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 # 01/25/04
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 ~ Helping Animals Through Legislative Action by
Michelle Rivera
2 ~ Your Help Needed For Study
on Parrot Relinquishment
3 ~ ACT Radio, Animal Concerns of
Texas
4 ~ 5th Annual Compassion For Animals Action Symposium
5 ~ HumaneStudent.org
6 ~ The Call by Janet Riddle
7 ~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
The Active Activist
Part three in a Series
Helping Animals Through Legislative Action
By Michelle Rivera -
michellerivera1@aol.com
As animal rights activists, it seems we are on everyone's list for
everything from action alerts to newsletters of every shape and size. These are
usually very important e-mails that frequently request that we write a letter
to someone, fire off a fax or e-mail or make a phone call. How do we decide
which ones to respond to and which ones we can put on the back burner?
The answer to this question is different for everyone. Surely, we all have time
constraints and need to make the best use of our time. Many of the national
organizations have departments and personnel to deal with legislative actions
and when it comes to getting to the truth, they know their stuff.
As an activist with over thirty years worth of letters tucked away in a binder
and stored on disks, I have found that my biggest priority is insuring that the
information I receive in my e-mail each day is reliable and truthful. I have
had the unpleasant experience of writing letters of outrage on some issue or
another only to find that my information has been wrong. Not long ago, a friend
of mine, a producer for the local ABC affiliate, received a communication from
one of the animal-rights organizations accusing a certain legislator of a
misdeed involving marine mammals. She was prepared to run the story but had to
check the sources first. Luckily, she had a good friend on staff at the legislator's
local office and within a few minutes of receiving the initial communication
she determined it was completely unfounded. When she confronted the folks at
the animal rights organization, they backed off.
The lesson here is that we must take the time to insure that what we are
writing about is true and factual and not exaggerated or sensationalized. Your
reputation as an activist depends on it.
Another rule that I try to follow is to be concise and succinct in my letter
writing. Try to refrain from lecturing or haranguing an editor or legislator
and cut out the rhetoric. Using the words "innocent animals" and
"sentient beings" over and over again is not productive. Neither is
confrontational or threatening language. Usually, it is best to just state
"I live in your district and I urge you to vote yes on the anti-cruelty
bill. To learn more about why I feel strongly about this bill, please visit
this website or call me at…" You can bet that they have received letters
from the national organizations that put forth all the relevant arguments and
if you parrot them it will look insincere. They usually don't care WHY you feel
one way or another, they just want to know WHAT you are looking for them to do.
Of course, letters to the editors require more information and well-stated
arguments. But they, too, must be short and to the point.
John Goodwin is with the Humane Activist Network, the result of a unique
partnership between the Fund for Animals and the Humane Society of the United
States. He is the facilitator for a huge phone tree network across the United
States. Contact him if you want to get involved with the Humane Activist
Network as either a district captain or state coordinator. A state coordinator
keeps in touch with John and the Humane Activist Network and will be the first
to learn of opportunities to call our legislators. John will let the state
coordinator know when an issue is pending, immediate or pressing and the state
coordinator in turn will call his or her district captain across the state. The
district captains then call members on their phone trees. The whole process
shouldn't take more than a few hours and is critical when a vote is imminent.
You may e-mail John at JGoodwin@hsus.org.
John Goodwin's counterpart at the Fund for Animals is Pierre Grzybowski. His
e-mail address is pgrzybowski@fund.org. I asked Pierre some specific questions
about activism through politics and he was kind enough to share his knowledge
with Animal Rights Online. Here is that interview:
ARO: What e-mail lists or action
alerts do you recommend people get on?
Pierre: The Fund for Animals and The
Humane Society of the United States jointly organize the Humane Activist
Network (HAN)--a nationwide legislative network of activists who influence
bills affecting animals on both the state and federal level. Activists can get
involved by signing-up for The Fund for Animals Action Center
(http://action.fund.org) and clicking the box that says "YES! I want to
join the Humane Activist Network and signup for HUMANElines!"
In addition, each state usually has its own network of independent activists
and local groups who work on animal legislation. Activists can call the animal
advocacy groups and shelters in their state to find out who is active in the
legislative arena.
Finally, some groups and activists focus their legislative efforts on
particular species, or even breeds, of animals. For those interested in working
for certain animals, an internet search will usually turn up who is active, and
ways to get involved.
ARO: Do you feel it is effective for
people in one state to lobby in another (for example, if there is an issue on
the ballot in Vermont should people in Florida call the Vermont legislators?)
Pierre: Generally, people should
only lobby their own elected officials. However, some states do allow people
who live in other states to get involved in the legislative process in limited
ways. For example, the successful ballot initiative in Florida to ban gestation
crates received a good deal of help from non-residents who gathered signatures
within the state.
ARO: Does The Fund get involved in
local animal cruelty cases?
Pierre: The Fund for Animals gets
involved in local cruelty cases on a limited basis, depending on our resources
in the area, and the type of animal involved. Recently, we took the lead in
caring for and placing a number of tigers and leopards removed from an abuse
situation at a pseudo-sanctuary. We are perhaps most well known for providing a
home to abused, neglected, and unwanted animals at our Black Beauty Ranch in
Texas.
ARO: Do you know anyone else who
does?
Pierre: Local law enforcement
agencies, and sometimes local humane groups, are empowered to charge an
individual with animal cruelty under their state's laws. Attorneys for the
state must then decide whether or not to prosecute. Input from the community
can influence the level of attention given to animal cruelty cases by both
humane enforcement officers and state's attorneys. This input can come from
everyone from local activists to national groups. Generally, the more notorious
or precedent-setting the case, the more involvement there is by the animal
protection community. Besides pushing for more attention to be paid to animal
cruelty cases, working to pass legislation that strengthens anti-cruelty laws
is important. As of 2003, lobbying by activists has helped establish
felony-level punishments for animal cruelty in 41 states.
ARO: How can people most effectively
use their vote and their voice to help animals?
Pierre: The most effective way for
activists to influence the legislative process is to develop relationships with
their elected officials. This means lobbying in person at least once a session,
and regularly calling and writing about specific bills. Not only will this keep
the officials cognizant of their pro-animal constituents, but will increase an
activist's chances of getting emergency meetings on fast moving bills.
Many people find it less intimidating to start out on the state level, both
because the offices are relatively nearby, and because it is often easier to
get an appointment for personal meetings. However, federal and state bills vary
in their approach and scope, so lobbying at both levels is important.
Getting involved in the legislative process pays dividends from the beginning,
but developing personal relationships with elected officials and really
becoming a player in your state can take years. Approach the process with
patience and perseverance.
ARO: What would you most like to get
across to readers about what they should or shouldn't do when trying to get
something done on behalf of the animals?
Pierre: The importance of presenting
yourself in a way that is appropriate for the situation cannot be overstated.
The most obvious application of this principle is to dress similar to your
audience, to remove at least that one reason for being viewed as an
"other" or outsider. So while business suits must be worn when
lobbying, they would probably be inappropriate for outreach on a liberal
college campus.
ARO: Is there anything else you want
to mention to Animal Writes readers?
Pierre: Pro-animal legislation
cannot succeed without the support of individual activists within each of the
fifty states and 435 congressional districts who can lobby their elected
officials.
Pierre's contact information is as follows: Pierre Grzybowski, Grassroots
Coordinator, The Fund for Animals, pierre@fund.org, (301) 585-2591 ext. 204.,
8121 Georgia Avenue, Suite 301, Silver Spring, MD 20910, T 301-585-2591 ext.
204, F 301-585-2595, http://www.fund.org
The Animal Legal Defense Fund also gets involved with legislative action. They
have an interesting and informative website
http://www.aldf.org/content.asp?sect=action§ionid=3, where you can
learn about helping animals through legislative action. The contact at the ALDF
is Stephan Otto and his e-mail address is: sotto@aldf.org. Among the tips
offered on their website is that one should be up-to-date and informed about
the issues so that if you do get an opportunity to discuss a piece of legislation
with an aid or with the actual representative, you will come across as
knowledgeable and enlightened and you will be less of a target for false claims
or excuses. They also advise activists to establish a rapport with legislative
staff well before you need to call on them for help with a bill. A simple
friendly phone call or letter to your congressman or senator's office
introducing yourself as a local animal advocate is a good way to get started.
And of course, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has action
alerts and information on legislation on their website at
http://www.peta.org/alert/automation/leg.html. They, too, have an action alert
mailing list.
Other websites that are interesting and contain legislative information are the
ASPCA at www.aspca.org and the Humane Society of the United States at
www.hsus.org. Humane USA is a political action committee (PAC) that stays on
top of legislation, platforms and candidates. For information on the current
presidential candidates and their stances on animals, visit Humane USA at
www.humaneusa.org.
Stay informed, get involved, be a voice for the voiceless. For help, get in
touch with one of the national organizations or your local animal rights
organizations.
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~2~
Your Help Needed for Study
on Parrot Relinquishment
If you have ever given away, surrendered, re-homed, fostered, or
adopted out a bird in the parrot family (including parakeets, cockatiels, and
lovebirds), the National Parrot Relinquishment Research Project (NPRRP) needs
your help. The NPRRP is gathering data to develop a better understanding of the
scope and causes of captive bird relinquishment. You can participate in the
Project through an online questionnaire at www.NPRRP.org.Each
year, thousands of parrots from parakeets to macaws are sold to individuals who
later decide that a bird is not compatible in their home or with their
lifestyle and who relinquish their bird(s) to a shelter, rescue, pet shop, zoo,
breeding facility, or private individual. More than 90 self-described bird
rescues or sanctuaries currently exist in the United States, many of which have
come into existence in just the last few years. Due to the large number of
birds in need, most rescues or sanctuaries are unable to accept every bird they
are offered. Despite the abundance of unwanted birds, pet stores that have
policies against the sale of dogs and cats continue to sell birds. Some pet
store officials cite the lack of hard data on the numbers and reasons for bird
relinquishment, and fail to take responsibility for their role in the fate of
unwanted, neglected, and abused captive birds. The goal of the National Parrot
Relinquishment Research Project is to collect objective data about parrot
relinquishment. These data will be useful in evaluating the current parrot
relinquishment issue, identifying causes, and formulating solutions. In
addition, PETsMART Inc. has indicated that it will use the data provided
through the NPRRP survey to revisit its policies about the sale of birds in its
stores. The NPRRP is sponsored by PETsMART Charities through a grant to The
Gabriel Foundation (an avian rescue organization), and is being directed by Dr.
Cheryl Meehan, who holds a PhD in animal behavior from the University of
California, Davis. Dr. Meehan is assisted in this project by a small staff and
an advisory board made up of representatives from the avicultural, rescue, and
education communities, including the Animal Protection Institute (www.api4animals.org). Once again, if you
have ever given up an exotic bird kept as a companion or if you have taken in
exotic birds from individuals who could no longer care for them, please visit
the National Parrot Relinquishment Research Project website and complete a
survey questionnaire at www.NPRRP.org. The
surveys will be available online until March 2004.
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~3~
ACT Radio, Animal Concerns of Texas
Be sure to listen to Act, Animal Concerns of Texas with cohosts
Greg Lawson, Steve Best and Elizabeth Walsh tonight at 7:30pm Mountain time.
Tonight we have a discussion with Kevin Jonas of SHAC, Stop Huntingdon Animal
Cruelty. We talk about the abuses of Huntingdon and the history of SHAC.
Act can be heard on the web with Real Radio, which is a free download.
Click here to listen to Act.
http://www.ktep.org/program_detail.ssd?id=103
El Paso NPR - KTEP 88.5
: National Public Radio for the Southwest
Click here for information on how to get Real Radio and for a link to the
archive of our past shows.
http://utminers.utep.edu/vsep/actradio
ACT Radio
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~4~
5th ANNUAL COMPASSION
FOR ANIMALS
ACTION SYMPOSIUM
Presented By:
VegEvents
April 3-4, 2004
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
RADISSON PLAZA HOTEL, DOWNTOWN ORLANDO
60 SOUTH IVANHOE BLVD.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
* Hear experts in Animal Ethics, Vegan Nutrition and Environmental
Issues
* Enjoy Great Vegan Meals
* Visit the Exhibit Hall
* Network with Like-Minded Individuals & Form Friendships that will last a
Lifetime!
National and State Speakers (so far)
* Joyce DiBenedetto-Colton, Animal Ethics Study Institute
* J P Goodwin, (HSUS) Humane Society
of the United States
* Susan Hargreaves, Wildlife Care
Center (Ft. Lauderdale) and Earthkind
* Dawn Moncrief, (FARM) Farm Animal
Reform Movement
* Jack Norris, RD, (Why Vegan?) Vegan
Outreach
* Lauren Ornelas, (VIVA) Veg.
International Voice for Animals
* Miyun Park, (COK) Compassion Over
Killing
* Heidi Prescott, Fund for Animals
* Lt. Sherry Schlueter, (Animal Cruelty
Division) Broward County Sheriffs Department
Questions? Contact Event Coordinator:
Chas Chiodo @ 386-454-4341
chasmo@netcommander.com www.vegetarianevents.com
FOR
BEST RATES, REGISTER EARLY. LIMITED SPACE
Please
register early, your contribution helps VegEvents offset pre- symposium
expenses and supports our on-going outreach activism.
The Action Symposium will engage your mind & restore your
spirits. Be part of this event.
Learn from the past and begin to create a more peaceful, compassionate world.
Symposium Details
Schedule:
Saturday,
April 3: A variety of animal rights issues will be presented via lectures,
panels and rap sessions.
Sunday, April 4: Vegan nutrition,
lifestyle and factory farm issues will be presented.
Talk with veterans from the animal rights movement. Learn how to effectively organize
outreach/community education programs and conduct classroom/community
presentations. Increase your knowledge in animal ethics, human health and
environmental issues.
Housing:
The Radisson Plaza has a special rate of $69.00 for symposium
attendees (up to 4 people per room). For reservations call the Radisson Plaza
at 407-425-4455 and request the Compassion for Animals Action Symposium rate.
Check the website for other accommodations. www.vegetarianevents.com
Meals:
Symposium meals are Vegan. There will be 5 catered meals
over the weekend. The hotel will use recipes supplied by VegEvents. Prices for
all meals are at the bottom of the page.
How Do I Pay?
Only Checks & Money orders will be accepted.
Make payable to VegEvents and mail to:
PO Box 1057, Alachua, FL 32616
List additional names w/ phone numbers, addresses and e-mails on
separate sheet of paper.
Number
in Party:______
Name:___________________________________________________________
Address:
_________________________________________________________________
E-mail:_______________________________________
Phone
Day:______________________Eve:______________________
Please Note: A limited number of discounts for volunteers are
available. No one will be turned away because of financial difficulties.
Call VegEvents at: 386-454-4341
Meals provided ONLY w/reservations
postmarked by Mar 26
Register early for best rates; space
is limited.
Please check to reserve:
____ $35 Full Symposium
by Jan. 30th
____ $70 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Jan. 30th
____ $45 Full Symposium by Feb. 26th
____ $80 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Feb. 26th
____ $50 Full Symposium by Mar. 26th
____ $85 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Mar. 26th
____ $55 Full Symposium after Mar. 26th
Student rates
____$15 Full Symposium by Jan. 30th
____$60 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Jan. 30th
____$20 Full Symposium by Feb. 26th
____$65 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Feb.26th
____$25 Full Symposium by Mar. 26th
____$70 Full Symp. w/5 meals by Mar. 26th
____ $30 Full Symposium after Mar. 26th
Individual Meals per day: Sat. and
Sun. Breakfasts $7. each,
Sat. and Sun. Lunches $9. each, Saturday Dinner $12.
Registration and Meals Total______
Please
register early, your contribution helps VegEvents offset pre-symposium expenses
and supports our on-going outreach activism.
*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`*´`³¤³´`*:»«:*´`³¤³´`*:»³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`´`*:»«:*³¤³´`³¤³´`
~5~
HumaneStudent.org
It takes tremendous courage to stand up for what you believe. But
when you do, it feels good to know you are doing what is right for you and in
this case for animals too. Despite the difficulties, there are many students
who, like yourself, have taken a stand for animals in education. They have
articulated their concerns to their professors and have achieved an animal free
educational experience.
Nuria Querol
"If you want to study rat's brain, study Psychology. If you want to study
the human brain, study Philosophy" I still remember this overwhelming (but
unfortunately true in most cases) sentence that my brother told me when I was
studying Biology. During my Biology studies I had a serious crisis between what
I thought Science should be and what I found in my practices. That should have
been called Necrology.
Useless practices that included surgery were performed even though we had not
been trained in sutures and stitches, therefore the experiments turned out to
be traumatic experiences for students and a painful waste of animals’ lives. We
were not offered any alternative thereby objection meant failing the exam. I
must confess I was scared, I couldn’t pretend nothing was going to happen to
the animals but I had no specific alternative resources to show to my
professors. I was completely lost and did not [know] what to do until I
realized that I could be of some help by attending the practices without
performing anything on the animals and writing a report of what was lying
behind the walls of the University. So watching little innocent mice and rats
being slaughtered for useless experiments became a non-return point for me,
especially after spending a whole week trying to rescue a rat that I had
already named Enriqueta.
The professor knew I was completely against the practices and was keeping an
eye on me during all the time though I tried to sneak out to Enriqueta’s cage
to open it and run away with her. Nobody expected the rats to be killed that
day and I shouted when the professor took Enriqueta the first one and
decapitated her. I couldn’t believe my eyes, I couldn’t believe anyone could be
so cold-blooded and cruel. I felt my heart stopping and suddenly beating with
more strength than ever, I stared at him and swore to myself that from now on I
was going to try to work to stop any animal testing. I have no words to
describe how I felt when I was watching a sweet, healthy, funny and curious rat
and suddenly there were only the remains of a dead body with no head and blood
all over the table.
I felt I had to find a more scientific, accurate and compassionate way to
become a scientist, and then I went to ADDA’s headquarters with the report of
the experiments that turned out to be the first report ever made by a Spanish
student. We used the report to press the Catalonian Government to change the
Law to protect lab animals in a more effective way. During that time, I became
involved in InterNICHE and started spreading the message that alternatives were
available and let students know that they had the right to conscientious
objection. It is a matter of animal rights but also of civil rights, since it
is possible nowadays to have a great education and training without hurting any
animal and at the same time becoming better scientists because we also
incorporate ethics, empathy and compassion in all the knowledge we acquire
during our studies.
I couldn’t save her life but I will carry Enriqueta forever in my heart because
she was the trigger I needed my inspiration and I still think of her especially
while talking to media or making a conference at a University. Thank you,
Enriqueta, for making a difference in my life and hopefully in other animals
and students’ lives.
Núria Querol i Viñas
Biologist
Medicine Student at Vall d'Hebrón Hospital, Barcelona
Member of the AAVS
Spanish National Contact for InterNICHE
Head of International Relationships Office-Fundación Altarriba
http://www.altarriba.org
Co-ordinator of GEVHA
GEVHA- Grupo para el Estudio de la Violencia en Humanos y
Animales. Educación
Humanitaria.
Group for the Study of Violence towards Humans & Animals.
Humane Education.
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~6~
The Call
By Janet Riddle - WantNoMeat@aol.com
Remember when it all started for you
your impact on animals more than you knew
Now the old ways of being you can recall
the new rush in and accompany the call
Everything that you eat, wear, see and say
affects another who wants to live the next day
Now you know of the cage and stall
this knowledge awakened by the call
Stopping the torture becomes your concern
though brick walls meet your every turn
Wearied and battle-torn, yet you don't fall
because your heart also knows the call
No one wants burden to bare
but whoever said life is fair?
In a world so huge, it's easy to feel small
and a difficult quest follows the call
The animals in their hell have already tired
and you know your place at their side
To defend the frail, you stand tall
the anguished cries become your call
Your name unknown but a hero still
you never gave up or lost your will
Realize you can't save them all
but to those you can, they need your call
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~7~
Memorable Quote
"A human being is a part of the whole, called by us 'Universe,' a part
limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as
something separated from rest. A kind of optical delusion of his consciousness.
This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal
desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to
free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace
all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to
achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a
part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security."
~ Albert Einstein
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
http://www.oocities.org/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal
Rights Online=-
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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