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AR-NEWS Digest 644
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) (CN) Beauty Queens on Safari
by jwed
2) (MO) Macau chickens to be slaughtered
by jwed
3) US-TH Battle to save monkeys
by Vadivu Govind
4) (US) Anti-Fur Protesters Arrested at Mazza Gallerie
by allen schubert
5) (USA-NJ) week long fur protest
by joemiele
6) PETA turns attention to charities that support animal testing
by Tereiman
7) (US) Oklahoma Weekly Outdoor News
by JanaWilson
8) (US) Oklahoma's New Outdoor Women's Association
by JanaWilson
9) (US) Oklahoma Crossbow Hunting Debate
by JanaWilson
10) "Trojan pigs"
by Andrew Gach
11) French peasants prosecuted for destroying transgenic maize
by bunny
12) FWD: ROTTWEILER Tragedy!!!! (an appeal for help)
by Andrew Gach
13) [CA] Local activist assaulted
by David J Knowles
14) [CA] Anti-seal hunt protest
by David J Knowles
15) Hindu files suit
by paulbog@jefnet.com (Rick Bogle)
16) ACLU on Oprah
by Wyandotte Animal Group
17) 2 More Dogs Sentenced to Die in Oregon - One already killed
by "Bob Schlesinger"
18) Meat inspection: Have A Cup of Coffee and Pray
by Andrew Gach
19) [UK] Seven held in cat centre protest
by David J Knowles
20) RE: [UK] Seven held in cat centre protest
by David J Knowles
21) Swim with Dolphins
by Jean Colison
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 15:49:13 +0000
From: jwed
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CN) Beauty Queens on Safari
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980125154913.00799e40@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Sunday Morning Post - 25th January, 1998 - by Ng Kang-Chung
http://www.scmp.com/news/
Beauty queen hopefuls have walked into a row over animal cruelty on the
eve of their quest to be named Miss Chinese International.
Animal rights groups are outraged by pageant organiser TVB's decision to
shoot a sequence on location at a Guangzhou safari, where the women played
at conquering crocodiles, stroking snakes and petting tamed tigers.
They accused the station of encouraging abuse at mainland zoos, castigated
for making animals suffer for the "entertainment" of visitors.
The tour, filmed at Xiangjiang Safari Park in Panyu this month, will be
screened tonight.
The station claimed that visiting the zoo would allow the finalists, most
of whom were brought up overseas, to "experience more Chinese culture".
The 17 finalists, posing in mini-skirts, smiled for the cameras alongside
bears with their nostrils ripped open by metal rings and crocodiles forced
to lie flat.
They included Bridgett Eng, of Seattle, whose entry form tells of her
dream of a career in animal welfare.
A TVB Miss Chinese International spokesman said the tour was in line with
the theme of this year's contest - Affection for Chinese Culture.
"We wanted the girls to experience Chinese village life," she said. "The
safari was included in the itinerary because it is a new attraction. We
did not intend to disturb the animals."
But the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals accused TVB of
insensitivity in requiring the animals to perform acrobatics.
The society, which is lobbying for a boycott of Shenzhen Safari Park after
a Sunday Morning Post expose of similar animal cruelty, feared the gimmick
would send the wrong message to viewers.
"We regret that the Guangzhou park has become a new centre for abuse,"
said spokesman Amy Chow Tak-sum.
Xiangjiang Safari Park occupies 133 hectares in Panyu's Dashi village,
about an hour's drive from Guangzhou.
It houses 300 species of wild animals and is said to be the biggest of the
four safari parks in China. The others are in Shenzhen, Shanghai, and
Hainan Island.
Opened this month, the 300 million yuan (HK$280 million) park is listed as
a "must see" attraction by Guangzhou Bureau of Tourism.
Some of its 10,000 animals are featured in daily circus shows where
monkeys are forced to dance on tightropes, tigers are whipped to jump
through rings of fire and bears ride bicycles.
Park general manager Su Zhiping dismissed the criticism. "We modelled our
operations on Western safari Parks. Animals are the soul of a safari.
There is no reason we would abuse them," he said.
[More on Chinese Zoos at: http://www.earth.org.hk/zoopage2.html ]
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 16:17:12 +0000
From: jwed
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MO) Macau chickens to be slaughtered
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980125161712.007a52a0@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Sunday Morning Post - 25th January 1998 - by Niall Fraser and Shirley Kwok
http://www.scmp.com/news/
Macau is to slaughter and sell off tens of thousands of chickens on the
cheap to solve overcrowding in its poultry farms.
The move comes after the H5N1 virus scare in Hong Kong severely dented
chicken sales in Macau, leaving its poultry farms crammed with more than
75,000 unwanted birds.
Farmers and officials have been grappling with the problem for a fortnight
before finally deciding to kill the chickens and sell them at a knock-down
price.
A government spokesman said: "After a lot of discussion, it has been
decided the chickens should be killed and sold off, possibly at half-price".
One light-hearted solution was to stage a mass municipal barbecue but the
plan was quickly rejected.
Some Macau residents oppose the move, insisting chickens be sold alive in
markets to ensure maximum freshness.
The owner of Hung Kee Restaurant in Taipa feared the mass slaughter would
affect her business.
"Fewer customers may come to eat if we have no fresh chicken on offer. We
may have to take chicken off our menu," said Ms Yun, whose family has bee
operating the restaurant for 18 years.
"I think eating chicken is all right only when the chicken is fully
cooked. So far there's no proof
that chicken in Macau carry the virus. Why should we kill the chickens?"
Although not one bird flu case was reported in Macau, measures were put in
place - chicken imports from the mainland were cut from 8,000 a day to 500
and checks of farms and markets were increased.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 19:08:05 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: US-TH Battle to save monkeys
Message-ID: <199801251108.TAA18586@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>Bangkok Post
25 Jan 98
Return of national treasure
HERITAGE: An unusual colony of rare and endangered monkeys from Thailand
are about to be killed because of economic reasons - but Thai and US
animal rights groups are staging an eleventh hour battle to save the
creatures.
SUPRADIT KANWANICH
Three Thai animal welfare groups are pooling their efforts with their US
counterparts to repatriate 51 Stumptail Macaques currently being held at
the University of Wisconsin to Thailand.
The monkeys face certain death when the primate research centre's
funding ends next month.
The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WAR), the Wildlife Fund
Thailand under the Royal Patronage of HM the Queen (WFT) and the Thai
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) were alerted
early last month by Dr Shirley McGreal, chairwoman of the International
Primate Protection League (IPPL) in Sommerville, South Carolina, USA,
about the uncertain fate of the monkeys.
Rare and endangered: IPPL told the WAR that the Stumptail Macaque, a
native species to Southern China and Southeast Asia, was listed as
'threatened' on the US Endangered Species List and listed as
'vulnerable' in the International Union for Conservation for Nature's
Red Data book. Reports from the field indicate that this animal is in
real trouble.
The agency learnt that an unusual Stumptail Macaque colony of around 45
animals may soon be broken up. To the IPPL's knowledge, this is the best
colony and the only large flourishing troop of the rare species in
captivity anywhere in the world. The colony also includes a 36 year-old
female, which is very old for a Macaque.
The colony was housed in the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin. The
animals belonged to the University of Wisconsin primate research centre.
The zoo also housed Rhesus monkeys.
In July 1997, IPPL learnt that all the Stumptails at the zoo might be
sold to the Procter and Gamble company for testing hair growth products.
However, P&G changed their mind when the Madison press revealed the
public wanted the monkeys to remain at the zoo.
Breach of contract: Late last year, the National Institute of Health
informed the University of Wisconsin that the primate centre would no
longer be funded as of February 1, after the Madison press kept
reporting breaches of an agreement between the zoo and the primate
centre: monkeys were used for invasive research although the agreement
stipulated behavioural studies only.
IPPL received documents suggesting that rhesus monkeys removed from the
Vilas Park colony may have been assigned to invasive research. In late
June the agency learnt that the primate centre staff placed Norplant
birth control implants in all the Rhesus females and gave them new
bright green tattoos.
IPPL told its counterparts in Thailand that the future of the zoo
monkeys remained unclear.
In an urgent and immediate meeting, representatives of the WAR, WFT and
TSPCA decided to try and return the Stumptail Macaques or 'Ling Sen' to
Thailand.
"Killing them off is unacceptable" the representatives said.
"The animals have the right to live until their last days."
They're coming home: WAR founder Leonie Vejjajiva wrote to Dr McGreal on
December 3: "The Thai Government's tourist promotion, 'Amazing Thailand
1998-99' is going on, so we're going to try and 'amaze' everybody and
bring these animals home."
The three NGOs have also launched a campaign to save the 51 Stumptail
Macaques. David Lyman, secretary-general of the TSPCA, hand-delivered a
letter to US Ambassador William Itoh from TSPCA chairman Mechai
Viravaidya, WFT secretary general Pisit na Patalung, and WAR president
Pongsagdi Vejjajiva.
The December 11 letter said they (the three NGOs) learnt that a colony
of CITES Appendix One endangered Thai Stumptail Macaques (Macaca
arctoides) belonging to the University of Wisconsin Regional Primate
Research Centre were in danger of being exterminated for economic
reasons.
They sought the ambassador's help to save the colony of about 45 animals
(the actual number is 51 young and old monkeys) and to return them to
Thailand.
This colony, the largest of its kind in the world, given their
endangered status, was in effect a national environmental treasure for
Thailand. Where did it begin: A group of young Stumptail Macaques was
sent from Thailand to the United States in the mid 1970s before such
exports were forbidden by a Thai law introduced in 1976.
The letter said, "As the National Institute of Health (NIH) which funded
the primate centre programme is unwilling to continue the support, the
only alternatives was for the animals to be killed or sold to a
commercial venture for potentially painful and lethal product testing
and research.
"It is unknown if any of the original Macaques are still alive, but the
colony consists of their descendants," the letter said.
The three Thai NGOs said they did not want the animals to be killed as
this was cruel, unnecessary and a waste of a species nearing extinction.
"The Stumptail Macaque is a highly endangered species in Thailand and
should be conserved.
"We want to bring this group home to Thailand and we requested the
cooperation of the United States Government in accomplishing this."
They promised to arrange for the care of the animals once they reach
Thailand.
They also sought contributions for the transportation, care and housing
of the animals.
Similar letters were also sent to: Joyce Rasmussen in Singapore; an
Asian representative for Wisconsin; to Madison Mayor Susan Bauman; to
Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson; to US Senators from Wisconsin Russel
Feingold and Herbert Kohl; to State Secretary of State Doug Follette; to
president of the Humane Society; to the Thai Ambassador in Washington,
H.E. Nit Pibulsonggram and to many other persons of influence.
However, authorities such as the American embassy and UW agencies said
the pleas of the animal right activist groups are "not yet in favourable
progress."
A fascinating species: Joseph W. Kemnitz, interim director of the UW
regional primate research centre explained the American embassy's
concern in his December 23 letter.
He wrote: "There are 51 monkeys ranging in age from one month to more
than 20 years-old. Only nine are more than ten years of age, living
together and forming a fairly stable group.
"Their overall health was good, although one of the oldest females has
developed age-related blindness. Some of the others in the group tend to
help her move about.
"At least some of these monkeys carried Herpes B virus, which is typical
for them and human infection is rare but can be fatal if not treated
promptly.
"All but six of these monkeys were born at the centre's facilities and
the rest came from other sites in North America."
The primate centre insisted that it did not intend to kill these monkeys
and supported the proposal to send them to Thailand, "as long as the
centre was assured of their good care and humane treatment in Thailand."
The letter said the centre was also considering the option of
transferring them to another facility where they could be used for
breeding purposes. The centre admitted that the funding from the NIH to
maintain these monkeys at the zoo will end on February 1 this year.
Dr Kemnitz said he appreciated the sentiments of those who sent the
letters and their generous offer to provide housing and care for the
colony.
The monkeys were "a fascinating species" and he would be "happy to
transfer the group to their native country but shipping Macaques by
commercial airlines was often problematic because of pressure from
animal rights organizations directed at the carriers." No plans to
kill?: Though the Stumptail Macaques are internationally recognised as a
threatened species, there are a surplus of various monkey species in US
laboratories. They are often killed off for convenience.
"IPPL believes that research monkeys who survive experiments should be
'retired' or 'pensioned off' just like 'used up' human workers
"Stumptails have been used in studies for balding and pharmacological
products, among other studies," said Dr McGreal.
A major Yerkes primate centre at the Emory University in Atlanta, USA,
had a large colony decimated by an epidemic and has been running an
advertisement in a primate mail order catalogue, Primate Supply
Information Clearing House for months, trying to get rid of them.
The University of Miami killed around 20 Stumptails in August 1996. The
veterinarian who killed them, Joseph Wagner, held them for an animal
dealership.
Associate Dean Timothy Mulcahy of the University of Wisconsin Graduate
School also confirmed to Miss Joyce Rasmussen, Asia Representative for
the State of Wisconsin that the UW had no plans to kill off the
Stumptail Macaques.
He admitted the NIH has announced the end of funding from February 1,
this year for the primate research project because the monkeys are no
longer utilized for bio-medical research.
He added that alternative arrangements for the monkeys were being
identified including the possibility the Macaques might be returned to
Thailand.
Babies were sold: However, the confirmations that the Stumptail Macaques
at the UW facilities would not be eliminated, has not yet convinced Dr
McGreal, chairwoman of the IPPL.
She told WAR that the IPPL has taken the affair of the UW monkeys and
got Wisconsin animal-lovers involved.
Dr McGreal founded the IPPL while living in Bangkok from 1971 to 1975.
She knew a lot of Thai university students and raised funds from Mrs
Katherine Buri and others for the students to do a study of the Thai
wildlife trade in 1975. Their report was a factor leading to the 1976
monkey export ban.
She told WAR that while in Thailand, she saw a shipment of the tiny,
white baby monkeys at the airport and later learnt that they were
Stumptail Macaques. "The looked so pathetic," she said.
She said it's possible that some of the animals she saw were still alive
or that their descendants were among those now 'stranded' in the US.
Dr McGreal said she thought that the UW primate centre, which violated
its agreement and the National Institute of Health, which provided
millions of dollars for years, should endow these animals with at least
US$200,000 as they made more than that selling off over 100 zoo monkeys
for invasive research.
"I believe the humans who violated the agreement should make generous
contributions also," she added.
Article copyright Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd 1997
Reprinted for non-commercial use only.
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.net
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 08:01:48 -0500
From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Anti-Fur Protesters Arrested at Mazza Gallerie
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980125080145.00683c64@mail.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from Washingtonpost.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/
-------------------------------------------
Anti-Fur Protesters Arrested at Mazza Gallerie
Seven protesters were arrested yesterday evening after causing a commotion
during an anti-fur demonstration at the upscale Mazza Gallerie in Northwest
Washington, D.C. police said.
About 100 demonstrators, many chanting and carrying placards, gathered
about 6 p.m. to protest the sale of furs by Neiman Marcus, one of several
stores in the Friendship Heights mall at 5300 Wisconsin Ave. NW, police said.
Three demonstrators were arrested and accused of disorderly conduct and
blocking the sidewalk, police said. Four others were charged with unlawful
entry after laying down inside the mall and refusing to move, said Lt.
James Cullen.
At least three people paid a $50 fine, and the others were released on
their own recognizance pending trial, Cullen said.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 09:26:43 -0500
From: joemiele
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (USA-NJ) week long fur protest
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980125092643.007a5b50@qed.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 21:12:46 -0500
Forwarded form the NJ-ADL
If you can make it, please support this demo.
>From: malignant1@juno.com (Darius G. Fullmer)
>Subject: week long fur protest
>X-Mailer: Juno 1.49
>
>The specifics for our week long fur demo are finally set.
>It's going to be at Furs by Guarino, 339 Rt. 18 in East Brunswick.
>Guarino seems to be the most prosperous of fur shops around here, and
>owner John Guarino also likes to shoot his mouth off about animal rights
>activists, particularly the A.L.F.
>
>We'll be out there every day from February 7 to February 14 for the
>entire time they are open, which is:
>Sundays: 12:00 to 5:00
>Thursdays: 9:30 to 9:00
>all other days: 9:30 to 5:30
>
>This is the first time this tactic is being tried in this half of the
>world to our knowledge, and we need everyone's help to make it a sucess.
>We've seen this be a powerful tool in the anti-fur campaigns in both
>England and Vienna. England now has only 4 fur shops left in the entire
>country, and has a bill in the works to ban fur farming. Austria just
>saw the closing of it's last remaining fur farm.
>Needless to say, things are a little farther behind here in the US. New
>Jersey alone has some 65 fur shops, not to mention department stores
>selling fur. But things are changing. As I'm sure you all know, three
>fur shops just decided to close down, and a fourth is admittedly on the
>verge. This protest is an opportunity to show that fur is absolutely
>unacceptable and we will see the end of the fur industry in this country.
>This is a particularly important time to make this statement, as the time
>before Valentine's Day is one of the top fur seasons.
>What we need is people to come out. Having a few people all week will
>mean nothing. Local people need to find a way to be there whenever
>possible, be a few hours before work, after school, or better yet taking
>a day off. Those from farther away - if you can take a day and organize
>some people from your area to come support, it would be of great help.
>We are asking that people who will be able to make it let us know when we
>can expect you so we can get an idea of what days we need more people on,
>etc.
>-Dari
>*****check out the Animal Defense League - New Jersey web page at:
>envirolink.org/orgs/adl
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 10:40:20 EST
From: Tereiman
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: PETA turns attention to charities that support animal testing
Message-ID:
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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PETA turns attention to charities that support animal testing
By SONJA BARISIC
Associated Press Writer
1/24/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- First, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
went after cosmetics companies that test on animals -- often staging
highly publicized protests to embarrass the companies and turn consumers
away from their products.
Now, the animal rights group also wants health charities to stop funding
animal experiments it says are cruel and unnecessary, given advances in
modern medicine.
Once again, PETA is aiming for the wallet, this time asking donors to
shift their money to charities that don't fund animal tests.
''When donors get wise to what is progressive research and what is
old-fashioned research ... the donors will guide the charities in a more
humane and progressive direction,'' said Ingrid Newkirk, president of
Norfolk-based PETA.
PETA often gets calls from people who want to donate to charities that
do not test on animals, Ms. Newkirk said. In response, PETA has compiled
a list of health charities that test on animals, and a list of those
that do not.
''If you don't like cruelty to animals, you won't support a charity that
hurts and kills animals,'' she said.
PETA also is targeting health charities that test on animals in a new
print ad featuring actress Linda Blair from ''The Exorcist.'' The ad
says, ''Animal Experiments Make My Head Spin.''
Ms. Blair, whose mother died of cancer, has been a vocal opponent of
health charities that support animal tests.
''When my mother was diagnosed, I did some research and couldn't believe
these experiments were still being conducted,'' she said in a statement.
''That's not where the cure lies.''
To find out which charities do and don't fund animal tests, PETA did
research at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., Ms.
Newkirk said. It also questioned the charities themselves, she said.
The American Kidney Fund, Easter Seals and the Arthritis Fund are among
the dozens of charities that do not spend donors' dollars on animal
tests, PETA said. They instead focus on prevention and employ research
methods such as human clinical trials and in-vitro tests.
Charities that fund animal tests include the March of Dimes Birth
Defects Foundation, based in White Plains, N.Y., and Boys Town National
Research Hospital in Omaha, Neb., PETA says.
''March of Dimes is the No. 1 charity that people ask about,'' Ms.
Newkirk said. ''They have indefensible animal tests.''
PETA said experimenters funded by the March of Dimes sewed the eyes of
newborn kittens shut for a year, then killed the cats, to show that
depriving cats of normal vision alters brain development, PETA said.
That has long been an accepted scientific fact, the group said.
March of Dimes spokeswoman Michele Kling said the charity funded an
experiment in 1983 that involved sewing shut the eyes of newborn
kittens. Researchers were seeking more information on the visual
pathways of the brain, she said.
''At the time, it was considered a very promising line of research on
blindness,'' she said. ''We only accept the cream of the crop of grant
applications. ... Our funding is precious to us.''
The experiment ran its course and didn't provide the breakthrough that
had been hoped for, but there are no guarantees in science, she said.
PETA also said the the March of Dimes gave money to experimenters who
administered nicotine, cocaine and alcohol to pregnant animals. PETA
said human clinical experience already has shown that these substances
can harm developing babies.
Ms. Kling said the charity has funded work that involved giving
nicotine, cocaine and alcohol to rodents in order to find out how the
substances cause birth defects.
''Only PETA doesn't understand the scientific resasons for this
research,'' she said. ''They are animal-rights activists. They should
not make decisions about life-saving research for human babies.''
March of Dimes said in a faxed statement that it also supports the use
of non-animal research alternatives but that many scientific studies
essential to preventing and treating birth defects cannot be conducted
using only such alternatives. Studies involving genetic diseases,
reproduction and immunology still require the use of animals, the
statement said.
The March of Dimes said it endorses guidelines set by the federal
government and the National Institutes of Health for the humane
treatment of animals.
Boys Town spokesman John Melingagio said Boys Town Hospital does conduct
animal tests. But he said the experiments are funded entirely by grants.
Charitable donations are used only for the direct care of children, he
said.
''PETA has tried to make it appear that these donors' dollars fund
animal research, and that is completely false,'' Melingagio said. ''We
guarantee our donors that whatever they contribute is used in the direct
care of children within 12 months of its receipt.''
PETA said experimenters at the Boys Town hospital starved cats for
months, implanted tubes and wires in their throats, cemented metal
devices into their skulls and sliced open kittens' heads to cut the
nerves in their brains. The experiments were done in the name of curing
deafness, PETA said.
PETA undercover investigators documented what the organization said were
violations of federal law at Boys Town, including failure to provide
veterinary care for sick animals, use of outdated drug and the absence
of postsurgical drugs.
Melingagio said the cat experiments are completed and the results were
so convincing that additional studies on cats aren't necessary. He also
said there was no abuse or mistreatment of the animals and that the U.S.
Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health
investigated PETA's claims and found them to be without merit.
David Narr, executive director of Common Sense for Virginia, called
PETA's targeting of charities that test animals perverse. Narr founded
the Virginia Beach-based group, which supports animal use, in response
to PETA's move from suburban Washington, D.C. to Norfolk in 1996.
Narr said the March of Dimes largely was responsible for funding
research, including animal experiments, that led to a vaccine for polio.
Other medical triumphs, such as open-heart surgery, also have been based
on research done on animals, he said.
''Animal research is not the only kind of research that is conducted in
the whole spectrum of investigation and clinical treatment of disease,
but it is a key part for which in some cases there is simply no
substitute,'' Narr said.
AP-ES-01-24-98 1401EST
Virginia AP WireFeedbackNews IndexGateway Virginia
Copyright 1998, Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or
redistributed.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 11:26:36 EST
From: JanaWilson
To: AR-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma Weekly Outdoor News
Message-ID: <7b0ebad7.34cb67be@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit
A/w local Oklahoma City news:
Prodject WILD (Wildlife in Learning Design) trained educators
can again receive free bird nesting boxes that can be used to
supplement WILD activities and teach students about birds.
The Birdbox Program, sponsored by the Phillips Petroleum
Foundation, Inc, and the Okla. Wildlife Dept., provides easy-to-
assemble nest boxes made of wax-impregnated cardboard,
which are designed to last one nesting season. The boxes
come in classroom sets of 30 and are available to Project WILD
trained teachers if picked up at either the Oklahoma Wildlife's
Dept.'s central office in OKC or in the Tulsa area. Information
is available at (405) 521-4633.
Two free bald eagle viewing tours will be held at Lake Thunderbird
(near Norman, Okla.) in late January and early February. The first
event will be held on Jan. 31 and the second viewing opportunity
will be on Feb. 7th. Both will begin at 9 am and continue until noon.
Julie Tarver, Little River State Park naturalist, will be the hostess.
Tarver said participants should meet at the Central Reginal Auditorium
for a short informational session. Participants will then drive to
locations where eagles have been seen.
Participants should also bring binoculars. Altho there is no charge
for the programs, donations are accepted. For more info on the
Lake Thunderbird eagle viewing tours, call Ms. Tarver at (405) 321-4633.
For the Animals,
Jana, OKC
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 11:26:30 EST
From: JanaWilson
To: Ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma's New Outdoor Women's Association
Message-ID: <534b2757.34cb67b9@aol.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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A/w local Okla. City hunting news:
The Oklahoma Outdoor Women's Association which is a newly
organized group geared toward teaching women "outdoor" skills
will host a free shotgun shooting clinic on Jan. 31 at the Fort
Gibson Wildlife Management Area.
The shotgun shooting clinic will be conducted by personnel from
the Oklahoma Wildlife Dept.'s Shotgun Training and Education
Program (STEP). The STEP program teaches hunters and target
shooters better shotgun shooting techniques and introduces new-
comers to shotgun shooting.
The Oklahoma Outdoor Women's Ass. (OOWA) has been
recently formed to meet the growing demand for outdoor skill
training for women. It is designed for both knowledgeable outdoors
women and novices according to Debbie Hayes, the organization
founder. For informantion please call Luann Waters, educational
specialist for the Oklahoma Wildlife Dept. at (405) 521-4633.
For the Animals,
Jana, OKC
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 11:53:31 EST
From: JanaWilson
To: Ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma Crossbow Hunting Debate
Message-ID: <7a57f883.34cb6e0e@aol.com>
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A/w local Okla. City hunting news:
Legislative hot potatoes can come in all shapes and sizes. There is
one going around now that looks a lot like a crossbow. If our law-
makers aren't familiar with crossbows, it doesn't matter. They will
soon learn. A crossbow, the dictionary says, is a medieval weapon
consisting of a strong bow mounted crosswise on a stock. It shoots
a short arrow called a bolt and it is aimed from the shoulder like a rifle.
It can be scoped for greater accuracy.
Despite their deadly appearance, hardly anyone ever kills a deer with
a crossbow. Crossbows have been legal for bow hunting for years,
but they can only be used by disabled persons who can't handle a
conventional bow. These hunters are required to be certified by a
medical doctor and obtain a $5 permit which good for five years.
Amputees are able to obtain a lifetime crossbow permit for their $5.
Mr. Greg Duffy, Okla. Wildlife Dept., says about 6,000 of the state's
45,000 bowhunters are holders of crossbow permits.
The possibility of legalizing crossbows across the board came to
the attention of the Wildlife Commission a couple of months ago
when Duffy routinely reported that Rep. Barbara Staggs of Muskogee
planned to pre-file a bill which would make all crossbow permits
good for a lifetime. Duffy told the commission his dept. would have
no objection to making cross bows legal during the archery deer season
for anybody and everybody, regardless of their physical condition.
He later asked Rep. Staggs to broaden her bill to do just that.
Altho the Okla. Wildlife Commission sets most hunting regulations,
the Legislature remains responsible for deciding various methods of
taking game. Duffy said the use of crossbows by the general public
would not make a dent in the state's deer population.
However, the members of the Bowhunting Council of Oklahoma,
probably the most politically active hunting org. in the state, are not
happy. Even before the Legislature convenes the Bowhunting
Council is mobilizing its membership to fight the Staggs bill.
"The future of bowhunting in Oklahoma as we know it is in
jeopardy," warned Danny Stone, of Nowata, Okla., council
president, in the organization's newsletter.
The council published a statement saying that it supports the
use of crossbows by physically handicapped hunters during
the archery season, but added: "We do not support the use of
crossbows by the general public during achery season. The council
would support the use of crossbows during the rifle and primitive
firearms season." He also added, "A crossbow is shouldered and
shot like a firearm and should be included in those seasons only."
He said of all the states adjoining Oklahoma, only Arkansas
permits the general public to hunt deer with crossbows.
For the Animals,
Jana, OKC
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 08:54:10 -0800
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: "Trojan pigs"
Message-ID: <34CB6E32.2B4D@worldnet.att.net>
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Tissue from the Trojan pig
Scripps Howard
January 24, 1998
Transplant patients waiting for heart donors face a new irony: the
solution for them might be the start of a new problem for everyone
else.
Public health officials in Washington were told this week to think again
about animal organs for human transplants. British officials had already
heard the same message.
The problem involves zoonoses -- diseases shared by humans and animals.
Avian flu has killed a handful of people in Hong Kong. Pigs are capable
of infection by both avian and human influenzas, so epidemiologists
think of pigs as part of the cycle of manufacture of new versions of
influenza.
But there's a wider problem. Pigs are promising candidates for
transplant surgery. The catch is that pigs may be happy, stable homes to
viruses so discreet and comfortable that nobody has noticed their
existence. Transfer these to humans, some people think, and trouble
could follow.
So, suddenly, scientists are calling for a moratorium on animal-to-human
transplants and there's a new word for the lexicographers: xenozoonoses.
It means diseases imported from a completely different species.
This has become an issue because Imutran, a biotechnology firm in
Cambridge, England, has prepared a herd of pigs with human-compatible
hearts and other organs that would be available for transplant, and
Imutran is not alone in the field.
But patients might get more than they bargained for. Viruses have a way
of concealing themselves in host DNA and lying quietly for years.
Scientists have already shown that human cells could be infected with
porcine endogenous viruses (PERVs). So the first lives to be saved by
pig organs would have to be watched forever to see if they caught
anything else, and so would their relatives, and friends.
"The transplant surgeon can therefore sleep with a clear conscience that
he is helping his patient," writes Robin Weiss of the Institute of
Cancer Research in the British science journal Nature. Weiss was one of
the British team who first demonstrated how to transfer a virus from pig
to human cells. "We microbiologists, on the other hand, wish to alert
society to the remote but possible risk of setting off a new human
epidemic."
It is not a new worry: Homer's Circe turned men into swine, and Joshua
Lederberg, one of virology's giants, warned several years ago that
ape-to-human transplants were inherently dangerous. But since these were
anyway unsuccessful, nobody paid much attention.
The problem is that there simply are not enough human donors. So biotech
firms in Europe and the U.S. are opening up new possibilities: Novartis
is preparing to invest $1 billion into the technology and, according to
Nature, the market could be worth $6 billion by 2010. Animal organs are
on the way.
But even if a virus does no harm to a pig, what might it do when it
finds a new home in a human? According to Fritz Bach, in the latest
issue of the British science journal Nature Medicine,
xenotransplantation offers "potential benefit to the individual while
putting the population at risk."
It's the same fear of a new horror: an epidemic spread by the healer's
knife.
By TIM RADFORD, The Guardian
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 01:51:12 +0800
From: bunny
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: French peasants prosecuted for destroying transgenic maize
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19980126014349.2c6779ce@wantree.com.au>
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Forwarded by Marguerite (rabbit@wantree.com.au)
Dear friends,
The Coordination Paysanne Europeenne has sent this message asking for
support for the French Peasant Confederation in their struggle against
Novartis (the merge of Ciba Geigy and Sandoz), the biggest agrochemical,
second biggest seed producer and third biggest pharmaceutical company in
this planet.
Please sign their petition at the end of this message. And if you are
organising an action against the meeting of the World Economic Forum in
Davos (29 Jan - 3 Feb) please take the opportunity and make a reference to
this trial of huge agribussines against farmers in France. (By the way, the
Institute for Cultural Ecology has just set up a Davos Watch page at
http://www.igc.org/ice/davos/index.html - the page is still quite empty but
it will be filled up quite soon).
*********************
120 members of the Confédération Paysanne have entered a
Novartis stocking factory in Nérac (France) to denature transgenic
maize seeds in order to protest against the decision of the French
government to allow the growing of this maize (France is the first
country in the European Union to allow this).
Novartis has estimated the damages to 30 tons (more or less 2 to
5.000.000 FF). During the action the modified maize has been
mixed up with non-modified maize and humidified.
Three responsible persons (René Riesel, José Bové and Francis
Roux) have been arrested for immediate trial. Their layer has
succeeded in reporting the trial to the 3rd of February. Before this
date the trade-unionist can not meet anymore and have been
requested to stay home. They have informed the president of the
trial court that they will meet each other again.
The Confédération Paysanne would like to use this trial of 3 February
as the trial of the trangenic maize. Scientists who are opponent to
eventual genetic engineering dangers will be attending the trial.
A pacifist demonstration is foreseen in front of the trial court of Agen
on the 3rd of February. The participants will claim for the following
points:
- the prohibition of the commercialisation and growing of the cb
Novartis maize and the application of a moratory on the whole
genetically-modified organisms (GMO).
- the organization of a parliament debate and a large public debate
on the GMO usefulness, the risks of their introduction and the notion
of "acceptable risks for the society". These debates are necessary
before any decision concerning the GMO's.
The Confédération Paysanne is asking to the organizations to
send their supporting messages by the means of the attached
petition and if possible, to contact scientists who are
opponents to the genetic engineering and its risks and ask
them to also send a message of support.
The Confédération Paysanne is also requesting to organize
some action of support within your country during the week of
the trial or on the 3rd of February in order to support them. If
you need other information , please feel free to contact the Coordination
Paysanne Européenne at or the Confédération Paysanne
directly at .
Petition of support of the demonstration in Agen against
transgenic maize
(resumed version, complete text available at the CPE and at the
Confédération Paysanne)
Claims:
- the prohibition of the commercialisation and growing of the cb
Novartis maize and the application of a moratory on the whole
genetically-modified organisms (GMO).
- the organization of a parliament debate and a large public debate
on the GMO usefulness, the risks of their introduction and the notion
of "acceptable risks for the society". These debates are necessary
before any decision concerning the GMO's.
1. Individual support
Name:
Surname:
Profession:
2. Organization support
Name and organization
is supporting the demonstration against the Trial of transgenic maize
dated 3 February 1998
Please return this petition before the 30 January to
The Confédération Paysanne, 81 avenue de la République, F -
93170 Bagnolet
Fax : + 33 1 43 62 80 03 e-mail confpays@globenet.org
=====================================================================
========
/`\ /`\ Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom, (/\ \-/ /\) P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son, )6 6( Riverton,
Saved a pig >{= Y =}< Western Australia 6148
And away he run; /'-^-'\
So none could eat (_) (_) email: rabbit@wantree.com.au
The pig so sweet | . |
Together they ran | |} http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street. \_/^\_/ (Rabbit Information Service website updated
frequently)
It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
- Voltaire
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 09:53:24 -0800
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: FWD: ROTTWEILER Tragedy!!!! (an appeal for help)
Message-ID: <34CB7C14.6AA5@worldnet.att.net>
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The following letter was published on the rec.pets.dogs.rescue USENET
group this morning.
================================================================
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs.rescue
Subject: ROTTWEILER Tragedy!!!!
Date: 25 Jan 1998 00:19:53 GMT
Message-ID: <19980125001901.TAA07017@ladder01.news.aol.com>
Please read the following post that I received on the DOG-RESCUE list.
It is very sad and at the same time downright INFURIATING!!! Please
help keep this
family together! A&A
<< My name is Kathie Price, I live in Beavercreek, Oregon in the county
of Clackamas on a 19 acre farm located 14 miles from the nearest
city. In September 1997, I received a letter from the Department of
Transportation & Development in Clackamas County. It would seem that
a neighbor, had sent in a complaint stating that I owned too many
dogs. I own 5 adult rottweilers.
I have owned my property for several years, and have had dogs on the
property since I purchased it. There were no criminal charges against
my dogs in any form. I was just being charged for owning too many,
and therefore charged as being an illegal kennel. All of my dogs are
legally licensed, and always have been through Clackamas County
Animal Control, which is the law.
The neighbor in question, who had reported me, has a long history of
trying to cause me problems. He has had the police called on him by
myself and myself and my family members, approximately 14 times in
the last several tears. The police calls have been due to violence
ranging from death threats, to attempted assault, and an attack with
a deadly weapon.
I was ordered to appear before a hearings officer on January 16,
1998. My 20 year old daughter and I appeared. The hearings compliance
officer was a Kathryn Alvin. During the course of our hearing, we
were not allowed to enter any of our evidence, including the State of
Oregon Humane Laws 603-15-025 through 603-15-050, which is the law
that determines who in the state is a kennel. Nor were we allowed to
enter evidence showing the long history involving the abuse by the
above mentioned neighbor. All of our evidence was ruled inadmissible.
The hearings officer ruled that we had in the past been an illegal
kennel, by having 5 dogs on our 19 acres, even though these dogs met
none of the requirements associated with a kennel. She than order
that we must remove 2 of the dogs from our property. I tried very
hard to explain to her, that these dogs were much loved family
members, older dogs, ages 9,8,5,5,5 and that it is impossible to
quote "give away' dogs of this breed and age.
She than said if we did not give them away, they were to be put to
death, and verification given to the court by a vet. I than stated
that she was condemning these dogs to a death sentence, and she said,
yes she was. I tried to approach them to obtain a kennel license, and
was inform that since I had broken the law, I would not be allowed to
obtain one.
Since I live in a rural area, it is not uncommon up here, for many of
the land owners to have more than 3 dogs, several families I know of
in this area, have anywhere from 7 dogs to 14. None of these people
are being forced to remove, or kill their animals.
I believe we are, because our dogs happen to be rottweilers. The
confusing part of all of this for me, is why does Clackamas County
Animal Control, sell the public dog licenses, that they know are
illegal, that makes no sense. A friend of mine went to Animal Control
the morning of my hearing, and licensed 6 dogs.
The effect this whole matter has taken on my family, is unbelievable.
We are living under constant stress, my 20 year old is threatening to
leave the state with her dog, my 14 year old, has spent the last 3
days crying, and most heartbreaking of all, is my 11 year ols son,
these dogs have been in his life since he was an infant, we have all
laughed for years, that "Andy" has been raised by rottweilers, we
have pictures of him, laying on our Sonja, taking his baby bottle.
his best friend, our Ciaya, is his bed partner, and life partner,
where ever Andy is, Ciaya is. The sweetest sight you will ever see,
is him and her sleeping together, she has her own stuffed animals,
and baby blanket, you always know when its their bedtime, because
Ciaya drags her baby blanket around, and tell Andy "come on bud, its
time for bed". My son has been so affected by all of this, he is
either hanging around his dogs neck in tears, or trying to figure out
a way for them to run away, where no one will find them. needless to
say I'm watching them very closely. And its been 3 days now since the
hearing, and my son still refuses to eat. This whole situation is
destroying our entire family. How and why, these people think they
can do this to us, is beyond me, and if this is allowed to happen, in
the future, no dog owner will be safe, they will be able to come to
your home, and tell you to destroy your animal, for no reasons.
This issue will affect every dog ownerout there.
We are trying to fight back, in the only way we can. we have put
pleas for help out on the internet. We are in the process of setting
up a website. We are asking people everywhere to mail letters of
protest to us and our state senator and congress woman. I intend on
taking the letters to the governor. We are also seeking donations of
any size, (my son has emptied his piggy bank :) to help set up a
legal defense fund.
Letters of protest can be sent to:
Kathie Price
24253 S. Ridge Rd
Beavercreek, Oregon 97004
e-mail KatFF1300@aol.com
Letters to the Senator and Congress woman can be sent per e-mail at:
senator@wyden.senate.gov
Darlene@mail.house.gov >>
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 12:26:45
From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Local activist assaulted
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980125122645.1e470018@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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By David Knowles
Animal Voices News
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Vancouver-based environmental activist Anthony Marr was
subjected to a beating last Monday evening.
Marr, who works as coordinator of the B'TRE Campaign for the Western Canada
Wilderness Committee, said he was returning to his car Monday evening after
eating at his parents' home. As he arrived at his car, he was approached by
a male, who asked him if he was Anthony Marr.
After identifying himself as such, Marr was set upon by the assailent, who
punched him several times in his face before running off.
Marr, who suffered severe bruising to around his eyes and nose, says he has
received threats on a regular basis, but that this was the first time
anyone had actually physically attacked him. He added that he was the first
member of WCWC to be physically attacked.
"It [the attack] has not reduced my commitment to work on behalf of
endangered species, in fact it has stiffened my resolve," said Marr.
The B'TRE Campaign deals with the illegal wildlife trade in Bears, Tigers,
Rhinos and Elephants.
As a member of the Asian community himself, Marr believes he is in a unique
position to question the practices of using endangered animal parts in
traditional medications.
He is notable for being outspoken, and has been shunned by some members of
Vancouver's Asian community. Marr was also involved with an attempt to
gather signatures on a petition to demand a vote for a ban on the trophy
hunting of bears in B.C., during which he received threats from pro-hunters.
Police have not charged anyone in connection with the incident as yet.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 11:20:54
From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Anti-seal hunt protest
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980125112054.08ffb79e@dowco.com>
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By David Knowles
Animal Voices News
VANCOUVER, B.C. - Around 30 people gathered outside the Vancouver Art
Gallery on Robson Street - despite less than cooperative weather - to
particpate in an anti-seal hunt protest Saturday.
The protesters heard speeches by Jayson Biggins, of Canadians Against The
Commercial Seal Hunt's Victoria office; Annelise Sorg, of the Coalition For
No Whales In Captivity; and Anthony Marr, of the Western Canada Wilderness
Committee's B'TRE Campaign.
Turn out was lower than expected due to transportation difficulties from
Vancouver Island and one of the Gulf Islands. (Severe weather in the Jaun
de Fuaca Strait resulted in cancellation of several ferry services.)
Although media turnout was poor - only local radio stations CKNW, CBC
Vancouver and Cooperative Radio were present - there was plenty of support
from passing motorists and pedestrians.
Information leaflets were handed out to passers-by and response was good.
Biggins said the fisheries collapse on the East Coast was due to the
mismanagement of the industry by the federal Department of Fisheries and
Oceans.
Federal fisheries minister David Anderson, who represents Victoria in the
House of Commons, was called upon to end the stop misleading the Candian
public about the loss-making, cruel seal slaughter that is simply
impossible to regulate.
B.C. is in a relatively powerful position as four out of the six governing
Liberal Party MP's that represent seats in the province are cabinet ministers.
"Canadians know the Department of Fisheries and Oceans totally mismanged
the Atlantic fishing industry, bringing Atlantic cod to near extinction and
putting hundreds of Newfoundland families out of work," Biggins told the
rally. Now, the government is not only blaming seals for the lack of fish
and jobs in Newfoundland, it's encouraging Newfoundlanders to particpate in
a mass slaughter of seals at annual kill-levels which are too high."
Marr said: "For Canadians to trade in seal penises is quite immoral and
most Canadians are disgusted by this practice. The trade in wildlife parts
has brought many species to the brink of extintion."
Marr added that, in connection with his work with the B'TRE campaign, this
year - the Year of the Tiger in the Asian lunar calendar - could be the
last one with any wild tigers left unless humans stopped the wildlife trade.
In an October 1997 economic analysis of the Newfoundland commercial seal
hunt, natural resource economist Dr. Clive Southey said "the commercial
hunt is heavily dependent on meat subsidies and the sale of seal penises."
He also concluded that the net value of the hunt is actually "zero" once
seal meat subsidies, the trade in seal penises and costs for labour and
captital are substracted.
The rally was part of an ongoing campaign by CATCSH, a project of IFAW
Canada, to end the hunt.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 15:48:23 -0600
From: paulbog@jefnet.com (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post"
Subject: Hindu files suit
Message-ID: <19980125154923647.AAB202@paulbog.jefnet.com>
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Hindu Sues Taco Bell Over Burrito
VENTURA, Calif. (AP) - A devout Hindu is suing Taco Bell, claiming he
suffered extreme distress because he was served a beef burrito. Hindus hold
cows sacred and Mukesh K. Rai maintains that he carefully ordered a bean
burrito at the Taco Bell in Ventura in April, and realized the mistake when
he bit into it.
His lawsuit, filed last week, seeks damages for emotional distress,
medical expenses and loss of wages. Rai said he has had to travel to
England and India for religious purification.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 17:27:42 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: ACLU on Oprah
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19980125222742.2ddf480c@mail.heritage.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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ACLU Says 'Veggie Libel' Laws
Are Patently Unconstitutional
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 22, 1998
NEW YORK -- With popular talk show host Oprah Winfrey facing a libel
trial for "defaming beef," the American Civil Liberties Union today said
that so-called "veggie libel" laws are unconstitutional.
The libel laws seeks to block speakers from discussing important public
health matters concerning food. In the trial in Amarillo, Texas, cattle
ranchers are seeking more than $12 million in damages they claim
resulted from statements made by Oprah and her guests about "Mad Cow"
disease.
In the last few years, at least 13 states, including Texas, have enacted
litigation, also known as "food disparagement laws," that makes it
easier for growers and ranchers to recover damages from anyone who
alleges health risks associated with their product.
"These so-called veggie libel laws raise obvious First Amendment
problems and threaten to chill speech on important issues of public
concern," said Steven R. Shapiro, Legal Director of the national ACLU.
In particular, speakers may face multi-million dollar verdicts if a jury
later determines that the challenged statements were not based on
"reasonable and reliable scientific inquiry, facts or data." Given the
ambiguous nature of scientific inquiry, this puts speakers in the
precarious situation of having to prove facts still in dispute. Many
people will simply refrain from speaking under threat of a lawsuit,
Shapiro said.
Ultimately, a jury may end up deciding crucial differences of opinion
about food safety months or even years after an issue arises, Shapiro
added, a situation that is dangerous both to the First Amendment and to
public health.
Citing these and other concerns, in April 1994 the ACLU of Georgia filed
a challenge to that state's law on behalf of two environmental watchdog
groups, Action for a Clean Environment and Parents for Pesticide
Alternatives. The groups claimed that the Georgia law would have a
chilling effect on their efforts to educate the public about
environmental and food safety. But a judge dismissed the suit, saying
that without an actual case to review, the issue "is not ripe for
review."
The ACLU continues to monitor the veggie law's effect, in Texas as well
in other states, and said that it may become involved in legal
challenges as the issue ripens.
The states that have enacted laws already are: Alabama, Arizona,
Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Dakota,
Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Dakota and Texas.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
wag@heritage.com
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 16:39:18 -0800
From: "Bob Schlesinger"
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: 2 More Dogs Sentenced to Die in Oregon - One already killed
Message-ID: <199801251639180590.017F430F@pcez.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Lebanon, OR
January 23, 1998
On Friday, January 16th the Linn County Board of Commissioners issued an
edict of execution for two dogs allegedly seen chasing sheep near
Lebanon Oregon on January 7th. The 2 dogs, Billy (a Cockapoo-Pug mix) and
Cody (a Chesapake Bay Retriever) owned by single mom Cheryl Train, were
impounded after a local farmer, Jack Lafranchise called county animal control.
Lafranchise stated that he owned the sheep and would have shot the dogs himself
right then, however did not do so because they were too close to a major highway.
After being falsely threatened with jail by county animal control officers for
initially refusing to turn over her dogs, Ms. Train under duress consented to the
euthanization of Billy.She refused to consent to the death of Cody, however, since
he had been specifically trained not to chase livestock.
Billy was euthanized immediately.
The remaining death sentence against Cody has been appealed by attorney
Robert Babcock. Babcock is also the attorney in the case of Nadas, accused of
chasing a horse in Jackson County Oregon. The Nadas case has been appealed
to the Oregon Supreme Court, which is expected to decide this week whether or
not to review that case.
In an interview with Ark Online, Ms. Train indicated that she thought she had
been set up. Evidently a year ago Ms. Train owned a dog that killed one of Mr.
Lefranchise's sheep. She had the dog euthanized. However Mr. Lefranchise
insisted she also pay for the cost of the sheep. Although she agreed to do so,
Ms. Train had not been able to come up with the money.
On the day her dogs were supposedly chasing livestock, they came back to the
house with wet fur. Cheryl Train is certain they were playing in a ditch filled with
water in an area that is far from where the sheep are located.
Mr. Lefranchise lists as his witness to the chasing, a Mr. Robert
Babcock. This Mr. Babcock is not the attorney, but in fact is an active advocate
of the current livestock law. The fact that his name is the same as the attorney is
an interesting coincidence. What is more interesting, however, is how this
particularly active proponent of the livestock law just happened to be on Mr.
Lefranchise's property when these two dogs were allegedly chasing sheep.
A copy of an audio tape of the county hearing has been ordered by attorney
Babcock. Excerpts will be made available at Ark Online at
http://www.arkonline.com when we receive a copy.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 16:49:18 -0800
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Meat inspection: Have A Cup of Coffee and Pray
Message-ID: <34CBDD8E.1AC8@worldnet.att.net>
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New meat inspection system questioned
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON, January 25, 1998
The government's new system for preventing contamination in processing
plants is recognized by the acronym HACCP. Some meat and poultry
inspectors sardonically say that means: "Have A Cup of Coffee and Pray."
Actually, it means "Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points," a
system beginning Monday for the 312 largest meat and poultry processing
plants that account for 75 percent of livestock
slaughtered in the United States. It will be phased in over two years in
the remaining 6,100 plants.
"We definitely have our work cut out for us, as there are many
disturbing pitfalls and apparent weaknesses," Randy Wurtele, western
president of the National Joint Council of Food Inspection Locals, said
in a letter on the union council's Internet site.
Under the new regime, plants install their own facilities' preventive
measures to reduce E. coli and salmonella bacteria and improve
sanitation. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the system
is a "revolutionary improvement" over the old approach's reliance on
sight, touch and smell.
"Rather than catching problems after they occur, we will now focus on
preventing problems in the first place," Glickman said.
HACCP systems involve identifying points in a processing plant where
contamination is most likely to occur and finding methods to combat it.
Each plant can design its own HACCP system but must meet certain
standards.
Some of the 7,500 federal inspectors on the front lines say relying on
company workers to keep records on how well the systems operate places
too much faith in the honesty of corporations out to make a profit.
For example, companies are required to test for E. coli, a strain of
which can cause serious illness or even death in humans. But no federal
inspector will oversee the tests, and companies need only
make available their own results, which Wurtele said could be
fabricated.
Thomas J. Billy, head of USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, said
federal inspectors will do random E. coli sampling and compare results.
The government could order corrective action, Billy said, "if we see an
aberration."
Inspectors have voiced other worries, including a bacteria-sampling plan
exempting certain kinds of animals and the lack of a requirement that
the industry document qualifications of workers who make changes in
HACCP systems.
The rules are "a public relations ploy" aimed mainly at shifting blame
for outbreaks of food-borne illness from the government to private
industry, Wurtele said.
"We cannot sit still when we see obvious shortcomings," he said.
Glickman insisted the new rules go further to control food-borne
pathogens, and inspectors will have greater ability to close plants that
show patterns of noncompliance with HACCP systems.
In addition, he said, plant inspectors will continue visual inspections
of carcasses and have more freedom to check out overall operations than
before.
Glickman said he also will push Congress to allow the department to
impose fines on violators and issue mandatory recalls of bad product. An
administration bill to do that has been stuck in committee since last
fall.
"We really have no regulatory tools except for a shutdown," Glickman
said. "We can fine circuses for mistreating elephants ..., but we can't
fine companies that violate food-safety standards."
By CURT ANDERSON, AP Farm Writer
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 1998 00:35:12
From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Seven held in cat centre protest
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980119003512.1b8fd464@dowco.com>
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, January 19th, 1998
Seven held in cat centre protest
SEVEN people were arrested during a demonstration by about 350 outside Hill
Grove Farm cat-breeding centre, at Witney, Oxon.
A small group also targeted the home of a farm employee and other
protesters staged a demonstration in Witney town centre. All those arrested
were being questioned, a police spokesman said. The breeding centre has
been a target for animal rights demonstrators in the past.
Supt Peter Davies, the officer in charge of the police operation, said that
at times the demonstration had been "neither lawful nor peaceful", which
was why "positive police action" was required.
© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 17:45:49
From: David J Knowles
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: RE: [UK] Seven held in cat centre protest
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980125174549.1a37f7bc@dowco.com>
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Oops!
Sorry, don't know how this message got resent. Please ignore.
David
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 21:31:55 -0500 (EST)
From: Jean Colison
To: Ar-news
Subject: Swim with Dolphins
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Write to:
Washington Post
Letters-to-the-Editor
1150 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20071
Sunday, January 25, 1998; Page E01
Washington Post
Sunday Travel
Front Page Articles
Bottlenose to Nose: Touched by a Dolphin
By C.J. Houtchens
Special to The Washington Post
When I first arrive to swim with the dolphins at Bermuda's Southampton
Princess Hotel, I have a sinking feeling I've come a long, expensive way
for a bad case of deja vu. Sure, the beach is spectacular. But the
catwalk of docks crossing the lagoon, the vast canvas sun canopies and,
especially, the tanned young crew, costumed in jazzy matching Speedos
and toting insulated coolers of feeder fish, look too much like show
time at Sea World for me. Been there. Done that. Want more.
The whole idea of coming out here, after all, is to get into the water,
to touch the animals, experience firsthand the fabled rapport between
species. I want what the brochure for this program, Dolphin Quest, had
promised: "a rare and powerful moment . . . an emotional encounter . . .
a gateway to the world of the dolphin." Unfortunately, what I don't yet
understand is that in order to swing open, the gateway has to be as
solidly structured as a brick house.
On the dock, Dolphin Quest director of operations Michelle Hammond helps
fasten my life vest, tucking the straps carefully so they won't float
free and scratch or startle the dolphins. Then, with the three other
women in my group, I step down and sit on a narrow, algae-slickened
deck, my rear and legs submerged in the lagoon. Hammond stands just
behind us and signals to a colleague across the cove. He flings an arm
in our direction . . . Go! . . . and a pair of Atlantic bottlenose
dolphins silently torpedo underwater toward us and erupt, smiling, right
at our feet. We burst into cheers and applause.
"Say hello," Hammond enthuses, "to . . ." somebody and somebody else,
whose dolphin names I totally miss. I'm not listening. I am grinning
idiotically and sending concentrated telepathic messages to the dolphin
nearest me (I learn later he is called Khyber): "Choose me." Neither am
I listening when Hammond tells us to make a platform for the dolphin, as
she had demonstrated a few moments earlier. "Hold out one hand like
this," she had said, extending her left palm upward over the water.
"Then you can gently stroke the dolphin with your other hand."
The woman at my left follows the instructions perfectly. Khyber glides
toward her and places his chin on her palm. I keep one hand in my lap
and lean way over to slide the other along the dolphin's side. His flesh
has the taut texture of a zaftig figure stuffed into a wet suit.
"C.J.," Hammond says, momentarily gaining my attention with a slightly
chastening tone. "Don't let the animal train you. You train the animal."
I don't want to train the animal, I want to be wild and free. But I do
as I am told.
I do as I am told, and, of course, suddenly it happens: I slip through
the threshold of another world. I stretch my left hand under the
dolphin's throat. Khyber nuzzles slightly closer. The eye on the left
side of his head -- toward me -- is open, just above the water. It is a
small eye for such a large animal, about as big as a persimmon and
hooded by thick rubbery lids, top and bottom. I can see its roundness
and liquid color, mottled dark blue and black, like a satellite photo of
Earth or a particularly beautiful hand-blown marble. I raise my
sunglasses and gaze deeply into this one extraordinary eye.
This feels awkward at first, as though I am trying to decide where to
focus with a cross-eyed conversational partner . . . but Khyber gazes
back. In the dolphin's eye, I see emotion, recognition, kinship. His
look says that although he is merely doing tricks for the others, he is
showing his old, old soul to me.
Paradoxically, in the same way that the precise, long-practiced and very
concrete actions of magician and assistant create breathtaking
illusions, by doing my part of the routine correctly, I have released
the dolphin and myself into an uninhibited shared place where we can
briefly -- magnificently -- commune.
The effect is so tranquilizing that I drift for some time in a placid
fog, still following instructions, but not at all processing what is
happening. (Afterward, I have to ask Hammond and my neighbor for details
of what we did for the next 10 minutes.) Only much later, with distance
and analysis, do I began to understand the structure underlying my
free-floating experience. The Dolphin Quest encounter is actually as
meticulously choreographed as any Sea World demonstration. Trainers cue
the animals to perform a series of carefully coached tricks, letting
human participants join in on the signals. A smart salute of our right
hands sends Khyber and his comrade in a race to the center of the cove
where they leap skyward. Forearms held straight out are an invitation to
what Hammond calls "a dolphin dance." Khyber approaches, treading water
with his powerful tail, letting us each gently hold a flipper. (The
flipper, I recall, has the approximate feel and color of an
institutional doormat.) We wave. Khyber floats on his back and waggles a
flipper in return.
Of course, this is just the sort of show biz stuff, that, along with
news reports of rowdy dolphins physically or erotically assaulting
humans in the water, provokes critics. In the States,
swim-with-the-dolphin programs survived an early 1990s campaign against
them by a Florida group called the Dolphin Freedom Foundation. Today,
the small industry (three programs in the Florida Keys; another at
Hawaii's Hilton Waikoloa Village run by Dolphin Quest; and one planned,
bizarrely but appropriately, at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, home of
illusionists and tiger-tamers Siegfried and Roy) is regulated by the
U.S. Department of Agriculture under the Animal Welfare Act.
A densely typeset five-page amendment now pending final approval
includes requirements that dolphins at all times have a "choice" of
whether to swim-with-the-humans with sufficient "sanctuary" and "buffer"
zones to retreat to. Dolphins who misbehave must be removed immediately
from the swimming area and the incident reported to the USDA. The
proposed rule also requires all animals to "be adequately conditioned
and trained for interaction" to protect the swimmers.
"It's all in what they're conditioned and used to," says Hammond, an
unflappable, indelibly freckled marine biologist, who hires and schools
the Dolphin Quest Bermudian staff. "You can have a trainer that allows a
lot more to occur than another trainer and you could accidentally
reinforce negative behavior. What we look for in training our trainers
is they're managing the precursors to those kind of behaviors and
they're learning the animals. They're not just doing tricks and throwing
fish, they're looking at the social scene."
When my foursome leaves the dock and climbs down some craggy rocks into
the lagoon's shallows to put on snorkel masks and feed Khyber little
fishes underwater, we first stand together in water about up to our rib
cages.
Hammond gives a short pep talk about protecting marine mammals and the
environment, while a colleague, known in the parlance as the "B"
trainer, holds Khyber's attention a few yards away.
Young, male and exuberant, the B trainer loses command. The 300-pound
dolphin begins swimming in fast, wide circles just off the bottom of the
shallows, skimming through the arm's length of space between me and the
woman standing at my side. On the second pass, the last whip of Khyber's
tail barely clips my calf. The impact thwacks sharply, like bumping into
furniture in the dark. Catching the episode, Hammond reins in her
colleague with an even-toned reminder: He regains the dolphin's
attention with a signal that eludes me.
Oddly, the incident neither bruises nor alarms me. In fact, I stay in my
relaxed altered state until the Dolphin Quest cameraman wades over to
take souvenir "interactive" photos. Hammond again demonstrates how to
make a platform with one palm, supporting Khyber's chin, so we can kiss
him on the nose. Click. (It was this pose in a small black-and-white New
Yorker ad, featuring a classically statuesque, serene-faced model, that
had lured me here in the first place.) Hammond makes an underwater
cradle of her arms. Khyber floats slightly above it, not really resting
his weight, and preens. His neck, flippers, and tail stretch above the
surface. Click.
The say-cheesiness of this shotmaking so exposes its hidden mirrors and
seams that by the time my turn rolls around, I have finally snapped out
of my fugue. As I make my arm cradle, I deliberately smile toward Khyber
and compose myself for the camera. Pursing up and putting a smacker on
his snout I feel as goofily self-conscious as I would primping in a
swirling white halter dress astride a subway grate. There is no
connection between us now. I'm not even certain it is the same dolphin,
although Hammond confirms he is.
Later, reviewing images for sale at the instant print computer in the
Dolphin Quest gift shop, I am astonished to see that the photographer
had also captured the earlier moment of my enchantment. I buy the
preening pose for the record; I get the candid because I love it. Every
time I look at it, I see the after-image of the dolphin's eye with such
clarity that I begin to think I had gotten a photo of that, too. I am
surprised when I get home and realize I didn't.
Details : Bermuda Dolphin Swims
GETTING THERE: Numerous airlines offer connecting service to Bermuda
from this area; US Airways flies nonstop from BWI and is quoting a
round-trip fare of about $350, with restrictions.
WHO'S RUNNING THE SHOW: The swim-with-the-dolphins program at Bermuda's
Southampton Princess is a partnership between the hotel and Dolphin
Quest -- the same organization that runs encounters at the Hilton
Waikoloa Village and the Beachcomber Parkroyal in French Polynesia. In
November 1996, seven Atlantic bottlenose dolphins from a defunct marine
mammal exhibit at a Florida zoo were flown to Bermuda and took up
residence at the Southampton Princess. (This September, the oldest, a
female in her thirties, died. The normal lifespan of a dolphin in the
wild is less than 20 years.)
GETTING IN THE SWIM: Demand is high. The program runs year-round; to be
guaranteed a place in the 30-minute adult encounter program,
particularly during summer (May through August), make reservations when
you book your room at either the Southampton Princess or its sister
hotel in Hamilton, the Princess. Remaining spots are filled by a daily
lottery. Call Princess Hotels at 1-800-223-1818 for reservations and
updates.
WHERE TO STAY: The Southampton Princess is a luxurious, full-service
hotel with matching rates. From now through April 18, a three-night
Royal Dolphin Encounter package -- including room with balcony, full
breakfast, guaranteed Dolphin Encounter reservation, souvenir T-shirt
and photo, unlimited tennis and one round of golf daily -- runs $369 to
$449 per person double, or $626 to $787 single, depending on the view.
If you can get a guaranteed reservation for the encounter in advance,
consider booking one night -- rates start at $160 single or double for
the room only; adding on the encounter is $75 per person, plus $25 for
the souvenir photo. Forget the T-shirt. Decamp to a less expensive guest
house or housekeeping cottage for the rest of your stay.
Bermuda's Central Reservations Services (1-800-637-4116,
http://www.BermudaReservations .com) found me a large room with private
bath and deluxe continental breakfast in Oxford House, a nicely
furnished town house two blocks from Hamilton's harbor, for $110,
single, per night. Doubles run $131 to $145.
INFORMATION: Bermuda Department of Tourism, 310 Madison Ave., Suite 201,
New York, N.Y. 10017, 1-800-223-6106, http://www.bermudatourism.com.
-- C.J. Houtchens
©Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
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