Yes, this isn’t a joke. Sadly it’s all true. But what do you expect from this cruelest country on Earth? I’m always a little surprised when a new story comes out, but I’m starting to not be anymore.
I need to repeat that these are LIVE animals. Some as big as OX. So they will literally dump a live OX or cow from a truck and then sicko tourists and their sick Chinese counterparts have a good laugh.
Here’s a little from the article below. The article actually has pictures and I encourage you to visit them. Just read this and you’ll be blown away once again by the cruelty of China:
“EYES rolling and squealing with fear, the cow is forced from the back of a moving pick-up truck into the dirt.
There is an explosion of dust, blood and flashing cameras as an ambush of tigers moves in for the kill, tearing great strips off the animal's back as it struggles for a second, then goes still, bar the odd twitch.
A minute later there is little left of the ton-weight heifer except a scrap of skin, a mess of bones and a puddle of blood.”
“To watch a live chicken thrown to the tigers costs £2.50. You can also opt for an £8 duck, an £8 pheasant or a £40 sheep. Strapped for cash? You can choose raw steak for 80p. But the prize is a cow or ox, which costs £120.”
More about Cruel China can also be found at the links below. The first link is especially telling as it provides actual photos of the reality of animal torture in China:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
cruel-china-plans-another-large-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
even-on-heels-of-beyond-disgusting-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/05/
in-order-to-get-back-at-dalai-lama-and.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html
Article:
EXCLUSIVE: NICE HOL?
EXCLUSIVE Tourists buy live animals.. to throw to tigers
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/archive/archive/
tm_method=full%26objectid=18673059%26siteid=62484-
name_page.html
By Adam Lee-Potter
EYES rolling and squealing with fear, the cow is forced from the back of a moving pick-up truck into the dirt.
There is an explosion of dust, blood and flashing cameras as an ambush of tigers moves in for the kill, tearing great strips off the animal's back as it struggles for a second, then goes still, bar the odd twitch.
A minute later there is little left of the ton-weight heifer except a scrap of skin, a mess of bones and a puddle of blood.
Seconds from death... a truck ready to dump the doomed cow
But this is not some wild savannah. Welcome instead to China's latest tourist craze - paying up to £120 a time to feed live animals to ravenous Siberian tigers. From four packed buses goggle-eyed tourists shoot roll after roll of film, and even clap. One Westerner waves a roll of notes at the tour guide, excitedly gesturing at the bizarre menu pinned to the wall.
A chicken is gobbled up by one of the ravenous tigers
To watch a live chicken thrown to the tigers costs £2.50. You can also opt for an £8 duck, an £8 pheasant or a £40 sheep. Strapped for cash? You can choose raw steak for 80p. But the prize is a cow or ox, which costs £120. The Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Northern China, is becoming one of the country's top destinations. The park is home to more than 700 of these huge animals - also known as Amur or Manchurian tigers. There are just 400 left in the wild. One tourist who got more than he bargained for from the hourlong £4 tour was American Paul Gray, 40. "I was expecting a safari, not a bloodbath," he said. "But people were baying for more. One of the guides threw a chicken and it landed on one of the support vehicles. A tiger leapt on to the roof and gobbled it up in one go. I was horrified."
Last year, Wang Wei, of China's Wildlife Conservation Department, promised to "put an end to shows of feeding beasts of prey with live animals". But, today, it is still very much business as usual.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Humane Society of the United States Found that 24 of 25 Fur-Lined or Trimmed Coats Contained Dog Fur: Coats were Labeled as Containing Fake Fur
Finally someone put this to the test. 24 out 25 were mislabeled! A huge scam. Or, you can use the word lie. This is something we’ve spoken about before, as just by looking at the coats you can tell it’s real.
Of course, the fur comes from China where they love to torture dogs. You can read more about that at -
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html
and
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html.
As you’ll read below, these coats were taken from very reputable stores and companies. They all carried mislabeled items or misleading items with fur from DOMESTIC DOGS. Here’s a quote from the article below:
“The Humane Society of the United States said it purchased coats from reputable outlets, such as upscale Nordstrom, with designer labels — Andrew Marc, Tommy Hilfiger, for example — and found them trimmed with fur from domestic dogs, even though the fur was advertised as fake.
"It's an industrywide deception," said Kristin Leppert, the head of the Human Society's anti-fur campaign.”
Please read on to find out more about this disturbing issue.
Article:
Some coats may have fur from dogs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070223/ap_on_re_us/dog_fur_4
By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 23, 7:45 AM ET
WASHINGTON - That fur trim on your jacket that you think is fake? Tell it to Fido. An animal advocacy group says its investigation has turned up coats — some with designer labels, some at higher-end retailers — with fur from man's best friend. Some retailers were set scrambling to pull the coats from shelves, take them off Web sites and even offer refunds to consumers.
The Humane Society of the United States said it purchased coats from reputable outlets, such as upscale Nordstrom, with designer labels — Andrew Marc, Tommy Hilfiger, for example — and found them trimmed with fur from domestic dogs, even though the fur was advertised as fake.
"It's an industrywide deception," said Kristin Leppert, the head of the Human Society's anti-fur campaign.
The investigation began after the society got a tip from a consumer who bought a coat with trim labeled as faux fur that felt real. Leppert and her team began buying coats from popular retailers and then had the coats tested by mass spectrometry, which measures the mass and sequence of proteins, to determine what species of animal the fur came from.
Of the 25 coats tested, 24 were mislabeled or misadvertised.
Three coats — from Tommy Hilfiger's Web site ShopTommy.com, Nordstrom.com and a coat from Andrew Marc's MARC New York line sold on Bluefly.com — contained fur from domesticated dogs. The others had fur from raccoon dogs — a canine species native to Asia — or, in one case, wolves. The single correctly labeled coat was trimmed with coyote fur, but it was advertised as fake.
Most of the fur came from China.
In response to the Humane Society's investigation, Tommy Hilfiger stopped selling the fur-trimmed garment and said it was looking into the matter. "We were quite concerned to hear of this finding," said spokeswoman Wendi Kopsick.
Nordstrom called the 62 consumers who had purchased vests with dog fur trim to give them the opportunity to return the vests "because we would never want to deceive our customers in any way," Nordstrom spokeswoman Brooke White said. She said Nordstrom no longer buys fur trim products from the vendor, who had marketed the vests as faux fur.
Charles Jayson, chief executive of Andrew Marc, disputed the Humane Society and insisted in a statement that all fur on his coats labeled as raccoon contains "only farm-bred raccoon fur from Finland, and our items labeled 'faux fur' are a 100 percent synthetic fabric."
Importing domestic dog and cat fur was outlawed in 2000. Intentionally importing and selling dog fur is a federal crime punishable by a $10,000 fine for each violation. Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society, said his group had contacted all the retailers and designers selling mislabeled coats or coats with dog fur.
Raccoon dogs look like oversized, fluffy raccoons and aren't kept as pets. Importing their fur is not illegal, but activists argue they are still a type of dog.
"This is an animal that is routinely killed by stomping them, or beating them, or skinning them alive," Markarian said. Video produced by Swiss Animal Protection and posted on the Internet shows raccoon dogs clubbed or slammed on the ground and some writhing, gasping and blinking as they are skinned alive.
The discovery of domestic dog fur is the latest twist in the investigation that ensnared retail giants Macy's and J.C. Penney late last year. Both of those retailers were discovered selling coats with raccoon dog fur labeled as raccoon.
J.C. Penney initially removed the offending garments from its stores around Christmas — but eventually it had employees scratch out the 'raccoon' label with black magic marker and put the coats back on the shelves. Macy's immediately pulled the items from its shelves.
Burlington Coat Factory also pulled some coats with mislabeled fur from their shelves. Rap artist Sean "Diddy" Combs stopped producing and selling coats from his Sean John line that had raccoon dog fur, and rapper Jay-Z pulled coats with raccoon dog from his Rocawear label.
Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 is not required to be labeled.
A bill introduced by Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., would close that loophole by requiring labels for all fur regardless of its value. It also would ban fur from raccoon dogs.
"Americans don't want Lassie turned into a fur coat," Moran said. "In the U.S., we treat cats and dogs as pets, not trimmings for the latest fashion wear."
Other retailers the Humane Society said sold mislabeled raccoon dog fur included Lord & Taylor, BergdorfGoodman.com and Neiman Marcus.com. Designers whose clothes were mismarked included Donna Karan's DKNY and Michael Kors. A coat from Oscar de la Renta advertised as raccoon had raccoon dog fur.
Neiman Marcus, which owns Bergdorf Goodman, said it removed Bogner and Andrew Marc coats from its Web sites. Michael Kors said it was investigating, and a DKNY spokeswoman said the label was unaware that raccoon dog fur had been used.
Donna Karan's executive vice president for global marketing and communications, Patti Cohen, said, "While it is not illegal to use this type of fur, we have taken measures to ensure that it is never again used for any of our products."
A spokeswoman for Oscar de la Renta declined to comment.
Of course, the fur comes from China where they love to torture dogs. You can read more about that at -
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html
and
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html.
As you’ll read below, these coats were taken from very reputable stores and companies. They all carried mislabeled items or misleading items with fur from DOMESTIC DOGS. Here’s a quote from the article below:
“The Humane Society of the United States said it purchased coats from reputable outlets, such as upscale Nordstrom, with designer labels — Andrew Marc, Tommy Hilfiger, for example — and found them trimmed with fur from domestic dogs, even though the fur was advertised as fake.
"It's an industrywide deception," said Kristin Leppert, the head of the Human Society's anti-fur campaign.”
Please read on to find out more about this disturbing issue.
Article:
Some coats may have fur from dogs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070223/ap_on_re_us/dog_fur_4
By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press Writer Fri Feb 23, 7:45 AM ET
WASHINGTON - That fur trim on your jacket that you think is fake? Tell it to Fido. An animal advocacy group says its investigation has turned up coats — some with designer labels, some at higher-end retailers — with fur from man's best friend. Some retailers were set scrambling to pull the coats from shelves, take them off Web sites and even offer refunds to consumers.
The Humane Society of the United States said it purchased coats from reputable outlets, such as upscale Nordstrom, with designer labels — Andrew Marc, Tommy Hilfiger, for example — and found them trimmed with fur from domestic dogs, even though the fur was advertised as fake.
"It's an industrywide deception," said Kristin Leppert, the head of the Human Society's anti-fur campaign.
The investigation began after the society got a tip from a consumer who bought a coat with trim labeled as faux fur that felt real. Leppert and her team began buying coats from popular retailers and then had the coats tested by mass spectrometry, which measures the mass and sequence of proteins, to determine what species of animal the fur came from.
Of the 25 coats tested, 24 were mislabeled or misadvertised.
Three coats — from Tommy Hilfiger's Web site ShopTommy.com, Nordstrom.com and a coat from Andrew Marc's MARC New York line sold on Bluefly.com — contained fur from domesticated dogs. The others had fur from raccoon dogs — a canine species native to Asia — or, in one case, wolves. The single correctly labeled coat was trimmed with coyote fur, but it was advertised as fake.
Most of the fur came from China.
In response to the Humane Society's investigation, Tommy Hilfiger stopped selling the fur-trimmed garment and said it was looking into the matter. "We were quite concerned to hear of this finding," said spokeswoman Wendi Kopsick.
Nordstrom called the 62 consumers who had purchased vests with dog fur trim to give them the opportunity to return the vests "because we would never want to deceive our customers in any way," Nordstrom spokeswoman Brooke White said. She said Nordstrom no longer buys fur trim products from the vendor, who had marketed the vests as faux fur.
Charles Jayson, chief executive of Andrew Marc, disputed the Humane Society and insisted in a statement that all fur on his coats labeled as raccoon contains "only farm-bred raccoon fur from Finland, and our items labeled 'faux fur' are a 100 percent synthetic fabric."
Importing domestic dog and cat fur was outlawed in 2000. Intentionally importing and selling dog fur is a federal crime punishable by a $10,000 fine for each violation. Michael Markarian, executive vice president of the Humane Society, said his group had contacted all the retailers and designers selling mislabeled coats or coats with dog fur.
Raccoon dogs look like oversized, fluffy raccoons and aren't kept as pets. Importing their fur is not illegal, but activists argue they are still a type of dog.
"This is an animal that is routinely killed by stomping them, or beating them, or skinning them alive," Markarian said. Video produced by Swiss Animal Protection and posted on the Internet shows raccoon dogs clubbed or slammed on the ground and some writhing, gasping and blinking as they are skinned alive.
The discovery of domestic dog fur is the latest twist in the investigation that ensnared retail giants Macy's and J.C. Penney late last year. Both of those retailers were discovered selling coats with raccoon dog fur labeled as raccoon.
J.C. Penney initially removed the offending garments from its stores around Christmas — but eventually it had employees scratch out the 'raccoon' label with black magic marker and put the coats back on the shelves. Macy's immediately pulled the items from its shelves.
Burlington Coat Factory also pulled some coats with mislabeled fur from their shelves. Rap artist Sean "Diddy" Combs stopped producing and selling coats from his Sean John line that had raccoon dog fur, and rapper Jay-Z pulled coats with raccoon dog from his Rocawear label.
Mislabeling fur is a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine or a year in prison. Fur valued at less than $150 is not required to be labeled.
A bill introduced by Reps. Jim Moran, D-Va., and Mike Ferguson, R-N.J., would close that loophole by requiring labels for all fur regardless of its value. It also would ban fur from raccoon dogs.
"Americans don't want Lassie turned into a fur coat," Moran said. "In the U.S., we treat cats and dogs as pets, not trimmings for the latest fashion wear."
Other retailers the Humane Society said sold mislabeled raccoon dog fur included Lord & Taylor, BergdorfGoodman.com and Neiman Marcus.com. Designers whose clothes were mismarked included Donna Karan's DKNY and Michael Kors. A coat from Oscar de la Renta advertised as raccoon had raccoon dog fur.
Neiman Marcus, which owns Bergdorf Goodman, said it removed Bogner and Andrew Marc coats from its Web sites. Michael Kors said it was investigating, and a DKNY spokeswoman said the label was unaware that raccoon dog fur had been used.
Donna Karan's executive vice president for global marketing and communications, Patti Cohen, said, "While it is not illegal to use this type of fur, we have taken measures to ensure that it is never again used for any of our products."
A spokeswoman for Oscar de la Renta declined to comment.
Amazon.Com Continues To Sell Magazines That Glorify and Incite Cockfighting: Will They Stop?
This is just too bad for Amazon. I just ordered stuff from them too, but no more. Seems they have no problem egging on and supporting the brutal sport of cockfighting. Below you will find out more information about this issue. Also visit www.hsus.org/amazon for a video about the Amazon.com cockfighting issue.
Article:
Amazon has no business selling Feathered Warrior
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/
archive/2007/02/26/EDGBDOA3ES1.DTL
Wayne Pacelle
Monday, February 26, 2007
Opinion
The First Amendment protects speech. It does not protect criminal conduct. So you have to wonder why on earth Amazon.com, the retail giant, insists on trafficking in criminal materials in the name of free speech.
Amazon executives and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have been at odds lately over the company's sale of materials that incite cockfighting -- a crime in all states but two, and in many a felony. The Feathered Warrior and the Gamecock may not be on your reading list, but for thousands of lawbreakers, they are a must-read. In fact, these journals of the blood sport are often among the top 500 sellers in the magazine category at Amazon.com -- which is believed to be the only online retail seller that will have anything to do with them.
At last count, Amazon was selling 27 books, monographs and magazines about cockfighting. If your passion in life is watching two tormented birds tear each other to pieces, in a bloody pit surrounded by shouting gamblers, Amazon is the place to go.
Two of these publications, in particular, should have set off alarm bells in the Amazon legal department, because from cover to cover they are filled with specific criminal solicitations. In the past year, Feathered Warrior and Gamecock have carried no fewer than 1,600 pages of ads soliciting specific illegal acts, mainly the purchase and sale of fighting birds. The latest edition of Gamecock even advertised the sale of an illegal cockfighting arena in rural Kentucky -- where HSUS investigators went undercover at the Saturday night cockfights and found a mob of hundreds staging fights between animals.
As usual in these spectacles, razors were attached to the birds' legs to maximize the bloodletting, the roosters were drugged to heighten their aggression and bets ran in the thousands of dollars. The Animal Welfare Act makes it a federal crime to sell fighting birds across state lines or to ship them out of the country, or to ship materials that promote animal fighting -- but you'd never know that by perusing these offerings at Amazon.
The company's lawyers have strained to find refuge in the First Amendment. But their argument that free speech is protected and that the retailer should not be selecting what consumers should read confuses the expression of an opinion with the solicitation of a crime -- a point easily settled by comparing Amazon's policies on cockfighting and on narcotics trafficking. Amazon sells High Times, a magazine that argues for the legalization of drugs. In its pages, you will find plenty of editorial comment about the legalization of narcotics. All of that is protected speech, as would be a journal advocating legalization of cockfighting, and no one would quarrel with the sale of such magazines.
What you will not find in High Times, however, or in any other publication available at Amazon.com, are mail-order advertisements for the sale of narcotics. You won't find a methamphetamine lab for sale, either. None of these items is advertised in materials available on Amazon, nor are obscene materials, or solicitations from child pornographers to be found on the site. Of course not: They are crimes, and Amazon is not in the business of abetting them.
Indeed, this is a company that prides itself on going even further than minimal legal requirements, and claims the right to unilaterally remove any item it sells without explanation -- a right it has exercised by declining, for example, to sell sexually explicit materials even if they might qualify as protected speech.
So why, in the case of animal cruelty, has Amazon suddenly decided that anything goes, and one man's criminal solicitation is another man's "protected speech"? Since when does any company get to decide for itself which crimes are worth enforcing, and which laws it will take the trouble to respect?
The HSUS has provided Amazon with extensive evidence showing the cruelty, viciousness and corruption of the cockfighting trade. We have explained to company executives that cockfighting is not only a tawdry industry all by itself, but also a breeder of other crimes, social ills and forms of violence. We have reminded them that across America police are trying to crack down on illegal cockfighting -- and it hardly helps law-enforcement agencies when Amazon serves as a national courier for the cockfighting subculture.
So far, all of these appeals to corporate responsibility have come to nothing. Cock fighters do not have many apologists left in America. Yet somehow Amazon has found itself to be their champion.
HSUS has filed suit against the magazine publishers and Amazon in District of Columbia Superior Court and filed a legal petition with the district attorney in King County, Wash., where Amazon has its corporate headquarters. It can still be resolved if Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, will step in and make it clear that his company will not violate federal animal cruelty laws. He has built an otherwise fine company, and now its good name is at risk. Bezos was once named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine. He might want to act quickly, before he earns the same honor from Feathered Warrior.
Wayne Pacelle is president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. For a video about the Amazon issue, go to www.hsus.org/amazon
Article:
Amazon has no business selling Feathered Warrior
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/
archive/2007/02/26/EDGBDOA3ES1.DTL
Wayne Pacelle
Monday, February 26, 2007
Opinion
The First Amendment protects speech. It does not protect criminal conduct. So you have to wonder why on earth Amazon.com, the retail giant, insists on trafficking in criminal materials in the name of free speech.
Amazon executives and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have been at odds lately over the company's sale of materials that incite cockfighting -- a crime in all states but two, and in many a felony. The Feathered Warrior and the Gamecock may not be on your reading list, but for thousands of lawbreakers, they are a must-read. In fact, these journals of the blood sport are often among the top 500 sellers in the magazine category at Amazon.com -- which is believed to be the only online retail seller that will have anything to do with them.
At last count, Amazon was selling 27 books, monographs and magazines about cockfighting. If your passion in life is watching two tormented birds tear each other to pieces, in a bloody pit surrounded by shouting gamblers, Amazon is the place to go.
Two of these publications, in particular, should have set off alarm bells in the Amazon legal department, because from cover to cover they are filled with specific criminal solicitations. In the past year, Feathered Warrior and Gamecock have carried no fewer than 1,600 pages of ads soliciting specific illegal acts, mainly the purchase and sale of fighting birds. The latest edition of Gamecock even advertised the sale of an illegal cockfighting arena in rural Kentucky -- where HSUS investigators went undercover at the Saturday night cockfights and found a mob of hundreds staging fights between animals.
As usual in these spectacles, razors were attached to the birds' legs to maximize the bloodletting, the roosters were drugged to heighten their aggression and bets ran in the thousands of dollars. The Animal Welfare Act makes it a federal crime to sell fighting birds across state lines or to ship them out of the country, or to ship materials that promote animal fighting -- but you'd never know that by perusing these offerings at Amazon.
The company's lawyers have strained to find refuge in the First Amendment. But their argument that free speech is protected and that the retailer should not be selecting what consumers should read confuses the expression of an opinion with the solicitation of a crime -- a point easily settled by comparing Amazon's policies on cockfighting and on narcotics trafficking. Amazon sells High Times, a magazine that argues for the legalization of drugs. In its pages, you will find plenty of editorial comment about the legalization of narcotics. All of that is protected speech, as would be a journal advocating legalization of cockfighting, and no one would quarrel with the sale of such magazines.
What you will not find in High Times, however, or in any other publication available at Amazon.com, are mail-order advertisements for the sale of narcotics. You won't find a methamphetamine lab for sale, either. None of these items is advertised in materials available on Amazon, nor are obscene materials, or solicitations from child pornographers to be found on the site. Of course not: They are crimes, and Amazon is not in the business of abetting them.
Indeed, this is a company that prides itself on going even further than minimal legal requirements, and claims the right to unilaterally remove any item it sells without explanation -- a right it has exercised by declining, for example, to sell sexually explicit materials even if they might qualify as protected speech.
So why, in the case of animal cruelty, has Amazon suddenly decided that anything goes, and one man's criminal solicitation is another man's "protected speech"? Since when does any company get to decide for itself which crimes are worth enforcing, and which laws it will take the trouble to respect?
The HSUS has provided Amazon with extensive evidence showing the cruelty, viciousness and corruption of the cockfighting trade. We have explained to company executives that cockfighting is not only a tawdry industry all by itself, but also a breeder of other crimes, social ills and forms of violence. We have reminded them that across America police are trying to crack down on illegal cockfighting -- and it hardly helps law-enforcement agencies when Amazon serves as a national courier for the cockfighting subculture.
So far, all of these appeals to corporate responsibility have come to nothing. Cock fighters do not have many apologists left in America. Yet somehow Amazon has found itself to be their champion.
HSUS has filed suit against the magazine publishers and Amazon in District of Columbia Superior Court and filed a legal petition with the district attorney in King County, Wash., where Amazon has its corporate headquarters. It can still be resolved if Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, will step in and make it clear that his company will not violate federal animal cruelty laws. He has built an otherwise fine company, and now its good name is at risk. Bezos was once named "Man of the Year" by Time magazine. He might want to act quickly, before he earns the same honor from Feathered Warrior.
Wayne Pacelle is president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. For a video about the Amazon issue, go to www.hsus.org/amazon
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Truth Behind War: Videos of American Soldiers Torturing and Murdering Stay Dogs in Iraq
And now for the disturbing truth of the year. Or, at least one of them.
It’s difficult to think of the proper way to describe these videos. They literally leave you speechless and aware of the reality of the war mind. Words like disgusting, disturbing, disappointing, cruel, saddening, and insane would all fit. I think if nothing more, this truly proves what war will do to ones’ mentality. They literally are desensitized to the cruelty they are responsible for. I did hear once from an ex military man though that many soldiers are encouraged to kill animals. It seems that the higher ups believe it relives tension. Sick, but they really believe it. I encourage all to view these in order to see the reality of life. I do caution though that they are graphic. There are three total though there are much more where they came from. The descriptions provided are taken from the sites.
Description: In this video, a group of poorly trained and poorly disciplined American Soldiers slowly shoot to death a stray dog in
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1823518626
If the link just mentioned doesn't work, simply go to this link and you should see the video as the first result.
You may need to take off any filter:
http://www.blinkx.com/results?query=American%20Soldiers%20slowly%20shoot%20to%20death%20a%20stray%20dog%20in%20Iraq
A soldier brutally kills a dog for no reason.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0a5ee2d6eb
Soldiers in
http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=6244
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
2007 National Animal Advocacy Competitions at Harvard Law School Prove That Animal Law Is a Rapidly Growing and Respected Area of Law
A very excellent sign. As the article states, “Currently, over seventy-five law schools nationwide offer at least one class on animal law, whereas ten years ago there existed only a handful.”
To have such a competition held at the #1 law school in the nation signifies that it is seen as a legitimate form of law.
Even more, some law schools have entire curriculums dedicated to animal rights law. As mentioned below, Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR contains the National Center for Animal Law. It is this group that is responsible for putting this annual competition together.
Article:
Law Students Across the Nation Learn to Fight for Animals in Court
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?
ascribeid=20070219.090408&time=10%2005
%20PST&year=2007&public=0
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 19 (AScribe Newswire) -- Law students from seventeen different schools will meet at Harvard Law School on February 24-25 to battle in court over animal law cases at the 2007 National Animal Advocacy Competitions. The students will make their cases for the true value versus the market value of a police service dog who was killed, as well as whether a hypothetical federal anti-animal fighting law is constitutional. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the National Center for Animal Law has organized and the Harvard chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund has hosted the competitions.
Animal law is a rapidly growing area of law. Currently, over seventy-five law schools nationwide offer at least one class on animal law, whereas ten years ago there existed only a handful. Today, a Google search for "animal law attorneys" generates approximately 1.3 million hits. Some lawyers are now practicing animal law exclusively, and making a living at it. Jeff Petersen, a recent Chapman University School of Law graduate who won the 2005 closing argument competition, said, "I didn't know that animal law was a bonafide field of law before I entered law school. Thanks to the competitions, now I feel inspired to be an advocate for animals in court."
"The NAAC are carefully planned, expertly run, and attract gifted participants and judges alike. It represents a milestone in the development of the academic discipline of animal law," said Steven Wise, author and animal law professor.
The competitions are hailed as a training ground for the animal lawyers of tomorrow by animal law experts; the competitors are judged by some of the nation's leading authorities on animal law, a group that includes animal rights author Steven Wise, Animal Legal Defense Fund founder Joyce Tischler, and other noted animal law professors, scholars and practitioners from across the nation.
"Competing is one of the best ways that an animal law student can put his or her passion into practice," said Laura Ireland Moore, executive director of the National Center for Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. "By competing, these students learn advocacy skills that can only be developed with practice, and NCAL is here to help turn animal law students into animal law lawyers."
The public is invited to observe any of the rounds of the competition. For more information, please contact Jami Pannell at 503-768-6849.
About the National Center for Animal Law: The center was established in 2001 with the purpose of providing support to students pursuing careers in animal law. Today, the center provides training, resources, programs, and networking opportunities for animal law students. While housed at Lewis & Clark Law School, the center supports animal law students, administrators, and professors across the nation.
- - - -
CONTACT: Jami Pannell, 503-768-6849, jami@animallawattorney.info
To have such a competition held at the #1 law school in the nation signifies that it is seen as a legitimate form of law.
Even more, some law schools have entire curriculums dedicated to animal rights law. As mentioned below, Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, OR contains the National Center for Animal Law. It is this group that is responsible for putting this annual competition together.
Article:
Law Students Across the Nation Learn to Fight for Animals in Court
http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin/behold.pl?
ascribeid=20070219.090408&time=10%2005
%20PST&year=2007&public=0
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 19 (AScribe Newswire) -- Law students from seventeen different schools will meet at Harvard Law School on February 24-25 to battle in court over animal law cases at the 2007 National Animal Advocacy Competitions. The students will make their cases for the true value versus the market value of a police service dog who was killed, as well as whether a hypothetical federal anti-animal fighting law is constitutional. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the National Center for Animal Law has organized and the Harvard chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund has hosted the competitions.
Animal law is a rapidly growing area of law. Currently, over seventy-five law schools nationwide offer at least one class on animal law, whereas ten years ago there existed only a handful. Today, a Google search for "animal law attorneys" generates approximately 1.3 million hits. Some lawyers are now practicing animal law exclusively, and making a living at it. Jeff Petersen, a recent Chapman University School of Law graduate who won the 2005 closing argument competition, said, "I didn't know that animal law was a bonafide field of law before I entered law school. Thanks to the competitions, now I feel inspired to be an advocate for animals in court."
"The NAAC are carefully planned, expertly run, and attract gifted participants and judges alike. It represents a milestone in the development of the academic discipline of animal law," said Steven Wise, author and animal law professor.
The competitions are hailed as a training ground for the animal lawyers of tomorrow by animal law experts; the competitors are judged by some of the nation's leading authorities on animal law, a group that includes animal rights author Steven Wise, Animal Legal Defense Fund founder Joyce Tischler, and other noted animal law professors, scholars and practitioners from across the nation.
"Competing is one of the best ways that an animal law student can put his or her passion into practice," said Laura Ireland Moore, executive director of the National Center for Animal Law at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. "By competing, these students learn advocacy skills that can only be developed with practice, and NCAL is here to help turn animal law students into animal law lawyers."
The public is invited to observe any of the rounds of the competition. For more information, please contact Jami Pannell at 503-768-6849.
About the National Center for Animal Law: The center was established in 2001 with the purpose of providing support to students pursuing careers in animal law. Today, the center provides training, resources, programs, and networking opportunities for animal law students. While housed at Lewis & Clark Law School, the center supports animal law students, administrators, and professors across the nation.
- - - -
CONTACT: Jami Pannell, 503-768-6849, jami@animallawattorney.info
Atlanta Falcons Defensive Tackle Jonathan Babineaux Arrested On Charge of Felony Animal Cruelty: Main Suspect after Dog Dies Due To Injuries
Just another cruel, rich thug. Reminds me of the Ron Artest cruelty story we published last week. You can read about that case at:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/02/
ron-artest-of-sacramento-kings-faces.html
As I’ve said before: isn’t it enough for these guys that they’re paid an obscene amount of money to do what they love? Why they then have to resort to killing another being is mind boggling. You’d also think a defensive tackle would find a little dog not much of a physical challenge. Maybe he had a bad season, and like all sickos, took it out on a defenseless dog.
Article:
Falcons Player Charged in Dog Abuse
http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=92434&provider=top
Jonathan Babineaux
Web Editor: Tracey Christensen
Last Modified: 2/19/2007 9:29:16 PM
Gwinnett County police arrested Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux Monday morning on a charge of felony animal cruelty. Babineaux has bonded out of jail.
According to Cpl. Darren Moloney of the Gwinnett County Police Department, Babineaux's wife took a dog to an animal emergency center in Gwinnett County on Sunday. The dog later died and the subsequent investigation led to an arrest warrant for Babineaux. According to Moloney, investigators believe Babineaux "somehow had a direct hand in killing the animal."
A necropsy on the dog will not be performed until Tuesday to determine the cause of death.
Late on Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons released a short statement that said, "We're aware of the situation and we're in the process of gathering information. Until we have the information we need, we will have no further comment."
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/02/
ron-artest-of-sacramento-kings-faces.html
As I’ve said before: isn’t it enough for these guys that they’re paid an obscene amount of money to do what they love? Why they then have to resort to killing another being is mind boggling. You’d also think a defensive tackle would find a little dog not much of a physical challenge. Maybe he had a bad season, and like all sickos, took it out on a defenseless dog.
Article:
Falcons Player Charged in Dog Abuse
http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=92434&provider=top
Jonathan Babineaux
Web Editor: Tracey Christensen
Last Modified: 2/19/2007 9:29:16 PM
Gwinnett County police arrested Atlanta Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux Monday morning on a charge of felony animal cruelty. Babineaux has bonded out of jail.
According to Cpl. Darren Moloney of the Gwinnett County Police Department, Babineaux's wife took a dog to an animal emergency center in Gwinnett County on Sunday. The dog later died and the subsequent investigation led to an arrest warrant for Babineaux. According to Moloney, investigators believe Babineaux "somehow had a direct hand in killing the animal."
A necropsy on the dog will not be performed until Tuesday to determine the cause of death.
Late on Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Falcons released a short statement that said, "We're aware of the situation and we're in the process of gathering information. Until we have the information we need, we will have no further comment."
After Dog Dragged Behind Car, Alberta, Canada Member of Parliament Presents Petition to House of Commons That Calls for Penalties for Animal Abuse
I’m very glad that in the land of the baby seal slaughter -
http://geari.blogspot.com/2005/04/
canadian-seal-slaughter-information-re.html -
that there are some that see the need for tougher laws. The absolute cruelty of this case demand that they pay attention to the issue.
Article:
Boost animal abuse penalties: petition
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/
2007/02/20/pf-3647378.html
By CP
CALGARY -- A central Alberta member of Parliament presented a petition to the House of Commons yesterday that calls for tougher penalties for animal abuse, reports Global TV Calgary.
"Let it be known as the Daisy Duke bill," said Myron Thompson, member for Wild Rose, referring to a pet dog that was allegedly tortured in Didsbury last October.
The Lab-border collie cross was found barely alive and had to be euthanized by a veterinarian after she was apparently dragged behind a car with a rope around her neck and all four legs bound.
She suffered injuries including a broken neck, back and pelvis.
Tamara Chaney, an outraged animal lover in Didsbury, collected 110,000 signatures from across Canada on the petition, which was distributed by veterinary clinics and animal rights organizations.
Current laws allow for a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine for a conviction under animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code.
Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, of Didsbury, is scheduled to stand trial on animal cruelty charges beginning May 23. The dog had been a family pet in Haskett's home.
http://geari.blogspot.com/2005/04/
canadian-seal-slaughter-information-re.html -
that there are some that see the need for tougher laws. The absolute cruelty of this case demand that they pay attention to the issue.
Article:
Boost animal abuse penalties: petition
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/
2007/02/20/pf-3647378.html
By CP
CALGARY -- A central Alberta member of Parliament presented a petition to the House of Commons yesterday that calls for tougher penalties for animal abuse, reports Global TV Calgary.
"Let it be known as the Daisy Duke bill," said Myron Thompson, member for Wild Rose, referring to a pet dog that was allegedly tortured in Didsbury last October.
The Lab-border collie cross was found barely alive and had to be euthanized by a veterinarian after she was apparently dragged behind a car with a rope around her neck and all four legs bound.
She suffered injuries including a broken neck, back and pelvis.
Tamara Chaney, an outraged animal lover in Didsbury, collected 110,000 signatures from across Canada on the petition, which was distributed by veterinary clinics and animal rights organizations.
Current laws allow for a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $2,000 fine for a conviction under animal cruelty provisions of the Criminal Code.
Daniel Charles Haskett, 19, of Didsbury, is scheduled to stand trial on animal cruelty charges beginning May 23. The dog had been a family pet in Haskett's home.
Celebrities Join Call to End Hedgehog Killing in the Western Isles of Scotland
Why the killing group didn’t look to relocation as an option on their own is a question to look at.
Article:
Stars join campaign to save hedgehogs
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=372&id=271022007
JOHN ROSS
STARS such as the Queen guitarist Brian May and the actresses Joanna Lumley and Jenny Seagrove have urged Scottish Natural Heritage to end its cull of hedgehogs in the Western Isles.
The SNH board meets today and is likely to back a recommendation to stop giving the animals lethal injections in favour of relocating them to the mainland for a trial period.
Among the documents board members will consider is a letter from celebrities backing the work of Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR), a coalition of animal welfare bodies opposed to the cull.
Ross Minett, a spokesman for UHR, said: "We are delighted to have such well-known and respected personalities supporting our call for an end to the cull of hedgehogs on the Uists.
"The future of the hedgehogs on the Uists now hangs in the balance. However, we are hopeful that SNH's board will follow the recommendation of its scientific officers and agree to end the cull in favour of translocation to the mainland."
Last week the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which originally supported the cull as the most humane way to protect important bird colonies, announced a change of heart.
Article:
Stars join campaign to save hedgehogs
http://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=372&id=271022007
JOHN ROSS
STARS such as the Queen guitarist Brian May and the actresses Joanna Lumley and Jenny Seagrove have urged Scottish Natural Heritage to end its cull of hedgehogs in the Western Isles.
The SNH board meets today and is likely to back a recommendation to stop giving the animals lethal injections in favour of relocating them to the mainland for a trial period.
Among the documents board members will consider is a letter from celebrities backing the work of Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR), a coalition of animal welfare bodies opposed to the cull.
Ross Minett, a spokesman for UHR, said: "We are delighted to have such well-known and respected personalities supporting our call for an end to the cull of hedgehogs on the Uists.
"The future of the hedgehogs on the Uists now hangs in the balance. However, we are hopeful that SNH's board will follow the recommendation of its scientific officers and agree to end the cull in favour of translocation to the mainland."
Last week the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which originally supported the cull as the most humane way to protect important bird colonies, announced a change of heart.
Gwyneth Paltrow Looks to a Mostly Vegan Diet to Prevent Cancer
It seems that the loss of 4 family members to cancer has made her re assess her diet.
Article:
Gwyneth laments impact of cancer on her family
http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=
3690199&fSectionId=354&fSetId=251
February 20, 2007
Gwyneth Paltrow believes her family has been "cursed" by cancer.
The Oscar-winning actress lost her father Bruce to the disease in 2002, both her grandmothers and a cousin, who was only 23.
Gwyneth, 34, who is married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, is hoping her vegan diet will keep her healthy.
Speaking at an international anti-cancer campaign on Sunday night, she said: "I am challenging these evil genes by natural means. I am convinced that by eating biological foods it is possible to avoid tumours."
Gwyneth follows a macrobiotic diet, mainly consisting of whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables.
However, she does have a treat once in a while.
Gwyneth said: "I'm not as stringent as I was in the past. Now I'll have cheese once in a while or white flour, but I still believe in whole grains and no sugar."
Article:
Gwyneth laments impact of cancer on her family
http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=
3690199&fSectionId=354&fSetId=251
February 20, 2007
Gwyneth Paltrow believes her family has been "cursed" by cancer.
The Oscar-winning actress lost her father Bruce to the disease in 2002, both her grandmothers and a cousin, who was only 23.
Gwyneth, 34, who is married to Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, is hoping her vegan diet will keep her healthy.
Speaking at an international anti-cancer campaign on Sunday night, she said: "I am challenging these evil genes by natural means. I am convinced that by eating biological foods it is possible to avoid tumours."
Gwyneth follows a macrobiotic diet, mainly consisting of whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruit and vegetables.
However, she does have a treat once in a while.
Gwyneth said: "I'm not as stringent as I was in the past. Now I'll have cheese once in a while or white flour, but I still believe in whole grains and no sugar."
Monday, February 19, 2007
Ridiculously Cruel and Unnatural Dolphin Exhibit at the Mirage Casino in Las Vegas Leaves 11 Dolphins Dead
Unbeliveable! A dolphin exhibit at a casino in the desert of Las Vegas!! How incredibly stupid and cruel. How anyone can be surprised that this unnatural environment for such a lively, ocean-living species would kill them is beyond me. This is just ignorance, selfishness and cruelty at it’s highest. This exhibit must be stopped.
For more on the truth behind the captive marine mammal industry, including the truth of how the marine mammals end up in facilities like this (hint: stolen from the wild) see
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/what_
are_the_issues/marine_mammals_in_captivity/
index.html
Article:
Dolphin mortality high at Las Vegas casino exhibit
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/
news/breaking_news/16730238.htm
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS - Eleven of 16 dolphins housed in a dolphin exhibit at a Las Vegas Strip casino have died since the facility opened in 1990, according to federal records and interviews with resort officials.
The records obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal show most of the dolphin deaths at The Mirage's Dolphin Habitat were attributed to natural causes, and that casino officials have taken steps to change the way the dolphins are cared for and the habitat is maintained.
Mirage officials say the exhibit, which features 2.5 million gallons of water, has an exemplary reputation for animal care in the marine mammal display industry.
But animal welfare advocates contend dolphins never were made for such public displays and say they're not impressed with The Mirage's efforts.
``It's not simply a case of bad luck that that number has died,'' said Dena Jones, program manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals' U.S. office in Framingham, Mass. ``Captive dolphins die regularly at relatively young ages ... The people (at The Mirage) may be well-meaning and the facility may be well-run, but these type of captive environments can't reproduce conditions in the wild.''
The newspaper obtained records from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration that include an inventory of the dolphins at The Mirage and cause of death for those that died. All of The Mirage's dolphins were either obtained from other facilities or bred at the facility.
The causes of the dolphins' deaths included severe chronic pancreatitis, a pulmonary abscess, respiratory problems and pneumonia. Two of the dolphin deaths could be a result of hereditary problems passed down from another dolphin in the habitat, Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher said.
Three of the 11 deceased animals were estimated to be older than the average life expectancy of 25 years when they died.
Three other dolphins born at The Mirage are alive and well at the exhibit. A fourth dolphin named Duchess, born about 1975, is also doing well. A fifth dolphin at the exhibit, Lightning, was obtained through an exchange with a Florida facility, and is healthy.
In December 2005, the USDA and The Mirage entered into a settlement agreement in which the hotel agreed to make undisclosed changes as to how it cares for the dolphins at the exhibit.
``The parties recognize that the licensee has voluntarily taken steps to evaluate and to improve its operations,'' the agreement states.
Mirage officials declined to disclose the changes.
The casino did acknowledge that it occasionally allows VIP guests to swim with the dolphins.
``It's the mutual existence of meeting the requests of your VIP guests while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the facility,'' Absher said of the celebrity swim-alongs.
The Mirage has the proper federal permit to let individuals swim with the dolphins, and hotel officials are adamant that the dolphins never are put in harm's way.
For more on the truth behind the captive marine mammal industry, including the truth of how the marine mammals end up in facilities like this (hint: stolen from the wild) see
http://www.hsus.org/marine_mammals/what_
are_the_issues/marine_mammals_in_captivity/
index.html
Article:
Dolphin mortality high at Las Vegas casino exhibit
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/
news/breaking_news/16730238.htm
Associated Press
LAS VEGAS - Eleven of 16 dolphins housed in a dolphin exhibit at a Las Vegas Strip casino have died since the facility opened in 1990, according to federal records and interviews with resort officials.
The records obtained by the Las Vegas Review-Journal show most of the dolphin deaths at The Mirage's Dolphin Habitat were attributed to natural causes, and that casino officials have taken steps to change the way the dolphins are cared for and the habitat is maintained.
Mirage officials say the exhibit, which features 2.5 million gallons of water, has an exemplary reputation for animal care in the marine mammal display industry.
But animal welfare advocates contend dolphins never were made for such public displays and say they're not impressed with The Mirage's efforts.
``It's not simply a case of bad luck that that number has died,'' said Dena Jones, program manager for the World Society for the Protection of Animals' U.S. office in Framingham, Mass. ``Captive dolphins die regularly at relatively young ages ... The people (at The Mirage) may be well-meaning and the facility may be well-run, but these type of captive environments can't reproduce conditions in the wild.''
The newspaper obtained records from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration that include an inventory of the dolphins at The Mirage and cause of death for those that died. All of The Mirage's dolphins were either obtained from other facilities or bred at the facility.
The causes of the dolphins' deaths included severe chronic pancreatitis, a pulmonary abscess, respiratory problems and pneumonia. Two of the dolphin deaths could be a result of hereditary problems passed down from another dolphin in the habitat, Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher said.
Three of the 11 deceased animals were estimated to be older than the average life expectancy of 25 years when they died.
Three other dolphins born at The Mirage are alive and well at the exhibit. A fourth dolphin named Duchess, born about 1975, is also doing well. A fifth dolphin at the exhibit, Lightning, was obtained through an exchange with a Florida facility, and is healthy.
In December 2005, the USDA and The Mirage entered into a settlement agreement in which the hotel agreed to make undisclosed changes as to how it cares for the dolphins at the exhibit.
``The parties recognize that the licensee has voluntarily taken steps to evaluate and to improve its operations,'' the agreement states.
Mirage officials declined to disclose the changes.
The casino did acknowledge that it occasionally allows VIP guests to swim with the dolphins.
``It's the mutual existence of meeting the requests of your VIP guests while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the facility,'' Absher said of the celebrity swim-alongs.
The Mirage has the proper federal permit to let individuals swim with the dolphins, and hotel officials are adamant that the dolphins never are put in harm's way.
Animal Rights: A Movement That Has Seen Tremendous Growth Over The Years: The Proof is in the Facts
This is an excellent article regarding the growth of animal rights and the related issues of vegetarianism. Well, it’s more of a summary of the growth of the movement and provides great links to excellent stories that document the growth overall. For example, as stated in the article, just the simple change in health food stores from “dingy” places to large, fanciful experiences signifies the growth in more healthful eating, including vegetarianism. An excellent and positive read.
Article:
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A Burgeoning Movement
http://www.animalwritings.com/2007/02/
burgeoning-movement.asp
* Animal People News reports that according to NewsLibrary.com, which archives over 1200 newspapers, in 1980 there were 6 mentions of "animal rights." By 1989 the number had grown to nearly 3000. In 2006, the figure was 6629. So animal rights coverage has gone from exceedingly rare to mainstream in 25 years.
* Animal rights author and philosophy professor Tom Regan points out that 30 years ago, not one school taught an animal rights law class. Today, 70 do.
* Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, comments in a recent issue of their Good Medicine magazine:
Health food stores used to be dingy places, where cashiers wore tie-dyed shirts and dusty shelves held uninviting products. Veggie burgers came from a pasty mix. Soymilk was a powder that customers had to stir into water and pour rapidly onto cereal before it precipitated. Today, however, health food stores are huge, beautiful places that sell endless varieties of every imaginable vegetarian product. Healthful eating has become not only convenient, but luxurious. And regular grocers have jumped in, too...In Fargo, North Dakota, I noticed that supermarkets stocked tofu, veggie dogs, and an abundance of other meatless, dairy-free foods—even in the middle of cattle country. These changes reflect an exploding demand for vegetarian foods.
One more sign of the times: In our recent study testing a vegan diet for diabetes, we wanted to make sure that new volunteers understood what a vegan diet was. To our surprise, most already knew. In contrast to the participants in our studies during the 1990s, many in this new group had vegetarian or vegan friends.
* Thirty years ago there were a handful of animal rights books. Now there are hundreds of books, periodicals, and videos on the subject. Not to mention countless web sites.
* Thirty years ago there were practically no animal rights groups; today they are in every state and some metropolitan areas have two dozen.
* According to trade publications, the fastest growing segment of food offerings in college campuses is vegan dishes. Intentionally vegan, not vegan by accident.
* The number of vegan recipes in books, magazines, and web sites has mushroomed.
* So has the number of vegan products. There are vegan versions—on the shelf—of everything from barbecue to tuna salad to meatballs to sour cream to marshmallows to feta cheese, and the number, quality, accessibility, and variety of these products grows seemingly every week. In tiny rural towns you can find veggie "chicken" patties and soy ice cream. This is a huge change from thirty, even fifteen years ago.
* Typical sign of the times: The Washington Post, not a particularly veg-friendly paper in my opinion, recently ran a story in its Travel section that casually mentioned a vegan cafe in Asheville, North Carolina. What's remarkable is that there was nothing remarkable about this offhand observation. "Vegan" wasn't in quotes and there was no explanation of the term; apparently the editors now feel that it's in wide enough circulation that the vast majority of readers will know what it means. Not that long ago, the phrase "vegan cafe" would probably not have appeared in a story about Asheville, or almost any other place in the country: The concept didn't exist and readers wouldn't have been familiar with the term.
The animal rights movement is now pervasive enough to influence public perceptions and public policy, and the food industry, in a variety of ways, and often with great reluctance because it is so vested in the status quo, has begun to take notice, and to respond. More on that in upcoming posts...
Posted by: Gary / 12:04 PM
Article:
Sunday, February 18, 2007
A Burgeoning Movement
http://www.animalwritings.com/2007/02/
burgeoning-movement.asp
* Animal People News reports that according to NewsLibrary.com, which archives over 1200 newspapers, in 1980 there were 6 mentions of "animal rights." By 1989 the number had grown to nearly 3000. In 2006, the figure was 6629. So animal rights coverage has gone from exceedingly rare to mainstream in 25 years.
* Animal rights author and philosophy professor Tom Regan points out that 30 years ago, not one school taught an animal rights law class. Today, 70 do.
* Neal Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, comments in a recent issue of their Good Medicine magazine:
Health food stores used to be dingy places, where cashiers wore tie-dyed shirts and dusty shelves held uninviting products. Veggie burgers came from a pasty mix. Soymilk was a powder that customers had to stir into water and pour rapidly onto cereal before it precipitated. Today, however, health food stores are huge, beautiful places that sell endless varieties of every imaginable vegetarian product. Healthful eating has become not only convenient, but luxurious. And regular grocers have jumped in, too...In Fargo, North Dakota, I noticed that supermarkets stocked tofu, veggie dogs, and an abundance of other meatless, dairy-free foods—even in the middle of cattle country. These changes reflect an exploding demand for vegetarian foods.
One more sign of the times: In our recent study testing a vegan diet for diabetes, we wanted to make sure that new volunteers understood what a vegan diet was. To our surprise, most already knew. In contrast to the participants in our studies during the 1990s, many in this new group had vegetarian or vegan friends.
* Thirty years ago there were a handful of animal rights books. Now there are hundreds of books, periodicals, and videos on the subject. Not to mention countless web sites.
* Thirty years ago there were practically no animal rights groups; today they are in every state and some metropolitan areas have two dozen.
* According to trade publications, the fastest growing segment of food offerings in college campuses is vegan dishes. Intentionally vegan, not vegan by accident.
* The number of vegan recipes in books, magazines, and web sites has mushroomed.
* So has the number of vegan products. There are vegan versions—on the shelf—of everything from barbecue to tuna salad to meatballs to sour cream to marshmallows to feta cheese, and the number, quality, accessibility, and variety of these products grows seemingly every week. In tiny rural towns you can find veggie "chicken" patties and soy ice cream. This is a huge change from thirty, even fifteen years ago.
* Typical sign of the times: The Washington Post, not a particularly veg-friendly paper in my opinion, recently ran a story in its Travel section that casually mentioned a vegan cafe in Asheville, North Carolina. What's remarkable is that there was nothing remarkable about this offhand observation. "Vegan" wasn't in quotes and there was no explanation of the term; apparently the editors now feel that it's in wide enough circulation that the vast majority of readers will know what it means. Not that long ago, the phrase "vegan cafe" would probably not have appeared in a story about Asheville, or almost any other place in the country: The concept didn't exist and readers wouldn't have been familiar with the term.
The animal rights movement is now pervasive enough to influence public perceptions and public policy, and the food industry, in a variety of ways, and often with great reluctance because it is so vested in the status quo, has begun to take notice, and to respond. More on that in upcoming posts...
Posted by: Gary / 12:04 PM
Kurdish Writer Exposes the Problem of Abandoned Dogs in Kurdistan
Always good to see those in other countries speaking up as well. A little hard to follow the grammar, but you’ll get the picture.
Article:
Kurds cry out for change: Abandoned Kurdish dogs protest!
2/17/2007
KurdishMedia.com - By Dr Kamal Mirawdeli
Hastyar Ghamgin
Part 4: Kurds cry out for change:
http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=14079
Abandoned Kurdish dogs protest!
By Hastyar Ghamgin
Translated by Dr Kamal Mirawdeli
Translated by Dr Kamal Mirawdeli, Published on www.kurdistannet.org on 14-02-2007
After importing of countless foreign dogs to Kurdistan by the sons and daughters of the 'officials' who started to feed and take care of them in the best way, the local Kurdish dogs had a meeting and made a statement strongly protesting against this position of the officials and condemned their trampling upon the animal rights of Kurdistan animals.
The statement which carries the signatures of a large number of starved abandoned dogs calls upon the Kurdish officials to ban the flood of importation of foreign dogs which is pursued by many officials and other rich families.
These poor dogs state: We are a number of lonely abandoned stray dogs on roads and plains of Kurdistan, we are entitled to demand our rights and ask for basic animal rights.'' The dogs strongly condemn the incident of the death of Mino although Mino was a foreign dog.
This life is really a joke. No one pays attention to the plight of those poor dogs of Kurdistan many of which are attacked and hurt by naughty children. They are not allowed to pass a day in rest while one day food of the [foreign] dogs of some officials equals the wages of ten Kurdish children.
But what difference is there between us barking journalists and the dogs that with all their strength call for their rights like all the other animals who enjoy these rights.
But not only have they not been given these rights, they are also not allowed to live normally as animals.
I ask: what is the difference between an article that I as a journalist write and raise the issues of lack of electricity, lack of services, homelessness, injustice, in short, I write for the right to live, and the howl of stray dogs all the night?
Perhaps some readers say: how do you put yourself in the rank of dogs that God has created as an animal. Why not? Don't you remember an official said: the journalists bark at the government of the region like stray dogs?
I do not say that the regional government should treat me as a dog but I say let me at least live like those dogs that lack nothing and lead a happy life. The life of a foreign dog compared with the life of a journalist like me is worlds apart. Then which words of regional government shall I cherish?
I ask your conscience: Which Kurdish children even in their dreams are as well fed and spoiled as these dogs?
I heard that Miss Layla Fariqi has been given large plots of land on which she will build farms for breeding dogs and cats. I beg this lady not to forget the abandoned dogs in our won streets. We human beings have for long been living in comfort and pleasure. It is time these poor dogs did.
Dr Kamal Mirawdeli is a regular KurdishMedia.com contributor and one of the internationally known Kurdish writers. Dr Mirawdali was born in southern Kurdistan, studied in Baghdad and the UK. He lives in diaspora, London.
Article:
Kurds cry out for change: Abandoned Kurdish dogs protest!
2/17/2007
KurdishMedia.com - By Dr Kamal Mirawdeli
Hastyar Ghamgin
Part 4: Kurds cry out for change:
http://www.kurdmedia.com/news.asp?id=14079
Abandoned Kurdish dogs protest!
By Hastyar Ghamgin
Translated by Dr Kamal Mirawdeli
Translated by Dr Kamal Mirawdeli, Published on www.kurdistannet.org on 14-02-2007
After importing of countless foreign dogs to Kurdistan by the sons and daughters of the 'officials' who started to feed and take care of them in the best way, the local Kurdish dogs had a meeting and made a statement strongly protesting against this position of the officials and condemned their trampling upon the animal rights of Kurdistan animals.
The statement which carries the signatures of a large number of starved abandoned dogs calls upon the Kurdish officials to ban the flood of importation of foreign dogs which is pursued by many officials and other rich families.
These poor dogs state: We are a number of lonely abandoned stray dogs on roads and plains of Kurdistan, we are entitled to demand our rights and ask for basic animal rights.'' The dogs strongly condemn the incident of the death of Mino although Mino was a foreign dog.
This life is really a joke. No one pays attention to the plight of those poor dogs of Kurdistan many of which are attacked and hurt by naughty children. They are not allowed to pass a day in rest while one day food of the [foreign] dogs of some officials equals the wages of ten Kurdish children.
But what difference is there between us barking journalists and the dogs that with all their strength call for their rights like all the other animals who enjoy these rights.
But not only have they not been given these rights, they are also not allowed to live normally as animals.
I ask: what is the difference between an article that I as a journalist write and raise the issues of lack of electricity, lack of services, homelessness, injustice, in short, I write for the right to live, and the howl of stray dogs all the night?
Perhaps some readers say: how do you put yourself in the rank of dogs that God has created as an animal. Why not? Don't you remember an official said: the journalists bark at the government of the region like stray dogs?
I do not say that the regional government should treat me as a dog but I say let me at least live like those dogs that lack nothing and lead a happy life. The life of a foreign dog compared with the life of a journalist like me is worlds apart. Then which words of regional government shall I cherish?
I ask your conscience: Which Kurdish children even in their dreams are as well fed and spoiled as these dogs?
I heard that Miss Layla Fariqi has been given large plots of land on which she will build farms for breeding dogs and cats. I beg this lady not to forget the abandoned dogs in our won streets. We human beings have for long been living in comfort and pleasure. It is time these poor dogs did.
Dr Kamal Mirawdeli is a regular KurdishMedia.com contributor and one of the internationally known Kurdish writers. Dr Mirawdali was born in southern Kurdistan, studied in Baghdad and the UK. He lives in diaspora, London.
Member of Indian Parliament Exposes that Pune, India is “a Living Hell for Animals”
Very sad. Most people ignorantly assume that animal rights is active in India. That is a complete untruth. Unfortunately, animal cruelty and abuse is as alive in India as it is in all parts of the world.
Article:
'Pune is a living hell for animals'
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=222987
Express News Service
Pune, February 18: Animal rights activist and Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi on Sunday slammed Pune as a 'living hell' for animals. However in the same breath she lauded the efforts of city-based organisations like Indian Herpetological Society (IHF) and Blue Cross Society, besides the individual efforts of Lila Parulekar for the welfare of animals.
"There were organsiations like the IHF and Blue Cross who were doing commendable work to prevent cruelty to animals.
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But social organisations like the Jain Shwetamber Murtipujak Yuval Mahasangh should help them financially," she said after expressing distress on the manner in which the Pune municipal administration poisoned stray animals.
Gandhi was speaking at an awards function organised by the Shri Jain Shwetambar Murtypooja Yuvak Mahasangh at the Oswal Bandhu Samaj Karyalaya.
"It is high time the Jain organisations go beyond running 'goshalas' (cow shelters) and donating funds for temple building. They should help animal rights activists and organisations and stop investing in companies trading sea food or promoting animal slaughter," she said.
She urged citizens to form vigilance committees to stop the illegal trade of animals in urban India. "It is the animal trade that is causing the hunting and slaughter of animals in the jungles," she added.
Article:
'Pune is a living hell for animals'
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=222987
Express News Service
Pune, February 18: Animal rights activist and Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi on Sunday slammed Pune as a 'living hell' for animals. However in the same breath she lauded the efforts of city-based organisations like Indian Herpetological Society (IHF) and Blue Cross Society, besides the individual efforts of Lila Parulekar for the welfare of animals.
"There were organsiations like the IHF and Blue Cross who were doing commendable work to prevent cruelty to animals.
Advertisement
But social organisations like the Jain Shwetamber Murtipujak Yuval Mahasangh should help them financially," she said after expressing distress on the manner in which the Pune municipal administration poisoned stray animals.
Gandhi was speaking at an awards function organised by the Shri Jain Shwetambar Murtypooja Yuvak Mahasangh at the Oswal Bandhu Samaj Karyalaya.
"It is high time the Jain organisations go beyond running 'goshalas' (cow shelters) and donating funds for temple building. They should help animal rights activists and organisations and stop investing in companies trading sea food or promoting animal slaughter," she said.
She urged citizens to form vigilance committees to stop the illegal trade of animals in urban India. "It is the animal trade that is causing the hunting and slaughter of animals in the jungles," she added.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Japanese Whaling Ship on Fire in Antarctic: Leaking Oil into Pristine Antarctic Waters and at World's Largest Penguin Breeding Grounds
A couple things here to point out. Of course, the obvious cruel methods used by whalers. Also, that Japan uses the lie of science to actually ignore an international ban on whaling. But, in addition, as is proven by this article, the environmental risks of a ship releasing fuel either through leaks or through massive fires or holes in the ship.
As you’ll see below, this has occurred in “pristine Antarctic waters” at the “…world's largest penguin breeding grounds.”
So, the leaked oil threatens this entire landscape.
I ask Japan – is the damage you will cause to this pristine environment really worth satisfying your gluttonous appetite for whale meat? I assume they’d selfishly say yes. But, rational people would of course disagree with their myopic view.
For more on the truth behind whaling in general see
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/10/
iceland-resume-whaling-excellent.html
For more on Japan and it’s other deranged practice of killing of dolphins - http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/11/
coalition-of-marine-scientists-has.html
Article:
Whaling ship drifts off Antarctic area
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/
ap_on_re_au_an/antarctica_whaling_ship_fire
By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 15, 5:41 PM ET
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A Japanese whaling ship crippled by fire drifted off the world's largest penguin breeding grounds Friday, and New Zealand alerted other countries it may need help if the vessel leaked oil into the pristine Antarctic waters.
One crewmember was missing from the 8,000-ton Nisshin Maru, which had started to list from water pumped aboard to fight the fire. The fire was contained below decks but continued to burn, said New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter.
No oil had spilled and the vessel was in no immediate danger of sinking, officials said.
Carter contacted his counterparts in Japan, Australia, United States and Britain — other signatories to the Antarctic Treaty with responsibility for protecting its environment — in case "an international environmental response is needed," ministerial spokesman Nick Maling said.
Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson said he had asked the U.S. Antarctic program to redirect a scheduled flight over the Nisshin Maru on Friday to check the ship's condition and provide the first independent assessment of the vessel since the fire began Thursday.
The ship was carrying 132,000 gallons of heavy oil and 211,000 gallons of furnace oil.
Steve Corbett, a spokesman for Maritime New Zealand, said his agency had spoken with the ship early Friday and the captain said overnight pumping had emptied excess water from the stricken vessel.
"That's corrected the list ... but there is still no (engine) power," he said. The fire "is contained and controlled" at present.
"We're confident the situation is under control but there's still an environmental threat and a crewman is still missing," he told The Associated Press.
Search teams were waiting for smoke to clear in the burning area before attempting to assess its condition and search for crewman Kazutaka Makita, 27, Japan Fishery Agency official Kenji Masuda said.
Crew members also planned to reboard the ship to check its engine at that time and restart it if possible, he added.
Japanese officials said the blaze broke out below deck, where whale carcasses are processed. Most of the vessel's 148-member crew were evacuated Thursday to three other ships in the area that also belong to the Japanese whaling fleet, said Hideki Moronuki, an official with the Japan Fisheries Agency.
Hatches were closed to seal off the burning area, and some 30 crew members stayed aboard to fight the fire, pumping in seawater, Moronuki said.
The Nisshin Maru is the mother ship for five other Japanese vessels that hunt whales in annual hunts that Japan says are for research. The hunts began after the
International Whaling Commission imposed a global ban on commercial whaling in 1986.
The program is allowed by the IWC, which uses its data and approves its kill quotas. But many environmental groups say the hunts are a pretext to keep Japan's tiny whaling industry alive. Meat from the catch is sold commercially, and canned or frozen whale can be found in most large supermarkets, though it is no longer an important part of the Japanese diet.
One of the ships in the Nisshin Maru's group collided on Monday with a ship from the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group, which was protesting the hunt. The two Sea Shepherd ships left the area on Wednesday after running low on fuel.
Masuda said it was too early to determine what effect the fire would have on the whaling operation.
The ship was drifting 110 miles from Antarctica's Cape Adare, which hosts the world's largest penguin breeding rookeries with some 250,000 breeding pairs of Adelie penguins, Sanson said.
"It's a long way off the coast but the currents do go that way. We're very concerned about what could happen," Sanson told The Associated Press.
He said the ship was far from help and in a "high energy environment where you get a lot of storms." Conditions were calm Thursday.
The New Zealand navy said it had two frigates that could get to the scene quickly. A Greenpeace ship is also nearby, though Moronuki said Japan would not seek help from anti-whaling vessels.
Institute of Cetacean Research spokesman Glenn Inwood said the New Zealand-owned tug Pacific Chieftain, the closest salvage vessel to the Nisshin Maru, was 6 1/2 days away.
"Contingencies are being made at this stage but, again, it all depends on the damage assessment and that will be done over the next few hours," he told National Radio on Friday.
As you’ll see below, this has occurred in “pristine Antarctic waters” at the “…world's largest penguin breeding grounds.”
So, the leaked oil threatens this entire landscape.
I ask Japan – is the damage you will cause to this pristine environment really worth satisfying your gluttonous appetite for whale meat? I assume they’d selfishly say yes. But, rational people would of course disagree with their myopic view.
For more on the truth behind whaling in general see
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/10/
iceland-resume-whaling-excellent.html
For more on Japan and it’s other deranged practice of killing of dolphins - http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/11/
coalition-of-marine-scientists-has.html
Article:
Whaling ship drifts off Antarctic area
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070215/
ap_on_re_au_an/antarctica_whaling_ship_fire
By RAY LILLEY, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 15, 5:41 PM ET
WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A Japanese whaling ship crippled by fire drifted off the world's largest penguin breeding grounds Friday, and New Zealand alerted other countries it may need help if the vessel leaked oil into the pristine Antarctic waters.
One crewmember was missing from the 8,000-ton Nisshin Maru, which had started to list from water pumped aboard to fight the fire. The fire was contained below decks but continued to burn, said New Zealand Conservation Minister Chris Carter.
No oil had spilled and the vessel was in no immediate danger of sinking, officials said.
Carter contacted his counterparts in Japan, Australia, United States and Britain — other signatories to the Antarctic Treaty with responsibility for protecting its environment — in case "an international environmental response is needed," ministerial spokesman Nick Maling said.
Antarctica New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson said he had asked the U.S. Antarctic program to redirect a scheduled flight over the Nisshin Maru on Friday to check the ship's condition and provide the first independent assessment of the vessel since the fire began Thursday.
The ship was carrying 132,000 gallons of heavy oil and 211,000 gallons of furnace oil.
Steve Corbett, a spokesman for Maritime New Zealand, said his agency had spoken with the ship early Friday and the captain said overnight pumping had emptied excess water from the stricken vessel.
"That's corrected the list ... but there is still no (engine) power," he said. The fire "is contained and controlled" at present.
"We're confident the situation is under control but there's still an environmental threat and a crewman is still missing," he told The Associated Press.
Search teams were waiting for smoke to clear in the burning area before attempting to assess its condition and search for crewman Kazutaka Makita, 27, Japan Fishery Agency official Kenji Masuda said.
Crew members also planned to reboard the ship to check its engine at that time and restart it if possible, he added.
Japanese officials said the blaze broke out below deck, where whale carcasses are processed. Most of the vessel's 148-member crew were evacuated Thursday to three other ships in the area that also belong to the Japanese whaling fleet, said Hideki Moronuki, an official with the Japan Fisheries Agency.
Hatches were closed to seal off the burning area, and some 30 crew members stayed aboard to fight the fire, pumping in seawater, Moronuki said.
The Nisshin Maru is the mother ship for five other Japanese vessels that hunt whales in annual hunts that Japan says are for research. The hunts began after the
International Whaling Commission imposed a global ban on commercial whaling in 1986.
The program is allowed by the IWC, which uses its data and approves its kill quotas. But many environmental groups say the hunts are a pretext to keep Japan's tiny whaling industry alive. Meat from the catch is sold commercially, and canned or frozen whale can be found in most large supermarkets, though it is no longer an important part of the Japanese diet.
One of the ships in the Nisshin Maru's group collided on Monday with a ship from the Sea Shepherd anti-whaling group, which was protesting the hunt. The two Sea Shepherd ships left the area on Wednesday after running low on fuel.
Masuda said it was too early to determine what effect the fire would have on the whaling operation.
The ship was drifting 110 miles from Antarctica's Cape Adare, which hosts the world's largest penguin breeding rookeries with some 250,000 breeding pairs of Adelie penguins, Sanson said.
"It's a long way off the coast but the currents do go that way. We're very concerned about what could happen," Sanson told The Associated Press.
He said the ship was far from help and in a "high energy environment where you get a lot of storms." Conditions were calm Thursday.
The New Zealand navy said it had two frigates that could get to the scene quickly. A Greenpeace ship is also nearby, though Moronuki said Japan would not seek help from anti-whaling vessels.
Institute of Cetacean Research spokesman Glenn Inwood said the New Zealand-owned tug Pacific Chieftain, the closest salvage vessel to the Nisshin Maru, was 6 1/2 days away.
"Contingencies are being made at this stage but, again, it all depends on the damage assessment and that will be done over the next few hours," he told National Radio on Friday.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
More on Groundbreaking Film Documentary your Mommy Kills Animals: A Real Look Not Only at Animal Rights, But the State of Privacy and Speech Rights
I’ve heard a lot about this documentary. Though it appears to only focus on animal rights, that is not the case. Because animal rights is falsely considered a domestic threat, the new Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is the first major step toward the destruction of civil liberties – free speech, privacy, etc. for a while. The film uses animal rights to take a broader look at this issue. As the article below states, “What is even more intoxicating about this film is its social justice argument on "freedom of speech" issues, comparisons to the "civil rights movement," effective protesting measures…”
And even more telling is that this film was put together by “Five African American men (Dennis Banks, Nathan Deal, Earl Easley, John Hamilton and Anthony Simien) from Los Angeles known as Four Corners Capital.” This is important, as it gives more weight to the ability to actually discuss civil rights issues. Having only white film makers discuss civil rights can work, but it’s likely they haven’t experienced as much of the issue as black film makers would.
Go check out the film!
For more on the draconian Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act see: http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/11/
house-passes-animal-enterprise.html
Article:
From Real to Reel: Five African American Men First Film Project Equals 2008 Academy Award Buzz
http://www.blacknews.com/pr/yourmommykillsanimals101.html
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) - Five African American men (Dennis Banks, Nathan Deal, Earl Easley, John Hamilton and Anthony Simien) from Los Angeles known as Four Corners Capital have stepped into the world of film as Executive Producers. What is unique about these African American men is the film choice they have decided to back, which is starting to pique the interest of various movie industry leaders and film festivals around the world. Among the movie industry's attention to their first project, much talk has been suggested of a 2008 Academy Award.
They are not following a traditional film path of "the hood", "rags to riches", or "church-going" stereotypes. These five young brothers have elected to make others aware of the number one domestic terrorist threat in the United States through the documentary Your Mommy Kills Animals.
Your Mommy Kills Animals was conceptualized and directed by Academy Award-winning Producer/Director Curt Johnson. It takes an in-depth look at the animal rights movement and the FBI's recent declaration; calling animal rights activists the number one domestic terrorist threat to the United States.
Scheduled for a Fall 2007 release, Your Mommy Kills Animals is an overall look at the animal rights movement showing the good, the bad and the ugly in the movement. This film also covers the landmark case against Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (better known as the SHAC 7) and the resulting conviction, which literally has changed the course of activism in this country. What is even more intoxicating about this film is its social justice argument on "freedom of speech" issues, comparisons to the "civil rights movement," effective protesting measures, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) government agency's response to animals after Hurricane Katrina.
Although this documentary delivers arguments from both "Animal Welfare Advocates", as well as, "Animal Rights Activists" the film provides a real examination of:
* What our tax dollars are wasting away on?
* Does "free speech" exist for everyone?
* Are organizations' beliefs true to the core?
* Is profiling being taken to another level?
* Who truly benefits in the animal rights movement?
What's being said about Your Mommy Kills Animals?
"Run, don't walk to see this film. This is one of my Top 5 favorite films of the decade." --Larry Flynt
"This film's an easy Oscar contender." --Stan Lee
"A great no-holds-barred film." --Ain't It Cool News
"A brilliant documentary" --Portland Weekly
"A smart piece of investigative journalism." --Portland Mercury
"The bravest American film I've ever seen in my life." --Cinephilia
If you would like more information, schedule an interview, or film screening contact Dennis Banks at (323) 445-7506 or dbanks90005@yahoo.com
CONTACT:
Dennis Banks
323-445-7506
dbanks90005@yahoo.com
And even more telling is that this film was put together by “Five African American men (Dennis Banks, Nathan Deal, Earl Easley, John Hamilton and Anthony Simien) from Los Angeles known as Four Corners Capital.” This is important, as it gives more weight to the ability to actually discuss civil rights issues. Having only white film makers discuss civil rights can work, but it’s likely they haven’t experienced as much of the issue as black film makers would.
Go check out the film!
For more on the draconian Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act see: http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/11/
house-passes-animal-enterprise.html
Article:
From Real to Reel: Five African American Men First Film Project Equals 2008 Academy Award Buzz
http://www.blacknews.com/pr/yourmommykillsanimals101.html
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) - Five African American men (Dennis Banks, Nathan Deal, Earl Easley, John Hamilton and Anthony Simien) from Los Angeles known as Four Corners Capital have stepped into the world of film as Executive Producers. What is unique about these African American men is the film choice they have decided to back, which is starting to pique the interest of various movie industry leaders and film festivals around the world. Among the movie industry's attention to their first project, much talk has been suggested of a 2008 Academy Award.
They are not following a traditional film path of "the hood", "rags to riches", or "church-going" stereotypes. These five young brothers have elected to make others aware of the number one domestic terrorist threat in the United States through the documentary Your Mommy Kills Animals.
Your Mommy Kills Animals was conceptualized and directed by Academy Award-winning Producer/Director Curt Johnson. It takes an in-depth look at the animal rights movement and the FBI's recent declaration; calling animal rights activists the number one domestic terrorist threat to the United States.
Scheduled for a Fall 2007 release, Your Mommy Kills Animals is an overall look at the animal rights movement showing the good, the bad and the ugly in the movement. This film also covers the landmark case against Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (better known as the SHAC 7) and the resulting conviction, which literally has changed the course of activism in this country. What is even more intoxicating about this film is its social justice argument on "freedom of speech" issues, comparisons to the "civil rights movement," effective protesting measures, and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) government agency's response to animals after Hurricane Katrina.
Although this documentary delivers arguments from both "Animal Welfare Advocates", as well as, "Animal Rights Activists" the film provides a real examination of:
* What our tax dollars are wasting away on?
* Does "free speech" exist for everyone?
* Are organizations' beliefs true to the core?
* Is profiling being taken to another level?
* Who truly benefits in the animal rights movement?
What's being said about Your Mommy Kills Animals?
"Run, don't walk to see this film. This is one of my Top 5 favorite films of the decade." --Larry Flynt
"This film's an easy Oscar contender." --Stan Lee
"A great no-holds-barred film." --Ain't It Cool News
"A brilliant documentary" --Portland Weekly
"A smart piece of investigative journalism." --Portland Mercury
"The bravest American film I've ever seen in my life." --Cinephilia
If you would like more information, schedule an interview, or film screening contact Dennis Banks at (323) 445-7506 or dbanks90005@yahoo.com
CONTACT:
Dennis Banks
323-445-7506
dbanks90005@yahoo.com
Join Farm Sanctuary in Philadelphia for 6th Annual Farm Animal Forum: Learn How to Help Protect Farm Animals from Abuse
Looks like a great event. If you can, please try to make it. And pass along this information.
I’ve posted a description of the event from their website below. It can be found at:
http://farmsanctuary.org/farmanimalforum/2007/index.htm
Join Farm Sanctuary in Philadelphia for our 6th Annual Farm Animal Forum and find out how you can become an active participant in the nation's leading efforts to protect farm animals from abuse. Offering up-to-date information on critical farm animal issues, ground-breaking campaigns, movement developments, and effective advocacy strategies, this inspirational conference is a "must-attend" event for activists of all experience levels.
Don't miss out on this important and empowering opportunity to learn what YOU can do to take a stand against exploitation and come to the aid of suffering farm animals.
Conference Activities:
* Presentations by noted animal protection speakers
* Merchandise and literature exhibits
* Hands-on activism and volunteer opportunities
I’ve posted a description of the event from their website below. It can be found at:
http://farmsanctuary.org/farmanimalforum/2007/index.htm
Join Farm Sanctuary in Philadelphia for our 6th Annual Farm Animal Forum and find out how you can become an active participant in the nation's leading efforts to protect farm animals from abuse. Offering up-to-date information on critical farm animal issues, ground-breaking campaigns, movement developments, and effective advocacy strategies, this inspirational conference is a "must-attend" event for activists of all experience levels.
Don't miss out on this important and empowering opportunity to learn what YOU can do to take a stand against exploitation and come to the aid of suffering farm animals.
Conference Activities:
* Presentations by noted animal protection speakers
* Merchandise and literature exhibits
* Hands-on activism and volunteer opportunities
The Use of Marine Mammals Such As Dolphins and Sea Lions by the Navy: Have Been Training and Using In War Since 1960s: Plans to Escalate Use
Unfortunately, this program is alive and well. According to the article below, “The Navy has been training marine mammals since the 1960s and keeps about 100 dolphins and sea lions. Most are in San Diego, but about 20 are deployed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga..”
Even more depressing is that they’ve actually already been used in war. “Dolphins also are trained to detect underwater mines; they were sent to do this in the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr in 2003. The last time the animals were used operationally in San Diego was in 1996, when they patrolled the bay during the Republican National Convention.”
Article:
Navy May Deploy Anti-Terrorism Dolphins
Navy seeks to deploy dolphins to protect Seattle-area base from terrorist swimmers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/
ap_on_re_us/dolphin_defenders
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2007
By THOMAS WATKINS Associated Press Writer
(AP)
(AP) Dozens of dolphins and sea lions trained to detect and apprehend waterborne attackers could be sent to patrol a military base in Washington state, the Navy said Monday. In a notice published in this week's Federal Register, the Navy said it needs to bolster security at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, on the Puget Sound close to Seattle.
The base is home to submarines, ships and laboratories and is potentially vulnerable to attack by terrorist swimmers and scuba divers, the notice states.
Several options are under consideration, but the preferred plan would be to send as many as 30 California sea lions and Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins from the Navy's Marine Mammal Program, based in San Diego.
"These animals have the capabilities for what needs to be done for this particular mission," said Tom LaPuzza, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Program.
LaPuzza said that because of their astonishing sonar abilities, dolphins are excellent at patrolling for swimmers and divers. When a Navy dolphin detects a person in the water, it drops a beacon. This tells a human interception team where to find the suspicious swimmer.
Dolphins also are trained to detect underwater mines; they were sent to do this in the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr in 2003. The last time the animals were used operationally in San Diego was in 1996, when they patrolled the bay during the Republican National Convention.
Sea lions can carry in their mouths special cuffs attached to long ropes. If the animal finds a rogue swimmer, it can clamp the cuff around the person's leg. The individual can then be reeled in for questioning.
The Navy is seeking public comment for an environmental impact statement on the proposal.
The Navy wanted to deploy marine animals to the Northwest in 1989, LaPuzza said, but a federal judge sided with animal-rights activists concerned about the effects of cooler water, as well as how the creatures would affect the environment. Water in the Puget Sound is about 10 degrees cooler than in San Diego Harbor, which has an average temperature of about 58 degrees, LaPuzza said.
Since then, the Navy has taken the dolphins and sea lions to cold-water places like Alaska and Scandinavia to see how they cope.
"They did very well," LaPuzza said. If the animals are sent to Washington, the dolphins would be housed in heated enclosures and would patrol the bay only for periods of about two hours.
Stephanie Boyles, a marine biologist and spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said that sea mammals do not provide a reliable defense system, and that they should not be kept in small enclosures.
"We believe the United States' citizens deserve the very best defense possible, and this just isn't it," Boyles said, adding that dolphins are easily distracted once in open water. "They don't understand the consequences of what will happen if they don't carry out the mission."
Dolphins can live as long as 30 years. LaPuzza said the Navy occasionally gives its retired animals to marine parks but generally keeps them until they die of old age.
The Navy has been training marine mammals since the 1960s and keeps about 100 dolphins and sea lions. Most are in San Diego, but about 20 are deployed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.
The Navy hopes eventually to downsize its marine mammal program and replace the animals with machines.
"But the technology just isn't there yet," LaPuzza said. "The value of the marine mammals is we've been doing this for 35 years, and we've ironed out all the kinks."
Even more depressing is that they’ve actually already been used in war. “Dolphins also are trained to detect underwater mines; they were sent to do this in the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr in 2003. The last time the animals were used operationally in San Diego was in 1996, when they patrolled the bay during the Republican National Convention.”
Article:
Navy May Deploy Anti-Terrorism Dolphins
Navy seeks to deploy dolphins to protect Seattle-area base from terrorist swimmers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070213/
ap_on_re_us/dolphin_defenders
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 13, 2007
By THOMAS WATKINS Associated Press Writer
(AP)
(AP) Dozens of dolphins and sea lions trained to detect and apprehend waterborne attackers could be sent to patrol a military base in Washington state, the Navy said Monday. In a notice published in this week's Federal Register, the Navy said it needs to bolster security at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, on the Puget Sound close to Seattle.
The base is home to submarines, ships and laboratories and is potentially vulnerable to attack by terrorist swimmers and scuba divers, the notice states.
Several options are under consideration, but the preferred plan would be to send as many as 30 California sea lions and Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins from the Navy's Marine Mammal Program, based in San Diego.
"These animals have the capabilities for what needs to be done for this particular mission," said Tom LaPuzza, a spokesman for the Marine Mammal Program.
LaPuzza said that because of their astonishing sonar abilities, dolphins are excellent at patrolling for swimmers and divers. When a Navy dolphin detects a person in the water, it drops a beacon. This tells a human interception team where to find the suspicious swimmer.
Dolphins also are trained to detect underwater mines; they were sent to do this in the Iraqi harbor of Umm Qasr in 2003. The last time the animals were used operationally in San Diego was in 1996, when they patrolled the bay during the Republican National Convention.
Sea lions can carry in their mouths special cuffs attached to long ropes. If the animal finds a rogue swimmer, it can clamp the cuff around the person's leg. The individual can then be reeled in for questioning.
The Navy is seeking public comment for an environmental impact statement on the proposal.
The Navy wanted to deploy marine animals to the Northwest in 1989, LaPuzza said, but a federal judge sided with animal-rights activists concerned about the effects of cooler water, as well as how the creatures would affect the environment. Water in the Puget Sound is about 10 degrees cooler than in San Diego Harbor, which has an average temperature of about 58 degrees, LaPuzza said.
Since then, the Navy has taken the dolphins and sea lions to cold-water places like Alaska and Scandinavia to see how they cope.
"They did very well," LaPuzza said. If the animals are sent to Washington, the dolphins would be housed in heated enclosures and would patrol the bay only for periods of about two hours.
Stephanie Boyles, a marine biologist and spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said that sea mammals do not provide a reliable defense system, and that they should not be kept in small enclosures.
"We believe the United States' citizens deserve the very best defense possible, and this just isn't it," Boyles said, adding that dolphins are easily distracted once in open water. "They don't understand the consequences of what will happen if they don't carry out the mission."
Dolphins can live as long as 30 years. LaPuzza said the Navy occasionally gives its retired animals to marine parks but generally keeps them until they die of old age.
The Navy has been training marine mammals since the 1960s and keeps about 100 dolphins and sea lions. Most are in San Diego, but about 20 are deployed at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga.
The Navy hopes eventually to downsize its marine mammal program and replace the animals with machines.
"But the technology just isn't there yet," LaPuzza said. "The value of the marine mammals is we've been doing this for 35 years, and we've ironed out all the kinks."
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Groups Urge Boycott of 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China and Chinese Tourism: Reason: Treatment of Animals in China's Fur Industry and In General
There is no other issue I’ve posted more on than China and it’s treatment of animals. They are by far the cruelest country on Earth. The article below states that there is “horrific abuse of animals in China.” This is absolutely true.
Just look at the prior posting of today. The abuse of dogs and cats alone for fur and meat is enough to justify a boycott. As stated below, "They are indeed the largest exporter of fur products anywhere in the world…''
Don’t believe me? Just visit these links below. The first link is especially telling as it provides actual photos of the reality of animal torture in China:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
cruel-china-plans-another-large-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
even-on-heels-of-beyond-disgusting-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/05/
in-order-to-get-back-at-dalai-lama-and.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html
Article:
Animal rights groups call for Olympic boycott
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/
0,21985,21218902-5005961,00.html
February 13, 2007 01:31pm
Article from: AAP
ANIMAL liberation groups are urging people to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of the treatment of animals in China's fur industry.
A small but vocal group from the Anti-Fur Coalition gathered in a peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne's inner east this morning.
It was one of 30 protests staged worldwide today as part of an International Day of Protest Against Chinese Fur.
Danielle Archer, a spokeswoman for the group, said the purpose of the gathering was to encourage people to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of the "horrific abuse'' of animals in China.
"We're asking people to boycott the 2008 Olympics in China, we're asking people to boycott Chinese tourism as well,'' she said.
Ms Archer said the group was lobbying the Australian Government who in turn could encourage China to create laws that would see an end to animals being skinned alive for their fur.
"I think Australia can set an example. Already the importation of dog and cat fur is banned ... But I do think the Australian Government can take further steps and put pressure on the Chinese Government,'' she said.
Although the group would like to see the fur industry shut down worldwide, Ms Archer said that China was targeted in particular because of its lack of animal protection laws, and because of the size of the market for Chinese fur.
"They are indeed the largest exporter of fur products anywhere in the world,'' she said.
Just look at the prior posting of today. The abuse of dogs and cats alone for fur and meat is enough to justify a boycott. As stated below, "They are indeed the largest exporter of fur products anywhere in the world…''
Don’t believe me? Just visit these links below. The first link is especially telling as it provides actual photos of the reality of animal torture in China:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/03/
crash-course-in-unbelievable-cruelty.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
cruel-china-plans-another-large-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/08/
even-on-heels-of-beyond-disgusting-dog.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/05/
in-order-to-get-back-at-dalai-lama-and.html
http://geari.blogspot.com/2007/01/
sean-diddy-combs-admits-dog-fur-used.html
Article:
Animal rights groups call for Olympic boycott
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/
0,21985,21218902-5005961,00.html
February 13, 2007 01:31pm
Article from: AAP
ANIMAL liberation groups are urging people to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of the treatment of animals in China's fur industry.
A small but vocal group from the Anti-Fur Coalition gathered in a peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne's inner east this morning.
It was one of 30 protests staged worldwide today as part of an International Day of Protest Against Chinese Fur.
Danielle Archer, a spokeswoman for the group, said the purpose of the gathering was to encourage people to boycott the Beijing Olympics because of the "horrific abuse'' of animals in China.
"We're asking people to boycott the 2008 Olympics in China, we're asking people to boycott Chinese tourism as well,'' she said.
Ms Archer said the group was lobbying the Australian Government who in turn could encourage China to create laws that would see an end to animals being skinned alive for their fur.
"I think Australia can set an example. Already the importation of dog and cat fur is banned ... But I do think the Australian Government can take further steps and put pressure on the Chinese Government,'' she said.
Although the group would like to see the fur industry shut down worldwide, Ms Archer said that China was targeted in particular because of its lack of animal protection laws, and because of the size of the market for Chinese fur.
"They are indeed the largest exporter of fur products anywhere in the world,'' she said.
100 Surround Market in Tianjin, China Where Cats and Dogs were Being Slaughtered: Rescued 400 Cats that were About to be Slaughtered for Fur and Meat
Excellent signs there in cruel China. As stated below, “Many of the protesters were local people who had lost their pets and suspected the animals had been abducted by furriers.”
This story really brings to life the reality of cruel China and it’s treatment of cats and dogs. The truth of the slaughter of cats and dogs for meat and fur is well documented.
I wrote a while back on the use of cats and dogs for fur and meat in China. Please see that post at:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/02/
cruel-china-keeps-up-its-status-as.html
See actual footage taken from Chinese fur farms at this web address: http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/
Unfortunately, as also stated, “The police refused to support the animal protection group because there is no law in China against killing cats and dogs, and all the animal traders were licensed.” So, more proof of the official support of cat and dog slaughter in China.
Article:
Chinese Animal Rights Victory Takes Cats Off the Menu
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/127285.html
China's nascent animal rights movement claimed a rare victory today after rescuing more than 400 cats that were about to be slaughtered for their fur and meat.
China's nascent animal rights movement claimed a rare victory today after rescuing more than 400 cats that were about to be slaughtered for their fur and meat.
They were saved from a market in Tianjin after a standoff last week between 100 pet lovers and police which left one protester hospitalised.
Until recent years, respect for animal rights was almost non-existent in China, but the country's rising affluence has brought with it a pet-pampering middle class. Activists are becoming bolder, posting video footage of cruel treatment on YouTube and staging protests.
In the latest confrontation, 100 supporters of the "Love Kitty" group in Tianjin surrounded a market, where cats and dogs were being slaughtered. Many of the protesters were local people who had lost their pets and suspected the animals had been abducted by furriers. The police refused to support the animal protection group because there is no law in China against killing cats and dogs, and all the animal traders were licensed.
Lu Di, director of the Small Animal Protection Association, said: "The demonstrators were afraid that the killings were continuing behind the closed doors so they made their way inside. They found cats crammed inside tiny wire cages about 10cm [4ins] high. About 80 police officers arrived and there were scuffles. One man suffered a head injury and is still in hospital."
To avoid further clashes, the Hebei provincial government allowed the cats to be taken to Ms Lu's shelter in Beijing. It has been difficult for her small, non-profit organisation to cope with so many mistreated animals.
This story really brings to life the reality of cruel China and it’s treatment of cats and dogs. The truth of the slaughter of cats and dogs for meat and fur is well documented.
I wrote a while back on the use of cats and dogs for fur and meat in China. Please see that post at:
http://geari.blogspot.com/2006/02/
cruel-china-keeps-up-its-status-as.html
See actual footage taken from Chinese fur farms at this web address: http://www.furisdead.com/feat/ChineseFurFarms/
Unfortunately, as also stated, “The police refused to support the animal protection group because there is no law in China against killing cats and dogs, and all the animal traders were licensed.” So, more proof of the official support of cat and dog slaughter in China.
Article:
Chinese Animal Rights Victory Takes Cats Off the Menu
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/127285.html
China's nascent animal rights movement claimed a rare victory today after rescuing more than 400 cats that were about to be slaughtered for their fur and meat.
China's nascent animal rights movement claimed a rare victory today after rescuing more than 400 cats that were about to be slaughtered for their fur and meat.
They were saved from a market in Tianjin after a standoff last week between 100 pet lovers and police which left one protester hospitalised.
Until recent years, respect for animal rights was almost non-existent in China, but the country's rising affluence has brought with it a pet-pampering middle class. Activists are becoming bolder, posting video footage of cruel treatment on YouTube and staging protests.
In the latest confrontation, 100 supporters of the "Love Kitty" group in Tianjin surrounded a market, where cats and dogs were being slaughtered. Many of the protesters were local people who had lost their pets and suspected the animals had been abducted by furriers. The police refused to support the animal protection group because there is no law in China against killing cats and dogs, and all the animal traders were licensed.
Lu Di, director of the Small Animal Protection Association, said: "The demonstrators were afraid that the killings were continuing behind the closed doors so they made their way inside. They found cats crammed inside tiny wire cages about 10cm [4ins] high. About 80 police officers arrived and there were scuffles. One man suffered a head injury and is still in hospital."
To avoid further clashes, the Hebei provincial government allowed the cats to be taken to Ms Lu's shelter in Beijing. It has been difficult for her small, non-profit organisation to cope with so many mistreated animals.
Conditions so Appalling for Laboratory Animals at the University of Washington that Drastic Changes Forced
What’s most telling about this story is it’s exposure of what the conditions are actually like in a federally-funded animal testing facility. Even though the University of Washington is one of the largest universities in the world, they still don’t provide minimum or adequate care for any of the animals. So just imagine what goes on at other less funded facilities. Must be complete hell.
And even more telling is that usually the government doesn’t care at all about conditions for animals in animal testing laboratories. For some reason they finally investigated and disciplined a facility.
Here’s what was uncovered due to the investigation:
“The university houses about 100,000 mice and rats, 700 primates and lesser numbers of dogs, cats, fish and other creatures.
In monkey laboratories, inspectors found leaking steam heat from a cage-washing device, doors too small for some of the animals to use inside the cages, severe diarrhea outbreaks and a lack of alarms for heating or cooling equipment failure.
In other labs, according to the letter, faulty ventilation resulted in "intense" odor and dust levels and there were improperly caged rodents, peeling paint, filthy cages and problems with heat and air conditioning.”
Article:
University of Washington told to fix research animal buildings
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/
6420AP_WA_Animal_Research.html
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE -- The University of Washington must spend more than $20 million on ventilation, sanitation, lighting and other aspects of research animal housing or risk the loss of millions of dollars in grants, school officials say.
The problems were reported in a nine-page letter from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.
"Serious deficiencies that had the potential to negatively impact the health, well-being and safety of animals and humans were not being identified," association officials wrote.
The university houses about 100,000 mice and rats, 700 primates and lesser numbers of dogs, cats, fish and other creatures.
In monkey laboratories, inspectors found leaking steam heat from a cage-washing device, doors too small for some of the animals to use inside the cages, severe diarrhea outbreaks and a lack of alarms for heating or cooling equipment failure.
In other labs, according to the letter, faulty ventilation resulted in "intense" odor and dust levels and there were improperly caged rodents, peeling paint, filthy cages and problems with heat and air conditioning.
The association also praised some operations, including veterinary care, medical records, training programs and overall occupational safety and health.
About one-fourth of the research facilities visited every three years by the association receive probationary or similar status, Executive Director Dr. John Miller said.
The inspection was made in June and the findings were sent to the university in November. School officials released the report Monday so they could discuss the problems before they were publicized by animal rights activists that obtained the report more recently.
Most of the problems stem from a lack of federal funding to renovate the 50- to 60-year-old wings of the Health Sciences complex, university officials said.
"We've hit a wall and we've got to fix the wall," said John A. Coulter, executive director for the school's Health Sciences Administration.
Debra Durham, an investigator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in Seattle, said the university's program is plagued with longstanding, systemic problems.
"I get frustrated with the fact that they push it off as growing pains or shortage of money when animals' lives are on the line," Durham said. "If you don't have the infrastructure to take on a task, the responsible thing is not to do it."
A new building would be prohibitively expensive and more than $20 million is needed for relatively short-term fixes, school officials said.
H. Denny Liggitt, chair of the comparative medicine division, said federal grants matched by the school and state funds used to provide than $4 million a year for renovations, but the federal funding was halted for all institutions in recent years.
The university has until May 1 to show substantial progress or risk losing its accreditation. If accreditation is retained, the university faces further monitoring by the association. While the review is voluntary, full accreditation is considered essential for the school to remain competitive for millions of dollars in federal research grants.
Since the review, some monkeys have been moved to larger quarters and about 30,000 mice and rats were moved to the new William H. Foege Building that was opened in March with good ventilation, heating and air conditioning.
Alarms and temperature controls have been installed and personnel have been retrained.
Still, Coulter and other officials said many animals remain in a 60-year-old wing housing dozens of animals and a 50-year-old wing with some primate quarters, both with outmoded heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts, deteriorating walls, floors and ceilings, and in many cases inadequate lighting.
And even more telling is that usually the government doesn’t care at all about conditions for animals in animal testing laboratories. For some reason they finally investigated and disciplined a facility.
Here’s what was uncovered due to the investigation:
“The university houses about 100,000 mice and rats, 700 primates and lesser numbers of dogs, cats, fish and other creatures.
In monkey laboratories, inspectors found leaking steam heat from a cage-washing device, doors too small for some of the animals to use inside the cages, severe diarrhea outbreaks and a lack of alarms for heating or cooling equipment failure.
In other labs, according to the letter, faulty ventilation resulted in "intense" odor and dust levels and there were improperly caged rodents, peeling paint, filthy cages and problems with heat and air conditioning.”
Article:
University of Washington told to fix research animal buildings
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/
6420AP_WA_Animal_Research.html
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SEATTLE -- The University of Washington must spend more than $20 million on ventilation, sanitation, lighting and other aspects of research animal housing or risk the loss of millions of dollars in grants, school officials say.
The problems were reported in a nine-page letter from the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care.
"Serious deficiencies that had the potential to negatively impact the health, well-being and safety of animals and humans were not being identified," association officials wrote.
The university houses about 100,000 mice and rats, 700 primates and lesser numbers of dogs, cats, fish and other creatures.
In monkey laboratories, inspectors found leaking steam heat from a cage-washing device, doors too small for some of the animals to use inside the cages, severe diarrhea outbreaks and a lack of alarms for heating or cooling equipment failure.
In other labs, according to the letter, faulty ventilation resulted in "intense" odor and dust levels and there were improperly caged rodents, peeling paint, filthy cages and problems with heat and air conditioning.
The association also praised some operations, including veterinary care, medical records, training programs and overall occupational safety and health.
About one-fourth of the research facilities visited every three years by the association receive probationary or similar status, Executive Director Dr. John Miller said.
The inspection was made in June and the findings were sent to the university in November. School officials released the report Monday so they could discuss the problems before they were publicized by animal rights activists that obtained the report more recently.
Most of the problems stem from a lack of federal funding to renovate the 50- to 60-year-old wings of the Health Sciences complex, university officials said.
"We've hit a wall and we've got to fix the wall," said John A. Coulter, executive director for the school's Health Sciences Administration.
Debra Durham, an investigator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in Seattle, said the university's program is plagued with longstanding, systemic problems.
"I get frustrated with the fact that they push it off as growing pains or shortage of money when animals' lives are on the line," Durham said. "If you don't have the infrastructure to take on a task, the responsible thing is not to do it."
A new building would be prohibitively expensive and more than $20 million is needed for relatively short-term fixes, school officials said.
H. Denny Liggitt, chair of the comparative medicine division, said federal grants matched by the school and state funds used to provide than $4 million a year for renovations, but the federal funding was halted for all institutions in recent years.
The university has until May 1 to show substantial progress or risk losing its accreditation. If accreditation is retained, the university faces further monitoring by the association. While the review is voluntary, full accreditation is considered essential for the school to remain competitive for millions of dollars in federal research grants.
Since the review, some monkeys have been moved to larger quarters and about 30,000 mice and rats were moved to the new William H. Foege Building that was opened in March with good ventilation, heating and air conditioning.
Alarms and temperature controls have been installed and personnel have been retrained.
Still, Coulter and other officials said many animals remain in a 60-year-old wing housing dozens of animals and a 50-year-old wing with some primate quarters, both with outmoded heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts, deteriorating walls, floors and ceilings, and in many cases inadequate lighting.
Monday, February 12, 2007
Vegan Oscars and Academy Awards Developed in England: You Too Can Vote!
VOTE NOW
http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/vote/
Read all about it….
Vegan Oscars and Academy Awards at International Vegan Festival
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb503388.htm
As the season for Oscar nominations and Academy Awards kicks off a Bristol based businessman Tim Barford from Yaoh has launched the vegan equivalent. Just who are the people, products and the companies that are helping change the way we live and the world we live in, and in a positive way rather than a destructive and nihilistic way? Who is making it easier to be vegan and thus easier to be kinder to health, people, animals and the environment?
London, UK (PRWEB) February 12, 2007 --
007 VEGAN AWARDS
Bristol based businessman and Hempologist Tim Barford from Yaoh the UK's pioneer hemp food company has launched a nationwide quest to find the people's choices for favourite vegan people and things in 2007 - The Yaoh 007 Vegan Environmental Awards
Members of Vegan Societies and members of the general public, vegan or otherwise, are being urged to vote for their vegan favourites, such as Beanies Health Foods' new dairy free ice cream B'Nice.
There are 007 categories with 007 nominees in each category. Voters can vote for as many or as few nominees in each category as they wish. Voters can also nominate an 8th nominee for the 2008 awards.
ETHICAL VEGAN BRIBE - WIN A HAMPER
The chance to thank people making a vegan lifestyle easier should be gratifying enough for most veggies but voters are also entered into a free draw. 12 vegan hampers in all, each one worth over £50, are planned to be given away as an incentive to attract voters. Two hampers are to be given away free to two separate lucky voters every month starting through till June '007 at the awards at The Bristol Vegan Fayre.
DOUBLE VEGAN DIETS
43 year old Hempologist Tim Barford says 'By helping to highlight the awesome array of vegan choice out there, combined with our massive 2 day vegan festival, we hope to give many new people the opportunity to see the advantages and enjoyment to be had from a vegan lifestyle.'
All the UK animal welfare charities including The Vegan Society, Viva, Animal Aid and a number from other countries are making a concerted effort to reach new people and help them see the solutions that a vegan lifestyle has to offer.
'2007 is set to be a massive year for veganism, if we can help get everyone fired up enough and working together there's a good chance they can double the number of vegans ' adds Tim Barford
We want to encourage everyone to dynamically focus on the fun side of veganism and publicly demonstrate how pleasurable it can be to make a positive difference. Veganism doesn't need to be the earnest and vexed image that the UK newspapers so often portray.
The Vegan Lifestyle and diet have recently been the focus of a number of BBC programmes and environmentalists everywhere are begining to see vegan diets as a logical solution.
VEGAN CHOICE
The 007 categories for the Yaoh 007 Environmental Awards are
001 Best Vegan Product
002 Best Vegan Company
03 Best Vegan Individual Achievement
004 Best Independent Health Store
005 Best Vegan Campaigning Organisation
006 Best Vegan On Line Shop
007 Best Vegan Media/publication
VOTE NOW
http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/vote/
EDITORS NOTES & CONTACTS
Yaoh are a Bristol based company manufacturing hemp based food and cosmetic products. They also sell a unique Hemp milk maker. Tim Barford the owner has launched a number of Vegan initiatives in Bristol including the Vegan Guide to Bristol and five Bristol Vegan Fayres.
www.yaoh.co.uk
www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk
http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/vote/
Read all about it….
Vegan Oscars and Academy Awards at International Vegan Festival
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/2/prweb503388.htm
As the season for Oscar nominations and Academy Awards kicks off a Bristol based businessman Tim Barford from Yaoh has launched the vegan equivalent. Just who are the people, products and the companies that are helping change the way we live and the world we live in, and in a positive way rather than a destructive and nihilistic way? Who is making it easier to be vegan and thus easier to be kinder to health, people, animals and the environment?
London, UK (PRWEB) February 12, 2007 --
007 VEGAN AWARDS
Bristol based businessman and Hempologist Tim Barford from Yaoh the UK's pioneer hemp food company has launched a nationwide quest to find the people's choices for favourite vegan people and things in 2007 - The Yaoh 007 Vegan Environmental Awards
Members of Vegan Societies and members of the general public, vegan or otherwise, are being urged to vote for their vegan favourites, such as Beanies Health Foods' new dairy free ice cream B'Nice.
There are 007 categories with 007 nominees in each category. Voters can vote for as many or as few nominees in each category as they wish. Voters can also nominate an 8th nominee for the 2008 awards.
ETHICAL VEGAN BRIBE - WIN A HAMPER
The chance to thank people making a vegan lifestyle easier should be gratifying enough for most veggies but voters are also entered into a free draw. 12 vegan hampers in all, each one worth over £50, are planned to be given away as an incentive to attract voters. Two hampers are to be given away free to two separate lucky voters every month starting through till June '007 at the awards at The Bristol Vegan Fayre.
DOUBLE VEGAN DIETS
43 year old Hempologist Tim Barford says 'By helping to highlight the awesome array of vegan choice out there, combined with our massive 2 day vegan festival, we hope to give many new people the opportunity to see the advantages and enjoyment to be had from a vegan lifestyle.'
All the UK animal welfare charities including The Vegan Society, Viva, Animal Aid and a number from other countries are making a concerted effort to reach new people and help them see the solutions that a vegan lifestyle has to offer.
'2007 is set to be a massive year for veganism, if we can help get everyone fired up enough and working together there's a good chance they can double the number of vegans ' adds Tim Barford
We want to encourage everyone to dynamically focus on the fun side of veganism and publicly demonstrate how pleasurable it can be to make a positive difference. Veganism doesn't need to be the earnest and vexed image that the UK newspapers so often portray.
The Vegan Lifestyle and diet have recently been the focus of a number of BBC programmes and environmentalists everywhere are begining to see vegan diets as a logical solution.
VEGAN CHOICE
The 007 categories for the Yaoh 007 Environmental Awards are
001 Best Vegan Product
002 Best Vegan Company
03 Best Vegan Individual Achievement
004 Best Independent Health Store
005 Best Vegan Campaigning Organisation
006 Best Vegan On Line Shop
007 Best Vegan Media/publication
VOTE NOW
http://www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk/vote/
EDITORS NOTES & CONTACTS
Yaoh are a Bristol based company manufacturing hemp based food and cosmetic products. They also sell a unique Hemp milk maker. Tim Barford the owner has launched a number of Vegan initiatives in Bristol including the Vegan Guide to Bristol and five Bristol Vegan Fayres.
www.yaoh.co.uk
www.bristolveganfayre.co.uk
Even After Puppy Found In Mississipppi Tortured With PVC Pipe Glue, 9 Versions Of A Bill Making Extreme Acts Animal Cruelty A Felony Die in State
Well, what did you expect coming from Mississippi??!! Sad, but true
Article:
Buddy's law dies
http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/index.ssf?/
base/news/1171278940101710.xml
Monday, February 12, 2007
By CHERIE WARD
The Mississippi Press
JACKSON -- The fight to change the animal cruelty penalties in Mississippi is over.
Rep. John Reed said nine versions of a bill making extreme acts animal cruelty a felony died before the House and the Senate.
Animal cruelty became a strong focus in Mississippi last July when Buddy, a 16-week-old Labrador was found in Gautier tortured with PVC pipe glue and left for dead. The puppy was later euthanized by a local veterinarian.
Mississippi has one of the weakest animal cruelty laws in the country, and is one of only eight states with no felony provision for extreme acts of cruelty.
"I would have really like to have seen a change," Reed said.
A campaign to change the animal cruelty law was launched as animal lovers and animal rights activist across the country spoke out in support of a revision to the Mississippi law that has been in place since 1972.
House Bill 1538 would have enforced a misdemeanor for acts of simple animal cruelty, such as neglect and abandonment, and a felony for malicious abuse and torture towards animals. Three conviction of simple animal cruelty would execute a felony as well.
Senate Bill 2097 also made similar distinctions between misdemeanor and felony charges for animal cruelty.
Both bills, as well as the seven others, died before the Agriculture and Judiciary B committees on Jan. 30.
Five were House bills and four were Senate.
Mississippi House Judiciary B Committee Chairman Jeff Smith, who presented House Bill 1538, and Rep. Erik Fleming heard testimony on Jan. 25 from local and national animal cruelty experts at a hearing in Jackson concerning increased penalties.
While bills to correct the issue have been introduced in years past, none have made it to the point of a hearing, which encouraged several organizations supporting the change.
Wanda Henry Jacobs, publisher of The Mississippi Press, told committee members that the paper received more than three dozen letters to the editor in response to an article about Buddy last year. The paper collected more than $3,000 in reward money from local readers, as well as more than 12,000 signatures on a petition demanding stronger laws.
The Humane Society of South Mississippi's Joe Elmore asked that committee members to champion the effort.
"The HSUS believes strongly in the need for felony level penalties for extreme acts of animal cruelty," Elmore said.
Dr. Mary Lou Randour, a psychologist and animal cruelty expert with The Humane Society of the United States, said animal abuse can lead to malignant treatment towards people.
"There's a clearly documented link between animal cruelty and human violence. Often, people who abuse animals become violent criminals who are a threat to society. Felony level penalties are critical to preventing future acts of violence," Randour said.
Article:
Buddy's law dies
http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/index.ssf?/
base/news/1171278940101710.xml
Monday, February 12, 2007
By CHERIE WARD
The Mississippi Press
JACKSON -- The fight to change the animal cruelty penalties in Mississippi is over.
Rep. John Reed said nine versions of a bill making extreme acts animal cruelty a felony died before the House and the Senate.
Animal cruelty became a strong focus in Mississippi last July when Buddy, a 16-week-old Labrador was found in Gautier tortured with PVC pipe glue and left for dead. The puppy was later euthanized by a local veterinarian.
Mississippi has one of the weakest animal cruelty laws in the country, and is one of only eight states with no felony provision for extreme acts of cruelty.
"I would have really like to have seen a change," Reed said.
A campaign to change the animal cruelty law was launched as animal lovers and animal rights activist across the country spoke out in support of a revision to the Mississippi law that has been in place since 1972.
House Bill 1538 would have enforced a misdemeanor for acts of simple animal cruelty, such as neglect and abandonment, and a felony for malicious abuse and torture towards animals. Three conviction of simple animal cruelty would execute a felony as well.
Senate Bill 2097 also made similar distinctions between misdemeanor and felony charges for animal cruelty.
Both bills, as well as the seven others, died before the Agriculture and Judiciary B committees on Jan. 30.
Five were House bills and four were Senate.
Mississippi House Judiciary B Committee Chairman Jeff Smith, who presented House Bill 1538, and Rep. Erik Fleming heard testimony on Jan. 25 from local and national animal cruelty experts at a hearing in Jackson concerning increased penalties.
While bills to correct the issue have been introduced in years past, none have made it to the point of a hearing, which encouraged several organizations supporting the change.
Wanda Henry Jacobs, publisher of The Mississippi Press, told committee members that the paper received more than three dozen letters to the editor in response to an article about Buddy last year. The paper collected more than $3,000 in reward money from local readers, as well as more than 12,000 signatures on a petition demanding stronger laws.
The Humane Society of South Mississippi's Joe Elmore asked that committee members to champion the effort.
"The HSUS believes strongly in the need for felony level penalties for extreme acts of animal cruelty," Elmore said.
Dr. Mary Lou Randour, a psychologist and animal cruelty expert with The Humane Society of the United States, said animal abuse can lead to malignant treatment towards people.
"There's a clearly documented link between animal cruelty and human violence. Often, people who abuse animals become violent criminals who are a threat to society. Felony level penalties are critical to preventing future acts of violence," Randour said.
HSUS Hopes to Help Put Forth Strong Bills to Curb Farm Animal Cruelty
Excellent synopsis of some of the issues that we all h0pe will be put forth this session.
Article:
Animal-rights groups could impact upcoming debates
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070211/BIZ/702110341/1005/BIZ
By Philip Brasher
Gannett News Service
File photo/The Associated Press
Cattle are shown in a feedlot in Mead, Neb. Flush with cash, animal-welfare groups will be pushing to use this year's farm bill to stop practices they consider inhumane. One measure is a permanent ban on slaughtering cattle or hogs that are lame or ill.
WASHINGTON — Used to be that farmers only watched the debates over a farm bill to see how much money they would get out of it.
This year, some producers have reason to watch a little nervously. Flush with cash, animal-welfare groups will be pushing to use this year's farm bill to stop practices they consider inhumane.
Among the measures Congress is likely to take up:
# A requirement that the federal government, including the school lunch program, buy meat or dairy products from producers that meet certain animal-welfare standards, including adequate space in barns for hogs and poultry. Pork from producers who keep their sows in crates, the common practice in the industry, could no longer be sold to the government.
# A permanent ban on slaughtering "downer" cattle or hogs, animals that are lame or ill.
# A requirement that the U.S. Agriculture Department set standards for the humane slaughter of chickens and turkeys. Rules already in place set slaughter standards for cattle and hogs.
"We need to see the farm bill not just as a producer bill but as a producer bill and a consumer bill," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. "This is important to the public. The public cares about the humane treatment of animals."
A lot has happened since the last farm bill was written in 2002.
The Humane Society, now the most influential animal-rights group, has more than doubled its membership, merged with several smaller organizations and expanded its staff. Between 2002 and 2005, the organization's annual revenue jumped from $76 million to $141 million. The group also formed a new political arm that was used to target campaign spending against several key lawmakers in last fall's election.
Democrats now have control of both houses of Congress - in 2002 they held only the Senate - and several of the livestock industry's staunchest allies are out of office, including Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., and Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.
And last fall, farm groups suffered a signal defeat on animal-welfare issues when the House voted 263-146 to ban the slaughter of horses.
The ban ultimately didn't become law, but the vote demonstrated the potency of animal-welfare measures. Then Smithfield Foods, the nation's No. 1 hog producer, announced that it would phase out the use of gestation stalls, the 2-foot-by-7-foot crates that most sows spend their lives in.
Smithfield denied that it was bowing to pressure from activists - the company could hardly say otherwise - but Smithfield's biggest customers, such as McDonald's Corp., had been feeling the heat.
Shortly after Smithfield's announcement, Canada's top pork producer and packer, Maple Leaf Foods, said it too would phase out sow stalls.
"The animal-rights movement has changed since 2002," said Kelli Ludlum, who follows animal-welfare issues for the American Farm Bureau Federation. "You have your head in the sand if you think they are not more organized than they were five years ago."
The legislation that would set animal-welfare standards for federal suppliers may be the most important to watch. Animal-rights activists view the legislation as the first step to setting nationwide standards for livestock care.
"It's part of the process of seeing that we have humane standards for animals raised for food," Pacelle said.
There are precedents for starting with school lunches to change industry-wide practices of farmers and food processors. A ban on beef from downer cattle was introduced to the school lunch program well before the USDA imposed a broader, but temporary, ban on downers after the nation's first case of mad cow disease appeared in 2003.
Some farmers may rue the day that Congress passes the farm bill.
Article:
Animal-rights groups could impact upcoming debates
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/
20070211/BIZ/702110341/1005/BIZ
By Philip Brasher
Gannett News Service
File photo/The Associated Press
Cattle are shown in a feedlot in Mead, Neb. Flush with cash, animal-welfare groups will be pushing to use this year's farm bill to stop practices they consider inhumane. One measure is a permanent ban on slaughtering cattle or hogs that are lame or ill.
WASHINGTON — Used to be that farmers only watched the debates over a farm bill to see how much money they would get out of it.
This year, some producers have reason to watch a little nervously. Flush with cash, animal-welfare groups will be pushing to use this year's farm bill to stop practices they consider inhumane.
Among the measures Congress is likely to take up:
# A requirement that the federal government, including the school lunch program, buy meat or dairy products from producers that meet certain animal-welfare standards, including adequate space in barns for hogs and poultry. Pork from producers who keep their sows in crates, the common practice in the industry, could no longer be sold to the government.
# A permanent ban on slaughtering "downer" cattle or hogs, animals that are lame or ill.
# A requirement that the U.S. Agriculture Department set standards for the humane slaughter of chickens and turkeys. Rules already in place set slaughter standards for cattle and hogs.
"We need to see the farm bill not just as a producer bill but as a producer bill and a consumer bill," said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States. "This is important to the public. The public cares about the humane treatment of animals."
A lot has happened since the last farm bill was written in 2002.
The Humane Society, now the most influential animal-rights group, has more than doubled its membership, merged with several smaller organizations and expanded its staff. Between 2002 and 2005, the organization's annual revenue jumped from $76 million to $141 million. The group also formed a new political arm that was used to target campaign spending against several key lawmakers in last fall's election.
Democrats now have control of both houses of Congress - in 2002 they held only the Senate - and several of the livestock industry's staunchest allies are out of office, including Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., and Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.
And last fall, farm groups suffered a signal defeat on animal-welfare issues when the House voted 263-146 to ban the slaughter of horses.
The ban ultimately didn't become law, but the vote demonstrated the potency of animal-welfare measures. Then Smithfield Foods, the nation's No. 1 hog producer, announced that it would phase out the use of gestation stalls, the 2-foot-by-7-foot crates that most sows spend their lives in.
Smithfield denied that it was bowing to pressure from activists - the company could hardly say otherwise - but Smithfield's biggest customers, such as McDonald's Corp., had been feeling the heat.
Shortly after Smithfield's announcement, Canada's top pork producer and packer, Maple Leaf Foods, said it too would phase out sow stalls.
"The animal-rights movement has changed since 2002," said Kelli Ludlum, who follows animal-welfare issues for the American Farm Bureau Federation. "You have your head in the sand if you think they are not more organized than they were five years ago."
The legislation that would set animal-welfare standards for federal suppliers may be the most important to watch. Animal-rights activists view the legislation as the first step to setting nationwide standards for livestock care.
"It's part of the process of seeing that we have humane standards for animals raised for food," Pacelle said.
There are precedents for starting with school lunches to change industry-wide practices of farmers and food processors. A ban on beef from downer cattle was introduced to the school lunch program well before the USDA imposed a broader, but temporary, ban on downers after the nation's first case of mad cow disease appeared in 2003.
Some farmers may rue the day that Congress passes the farm bill.
More and More Teens and Students Object to Dissection: One Story of One Courageous and Caring Teen Who Refuses to Take Part in Dissection
I’d like to congratulate Tonia De Los Santos for being a rare teen and for standing up for what you KNOW is wrong. Courage is hard to come by these days. But, you’ll see, you’ll feel better and others WILL follow. It takes one to speak for the many. Keep it up.
For more on alternatives to dissection and how to state your rights not to dissect, see the following two sites:
http://www.navs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ain_edu_dissection_loan_program
http://www.dissectionalternatives.org/
Teen objects to dissection
Educators say lesson is optional but educational
http://heraldnet.com/stories/07/02/11/100loc_b1rat001.cfm
By Julie Muhlstein
Herald Columnist
The day I visited her Marysville home, Tonia De Los Santos was wearing cuffed jeans, a blue sweatshirt, a rainbow hair clip, pink nail polish, and a rat on her shoulder.
She's crazy about animals. And she's crazy about Johnny Depp, star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Tonia, 17, named her rat "Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Captain," as she dubs the rodent for short, isn't a typical house pet. Tonia doesn't have a typical household. In addition to the rat, her family has a bearded dragon lizard, a gecko, a rabbit, several hamsters, three dogs, three cats and a tank full of goldfish.
Tonia may not be the typical kid, but plenty of teens may relate to her complaint.
"My daughter came home from school the other day really upset. She said, 'Mom, I have to dissect a rat,'†" said Erica Sweeten, Tonia's mother. "She said she can't do it."
Tonia is enrolled in biology at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Her teacher is Brian Roberts, a substitute for a science teacher recently deployed to serve in Iraq.
Sweeten said Tonia told her that when she complained, the teacher countered that his other class will dissect cats.
While Tonia had the impression that if she didn't do the rat dissection she wouldn't get a passing grade, Roberts and Ken Tallquist, an assistant principal at Marysville-Pilchuck, said there is always the option of students doing an alternative assignment.
"I just started the quarter. Kids are still finding out what we're doing," said Roberts. The teacher said cats are indeed used for dissection, but only in anatomy-physiology, an advanced elective course.
"If a parent was concerned, that's fine," said Tallquist. On Friday, the assistant principal spoke with Tonia's teacher. "No one has contacted the teacher about opting out," Tallquist said.
Talking with other science teachers at the school, Tallquist said "they rarely have an opt-out" when the assignment is dissection.
Although Tonia was mistaken in thinking she'd be forced to cut up a dead rat that reminded her of Captain Jack, her fear got me wondering what types of critters are being dissected at other schools.
Perhaps a better question is why are critters cut up in high school at all?
"When you and I were in school, we were dissecting frogs," said Gail Miller, assistant superintendent in the Marysville School District. "A big part of biology is the study of anatomy. Rat and cat structures are more like humans."
"It's a vivid experience. The instrumental purpose is for kids to understand more deeply and remember longer," Miller added.
There could be several ways of opting out, she said. "One could be that they just don't want to touch it. They could stay and observe. The second level would be to opt out of the whole lab," Miller said. In three years with the district, she said this is the first time she's heard of a dissection complaint.
In the Monroe School District, spokeswoman Rosemary O'Neil said high school students have dissected earthworms, squid and perch. "It depends on what classification they're studying in biology. But there's always an alternative assignment," O'Neil said.
"There are things you will never learn from a picture," said O'Neil, who acknowledged that students' first reaction to the assignment is often "Eeewww, I don't want to do that."
Everett School District science specialist Bob Sotak said when he was a teacher, there were always other options. In Everett's biology classes, he said students take apart chicken wings to compare the bone structure with that of human hands.
Other animals may be used in anatomy and physiology classes, Sotak said.
Tallquist said the rats are acquired from the Carolina Biological Supply Company. The company's Web site shows pigs and frogs are also available. Tallquist said cats also come from a science supply company, and are available "with fur and without."
To Sweeten, the very idea that anyone would teach a teenager to skin and dissect a cat is appalling.
"It's not acceptable," Sweeten said. "We teach kids not to hurt animals. The first time I hear on the news that some cat has gotten skinned, well who taught them how to do it?"
Tallquist called dissection "a great teaching tool."
"You learn a tremendous amount. I remember when I was a kid doing this, and thinking 'Wow, I did not know that.' The same things are going on in the animal as with you," Tallquist said.
With Captain Jack Sparrow on her shoulder, Tonia doesn't want to know. "He's a baby. I feed him people food," the girl said of her rat.
Cut up a friend?
"I can see she would have a problem with that," Miller said.
For more on alternatives to dissection and how to state your rights not to dissect, see the following two sites:
http://www.navs.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ain_edu_dissection_loan_program
http://www.dissectionalternatives.org/
Teen objects to dissection
Educators say lesson is optional but educational
http://heraldnet.com/stories/07/02/11/100loc_b1rat001.cfm
By Julie Muhlstein
Herald Columnist
The day I visited her Marysville home, Tonia De Los Santos was wearing cuffed jeans, a blue sweatshirt, a rainbow hair clip, pink nail polish, and a rat on her shoulder.
She's crazy about animals. And she's crazy about Johnny Depp, star of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. Tonia, 17, named her rat "Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Captain," as she dubs the rodent for short, isn't a typical house pet. Tonia doesn't have a typical household. In addition to the rat, her family has a bearded dragon lizard, a gecko, a rabbit, several hamsters, three dogs, three cats and a tank full of goldfish.
Tonia may not be the typical kid, but plenty of teens may relate to her complaint.
"My daughter came home from school the other day really upset. She said, 'Mom, I have to dissect a rat,'†" said Erica Sweeten, Tonia's mother. "She said she can't do it."
Tonia is enrolled in biology at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Her teacher is Brian Roberts, a substitute for a science teacher recently deployed to serve in Iraq.
Sweeten said Tonia told her that when she complained, the teacher countered that his other class will dissect cats.
While Tonia had the impression that if she didn't do the rat dissection she wouldn't get a passing grade, Roberts and Ken Tallquist, an assistant principal at Marysville-Pilchuck, said there is always the option of students doing an alternative assignment.
"I just started the quarter. Kids are still finding out what we're doing," said Roberts. The teacher said cats are indeed used for dissection, but only in anatomy-physiology, an advanced elective course.
"If a parent was concerned, that's fine," said Tallquist. On Friday, the assistant principal spoke with Tonia's teacher. "No one has contacted the teacher about opting out," Tallquist said.
Talking with other science teachers at the school, Tallquist said "they rarely have an opt-out" when the assignment is dissection.
Although Tonia was mistaken in thinking she'd be forced to cut up a dead rat that reminded her of Captain Jack, her fear got me wondering what types of critters are being dissected at other schools.
Perhaps a better question is why are critters cut up in high school at all?
"When you and I were in school, we were dissecting frogs," said Gail Miller, assistant superintendent in the Marysville School District. "A big part of biology is the study of anatomy. Rat and cat structures are more like humans."
"It's a vivid experience. The instrumental purpose is for kids to understand more deeply and remember longer," Miller added.
There could be several ways of opting out, she said. "One could be that they just don't want to touch it. They could stay and observe. The second level would be to opt out of the whole lab," Miller said. In three years with the district, she said this is the first time she's heard of a dissection complaint.
In the Monroe School District, spokeswoman Rosemary O'Neil said high school students have dissected earthworms, squid and perch. "It depends on what classification they're studying in biology. But there's always an alternative assignment," O'Neil said.
"There are things you will never learn from a picture," said O'Neil, who acknowledged that students' first reaction to the assignment is often "Eeewww, I don't want to do that."
Everett School District science specialist Bob Sotak said when he was a teacher, there were always other options. In Everett's biology classes, he said students take apart chicken wings to compare the bone structure with that of human hands.
Other animals may be used in anatomy and physiology classes, Sotak said.
Tallquist said the rats are acquired from the Carolina Biological Supply Company. The company's Web site shows pigs and frogs are also available. Tallquist said cats also come from a science supply company, and are available "with fur and without."
To Sweeten, the very idea that anyone would teach a teenager to skin and dissect a cat is appalling.
"It's not acceptable," Sweeten said. "We teach kids not to hurt animals. The first time I hear on the news that some cat has gotten skinned, well who taught them how to do it?"
Tallquist called dissection "a great teaching tool."
"You learn a tremendous amount. I remember when I was a kid doing this, and thinking 'Wow, I did not know that.' The same things are going on in the animal as with you," Tallquist said.
With Captain Jack Sparrow on her shoulder, Tonia doesn't want to know. "He's a baby. I feed him people food," the girl said of her rat.
Cut up a friend?
"I can see she would have a problem with that," Miller said.
Brian May, the Guitarist for Queen Not Just Music: Also Thoughtful and Concerned Man Looking To See Change to Crimes Such As Fox Hunting
I pulled two quotes from the article below to show May’s views. I’d like to thank him for bring truth and reality to these disgusting practices. Especially the idiotic fox killing that still goes on by the royal cruel family. I think he hit it right on in this first quote:
“Was depressed all day, after seeing on the TV news those horrible insensitive cruel bastards in red coats, smirking about how they can still get away with their disgusting primitive pastime, flouting the law of the land.” Plans by the American state of Wisconsin to slaughter nonnative swans, and a project to eradicate hedgehogs from the Hebridean island of Uist, prompt May to cry “JUST STOP IT, you morons”.
On the subject of the stingray that killed Steve Irwin, the daredevil Australian naturalist, last year May rages: “I cannot believe that some Aussies have been out there ‘avenging’ the death of Steve Irwin — by mutilating innocent stingrays . . . You stupid, stupid, ignorant misguided idiots.”
Article:
Don't start him now: Queen star pens a mean rock blog
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article1364717.ece
John Elliott, Social Affairs Correspondent
WE will, we will blog you! Brian May, the Queen guitarist, who performed with Freddie Mercury on some of rock music’s most rousing anthems, has reemerged as rock’s most prolific blogger.
However, while the band in its heyday was known for its unabashed hedonism, May at 59, with an estimated fortune of £75m, now appears more interested in the settling of scores.
Up to half-a-dozen times a day May is updating his personal blog on his official website, with swipes at bogus fans who want autographs only to sell on eBay, his frustrations with his overheating home computer, and his reflections on astronomy, a subject which he once studied for a PhD.
For anyone who might think that life as a rock star is all fun and glamour — in one iconic television spectacular he played his guitar on the rooftop of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s 2002 jubilee celebrations — an anecdote from earlier this month provides a corrective.
Related Internet Links
* Brian May's blog
* Brian May (official site)
* Queen (official site)
“Bri[an] tired and disillusioned tonight — just went to a lot of trouble to speak at a dinner to honour our tour manager . . . But nobody listened,” writes May, “they just drank and jabbered and smoked their . . . cigars. Yuk. I came home with clothes stinking of smoke, and throat all messed up, and eyes sore.”
Worse still, that night saw a joke about May’s famously long black curly hair and that of his wife, Anita Dobson, who sported a similar style when she played Angie Watts in EastEnders during the 1980s. “The guy who was MCing the event — Suggs, the singer from Madness — introduced me with a sad old joke about my and Anita’s hair. Ha frigging ha. How disappointing people can be.”
May — whose success with Queen has brought him a mansion in Surrey and a house in Kensington, west London — also vents his annoyance with his new Apple Mac computer, complaining that it will not let him colour-code his computer files in the way he wishes and also gets hot. Despite putting a “pharmaceutical cold pack” underneath the machine, he rails against “the HEAT!! The AWFUL HEAT . . . it’s utter misery . . . it STILL burns my thighs . . . and makes me break out in a sweat after about 20 minutes. This really sucks”.
May’s hatred of smoking is the subject of many entries but he also reveals other bugbears. An otherwise enjoyable day watching cricket at the Oval prompts the reflection: “Mobile camera phones, the bane of anybody-famous’s life these days.”
However, May, who used to perform frivolous songs such as Fat Bottomed Girls and Tie Your Mother Down, writes in deadly earnest when he gets on to the subject of hunting, animal testing and cruelty to animals in general.
His blog entry for November 5 last year sees him in a furious state: “Couldn’t sleep. Was depressed all day, after seeing on the TV news those horrible insensitive cruel bastards in red coats, smirking about how they can still get away with their disgusting primitive pastime, flouting the law of the land.” Plans by the American state of Wisconsin to slaughter nonnative swans, and a project to eradicate hedgehogs from the Hebridean island of Uist, prompt May to cry “JUST STOP IT, you morons”.
On the subject of the stingray that killed Steve Irwin, the daredevil Australian naturalist, last year May rages: “I cannot believe that some Aussies have been out there ‘avenging’ the death of Steve Irwin — by mutilating innocent stingrays . . . You stupid, stupid, ignorant misguided idiots.”
When he turns his attention to astronomy, May demands to be taken seriously. He is irritated by a review of Bang! The Complete History of the Universe, a book that he co-wrote with Sir Patrick Moore, presenter of BBC television’s The Sky at Night, and Chris Lintott. The review suggested that the book is best for “younger readers”.
May responds: “Most astronomers, whom I regard as more competent to make a judgment in this area, have thought the book very suitable for first year undergraduate studies of astronomy.”
The life of Brian
'Back to reading recent astronomical papers on research into Zodiacal Dust. Oh, and we have a Queen band meeting tomorrow! Who am I? Cheers, Bri'
'I swear I will use all my to try to turn the human race around... and make it head towards something we can be proud of. It will not be easy'
“Was depressed all day, after seeing on the TV news those horrible insensitive cruel bastards in red coats, smirking about how they can still get away with their disgusting primitive pastime, flouting the law of the land.” Plans by the American state of Wisconsin to slaughter nonnative swans, and a project to eradicate hedgehogs from the Hebridean island of Uist, prompt May to cry “JUST STOP IT, you morons”.
On the subject of the stingray that killed Steve Irwin, the daredevil Australian naturalist, last year May rages: “I cannot believe that some Aussies have been out there ‘avenging’ the death of Steve Irwin — by mutilating innocent stingrays . . . You stupid, stupid, ignorant misguided idiots.”
Article:
Don't start him now: Queen star pens a mean rock blog
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article1364717.ece
John Elliott, Social Affairs Correspondent
WE will, we will blog you! Brian May, the Queen guitarist, who performed with Freddie Mercury on some of rock music’s most rousing anthems, has reemerged as rock’s most prolific blogger.
However, while the band in its heyday was known for its unabashed hedonism, May at 59, with an estimated fortune of £75m, now appears more interested in the settling of scores.
Up to half-a-dozen times a day May is updating his personal blog on his official website, with swipes at bogus fans who want autographs only to sell on eBay, his frustrations with his overheating home computer, and his reflections on astronomy, a subject which he once studied for a PhD.
For anyone who might think that life as a rock star is all fun and glamour — in one iconic television spectacular he played his guitar on the rooftop of Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s 2002 jubilee celebrations — an anecdote from earlier this month provides a corrective.
Related Internet Links
* Brian May's blog
* Brian May (official site)
* Queen (official site)
“Bri[an] tired and disillusioned tonight — just went to a lot of trouble to speak at a dinner to honour our tour manager . . . But nobody listened,” writes May, “they just drank and jabbered and smoked their . . . cigars. Yuk. I came home with clothes stinking of smoke, and throat all messed up, and eyes sore.”
Worse still, that night saw a joke about May’s famously long black curly hair and that of his wife, Anita Dobson, who sported a similar style when she played Angie Watts in EastEnders during the 1980s. “The guy who was MCing the event — Suggs, the singer from Madness — introduced me with a sad old joke about my and Anita’s hair. Ha frigging ha. How disappointing people can be.”
May — whose success with Queen has brought him a mansion in Surrey and a house in Kensington, west London — also vents his annoyance with his new Apple Mac computer, complaining that it will not let him colour-code his computer files in the way he wishes and also gets hot. Despite putting a “pharmaceutical cold pack” underneath the machine, he rails against “the HEAT!! The AWFUL HEAT . . . it’s utter misery . . . it STILL burns my thighs . . . and makes me break out in a sweat after about 20 minutes. This really sucks”.
May’s hatred of smoking is the subject of many entries but he also reveals other bugbears. An otherwise enjoyable day watching cricket at the Oval prompts the reflection: “Mobile camera phones, the bane of anybody-famous’s life these days.”
However, May, who used to perform frivolous songs such as Fat Bottomed Girls and Tie Your Mother Down, writes in deadly earnest when he gets on to the subject of hunting, animal testing and cruelty to animals in general.
His blog entry for November 5 last year sees him in a furious state: “Couldn’t sleep. Was depressed all day, after seeing on the TV news those horrible insensitive cruel bastards in red coats, smirking about how they can still get away with their disgusting primitive pastime, flouting the law of the land.” Plans by the American state of Wisconsin to slaughter nonnative swans, and a project to eradicate hedgehogs from the Hebridean island of Uist, prompt May to cry “JUST STOP IT, you morons”.
On the subject of the stingray that killed Steve Irwin, the daredevil Australian naturalist, last year May rages: “I cannot believe that some Aussies have been out there ‘avenging’ the death of Steve Irwin — by mutilating innocent stingrays . . . You stupid, stupid, ignorant misguided idiots.”
When he turns his attention to astronomy, May demands to be taken seriously. He is irritated by a review of Bang! The Complete History of the Universe, a book that he co-wrote with Sir Patrick Moore, presenter of BBC television’s The Sky at Night, and Chris Lintott. The review suggested that the book is best for “younger readers”.
May responds: “Most astronomers, whom I regard as more competent to make a judgment in this area, have thought the book very suitable for first year undergraduate studies of astronomy.”
The life of Brian
'Back to reading recent astronomical papers on research into Zodiacal Dust. Oh, and we have a Queen band meeting tomorrow! Who am I? Cheers, Bri'
'I swear I will use all my to try to turn the human race around... and make it head towards something we can be proud of. It will not be easy'
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