A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Established
1997
Editor ~
JJswans@aol.com
Issue #
01/18/04
Publisher ~ Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Journalists
~ Greg Lawson - ParkStRanger@aol.com
~ Michelle Rivera -
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ Dr. Steve Best - sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE ARTICLES
IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ The Active Activist: Education on
Exotics by Michelle Rivera
2 ~ Call For Events
3 ~ Animal Rights 2004 Registration Begins
4 ~ "One Fur Coat" - Free Billboard
5 ~ Effective Advocacy For Animals
6 ~ Congress Considers Banning Yellowstone
Bison Slaughter
7 ~ Correction
8 ~ One Dog's Life
9 ~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
by
Michelle Rivera - MichelleRivera1@aol.com
So
there I was eating a vegan bagel with "Better than cream cheese" on
it and watching the Ellen DeGeneres
show one day during the holidays. Her
guest that day was Steve Harvey, who is a comedian. When asked about Michael Jackson, who Mr. Harvey supports
unequivocally in his present dilemma, Mr. Harvey said "Michael Jackson is so
rich, he has giraffe money! Imagine,
someone with enough money to buy himself a giraffe!"
Unless
that giraffe has a law degree, I don't think he will be of much help to Jacko
in this dire time of need. But the comment begged the question "Why would anyone
buy a giraffe for his backyard?'' But this is Michael Jackson we are talking
about and we frequently wonder why he does the things he does. Thankfully, his proclivity for giraffes has
not caught on with his minions.
But
there are many other exotic animals that have found their way into millions of
American homes, much to the chagrin of animal rights activists who have long
held that exotic animals suffer tremendous abuses during their journey to the
pet stores and beyond. Statistics show
that the trade in reptiles is the fastest-growing segment of the pet trade in
recent years. So maybe it's time to
look at this from another angle. Perhaps appealing to the health and well-being
of the people who buy these animals makes more sense than attempting to argue
on behalf of the animals.
Consider
this: The Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) reports that the frequency of salmonella infections (salmonellosis) from
contact with pet reptiles has increased over the past 15 years. Most of the cases occur with infants and
young children, and quite a few have involved serious complications. Two infants developed salmonellosis by
contact with pet iguanas, resulting in the death of one of the infants. In light of this, the CDC issued a statement warning parents of young
children that pet reptiles, (iguanas, snakes, turtles and other lizards), be
kept out of households with kids under five or with people who have
immuno-suppressed systems.
But
although the popularity of reptiles has grown, the list of exotic pets doesn't
stop with reptiles. Other popular
exotic animals include hedgehogs, macaws, lizards, rodents, monkeys. Mike Tyson "owns" white tigers,
but luckily, Tyson's popularity has faded of late and his penchant for white
tigers has not caught on with whatever fans he has left. Most exotic animals are federally
regulated. These laws provide criminal
penalties for people who own exotic animals without proper permits. However, these laws are not in place to
protect animals, but for the protection of humans from animals who can carry
transmittable diseases. For example, people can contract diseases like
tuberculosis and hepatitis B from monkeys.
Snakes and lizards transmit salmonella bacteria to humans. Animals such
as raccoons, hedgehogs, rats, sugar gliders and ferrets can transmit distemper,
ringworm, mange, intestinal parasites, and bacterial and viral infections to
domestic animals and humans. Giardia can easily be transmitted from parakeets,
cockatiels and parrots.
So
what is an active activist to do? Here
are some facts that may help you win an argument:
A
captive life amounts to capital punishment for exotic animals because of the
lack of proper nutrition, environmental necessities, abject loneliness, and the
stress brought on by their imprisonment. The trade in exotic pets is even more
fatal to animals that don't make it to our pet stores; for each animal who does
make it to the auction or the pet store, incalculable others die en route.
The
sale of birds, fish, reptiles, "pocket pets" and other mammals is, of
course, legal. However, the trade in
these animals is the result of illegal smuggling and support of an illegal
trade in exotic animals. Caged birds are smuggled into the United States more
than any other animal. In her book, All God's Creatures Priced to Sell,
Anastasia Toufexis reveals that, prior to shipment, birds are force-fed, their
wings clipped, their beaks taped shut, and they are crammed into all kinds of
inadequate habitats, from spare tires to suitcases. It is quite common for 80
percent of the birds in one shipment to die, which explains the enormous price
they bring. Snakes and lizards are sedated and crammed into containers with
false bottoms. Needless to say, the
rate of death of these animals is also very high.
Need
more? How about the environmentalists
point of view? Let's look at the result
of all this smuggling on the ecosystems from which they come. The population of
the South American hyacinth macaw has dropped 75 percent. The Argentina trappers have annihilated
thousands of quebracho trees while snatching fledgling macaws in their nests.
In Philippine waters, poachers spray cyanide to capture brightly colored
tropical fish. And in the movie
"Instinct," we watch in stunned horror as poachers shoot primates, especially
nursing mothers, because babies cling to their mothers' dead carcasses in fear.
Anthony Hopkins character may have been fictitious, but the portrayal of
"harvesting" monkeys was frighteningly factual.
There's
more! There's also the moral consequence. What happens to iguanas who grow to six
feet? We drop them off at the zoo, of
course! Sorry, not an option. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association
advises zoos to refuse exotic animals from people who are unwilling to care for
them. Jack Cover, a curator at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, says,
"We'd have to have two or three warehouses to handle the donations we get
calls on." Zookeepers have found
animals that have been sneaked into exhibits, which puts the existing
population at risk for infectious diseases.
When found, these animals are euthanized.
Irresponsible
owners have even attempted to return unwanted animals to their "natural
environment" -- which simply amounts to abandonment in rural areas. Without suitable rehabilitation, however,
these animals will become prey, will starve, or will die at the hands of
cruelty, indifference, the elements, or traffic. And if that doesn't go far
enough to convince people not to support the exotic pet trade, consider this
sobering statistic: Of all the all
exotic animals who are purchased as "pets" 60% die within the first
month of ownership 20 percent die within the first year, 10 percent are still
alive by the end of the second year.
Don't
fall into the trap that you are "rescuing" an exotic animal from the
pet store because he looked (pick one) lonely, hungry, cute, desolate, forlorn,
helpless or needy and you knew you could take care of him better; the very
second you walk out of the pet store with
your "rescue", he will be replaced by another, and the cycle of
misery will continue because of your patronage.
And
don't even get me started on giraffes!
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~2~
The
writers and publishers of Animal Writes, the official newsletter of Animal
Writes Online, have always been pleased and proud to inform our readers of
upcoming events, conferences and workshops.
Passing along information that we receive about events that help us to
become better activists is a service we would like to continue to provide. In
order to enhance that service, we have decided to offer a "Community
Calendar." The idea is that we, the activists and advocates, make up a
unique and important community. If your
organization, or one that you know of, is planning an event such as an animal
rights conference, workshop, seminar or training initiative, please send the
information to us. One of our staff journalists, Michelle Rivera, will be
coordinating the calendar so please send your information to her at
MichelleRivera1@aol.com.
Included
in your e-mail should be the following information:
Name
of event;
Name
of hosting organization;
Date
of event;
Location
of event;
Cost
of event;
Website
where people can visit to learn more about the event or register as well as any
other useful information.
Please
insure that all of the above information is included or we will not be able to
advertise your event. Our readership is over 5,000 strong and Animal Writes is
a great forum for disseminating information.
The calendar will run the first Sunday of each month. Your deadline for getting the information to
Michelle is the last Sunday in the previous month. You may submit information three months prior to your event.
We
regret that we will not include adoptathons in our community calendar. This
calendar is intended for activists who wish to travel to other parts of the
country for conferences and it has been our experience that adoptathons and
events like them are more local in scope and cater to a localized area. Thank you for your understanding.
Thanks
for helping Animal Writes to grow and help you be a more productive activist!
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~3~
Registration
for the Animal Rights 2004 national conference is now open. Please visit
www.AR2004.org and take advantage of the current discounted registration rate.
The
conference will be held on July 8-12 at the Sheraton Premiere Hotel in Vienna,
VA, just outside the Washington Beltway. This facility is larger than our
previous ones and offers reduced room rates and more amenities, including free
dog beds. More than a thousand participants are expected.
The
program structure will be similar to those of past years, but more punchy,
allowing more time for socializing and networking. The program will begin with
the opening reception and plenary on Thursday evening and close with the Sunday
evening banquet. A number of post-conference
activities including lobbying, demonstrations, seminars, and special interest
meetings are planned by several groups for Monday, July 12.
In
this crucial election year, we do expect a superb conference, and your
participation is more important than ever. Be there for the animals and bring a
friend!
For
additional details, please visit www.AR2004.org. To join our conference forum,
go to http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/AR2004.
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~4~
Friends of Animals is offering
FREE
Behind
the glamorous image of fur coats lies the reality of animal pain, suffering and
death. Every year, millions of animals around the world are killed in traps,
wire snares, or on filthy fur farms --- all just to satisfy human greed and
vanity. Friends of Animals have launched a hard-hitting campaign encouraging
people not to buy fur. We are pleased to offer grassroots activist’s nationwide
our "One Fur Coat” outdoor ad as a big 30-sheet billboard free of charge.
FoA has taken care of all design and production costs. Activists who wish to
use the billboard must locate a company willing to sell billboard ad space and
pay the costs of posting the billboards. FoA will pay for the cost of shipping.
With
your help, we will continue our efforts to educate the public about the
suffering that goes into every fur garment. To view the billboard and read more
information regarding Friends of Animals Fur Campaign visit: //www.friendsofanimals.org/fur/billboard.htm
For
more information, including help with locating an outdoor ad company and
formatting a media press release, please contact
Sandy
Lewis (Sandy@friendsofanimals.org) or
Kymberlie
Adams Matthews (kymberlie@friendsofanimals.org)
at
(212) 247-8120. *Please forward this
message
Friends
of Animals
1841
Broadway, Suite 812; New York, NY 10023
phone: 212-247-8120 fax: 212-582-4482
email: kymberlie@friendsofanimals.org
web
site: http://www.friendsofanimals.org/
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~5~
"Effective Advocacy For
Animals"
(you've been
waiting for ... back after being snow'ed out)
Saturday,
February 28, 2004
(optional food
- RSVP requested by Feb 21)
When:
Saturday, February 18, 2004
Time: 10am – 4:30pm
Place: Cambridge Public Library
Central Square Branch
45 Pearl Street, Cambridge
Cost: Free
Focus:
To
provide a clear concept of how to have the animal rights message be heard by a
wider community.
Conference Coverage:
* 10 am
Greetings & Introductions (Vegan breakfast munchies provided.)
* 10:30 – 12:15p m Workshop
1: Effective Vegetarian Advocacy: Understanding
the Psychology of Meat Consumption - facilitated by Dr. Melanie Joy
* 12:15 – 1:00pm LUNCH ***
* 1:00 – 2:45pm Workshop
2:
Compassionate Communication: Using Anger Effectively for Animal Advocacy -
facilitated by Mary M. Bennett, L.I.C.S.W.
* 2:45 – 4:30pm Workshop
3:
Campaign Strategies - facilitated by Grace Ross
This
“not-to-be-missed” conference, geared toward animal advocates by animal
advocates, is part of a series of educational conferences designed to make animal
issues a mainstream concern that demands resolution. Your participation is
crucial to its success.
See
<www.massactionforanimals.org>
***
Note - If you desire to have vegan Indian food provided at the conference, RSVP
to massactionforanimals@yahoo.com by Feb 21st. The anticipated food cost
of $10/person will be payable at the
door before the conference begins.
For
more information contact Steve at 508-885-0717 or email baerwolf@hotmail.com
steven
baer
Massachusetts
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~6~
Congress Considers Banning
Bi-Partisan
Effort Seeks Ban on Slaughtering American Icon
WASHINGTON
(January 16, 2004) – As members of Congress return to Washington, one of the
issues on their agenda will be legislation that would end a senseless practice
– the slaughter of the wild buffalo in and around Yellowstone National Park.
With
more than 40 co-sponsors, the Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act is quickly
gaining bi-partisan support in the House of Representatives. Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and
Charles Bass (R-NH) introduced the legislation, H.R. 3446, calling for a
moratorium on the hazing, capturing, and killing of Yellowstone buffalo on all
federal public lands until certain conditions are met.
The
bill is also backed by a coalition of conservation, environmental and animal
welfare organizations, including the Bear Creek Council, Buffalo Field
Campaign, Defenders of Wildlife, Endangered Species Coalition, The Fund for
Animals, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Humane Society of the United
States, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, National Parks Conservation
Association, Natural Resources Defense Council and The Wilderness Society.
Together the organizations represent more than nine million members and
supporters.
“The
buffalo has long been an important symbol of our country,” said Representative
Hinchey. “So much so that in the early part of the 20th century, the designer
of the nickel said he could think of no image more emblematic of America. To
fail to protect this American icon is unthinkable in my view.”
A
vote on an amendment to last year’s House Interior Appropriations bill to
protect the Yellowstone buffalo herd mustered 199 votes, demonstrating strong
Congressional support for the buffalo and growing concern over the current,
hysteria-based management of the Yellowstone herd. Yellowstone National Park is
home to America’s last truly wild, genetically pure buffalo, descendants of the
tens of millions of buffalo once roaming the western plains. The American
buffalo was virtually wiped out in the 19th century. The animals were nearly
extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, when only a few hundred remained in
the U.S., including fewer than 30 in the park. “This Congress should openly
debate whether or not to allow government officials to kill these animals while
on public lands,” added Representative Bass. “We have already set space aside
for protection and spent taxpayer dollars pursuing this goal. Slaughtering these animals without
scientific rationale seems wasteful and contrary to stated aims,”
he
concluded.
Under
the Hinchey-Bass Yellowstone Buffalo Preservation Act, state and federal
government agency officials are prohibited from hazing, capturing, or killing
Yellowstone buffalo on federal lands (except in cases of threatened personal
safety or private property damage) until the following conditions have been
met:
• Yellowstone buffalo must be allowed to
range freely on federal lands to the immediate north and west of the park.
• Management authority of buffalo within
Yellowstone must be under the sole jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
• A land exchange and grazing rights
transfer on the north side of the park must be finalized so that a small,
private cattle herd no longer grazes near key wildlife habitat.
• The buffalo capture facility within the
park must be removed.
• Agency officials must make reasonable
efforts to allow Yellowstone buffalo, like other wildlife, to roam freely on
public lands through incentives and cooperative efforts with ranchers and other
private landowners.
The
current population of wild buffalo in Yellowstone National Park is estimated at
4,100. During the winter, some of the animals leave the park boundaries in
search of food, hypothetically putting the buffalo in conflict with several
local cattle ranchers, who fear the buffalo could transmit brucellosis to their
cattle. Under an agreement between the federal government and the state of
Montana, state and federal agents are permitted to haze the buffalo back into
the park, which includes chasing the animals through deep snow with
snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and even helicopters.
The
current buffalo management scheme also allows state and federal agents to
capture buffalo in capture facilities and ship them to a Montana slaughter
facility, or to shoot the buffalo outright. Last year, state and federal
officials captured 231 buffalo in the capture facility inside the boundaries of
Yellowstone National Park and sent them to slaughter, without testing them for
brucellosis. Also, despite the fact that only pregnant, infectious female
buffalo can potentially transmit brucellosis, bull buffalo and buffalo too
young to give birth are routinely captured and killed. In the winter of
1996-97, 1,100 buffalo were slaughtered.
There is fear that similar weather conditions this winter could bring
similar results.
Cattle
ranchers and the Montana Department of Livestock fear that any buffalo carrying
brucellosis would pose a risk to the cattle industry. However, there has never been a documented case of brucellosis
transmission between free-roaming buffalo and cattle, and science does not
support the brutal management practices currently in use. The Hinchey-Bass bill acknowledges that the
American buffalo has profound ecological, cultural, historical, and symbolic
significance to the United States. The bill mandates efforts to allow
Yellowstone buffalo to roam freely and directs the government to work with
ranchers and other private landowners to provide common-sense solutions to
perceived conflicts between the few hundred cattle grazed in the Yellowstone
ecosystem and Yellowstone’s fragile buffalo herd.
For
more information on the legislation and the buffalo of Yellowstone National
Park, visit www.yellowstonewildlife.org.
NOTE:
B-roll footage of the Yellowstone buffalo is available.
For
More Information Contact:
Michael
Markarian/The Fund for Animals: 301-585-2591 ext. 216
Rachel
Querry/The Humane Society of the United States: 301-258-8255
Elise
Russell/National Parks Conservation Association: 202-454-3391
Eric
Dyson/The Wilderness Society: 202-429-2675
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~7~
Last
week we told you of a Website of Note - the Meat Free Zone. We apparently gave you an indirect website
and have been informed that the direct website is www.meatfreezone.org
Either
way, it's a great website to check out.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~8~
I was happy in
my home
with my humans
I loved to roam
A stranger
took me one warm day
not a word did
he say
He packed me
tight in a crate
being in there
I really did hate
There were
others just like me
packed so
tight we couldn't see
Finally! We
were out of the van
but I know
now, I should have ran
No more crates
and no more cars
but now I sit
behind these bars
Why I'm here,
I don't know
but back home
I want to go
Do my friends
know I'm here?
those humans
that I hold so dear
It's scary, I
can sense the doom
all throughout
this chilly room
there are
others like me I saw
their skin
too, is blistered and raw
There is only
one human I've come to hate
he gets me
tout every morning at eight
To struggle
from him I have tried
but in a cage
there's no place to hide
He shaved my
skin, now it hurts
I can't see
it, but I feel it's burnt
I'd give
anything for just one scratch
but on top of
it is a patch
Ever since
that dreadful day
on my sides I
cannot lay
No longer can
I get to sleep
I just lay
here suffering in a heap
My fur is
matted and full of blood
It keeps
getting thicker just like mud
I have
screamed and I have cried
but this pain,
it just won't die
I still try
with all my might
but that human
gets me under the light
he holds me
tight as he stares
at the horrors
my skin bares
He is a white
robed beast
and for my
pain he cares the least
We lay here in
our bandages
why are we the
ones called savages?
Now I know
that my times of fun
are now
forever done
pain stole my
will, so again I will try
to close my
eyes and finally die
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~9~
"You ask
people why they have deer heads on the wall. 'Because it's such a beautiful
animal.' There you go. I think my
mother's attractive, but I have photographs of her."
~ Ellen
DeGeneres, Actress
"On
Location: Women of the Night"
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair
- EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights
Online
http://www.oocities.org/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal
Rights Online=-
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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