them so.

 ``What I really want to do is meet the IWC as a member of parliament,''
 he said.

 At least one vehement anti-whaler is delighted to see Bastesen in the
 parliament.

 ``He is the biggest clown and idiot in Norway, and is going to say things
 that embarrass the country,'' Paul Watson of the California-based Sea
 Shepherd group was quoted as saying by the Norwegian news agency NTB.

 ``They had to go halfway around the world to find someone to talk bad
 about me,'' grumbled Bastesen. ```But I am tired of all this media
 nonsense about me being a clown.''

 The stocky Bastesen does indeed clown around -- laughing loud and wearing
 get-ups of seal-pelt neckties and vests.

 But ``when he puts on his suit and appears in serious forums, Bastesen
 shows himself to be very knowledgeable,'' acknowledged the Oslo business
 daily Dagens Naeringsliv.

 Bastesen wouldn't promise to tone it down in the 165-member parliament
 when he's fighting for the rights of coastal villages. He said he plans
 to talk from the heart, and not from manuscripts.

 ``So it could be exciting,'' he said. And after the excitement, he's got
 some plans for what to do when the parliament takes it summer recess.

 ``I think I'll go whaling,'' he said.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 21:22:54 -0700
From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: dknowles@dowco.com
Subject: The singer and the wolfhound
Message-ID: <3433219E.1FF4@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

New York Times Interactive, September 30, 1997

Chronicle: Russian Wolfhound Competes With Soprano

NEW YORK -- A soprano's best friend? In the case of Renee Fleming, it's 
not Pasha, the Russian wolfhound who was to have appeared on stage
during this season's Metropolitan Opera production of Massenet's
"Manon."

On Friday, Ms. Fleming, in the title role, was singing her most
demanding an someone was singing along with me backstage."

"The audience started to titter and I couldn't imagine what it was," she 
continued. It was Pasha, a canine supernumerary, part of a crowd scene
in the second act.

"After the first part of the aria, the handler who was on stage holding 
the dog for a tableau walked the dog off," Ms. Fleming said. "I told the 
director, 'It's the dog or me."'

For Wednesday evening's performance, there will be no dog. Meanwhile,
Ms. Fleming is trying to figure out what it all means. "I haven't
decided yet if this was the most humiliating experience of my career or
the greatest compliment," she said.
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 21:34:50 -0700
From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: dknowles@dowco.com
Subject: First thing first
Message-ID: <3433246A.5445@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

New York Times Interactive, September 30, 1997

U.S. Warned Film Plants, Not Public, About Nuclear Fallout

By MATTHEW L. WALD

Through most of the 1950s, while the government reassured the public
that there was no health threat from atmospheric nuclear tests, the
Atomic Energy Commission regularly warned Eastman Kodak Co. and other
film manufacturers about fallout that could damage their products,
according to a review of government literature by a private watchdog
group here.

The warnings were confirmed on Monday by people in the photographic   
industry.

Kodak discovered in the early 1950s that some film was fogged before
use, and it traced the problem to fallout from atmospheric nuclear
tests, both American and Russian. The watchdog group, the Institute for
Energy and Environmental Research, a nonprofit organization in Takoma
Park, Md., that specializes in nuclear weapons issues, said Kodak had
threatened to sue the Atomic Energy Commission, which had then promised
to warn Kodak about future tests.

The National Cancer Institute said in August that fallout from the   
blasts, most of them between 1951 and 1958, had probably caused 10,000
to 75,000 extra thyroid cancers. A Senate subcommittee is planning a
hearing on Wednesday to investigate when the hazard was first recognized
and people were not protected.

The documents, declassified in the 1980s and made public as part of an  
"openness initiative" by Hazel O'Leary, the former energy secretary,   
include "Report by the Director of Military Application, Summary of   
Relationships between the A.E.C. and the Photographic Industry
Regarding   
Radioactive Contamination from Atomic Weapons Tests, from January
through December 1951."

A spokesman for Kodak, Paul Allen, gave an account similar to the   
institute's about how his company had discovered the fallout. Some film 
was fogged because it had been packed in a material made from corn husks 
that had been contaminated by fallout, for example. But Allen said no
one still working at the company knew whether Kodak had been warned by
the government.

But Thomas Dufficy, the executive vice president of the Photographic and 
Imaging Manufacturers Association, said the government had given regular 
warnings to his industry. Dufficy, who joined the group in 1967, when it 
was called the National Association of Photographic Manufacturers, said 
that government officials would call to give a warning after any   
radiation release, including nuclear blasts by foreign countries.

After the companies were warned, they could wait a few months before   
using materials that might have been contaminated with iodine-131, which 
is radioactive and produced in abundance by nuclear tests, to let the   
level of radioactivity drop.

Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who is the ranking minority member of an   
Appropriations Committee subcommittee that will hold the hearing on   
Wednesday, said, "It really is odd that the government would warn Kodak 
about its film but it wouldn't warn the general public about the milk it 
was drinking." Iodine-131 is absorbed by cows and incorporated into
milk. In humans, it concentrates in the thyroid gland, where it can
cause cancer.

"The only thing I can surmise," Harkin added, "is that they just didn't 
want any public reaction against the atomic tests."

Harkin said that part of his thyroid had been removed 17 years ago, that 
his brother had died of thyroid cancer last year and that a niece had   
received a thyroid cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Harkin said he
did not know the source of his cancer but was concerned about his
family's exposure to radiation from fallout.
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 21:37:40 -0700
From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: A low-tech, low-cost AIDS medicine
Message-ID: <34332514.3638@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Selenium level linked to AIDS death, scientists find

MIAMI, September 30,

Scientists have found a link between selenium deficiency and the rate at 
which people die from AIDS, which could mean that taking supplements of 
the mineral could improve survival rates, according to research
published Tuesday.

In a study of 125 HIV-infected men and women published in the Sept. 30  
issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome,
researchers   
found that HIV-1 infected patients with selenium deficiency were 19.9   
times more likely to die of the AIDS virus than people with adequate   
selenium levels.

"In HIV infection, as it progresses, a percentage (of patients) become  
selenium deficient. Once they become selenium deficient, this
predisposes them to early mortality from HIV," Dr. Marianna Baum,
director of the Center for Disease Prevention at the University of Miami
School of Medicine, who led the researchers, told Reuters.

The researchers also found that while other nutrients -- vitamins A,   
B-12, and zinc -- affect AIDS survival, their deficiency poses a   
substantially lower risk of mortality than that of selenium.

Selenium is a mineral found in grains and vegetables.

The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Baum said the link between selenium and mortality could be due to   
selenium's anti-oxidant function or action in gene regulation that might 
affect replication of HIV.

"In selenium deficiency the HIV virus reproduces faster," she said.
Baum said the NIH has approved and is considering for funding a study to 
see whether taking extra selenium can slow the progress of AIDS.

But she said merely prescribing supplements would be too simple. "A   
caution has to be exercised in supplementing oneself," she said.   
"Selenium in large amounts can be toxic. Minerals in general are   
difficult for the body to excrete and they accumulate in the body and   
become toxic."
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:16:58
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] 'Sick' dog-poisoner strikes in Winnnipeg; eight pets die
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001658.383fc1b8@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From The Province - Thursday, September 25th, 1997

WINNIPEG - At least 10 dogs have been deliberately poisoned in Winnipeg,
and eight of them have died.

Officials and local veterinarians feared the number could climb as owners
return home to discover dead pets.

Eight of the dogs were poisoned, presumably by strychnine hidden in
hamburger meat, in the same neighborhood.

"I just pray the person who did this is caught," said Kari Burns, whose dog
Jake died after a series of violent seizures. "Our dogs are like children
to us.

"Whoever did this is sick."

Winnipeg police and the Winnipeg Humane Society were investigating.

Burns said she discovered her dog lying in the back yard.

"He could hardly walk, he was so disoriented," she said.

"I tried to calm him down and he responded to my voice by wagging his tail,
but he was so hyper-sensitive that when I touched him, he'd go into another
convulsion."

Burns rushed her dog to the vet but he went into one final seizure on the
examining table and died.

"What if a little child ate it instead of the dog, " she said.

Veterinarian Dr. Keith Campbell said autopsies done on four of the dogs
found hamburger in their stomachs.

"It looks like someone just threw a meatball over the wall and the dogs ate
it," Campbell said. "This is pretty scary that this is happening."

Const. Ray Duchare said police are treating the case seriously with the
view to charge the culprit with animal cruelty. The penalty on conviction
includes a maximum of two years in jail. Burns said that after her own dog
died she contacted a neighbor to alert her to go home and check on her own
pet.

"She got home and found her dog dead in the kitchen," Burns said. "It's so
sad. She lived alone with her dog."


Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:17:38
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [US] Smog blows on an ill wind 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001738.27775278@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


>From The Seattle Times

Copyright © 1997 The Seattle Times Company 
Friday, Sept. 26, 1997 
Close-up: Smog blows on an ill wind 

by Michael Battye 
Reuters 



SINGAPORE - Smoke across Southeast Asia threatens a major ecological
disaster in one of the world's richest regions for wildlife, experts said
today. 

"I don't think the world has seen anything like this for a very long time,"
said Rizal Roy of the Malaysian Nature Society. 

"The sky in Southeast Asia has turned yellow, and people are dying," Claude
Martin, director-general of the World Wide Fund for Nature, said in Geneva.
"What we are witnessing is not just an environmental disaster but a
tremendous health problem being imposed in millions." 

The group also warned that orangutans and other rare species are threatened. 

It is estimated that up to 1.5 million acres has gone up in smoke on the
huge islands of Borneo and Sumatra as a result of fires set by farmers and
plantation companies to clear land for agriculture. 

The flames have not reached the ages-old rain forests that are home to some
of the world's most exotic species of birds - such as the bird of paradise
- and creatures such as the orangutan. 

But animals, birds and reptiles cannot escape the smoke. In addition, the
fires could ultimately devastate the fabled coral islands of the South
Seas, the experts said. 


Insects die, then birds, then ...


Roy said the smoke was affecting the navigational abilities of bees in
northern Malaysia. The bees are feeding little, which means they produce
less honey and pollinate fewer trees and plants - which means less food for
fruit-eaters and herbivores. 

And the smoke is killing all manner of insects, said Ron Lilley of the
World Wildlife Fund in Jakarta. 

"Once you lose the insects," he said, "you lose the birds and the reptiles
which live on them, and the food chain is affected all the way up." 

Roy and Lilley said there is a dearth of information on what was happening
to wildlife in the sprawling Indonesian archipelago. Some places are so
remote, it may be years before the full effects are known. 

"The sad thing is we may never know what we have lost. The species lists
from everywhere in Indonesia are never complete," Lilley said. 

Orangutans driven out

Few studies have been done on the effects of the region's widespread fires,
which are an annual event in slash-and-burn agriculture, and for land
clearing for development. The current fires are believed to be the worst
ever. 

"We've heard stories of orangutan being driven out of the forest and into
conflict with villagers," Lilley said. "We've no confirmation, but it's
worrying. If there's conflict, the orangutan always lose out." 

"Four-footed animals can move fast and escape the flames," Roy said.
"Primates are not as fast - and they need trees to move through." 

Threat to coral reefs

Vegetation was already suffering from drought. Soil runoff from burnt, dry
ground could be severe when the annual monsoon rains return in October,
Lilley said. 

"With no plant cover, the runoff will add considerably to the sediment
loads of rivers. We know sedimentation can be carried far out to sea and
the effects can be very dramatic. It could reach the coral reefs," he said. 

"The sediment cuts down the light, which is vital for coral. It settles on
the coral and kills it. The coral crumbles and the islands wash away." 

Information from Associated Press was used in this report. 

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:17:52
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Saved foals arrive in Surrey
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001752.277743f2@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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VANCOUVER - Five of the foals saved by the Responsible Animal Care Society
arrived in the Vancouver suburb of Surrey today.

The foals, byproducts of the Premarin production industry, were among 19
bought at auction by the society. This action prevented them from the fate
of most foals - being sent to slaughter.

BCTV's 'News Hour'  tonight aired video footage of the foals running free
in a paddock, together with contrasting footage of the mares tied up in
barns on prairie farms and of other foals being slaughtered. Both the mare
and foal slaughter footage were obtained from underground sources but were
released by the society as a public education measure.

BCTV's 'News Hour' is the most-watched Vancouver-areal evening newscast,
with an average audience of around 1/2 million.

David J Knowles
Animal Voices News

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:18:09
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Sale of ostrich and kangaroo halted by Tesco
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001809.27773fa4@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, September 28th, 1997

Sale of ostrich and kangaroo halted by Tesco
By Linda Jackson, Consumer Affairs Correspondent 

BRITAIN'S largest supermarket chain is to stop selling kangaroo steaks and
other exotic meat in a move that has been welcomed by animal  rights
campaigners.

Tesco has announced it will no longer sell kangaroo and ostrich meat in its
350 stores. A spokesman for the supermarket said the decision was made on
commercial grounds, claiming customers had returned to beef following the
BSE crisis.

Tesco's largest rival, J. Sainsbury, said it would continue selling the
meats in "a small number of stores" after checking that the animals were
killed humanely.

News of Tesco's decision was hailed by Viva!, a group of vegetarian animal
rights campaigners, as an acknowledgment that the trade was  "cruel and
unacceptable". It comes just days after the Government's  medical advisers
issued a warning linking the eating of too much red meat with cancer.

Concerns over animal welfare are said to be partly behind the decision of
Safeway, Marks and Spencer and the Co-op not to stock exotic meats.
Waitrose, which is part of the John Lewis Partnership, said it had no plans
to halt trials of ostrich meat in 26 stores.

Kangaroo meat is supplied from male animals in Australia, killed by a
single bullet as part of an official cull. Ostriches are farmed both in the
US and Britain. Fears have been raised by the RSPCA over the principle of
farming ostriches.

Juliet Gellatley, a spokesman for Viva!, said: "The pain and misery to
these animals is a disgrace to civilised society. The majority of Britain's
retailers now accept that the trade in exotic meats is cruel and unacceptable.

"We call upon Sainsbury's and Waitrose to acknowledge the public's deep
concern and revulsion at this profit from cruelty, and also withdraw exotic
meats. They are aimed solely at a few jaded and decadent  palates. It is on
these stores and trendy little bistros that we will now be concentrating
our efforts."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.



Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:18:34
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Addresses for British supermarkets
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001834.27672e5c@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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The following are addresses for the supermarkets that are still selling
kangeroo/ostrich meat in their stores.


J Sainsbury's (Continue to sell) For comments and complaints please email
 feedback@sainsburys.co.uk (They promise to "respond to all messages which
include a valid e-mail return address."

Tesco (stopped selling) - Have a web site  I couldn't
access the site tonight, but there is a link from their to their e-mail
address. (Sorry, can't remeber what it is).

Waitrose (Still selling ostrich meat) No e-mail address, but can be
contacted by snail mail at:
Waitrose Customer Service Department
Waitrose Limited, 
Doncastle Road, 
Bracknell, 
Berkshire RG12 8YA 
       
or Freephone 0800 188 884. (Within UK only)

Hope this is of use.

David

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:18:21
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/FR] Paris gangsters turn dogs loose on police
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001001821.2777aa80@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, September 28th, 1997

Paris gangsters turn dogs loose on police
By Philip Jacobson in Paris 

MARAUDING gangs in the decaying suburbs of Paris are training pit-bull
terriers to attack the police and intimidate the public.

In recent weeks, snarling dogs have been turned loose on officers
investigating crimes and used to threaten shopkeepers during looting. Women
were menaced by the pit-bulls while their handbags were snatched and there
have been reports of rapes under the threat of unleashing the dogs.

The police, accustomed to flying bricks and bottles in the tough quartiers
chauds, say the number of officers bitten by aggressive animals has been
rising steadily. Neighbourhood drug dealers are also using the dogs to
attack rivals in disputes over territory.

"More and more young thugs are acquiring pit-bulls," said the public
security director of one notoriously lawless municipality. "These dogs are
being turned into weapons."

Rampaging pit-bulls may not be the only threat. French drug barons are said
to be using the Argentinian mastiff,  the tosa, which is favoured by the
Japanese mafia, and a monstrous South African breed known as the Boerbull,
which can weigh more than 150lbs. Many of the dogs are acquired from
breeders who operate outside the law.

A pit-bull without vaccinations or identifying tattoos on its ear can now
be bought for just 500 francs (about £45). But such dogs are likely to be
thoroughly inbred, increasing the likelihood that they will have the flaws
of character that make it easier for them to be trained for aggression.

Pit-bulls have also been stolen from animal shelters. Many of these animals
were abandoned or abused by their previous owners and considered by the
authorities to be too dangerous ever to be released to a new owner. 

But such dogs were taken by gangs in night raids on the shelters. In July,
France's main animal welfare society decided to remove the attack breeds
from its ordinary kennels to end the raids. They are now being kept at a
secret location.

The police say pit-bulls are particularly prized among drug dealers on the
sprawling suburban council estates. They are used as ferocious "minders"
and as a mark of standing
in the community at large, commanding respect for the owner.

One youth standing outside a grim, graffiti-spattered block of flats in
Nanterre observed that owning a pit-bull "est top cool". The youth said his
older brother had a pit-bull, named Tyson as in Mike, and he never had any
problems with muggers or drunks. Some of the tough guys on the estate
boasted about turning their animals loose on enemies and even on the fire
brigade.

Attack dogs are said to be trained in cellars, hunting and killing puppies,
cats and pet rabbits. About a dozen incidents involving pit-bulls are
reported to the French authorities every month, but nobody has any real
idea how many of these dogs there are in and around Paris. 

They are not included in the periodic census carried out by French breeding
organisations, which usually shows Alsatians[German shepherd dogs] as the
most popular household pet, followed by Yorkshire terriers. And owners of
pit-bulls that have attacked humans or other dogs rarely stay to answer
questions.

The first ban in France on ownership of pit-bulls came into force three
years ago in a district near Paris following a series of attacks on members
of the public.

Now a number of municipalities are considering laws that would severely
restrict and sometimes outlaw the breeding, training and keeping of
pit-bulls or similarly dangerous dogs.

Extensive media coverage of pit-bull attacks has produced what one mayor -
who receives 100 letters a week on the subject - calls "a real psychosis".
Another complains that ordinary citizens react to pit-bull owners "as if
they were armed".

That may well be how the elderly French woman walking her Yorkshire terrier
in a tranquil park last week felt when a huge pit-bull went for it. She
lost a finger trying to protect
her beloved Tou Tou - "Bow Wow" - in the ensuing fracas. The assassin
escaped, owner nowhere to be seen.

Some French animal-lovers say that although pit-bulls are instinctively
aggressive towards other dogs, they have no inborn hostility to humans.

"You have to train them for that," said a vet sadly, "and unfortunately the
sort of people attracted to their size and power are not always the ideal
owners."

It was left to a laconic officer of the overworked Brigade Canine to pass
the most penetrating judgment. "With pit-bulls, you always look first at
who is on the other end of the lead."


© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:54:23
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/FR] Mountain bear shot "in self defence"
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001005423.27670d8c@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, September 29th, 1997

Mountain bear shot "in self defence"

                  Melba, one of two brown bears released into the Pyrenees
                  last year in an attempt to prevent the species becoming
                  extinct there, was shot dead by a French hunter at the
                  weekend. He claimed he shot it in self-defence. Melba gave
                  birth to three cubs a few months ago but ecologists fear
                  they will not survive without their mother. Mountain farmers
                  claim the bears have killed many of their sheep. Tim
                  Brown, Madrid  

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:20:01
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Britain 'may face new wave of CJD cases' 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001002001.27675efa@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Tuesday, September 30th, 1997

Britain 'may face new wave of CJD cases' 
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor 

EVIDENCE that Britain faces a second and perhaps a third epidemic of new
variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease will be published by scientists this
week.

It is too early to say whether the 20 cases seen to date are at the peak of
the first epidemic or are a "tail" announcing that greater numbers will
result from exposure to BSE - mad cow disease - in coming years. "It may
take 20 years for the second epidemic to materialise, and longer for the
third," said Prof John Collinge, who carried out the research.

This week's issue of the journal Nature will publish his results along with
those from the Neuropathogenesis Unit (NPU) in Edinburgh. Together, they
mark the strongest evidence to date that the agent that causes BSE also led
to the emergence of new variant CJD. Both remove any doubts that measures
that have been put in place to protect the population were necessary, said
Dr Chris Bostock of the Institute of Animal Health, head of one of the
teams in London, Edinburgh and Newbury.

His colleague, Dr Moira Bruce, is carrying out what is seen as the
definitive strain-typing experiments that have shown, in only one strain of
mouse so far, that the incubation time and brain damage caused to mice by
BSE is identical to that caused by new variant CJD. This is supported by a
different experiment - on mice that contain human brain proteins -
conducted by Prof Collinge and colleagues at St Mary's and the Institute of
Psychiatry, London.

The studies fall short of direct proof because scientists have not yet
identified the agent responsible for the disease, though it is linked to a
brain protein called the prion protein, one described by a gene 800 letters
long.

The work of Prof Collinge suggests two more epidemics of the incurable
brain disease may strike in coming decades because of differences in the
prion protein found in the population. We inherit two prion genes, one from
each parent. To complicate matters, there are two versions of the prion
gene, dubbed M and V, which differ by a single genetic "letter".

>From the prion perspective, then, there are three types of people: 38 per
cent are MM, the only ones affected by the current epidemic, 11 per cent
VV, and 51 per cent MV, the latter being the most resilient. "Compared to
the MMs, a similar or lower proportion of VVs will probably get the
disease, and probably a lower proportion again of MVs," said Prof Collinge.
However, there is plenty of room for error, he concedes.

The findings were made as part of a comparison of the effects of
contaminated tissue from six cases of new variant CJD, 20 cases of
conventional CJD caused by a range of causes - from transplants of
contaminated tissue to sporadic causes - and five sets of BSE.

The study showed that the new variant disease is much more deadly to wild
type mice than conventional CJD and  "behaves like BSE", said Prof
Collinge. Infected mice "do something very odd - they walk backwards -
which we have only seen with new variant CJD and BSE". Unlike the wild
mice, only half of the humanised mice are killed when exposed to new
variant CJD, which is "remarkable," said Prof Collinge, suggesting that
another type of agent
responsible for the variant disease has been produced in these experiments.

The resistance suggests that the infectious agent responsible for new
variant has to overcome a barrier, partly because the mice are VV, while
all the samples of new variant CJD came from MM patients. "This suggests
that if BSE transmits to humans who are VV, the disease is likely to look
different."

Evidence that a novel strain of the disease is produced has come from
analysis of prion protein fragments from the humanised mice: they reveal a
unique "type 5 pattern". Detection of this pattern in the general
population would reveal that the second, VV type of disease had broken out,
he said.

Support for the link between variant CJD and BSE also came from another
approach taken by Dr Bruce and colleagues: she took four pure-bred strains
of mice and injected them with contaminated tissue, eight BSE and three new
variant. So far, only one strain, dubbed RIII, has succumbed to both
variant CJD and BSE, with similar incubation periods and patterns of damage
to the brain. 

The Government's spongiform encephalopathy advisory  committee said: "This
new research provides convincing evidence that the agent which causes BSE
is the same as
that which causes new variant CJD. SEAC's advice to the Government has
always been based on this assumption. The most likely explanation of the
new variant cases to date
remains exposure to BSE before the introduction of the specified bovine
offal ban in 1989."

Confirmation of the results comes as the parents of Britain's first victim
of new variation CJD, Stephen Churchill, prepare to lobby Euro MPs in their
campaign for a public inquiry into the BSE crisis. Dorothy and David
Churchill, of Devizes, Wilts, are meeting members of the European
Parliament's BSE committee during their fact-finding visit to abattoirs and
meat plants in Britain today.

Mrs Churchill said: "We've been waiting 18 months for these test results.
It's the nearest thing we're ever going to get to proof that CJD and BSE
are one and the same. We hope this will help our campaign to put pressure
on the Government to set up a full judicial inquiry into the BSE crisis.
And we want to see money made available for help nursing victims of CJD."

They are also campaigning for compensation for victims, many of whom had
left children and families. "The Government was quick to compensate farmers
for cows that got BSE." she said. "They should make some sort of
compensation award to the families. 

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. 

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:32:13
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/US] A climate of change for Clinton
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001003213.2767206c@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 1st, 1997

 A climate of change for Clinton
By Hugo Gurdon in Washington 


ONE-hundred weather forecasters will gather on the White House lawn today
to help President Clinton change America's reputation from that of polluter
to world leader in controlling climate change.

Mr Clinton appears to want to bring US thinking closer to that of other
industrial countries, much as Margaret Thatcher did for Britain in her 1988
speech to the Royal Society, when she said that global warming was a
"massive experiment with the system of the planet".

American weather forecasters are local celebrities and the White House
hopes that their broadcasts from the South Lawn will nudge public opinion
in favour of a global treaty cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
International negotiations begin at Kyoto, Japan, in December.

But few freedoms are held dearer in America than the right to burn fossil
fuel, run air conditioners, heat houses and swimming pools, and drive
gas-guzzling cars. With five per cent of the world's population, America is
responsible for 22 per cent of global greenhouse gases. And with petrol
costing only 21p a litre, there is little incentive to economise.

Industry, consumers and unions are also fighting to prevent regulation.
Their coalition, the Global Climate Information Project, is running a £10
million advertising campaign showing a pair of scissors cutting from a map
all the Third World countries which it says would escape control under a
Kyoto treaty.

"It wouldn't work because it isn't global," says the narrator, as a pair of
hands holds up the map - and, by implication, the treaty - full of holes.
Industrialists and economists told the Senate yesterday that 1.5 million
workers could lose their jobs if America were forced to cap carbon dioxide
at 1990 levels, as many countries want.

With such fears in mind, the Senate resolved this summer that it would
reject specific greenhouse gas cuts unless they were matched by targets for
developing countries.

Peter VanDoren, a scholar at the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank,
said the issue was a political quagmire: "President Clinton is damned if he
agrees to cuts and damned if he doesn't. His economic advisers warn of
dangers to the economy, but he has to appeal to his environmental
supporters. He's probably happy to be seen agreeing to reductions and then
have the Senate shoot the treaty down in flames."

But the White House insists that it genuinely wants an international treaty
and officials rejected Monday's criticism from Robin Cook, Foreign
Secretary, at the Labour Party conference, that Washington was being
obstructive.

"Mr Cook is entitled to his opinion," a spokesman for Mr Clinton's climate
change task force said. "But we are serious about looking for an agreement
in Kyoto."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:37:24
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Ministers plot to kill hunt Bill
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001003724.27678278@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 1st, 1997

Ministers plot to kill hunt Bill
By Joy Copley, Political Staff 

THE Government is seeking ways to kill off the controversial
anti-foxhunting Bill to prevent it wrecking Labour's heavy legislative
programme.

Ministers decided over the summer that the Bill should not enter the Lords
for fear that pro-hunting peers will launch a series of damaging delaying
tactics, preventing in the process early implementation of Government
measures on education, crime and devolution. The aim is to find some device
to allow the Bill to be halted in the Commons.

The Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill, piloted by Michael Foster, the
Labour MP for Worcester, is expected to receive a huge majority at second
reading on November 28.

Originally, the whips tried to encourage Mr Foster not to introduce the
Bill after he came top of the private members' ballot, but he resisted the
pressure.

After 100,000 people opposed the Bill at a countryside rally in London in
July, the Government has been further distancing itself from the Bill,
although the Prime Minister said he would vote for the ban during the free
vote at second reading.

After the second reading, the Bill goes into committee before its report
stage and third reading in the Commons. It would then normally go to the
Lords in the spring, just when important government measures are being
discussed. 

The Government's challenge is to find a way of allowing the Bill to be
halted at its report stage without ministers being blamed. Another
possibility might be to establish a joint committee of MPs and peers to
investigate fox hunting, which would be set up after the Commons second
reading.

David Coulthread, the head of political affairs for the League Against
Cruel Sports, said: "If the Government wants to make a bed of nails for
itself, that is the way to do it. This one will run and run. It will keep
coming back."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:44:06
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK/] EU judge upholds British beef ban
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001004406.27673af4@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 1st, 1997

EU judge upholds British beef ban
By Toby Helm and David Brown 

GOVERNMENT hopes of having the EU's worldwide ban on British beef declared
illegal were dashed yesterday when a European judge ruled that the embargo
was fully justified on legal and health grounds.

Giuseppe Tesauro, Advocate-General in the European Court of Justice,
rejected cases put by the Government and the National Farmers' Union of
England and Wales that the European Commission had acted beyond its powers
when it imposed the ban in March last year.

His "opinion" - the first stage in reaching a judgment under EU law - will
be considered by the 15 judges in the Luxembourg court later this year or
early next. In most cases, the court backs the Advocate-General.

Mr Tesauro said: "Health is a priority objective which justifies
restrictions on the free movement of goods and is regarded as fundamental
to the common agricultural policy. The gravity of BSE and the danger of its
transmissibility to man constituted a real risk which vindicates the
decision."

Before the ban was imposed, Britain exported beef valued at more than £520
million a year, with £457 million going to Europe. In addition, more than
400,000 live calves a year were exported for veal production on the Continent.

All political efforts to have the ban lifted have failed to date, even
though consumer confidence in beef has returned in Britain, with sales now
seven per cent higher than before the ban. The case, lodged by the
Conservative government, was adopted by Labour.

The NFU had argued that the ban amounted to "a triumph of expediency over
legality". It, and the Government, claimed that the commission was acting
to prop up the beef market in the face of a perceived, rather than a
proven, health threat.

John Cunningham, Minister of Agriculture, said he was working on
alternative proposals to have the ban lifted. These included the certified
herd scheme and a "date-based" scheme allowing cattle from BSE-free herds
and those born after a certain date to be exported.

Farmers were "disappointed but not disheartened" by the judgment. Sir David
Naish, NFU president, said: "Since the ban was imposed, the Government and
our industry have taken enormous steps forward in further helping to
eradicate the risk of BSE."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:49:29
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [EU] Press release from European Court [Long]
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001004929.27674988@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The following is a press release from the European Court of Justice, issued
July 2nd, regarding the ban on British beef exports. [I came across this
from a link provided by the Electronic Telegraph.]

                                    PRESS AND INFORMATION DIVISION

                                        PRESS INFORMATION NO 43/97

                                                           2 JULY 1997

      The Court of Justice hears oral argument on the validity of the
Commission's decision banning the export of beef and beef products from the
United Kingdom 

    Case C-180/96 United Kingdom v Commission of the European Communities
and Case C-157/96 The Queen v Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
and Others ex parte: The National Farmers' Union and Others


These two cases, which are being dealt with together, both raise the
question of the validity
of Commission Decision 96/239/EEC of 27 March 1996 on emergency measures to
protect
against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

In case C-180/96 the United Kingdom argues, inter alia, that the contested
decision is
unlawful on the grounds that an export ban designed to allay concern among
consumers is
not within the scope of the Commission's powers or the margin of discretion
allowed to it. It
further argues that the ban is not and cannot be justified on the basis of
any serious hazard
to animal or human health and is therefore an unlawful obstacle to the free
movement of
goods within the Community and that the adoption of the export ban and its
continuation
constitute a misuse of powers. Finally the United Kingdom argues that the
decision is
disproportionate and that it discriminates between consumers and producers
in the United
Kingdom and those in other Member States.

The ten applicants in case C-157/96 are the National Farmers' Union (NFU),
a trade
association which represents the majority of farmers in England and Wales,
and nine
undertakings engaged in raising, feeding, lairage, transport and export of
livestock, bovine
semen and embryos and the processing and export of beef and beef-related
products. They
have been granted leave to apply to the High Court of Justice, London, for
judicial review of
various measures taken by the relevant British ministries (Ministry of
Agriculture and
Customs and Excise) in order to implement the Commission Decision.

Uncertain as to the validity of the Commission Decision in the light of the
arguments raised
by the parties, the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division decided
to suspend the
proceedings and to refer a question on the validity of that decision to the
Court of Justice for
a preliminary ruling.

The procedure before the Court

The order for reference from the High Court was lodged at the Court
registry on 8 May 1996
and the United Kingdom's application was lodged on 24 May 1996. In addition
to its principal
application, the United Kingdom lodged an application for the immediate
suspension of
Article 1 of the contested decision either in whole or in part pending the
final decision as to
the legality of that decision. By an order of 12 July 1996 the Court
dismissed that application
on the ground that damage to commercial and other interests which was
likely to result from
maintaining the export ban in force could not outweigh the serious harm to
public health
which was liable to be caused by suspension of the contested decision and
which could not
be remedied if the main action was subsequently dismissed.

In today's proceedings the full Court will hear oral argument on behalf of
the National
Farmers' Union, the United Kingdom Government, the European Commission and the
Council of the European Union which has intervened in case C-180/96 in
support of the
Commission.

At the end of the hearing the case will be adjourned while Advocate General
Tesauro
prepares an opinion on the case in which he will analyze the arguments of
the parties and
propose a solution to each of the two cases. Following the delivery of his
opinion the Court
will deliberate upon the case and deliver judgment at a later date.

The pleadings and written observations of the parties in each case have
been summarized
in a Report for the Hearing. For a copy of those reports or further
information about this
case please contact Tom Kennedy, telephone (00352) 4303 3355 or Gillian
Byrne (00352)
4303 3366 Fax: (00352) 4303 2500.

This press release is an unofficial document solely for the use of the press. 



Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:53:50
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [FR] Orphaned bears await their fate
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001005350.2767aaf4@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 1st, 1997

Orphaned bears await their fate
By Julian Nundy in Paris 

THE fate of two bear cubs whose mother was shot dead by a hunter in the
Pyrenees was being considered yesterday.

The French Environment Ministry was pondering whether they should be caught
and raised in captivity or be left in the wild. The cubs are the offspring
of Melba, one of three bears brought from Slovenia last year to restore the
bear population in the Pyrenees. The hunter who shot her on Saturday said
he was acting in self-defence.

A post-mortem examination was being conducted on Melba's corpse to verify
the hunter's claim that he fired at point-blank range. Police said the
hunter's version seemed to be borne out by a reconstruction of the shooting
held on Monday. Reconstructions are common under the French legal system
when a serious crime has been committed.

Melba gave birth to three cubs in February but only two have been located
since her death. Officials said the other cub might have died.

Patrick Férin, the senior government official in the region, said he was
awaiting word from the Environment Ministry in Paris on whether to capture
the cubs, which have not yet been fully weaned, or to leave them food in
the hope that they can adapt to life in the wild and hibernate without
their mother. Among the food left for them since Saturday have been animal
carcasses and canned dog food.

"If they are to be captured, then this must be done quickly," M Férin said.
"We have asked for a quick response from the Environment Ministry and we
expect it today or tomorrow." He said that to put them in captivity would
be a "rupture" with the principle of reintroducing the brown bear - under
the European LIFE programme - into the region. 

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 00:59:21
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [DE] Barking ban for sausage dog
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001005921.27674450@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Wednesday, October 1st, 1997

Barking ban for sausage dog

 A COLOGNE court has restricted a dachshund's barking to half an hour a day
after neighbours complained about its incessant yapping. The court banned
Robbie from barking between 1pm and 3pm and between 8pm and 6am. At other
times, he can bark, but for no more than 10 minutes without interruption.
If Robbie's owner, Erik Sylvester, a pop singer, fails to enforce the ban,
he will face a fine of up to £180,000. Katerina von Waldersee, Bonn 

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 23:10:40
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [US] Pig racing on Jay Leno
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001231040.2767448c@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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[I originally wrote this on Saturday. I'm not sure if there is enough time
to do anything about it now, as the show is taped early in the afternoon in
L.A., but if not, maybe we can still express our concerns. David]

Heard on Friday night's 'Tonight Show' that Jay Leno was advertising he
will have pig racing on the show next week - Thursday night I believe.

Having seen these pigs "perform" at the Pacific National Exhibition here in
Vancouver, I would appreciate any letters being sent to the show pointing
out that this is not acceptable.

There are several concerns about the pigs, including the way that they are
trained, the amount of time they spend locked away in trailers between
shows and the travelling between shows.

There is also the fact that pigs can easily sucumb to heat exhaustion ans
some pigs are prone to stress-induced collapse.

The e-mail address is: tonightshow@nbc.com

Many thanks,

David J Knowles
'Animal Voices' 
Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 23:21:42
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Blind man bites guide dog in drunken rage
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001232142.36074b16@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, October 2nd, 1997

Blind man bites guide dog in drunken rage
By Auslan Cramb, Scottish Correspondent 

A BLIND man, who bit his guide dog in frustration because it could not
understand his instructions while he was drunk, won his appeal yesterday
against a life ban from keeping a dog.

Charles Dubois, 33, assaulted the yellow labrador by repeatedly biting it
on the ear and nose after drinking alcohol on top of drugs prescribed by
his dentist.

The incident was captured on a street video, and Dubois was fined £400 and
banned from owning another dog at Airdrie Sheriff Court in July.

The sheriff said the dog, called Upton, had given the blind man its "trust,
companionship and guidance" and the attack was a betrayal of that trust.
However, the ban was reduced to two years at the Court of Session in
Edinburgh.

Dubois said the dog was his only companion and the attack had happened in a
moment of frustration. Brian McConnachie, for Dubois, told the court: "This
was a complete aberration on his part. He does not have a regular alcohol
problem and this was an unusual set of circumstances. It was an isolated
incident."

He explained that his client could not walk in a straight line because he
was drunk and as a result the dog became confused and refused to obey his
orders. He said that Dubois, of Motherwell, Lanarkshire, had done voluntary
work for the blind since losing his eyesight in an
accident in 1993, lived alone, and Upton had been his constant companion.

After watching a five-minute video of the assault, Lord Sutherland and Lord
Eassie agreed to impose a lighter sentence.

Lord Sutherland said: "We are quite prepared to accept that this was a
one-off situation. In the whole circumstances, the disqualification for
life is going too far."

A spokesman for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association said later that
Upton had been "mentally upset", nervous and stressed by the incident but
had recovered after two or three months of corrective handling and training.

He said that an application from Dubois for another dog would be
considered, but added: "Where there has been a conviction for cruelty it is
unlikely that the applicant would be considered for a guide dog."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. 

Date: Wed, 01 Oct 1997 23:39:09
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK]Blair warned over climate
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971001233909.36073b92@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, October 2nd, 1997

Blair warned over climate
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor 

BRITAIN is at great risk from global warming, which could stop the Gulf
Stream bringing warm water to our shores in winter, the Prime Minister has
been told.

In a paper referred to by Tony Blair in his party conference speech in
Brighton, Sir Robert May, chief scientific adviser, has said that Britain
faces the "awesome" prospect of having the current which transports "free"
heat towards the British Isles turned off. This amounts to 27,000 times the
total generating capacity of Britain's power stations.

This paradoxical cooling in the northern hemisphere is a likely effect of
allowing global average temperatures to increase by more than 2.5C, said
Sir Robert.

This would happen if developed countries did not agree "significant"
reductions in their carbon dioxide emissions, starting with solid legally
binding commitments at the talks in Kyoto, Japan, in December.

Sir Robert said the Government's target of making 20 per cent cuts in 1990
levels of carbon dioxide emissions by 2010 would be "difficult" but was
technically possible and economically achievable.

He said industry should see climate change as posing "an opportunity rather
than a threat". New low-energy technologies would be needed and Britain
would benefit from these if it stayed ahead of other countries, as it had
in the science of climate change.

In a thinly-veiled attack on the policies of America, Canada and
Australia, Sir Robert accused certain developing countries of putting
humanity at risk by failing to go along with tough targets for cutting
greenhouse gases. 

"The issue is not as high on the agenda as I believe it belongs," he told a
meeting. Sir Robert said that the public needed to be convinced that
emissions should be cut and "tough choices" would be needed on tackling
private car usage. 

His paper was published less than a week before President Clinton holds a
White House seminar to convince scientists and business  leaders of the
urgency of climate change. Sir Robert made clear that his backing of the
science of climate change had put him in the
opposite camp to Prof Dick Lindzen, the leading American climate sceptic.

Mr Blair has said that Britain's target of 20 per cent reductions in Co2
emissions by 2010 was "not conditional" on what other nations agree at
Kyoto. But Britain may accept smaller legally binding  targets in the
treaty, perhaps five per cent, while doing more itself.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. 

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 03:22:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: BreachEnv@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!
Message-ID: <971002032230_1991333808@emout16.mail.aol.com>


BY TELEFAX, EMAIL AND DELIVERY

Open Letter To The Taoisech Of Ireland

Taoisech B. Ahern T.D.
Dail Eirenn
Government Buildings
Dublin 2
Ireland
Tele: +353 1 662 4888
Fax: +353 1 676 4048

Dear Mr. Ahern,

I am writing to you in connection with your Minister for Arts, Heritage,
Gaeltacht and the Islands recent declaration on the Government of Ireland's
policy towards whaling and the International Whaling Commission (IWC). I
understand that the Honourable Sile de Valera T.D. has made a statement to
the effect that the Government of Ireland supports the following proposals
(hereafter called the 'Irish Initiative') to the IWC and that Ms. de Valera
intends to instruct Ireland's IWC Commissioner to propose a schedule
amendment to the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling
(ICRW) to accommodate these proposals at the IWC Commissioners meeting due to
be held 20-24th October in Monaco.

These are what we believe to be the main points of the 'Irish Initiative'.

* Creation of a "no-whaling" sanctuary on the high seas

* Removal of Schedule paragraph 10e zero-quota moratorium language in the
Schedule 

* Implementation into the IWC schedule of the RMP (the mathematical formula
for calculating whale quotas) and the RMS (the system of observation and
control of the whaling industry)

* Agreement on a global ban on international trade in whale meat

* An attempt to curtail scientific whaling 

* Allowances for commercial whaling in coastal waters, under IWC guidelines,
and 

* Recognition of cultural whaling.

As you are well aware, the issue of whaling is immensely controversial. This
controversy is not limited to national and international whale protection
organisations, but extends to the governments of foreign countries and people
from around the world. Many concerned organisations representing many
millions of people world-wide fear that ANY resumption of commercial whaling
will initiate a new, deadly era in world-wide whale management that will
spiral out of control within a very short period. Your proposals, should they
be adopted, may well represent the first step towards reducing the numbers,
and therefore the genetic diversity of the these magnificent, highly
intelligent marine mammals, beyond the limits of their very survival.

Within this letter, I intend to explain why your Government should reconsider
this proposal. We believe there are at least three distinct areas of this
issue that the Government of Ireland should reflect on in detail and with
some urgency.

1) Democratic Forces

The Fianna Fail political party (as part of a coalition with the Progressive
Democrats) was elected to the Government of Ireland in June 1997. The
population of Ireland at that time was approximately 3,630,000. Some
2,700,000 of the Irish population was eligible to vote at this election of
which 66% (1,782,000) exercised their option and actualy voted. Fianna Fail
secured approximately 39% support of the number of people voting. This means
that your political party represents some 694,980 people.

We believe that the people who elected your Government to act in their
interest (and indeed, the rest of the population of Ireland who did not vote
for your party, but for whom you are responsible) are no different from the
vast majority of other people world-wide in their abhorrence of slaughtering
whales. The question here is, by adopting the 'Irish Initiative' and pressing
for its incorporation into the Whaling Convention, exactly who is your
Government
speaking for?

Breach Marine Protection formulated the 'Popular Resolution on Abolition of
Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of Whales' (encl.) in 1996 and has co-ordinated
this project since that time. The 'Popular Resolution' is a draft resolution,
formulated in United Nations treaty language. It shows how, by raising
awareness of the cruelty issue, the International Whaling Commission can, by
schedule amendment to 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of
Whaling (ICRW), permanently ban both commercial whaling and inhumane killing
of the marine mammals for which the IWC is responsible for, i.e. the great
whales.

To date, support for the 'Popular Resolution' has been endorsed through
signatures to its accompanying World-Wide Sign-on Petition by over 100
organisations. Group sponsored and individual signatures now total well over
11,000,000 million people (many who are Irish citizens) from 16 different
nations, including both Norway and Japan. The 'Popular Resolution' puts into
words, the hopes, aspirations and more importantly, demands of these many
millions of people and is growing daily as the global community learns of its
existence. It covers many aspects of the killing of whales issue, not least
the inhumaneness of this practice which I will come to later in this letter;
the final paragraph of the 'Popular Resolution' reads:

NOW THEREFORE, WE THE CONCERNED

INSIST that the Contracting Governments (to the IWC) take immediate and
effective action to halt the unnecessary and inhumane suffering of whales by
opposing any move to end the current moratorium on commercial whaling; by
bringing about a Schedule amendment to abolish all commercial whaling
(including that conducted under guises such as so-called "scientific"
whaling); and by working with haste towards the creation of a PERMANENT,
ENFORCED, ALL OCEAN SANCTUARY FOR ALL CETACEANS.

(Please note the use of the words ALL OCEAN SANCTUARY rather than GLOBAL.
This means ALL areas where the great whales reside or use for their
migrations and includes coastal areas up to the high water mark. Both whaling
interests and, it seems, your Government, have hijacked the word 'global' in
an attempt to hide their real intentions. Honesty requires you to use the
word PELAGIC for your version of a 'sanctuary', not 'global'.)

Breach Marine Protection and all the organisations, political parties,
schools, colleges, universities, companies, individuals etc. etc. who are
signatories to the specifics expressed within the 'Popular Resolution', are
supported and comforted by this massive and overwhelming response to this
world-wide democratic project. We believe that the 'Popular Resolution'
demonstrates a proven and growing mandate from the people of this world who
wish to see a final end to commercial, 'scientific' and inhumane slaughter of
whales. We also believe we are the majority.

Because this issue is so highly emotive, immensely controversial and has
serious implications on the world we all live in, and considering the
unproved mandate the
Government of Ireland enjoys with regard to this issue, we believe you must
establish the size of that mandate before proceeding any further with your
proposals.

We therefore call on the Government of Ireland to act in a true democratic
fashion by placing your proposals before the people of Ireland in the form of
a nation-wide referendum that deals with this issue. This action must take
place before your country's will is put to the IWC.

2) Humane Killing

Breach Marine Protection advocates the right of all whales, dolphins and
porpoises (cetaceans) to a natural life in a natural environment, free from
harmful human
commercial exploitation. We hold fundamental moral objections to the killing
of cetaceans by humans, other than for acts of veterinary humaneness and
genuine non-commercial subsistence (survival) need. There is, without
question, a widespread fundamental belief that, with the exception of genuine
aboriginal subsistence (survival) whaling, the consumptive utilisation of
large cetaceans ("whales"), and specifically commercial whaling and its
various guises, is ethically unacceptable due to the intrinsic inhumaneness
of the methods necessarily employed during capture and slaughter.

There is certain knowledge - even amongst the most ardent pro-whaling
enthusiasts - that a whale is a highly evolved, sentient, cognisant animal
with, at the very least, an awareness of its own life and environment. Few
can doubt that a whale, being a mammal with a highly developed neurological
system, is capable of perceiving stress, fear and pain similar to that
experienced by humans.

The International Whaling Commission's own definition of 'humane killing of
an animal', (IWC/44/REPHK), adopted in 1980 (IWC/33/15); and reiterated in
1992, is: 

'causing its death without pain, stress or distress perceptible to the
animal. That is the ideal. Any humane killing technique aims first to render
an animal insensitive to pain as swiftly as is technically possible, which in
practice cannot be instantaneous in the scientific sense.'

Thus a whale's death is considered humane provided it is without pain, stress
or distress perceptible to the animal. Conversely, it must be true that a
whale's death is considered non-humane or inhumane if it occurs with pain,
stress or distress perceptible to the animal. The Commission goes further in
recognising that such a definition of humane killing is an 'ideal'.
Irrespective of attempts to use this qualifier as if it were a legitimate
escape clause for cases of prolonged times to death, it is apparent from
whaling data that humane killing is not achieved (and cannot be achieved with
current knowledge or technology) during whaling operations.

Despite efforts to improve strike accuracy and slaughter efficiency, whaling
industry data, IWC documents and independent corroboration clearly prove that
a significant proportion of modern penthrite grenade harpoon strikes fail to
instantaneously kill or render whales irrecoverably insensible. Many
potentially prolonged periods of suffering are only curtailed by use of a
secondary killing method. However, the electric lance is ineffective and is
likely to cause extra pain and suffering in a conscious animal (IWC/47/50);,
and the alternative use of rifle fire is also an ineffective method of
dispatch. Neither satisfy the IWC criteria laid down in their definition of
'humane killing of an animal'. Additionally, there is sufficient evidence to
conclude that an apparently 'dead' whale (to the human eye) may in fact be
alive and even fully sensible.

Due to the significantly large and recurring proportion of non-instantaneous
and prolonged times to death (which fail to satisfy the IWC's criteria for
humane killing) intrinsic to the commercial slaughter of whales, there is no
alternative other than to conclude that commercial whaling, in general,
inhumane. It follows that those who conduct and support commercial whaling
must therefore consider inhumane killing to be ethically acceptable.

Governments and others who justify and condone the inhumane slaughter of
whales are, in effect, choosing to ignore their moral - and hence ethical -
responsibility toward preventing the infliction of pain and suffering on
animals. Put simply, they are failing their 'duty of care'. The actions of
these Governments are tantamount to State institutionalisation of an inhumane
slaughter practice which would not be ethically acceptable or legally
permissible within a majority of modern progressive nations if it occurred in
an abattoir for domestic livestock. So, why then is it legal (see below) or
acceptable at sea?

3) Legality

Breach Marine Protection believes that the 'Irish Initiative' could advocate
and encourage (which in itself could be an offence) others to break Irish
Domestic Law and European Community Law. Just a few areas of concern appear
to be: wildlife protection regulations, animal cruelty regulations, animal
slaughter regulations, fisheries protection and others. The 'Irish
Initiative' could also call into question International Law including
Ireland's responsibilities as signatories to United Nations Treaties and
Conventions. 

If this Government of Ireland's proposal is placed before the IWC, Breach
Marine Protection and others may have no choice but seek legal remedies,
similar to those we are pursuing in the United States of American, including
judicial relief and/ or litigation.

Conclusion

On behalf of its members and supporters, and millions of other people
world-wide, Breach Marine Protection hereby calls upon the Government of
Ireland to stop all attempts at appeasing whaling interests and the small
minority of national governments who support the inhumane practice of whale
slaughter. We call upon the Government of Ireland to act in a democratic
manner and in the interests of what we believe to be the majority of its own
people and the majority of the global community. We require the Government of
Ireland to take a true world leading role on the issue of whaling by
endorsing the principles embodied within the 'Popular Resolution on Abolition
of Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of Whales', and thereby carry forward onto
the world stage the hopes, opinions and demands of the millions of people who
already have shown explicit support for these principles, and the millions
who will support this draft resolution in the future.

We also call on the Government of Ireland not to subject its people, without
their consent, to the world-wide condemnation that will surely come if their
country is seen as the leaders who brought back the commercial slaughter of
the great whales to this already impoverished planet. We fear that this
Government of Ireland may go down in history as the administration that made
a deal with violent killers, purely on the grounds of expediency, that led to
the final
gasp of our cetacean cousins.

I look forward to hearing from you in connection with this matter.

Yours sincerely,


David Smith
Campaigns Director
Breach Marine Protection

cc 
Honourable Sile de Valera T.D.
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands

 
encl.
'Popular Resolution on Abolition of Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of Whales'
'Humane Killing Or Cruelty' Report
Briefing - Japanese Whalers Still Using 'Cold' Harpoon
Briefing - Whale Killing Methods
Briefing - Commercial Whaling Data
Briefing - 'Save The Minke Whale!'
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 00:49:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: civillib@cwnet.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: 6 Arrested at Slaughterhouse (US)
Message-ID: <199710020749.AAA06357@smtp.cwnet.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


URGENT NEWS ADVISORY
October 2, 1997 







6 Activists Arrested After Slaughterhouse Blockaded,
Closed  Down By Animal Rights Activists

     PETALUMA, CA -- Six activists were arrested late Wednesday after they
blockaded both entrances to a huge veal slaughterhouse here. The action
kicked off "World Farm Animals Day" worldwide.

     An estimated 30 activists surrounded, and closed down the facility – no
trucks could get in or out – in a predawn raid about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The kept the slaughterhouse closed for about 10 hours.

        Activists are being held in Petaluma County Jail in Santa Rosa are
trespassing charges. They are due to be arraignment Friday.

     Activists from the Animal Rights Direct Action Coalition, Sonoma People for
Animal Rights and other groups locked to eight 1000-pound barrels in the
middle of both entrances. A similar protest last year resulted in multiple
arrests at the same site.

     The nonviolent action is tied to "World Farm Animals Day," a day (Oct. 2)
where people around the world, and in the U.S. protest the killing of
animals for food. More than 9 billion animals die in the U.S. every year for
"food."

     Activists said eating an animal-based diet makes people sick, destroys the
environment and results in the torture and killing of billions of animals
unnessarily.
-30-

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:45:08 +0800
From: bunny 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Anecdotal evidence Myxomatosis/RHD/humans
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971002183029.21bf7f50@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Here is an email from someone with a good reputation for what they are
involved in (rabbit hunting/harvesting).Thought someone may find it interesting.
Regards,

Marguerite

To:Rabbit Information Service
Tony (name changed to protect informant) and I spent years fighting for the
survival of the wild rabbit here in NZ. We started out in September 1990
with a proposal to harvest 70 million carcasses per year. This number was
based on a MAF population guess. We soon found that there wasn't even a
million rabbits in the whole country. We offered to conduct infra-red aerial
surveys, but the Regional Council's didn't want to know. We finally drew the
conclusion that the whole thing was a scam to collect tax dollars for the
support of uneconomic farms in the high country. We dealt with most of those
involved on a personal basis. The only ones I haven't met are O'hara -
Deputy DG of MAF and O'neill, Chief Veterinary Officer.

What was astounding to us was the meeting we attended in 1992(?) with Cor
Lenghaus who ran the Aussie RVHD experiment at Geelong. He didn't know of
the Bailey case of RHVD infection and was convinced RVHD was not infectious
to humans. He was severely shaken by our revelations. The then Minister of
Agriculture, John Falloon had been fully briefed by us, but refused to act
on our material. It appears from what we can find that MAF sent someone to
interview the Baileys in England, because no one has ever claimed we were
wrong. In fact we thought the Baileys were mistaken and Mr Bailey had
contracted myxomatosis. But apparently UK MAFF had tested their animals and
they had definitely contracted RHVD. Mrs Bailey claimed they had been
infected by contact with unauthorised entries into a local show. This may
well have been deliberate and is something rabbit breeders should consider
when organising such events.

What has surprised us is the solid support for our position by the medical
fraternity. They know it infects humans, but have been blackmailed into
silence by the powerful farmer lobby in government. Either they shut up or
lost their jobs! As I said before, MMP will eventually bring out  the truth
and retribution to those who have done this, it's just a matter of time. 

Just before MAF declined myxomatosis release here, the only person who was
allowed official MAF contact with us was Jim Bell based at Lincoln. He died
of a mysterious blood infection, which was claimed to be cancer, in 8 weeks
from diagnosis. We had earlier questioned him about his exposure to
myxomatosis and he had said he was in the Murray Valley (Australia)during
the 1950-1 outbreak doing field work and had suffered extensive insect
bites. We asked him if he was concerned. Initially he wasn't, having been
reassured by CSIRO human  infection was unknown. When we showed him it
definitely wasn't unknown, he changed his mind. We will never know what
killed Jim, but it was one hell of a shock to us. He was in his late
fourties when he died.
Cheers Ryan (name changed to protect informant)




===========================================

Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148

Email>  rabbit@wantree.com.au

http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)

     /`\   /`\
    (/\ \-/ /\)
       )6 6(
     >{= Y =}<
      /'-^-'\
     (_)   (_)
      |  .  |
      |     |}
 jgs  \_/^\_/













Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:46:13 +0800
From: bunny 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (USA)Pfiesteria, Fish Kills & The Chesapeake Bay
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971002183135.29fff794@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Pfiesteria, Fish Kills & The Chesapeake Bay
------------------------------------------- 
http://www.chesapeakebay.net/bayprogram/new/innews/1997/pfiester.htm
 
In response to recent fish kills and other diseased fish catches in 
Maryland, North Carolina and Delaware, the Chesapeake Bay Program has 
created this page for the latest information about _Pfiesteria 
piscicida_, implicated in the recent fish kills. 

_Pfiesteria piscicida_ is a one-celled microorganism referred to by
scientists as a toxic dinoflagellate.  The site includes fact sheets, daily
updates, health facts and information from current press articles.



Pfiesteria piscicida
--------------------
http://www.nal.usda.gov/wqic/pfiest.html

The Water Quality Information Center at the National Agricultural 
Library, U. S. Department of Agriculture, has developed a page of 
linkages to material covering _Pfiesteria piscicida_ as well. 

Linkages are made to information from the Maryland Department of Natural
Resources, North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources,
and other organizations dealing with the recent concerns of this
microorganisms' affect on aquatic life.

===========================================

Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148

Email>  rabbit@wantree.com.au

http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)

     /`\   /`\
    (/\ \-/ /\)
       )6 6(
     >{= Y =}<
      /'-^-'\
     (_)   (_)
      |  .  |
      |     |}
 jgs  \_/^\_/













Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:46:56 +0800
From: bunny 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Rodent Control Conference
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971002183217.21bf7f50@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Here is a web site address re an impending conference on rodents
involving CSIRO (Australia), Chinese scientists etc.

http://panda.ioz.ac.cn/ioz/rodent98.html

NB:I wonder what scientists have in store for rodents?

===========================================

Rabbit Information Service,
P.O.Box 30,
Riverton,
Western Australia 6148

Email>  rabbit@wantree.com.au

http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
(Rabbit Information Service website updated frequently)

     /`\   /`\
    (/\ \-/ /\)
       )6 6(
     >{= Y =}<
      /'-^-'\
     (_)   (_)
      |  .  |
      |     |}
 jgs  \_/^\_/













Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:52:08 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (PH/AU) Hope through legislation
Message-ID: <199710021052.SAA19146@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



Richard Jones, M.L.C., Legislative Council, (Parliamant House, New South
Wales, Australia), informs me that he visited the Philippines recently to
meet with Senators and Congressmen to encourage them to pass their Animal
Welfare Act.  He met with all the people involved in promoting the Act and
says the Act was passed through the Congress in early August. He understands
that it may well be passing through the Senate very shortly as the Act has
been put up to a high priority Order of Business.

He also says steeplechasing and fire face branding of cattle have been
banned in NSW. In addition to crustaceans being protected under their
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Here's to more fruitful transnational collaborative efforts for the animals
and more Richard/Rebecca Jones in all our Parliaments... : )

- Vadivu


Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:52:22 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (PH) Birds drop dead from sky on Philippine island 
Message-ID: <199710021052.SAA13651@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>The Sunday Times
28 Sept 97
Birds drop dead from sky on Philippine island 

     By Luz Baguioro in Manila 

     MIGRATORY birds stopping at the western Philippine island of Palawan
were     dropping dead from the skies as smog from uncontrolled forest fires
in Indonesia     reached the area, officials and environmental groups said
yesterday. 

     Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn, citing a report from the
environmental     group, Haribon, said that the haze had killed migratory
birds taking sanctuary at Ursula     Island. 

     An environmental team which was sent to check the reports earlier in
the week had to     turn back because of near-zero visibility in the area,
he added. 
Military officials said they had sent a helicopter to Ursula Island, a bird
sanctuary at the     southern tip of Palawan, to check on the reports. 

     Farmers in the area had also reported increased insect attacks on their
crops, local     officials said. 

     Environmentalists said that the smog could have induced the insects to
come out of     their forest habitat. 

     Children have also complained of stinging eyes because of the haze. 

     An AFP report said that visibility on the southern side of Palawan,
where the haze was     strongest, was down to about 300 m, and officials had
warned drivers to be cautious. 

However, in Puerto Princesa, conditions have eased with visibility rising to
5 km
     yesterday, up from 3 km earlier this week. Visibility in southern
Zamboanga City was 5     km. 

     Although the haze has been observed in different parts of the
Philippines, only a few     areas have been affected. 

     Environment Secretary Victor Ramos has warned that the smog could
induce acid rain     in affected areas. 

     But weather experts said this was unlikely because the Philippines was
far from the     source of forest fires. Philippine officials have expressed
the hope that easterly winds
     that come in early October would, together with an impending storm,
push the toxic     haze to the South China Sea. 

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:52:34 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) Goodall Association in Taiwan
Message-ID: <199710021052.SAA18496@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>>CNA Daily English News Wire

PRESIDENT LEE TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR TAIWAN'S GOODALL
                               ASSOCIATION 

Taipei, Sept. 26 (CNA) President Lee Teng-hui and Vice President Lien Chan
will both donate items for a charity sale to help raise funds for the
establishment of a local branch of the International
Goodall Education and Conservation Association, according to the preparatory
organization of the planned branch. 

Chao Yiung-chin, one of sponsors of the preparatory group, said on Thursday
that the renowned British primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, who is to arrive
here Sunday for a visit, will also donate one
of her treasures -- a painting by a chimpanzee -- for the sale, which is
slated for Oct. 1 at a fund-raising banquet here. 

The preparatory group now has 49 sponsors, including executives and
celebrities from the cultural sector, experts and scholars from the academic
sector, entrepreneurs, and governmental officials, Chao said. 

Goodall, 63, dubbed the "Mother of Chimpanzees," has earned a reputation as
one of the world's three leading primatologists through her 35 years of
research devoted to chimpanzees. She visited
Taiwan last October, delivering a series of lectures on her work and
emphasizing the need for worldwide conservation efforts. 

During her upcoming seven-day visit to the island, Goodall will also deliver
speeches and attend a book signing to promote her new book, "In the Shadow
of Man," as well as travel with Lien to
southern Taiwan's Kenting National Park to learn more about Taiwan's efforts
at wildlife conservation. (By Elizabeth Hsu) 

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:52:52 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CN) Portuguese-style bullfighting may enter China
Message-ID: <199710021052.SAA19238@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>Hong Kong Standard
2 Oct 97

Mainland may host Portuguese-style bullfighting
By Harald Bruning 

PORTUGUESE-style bullfights are likely to be held in Beijing and Shanghai
during the next Lunar
New Year celebration, a Chinese source in Macau said. 

The source, who requested anonymity, said two ``large corporations'' in
China had asked the
Portuguese Taurus impresario to hold bullfights in the two mainland cities
during the next Lunar New
Year holiday season _ between late January and early February next year. 

``Chinese people like to see new foreign things, and Portuguese bullfights
are very exotic in Asia,''
the source said. 

He noted that unlike Spanish and Mexican bullfights, ``the Portuguese
version has nothing to do with
cruelty to animals, it's actually something like a play between man and
beast''. 

In Portuguese-style bullfights, the bulls are never killed in the arena but
slaughtered after performing
in the bullring. Five to 10 per cent of the ``bravest'' bulls are selected
for breeding. 

Portuguese bullfighters never use lances or swords, but darts that do not
cause any major injuries to
the bulls, aficionados claim. 

The Taurus company, which is holding five bullfighting shows in Macau,
refused to comment ``for
the time being'' on the possibility of holding bullfights in China early
next year. 

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:53:00 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MO) Bullfights washed out in Macau
Message-ID: <199710021053.SAA01269@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>Hong Kong Standard
29 Sept 97

By Harald Bruning in Macau 

RAIN, not animal rights activists, on Sunday cut short the bullfighting show
in Macau. 

After calling off the last two of the five events in the bullring because of
a heavy downpour, the organisers took time out to deny claims the bulls had
mad cow disease. 

``Ridiculous,'' they said of published reports that the 24 bulls flown to
the enclave had the deadly disease. ``It's absolutely ridiculous, our
Portuguese bulls live a semi-wild existence on huge pastures,
they are not kept in stables like domestic cows that might be infected by
the disease,'' said Jose Pinto of the Taurus company, which is behind the
five shows in Macau. The fights end next Sunday. 

Braving driving rain, several hundred fans led by the Macau governor,
General Vasco Rocha Vieira, attended the arena. 

Animal rights activists who protested outside the bullring on Saturday were
seen videotaping the
show as part of a documentary on alleged animal cruelty. 
The next show has been planned for Wednesday. 

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 13:18:24 +0000
From: wargnier 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Message-ID: <3.0.2.32.19971002131824.0069b004@mail.vdp.fr>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Sir, dear Madam

We are pleased to introduce " Fight against vivisection ! the International
Newsletter "
What is it about ?
The International newsletter has several objectives :
- To present an evaluation of the anti vivisection action and movements all
over the world and the anti vivisection initiatives at an international level
- To introduce internationally figurehead and activists portraits .
- To be a tribune of free expression and opinions .
- To constitute a " place " of exchange and dialogue : it aim is to compare
the initiatives, activist ways of groups or coutries .
- To inform on actions taken by international institutions against
vivisection and to question them as for this subject .
- To inform on pharmaceutical, cosmetic multinationals and to develop
internationally original actions against them .
This newsletter contains interviews ( key figures, associations and
organizatios ,political figures ), leading articles on the conditions of
anti vivisection fiht in the world , informations on companies,
laboratories with international activities and a " letters to the editor"
pages .
This newsletter is published in France . An English translation will be
available for international sending .
Who are the editors ?
At the beginning of this initiative, anti vivisection activists in Europe
trying to develop new and original actions : We actually develop an
European coalition the " four days in Europe against vivisectio  " project
(actions, demonstrations, debates in all Europe during several days )
The "Fight against vivisection . The International Newsletter "is a
newsletter send by mail .
If you want to receive this bimonthly newsletter and support us , please
send a check of 
30 dollars for one year (6 issues )
to :
F.A.V ! The International Newsletter
c\o KELIBI
18, rue des Dames
75017 PARIS 
FRANCE
For more information you can also E-mail to :
wargnier.cyb@vdp.fr
THANKS !

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 08:36:38 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Pfiesteria Exposure Suspected in Illness Of Virginia
  Worker
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002083635.006cb9b4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from WashingtonPost.com:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Pfiesteria Exposure Suspected in Illness Of
                         Virginia Worker

                         By Eric L. Wee
                         Washington Post Staff Writer
                         Thursday, October 2, 1997; Page D01
                         The Washington Post

                         A Virginia official monitoring the Pocomoke
                         River has developed lesions and other symptoms
                         linked to Pfiesteria piscicida, but Virginia's
                         health commissioner says that won't change his
                         position that more study is needed to prove
                         that the fish-killing microbe is a threat to
                         people.

                         The Virginia Marine Resources Commission said
                         yesterday that one of its workers who patrol
                         the river had reported symptoms. Most of the
                         Pocomoke is in Maryland, which closed the river
                         as a public health threat after thousands of
                         fish were found dead in August and pfiesteria
                         was discovered in the water.

                         Virginia officials have cooperated with
                         Maryland's decision to close the Pocomoke,
                         putting the Virginia section off limits to
                         fishing and recreation. But they are skeptical
                         of Maryland's aggressive approach. They say
                         there's no solid evidence that the microbe
                         makes people sick, and unlike Maryland
                         officials, they have not closed rivers where
                         evidence of pfiesteria has been found but no
                         fish kills have been reported.

                         The Virginia employee who got sick was treated
                         last Thursday by Ritchie C. Shoemaker, a
                         physician in Pocomoke City, Md., who has
                         treated other patients with symptoms believed
                         to have been caused by pfiesteria. Neither
                         Shoemaker nor Virginia officials would release
                         the man's name.

                         Shoemaker said the worker had been in and on
                         the Pocomoke River in both Maryland and
                         Virginia and had about a dozen lesions, 1 inch
                         to 1 1/2 inches long, that were not healing. He
                         said the lesions were on skin that had come
                         into contact with the water.

                         "They were typical pfiesteria lesions . . .
                         exactly like the 15 other patients I've seen
                         with them," Shoemaker said.

                         Like other patients Shoemaker has seen, the man
                         had severe short-term memory loss and could
                         not, for example, remember a series of numbers
                         for a few minutes, Shoemaker said.

                         Virginia Health Commissioner Randolph L. Gordon
                         again defended his state's decision to keep
                         open the Rappahannock River, where
                         pfiesteria-like microbes were detected but not
                         linked to fish kills. Maryland has closed two
                         rivers where the microbe was found but no fish
                         were reported killed, calling the precaution
                         necessary to protect public health.

                         Gordon said such drastic measures aren't called
                         for because there's no conclusive proof that
                         pfiesteria harms humans -- especially in rivers
                         where it hasn't even been blamed for killing
                         any fish.

                         "We're not dealing with anything that is
                         confirmed at this point," Gordon said of the
                         state employee's symptoms. "We're trying to
                         find out as quickly as possible to see if this
                         is a human health threat. We're working with
                         other states and with [the federal Centers for
                         Disease Control and Prevention] to prove or
                         disprove the hypothesis. This is not a foregone
                         conclusion. There is a lot more to be learned."

                         Julie Overy, a spokeswoman for Gov. George
                         Allen (R), said Allen will not change the
                         state's policy toward pfiesteria until he gets
                         a recommendation from Gordon to do so.

                         But Shoemaker joined environmentalists in
                         criticizing that approach and urged Virginia to
                         take actions similar to those taken by
                         Maryland.

                         "We know that you can get sick, and others will
                         likely be sick if they come into contact with
                         the pfiesteria toxin," Shoemaker said. "So if
                         you're out on the Rappahannock or another of
                         [Virginia's] estuaries, you better look out and
                         take precautions. [Virginia] needs to stop
                         denying that there is a problem."

                         A panel of doctors appointed by Maryland
                         officials has reported finding 22 people who
                         suffered symptoms including lesions, memory
                         loss and breathing problems after exposure to
                         the Pocomoke River and nearby Eastern Shore
                         waterways where pfiesteria was found.

                         Maryland officials said the report supported
                         their decision to close three rivers.

                         Virginia also has assembled a medical team to
                         review reports of illnesses that might be
                         linked to pfiesteria exposure. Shoemaker said
                         he had spoken to the head of the team about the
                         state employee's case.

                         Staff writer Todd Shields contributed to this
                         report.

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 08:05:48 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: Fur Back?
Message-ID: <199710021300.JAA04820@envirolink.org>

The Tulsa World has almost a full-page article on fur fashions
returning to the forefront. Fur - classic mink, sheared mink,
brightly dyed fox, feathered fox, extravagant sable, silky
broadtail - has returned.

A baby-blue Mongolian lamb coat is on the cover of the September issue
of Vogue magazine. Inside the magazine are 16 pages showing fashion uses
of fur.

Designer Alexander McQueen blends fashion and taxidermy together in
collections featuring pelts, feathers, claws, and heads of various fauna.

"People are no less concerned for animal welfare, but they are NOT going
to be told what to do," says Stephanie Kenyon, spokeswoman for the Fur
Information Council of America.

-- Sherrill
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 09:31:53 -0400
From: Animal Alliance of Canada 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Animal protection list
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002093041.006da71c@inforamp.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hi All,

Animal Alliance of Canada is compiling a list of animal protection
organizations all over the world.  The idea is to be able to provide
interested parties the accurate information about any organization, as well
as to provide other animal protection groups the maximun networking power
that they need.  We have maintained such a  list for over 3 years now, and
we are currently updating it.  Many of you have received this survey, and
have responded.  However, if your organization has not received the survey,
and wish to be included in our list (listing is absolutely free), then
please send a private e-mail to: marie@animalalliance.ca and type SURVEY in
the subject line.  There is no e-mail version of this (unless you can
handle a Word document in word '97), so please provide a complete address
and/or fax number in the message.

So far we have well over 1000 organizations listed, and hope that we will
be able to provide the most comprehensive list out there.  Your cooperation
would be most appreciated!  Copies of the completed list are also
available, and the segments for Canadian, USA, International as well as for
the Global list (all three lists) are offered for $3.00 per list or $8.00
for all three.  Details are attached to the survey.

Hope to hear from you!

Marie Crawford
Animal Alliance of Canada
221 Broadview Ave.  Suite 101
Toronto, Ontario  M4M 2G3

Phone: (416)462-9541
Fax:   (416)462-9647

E-mail: aac@inforamp.net
Website: www.inforamp.net/~aac
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 10:08:14 -0400
From: Wyandotte Animal Group 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: USDA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING IN VITRO TESTING
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971002140814.23973db2@mail.heritage.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>>                                   Jim Rogers       (301) 734-8563
>>                                            jrogers @aphis.usda.gov
>>                                   Jerry Redding   (202)720-6959
>>                                                     jredding@usda.gov
>>
>>
>>
>>USDA TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING IN VITRO TESTING
>>
>>       WASHINGTON, Sept., 26 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
>>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will hold a public meeting to
>>discuss the implementation of guidelines for the in vitro testing of
>>veterinary biologics.
>>
>>       The meeting will be held Oct. 16, in the main auditorium of the
>>National Animal Disease Center, 2300 Dayton Road, Ames, Iowa, from 8
>>a.m. until noon.
>>
>>       The meeting notice was published in the Sept. 25 Federal Register.
>>
>>       APHIS is a part of USDA's marketing and regulatory programs
>>mission area.
>>
>>       For more information about the meeting, contact Jeanette Greenberg,
>>Center for Veterinary Biologics, Licensing and Policy Development, VS,
>>APHIS, Unit 148, 4700 River Road, Unit 147, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1231,
>>(301) 734-8400 or e-mail jgreenberg@aphis.usda.gov.
>>
>>                                      # 


Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
wag@heritage.com

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 97 11:30:32 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: Local Beekeeper Has Mite Answer
Message-ID: <199710021625.MAA28374@envirolink.org>

(Sapulpa Herald, OK, USA): While beekeepers in Iowa and other states
report problems with mites, a Sapulpa keeper said he has found a solution
in giving the bees minerals.

Beekeeper Don Burger said he has been keeping bees for 12 to 15 years.
He said he has had success in using colloidal minerals as a way of dealing
with varroa and tracheal mites.

Beekeepers in Iowa say they are losing as many as 80 percent of their bees
because of the mites. Tracheal mites get in the honeybees' breathing tubes,
plugging them or penetrating the walls to suck out body fluids. Varroa mites
also pierce the thin membranes in the bees' body armor to suck fluids as well
as inject viruses and pathegens that weaken the bees and kill them prematurely.

Burger said the colloidal minerals come in a liquid form and are sold in
health food stores for human consumption.

"The same thing that works with the bees works with you," Burger said.
Proponents claim 98 percent of the minerals present in the early Earth
have been depleted, which is why the liquid mineral supplements are
beneficial.

"It takes some time to understand this stuff," Burger said. He said he
purchased some to try himself, then decided to try it on the bees two
years ago.

Burger pours the liquid supplement into a tuna can, with a sponge in
the can topped with a wire screen. If he feeds them openly, Burger said,
the bees would drown in the liquid. He places a can in each hive.

"I know it works because I use it all the time," he said. He said friends
have gotten good results with the method.

-- Sherrill
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 12:53:10 -0400 (EDT)
From: BKMACKAY@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CA)  Kudos to Scarborough citizens for protesting (leghold trap) cruelty
Message-ID: <971002122956_-395836779@emout15.mail.aol.com>

Kudos to Scarborough citizens for protesting cruelty

NATURE TRAIL COLUMN FOR SEPTEMBER 28, 1997, The Toronto Star

One ``routine'' instance of cruelty to an animal did not occur in vain. A red
fox's wails of agony did not, as so often is the case with such animals, go
unheard by compassionate people.

Those people were not animal rights fanatics, just ordinary Scarborough
citizens when, last December 7th, a red fox screamed and whimpered in severe
pain, cried and thrashed about, a foot caught in a leghold trap.  It was all
perfectly legal, if horrific. What would happen to a companion animal or
child caught in such a device?

Congratulations to Dan Newman, Progressive Conservative MPP for Scarborough
Centre, who responded to citizens' compassion, and showed his own, by
proposing Bill Pr78, to end use of leghold traps in Scarborough. He told me
he received more phone comments from his constituents on that issue than any
other since his election.  Congratulations, also, to others, including
Scarborough Mirror columnist Dick Singer, for publicizing the issue and
supporting the legislation, and Donald Mitton, manager of the Scarborough
Animal Centre. Scarborough's Wildlife Strategy, approved by Council in
January, encourages an ecological approach to wildlife conflict situations.

The proposal did receive unanimous committee consent on September 3, clearing
the way for second and third reading in the Ontario Legislature. If it
becomes law, Newman will have won a victory for Scarborough's wild animals,
companion animals and children at risk from these hideous devices.

Before that, however, the President of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation
sent a disturbing letter to the provincial standing committee on regulations
and private bills. His ketter stated, ``The implications to the spread of
rabies and the personal health issues associated with this by-law could be
catastrophic to the residents and visitors to the municipality.''  Either
this is a scare-tactic, or else the federation president is surprisingly
unaware of the outstandingly successful rabies control program developed over
the past three decades by our own Ontario ministry of natural resources.  As
Rick Rosatte, senior research scientist with the ministry's rabies research
unit, wrote, ``(Ministry) scientists believe that the best strategy to manage
fox rabies in Ontario is through oral vaccination with vaccine baits and not
through removing animals from the population by trapping.''

Since Ontario trappers have contributed to the development of Ontario's very
successful anti-rabies program, by donating teeth of trapped foxes, is hard
to believe that program, its methods and its success are unknown to the
Ontario Fur Managers Federation.  (The fox teeth show whether othe animals
have eaten baits treated with ``markers'' that are revealed under special
lighting beneath a microscope.''

Leg hold traps are cruel, dangerous and unwanted in urban areas and the
threat of rabies is absolutely no justification for their use.

-30-

[For a more detailed examination of this issue, with more information
available, read the current "Opinionatedly Yours" column at
]




Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 14:14:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: NOVENAANN@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (VA) Hunters and fisherman endorse GOP's Gilmore
Message-ID: <971002141129_625670974@emout01.mail.aol.com>

Hunters and fisherman
endorse GOP's Gilmore

By Steve Vaughan
The News & Advance

Although he doesn't have incumbent Gov. George Allen's flair for 
decorating with stuffed and mounted wildlife, Republican gubernatorial 
candidate Jim Gilmore said Wednesday in Madison Heights that he stands 
with the state's hunters and fishermen.

At Izaak Walton League park, Gilmore announced the creation of 
"Sportsmen for Gilmore" a campaign committee headed by former Secretary 
of Public Safety Jerry Kilgore.

Gilmore said that if he is elected governor he will veto any bills that 
"senselessly meddle" with the rights of hunters and fishermen.

Asked if he himself was hunter, Gilmore said he wasn't but was involved 
in sports shooting.

"I've been more involved with shooting sporting clays. I own a shotgun," 
he said.

Asked if that meant he'd get rid of the various stuffed animals that 
Allen has used to decorate the executive mansion and his capitol office, 
Gilmore laughed.

"I've got some ideas of my own on how to decorate," he said.

A sparse crowd of about 10 supporters braved a threatening rain, to hear 
Gilmore, Kilgore and Del. Preston Bryant, R-Lynchburg, speak in support 
of "Virginia's heritage of hunting and fishing" and against laws 
restricting the right to hunt or to bear arms.

Bryant introduced Gilmore and said that Virginia's sportsmen are also 
conservationists.

Gilmore said that a balance has to be struck between environmentalists 
and sportsmen and business people.

"You look at (Vice President) Al Gore's book for example and there's no 
balance. He's an environmental extremist. That's why I was somewhat 
surprised that Don Beyer had him in the state to campaign for him."

Gilmore said that the state's heritage of hunting, fishing, and shooting 
sports is under attack from people who don't understand them and he 
vowed to stand with the state's sportsmen.

He also promised not to raid the state's Games Protection fund.

"I won't raid that fund to balance the budget or any other fund that is 
collected from sportsmen," Gilmore said.

He also promised not to put anti-hunting advocates on the state game 
commission and to resist merging the commission with another state 
department.

Gilmore also said he supports the liberalization of the state's 
concealed weapon permit law, which has made it easier for applicants to 
get concealed weapons permits and would resist restrictions on firearms 
ownership.

"I support measures that keep gun out of the hands of criminals, but not 
measures that infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens. I will 
oppose arbitrary waiting periods for firearm ownership and I support out 
instant records check, with is the best in the nation," he said. 
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 14:21:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: NOVENAANN@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Upcoming Richmond Events (VA)
Message-ID: <971002142055_150019138@emout11.mail.aol.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=unknown-8bit


October 

October 3- 406 E.Grace St. -Alan Furs-4:30 
RARN will be holding a demo during rush hour at Alan Furs. This will be 
the first of a series of demos until Mr. Alan gets a new line of work. 
We will be having a meeting following the demo. 

October 4-Entrance to the State Fairgrounds-noon 
RARN will be protesting the exploitation of animals at the State Fair. 
This years fair includes an animal birthing barn and a Rodeo. 

October 4-805 W. Cary St.-5pm 
Benefit dinner for the Critical Mass riders that were arrested or 
ticketed. 

October 6, 7, 28- 400 N. 9th St.-9:30 
Critical Mass Court Support for arrested and ticketed riders.   

October 13- 900 W Broad St- 2nd floor-6pm 
RARN members will be at a city council meeting to discuss the Richmond 
Animal Shelter. 

For more info call Richmond Animal Rights Network at (804) 353-0363
or send e-mail to RARNKV@aol.com
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 14:58:20 -0400 (EDT)
From: PAWS 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: King Royal Vigils Planned
Message-ID: 
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

There will be vigils/demos in support of the King Royal animals in 16 
cities around the country beginning next week, October 6th.  The events 
are timed to coincide with the opening of the USDA's administrative 
hearing on the King Royal case.  Events are planned for Albuquerque; 
Wash, DC; New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Jose; Sacramento; 
Dallas; Pittsburgh; and many more sites around the country. 

PAWS is providing King Royal fact sheets and poster, both of which 
include photos of Heather, the elephant who died in the King Royal 
trailer in Albuquerque.  

If you or your group is sponsoring a leafletting or protest, please let 
PAWS know so that we can include your group's name in our national press 
release. 

AGAIN, we appeal to everyone to call or write the USDA again, demanding 
that they not only revoke King Royal's permits permanently but also 
confiscate the animals still in King Royal's possession.  King Royal may be 
planning to retain the animals and RENT them to other traveling shows and 
fairs.  We must get these animals OUT of the circus-cycle.   Please 
write, call or fax:

Mr. Mike Dunn
Asst Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Affairs
USDA 
AG-0109
14th St and Independence Ave SW
Wash, DC  20250
(202) 720-4256
(202) 720-5775  fax


Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 14:56:00 -0400
From: "Zoocheck Canada Inc." 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Toronto Area Fundraising Event
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002145546.006b5644@idirect.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Greetings to Toronto area ar-readers. Zoocheck Canada's Feast for Beasts
fundraising dinner is next Tuesday, October 7 at the Sher-E-Punjab
Restaurant, 351 Danforth Avenue, Toronto. Barry Kent MacKay, noted author
and illustrator will enlighten and enliven us with his hilarious talk
"Lust, Passion and Animal Sex"! Thanks to our generous supporters we have
excellent items available for auction. Please join us for a fabulous
evening of food and fun! Tickets are available through Zoocheck Canada at
416-285-1744 or by fax 416-285-4670 and of course, by email. See you Tuesday!

Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON M4N 3P6 Canada
Phone: 416-285-1744    Fax: 416-285-4670 or 696-0370
E-mail: zoocheck@idirect.com     Web site: http://web.idirect.com/~zoocheck
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54


Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON M4N 3P6 Canada
Phone: 416-285-1744    Fax: 416-285-4670 or 696-0370
E-mail: zoocheck@idirect.com     Web site: http://web.idirect.com/~zoocheck
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54


Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON M4N 3P6 Canada
Phone: 416-285-1744    Fax: 416-285-4670 or 696-0370
E-mail: zoocheck@idirect.com     Web site: http://web.idirect.com/~zoocheck
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54


Zoocheck Canada Inc.
3266 Yonge Street, Suite 1729
Toronto, ON M4N 3P6 Canada
Phone: 416-285-1744    Fax: 416-285-4670 or 696-0370
E-mail: zoocheck@idirect.com     Web site: http://web.idirect.com/~zoocheck
Registered Charity No. 0828459-54
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 12:24:57 -0700
From: In Defense of Animals 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Action Alerts- Dogs Shot in Riverside County
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

People vs. John Weststeyn

A dairy rancher in Riverside County, California has been charged with the
deaths of a puppy and a dog who he claims were bothering his cattle. The
dogs, an eight-week-old puppy and an adult dog were drinking water from a
puddle by the road on the edge of his property. He proceeded to drive by
and shoot at them with a .22 rifle. He killed the puppy and seeing that the
dog was still alive, he did a U-turn in the road, ran over and killed the
dog.

Please contact the District Attorney's office asking that John Weststeyn be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He should be charged with a
felony and not have the charges reduced to a misdemeanor.

Write or call:

Grover Trask, DA
4075 Main Street
Riverside, CA 92501
909-275-5400
909-275-5469


Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 15:17:55 -0500 (CDT)
From: hsuswild@ix.netcom.com (HSUS Wildlife)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: hsuswild@ix.netcom.com
Subject: ACTION ALERT- Reptile Transport Regulations
Message-ID: <199710022017.PAA09095@dfw-ix4.ix.netcom.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;boundary="cptxxmywymdsykprurhcqabhqkyoes"




                            ACTION ALERT  
HUMANE AND HEALTHFUL TRANSPORT REGULATIONS  GOVERNING THE
CONDITIONS 
UNDER WHICH  REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS  ARE TRANSPORTED TO THE UNITED 
STATES  

[FEDERAL REGISTER notice is attachment]

What is the Problem?   
 
     Each year millions of live reptiles and amphibians are imported 
to the United States and the number imported continues to grow every 
year.  The lack of shipping standards governing the transport of 
reptiles and amphibians to the U.S. has resulted in the needless injury 
and death of countless animals.  A 1981 amendment to the Lacey Act 
authorized the U.S. Department of the Interior to promulgate 
regulations governing the humane and healthful transport of live 
reptiles and amphibians to the United States.  Such regulations have 
not been forthcoming until now. 
 

What can be Done?   
 
     The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has invited the public to 
comment on proposed regulations governing the humane and healthful 
transport of live amphibians and reptiles to the United States.  The 
proposed regulations ma
y be found in Federal Register, Volume 62, No. 109, published 6 June 
1997 and Federal Register, Volume 62, No. 150, published on 5 August 
1997.  The Service will accept comments until 6 October 1997.  Send 
your comments to:  Mr. Kenneth Stansell, Chief / Office of Management 
Authority / 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 430 / Arlington, VA  22203.  
Fax:  703-358-2280.  Email: R9OMA_CITES@mail.fws.gov. 
 

Points to make in a Letter to the Service: 
 
     SUPPORT the Service's initiative to promulgate these much-needed 
regulations (albeit sixteen years after Congress asked them to do so).  

 
     ENCOURAGE the Service to, at a minimum, adopt the reptile and 
amphibian shipping standards of the International Air Transport 
Association (IATA).  
 
     SUPPORT the Service's proposal to improve upon the IATA 
regulations by:  
 
      -in most cases, barring the use of corrugated board or 
corrugated cardboard boxes (which collapse under pressure, especially 
when wet with excreta). 
 
      -requiring veterinary certificates, issued in the country 
of export, for all reptiles and amphibians entering the U.S. 
 
      -prohibiting the import of animals that have external 
parasites, such as ticks, mites or leeches or that are sick or injured 
(unless the primary purpose of such import is medical treatment). 
 
      -requiring shippers to maintain optimal temperature 
(defined as between 70 F an 80 F) throughout the transport process. 
 
      -reducing the number of hatchling turtles that can be 
enclosed in each compartment of a box, from 62 to 25, in a box can hold 
no more than 100 hatchlings. 
 
     SUGGEST that the Service improve on the IATA regulations by 
barring the use of corrugated board or corrugated cardboard for 
shipment of hatchling turtles. 
 
     OPPOSE the Service's proposal to weaken the IATA regulations by 
allowing five specimens of so-called "small" reptiles (crocodiles under 
24 inches, lizards under 12 inches, snakes under 36 inches) per bag 
when IATA allows only one per bag. 
 


Attachment Converted: "C:\EUDORA2\Attach\cites"
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 16:22:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: BreachEnv@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Requiem Service for the Great Whales
Message-ID: <971002162051_-261564539@emout20.mail.aol.com>


Requiem Service for the Great Whales

An inter-denominational Requiem Service For The Great Whales is to be held at
Ripon Cathedral, North Yorkshire at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday 5th October 1997.

This service is the first of it's kind and coincides with World Prayer Day
for Animals. It is being held to commemorate the Great Whales which have been
cruelly slaughtered for commercial reasons so far this year (including those
killed under the guise of so-called "scientific" whaling) and to pray for
those
whose survival is still in danger through constant pressure from human acts.

The Order Of Service is in two parts. Part One: In Remembrance of those Great
Whales slaughtered in 1997. Part Two: In Celebration of our Cetacean Cousins.
This part of the Service is for the enlightenment of human kind to the plight
of the Great Whales and dolphins and in hope for the survival of all
cetaceans from
captivity or cruel death at the hands of man. Those who wish to light a
candle for the slaughtered Great Whales will be invited to do so.

All with an interest in Cetaceans are invited to attend. Please RSVP to
BreachEnv@aol.com. Your presence will be seen as support for the end of the
inhumane killing of these magnificent mammals, an end to all commercial
whaling and an end whale and dolphin captivity. Your attendance would be
instrumental in showing those who carry out or condone these acts that this
barbaric cruelty should no longer be tolerated and must stop immediately.

Notes. Intro: recorded by Richard Wally, Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo
music, entitled 'The Ocean.. Whales Call'.

The recorded sounds of humpback whales will be played during the service.

Messages to the congregation have been applied for from all the major
religious leaders including the Dalai Lama.
 
The Breach Marine Protection 'In Celebration of Cetaceans Exhibition' will be
open within Ripon Cathedral from Saturday 27th September to Thursday 16th
October. The exhibition includes the 'Popular Resolution for Abolition of
Inhumane Slaughter of Whales' and its accompanying World-Wide Sign-On
Petition which will be available for your signature between those dates.

We would like to thank the Dean of Ripon for allowing the magnificent Ripon
Cathedral to hold this Service and for his enlightened attitude toward the
desperate plight of the world's remaining cetaceans.

For further information, email or contact:

Toni Ford
Breach Marine Protection UK
email: BreachEnv@aol.com
Tel/Fax: +44 1405 769375 (9:30am - 5pm UK time)
http://members.aol.com/breachenv/home.htm

Popular Resolution on Abolition of Inhumane
Commercial Slaughter of Whales - Sign-On Petition:
http://members.aol.com/breachenv/popreslt.htm

Rapid Env. Disaster - Response. & Rescue
(R.E.'D.R.Res) Hotline: 0973 898282 (mobile/ answerphone)
http://members.aol.com/breachenv/redrres.htm
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 13:23:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+animalrights@earthsystems.org,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: MO Alert: Gather Signatures to Ban Cockfighting
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971002170002.60372d80@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

MISSOURI ACTION ALERT

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BAN COCKFIGHTING IN MISSOURI

WHAT IS COCKFIGHTING? Razor-sharp knives up to three inches long are
strapped onto the legs of roosters. Doped up on stimulants, the birds are
dropped into a small pit to fight. The metal weapons sink deep into the
birds' flesh, so that the handlers may have to pull them apart several times
in a single fight. Birds who lose are nothing more than trash as far as
their owners are concerned. Dead or dying, they're just thrown away.

ISN'T THIS ILLEGAL? No! Animal fighting is still legal in Missouri.
Cockfighting is a well organized network that has a powerful lobby. They
have blocked every legislative attempt to ban cockfighting since 1985.
Missouri is one of only five states that still allows cockfighting. Missouri
citizens are working to bring this issue to the public, and to place an
initiative on the 1998 ballot to ban the cruel practice of cockfighting.

HOW CAN I HELP? Volunteers are needed to gather the 139,000 signatures
necessary to place this initiative on the ballot. Help put an end to
cockfighting in Missouri -- sign the petition and volunteer to gather more
signatures from citizens in your community. Even if you only gather a few
signatures, you will get Missouri that much closer to banning this disgrace.
Please contact Missourians Against Cockfighting for petitions today!

        Missourians Against Cockfighting
        11939 Manchester Road #130
        St. Louis, MO 63131

        1-888-98CRUEL (1-888-982-7835)

Don't miss this unique opportunity to put an end to cockfighting once and
for all in Missouri!

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 13:22:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+animalrights@earthsystems.org,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: VT Alert: Moose Vigil on Oct. 17
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971002165939.4f57bf06@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

VERMONT ACTION ALERT

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR ENDING VERMONT'S MOOSE MADNESS!

The moose hunting season in Vermont is quickly approaching, and this year it
is worse than ever. The Department of Fish and Wildlife has aggressively
expanded the moose hunt, both numerically and geographically. They have
issued 165 permits for sport hunters to kill moose, and the area of the
moose hunt now includes central and western parts of the state, such as
Montpelier, Barre, and Waterbury.

On the eve before the moose hunt begins in Vermont, please show that you
care by joining a candlelight vigil on the State House lawn. Let your
elected officials know that you prefer to see moose alive, not dead!

      WHAT:Candlelight Vigil
      WHEN:October 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
      WHERE:State House Lawn, Montpelier

Please bring candles (no drip or with wax catchers) and flashlights if
possible. Please remember that this is not a protest; it is a silent vigil
mourning the deaths of the moose in Vermont.

Please join us. Vermont moose need your support!

For more information contact the Vermont Wildlife Education Network at (802)
276-3828.

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 14:50:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+announcements@earthsystems.org,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: Pigeon Shoot Protestor Enters Jail on Hunger Strike
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971002182824.5f4fb3ac@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, October 3, 1997


CONTACT: Heidi Prescott, 301-585-2591
Schuylkill County Prison, 717-628-1450


PIGEON SHOOT PROTESTOR JAILED
Activist Will Hunger Strike Until Legislature Votes on Bill


POTTSVILLE, Pa. -- Dawn Ratcliffe, a 24-year-old animal rights activist from
Charlotte, N.C. who was arrested for protesting the Hegins pigeon shoot in
1996, will begin a 45-day prison sentence in Schuylkill County on Friday,
October 3, at 1:00 p.m. Ms. Ratcliffe will hold a press conference on the
steps of the prison, 230 Sanderson Street in Pottsville, at 12:45 p.m.

Ms. Ratcliffe will announce that she will begin a hunger strike upon
entering the jail, and will continue her hunger strike in prison until the
Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives put
legislation to ban live pigeon shoots on the House floor for a fair vote.

State Rep. Sara Steelman (D-Indiana County) will introduce a bill to ban
pigeon shoots early next week. The House leaders have thus far stalled every
attempt to vote on similar legislation.

"I will hunger strike to get the bill to ban live pigeon shoots on the floor
of the House of Representatives," declares Ms. Ratcliffe. "In addition, I
believe that an individual should not be punished for having enough respect
for life to take action to stop violence and suffering."

A Schuylkill County jury found Ms. Ratcliffe guilty of disorderly conduct
for her participation in protesting the 1996 Hegins pigeon shoot. A charge
of resisting arrest was dismissed, and the jury was deadlocked on the
charges of defiant trespassing and criminal conspiracy.

Adds Ms. Ratcliffe, "If I am to be incarcerated for my inability to stand by
and do nothing while innocent beings are tortured and killed in front of
impressionable children, then the people of Schuylkill County need to
reassess their values."

The media has access to prisoners, and can also interview Ms. Ratcliffe
after her sentence begins.


# # #


http://www.fund.org

Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 18:25:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: CircusInfo@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (NJ) Rodeo Protest October 4
Message-ID: <971002182213_-1997424846@emout13.mail.aol.com>

Protest - Rodeo on the Beach

In an effort to extend the tourist season, the City of Wildwood is sponsoring
a free rodeo on the beach in Wildwood, NJ between Lincoln and Scellenger
Avenues.

Please join us for a Protest on Saturday, October 4 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM on
the Boardwalk between Lincoln and Scellenger Avenues, Wildwood NJ.

Letters and phone calls needed:
Mayor Fred Wager, City of Wildwood, 4400 New Jersey Avenue, Wildwood, NJ
08260
Phone Mayor Fred Wager at 609-522-2444

Letters also needed to the event sponsor:
Dave Sharp, General Manager
Kindle Dodge
Stone Harbor Blvd. & Bayberry Avenue
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Phone Mr. Sharp at 609-465-5000

For more information or directions, call Rich at 609-399-4352

CIRCO - New Jersey is a circus information clearing center dedicated to the
liberation of animals from circuses, zoos and traveling shows.


Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:54:14 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (KR) S. Korea Restricts Nebraska Beef
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002195412.00692ce8@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------------
 10/02/1997 17:50 EST

 S. Korea Restricts Nebraska Beef

 SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea on Thursday suspended imports of
 beef from Nebraska after finding E. coli bacteria on meat bought from IBP
 Inc.

 South Korean quarantine officials detected E. coli bacteria last week on
 the surface of the imported frozen and sliced beef.

 The government immediately ordered a local importer to return or destroy
 18 tons of Nebraska beef kept in warehouses, and launched expanded tests
 of all beef imported from the state.

 The news scared away customers from restaurants serving beef and stores
 reported sharp drops in sales of imported beef.

 On Thursday, Lee Young-rae, a deputy assistant minister of agriculture,
 said the government has blocked customs clearance for all Nebraska beef
 until the meat is found to be safe from contamination.

 But IBP said it had not been informed of a suspension by either South
 Korean or U.S. officials.

 ``We continue to produce and ship products to Korea,'' Gary Mickelson, an
 IBP spokesman, said at the company's Dakota City, Neb., headquarters.

 U.S. Department of Agriculture officials said the presence of E. coli on
 the outside of the beef does not violate U.S. regulations because the
 organism would be killed in cooking.

 It would be a violation only if it were found in ground beef, where the
 organism could be mixed into the center and possibly escape the high heat
 required to kill it, they said.

 U.S. quarantine experts planned to travel to South Korea for joint
 inspections, Agriculture Ministry officials said.

 It is the first time that the bacteria has been found in imported beef.

 About 97,000 pounds of beef has been imported from the United States,
 Australia, New Zealand and Canada in the first eight months of this year.
 U.S. beef accounted for 60 percent of the total.

 South Korea plans to import 16,700 tons of beef this year.

 IBP is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to verify the
 South Korean reports that the meat is contaminated, Mickelson said.

 Exports account for 13 percent of IBP's total sales, but Mickelson would
 not say how much of that goes to Korea.

 Nebraska exported roughly $48 million worth of beef to Korea last year,
 according to the Nebraska Cattlemen's Association. Korea was the third
 largest importer of Nebraska beef, behind Japan and Canada. All exports
 of Nebraska beef totaled about $500 million.

 ``This is Nebraska's No. 1 bread winner that we're talking about,'' said
 Mike Fitzgerald of the cattlemen's association. ``Somewhere between one
 out five and one out of seven employees have their jobs related to beef
 production. If we can't make money selling beef then we can't go down and
 buy our supplies on Main Street so the merchant on Main Street has to lay
 somebody off.''

 Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson will be in South Korea to promote exports as
 part of a trade mission departing later this month.

 ``Nebraska has set the standard internationally for quality beef,''
 Nelson said Thursday. ``Unfortunately, Nebraska beef producers may be the
 greatest victims to come out of this fiasco.''

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:59:04 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Beef Industry on Defensive Again
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002195902.006d5454@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

(Note the statement by Mrs. Austin.)
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------------
 10/02/1997 15:33 EST

 Beef Industry on Defensive Again

 By SCOTT BAUER
 Associated Press Writer

 LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- The beef industry is on the defensive     
 again because of food-safety scares.                            
                                                                 
 At a time when Big Beef increasingly counts on overseas markets 
 for growth as changing American eating habits reduce meat       
 consumption at home, reports of contamination and government   
 investigations are raising new clouds and roiling beef markets. 
                                                                 
 The latest blow to the industry came Thursday, when South Korea 
 suspended imports of beef produced in Nebraska after reporting  
 finding E. coli bacteria last week on the surface of frozen and
 sliced beef bought from IBP Inc.

 News of that discovery scared away customers from South Korean
 restaurants serving beef. Major stores reported sharp drops in sales of
 imported beef.

 On Wednesday, prices of contracts for future delivery of cattle plunged
 to their lowest level since late June when Hudson Foods Inc. revealed
 that it has been subpoenaed in a federal grand jury investigation in this
 summer's recall of 25 million pounds of ground beef -- the largest meat
 recall in U.S. history.

 In addition to the Hudson recall, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is
 investigating a Nebraska BeefAmerica plant suspected of supplying
 contaminated meat found in a Virginia grocery store.

 It is too early to know what the long-term repercussions will be, said
 Dennis Burson, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of meat science
 and a meat specialist.

 ``Many times you'll see a drop off in sales initially,'' Burson said.
 ``As long as afterwards there's no further problems you may see a
 rebounding.''

 During an E. coli outbreak in 1993 that sickened more than 500 hamburger
 eaters and killed three children, consumers turned their backs on beef.
 Annual consumption bottomed out at 61.6 pounds a person, according to the
 National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

 Consumption climbed back to 63.4 pounds a person in 1997, far below the
 17-year high of 74.7 pounds per person in 1985.

 One of the greatest fears of producers is that foreign markets may use
 these cases as a reason to turn away from American beef in favor of local
 product, said Sara Lilygren, senior vice president at the American Meat
 Institute, a trade association representing 300 companies.

 Foreign markets ``are very important to the economic health of the beef
 industry,'' she said. ``When they find E. coli in U.S. shipments they can
 sometimes overreact in a way that's extremely damaging to the U.S. beef
 industry.''

 Whenever news breaks about a potential outbreak of E. coli in America
 foreign customers become skittish, said Gary Mickelson, spokesman for
 Dakota City, Neb.-based IBP, the nation's biggest beefpacker. ``Each time
 there's a story of this nature it raises questions about the procedures
 and practices used by our industry.''

 Last year 7.3 percent of beef produced in the U.S. was exported,
 according to the USDA. Red meat represented 7.6 percent of the total U.S.
 agricultural exports.

 For IBP, exports accounted for 13 percent of the company's $12.5 billion
 in sales last year.

 To combat a fear of U.S. meat in foreign markets, IBP works to educate
 customers, butchers and grocers about food safety precautions, Mickelson
 said.

 ``I think it all boils down to doing the best job everybody can to
 promoting food safety,'' said Burson, the meat science professor, said.
 ``We're just currently operating in a system that's not 100 percent risk
 free.''

 The industry is counting on loyal consumers like Renet Austin to preserve
 its business.

 Mrs. Austin kept meat in her family's diet, even after her infant
 daughter became sick three years ago, when ground beef tainted with the
 E. coli bacteria contaminated something the 10-month-old had touched. The
 Virginia mother of two says she's learned to treat her kitchen ``like a
 sterile surgical field.''

 ``I treat any beef, poultry and or produce coming into the house like it
 could be contaminated,'' Mrs. Austin said.

 If more can be done to make the system disease-free, consumer confidence
 will rise, said Rosemary Mucklow, executive director of the National Meat
 Association.

 ``We need to work to get E. coli out of the livestock chain,'' she said.

 Some members of Congress say it's about time the Food and Drug
 Administration approved irradiation to destroy harmful microbes in beef.

 Irradiation -- which involves use of gamma rays to kill unwanted microbes
 -- is seen by backers as the answer to a food inspection system that
 cannot guarantee meats are free of E. coli, salmonella or other organisms
 that cause human illness. But it has strong opposition from consumers who
 fear the use of radioactivity.

 In the meantime, the only way consumers can be sure the meat is safe now
 is to cook it thoroughly.

 ``We must ensure that people do not panic,'' Nebraska Gov. Ben Nelson
 said this week. ``We must eradicate E. coli and not eliminate beef.''

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:56:34
From: "veegman@qed.net" 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Federated survey
Message-ID: <3.0.2.16.19971002195634.2f77103c@qed.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello Folks,

Get those fingers flyin'

Joe


>Federated Dept stores is conducting a survey on their
>website at www.federated-fds.com/gbook.htm.    The 
>purpose of the survey is to get peoples' opinions on
>their continued sale of fur.  Let them know what you 
>think!
>
>Taken from CHARC's newsletter.

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:57:56
From: "veegman@qed.net" 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Hegins call-in
Message-ID: <3.0.2.16.19971002195756.2f778d30@qed.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Fund is asking people to call the Pennsylvania legislature this 
>week (their first week back from summer recess).
>
>If you are not from PA, tell them that the pigeon shoots are a nation-
>wide embarassment to PA.
>
>If you are a PA resident, tell them you want them to bring the pigeon
>shoot legislation up for  a vote.  The bill number is SB 764.
>
>Numbers to call:
    >Speaker of the House Representative Matt Ryan 717 787-4610
    >Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Jubelirer  717 787-5490
>

Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 08:22:30 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Smuggling `threat' to rabies-free status 
Message-ID: <199710030022.IAA08387@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>Hong Kong Standard
3 Oct 97

Smuggling `threat' to rabies-free status

By Sharmila Gopinath 
ANIMAL smuggling into Hong Kong to satisfy increasing demand for pets,
particularly dogs, is
threatening the territory's rabies-free status, pet industry sources warned
on Thursday. 

It is illegal to bring any live mammal in because the disease is endemic in
China, whereas Hong Kong
enjoys rabies-free status. 

Dr Howard Wong, a veterinary officer with the Agriculture and Fisheries
Department, said: ``We
don't want to threaten our status.'' 

Speaking at the opening of Pet Fair Asia '97 on Thursday, Dr Wong claimed
authorities had a
``reasonably firm grasp on the situation''. 

``Customs and police occasionally find somebody sneaking in a dog in their
bag. That is the only
way they can do it, in a bag, but that is about it. 
``We will then take away the dog and quarantine it for six months, after
which the owner can claim it
back. But more often than not the owner thinks that it is too long to wait
so we have to put the dog
to sleep. 

``That is the legal way to bring dogs in, to allow us to quarantine it for
six months,'' Dr Wong
explained. 

But Francois Gergaud, director of North Asia for Royal Canin, a pet food
supplier based in
Shanghai, claimed ``a lot of dogs are being smuggled into Hong Kong. A lot
of Chinese do this
business. 

``Beijing dogs, Sharpei, chizu, chihuahua are some of the dogs which are
being smuggled in. 

``And sometimes it is a big amount being smuggled across, not just one at a
time.'' 

He said the cross-border trade had developed because breeding in Hong Kong
had become so
expensive that breeders had moved their operations to south China. 

Mr Gergaud added: ``Smuggling is big business, into and out of China. The
governments in Hong
Kong and China are not turning a blind eye to the problem, they know these
things are happening
and they do their best to control them.'' 

Petsco pet shop general manager Poi Chan said Sai See dogs bred in Hong Kong
could cost up to
$4,000 but the same dog if bred in China cost only $500-$600. 

Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 08:34:39 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Pet show man scoffs at dog-eater views
Message-ID: <199710030034.IAA07378@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Please see our Action Alert for Pet Fair Asia '97 on Ar-News dated 23 Sept
97 and help write letters. We have a greatly depressing situation for strays
in the region. Fueling the trade cannot be justified.

- Vadivu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------

>Hong Kong Standard
3 Oct 97
Pet show man scoffs at dog-eater views

AN exhibition of pets and their care could help to change Western
perceptions of Asians being
dog-eaters, says a fair organiser. 

The three-day Pet Fair Asia '97 opened on Thursday at the Hongkong
International Trade and
Exhibition Centre in Kowloon Bay. 

John Neo, a director of one of the organisers, said he hoped to erase the
Western idea of ``Asia _
isn't that where they eat dogs?''. 

Europeans involved in the pet industry, Mr Neo said, were more exposed to
Asian realities than
Americans who, because of their own market for pets, tended to stay home. 

Mr Neo said Americans need to come and become actively involved in the
region if they hoped to
understand it and rid themselves of their misconceptions. 

Changes are already under way due to Asian participation in American pet
shows, he said. 

But learning was a two-way street, he said: Asians could learn from
Europeans and Americans
about being responsible for pets. 

The show is open to the public on Saturday after two days for trade
activities. The program includes
seminars on choosing and caring for pets. 


Date: Fri, 3 Oct 1997 08:36:55 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Animal lovers to teach students their pet subject
Message-ID: <199710030036.IAA08950@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>Hong Kong Standard
3 Oct 97

Animal lovers to teach students their pet subject

By Sharmila Gopinath 

ANIMAL welfare regulators plan to go into the classroom to educate children
about pet
responsibility, even if they are non-pet owners, it was announced on Thursday. 

Assistant Director of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Liu Kwei-kin said: ``I
think in general there is a
need for better education not just for the pet-owning public but also for
the non-pet owning public. ``At times people get bitten and it is usually
the kids' fault because they have no idea about how
dogs behave. 

``And then some people are too afraid of dogs, which is unnecessary, and
there are some people
who don't respect dogs and again make fools of themselves. So we see that
there is room for
education.'' 

The scheme is the brainchild of the fledgling government-appointed Animal
Welfare Advisory Group
that has met twice since it was formed in July. 

``We are now drafting a whole package of educational material, and once we
do that we are
thinking of a few ways to distribute the material,'' said Dr Liu who is an
ex-officio member of the
group. 

Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 21:10:48 -0700
From: Hillary 
To: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US, ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: Re: Fur Back?
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002211033.0076439c@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Full page article (FRONT PAGE) on Fur's comeback in the NYTimes yesterday too.

Hillary

At 08:05 AM 10/2/97 UTC, SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US wrote:
>The Tulsa World has almost a full-page article on fur fashions
>returning to the forefront. Fur - classic mink, sheared mink,
>brightly dyed fox, feathered fox, extravagant sable, silky
>broadtail - has returned.
>
>A baby-blue Mongolian lamb coat is on the cover of the September issue
>of Vogue magazine. Inside the magazine are 16 pages showing fashion uses
>of fur.
>
>Designer Alexander McQueen blends fashion and taxidermy together in
>collections featuring pelts, feathers, claws, and heads of various fauna.
>
>"People are no less concerned for animal welfare, but they are NOT going
>to be told what to do," says Stephanie Kenyon, spokeswoman for the Fur
>Information Council of America.
>
>-- Sherrill
>
>
Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 21:12:10 -0700
From: Hillary 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: NY Times Pro Fur Article
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971002211202.006c4cc4@pop01.ny.us.ibm.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

10/1/97

Fashion Industry: Fur Is Coming Out of the Closet

By JENNIFER STEINHAUER


  NEW YORK -- Perhaps it started in the spring, when the fashion model
Naomi Campbell, who once posed nude for an advertisement that read "I'd
rather go naked than wear fur," strolled down the Fendi runway draped in a
sable-lined coat from the Italian fashion house. Or maybe it was this fall,
when all the important American retail fashion directors announced that
they were buying something with fur. But what surely sealed it was the
September issue of Vogue, whose cover featured a baby-blue Mongolian lamb
jacket. 

  Fashion is once again placing its bets on fur, so recently a pariah in
the industry. 

  Fashion magazines have sold more pages advertising fur this fall than
they have in recent memory. Vogue sold 28 pages of fur ads for its fall
issues, the most in a decade, said its publisher, Ronald A. Galotti. At
Harper's Bazaar, fall fur ads for 1997 are up 87 percent from last year and
are also at a 10-year high. 

  In the September issue of W magazine, the fashion directors of Neiman
Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's and
Barneys New York all praised fur -- the first such group hug in years. 

  And maybe most striking, many more designers, often up-and-comers, now
use fur in their collections, and in dozens of new ways. Indeed, 42
designers worked with fur in 1985, while nearly 160 do today, said
Stephanie Kenyon, spokeswoman for the Fur Information Council. And they
make far more than coats. 

  Fur is now used as trim on suits, woven through evening gowns and
fashioned into handbags. The designer Michael Kors even sent a mink hooded
sweatshirt down the runway last spring. 

  The rebirth of the fur business traces its roots to an odd confluence of
circumstances, from a stronger economy and an expanding number of affluent
people to growing annoyance with the tactics of anti-fur protesters to a
mercurial swing in fashion and life styles, both of which have moved
steadily from simplicity to conspicuous consumption. 

  To be sure, those who stand firmly against fur are enraged about the
fashion industry's new embrace. 

  "Fur is not back," insisted Ingrid Newkirk, president of People for the
Ethical Treatment of Animals. "We are pretty flabbergasted that the fashion
press has picked up on the fur industry's constant barrage." 

  The emergence of new designers can be credited almost entirely to the fur
industry itself, which spent millions of dollars reaching out to them,
teaching them how to work with fur, modernize dowdy looks and convince the
trend-obsessed fashion press that fur is once again hip. 

  The fashion press is an essential part of the equation: it gives the
green light on trends to retailers, who in turn buy from designers, who
then buy advertisements in the fashion press. And all these players seem
determined to bring back fur from its very public downfall at the beginning
of the decade, when fur-draped matrons were doused with paint as they
emerged from Macy's. 

  Already, fur sales in the United States have crept back from a 1991 low
of $987 million, to $1.25 billion last year. Though that is far below the
1987 peak of $1.8 billion, retailers around the country are confident that
a rebound is under way. 

  "I started to see the handwriting on the wall in the summer of 1996,"
said Wanda Presburger, president of Somper Furs in Beverly Hills, Calif.
"Clients started asking me to clean furs that they haven't had cleaned in a
few years. They also started asking, 'What's new?"' She said her sales in
1996 were $1.6 million, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. 

  "It is absolutely tremendous," said Doyle Hoyer, president of Hoyer's
Glasgow Ltd. in Fort Madison, Iowa. "I was up 18 percent last year over
1995, and the trend looks the same for this year." 

  Like cigars, large vehicles and red meat, fur may be on the brink of
returning to the fold of socially acceptable indulgences as many wealthy
consumers brush off early 1990s taboos in favor of flaunting their good
fortune. 

  "Fashion is simply less drawn to the moral strictures that drove fur
out," said Richard Martin, the curator of the Costume Institute at the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. "In the late 1980s, people avoided stiletto
heels out of a sense of prudence and morality, and it was the same thing
with fur. But those forces are certainly waning now. There is a certain
cultural sense now that if it feels good, wear it." 

  Debbie Porter, a sales clerk in Morrison, Ill., bought her first fur coat
six years ago but did not dare wear it too often for fear of confrontations
with anti-fur protesters. "I would never wear it in an airport," she said.
"That was just asking for trouble." 

  But lately she has draped herself in her ankle-length mink to go
everywhere from dinner to the grocery store, pairing the coat with high
heels or sneakers. 

  Demand for furs has clearly risen. The National Trappers' Association and
other wildlife experts estimate that the number of wild animal skins now on
the market is up at least 30 percent from 1992. The Seattle Fur Exchange,
one of the two largest fur auction houses in North America, said mink
prices at auctions this year were the highest ever. 

  Another reason for the return of fur, say people on both sides of the
debate, is that Americans have grown weary of anti-fur protesters, who were
often perceived as shrill and whose rhetoric often seemed peppered with
contradictions. 

  The argument against animal products, for instance, is hard to swallow
for those who wear leather shoes and nibble on chicken wings. And while
many saw the rights of animals as a noble cause, many Americans became
increasingly irritated at not being able to walk down the street without
being accosted. An added twist is that synthetic furs have become so
real-looking that often no one can even tell a real fur from a fake, making
it hard for the anti-fur people to pick a target. 

  "The anti-fur movement had its moment and did sort of spend itself," said
Julia Emberley, author of "The Cultural Politics of Fur" (Cornell
University Press), which will be published in December. "Consumers have
become somewhat cynical because the movement presented itself in a very
morally self-righteous way. Many consumers feel that it is effectively an
issue of consumer rights." 

  As for the overall boom in luxury goods, Ms. Newkirk of the animal-rights
group added: "People know more about the cruelty than ever before. Smoking
a cigar is not like anally electrocuting a chinchilla." Unpleasant images
like that have been at the heart of the debate for a decade, and until
recently animal-rights advocates -- also citing throat-slitting and
paw-mangling traps -- seemed to be winning the debate handily. 

  A spokeswoman for the Fur Information Council, though, insists that anal
electrocution is not done on fur farms and that animals are slaughtered
much the way they are at animal shelters, which People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals insists is untrue. The group argues that killing
animals for their fur is unethical no matter how it is done. 

  Demand for fur was so strong in the 1970s and early 1980s that furriers
could not make enough coats, and prices rose sharply, leading to a flood of
inexpensive knock-offs. By 1990, prices and profit margins had softened,
and fur began to lose much of its fashion edge. Bargain-basement prices
meant that anyone who saved a few dollars could get a cheap coat, which
eroded a central appeal: exclusivity. 

  "Obviously, the fact that coats were being offered at $1,995 with
installment payments enlarged the customer base," said Claude Potier, chief
executive of Revillon, based in Paris. "But the women for whom the coat was
a symbol of luxury were discouraged and bought fewer." 

  The 1990s also ushered in a recession, along with a short-lived austerity
in style. Monkish looks dominated the fashion pages, right next to the
grunge look. Cashmere, BMW's and club-hopping took a momentary back seat to
flannel shirts, recycling and mulching. Animal-rights groups were in their
heyday, and many furriers went bankrupt. 

  Then, in 1994, the fur business quietly began a public relations campaign
of its own. Led by Saga Furs of Scandinavia, an international fur marketing
organization owned by breeders in the region, the industry began to lure
new designers. Saga financed trips to Copenhagen for dozens of designers,
where it taught them how to work with fur, explaining the difficult sewing
techniques and walking them through knitting and weaving of the material. 

  At about the same time, the Fur Information Council began its own
counterattack. It placed advertisements in various fashion magazines to
counter some of the animal-rights arguments and to try to convince fashion
customers that fur was really acceptable. 

  Many women, of course, will still never go near fur. Margaret Godfrey,
who runs Bagatelle, a leather-goods manufacturer, deplores it. "I know fur
is selling better," Ms. Godfrey said. "But I don't work with it. I think
the traps are terribly cruel. I don't fancy feathers, either." 

  But as Kim Major, who runs the fur salon at Bergdorf Goodman, sees it, as
long as Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and W magazines keep doing large fashion
spreads on fur, retail sales should follow. "The fashion press is backing
us, and that is all we need," Ms. Major said. "It is easy to make a
beautiful coat, but if that attitude change isn't there, we can't sell it." 

  Other Places of Interest on the Web

Fur Online 
http://www.furs.com

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 
http://www.peta-online.org 





Date: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 23:00:55 -0400
From: Shirley McGreal 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: More Primate shipments reach US from Indonesia
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19971003030055.006b7ad0@awod.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

IPPL has already reported on shipments of monkeys reaching the United States
from Indonesia in April and May 1997. These shipments contained babies as
young as 3-4 weeks old, nursing mothers, and pregnant monkeys. IPPL has now
learned of two additional shipments of monkeys from Indonesia to the United
States which were also in apparent non-compliance with International Air
Transport Association Guidelines. 

One shipment reached the United States on 21 June 1997. IPPL has obtained
the following memo regarding this shipment. The writer is Sena Blumensaadt,
who inspects primate shipments reaching Chicago for the US Centers for
Disease Control. Thomas de Marcus directs the CDC inspection program from
Atlanta, Georgia (he even calls himself "The Monkey Man" on one memo!) and
David Rogers is his deputy. Kritter Krates is a Texas-based company that
(presumably among other things) collects primates at ports of entry and
trucks them to their final destinations, often hundreds of miles away. An
Indonesian health certificate dated 20 June 1997 and issued by Jakarta
airport veterinarian Lukas A. Tonga accompanied this shipment: the
exporter's name is not known to IPPL at this time, but in the past CV
Universal Fauna, a firm run by Frankie G. Sulaiman, has exported monkeys to
Covance.

Interpolation brackets [  ] indicate additions I made to documents for
clarification or to raise a question. 

------------MEMOS FROM SENA TO TOM AND TOM TO SENA--------------

FROM: QUARANTINE STATION CHICAGO
TO: Rogers, David 
Cc: DeMarcus, Thomas A. 
Subject: NHP importation on 6-21-97
Date: Tuesday, 24 June 1997 03:22PM

File Attachment: NHP0621.97

To Dave from Sena

I observed something interesting during this importation ... when Jim Hoover
of Kritter Krates was arranging for the aircraft door to be opened by the
loader driver, he said that he would like to be right there as the door
opened "in case there's an escaped monkey". Sure enough, these crates were
flimsy and were made in the same way as the crates that allowed one NHP to
escape in France [this was the shipment that reached Chicago on 31 May]. At
the time of the other shipment, Jim Hoover said that he is accustomed to
getting poorly constructed crates from that particular importer [sic], so
perhaps he was anticipating these flimsy crates which allow crafty NHP's to
escape. 

My question is this: is there any way that we can put some thumbscrews on
someone to insist on a certain standard for the crates? Some arrive in great
condition, are made of thick plywood, have triple-mesh over the "windows",
have metal strips reinforcing all the edges (not just the corners) and have
big, thick metal handles and absorbent bedding on the floors. The ones I saw
for the shipment on 06-21-97 were made of thin plywood, had single-mesh over
the windows, and were reinforced with yellow plastic strips (but they
wouldn't help at all if an NHP got it into his head to start chewing).

I just don't want to embarrass myself in public. Let me give you an example!
Yesterday, I was in my bedroom and bent down to pick up an obscure black
thing and found, to my shock, that it was a half squished beetle which had
enough life left in it to wave its feelers at my nose while the other half
of his body crumbled in my hand and fell back to the floor. I involuntarily
shrieked, tossed the awful thing away from me and ran for the antibotic soap
to wash away the bug germs... can you imagine how embarrassed I would be if
a monkey jumped out at me and my first reaction was The Shriek of The
Sniveling Coward?! I've given myself firm instructions to zipper my lips,
but who knows what I'll do during an actual escape attempt when even
quadriplegic beetles best me?!?!

So, if we could do anything that would make the exporters provide adequate
caging (and save me the indignity of squealing in public), I would be mighty
grateful!


From:           Rogers, David
To:             QUARANTINE STATION CHICAGO
Cc:             DeMarcus, Thomas A. 
Subject:        RE: NHP importation on 6-21-97
Date:           Wednesday, June 25, 1997 7:53AM

Sena - As usual, your unique style communicates clearly and gives us a laugh
at the same time. There have been other instances of flimsy crates from
another shipper in Indonesia, also involving Air France, and even some
reluctance on the part of AF to carry critters in the face of the possible
problems. LABS of Virginia (curiously located in SC) has been involved. Tom
will be back Friday so I'll refer to him and maybe he can knock some heads
together.
Dave

-----------------END MEMOS ----------------

-----------------27 JULY 1997 SHIPMENT-----------

On 27 July 1997, another shipment of crab-eating macaques reached Covance.
Ms Blumensaadt notes that:

"All the above information was provided to me by [name deleted by CDC for
privacy reasons], I did not observe this importation. However, when the
plane blocked, I went to the crate and notified Jim that I would be
unavailable for this flight and explained why. I asked him to contact me
after processing the NHPs to give me pertinent information on this
importation. The following represents his report [Jim is obviously a private
party, maybe a representative of Kritter Krates or the importer: IPPL
wonders why CDC is apparently delegating its jurisdiction to a regulated
entity and relying on such information]. 

...[section omitted]

Jim reported that the NHPs all looked fine: he saw no evidence of cuts,
scrapes or other injuries and no evidence of ill health. The F & W inspector
Lydia Handy said that one NHP had puncture wounds across its forehead
indicating that the mesh protruding into the crate had injured at least one
NHP. 

Fish and Wildlife provided one officer in charge and two inspectors to
thoroughly inspect this shipment: Agriculture signed a release authorization
without going to visually inspect the shipment [why didn't it check the
shipment]: Customs authorized release pending release by all other federal
agencies. 

[word deleted by CDC, probably "importer's" or "trucker's"] XXX
representatives wore tyvek suits, face masks, goggles, latex gloves, rubber
boots: F & W inspectors wore their blue "bunny suits," HEPA filters, latex
gloves...

NOTE: Fish and Wildlife say they will cite/fine the importer for the
fraudulent vet certs, for humane violations (wire mesh protruding into the
cages where they could harm the NHPs and NHPs had ripped off several water
bottles. 

NOTE XXX [omission, maybe employees of importer or trucker] says that minor
damage to both the NHPs and the crates are habitual: he reports that the
NHPs have hours in which to become bored or stressed and will rip and bite
at the crates and frequently receive minor scratches. He said these would
not be reported unless the NHPs showed signs of serious stress
(self-inflicted bites or pulling out of hair).

---------------END 27 JULY SHIPMENT MEMO--------------

A BETTER SHIPMENT, says CDC

The memo that follows was written by "Marty" (Martha Remis of CDC-Chicago),
referring to a shipment reaching Bowman-Gray on 9 June. Ms Remis described
her inspection as "basically a non-inspection!" 

"Subject NHPs arrive 13.20 on NW 006. Only problem was Northwest Airlines
Ramp crew which was quite disgruntled. Apparently union had worked out
agreement that crew would unload NHPs only if flight was preceded by 24 hour
notice and a faxed copy of the health certificate which was not forthcoming
on this particular shipment. Perhaps because of cancellation and date
change, who knows. Two lift operators apparently refused to unload the NHPs.
The chief eventually did it, although not without some complaining.

XXX [name deleted by CDC] did most of the work which I find amusing - under
almost any other circumstances I could imagine the union having apoplexy at
the sight of a non-union outsider actually doing their job!!! XXX also did a
nice job smoothing ruffled feathers with the chief and promising to help out
with the health certificate. Crates were in much better condition than last
shipment. I am the only one on duty, so this was basically a non-inspection
which will be followed by a non-report!!!"

--------------------

One day in advance of this shipment, De Marcus advised CDC inspectors in
Chicago they needn't bother inspecting it.

"I know its your policy [I thought it was their JOB] to monitor every
arriving shipment, but be advised that it is not essential to monitor this
shipment. It is my understanding that this itinerary has been used
successfully by other importers on numerous occasions." 

----------------------

Captive-born/wild-caught? 

IPPL has been informed by what we consider a reliable Indonesian source that
the Indonesian animal breeding facility that supplied hundreds of
"captive-born" (as attested by the facility veterinarian and CITES export
documents) monkeys over 4 years old (many of them 10-17 years old), was
founded around 1994. Any explanation of this situation would be gratefully
received by IPPL. We would sincerely like to be able to convince our members
and others that nothing "funny" is going on. 

More documents are expected next week.

|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Dr. Shirley McGreal             |   PHONE: 803-871-2280                  | 
| Int. Primate Protection League  |   FAX: 803-871-7988                    |
| POB 766                         |   E-MAIL: ippl@awod.com                |
| Summerville SC 29484            |   Web: http://www.ippl.org             | 
|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|




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