Liberation for Our Brother & Sister Anim{1}als [LobsA] News
March 5, 2006

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Newsletter dedicated to the billions of non human animals who suffer unbearably in Labs - dedicated to Billy Jo Subjects: In loving memory of Billy Jo (from NEAVS); Part of Animal Liberation NSW newsletter ; URGENT - Ask the Canadian Prime Minister to end the annual seal slaughter - Action ; Whose side is the USDA on? from SAEN (Stop Animal Experimentation Now) - "Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation" ; Help protect North America's most endangered grizzlies! ; ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS TARGET CHINA'S FUR INDUSTRY - Action ; Shac 7 updates ; PAMELA ANDERSON SENDS PASSIONATE PLEA TO KFC NEW ZEALAND ; Executives Urged to Demand That Company Improve Conditions for ChickensIFAW, Interpol team up to combat wildlife crime ; Should the Canadian Seal Hunt be banned? - POLL ; Zoochosis - Abnormal behaviours displayed by animals imprisoned in zoos ; PET WORRIES FUEL BIRD FLU FEARS From correspondents in Berlin - Cat dies from birdflu; 2003 animal rights film "Earthlings" ; The Horrors of Animals Killed for Furry Figurines ; Protect air and water from Factory farming polution - action ; The Animals Voice Newsletter ; POLICE HORSE DIES IN MISHAP (AU) ; McCartneys Join Effort to End Seal Hunt ; VEGETARIAN DIET NOT DAUNTING TO ADOPT ; VEGAN SUES McDONALD'S OVER FRENCH FRIES ; VEGAN DIET HOLDS LESSONS FOR OTHERS ; KATRINA SURVIVOR, LOST CAT REUNITED AT LAST ; Huntington Life Science (huge animal testing lab which kills 500 animals per day ) - (HLS) LSRI Drops to Pink Sheets amid Animal Rights Action ; Farmed Animal Watch Newsletter including Report Blames Concentrated Poultry Farming for Avian Influenza Crisis ; From the Sled Dog Action Coalition: The New York Times has an Iditarod ; The Candle Cafe Cookbook: Over 150 Enlightened Recipes ; More Britons worried about eating chicken: survey ; Banning Foie Gras - Bill Moves in Massachusetts ; More Britons worried about eating chicken: survey; The Candle Cafe Cookbook: Over 150 Enlightened Recipes ; Questions arise about future safety of OSU's chimpanzees ; Using Animals in Research? A Debate ; Friends of the Orangutan update by Director (UK) re Indonesia situation ; Thanks to Contributors ; To unsubscribe & Disclaimer. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Quotes: One is dearest to God who has no enemies among the living beings, who is nonviolent to all creatures. -Bhagavad Gita To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana. -Buddha I do not believe that any of the suffering I have caused to laboratory animals has helped humanity in the slightest. -Richard Ryder "It is a surprisingly close progression from hunting animals to hunting and torturing people.. catching and lynching blacks or smoking out Jews during the Holocaust." -Aviva Cantor V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N In Loving Memory of Billy Jo. From New England Anti-Vivisection Society NEAVS sadly forwards the email below from our dear friends at Fauna announcing the sudden death of Billy Jo. Billy Jo holds a special place in the hearts of all of us at NEAVS. We are honored to have known him. We will always keep his memory and the memory of all the wonderful chimpanzee people who have been sacrificed to science close to us. Our love for Billy, and all the others who have died after far too little time in sanctuary, will fuel our work to get every single one of those who now remain in U.S. labs released. We will miss Billy -- our strong, sweet and special friend. On Behalf of the Board and Staff, Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D. President New England Anti-Vivisection Society In loving memory of Billy – Jo June 17, 1968 – February 14, 2006 To our dear Fauna community, we share the devastating news of the loss of our beloved Billy Jo. Billy died, suddenly, on the morning of Tuesday February 14, 2006 at the young age of thirty-seven years. The cause of Billy's death is suspected as being from a heart attack but has yet to be confirmed. For so many of you who came to visit and had the privilege of meeting him and sharing a moment, we extend our hearts. Being invited to play chase with Billy was a highlight. Billy was born on June 17, 1968. His first fifteen years were spent living in New York state entertaining with his companion Sue Ellen. When his owner could no longer afford him and Susie, they were sent to LEMSIP, the Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates. For the next fourteen years, Billy suffered horribly, experiencing over 290 knockdowns, and was “challenged” on repeated occasions with HIV and used in other studies. He would shake in his 5x5x7’ cage trying desperately to prevent anyone from approaching. Often he was darted, and it would take between two to five men to subdue him. We can only imagine the daily toll this took. Since coming to Fauna in 1997, and in spite of the terrors he endured, Billy became very social, and would spend hours playing chase, tickling, grooming and basking in the sun. He loved the girls with an intense purity and innocence that could charm completely. His laughter and joie de vivre was infectious. Billy will be missed tremendously by all of his family at Fauna, both non human and human. Although Billy is gone his spirit lives on and leaves us all with fond memories of a wonderful character and a great friend. In tribute to this extraordinary soul whom we had the wonder of sharing life with, we share memories and messages of care and hope. From Gloria There are times when one cannot accept facts for fear of shattering one's being.... Dian Fossey On February 14th 2006, our hearts were truly broken; a great being has been taken from us. Billy Jo died, very quickly, from an apparent heart attack. How can we go on without him- without his love, his compassion, his affection, his nurturing soul, his intelligence, his amazing sense of humor- his depth, spirituality and great wisdom? Billy has been taken from us- taken no doubt to a better place-but for all of us that is so hard to accept right now- we just miss him so. How angry we are that he couldn't stay. How hurt we are that we will never see him again, be gently touched by him, to smell his sweetness, or to feel his breath on us again, but even more painful is to know how much pain he had to endure in his life, and just how tragic his life was. We are truly grateful and thankful for the speed of his death and that he was spared anymore suffering on this earth. Although the shock was far more than we felt we could accept, after the week passed, we could only thank you God for taking him so quickly, and for leaving his body alone, and taking him in such a peaceful way. We all will carry the pain of loss, of emptiness, of missing someone we all loved so much, but we have the comfort of knowing he is without pain anymore. We also had the honor and privilege to have met him, to share eight years with him, to have the wonderful opportunity to love and be loved by him, but even more important, to have Billy's forgiveness. This was by far one of his greatest legacies. How truly fitting that Billy, who broke, melted and fixed hearts, should physically leave this place on the Day of the Heart, and shall never ever be forgotten. We have not really understood how powerful and miraculous the working of compassion is. It blesses and heals all those involved, the person who generates compassion, the person through whom the compassion is generated, and the person to whom that compassion is directed. Sagyal Rinpoche ----------- “You must all be devastated. I have relayed the message to Jane in Kigoma am so sad. Please hug Gloria for me and I am thinking of you all. Poor old primate but at least his last years were in happiness with all the love that you all give on a daily and selfless basis. - Love and prayers, Mary Lewis and Jane Goodall “There he was sitting in the corner, quiet, his beautiful, dignified face contemplative – like bathed in sunlight. I was in awe of his presence so immense and at the same time so full of gentleness ... he touched my heart and my life in a profound way. Immense being on every level, extremely charming, intense, caring, playful, curious..when Billy looked at you softly and confidently in the eyes, he made you remember him forever. I feel extremely privileged to have met and spend many beautiful moments with such an amazing strong soul.” – Valerie “Hearing that Billy had died, I felt such sadness for him, for you and for all who loved him. Such heart break. Well, I knew from the start that he was a heartbreaker. I remember vividly our first meeting. I was feeling pretty intimidated, but he offered me his enrichment package to entice me to get closer, and gaze into those soulful eyes.” - Anne “Just know that I am thinking of Billy, all the chimps, the chimps in labs, and all of you and my heart goes out to all of you. I am already trying to channel this grief into determination to get the others out. This puts even more urgency and intensity on the upcoming Atlanta talk. I was nervous about going "back" there but now I am fueled.” - Nancy “Billy to me is a chimp that drew people into him, and if he trusted you , he gave his heart to you. I don't know how our hearts will heal, but I know that Billy is running now free, he has definitely found Donna Rae, Annie and Pablo, but he doesn't stay with them long, because I think he will continue to look for his human friend buddies, and hopefully he can get a glimpse of us from up there.” - Sari “The pain over the loss of Billy Jo is lessened only by the fact he had so much love and respect during his final years while at Fauna -- with chimpanzees and people as warm companions. May he rest in peace. And may his friends at Fauna be at peace, knowing they did so much for him and his fellow chimpanzees in their care.” - Stephanie “Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss. But thanks to people extraordinary like yourselves, he lived out eight years of full glory and happiness with loving people around him that cared.” – Linda “Our heartfelt sympathies go to you at the loss of Billy Jo. The space that no doubt will be felt by his absence will need time to heal for all, in particular the other chimps.” – Lorena and Liz “Our best to all of you during this trying and difficult time. Remember what a wonderful home you had created for his retirement and that he loved you all for this.” - Linda “He was a special guy. He touched so many hearts. He will be missed by many people, but now he is in a place where there is no pain and suffering. He is finally free.” – Lynda “I know we all go there sooner or later but each time a friend goes first is such a shock. Hurts me so much when I think about those who are gone already, those who were, and remain special for the rest of my life. You all at least gave Billy the best in his last years. Peace with Billy Jo now. Will see each other again "above the clouds". - Michael “Although it’s sad to lose those who are dear to us, there is comfort in remembering all the times they made such a difference in our lives.” – Cindy, Samuel and Alan “Billy will always be in our hearts and soul; we will all miss him very much.” – Kim, Jean Francois and Roxanne “I am so sad, and shocked. I feel for all of you, and what you must be going through. Billy-Jo was such a character, so full of fun, and love for everyone.” - Leni V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Part of Animal Liberation NSW newsletter: STOPPING LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS SENDS STRONG MESSAGE TO GOVTS March 3 - An animal welfare group says the live export industry is "impotent" when it comes to improving animal handling procedures in the Middle East. Animals Australia says an investigation of five countries has uncovered unacceptable livestock handling and slaughter methods. Meat and Livestock Australia says the group has misled the public and improvements in animal welfare have been made. But Glenys Oogjes from Animals Australia says halting exports is the only way to send a strong message to Middle Eastern governments. "For example in Egypt there is no animal welfare law there at the present time," she said. "For Australia to say that no, we're not sending them in there because of the suffering would actually be likely to be able to change practices there than for us to continue to send them and if you like, tacitly support the horror conditions that they're going to." http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/2006/s1583339.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ANIMAL WELFARE LAW REVIEW "TOP PRIORITY" By Jodie Thomson and Linda Sharman, Countryman (WA) NEW Local Government Minister Jon Ford has listed the review of controversial State animal welfare legislation, which is being used in a case against a live exporter, as a top priority. Mr Ford confirmed the State Government supported the live export trade, and needed to work with industry to ensure the trade stood up to public scrutiny. Live exporter Emanuel Exports and two of its directors are facing charges of breaching the Animal Welfare Act, relating to a shipment of 100,000 sheep to the Middle East on board the MV Al Kuwait in November 2003. Industry has voiced concerns about the ambiguity of the Act, in particular the phrase, "likely to cause it unnecessary harm", in relation to transport of animals. Responding to questions at the Pastoralists and Graziers Association annual convention, Mr Ford said the Act was being reviewed, and industry would be consulted. "At the moment it's my top priority - I see it as the single biggest risk we're facing immediately," he said. Mr Ford said the WA Government supported the live export trade, and recognised it was constantly under attack from animal rights groups. "I can assure you that you will have my ear and I will work closely with you to make sure industry comes through this," he said. Farmers renewed calls for the loading of live export ships to be moved away from Fremantle, where the truck route is through the city, to the less populated James Point. "I've been advised that the James Point proposal has been supported by my agency in regards to a submission to the WA Planning Commission, primarily on the basis it's closer to the Baldivis feedlots, but more importantly, that it takes the route away from through the city of Fremantle," Mr Ford said. PGA meat and livestock chairman Tim D'Arcy said the association had kept in regular contact with the James Point consortium, but the approvals process was moving slowly. Countryman 2.3.06 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - BAN OVERKILL: EXPORTERS By Jodie Thomson, Countryman WA LIVESTOCK exporters have described a Federal Government suspension of live cattle exports to Egypt as an unnecessary reaction to yet another blatant and inaccurate attack on the industry. Federal Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has announced animal cruelty claims against the live cattle trade with Egypt aired on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program would be investigated. The footage showed cattle having their tendons cut by knives and being stabbed in the eye, as a control measure before killing them. In a statement released this week, Mr McGauran said the practices shown were unacceptable, and illegal in Egypt and Australia. "My department's Middle East-based veterinarian has immediately travelled to Egypt to investigate the matter firsthand," he said. "Australia will not send further livestock to Egypt until these matters have been resolved." Industry-funded advertisements were placed in major metropolitan newspapers before the Sunday night program, expressing concerns about the accuracy of the report after a preview of the program. "We consider 60 Minutes got it wrong," the advertisement said. "On the best advice available, the pictures shown last Sunday night were not of Australian cattle." Included in industry concerns was 60 Minutes failed to seek an interview with government veterinarians who work in Egypt, and refused to provide footage to industry to verify allegations made by extremists. No Australian cattle were exported to Egypt in 2004, and just three shipments, totalling 12,000 head, were sent last year, despite 60 Minutes reports that exports to the country reached up to 200,000 head annually. WA Livestock Exporters Association chairman John Edwards said the most recent shipment of Australian cattle was sent to Egypt five months ago and to his knowledge there had been no plans by exporters to send any more shipments in the forseeable future. While he welcomed an investigation of the cruelty claims, he questioned the lack of consultation with industry by Mr McGauran to suspend trade. "From our perspective, the Minister did it without consultation with our industry," he said. Mr Edwards said it set a worrying precedent that every time trade with one country was questioned, the initial response was to suspend that trade immediately, until a review had been done. He said the 60 Minutes program was another example of the criticism the trade faced, much of it fuelled by inaccuracies and untruths. LiveCorp chief executive officer Cameron Hall said the most recent shipment of cattle from Australia, sent in October last year, were all steers, Bos indicus, and had ear tags. Cattle shown in the footage did not have ear tags, were mainly bulls, the majority were Bos taurus and they were led by a halter. Mr Hall defended LiveCorp's decision not to appear on the program. He said the program had denied a number of reasonable requests, including the opportunity to look at footage before the interview. Asked if Mr McGauran had consulted LiveCorp on plans to suspend trade, Mr Hall said they had discussed a "number of matters", and the Minister was in the tough position of having to balance community expectations with trade matters. Countryman 2.3.06 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NEW CENTRES TO BOOST WA MEDICAL RESEARCH March 2 - Two new medical research centres are to be built in Perth. The $100 million development is being paid for by the State Government and the University of Western Australia. One centre will be located at the QEII site in Nedlands and the other at the new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Murdoch. The Government is hoping the facilities will attract some of the world's best medical research teams. The Institute of Child Health Research's director, Fiona Stanley, says the centres will put WA in line with other major research centres around the world. "I think it's really exciting," she said. "I think Australian science is a wave that is building and with this kind of support we could really see that wave soar. "I don't think I just speak for myself, but I think this is just the beginning. You know, just watch this space." http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1582645.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $50M GRANT FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH March 3 - PRIME Minister John Howard has announced a $50-million grant to one of Australia's foremost medical research foundations. The grant will go towards a seven-storey expansion of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research in Melbourne. The expansion will double the floor space available for medical research, allowing the 91-year-old institute to significantly expand its work on cancer and infectious diseases. "The Institute, established in 1915, is regarded as one of Australia's foremost medical research organisations," Mr Howard said. "It has an international reputation for the high quality of its basic and applied research." Prime areas of research include leukaemia, lymphoma and breast cancer; immunology; auto-immune diseases such as juvenile diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis; and infectious diseases such as malaria and influenza. The institute has received $104 million from the Federal Government since 2000. "Today's commitment of a further $50 million this year builds on this commitment to the institute's outstanding work," Mr Howard said. "The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australia remains a world leader in health and medical research." The Federal Government provided about $460 million in funding in 2005 through the National Health and Medical Research Council, more than double the funding provided in 1999, Mr Howard said. http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,18335234-29277,00.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - JURY CONVICTS ANIMAL WELFARE ACTIVISTS By Jeffrey Gold, Associated Press March 2 - TRENTON, N.J. - An animal-rights group and six members were convicted Thursday of using their Web site to incite threats, harassment and vandalism against a company that tests drugs and household products on animals. The group, Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty, maintained its actions were protected under the First Amendment. The government charged that SHAC waged a five-year campaign against Huntingdon Life Sciences, posting on its Web site information about the lab's employees and those who do business with Huntingdon, including their home phone numbers, addresses and where their children attended school. Many of those people saw their homes vandalized, and they and their families received threatening e-mails, faxes and phone calls. Many were also besieged by protesters parading with photos of mutilated animals and screaming "Puppy killer!" through megaphones at all hours outside their homes. One woman said she received an e-mail threatening to cut her 7-year-old son open and stuff him with poison. A man said he was showered with glass as people smashed all the windows of his home and overturned his wife's car. The defendants were not accused of directly making threats or carrying out vandalism. Instead, they were charged with inciting the harassment with their Internet postings. SHAC, based in Philadelphia, and six of its members were charged with animal enterprise terrorism, stalking and other offenses. The charges carry two to five years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Mike Caulfield, Huntingdon's general manager, said the verdict was "a victory for democracy, research and patients." "The government and this jury have sent a strong message to those who would ignore the democratic process and resort to criminal activity to advance their political views," Caulfield said in a statement. The federal jury deliberated over three days after a three-week trial. The defense rested after just one day, and used testimony from the group's president, Pamelyn Ferdin, a former child star who was the voice of Lucy in the "Peanuts" movies and played Felix Unger's daughter Edna on TV's "The Odd Couple." She was not charged. "For the government to say you can't say this and you can't say that is going down a very scary path of going toward fascism," she told the jury. Ferdin became leader of the group in 2004 after its former president, Kevin Kjonaas and the others were indicted. Also testifying was one of the defendants, Joshua Harper, who said that he opposes injuring any life form, including humans. But he also said it is all right to throw rocks through someone's window as long as the person isn't home. Many of the targets of the harassment testified that they started looking over their shoulders when walking or driving, changed their phone numbers or even moved. Some kept their children from playing outdoors, and several bought guns. Sally Dillenback said her young son would often crouch by the door brandishing a 5-inch kitchen knife when the doorbell rang, promising to protect his mommy. "He told me not to worry," she testified. "He said he was going to get the animal people. Once I found him at the garage door with a knife. That was his state of mind. He was a 7-year-old boy." Dillenback broke into tears as she recounted an anonymous e-mail that threatened to cut open her son and fill him with poison "the way Huntingdon does with the animals." Marian Harlos testified she got late-night calls in which someone asked: "Are you scared? Do you think the puppies should be scared?" She said masked protesters parked down the street from her house, videotaping her comings and goings. They barged into her office, screaming and tossing leaflets, and others ruined the rear door with glue and animal stickers, she said. ON THE NET SHAC: http://www.shac.net Huntingdon Life Sciences: http://www.huntingdon.com http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/mld/ledgerenquirer/news/nation/ 14001141.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - TIME TO ABANDON THE THREE Rs Opinion, By Stuart W.G. Derbyshire, The Scientist, Volume 20 | Issue 2 | Page 23 Submitting to "refinement, reduction, and replacement" risks the future of animal research The best hopes to treat or cure any number of diseases all rely on current animal experiments. Like all science, the investigations that scientists perform with animals increase our knowledge of nature and can therefore increase the possibilities for human action, advancing the cause of human freedom. So why do scientists persist in denigrating their own behavior by advocating the three Rs: refinement, reduction, and replacement? In the United Kingdom, since the passage of the 1986 Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, researchers must obtain a license from the Home Office, which involves an assessment of the invasiveness of the study and the species used, following the principles of the three Rs. Invariably, licensing will require considerable justification for any procedures that involve distressing the animal, and considerable pressure will be applied for the use of fewer animals, and from further down the phylogenetic tree (such as using rats rather than primates). Although legislation is less stringent in the United States, in practice the three Rs are still enforced by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, which voluntarily assess any proposed research with respect to the three Rs and provide assurance to grant-awarding bodies that the research is animal welfare-friendly. Through a variety of voluntary and enforced mechanisms, therefore, animal researchers pledge to uphold the three Rs. At first blush, that seems reasonable, if somewhat patronizing. All animal experimenters have an incentive to reduce the amount of stress an animal is subjected to - through refinement - because a stressed animal will be less likely to behave or respond normally and might therefore skew results. Equally, all researchers will naturally tend to use fewer or less-costly animals or techniques - through reduction and replacement - in order to get quicker results for fewer resources. The three Rs, however, are much worse than patronizing; they are disastrous. They draw attention away from the value of experimentation and toward the importance of animal welfare. By extension, animal experimentation will be looked upon negatively because no animal experiment is in the interests of animal welfare. Adoption of the three Rs comes across as a confession of guilt. The impression is that research animals are a necessary evil, when in fact they are just necessary. The three Rs also raise false expectation that animals will eventually be replaced as experimental test subjects, which is highly unlikely. Last year, in the United Kingdom alone, 2.85 million scientific tests on animals were performed. More, not less, animal research will likely be required to investigate burgeoning models of genetic disease. Ultimately, we cannot have it both ways. It is not possible to advocate animal welfare and at the same time give animals untested drugs or diseases, or slice them open to test a new surgical procedure. The three Rs encourage a focus on animal welfare that is both unrealistic and dishonest. Regardless of any beliefs about the value of animals, if you engage in activities that are invasive or lethal to animals or if you control their reproduction, their living space and their habits, you are expressing a de facto belief that animals are sufficiently different from humans to make such activities justifiable. Scientists are keen to defend themselves against accusations of cruelty by promoting their allegiance to the three Rs but forget that the real reason for animal experimentation is to advance the welfare and understanding of humanity. Advancing human understanding requires the freedom to do more animal research, and often with higher species, and is incompatible with continued support for the three Rs. Those of us who research on animals or support that research have made a moral choice to put humans first. We should behave and argue with a conviction that is worthy of the choice. Animal experimentation is a positive activity that advances our appreciation of nature and disease, and defending animal research should be part of a moral campaign that celebrates human knowledge and understanding. Simultaneously advocating animal research while trying to apologize and introduce alternatives is a poor defense of animal experimentation. Successful promotion of animal research can only begin when we withdraw support for the three Rs. Stuart Derbyshire is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Birmingham. sderbyshire@the-scientist.com Related article: How regulation hamstrings animal research: http://www.the-scientist.com/news/display/23126/ http://www.the-scientist.com/2006/2/1/23/1/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - HORSE DEATHS LEAD TO BAN March 2 - FORMER Warrnambool trainer Robert Blacker was yesterday disqualified for three years by the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board after being found guilty of eight charges relating to cruelty to horses. Full report: http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478, 18318621%255E10048,00.html - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - SEAL HUNT CLASH March 3 - Former Beatle Paul McCartney has urged Canada to scrap its annual seal hunt, but Ottawa dismissed his appeal, saying he did not fully understand the issue. Canada says the two-month hunt, in which around 300,000 harp seals off the east coast are killed for their fur and meat, is good for the local economy, humane and keeps a booming population of 5.8 million animals in check. But pictures of hunters clubbing or shooting defenceless seals over the years have turned the event into a public relations nightmare for Ottawa and prompted several boycotts of Canadian products. McCartney - well known as an animal rights activist - and his wife Heather were to fly out to an ice floe to pose with baby white-coated seals, while urging Ottawa to scrap the "this heartbreaking hunt". "We have complete faith that Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper will take swift and decisive action to end the slaughter of these defenceless seal pups for good," the high-profile couple said in a statement. The Canadian government has yet to decide how many seals can be killed this year, in part because warm weather has meant there are far fewer ice floes where the animals normally give birth. The hunt usually starts at the end of March. Phil Jenkins, a spokesman for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said the US animals rights activists arranging the McCartneys' trip were giving them an inaccurate and incomplete picture of the hunt. "We see this every year. It's the celebrity of the year. This year's celebrity has a bit higher candlepower than last year's but the facts of the hunt are that it's more humane than ever, it's growing as an economically viable industry and the herd is in fantastic shape," he said. Jenkins said the white-coated seals McCartney planned to pose with had not been hunted since 1987. The seals' white coats disappear after four weeks, while those animals killed in the hunt are eight weeks or older. "They (the McCartneys) do not have a complete picture of this hunt, what it means to the people who engage in it and what it means to the (local) economy," Jenkins said. Canadian officials say they monitor the hunt closely to ensure the seals are killed humanely - an assertion activists dismiss as nonsense. "I routinely witness conscious seals dragged across the ice with boathooks, wounded seals left to choke on their own blood, and seals being skinned alive. The commercial seal hunt is inherently cruel - it is a national disgrace," said Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society of the United States. Canada says large-scale hunting will be allowed to continue until the number of harp seals falls to 3.85 million. Photo: http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/03/03/seal3_wideweb__4 70x382,0.jpg Caption: "Animal rights activists, Sir Paul McCartney (right) and wife Heather Mills McCartney get up close to a seal pup during a venture onto the ice floes of the Gulf of St-Lawrence before the start of the seal hunting season in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island." Photo: AFP http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/03/03/1141191817305.ht ml End of part of Animal Liberation NSW newsletter. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N URGENT - Ask the Canadian Prime Minister to end the annual seal slaughter - Action https://community.hsus.org/campaign/harper_protectseals?rk=n7zzpgs1SXEPE CANADA: Rocker McCartney Takes to Ice to Save Canada Seals http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35423/story.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N PAMELA ANDERSON SENDS PASSIONATE PLEA TO KFC NEW ZEALAND Executives Urged to Demand That Company Improve Conditions for Chickens Auckland – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) Asia-Pacific member Pamela Anderson has sent a graphic DVD – which she narrates – showing what happens to chickens before they end up in KFC’s buckets and an urgent letter to Victoria Salmon, CEO of the fast-food chain’s New Zealand operations, copied to KFC’s 11 area managers across the country. Anderson is demanding that KFC eliminate its suppliers’ worst abuses of chickens – including breeding and drugging birds to grow so fast that they often become crippled under their own weight and breaking birds’ bones as they crudely gather them for slaughter. Anderson writes: “In light of current concerns over avian flu, it is up to corporations such as KFC to recognize the part they play in creating such crises. Experts the world over have pointed to factory-farming practices as one of the causes of avian flu,” “Investigations by my friends at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and New Zealand-based Auckland Animal Action have found that chickens who are raised for KFC are bred and drugged to grow so large so quickly that many become crippled under their own weight. In addition, the birds are kept in severely cramped conditions, with up to 45,000 chickens per shed.” At a broiler farm in West Auckland that was known to be supplying KFC, Auckland Animal Action investigators found live hens in cages with dead ones, whose bodies had been left to rot. In addition to Anderson, PETA’s campaign has received high-profile support from Sir Paul McCartney, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Something for Kate, Jet and the Black Eyed Peas. For more information and to view the video footage, please visit KentuckyFriedCruelty.com. A copy of Anderson’s letter and DVD are available upon request by calling Jasmine Gray on 021 0414 956 or e-mailing her at Jasmine@meat.org.nz. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Protect Grizzly Bears Tell the Forest Service to protect grizzly habitat in Montana's Kootenai National Forest. http://www.savebiogems.org/bears/takeaction.asp?step=2&item=53356 V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From Farm Sanctuary Farm Animal Rescue Stories Read about Maya http://www.farmsanctuary.org/adopt/rescue_maya.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Whose side is the USDA on? (from SAEN) SAEN (Stop Animal Experimentation Now) - "Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation" Articles and Reports 2005 Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act: Whose Side is the USDA on? By Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN saen@saenonline.org http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/articles-2005enf.html] V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Shac 7 updates http://www.shac7.com/updates.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N IFAW, Interpol team up to combat wildlife crime http://news.africast.com/africastv/article.php?newsID=58003 NAIROBI, March 01 -- The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Interpol have formulated new strategies to combat international wildlife and environmental crime which has become a serious global concern, Kenyan Tourism and Wildlife Minister Morris Dzoro said here on Tuesday. Dzoro said wildlife related crime was getting more sophisticated, going beyond Kenya`s borders. Cross-border, regional and international linkages are therefore crucial in dealing with the problem, the minister told a workshop for investigation and intelligence officers involved in wildlife observation and management V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Poll - votes for seals on 24 hrs. poll! Should the Canadian Seal Hunt be banned? http://toronto.24hrs.ca/24hrspoll.html V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N PET WORRIES FUEL BIRD FLU FEARS From correspondents in Berlin (www.dailytelegraph.com.au) March 2 - ALARM over the spread of bird flu grew today after Germany reported a dead cat infected with the virus, while France sought to curb restrictions on its poultry exports. Germany told pet owners to keep their cats indoors and their dogs tied up in areas hit by bird flu after the discovery of the dead cat on a northern island where the H5N1 virus has been identified in wild birds. The cat grabbed the headlines in several European countries but the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it did not increase the threat to human health from the virus. "There is no present evidence that domestic cats play a role in the transmission cycle of H5N1 viruses. To date, no human case has been linked to exposure to a diseased cat," it said. "Unlike the case in domestic and wild birds, there is no evidence that domestic cats are a reservoir of the virus." Full report: http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18322023- 5001028,00.html V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N 2003 animal rights film "Earthlings" From VeganWay If anyone want to see the 2003 animal rights film "Earthlings", it's available for download via BitTorrent here now: http://torrents.rbgi.net It's all about animal rights and is narrated by lifeling vegan Joaquin Phoenix. http://isawearthlings.com/ Narrated by Academy Award Nominee Joaquin Phoenix and featuring music by the critically acclaimed platinum artist Moby, EARTHLINGS is a documentary film about humankind's complete economic dependence on animals raised for pets, food, clothing, entertainment and scientific research. Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. Powerful, informative, controversial and thought-provoking, EARTHLINGS is by far the most comprehensive documentary ever produced on the correlation between nature, animals and human economic interests http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358456/ Using hidden cameras and never-before-seen footage, EARTHLINGS chronicles the day-to-day practices of the largest industries in the world, all of which rely entirely on animals for profit. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From MARC Zoochosis Throughout the world, thousands of zoo animals held in artificial environments with little stimulation, enrichment or opportunity to hide from the public gaze, display unnatural behaviour patterns. Even in the better zoos, abnormal behaviour can be widespread, and include repeated pacing, rocking, vomiting and even self mutilation. Some of these stereotyped behaviours displayed by bored and frustrated animals have their basis in activities that occur naturally the wild. But in the impoverished confines of captivity, these behaviours can become compulsive and unnatural. In 1992, Bill Travers first coined the term zoochosis to describe this obsessive, repetitive behaviour, and described zoo animals behaving abnormally as zoochotic. The terms are now widely recognised and in the public domain, being used in a wide range of journals and publications. Below are some symptoms of zoochosis. Please report any zoochotic behaviour in zoo animals to Zoo Check at: zoocheck@zoocheck.com including as much detail as possible, such as location, date, species, plus any photos or video footage. http://www.zoocheck.com/ ZOOCHOSIS Abnormal behaviours Bar biting The repeated biting, rubbing the mouth along, or even sucking on the bars of an enclosure, which can result in damage to teeth and the mouth area particularly if the bars are rusty. Can be displayed by captive bears Tongue playing The continual licking on walls, bars or gates in an enclosure. Can be displayed by giraffes and camels Pacing Continuous walking back and forth, following the same path. Signs of regular pacing include definite paths worn in the ground. Can be displayed by big cats Circling An acute form of pacing, the following of a defined route placing feet in exactly the same position each time. Can be displayed by elephants & bears Self mutilation Self-inflicted physical harm, such as biting or chewing tail or leg, or hitting a head against a wall. Can be displayed by big cats, bears & primates Neck twisting Unnatural twisting and rolling of the neck, often flicking the head around or bending the neck back. It can be combined with a pacing behaviour. Can be displayed by giraffe, llama & monkey species Vomiting A form of bulimia¹, the repeated vomiting, eating of vomit and regurgitation. Can be displayed by gorillas & chimpanzees Coprophagia Playing with and eating excrement, smearing it on wall and glass. Can be displayed by gorillas & chimpanzees Rocking Sitting, sometimes hugging the legs, rocking forwards and back. A recognised symptom of mental illness in humans. Can be displayed by chimpanzees Swaying Standing in one place and swaying the head and shoulders, even the whole body, from side to side. A behaviour exhibited by mentally ill humans. Can be displayed by elephants & bears Head bobbing & weaving Standing in one place and continuously moving the head up and down, or weaving to and fro. Can be displayed by bears and elephants Overgrooming Grooming to an excessive extent, pulling out hair or feathers, often leaving bald patches, irritated and broken skin. Can be displayed bears & parrots V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Vegetarian Jared Leto Gained 45 Pounds for Film Role, Didn't Eat Meat http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2006/02/16/vegetarian_jared_let o_gained_45_pounds_f Jared Leto has denied reports that he gained weight for his latest film role by eating fast food. The handsome actor packed on 45 pounds to play John Lennon's killer Mark David Chapman in the upcoming movie "Chapter 27." Media reports suggested Leto had resorted to eating hamburgers to help him bulk up for the role. But he explains, "I did not gain weight for this role by casually eating burgers and fries. Besides the fact that I am a vegetarian and do not eat red meat, it's more important to state that I take this seriously and know the health risks involved." The actor declined to explain how exactly he has gained the weight for his role. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS TARGET CHINA'S FUR INDUSTRY By Claudia Blume, Hong Kong (www.voanews.com) Feb 25 - China, the world's biggest producer of fur products, has become the latest target of international animal rights groups. The organizations say there are no laws to protect livestock on Chinese fur farms, where animals are kept in appalling conditions and brutally killed. While many people still consider wearing a fur coat politically incorrect, real fur has begun to make a comeback. Often dyed and mixed with other materials, fur can be found decorating a variety of fashion items, from clothes to shoes and bags. China has become the world's biggest producer and exporter of these fur products. Many of the pelts used are imported, but an increasing number are produced domestically. International animal rights groups say the millions of animals raised for their pelts in China are severely mistreated, with foxes, minks, raccoons and rabbits kept in small, filthy cages and treated cruelly. The animal rights organizations also say Chinese companies use fur from cats and dogs. These are often deliberately labeled as fur from other species or as fake fur, and sold to unsuspecting shoppers abroad. But what makes activists especially angry is the cruel way in which fur farms kill the animals. Barbara Maas, chief executive of British organization Care for the Wild International, says workers often just hit animals on the head and do not always make sure they are dead before skinning them. "So either animals that have been stunned, they come to it again and then the workers seem almost to get annoyed that the animal is wiggling and they either, if they are lucky, hit them on the head again, or they just put the boot on their neck or hang them upside down from hooks so the animal can't defend itself, and they peel the skin off -- we have video footage of this -- they peel the skin off the animals like you and I would peel a banana," she said. The China Fur Commission claims these are isolated cases. But PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) says the practice is widespread. Andrew Butler, PETA's Asia-Pacific representative, says it is hard to take action as China, unlike other fur-producing countries, does not have legislation for the protection of animals. "We feel this is an important step for China to take, so that when we find cruelty, there is at least legal recourse for concerned groups and individuals to take against those who are being blatantly cruel to animals," said Butler. But animal rights groups say there is evidence the Chinese public and the government are beginning to listen to their concerns. Jill Robinson, founder of the Animals Asia Foundation in Hong Kong, says there is growing concern about the mistreatment of animals as more and more Chinese are keeping pets. "They care just as passionately as people in the West in many, many cases," said Robinson. "And these are the people that are rising up now against this cruelty." PETA has noticed a growing awareness of the cruelty of the fur industry among Chinese consumers. The group recently ran an anti-fur advertisement on phone cards in Shanghai and visits to its Chinese-language website increased as a result. Butler believes animal rights issues will gain a lot of momentum in the next few years, especially in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when the whole world will be watching China. Photo: http://www.voanews.com/english/images/apChinafurPETA25Feb 06210.jpg Caption: "A PETA member wearing a cat suit, sits inside a cage during a protest outside of the Chinese Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey" http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-02-25-voa5.cfmA PETA member wearing a cat V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N The Horrors of Animals Killed for Furry Figurines http://www.allaboutcats.co.za/furtrade.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Protect Air and Water from Factory Farming polution - Action http://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/tamain?alid=460 V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N The Animals Voice Newsletter - Topics http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/home.html ACTION ALERTS... ITEMS OF INTEREST... Protect Air and Water from Factory Farm Pollution The Horrors of Animals Killed for Furry Figurines Trade Names For Domestic Dog and Cat Fur on the World Market Lolita is Dying, Hold Miami Seaquarium Accountable More... SOME UPCOMING EVENTS... email us to add your events March 15 Unified Opposition Protesting the Seal Hunt Worldwide March 18 The Genesis Awards Beverly Hills March 20 Meatout 2006 Nationwide More events... THIS WEEK'S FEATURE — SLAUGHTER Information Links Sheep & Cattle Slaughter (photos & videos) The Not-So-Good Shepherd Most Deaths Occur at Sea People Against Cruelty in Animal Transport Related Headlines Export ban follows cruelty to Cattle New footage reveals more Cattle cruelty Animal 'cruelty' caught on film A cruel trade Minister suspends live exports to Egypt A GLIMPSE AT ANIMALS IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA ANIMALS AS FOOD Fowl play: The poultry industry's central role in the bird flu crisis 'Pirate fishing' hurting poor nations; 'In every ocean every day' More... ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION Scientists designing the perfect dairy Cow Scientists call for retractions More... ANIMALS USED FOR SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Health officials defend killing of Bears 'Brokeback' blasted by Animal Activists More... ANIMALS AS COMMODITIES Justices to review Adidas-Kangaroo flap McCartneys to protest Seal hunt More... COMPANION ANIMALS Grim, grisly future awaits stolen dogs Hamburg Mayor arrested on Animal abuse charges More... LEGAL ISSUES Ammo maker accused of cruelty ODA orders eggs destroyed at Croton More... LEGISLATIVE ISSUES Debating the meaning of wildlife Bill says more trunk space for Elephants More... MEDIA COMMENTARY & FEATURES Study predicts of 25 percent surface water drop in Africa in 2100 Ethics for Wildlife conservation: Overcoming the Human-nature dualism More... Opposing Viewpoint The hard arguments about vivisection Go home, Paul McCartney More... NOTEWORTHY The fate of the ocean IFAW, Interpol team up to combat wildlife crime More... RESCUE & REHABILITATION Katrina: The long road to recovery Rescue Dogs to show their agility at Crufts More... WILDLIFE ISSUES DWR offering reward for vandalized traps Giant 'Squid' in Chile panics Beachgoers More... VICTORIES & OTHER GOOD NEWS Endangered Species Act 93% successful in Northeast Brazil protects 16 million acres of Amazon rainforest Task force seeks bear-baiting study More... V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From Al NSW (AU) POLICE HORSE DIES IN MISHAP (AU) http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story/0,20281,18305014- 5001028,00.html V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N McCartneys Join Effort to End Seal Hunt By BETH DUFF-BROWN, Associated Press Writer 03/02/06 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060302/ap_en_mu/canada_seal_hunt V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From AL NSW VEGAN SUES McDONALD'S OVER FRENCH FRIES http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/1 7/AR2006021701764.html V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From AL NSW: VEGETARIAN DIET NOT DAUNTING TO ADOPT http://paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=135234 V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N VEGAN DIET HOLDS LESSONS FOR OTHERS By Suzanne Havala Hobbs, Correspondent (www.newsobserver.com) Feb 23 - Ever eat a cheeseless pizza or dunk a cookie into a glass of soymilk? For about one out of every 100 people, avoiding all animal products -- meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products -- is second nature. They're vegan (VEE-gun) - vegetarians who go a few steps farther than the rest. In fact, most vegans also steer clear of honey, and some avoid refined sugar (much of it is whitened with bone char). What motivates people to go to such extremes? Vegans are typically motivated by convictions about ecology, world hunger and animal rights. Any use of animals that exploits them or contributes to suffering is off-limits, and that extends to clothing and cosmetics, too. Vegans don't wear leather, wool or silk and they avoid makeup, shampoo and other household products made with animal ingredients or tested on animals. Health reasons may be motivating factors, too, though they usually aren't the driving force. Vegans (and vegetarians) are less likely than nonvegetarians to be overweight, and they have lower rates of coronary artery disease. They have lower blood cholesterol levels and lower rates of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and prostate and colon cancer. It's not hard to understand why. If you don't eat meat and cheese, you consume a lot less saturated fat and cholesterol. Vegans don't eat ice cream or most commercial cakes and cookies (they contain eggs). Rule out mayo-laden sandwiches, milk chocolate and butter. Vegans avoid margarine made with casein (a milk protein) and pie crusts that contain milk solids. I've spent enough time with vegans to know another advantage: When you eat out as a vegan, you eat more healthful foods. Vegans eat more bulky, low-calorie foods, such as fruits and vegetables. They get more fiber, less fat and more of the beneficial phytochemicals found in foods of plant origin. Instead of burgers and steaks, vegans gravitate toward Chinese restaurants where they fill up on hot and sour soup and big plates of vegetable stir-fry with steamed rice. Or they go for Indian or Ethiopian food - heavy on vegetables and beans. Even if you're not a vegan, you could benefit from eating more vegan foods. Some great vegan products: * Veggie meat substitutes. I discussed these in a previous column, but it's worth repeating: Veggie burger patties, meatless hot dogs and cold cuts, sausages and bacon, and meatless burger crumbles that look like ground beef can be found in mainstream supermarkets and are far more healthful than their meat counterparts. They taste great, too. * Soymilk and rice milk. Fortified with calcium and vitamins A and D, they're better for your health than cow's milk. During the holidays, look for one of my favorite products: Silk brand eggnog made with soymilk. It's delicious, and you can feel OK about drinking a large glass of it. * Egg replacer. Find Ener-G Egg Replacer in natural foods stores. Packed in a 1-pound box, the white powdery mixture of vegetable starches, mixed with a few tablespoons of water, can be used in place of whole eggs in almost any recipe. Perhaps the most important lesson we could learn from vegans is their thoughtfulness toward food. Vegans mindfully consider everything they eat. They study the fine print on food labels and pepper restaurant wait staff with questions. Many people consider a vegan lifestyle too extreme, but adopting a more thoughtful approach to what goes on your plate can be a giant first step toward a healthier diet. http://www.newsobserver.com/105/story/410445.html V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From AL NSW: KATRINA SURVIVOR, LOST CAT REUNITED AT LAST Animal rescue group tracked owner through Internet search service V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N From MARC New Research Questions Value of Dairy full story: http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/living/health/13983987.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N HLS (aka LSRI) is one of the biggest animal testing labs in the world with a huge facility in New Jersey. They kill 500 animals, including puppies and primates, a day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ LSRI Drops to Pink Sheets amid Animal Rights Action http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35016/story.htm V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Farmed Animal Watch Newsletter : 1. Australia Halts Live Exports to Egypt Following Cruelty Investigation Australian Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran has temporarily halted the export of live animals to Egypt following details of an undercover investigation conducted by Animals Australia and Compassion in World Farming. Two investigators visited the Bassatin slaughterhouse in Cairo to confirm government and industry claims that live Australian cows exported to Egypt are being handled and killed humanely. However, the investigators documented routine animal cruelty and found that most animals were slaughtered without use of the "technical improvements" funded by the Australian government. Animals Australia provides the following very graphic account of the Bassatin slaughterhouse: Documented with the assistance of a covert video camera were slaughtermen systematically cutting rear leg tendons of cattle to disable them either prior to entry, or within the slaughter halls. On two occasions investigators observed slaughtermen stabbing at an eye of an animal with their knives. The eye sockets of animals were being used in every slaughter to force the animals head into position to have the throat cut. On two occasions a slaughterman aggressively poked his finger in the eye of an animal that had just had its throat cut. Directly after the throat of animals was cut - a slaughterman would cut the underside of the animal's tail. Investigators documented that the Australian-funded restraint device in the corner of one slaughter hall. It was not being used. Cattle in this slaughterhall (including one identified to investigators as being Australian) were being led to a slaughter room at the far end of this hall, where tendons were slashed before being downed for slaughter. Both Bos Taurus and Bos Indicus animals were observed slaughtered in the hall where the Australian-funded restraint box was situated. Investigators also witnessed and documented the slaughter of camels and local sheep by methods which were equally barbaric and unacceptable. Animals Australia was informed that Australian sheep are slaughtered in this abattoir. Also according to Animals Australia, "All of these practices breach OIE (World Animal Health Authority) guidelines of which Egypt is a signatory, Halal slaughter requirements and Australian animal protection guidelines." After viewing the video evidence in a TV interview with 60 Minutes (Australia), Minister McGauran said, "You see won't see worse examples of animal cruelty than that." McGauran asked Egyptian agriculture authorities to provide a "comprehensive response" to the accusations and also sent an Australian veterinarian to Egypt to investigate whether or not the cows in questions were from Australia. A full transcript of the 60 Minutes interview and video evidence from the undercover investigation are available by following the first two links below. PETA Video Footage - Watch it. http://www.savethesheep.com/f-ausliveexport.asp?int=weekly_enews To read more about the most recent evidence of widespread abuse in live animal export from Australia - http://www.animalsaustralia.org 1. "A Cruel Trade," 60 Minutes (Australia), 2/26/06 (with transcript and video) http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/sixtyminutes/stories/2006_02_26/story_1577.asp 2. "Egypt Investigation Report," Animals Australia, Feb-2006 (with video) http://www.animalsaustralia.org/default2.asp?idL1=1272&idL2=1865&idL3=1880 3. "Minister Suspends Live Exports to Egypt," ABC / Sidney Herald, 2/27/06 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200602/s1578792.htm 4. "Export Ban Follows Cruelty to Cattle," The Courier Mail, 2/27/06 http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,18283249%255E954,00.html 2. Tyson Foods Issues "Sustainability Report" With Animal Welfare Information Tyson Foods, Inc., the world's largest slaughterer of chickens and cows and the number two slaughterer of pigs, has released its first "sustainability report" addressing farmed animal welfare. In it the company describes its animal "well-being" programs including training of employees, facility inspections, and internal and external audits. The internal audits of poultry slaughter operations, according to Tyson's report, include weekly manager reviews, monthly quality assurance reviews, and an annual inspection by a company veterinarian. Tyson currently does not audit the company-owned or independent farm processes, but said that it is moving in that direction. Tyson also says it is "moving towards mechanical catching" to reduce stress on the birds that are rounded up for transport to slaughter. Such automated catching is believed to be more humane than relying on teams of workers who often handle birds roughly, and may also reduce the risk of workers catching diseases. Tyson says that about half of the chickens it slaughters are currently caught using mechanical catchers. Separately, the report also addresses its new worker "bill of rights" and other facets of corporate responsibility. The Tyson report comes amid criticisms about the company's animal welfare and employment practices resulting from multiple recent investigations. In early 2005, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a video showing animal cruelty at a Tyson chicken slaughterhouse in Alabama where managers allegedly said up to 40 birds are scalded alive per shift. The investigation also says that Tyson employees were seen "throwing dying birds around just for fun." In early 2006, The Humane Society of the United States asked the company to investigate one facility where dying and injured birds were left in a freezer to die over a period of several days. Tyson's "sustainability report" does not address these claims directly, but states that "all Tyson Team Members... are expected to respect and serve as stewards of the animals we work with every day, treating them in a proper manner at all times." 1. "Tyson Issues First Sustainability Report," Tyson Foods, Inc., 2/14/06 Press Release: http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/PressRoom/ViewArticle.aspx?id=2100 Full Report (PDF file, 4 MB): http://www.tysonfoodsinc.com/PressRoom/docs/SR2005.pdf 2. "Tortured by Tyson," PETA, Investigation from February 2005 http://www.torturedbytyson.com/ 3. "Humane Society Asks Tyson to Investigate Freezing Live Birds," NWAonline.net, 2/10/06 http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/02/10/business/01tyson.txt 4. "Fowl Play in the Slaughterhouse," AlterNet, 1/4/06 http://www.alternet.org/story/30348/ 3. Study Shows Overcrowding Pigs Impacts "Performance" and Welfare A study released by the Prairie Swine Centre (Saskatchewan, Canada) found that crowding and large-group housing of farmed pigs negatively affects "performance" and animal welfare. Two researchers studied groups of pigs in four different housing environments: 1) Small un-crowded; 2) Small crowded; 3) Large un-crowded; and 4) Large crowded. All of the pigs were studied for food intake and weight gain as measures of productivity. The study also measured salivary cortisol concentrations and adrenal gland productions as stress indicators, as well as pig morbidity and mortality. The researchers found that pigs housed in large groups or in crowded conditions ate fewer meals and had more severe leg injuries than other pigs. However, they report finding no difference in animals' stress levels between the four test groups. Specifics of the pigs' stress indicators or morbidity and mortality rates were not provided. "Effects of Housing Grow-Finish Pigs in Two Different Group Sizes and Two Different Floor Space Allocations," The Pig Site / Prairie Swine Centre, 2/28/06 http://www.thepigsite.com/FeaturedArticle/Default.asp?AREA=FeaturedArticle&Display=1562 4. Report Blames Concentrated Poultry Farming for Avian Influenza Crisis A report published by GRAIN, an agriculture sustainability group based in Spain, says that wild and migratory birds are being blamed for avian influenza when large concentrated poultry farms are the primary cause. The report notes that international groups such as the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are emphasizing control of wild birds and "backyard" flocks. However, GRAIN makes the case that although wild birds may transmit avian influenza, the concentration of animals and lack of biodiversity on large chicken farms "amplifies" the disease. The report states, "Backyard farms can act as reservoirs, as the FAO puts it, harbouring bird flu beyond the reach of authorities until it eventually finds its way into intensive poultry operations where the disease amplifies and potentially evolves to more highly pathogenic forms with the potential for transmission between humans." The well-referenced report cites many comments from FAO officials and details scores of instances where avian influenza outbreaks attributed to wild birds may have been caused by large poultry farms. Despite historically supporting small-scale and backyard poultry farming, the FAO now seems to favor larger operations in support of a "livestock revolution" in less developed countries. GRAIN says this contradicts the agency's past claims of support for poor rural communities that depend on small farming. According to an FAO Senior Animal Health and Production Officer, "The main beneficiaries of the demand surge [for meat in Asia] are large-scale, urban, capital-intensive producers and processors and urban middle and upper class consumers. The overwhelming majority of the poor do not benefit." Finally, the report also cites instances where large poultry farms have been rushing to slaughter potentially infected chickens prior to veterinary inspection. GRAIN describes a large operation in Thailand: "They saw many diseased chickens arriving in the factory and were ordered to process them, even if they had already died from the illness. We didn't know what the disease was, but we understood that the management was rushing to process the chicken before getting any veterinary inspection." As recently as January 2006, an FAO official acknowledged that "it is possible that wild birds may introduce the virus, but it is through human activities of commerce and trade that the disease spreads." However, the focus of most health groups and the major media continues to be on wild birds and backyard flocks. "Fowl Play: The Poultry Industry's Central Role in the Bird Flu Crisis," GRAIN, Feb-2006 http://www.grain.org/briefings/?id=194 5. Canada: Disease Killed 270,000 Farmed Pigs in 2005, Spreading Westward In Quebec (Canada), an estimated 270,000 pigs died in 2005 from postweening multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), a disease caused by the virus Circovirus PCV2. The situation has reportedly reached "epidemic proportions," with at least one expert saying that over the next 12-24 months the virus will likely spread westward from Quebec and Ontario, where it is currently concentrated. In Quebec, an estimated 7.1 million pigs were slaughtered in 2005; the 270,000 deaths last year represent a mortality rate of 7%. However, Canadian officials said that the mortality rate has doubled from previous estimates of 4%, and one agriculture official said the rate can be as high as 10-20% on some farms. PMWS usually affects young pigs less than 30 kilograms in weight, and causes a host of ailments including enlarged lymph nodes, wasting, dyspnea, diarrhea, pallor, jaundice, coughing, fever, gastric ulceration, and meningitis. Occasionally the disease will result in sudden death. 1. "Embattled Pork Producers to Get Aid, Porcine Virus Killed 270,000 Pigs," The Gazette (Montreal), 2/23/06 http://tinyurl.com/h4cye (Canada.com, Registration) 2. "Ag Minister Says Quebec and Ontario Monitoring Serious Pig Disease," Engormix /Mytelus, 2/23/06 http://www.engormix.com/e_news_view.asp?news=8479&AREA=POR (Registration) 3. "A Review of Porcine Circovirus 2 Associated Diseases and Control," Prairie Swine Centre, Feb-2006 http://prairieswine.usask.ca/2006/February2006/pmws.htm 6. Other Items of Interest "Vanishing Vets," Farmers Weekly Interactive, 2/24/06 In the UK, a survey by Farmers Weekly found that nearly a fifth (18%) of large animal veterinarians plan to leave their practices within 10 years. UK government agencies are largely unconcerned, in part because the concentration of animal farming and fewer small farmers creates less demand for veterinarians. Some industry personnel claim to be more concerned, however, saying the dearth of veterinarians could negatively impact animal welfare, disease surveillance, and other issues. http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2006/02/24/92939/Vanishing+vets.html "Scientists Designing the Perfect Dairy Cow," DairyReporter.com, 2/24/06 In Australia, researchers have found a way to generate more than 200,000 stem cells from a single cow embryo, opening the door to more genetic engineering of cows for milk production. As one scientist noted, "In the future, stem cells will be able to be tested to determine if they carry the genes likely to produce elite animals." The researchers have filed for an international patent on the bovine stem cell process. http://www.dairyreporter.com/news/ng.asp?n=66052-dairy-scientists-genes "US Focuses on Reducing Worker Injury," MeatNews.com, 2/24/06 According to a Wake Forest professor, "poultry processing has among the highest occupational illness and injury rates of any private industry." A survey among Hispanic poultry workers conducted by Wake Forest University in 2005 found that nearly half of them experienced pain in their hands or arms during the previous month. A fourth of the surveyed workers reported a job-related illness or injury in the previous year. http://www.meatnews.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Article&artNum=11148 Opinion: "Game is On for Growing Segment of Specialty Producers," Meatingplace.com, 2/2/4/06 Meat industry commentator Dan Murphy says the growing popularity of farm-raised "game meat" is a boon for independent farmers. According to Murphy, "Indeed, the problems typically associated with meat production -- manure disposal, odor control and even humane handling -- are almost by definition obviated in a smaller wild game operation." He argues that such specialty farmers may be successful due to "growing consumer concerns with certain aspects of 'mainstream' meats." http://www.meatingplace.com/MembersOnly/webNews/details.aspx?item=15578 (Registration) V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N PLEASE CROSSPOST From the Sled Dog Action Coalition: The New York Times has an Iditarod article on the main page of Saturday's national section. While the article talks about the lack of snow and announces the start of the race, nothing is said about the dogs' suffering. Please send them a letter. This is a good chance for us to educate the newspaper about the cruelties the dogs endure in the Iditarod. For information about the race visit: http://www.helpsleddogs.org Letter to the editor: letters@nytimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/04/national/04iditarod.html?_r=1&oref=slogin 1,200 Sled Dogs, Too Little Snow By THE NEW YORK TIMES Published: March 4, 2006 ANCHORAGE, March 3 — For the third straight year, a lack of sufficient snow is causing the start of the 1,100-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which gets under way this weekend, to be moved northward. Anchorage used to be the starting point, but a dearth of snow in the early 1990's led organizers to haul in just enough for a ceremonial start. An "official restart" was held the following day in Wasilla, about 35 miles north. That worked for a time, but for the last couple of years there has not been enough snow in Wasilla, either. So starting in 2004, organizers have looked 30 miles farther north, to Willow. There, the race trail spills immediately onto the frozen Susitna River, which requires less snow cover to be suitable for the sleds. The ceremonial start here this year is Saturday, when 84 mushers and some 1,200 dogs take off across Alaska's remote wilderness to Nome. V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N The Candle Cafe Cookbook: Over 150 Enlightened Recipes http://www.petamall.com/PLPShop.asp?RecordID=171 Rich and varied, casual and creative—the recipes in this book, from one of New York’s most popular restaurants, will leave you utterly satisfied, yet wanting more. The book contains recipes such as Tempeh-Portobello Burgers, Stuffed Red Peppers With Roasted Potatoes, Chocolate Praline Pie, and more—from aromatic Asian cuisine and spicy Mexican selections to subtle French dishes, it’s all here V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Banning Foie Gras - Bill Moves in Massachusetts This week saw the passage of Senate Bill 498 out of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture. On February 28th, this humane measure moved closer to banning the inhumane practice of force-feeding ducks and geese to produce "foie gras" in the Commonwealth. Find out What You Can Do to help http://www.nofoiegras.org/FGhelp.htm garner support to end this cruel production method and to help make the process illegal in Massachusetts. To read more on the barbaric force feeding of ducks, geese http://www.stopforcefeeding.com V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N More Britons worried about eating chicken: survey http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=1675576 V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Questions arise about future safety of OSU's chimpanzees http://www.thelantern.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=dd477389-054c-472d-805a-88b1d7536fee V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Using Animals in Research? A Debate --- Using Animals in Research? A Debate Thursday, March 23, 2006 7 pm 2103 Chamberlain Hall University of Wisconsin, Madison One of the UW-Madison's leading players in animal-based research has agreed to debate one of the the university's leading critics. Dr. Eric Sandgren, chair of the All Campus Animal Care and Use Committee, will debate the propriety of animal research with Rick Bogle, head of the Primate Freedom Project, part of the Madison-based Alliance for Animals. Animal welfare advocates have been pushing for a debate on this issue for several years. ------- Madison's Hidden Monkeys http://www.MadisonMonkeys.com National Primate Research Exhibition Hall http://www.PrimateResearch.com A small collection of entertaining essays: http://www.primatefreedom.com/essays/essaytemplate.shtml V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Michelle Desilets <bosf_uk@yahoo.co.uk> Subject: orangutan update 2 Dear Friends of the Orangutan, Many of you will have received my first update from the field a couple of weeks ago (if not, it appears below). I have now returned from Borneo, and would like to take this opportunity to update you further. In the just over 3 weeks that I was at the project, 23 rescues took place, and one of the rescue teams was out again on the day I left. In the early hours of the morning on which I departed, the first rescue team returned with a baby girl orangutan, just a few weeks old. We named her Tequila, hoping that it would instill a fiery spirit in her. There had been other youngsters during my time there, as well as mother with babies, and juvenile males. All but two were rescued from the palm oil plantations. (Of the two, one was a voluntary hand-over and one a confiscation). Our team reported seeing dozens of orangutans on the edge of the forest where it met the 30 kilometer stretch of palm oil plantation in which they were rescuing. In the days and weeks to come, these, too, will need to be rescued-otherwise they face almost certain death if they venture into the plantation in search of food. Our facility, as previously mentioned, is beyond capacity. The wild orangutans that we are rescuing must now remain in our care until a new and safe release site can be secured. Ex-captive orangutans, ready for release into the wild, also must wait for the decisions of the Indonesian authorities as to whether we can release in the remote northern regions of Central Kalimantan. Meanwhile, throughout the region, orangutans' forests are being decimated for the conversion to oil palm. The result: more and more victims, and less and less space to put the survivors. Unless we can secure this release site very soon, and unless we can afford to put up some more temporary cages to hold the wild orangutans until that time, we will soon be faced with the devastating situation of having to turn away orangutans in need. BOS UK hopes to find the funds quickly to put up a large socialization cage for wild baby orangutans who have already gone through quarantine, which would open up more quarantine cages for incoming orangutans. But this, in itself, is not a solution---it is only a temporary measure. The international community must insist that the Indonesian government approve secure release sites for displaced and rehabilitated orangutans, and we also must demand that no further conversion of orangutan habitat take place. (There are 25 million hectares of already degraded land suitable for oil palm cultivation). In the 12 years that I have been working in orangutan conservation, one would think that I would toughen to the things which I witness. But that doesn't happen. Especially when the situation becomes more and more desperate and you feel like you are fighting a losing battle. Lone, the project manager, said to me on the day I left that she often felt like "no one out there cares." I know that there are people who care, but experiencing the sorrows and disappointments every day takes its toll on a person. It all came home to me when a bandage was removed from the arm of a wild orangutan baby that had been rescued. One of the bones was protruding from the skin at a horrifying angle, and the wrist and hand were almost completely atrophied. It is likely that it will require amputation. And this was the result of humans who beat him when he and his starving mother went in search of food in the plantations. Few of us could hold back the tears or mask our anger.. On the flight home, I was offered a packet of crisps produced by a well-known Western manufacturer. And needless to say, the crisps were fried in palm oil. What price a bag of crisps? Inner rage ensued as I tried to understand why manufacturers and retailers who use palm oil do not consider the environmental damage of unsustainable palm oil to be an issue. Some news on a few of the orangutans mentioned in the last update: Satria, the tiny baby, is doing wonderfully. He is not at all timid and enjoys the attention of all the babysitters. He is remarkably coordinated, especially for a boy orangutan, as the boys seem to take longer to become so. It appears that Don King has some damage to one of his arms and one of his legs; they have very limited movement. Gilang has cleared quarantine and has joined his new friends in baby school. He is very outgoing and settled in immediately. He is also an incredible climber. I babysat him a few days in his quarantine period, and he enjoyed climbing the trees and making nests. Mama Maok, the orangutan with the deep gashes, is all healed up. She eats and drinks well, and "talks" to me when I approach with a treat. Leli, the orangutan with the crushed arm is still struggling. Her hand has swelled grotesquely, and the skin on her hand and wrist is coming away in strips. She can only move her arm by picking it up with her other hand. Still, she is in good spirits and sits up to greet me when I come along with her high calcium drinks throughout the day. She absolutely adores air-popped popcorn (thank you to those who donated the poppers). We had an orangutan, Dian, who we released on Bangamat Island in December go missing for several days. We had as many as 20 staff searching the island for her daily, without success. On the 6th day, she was spotted (thanks to the binoculars donated by Iolo Williams) high in a nest and almost lifeless. One of the men climbed the tree and was able to bring her down. Back at the centre, we found that she had malaria, and it was likely she had not fed for days. A few days later, and she was still listless, although tests revealed the malaria had gone. She stopped eating and drinking and was put onto IV. Further blood tests were inconclusive, but still she did not improve. Karmele, the vet, and I spent hours on the Internet, soliciting the help of international vets and specialists to try to advise us on both Dian and Leli, as they were very extreme cases. We had an outpouring of support. From a team in Bali, we were lent a portable X ray machine, which helped us to assess the fractures in Leli and other orangutans. In a few days, 2 specialists will be arriving to assist with the surgery on the baby orangutan with the protruding bone, as well as to look at Dian and Leli. I spoke with Lone yesterday about Dian, and she reported that Dian has had a change of medicine and is starting to respond. Yesterday she ate for the first time in over 10 days. Let us hope she has turned the corner. Of the dozens of orangutans under 6 months old, they are all doing quite well. This is due, I am sure, to the loving attention they receive from the babysitters 24/7 (and I did a fair bit of babysitting through the night too!) I am still moved by the outpouring of love our babysitters give to our most vulnerable charges. I must extend this sentiment to a number of the men who looked after Dian, day and night. They were so gentle with her, and held her hand for hours at a time. I sincerely believe that without this kind of attention, Dian would not have survived. I will return to Borneo in a few weeks time, along with the BBC, to assist with the making of Orangutan Diary. I hope that at that time, I will have some small triumphs to report back to you. In the meantime, I thank you all for your kind support. It is heartening to know that someone does care. Best, Michelle Desilets \ Director Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK Previous update: Deluge of Orangutans Reaches Crisis Point at Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Project As I write from the office of the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Reintroduction Project in Central Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo), a 2-week-old orangutan sleeps in my arms. Satria, a male, was confiscated and delivered this morning, making the 8th orangutan to arrive in less than 24 hours. Since my arrival at the project at the start of this month, 16 orangutans have turned up. Most are victims of the conversion of orangutan habitat into oil palm. Starving adults, including mothers with infants, left with no other choice, venture into the plantations where they become easy targets. Few arrive without serious injuries. One orangutan has had her arm smashed and has lost her sight in one eye from blows to the head. Another, a mother, suffered deep gashes on her arms and legs, right to the bone, whilst her son has a broken arm. Gilang, an orphan whose name means "sparkling or glittering" has the tips of a finger or toe from each hand and foot cut off, as if received as a punishment. Rebecca, a very sick little orphan, was voluntarily turned in, on the brink of death. She is probably 1 ½ years old, but weighs no more than an orangutan of six months of age. A confiscated infant named Don King (testimony to his outrageous hairstyle) has spent so long locked up in a tiny wooden box that he cannot walk, stand up or even sit up. He drags himself along the floor, but has difficulty keeping his head up, so it invariably bangs on the floor. I wish I had better news to tell you, but the situation is horrendous. Add to this the many orangutans suffering from malaria, and two on IV, and you understand why this is a 24/7 job for people like Lone Droscher Nielsen, manager of the project, and Karmele Llano, the vet. Orangutans arrive at all hours, day or night, and rescue teams are being sent out the moment a call is received. The rescue team just back this morning with six wild orangutans including two infants, reported a 30-kilometer stretch of oil palm plantation chock full of orangutans in immediate need of rescue. It begs the question, how is it that a country that has signed the Kinshasa Declaration (to take the steps necessary to prevent the extinction of great apes) continues to allow this to happen and continues to grant concessions in forest areas with high levels of biodiversity, as are evidenced by the existence of a flagship species such as the orangutan? Why is it that the Indonesian government is still considering converting a 1.8 million hectare stretch of forest along the Malaysian border into oil palm, whilst 25 million hectares of degraded land remain ready for cultivation? Our facility is beyond capacity. Originally designed for 100 orangutans, it now houses well over 400. We scramble to survey areas to check suitability for release sites, but these areas are becoming few and far between. We wait for news whether an application to the government to secure an area for release in the remote northern region of Central Kalimantan will be granted. And meanwhile, orangutans who have spent their lives in the wild are confined to cages, waiting for "permission" to be released. Dozens of orangutans who have quite successfully gone through the intensive training programme we provide for ex-captive orangutans, wait at the penultimate stage of the process, on river islands. They are ready to return to a life in the wild. We could then move more "trainees" onto the island, freeing up space in quarantine and socialization cages as well as in the baby school and midway houses. I fear the day will come soon when we will receive a call to rescue an orangutan, and we have to refuse because we have no more space. The matter is made even more urgent by the revelation during a recent environmental impact assessment of an area slated for oil conversion by the Pt Makin Group that the area has the highest density of orangutans ever reported anywhere, with an estimated 1600-2000 orangutans at immediate risk. We have no hope of rescuing them all---the concession must be halted. The international community must publicly condemn the conversion of the last remaining habitat of the orangutan. Please, won't you add your voice to help those that have no voice-the orangutans? Kindest regards, Michelle Desilets Director Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation UK www.savetheorangutan.org.uk V ~^+^~~^+^~ E ~^+^~~^+^~ G ~^+^~~^+^~ A ~^+^~~^+^~ N Queensland Group for Animal Rights http://www.qgar.oceandrop.org Thank you for all you do for our non human animal friends. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" Martin Luther King. "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." -Margaret Mead Thanks to Animal Lib NSW, Mass. Coalition for Animal Rights (MARC); NEAVS, Primate Freedom Project, HSUS ; Planet Ark, Animal Net, and numerous other sources. Liberation for Our Brother & Sister Animals http://www.lobsa.org Thank you for all you do for our non human animal friends.  Thanks to all contributors, Animal Concerns, Animals Voice,  IVU, MARC, Animal net and many other sources   DISCLAIMER: Please note articles posted are for information purposes only. We do not necessarily endorse the content of articles contained, nor content of links provided. Nothing contained in this email is intended to encourage or incite illegal acts. The information reproduced in the email is done so in good faith on the understanding that the originators have checked the validity of the content before posting. Any names, addresses, telephone numbers and faxes of companies/individuals associated with exploitation & cruelty to animals is given for the purpose of allowing the public to voice their concerns in a legal manner about a company's / individual's association with animal cruelty/scientific fraud. When emailing, phoning or faxing a company / individual, please remain polite. Impolite correspondence will detract from our efforts. Articles are in no particular order. You received this email message because you once submitted your email address or requested information from LOBSA or one of your friends requested us to forward this email to you. Liberation for Our Brother & Sister Animals has a policy of not sending unsolicited bulk email. Please report any suspected breach of this policy to info@lobsa.org . If you do not wish to receive future emails from Liberation for Our Brother & Sister Animals - please click here - http://lists.riseup.net/www/sigrequest/qgar and follow prompts to unsubscribe. Liberation for Our Brother & Sister Animals' values our users.  LOBSA recognises your right to keep your personal information private. LOBSA does not sell or rent your email address to any third parties. If you find you receive truncated email addresses in alerts in your mail, please go to original source on the LOBSA Riseup site. -Fair Use Notice- This site may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. Such material is presented soley for educational and research purposes per Section 107 U.S. Copyright Law. To read full disclaimer, please view disclaimer on our site http://www.lobsa.org/disclaimer.htm   Homeless dogs of India - Donation for postage vet supplies Dear Friends, If you have ever visited India, you would be aware of the serious health conditions of the many homeless dogs and the terrible suffering they endure. Also, you may be aware, that veterinary supplies can be extremely scarce and often poor quality. Tibetan Buddhist nun Ven Tenzin Palmo who has a nunnery in Kangra, HP and who wrote the wonderful book "Cave in the Snow" http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1582340455/102-9343306-6784137?v=glance&n=283155 recently wrote us mentioning how vets near her area have been working with homeless dogs. We thought it would be helpful to send veterinary supplies. We have received over 20 kilos worth of expired vet supplies from Animal Welfare League (Gold Coast AU) which are still good to use and are much greater quality than those found in India. The cost of sending 20 kilograms of supplies was 200 Au dollars. We have sent the first lot yesterday, but we will require donations toward sending future supplies. We expect expired vet supplies from Animal Welfare League on a regular basis. These vet supplies will go to reducing unnecessary great suffering of many homeless dogs. You've not seen suffering til you see a homeless dog in India. All donations no matter how small will be gratefully accepted toward postage. Unfortunately without donations towards postage we will not be able to continue sending these supplies. We have never asked for donations before but sending vet supplies for homeless Indian dogs is something we would really like to see continue. Thank you very much. We have opened a special account just for this purpose. Here are the account details. National Australia Bank Name: Ms D River - QGAR donation fund BSB No: 084913 Acct No: 599 64 5349 Any difficulties with the account details, or any other queries, please contact us : speciesism_will_end@oceandrop.org Thank you once again.

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