AR-NEWS Digest 576

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) Rachel Rosenthal to Speak
     by 6500ac0@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu
  2) (US) Tallahassee Democrat article on fur
     by Michael Markarian 
  3) (US) Oklahoma Hog Farm Letter to the Editor
     by JanaWilson@aol.com
  4) Cleveland Amory book signings (US)
     by Michael Markarian 
  5) More meat, less grain on Asia-Pacific dining tables
     by Vadivu Govind 
  6) Philippine Animal Welfare Society
     by Vadivu Govind 
  7) Correction + Update - Indonesian forest fires 
     by Vadivu Govind 
  8) S'pore to go into fish farming in a big way 
     by Vadivu Govind 
  9) (SG) Crabs replaced by fungi
     by Vadivu Govind 
 10) (MY) Giant clams to be brought back to Johor waters
     by Vadivu Govind 
 11) (US) 'Beefcake' gene found 
     by Vadivu Govind 
 12) Dawn's release
     by Heidi Prescott 
 13) HSUS Awards 7th annual Russell & Burch Award
     by stanton1@ix.netcom.com (Tamara)
 14) Fwd: Subj: Marine World to Add $30 Million in New Attractions for
     by LMANHEIM@aol.com
 15) (AR) Procedures Against Animals Keep On
     by CAF@caf.mas-info.com.ar
 16) "Teen Angel" - Letters Needed
     by Wyandotte Animal Group 
 17) (BE) Belgium Changes System after Madcow Feed Mistake
     by allen schubert 
 18) (US) Couple Losing Monkeys
     by allen schubert 
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 22:07:02 -0800 (PST)
From: 6500ac0@ucsbuxa.ucsb.edu
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Rachel Rosenthal to Speak
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII


PLEASE DISTRIBUTE:

The UCSB Interdisciplinary Humanities Center
presents a lecture in the Research Focus Group Series:


            **********************
            *                    *
            *  RACHEL ROSENTHAL  *
            *                    *
            **********************


   "" HOW ANIMALS AND ART CAN SAVE THE WORLD, ""
    ""       OR AT LEAST ONE ARTIST          ""
    """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
 
        Monday, November 24th  @ 4:00 pm

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

  6020 Humanities & Social Sciences Building
   University of California, Santa Barbara
                           parking lots 22 or 23
       ******
        FREE
        ****


Artistic Director and performer with The Rachel Rosenthal Company, Rachel
Rosenthal is an inter-disciplinary performer who has developed a
revolutionary performance technique that integrates text, movement, voice,
choreography, improvisation, inventive costuming, dramatic lighting and
wildly imaginative sets into an unforgettable theater experience.  In the
last twenty years she has presented over 35 full-scale pieces 
internationally, and has lectured at Carnegie-Mellon University's
Robert Lepper Distinguished Lecture in Creative Inquiry series and as a
lecturer/presenter at the first Performance, Culture and Pedagogy
Conference at Penn State.  She has recently published "Tatti Wattles: A
Love Story" (Smart Art Press, 1997) featuring her original full color
illustrations.


**************************************
For more lecture information,
or for assistance in accommodating
a disability: please call
       805-893-3907
***********************************


Sponsored by the IHC Human/Animal Relationships RFG


*Note:  If you are faculty member or graduate student and are interested 
in joining the Human/Animal Relationships Research Focus Group, please 
contact cuk@humanitas.ucsb.edu.*
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 07:41:13 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Tallahassee Democrat article on fur
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971114131439.336fff56@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Tallahassee Democrat
Monday, November 10, 1997
http://www.tdo.com/features/environ/

Fur wear may be in Vogue, but it's no longer in vogue

                By SANDY BECK

                My inquisitive 7-year-old hand caresses Aunt Betty's
luxurious, full-length mink
                coat. I turn to look at Lady, a Shetland collie and my best
bud. My stomach
                tightens.

                Forty years later, that realization is still fresh in my
mind and just as repulsive.
                How can anyone justify separating a living, breathing
creature -- any creature --
                from its skin, simply to make a fashion statement?

                Fur is out, but the industry wants it in
                Since the late '80s, fur coats have been rejected as both
politically incorrect and
                unnecessary luxury items -- a double whammy that killed a
quarter of the
                nation's fur ranches, manufacturers and retailers. In the
1990s, hip means
                Martha Stewart, recycling and shopping at L.L. Bean.

                But as we creep up on the 21st century, take a trip to your
local magazine
                stand. I counted 28 pages of fur-draped models in the
October issue of Vogue.

                Louise Hornsby, fur salon manager at Gayfers for 20 years,
says, "Our sales
                have been increasing. We're lucky, we don't have the animal
rights problem
                here in Tallahassee."

                In the early '90s, People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals sent two
                undercover teams into fur "farms" in five states.
Investigators witnessed and
                filmed how these animals live and die.

                In 1994, after viewing the graphic
                PETA video, fashion designer Calvin
                Klein announced that following
                reflection on the inhumane treatment
                of animals, fur no longer fit his
                corporate philosophy. Following
                Klein's lead, many other fashion
                designers dropped fur lines. The
                Fashion Institute of Technology shut
                down its fur design program. That
                same year, the fur industry began a desperate public
relations campaign. The
                Boston Herald reported that the industry financed trips to
Copenhagen for
                young designers, teaching them how to work with fur. The Fur
Information
                Council began sinking big advertising bucks into Vogue,
Harper's Bazaar and
                other fashion magazines.

                "The fashion industry is using the press as its mouthpiece,"
said Susan Hagood,
                wildlife issues specialist with the Humane Society of the
United States. "They
                think if you say 'fur is back' enough, the public will
believe it."

                Hagood is betting that this campaign is wishful thinking on
the part of the
                industry. "We sometimes make choices that aren't in our best
interests -- like
                smoking cigars and eating a lot of red meat -- but there's
no evidence that we're
                willing to go so far as to embrace the cruelty of fur," she
said.

                The average mink or fox farm has 6,400 captive animals
packed into pitifully
                small wire cages. At nine months old, animals are killed by
injection,
                electrocution, or neck-breaking. About 17 percent die
prematurely because of
                stress or poor sanitation.

                The U.S. leads world in fur trapping
                When cows or pigs are killed, the Humane Slaughter Act
requires that both a
                veterinarian and a USDA agent be present. But the fur
industry, with a sole
                motive of profit, is regulated by voluntary compliance to
humane standards.

                The U.S. is the leading fur-trapping nation in the world.
Each year about two
                million target species -- including fox, beaver, otter, and
raccoon -- are trapped
                in the United States by cruel, steel-jaw leghold, Conibear
(body-gripping), or
                snare traps. Unknown millions of nontarget species,
including dogs, cats, owls,
                ducks, squirrels and turtles that are maimed or killed in
traps are discarded or
                kept as bait.

                At least 88 countries ban the use of steel-jaw leghold
traps. But in the United
                States, where state legislatures are strongly influenced by
farming and hunting
                money, only a few states have banned the traps.

                Florida prohibits the use of leghold traps, except when a
user is issued a special
                permit from the state Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission.

                The European Union has proposed a ban on importing fur from
any country that
                still allows steel-jaw leghold traps. According to Michael
Markarian, with The
                Fund for Animals, Canada and Russia reached a compromise
with the
                European Union, agreeing to phase out the leghold trap over
the next few years.
                To date, the United States hasn't agreed.

                Some question whether leather shoes are so different from
fur coats. For some,
                meat is a legitimate food item and leather is a byproduct of
the meat industry.
                Fur, however, is never an essential part of today's wardrobe.

                With so many warm alternatives available, there is no reason
to support an
                industry that raises or traps and cruelly slaughters
millions of animals each year.

                Hornsby notes that furs have been used since the beginning
of mankind. That's
                true. We've also been waging wars and killing one another
since the beginning
                of time. But does that make it ethically correct?

                Support the HSUS, The Fund for Animals and other groups. Let
your elected
                officials know how you feel. Wildlife should be managed in
the interests of all
                Americans, not just the trappers and fur farmers.

                And remember, this winter, when you wear that soft,
lightweight, fast-drying
                polyester fleece jacket, no little polyesters had to die. 


Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 11:06:05 -0500 (EST)
From: JanaWilson@aol.com
To: Ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma Hog Farm Letter to the Editor
Message-ID: <971114110604_-659216133@mrin39>


This letter appeared in today's Okla. City news and was
written by Mr. Paul Hitch who sits on the Oklahoma Ag
Board and votes on future hog farms.  Local environmentalists
have been trying to have him removed as he owns hog
farms leased by national hog corporations.  The lakes
mentioned in the letter are Oklahoma City's water supplies.
(Oklahoma has large numbers of hog farms moving into the
state.)

                Hog Farmers Are Good Stewards

TO THE EDITOR:

Tom K. in a previous letter to the editor that was against hog farms
foretold all manner of damage to Lakes Canton, Overhosler and
Hefner as a result of hog production in Oklahoma.  K. did not give
any example of the actual damage to those facilities caused by
hog production because there has been none.  More to the point,
there will be none.  Hog production, as it being practiced in Oklahoma,
is quite consistant with good environmental stewardship, as K.
would have found had he taken the time to investigate.

K. said, "we don't need the hog farms."  Perhaps he doesn't, but
the family farmers in rural Oklahoma who sell feed grains and
the small town merchants who sell pickups, diesel fuel, groceries
and parts do need them.  If K. doesn't want to raise hogs, that's
his business.  He seems to be saying no one should be allowed
to raise them.. That's just plain wrong.

                         (signed)  Paul H. Hitch, president
                                  Hitch Enterprises, Guymon, Ok.

                                                 For the animals,

                                                 Jana, OKC
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 08:17:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Cleveland Amory book signings (US)
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971114135038.22875c12@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Cleveland Amory will be signing copies of his new book, RANCH OF DREAMS, at
the following locations:

DENVER

Tuesday, November 18th
7:00-8:00 p.m.
The Tattered Cover
1628 16th Street
Denver, Colorado

NEW YORK

Thursday, November 20th
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
1972 Broadway
New York (west side)

WASHINGTON

Thursday, December 4th
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Crown Books
1451 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, Virginia

BOSTON

Saturday, December 6th
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Border's Books
151 Andover Street
Peabody, Massachusetts

Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:04:04 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: More meat, less grain on Asia-Pacific dining tables
Message-ID: <199711141704.BAA04985@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times
13 Nov 97

More meat, less grain on Asia-Pacific
     dining tables 

     By Jason Leow 

     AN EXPANDING middle class in the Asia-Pacific region is eating more
meat, less     grain and dining out more often, thanks to rapid economic
growth. 

     This trend, said the Pacific Food Outlook 1997-8 report, emulates the
eating and     buying habits of the more-developed economies. 

     The region would also see more women enter the labour force, so a
higher premium     would be put on "convenient time-saving consumer-ready
and semi-processed foods",     the report added. 
The PFO report, which provides a short-term outlook on the food system in 20
     Asia-Pacific economies, also forecast that food-price inflation would
decline to 2.1 per     cent next year, as compared to 2.3 per cent this year
in the economies surveyed. 

     They include Australia, Canada, China, Hongkong, Japan, Vietnam and
Singapore. 

     This is the first such report prepared by the Pacific Economic
Cooperation Council     (PECC), a non-governmental body comprising
businessmen, academics and  government officials from 22 Asia-Pacific
economies. 

     Five issues are highlighted: food prices and consumption, food
processing and     marketing, agricultural food production, basic
infrastructure development and food and     agricultural policies. 

An executive summary was released yesterday. The full country-by-country
report is     expected on Tuesday. At a press conference yesterday, PECC
director and economist     Constanza Valdes said the concept for such a
report began in 1994. Research began in     January this year and the first
draft was prepared in June. 

     Dr Valdes co-edited and compiled the final product with economist
William Coyle. 

     Asked why the forecast stretched only to next year, she said: "The
report caters mainly     to businessmen. They want to know what is going to
happen in the short term, like next     month." 

     She said the researchers considered five main indicators affecting the
food outlook of     the region. 
These were: 

     Rapid economic growth: Growth in the region was forecast at 4.1 per
cent for next     year, 30 per cent faster than the world average. 

     Increased intra-regional agricultural trade: The Asia-Pacific economies
were now     exporting 65 per cent of their food and agricultural products
to other economies in the     region. Such a degree of trade integration was
akin to that in the European Union. 

     Infrastructural development: From now till 2010, a projected US$1.5
trillion (S$2.4     trillion) in investment would be needed for
infrastructure, or high economic growth     would not be sustained. Slowing
total population growth: The region's total population     growth was
expected to slow down, but still grow by 25 million people by next year. 

Increased urbanisation: By the year 2000, 11 of the world's 21 megacities,
with     populations above 10 million, were expected to be in the
Asia-Pacific region. 

     These changes incurred not only consumption growth, but also "larger
infrastructure     bottlenecks", Dr Valdes said. 

     Basic infrastructure improvement would therefore make an impact on food
distribution,     raw-material sourcing and consumer food costs. 

Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:04:25 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Philippine Animal Welfare Society
Message-ID: <199711141704.BAA06217@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Just learnt of an animal welfare group in the Phillipines :-

Mrs Nita Hontiveros-Lichauco
Philippine Animal Welfare Society
87 Small Horseshoe
New Manila
Quezon City
Philippines

Telephone: 632 724 1986

- Vadivu

Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:04:40 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Correction + Update - Indonesian forest fires 
Message-ID: <199711141704.BAA06164@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



Dr Gary Shapiro of Orangutan Foundation International  informs me that the
figure given before on the number of orphan orangs brought to Dr Galdikas'
care centre should be about 12 per month, not 10 a day.

Both OFI and WSPA are doing relief work for the animals suffering due to the
forest fires in Indonesia. They have relief funds set up.

OFI's URL: http://www.ns.net/orangutan/index1.html
WSPA's URL: http://www.way.net/wspa/index.html

- Vadivu
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>The Straits Times
14 Nov 97
Indonesia's dry spell set to continue 

     GENEVA -- Indonesia continues to show very strong signs of the freak El
Nino     weather pattern, which is forecast to continue suppressing delayed
monsoon rains for     the immediate future, the head of a UN weather task
force said. 

     Mr Fredrick Semazzi, who heads an "El Nino" task force set up last
month by the     United Nations World Meteorological Organisation to
coordinate efforts in dealing     with the climatic havoc, said recent
sporadic rainfall in parts of Indonesia was only     intermittent. 

     "Our scientific models show no evidence of a persistent and coherent
rainfall in Indonesia, although we are continuing to monitor the situation
closely," he told Reuters.
     "Some meteorological stations in Indonesia report there may be
intermittent rain. But     regional predictions show these are not coherent.
So far, there is no sign of the start of     monsoon rains," he said. 

     Monsoon rains in Indonesia have been delayed since last month because
of the El Nino     weather phenomenon, a warming of the Pacific Ocean which
creates climatic havoc     around the world, causing flooding in some
regions and drought in others. 

     Scientists say the current El Nino could be the strongest this century
and surpass a     devastating 1982-83 episode which is estimated to have
resulted in the deaths of 2,000     people and caused at least US$13 billion
(S$20.2 billion) of damage. 

     Indonesia is in the grip of its most serious drought in decades,
induced by El NinoRains are desperately needed to quell bush and forest
fires exacerbated by the drought     in the islands of Sumatra and
Kalimantan, on the Indonesian side of Borneo, sending     unhealthy haze
across large areas of South-east Asia. Indonesian officials say rains
have fallen recently in at least four districts in Irian Jaya, but not in
the drought-stricken     Jayawijaya. 

     Mr Semazzi said the massive monsoon rain clouds to the north that
normally spread     over the archipelago from September were trying to break
through the ill winds of El     Nino, blowing from east to west. So far, El
Nino is winning, he said. -- Reuters. 


Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:04:56 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: S'pore to go into fish farming in a big way 
Message-ID: <199711141704.BAA03532@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times
14 Nov 97
S'pore to go into fish farming in a big way 

     By Sharon Vasoo 

     SINGAPORE plans to go big in the fish-farming business and may
eventually be able     to supply 40 per cent of the fish it consumes, from
40 new deep-sea farms planned. 

     National Development Minister Lim Hng Kiang said the country will
invest about $200     million to set up these fish farms here and in the
region over the next 10 years. 

     The industry is expected to produce and sell about $400 million worth
of fish a year, all     of it for local consumption, he said yesterday after
visiting an experimental deep-sea     fish farm about 1 km off St John's
Island. 

He said: "It's a feasible business but what is more important for Singapore
is that we     will get a stable supply of good fish without relying too
much on other countries such as     Malaysia, because their own market is
very competitive. 

     "When we have our own supply, we can also control the prices of fish in
the markets     here." 

     The Primary Production Board (PPD), which is testing out the deep-sea
method of     rearing fish, will also do research on how to breed
high-quality fish which breed     prolifically and resist disease. 

     The PPD has been cultivating fish spawn on a land-based fish farm in
Changi, a joint     venture with Seabass Farms, a commercial fish farm here
which carries out research. When the spawn become juvenile fish, they are
released into the deep-sea farm. 

     This $6.4-million experiment started in April and will go on for three
years. It has so far     bred about 200,000 fish, including sea bass, red
snapper and pompano. Pomfret and     ikan kurau, or threadfin, will be next,
said PPD. 

     In deep-sea farming, the fish is reared in net cages a distance from
shore, unlike the     practice in local fish farms now, which use
two-metre-long cages in sheltered waters. 

     The deep-sea cages, which are round, can be up to 19.5 m in diameter
and 10 m long.

     The PPD said that the fish are less stressed when reared in deep
waters, so harvests     can be bigger. 
Each of the new farms can produce about 90 tonnes of fish a year, three
times the     30-tonne annual harvests of the existing fish farms in
sheltered waters. 

     People in Singapore consume about 130,000 tonnes of fish a year, and
only 3 per cent     come from local farms, said the PPD spokesman. The rest
is imported from such     countries as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. 

     The PPD is already working with the Economic Development Board to
promote the     business of deep-sea farming here, said Mr Lim. 

     Within Singapore waters, Pulau Semakau can hold only four of these
farms. But the     PPD is looking at Indonesia's Riau Islands and Malaysian
waters to set up the others.     But what will become of the 85 or so local
floating fish farms in the Johor Straits when     commercial deep-sea
farming takes off? 
He said: "Well, they can join in or continue running their own farms. They
will not be     displaced." 


Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:04:49 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (SG) Crabs replaced by fungi
Message-ID: <199711141704.BAA29823@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


We could pass this piece of news to the US and Japanese counterparts so they
may consider replacing the crabs as well.

If anyone needs the original news-cutting, please email me in private.

- Vadivu
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>The Straits Times
4 Nov 97

Crab compound can now be taken from fungi
It can be used in medicine, to keep fat away and fight bacteria

By Edmund Tee

It can treat sewage, condition hair, keep fat away from waistlines, and
fight bacteria.  And until recently, the substance known as chitosan came
mostly from crabs, a creature more readily associated with pepper.

But now, a team of scientists at the National University of Singapore have
found a way of producing chitosan from a tropical variety of fungi.

Dr Eugene Knor, who led the project, said that the discovery is important
for Singapore because extracting the substance from crab shells had been
impractical for local industries to mass produce.

In contrast, the fungal method is simpler, and more manageable as fungi is
abundant here, he said.

He added: "In the US and Japan, they have the natural resources, space and
manpower to haul in thousands of crabs for processing. Here in Singapore, we
don't."

The fungal method also does away with the need to first extract chitin from
crab shell. Chitin is the substance in shellfish from which chitosan is derived.

The extraction is regarded as the most difficult step in producing the
chitosan from crab shells.

Chitosan is a compound that is readily absorbed by human cells, but it also
acts like a magnet for particles, bacteria and virus.

This makes it potentially useful in many medical, industrial and cosmetic
applications (see graphic). 

For instance, a study on animals with infectious wounds by Tottori
University, in Japan, showed that those creatures treated with dressings
made of cotton-like chitosan fibres were cures completely, and faster, than
with antibiotic dosages.

Associate Professor Tan Teck Koon, of the NUS School of Biological Sciences,
said that the fungal method is also able to produce a more consistent
quality of chitosan than that taken from crab shells.

A consistent yield is needed so that precise amounts of the substance can be
used. If every batch of chitosan produced varied in quality, it would be
difficult to draw up clear medical or industrial prescriptions, he said.

"For pharmaceutical use, we must have a consistent value because the dosages
must be in fixed quantities," said Prof Tan, who headed the research into
getting chitosan from fungus.

A third reason why fungal chitosan may be better is that those with seafood
allergies are less likely to experience side-effects, he said.

Dr Khor said that the NUS research, started three years ago, will focus on
chitosan's medical applications.

He added:"Its commercial potential has not been tapped, partly because the
crab method is holding it back."

Prof Tan said that the team hoped to start producing the compund on a larger
scale in a pilot project soon, and would be seeking commercial partners.


(Graphic)
Some likely uses

Japanese and American scientists have been looking into chitosan in the
medical, industrial and cosmetic fields. Some of the areas they are studying
are:

1. Medicine
Surgery: Because chitosan is easily absorbed and excreted by the body, there
is no need for a second operation to remove chitosan-based artificial skin
and surgical threads, for example. There is also little risk of the body
forming antibodies and rejecting the replacement skin.

Dressings: Chitosan-based dressings, which a company in Japan is making, are
said to promote faster and more complete healing for burns and wounds than
conventional dressings combined with antibiotics.

2. Cosmetics
Hair care: Hair treated with chitosan is less likely to be tangled because
with compund forms a film over the hair.

Skin care: Chitosan is able to retain water and can remove allergens, which
cause some allergies.  So the substance is being tested as a moisturiser.

3. Industry
Water treatment: Chitosan can be used to treat waste water more simply and
with less risk of pollution.  But it now costs 10 times more than
conventional methods using petroleum-based chemicals. 

Paper: Chitosan may also improve paper strength.

Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:05:03 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MY) Giant clams to be brought back to Johor waters
Message-ID: <199711141705.BAA05966@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times
14 Nov 97

Giant clams to be brought back to Johor
     waters 

     JOHOR BARU -- Rare giant clams are set to make a comeback in Johor
waters     under a Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) programme to breed them
in the Johor     Marine Park. 

     The Sun newspaper yesterday quoted state tourism chief Datuk Jimmy Low
Boon     Hong as saying on Wednesday that four species of clams would be
bred under the     three-year programme approved by the state government. 

     Two species, Tridacna gigas and Tridacna derosa, which can grow to 4 m
across, are     extinct in Johor waters. Another two, including the smaller
Tridacna squamosa, are on     the endangered list. 

     USM scholars would obtain clam stock from the Solomon Islands for the
programme     which began last May, Datuk Jimmy Low told a press conference
at his office here. 

     He said the three-year programme, costing about M$300,000 (S$145,800),
would     ensure that "these clams bring back the former glory of Johor
waters, which lost such     giant clams to poachers more than 50 years ago". 

     The marine park encompasses four major islands off Mersing -- Pulau
Aur, Pulau Besar, Pulau Pemanggil and Pulau Tinggi. USM scholars found them
suitable for     breeding the clams. 

     Other countries where the clams can be found are the Philippines, Papua
New Guinea,     Indonesia, Palau and Australia. 

     Preliminary studies by USM scholars found that two species can still be
found in the     marine park but they are threatened by poachers. 

     The clam faces extinction because it is coveted for its meat, which is
a delicacy and     fetches a high price. 

     They are also being killed by pollution and the "bombing" method of
fishing. 


Date: Sat, 15 Nov 1997 01:08:51 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) 'Beefcake' gene found 
Message-ID: <199711141708.BAA06834@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times
12 Nov 97

'Beefcake' gene found
     Myostatin produces big-beef cattle.

     WASHINGTON -- A gene mutation found to produce "mighty mice" also
produces     extra-beefy cattle, US researchers reported on Monday. 

     Mr Se-Jin Lee and colleagues at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore
first found the     gene, which they call the myostatin gene, in mice. Mice
they engineered to lack the     gene were much bigger than normal mice and
highly muscular. 

     They concluded the gene must control muscle growth; set out to find the
gene mutation     in big beef cattle, and found it. -- Reuters. 

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 09:24:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Heidi Prescott 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Dawn's release
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971115143639.34f71122@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dawn is being released from jail this Sunday at approximately 9:00 a.m.
Join her friends and family to welcome her back to the real world.  We will
be meeting at 8:30 a.m.  

Thanks 

Heidi

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 16:02:55 -0600 (CST)
From: stanton1@ix.netcom.com (Tamara)
To: SAC-LINK@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Subject: HSUS Awards 7th annual Russell & Burch Award
Message-ID: <199711142202.QAA10456@dfw-ix5.ix.netcom.com>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                       FOR MORE INFORMATION:

November 12, 1997                           Rachel Querry: 301 258-8255

         HSUS HIGHLIGHTS ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING

BALTIMORE   The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) will present 
the 7th annual Russell and Burch Award to Dr. Horst Spielmann of the 
German National Center for the Documentation and Evaluation of 
Alternatives to Animal Experiments at a dinner here this evening. 
The award presentation precedes a workshop tomorrow on "Animals, 
Science and Society: A Common Ground," organized by the Johns Hopkins 
Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing and cosponsored by The HSUS.  
The award includes a $5000 prize. 

     "The Russell and Burch Award recognizes scientists who have made 
outstanding contributions to the advancement of alternatives to using 
animals (Russell and Burch first initiated an alternatives approach to 
animal use).  Dr. Spielmann joins an illustrious group of scientists 
receiving this award, including Johns Hopkins University's Dr. Alan 
Goldberg.  The award presents a unique opportunity for the nation's 
largest animal protection organization to recognize the important work 
of scientists who improve the lives of animals used in research, 
testing and education," says Dr. Martin Stephens, HSUS vice president 
for animal research issues.

     The HSUS established the Russell and Burch award to encourage 
scientists to pursue new avenues in the alternatives arena.  
Alternatives to animals in research, testing and education include
replacing animals with substitute methods, reducing the number of 
animal subjects and refining experiments to diminish pain and 
suffering.

     Dr. Spielmann is a member of the management teams of several 
validation studies on alternatives, including those in the fields of 
phototoxicity, embryotoxicity, eye irritation and skin irritation.  

     According to Dr. Andrew Rowan, HSUS senior vice president, "Dr. 
Spielmann has been a leader in the alternatives field not only in his 
native Germany, but throughout the European Union and beyond.  His 
diverse work on alternatives includes conducting research, managing 
multi-laboratory projects, and serving as an advisor to the European 
Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods and other 
organizations."
                               -30-
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 19:32:06 -0500 (EST)
From: LMANHEIM@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: Subj: Marine World to Add $30 Million in New Attractions for
Message-ID: <971114193205_-1575318267@mrin39>

Subj:     Marine World to Add $30 Million in New Attractions for
1998
Date:     97-11-14 13:57:39 EST
From:     AOL News
BCC: LMANHEIM

          Biggest, Boldest Improvements in Bay Area Park's History!
       Capital Investment Nearly $40 Million Since Premier Parks
Assumed Management
                            Of Vallejo Attraction
          VALLEJO, Calif., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Parks
Inc., the nation's
fourth largest regional theme park company, today announced a
sweeping
$30 million capital program for Marine World Africa USA in Vallejo,
California.  The largest single year investment in the history of
the Park,
the $30 million the company is investing for next year, combined
with the $9
million it invested this year, brings the total investment since
Premier Parks
assumed management of the Park to nearly $40 million.
          "We're taking a giant step forward at Marine World in
1998.  The scope of
the exciting new capital program will enhance the existing elements
of the
Park and add many new ones, basically creating a brand new Park,"
said Kieran
Burke, chief executive officer of Premier Parks.
          The $30 million program includes a new multi-million
dollar Dolphin Show
Stadium, new animal nursery with a public viewing area, and a new
veterinary
health center.  To complement the investment in new facilities and
upgrades
for the animals, Premier Parks will add several rides and
attractions,
including a multi-million dollar steel roller coaster.
          "We are combining the thrill of new rides with the unique
experience of
seeing some of nature's most magnificent land and sea animals close
up," Burke
noted.  "Marine World has tremendous potential for growth.  The
1998 capital
program enhances the animal and education aspects that have
historically made
Marine World a fine Park, and, at the same time, Creates an
exciting new
entertainment element that broadens the Park's overall appeal."
          Construction will begin immediately to complete the new
projects in time
for Marine World's re-opening on March 27, 1998.
          Major projects of the 1998 capital program include:
          * A new $4 million Dolphin Show Stadium to accommodate up
to eight
bottlenose dolphins, with seating for 2,800.
          * A $3.8 million, state-of-the-art Boomerang Roller
Coaster that climbs
150 feet (15 stories) into the sky and takes thrill-seekers
swooping and
looping forwards, backwards and upside-down at speeds up to 55
miles an hour.
          * A wet and wild themed river rapids family adventure
ride with nine-
person floating tubes splashing along more than a quarter-mile
course over
waterfalls, across ponds and through tunnels.
          * A $2.7 million Shoot the Chutes ride where guests
plunge down a 50-foot
drop creating a tidal wave splash that drenches riders and everyone
within a
1,000 square-foot area.
          In all, 13 exciting new rides at Marine World will take
their place next
to the Park's existing 34 animal attractions and its two existing
ride areas,
featuring the extremely popular DinoSphere and Popeye's Seaport, an
interactive children's section featuring rides and play structures.
          Paid attendance at Marine World increased by three
percent in the last
four months of the 1997 season, following the opening of Popeye's
Seaport and
DinoSphere, with 1.1 million people going through the gates.
          "The turn-around in attendance we experienced at the end
of the year,
after four straight years of declines, shows we're heading in the
right
direction," said Dan Aylward, Marine World's general manager.  "The
public
wants new, fun things to do, along with the excellent animal and
educational
elements we're known for at Marine World."
          Other new rides to operate at Marine World in 1998
include: Top Spin, Wave
Swinger, Bumper Cars, Hammerhead, Balloon Ferris Wheel, The Ark,
Tea Cups,
Wipe Out, Paddle Boats and Joker.  The new ride attractions will be
themed and
named to fit the Marine World look.  New food, merchandise, and
games
locations and restrooms will also be built.
          Tiger Island Splash Attack, the world's only tiger
exhibit to give the
public an underwater view of tigers swimming and diving, opened
last season,
along with Popeye's Seaport, a young children's section with rides
and
interactive play elements, and DinoSphere, a high-action,
motion-simulator
thrill ride.
          Park Management Corp., a subsidiary of Premier Parks
Inc., manages Marine
World Africa USA through a contract with the City of Vallejo,
California.  The
fourth largest regional theme park company in the United States,
Premier Parks
owns and operates 13 theme and water parks across the country.  A
publicly
held corporation with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Premier Parks
trades on
the Nasdaq market system under the symbol PARK.
      CO:  Marine World Africa USA
      ST:  California
      IN:  LEI
      SU:  PDT

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 21:02:19 -0300
From: CAF@caf.mas-info.com.ar
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (AR) Procedures Against Animals Keep On
Message-ID: <199711150115.WAA28900@lx1.sicoar.com>

A C T I O N   A L E R T  !

(AR) PROCEDURES AGAINST ANIMALS KEEP ON

Senators in the Argentine Republic let the Law For The Protection Of
Animals Die!

Help Us To Avoid That!
_________________________

THE HISTORY:

In 1995 and after 5 years, the Argentine Republic Lower House
approved the CRIMINAL LAW for the PROTECTION OF ANIMALS.
At that time (and with 150.000 signatures enclosed which we
collected within two months, sponsored by TV) the bill was sent to
the Senate to be treated.

The Senate regulations provide that criminal issues can only be
treated in the Commission of Criminal Affairs.
However, due to a "clerk's mistake", the bill was sent to the wrong
commission.

Obviously, that commission hasn't treated the bill and
now, in 30 november 1997, it will lapse!
We will have lost 7 years of parliamentary work but the animals in
Argentina will have lost an updated law to protect them. To avoid
this we'll resort to Justice, but we we'll also...

LAUNCH AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN AND WE ASK YOU FOR:

Your immediate participation so that Senators responsible of this
serious irregularity learn that they cannot behave freewheelingly
and still be unpunished, because the world is watching them.

WHAT ARE WE ASKING YOU TO DO?

We need your immediate cooperation sending notes (letter, fax or 
mail) such as this (or in your own words):

Senador Carlos Ruckauf, Sen. Ricardo Branda and Sen. Bernardo 
Quinzio:
Honorable Camara de Senadores de la Nacion
Hipolito Yrigoyen 1849
(1089) Buenos Aires - Argentina

or FAX: (+54 1) 953-5746 or (+54 1) 953-1228

or e-mail: quinzio@senado.gov.ar

Solicitamos con urgencia que, en cumplimiento del Reglamento del
Senado -Art. 64 y 65 Ed. 97-, el proyecto de Ley Penal sobre
Proteccion de Animales (ingresado al Senado 127/95 -21/XII/95-) sea
girado a la Comision de Asuntos Penales para su tratamiento y que el
tiempo para su caducidad sea computado a partir de su ingreso en
dicha comision.
La caducidad del proyecto en una comision incompetente no solo
afectara a quienes se veran privados de esta ley sino que afectara
fundamentalmente al funcionamiento de las instituciones
democraticas.

(We urge you that in compliance with the Senate Regulations
(Articles 64, 65 Ed.97) the Criminal Law Bill for the Protection of
Animals (reach Senate 127/95 -21/XII/95-) is drawn to the Commission
of Criminal Affairs for its treatment and that the time lost in the
wrong commission is not computed.
The caducity of this bill stagnant in an incompetent commission not
only will affect those who are deprived of the benefits of this law,
but also deeply impairs the proper functioning of the democratic
institutions.)

 Please, enclose your Name and Adddress, Name of the Entity, City 
and Country

 Please, send us copies by mail to: caf@caf.mas-info.com.ar
or by fax: (+54 1) 383-3332

 (Atention: Please, make sure to send us copy of what you are
sending to the Senators, because then we'll be able to guarantee
that your messages reach their addresseess, even if Senators use any
"trick" not to receive them -like disconnecting or changing their
e-mail addresses-)
_________________________
Forward this message!!!
_________________________
THANKS TO EVERYONE 
_________________________
 If you need further information:
about the bill mailto: caf-002@mas-info.com.ar 
about Club de Animales Felices mailto:caf-info@mas-info.com.ar
_________________________ 
Sent by Club de Animales Felices (Happy Animal's Club) caf@caf.mas-info.com.ar



__________________________________
Club de Animales Felices
caf@caf.mas-info.com.ar

Casilla de Correo 43 - Sucursal 31
(1431) Buenos Aires - Argentina

info: caf-info@mas-info.com.ar
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 22:45:03 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: "Teen Angel" - Letters Needed
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19971115034503.228f76a6@mail.heritage.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Teen Angel tonight aired an episode on dissection.  After the main character
(sorry, I don't normally watch this show) voiced his opposition to
dissection, the teacher elected for him to write a paper regarding the pros
and cons of animal experimentation.  As you may recall (and if you don't,
the original post follows this message), this show is based from a teen who
died from eating a tainted hamburger and then returning as an angel.  

Please write to the producers at the address in the forwarded message below
and thank them for already covering two animal issues in this new series.
Urge them to continue to make their show stand out and matter by focusing on
social issues.  

Also, write to ABC (the network airing the series) with a similiar message:

ABC
77 West 66th Street
New York NY 10023
FAX:  212-456-4968


>According to the Animal Industry Foundation (which is keeping track of 
>our movement and is probably reading this posting), ABC is offering a new 
>serial called "Teen Angel" to be aired Fridays at 9:30 pm (ET). The show 
>is about a teen who dies from eating a tainted hamburger and returns as 
>his pal's guardian angel. The hamburger eating scene will open each show. 
>AIF recommends that its members share their views with producers Al Jean 
>and Mike Reiss c/o KTLA, 5800 Sunset Blvd, Production Building #11, Los 
>Angeles, CA 90028.  Those of us who like the idea of reminding American 
>consumers of the hazards of meat eating should do no less.  Alex H.




Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
wag@heritage.com

Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 23:20:29 -0500
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (BE) Belgium Changes System after Madcow Feed Mistake
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971114232027.0070bc3c@pop3.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN custom news http://www.cnn.com/
---------------------------------------
Belgium Changes System after Madcow Feed Mistake

Reuters
14-NOV-97

BRUSSELS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Belgium said on Friday it had changed its
slaughter system after an administrative error resulted in the carcass of
an animal with mad cow disease being turned into animal feed and exported. 

Farm Minister Karel Pinxten told a news conference that in future all cows
suspected of suffering from a nervous disease such as rabies or Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy would automatically be slaughtered and incinerated. 

In the past cows suffering from rabies have been slaughtered and turned
into animal feed. 

``The situation that arose around our first case of BSE showed...the
application of different procedures for BSE and for rabies was the cause of
the slaughtering of an animal suffering from BSE and its being turned into
feed,'' Pinxten said.  

The case of the mad cow-contaminated animal feed came to light at the end
of October. 

The cow in question had been slaughtered on suspicion of having rabies.
Although the rabies test proved negative and tests for BSE began, the
carcass was processed into animal feed which was sold in Belgium, Poland
and the Netherlands. 

It was not until more than a month after the slaughtering and processing
that tests on its brain finally proved it had been suffering from mad cow
disease. 

Pinxten said all the tainted feed sold in Belgium had been traced and it
had been established that all of it was for animals such as pigs and
chickens in which feed is permitted to include animal protein. It was, he
said, therefore safe. 

It is illegal to include animal protein in feed for cows which are ruminants. 

``As the Netherlands and Poland also ban the inclusion of animal protein in
ruminant feed, that too should be as safe,'' he added. 

He said the authorities in both countries had been given all the details
necessary to trace the contaminated feed. 

Pinxten said that rigorous tracing of the origins of the infected cow had
proved beyond reasonable doubt that it had not caught the infection from
its mother or from contaminated feed or drugs. 

In the absence of any other evidence, it therefore had to be concluded that
the case of mad cow disease had been one of spontaneous infection from an
unknown cause, he concluded. 
Date: Fri, 14 Nov 1997 23:29:10 -0500
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Couple Losing Monkeys
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971114232907.00710080@pop3.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN custom news http://www.cnn.com/
---------------------------------------
California State News
Reuters 
14-NOV-97

Couple Losing Monkeys

(ALAMO) -- A sad day for an Alamo couple who's spent 30 years
rehabilitating sick and abused primates. Gail and Daryl Morrow have lost
their necessary permit from the Department of Fish and Game... because some
neighbors complained about the noise. That means they'll have to find new
homes for two chimps and seven capucchin monkeys... most of which were
rescued from research labs. 




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