AR-NEWS Digest 545

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) TX - Inspection law comes to Texas horse slaughterhouses
     by Greg Thomisee 
  2) [CA] Aquarium searches for replacement orca
     by David J Knowles 
  3) [UK] Britain set to support return of whale trade 
     by David J Knowles 
  4) Escaped Bull Roams Water Gap Region
     by Teresahfc@aol.com
  5) UPC Alert: Help Ban Cockighting in MO
     by Franklin Wade 
  6) UPC Leafleting for Turkeys(11/15,11/22
     by Franklin Wade 
  7) Re: tracing original home of banded homing pigeon
     by Michael Markarian 
  8) ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM GEORGIA JAIL
     by civillib@cwnet.com
  9) Pottsville, PA: Day 11 of Hunger Strike
     by Michael Markarian 
 10) (US) Gorilla Protest
     by allen schubert 
 11) (US) Hunger Strike Ruling Today
     by allen schubert 
 12) [CA] Hog farms under review
     by David J Knowles 
 13) Hunters Return to "Poor Man's Africa"
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 14) The Labor party and whale killing
     by Shirley McGreal 
 15) (US) "Plant-Based" Diets Fight Cancer
     by allen schubert 
 16) Re: USA - Macy's Campaign
     by MINKLIB@aol.com
 17) Allentown (PA) Morning Call: Article on Dawn Ratcliffe
     by Michael Markarian 
 18) Dawn Ratcliffe
     by Heidi Prescott 
 19) Dawn will not be institutionalized
     by Heidi Prescott 
 20) Pottsville, PA: Activist Prevails at "Mental Health Hearing"
     by Michael Markarian 
 21) 7,000 Minks Escape Sweden Fur Farm
     by allen schubert 
 22) Fwd: veg-fl: Miami Herald article on Youth Deer Hunt 
     by MEATSTNKS@aol.com
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 00:18:27 -0400
From: Greg Thomisee 
To: BlindCopyReceiver:;@compuserve.com
Subject: TX - Inspection law comes to Texas horse slaughterhouses
Message-ID: <199710130018_MC2-23A3-AF2B@compuserve.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Disposition: inline


Date:   10/11/97 10:58 PM

RE:     Inspection law comes to Texas horse slaughterhouses 

Inspection law comes to Texas horse slaughterhouses 

New measure called a step in discouraging thefts 

10/12/97

By Diane Jennings / The Dallas Morning News 



Like many Frenchmen, Francois Fotre loves a savory piece of cheval,
particularly when sauteed in butter and seasoned with garlic and parsley.

"Incredible," he says.

But Mr. Fotre would never dream of serving the dish in Dallas. "I'd be
shot," he said with a chuckle.

Even if he wanted to, he couldn't, because it's against the law in Texas to
sell horse meat for human consumption.

Still, Texas is the U.S. horse-meat capital: Two of the nation's four horse
slaughterhouses are in the state, Beltex in Fort Worth and Dallas Crown in
Kaufman. Together they account for about half the 112,677 horses killed in
the United States in 1995.

The meat is exported, primarily to dinner tables in France and Belgium,
where it has long been a staple.

Europeans are more adventurous diners than Americans, said Dallas
restaurateur Rene Peters. Americans also may be reluctant to dine on
horseflesh because "we have a lot of emotional ties to the animal," Mr.
Peters said.

Those emotions helped spur the Legislature to pass a law this year
requiring brand inspectors at slaughterhouses to reduce the chances that
"your friend Flicka ends up on the table in France," said Sen. Jerry
Patterson, R-Pasadena.

The law, which took effect Sept. 1, aims to deter horse thieves from
snatching someone's pet out of a pasture and hauling it to the
slaughterhouse for quick cash. A brand inspector from the Texas and
Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association now checks horses for identifying
marks as they pass through the chute.

The legislation is a "step in the right direction," said Kathy Fleming,
statewide coordinator of Crimestoppers Missing Horse Alert, who would like
to see a similar requirement at auction barns.

"Killer buyers" purchase horses from a variety of sources, ranging from
individuals to auctions. About 60 to 75 independent auctions are held
around the state, said a spokesman for the Cattle Raisers.

The extent of horse theft in Texas is difficult to gauge because the Texas
Department of Public Safety doesn't track the number of horses stolen. But
horse owners have pushed for legislation to deter thieves for several
years.

Brent Heberlein, manager of Beltex, a Fort Worth slaughterhouse owned by
Belgians, said he welcomes the new law because he has no desire to kill
someone's pet.

Most of the horses brought to his plant are "horses that don't have value,
either as a working horse or riding horse or racing horse or show horse,
pleasure horse.

"If it had value on any of those markets, it'd be worth a lot more money,"
Mr. Heberlein said.



Cost per pound



One recent weekday, the animals awaiting slaughter at the plant ranged from
relatively young horses in good condition to old and badly abused animals.

Slaughterhouses pay between 10 cents and 65 cents a pound, and the average
horse weighs about 1,000 pounds. In Europe horse meat sells for around $15
a pound at the butcher shop, said Geert Dewulf of Dallas Crown.

To help thwart horse thievery, Mr. Heberlein said, he refuses to pay cash
to sellers and requires personal identification from anyone he doesn't
know. He also works with horse-owner groups and the Cattle Raisers, when
employees spy a horse they suspect doesn't belong at the plant, including
wild horses from the Bureau of Land Management horse program.



The theft problem could be reduced, Mr. Heberlein said, if more horse
owners branded their animals.

Ms. Fleming agreed, saying some horse owners are reluctant to mark their
animals. She has worked closely with slaughterhouses to find stolen horses
in the past, she said.

"I do not view the slaughterhouses as the big bad boogeyman out there."

Others are not quite so magnanimous.



Other states



In California, Cathleen Doyle, founder of a group called Save the Horses,
is pushing for a statewide referendum in 1998 to outlaw selling horses for
slaughter in the Golden State.

"A terrible wrong is being perpetrated against this animal," said Ms.
Doyle, whose motto is: "Put the American horse back in the stable . . . and
off the table."

In addition to concerns about the way horses are treated by
slaughterhouses, Ms. Doyle said it's simply inappropriate to kill horses
for food.

"The horse is revered and considered a companion animal in today's
society," she said. "A horse is not a food animal."

Ms. Doyle said she does not oppose slaughtering animals for meat. "There's
obviously no doubt, no question as to the fate of cattle and hogs and
poultry and sheep and goats," she said.

Compared to the cattle industry, which slaughtered about 36 million animals
in 1995, or the pork business, which killed almost 95 million swine that
same year, the horse slaughter industry is minuscule.

Ms. Doyle also doesn't object to disposing of carcasses at rendering
plants. But horses generally are raised for pleasure, not food, she said,
and sending them to slaughter for consumption is the "ultimate betrayal."

No horse slaughterhouses operate in California, and Ms. Doyle theorizes
that Texas is the "slaughter mecca" because the state's agrarian heritage
makes the practice more acceptable.

In fact, slaughterhouse executives say Texas is a prime spot for
slaughterhouses, not because attitudes are different, but because the state
has a big supply of horseflesh and easy access to an international airport.

Though the demand may be in Europe, the supply of horses there is small,
Mr. Heberlein said, and many European horses are bulky draft animals.

"Texas has the quarter horse, and that is the best horse," said Mr. Dewulf
of Dallas Cown. Quarter horses are "a very muscular horse. If you're
looking for meat, you want a muscular animal."



Supply and demand



The United States is home to about 7 million horses, according to the
American Horse Council, with Texas boasting more - 678,000 - than any other
state. California has about 642,000 horses.

"I don't think we owe the French and Japanese our horses," Ms. Doyle said.
"This is not like we're feeding the starving masses."

About half of the 30,000 plus horses slaughtered at Beltex last year came
from Texas, Mr. Heberlein said, with the rest from all over the United
States. Few come from California, because those horses often are shipped to
Canada, he said.

But he says, the reluctance to slaughter horses for food, as well as
pharmaceuticals, is based on emotion.

Mr. Dewulf said he doesn't expect a major impact on his business if the
California initiative were to pass, because horses could be shipped to
another state for sale, before eventually arriving in Texas.

No similar initiatives are under way in Texas, said Dennis White of the
Southwest Regional Office of the Humane Society of the United States. But
Annette Lambert, a member of the Texas Establishment for Animal Rights,
said her fledgling organization, which opposes the slaughter of all
animals, is studying a campaign to close horse slaughterhouses.

Many horse owners are unaware when they take their pets to an auction barn
that they may end up on the slaughterhouse floor, she said. "I really feel
there will be a public outcry about this once people find out that this is
going on."


© 1997 The Dallas Morning News






Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 22:24:00
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Aquarium searches for replacement orca
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971012222400.366746b2@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Vancouver, BC -  Following  the death of the Vancouver Aquarium's
21-year-old male orca,
Finna, there was little time wasted by the facility in announcing they
would seek a
replacement pool mate for Bjossa, the aquarium's female orca caught at the
same time as
Finna off the coast of Iceland in 1980.

This sudden display of compassion from the aquarium doesn't, however,
extend to Whitewings - the aquarium's lonely Pacific white-sided dolphin,
who has been isolated from other members of her species for over a decade.
Although she is a member of a species which spends their time living in
social groups numbering over one hundred strong, she simply doesn't have
the money-generating power of the orcas.

It was also announced during the week that Bjossa, whose three previous
calves have all
died within weeks of birth, is suspected yet again to be pregnant.

Aquarium officials deny they have begun the search yet, but even if they
have, their options are somewhat limited.

Because of the agreement reached last year with the Vancouver Parks Board,
the aquarium
cannot import a whale which has been caught after September 1996.

Although there are some 52 whales on display around the world, excluding
Bjossa, the
aquarium, who experimented with birth control medication for Bjossa from
shortly after the
death of her last calf until April of this year - albeit it with a
medication formulated for
horses - vowed last year that they were looking for a female companion for
Bjossa.

At that time, it was envisaged that Finna would become a roving superstud,
who would be
flown in to other aquaria to breed with their captive females. The pretext
was, of course, that
they wished to enhance a captive breeding program as a conservation
measure. The truth, as the Vancouver Aquarium's own experience bears out,
is that having a baby orca on the premises does wonders for the finances of
the facility concerned.

If the aquarium adheres to this commitment, it would rule out any male
orca, including
Keiko of  Free Willy fame. There would also be a considerable public outcry
as well if Keiko was to be transferred to the Vancouver facility, but there
have been rumours
nonetheless.

Another possible scenario that has been suggested is a reversal of this
transfer - moving
Bjossa to the Oregon Coast Aquarium, current home of Keiko, as a potential
candidate for
rehabilitation and release. There are several factors against this.

Firstly, Bjossa has a dental problem due to teeth-grinding during the early
years of her
captivity. This requires daily treatment. 

Secondly, Annelise Sorg, of the Coalition for No Whales In Captivity,
speaking from Paris,
says she has serious concerns about moving Bjossa if she is pregnant. 

There is also the political situation currently ongoing at the Oregon
facility right now
between the Free Willy Foundation and the aquarium. . 

This leaves three feasible sources from which a replacement can be
obtained: Marineland of Canada, in Niagara Falls, Ontario; Marineworld
Africa USA, in Vallejo, California; and Marineland of France, in Antibes.

Marineland presently has four young orca calves, all of whom are kept in an
indoor pool
located in a warehouse, measuring 70 x 20 x 14 feet in dimension. Of these,
E-Day, born on
April 21, 1996 and Neocia, born on October 21, 1992, are female.

Brian McHattie, Marine Mammal Coordinator for Zoocheck Canada, believes
Marineland
would be willing to transfer one of these two to Vancouver. Although the
transfer of one of the calves is not a requirement, it may make it eaiser
for the facility to reassign the three adult orcas into a new "Breeding and
Research Facility" which is currently under construction. This one then
allow the remaining calves to be moveded into the main display tank to
participate in the daily "shows".

This would fit the requirements of the Vancouver Aquarium, as it would not
involve acquisition of further orcas, either captured or captive bred.

One factor against this is that Marineland is likely to require payment for
their calf -
something Vancouver has, up to now, not done - preferring instead to
"trade, loan or borrow"
animals from other facilities, noted Sorg. There might be a chance,
however, that Marineland would be willing to forgo a payment, or reach a
secret deal which looks on the surface like it was a free loan, to counter
the negative publicity that they have received over the past few years.

Another is that although the Vancouver Aquarium is accredited with CAZPA,
the Niagara Falls facility isn't, and has been the subject of some concerns
regarding the welfare of its animals.

Also, from the animal welfare perspective, there would be a possibility of
Marineland continuing its indiscriminate breeding program, which has been
on hold since the four calves they already have are being warehoused in the
small indoor pool with no potential of a commercial sale in sight. The
program involves the removal of calves from their mothers at as young as
seven months of age, even though, in the wild, they would normally not
stray further than a fin-length away from the mother, and many spend their
entire lives with their mothers.

Sorg thinks a replacement might be found in Vigga, one of two orcas at the
Vallejo facility. She points out that Yaka, Vigga's pool mate is sick,
adding that "so is this animal abusement
park."

A possible problem with this is that Vigga might bring with her any viruses
that are infecting
Yaka.

Wherever it does obtain a replacement from, there is no question that the
Vancouver
Aquarium will obtain one. In their eyes, that's what the paying public
expects. And, although
they may have been the first in the world to enter the cetacean slave
trade, they don't intend
to be the first to quit.

Thirdly, there is the possible transfer of a female from the Marineland
France facility in Antibes. Nightingale was sighted there Sunday afternoon
but, predictibly, he denies that the reason for his visit has any
connection with finding a replacement. 

The French facility has three adult whales - two of whom are female - and
two captive-born calves, aged 4 and 1.5 years old respectively. One of the
adult females, who is in the main pool togther with the adult male and her
calf, spends her time staying as far away from the crowds as possible,
sticking in one spot, while her 4-year-old calf desperately seeks her
attention.

Facility staff report that she doesn't get along with the second female,
who is held in a rear pool together with her calf.

This would make her, from Nightingale's point of view, ideal for
transfering, with the added bonus that she has been a sucessful mother who
might act as an "auntie" to Bjossa's next calf. A plus from a PR view is
that this particular orca has a bent dorsal fin which, at a glance, might
appear similar to that of Finna's, and this, says Sorg, might just fool
some of the visitors into believing nothing has happened.  



Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 22:47:39
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Britain set to support return of whale trade 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971012224739.0d5ff374@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


>From The Electronic Telegraph - Monday, October 13th, 1997

Britain set to support return of whale trade
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor 

BRITAIN will back the resumption of commercial whaling for the first time
in 11 years next week in an attempt to control the growing slaughter of
whales by Japan and Norway.

The Government will tell delegates from 35 countries at the International
Whaling Commission meeting in Monaco that Britain is prepared to accept the
limited resumption of commercial whaling in coastal waters as long as this
leads to a sizeable reduction in the overall number of whales killed.

In return, Britain wants the whaling nations to accept a proposal for a
global sanctuary for whales and the closing of a loophole which allows
whaling for "scientific" reasons. It wants any resumption of whaling to
depend on vigorous enforcement of the existing ban on international trade
in whale meat. 

Elliot Morley, the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, has written to MPs
explaining the Government's decision to countenance commercial whaling -
which represents a radical departure from the previous Government's view
that whaling meets "no pressing nutritional, economic or social needs and
is strongly opposed by the vast majority of our citizens". 

Conservationists were divided yesterday over the Government's decision to
back a compromise Irish proposal for a sanctuary, which would also allow
what Japan and Norway have long been pressing for - whaling in coastal
waters. 

Greenpeace said the Government's decision would be disastrous for whale
stocks while the World Wide Fund for Nature said the compromise was
"probably the only realistic way of reimposing the authority of the
International Whaling Commission on the world's two recalcitrant whaling
nations".

Mr Morley has told MPs that the Government remains opposed to commercial
whaling "in principle", but adds that "the current situation" - wiith
increasing numbers of whales being killed by Japan and Norway under
loopholes in the 1986 global moratorium on commercial whaling - "is not
satisfactory".

Records show that the numbers of whales killed by Japan (for "scientific"
reasons) and Norway (under a legal objection to the original 1986 ban) have
almost doubled in four years.

Mr Morley has said the Government does not believe that it can reject out
of hand proposals which would bring a permanent ban on whaling outside
coastal waters but allow limited whaling within a coastal zone under the
International Whaling Commission's rules.

He said: "The UK is prepared to consider the case for limited whaling for
local consumption, under the overall control of the commission, and subject
to strict safeguards if this is necessary to reach agreement." The
Government is therefore pressing for agreement on the IWC's Revised
Management Scheme , which sets out how whaling should be inspected
and monitored.

Mr Morley insisted to MPs that Britain will only consider a resumption of
commercial whaling under the commission's rules "if it leads to a
significant, and permanent, reduction in the number of whales currently
being killed each year".

In the meantime, Britain would continue to support the moratorium and
resist any attempts to weaken it.

A Government spokesman said it was "inconceivable" that it would want to
see a resumption of whaling off the British coast and that the proposals
for coastal whaling applied only to Norway and Japan.

 © Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Ter

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 07:57:59 -0400 (EDT)
From: Teresahfc@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Escaped Bull Roams Water Gap Region
Message-ID: <971013075758_762879620@emout05.mail.aol.com>

AP: "There's a 1,000-pound-bull loose in the Delaware Water Gap National
Recreation Area, according to park management.

The animal escaped from the Barnes Rodeo company when the rodeo set up for
two days of performances Sept. 27 and 28 at Shawnee Mountain Ski Area, but
the escape apparently was not made public.

Rodeo manager John Barnes said people shouldn't be fearful. "Bulls don't go
on rampages and they don't go on roads like deer do," he said from his Iowa
home.

Barnes said he knew very little of the escape and that the 47-year-old
family-run rodeo was now in upstate New York. Rodeo officials there could not
be contacted for comment.

Bob Wilson (the park's acting chief ranger) said that if the bull is found,
and if it is safe to do so, park officials will kill it and give the meat to
charity."
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 09:59:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: Franklin Wade 
To: Undisclosed recipients:;@smart.net
Subject: UPC Alert: Help Ban Cockighting in MO
Message-ID: 
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

            ACTION ALERT FROM UNITED POULTRY CONCERNS

October 1997 through May 1998


            PLEASE HELP BAN COCKFIGHTING IN MISSOURI

     A Political Action Committee has been formed in Missouri to
gather signatures for a statewide ballot initiative to ban
cockfighting and all animal fighting sports in November 1998.

     Missouri is one of five states that still allows
cockfighting. Children regularly attend the fights screaming
"kill him."

     Sandy Mickelson of St. Louis, founder of Missourians Against
Cockfighting, told the press, "We're tired of the political
process. We're going to the people."

     Missourians Against Cockfighting have until June 1998 to
gather the 139,000 signatures statewide that are needed to place
an initiative on the November 1998 ballot. PLEASE HELP!

     WHAT CAN I DO?

     *If you are a registered voter in Missouri, please send for
petitions for your family, friends, and co-workers to sign.
Contact: Missourians Against Cockfighting, 11939 Manchester Road,
#130, St. Louis, MO 63131.

     *Please send a much-needed financial contribution to:
Missourians Against Cockfighting, 11939 Manchester Road, #130,
St. Louis, MO 63131.* For more information about how you can help
call 1-888-98CRUEL. THANK YOU!

     PLEASE NOTE: CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NOT TAX-DEDUCTIBLE.
_____________________________________________________________________
franklin@smart.net                                   Franklin D. Wade 
    United Poultry Concerns - http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/upc

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 10:43:35 -0400 (EDT)
From: Franklin Wade 
To: Ar-News 
Subject: UPC Leafleting for Turkeys(11/15,11/22
Message-ID: 
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

United Poultry Concerns Leafleting for Turkeys & A Peaceful Thanksgiving

     Contact: Karen Davis (301) 948-2406
              Franklin Wade (301) 564-9164


     Where: Beltway Plaza, Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD
     When: Saturday, November 15, 1997 from 1 to 2:30 PM.
     Meeting Place at Beltway Plaza: Wendy's (ugh) fast food
     restaurant at 1:00 PM

     Need A Ride? Meet at the Forest Glen Metro at Noon for a car
pool to Beltway Plaza. The Forest Glen Metro Station is on Forest
Glen Road, just off Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring (Beltway exit
31A). Metro Parking is Free on Saturdays. For more information on
the carpool, call Franklin Wade at 301-564-9164.

     Directions to Beltway Plaza: Take 495 to exit 23, Kenilworth Ave (Rt 201
South). Stay to extreme right & get off at Greenbelt Road West. Greenbelt
Plaza will be on the right on Greenbelt Road. 


                   **************************

     Where: Potomac Valley Shopping Center & Safeway Area,
     Darnestown, MD (5 minutes from UPC)
     When: Saturday, November 22, 1997 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM
     Meeting Place: Safeway, Route 28 (Darnestown Road) just west
     of intersection of Rt 28 (Darnestown Rd) & Rt 124 (Quince
     Orchard Rd). 

     Directions: Take Route 270 to exit 6B, Rt 28 West, Montgomery Avenue.
Follow Rt 28 (it becomes Darnestown Road) about 5 miles to Rt 124, Quince
Orchard Road. This is a busy intersection with a traffic light. Cross the
intersection to the Safeway parking lot on the right of Rt 28.

     Following our leafleting at Potomac Valley we will go to UPC
(five minute drive) for our Thanksgiving Celebration. Don't
forget to bring your vegan potluck dish! The party starts at 4 o'clock.

_____________________________________________________________________
franklin@smart.net                                   Franklin D. Wade 
    United Poultry Concerns - http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/upc


Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 08:40:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: conncat@idsi.net, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: tracing original home of banded homing pigeon
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971013122839.52f70ca8@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

There is a web site that helps you trace the band:

http://www.pigeon.org/readband.htm

At 07:17 PM 10/12/97 -0400, Constance Young wrote:
>Does anybody know how to trace the original home of a banded homing
>pigeon.  Someone I know has rescued one who was injured and now somehow
>seems to want to stay put. 
>
>Is there a particular way to uncode the banding or is there a central
>homing pigeon organization who keep track of lost homing pigeons?  Would
>appreciate any help.  
>
>The bird is in the Hudson Valley area, Northern Dutchess county. Thanks.
>
>              Constance Young (conncat@idsi.net)
>
>

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 09:08:52 -0700 (PDT)
From: civillib@cwnet.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: ACTIVISTS RELEASED FROM GEORGIA JAIL
Message-ID: <199710131608.JAA21860@smtp.cwnet.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 1997





SUE MC CROSKY RELEASED
FROM DEKALB JAIL AFTER 
8 DAY HUNGER STRIKE
     
ATLANTA – Animal rights activist Sue McCrosky was released from DeKalb
County Jail about midnight Friday, after 8 days in jail, part of a 6 month
sentence handed down to her Oct. 3 for a trespass charge as a result of a
protest at the Yerkes Primate Center in April in which 64 people were arrested.

She was released on $5,000 bond. Previously, the sentencing judge, Judge
Mathew Robins, refused to delay her sentence pending an appeal, and refused
to set any bail to have her released.

The decision to stay her sentence came less than a day after a Writ of
Habeas Corpus was filed in Atlanta U.S. District Court demanding her
release, and an improvement of her conditions – including giving her
life-saving medication, vegetarian food and allowing her out of a 24-hour
solitary confinement cell at least once a day.

Ms. McCrosky did not eat the entire 8 day stay. She has spent 28 of past 38
days in DeKalb Jail on a hunger strike. She originally was jailed Sept. 3
for 20 days for a minor infraction related to residential picketing at a
Yerkes' resercher's home, and released Sept. 27. She was then jailed Oct. 3
for 8 days. Both sentences and convictions are now on appeal.
-30-




Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 10:51:26 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, ar-wire@waste.org
Subject: Pottsville, PA: Day 11 of Hunger Strike
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971013144235.570fb762@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 13, 1997

CONTACT: Heidi Prescott, 301-585-2593
         Schuylkill County Prison, 717-628-1450


DAY 11 OF HUNGER STRIKE
Jail has Lengthy "Mental Health Hearing" for Activist


POTTSVILLE, Pa. -- A ruling is expected today on the two-and-a-half-hour
"mental health hearing" held on Friday for Dawn Ratcliffe, the 24-year-old
pigeon shoot protestor serving a 45-day sentence on a hunger strike in
Schuylkill County Prison. Despite the fact that they have not performed a
physical examination of Ms. Ratcliffe, prison officials made it clear that
they want to institutionalize her so that they can force-feed her. Ms.
Ratcliffe was represented at the hearing by Paul Domalakes, the Assistant
Public Defender for Schuylkill County.

Ms. Ratcliffe was arrested for her participation in a peaceful protest
against the Hegins pigeon shoot on Labor Day 1996, and is serving a 45-day
sentence for disorderly conduct. The Hegins pigeon shoot is the world's most
infamous live bird shooting contest. Each Labor Day, shooters from all over
the country compete for money by shooting at more than 4,000 individually
released birds. Most of the birds are not killed immediately, but are
wounded. Children collect the wounded birds, rip off their heads, stomp on
them, or throw them into barrels to suffocate.

Ms. Ratcliffe has vowed to continue her hunger strike in prison until the
Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives put
legislation to ban live pigeon shoots on the House floor for a fair vote.
State Rep. Sara Steelman (D-Indiana County) introduced a bill to ban live
pigeon shoots this week, and the bill already has 43 co-sponsors. The
Republican leaders of the House have thwarted several past attempts to vote
on similar legislation.

Heidi Prescott, National Director of The Fund for Animals, attended Ms.
Ratcliffe's "mental health hearing," and says, "Dawn is in good shape and
she is in good spirits. People who stand by their convictions to make a
statement against violence should not be certified as crazy."


# # #

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 14:11:09 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Gorilla Protest
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971013141106.006d04f4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN web page:
--------------------------------
Reuters
13-OCT-97
Gorilla Protest

(MIAMI, Florida) -- A suburban Seattle animal-rights group is fighting to
get ``King'' a better home. The gorilla lives in a 40-foot cage at Monkey
Jungle in Dade County, Florida. Animal activists want him sent to Zoo
Atlanta... but the gorilla's owners will have none of it. The Lynnwood-
based Progressive Animal Welfare Society is working to bring attention to
King's case. Monkey Jungle president Sharon DuMond says King should stay
with his trainer and others who known him best. 
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 14:21:06 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Hunger Strike Ruling Today
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971013141913.006d60c8@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN web page:
--------------------------------------
Pennsylvania State News
Reuters
13-OCT-97

Hunger Strike Ruling Today

(ST. CLAIR) -- A Schuylkill County hearing examiner is expected to decide
today whether an animal rights protestor who has refused to eat for
ten-days should be institutionalized. Twenty-four-year old Dawn Ratcliffe
began her hunger strike to try and force state lawmakers to adopt a bill
that would ban live pigeon shoots. Ratcliffe has the support of the Fund
for Animals. National Director Heidi Prescott insists that Ratcliffe is NOT
mentally ill. 
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 11:22:52
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Hog farms under review
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19971013112252.3d87da34@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Just heard on CBC Radio news that Alberta's provincial government is to
conduct a review of the enviromental effects of hog farms there. They will
look at possible contamination of water, air and land.

Also, 'This Morning' had an interview with a journalist from Manitoba about
the hog farming expansion that province. Figures mentioned included the
production of 3 million hogs this year, increasing to 5 million by 2000
according to the Manitoba government.

There is a growing concern from locals about the potential pollution from
these operations in Manitoba too, although there doesn't appear to be a
general protest about the conditions that the animals have to endure.

David

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 97 13:11:16 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: Hunters Return to "Poor Man's Africa"
Message-ID: <199710131823.OAA29911@envirolink.org>

Tulsa World, Tulsa, OK, USA, by Sam Powell, Outdoors Editor:

Some things, hopefully, will never change in the great outdoors. For many
decades - centuries, really - the plains of Wyoming have been one of the
great game areas on the North American continent. And while so much else
about our world continues to change with downright scary rapidity, that
is still very true about that wonderful western state.

I have been fortunate enough to hunt in Wyoming for a variety of big
game, and it was again a special treat to return this fall to the far
northeastern part of that state. Four of us drew antelope permits for a
region west of Gillette.

Every time I've visited Wyoming, whether for antelope on the wide-open
prairies or for mule deer in the gray rimrocks, I'm stirred by the
abundance of game there. I've never been to Africa - but I've seen the
deer and antelope by the thousands on a beautiful fall day in poor man's
Africa.

It had been over 25 years since I hunted pronghorns out of Gillette.
The town itself has changed a great deal - what was a dusty little cattle
town on our first visit had boomed into a bustling community.

Twenty-five falls ago, a small party of hunters marveled at a resident herd
of antelope which were literally almost within the city limits. A buster of
a pronghorn buck kept his harem of does and fawns in the same field early
each morning. Now, on the other side of town, there are still antelope to be
seen, grazing literally within Gillette's city limits.

We spent the afternoon meeting landowners, where we paid an access fee, and
did some scouting. Antelope aren't the smartest big game animal in the world,
but, they learn, real quick, the meaning of rifle shots and vehicle traffic.

Many good bucks are taken each year by bowhunters, who build blinds near
waterholes and even utilize decoys with some success. But, Phil Byers of
Tulsa, chose to try something far different this fall. He had been
practicing for months with big-caliber handguns.

Phil spied a buck and managed to stalk within 75 yards. He made an
excellent shot with the .41 magnum Smith and Wesson Model 86 Classic
Hunter. The revolver was topped by a Tasco Pro Point scope sight, and
Byers put the hand-loaded, 300-grain hollow-point exactly where it should
go, dead-center right behind the animal's front shoulder.

We ended up by harvesting four buck antelope and two does. On the last
morning of hunting, a giant mule deer buck let the Byers approach
within 50 yards, and then just walked away, as if he had x-ray vision and
could read that license which specified doe-deer only.

All of the reports  from Wyoming Game and Fish Department were saying big
game herds were down across the state. It would be nice to hunt in poor man's
Africa when all of those animals were at population-level peaks.


_____________________________________________________________________-
-- Sherrill
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 14:35:56 -0400
From: Shirley McGreal 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: The Labor party and whale killing
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19971013183556.006d3970@awod.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Monday 13 October 1997, Electronic Telegraph, Issue 872

                  Britain set to support return of whale trade
                  By Charles Clover, Environment Editor
        
BRITAIN will back the resumption of commercial whaling for the first time in
11 years next week in an attempt to control the growing slaughter of whales
by Japan and Norway.

The Government will tell delegates from 35 countries at the International
Whaling Commission meeting in Monaco that Britain is prepared to accept the
limited resumption of commercial whaling in coastal waters as long as this
leads to a sizeable reduction in the overall number of whales killed.

In return, Britain wants the whaling nations to accept a proposal for a
global sanctuary for whales and the closing of a loophole which allows
whaling for "scientific" reasons. It wants any resumption of whaling to
depend on vigorous enforcement of the existing ban on international trade in
whale meat. 

Elliot Morley, the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, has written to MPs
explaining the Government's decision to countenance commercial whaling -
which represents a radical departure from the previous Government's view
that whaling meets "no pressing nutritional, economic or social needs and is
strongly opposed by the vast majority of our citizens". 

Conservationists were divided yesterday over the Government's decision to
back a compromise Irish proposal for a sanctuary, which would also allow
what Japan and Norway have long been pressing for - whaling in coastal waters. 

Greenpeace said the Government's decision would be disastrous for whale
stocks while the World Wide Fund for Nature said the compromise was
"probably the only realistic way of reimposing the authority of the
International Whaling Commission on the world's two recalcitrant whaling
nations".

Mr Morley has told MPs that the Government remains opposed to commercial
whaling "in principle", but adds that "the current situation" - with
increasing numbers of whales being killed by Japan and Norway under
loopholes in the 1986 global moratorium on commercial whaling - "is not
satisfactory".

Records show that the numbers of whales killed by Japan(for "scientific"
reasons) and Norway (under a legal objection to the original 1986 ban) have
almost doubled in four years.

Mr Morley has said the Government does not believe that it can reject out of
hand proposals which would bring a permanent ban on whaling outside coastal
waters but allow limited whaling within a coastal zone under the
International Whaling Commission's rules.

He said: "The UK is prepared to consider the case for limited whaling for
local consumption, under the overall control of thecommission, and subject
to strict safeguards if this is necessary to reach agreement." The
Government is therefore pressing for agreement on the IWC's Revised
Management Scheme, which sets out how whaling should be inspected and monitored.

Mr Morley insisted to MPs that Britain will only consider a resumption of
commercial whaling under the commission's rules "if it leads to a
significant, and permanent, reduction in the number of whales currently
being killed each year".

In the meantime, Britain would continue to support the moratorium and resist
any attempts to weaken it.

A Government spokesman said it was "inconceivable" that it would want to see
a resumption of whaling off the British coast and that the proposals for
coastal whaling applied only to Norway and Japan.

            

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


Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 14:39:17 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) "Plant-Based" Diets Fight Cancer
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971013143915.006cf2b8@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Yahoo news page:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monday October 13 2:16 PM EDT

"Plant-Based" Diets Fight Cancer

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Up to 40% of the world's cancer cases could be
prevented through the adoption of diets rich in grains, fruit and
vegetables, experts say.

"There is growing agreement that progress in the 'war on cancer' will
depend not only on treatment advances, but also on important advances in
cancer prevention," says Karen Collins, a registered dietitian with the
nonprofit American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), based in
Washington, D.C. New AICR recommendations conclude that a global emphasis
on "plant-based diets" could "make a dramatic impact on cancer risk,
reducing that risk by 30% to 40%."

According to experts from both the AICR and the World Cancer Research Fund
(WCRF), over 10 million people in the world developed cancer in 1996 alone
-- while 6 million died from the disease. Many of these cancers may have
been encouraged by unhealthy eating habits. Obesity, a fatty diet, charred
food, high alcohol intake, and some food additives are all factors that
have been linked to cancer.

But nutritional habits can be changed. The AICR/WCRF guidelines recommend
that the 'ideal' anti-cancer diet include:

-- Lots of fruits and vegetables. "Five or more portions (servings) a day
of a variety of vegetables and fruits, all year round," can help protect
against lung, stomach, breast, colon, rectum and mouth cancers, the
panelists conclude.

-- Energy from plant sources. Protein and starch-rich foods like grains and
legumes, preferably in their less-processed forms, should provide 45% to
60% of total daily energy.

-- Less meat. Cancer rates are lowest in those populations with primarily
vegetarian diets, the experts point out. If meat is eaten, choose poultry
or fish over red meat. Total red meat intake consumption (if any) should
stay below 3 ounces per day.

-- Limited amounts of fats and oils. Just 15% to 30% of total daily energy
should come from fats and oil. Vegetable-based (unsaturated) oils and fats
pose less of a cancer risk than those derived from animal sources.

-- Limited salt. "Diets high in salt and salted foods probably increase the
risk" for stomach cancers, the experts say. Salt intake should stay below 6
grams per day.

-- Limited alcohol. Excessive drinking has been linked to raised risk for
breast, colon, rectum, mouth, and liver cancers. While abstinence is best,
those who do indulge in alcohol should "limit alcoholic drinks to less than
two drinks a day for men and one for women," the experts say.

The AICR believe that plant-based diets contribute to healthier, longer
lives. Just adhering to rule No. 1 -- more fruits and vegetables -- "could
by itself, decrease overall cancer incidence by at least 20%," they
contend.

Collins explains that plants provide the dietary fiber which helps combat
colon and breast cancers, as well as the antioxidants "that seem to protect
our cells from potentially cancer-promoting reactions." She says another
group of plant chemicals known as 'phytochemicals' "stimulate enzymes in
our bodies that detoxify cancer-causing substances before they cause any
cell damage." And vegetarian diets also reduce the potential for obesity --
a known risk factor for both cancer and heart disease.

Collins stresses that the processing of plant-based foods reduces their
innate cancer protection. She says "a plant-based diet's calorie savings
may be lost when pasta, crackers and pretzels take the place of fruits and
vegetables." And she warns that "vegetarian" diets heavy in sweets, greasy
snacks, and high-fat dairy products may prompt cancers just as effectively
as diets heavy in meat.

But one nondietary risk factor in particular -- smoking -- can undermine
the best eating habits. "For some cancers," the panelists warn, "the effect
of smoking tobacco can overwhelm any protective effect of following the
(dietary) recommendations presented here."

For more information on the AICR recommendations, visit their Web site at
http://www.aicr.org.

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 15:11:08 -0400 (EDT)
From: MINKLIB@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: USA - Macy's Campaign
Message-ID: <971013150736_999461528@emout01.mail.aol.com>

The Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade was very excited to see on ar-news
that the New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance is going to be making Macy's a
major campaign target.

We would like to encourage other groups to do the same.  While Macy's West
closed their fur salons, Macy's East still operates 32 fur depts.
 Additionally, both chains still sell a lot of fur trim which is a major
problem.

If you don't have a Macy's in the area, then we encourage you to still find a
dept. store in the area to campaign against.  

Please contact CAFT if you plan to make one of these stores a major campaign
target.  We can provide you with background information, and it helps us to
know where all pressure is being applied.  

Macy's is a winnable campaign, so please jump aboard, and thank you NJARA for
making Macy's a target.

CAFT
PO Box 822411
Dallas, TX 75382
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 12:14:01 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, ar-wire@waste.org
Subject: Allentown (PA) Morning Call: Article on Dawn Ratcliffe
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971013160508.5f377d60@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Schuylkill wants hunger-striker's sanity checked 

An animal activist won't eat until pigeon shoot's banned. 

October 11, 1997

By CHUCK AYERS 
Of The Morning Call 


Schuylkill County mental health officials at a competency hearing Friday
questioned the stability of a hunger-striking animal rights protester in
county prison for disrupting the 1996 Hegins Pigeon Shoot.

The officials, petitioning on behalf of the prison, requested the hearing to
show Dawn Ratcliffe, 24, of North Carolina, poses a danger to herself,
so the prison could begin feeding her intravenously.

Today is the ninth day of her hunger strike, which began when she
entered prison.

The hearing was in the prison, before a court-appointed hearing officer,
who said the testimony will be taken under advisement but did not set a
date for a ruling.

''They're still in the process of making a determination,'' said attorney
Paul Domalakes, appointed to represent Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe, a ''vegan'' or strict vegetarian, also is a long-distance runner
 accustomed to living on minimal sustenance, Domalakes said.

''She can probably subsist for quite a long time,'' he said.

Ratcliffe was convicted in August of disorderly conduct after she and 11
other activists chained themselves around the neck on the shooting field
at the start of the pigeon shoot. She is serving a 45-day sentence.

She has vowed to continue the hunger strike until a bill to ban the shoot is
introduced on the floor of the state House of Representatives.

On Wednesday a bill with 43 co-sponsors was introduced by state Rep.
Sara Steelman, D-Indiana County, but has not been assigned to
committee, said Heidi Prescott, spokeswoman for the Maryland-based
Fund for Animals Inc.

''That's going to be tough not to introduce on the floor of the House with
43 co-sponsors,'' Prescott said.

Ratcliffe opposes the prison's attempt to force-feed her, partly because
of her principles as a vegan.

''I have chosen to hunger strike, and it is a violation of my civil rights for
prison officials to try to institutionalize me and force-feed me,'' Ratcliffe
said in a statement.

''Making a political statement against violence and animal abuse is not a
sign of mental health problems, it is a sign of my respect for life and my
commitment to social justice.''

Warden David J. Kurtz said there is no imminent threat to Ratcliffe's
health.

''Our prison doctor did see her on Wednesday and she is in good
health,'' Kurtz said. ''She's in no immediate danger as far as we're
concerned.''

Kurtz said there have been other hunger strikes at the prison but all were
abandoned before medical intervention was required.

Domalakes agreed with the prison's assessment of his client.

''There's no immediate or apparently obvious instability,'' Domalakes
said. ''She's coherent and logical. She's an affable, well-spoken individual
and I don't believe her to be mentally ill. I may not agree with what she is
oing, but that is her right.''


Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 12:14:23 -0700 (PDT)
From: Heidi Prescott 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Dawn Ratcliffe
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971014162411.37c7657e@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

FYI-

        I spoke to Dawn yesterday and saw her before the "mental health"
hearing on Friday.  Dawn remains in good spirits and says that what they
don't understand is that everything that they are doing to her only makes
her resolve stronger. 

        So far Dawn is doing fine.  We should hear the results of the
"hearing" later this afternoon.  

        Remember to keep calling the state legislators especially if you are
from Pennsylvania.  Thank you. 


Heidi

    

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 12:30:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Heidi Prescott 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Dawn will not be institutionalized
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971014164033.229fad06@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

We just received a phone call that the petition to institutionalize Dawn was
denied because there was not sufficient evidence that she is a clear and
present danger to herself.  Chalk one up for Dawn!  Thank you to all of you
who called.

Heidi

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 12:53:51 -0700 (PDT)
From: Michael Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, ar-wire@waste.org
Subject: Pottsville, PA: Activist Prevails at "Mental Health Hearing"
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19971013164459.5e1fd41a@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, October 13, 1997

CONTACT: Heidi Prescott, 301-585-2591


DAY 11 OF HUNGER STRIKE
Activist Prevails at "Mental Health Hearing"


POTTSVILLE, Pa. -- A Schuylkill County hearing officer ruled today that Dawn
Ratcliffe, the 24-year-old pigeon shoot protestor hunger striking in prison,
will not be institutionalized. The ruling noted that there was not
sufficient evidence presented at Friday's two-and-a-half-hour "mental health
hearing" that Ms. Ratcliffe posed a clear and present danger to herself.

Despite the fact that they have not performed a physical examination of Ms.
Ratcliffe, and despite the fact that her weight is normal, officials at
Schuylkill County Prison made it clear last week that they wanted to
institutionalize the animal rights activist so that they could force-feed her.

Ms. Ratcliffe was arrested for her participation in a peaceful protest
against the Hegins pigeon shoot on Labor Day 1996, and is serving a 45-day
sentence for disorderly conduct. The Hegins pigeon shoot is the world's most
infamous live bird shooting contest. Each Labor Day, shooters from all over
the country compete for money by shooting at more than 4,000 individually
released birds. Most of the birds are not killed immediately, but are
wounded. Children collect the wounded birds, rip off their heads, stomp on
them, or throw them into barrels to suffocate.

Ms. Ratcliffe has vowed to continue her hunger strike in prison until the
Republican leaders of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives put
legislation to ban live pigeon shoots on the House floor for a fair vote.
State Rep. Sara Steelman (D-Indiana County) introduced a bill to ban live
pigeon shoots this week, and the bill already has 43 co-sponsors. The
Republican leaders of the House have thwarted several past attempts to vote
on similar legislation.

Ms. Ratcliffe declares from prison, "I believe that an individual should not
be punished for having enough respect for life to take action to stop
violence and suffering. They don't understand that everything they try to do
to me only makes me stronger in my resolve."


# # #

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 22:00:29 -0400
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: 7,000 Minks Escape Sweden Fur Farm
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19971013220026.006c44a4@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
--------------------------------------
 10/13/1997 12:50 EST

 7,000 Minks Escape Sweden Fur Farm

 STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) -- Workers searched the woods in southwestern
 Sweden on Monday, looking for 7,000 minks that escaped from two fur farms
 after intruders cut holes in their fences.

 It was not known whether the intruders were simply vandals or if they
 were opponents of the fur business.

 ``We don't have any idea who did this,'' police inspector Sven-Aake Noren
 of Svenljunga, 200 miles southwest of Stockholm, told the Swedish news
 agency TT.

 The intrusions were discovered Sunday evening after police noticed a
 number of minks along roads in the rural area. By Monday, hundreds of
 minks had been found dead.

 ``Those who let the animals out should be here and see what they have
 started, and see how the animals are suffering,'' said Karl-Erik
 Johansson, owner of one of the fur farms.

Date: Mon, 13 Oct 1997 22:19:51 -0400 (EDT)
From: MEATSTNKS@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: veg-fl: Miami Herald article on Youth Deer Hunt 
Message-ID: <971013221618_2056018601@emout16.mail.aol.com>


---------------------
Forwarded message:
From:MEATSTNKS@aol.com
 Sender:owner-veg-fl@waste.org
  To:arnews@envirolink.org
  CC:veg-FL@waste.org
Date: 97-10-12 20:28:05 EDT

October 12, 1997
Miami Herald
By Susan Cocking
Herald Outdoor Writer

Starke-FL--Killing for fun is sick, protestors told Gene Staton as he arrived
at Camp Blanding for the state's annual youth deer hunt.  

The heckling didn't faze the 15-year-old Jacksonville hunter.

"They were wasting their time," he said.  "They weren't influencing me."

Gene was not in the woods to kill for fun. Scouting his assigned territory in
the Florida National Guard reservation, he came upon a doe within easy range
of of 12-gauge shotgun.  He did not shoot.

"I let her run off," Gene said.  "I was looking for a buck today."

The object of the hunt, conducted since 1985, is to teach youngsters to
sportsmanship and respect for wildlife, according to officers with the
Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission.

"I hope we are producing a sportsman and not a killer," reserve officer
Richard Hartsfield said.  "A sportsman is selective.  He's courteous and
respectful.  He is aare of what he is fixing to harvest and elects to
harvest.  A bubba just wants to experience the kill.  He wants to watch
something die.  If you produce a good, ethical sport hunter, then you are
producing game management."

Only one deer had been killed by midday Saturday morning among 33 hunters
aged 8-15.

Shea Griffin, 11, of Jacksonville, bagged a doe as his excided dad Shane
watched.

"His knees got to shaking and mine got to shaking with him," Shane Griffin
said.  I said, 'go ahead and . . . Boom!"

GFC Biologist Dave Edwards showed the boy how to dress the deer for
consumption.

"You listen and learn now" Shane told his son.  "You're going to do the next
one because I'm going to make you."

About two dozen protesters blew air horns, yelled and sprayed ammonia outside
the Camp Blanding gate before dawn to frighten off deer.  Arriving hunters
ignored them.

"Everyone has a right to their opinion," Harry Rosa, father of a 9-year-old
hunter said.

Protest leader Susan McCullom said GFC Lt. David Thompson dragged her out of
a car because she refused to stop beeping the horn.  Thompson said McCullom
was violating local noise ordinances.  Clay County Sheriff's deputies arrived
but made no arrests.

before the hunt was launched, 12 years go, Camp Blanding had about 40
collsions a year between the deer and the vehicles -- one of them fatal.
 These days, says GFC biologist Jim Garrison, collisions are way down.

But Garrison says the most postiive result of the youth hunts is the reaction
from parents:  "They said, 'I got to spend the whole day with my kid.' he
said.





ARRS Tools  |  News  |  Orgs  |  Search  |  Support  |  About the ARRS  |  Contact ARRS

THIS SITE UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY:
Go Organic

The views and opinions expressed within this page are not necessarily those of the
EnviroLink Network nor the Underwriters. The views are those of the authors of the work.