AR-NEWS Digest 676

Topics covered in this issue include:

  1) (USA)PRAWNS/SHRIMP FARMING REPORT
     by bunny 
  2) If all goes well...
     by Andrew Gach 
  3) (US) Feature-Was Jesus a Vegetarian? and Does that Help Cows?
     by allen schubert 
  4) 1000's Orgs/Volunteers Participate in Feb 24 'Spay Day USA'
     by Vegetarian Resource Center 
  5) (DK) Pigs should get toys
     by Vadivu Govind 
  6) (US) U.S. chicken full of killer germs
     by Ty Savoy 
  7) [US] NEWS RELEASE: "UW-Oshkosh students urge UW to safeguard monkeys"
     by Steve Barney 
  8) [CA] Bryan Adams gives benefit concert  
     by David J Knowles 
  9) [US] Jamiroquai wins Grammy
     by David J Knowles 
 10) [UK] Transplant virus fears
     by David J Knowles 
 11) [UK] EU adopts two-tiered danger list over BSE
     by David J Knowles 
 12) ADL-NJ Protests this week  
     by "Jeffrey A. LaPadula" 
 13) A Stick to...
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 14) A Carrot to...
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 15) MEATOUT Teacher Kits
     by FARM 
 16) (UK) Pig virus sparks fears about animal transplants
     by Mesia Quartano 
 17) (US) U.S. Navy begins disputed tests on whales
     by Mesia Quartano 
 18) Norway blames Britain for radiation in lobsters
     by Mesia Quartano 
 19) China arrests five men for killing pandas and golden monkeys
     by Mesia Quartano 
 20) Endangered Species campaign reaches critical mass!
     by LexAnima@aol.com
 21) (US) Was Jesus a vegetarian? And does that help cows?
     by Mesia Quartano 
 22) (US) New Jersey woman wins fight over abused dog
     by Mesia Quartano 
 23) Panicked Elephant Runs Away from School Circus
     by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
 24) Jury finds for Oprah/Lyman
     by "Eric Mindel @ LCA" 
 25) Ontario, Canada - wildlife sellout
     by "The ProNature Network" 
 26) Ape Alliance Press Release
     by kjp@wspausa.com (Katherine Perkinson)
 27) Texas cattlemen lose suit against Oprah
     by Vegetarian Resource Center 
 28) 240 monkeys' cross-country ride
     by Shirley McGreal 
 29) Dakota Activists NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!
     by LexAnima 
 30) URGENT REQUEST: Media contact list
     by Steve Barney 
 31) WA State house letter against the Makah gray whale hunt
     by Michael Kundu 
 32) [US] "Falk: UW, county share monkeys" (WSJ-2/25/98)
     by Steve Barney 
 33) Boston Phoenix: Learning without killing animals
     by LCartLng@gvn.net (Lawrence Carter-Long)
 34) LETTERS NEEDED!
     by Tereiman 
 35) Sharon Stone: Fur Hag Allegedly Diversifies with New Cruelty
     by Pat Fish 
 36) politics of meat
     by cenobyte 
 37) (MI) Slaughterhouse Reopens
     by Wyandotte Animal Group 
 38) [UK] Circus tiger 'not to blame' for biting off arm
     by David J Knowles 
 39) [UK] Huntsmen and landowners unite in protest 
     by David J Knowles 
 40) [UK] Grouse grounded by forest fences
     by David J Knowles 
 41) [US] "Official suggests plan to let UW keep monkeys"
     by Steve Barney 
 42) [US] "Ape Alliance Formed to Aid Gorillas"
     by Steve Barney 
 43) (US) VA-DAY! [Victory in Amarillo]
     by allen schubert 
 44) (HK) Site worker arrested for roasting dog 
     by jwed 
 45) Taiwan Fund for tigers
     by Vadivu Govind 
 46) Vilas bits and pieces
     by paulbog@jefnet.com (Rick Bogle)
 47) Subscription Options--Admin Note
     by allen schubert 
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 11:22:45 +0800
From: bunny 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (USA)PRAWNS/SHRIMP FARMING REPORT
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19980226111450.2567d290@wantree.com.au>
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PRAWNS/SHRIMP FARMING: AAAS SYMPOSIUM REPORT

[The American Association for the Advancement of Science recently held its
annual meeting in Philadelphia, during which they had a symposium on shrimp
farming, which was reviewed in the Economist, from which the following
edited version has been taken.]

It is only since the 1960s that shrimp have been farmed intensively and this
has rapidly become big business. Some 1m tonnes (one in every four shrimp
sold) are cultivated each year with a retail value of $15 billion, of which
the farmers themselves see about $6 billion. And the industry is also a big
employer, mainly in poorer countries adjoining the Pacific ocean. In
Ecuador, for instance, 230,000 people earn their livings working for shrimp
farms, and a fifth of all the households in the country’s coastal provinces
are dependent on the farms for their income. 

Because of its bad reputation among environmentalists during its short
lifetime, this year, the AAAS organised a small symposium on the subject,
inviting academics, environmentalists and some of the farmers to what proved
to be an encouraging meeting of minds. 

The most persistent accusation against shrimp farmers is that they are
wrecking the mangrove forests that fringe the sea in the tropics. This turns
out not to be the case. Mangrove forests were destroyed during the early
days of the industry, but the rate at which the trees are being felled has
dropped considerably. Land where mangroves have grown has proved less than
ideal for raising shrimp. It is too acidic for them, so that ponds dug in
former forest land have to be heavily and expensively limed to stop the crop
from dying. Since those ponds cost $10,000-50,000 per hectare to build,
siting them on the wrong soil is an expensive mistake. Leaving the mangrove
forests intact is now recognised as yielding positive benefits, for the
forests help to deal with the second environmentalist charge against the
industry — that waste from its ponds pollutes coastal waters. 

Again, the latter was true during shrimp farming’s early days, but since
farmers are replenishing the water in their ponds from those coastal waters,
they have come to realise that discharging untreated waste is often
tantamount to fouling their supplies. The cheapest solution is frequently to
put a farm just inland from a mangrove forest and trickle the effluent into
it. Like reed beds, mangrove forests are superb natural filters for organic
matter. What reaches the sea is more-or-less pristine. 

The lands that have suffered most from the shrimp farmers’ attentions are
salt flats, a habitat of less concern to conservationists. In Honduras, for
example, the Pacific coast (where most of the country’s shrimp farms are
located) was 65% forest, 20% salt flats and 12% shrimp farms in 1987. By
1995, shrimp farms occupied 34% of the coast and salt flats 4%. The forest
had shrunk from 65% to only 58% of the total coastline.

A third accusation against shrimp farming — that it damages other local
fisheries — is more difficult. The alleged damage is caused because many
farm-raised shrimp are grown from larvae caught in the wild. Unfortunately,
the shrimping nets the collectors use also haul in a considerable “by-catch”
of other species — frequently larvae of economically or environmentally
important fish. However, the consequences of this are unclear as some
species lay hundreds of thousands of eggs for every individual that survives
in nature to adulthood. At present there is no clear evidence that the
fishermen reduce the number of adult fish.

The general message from the symposium was that the environmental mistakes
that have given shrimp farming a bad name were often the result of ignorance
by farmers feeling their way and developing a new business. Now as those
farmers have a better idea what they are doing, the problems are
diminishing. And, the evidence suggests that large farms pollute the sea
less than small ones, usually because they are better managed.
=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\  
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: rabbit@wantree.com.au
The pig so sweet    |  .  |  
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)                                

Jesus was most likely a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620/essene.htm
for more information.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
       - Voltaire

Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 21:15:54 -0800
From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: If all goes well...
Message-ID: <34F4FA8A.55A8@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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No more shots? Needles may be out for immunizing

Reuters News Service 
LONDON, February 25, 1998

U.S. researchers say they have developed a painless method of immunizing
people without needles, a development with a potential big impact in
Third World countries.

The method, called transcutaneous immunization, can deliver a vaccine
via a skin patch that contains a bacterial product called cholera toxin
(CT), commonly used as an adjutant to enhance the immune system.

The technique has proved effective on mice and trials on humans are due
to start at the end of next month. If all goes well it could be
available commercially within the next five to 10 years.

"We can take an off-the-shelf vaccine, mix it with cholera toxin and get
a very nice immune response from that off-the-shelf type vaccine. The
implications are that one could eliminate needles," Gregory Glenn, of
the Department of Biochemistry at the Walter Reed Army Institute of
Research in Washington, told Reuters.

The technique targets the immune system in a new way -- through the
skin. The cholera toxin is the key.

By applying a simple and safe mixture of CT and vaccine components to
the skin through a patch the scientists found that it stimulated an
immune response to vaccine components such as diphtheria or tetanus
toxins.

"The adjutant concept isn't new and CT isn't new. What is new is that we
are able to use it through the skin," said Glenn.

"You can take a vaccine like tetanus or diphtheria and add it to the CT.
It activates the immune system and the immune system gives you
antibodies to diphtheria or tetanus."

The technique could eliminate the need for trained personnel and sterile
needles, a huge major boost in developing nations where large-scale
immunization against disease is a major problem.

"We're opening up a new paradigm of vaccine delivery," said Glenn.

"Scientists are excited because we're accessing the skin immune system,
a very powerful immune system. Those cells that are in the skin immune
system are the darlings of the vaccine world."

Not only would the immunization be painless, it could cause less of a
reaction in the body and multiple vaccines and boosters could be
delivered in a way that would not be possible with needles.

In a letter to the scientific journal Nature, Glenn and his colleagues
described how they tested the technique on mice. There were no
inflammations on the skin where the vaccine was administered and the
mice produced antibodies.

Glenn also believes the technique could be useful in developing a
vaccine against cholera.

Animal studies have shown that they can be protected against the disease
with high enough anti-toxin antibodies. But if the vaccine is injected
by needle into a muscle it will cause swelling and if given orally it
would cause diarrhea. Giving high doses through the skin may be
possible.

"This might have some relevance to cholera vaccine," said Glenn. 

By PATRICIA REANEY, Reuters
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 00:38:31 -0500
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Feature-Was Jesus a Vegetarian? and Does that Help Cows?
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980226003828.0077fa90@pop3.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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from CNN Custom News http://www.cnn.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feature-Was Jesus a Vegetarian? and Does that Help Cows?
Reuters
25-FEB-98

      By Judith Crosson 

     DENVER (Reuters) - An animal rights group has a new way to
persuade consumers to give up meat, arguing that Jesus was a
vegetarian and his followers should imitate him.

     But, judging by the early returns, it looks as though it
might be easier to turn loaves into fish and water into wine.

     Reston, Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA), known for headline-grabbing photo opportunities,
is waging a campaign to persuade leaders of Christian faiths to
counsel their members to shun meat.

     More than 400 Catholic bishops, archbishops and cardinals as
well as evangelical Protestant leaders Billy Graham, Pat
Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Oral Roberts have received letters
from the group's vegetarian coordinator, Bruce Friedrich.

     ``...I am writing to ask that you encourage your diocese to
follow Jesus by adopting a vegetarian diet throughout Lent and
beyond,'' he wrote to the Catholic leaders.

     The timing could not be better as Lent begins this week with
Ash Wednesday, when Catholics must abstain from meat. They are
also obliged to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, a
period of sacrifice and reflection leading up to Easter.


     MASTERS OF TIMING
     ``If anything, PETA is a master of timing,'' said Steve
Kopperud, senior vice president at the American Feed Industry
Association.

    Friedrich's big argument for forgoing meat is a disputed
claim that Jesus was an Essene, a Jewish sect that Friedrich
says avoided meat, and that early Christians did not eat meat.

     ``The stream of meat darkens the light of the spirit,'' he
wrote, quoting St. Basil, in the letter to Catholic bishops.

     ``It's a kooky idea,'' said biblical scholar Joseph
Fitzmyer, a Jesuit theologian and professor emeritus at Catholic
University in Washington. ``There's nothing in the New Testament
that would suggest he was a vegetarian,'' Fitzmyer said, adding
that there was also no proof Jesus was an Essene.

     While nobody seems to be jumping on the vegetarian
bandwagon, Friedrich said he was encouraged by some responses he
has received. ``I'm heartened by the people who will pray over
the issue,'' said Friedrich, who has received about a dozen
written replies that range from bestowing a blessing on him to
challenging his argument that Christ was a vegetarian.

     ``I certainly will give your recommendation serious
consideration and I am grateful to you for bringing this matter
to my attention,'' Catholic Bishop James Timlin of Scranton,
Pennsylvania, wrote him in a politely worded response.

     A representative of evangelist Billy Graham said that while
it is ``important that animals be treated kindly, not cruelly,''
there was no evidence that Jesus was a vegetarian.


     LATEST BELLYACHE FOR MEAT INDUSTRY
     The meat industry has had to deal not only with low prices
but with bad publicity generated by a lawsuit by Texas cattlemen
who claim an Oprah Winfrey television show on mad cow disease
caused the price of beef to fall.

     While the industry would never presume to comment on a
religious practice, Kopperud said, it was a bit ``naive'' for
PETA to believe ``it had the inside track on what Jesus ate.''

     More people giving up meat is not what ranchers would like
to see on the menu. Total annual red meat consumption in the
United States has dropped from an average of 127 pounds per
person in 1980 to an estimated 63.3 pounds in 1997.

     PETA's latest anti-meat campaign is not the first time the
animal rights group has tangled with the meat industry. A PETA
member dressed as Satan was arrested this month for spray
painting on the walkway outside the hall where the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association was holding its annual meeting.

     And when the Oscar Meyer meat company's ``Wienermobile'' --
a sausage-shaped motor vehicle -- was auditioning children for a
television commercial, PETA members were out yelling ``meat is
murder,'' Kopperud said. ``The mothers were furious,'' he added.

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 00:10:23 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center 
To: AR-News@Envirolink.Org
Subject: 1000's Orgs/Volunteers Participate in Feb 24 'Spay Day USA'
Message-ID: <199802260544.AAA08231@mail-out-3.tiac.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Thousands of Organizations, Volunteers to Participate in `Spay Day USA' on
Tuesday, Feb. 24 to Save Millions of Lives

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 24, 1998--
Special Events Planned Throughout U.S. For Doris Day Animal League's National
Effort to Reduce Pet Overpopulation

     The fourth annual "Spay Day USA," the national campaign devoted to
reducing the tragedy of pet overpopulation, will take place on Tuesday, Feb.
24.

     More than 150,000 spays and neuters performed in conjunction with the
first three Spay Day USA events have already resulted in the prevention of
millions of unwanted births. One unaltered cat and her offspring can produce
420,000 cats in 7 years, and one unaltered dog and her offspring can produce
67,000 dogs in six years.

     For 1998, the Doris Day Animal League has set a goal of completing at
least 100,000 spays and neuters.

     Veterinarians, humane societies, animal control agencies, legislators and
individuals have signed on to help stop the tragedy which results in 8-10
million cats and dogs being euthanized every year simply for the crime of
being born in a country which does not have enough good homes for them.

     Millions more stray and abandoned companion animals die on our streets,
after suffering from abuse and neglect.

     "This was our dream when we started formulating plans for Spay Day USA,"
said Doris Day, founder of the DDAL. "These past events have been wonderful,
and our 1998 events will save so many more lives," she added.

     Spay Day USA '98 will be highlighted by an exciting contest featuring St.
Louis Cardinals Manager and noted animal proponent, Tony La Russa. La Russa,
Best Western International Hotels and the Doris Day Animal League have teamed
up to present "Spay Day USA & Baseball!" in which one "Grand Slam" winner will
receive two tickets to a game during the 1998 World Series.

     In addition, box-seat tickets to a 1998 St. Louis Cardinals game (cities
and dates TBA) will be awarded to 10 other Spay Day USA participants.

     "I have always had tremendous admiration for Doris Day's efforts to
protect animals. I'm proud to be able to support Spay Day USA and help make
1998 the most successful year ever," said La Russa.

     The contest was designed to increase the number of spays and neuters
performed during Spay Day USA 1998 and to encourage all participants to report
their numbers to Doris Day Animal League.

     Following are just a few of the activities taking place  throughout the
country for Spay Day USA:

     Tuskegee, Ala. -- Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine
SCAVMA is offering a 25-percent discount on all spays and neuters on Feb. 24.
The surgeries include free exams and are open to the public.

     Marina, Calif. -- The Monterey County Free Libraries/Marina Branch is
displaying a spay and neuter public awareness exhibit during February in
conjunction with Marina Animal Welfare Committee. Borders Bookstore will
donate books to the first people having pets altered. The library will also
hold public talks with veterinarians as guest speakers.

     Walnut Creek, Calif. -- Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation will
spay and neuter the pets of seniors and low-income families from Feb. 15 to
March 15. The ARF is hoping to spay and neuter approximately 400 dogs and
cats.

     Grand Junction, Colo. -- Mesa County Animal Control's Project P.U.P. is
proclaiming February "Love Your Pet Month." On Feb. 25,  Heinz Pet Foods and
City Market will give a $1,000 grant to Project P.U.P.'s fund. Project P.U.P.
will distribute 100 certificates to pet owners needing financial assistance.

     Washington, D.C. -- The Washington Humane Society is holding "Tom Cat
Tuesday" on Feb.  24 to neuter up to 400 male cats in one day. Pet owners pay
$15 which includes check-up, vaccinations and feline leukemia test.

     Kansas City, Kan. -- The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City is
offering discounted spays and neuters at its facility during the week of Feb.
24. HSGKC is sending letters to all local shelters and humane societies to ask
them to band together to celebrate Spay Day USA. they are also furnishing the
local radio and TV stations with PSAs and asking for mayoral proclamations
from both Kansas Cities.

     Richmond, Ky. -- The Madison County Humane Society arranged for the
County Executive to sign a Spay Day USA resolution on Jan. 28.  MCHS is also
selling raffle tickets for $1 each for a chance to win one of 56 discount spay
and neuter certificates which will be honored by all seven local
veterinarians.

     Perham, Minn. -- The Pine Shelter Veterinary Hospital is sending a letter
to all its clients with pets older than six months who are unaltered. PSVH is
offering special prices to these clients from Feb. 9-22. Also, rabies
vaccinations will be available for $2 if a bag of pet food is brought in. All
donated food will be given to the Ottertail Humane Society.

     Silver Springs, Nev. -- The Silver Springs Spay/Neuter Project will be
visited by Amy Mason, DVM's D.O.C.'s Mobile Veterinary Service on Feb. 23 to
perform spays and neuters.

     Voorhees, N.J. -- The Animal Welfare Association is working with the
Philadelphia Phillies to promote Spay Day USA with radio and TV PSAs featuring
players. The shelter will give away pet product gift packs and baseball hats,
plus complimentary soda and popcorn. AWA will also observe SDUSA with
discounts on spays and neuters.

     Rutherfordton, N.C. -- The Rutherford County Humane Society has persuaded
county commissioners to designate February as Prevent a Litter Month and Feb.
24 as Spay Day USA. RCHS is also selling $20 discount spay/neuter certificates
to the public which are honored by five area veterinary clinics.

     Norman, Okla. -- The Second Chance Animal Sanctuary and over 25
veterinary clinics are jointly sponsoring "Just Fix It" for 14 days from Feb.
24 to March 10.

     Flatwoods, W.Va. -- The Central West Virginia Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals has created a "Spaydometer" to inform the public of its
progress. The goal is to sign-up 50 dogs and cats for spay and neuter
surgeries during February.

     "Every American can participate in Spay Day USA," said Holly Hazard,
executive director of the Doris Day Animal League. "Alter your pet or a
shelter animal awaiting adoption, ask your local veterinarian to participate,
or contact your elected representative and ask them to issue a proclamation
recognizing Spay Day USA.

     "We can prevent the euthanasia of unwanted companion animals, but only if
we pull together and take responsibility for this social tragedy."

     The Doris Day Animal League, a national organization with over 370,000
members and supporters, has free Action Packs to help individuals and
organizations implement Spay Day USA events. Those interested can receive an
Action Pack by contacting:

Doris Day Animal league Spay Day USA Suite 100 227 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, D.C.  20002 Phone:  202/546-1761 Fax:    202/546-2193

CONTACT: 

Linda Dozoretz Communications 
Heather Kenyon/Linda Dozoretz, 213/656-4499

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 14:06:01 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (DK) Pigs should get toys
Message-ID: <199802260606.OAA20723@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>The Straits Times
26 Feb 98

Pigs should get toys, says Danish MP 

      COPENHAGEN -- A Liberal MP seeking re-election to the
     Danish Parliament has said the country's 11 million pigs should be
given toys to play     with. 

     In a bid to woo the growing environmental and animal-rights lobby in a
country which     has twice as many pigs as people, opposition Liberal Party
deputy Mariann Fischer     Boels has proposed a string of measures designed
to improve the welfare of farm     animals. 

     The Liberal Party has its roots in Denmark's farming community, but its
deputy's reform plans, which include toys such as rubber balls to keep pigs
active and animal-washing     facilities, alongside clean bedding and a ban
on the use of growth hormones, have failed     to garner support from the
party leadership. 

     Liberal chief Uffe Ellemann-Jensen said the proposal on toys for pigs was
     ill-considered. 

     Mr Niels Hoejland, a candidate for the rival Progress Party, said the
next step would     be to give pigs video cassettes and saunas. -- Reuters. 

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 03:28:30 -0400
From: Ty Savoy 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) U.S. chicken full of killer germs
Message-ID: <1.5.4.32.19980226072830.0080ed9c@north.nsis.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

  
            Wednesday, February 25, 1998

            U.S. chicken full of killer germs

            YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - Nearly two-thirds of
            the chickens bought at retail stores around the
            United States for a Consumer Reports study
            contained a germ that kills hundreds of people a
            year and sickens millions.

            "We're talking up to 1,000 deaths and many
            millions of cases of indigestion and diarrhea, and
            it really is not something that should be
            overlooked," said Edward Groth, director of
            technical policy for Consumers Union, which
            publishes the magazine.

            The germ - campylobacter - is "the most
            widespread cause of food poisoning in the
            United States," Groth said. "It probably already
            has made you sick."

            Industry spokesmen called the article alarmist,
            saying that not all cases of campylobacteriosis
            come from chickens and that it would be
            impossible or too expensive to eliminate all
            contaminated chickens.

            Producers and the magazine agreed that thorough
            cooking kills bacteria and that consumers should
            follow the directions on every package about
            how to handle poultry.

            "If we knew how we could get rid of these
            organisms in fresh raw foods, we would," said
            Kenneth May, technical adviser to the National
            Broiler Council.

            "But we don't know how to do that, and certainly
            not in any kind of cost-effective manner at all."

            Groth said, "Consumers are always going to be
            the last line of defence. But we don't want the
            problem to rest with consumers having to protect
            themselves."

            Unpasteurized milk and unchlorinated water are
            other sources of the bacterium, but the Centres
            for Disease Control and Prevention said poultry
            causes more than half of all cases.

            It estimates 500 deaths and two million cases
            each year from the germ. Most of these cases go
            unreported. Generally, it causes fever and
            diarrhea that last no more than a week. But the
            infection can also leave a person with arthritis
            and is a major cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome,
            which can lead to paralysis. 

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            Wednesday, February 25, 1998

            U.S. chicken full of killer germs

            YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - Nearly two-thirds of
            the chickens bought at retail stores around the
            United States for a Consumer Reports study
            contained a germ that kills hundreds of people a
            year and sickens millions.

            "We're talking up to 1,000 deaths and many
            millions of cases of indigestion and diarrhea, and
            it really is not something that should be
            overlooked," said Edward Groth, director of
            technical policy for Consumers Union, which
            publishes the magazine.

            The germ - campylobacter - is "the most
            widespread cause of food poisoning in the
            United States," Groth said. "It probably already
            has made you sick."

            Industry spokesmen called the article alarmist,
            saying that not all cases of campylobacteriosis
            come from chickens and that it would be
            impossible or too expensive to eliminate all
            contaminated chickens.

            Producers and the magazine agreed that thorough
            cooking kills bacteria and that consumers should
            follow the directions on every package about
            how to handle poultry.

            "If we knew how we could get rid of these
            organisms in fresh raw foods, we would," said
            Kenneth May, technical adviser to the National
            Broiler Council.

            "But we don't know how to do that, and certainly
            not in any kind of cost-effective manner at all."

            Groth said, "Consumers are always going to be
            the last line of defence. But we don't want the
            problem to rest with consumers having to protect
            themselves."

            Unpasteurized milk and unchlorinated water are
            other sources of the bacterium, but the Centres
            for Disease Control and Prevention said poultry
            causes more than half of all cases.

            It estimates 500 deaths and two million cases
            each year from the germ. Most of these cases go
            unreported. Generally, it causes fever and
            diarrhea that last no more than a week. But the
            infection can also leave a person with arthritis
            and is a major cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome,
            which can lead to paralysis. 

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            Wednesday, February 25, 1998

            U.S. chicken full of killer germs

            YONKERS, N.Y. (AP) - Nearly two-thirds of
            the chickens bought at retail stores around the
            United States for a Consumer Reports study
            contained a germ that kills hundreds of people a
            year and sickens millions.

            "We're talking up to 1,000 deaths and many
            millions of cases of indigestion and diarrhea, and
            it really is not something that should be
            overlooked," said Edward Groth, director of
            technical policy for Consumers Union, which
            publishes the magazine.

            The germ - campylobacter - is "the most
            widespread cause of food poisoning in the
            United States," Groth said. "It probably already
            has made you sick."

            Industry spokesmen called the article alarmist,
            saying that not all cases of campylobacteriosis
            come from chickens and that it would be
            impossible or too expensive to eliminate all
            contaminated chickens.

            Producers and the magazine agreed that thorough
            cooking kills bacteria and that consumers should
            follow the directions on every package about
            how to handle poultry.

            "If we knew how we could get rid of these
            organisms in fresh raw foods, we would," said
            Kenneth May, technical adviser to the National
            Broiler Council.

            "But we don't know how to do that, and certainly
            not in any kind of cost-effective manner at all."

            Groth said, "Consumers are always going to be
            the last line of defence. But we don't want the
            problem to rest with consumers having to protect
            themselves."

            Unpasteurized milk and unchlorinated water are
            other sources of the bacterium, but the Centres
            for Disease Control and Prevention said poultry
            causes more than half of all cases.

            It estimates 500 deaths and two million cases
            each year from the germ. Most of these cases go
            unreported. Generally, it causes fever and
            diarrhea that last no more than a week. But the
            infection can also leave a person with arthritis
            and is a major cause of Guillain-Barre syndrome,
            which can lead to paralysis. 

            

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 02:19:06 -0600
From: Steve Barney 
To: AR-News 
Subject: [US] NEWS RELEASE: "UW-Oshkosh students urge UW to safeguard monkeys"
Message-ID: <34F5257A.B4BF830F@uwosh.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

NEWS RELEASE

February 26, 1998

Contact:
Steve Barney
PH: 920-235-4887

Related information is available on the web at:
http://www.uwosh.edu/organizations/alag/Issues.html


UW-Oshkosh students urge UW to safeguard monkeys:
university must be held to its agreements with the community

  Last Monday the UW Oshkosh Student Assembly expressed support for a
resolution urging the UW to honor the spirit of its agreements and
safeguard its Henry Vilas Zoo monkeys from invasive biomedical research
for the remainder of their lives.
  According to the resolution, the students of UW-Oshkosh "believe these
to be the most basic requirements of the University's relationship with
the Vilas Zoo monkeys . . . because the University made a written
promise to the zoo to safeguard these monkeys from biomedical research."
  Investigations show that UW-Madison's Wisconsin Regional Primate
Research Center violated agreements on its monkey colonies located at
the Henry Vilas Zoo, in Madison, at least 201 times.
  "A faith in the honesty of the university and a belief that an
official's signed agreement means something is the fundamental core of
the university's relationship with the students," proclaimed Assembly
Representative Jeff Landa.  "Allowing the university to withdraw from
agreements unilaterally places the students at risk."
  Since the monkeys have become a public relations nightmare, the
university is planning to get rid of them as soon as possible by sending
them to a biomedical lab where they may be subjected to further harmful
invasive experiments - in further violation of the spirit of the
agreements with the Dane County run zoo.
  The UW has given Dane County a March 2, 1998, deadline to come up with
a more humane solution, and refused the county's request for an
extension of that deadline.

-- Beginning --

University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Student Association Assembly Resolution
97-004

WHEREAS the students of the University of Wisconsin believe that the
monkeys housed at the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, Wisconsin, and owned
by the University of Wisconsin ought to be allowed to spend the
remainder of their lives without being subjected to biomedical research. 

WHEREAS the students of the University of Wisconsin believe these to be
the most basic requirements of the University's relationship with the
Vilas Zoo Monkeys. 

WHEREAS the Students of the University of Wisconsin believe this because
the university made a written promise to the zoo to safe-guard these
monkeys from biomedical research. 

WHEREAS the students of the University of Wisconsin are aware of the
university breaking its promise to the zoo over 200 times. 

WHEREAS the students of the University of Wisconsin believe that The
University of Wisconsin should act with honor. 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Oshkosh Student Association is
directed to send a letter expressing these beliefs to the University of
Wisconsin Board of Regents, Virginia Hinshaw, Dean of the University of
Wisconsin Graduate School, Joseph W. Kemnitz, Interim Director of the
Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin
Chancellor David Ward, Kathleen Falk, Dane County Executive, Henry Vilas
Zoo Director David Hall, and a copy of this letter to the Badger Herald,
the University of Wisconsin News Bureau, the Wisconsin State Journal,
and The Capital Times. 

-- End --

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 00:11:19
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Bryan Adams gives benefit concert  
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226001119.3cbf8d66@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

David J Knowles
Animal Voices News

VANCOUVER, B.C. - Canadian singer and vegan Bryan Adams gave a concert
tonight in support of the Vancouver Regional SPCA.

Adams, who is in Vancouver to open his new Gastown studios and perform at a
concert tomorrow night at GM Place Stadium, gave a free concert at a local
record store's Vancouver-area warehouse in east Vancouver.

Although the concert was free, donations at the door were encouraged, and
all the donations will be passed on to the SPCA.

Additionally, A & B Sounds, the record store whose warehouse was used, is
donating $1 from all sales of Adams' CD's this month.

Adam, who has been vegan for some years, has not previously been noted to
be active in animal issues, except for donating his time to appear in a PSA
for the SPCA, and allowing one of his songs to be used for background music.



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 00:25:27
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [US] Jamiroquai wins Grammy
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226002527.3cbf100c@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Winner of the Grammy award for best single by a duo or group with vocals (I
think) was won by Jamiroquai's single "Virtual Insanity".

The single was written about the dangers of genetic engineering.

The group, and particularly lead singer Jason (Jay) Kay, have been involved
in environmental and animal issues, including singing another song "When
You Gonna Learn" at an anti-whaling demo in London.

There is some doubt, however, as to whether Kay practices what he preaches.
He is the owner of several gas-guzzling sports cars, and has received
several fines for speeding.

David

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 01:18:19
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Transplant virus fears
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226011819.3cbf88a8@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 26th, 1998

Transplant virus fears
By Robert Uhlig, Technology Correspondent 

THE danger of transplanting animal organs into humans has been reawakened
after the discovery of a previously unknown virus in pigs.

The virus, detected in Sydney, Australia, causes deformities and
stillbirths among pigs. It also infected two piggery workers who developed
severe flu-like symptoms.

Proponents of xenotransplants - cross-species organ transplants - argue the
procedure is safe because the organs can be screened before use to
safeguard against introducing
animal viruses to humans.

"But you can't screen for disease agents that you don't know about," said
Peter Kirkland, an Austrialian virologist, at a science forum this week.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998. 
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 01:22:09
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] EU adopts two-tiered danger list over BSE
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226012209.3cbfa056@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 26th, 1998

EU adopts two-tiered danger list over BSE
By Toby Helm in Brussels and David Brown 

BRITAIN and six other European Union countries have been put on BSE "danger
list" under controversial plans announced by Brussels yesterday.

The others are the Republic of Ireland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland,
Portugal and France, all of which have admitted to cases of BSE in cattle
born and bred there. The remaining eight EU member states will effectively
be declared "BSE free". They will not have to enforce the tough meat
hygiene rules already in force in this country because any cases of BSE
confirmed by their vets have occurred in imported animals.

In a move which raised the political spectre of a double-tier among member
states - in defiance of the EU's self-proclaimed policy of equality for all
- Germany, Austria, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Greece and Spain would
be able to apply for exemptions from the
requirements. 

This would effectively give them BSE-free status, even though there are
fears among many veterinary experts that the true number of BSE cases has
been grossly under-reported on the Continent. The proposals form part of a
new regional approach by the European
Commission to dealing with mad cow disease. 

The abandonment of an EU-wide strategy follows heavy pressure from Germany,
which has pushed for "BSE-free" status before it will consider voting for
any easing of the worldwide ban on British beef exports. The move is seen
as a trade-off to placate German farmers and consumer groups.

The plans accompanied a decision by Brussels to postpone until next year
the full imposition of hygiene rules for meat, including a ban on beef on
the bone, which Britain has insisted should be adopted across the whole of
the EU immediately.

Irish officials in Brussels said the new scheme could have a devastating
effect on their country's beef exports. "We will be classed officially as a
danger zone which is hardly great marketing," said a source.

Critics of the scheme also said it would reduce the willingness of
countries to reveal their first cases of BSE. British officials in Brussels
said the Government was considering supporting the regional approach to the
meat hygiene rules in the hope that it would help to accelerate progress
towards lifting the ban.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998. 
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 08:52:40 -0500 (EST)
From: "Jeffrey A. LaPadula" 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: ADL-NJ Protests this week  
Message-ID: 
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Hello All,

This saturday, february 28, we will be holding our first protest at
Marianne's Furs in Highland Park, from 12 - 2.  please try to attend as a
good first impression should be made.

after Marianne's, we will be returning to our weekly protest site, Furs By
Guarino in East Brunswick, from 2 - 4.  

directions can be found on the webpage.

please try to be on time, our new schedule really depends on it.

in struggle,
-corinne
****************************************************************************
                     ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE - NEW JERSEY
                                 P.O. Box 84        
                             Oakhurst, NJ 07755      
                             (732)545.4110         
                    http://envirolink.org/orgs/adl
****************************************************************************


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 98 08:42:55 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: A Stick to...
Message-ID: <199802261439.JAA25161@envirolink.org>

(From Vegetarian Times Magazine): A stick to administrators of New York's
Elmhurst Hospital for tossing out the notion that hospitals should be
beacons of health. Food services for the cafeteria, patronized by
doctors, nurses and other hospital staffers, was recently contracted
out to none other than the McDonald's Corporation! Citing high operating
costs as the rationale, a hospital spokesman unapologetically commented,
"If employees had been eating in that cafeteria, we wouldn't have lost
money, and we wouldn't have to do this." Guess we'll just have to wait
and see, not what, but rather "if" the doctor orders. We're wondering,
though - if doctors take the Hippocratic oath, do administrators take
the hypocritical oath?
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 98 08:47:30 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: A Carrot to...
Message-ID: <199802261442.JAA25696@envirolink.org>

(From Vegetarian Times Magazine): A carrot to the Fund for Animals (FFA),
an anti-hunting organization based in Silver Spring, Md., for exposing
a nationwide hunting campaign spearheaded by the hunting and firearms
industries. In its 31-page report, FFA details how these industries
have teamed up to recruit children into the blood sport by sponsoring
hunting classes in junior high and high schools across the country.
Call us old-fashioned, but what ever happened to good ol' kickball?
Oh, yeah, there's no revenue in kickball.
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 09:48:10 -0800
From: FARM 
To: AR-News 
Subject: MEATOUT Teacher Kits
Message-ID: <34F5AADA.5C39@farmusa.org>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

A THOUSAND SCHOOLS TO OBSERVE MEATOUT
Nearly one thousand primary and secondary schools will be observing
Meatout this year with two special Teacher Kits developed by FARM’s
former Special Projects Director Melissa Snider. “Cool Fruits and Hot
Veggies” is designed for grades K-7; “Planet On Your Fork” is intended
for grades 8-12. Each kit contains a lesson plan, activity sheets,
poster, and stickers.
   Nearly four thousand post cards offering the free kits were mailed to
teachers lists provided by EarthSave, VRG, AAVS, and PETA. A teachers
magazine notice brought hundreds more requests. Because of the pressing
need to counter the meat and dairy industries’ propaganda in schools we
are considering continuing this program beyond Meatout.
   If you are a teacher, school administrator, or have suitable
connections, you can request one or both kits by e-mail or by calling
1-800-MEATOUT.

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:33:25 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: (UK) Pig virus sparks fears about animal transplants
Message-ID: <34F5B574.72703391@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

03:33 PM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

Pig virus sparks fears about animal transplants

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian scientists have sparked new fears about
the safety of animal-to-human transplants after they discovered an
unknown virus in pigs.

Virologist Peter Kirkland and scientists at the Elizabeth Macarthur
Agriculture Institute in Camden, New South Wales, found the virus that
caused deformity and stillbirths in pigs and also infected two workers,
New Scientist magazine said
Wednesday.

Concerns about the possibility of introducing animal viruses into humans
led scientists to call for a moratorium on cross-species transplants
last year.

But proponents of xenotransplantation -- the use of organs, tissue or
cells from one species to another -- claim the organs can be screened
for viruses.

"But you can't screen for disease agents that you don't know about,''
the magazine quoted Kirkland as saying.

He and his team traced the virus that swept through a piggery near
Sydney to a colony of fruitbats that lived nearby.

The virus only attacked pig fetuses, which were either stillborn or had
defects in the spinal cord and brain. The two infected workers recovered
and the virus was not found in pig products or other people who may have
been exposed to it.

Although the virus was contained, Kirkland said there were no guarantees
that it would not break out again.



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:36:02 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: (US) U.S. Navy begins disputed tests on whales
Message-ID: <34F5B611.341970B5@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

07:49 PM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

U.S. Navy begins disputed tests on whales

HONOLULU (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy began aiming piercing blasts of
underwater sound at humpback whales Wednesday, testing a new sonar
submarine detection system that environmentalists say could harm the
endangered marine mammals.

The tests, designed to see how the whales react when bombarded by
deafening noise, were cleared to begin after a federal judge in Honolulu
Tuesday refused a request by environmental groups to stop them.

"A week from today we're going to go back to ask for an injunction,''
said Paul Achitoff, the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund lawyer who filed
the failed request for a restraining order.

"We will go back to this same judge and try to persuade her that she
misunderstood the situation.''

The Low Frequency Active (LFA) sonar tests, being run for the Navy's
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, will use huge transmitters
towed behind ships to pump sound into waters just a few miles from the
new Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The tests are part of a project to develop a new long-range sonar system
to detect "quiet'' submarines by flooding the oceans with soundwaves.

Environmental groups, including Greenpeace and the Animal Welfare
Institute, have described the noise as "a thousand times louder than a
747 jet engine'' and say it could harm the whales in their favorite
breeding habitat.

"They really have no idea how this is going to effect the whales, let
alone other marine life,'' Achitoff said.  "It is really a question of
looking for a pain threshold.''

Navy scientists acknowledge that LFA will use sounds of up to 215
decibels to see how loud a sound must be before it causes a ``behavioral
change'' in the whales.

But they say the test will not harm the humpbacks, and will help the
Navy avoid disturbing marine life in future by obtaining data on what
exactly the whales can and cannot tolerate.

Similar tests have already been conducted on whale populations off the
California coast without any noticeable adverse effect, navy scientists
say.


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:38:57 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: Norway blames Britain for radiation in lobsters
Message-ID: <34F5B6C0.34E2D782@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

11:24 AM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

Norway blames Britain for radiation in lobsters
By Abigail Schmelz

OSLO (Reuters) - A Norwegian state agency Wednesday blamed a British
nuclear waste reprocessing plant for increased radiation levels found in
seafood and marine vegetation off western Norway.

The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority said in a report that
lobster and other edible marine life was found to have increased
concentration of radioactive Technetium 99, although the levels which
have reached humans through the food chain were probably low and
acceptable.

"We have observed an increase between 1996 and 1997 in certain seafood
and seaweed because of discharge from Sellafield,'' Justin Brown, a
researcher at the protection authority, told Reuters.

In 1994, a new waste reprocessing system was commissioned at Britain's
Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant and British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL)
began treating a backlog of spent fuel, which was the source of the
radiation, Brown said.

"We're seeing the increased levels about 2-1/2 to three years since the
increased discharge levels at Sellafield. It takes time for the
prevailing sea currents to bring soluble waste to the Norwegian
coastline,'' Brown said.

Because of the findings, Norwegian Environment Minister Guro Fjellanger
planned to ask Sweden for backing in asking Britain to halt the
contamination.

"The effect of Technetium 99 is not well documented, especially in
northern coastal areas and in the marine environment in general,''
Torunn Hasler, a spokeswoman for Norway's environment ministry, told
Reuters.

"The minister is due to travel to Sweden to discuss asking the British
government to stop discharges until 1999 until we have more documented
knowledge on the effects on different species,'' Hasler said.

Nordic environment ministers are due to meet in the Swedish west coast
city of Gothenburg Friday.

Norwegian radiation authorities have not done work to find out what
levels have reached humans.

However, the levels detected in lobster and seaweed were probably
acceptable for human consumption, Brown said.

This was because dose levels which were calculated from marine life near
Ireland were found to be low even though they contained higher levels of
Technetium 99 than contaminated plants and animals near Norway, Brown
said.



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:40:49 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: China arrests five men for killing pandas and golden monkeys
Message-ID: <34F5B731.FC37F1BE@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

10:15 PM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

China arrests five men for killing pandas

BEIJING, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Chinese police have arrested five men
suspected of killing two giant pandas, one of China's most endearing
symbols that is hovering on the brink of extinction, the Xinhua news
agency reported.

Police in central Hunan province's Changsha city arrested two men from
northern Gansu province and confiscated five pelts of golden monkeys,
another of China's most endangered species, Xinhua said in an overnight
report.

After a tip from their Changsha counterparts, Gansu police arrested
three men in a raid on a farmer's home and found five more golden monkey
pelts and two panda skins.

Family members confessed to killing the 10 monkeys and the two
black-and-white bears, it said.

Killers of pandas and golden monkeys face the death penalty in China.

China has fewer than 1,000 giant pandas, which are under constant threat
from poachers and human development that has encroached on their forest
homes in the southwestern part of the country.

There are several thousand golden monkeys  estimated to be left in
China, Xinhua said.


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:50:14 EST
From: LexAnima@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, SUE4TURKEY@aol.com, Bedford@Palsplus.org,
        Sbenn@cyberenet.net, biginil@mail.dnb.com, CABivona@aol.com,
        wave6@juno.com, blaeuer@earthlink.net, veganman@idt.net,
        TaraLogan@hotmail.com, amachi@bergen.org, zorka@superlink.net,
        lisa_donnelly@hotmail.com, JILLD@aol.com, vegansbg@earthlink.net,
        VincenzaM@juno.com, redwoods.reviews@mci2000.com,
        enigma@nerc1.nerc.com, nurt@iname.com, kelsay@bergen.org,
        modernjim@compuserve.com, Sincag2@aol.com, lyndasmith@mpecom.com,
        Sultanofswing@compuserve.com, jeannies@bellAtlantic.net,
        miriamdg@carroll.com, msmopane@ix.netcom.com, sirius@mindpulse.com,
        ara@superlink.net, vegan904@superlink.net, njara@superlink.net,
        BNUS02C@prodigy.com, MLauren310@aol.com
Subject: Endangered Species campaign reaches critical mass!
Message-ID: <65659165.34f58f38@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Congratulations to the Animal Rights Movement!  Individual animals and entire
endangered species are being protected through the Endangered Species Act --
the most strict animal protection law on the federal books (and thus the most
attacked animal protection law).  The law is still under attack on Capital
hill but the campaign is directly benefitting from the animal rights
movement's work on the campaign -- but more support is needed from animal
rights constituents.  

Calls and letters need to be directed toward your federal congressperson and
your federal senator.  Television ads are going out in select areas throughout
the nation to promote the endangered species campaign.  Now is the time to
work the endangered species issue ~ !

Senators need to hear from your entire state as DC insiders are predicting a
Kempthorne vote at the end of February.  Tell your senate office that you
expect the Senator to be a champion for endangered species.  Tell him that you
will be notified when the vote comes up so that you can tape the coverage of
the vote on TV.  Tell the office that you want to know if the Senator will be
speaking on behalf of endangered species on the floor.  Make sure that your
Senator will vote NO to the Kempthorne Bill.  Your Senator's local number is
in the blue pages of your telephone directory.

Also, please consider using the following letter to the editor as a sample.
The AP Wire has been carrying some endangered species articles so now is a
good time to do letters.  Let your paper know that the people are watching
this issue.  If you don't see the letter in a few days, call the editorial
staff and ask whether they received the letter.  That way you're guaranteed
that it will run in the paper.

Please write me back with any questions or comments on the endangered species
campaign.

D'Arcy Kemnitz
Endangered Species Coalition - Midwest Group
1121 University Avenue
Madison, Wisconsin 53715 
608. 294. 1338
___________________________________________________

Two "Endangered Species Recovery Acts": ESA and ESAin't

There are two proposed bills in Washington entitled the Endangered Species
Recovery Act.  Both would modify the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) of
1973, but one would help and the other hurt species survival. The bills are
Congressman George Miller's HR 2351 (pro-ESA) and Senator Dick Kempthorne's S.
1180 (ESAin't). As a concerned citizen, you can play an important role in the
failure of ESAin't and a victory for enhanced species' protection.

The ESA was enacted to conserve endangered and threatened species and the
ecosystems upon which they depend. The ESA has successfully prevented the
extinction of species such as the gray wolf, bald eagle and Kirtland's
warbler; yet overall, few species have fully recovered. 100 species are still
being lost in the U.S. every day.  Moreover, habitat loss and non-native
species continue to drive even more species toward the brink of extinction.  

HR 2351 is for species protection.  Endorsed by many major conservation,
environmental, wildlife protection agencies and 90 congressional cosponsors,
HR 2351 would reauthorize and strengthen the ESA. It is designed to 1) promote
the recovery of species already listed as endangered or threatened; 2) prevent
the decline of additional species by placing a deadline for listing candidate
species (which currently have no protection); and 3) improve the way the
Endangered Species Act works for landowners and communities by providing
economic incentive to encourage voluntary conservation.

S.  1180 would do the opposite. The bill would jeopardize the mission of the
ESA to recover species in peril.  Not suprisingly, no major conservation,
environmental or wildlife protection agency is supporting S. 1180 and the bill
has only four cosponsors.

Please act now to save plants and animals in danger of extinction.  Contact
Senators and ask that they vote "no" on S. 1180. Also, please encourage your
member of the U.S. House of Representatives to support HR 2351.


Sincerely, 

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:44:54 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: (US) Was Jesus a vegetarian? And does that help cows?
Message-ID: <34F5B826.4097257@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

10:04 AM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

FEATURE-Was Jesus a vegetarian? And does that help cows?
By Judith Crosson

DENVER (Reuters) - An animal rights group has a new way to persuade
consumers to give up meat, arguing that Jesus was a vegetarian and his
followers should imitate him.

But, judging by the early returns, it looks as though it might be easier
to turn loaves into fish and water into wine.

Reston, Virginia-based People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
(PETA), known for headline-grabbing photo opportunities, is waging a
campaign to persuade leaders of Christian faiths to counsel their
members to shun meat.

More than 400 Catholic bishops, archbishops and cardinals as well as
evangelical Protestant leaders Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Jerry
Falwell and Oral Roberts have received letters from the group's
vegetarian coordinator, Bruce Friedrich.

"...I am writing to ask that you encourage your diocese to follow Jesus
by adopting a vegetarian diet throughout Lent and beyond,'' he wrote to
the Catholic leaders.

The timing could not be better as Lent begins this week with Ash
Wednesday, when Catholics must abstain from meat. They are also obliged
to abstain from meat on Fridays during Lent, a period of sacrifice and
reflection leading up to Easter.

MASTERS OF TIMING
"If anything, PETA is a master of timing,'' said Steve Kopperud, senior
vice president at the American Feed Industry Association.

Friedrich's big argument for forgoing meat is a disputed claim that
Jesus was an Essene, a Jewish sect that Friedrich says avoided meat, and
that early Christians did not eat meat.

"The stream of meat darkens the light of the spirit,'' he wrote, quoting
St. Basil, in the letter to Catholic bishops.

"It's a kooky idea,'' said biblical scholar Joseph Fitzmyer, a Jesuit
theologian and professor emeritus at Catholic University in Washington.
"There's nothing in the New Testament that would suggest he was a
vegetarian,'' Fitzmyer said, adding that there was also no proof Jesus
was an Essene.

While nobody seems to be jumping on the vegetarian bandwagon, Friedrich
said he was encouraged by some responses he has received. "I'm heartened
by the people who will pray over the issue,'' said Friedrich, who has
received about a dozen written replies that range from bestowing a
blessing on him to challenging his argument that Christ was a
vegetarian.

"I certainly will give your recommendation serious consideration and I
am grateful to you for bringing this matter to my attention,'' Catholic
Bishop James Timlin of Scranton, Pennsylvania, wrote him in a politely
worded response.

A representative of evangelist Billy Graham said that while it is
"important that animals be treated kindly, not cruelly,'' there was no
evidence that Jesus was a vegetarian.

LATEST BELLYACHE FOR MEAT INDUSTRY
The meat industry has had to deal not only with low prices but with bad
publicity generated by a lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who claim an Oprah
Winfrey television show on mad cow disease caused the price of beef to
fall.

While the industry would never presume to comment on a religious
practice, Kopperud said, it was a bit "naive'' for PETA to believe "it
had the inside track on what Jesus ate.''

More people giving up meat is not what ranchers would like to see on the
menu. Total annual red meat consumption in the United States has dropped
from an average of 127 pounds per person in 1980 to an estimated 63.3
pounds in 1997.

PETA's latest anti-meat campaign is not the first time the animal rights
group has tangled with the meat industry. A PETA member dressed as Satan
was arrested this month for spray painting on the walkway outside the
hall where the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association was holding its annual meeting.

And when the Oscar Meyer meat company's "Wienermobile'' -- a
sausage-shaped motor vehicle -- was auditioning children for a
television commercial, PETA members were out yelling "meat is murder,''
Kopperud said. "The mothers were furious,'' he added.


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 10:46:22 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano 
To: "ar-news@envirolink.org" 
Subject: (US) New Jersey woman wins fight over abused dog
Message-ID: <34F5B87E.2573CD6E@usa.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

08:14 PM ET 02/25/98
>From Infobeat News (Reuters)

New Jersey woman wins fight over abused dog

PATERSON, N.J. (Reuters) - A New Jersey grandmother who cares for
abandoned pets has won custody of a tiny terrier after a court fight
with his former owner who abused him.

The dog named Toto will remain with Anita Tenk, 67, who said on
Wednesday she has cared for him since his owner was found guilty of
animal cruelty in 1995.

After his conviction, the dog's former owner, Enrique Gibson of
Paterson, New Jersey, sought in court to get the dog back.

In an unusual move, the city of Paterson filed a lawsuit in state
Superior Court to sever his contact with the dog.

"We wanted to fire a preemptive strike so he could not regain custody of
the dog,'' said city attorney Susan Champion.

Tenk, who tends for eight other abandoned and abused dogs and cats in
her home, said the day she won custody was "the happiest day of my
life.''



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 98 10:40:45 UTC
From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US
To: ar-news@Envirolink.org
Subject: Panicked Elephant Runs Away from School Circus
Message-ID: <199802261639.LAA18678@envirolink.org>

(Ledger-Enquirer):  February 17, 1998

Associated Press

Attention all units: Be on the lookout for a two-ton runaway circus
performer.

Police on foot and in squad cars chased Tonya, an elephant that escaped
from a circus at Mentor High School in northeast Ohio on Sunday, until
she was caught a quarter mile away outside a discount store.

"I've been here for 17 years, and it's the first time we've had an
elephant on the loose," Sgt. Kevin Knight said.

Tonya panicked while in a hallway inside the school and ran off. She
knocked assistant trainer Nick Tolomeo to the ground before opening
a door with her trunk and fleeing the building. No one was injured.

Tonya's trainers and volunteers joined in the chase as she galloped
through open spaces toward a Big Lots store, where her trainer caught up
with her and persuaded her to get into his truck.

Bret Bronson, Tonya's trainer, said she got upset after another
elephant was startled by a clown and bumped into her. The other elephant
squeezed Tonya  against a wall.

"She was just like a child in a mall - she panicked," Bronson said.
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 98 10:32:03 -0000
From: "Eric Mindel @ LCA" 
To: "Chickadee" ,
        "ar-news" 
Subject: Jury finds for Oprah/Lyman
Message-ID: <199802261713.MAA24963@envirolink.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Hi all,

As I'm sure we're all thrilled to hear, this morning the Amarillo jury 
found in favor of Oprah and Howard Lyman.

Following is a CNN report.

eric

_____________________________

Texas cattlemen lose suit
                      against Oprah

                      February 26, 1998
                      Web posted at: 12:10 p.m. EST (1710 GMT) 

                      AMARILLO, Texas (CNN) --
                      Texas cattlemen have lost their
                      lawsuit against television talk show
                      host Oprah Winfrey, a jury
                      decided Thursday. 

                      The cattlemen sued Winfrey, her
                      production company and
                      vegetarian activist Howard Lyman over a 1996 show on
mad cow
                      disease. The cattlemen claimed the show, which
suggested the
                      disease could spread to people, caused the cattle
market to plunge
                      to 10-year lows and cost them $11 million. 

                      During the show, Lyman said that feeding ground-up
animal parts
                      to cattle could spread the disease to humans in the
United States.
                      To applause from the studio audience, Winfrey
exclaimed: "It has
                      just stopped me from eating another burger!" 

                                                Mad cow disease has not
been
                                                detected in the United
States. 

                                                During closing arguments
                                                Wednesday, attorneys for
the
                                                cattlemen said Winfrey and
her
                                                company, Harpo, produced a
                                                show that was unfairly
biased
                                                against the industry. They
urged
                                                the jury to hold Winfrey
liable
                                                for the April 16, 1996
show. 

                                                "We have the right not to
have
                                                our business damaged by a
                                                bunch of falsehoods shot
out of
                                                Chicago," said cattlemen's
                                                attorney David Mullin. 

                      Winfrey's attorney, Charles Babcock, countered that
statements
                      made on the show were either fact or legally
protected opinion or
                      rhetoric. Babcock asked the jury not to silence
Winfrey. 

                      "This case is about the First Amendment," he said.
"It's about
                      robust debate and the unfettered interchange of
ideas." 

                      The group of cattlemen
                      initially sued under Texas'
                      "veggie libel" law, which
                      protects agricultural products
                      from false and disparaging
                      remarks. The case was
                      expected to be the nation's
                      biggest test of such laws,
                      which exist in 12 other states.

                      But last week, in a victory for
                      Winfrey, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson ruled
that the
                      case could not proceed under that law but would
instead be tried
                      as a simple business disparagement case -- which
meant the
                      cattlemen had to prove that Winfrey deliberately
sought to harm
                      the beef industry. 

                      The Associated Press contributed to this report. 





Eric Mindel
Last Chance for Animals (LCA)
eric@LCAnimal.org
http://www.lcanimal.org
8033 Sunset Blvd, Suite 35
Los Angeles, CA  90046
310/271-6096 office 
310/271-1890 fax


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 09:26:04 -0500
From: "The ProNature Network" 
To: 
Subject: Ontario, Canada - wildlife sellout
Message-ID: <00e501bd42c3$fe1225a0$91d86bcf@client.kosone.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
     boundary="----=_NextPart_000_00CD_01BD4298.8FAEC620"


The government of Ontario,Canada in the 
Lands for Life Crown land planning exercise, is in the process of 
developing a 'land use' planning strategy for our crown land, including 
Provincial Parks and remaining old growth forests. There are very important 
issues at stake here: our wildlife, our forests, and our water. Did you know 
that many of our parks (including Algonquin Provincial Park) are hunted and 
logged. To get the details about the Lands for Life process visit their 
website at: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca

We do not want our crown lands 
hunted! Hunting here, where we live, is worse than most people could 
imagine and it is getting worse.  This prompted us to present and submit a 
written report expressing our views to the Lands for Life Round Table. 
We also spoke out against hunting in our magazine: The Country 
Connection. After that issue all our advertisers received anonymous 
"hate-mail." We lost some advertisers, jeopardizing our financial 
base, but we remain committed to exposing the truth. As well, we now refuse all 
advertising which promotes the exploitation of our wildlife neighbours. To find 
out more about The Country Connection magazine visit:
http://www.cyberus.ca/~queenswood/pinecone

The forestry and hunting 
lobby appear to be well organized. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters 
(OFAH) are bringing in their members by the busload to Lands for Life 
meetings (and they are doing the old boy thing with the Minister of Natural 
Resources). The Minister is ultimately responsible to present the Lands for 
Life proposal to cabinet.

We need to organize. We are a silent majoity. We 
need to show our concern by our numbers. What can you do to help?--become 
informed by visiting the Lands for Life website, organize through your local 
naturalist club, E-mail the Lands for Life Round Table with your views, attend 
and participate in the next round of public meetings or contact us at the 
Pro-Nature Network if you need support: pronatur@northcom.net .

In appreciation - for the animals
Nancy Zylstra


Date: 26 Feb 1998 13:43:39 EST
From: kjp@wspausa.com (Katherine Perkinson)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Ape Alliance Press Release
Message-ID: 
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

--PRESS RELEASE--
THE APE ALLIANCE

EUROPEAN LOGGING COMPANIES FUEL TRADE IN APE MEAT

The great apes of Africa are under renewed threat as a result of an
explosion in the bushmeat trade * fuelled by the logging practice of
European companies , according to a report published today by the Ape
Alliance, an unprecedented coalition of leading conservation and animal
welfare groups*.

The report, 'The African Bushmeat Trade - A Recipe for Extinction',
reveals the widespread nature of the rampant and largely illegal trade
in bushmeat which has now developed into a major commercial activity,
threatening the survival of gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos (pygmy
chimpanzees).  Many other species are also threatened, including the
giant pangolin, forest elephant and dwarf crocodile.  The extent of this
conservation crisis is exemplified in Congo where 15,000 animal
carcasses, including 293 chimpanzees, were counted at bushmeat markets
in Brazzaville.  One estimate in the north of the country is that up to
600 lowland gorillas are killed each year to feed the trade.

The report finds that the rapidly growing timber industry, which has
been dominated by European companies, has been a major factor in
facilitating the bushmeat trade.  Ignoring the warnings of
conservationists, timber companies have not only destroyed ape habitat
(45% of forest cover in Africa has already been lost and 95% of the
remainder is unprotected), but logging activity has opened up their last
remaining refuges to human encroachment and commercial hunting.

"All four species of great ape are in desperate trouble," said Jane
Goodall, the world's leading authority on chimpanzees. "It is my firm
belief that if action is not taken now, there will be no viable
populations of great apes living in the wild within 50 years."

The report also cites evidence which directly implicates European timber
companies in the trade.  Loggers supplement their income by hunting wild
animals with traps and shotguns and using logging trucks to transport
them from the forest to urban bushmeat markets.  In Gabon it has been
estimated that 20,000 chimpanzees have been wiped out as a result of the
logging.

The increased activity of Asian logging companies in this region with
even worse conservation records than their European competitors,
threatens to exacerbate the crisis.  Another threat which the trade presents
is the increased risk of transmission of dangerous diseases to humans,
including the deadly ebola virus.

The Ape Alliance is asking all retailers and consumers of timber to
ensure that they only buy timber and timber products from forests which
have been independently certified as environmentally responsible, for
example by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  Consumers can identify
these products by looking for the FSC logo.  It is also seeking the
independent certification of forest timber concessions of central and
west Africa by bodies such as the FSC which would ensure that wildlife
and indigenous peoples are not threatened by logging.  In the meantime,
the Ape Alliance has asked the timber companies to adopt a bushmeat code
of conduct to end the slaughter of apes and is calling on the European
Union to encourage all European timber companies operating in Africa to
adopt this code.

"The commercial bushmeat trade is out of control," said Ian Redmond,
Chairman of the Ape Alliance.  "At the very least, timber companies must
ensure that their workers obey the law.  It doesn't seem a lot to ask,"
he added.
     -ends-

Notes

*  The bushmeat trade is the trade in wild animal meat for human
consumption.  European logging companies implicated in the trade in bushmeat
include: SIBAF - Societe Industrielle de Bois en Afrique, a subsidiary
of the French owned company SCAC, based in Douala, Cameroon; and CIB -
Societe Congolaise Industrielle du Bois, a subsidiary of Hinrich
Feldmeyer, a German company.

*  The Ape Alliance is an unprecedented coalition of 34 international
organisations and ape specialists taking action to save the great apes,
the chimpanzee, gorilla, bonobo and orang-utan.  The coalition includes:
Born Free Foundation, Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bushmeat Project, Cameroon
Wildlife Aid Foundation, Care for the Wild, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund,
Fauna & Flora International, Friends of Conservation, Forest Monitor,
Great Ape Project, Howletts & Port Lympne Foundation, International
Gorilla Conservation Programme, International Primate Protection League,
Jane Goodall Institute, Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust, Jonathan
Kingdom, Monkey World, Orangutan Foundation, PACE, Primate Society of
Great Britain, Primate TAG, Ian Redmond, RSPCA, Tusk Force, Dr Robert
Hubrecht of UFAW, World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA),
World Wide Fund for Nature - UK & International.

For more information, including copies of the report, broadcast quality
footage and colour transparencies, please contact:

UK: Jonathan Owen, World Society for the Protection of Animals,
Tel. 0171 793 0540  Mobile 0467 234689

Press Conference: An Ape Alliance press conference will be taking place
at 11.00am on 26th February 1998 at The Linnean Society of London,
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1.  Speakers include: Jane
Goodall, Ian Redmond and Karl Ammann.

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 13:47:30 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center 
To: AR-News@envirolink.org
Subject: Texas cattlemen lose suit against Oprah
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit


CNN Interactive already has the story up, FYI....
http://www.cnn.com

Texas cattlemen lose suit against Oprah
_____________________________________________________

Texas cattlemen lose suit against Oprah

February 26, 1998
Web posted at: 12:10 p.m. EST (1710 GMT) 

AMARILLO, Texas (CNN) --
Texas cattlemen have lost their lawsuit against 
television talk show host Oprah Winfrey, a jury
decided Thursday. 

The cattlemen sued Winfrey, her production company 
and vegetarian activist Howard Lyman over a 1996 show 
on mad cow disease. The cattlemen claimed the show, 
which suggested the disease could spread to people, 
caused the cattle market to plunge to 10-year lows 
and cost them $11 million. 

During the show, Lyman said that feeding ground-up
animal parts to cattle could spread the disease to 
humans in the United States.  To applause from the 
studio audience, Winfrey exclaimed: "It has
just stopped me from eating another burger!" 

It has been claimed that the presence of mad cow disease 
has not been positively and definitively established in the 
United States. 

During closing arguments Wednesday, attorneys for the 
cattlemen said Winfrey and her company, Harpo, produced 
a show that was unfairly biased against the industry. 
They urged the jury to hold Winfrey liable for the April 16, 1996
show. 

"We have the right not to have our business damaged by a
bunch of falsehoods shot out of Chicago," said cattlemen's
attorney David Mullin. 

Winfrey's attorney, Charles Babcock, countered that
statements made on the show were either fact or legally
protected opinion or rhetoric. Babcock asked the jury not to 
silence Winfrey. 

"This case is about the First Amendment," he said. 
"It's about robust debate and the unfettered interchange 
of ideas." 

The group of cattlemen initially sued under Texas' "veggie libel" law, 
which protects agricultural products from false and disparaging
remarks. The case was expected to be the nation's biggest test 
of such laws, which exist in 12 other states.

But last week, in a victory for Winfrey, 
U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson ruled that the
case could not proceed under that law but would
instead be tried as a simple business disparagement case -- 
which meant the cattlemen had to prove that Winfrey deliberately
sought to harm the beef industry. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 14:02:52 -0500
From: Shirley McGreal 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: 240 monkeys' cross-country ride
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Yet another huge shipment of monkeys in the Inquatex-LABS series of
shipments (over 1,000 monkeys shipped so far) reached Los Angeles Airport
on 13 February 1998. This shipment consisted of 240 monkeys. Despite the
fact that most incoming shipments of primates are trucked to their final
destination from the port of entry, they are seldom inspected for
compliance with the Animal Welfare Act. 

After clearance by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC) monkey shipments fall into the jurisdiction of the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) which has strict regulations.
Unfortunately, unless it knows in advance that a shipment of monkeys is
due, the Department of Agriculture won't be there to inspect! In one case
known to IPPL, CDC was fully aware of a 14 March 1997 shipment of monkeys
loaded into a rented truck "too densely to allow for safe access and
routine feeding, watering and monitoring the health of the animals or
security of the crates." Apparently CDC kept this secret from USDA.

IPPL received the report that follows pertaining to the 13 February
shipment. Unfortunately the Department of Agriculture failed to inspect the
condition of the animals on arrival at the South Carolina end - despite
their own California inspector having drawn attention to the lack of
security of the crates inside the truck. So we will probably never know
whether anything went wrong. Whether telling a licensee not to do the same
thing again is an appropriate response to such hazardous conditions,  which
USDA reported could "cause stress and/or injury to animals" is an
interesting question. From the document, it appears that USDA allowed the
240 monkeys to proceed on their 2500 mile ride without  requiring further
securing of the crates. 

USDA INSPECTION REPORT
Spencer Ellis
Kritter Krates
4907 Top Way
Spring, TX 77373
Site: LAX [Los Angeles Airport]
Los Angeles, CA
74 B 0245
2-13-98
1830
Complaint

NARRATIVE

Inspection done at planeside and outside cargo terminal at LAX.  Non-human
primates observed from unloading of plane to loading into transport truck
and trailer for surface transportation to Yamasse [sic], South Carolina.
Each animal in each crate was individually checked, through use of a
flashlight.  Feeding and watering (apples and gatorade) was observed as
crates were loaded.  Primate chow already in crates.  Both truck and
trailer have airconditioning and heating, and the ability to run these off
of backup generators if necessary.  Thermometers are present, allowing
monitoring of temperatures inside conveyances without entering animal area.
 Shipment consisted of 48 crates, each containing 5 non-human primates,
housed individually.  Total number if animals (Crab-eating Macaques) was
240.  Estimated time of arrival at destination is Monday, 2-16-98,
approximately 01.30.  One animal, number I-FA-7613, observed with traces of
dried blood on wall of enclosure.  One animal, number I-FE-4908, observed
with fresh blood on walls, dishes, mesh, etc.  Both animals appeared bright
and active, with good appetites.  Enclosures did not appear to have any
sharp points or objects present.  Could not find any signs of injury on
either animal, and fresh blood could be a result of normal cycling, as the
underside of the tail was observed to have fresh blood present.


CATEGORY III: Non-compliant item(s) identified this inspection

Section 3.87 (c)(2) Ventilation

-Shipping crates do not have projecting rims extending along the exterior
of every side having a ventilation opening.  To be corrected by:  For
future shipments.

Section 3.88 (g) 3.90(a) Primary Conveyance and Care in Transit

-Placement and numbers of crates in transport vehicles would make
observation of animals in distress difficult, if not impossible.  Removal
of crates in case of emergency could not be done quickly and easily.  To be
corrected by:  For future shipments.

License / Registration #: 74B0245

Section 3.92(b)(2) Handling

-Crates when placed in transport vehicles were stacked three high, in a
staggered fashion.  Crates were not tied down or fastened, and in case of
accident or sudden movement of vehicle or trailer, crates could shift and
be damaged or cause stress and/or injury to animals.  To be corrected by:
For all future shipments.

Also present were US Fish and Wildlife service, as well as US Public Health.

Inspection done by Dr. Kathleen Garland, VMO; Jeanne Lorang, ACI.  Also
present was Lupe Aguilar, Senior Investigator, IES.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------
 Dr. Shirley McGreal           PHONE: 803-871-2280  FAX: 803-871-7988     
 Int. Primate Protection League  E-MAIL: ippl@awod.com                 
 POB 766 Summerville            | http://www.ippl.org                 
                                                                        
 "It was the first time in my life that I was important enough for      
 someone I'd never met to hate me" - George Orwell of his days as a   
 civil servant in India                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------                            

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:52:15 EST
From: LexAnima 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Dakota Activists NEEDED IMMEDIATELY!
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Please, could any activists in the Dakota areas email me back privately.

D'Arcy
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 15:33:15 -0600
From: Steve Barney 
To: AnimalLib-List ,
        AR-News , Wisc-Eco 
Subject: URGENT REQUEST: Media contact list
Message-ID: <34F5DF9B.3E6A4F16@uwosh.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

I'm trying to distribute a press release to media in Wisconsin and the
US via E-mail and fax.  If you have a list of I need a list media E-mail
addresses and/or fax nos., please forward me a copy.  


Thank you,
Steve Barney, Representative
Animal Liberation Action Group
Campus Connection, Reeve Memorial Union
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
748 Algoma Blvd.
Oshkosh, WI 54901-3512
UNITED STATES
 Phone:920-424-0265 (office)
     920-235-4887 (home)
Fax: 920-424-7317 (address to: Animal Liberation Action Group, Campus
Connection, Reeve Union) 
E-mail: AnimalLib@uwosh.edu
Web: http://www.uwosh.edu/organizations/alag/

"All Animal Are Equal . . . or why the the ethical principle on which
human equality rests requires us to extend equal consideration to
animals, too"
--Peter Singer, _Animal Liberation_, Revised 1990 Edition, Title and
subtitle of Chapter 1
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 14:41:38 -0800
From: Michael Kundu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: WA State house letter against the Makah gray whale hunt
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980226144138.007cd4c0@pop.seanet.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The following letter was sent to NOAA by three of my regional
representatives. Please send them a sentence of thanks via email if you
have time -- addresses as follows; 
morris_je@leg.wa.gov
dunshee_ha@leg.wa.gov
quall_da@leg.wa.gov
Thanks for your efforts.  
Michael Kundu
***************************
Feb 25, 1998

Will Martin
US Dept of Commerce
5258 Port Royal Road Spring
Washington DC 20090

Dear Mr. Martin,

We are writing to express opposition to the federal permission grated to
the Makah community in Neah Bay to harvest gray whales as they migrate from
Mexico to the Bering Sea.  This is obviously a topic that touches on many
issues that are important to the state of Washington.

As Washington State Legislators, we are committed to the simultaneous
protection and preservation of Native tribal rights and cultural heritage
to the identity, integrity and industry of the State of Washington and its
citizens.

This issue is particularly distressing to us because the debate has brought
the interests of both into disaccord.  While we are strong advocates for
issues important to our native American communities, there exist numerous
reasons why we oppose the harvest of gray whales in our state’s waters.
The State of Washington is reputed as a progressive state in terms of
natural resource advocacy and protection.  To allow the harvest of animals
removed from the endangered species list only two years ago could be a
regression as far as the maintenance of this tradition.  Washington’s towns
and coastal cities have expressed concern with this issue as well, stating
that the tourist industry upon which their economies are largely based on
would be adversely affected by the harvesting of whales.

It is evident that the members of the Makah tribe are themselves divided on
this issue; seven tribal elders have expressed discontent and concern with
the decision to allow the resumption of the tribal practice.  This
signifies to us that there exists a need for more of a consensus and
dialogue both within the Makah tribe and the larger Washington community
before a final decision is made on such an important issue.

Thank you for hearing our concerns.  We appreciate your careful
consideration on this matter.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate
to contact us.

Sincerely,  

Representative Jeff Morris
40th Legislative District

Representative Hans Dunshee
39th Legislative District

Representative Dave Quall
40th Legislative District

Michael Kundu
Project SeaWolf/Arcturus Adventure Communications
Marysville, WA 
**NOTE: Email address change -- ProjectSeaWolf@seanet.com
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 17:45:39 -0600
From: Steve Barney 
To: AR-News 
Subject: [US] "Falk: UW, county share monkeys" (WSJ-2/25/98)
Message-ID: <34F5FEA3.142289BD@uwosh.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

"Falk: UW, county share monkeys"
By Jennifer A. Galloway
Wisconsin State Journal
Madison, WI
US
Wednesday, Feb. 25, 1998
Page 1C

-- Beginning --

Falk: UW, county share monkeys
County would cover part of care costs

By Jennifer A. Galloway
Wisconsin State Journal

In an effort to keep UW-Madison from dispatching its Vilas Zoo monkey
colony, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk on Tuesday asked university
officials to consider a shared care arrangement.

Falk is proposing keeping the university's 50 stump-tailed macaques at
the zoo and sending the 100 rhesus monkeys to a sanctuary.

Falk wants:

* The university to care for the macaques, including maintaining the zoo
facility and providing veterinary services.

* The county and private foundations to pay an estimated $30,000 toward
food, supplies and annual utility costs at the monkey house.

* The university to pay for repairing the monkey house.

UW-Madison's Regional Primate Center can no longer support the monkeys
it houses at the county-run zoo because researchers are no longer
conducting behavioral studies on the monkeys that had been supported by
the National Institutes of Health.

The university agreed in 1989 not to do invasive research on the zoo
monkeys and now plans to ship the rhesus monkeys to a Louisiana research
center and the macaques to a sanctuary in Thailand unless the county
offers a viable alternative by March 2.

Falk met with UW-Madison Graduate Dean Virginia Hinshaw and interim
Primate Center Director Joe Kemnitz on Tuesday afternoon to explain her
proposal.  Hinshaw had requested the meeting with Falk to make sure they
understood each other's position as the university's deadline for a
decision drew near.

But their parley ended up including Vilas Zoo Director David Hall, Vilas
Zoo Commission chairwoman Karen West and Stewart Simonson, chief legal
counsel for Gov. Tommy Thompson.

The governor's staff has gotten involved in recent weeks after he and
his wife both called Falk's office expressing an interest in keeping the
monkeys from leaving the zoo, said Topf Wells, Falk's executive
assistant.  No one from the governor's office could provide in formation
about the issue Tuesday.

After Tuesday's meeting, which Falk refused to allow a reporter to
attend, Hinshaw said she would respond to Falk's proposal today.

Hinshaw made clear, however, that the proposal left the university
shouldering most of the financial burden of maintaining the colony.

She said the personnel and veterinary costs of caring for the animals
are the primary cost and the county's $30,000 contribution "is not a
very substantial portion of the expense."

Hinshaw estimated the university's annual share of the costs would be a
minimum of $70.000 for basic care, without any unexpected expenses.  The
county is also asking the university for the one-time expense of $55,000
to $60,000 toward repairing the monkey house.

"I can't redirect research money or tuition to support a zoo exhibit,"
Hinshaw said.  "That is my major concern about this arrangement.  It
still includes our investing continually a large amount for a long time,
which is very difficult to see."

She also said Falk's proposal means that university officials would work
for the county.

"(The UW employees) would no longer be a part of UW, and we don't
usually send people other places to do work," Hinshaw said.

-- End --

More information is available at:

     http://www.uwosh.edu/organizations/alag/Issues.html


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 16:32:01 -0800
From: LCartLng@gvn.net (Lawrence Carter-Long)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Boston Phoenix: Learning without killing animals
Message-ID: <199802270023.TAA15409@envirolink.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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The Boston Phoenix 
February 26 - March 5, 1998 

Learning not to kill

New techniques mean medical students can learn
without killing animals. Why won't BU get with the
program?

by Sarah McNaught

At Boston University, spring is the time for first-year medical 
students to put their textbook learning to the test. Each week, 
students break up into groups of three and attend three-hour
labs in which a professor straps a rabbit to a table, anesthetizes 
it, cuts it open, and shows the students how various medicinal
injections affect the animal's heart rate and blood pressure. 
When the lab is over, the animals are killed.

This type of lab has been offered at BU since 1970; this year, 
120 of the 200 first-year students participated in the optional 
experiments. What the students are supposed to walk away 
with is a clearer perception of the way a human's organs 
might function under the influence of medications like dopamine 
and epinephrine. "It's all for the sake of science," says Dr. Benjamin 
Kaminer, chairman of the medical school's physiology department.

But some students leave the room feeling that they have done a
 cruel and unnecessary thing. And although the labs are not required
(those who opt out can "learn what they need to know from books 
and drawings," says Kaminer), some students say that their peers 
and professors seem to expect them to take part.

"I had a rabbit as a pet when I was young, and he didn't look as 
healthy as the ones I see cut open and killed in the animal labs," 
says one second-year medical student, who says he attended 
the labs last year because he saw professors become hostile 
to students who asked what the alternatives were.

Until about a decade and a half ago, this kind of experimentation 
on live, healthy animals -- usually dogs, pigs, or rabbits -- was 
just part of learning to be a doctor. But today, medical schools 
are finding ways to avoid these senseless deaths. Many students 
are learning in new ways: by observing real-life operations on 
humans, for example, and by using sophisticated interactive 
computer programs. In Massachusetts, according to the Washington-
based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), 
only one medical school has refused to adopt the new techniques: 
Boston University's. 

"Live-animal labs are a relic of the past that sends a message to 
medical students that lives are disposable," says Dr. Neal Barnard, 
founder and president of PCRM. The group, a nonprofit organization 
founded in 1985, has sent Kaminer an instructional video on 
alternative teaching techniques and has taken out an ad in BU's 
newspaper, the Daily Free Press, calling for "medical education 
without the pitter-patter of little feet." 

But Kaminer says the animal labs are crucial because they put 
what students learn from textbooks and drawings in perspective --
and allow would-be doctors to observe the organs functioning 
as a unified system. 

"When you limit a student's education to particular procedures, 
such as cardiac bypasses, the student is not getting a proper 
grasp of what reality is in the world of medicine," says Kaminer.
 "No one can tell me that 300 years of scientific development 
using animals is unproductive."

In recent years, however, there has been "a steady decline in 
the number of schools using live animals," according to a 1994 
study by the Association of American Medical Colleges. AAMC 
assistant vice president Patricia Green says that half the 126 
medical schools in the US now rely exclusively on alternatives 
to live-animal labs, such as operating-room observation or 
interactive computer programs. Of the half that still offer animal 
labs, 40 schools offer one of these more modern alternatives 
for any student uncomfortable with the live-animal procedures. 
Only 23 schools still require first-year medical students to attend
animal labs. 

Harvard is one of the schools that's made the switch, thanks
in part to students like Rachel Freelund. When she arrived at 
Harvard Medical School, Freelund says, she and some of her
classmates were appalled to learn that they had to witness
the death of a beagle in order to observe the effects of drugs 
on the body. She had serious ethical problems with killing
healthy animals in the name of learning.

Freelund, now a fourth-year student, took her concerns to 
her physiology professor, Dr. Bruce Zedder, who she says 
was open to the idea of alternatives. He directed her to 
PCRM, which helped Harvard update its curriculum so that 
students could study the effects of medication on the body's 
functions without killing animals.

Instead of emphasizing animal labs, Harvard now sends 
students to Mass General, Beth Israel, and Brigham and 
Women's Hospitals to watch surgical procedures. Although
the students are not allowed to take part in operations, they 
do get hands-on experience in procedures such as 
administering medication. Four years into the program, 
more than 100 Harvard students have benefited. 

"By observing actual operating-room procedures, medical 
students will understand what it takes in medicine to truly 
help people and to attain an outcome that will save a life 
or improve the quality of life," says Dr. Henry Heimlich, the
 world-renowned physician who developed the maneuver 
used to save people who are choking or drowning. "After 
all, isn't that the goal of a doctor -- to save lives, not destroy 
them?"

Kaminer counters that in order to save a life, doctors need
to understand how the entire body works. This understanding,
he says, can't be gained simply by observing surgery on a
specific organ. "Students aren't allowed, for instance, to touch 
a patient in an operating room," he points out. "In a lab, the 
students can hold the heart and get a true sense for a
healthy organ and its function."

Yet students can learn plenty from watching doctors perform
operations, says Dr. Michael D'Ambra, a cardiac anesthesiologist 
at Mass General who heads the Harvard Medical School's 
operating-room program. In his experience, students who 
participate in operating-room procedures gain firsthand 
knowledge of the functions of the heart, lungs, kidneys, 
nervous system, and hormones.

"The only thing a student can do in a dog lab that we 
don't cover in the operating room is killing the animal 
after the observation process is over," D'Ambra says.

Another technique that allows students to gain experience 
without killing animals is to set up virtual experiments using 
interactive CD-ROM technology. To some medical school 
students and professors, these high-tech programs are 
even more effective teaching tools than animal labs are. 
Students can work at their own pace, and repeat their 
experiments until they have a solid grasp of the information
they are studying.  

"Computer-simulated experiments give the student the 
chance to control the experiment and repeat it until you 
understand," says Aysha Akhtar, a third-year medical
student at Eastern Virginia Medical School, in Norfolk, 
Virginia. "Animal labs are a one-shot deal."

"Computer programs allow students to administer a wide 
range of medications in varying dosages," adds Allen 
Goldberg, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins University 
School of Public Health and Hygiene.

"Knowledge doesn't come from computers," responds 
Kaminer. "A little kid is growing up and experiencing the 
world through touch and feel. If a kid only experiences a 
picture of a hammer and nail and then is asked to build
a cabinet, that picture is not enough of a tool to know how 
to make that cabinet." 

Some of Kaminer's counterparts at top medical schools 
disagree, however. Larry Mathers, head of the Stanford 
School of Medicine's department of anatomy and 
embryology, says that live animal labs are merely one 
way to reinforce what students learn in books. 

"The administration of drugs and the observation of their 
effects are just as effectively observed using technology,"
says Mathers, whose institution eliminated the use of
live-animal labs several years ago. 

Alternative methods of medical training are also less 
expensive than animal labs. According to PCRM's 
Barnard, a single animal-lab course costs between
$5000 and $6000 on average.

"There is no cost for [observing] surgery that is being 
performed anyway," says Barnard.  "And the cost of 
computer technology, which can be reused repeatedly, 
is much less than an animal used only once."

But neither the financial argument nor the pressure from 
PCRM is enough to persuade Kaminer. "Yes, labs are 
expensive. Exercises have been cut down for financial 
reasons," he admits; each of his labs uses 32 rabbits  
per semester, at a cost of several hundred dollars per
animal.

Yet he remains convinced that when it comes to learning 
how the body works, there's no substitute for demonstrating 
on live animals. Not only does he plan to continue the animal 
labs, but he wants to offer more in the future. 

"Sixty percent of my students take the animal labs, and the
majority of responses I get are laudatory," he says. "I see 
no reason to change."

Sarah McNaught can be reached at smcnaught@phx.com

As published in: 

The Boston Phoenix
126 Brookline Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
PHONE (617) 536-5390
FAX (617) 536-1463
EMAIL: letters@phx.com 

Posted by:

Lawrence Carter-Long
Science and Research Issues, Animal Protection Institute
email: LCartLng@gvn.net, phone: 800-348-7387 x. 215
world wide web: http://www.api4animals.org/

"Xenotransplantation is a unique medical enterprise.  It 
puts the public at risk for the benefit of the individual."

Dr. Fritz Bach, Harvard University School of Medicine
New York Times, February 3, 1998

-----Annoying Warning Notice -------

My email address is: LCartLng@gvn.net
 
LEGAL NOTICE: Anyone sending unsolicited commercial 
email to this address will be charged a $500 proofreading 
fee. This is an official notification; failure to abide by this 
will result in  legal action, as per the following:

By U.S. Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer
 meets the definition of a telephone fax machine.
By Sec.227(b)(1)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited
 advertisement to such equipment.
By Sec.227(b)(3)(C), a violation of the aforementioned Section
 is punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or 
 $500, whichever is greater, by each violation.



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 19:59:35 EST
From: Tereiman 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: LETTERS NEEDED!
Message-ID: <186b5d6a.34f60ff9@aol.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
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URGENT--Immediate Action Needed

Help Stop "the Pig Project"

Please urge the Hillcrest School in Ocala, Florida, to put an end to the Pig
Project, a program in which mentally challenged students raise a pig for
slaughter.  

PETA first learned of the program last year, the day before Dragon, the first
pig raised by the children, was to be auctioned off and sent to slaughter.
Babe star James Cromwell helped us save Dragon, who now lives happily at a
nearby sanctuary.  Attempts to save Dragon II weren't as successful.    

The death of the pig surely brings sadness to the children and could easily be
replaced by alternative programs to help raise money for the school.  A walk
or run, a community yard sale, a kids' sport tournament, a kids' fashion show,
or a party and auction are all fun and successful fundraising ideas. 

Please write to the school's principal and superintendent and urge them to
promote another program for the Hillcrest students and spare them the
heartbreak of sending an animal they have grown to love to his death.  

Write to:

Mike Barnett, Principal
Hillcrest School
3143 S.E. 17th St.
Ocala, FL 34471
Ph:   352-694-2156
Fax:  352-694-0050

John Smith, Superintendent
Marion County School Board
P.O. Box 670
Ocala, FL 34478
Ph:   352-620-7702
Fax:  352-840-5660

 
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:17:00 +0000 (GMT)
From: Pat Fish 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Sharon Stone: Fur Hag Allegedly Diversifies with New Cruelty
Message-ID: 
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII


Upon the occassion of Sharon Stone's marriage to a newspaper editor, her
wedding is said to serve veal chops, caviar, foi gras and mollusks.
Invitations were decorated with silk and ostrich feathers.

 


Let's hope Noel Godin pies her.

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:01:22 -0500 (EST)
From: cenobyte 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: politics of meat
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From the SPJ list:

The Center for Public Integrity today released a major investigation on how
Congress has virtually ignored the escalating health crisis facing the
nation's food supply.
The 100-page report, "Safety Last: The Politics of E. Coli and other
Food-Borne Killers," found that meat and poultry producers contributed more
than $9 million to members of Congress in the past decade. As the number of
people dying and getting ill from contaminated food dramatically escalated
in recent years, the food industry has managed to kill every single bill
introduced that promised meaningful reform.
The report has numerous possible stories for reporters covering campaign
finance, food safety, health and political issues. Reporters at regional
papers will find its appendix helpful in identifying lawmakers from various
states who have recieved the highest level of contributions from the
industry. The report also lists the top 10 worst meat recalls in U.S.
 history.
The report can be downloaded from our web page:
 http://www.publicintegrity.org
For more information or to arrange interviews, call 202-783-3900.
The Center is headed by Chuck Lewis, an IRE member and former producer for
Mike Wallace at 60 Minutes. The Center for Public Integrity is a nonprofit,
nonpartisan research organization that has issued 28 investigative reports
since 1990.
More than a dozen researchers, writers, and editors conducted scores of
interviews and reviewed tens of thousands of pages of campaign-finance
data, U.S. Department of Agriculture records, House and Senate lobbying and
financial disclosure reports, and congressional hearing transcripts. Among
other things, the Center analyzed ten years of witness testimony, hearings,
proposed legislation and legislative outcomes, and compared them with
campaign contributions over the same period.
Christopher Rosche
Center for Public Integrity
Phone: 202-783-3900 Fax: 202-783-3906
E-mail: crosche@publicintegrity.org
Home Page: www.publicintegrity.org


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 21:30:34 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MI) Slaughterhouse Reopens
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19980227023034.2dff8d8a@mail.heritage.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Detroit News
Thursday, February 26, 1998

MEAT PACKER IS ALLOWED TO REOPEN

Plainwell--A meat packer reopened Wednesday, two days after having to close
because federal investigators found fecal contamination on carcasses at its
Allegan County slaughterhouse.  Murco, Inc., which ships millions of pounds
of beef nationwide, can operate while under suspension, said a U.S.
Agriculture Department spokeswoman.  Its inspectors will stay at the plant
indefinitely.




Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
wag@heritage.com

Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:26:26
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Circus tiger 'not to blame' for biting off arm
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226182626.363fb19a@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Friday, February 27th, 1998

Circus tiger 'not to blame' for biting off arm
By Michael Fleet 

THE Bengal tiger which bit off the arm of a Chipperfield circus keeper was
not to blame for the incident, its breeder said yesterday.

As Nigel Wesson, 32, recovered in hospital, four-year-old Rajah was in his
pen with his sisters, Sita and Rani. Mr Wesson's left forearm was severed
below the elbow when he put it into Rajah's cage on Wednesday evening,
ignoring the usual procedure of using a metal
bar to open a partition into the tiger's sleeping quarters. Surgeons later
amputated the limb above the elbow.

Mr Wesson had been working for a fortnight at the park near Chipping
Norton, Oxon, where the circus family keep their animals during the winter.
But he was described by Michael Tunnicliffe, married to Ann Chipperfield,
as an intelligent and experienced keeper. "It was human error, as simple as
that. It is a law, written and otherwise, that you do not put your hand
into a tiger's cage," he said.

"I don't know why Nigel did on this occasion, it was just one of those
things and was over in a couple of seconds. I think that he just lost his
concentration." Rajah was bred for circus work and is hired out each summer
to European circuses. Mr Tunnicliffe was confident that the tiger would
fulfil this year's engagements in Belgium. 

"There is no reason to think that this makes Rajah any less stable. He does
not realise that he has done anything wrong and probably thought Nigel was
playing with him," Mr Tunnicliffe said. "Rajah is a very good-natured tiger
and is not to blame for what happened. There is no question of him being
put down and I am sure that Nigel would not want that."

Mr Wesson normally works with the Tony Hopkins circus in the Midlands but
was helping out at Chipperfield Enterprises. "He is a horse trainer as well
as an experienced keeper of big cats. He is showing great courage. My wife
visited him this morning and he told her, 'These things happen'," said Mr
Tunnicliffe.

Members of the Chipperfield family last night paid tribute to Mr Wesson's
bravery. Sally Clubb, 45, the sister of Richard Chipperfield senior, said:
"He was sitting there with this injury and we were absolutely horrified.
Everyone was in trauma except Mr Wesson, it seemed. He was just telling us
all to calm down. I can't believe how brave he was."

An advertising campaign for TCP lozenges featuring a tiger biting a man's
throat was withdrawn yesterday.


© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:31:53
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Huntsmen and landowners unite in protest 
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226183153.09bf7446@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Friday, February 27th, 1998

Huntsmen and landowners unite in protest 

MORE than 5,000 beacons were lit across Britain last night as blood sport
supporters and landowners protested against government policy on the
countryside.

The first fires were lit at 6.10pm in the Outer Hebrides and were followed
at two-minute intervals by relays of beacons ending in London at 6.30pm.

Thousands of hunt members gathered at key sites to express opposition to
the Foster Bill seeking the abolition of foxhunting.They were joined by
landowners concerned about plans to extend rights of access to private land
and housebuilding, and farmers suffering from the beef-on-the-bone ban and
the strong pound.

The bonfire protest was intended to highlight Sunday's Countryside March in
London, which is expected to attract 150,000 people. More than 200 beacons
were lit in the countryside around the Worcester seat of the Labour
backbencher Michael Foster, whose private member's Bill would ban hunting
with dogs. The final beacon to be lit was on land belonging to the Duke of
Westminster in Grosvenor Gardens, in the West End of London.

One of the highest beacons was on the Old Man of Coniston, in the Lake
District. Members of the Coniston Foxhounds scaled the peak with firewood
yesterday morning in preparation for the event.

In Berkshire, a farmer did not bother to build a beacon and simply set fire
to a barn. But farmworkers in the same county who wanted to light their
beacon were banned from doing so because it had been built on government
property. The men, employed on an experimental farm owned by the Institute
for  Animal Health, at Compton, had to abandon their protest after they
were warned by the institute's management that it would be a political act.

Last night the Countryside Alliance, organisers of both events, asked
people opposed to foxhunting to stay away from the Countryside March. Its
spokesman, Janet George, said: "If
those who are anti-hunting or support a statutory right to roam want a
Countryside March, there's nothing to stop them organising one for
themselves."

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said it was "ludicrous" to suggest that
lovers of the countryside necessarily supported hunting.  "There are very
many people who love the countryside, only a
few of whom take part in hunting," he said.

Mr Blair said he accepted that blood sports raised deeply held feelings in
many people, but they should not be allowed to detract from the real issues
of rebuilding rural services and
creating a "fair and decent society".

He went on to list a series of measures taken to help rural communities:
£85 million for hill and livestock farmers; £70 million for farmers
affected by the BSE crisis; an extra £447million for schools in shire
areas; the setting up of a Food Standards Agency to increase confidence in
British products; the Ministry of Defence doubling of its purchases of
British beef; and the creation of rural development agencies to boost
economic development and regeneration in rural areas.

The Agriculture Minister, Jack Cunningham, indicated that no extra
parliamentary time would be made for the Foster Bill. But he warned of
legislation enforcing the "right to roam" if
landowners failed to agree a voluntary code for access to private land.

Support for the protests came from the naturalist David Bellamy. He
criticised town dwellers who were prepared to eat battery-produced hens and
turkeys, yet "pointed the finger of
scorn" at those who made a living out of rural pursuits. "They want other
people to do their dirty work," he said.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 18:36:54
From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Grouse grounded by forest fences
Message-ID: <3.0.3.16.19980226183654.09bf3bce@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Friday, February 27th, 1998

Grouse grounded by forest fences
By Charles Clover, Environment Editor 

CONSERVATION moves to regenerate Scotland's ancient pine forest by fencing
out deer are helping to wipe out the capercaillie, Scotland's largest grouse.

Researchers found that up to a third of the population of capercaillie,
whose numbers are thought to be less than 2,000 in Scotland as a whole, are
killed by colliding with deer fencing. The large turkey-like birds are used
to swooping low through the conifers under the forest
canopy.

This is where the capercaillie encounters a deer fence, which can be
anything up to eight feet high, and falls senseless to the ground. Red
grouse and black grouse have difficulty seeing deer fences at speed. Huge
dents left in the wire by their crashes are a common sight on Speyside and
Deeside.

A study by the Game Conservancy Trust for Scottish Natural Heritage of the
impact of fence collisions on bird populations found evidence of seven
collisions a year for every kilometre of deer fence. Of these 42 per cent
were red grouse, 29 per cent black grouse and 20 per cent capercaillie.

Dr David Baines, of the Game Conservancy Trust, said: "Collisions seem to
be the principal factor causing the capercaillie's decline. "Recently there
is evidence that there are more fences in old pine woods as landowners want
to keep deer numbers high for stalking.
The only way of doing this is to fence, and they are the problem."

Dr Robert Moss, a biologist who spent 25 years researching grouse for the
Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, said: "The recent decline is largely to
do with poor breeding but it would not have occurred if there had been no
fence deaths."

There is, however, a relatively easy solution to fence deaths, according to
the Game Conservancy Trust. This involves marking the fences with the
orange netting, called Beacon Pedestrian Netting, commonly seen at roadworks.

This costs around £100 to mark a kilometre of fence, but grants of up to
100 per cent to install it are available from Scottish Natural Heritage.
Many landowners, including the Royal Family at Balmoral, are already using it.

The trust has shown that 90 per cent of black grouse collisions and about
two-thirds of capercaillie collisions can be avoided by fences that are
marked. 

Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has been
criticised by conservationists for its decision to stop controlling crows
and foxes on its Abernethy estate where capercaillie have increased since
the decision to shoot vermin in 1992.

Malcolm Innes, one of the judges of the Laurent-Perrier champagne award for
wild game conservation, who gave their second prize to the RSPB last year
for their work at Abernethy, has written to the RSPB saying that he was
"surprised and dismayed" by the society's
decision.

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998



Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 20:17:07 -0600
From: Steve Barney 
To: AR-News 
Subject: [US] "Official suggests plan to let UW keep monkeys"
Message-ID: <34F62223.B399EC27@uwosh.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

WISC-TV 3 News
Madison, WI
US
http://www.wisctv.com/news/

Updated Thursday, February 26 at 4:30 p.m. 

Official suggests plan to let UW keep monkeys

The University of Wisconsin has received an offer for sharing the
upkeep of monkeys at a zoo in Madison. The offer comes from Dane
County executive administrator Kathleen Falk as an alternative to
shipping the monkeys. The university's Regional Primate Center says
it can no longer afford to care for the monkeys at the county zoo.
Research involving the animals had been sponsored by the National
Institutes of Health. Falk's proposal would help the university keep 50
stump-tailed macaques. About 100 rhesus monkeys would go to a
wildlife sanctuary. The county and private donations would provide
about 30,000 dollars annually toward food and care of the
macaques.


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 20:27:21 -0600
From: Steve Barney 
To: Great Ape Project , AR-News 
Subject: [US] "Ape Alliance Formed to Aid Gorillas"
Message-ID: <34F62489.6E56862A@uwosh.edu>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: multipart/mixed; boundary="------------09610D2AC9AC20266C3A3A56"

        [banner]
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          February 26, 1998

          Ape Alliance Formed to Aid Gorillas

          -------------------------------------------------------
          A.P. INDEXES: TOP STORIES | NEWS | SPORTS | OLYMPICS | BUSINESS |
TECHNOLOGY | ENTERTAINMENT
          -------------------------------------------------------

          Filed at 6:19 p.m. EST

          By The Associated Press

          LONDON (AP) -- Animal protection groups, alarmed by the
          number of gorillas and chimpanzees being killed in the
          tropical forests of Africa, joined forces Thursday to
          fight commercial hunting of the threatened species.

          While tourists photograph the remote mountain gorillas
          of Rwanda -- made famous by the movie ``Gorillas in the
          Mist'' -- the newly created Ape Alliance says lowland
          gorillas from neighboring countries are being served up
          for dinner, not just in mud huts but on china plates in
          restaurants.

          ``It's my firm belief that if action is not taken now,
          there will be no viable populations of great apes
          living in the wild within 50 years,'' said Jane
          Goodall, the world's leading expert on chimpanzees, who
          has joined the London-based campaign.

          Goodall appeared with representatives of some of the 34
          wildlife conservation groups at a news conference to
          open their campaign against hunting apes.

          Figures in this illegal trade are not readily
          available, the alliance said, but one estimate in the
          north of Congo is that up to 600 lowland gorillas are
          killed each year for the market.

          The total gorilla population in West and central Africa
          is estimated at 115,000.

          The alliance emphasized it understood that local people
          wanted to continue hunting and eating the forest game
          -- known as bushmeat.

          The concern is the huge increase in killing that has
          arisen because of the growth of big multinational
          logging enterprises in the hardwood forests. New
          logging roads provide access to areas that were once
          nearly impenetrable animal habitats --and now the
          hunters have guns.

          The trucks make it easy for logging workers to
          transport the animals they have killed to big towns
          where the meat brings high prices.

          What was once subsistence hunting is now commercial,
          the Alliance said, illustrating the point with
          photographs of gorilla arms and smoked chimpanzee at
          meat markets in major towns and cities across central
          and West Africa.

          The World Wide Fund for Nature says bushmeat from West
          and central Africa shows up on menus from Cameroon to
          Congo and even Brussels and Paris.

          Ian Redmond, head of the Ape Alliance, wants logging
          companies to accept a code of conduct to end the
          slaughter of apes.

          ``We're not looking for a change in any law,'' Redmond
          said. ``It's already illegal.''

          In most cases the animals are protected by the
          countries concerned, but the governments don't have the
          resources to stop illegal trade.

          ``At the very least, timber companies must ensure their
          workers obey the law,'' he said.

          In Gabon, an estimated 20,000 chimpanzees have been
          wiped out as a result of the logging, the alliance
          says. There are an estimated 200,000 chimpanzees in 20
          African countries.

          The alliance is appealing to consumers and retailers
          not to buy timber products from forests that have not
          been certified as environmentally responsible by groups
          such as the Forest Stewardship Council.

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                 Copyright 1998 The New York Times Company

          The information contained in this AP Online news report
                  may not be republished or redistributed
       without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

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Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 23:00:01 -0500
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) VA-DAY! [Victory in Amarillo]
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19980226225955.006e0898@pop3.clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Amarillo Globe-News  http://www.amarillonet.com/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web posted Thursday, February 26, 1998 1:58 p.m. CT

Oprah wins

By KAY LEDBETTER Farm and Ranch Editor
And CHIP CHANDLER Globe-News Staff Writer

A jury today rejected a lawsuit by Texas cattlemen who said an Oprah
Winfrey show about the dangers of mad cow disease caused the market to
plummet and cost them millions of dollars.

The decision came from the jury of eight women and four men about 11 a.m.
at the federal building in downtown Amarillo.

After hearing five weeks of testimony and deliberating almost seven hours,
the panel concluded that Winfrey, her production company and vegetarian
activist Lyman were not responsible for the cattlemen's losses. They had
sought more than $11 million in damages.

Amarillo cattleman Paul Engler first filed suit in May 1996 after a April
16, 1996, episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" that cattlemen said gave the
false impression that American beef could spread mad cow disease to people.

The lawsuit against the talk show host was expected to be the biggest test
yet of the "veggie libel" laws enacted in Texas and 12 other states in
recent years to protect agricultural products from false and disparaging
remarks.

In July, Engler attorney Joseph Coyne Jr. said on Court TV that Winfrey's
lawyers had resisted efforts to settle the case out of court.

U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson issued a gag order in December
against all parties involved.

Robinson's order stated all parties in the case are forbidden to
communicate concerning the action with people not directly involved without
the consent and approval of the proposed communication by order of the
court.

The lawsuit included a claim of libel and the violation of Chapter 96 of
the Texas Civil Practices and Remedies Code, which establishes liability if
someone intentionally disseminates false information about a perishable
food product.

The case included Engler and his company, Cactus Feeders Inc.; Texas Beef
Group; Perryton Feeders; Maltese Cross Cattle Co.; Bravo Cattle Co.; Alpha
3 Cattle Co.; and Dripping Springs Inc. on the plaintiff side and Winfrey;
Harpo Productions Inc.; and Howard Lyman on the defendant side.

Cattle prices dropped severely after the airing of the show, and Engler has
said he and his company lost $6.5 million because of false statements on
the show.

On Feb. 17, Robinson dropped part of the plaintiff's case, leaving them
only the option to argue that their business was defamed. The judge said
the jury would not consider whether Texas' False Defamation of Perishable
Food Products law was broken nor whether the defendants defamed cattlemen.

Robinson made no ruling on the constitutionality of the Texas law.

In dismissing the two causes of action, Robinson granted portions of the
defense attorneys' motions filed Feb. 13 after the plaintiffs rested their
case.

The motions asked that the case be thrown out because plaintiffs had not
presented enough evidence for a jury to ever rule in their favor.

Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 12:09:26 +0800
From: jwed 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Site worker arrested for roasting dog 
Message-ID: <3.0.5.32.19980227120926.007cbe20@pop.hkstar.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Friday  February 27  1998 - South China Morning Post - by CLIFFORD LO 

A 52-year-old man was found roasting a dog outside his flat in Tseung Kwan
O temporary housing area yesterday.

Police arrived at the Po Lam Road North flat after the man's neighbour
complained about a dog barking at 12.30 am.

Officers found the site worker roasting the 75-centimetre-long carcass on a
charcoal stove. The man said he had caught a stray dog, killed it, skinned
it and cooked it for food, police said.

He was arrested and released on bail of $500.

The carcass was handed over to the Agriculture and Fisheries Department.

The man later said he had bought five dogs from a nearby site two weeks
ago, paying less than $100. He had eaten two before being arrested and
still had two at home, reports said. He is separated from his wife and
lives alone.

Under government ordinances, the maximum penalty for killing a dog or a cat
for food is a $5,000 fine and six months in jail, a department official said.

In December 1996, 39-year-old chef Lam Yui-tin was fined $2,000 for killing
a domestic cat for food.


Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 12:15:20 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Taiwan Fund for tigers
Message-ID: <199802270415.MAA16298@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>CNA Daily English News Wire

TAIWAN FUND CAMPAIGNS TO SAVE ENDANGERED TIGERS IN MAINLAND  CHINA 

Taipei, Feb. 26 (CNA) A campaign to save endangered tigers in northeastern
mainland China was launched here on Thursday by a Taiwan-based foundation. 

The Hope Fund, founded by former Olympic silver medalist Chi Cheng, said at
a press conference that there are only about 5,000 wild tigers left in the
world, while the population of mainland China's indigenous northeastern
Chinese tiger has been reduced to only about 300 and is listed as an
endangered animal by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species (CITES). 

The northeastern Chinese tiger, the biggest of all tigers, weighs on average
between about 180 kg to 300 kg, although some can grow to more than 400 kg.
An adult tiger consumes 6 kg to 12 kg of food per day. 
In order to conserve the northeastern Chinese tiger, which is high on
Beijing's list of protected animals, the fund launched a campaign in Taiwan
to "adopt" tiger cubs at NT$1,200 apiece. 

The money will go to the tiger conservation center in mainland China's
"tiger city," Hailin, in Heilongjiang Province, in the mainland's northeast. 

In order to allow the tigers to keep their ability to hunt and eventually
live on their own in the wild, the conservation center feeds the tigers with
beef and chickens only once a week. 

It costs the center about NT$120,000 (US$3,750) per year to take care of one
northeastern Chinese tiger, according to the foundation. 

"Conservation of the tiger will allow our descendants to one day see these
magnificent creatures in their wild habitat, rather than only in books or on
the screen," said the foundation's press releasee. 

The foundation also maintains a website on the Internet. Point your browser at
www.hopenet.org.tw. (By Maubo Chang) 


Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 22:27:05 -0600
From: paulbog@jefnet.com (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" 
Subject: Vilas bits and pieces
Message-ID: <19980226222823177.AAD77@paulbog.jefnet.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Only a rumor so far, but a new group has entered the monkey wars: Mothers
Against Monkeys.  What with all the starving children in the world . . . 

-----------------------------------
An odd press release:

UW-MADISON NEWS RELEASE--STATEMENT

Joint Statement by
UW-Madison Graduate School Dean Virginia Hinshaw and Dane County
Executive Kathleen Falk February 26, 1998

"County and University officials met Thursday afternoon (February 26)
in an attempt to resolve issues surrounding the university monkeys
which are housed at the Henry Vilas Zoo.  We appreciate the role
Governor Thompson's office has played in encouraging these
discussions.

"The meeting was productive but inconclusive, and the existing March 2
deadline for a county response to the university remains in effect. 

"It is clear that a significant financial commitment from the local
community will be needed for any portion of the monkeys to remain in
Madison on a long-term basis.

"We are continuing to work together to resolve these issues and intend
to meet again.  We have no further public comment at this time."

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

The First Lady, Sue Ann Thompson, recorded her public service announcement
today begging for clemency and donations. It begins airing on TV tomorrow. 
I got to meet the First Cat.

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

An area elementary school has raised over $600 for the monkeys.

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

An area business woman with two degrees from UW intends to auction off her
degrees to the highest bidder to raise money for the monkeys.  She says she
is embarrassed by her association with the university.

It's been a busy day.

R
Date: Thu, 26 Feb 1998 23:49:49 -0500
From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Subscription Options--Admin Note
Message-ID: <3.0.1.32.19980226234949.006de01c@envirolink.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

and, again, a usual posting.......

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