Once again, a ridiculous reason to engage in cruel mass slaughter.
“Visible in the Kathmandu traffic among all the shoppers are youths walking with herds of goats; motorbikes with live chickens dangling from the sides; and trucks crammed with buffaloes arriving from India.
On Friday and Saturday, and especially during the night in between, known as "Kal Ratri" or the "Dark Night", thousands of these animals as well as sheep and ducks will be slaughtered across the nation.”
Article:
Revulsion over Nepal animal slaughter
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7052543.stm
By Charles Haviland
BBC News, Kathmandu
A goat offering is a holy act for Hindu devotees
The people of Nepal are celebrating their biggest national festival, Dashain.
The 15-day annual religious feast marks the victory of the Hindu goddess Durga over a feared demon and symbolises the triumph of good over evil.
There are a wealth of rites in the goddess's name, and sacred grass is being grown in special pots all over the country to be used as a blessing this Sunday, the 10th and most important festival day.
Every Hindu home has been cleaned and decorated to welcome the goddess. The markets have been heaving as shoppers seek out new clothes and foodstuffs, and many thousands are returning to their home villages from the cities and from foreign countries to spend time with their families.
Mass slaughter
But increasingly voices are being heard questioning what takes place on its eighth and ninth days - this Friday and Saturday - when hundreds of thousands of animals are ritually slaughtered as a sacrifice for Durga.
The Dashain festival is a time of great merriment
Visible in the Kathmandu traffic among all the shoppers are youths walking with herds of goats; motorbikes with live chickens dangling from the sides; and trucks crammed with buffaloes arriving from India.
On Friday and Saturday, and especially during the night in between, known as "Kal Ratri" or the "Dark Night", thousands of these animals as well as sheep and ducks will be slaughtered across the nation.
Animals are killed in the smallest villages or in cities like Kathmandu, where the courtyard of the Taleju Temple, opened just once a year, will end up flowing with blood.
It will yield a feast of meat. But it is also said to have a religious meaning - the killing being a sacrifice to honour the goddess and prevent her anger in the year ahead.
The new dissenters are questioning both the scale and the methods of the killing.
An article in the Nepali Times weekly says most buffaloes, like smaller animals, are decapitated but the bigger ones are battered to death with a heavy hammer on the forehead.
'Such cruelty'
A respected botanist, Dr Tirtha Shrestha - writing in the same paper - says that in Bhaktapur, near Kathmandu, pigs are skinned alive and their beating hearts offered to the temple, while in a nearby village people tear apart a live goat.
He asks what kind of people take pleasure in such cruelty, even suggesting that a society which treats animals so brutally will be brutal to human beings too.
"Decapitating a bleating buffalo or goat should not be the symbol of the Nepali civilisation," he says. "Why are we exhibiting such cruelty, and how does this reflect on our society?"
The festival is a time when families get together
Dr Shrestha accepts that to eat meat, animals must be killed.
"But why do we have to inflict such pain before we do so? This is not just inhuman, it is also against the law in many countries. It is morally wrong to torture fellow creatures under any circumstances, but to do so in the name of religion is a sin."
Another Nepali man, Arun Poudel, sending a mass email, picks up on this last theme.
Animal sacrifices
He says people should stop killing animals in the name of Hinduism's respected goddesses and gods.
"Maybe the deities will start wanting human blood soon," he muses grimly.
Such sentiments are spreading. Although animal rights are not a major concern in Nepal, an animal protection group recently held a rally in the capital against the yearly tradition of animal sacrifices.
And, speaking to the BBC, one Nepalese journalist who has been a vegetarian for many years said he was delaying his visit to his village to avoid the killing.
"I can't stand the slaughter," he said. "If a goat is killed, I run away. When I was a small kid, I'd hide indoors all day or go to the jungle."
He believes about 1,000 animals will die in his small village in the hills where, he says, certain men have taken up the "hobby" of Dashain slaughtering and will provide the service for many households.
The Kathmandu Post newspaper reports on another group of dissenters. It says two entire villages in Gorkha, in west-central Nepal, have shunned sacrifices for as long as 90 years and gone largely vegetarian as they believe in non-violence.
At the moment, however, these voices are still few and far between.
Nepal is a country where most people are too poor to eat meat regularly and regard it as a great treat. There is not as strong a tradition of vegetarianism as there is in neighbouring India, which also has a Hindu majority.
For the time being at least, The feast-day spilling of animals' blood looks set to continue.
Friday, October 19, 2007
MPI Research Newest Drug-Testing Company to Be Exposed For Animal Cruelty
"MPI is a 12-year-old company that conducts early-stage drug-development trials for pharmaceutical companies."
Article:
Animal-rights group requests federal investigation of MPI
http://www.mlive.com/business/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/
business-4/1192546210269060.xml&coll=7
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
BY ALEX NIXON
MATTAWAN -- An animal-rights group has asked the federal government to investigate the way Mattawan drug-testing company MPI Research treats the animals it uses.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN, said at a news conference Monday morning that it was contacted a month ago by an employee of MPI Research regarding allegations that MPI's treatment of animals used in drug testing violates the federal Animal Welfare Act.
``Some of the violations revealed by the whistleblower include inadequate veterinary care and inadequate observation of the animals,'' Michael Budkie, executive director of Milford, Ohio-based SAEN, said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal-care division.
Budkie refused to disclose the identity of the MPI employee because, he said, that person fears reprisals. He also would not say if the person was a current or former employee.
MPI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William Parfet said the 1,500-employee company is ``vigorously'' inspected by both the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
``We take it seriously,'' Parfet said of the allegations. ``But we don't believe that there's been any wrongdoing.''
Parfet said MPI would cooperate fully with any inspection or investigation by regulators, but he said he didn't know if or when that would happen.
USDA spokesman Jim Rogers said the agency follows up all complaints. As of Monday afternoon, he said, the animal-care division had received SAEN's complaint but hadn't contacted MPI about it.
MPI is a 12-year-old company that conducts early-stage drug-development trials for pharmaceutical companies. Rogers said it is inspected once a year by the USDA and was investigated once in 2005. No violations were found in connection with that inquiry, he said.
Article:
Animal-rights group requests federal investigation of MPI
http://www.mlive.com/business/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/
business-4/1192546210269060.xml&coll=7
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
BY ALEX NIXON
MATTAWAN -- An animal-rights group has asked the federal government to investigate the way Mattawan drug-testing company MPI Research treats the animals it uses.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now, or SAEN, said at a news conference Monday morning that it was contacted a month ago by an employee of MPI Research regarding allegations that MPI's treatment of animals used in drug testing violates the federal Animal Welfare Act.
``Some of the violations revealed by the whistleblower include inadequate veterinary care and inadequate observation of the animals,'' Michael Budkie, executive director of Milford, Ohio-based SAEN, said in a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's animal-care division.
Budkie refused to disclose the identity of the MPI employee because, he said, that person fears reprisals. He also would not say if the person was a current or former employee.
MPI Chairman and Chief Executive Officer William Parfet said the 1,500-employee company is ``vigorously'' inspected by both the USDA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
``We take it seriously,'' Parfet said of the allegations. ``But we don't believe that there's been any wrongdoing.''
Parfet said MPI would cooperate fully with any inspection or investigation by regulators, but he said he didn't know if or when that would happen.
USDA spokesman Jim Rogers said the agency follows up all complaints. As of Monday afternoon, he said, the animal-care division had received SAEN's complaint but hadn't contacted MPI about it.
MPI is a 12-year-old company that conducts early-stage drug-development trials for pharmaceutical companies. Rogers said it is inspected once a year by the USDA and was investigated once in 2005. No violations were found in connection with that inquiry, he said.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
New York City is Underground Capital of Professional Dog Fighting - And Home to One of the Most Notorious People in Violent World
Yes, many think that only the seamy south is home to dog fighting. Yet, unfortunately, you must look way beyond the south to find more dog fighting operations. Sadly, as you’ll see, New York is home to another Notorious Sicko. Nope, it aint Michael Vick.
Article:
DOGFIGHT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142007/news/
regionalnews/dogfight_capital_of_the_world.htm
By ELIZABETH WOLFF
October 14, 2007 -- New York City is the underground capital of professional dogfighting - and home to one of the most notorious figures in that dark and violent world.
Under the kennel name Big Apple, Bronx breeder Ralph Reyes is behind the most successful fighting dogs on the underground national circuit, according to animal rights activists.
They say his stable includes grand pit bull champion Demon and Georgia Girl, an animal who won a notoriously bloody, nearly five-hour match in 2006, the longest on record - and a fact the kennel proudly advertises on an industry Web site that posts dogs' pedigrees, photos and wins.
Reyes "watched his favorite pet kill himself for his owner's approval," said an informant for the Humane Society of the United States, who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity.
"He's the No. 1 most prominent dogfighter in New York City, and in our top 20 most notorious professional dogfighters in the U.S.," said John Goodwin, manager of the HSUS National Animal Fighting Task Force, which monitors and investigates animal fighting and helps spur arrests.
Goodwin's team of investigators and informants identified Reyes as the head of Big Apple kennel, which operates illegally out of a basement apartment of a three-story multifamily walkup on Valentine Avenue.
The Big Apple kennel - neither a legal kennel nor a business entity, even though it has boarding and training facilities throughout The Bronx and elsewhere - remains virtually untouchable so far, investigators say.
No one is sure how many dogs Big Apple has sent into the ring to their deaths, though 26 top-level Bronx bulldogs are on the industry Web site. Two have made the cover of underground dog-fighting magazines that circulate widely.
While dog owners schedule an official fight at least two months in advance to allow for the dogs' conditioning, the mega-shows, which occur in the five boroughs, are months in the planning.
Fighters come from as far as Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas to match their dogs with purses ranging from $300 to $300,000 for prized fighters and crowds swelling to 500, sources have told The Post.
"The Super Bowl of dogfighting shows come to New York City," Goodwin said.
And Demon is certainly one of the hands-down superstars of the circuit. The dog's five wins in 2006 earned him the cover of the Sporting Dog Journal this summer - and a national following of bloodthirsty fans.
The ruthless Reyes, whose pit bull tattoo covers his left bicep, also helped train a predecessor to Demon - Haunch, whose brutal fight to the death put Big Apple on the map and caught the attention of the HSUS. According to a story submitted by Big Apple to Game Dog Quarterly, Haunch was prepped for the 2004 grand champ title after he'd already retired and was a house pet and breeding dog.
"Haunch was never in control, losing an eye, and his muzzle crushed, he still tried to dig the chest and did some damage . . . Haunch was still biting hard in the chest and hurting the dog . . Veteran dog men were there saying it will be a long time coming before you ever see that again," the magazine story reported.
Haunch was victorious, but mortally wounded, according to Goodwin, who confirmed the account through interstate informants and monitoring Web chatter.
When approached by The Post, Reyes - about whom little is known outside his rep on the circuit - denied he owned Demon or was behind Big Apple kennels. He has no arrest record.
"No, that's another guy, Big Sexy . . . He got Demon," said the mechanic-by-day, who's missing his two front teeth.
The HSUS said the person nicknamed "Big Sexy" is actually Reyes' second-in-command.
Reyes told The Post he rents out a basement apartment where he gets paid to care for other peoples' pit bulls. He nervously admitted he was currently caring for two, "Lucky" and "Lady."
He then went on to brag about a dog "I'd only feed eggs and spinach. He was great. . . I had him pulling me on a skateboard down to 138th [Street], stopping in the red [lights], and back in two hours."
That diet and exercise perfectly matches a description Big Apple provided to a dogfighting magazine about Haunch's training. Reyes first claimed the dog died, then said it had gone to Texas.
Graying and overweight, Reyes said he was a tired man with gout, a wife, and a young child, and lived around the corner.
"I can't drink . . . I don't smoke . . . I wish I could help you, but Big Apple's not me," Reyes said.
According to Goodwin, New York authorities have virtually turned a blind eye to the illegal activity.
"[The city is] at the center of organized dogfighting because of the lack of enforcement," he said. "Building cases takes time, and it requires the cooperation of local officials."
The HSUS has given up its New York City investigations because it doesn't get the support they need from officials who would be responsible for making the arrests, Goodwin complained.
"We haven't had the enthusiasm from law enforcement that we needed" to pursue probes and raids here, he says.
And as a result, "New York City is the capital for dog fighting," he claims - an assertion that belies the popular notion that, as the case against former Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick case illustrated, dogfighting is a phenomenon more common in the rural South.
A spokeman for the ASPCA, which has the authority to make arrests for animal cruelty, said the HSUS told them of Big Apple's existence in 2006, but gave no address or leads.
"If they're reporting this to the ASPCA and we're not following through, I don't understand why they're not speaking out to other law enforcement organizations in the city," said Assistant Law Enforcement Director Joseph Pentangelo.
"The NYPD is duty-bound to investigate. We're not a government agency."
Article:
DOGFIGHT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD
http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142007/news/
regionalnews/dogfight_capital_of_the_world.htm
By ELIZABETH WOLFF
October 14, 2007 -- New York City is the underground capital of professional dogfighting - and home to one of the most notorious figures in that dark and violent world.
Under the kennel name Big Apple, Bronx breeder Ralph Reyes is behind the most successful fighting dogs on the underground national circuit, according to animal rights activists.
They say his stable includes grand pit bull champion Demon and Georgia Girl, an animal who won a notoriously bloody, nearly five-hour match in 2006, the longest on record - and a fact the kennel proudly advertises on an industry Web site that posts dogs' pedigrees, photos and wins.
Reyes "watched his favorite pet kill himself for his owner's approval," said an informant for the Humane Society of the United States, who spoke to The Post on condition of anonymity.
"He's the No. 1 most prominent dogfighter in New York City, and in our top 20 most notorious professional dogfighters in the U.S.," said John Goodwin, manager of the HSUS National Animal Fighting Task Force, which monitors and investigates animal fighting and helps spur arrests.
Goodwin's team of investigators and informants identified Reyes as the head of Big Apple kennel, which operates illegally out of a basement apartment of a three-story multifamily walkup on Valentine Avenue.
The Big Apple kennel - neither a legal kennel nor a business entity, even though it has boarding and training facilities throughout The Bronx and elsewhere - remains virtually untouchable so far, investigators say.
No one is sure how many dogs Big Apple has sent into the ring to their deaths, though 26 top-level Bronx bulldogs are on the industry Web site. Two have made the cover of underground dog-fighting magazines that circulate widely.
While dog owners schedule an official fight at least two months in advance to allow for the dogs' conditioning, the mega-shows, which occur in the five boroughs, are months in the planning.
Fighters come from as far as Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas to match their dogs with purses ranging from $300 to $300,000 for prized fighters and crowds swelling to 500, sources have told The Post.
"The Super Bowl of dogfighting shows come to New York City," Goodwin said.
And Demon is certainly one of the hands-down superstars of the circuit. The dog's five wins in 2006 earned him the cover of the Sporting Dog Journal this summer - and a national following of bloodthirsty fans.
The ruthless Reyes, whose pit bull tattoo covers his left bicep, also helped train a predecessor to Demon - Haunch, whose brutal fight to the death put Big Apple on the map and caught the attention of the HSUS. According to a story submitted by Big Apple to Game Dog Quarterly, Haunch was prepped for the 2004 grand champ title after he'd already retired and was a house pet and breeding dog.
"Haunch was never in control, losing an eye, and his muzzle crushed, he still tried to dig the chest and did some damage . . . Haunch was still biting hard in the chest and hurting the dog . . Veteran dog men were there saying it will be a long time coming before you ever see that again," the magazine story reported.
Haunch was victorious, but mortally wounded, according to Goodwin, who confirmed the account through interstate informants and monitoring Web chatter.
When approached by The Post, Reyes - about whom little is known outside his rep on the circuit - denied he owned Demon or was behind Big Apple kennels. He has no arrest record.
"No, that's another guy, Big Sexy . . . He got Demon," said the mechanic-by-day, who's missing his two front teeth.
The HSUS said the person nicknamed "Big Sexy" is actually Reyes' second-in-command.
Reyes told The Post he rents out a basement apartment where he gets paid to care for other peoples' pit bulls. He nervously admitted he was currently caring for two, "Lucky" and "Lady."
He then went on to brag about a dog "I'd only feed eggs and spinach. He was great. . . I had him pulling me on a skateboard down to 138th [Street], stopping in the red [lights], and back in two hours."
That diet and exercise perfectly matches a description Big Apple provided to a dogfighting magazine about Haunch's training. Reyes first claimed the dog died, then said it had gone to Texas.
Graying and overweight, Reyes said he was a tired man with gout, a wife, and a young child, and lived around the corner.
"I can't drink . . . I don't smoke . . . I wish I could help you, but Big Apple's not me," Reyes said.
According to Goodwin, New York authorities have virtually turned a blind eye to the illegal activity.
"[The city is] at the center of organized dogfighting because of the lack of enforcement," he said. "Building cases takes time, and it requires the cooperation of local officials."
The HSUS has given up its New York City investigations because it doesn't get the support they need from officials who would be responsible for making the arrests, Goodwin complained.
"We haven't had the enthusiasm from law enforcement that we needed" to pursue probes and raids here, he says.
And as a result, "New York City is the capital for dog fighting," he claims - an assertion that belies the popular notion that, as the case against former Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick case illustrated, dogfighting is a phenomenon more common in the rural South.
A spokeman for the ASPCA, which has the authority to make arrests for animal cruelty, said the HSUS told them of Big Apple's existence in 2006, but gave no address or leads.
"If they're reporting this to the ASPCA and we're not following through, I don't understand why they're not speaking out to other law enforcement organizations in the city," said Assistant Law Enforcement Director Joseph Pentangelo.
"The NYPD is duty-bound to investigate. We're not a government agency."
Chicago Also Home to Cruel Dog Fighting
Yes, I know the last article was disturbing, but unfortunately, even Chicago has a serious problem with dog fighting.
Article:
Task force targets Southland dog fights
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/601473,101407dogs.article
October 14, 2007
By Emily Udell, Staff writer
In the wake of several high-profile dog-fighting busts in the Southland, a regional task force to combat the illegal sport in the Chicago area is up and running, according to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.
The task force was created to streamline communication among the county, the Chicago Police Department and the state's attorney's office. The group also recently has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dart said.
"The nature of this type of crime is one that clearly goes across jurisdictional lines," he said.
Dart said dog fighting is on the rise, and his department has seen the most activity in the southern part of the county.
According to the sheriff, recent crackdowns by law enforcement can make it more difficult to ferret out offenders.
"The last month or two since we've turned up the heat so much, it's driven this crime more underground," Dart said.
In July, authorities seized from a South Holland barn 37 dogs covered in excrement and found without food or water. It was the largest seizure of dogs in Cook County history.
Kevin Taylor, 29, was charged with one felony count of dog fighting and 37 counts of animal cruelty, as well as one misdemeanor each of possession of dogs by a felon and owning sport fighting dogs in connection with the bust.
In the same month, 12 dogs were seized at a Burbank gas station from two men who were charged with dog fighting and animal cruelty. Two other men were charged with dog fighting-related offenses after a raid on a Ford Heights home in August.
Sgt. Eldon Urbikas, of the Animal Crimes Unit of the Chicago Police Department, equated dog fighting to the rave culture, an underground party scene that emerged in the '90s. He said participation in the sport can wax and wane, depending on the popularity of various breeds of dogs.
"Right now we're at the pit bull cycle," said Urbikas, who added that portrayals of pit bull terriers and dog-fighting culture in rap music has fueled interest in the breed.
Animal abuse, including dog fighting, can be an indicator of other types of criminal activity. Urbikas said there is a link between animal crimes and domestic violence.
Ann Chynoweth, director of the Washington, D.C.-based organization, said the society has been working with Chicago police to develop a multifaceted program to combat the problem that can spread to other cities.
"Chicago doesn't have a monopoly on dog fighting, but it is a significant issue in Chicago," she said.
The humane society has presented workshops to police officers, collaborated on a training video and offered the organization's $5,000 reward for tipsters who provide information leading to conviction.
"Chicago was a good place to try a model program because there were so many good people already working on the issue," Chynoweth said.
She said street fighting, which is more spontaneous than organized fighting, is of particular concern in Chicago.
The organization estimates that about 40,000 people nationwide make high-stakes bets in organized rings and about 100,000 participate in more informal, less lucrative dog-fighting events.
"There's a crisis in Chicago and a few other inner cities throughout the nation," said Tio Hardiman, who works with the Humane Society on preventing street-level fighting in Chicago.
Hardiman and a team of about 15 people strive to dissuade young men and boys from participating in dog fighting by stopping fights as they happen and distributing information about the law and how to care for animals.
Sheriff Dart said the new task force provides the increased communication and cooperation among different levels of law enforcement needed to make a significant dent in dog fighting in the region.
"I'm not naive enough to think we can squelch it completely, but we want to make it very, very difficult," he said.
Emily Udell can be reached at eudell@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5969.
n The lowest tier of dog fighting typically involves teenagers fighting dogs on street corners or in yards for $20 to $100 or a pair of gym shoes, according to an expert.
n Second-tier fighters are more organized, fighting dogs in isolated areas, such as abandoned buildings. They wager $500 to $5,000 a contest.
n High-stakes fighters like disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal dog-fighting charges, are the most organized and covert. Their stakes typically range from $15,000 to $100,000.
Experts said there is little evidence of sophisticated rings in the Chicago area because they are hard to operate in dense, urban areas.
Article:
Task force targets Southland dog fights
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/601473,101407dogs.article
October 14, 2007
By Emily Udell, Staff writer
In the wake of several high-profile dog-fighting busts in the Southland, a regional task force to combat the illegal sport in the Chicago area is up and running, according to Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart.
The task force was created to streamline communication among the county, the Chicago Police Department and the state's attorney's office. The group also recently has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dart said.
"The nature of this type of crime is one that clearly goes across jurisdictional lines," he said.
Dart said dog fighting is on the rise, and his department has seen the most activity in the southern part of the county.
According to the sheriff, recent crackdowns by law enforcement can make it more difficult to ferret out offenders.
"The last month or two since we've turned up the heat so much, it's driven this crime more underground," Dart said.
In July, authorities seized from a South Holland barn 37 dogs covered in excrement and found without food or water. It was the largest seizure of dogs in Cook County history.
Kevin Taylor, 29, was charged with one felony count of dog fighting and 37 counts of animal cruelty, as well as one misdemeanor each of possession of dogs by a felon and owning sport fighting dogs in connection with the bust.
In the same month, 12 dogs were seized at a Burbank gas station from two men who were charged with dog fighting and animal cruelty. Two other men were charged with dog fighting-related offenses after a raid on a Ford Heights home in August.
Sgt. Eldon Urbikas, of the Animal Crimes Unit of the Chicago Police Department, equated dog fighting to the rave culture, an underground party scene that emerged in the '90s. He said participation in the sport can wax and wane, depending on the popularity of various breeds of dogs.
"Right now we're at the pit bull cycle," said Urbikas, who added that portrayals of pit bull terriers and dog-fighting culture in rap music has fueled interest in the breed.
Animal abuse, including dog fighting, can be an indicator of other types of criminal activity. Urbikas said there is a link between animal crimes and domestic violence.
Ann Chynoweth, director of the Washington, D.C.-based organization, said the society has been working with Chicago police to develop a multifaceted program to combat the problem that can spread to other cities.
"Chicago doesn't have a monopoly on dog fighting, but it is a significant issue in Chicago," she said.
The humane society has presented workshops to police officers, collaborated on a training video and offered the organization's $5,000 reward for tipsters who provide information leading to conviction.
"Chicago was a good place to try a model program because there were so many good people already working on the issue," Chynoweth said.
She said street fighting, which is more spontaneous than organized fighting, is of particular concern in Chicago.
The organization estimates that about 40,000 people nationwide make high-stakes bets in organized rings and about 100,000 participate in more informal, less lucrative dog-fighting events.
"There's a crisis in Chicago and a few other inner cities throughout the nation," said Tio Hardiman, who works with the Humane Society on preventing street-level fighting in Chicago.
Hardiman and a team of about 15 people strive to dissuade young men and boys from participating in dog fighting by stopping fights as they happen and distributing information about the law and how to care for animals.
Sheriff Dart said the new task force provides the increased communication and cooperation among different levels of law enforcement needed to make a significant dent in dog fighting in the region.
"I'm not naive enough to think we can squelch it completely, but we want to make it very, very difficult," he said.
Emily Udell can be reached at eudell@dailysouthtown.com or (708) 633-5969.
n The lowest tier of dog fighting typically involves teenagers fighting dogs on street corners or in yards for $20 to $100 or a pair of gym shoes, according to an expert.
n Second-tier fighters are more organized, fighting dogs in isolated areas, such as abandoned buildings. They wager $500 to $5,000 a contest.
n High-stakes fighters like disgraced NFL quarterback Michael Vick, who pleaded guilty to federal dog-fighting charges, are the most organized and covert. Their stakes typically range from $15,000 to $100,000.
Experts said there is little evidence of sophisticated rings in the Chicago area because they are hard to operate in dense, urban areas.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Bills Allowing the Purchase of Dead Kangaroo Products and Semi-Automatic Pistols
Hum…seems the two have something in common. Sad but true, he’s a proponent of violence and unnecessary killing.
Article:
Governor allows kangaroo products in flurry of bill actions
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/431194.html
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 4:36 pm PDT Saturday, October 13, 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed bills legalizing the purchase of kangaroo products and requiring new semi-automatic pistols to include an identifying microstamp, and he vetoed a proposal to provide college financial aid to illegal immigrants, his office announced Saturday.
The gun legislation, Assembly Bill 1471 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, will make California the first state in the nation to require manufacturers to include technology in semi-automatic pistols that stamps the make, model and serial number on each cartridge fired. The requirement takes effect in January 2010 and was largely backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans in the Legislature.
"While I appreciate and understand that this technology is not without limitations, I am signing this bill to provide law enforcement with an additional tool for solving crimes committed with semi-automatic handguns in California," Schwarzenegger wrote in a signing message.
The Republican governor vetoed Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, which would have given undocumented immigrants access to community college fee waivers and other financial aid. The bill excluded those students from the state's competitive grant program after Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar proposal last year.
But in his veto message, Schwarzenegger again said he is concerned the proposal would place an "additional strain" on the state budget. He also noted that undocumented students already qualify for an in-state tuition rate.
The kangaroo proposal, SB 880 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, drew intense opposition from animal rights organizations who decried the manner in which the Australian marsupials are killed. But California retailers selling kangaroo soccer shoes said they faced a disadvantage because online firms based in 47 other states can legally sell such products.
Though he does not own kangaroo shoes, Schwarzenegger is an aficionado of animal-skin boots, such as those made from alligator or crocodile, which he also removed from a state list of banned animal products last year.
"Many good products are made from kangaroos harvested legally under Australian law and the federal Endangered Species Act and those products should be allowed to be on the California market," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "Importantly, this bill allows California to continue to prohibit the sale of products made from species of kangaroos that are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act."
Schwarzenegger signed SB 490 by Sen. Elaine Alquist, D-San Jose, to ban trans fats from foods sold in vending machines or cafeterias at public schools in California starting in July 2009.
The governor also took action on several consumer bills. He signed SB 220 by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, requiring bottled water companies to cite the origin of their product. Another signed Corbett bill, SB 250, will allow consumers to receive the cash value for gift cards with balances less than $10.
But he vetoed AB 779 by Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, to restrict businesses from storing sensitive payment data. The bill also sought to require companies to give consumers extensive information when a security breach occurs. It came as a response to the 2005-06 theft of more than 45 million credit card numbers from a T.J. Maxx and Marshall's database.
"Big business, hackers and ID thieves won today and consumers and common sense lost," Jones said in a statement. "I'm shocked and disappointed that the governor thinks our personal information should be left out in the open for identity thieves and hackers to pilfer."
In his veto message, Schwarzenegger wrote that the credit card industry has already established security protocols for the storage of payment data.
"This issue and the data security requirements found in this bill will drive up the costs of compliance, particularly for small businesses," Schwarzenegger added.
Article:
Governor allows kangaroo products in flurry of bill actions
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/431194.html
By Kevin Yamamura - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 4:36 pm PDT Saturday, October 13, 2007
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed bills legalizing the purchase of kangaroo products and requiring new semi-automatic pistols to include an identifying microstamp, and he vetoed a proposal to provide college financial aid to illegal immigrants, his office announced Saturday.
The gun legislation, Assembly Bill 1471 by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, will make California the first state in the nation to require manufacturers to include technology in semi-automatic pistols that stamps the make, model and serial number on each cartridge fired. The requirement takes effect in January 2010 and was largely backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans in the Legislature.
"While I appreciate and understand that this technology is not without limitations, I am signing this bill to provide law enforcement with an additional tool for solving crimes committed with semi-automatic handguns in California," Schwarzenegger wrote in a signing message.
The Republican governor vetoed Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, which would have given undocumented immigrants access to community college fee waivers and other financial aid. The bill excluded those students from the state's competitive grant program after Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar proposal last year.
But in his veto message, Schwarzenegger again said he is concerned the proposal would place an "additional strain" on the state budget. He also noted that undocumented students already qualify for an in-state tuition rate.
The kangaroo proposal, SB 880 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, drew intense opposition from animal rights organizations who decried the manner in which the Australian marsupials are killed. But California retailers selling kangaroo soccer shoes said they faced a disadvantage because online firms based in 47 other states can legally sell such products.
Though he does not own kangaroo shoes, Schwarzenegger is an aficionado of animal-skin boots, such as those made from alligator or crocodile, which he also removed from a state list of banned animal products last year.
"Many good products are made from kangaroos harvested legally under Australian law and the federal Endangered Species Act and those products should be allowed to be on the California market," said Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear. "Importantly, this bill allows California to continue to prohibit the sale of products made from species of kangaroos that are listed as threatened or endangered under the federal endangered species act."
Schwarzenegger signed SB 490 by Sen. Elaine Alquist, D-San Jose, to ban trans fats from foods sold in vending machines or cafeterias at public schools in California starting in July 2009.
The governor also took action on several consumer bills. He signed SB 220 by Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro, requiring bottled water companies to cite the origin of their product. Another signed Corbett bill, SB 250, will allow consumers to receive the cash value for gift cards with balances less than $10.
But he vetoed AB 779 by Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, to restrict businesses from storing sensitive payment data. The bill also sought to require companies to give consumers extensive information when a security breach occurs. It came as a response to the 2005-06 theft of more than 45 million credit card numbers from a T.J. Maxx and Marshall's database.
"Big business, hackers and ID thieves won today and consumers and common sense lost," Jones said in a statement. "I'm shocked and disappointed that the governor thinks our personal information should be left out in the open for identity thieves and hackers to pilfer."
In his veto message, Schwarzenegger wrote that the credit card industry has already established security protocols for the storage of payment data.
"This issue and the data security requirements found in this bill will drive up the costs of compliance, particularly for small businesses," Schwarzenegger added.
Makah Tribal Members Illegally Kill Another A Gray Whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca; Face Charges Of Conspiracy, Unlawful Taking Of A Marine Mammal
This is an issue that will never die. Unfortunately though, the Makah don’t associate killing with disrespect for life. And, even more, the total necessity of killing for food in a culture dominated by meat.
As the story below states:
“A federal grand jury in Seattle last week indicted the group on five misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, unlawful taking of a marine mammal and unauthorized whaling. Each man could face up to a year in jail and fines of $100,000 if convicted.”
Article:
Not-guilty pleas in whale hunt
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
2003946807_whalers13m.html
By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV of NEXT
Enlarge this photo
ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Wayne Johnson, the group's leader, said he is not guilty of charges brought forth by an illegal hunt of a gray whale last month. "Of course I'm not guilty," he said before the hearing in Tacoma. "I have a treaty right."
TACOMA — With a courtroom packed with supporters from Neah Bay, five Makah tribal members appeared in federal court here Friday to plead not guilty to charges in their illegal hunt of a gray whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca last month.
Wayne Johnson, Frankie Gonzales, Andrew Noel, Theron Parker and William Secor all offered no other comment to Chief Magistrate Judge J. Kelley Arnold as they entered their pleas. A trial was set for Nov. 27. The men then left the courthouse free on bond.
A federal grand jury in Seattle last week indicted the group on five misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, unlawful taking of a marine mammal and unauthorized whaling. Each man could face up to a year in jail and fines of $100,000 if convicted.
The men also face separate prosecutions in tribal court, where they could be sentenced to up to a year in jail; pay up to a $5,000 fine, and have their treaty rights to fish suspended for up to three years.
The Makahs who arrived in Tacoma to support the five whalers were defiant of the federal court.
Johnson, the group's leader, repeated his position that they had a right to hunt the whale under terms of a 19th-century treaty between the U.S. and the Makah tribe.
"Of course I'm not guilty," Johnson said before the hearing. "I have a treaty right."
Asked whether he had any regrets, he shook his head. "This is a lifelong struggle."
Outside the courthouse, several Makah grandmothers carried signs that said "Broken trust."
"We're here to support the young people," said Gail Adams, 67. "They shouldn't have to pay a fine. They shouldn't have to go to jail. It's like a bad dream."
Arnie Hunter, vice chairman of the Makah Whaling Commission, agreed that the whalers did nothing wrong.
"It's something the rest of us wished we could have done," he said outside the courtroom. "It's what we grew up with. It's our songs. It's our dances. It's who we are. We are whale hunters, and our forefathers reserved that for us in the treaty."
On the other hand, Hunter said, rules are rules. Still, he said he felt sad to see the whalers in court.
The Makah are the only tribe in the country with an explicit treaty right to whale. However, because of a 2002 court decision, the tribe needs a waiver from the federal government before it can legally whale again. The waiver has been stalled in federal review.
Meanwhile Friday, animal-rights activists said they are glad prosecutors have filed the strongest charges available under federal law.
"We are pleased this is being taken seriously," said Kitty Block, vice president of the Humane Society International in Washington, D.C., which opposes any Makah whale hunting. "This has to happen, or the whale's life would have been taken for nothing."
As the story below states:
“A federal grand jury in Seattle last week indicted the group on five misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, unlawful taking of a marine mammal and unauthorized whaling. Each man could face up to a year in jail and fines of $100,000 if convicted.”
Article:
Not-guilty pleas in whale hunt
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/
2003946807_whalers13m.html
By Lynda V. Mapes
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV of NEXT
Enlarge this photo
ALAN BERNER / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Wayne Johnson, the group's leader, said he is not guilty of charges brought forth by an illegal hunt of a gray whale last month. "Of course I'm not guilty," he said before the hearing in Tacoma. "I have a treaty right."
TACOMA — With a courtroom packed with supporters from Neah Bay, five Makah tribal members appeared in federal court here Friday to plead not guilty to charges in their illegal hunt of a gray whale in the Strait of Juan de Fuca last month.
Wayne Johnson, Frankie Gonzales, Andrew Noel, Theron Parker and William Secor all offered no other comment to Chief Magistrate Judge J. Kelley Arnold as they entered their pleas. A trial was set for Nov. 27. The men then left the courthouse free on bond.
A federal grand jury in Seattle last week indicted the group on five misdemeanor charges of conspiracy, unlawful taking of a marine mammal and unauthorized whaling. Each man could face up to a year in jail and fines of $100,000 if convicted.
The men also face separate prosecutions in tribal court, where they could be sentenced to up to a year in jail; pay up to a $5,000 fine, and have their treaty rights to fish suspended for up to three years.
The Makahs who arrived in Tacoma to support the five whalers were defiant of the federal court.
Johnson, the group's leader, repeated his position that they had a right to hunt the whale under terms of a 19th-century treaty between the U.S. and the Makah tribe.
"Of course I'm not guilty," Johnson said before the hearing. "I have a treaty right."
Asked whether he had any regrets, he shook his head. "This is a lifelong struggle."
Outside the courthouse, several Makah grandmothers carried signs that said "Broken trust."
"We're here to support the young people," said Gail Adams, 67. "They shouldn't have to pay a fine. They shouldn't have to go to jail. It's like a bad dream."
Arnie Hunter, vice chairman of the Makah Whaling Commission, agreed that the whalers did nothing wrong.
"It's something the rest of us wished we could have done," he said outside the courtroom. "It's what we grew up with. It's our songs. It's our dances. It's who we are. We are whale hunters, and our forefathers reserved that for us in the treaty."
On the other hand, Hunter said, rules are rules. Still, he said he felt sad to see the whalers in court.
The Makah are the only tribe in the country with an explicit treaty right to whale. However, because of a 2002 court decision, the tribe needs a waiver from the federal government before it can legally whale again. The waiver has been stalled in federal review.
Meanwhile Friday, animal-rights activists said they are glad prosecutors have filed the strongest charges available under federal law.
"We are pleased this is being taken seriously," said Kitty Block, vice president of the Humane Society International in Washington, D.C., which opposes any Makah whale hunting. "This has to happen, or the whale's life would have been taken for nothing."
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Animal Legal Defense Fund Asks For Help in Fighting Veal Calf Abuse: Case Against Mendes Calf Ranch for Violation of California Animal Cruelty Laws
Animal Legal Defense Fund Asks For Your Help in Fighting Veal Calf Abuse: Calls for Your Support in Its Case Against Mendes Calf Ranch for Its Violation of California Animal Cruelty Laws
Normally I don’t post emails I receive, but this is an important issue.
Please read below and offer your support.
It’s easy and worth it.
Video footage that stands as proof to the necessity of this case can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGkfUz2j5k
For proof as to the cruelty of veal (abuse baby cows) including video proof see http://www.noveal.org
Greetings, We need your help.
As you know, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is committed to protecting the lives of animals everywhere.
But you may not know that we have filed a lawsuit against Mendes Calf Ranch for its violation of California animal cruelty laws.
The ranch is a facility that dairy producers use to house and raise newborn calves while their mothers are milked. The babies are taken soon after birth and shipped away to live in Mendes’s cramped, filthy crates with barely enough room to move.
Day after day, these calves live by themselves in crates so small they can’t even turn around or lie down naturally.
They must contort their bodies even to stand in the small space, which is often covered with their own excrement. (Video footage at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGkfUz2j5k)
While our lawsuit to stop this cruel practice is pending in court, there is more we can do for these animals right now. We need to reach Mendes through the people they’re most likely to listen to: their clients.
Major dairy producers Land O’Lakes and Challenge Dairy get their milk from calves confined at Mendes Calf Ranch. It’s time to let dairy corporations know that these practices are unnecessary — and unacceptable.
We’re launching the Free Baby Mendes campaign to mobilize consumers and animal lovers to sign on to a letter we’ll deliver to Land O’Lakes and Challenge Dairy. We hope that you can help us spread the word.
Would you be willing to post something on your site and/or email your list about the campaign?
Information about the campaign can be found at www.FreeBabyMendes.com. Also available are Free Baby Mendes banners for your website at http://www.aldf.org/content/mendes.php?pid=231.
Together, we can make a difference for these cows—as we work to make sure that animal cruelty laws are taken seriously. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
April Nockleby
Animal Legal Defense Fund
170 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931
Phone: (707) 795-2533 • Fax: (707) 795-7280
E-mail: info@aldf.org • Web: www.aldf.org
Normally I don’t post emails I receive, but this is an important issue.
Please read below and offer your support.
It’s easy and worth it.
Video footage that stands as proof to the necessity of this case can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGkfUz2j5k
For proof as to the cruelty of veal (abuse baby cows) including video proof see http://www.noveal.org
Greetings, We need your help.
As you know, the Animal Legal Defense Fund is committed to protecting the lives of animals everywhere.
But you may not know that we have filed a lawsuit against Mendes Calf Ranch for its violation of California animal cruelty laws.
The ranch is a facility that dairy producers use to house and raise newborn calves while their mothers are milked. The babies are taken soon after birth and shipped away to live in Mendes’s cramped, filthy crates with barely enough room to move.
Day after day, these calves live by themselves in crates so small they can’t even turn around or lie down naturally.
They must contort their bodies even to stand in the small space, which is often covered with their own excrement. (Video footage at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfGkfUz2j5k)
While our lawsuit to stop this cruel practice is pending in court, there is more we can do for these animals right now. We need to reach Mendes through the people they’re most likely to listen to: their clients.
Major dairy producers Land O’Lakes and Challenge Dairy get their milk from calves confined at Mendes Calf Ranch. It’s time to let dairy corporations know that these practices are unnecessary — and unacceptable.
We’re launching the Free Baby Mendes campaign to mobilize consumers and animal lovers to sign on to a letter we’ll deliver to Land O’Lakes and Challenge Dairy. We hope that you can help us spread the word.
Would you be willing to post something on your site and/or email your list about the campaign?
Information about the campaign can be found at www.FreeBabyMendes.com. Also available are Free Baby Mendes banners for your website at http://www.aldf.org/content/mendes.php?pid=231.
Together, we can make a difference for these cows—as we work to make sure that animal cruelty laws are taken seriously. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
April Nockleby
Animal Legal Defense Fund
170 East Cotati Avenue, Cotati, CA 94931
Phone: (707) 795-2533 • Fax: (707) 795-7280
E-mail: info@aldf.org • Web: www.aldf.org
Possible that Most Dogs Related to Abuse by Michael Vick Can be Saved
This is actually a video story and can be found at the following link. I hope it works and I hope this is the truth. It’s the least that can happen after such a horrid case of animal cruelty.
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=4330777&ch=207399&src=sports
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=207187&cl=4330777&ch=207399&src=sports
Suspended Falcons Quarter Back Michael Vick Due in Court Nov. 27th on State Dogfighting Charges
Remember, this is separate from the federal charges.
Luckily the state finally decided to pursue him.In addition, luckily, the Falcons are fighting to have 22 million in bonus money returned to them.
Let’s hope that happens.
As stated below, “The Falcons want Vick to return up to $22 million in bonus money, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge violated his 10-year, $130 million contract…”
Article:
Trial date for suspended Falcons QB Vick on state dogfighting charges will be set on Nov. 27
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjtYNUiC5I96xViVuCcacCI5nYcB?slug=ap-vickindicted&prov=ap&type=lgns
By HANK KURZ Jr., AP Sports WriterOctober 3, 2007
AP - Oct 3, 10:33 am EDT
SUSSEX, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick moved one step closer to being tried on state dogfighting charges Wednesday at a hearing to make sure he has legal representation.
An attorney for the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback appeared in Surry County Circuit Court and was asked to return Nov. 27 to set a trial date.
Vick, who did not attend the hearing, is in the midst of a big week. On Thursday, representatives from the Falcons, the NFL management council and the NFL Players Association are scheduled to meet in Philadelphia for a contract arbitration case.
The Falcons want Vick to return up to $22 million in bonus money, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge violated his 10-year, $130 million contract. The NFLPA is expected to argue Vick already has earned the bonus money.
Vick, who faces up to five years in prison, is to be sentenced Dec. 10 on the federal charges.
He and three co-defendants, all of whom already have pleaded guilty to the federal dogfighting charges, are not expected at the Nov. 27 hearing, Surry County prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said Wednesday.
Poindexter said he hopes to have the trial begin as soon as possible.
"All the good citizens of Surry County I am sure would like to see an end to this, along with a lot of other good people," the prosecutor said outside the courtroom.
Virginia Beach attorney Larry Woodward, who will represent Vick on the state charges, said Vick turned himself in last week in the rural county for pretrial processing and bonding. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts -- beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Surry County is where the dogfighting enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels operated since 2001 on 15 acres of land Vick owned.
Woodward's appearance in court was brief, and he made the long walk to his car afterward without saying a word as about 30 reporters peppered him with questions.
Vick's lawyers have indicated they will fight the state charges on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime. In pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Aug. 27, Vick admitted helping to kill six to eight dogs, among other things.
Vick, suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay, tested positive last month for marijuana, a violation of U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson's order that he stay clean in exchange for being allowed to be free.
After that positive test, Hudson ordered Vick confined to his home address between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with electronic monitoring and random drug testing.
Associated Press Writer Sonja Barisic contributed to this report.
Luckily the state finally decided to pursue him.In addition, luckily, the Falcons are fighting to have 22 million in bonus money returned to them.
Let’s hope that happens.
As stated below, “The Falcons want Vick to return up to $22 million in bonus money, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge violated his 10-year, $130 million contract…”
Article:
Trial date for suspended Falcons QB Vick on state dogfighting charges will be set on Nov. 27
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AjtYNUiC5I96xViVuCcacCI5nYcB?slug=ap-vickindicted&prov=ap&type=lgns
By HANK KURZ Jr., AP Sports WriterOctober 3, 2007
AP - Oct 3, 10:33 am EDT
SUSSEX, Va. (AP) -- Michael Vick moved one step closer to being tried on state dogfighting charges Wednesday at a hearing to make sure he has legal representation.
An attorney for the suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback appeared in Surry County Circuit Court and was asked to return Nov. 27 to set a trial date.
Vick, who did not attend the hearing, is in the midst of a big week. On Thursday, representatives from the Falcons, the NFL management council and the NFL Players Association are scheduled to meet in Philadelphia for a contract arbitration case.
The Falcons want Vick to return up to $22 million in bonus money, arguing his guilty plea to a federal dogfighting charge violated his 10-year, $130 million contract. The NFLPA is expected to argue Vick already has earned the bonus money.
Vick, who faces up to five years in prison, is to be sentenced Dec. 10 on the federal charges.
He and three co-defendants, all of whom already have pleaded guilty to the federal dogfighting charges, are not expected at the Nov. 27 hearing, Surry County prosecutor Gerald G. Poindexter said Wednesday.
Poindexter said he hopes to have the trial begin as soon as possible.
"All the good citizens of Surry County I am sure would like to see an end to this, along with a lot of other good people," the prosecutor said outside the courtroom.
Virginia Beach attorney Larry Woodward, who will represent Vick on the state charges, said Vick turned himself in last week in the rural county for pretrial processing and bonding. Vick has been charged with two state felony counts -- beating or killing or causing dogs to fight other dogs and engaging in or promoting dogfighting. Each felony is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Surry County is where the dogfighting enterprise known as Bad Newz Kennels operated since 2001 on 15 acres of land Vick owned.
Woodward's appearance in court was brief, and he made the long walk to his car afterward without saying a word as about 30 reporters peppered him with questions.
Vick's lawyers have indicated they will fight the state charges on the grounds he can't be convicted twice of the same crime. In pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Aug. 27, Vick admitted helping to kill six to eight dogs, among other things.
Vick, suspended indefinitely by the NFL without pay, tested positive last month for marijuana, a violation of U.S. District Court Judge Henry Hudson's order that he stay clean in exchange for being allowed to be free.
After that positive test, Hudson ordered Vick confined to his home address between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., with electronic monitoring and random drug testing.
Associated Press Writer Sonja Barisic contributed to this report.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Yerkes - National Primate Research Center of Emory University Fined $15,000 for Animal Care Problems Linked To the Death of Monkey
Here we go again with the cruel Yerkes.
As stated below, “The macaque — a short-tailed monkey — died from emphysema and from an absence of gas in the lungs... The death was related to incorrectly assembled anesthesia equipment…”
Unfortunately, Yerkes is “… one of eight federally funded national primate research centers [and] has about 3,400 primates at two locations.”
Article:
USDA Fines Animal Lab After Monkey Death
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-9H-tT3h83s_oxPm4-eZjdn3XlgD8S0RUEG1
By MIKE STOBBE – 13 hours ago
ATLANTA (AP) — An animal research center was fined $15,000 for animal care problems linked to the death of a monkey, federal authorities said Monday.
Yerkes National Primate Research Center, part of Emory University, denied any willful wrongdoing, but agreed last week to pay the penalty, said U.S. agriculture department spokeswoman Jessica Milteer.
A Yerkes spokeswoman noted the research center reported the monkey's death, and said the center is committed to humane care for animals. "We deeply regret that an animal died," said the spokeswoman, Lisa Newbern.
Yerkes, one of eight federally funded national primate research centers, has about 3,400 primates at two locations. Its scientific contributions include new understanding of monkey and chimp behavior and development of an experimental AIDS vaccine.
The fine stems from findings from two inspections. The USDA reported unsanitary conditions during a January inspection of its 117-acre Lawrenceville field station.
A July inspection confirmed inadequate training and veterinary care at its Atlanta campus, after the macaque died there.
The macaque — a short-tailed monkey — died from emphysema and from an absence of gas in the lungs, Newbern said. The death was related to incorrectly assembled anesthesia equipment, she added.
The equipment has been relabeled, staff members have been retrained, and sanitary conditions at Lawrenceville have been improved, she added.
The fine is not enough, said Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, an Ohio-based animal rights organization.
Yerkes received about $40 million in 2006 in federal animal research funds. "Why should Emory care about a $15,000 fine?" Budkie said.
One of the Largest Animal Research Facilities in the Country Will Open in Truckee Meadows near Reno, Nevada
An unfortunate act in a very beautiful part of the country. Sadly, this facility will be large.
As stated below, “The Reno Planning Commission approved Charles River Laboratories' new 450,000-square-foot [facility].
Article:
Animal testing lab's move to Reno spurs outcry over planning
policy
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/NEWS10/710020337/1016/NEWS
SUSAN VOYLES RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL DUNN/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Heather Singer, left, Kathy Parker and Florence Abel on Monday protest the nearly completed Charles River Laboratory on Maestro Drive at Longley Lane.
One of the largest animal research facilities in the country will open this fall in the heart of the Truckee Meadows, and the only planning approval required -- a special use permit -- did not go to the Reno City Council.
The Reno Planning Commission approved Charles River Laboratories' new 450,000-square-foot, preclinical research center at 6995 Longley Lane adjacent to residential property in February 2006.
Since no one filed an appeal, that stood as the final decision. The same thing occurred when a new minor league baseball stadium was approved in downtown Reno in August.
Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza, who fought for a new regional animal control center, said projects of a certain size should trigger a City Council hearing. Sferrazza lives within a few miles of the research lab but didn't learn of it until last week.
"We're the elected body. I respect the planning commission for what they do," Sferrazza said. "But it should come up to the council for review."
Mayor Bob Cashell agreed.
"There are special occasions," he said. "It's something we should look at."
Councilwoman Sharon Zadra said there was more discussion about parking than animal testing when two neighborhood groups reviewed the project in January 2006. No one seemed to be alarmed about the project, which lies within her ward, she said, noting that the council can't favor some legal businesses over others.
"You can't make judgment calls," she said.
Reno lab
The Reno facility will be among the five largest labs in the country, said Greg Beattie, the center's executive director for operations. Charles River is a public company with headquarters in Wilmington, Mass.
The company is relocating from Dunn Circle in Sparks to Reno and will be phasing in employees to the new facility over the next six months.
Sparks city officials, health officials, company officials and animal rights advocates say the plant has operated in the Sparks industrial area without incident for 15 years. Beattie said the 6995 Longley Lane site was chosen because it is closer to where its employees live.
Beattie said the company will greatly reduce research involving macaque monkeys at the Reno facility. In Sparks, he said the monkeys made up the "vast majority" of its research.
He said that means most of the research in Reno will involve rodents and a small percentage of dogs and monkeys. He said the federal government requires nonrodent testing before new drugs can be released on the market.
Activists picket
Animal rights protesters have been at the Reno site in recent months.
"I'm totally against it because of the animal testing they do," said Tania Tavcar, who lives nearby. "Every day I drive by that place, I feel like I'm driving by a pet cemetery. I may move. But I'm going to stay here and fight for a while."
"I don't think people realize what's happening in the middle of town," said Florence Abel, 78, a resident of the Quail Manor Court senior complex, northwest of the building. "I don't think what they are doing is illegal, but it's immoral."
Beattie said research will continue to involve testing new drugs on animals to find any side effects. A new drug for HIV, for instance, would be tested to see whether it causes tumors or other side effects.
Initial testing to see whether the drug is effective against the HIV virus would be done elsewhere, Beattie said.
For the company to handle deadly substances, he said, the building would have to be rebuilt to higher standards. At other locations, Charles River has done preclinical testing for drugs to counter anthrax, nerve gas and the sometimes fatal Dengue virus, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
The new Reno laboratory building is rated as a Biosafety Level 2 facility, the same rating given to hospitals.
Charles River purchased the former State Farm building on Longley Lane and has spent $107 million renovating it, city and county records show. Millions more have been spent on lab equipment.
Animal research will be done on the 50,000-square-foot second floor and a large chemical laboratory will be on the first floor, Beattie said.
Beattie said the Sparks center employs 400 people who will be transferred to Reno. And the Reno lab will to grow to 900 employees over the next several years. Half of the jobs require a college degree, he said.
'No environmental hazards'
The plant, he said, will not create any environmental hazards, and the building did not flood in either the 1997 or 2005 floods. Inside the plant, a pretreatment tank will dissolve acids from the laboratories before the waste enters the sewer system. A station is set up for city officials to monitor that, he said.
Beattie said the only thing coming out of the large vents on the rooftop will be air. He said the plant will have no incinerator, and carcasses are hauled away to approved sites, which he did not want to specify.
Records show the labs are built with one-hour fire safety walls and fire officials have lists of the chemicals used and amounts that will be on site.
Coral Amende, a founder for Reno Outreach for Animal Rights, contends the government doesn't have enough inspectors to oversee the laboratory, contending the U.S. Department of Agriculture has only 101 inspectors for 13,000 laboratories.
The facility is inspected by the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Beattie said.
Beattie said inspectors from these agencies have been through the facility dozens of times and have reported only a few "housekeeping" items. He said the last inspection was about a month ago. The company prides itself on maintaining higher standards than the federal government requires, he said.
He also said the lab is monitored by an institutional animal care and use committee. It includes a local resident, but he declined to name that person.
John Hester, Reno community development director, said the city does not regulate the care of animals in the facility. That's up to the federal government.
He said it's up to the council to change the city's code to require special use permits for larger projects.
The council in 1995 gave the planning commission the final say on special use permits unless there's an appeal. The practice is the same in Sparks and has been since 2000.
Questions were raised about animal testing at a joint meeting of the southwest and south ward neighborhood advisory board on Jan. 5, 2006. Notices were sent to residents within 750 feet, and the company also sent a letter to the Quail Manor Court, a senior citizen housing project next door.
All of that, city officials said, goes beyond legal requirements.
Bob Fulkerson, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada executive director, said major projects that affect citizens should go before the city council.
The staff report reviewed by planning commissioners included a single mention of testing on animals on its fourth page.
Fulkerson said the city should consider requiring a summary statement of a project in common language "so people know what the heck is going on."
Pending cases
A case against Charles River Laboratories is pending before the New Mexico Supreme Court. The case was dismissed by a lower court that said its chimp facility was exempted from the state's animal cruelty law. The facility was included in an exception for the practice of veterinary medicine.
The criminal charges related to two chimpanzees that died overnight when only security guards were on duty. One was injured by other chimps and bled to death and the other didn't regain consciousness after being anesthetized for an exam.
Amende said researchers can find other ways to find cures without doing research on animals.
"Out of every 100 drugs tested, we get just one that is safe and effective," she said.
Beattie said testing on animals is required by the federal government before new drugs are allowed to be put on the market. "There's not a single medical advance for humans or animals that has been done without this kind of research."
As stated below, “The Reno Planning Commission approved Charles River Laboratories' new 450,000-square-foot [facility].
Article:
Animal testing lab's move to Reno spurs outcry over planning
policy
http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071002/NEWS10/710020337/1016/NEWS
SUSAN VOYLES RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL DUNN/RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Heather Singer, left, Kathy Parker and Florence Abel on Monday protest the nearly completed Charles River Laboratory on Maestro Drive at Longley Lane.
One of the largest animal research facilities in the country will open this fall in the heart of the Truckee Meadows, and the only planning approval required -- a special use permit -- did not go to the Reno City Council.
The Reno Planning Commission approved Charles River Laboratories' new 450,000-square-foot, preclinical research center at 6995 Longley Lane adjacent to residential property in February 2006.
Since no one filed an appeal, that stood as the final decision. The same thing occurred when a new minor league baseball stadium was approved in downtown Reno in August.
Councilwoman Jessica Sferrazza, who fought for a new regional animal control center, said projects of a certain size should trigger a City Council hearing. Sferrazza lives within a few miles of the research lab but didn't learn of it until last week.
"We're the elected body. I respect the planning commission for what they do," Sferrazza said. "But it should come up to the council for review."
Mayor Bob Cashell agreed.
"There are special occasions," he said. "It's something we should look at."
Councilwoman Sharon Zadra said there was more discussion about parking than animal testing when two neighborhood groups reviewed the project in January 2006. No one seemed to be alarmed about the project, which lies within her ward, she said, noting that the council can't favor some legal businesses over others.
"You can't make judgment calls," she said.
Reno lab
The Reno facility will be among the five largest labs in the country, said Greg Beattie, the center's executive director for operations. Charles River is a public company with headquarters in Wilmington, Mass.
The company is relocating from Dunn Circle in Sparks to Reno and will be phasing in employees to the new facility over the next six months.
Sparks city officials, health officials, company officials and animal rights advocates say the plant has operated in the Sparks industrial area without incident for 15 years. Beattie said the 6995 Longley Lane site was chosen because it is closer to where its employees live.
Beattie said the company will greatly reduce research involving macaque monkeys at the Reno facility. In Sparks, he said the monkeys made up the "vast majority" of its research.
He said that means most of the research in Reno will involve rodents and a small percentage of dogs and monkeys. He said the federal government requires nonrodent testing before new drugs can be released on the market.
Activists picket
Animal rights protesters have been at the Reno site in recent months.
"I'm totally against it because of the animal testing they do," said Tania Tavcar, who lives nearby. "Every day I drive by that place, I feel like I'm driving by a pet cemetery. I may move. But I'm going to stay here and fight for a while."
"I don't think people realize what's happening in the middle of town," said Florence Abel, 78, a resident of the Quail Manor Court senior complex, northwest of the building. "I don't think what they are doing is illegal, but it's immoral."
Beattie said research will continue to involve testing new drugs on animals to find any side effects. A new drug for HIV, for instance, would be tested to see whether it causes tumors or other side effects.
Initial testing to see whether the drug is effective against the HIV virus would be done elsewhere, Beattie said.
For the company to handle deadly substances, he said, the building would have to be rebuilt to higher standards. At other locations, Charles River has done preclinical testing for drugs to counter anthrax, nerve gas and the sometimes fatal Dengue virus, according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
The new Reno laboratory building is rated as a Biosafety Level 2 facility, the same rating given to hospitals.
Charles River purchased the former State Farm building on Longley Lane and has spent $107 million renovating it, city and county records show. Millions more have been spent on lab equipment.
Animal research will be done on the 50,000-square-foot second floor and a large chemical laboratory will be on the first floor, Beattie said.
Beattie said the Sparks center employs 400 people who will be transferred to Reno. And the Reno lab will to grow to 900 employees over the next several years. Half of the jobs require a college degree, he said.
'No environmental hazards'
The plant, he said, will not create any environmental hazards, and the building did not flood in either the 1997 or 2005 floods. Inside the plant, a pretreatment tank will dissolve acids from the laboratories before the waste enters the sewer system. A station is set up for city officials to monitor that, he said.
Beattie said the only thing coming out of the large vents on the rooftop will be air. He said the plant will have no incinerator, and carcasses are hauled away to approved sites, which he did not want to specify.
Records show the labs are built with one-hour fire safety walls and fire officials have lists of the chemicals used and amounts that will be on site.
Coral Amende, a founder for Reno Outreach for Animal Rights, contends the government doesn't have enough inspectors to oversee the laboratory, contending the U.S. Department of Agriculture has only 101 inspectors for 13,000 laboratories.
The facility is inspected by the USDA, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Beattie said.
Beattie said inspectors from these agencies have been through the facility dozens of times and have reported only a few "housekeeping" items. He said the last inspection was about a month ago. The company prides itself on maintaining higher standards than the federal government requires, he said.
He also said the lab is monitored by an institutional animal care and use committee. It includes a local resident, but he declined to name that person.
John Hester, Reno community development director, said the city does not regulate the care of animals in the facility. That's up to the federal government.
He said it's up to the council to change the city's code to require special use permits for larger projects.
The council in 1995 gave the planning commission the final say on special use permits unless there's an appeal. The practice is the same in Sparks and has been since 2000.
Questions were raised about animal testing at a joint meeting of the southwest and south ward neighborhood advisory board on Jan. 5, 2006. Notices were sent to residents within 750 feet, and the company also sent a letter to the Quail Manor Court, a senior citizen housing project next door.
All of that, city officials said, goes beyond legal requirements.
Bob Fulkerson, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada executive director, said major projects that affect citizens should go before the city council.
The staff report reviewed by planning commissioners included a single mention of testing on animals on its fourth page.
Fulkerson said the city should consider requiring a summary statement of a project in common language "so people know what the heck is going on."
Pending cases
A case against Charles River Laboratories is pending before the New Mexico Supreme Court. The case was dismissed by a lower court that said its chimp facility was exempted from the state's animal cruelty law. The facility was included in an exception for the practice of veterinary medicine.
The criminal charges related to two chimpanzees that died overnight when only security guards were on duty. One was injured by other chimps and bled to death and the other didn't regain consciousness after being anesthetized for an exam.
Amende said researchers can find other ways to find cures without doing research on animals.
"Out of every 100 drugs tested, we get just one that is safe and effective," she said.
Beattie said testing on animals is required by the federal government before new drugs are allowed to be put on the market. "There's not a single medical advance for humans or animals that has been done without this kind of research."
Groups Gather to Remind World that Novartis Supports Animal Testing and the Cruel Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS)
Article:
Anti-vivisection demonstrators target Novartis
http://www.24heures.ch/pages/home/24_heures/english_corner/news/news_detail/(contenu)/139423
Activists accuse Novartis headquarters in Nyon of collaboration with animal-testing company
Fifteen activists demonstrated in front of the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis in Nyon on Monday afternoon denouncing animal-testing methods. Participants carrying placards saying “Animal Murderers” or “No to Vivisection” gathered for three hours. Although animal-testing is not conducted at the Novartis factory, the demonstrators accuse Novartis of collaborating with British company, Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS), which they claim uses “cruel and doubtful” animal-testing methods.
The aim of the activists, who call themselves “Stop Huntingdon Animal cruelty”, is to force business partners to discontinue dealing with the British lab. “We have already managed to make them lose SFr90 million since 1999,” says one demonstrator.
According to Paul Herling, head of research for Novartis international, animal experimentation is a useful support for in-vitro methods. The pharmaceutical company says it regularly scrutinizes partner companies and established the Novartis Animal Welfare service two years ago to assess the treatment of animals during experimentation.
Groups Call for Designers to End Using Snake and Crocodile Skin
This quote found below sums it up: "Anyone who wears exotic skins is giving money toward unimaginable cruelties such as alligators and snakes being whacked on their heads with hammers or machetes, and then skinned while still conscious," she said.
Article:
Catwalk call to ban snake and crocodile skin fashion
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1571142007
LOUISE BARNETT
ANIMAL-rights campaigners yesterday criticised the use of snake and crocodile skins in designer fashion.
It follows the appearance of exotic animal skins in recent catwalk shows.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has launched an anti-exotic animal skins advert which shows a reptile carrying a handbag. Several fashion designers included snakeskin in their recent bag, shoe and clothing collections.
PETA's Europe director, Poorva Joshipura, said the use of exotic skins in fashion was putting the animals in danger of extinction.
"Anyone who wears exotic skins is giving money toward unimaginable cruelties such as alligators and snakes being whacked on their heads with hammers or machetes, and then skinned while still conscious," she said.
"Beautiful synthetics are plentiful and used by progressive designers like Stella McCartney and Marc Bouwer. It's easy to choose faux and have a look that kills without killing animals."
Article:
Catwalk call to ban snake and crocodile skin fashion
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1571142007
LOUISE BARNETT
ANIMAL-rights campaigners yesterday criticised the use of snake and crocodile skins in designer fashion.
It follows the appearance of exotic animal skins in recent catwalk shows.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has launched an anti-exotic animal skins advert which shows a reptile carrying a handbag. Several fashion designers included snakeskin in their recent bag, shoe and clothing collections.
PETA's Europe director, Poorva Joshipura, said the use of exotic skins in fashion was putting the animals in danger of extinction.
"Anyone who wears exotic skins is giving money toward unimaginable cruelties such as alligators and snakes being whacked on their heads with hammers or machetes, and then skinned while still conscious," she said.
"Beautiful synthetics are plentiful and used by progressive designers like Stella McCartney and Marc Bouwer. It's easy to choose faux and have a look that kills without killing animals."
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
State of Virginia Indicts Suspended Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick in Relation to His Guilty Plea on the Federal Level of Dog Fighting
Luckily Virginia moved on this. Sounds like they didn’t have a choice as if you read the story, state police were about to not prosecute at all prior to the FBI actually moving into the property to investigate.
Article:
Vick charged with torturing, killing dogs in Virginia indictment
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/25/vick/
index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Decrease font Decrease font
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SUSSEX, Virginia (CNN) -- A Virginia grand jury has indicted suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three co-defendants on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick's Virginia home, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faces sentencing on federal charges in December.
The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against Vick: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term.
Vick, 27, faces a possible prison term of 12 to 18 months after his August guilty plea to a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation from his home outside Newport News, Virginia. He faces sentencing on December 10 in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia.
Vick's lawyers said they will "aggressively" work to make sure "that he is not held accountable for the same conduct twice."
"We are disappointed that these charges were filed in Surry County, since it is the same conduct covered by the federal indictment for which Mr. Vick has already accepted full responsibility and pleaded guilty to in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia," his lead attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.
Vick pleaded guilty after three associates -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia -- admitted their roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Read about the federal case against Vick »
Tuesday's grand jury session resulted in charges of promoting dogfighting against all three. In addition, Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs, and Peace, like Vick, faces one count.
All four are scheduled to be arraigned October 3 and face a tentative trial date of November 27. See a timeline of the case against Vick »
Don't Miss
Earlier, Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter said he planned to present more than 10 possible charges against Vick and his co-defendants to the grand jury.
The grand jury refused to bring eight additional counts of animal cruelty against the defendants.
"I'm sure that the grand jury took careful consideration, and they made a decision we can live with," he said.
Poindexter said he pursued the case because "crimes that were not prosecuted were committed in Surry County." But he would not say whether his prosecutors put Vick's federal court admission that he killed dogs before the grand jury.
advertisement
"Come on, lady, how much do you need to know?" he told a reporter who was pressing the issue.
The grand jury met at the Sussex County courthouse because the Surry County courthouse is undergoing renovations. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend
CNN's Eric Fiegel contributed to this report.
All About Animal Cruelty • Michael Vick
Article:
Vick charged with torturing, killing dogs in Virginia indictment
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/25/vick/
index.html?eref=rss_topstories
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font
SUSSEX, Virginia (CNN) -- A Virginia grand jury has indicted suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and three co-defendants on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick's Virginia home, prosecutors said Tuesday.
Suspended Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick faces sentencing on federal charges in December.
The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against Vick: one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights. Each is a felony charge that could result in a five-year prison term.
Vick, 27, faces a possible prison term of 12 to 18 months after his August guilty plea to a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling a dogfighting operation from his home outside Newport News, Virginia. He faces sentencing on December 10 in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia.
Vick's lawyers said they will "aggressively" work to make sure "that he is not held accountable for the same conduct twice."
"We are disappointed that these charges were filed in Surry County, since it is the same conduct covered by the federal indictment for which Mr. Vick has already accepted full responsibility and pleaded guilty to in U.S. District Court in Richmond, Virginia," his lead attorney, Billy Martin, said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon.
Vick pleaded guilty after three associates -- Purnell Peace, 35, of Virginia Beach; Quanis Phillips, 28, of Atlanta, Georgia; and Tony Taylor, 34, of Hampton, Virginia -- admitted their roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Read about the federal case against Vick »
Tuesday's grand jury session resulted in charges of promoting dogfighting against all three. In addition, Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs, and Peace, like Vick, faces one count.
All four are scheduled to be arraigned October 3 and face a tentative trial date of November 27. See a timeline of the case against Vick »
Don't Miss
Earlier, Surry County Commonwealth Attorney Gerald Poindexter said he planned to present more than 10 possible charges against Vick and his co-defendants to the grand jury.
The grand jury refused to bring eight additional counts of animal cruelty against the defendants.
"I'm sure that the grand jury took careful consideration, and they made a decision we can live with," he said.
Poindexter said he pursued the case because "crimes that were not prosecuted were committed in Surry County." But he would not say whether his prosecutors put Vick's federal court admission that he killed dogs before the grand jury.
advertisement
"Come on, lady, how much do you need to know?" he told a reporter who was pressing the issue.
The grand jury met at the Sussex County courthouse because the Surry County courthouse is undergoing renovations. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend
CNN's Eric Fiegel contributed to this report.
All About Animal Cruelty • Michael Vick
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Site Exposes Horror of Annual Namibia Seal Slaughter
Everyone knows about the Canadian Baby Seal Slaugther, but many don't know about the Namibia Seal Slaughter.
Find out more at:
http://namibia2007.wordpress.com/
Find out more at:
http://namibia2007.wordpress.com/
Another Event Puts Question to Zoos: In Norway, Bears Escape from Zoo and are Killed
Two points here:
One, the unnatural nature of putting bears behind bars.
Two, the idocy of defaulting to killing when any issue arises.
Article:
Animal Rights Association Questions Bear killings
http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=101976
The Animal Rights Association, NOAH, might report the zoo that has shot and killed three bears in three weeks to the police.The 11-year-old female bear and her two cubs escaped from the zoo in Grong last Monday. Today they were found – and killed.
The police officer in Grong, Herolv Nordaunet, said that the only right thing to do was to shoot the bears, and that they followed all safety guidelines and precautions.
Spokesperson Siri Martinsen from NOAH said that they are very upset that the bears could escape so easily. Not long ago, two young wolves also escaped and were shot and killed shortly after.
“These animal ethics are not acceptable,” Martinsen said.
Manager of the zoo, Randi Dille, said that she will look closer into what went on after the animals escaped.
One, the unnatural nature of putting bears behind bars.
Two, the idocy of defaulting to killing when any issue arises.
Article:
Animal Rights Association Questions Bear killings
http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=101976
The Animal Rights Association, NOAH, might report the zoo that has shot and killed three bears in three weeks to the police.The 11-year-old female bear and her two cubs escaped from the zoo in Grong last Monday. Today they were found – and killed.
The police officer in Grong, Herolv Nordaunet, said that the only right thing to do was to shoot the bears, and that they followed all safety guidelines and precautions.
Spokesperson Siri Martinsen from NOAH said that they are very upset that the bears could escape so easily. Not long ago, two young wolves also escaped and were shot and killed shortly after.
“These animal ethics are not acceptable,” Martinsen said.
Manager of the zoo, Randi Dille, said that she will look closer into what went on after the animals escaped.
Officals in Malaysia Call Off Idiotic Dog Catching Contest
Enough said…
Article:
Laudable move
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2007/9/20/columnists/wheelpower/18923843&sec=Wheel%20Power
Wheel Power: By ANTHONY THANASAYAN
Animal lovers everywhere were relieved when the Selayang Municipal Council called off its dogcatching competition due to pressure from the public.
WHAT a sweet victory it was last Friday for animal-loving Malaysians everywhere. The Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), which had been headstrong for the past couple of weeks about its controversial dog-catching competition, finally relented to the public call for the contest to be aborted.
Members of the public were particularly unhappy that attractive cash prizes were being offered, instead of inculcating positive values about responsible animal ownership and love for animals.
The decision was reached at a meeting held at the MPS headquarters in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor. The meeting was attended by representatives of five animal welfare and rights groups. The NGOs were joined by the various representatives of local residents in Selayang, as well as MPS council officials.
The animal rights groups present were the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Rights and Welfare Society (Roar), the Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo), and the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).
Also present was another ad hoc group called the Coalition of Animal Lovers of Malaysia (Calm). Formed immediately after the MPS dog-catching contest, Calm was there to oppose the competition.
As president of Petpositive, I was the only representative in wheelchair among 40 others invited to the meeting.
The moment I arrived at the venue, I was confronted with a set of obstacles, which I had to overcome, before getting into the meeting room. Although there were at least two parking lots for disabled drivers, there was no one whom I could ask for assistance. Some of the officers who passed by did not even bother to ask if I needed help.
There was no way they would not have known I was a disabled person, unless they were blind themselves. Not only is my car plastered with disabled stickers all over, but I was parked in the MPS disabled lot. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to wait long. I was soon joined by my animal rights activist chums who got my wheelchair out of the car and helped me into it in no time.
The meeting was held on the first floor, and I had to be carried up two flights of steps that were steep and dangerous to attend it.
What I couldn’t understand was why the meeting was not held in the wheelchair-friendly newer building which was only a stone’s throw away. After all, it was plain as day that Petpositive had the words “disabled” and “elderly” in it. Or is it because people today still view the world in terms of stereotypes? And that disabled people are only seen in handicapped homes, hospitals or hospices, instead of in offices, shopping centres and the meeting rooms of local council buildings?
Just when I thought I would be locked out of the meeting room, a couple of my animal rights friends did a wonderful thing. N. Surendran, from Roar, and Natasha Fernz, from Calm, went upstairs to the meeting room and argued my case until, lo and behold, the venue was moved to the wheelchair-accessible building next door so that I could attend!
Later, I heard that one or two of the invited guests were peeved with me for making them switch venues. They even remarked that I was being too demanding and that I was expecting the world to treat me “special” because of my handicap. However, the morning ended on an extraordinary note. I left the premises with the good news that stray dogs in Selayang would be treated with respect from now on.
I have learnt a lesson from my animal activist friends, too. Sometimes in life, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. It’s called: Standing up for yourself.
Article:
Laudable move
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2007/9/20/columnists/wheelpower/18923843&sec=Wheel%20Power
Wheel Power: By ANTHONY THANASAYAN
Animal lovers everywhere were relieved when the Selayang Municipal Council called off its dogcatching competition due to pressure from the public.
WHAT a sweet victory it was last Friday for animal-loving Malaysians everywhere. The Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), which had been headstrong for the past couple of weeks about its controversial dog-catching competition, finally relented to the public call for the contest to be aborted.
Members of the public were particularly unhappy that attractive cash prizes were being offered, instead of inculcating positive values about responsible animal ownership and love for animals.
The decision was reached at a meeting held at the MPS headquarters in Bandar Baru Selayang, Selangor. The meeting was attended by representatives of five animal welfare and rights groups. The NGOs were joined by the various representatives of local residents in Selayang, as well as MPS council officials.
The animal rights groups present were the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Animal Rights and Welfare Society (Roar), the Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo), and the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive).
Also present was another ad hoc group called the Coalition of Animal Lovers of Malaysia (Calm). Formed immediately after the MPS dog-catching contest, Calm was there to oppose the competition.
As president of Petpositive, I was the only representative in wheelchair among 40 others invited to the meeting.
The moment I arrived at the venue, I was confronted with a set of obstacles, which I had to overcome, before getting into the meeting room. Although there were at least two parking lots for disabled drivers, there was no one whom I could ask for assistance. Some of the officers who passed by did not even bother to ask if I needed help.
There was no way they would not have known I was a disabled person, unless they were blind themselves. Not only is my car plastered with disabled stickers all over, but I was parked in the MPS disabled lot. Luckily for me, I didn’t have to wait long. I was soon joined by my animal rights activist chums who got my wheelchair out of the car and helped me into it in no time.
The meeting was held on the first floor, and I had to be carried up two flights of steps that were steep and dangerous to attend it.
What I couldn’t understand was why the meeting was not held in the wheelchair-friendly newer building which was only a stone’s throw away. After all, it was plain as day that Petpositive had the words “disabled” and “elderly” in it. Or is it because people today still view the world in terms of stereotypes? And that disabled people are only seen in handicapped homes, hospitals or hospices, instead of in offices, shopping centres and the meeting rooms of local council buildings?
Just when I thought I would be locked out of the meeting room, a couple of my animal rights friends did a wonderful thing. N. Surendran, from Roar, and Natasha Fernz, from Calm, went upstairs to the meeting room and argued my case until, lo and behold, the venue was moved to the wheelchair-accessible building next door so that I could attend!
Later, I heard that one or two of the invited guests were peeved with me for making them switch venues. They even remarked that I was being too demanding and that I was expecting the world to treat me “special” because of my handicap. However, the morning ended on an extraordinary note. I left the premises with the good news that stray dogs in Selayang would be treated with respect from now on.
I have learnt a lesson from my animal activist friends, too. Sometimes in life, you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. It’s called: Standing up for yourself.
Animal Rights and Eco Action / Environmentalism: One Cannot Exist Without the Other
A great writing. I encourage all to read it and pass it on. Really shows the true connection between the two issues.
Article:
Animal Rights - the Beating Heart of Eco Action
http://www.arkangelweb.org/features/20070919beatingheart.php
A Discussion on How We in the Animal Rights Movement are at the Centre of Political Change
There is an expression, though not one an Animal Rights activist would tend to use, that describes something so large as to evade notice as the “Elephant in the room.” However, there is now an issue so large, so vital, that it might be better described as the very room itself. That issue is of course Climate Change. What started as the relatively innocuous sounding Global Warming is well on the way to acquiring its more rightful status as likely Climate Catastrophe. Over the last few years this issue has gone from being the preserve of a few scientists and commentators, largely dismissed as cranks, to the front page of every newspaper and the top of most political agendas.
More importantly, this realisation has led to the flowering of a new Eco Action movement, committed to Direct Action in defence of the Earth, and against all those who put greed and material self gratification before the common interest and a sustainable future for all. This Summer saw the second annual Climate Camp take place at Heathrow airport, to protest at the exponential increase in aviation, one of the fastest growing causes of human induced Climate Change. It is absolutely vital that this grassroots movement continues to grow and to succeed. For whilst they might pay lip service to the idea of change, there is no real sign as yet of politicians having the courage necessary to take the necessary decisions.
Over the last year I have made a point of becoming more involved in this movement. For we know that even if we in Animal Rights achieve our goal of eliminating the abuse and exploitation of all Animal Lives, the onset of Climate Catastrophe will render this utterly pointless. The potential consequences of such dramatic change to the weather systems of the Earth, beggar belief. The very ability of the Planet to continue to sustain life may well be compromised.In the face of this possibility it is incumbent on those of us in the Animal Rights movement to take this on board and adapt our strategies accordingly.
It is my belief that it is not possible to separate that which is truly sustainable from that which is properly ethical. As I like to put it, there can be no Life Rights without Earth Awareness. It is possible to argue, and most politicians would, that Climate Change can be tackled without recourse to fundamental change, both in the way in which we view ourselves, and our relationship to the Earth that is home to us all. However, it is the Earth which is the only properly holistic context in which we can come to informed decisions about the way in which we should live. Politicians would argue that we can continue to found ourselves, and our aspirations, on the politics of permanent economic growth. The lie must be put to the madness of this conceit. Money has never made good motivation, and the evidence of this is now made stark for all to see. We need a new ethic on which to base our idea of what it is we are, and it is we in the Animal Rights movement who can provide that ethic.
Throughout the Summer months, and to a lesser extent the rest of the year, there are an ever increasing number of green gatherings and festivals where people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate and discuss our relationship with the Earth. Some are more overtly political than others, and as Climate Change comes to dominate our thoughts, political activism is bound to seem more relevant than celebration. So what is it that links celebration with political activism, be it Eco Action or Animal Rights? What is it also that is the single most important change an individual can make to their lives in order to reduce their carbon footprint? It is to be Vegan, and it is this which is the indissoluble link between Animal Rights and Eco Action.
For those in the Animal Rights movement it is pretty much unthinkable to be deeply concerned with the equality of all Lives, and yet to kill and eat other animals. Granted, vegetarianism is often a stepping stone on the way to being Vegan, but Vegan is where most people end up as the only rational, reasonable and responsible choice. It is the only ethical way. For those in the Eco Action movement, to be Vegan is coming to be seen as the only sustainable way, given the effect it has on one’s carbon footprint. All food at this year’s Climate Camp was Vegan, as it is at most green or Eco gatherings. So it is that to be ethical is to be sustainable, and to be sustainable is to be ethical. As I presume that all of us who wish to see an ethical and sustainable future believe that it is better to be kind than to be cruel, we are, from our differing starting points, coming to the same conclusions and heading toward the same position. That position must be that it is wrong to exploit any Life, human or otherwise.
Although it would now seem that the many and disparate groups and individuals involved in Eco Action or Animal Rights are, in effect, fighting the same fight, that is not yet the way it appears to those we oppose. To them we either seem, or can be portrayed as, a collection of minor, single issue groups, easily dismissed as anything from cranks to crazed extremists. I know this to be a matter of much frustration and annoyance to the many good and decent people acting in defence of the Earth and all life. I would like to suggest that there is something that we can do about this, which will immeasurably increase our influence, without losing the intensity that a small but committed group can bring to a particular issue.
Why is it that the state so dislikes those groups and individuals who make up the Animal Rights movement, and is now showing the same reaction toward Climate Change campaigners? Why is it that the state brings so many resources to bear against us, and is even prepared to compromise its stated, if not realised, democratic ideals, in order to silence us? Could it just be that in their quieter moments or at least somewhere in their being, that they fear us? Not because we pose a physical threat to them, (after all it is they who are the people of violence, not us, it is they who have the guns and the bombs, and who do not shirk from using them), but because they know that we are right! And in being right we threaten not just their power and wealth, but their very idea of who they are.
Without compromising the integrity of these groups, or of those who prefer to work as individuals, I do feel that we need to operate under a collective, recognisable banner. I say this whilst realising that it is already happening in all except name, and has been for some time. For instance, as someone who has centered themselves in the Animal Rights movement, I chose to work under the banner of Earth First! a name more associated with Eco Action. Earth First! is an idea not an organisation. As such it is available to all of us working toward ethical and sustainable living in whatever field. Evidence of how the movement is operating under this banner can be seen from the self posting website Earth First! Action Reports. This website is ever more widely used by both Eco Action and Animal Rights groups to post details of Actions or for information purposes. I feel it would help to raise the profile and effectiveness of all that we do, to use the Earth First! Name in conjunction with whatever other names we are already using. After all, what better expresses our ethos than to state that what we do, is not done for ourselves, but for the Earth and all Lives. However we choose to operate, as individuals we are all Earth Firsters!
As a visible and tangible demonstration of how Eco Action and Animal Rights are coming together as an Earth First! Movement, the following suggestion has been made. For organisational purposes, the Climate Camp, both in its planning and for the actual event, is made up of a number of neighbourhoods representing different regions. Animal Rights, however, in its various groups and individuals, is a nationwide movement. We feel, therefore that it would show our understanding of the vital importance of Eco Action, and our solidarity with those already involved, to have an Animal Rights neighbourhood at next year’s Climate Camp. Having met a number of people involved in the planning and implementation of this year’s Camp, I am hoping to put forward this suggestion as soon as appropriate, and to help with the necessary planning. In this way, it will become increasingly obvious to those in power who seek only to protect vested financial interest, no matter what the real cost, that they are facing serious opposition. Cogent, coherent and organised opposition working, by way of consensus based non hierarchical systems, toward properly ethical and truly sustainable solutions to the problems we face. We who have decided to care, who have chosen to change, will not sit idly back and watch the Earth and all life being ground into money. As a movement our numbers will grow, and so must the Actions that we take. The future depends on it.
Written by Matt Clowes
To see more of Matt’s writing go to: http://www.earthfirstmanifesto.org/
Article:
Animal Rights - the Beating Heart of Eco Action
http://www.arkangelweb.org/features/20070919beatingheart.php
A Discussion on How We in the Animal Rights Movement are at the Centre of Political Change
There is an expression, though not one an Animal Rights activist would tend to use, that describes something so large as to evade notice as the “Elephant in the room.” However, there is now an issue so large, so vital, that it might be better described as the very room itself. That issue is of course Climate Change. What started as the relatively innocuous sounding Global Warming is well on the way to acquiring its more rightful status as likely Climate Catastrophe. Over the last few years this issue has gone from being the preserve of a few scientists and commentators, largely dismissed as cranks, to the front page of every newspaper and the top of most political agendas.
More importantly, this realisation has led to the flowering of a new Eco Action movement, committed to Direct Action in defence of the Earth, and against all those who put greed and material self gratification before the common interest and a sustainable future for all. This Summer saw the second annual Climate Camp take place at Heathrow airport, to protest at the exponential increase in aviation, one of the fastest growing causes of human induced Climate Change. It is absolutely vital that this grassroots movement continues to grow and to succeed. For whilst they might pay lip service to the idea of change, there is no real sign as yet of politicians having the courage necessary to take the necessary decisions.
Over the last year I have made a point of becoming more involved in this movement. For we know that even if we in Animal Rights achieve our goal of eliminating the abuse and exploitation of all Animal Lives, the onset of Climate Catastrophe will render this utterly pointless. The potential consequences of such dramatic change to the weather systems of the Earth, beggar belief. The very ability of the Planet to continue to sustain life may well be compromised.In the face of this possibility it is incumbent on those of us in the Animal Rights movement to take this on board and adapt our strategies accordingly.
It is my belief that it is not possible to separate that which is truly sustainable from that which is properly ethical. As I like to put it, there can be no Life Rights without Earth Awareness. It is possible to argue, and most politicians would, that Climate Change can be tackled without recourse to fundamental change, both in the way in which we view ourselves, and our relationship to the Earth that is home to us all. However, it is the Earth which is the only properly holistic context in which we can come to informed decisions about the way in which we should live. Politicians would argue that we can continue to found ourselves, and our aspirations, on the politics of permanent economic growth. The lie must be put to the madness of this conceit. Money has never made good motivation, and the evidence of this is now made stark for all to see. We need a new ethic on which to base our idea of what it is we are, and it is we in the Animal Rights movement who can provide that ethic.
Throughout the Summer months, and to a lesser extent the rest of the year, there are an ever increasing number of green gatherings and festivals where people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate and discuss our relationship with the Earth. Some are more overtly political than others, and as Climate Change comes to dominate our thoughts, political activism is bound to seem more relevant than celebration. So what is it that links celebration with political activism, be it Eco Action or Animal Rights? What is it also that is the single most important change an individual can make to their lives in order to reduce their carbon footprint? It is to be Vegan, and it is this which is the indissoluble link between Animal Rights and Eco Action.
For those in the Animal Rights movement it is pretty much unthinkable to be deeply concerned with the equality of all Lives, and yet to kill and eat other animals. Granted, vegetarianism is often a stepping stone on the way to being Vegan, but Vegan is where most people end up as the only rational, reasonable and responsible choice. It is the only ethical way. For those in the Eco Action movement, to be Vegan is coming to be seen as the only sustainable way, given the effect it has on one’s carbon footprint. All food at this year’s Climate Camp was Vegan, as it is at most green or Eco gatherings. So it is that to be ethical is to be sustainable, and to be sustainable is to be ethical. As I presume that all of us who wish to see an ethical and sustainable future believe that it is better to be kind than to be cruel, we are, from our differing starting points, coming to the same conclusions and heading toward the same position. That position must be that it is wrong to exploit any Life, human or otherwise.
Although it would now seem that the many and disparate groups and individuals involved in Eco Action or Animal Rights are, in effect, fighting the same fight, that is not yet the way it appears to those we oppose. To them we either seem, or can be portrayed as, a collection of minor, single issue groups, easily dismissed as anything from cranks to crazed extremists. I know this to be a matter of much frustration and annoyance to the many good and decent people acting in defence of the Earth and all life. I would like to suggest that there is something that we can do about this, which will immeasurably increase our influence, without losing the intensity that a small but committed group can bring to a particular issue.
Why is it that the state so dislikes those groups and individuals who make up the Animal Rights movement, and is now showing the same reaction toward Climate Change campaigners? Why is it that the state brings so many resources to bear against us, and is even prepared to compromise its stated, if not realised, democratic ideals, in order to silence us? Could it just be that in their quieter moments or at least somewhere in their being, that they fear us? Not because we pose a physical threat to them, (after all it is they who are the people of violence, not us, it is they who have the guns and the bombs, and who do not shirk from using them), but because they know that we are right! And in being right we threaten not just their power and wealth, but their very idea of who they are.
Without compromising the integrity of these groups, or of those who prefer to work as individuals, I do feel that we need to operate under a collective, recognisable banner. I say this whilst realising that it is already happening in all except name, and has been for some time. For instance, as someone who has centered themselves in the Animal Rights movement, I chose to work under the banner of Earth First! a name more associated with Eco Action. Earth First! is an idea not an organisation. As such it is available to all of us working toward ethical and sustainable living in whatever field. Evidence of how the movement is operating under this banner can be seen from the self posting website Earth First! Action Reports. This website is ever more widely used by both Eco Action and Animal Rights groups to post details of Actions or for information purposes. I feel it would help to raise the profile and effectiveness of all that we do, to use the Earth First! Name in conjunction with whatever other names we are already using. After all, what better expresses our ethos than to state that what we do, is not done for ourselves, but for the Earth and all Lives. However we choose to operate, as individuals we are all Earth Firsters!
As a visible and tangible demonstration of how Eco Action and Animal Rights are coming together as an Earth First! Movement, the following suggestion has been made. For organisational purposes, the Climate Camp, both in its planning and for the actual event, is made up of a number of neighbourhoods representing different regions. Animal Rights, however, in its various groups and individuals, is a nationwide movement. We feel, therefore that it would show our understanding of the vital importance of Eco Action, and our solidarity with those already involved, to have an Animal Rights neighbourhood at next year’s Climate Camp. Having met a number of people involved in the planning and implementation of this year’s Camp, I am hoping to put forward this suggestion as soon as appropriate, and to help with the necessary planning. In this way, it will become increasingly obvious to those in power who seek only to protect vested financial interest, no matter what the real cost, that they are facing serious opposition. Cogent, coherent and organised opposition working, by way of consensus based non hierarchical systems, toward properly ethical and truly sustainable solutions to the problems we face. We who have decided to care, who have chosen to change, will not sit idly back and watch the Earth and all life being ground into money. As a movement our numbers will grow, and so must the Actions that we take. The future depends on it.
Written by Matt Clowes
To see more of Matt’s writing go to: http://www.earthfirstmanifesto.org/
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
The Case Made Once Again for the Positive Environmental Effects of Vegetarianism
It’s been made clear once again: undeniably, vegetarianism is the number one act for attempting to address the environmental problems of today.
Article:
Nuggets and Hummers and fish sticks, oh my!
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/9/17/16200/7809
PETA VP argues vegetarianism is the best way to help the planet
Posted by Grist at 11:35 AM on 18 Sep 2007
This is a guest essay from Bruce Friedrich, vice president for campaigns at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). It was written in response to Alex Roth's essay "PETA's dogma is all bark and no bite." Friedrich has been an environmental activist for more than 20 years.
In 1987, I read Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé and -- primarily for human rights and environmental reasons -- went vegan. Two decades later, I still believe that -- even leaving aside all the animal welfare issues -- a vegan diet is the only reasonable diet for people in the developed world who care about the environment or global poverty.
Over the past 20 years, the environmental argument against growing crops to be fed to animals -- so that humans can eat the animals -- has grown substantially. Just this past November, the environmental problems associated with eating chickens, pigs, and other animals were the subject of a 408-page United Nations scientific report titled Livestock's Long Shadow.
The U.N. report found that the meat industry contributes to "problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity." The report concludes that the meat industry is "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."
Eating Meat Is the No. 1 Consumer Cause of Global Warming
Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others have brought the possibility of global cataclysm into sharp relief. What they have not been talking about, however, is the fact that all cars, trucks, planes, and other types of transportation combined account for about 13 percent of global warming emissions, whereas raising chickens, pigs, cattle, and other animals contributes to 18 percent, according to U.N. scientists. Yes, eating animal products contributes to global warming 40 percent more than all SUVs, 18-wheelers, jumbo jets, and other types of travel combined.
Al and Leo might not be talking about the connection between meat and global warming, but the Live Earth concert that Al inspired is: The recently published Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook recommends, "Don't be a chicken. Stop being a pig. And don't have a cow. Be the first on your block to cut back on meat." The Handbook further explains that "refusing meat" is "the single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint" [emphasis in original].
And Environmental Defense, on its website, notes, "If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains ... the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads." Imagine if we stopped eating animal products altogether.
Eating Meat Wastes Resources
If I lie in bed and never get up, I will burn almost 2,500 calories each day; that is what's required to keep my body alive. The same physiological reality applies to all animals: The vast majority of the calories consumed by a chicken, a pig, a cow, or another animal goes into keeping that animal alive, and once you add to that the calories required to create the parts of the animal that we don't eat (e.g., bones, feathers, and blood), you find that it takes more than 10 times as many calories of feed given to an animal to get one calorie back in the form of edible fat or muscle. In other words, it's exponentially more efficient to eat grains, soy, or oats directly rather than feed them to farmed animals so that humans can eat those animals. It's like tossing more than 10 plates of spaghetti into the trash for every one plate you eat.
And that's just the pure "calories in, calories out" equation. When you factor in everything else, the situation gets much worse. Think about the extra stages of production that are required to get dead chickens, pigs, or other animals from the farm to the table:
1. Grow more than 10 times as much corn, grain, and soy (with all the required tilling, irrigation, crop dusters, and so on), as would be required if we ate the plants directly.
2. Transport -- in gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing 18-wheelers -- all that grain and soy to feed manufacturers.
3. Operate the feed mill (again, using massive amounts of resources).
4. Truck the feed to the factory farms.
5. Operate the factory farms.
6. Truck the animals many miles to slaughterhouses.
7. Operate the slaughterhouses.
8. Truck the meat to processing plants.
9. Operate the meat processing plants.
10. Truck the meat to grocery stores (in refrigerated trucks).
11. Keep the meat in refrigerators or freezers at the stores.
With every stage comes massive amounts of extra energy usage -- and with that comes heavy pollution and massive amounts of greenhouse gases, of course. Obviously, vegan foods require some of these stages, too, but vegan foods cut out the factory farms, the slaughterhouses, and multiple stages of heavily polluting tractor-trailer trucks, as well as all the resources (and pollution) involved in each of those stages. And as was already noted, vegan foods require less than one-tenth as many calories from crops, since they are turned directly into food rather than funneled through animals first.
Eating Meat Wastes and Pollutes Water
All food requires water, but animal foods are exponentially more wasteful of water than vegan foods are. Enormous quantities of water are used to irrigate the corn, soy, and oat fields that are dedicated to feeding farmed animals -- and massive amounts of water are used in factory farms and slaughterhouses. According to the National Audubon Society, raising animals for food requires about as much water as all other water uses combined. Environmental author John Robbins estimates that it takes about 300 gallons of water to feed a vegan for a day, four times as much water to feed an ovo-lacto vegetarian, and about 14 times as much water to feed a meat-eater.
Raising animals for food is also a water-polluting process. According to a report prepared by U.S. Senate researchers, animals raised for food in the U.S. produce 86,000 pounds of excrement per second -- that's 130 times more than the amount of excrement that the entire human population of the U.S. produces! Farmed animals' excrement is more concentrated than human excrement, and is often contaminated with herbicides, pesticides, toxic chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and other harmful substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the runoff from factory farms pollutes our rivers and lakes more than all other industrial sources combined.
Eating Meat Destroys the Rain Forest
The World Bank recently reported that 90 percent of all Amazon rainforest land cleared since 1970 is used for meat production. It's not just that we're destroying the rainforest to make grazing land for cows -- we're also destroying it to grow feed for them and other animals. Last year, Greenpeace targeted KFC for the destruction of rainforests because the Amazon is being razed to grow feed for chickens that end up in KFC's buckets. Of course, the rainforest is being used to grow feed for other chickens, pigs, and cows, too (i.e., KFC isn't the only culprit).
What About Eating Fish?
Anyone who reads the news knows that commercial fishing fleets are plundering the oceans and destroying sensitive aquatic ecosystems at an incomprehensible rate. One super-trawler is the length of a football field, and can take in 800,000 pounds of fish in a single netting. These trawlers scrape along the ocean floor, clear-cutting coral reefs and everything else in their path. Hydraulic dredges scoop up huge chunks of the ocean floor to sift out scallops, clams, and oysters. Most of what the fishing fleets pull in isn't even eaten by human beings; half is fed to animals raised for food, and about 30 million tons each year are just tossed back into the ocean, dead, with disastrous and irreversible consequences for the natural biological balance.
Then there is aquaculture (fish farming), which is increasing at a rate of more than 10 percent annually. Aquaculture is even worse than commercial fishing because, for starters, it takes about four pounds of wild-caught fish to reap just one pound of farmed fish, which eat fish caught by commercial trawlers. Farmed fish are often raised in the same water that wild fish swim in, but fish farmers dump antibiotics into the water and use genetic breeding to create "Frankenstein fish." The antibiotics contaminate the oceans and seas, and the genetically engineered fish sometimes escape and breed with wild fish, throwing delicate aquatic balances off-kilter. Researchers at the University of Stockholm demonstrated that the horrible environmental impact of fish farms can extend to an area 50,000 times larger than the farm itself.
Eating Meat Supports Cruelty
Caring for the environment means protecting all of our planet's inhabitants, not just the human ones. Chickens, pigs, turkeys, fish, and cows are intelligent, social animals who feel pain, just as humans, dogs, and cats do. Chickens and pigs do better on animal behavior cognition tests than dogs or cats, and are interesting individuals in the same way. Fish form strong social bonds, and some even use tools. Yet these animals suffer extreme pain and deprivation in today's factory farms. Chickens have their sensitive beaks cut off with a hot blade, pigs have their tails chopped off and their teeth removed with pliers, and cattle and pigs are castrated -- all without any pain relief. The animals are crowded together and given steady doses of hormones and antibiotics in order to make them grow so quickly that their hearts and limbs often cannot keep up, causing crippling and heart attacks. At the slaughterhouse, they are hung upside-down and bled to death, often while they are still conscious.
What About Eating Meat That Isn't From Factory-Farmed Animals?
Is meat better if it doesn't come from factory-farmed animals? Of course, but its production still wastes resources and pollutes the environment. Shouldn't we environmentalists challenge ourselves to do the best we can, not just to make choices that are a bit less bad?
The U.N. report looks at meat at a global level and indicts the inefficiency and waste that are inherent in meat production. No matter where meat comes from, raising animals for food will require that exponentially more calories be fed to animals than they can produce in their flesh, and it will require all those extra stages of CO2-intensive production as well. Only grass-fed cows eat food from land that could not otherwise be used to grow food for human beings, and even grass-fed cows require much more water and create much more pollution than vegan foods do.
Conclusion
The case against eating animal products is ironclad; it's not a new argument, and it goes way beyond just global warming. Animals will not grow or produce flesh, milk, or eggs without food and water; they won't do it without producing excrement; and the stages of meat, dairy, and egg production will always cause pollution and be resource-intensive.
If the past is any guide, this essay will generate much hand-wringing from my meat-eating environmentalist colleagues and, sadly, some anger. They will prefer half-measures (e.g., meat that is "not as bad" as other meat). They may accuse PETA of being judgmental -- simply for presenting the evidence. They will make various arguments that are beside the point. They will ignore the overwhelming argument against eating animal products and try to find a loophole. Some will just call the argument absurd, presenting no evidence at all.
But as Leonardo DiCaprio has noted, this is the 11th hour for the environment. Where something as basic as eating animals is concerned, the choice could not be any clearer: Every time we sit down to eat, we can choose to eat a product that is, according to U.N. scientists, "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global," or we can choose vegan -- and preferably organic -- foods. It's bad for the environment to eat animals. It's time to stop looking for loopholes.
Considering the proven health benefits of a vegetarian diet -- the American Dietetic Association states that vegetarians have a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, and various types of cancer --- there's no need or excuse to eat chickens, pigs, eggs, and other animal products. And vegan foods are available everywhere and taste great; as with all foods -- vegan or not -- you just need to find the ones you like.
You can find out more at GoVeg.com and get great-tasting recipes, meal plans, cookbook recommendations, and more at VegCooking.com.
For story: Nuggets and Hummers and fish sticks, oh my!
15 Comments | Post a Comment
Don't Taser Me, Bro'
Eating meat is not the problem.
Eating a lot of putrified animal particle board that parades as meat is the problem.
Hunting a wild boar once every two weeks in Tuscany is living.
Wolfing down Presto! burgers is suicide.
Let's separate the wheat from the chafe -- and please, PETA, don't taser me!
John Bailo
Sutext:
by jabailo at 12:14 PM on 18 Sep 2007
John
What does that have to do with the issue? How much wild boar have you hunted this year?
by Matt G at 12:20 PM on 18 Sep 2007
I wonder what prompted this article?
Read "damage control."
The ad says, "Meat is the #1 Cause of Global Warming," which some fool pointed out is not true ("Uh, he doesn't have any clothes on.."), so here they try to do damage control by rewording it to say "Eating Meat Is the No. 1 Consumer Cause of Global Warming" which unfortunately is even less true. Power generation, industrial processes, and just about every other source of CO2 is paid for by consumers.
The divisive stance they have taken is a dead end strategy. They refuse to simply acknowledge that eating less meat, and less environmentally destructive forms of it is an adequate goal. That is because their real agenda is animal rights. They have jumped on the global warming environment bandwagon to promote their cause. They insist that you become one of them. They have a clearly defined group of people, Vegans and Vegetarians. There does not appear to be any other group allowed. That is why I created the 50-percent Vegan group of which I am a proud member. I also formally challenge Bruce to a carbon footprint pissing contest!
I'll work on a formal rebuttal if I have time. Gawd.
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
Article:
Nuggets and Hummers and fish sticks, oh my!
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/9/17/16200/7809
PETA VP argues vegetarianism is the best way to help the planet
Posted by Grist at 11:35 AM on 18 Sep 2007
This is a guest essay from Bruce Friedrich, vice president for campaigns at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). It was written in response to Alex Roth's essay "PETA's dogma is all bark and no bite." Friedrich has been an environmental activist for more than 20 years.
In 1987, I read Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé and -- primarily for human rights and environmental reasons -- went vegan. Two decades later, I still believe that -- even leaving aside all the animal welfare issues -- a vegan diet is the only reasonable diet for people in the developed world who care about the environment or global poverty.
Over the past 20 years, the environmental argument against growing crops to be fed to animals -- so that humans can eat the animals -- has grown substantially. Just this past November, the environmental problems associated with eating chickens, pigs, and other animals were the subject of a 408-page United Nations scientific report titled Livestock's Long Shadow.
The U.N. report found that the meat industry contributes to "problems of land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortage and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity." The report concludes that the meat industry is "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global."
Eating Meat Is the No. 1 Consumer Cause of Global Warming
Al Gore, Leonardo DiCaprio, and others have brought the possibility of global cataclysm into sharp relief. What they have not been talking about, however, is the fact that all cars, trucks, planes, and other types of transportation combined account for about 13 percent of global warming emissions, whereas raising chickens, pigs, cattle, and other animals contributes to 18 percent, according to U.N. scientists. Yes, eating animal products contributes to global warming 40 percent more than all SUVs, 18-wheelers, jumbo jets, and other types of travel combined.
Al and Leo might not be talking about the connection between meat and global warming, but the Live Earth concert that Al inspired is: The recently published Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook recommends, "Don't be a chicken. Stop being a pig. And don't have a cow. Be the first on your block to cut back on meat." The Handbook further explains that "refusing meat" is "the single most effective thing you can do to reduce your carbon footprint" [emphasis in original].
And Environmental Defense, on its website, notes, "If every American skipped one meal of chicken per week and substituted vegetables and grains ... the carbon dioxide savings would be the same as taking more than half a million cars off of U.S. roads." Imagine if we stopped eating animal products altogether.
Eating Meat Wastes Resources
If I lie in bed and never get up, I will burn almost 2,500 calories each day; that is what's required to keep my body alive. The same physiological reality applies to all animals: The vast majority of the calories consumed by a chicken, a pig, a cow, or another animal goes into keeping that animal alive, and once you add to that the calories required to create the parts of the animal that we don't eat (e.g., bones, feathers, and blood), you find that it takes more than 10 times as many calories of feed given to an animal to get one calorie back in the form of edible fat or muscle. In other words, it's exponentially more efficient to eat grains, soy, or oats directly rather than feed them to farmed animals so that humans can eat those animals. It's like tossing more than 10 plates of spaghetti into the trash for every one plate you eat.
And that's just the pure "calories in, calories out" equation. When you factor in everything else, the situation gets much worse. Think about the extra stages of production that are required to get dead chickens, pigs, or other animals from the farm to the table:
1. Grow more than 10 times as much corn, grain, and soy (with all the required tilling, irrigation, crop dusters, and so on), as would be required if we ate the plants directly.
2. Transport -- in gas-guzzling, pollution-spewing 18-wheelers -- all that grain and soy to feed manufacturers.
3. Operate the feed mill (again, using massive amounts of resources).
4. Truck the feed to the factory farms.
5. Operate the factory farms.
6. Truck the animals many miles to slaughterhouses.
7. Operate the slaughterhouses.
8. Truck the meat to processing plants.
9. Operate the meat processing plants.
10. Truck the meat to grocery stores (in refrigerated trucks).
11. Keep the meat in refrigerators or freezers at the stores.
With every stage comes massive amounts of extra energy usage -- and with that comes heavy pollution and massive amounts of greenhouse gases, of course. Obviously, vegan foods require some of these stages, too, but vegan foods cut out the factory farms, the slaughterhouses, and multiple stages of heavily polluting tractor-trailer trucks, as well as all the resources (and pollution) involved in each of those stages. And as was already noted, vegan foods require less than one-tenth as many calories from crops, since they are turned directly into food rather than funneled through animals first.
Eating Meat Wastes and Pollutes Water
All food requires water, but animal foods are exponentially more wasteful of water than vegan foods are. Enormous quantities of water are used to irrigate the corn, soy, and oat fields that are dedicated to feeding farmed animals -- and massive amounts of water are used in factory farms and slaughterhouses. According to the National Audubon Society, raising animals for food requires about as much water as all other water uses combined. Environmental author John Robbins estimates that it takes about 300 gallons of water to feed a vegan for a day, four times as much water to feed an ovo-lacto vegetarian, and about 14 times as much water to feed a meat-eater.
Raising animals for food is also a water-polluting process. According to a report prepared by U.S. Senate researchers, animals raised for food in the U.S. produce 86,000 pounds of excrement per second -- that's 130 times more than the amount of excrement that the entire human population of the U.S. produces! Farmed animals' excrement is more concentrated than human excrement, and is often contaminated with herbicides, pesticides, toxic chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, and other harmful substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the runoff from factory farms pollutes our rivers and lakes more than all other industrial sources combined.
Eating Meat Destroys the Rain Forest
The World Bank recently reported that 90 percent of all Amazon rainforest land cleared since 1970 is used for meat production. It's not just that we're destroying the rainforest to make grazing land for cows -- we're also destroying it to grow feed for them and other animals. Last year, Greenpeace targeted KFC for the destruction of rainforests because the Amazon is being razed to grow feed for chickens that end up in KFC's buckets. Of course, the rainforest is being used to grow feed for other chickens, pigs, and cows, too (i.e., KFC isn't the only culprit).
What About Eating Fish?
Anyone who reads the news knows that commercial fishing fleets are plundering the oceans and destroying sensitive aquatic ecosystems at an incomprehensible rate. One super-trawler is the length of a football field, and can take in 800,000 pounds of fish in a single netting. These trawlers scrape along the ocean floor, clear-cutting coral reefs and everything else in their path. Hydraulic dredges scoop up huge chunks of the ocean floor to sift out scallops, clams, and oysters. Most of what the fishing fleets pull in isn't even eaten by human beings; half is fed to animals raised for food, and about 30 million tons each year are just tossed back into the ocean, dead, with disastrous and irreversible consequences for the natural biological balance.
Then there is aquaculture (fish farming), which is increasing at a rate of more than 10 percent annually. Aquaculture is even worse than commercial fishing because, for starters, it takes about four pounds of wild-caught fish to reap just one pound of farmed fish, which eat fish caught by commercial trawlers. Farmed fish are often raised in the same water that wild fish swim in, but fish farmers dump antibiotics into the water and use genetic breeding to create "Frankenstein fish." The antibiotics contaminate the oceans and seas, and the genetically engineered fish sometimes escape and breed with wild fish, throwing delicate aquatic balances off-kilter. Researchers at the University of Stockholm demonstrated that the horrible environmental impact of fish farms can extend to an area 50,000 times larger than the farm itself.
Eating Meat Supports Cruelty
Caring for the environment means protecting all of our planet's inhabitants, not just the human ones. Chickens, pigs, turkeys, fish, and cows are intelligent, social animals who feel pain, just as humans, dogs, and cats do. Chickens and pigs do better on animal behavior cognition tests than dogs or cats, and are interesting individuals in the same way. Fish form strong social bonds, and some even use tools. Yet these animals suffer extreme pain and deprivation in today's factory farms. Chickens have their sensitive beaks cut off with a hot blade, pigs have their tails chopped off and their teeth removed with pliers, and cattle and pigs are castrated -- all without any pain relief. The animals are crowded together and given steady doses of hormones and antibiotics in order to make them grow so quickly that their hearts and limbs often cannot keep up, causing crippling and heart attacks. At the slaughterhouse, they are hung upside-down and bled to death, often while they are still conscious.
What About Eating Meat That Isn't From Factory-Farmed Animals?
Is meat better if it doesn't come from factory-farmed animals? Of course, but its production still wastes resources and pollutes the environment. Shouldn't we environmentalists challenge ourselves to do the best we can, not just to make choices that are a bit less bad?
The U.N. report looks at meat at a global level and indicts the inefficiency and waste that are inherent in meat production. No matter where meat comes from, raising animals for food will require that exponentially more calories be fed to animals than they can produce in their flesh, and it will require all those extra stages of CO2-intensive production as well. Only grass-fed cows eat food from land that could not otherwise be used to grow food for human beings, and even grass-fed cows require much more water and create much more pollution than vegan foods do.
Conclusion
The case against eating animal products is ironclad; it's not a new argument, and it goes way beyond just global warming. Animals will not grow or produce flesh, milk, or eggs without food and water; they won't do it without producing excrement; and the stages of meat, dairy, and egg production will always cause pollution and be resource-intensive.
If the past is any guide, this essay will generate much hand-wringing from my meat-eating environmentalist colleagues and, sadly, some anger. They will prefer half-measures (e.g., meat that is "not as bad" as other meat). They may accuse PETA of being judgmental -- simply for presenting the evidence. They will make various arguments that are beside the point. They will ignore the overwhelming argument against eating animal products and try to find a loophole. Some will just call the argument absurd, presenting no evidence at all.
But as Leonardo DiCaprio has noted, this is the 11th hour for the environment. Where something as basic as eating animals is concerned, the choice could not be any clearer: Every time we sit down to eat, we can choose to eat a product that is, according to U.N. scientists, "one of the ... most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global," or we can choose vegan -- and preferably organic -- foods. It's bad for the environment to eat animals. It's time to stop looking for loopholes.
Considering the proven health benefits of a vegetarian diet -- the American Dietetic Association states that vegetarians have a reduced risk of obesity, heart disease, and various types of cancer --- there's no need or excuse to eat chickens, pigs, eggs, and other animal products. And vegan foods are available everywhere and taste great; as with all foods -- vegan or not -- you just need to find the ones you like.
You can find out more at GoVeg.com and get great-tasting recipes, meal plans, cookbook recommendations, and more at VegCooking.com.
For story: Nuggets and Hummers and fish sticks, oh my!
15 Comments | Post a Comment
Don't Taser Me, Bro'
Eating meat is not the problem.
Eating a lot of putrified animal particle board that parades as meat is the problem.
Hunting a wild boar once every two weeks in Tuscany is living.
Wolfing down Presto! burgers is suicide.
Let's separate the wheat from the chafe -- and please, PETA, don't taser me!
John Bailo
Sutext:
by jabailo at 12:14 PM on 18 Sep 2007
John
What does that have to do with the issue? How much wild boar have you hunted this year?
by Matt G at 12:20 PM on 18 Sep 2007
I wonder what prompted this article?
Read "damage control."
The ad says, "Meat is the #1 Cause of Global Warming," which some fool pointed out is not true ("Uh, he doesn't have any clothes on.."), so here they try to do damage control by rewording it to say "Eating Meat Is the No. 1 Consumer Cause of Global Warming" which unfortunately is even less true. Power generation, industrial processes, and just about every other source of CO2 is paid for by consumers.
The divisive stance they have taken is a dead end strategy. They refuse to simply acknowledge that eating less meat, and less environmentally destructive forms of it is an adequate goal. That is because their real agenda is animal rights. They have jumped on the global warming environment bandwagon to promote their cause. They insist that you become one of them. They have a clearly defined group of people, Vegans and Vegetarians. There does not appear to be any other group allowed. That is why I created the 50-percent Vegan group of which I am a proud member. I also formally challenge Bruce to a carbon footprint pissing contest!
I'll work on a formal rebuttal if I have time. Gawd.
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Gorillas Head One Step Closer to Extinction
The tragedy of the loss of Gorillas would be incalculable.
Article:
Gorillas now 'critically endangered'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/
ap_on_re_eu/endangered_gorillas
By ERICA BULMAN, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 12, 4:10 PM ET
GENEVA - The most common type of gorilla is now "critically endangered," one step away from global extinction, according to the 2007 Red List of Threatened Species released Wednesday by the World Conservation Union.
The Ebola virus is depleting Western Gorilla populations to a point where it might become impossible for them to recover.
Commercial hunting, civil unrest and habitat loss due to logging and forest clearance for palm oil plantations are compounding the problem, said the Swiss-based group known by its acronym IUCN.
"Great apes are our closest living relatives and very special creatures," Russ Mittermeier, head of IUCN's Primate Specialist Group, told The Associated Press. "We could fit all the remaining great apes in the world into two or three large football stadiums. There just aren't very many left."
In all, 16,306 species are threatened with extinction, 188 more than last year, IUCN said. One in four mammals are in jeopardy, as are one in eight birds, a third of all amphibians and 70 percent of the plants that have been studied.
"Life on Earth is disappearing fast and will continue to do so unless urgent action is taken," the IUCN warned.
The Western Gorilla's main subspecies — the Western Lowland Gorilla — has been decimated by the Ebola virus, which has wiped out about a third of the gorillas found in protected areas over the last 15 years.
"In the last 10 years, Ebola is the single largest killer of apes. Poaching is a close second," said Peter Walsh, a member if IUCN's Primate Specialist Group, told the AP. "Ebola is knocking down populations to a level where they won't bounce back. The rate of decline is dizzying. If it continues, we'll lose them in 10-12 years."
Female gorillas only start reproducing at the age of 9 or 10 and only have one baby about every five years. Walsh said even in ideal conditions, it would take the gorillas decades to bounce back.
The World Conservation Union also said the Yangtze River dolphin is now "possibly extinct." There have been no documented sightings of the long-snouted cetacean since 2002. An intensive search of its habitat in November and December proved fruitless but more searches are needed as one was possibly spotted in late August.
The Redheaded Vulture soared from "near threatened" to "critically endangered." The birds' rapid decline over the last eight years is largely due to diclofenac, a painkiller given to ill or injured farm cattle so they can still work. But the substance poisons the vultures when they scavenge livestock carcasses.
Only 182 breeding adults of the Gharial crocodile remain, down almost 60 percent from a decade ago. India and Nepal's crocodile has become critically endangered because dams, irrigation projects and artificial embankments have reduced its habitat to just 2 percent of its former range.
The woolly-stalked begonia is the only species declared extinct this year. Extensive searches have failed to uncover any specimens of the Malaysian herb in the last century, IUCN said.
Only one species moved to a lesser category of threat. One of the world's rarest parrots 15 years ago, the Mauritius Echo parakeet, eased back from critically endangered to only endangered. That was a result of close monitoring of its nesting sites, and supplementary feeding combined with a captive breeding and release program.
IUCN says 785 species have disappeared over the last 500 years. A further 65 are found only in artificial settings such as zoos.
The Red List, produced by a worldwide network of thousands of experts, includes some 41,000 species and subspecies around the globe.
Article:
Gorillas now 'critically endangered'
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/
ap_on_re_eu/endangered_gorillas
By ERICA BULMAN, Associated Press Writer Wed Sep 12, 4:10 PM ET
GENEVA - The most common type of gorilla is now "critically endangered," one step away from global extinction, according to the 2007 Red List of Threatened Species released Wednesday by the World Conservation Union.
The Ebola virus is depleting Western Gorilla populations to a point where it might become impossible for them to recover.
Commercial hunting, civil unrest and habitat loss due to logging and forest clearance for palm oil plantations are compounding the problem, said the Swiss-based group known by its acronym IUCN.
"Great apes are our closest living relatives and very special creatures," Russ Mittermeier, head of IUCN's Primate Specialist Group, told The Associated Press. "We could fit all the remaining great apes in the world into two or three large football stadiums. There just aren't very many left."
In all, 16,306 species are threatened with extinction, 188 more than last year, IUCN said. One in four mammals are in jeopardy, as are one in eight birds, a third of all amphibians and 70 percent of the plants that have been studied.
"Life on Earth is disappearing fast and will continue to do so unless urgent action is taken," the IUCN warned.
The Western Gorilla's main subspecies — the Western Lowland Gorilla — has been decimated by the Ebola virus, which has wiped out about a third of the gorillas found in protected areas over the last 15 years.
"In the last 10 years, Ebola is the single largest killer of apes. Poaching is a close second," said Peter Walsh, a member if IUCN's Primate Specialist Group, told the AP. "Ebola is knocking down populations to a level where they won't bounce back. The rate of decline is dizzying. If it continues, we'll lose them in 10-12 years."
Female gorillas only start reproducing at the age of 9 or 10 and only have one baby about every five years. Walsh said even in ideal conditions, it would take the gorillas decades to bounce back.
The World Conservation Union also said the Yangtze River dolphin is now "possibly extinct." There have been no documented sightings of the long-snouted cetacean since 2002. An intensive search of its habitat in November and December proved fruitless but more searches are needed as one was possibly spotted in late August.
The Redheaded Vulture soared from "near threatened" to "critically endangered." The birds' rapid decline over the last eight years is largely due to diclofenac, a painkiller given to ill or injured farm cattle so they can still work. But the substance poisons the vultures when they scavenge livestock carcasses.
Only 182 breeding adults of the Gharial crocodile remain, down almost 60 percent from a decade ago. India and Nepal's crocodile has become critically endangered because dams, irrigation projects and artificial embankments have reduced its habitat to just 2 percent of its former range.
The woolly-stalked begonia is the only species declared extinct this year. Extensive searches have failed to uncover any specimens of the Malaysian herb in the last century, IUCN said.
Only one species moved to a lesser category of threat. One of the world's rarest parrots 15 years ago, the Mauritius Echo parakeet, eased back from critically endangered to only endangered. That was a result of close monitoring of its nesting sites, and supplementary feeding combined with a captive breeding and release program.
IUCN says 785 species have disappeared over the last 500 years. A further 65 are found only in artificial settings such as zoos.
The Red List, produced by a worldwide network of thousands of experts, includes some 41,000 species and subspecies around the globe.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Kills Another Animal: Death of Giraffe Leads to In Defense Of Animals Has Filing Complaint With USDA
What in the world is Six Flags doing keeping live animals at an amusement park? How in the world does the USDA allow this?
Article:
VALLEJO: ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST SIX FLAGS
09/07/07 10:40 PDT
VALLEJO (BCN)
http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2007/09/07/n/
HeadlineNews/COMPLAINT-FILED/resources_bcn_html
In Defense of Animals has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking them to investigate the death of a giraffe at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Wednesday.
Makonnen the 2-year-old giraffe died when a one-alarm fire broke out in the giraffe barn at the amusement park, according to Six Flags. IDA is asking the USDA to investigate whether the animal's death was caused by lack of proper facility maintenance. An electrical outlet in the barn malfunctioned and started the fire.
The USDA approves exhibitors' licenses for people or venues that are going to be exhibiting wild or exotic animals, said Les Schilbert, a consultant for IDA, so they will conduct an investigation to see if the license should be revoked.
According to the IDA the federal Animal Welfare Act requires exhibitors to maintain housing facilities in good repair so that animals are protected from injury. In the filed complaint IDA also cited concerns about the lack of overnight monitoring of park animals.
The fire broke out just after 2 a.m. Wednesday night, according to a park spokeswoman. Two giraffes in an outside corral were led away from the flames, but Makonnen was inside the giraffe barn and perished.
Article:
VALLEJO: ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUP FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST SIX FLAGS
09/07/07 10:40 PDT
VALLEJO (BCN)
http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2007/09/07/n/
HeadlineNews/COMPLAINT-FILED/resources_bcn_html
In Defense of Animals has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking them to investigate the death of a giraffe at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Wednesday.
Makonnen the 2-year-old giraffe died when a one-alarm fire broke out in the giraffe barn at the amusement park, according to Six Flags. IDA is asking the USDA to investigate whether the animal's death was caused by lack of proper facility maintenance. An electrical outlet in the barn malfunctioned and started the fire.
The USDA approves exhibitors' licenses for people or venues that are going to be exhibiting wild or exotic animals, said Les Schilbert, a consultant for IDA, so they will conduct an investigation to see if the license should be revoked.
According to the IDA the federal Animal Welfare Act requires exhibitors to maintain housing facilities in good repair so that animals are protected from injury. In the filed complaint IDA also cited concerns about the lack of overnight monitoring of park animals.
The fire broke out just after 2 a.m. Wednesday night, according to a park spokeswoman. Two giraffes in an outside corral were led away from the flames, but Makonnen was inside the giraffe barn and perished.
Louisiana State University Buys Another Live Tiger as Mascot: Ridiculous Move Exposes Lack of Concern in General for Endangered Animals
Absolutely ridiculous that a university is allowed to have a rare, live animal. How could they possibly care for such an animal?
Those tempted to be fooled by the foolish words of the LSU chancellor below, think again.
Article:
Animal rights groups: LSU tiger must go
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/strange/
article_212102553.shtml
Published: 8, 2007 at 8:49 PM
BATON ROUGE, La., 8 (UPI) -- Louisiana State University’s decision to acquire another live tiger mascot has outraged some animal rights activists.
Mike VI, a 2-year-old male from an animal rescue organization in Indiana, is a Bengal-Siberian mix. The university’s previous mascot died in May of kidney failure.
The mascot’s housing is luxurious compared to many zoos, with air-conditioning, a wading pool and a waterfall. Mike’s medical care comes from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.
“He probably gets better medical treatment than most of us,” LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe told The New York Times. “He’s one charmed cat.”
But the university is coping with a growing sensitivity to animal treatment. Louisiana recently banned cockfighting, joining the other 49 states, and some in the state legislature say LSU should give up its tiger.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals agrees.
“As grandiose as Mike’s expensive habitat may look, it is inadequate for a tiger,” Lisa Wathne, a PETA captive exotic animal specialist, told the Times. “The whole idea of carting this animal to a sporting event with screaming people is stressful to any wild animal.”
Those tempted to be fooled by the foolish words of the LSU chancellor below, think again.
Article:
Animal rights groups: LSU tiger must go
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/strange/
article_212102553.shtml
Published: 8, 2007 at 8:49 PM
BATON ROUGE, La., 8 (UPI) -- Louisiana State University’s decision to acquire another live tiger mascot has outraged some animal rights activists.
Mike VI, a 2-year-old male from an animal rescue organization in Indiana, is a Bengal-Siberian mix. The university’s previous mascot died in May of kidney failure.
The mascot’s housing is luxurious compared to many zoos, with air-conditioning, a wading pool and a waterfall. Mike’s medical care comes from the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine.
“He probably gets better medical treatment than most of us,” LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe told The New York Times. “He’s one charmed cat.”
But the university is coping with a growing sensitivity to animal treatment. Louisiana recently banned cockfighting, joining the other 49 states, and some in the state legislature say LSU should give up its tiger.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals agrees.
“As grandiose as Mike’s expensive habitat may look, it is inadequate for a tiger,” Lisa Wathne, a PETA captive exotic animal specialist, told the Times. “The whole idea of carting this animal to a sporting event with screaming people is stressful to any wild animal.”
Three Former Circus Employees Join Federal Lawsuit Against Ringling Brothers And Barnum & Bailey Circus Under The Endangered Species Act
Once again, this suit “…alleges that Ringling Bros. mistreats and abuses the Asian elephants it uses in shows all across the country.”
An excellent move.
For more on the cruel truth behind the cruelty of the circus see http://www.circuses.com/
Article:
Elephants Beaten with Bull Hooks in the Name of Entertainment
Posted by: Liz in Animal Rights, Peace
http://willienelsonpri.com/peace/365/elephants-
beaten-with-bull-hooks-in-the-name-of-entertainment.html
Former Ringling Brothers Employees Bolster Federal Lawsuit Against Circus
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 29, 2007) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and others seek permission for three former circus employees to join in their federal lawsuit against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus under the Endangered Species Act. The suit alleges that Ringling Bros. mistreats and abuses the Asian elephants it uses in shows all across the country.
Former Ringling Bros. employees Archele Hundley, Margaret Tom and Robert Tom Jr. witnessed elephant cruelty before leaving the circus last summer. Their observations reaffirm evidence previously described by existing plaintiff and former Ringling Bros. employee Tom Rider, which includes the routine striking of elephants with bull hooks, and chaining of the animals for long periods of time.
Hundley, who quit the circus because she found the mistreatment of the animals too upsetting, recalled an incident where notorious animal trainer, Sacha Houcke used a bull hook in an attempt to force an elephant named Baby to lie down.
After smacking her with the bull hook repeatedly with no success, Houcke inserted the bull hook into Baby’s ear canal, and while holding the bull hook’s handle with both hands, he pulled down on Baby’s ear with all of his weight, causing her to bleed profusely and squeal in pain.
In describing an episode that happened earlier this year when an elephant named Asia defecated on one of the dancers during her routine, Margaret Tom stated that she “witnessed two guys beat Asia the minute she left the stage, hitting her at least 10 times with bull hooks, making her scream.”
Margaret Tom’s husband, Robert Tom Jr., reported that elephants are hit with bull hooks daily. He described an elephant who bled from the back and screamed in pain from a beating that lasted approximately 30 minutes. The trainer exerted so much energy that “he would periodically sit in a chair to take a break, then return to the elephant and start hooking again.”
“These witnesses reinforce what we know Ringling Bros. is anxious to hide,” said Tracy Silverman, General Counsel for AWI. “We are pleased that these former employees have come forward to reveal what goes on behind the scenes of the big tent, and we are eager to present this evidence in court.”
The Washington, D.C. law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal is representing AWI and its co-plaintiffs, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Fund for Animals, the Animal Protection Institute and another former Ringling employee, Tom Rider.
Trial is expected to commence sometime next year.
Contact: Tracy Silverman, Esq.: (703) 836-4300/tracy@awionline.org
The Animal Welfare Institute has worked for over 56 years to reduce the unnecessary pain and suffering inflicted on animals by humans.
An excellent move.
For more on the cruel truth behind the cruelty of the circus see http://www.circuses.com/
Article:
Elephants Beaten with Bull Hooks in the Name of Entertainment
Posted by: Liz in Animal Rights, Peace
http://willienelsonpri.com/peace/365/elephants-
beaten-with-bull-hooks-in-the-name-of-entertainment.html
Former Ringling Brothers Employees Bolster Federal Lawsuit Against Circus
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 29, 2007) – The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) and others seek permission for three former circus employees to join in their federal lawsuit against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus under the Endangered Species Act. The suit alleges that Ringling Bros. mistreats and abuses the Asian elephants it uses in shows all across the country.
Former Ringling Bros. employees Archele Hundley, Margaret Tom and Robert Tom Jr. witnessed elephant cruelty before leaving the circus last summer. Their observations reaffirm evidence previously described by existing plaintiff and former Ringling Bros. employee Tom Rider, which includes the routine striking of elephants with bull hooks, and chaining of the animals for long periods of time.
Hundley, who quit the circus because she found the mistreatment of the animals too upsetting, recalled an incident where notorious animal trainer, Sacha Houcke used a bull hook in an attempt to force an elephant named Baby to lie down.
After smacking her with the bull hook repeatedly with no success, Houcke inserted the bull hook into Baby’s ear canal, and while holding the bull hook’s handle with both hands, he pulled down on Baby’s ear with all of his weight, causing her to bleed profusely and squeal in pain.
In describing an episode that happened earlier this year when an elephant named Asia defecated on one of the dancers during her routine, Margaret Tom stated that she “witnessed two guys beat Asia the minute she left the stage, hitting her at least 10 times with bull hooks, making her scream.”
Margaret Tom’s husband, Robert Tom Jr., reported that elephants are hit with bull hooks daily. He described an elephant who bled from the back and screamed in pain from a beating that lasted approximately 30 minutes. The trainer exerted so much energy that “he would periodically sit in a chair to take a break, then return to the elephant and start hooking again.”
“These witnesses reinforce what we know Ringling Bros. is anxious to hide,” said Tracy Silverman, General Counsel for AWI. “We are pleased that these former employees have come forward to reveal what goes on behind the scenes of the big tent, and we are eager to present this evidence in court.”
The Washington, D.C. law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal is representing AWI and its co-plaintiffs, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Fund for Animals, the Animal Protection Institute and another former Ringling employee, Tom Rider.
Trial is expected to commence sometime next year.
Contact: Tracy Silverman, Esq.: (703) 836-4300/tracy@awionline.org
The Animal Welfare Institute has worked for over 56 years to reduce the unnecessary pain and suffering inflicted on animals by humans.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Michael Vick, Former Quarterback of Atlanta Falcons Gives In: Admits to Not only Gambling on Dog Fighting, but to Brutally Killing Dogs
This is probably old news to some, but in case any readers hadn't heard, here is the latest. What stands out is that he finally admits not only to gambling and to dog fighting, but also to actually taking part in brutally killing dogs. This included downing or hanging.
“According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.”
Even more telling: "Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick..."
Article:
"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.
NFL suspends Michael Vick indefinitely
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070824/
ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_michael_vick
By DAVE GOLDBERG and LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writers Fri Aug 24, 7:33 PM ET
No matter how nuanced his confession for involvement in dogfighting, Michael Vick got no leniency Friday from the NFL.
ADVERTISEMENT
Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Atlanta Falcons quarterback indefinitely without pay, just hours after Vick filed a plea agreement that portrayed him as less involved than three co-defendants and guilty mainly of poor judgment for associating with them.
Vick acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He admitted that dogs not worthy of the pit were killed "as a result of the collective efforts" of himself and two co-defendants.
Goodell wasn't moved and didn't bother to wait until Monday, when U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will formally accept the plea and set a sentencing date likely to land Vick in prison for one to five years.
The commissioner said Vick's admitted conduct was "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible." Even if he didn't personally placed bets, Goodell said, "your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."
Goodell freed the Falcons to "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.
The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decision on the court filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the future, and Goodell said he would review the suspension after all the legal proceedings.
"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a letter after meeting in New York with Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank supported Goodell's decision and said:
"We hope that Michael will use this time, not only to further address his legal matters, but to take positive steps to improve his personal life."
Earlier Friday in Richmond, Va., a "summary of facts" signed by Vick was filed along with his written plea agreement on a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.
"While Mr. Vick is not personally charged with or responsible for committing all of the acts alleged in the indictment, as with any conspiracy charge, he is taking full responsibility for his actions and the actions of the others involved," the defense team said in a written statement after the plea agreement was filed.
"Mr. Vick apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those involved in dog fighting and realizes he should never have been involved in this conduct," the statement said.
Vick and his lawyers said his involvement was limited when it came to the enterprise known as the Bad Newz Kennels.
"Our position has been that we are going to try to help Judge Hudson understand all the facts and Michael's role," Vick's defense attorney, Billy Martin, said in telephone interview. "Michael's role was different than others associated with this incident."
Vick's summary of facts said he provided most of the Bad Newz Kennels operation and gambling monies, echoing language in plea agreements by the three co-defendants — Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.
When the dogs won, the statement said, gambling proceeds were generally shared by Taylor, Peace and Phillips.
"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels," the court document said.
According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.
"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.
In the plea agreement, the government committed to recommending a sentence on the low end of the federal sentencing guideline range of a year to 18 months. However, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the judge is not bound by any recommendation or by the guidelines.
Hudson has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers who have appeared in his court. The judge will set a sentencing date at Monday's hearing.
Martin said Vick will "speak to the public and explain his actions." Though he declined to say when and where, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a syndicated program based in Dallas, said it will have a live interview with Vick on Tuesday.
The case began in April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick's cousin raided a Surry County property owned by Vick and found dozens of dogs, some injured, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.
A federal indictment issued in July charged Vick, Peace, Phillips and Taylor with an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially denied any involvement, and all four men pleaded innocent. The three co-defendants later pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Vick.
Taylor was the first to change his plea, saying Vick financed the dogfighting ring's gambling and operations. Peace and Phillips soon followed, alleging that Vick joined them in killing dogs that did not measure up in test fights.
The sickening details outlined in the indictment and other court papers prompted a public backlash against Vick, who had been one of the NFL's most popular players.
Animal-rights groups mobilized against Vick — even protesting at NFL headquarters in New York — and sponsors dropped him.
"It is fitting that the NFL has suspended him," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "He's now a role model for something terrible, and it's not appropriate that he suit up in an NFL uniform."
“According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.”
Even more telling: "Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick..."
Article:
"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.
NFL suspends Michael Vick indefinitely
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070824/
ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_michael_vick
By DAVE GOLDBERG and LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writers Fri Aug 24, 7:33 PM ET
No matter how nuanced his confession for involvement in dogfighting, Michael Vick got no leniency Friday from the NFL.
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Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended the Atlanta Falcons quarterback indefinitely without pay, just hours after Vick filed a plea agreement that portrayed him as less involved than three co-defendants and guilty mainly of poor judgment for associating with them.
Vick acknowledged bankrolling gambling on the dogfights, but denied placing bets himself or taking any of the winnings. He admitted that dogs not worthy of the pit were killed "as a result of the collective efforts" of himself and two co-defendants.
Goodell wasn't moved and didn't bother to wait until Monday, when U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will formally accept the plea and set a sentencing date likely to land Vick in prison for one to five years.
The commissioner said Vick's admitted conduct was "not only illegal but also cruel and reprehensible." Even if he didn't personally placed bets, Goodell said, "your actions in funding the betting and your association with illegal gambling both violate the terms of your NFL player contract and expose you to corrupting influences in derogation of one of the most fundamental responsibilities of an NFL player."
Goodell freed the Falcons to "assert any claims or remedies" to recover $22 million of Vick's signing bonus from the 10-year, $130 million contract he signed in 2004.
The commissioner didn't speak to Vick but based his decision on the court filings. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell may meet with Vick in the future, and Goodell said he would review the suspension after all the legal proceedings.
"You have engaged in conduct detrimental to the welfare of the NFL and have violated the league's personal conduct policy," Goodell told Vick in a letter after meeting in New York with Falcons president and general manager Rich McKay.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank supported Goodell's decision and said:
"We hope that Michael will use this time, not only to further address his legal matters, but to take positive steps to improve his personal life."
Earlier Friday in Richmond, Va., a "summary of facts" signed by Vick was filed along with his written plea agreement on a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge.
"While Mr. Vick is not personally charged with or responsible for committing all of the acts alleged in the indictment, as with any conspiracy charge, he is taking full responsibility for his actions and the actions of the others involved," the defense team said in a written statement after the plea agreement was filed.
"Mr. Vick apologizes for his poor judgment in associating himself with those involved in dog fighting and realizes he should never have been involved in this conduct," the statement said.
Vick and his lawyers said his involvement was limited when it came to the enterprise known as the Bad Newz Kennels.
"Our position has been that we are going to try to help Judge Hudson understand all the facts and Michael's role," Vick's defense attorney, Billy Martin, said in telephone interview. "Michael's role was different than others associated with this incident."
Vick's summary of facts said he provided most of the Bad Newz Kennels operation and gambling monies, echoing language in plea agreements by the three co-defendants — Tony Taylor, Purnell Peace and Quanis Phillips.
When the dogs won, the statement said, gambling proceeds were generally shared by Taylor, Peace and Phillips.
"Vick did not gamble by placing side bets on any of the fights. Vick did not receive any of the proceeds of the purses that were won by Bad Newz Kennels," the court document said.
According to the statement, Vick also was involved with the others in killing six to eight dogs that did not perform well in testing sessions last April. The dogs were executed by drowning or hanging.
"Vick agrees and stipulates that these dogs all died as a result of the collective efforts" of Vick, Phillips and Peace, the statement said.
In the plea agreement, the government committed to recommending a sentence on the low end of the federal sentencing guideline range of a year to 18 months. However, the conspiracy charge is punishable by up to five years in prison, and the judge is not bound by any recommendation or by the guidelines.
Hudson has a reputation for imposing stiff sentences, according to lawyers who have appeared in his court. The judge will set a sentencing date at Monday's hearing.
Martin said Vick will "speak to the public and explain his actions." Though he declined to say when and where, the Tom Joyner Morning Show, a syndicated program based in Dallas, said it will have a live interview with Vick on Tuesday.
The case began in April when authorities conducting a drug investigation of Vick's cousin raided a Surry County property owned by Vick and found dozens of dogs, some injured, and equipment commonly used in dogfighting.
A federal indictment issued in July charged Vick, Peace, Phillips and Taylor with an interstate dogfighting conspiracy. Vick initially denied any involvement, and all four men pleaded innocent. The three co-defendants later pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against Vick.
Taylor was the first to change his plea, saying Vick financed the dogfighting ring's gambling and operations. Peace and Phillips soon followed, alleging that Vick joined them in killing dogs that did not measure up in test fights.
The sickening details outlined in the indictment and other court papers prompted a public backlash against Vick, who had been one of the NFL's most popular players.
Animal-rights groups mobilized against Vick — even protesting at NFL headquarters in New York — and sponsors dropped him.
"It is fitting that the NFL has suspended him," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States. "He's now a role model for something terrible, and it's not appropriate that he suit up in an NFL uniform."
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