A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Editor
~ JJswans@aol.com
Issue # 03/30/03
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 ~ My Secret Is Out By Greg Lawson
2 ~ The Son of Patriot Act and the Revenge on Democracy By
Dr. Steve Best
3 ~ Job Opportunity
4 ~ FoA Low Cost Spay/Neuter Certificates
5 ~ Fireworks Needlessly Harm Animals
6 ~ Rabbits at Easter: A Sad Story By Amy Shapiro
7 ~ AR2003 East Registration Deadline...
8 ~ Vegetarian Leafleting for Religious Holidays
9 ~ Holocaust
10~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
My Secret is Out
By Greg Lawson - ParkStRanger@aol.com
As
you can tell by my uniform (black boots, black pants and shirt with NPS style arrowhead
patch on my shoulder), I am a member of a black ops group, the Special Forces
division of the National Park Service.
My code name is Park Stranger.
In the mid Nineties, when NPS Special Forces learned I was a vegan ARA park
ranger, some highly placed operatives gave me a number of animal protection
assignments. Sometimes I operated outside the law, to prevent degradation of
our wild lands system.
For example, we often tranquilize, tag and release hunters to keep track of
their affect on the wildlife in our national parks and forests. This is
something that most of the public doesn't know about.
Recently, I blew the whistle on the National Park Service's secret plan to send
ranger snipers into the woods in several Parks. The idea was to prevent
poaching by taking out the bear hunters who were supplying the Asian market
with phony bear bile sex enhancement drugs.
I didn't agree with harming humans. We're mostly a group of vegan
rangers, and violence was not an option...I prefer the kinder option of
sterilizing the poachers with ultraviolet laser rifles, in an attempt to reduce
their fertility.
If you have read this far, you know I am joking, and happy April Fools' Day.
To learn the real story of how the National Park Service can't even protect the
animal which is it's symbol, the bison of Yellowstone National Park, please
visit the Buffalo Field Campaign at
In
the month of March, the National Park Service and the state of Montana
slaughtered 231 wild bison to protect the interests of cattle ranchers who
graze their cattle on Forest Service land just outside Yellowstone Park.
In an effort to stop the annual slaughter, a group of animal protection
organizations plan to file a petition with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
to list Yellowstone bison as a threatened distinct population segment.
Please write a letter to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton asking her to
provide protection for the Yellowstone bison as an endangered Distinct
Population Segment under the Endangered Species Act. Please mail your letter
directly to the Buffalo Field Campaign. BFC will deliver all letters to
the Department of the Interior during a rally on May 9th in Washington, DC.
Please address letters to:
Secretary Gale Norton
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240
But mail your letter to:
The Buffalo Field Campaign
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758.
fax (406) 646-0071
email: buffalo@wildrockies.org
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~2~
The Son of Patriot Act
and the Revenge on Democracy
By Dr. Steve Best - sbest1@elp.rr.com
In
October 2001, one month after the 9-11 attack, the Bush administration forced
through Congress an assault on civil liberties perversely titled the “USA
Patriot Act” (a surreal acronym for “Uniting & Strengthening America
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism
Act"). Exploiting the new climate of fear, the Bush team claimed that a
free nation must give way to a secure nation. From the offices of a stolen
Presidency, we certainly now have neither.
To read the rest of this
article, click here...
The
Son of Patriot Act and the Revenge on Democracy
http://utminers.utep.edu/best/papers/vegenvani/sonofpatriotact.htm#top
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~3~
Job Opportunity
We
will soon have on-site housing available at Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Maui,
Hawaii, for a long term live-in Animal and Facility Caretaker/Office Assistant.
Please visit our Website and forward your Resume and references if you are
interested in applying for the position.
Me Ke Aloha No Na Holoholona
With Love For The Animals,
Lucy Wormser
President
Pacific Primate Sanctuary, Inc.
500 A Haloa Road
Haiku, Maui, Hawaii 96708
Sanctuary Phone & Fax: 808. 572.8089
Internet: WWW.pacificprimate.org
E-mail pps@aloha.net
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~4~
FoA Low Cost Spay/Neuter
Certificates
You can now purchase Friends of Animals
spay/neuter certificates online.
Just visit the Friends of Animals website at: www.friendsofanimals.org
Click on the link to "low cost certificates."
You will then be able to find the FoA participating veterinarians in your area
and order spay/neuter certificates.
* FEMALE CAT- $55.00 * MALE CAT- $40.00
* FEMALE DOG -$75.00 * MALE DOG -$54.00
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~5~
Fireworks Needlessly Harm
Animals
From StopFireworks@aol.com
(Cleveland,
Ohio, USA) The Ohio Animal Defense League (OADL), a non-profit,
all-volunteer grassroots organization announces the launch of their website: www.stopfireworks.net
The need for the website, and resulting campaign stems from the building of a
new minor league baseball stadium by the city of Eastlake. The stadium
will house the class-A minor league team, "The Captains," of the
Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team. The problem is that high-grade
explosive and percussive fireworks will be used at the stadium, thereby being a
direct threat to companion animals and wildlife nearby. The stadium is
being built in a densely populated residential area.
Experts agree that fireworks are a direct threat to almost all animal species
and inflict terror and confusion amongst them. Dogs are especially at
risk, since they appear to have the most sensitive sense of hearing.
Animal care and control agencies from all over the world report horror stories
of animals breaking loose and running from the ear-shattering noise of
fireworks. Many animals are badly injured, never found, hit by cars, or
killed as a result of fireworks.
As OADL Founder David Sickles states, "there is no excuse for making animals
needlessly suffer for human entertainment, especially when alternatives like
laser-light shows already exist. If we can gather enough groups on our
side, we have a very good chance of being successful in the campaign to keep
animals safe from fireworks in this area."
OADL is seeking the endorsement of any animal, conservation, environmental,
vegetarian, veterinary, and wildlife group. We are urging these groups to
"step up to the plate" and "take a swing" at unnecessary
animal cruelty. Please go to www.stopfireworks.net and enter your groups'
information and endorse our campaign. Veterinarians and others with
degrees are also urged to sign the petition. We urgently need the
endorsement from as many groups as possible.
Our website includes background information on the campaign, fact sheets and
quotes from experts in the fields of animal, environmental and wildlife
protection. A complete list of groups already endorsing our campaign is
on the website. The list grows daily.
Listed below are some of the American groups that have already endorsed our
campaign.
For more information, contact:
Ohio Animal Defense League
PO Box 5832
Eastlake OH 44095-0832
Stopfireworks@aol.com
A Blessing for the Animals - Chicago, IL; Actors and Other for Animals - North
Hollywood, CA; Alley Cat Allies - Washington, DC; American Feline Society -
Pompano Beach, FL; American Horse Defense Fund - Potomac, MD; American Humane
Association - Englewood, CO; American Sanctuary Association - Las Vegas, NV;
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - New York, NY;
American Tortoise Rescue - Malibu, CA; Animal Legal Defense Fund - Petaluma,
CA; Animal Natural Health Center - Eugene, OR; Animal Protection Institute -
Sacramento, CA; Animal Welfare Institute - Washington, DC; Asians for Humans,
Animals and Nature - San Francisco, CA; Assisi International Animal Institute -
Oakland, CA; Associated Humane Societies - Newark, NJ; Association of Animal
Sanctuaries - Kendalia, TX; Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights -
Davis, CA; Best Friends Animal Sanctuary - Kanab, UT; Boulder Environmental
Activist's Resource Collective - Boulder, CO; Cascade Dog Defense League -
Portland, OR; Christ Loves Creatures Too - Palm Beach Gardens, FL; Christians
Helping Animals & People - Selden, NY; Citizens for the Preservation of
Wildlife - Fairfax, VA; Concern for Helping Animals In Israel - Alexandria, VA;
Conference on Homeless Animal Management & Policy - Port Washington, NY;
Culture and Animals Foundation - Raleigh, NC; Doris Day Animal League -
Washington, DC; Earth Action Network - Los Angeles, CA; Earth Island Institute
- San Francisco, CA; Earth Save Internatioonal - Santa Cruz, CA; Elephant
Alliance - La Jolla, CA; Elsa Wild Animal Appeal USA - Mahomet, IL; Engineers
and Scientists for Animal Rights - San Jose, CA; Farm Sanctuary - Watkins Glen,
NY; Friends of Animals - Darien, CT; Friends of the Wild Swan - Swan Lake, MT;
Friends of Washoe - Ellensburg, WA; Great Plains Restoration Council - Denver,
CO; Greyhound Protection League - Penn Valley, CA; House Rabbit Society -
Richmond, CA; Humane Farming Association - San Rafael, CA; Humane Society of
the United States - Washington, DC; In Defense of Animals - Mill Valley, CA;
Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature - Atlanta, GA;
International Society for the Preservation of Tropical Rainforests - Rosemead,
CA; International Wildlife Coalition - East Falmouth, MA; Jane Goodall
Institute - Silver Spring, MD; Last Chance for Animals - Los Angeles, CA; Massachusetts
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - Boston, MA; National Cat
Protection Association - Mount Rainier, MD; National Humane Education Society -
Charles Town, WV; National Institute for Animal Advocacy - Guilford, CT;
National Opossum Society - Catonsville, MD; National Wild Bird Refuge -
Metaire, LA; New Hampshire Doberman Rescue League - Rochester, NH; North Shore
Animal League America - Port Washington, NY; Pasado's Safe Haven - Sultan, WA;
Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue - Acton, CA; Pet Savers Foundation - Stratford,
CT; Pet Sitters International - King, NC; Physicians Committee for Responsible
Medicine - Washington, DC; PigHoppers Sanctuary - Whittaker, MI; Preservation
of the Amazonian River Dolphin - Rosemead, CA; Primate Freedom Project - Santa
Barbara, CA; Psychologists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - Washington
Grove, MD; Shelters That Adopt and Rescue Ferrets - Springfield, VA; Student
Animal Legal Defense Fund, Vermont Law School - South Royalton, VT; Teach Kind
Educators Network - Norfolk, VA; Traditional Cat Association - Battle Ground,
WA; Turtle Island Restoration Project - Forest Knolls, CA; Unitarian
Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - Lebanon, PA; United Animal
Nations - Sacramento, CA; United Poultry Concerns - Machipongo, VA; Vegetarians
International Voice for Animals - Davis, CA; Where Wolves Rescue - Surprise,
AZ; Wildlife Information Center - Slatington, PA; Wildlife Land Trust -
Washington, DC; World Mission for Animals, World Church of Holy Service -
Glendale, OR; World Society for the Protection of Animals - Boston, MA; World
Whale Police - Olympia, WA.
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~6~
Rabbits at Easter: A Sad Story
By Amy Shapiro
Dorene472@aol.com
A
smiling child in an adorable outfit clutches a cute baby bunny in her arms.
What's wrong with this picture? Contrary to Eastertime hype, rabbits and small
children are not a good match. The natural exuberance, rambunctiousness and
decibel-level of even the gentlest toddler are stressful for the sensitive
rabbit. It is the rare child who will enjoy and appreciate the rabbit's subtle
and sensitive nature.
Another misconception is that rabbits are passive and cuddly. They are
ground-loving creatures who feel frightened and insecure when held and
restrained. Children like a companion they can hold, carry, and cuddle, just as
they do their favorite stuffed animal. It is unreasonable to expect a child to
be able to take full responsibility for the care of a rabbit, or to make a
10-year commitment to anything! All too often, the child loses interest, and
the rabbit ends up neglected or abandoned.
Some people think rabbits are a "low-maintenance" pet. In fact, they
require almost as much work as a dog. They must be housetrained. The house must
be bunny-proofed, or Thumper will chew electrical cords, rugs, books, and
furniture. They must be spayed or neutered, or they will mark your house with
feces and urine. They must live indoors, as members of the family. Rabbits kept
in hutches outdoors have an average lifespan of about one year; house rabbits
can live 8 to 10 years. Predators abound, not only in rural areas but in urban
and suburban locations as well. Outdoor rabbits become bored and depressed from
isolation. To consign these sensitive, intelligent, social animals to life in a
hutch is to miss all the joy of sharing your life with a rabbit. Unless he's
part of your daily routine, you will not have the opportunity to really get to
know his subtle personality.
Clearly, rabbits are not for everyone! Are you a gentle adult who lives in a
quiet household? Are you eager to get to know rabbits on their own terms - to
spend time down at their level, on the floor; to allow the rabbit to initiate
gestures of friendship and trust? If you think you are one of those rare
individuals who would enjoy sharing life with a rabbit, please visit your local
animal shelter or rabbit-rescue group. As rabbits have increased in popularity,
they are suffering the same fate as our other companion animals - abandonment.
You can also check your local veterinary clinic and "Pets"
classifieds of your newspaper. It's a sad fact that no matter where you live,
you are within 10 miles of a rabbit who needs a home. The effort made to find
that special bunny means you are saving a life.
So if little Susie is pleading for a bunny for Easter, do a rabbit a favor, and
buy her a toy rabbit that she can snuggle to her heart's content. Let's make
Easter a joyful time for our long-eared friends.
House Rabbit Society
a national nonprofit organization
1532 Benton Street Alameda, CA 94027
www.rabbit.org
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~7~
AR2003 East Registration
Deadline...
From FARM - farm.usa@verizon.net
...
is on Monday, March 31. After that, the rate goes up to $140. Dozens of people
have already taken advantage of the discounted rate. Don't be left out. If
you're still not sure whether you can go it's cheaper to register now and get a
refund, if you decide not to go.
Animal Rights 2003 East will be held between June 27 - July 1 at the McLean
(VA) Hilton (same place as the past three years), just outside the nation's
capital. Animal Rights 2003 West will be held between August 1-5 at the Westin
- LAX Hotel in Los Angeles. Nearly 11,000 people are expected at each
event.
Please visit www.animalrights2003.org for
details and registration. To arrange an exhibit, e-mail exhibits@animalrights2003.org.
Send a blank e-mail to
AR2003-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
to join the AR2003 discussion group. The group is designed to improve the
quality of the conferences and to provide inquiries on topics not adequately
addressed on the website.
The program will include plenary sessions, workshops, 'rap' sessions, campaign
reports, videos, and exhibits, as well as Newcomer Orientation, planning
meetings, group workouts, Employment Clearinghouse, networking receptions, and
Awards Banquet. A number of post-conference activities are scheduled for July 2
in DC and August 6 in LA.
Key speakers scheduled thus far include Carol Adams, Neal Barnard, Alan Berger,
Steve Best, Linda Blair, Joseph Connelly, Karen Davis, Karen Dawn, Joyce
D'Silva, Michael Greger, Alex Hershaft, Steve Hindi, Elliot Katz, Patrick Kwan,
Greg Lawson, Howard Lyman, Jim Mason, Wayne Pacelle, Sherry Schlueter, Lauren
Ornelas Sullivan, Peter Singer, Paul Watson, and Zoe Weil.
The two conferences are co-sponsored by the American Anti-Vivisection Society,
Animal Legal Defense Fund, Animals Voice, Animal Protection Institute, Dairy
Education Board, FARM, Farm Sanctuary, Fund For Animals, HSUS, In Defense of
Animals, Lantern Books, L.W. Robbins Associates, New England Anti-Vivisection
Society, United Poultry Concerns, Veg News, Vegetarian Times, and Wildlife Land
Trust.
Be there for the animals, and do bring your friends!
Alex Hershaft, National Chair, Animal Rights 2003
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~8~
Vegetarian Leafleting for
Religious Holidays
Spring
brings religious holidays. Would you please consider adding a special
animal-friendly element to these occasions by encouraging people to adopt a
vegan lifestyle? It’s easy to reach people as they go to their place of
worship and remind them that people of all faiths have a moral obligation to
consider a vegan diet, just by passing out our leaflets. Religious gatherings
offer wonderful opportunities to spread the vegan message. (If you want to
learn more about the link between the religious teachings of mercy and
compassion and veganism, please visit www.JesusVeg.com, www.JewishVeg.com,
and/or www.IslamVeg.com).If
you can schedule a little time in the coming weeks, please send me an e-mail
message with your name and mailing address (no P.O. boxes, please), as well as
the faith of the congregation that you will be giving this material to, so that
we can send you the most appropriate items. (Request our general vegetarian
literature if you prefer—you can always hand that out anywhere!) We’ll
send you a stack of leaflets as well as our “vegetarian business cards” that
offer a free vegetarian starter kit. If you are interested in showing our “Meet
Your Meat” video, too, we’re happy to send you a copy as well. (View the video
online at http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video+mym2002.)
It has never been easier to live an animal-friendly lifestyle—an estimated 1
million people are going vegetarian every year in the United States. Your help
is crucial in continuing this positive trend. Please consider committing to
leafleting at least once a week or once a month—one or two hours of your time
can truly help make the world a kinder place. We’ll gladly supply you with all
the literature you need. Please also visit http://www.goveg.com/a-promote.html
for 25 great ways to promote veganism in your community. Thank you for all you
do for animals. They truly need you.
Megan Hartman, Department Coordinator
International Grassroots Campaigns
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
757-622-7382 ext. 1464
MeganH@PETA.org
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~9~
Holocaust
Anonymous
Their faces remain blurs
Their stories untold
There pain never ending
Yet the HOLOCAUST goes on
Without a second thought or a single tear shed
Is the world this naive?
I THINK NOT!
The inadvertent killers turn their heads the other way
They accept what their ancestors have done
They don't want to change their savage urges
The world changes all around them
Only one thing remains the same
The murder of the innocent
The murder of the voiceless
The murder of ANIMALS
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~10~
Memorable Quote
"In
the central place of every heart there is a recording chamber; so long as it
receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, and courage, so long are you young.
When the wires are all down and your heart is covered with the snows of
pessimism and the ice of cynicism, and then only, are you grown old."
~ General
MacArthur
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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl 33673-7053
http://www.oocities.org/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
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