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 # 05/02/04
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 ~ ParkStRanger Meets the Director of the National Park Service by
Greg Lawson
2 ~ Interfaith Service in Celebration of Animals
3 ~ United Poultry Concerns Fifth Annual Forum 2004
4 ~ New Animation About Veal
5 ~ Good News
6 ~ Warning!!! - Alert!!!
7 ~ Barcelona Bans Bullfights
8 ~ Iraqi Dogs Need Your Help
9 ~ A Dog's Soul
10~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
ParkStRanger Meets the Director
of the National Park Service
by Greg Lawson - ParkStRanger@aol.com
And no, this isn't like 'Jason Meets Freddy,' or 'Godzilla meets
the Beach Boys.'
It's not everyday that you get to meet your boss's boss's boss's boss. Perhaps
such a thing as a boss's boss's boss's boss exists mainly in the hierarchy of
the federal government. Two Sundays ago I got to spend a little time with Fran
Mainella, Director of the National Park Service. She was on a tour of parks of
the West during National Parks Week.
Since I was working that Sunday night, the time of her arrival, and since I
have been at my park for twenty years, I was asked by our park's superintendent
to prepare a briefing for Fran. I was told specifically not to talk to Fran
about the bison of Yellowstone. Both the superintendent, Isabel, and my
immediate supervisor, Paul, know that I am a vegan and an animal rights
advocate, and that one of my main concerns is the annual slaughter of the
Yellowstone Park bison.
So far this year, the National Park Service has captured and sent to slaughter
close to 300 bison because the cattle ranchers of Montana don't want the bison
wandering out of the park onto "their" grazing allotments in the Gallatin
National Forest which surrounds Yellowstone Park. These bison were captured
inside the park because they were too close to the North gate and might have
crossed that imaginary boundary that defines the Park's borders.
My boss and the superintendent didn't want me to upset Fran Mainella with my
opinion that it's a bad thing that we are killing the animal which is our own
symbol, to appease a special interest group, a handful of ranchers in Montana.
Being an animal rights kinda ranger, I knew I couldn't keep quiet, I just had
to figure the best way to express myself.
At first I thought that I would contact all my activist friends and set up a
demonstration just outside the gates of my park with signs that read
"Please Stop Killing the Bison" and send press releases to the media.
I even told my boss I was considering this. I knew this would get me in hot
water (not that I don't enjoy stirring up trouble for my beliefs, and doing
this would have been within my rights), but I really wondered how much good such
a protest would do. So I decided against that and figured I would just have to
find a way to talk to Fran about the bison situation, in spite of the fact that
I was ordered not to do that.
As Fran, Isabel, Paul and I walked around our park, and as I briefed her, I
happened to mention that I was sorry I wouldn't be able to attend the all
employees meeting Monday morning, that it was my day off, and that I would have
come in, but I had already set up the studio time to do my radio show."
(Animal Concerns of Texas)
"Oh you do a radio show? Of course you do, you have the voice for
it." Fran said, immediately endearing herself to me. As a matter of fact,
I had been expecting an airhead, but Fran was an intelligent person. Then
Isabel, the superintendent, offered me a great opportunity by saying, "Oh,
is that your Vegetarian radio show?'
And I said "Yes." Fran asked "Vegetarian radio show?" I
said "Yes, I am president of the vegetarian society of El Paso and we have
a radio show." Fran said "I am not on a vegetarian diet." Isabel
said, "Yeah, we are about to go out to a Mexican restaurant." I said
"I love Mexican food, I just make substitutions with soy products for beef
and chicken."
Isabel said "Greg seems to do pretty well finding something to eat when we
go out to lunch."
I said "True, but I prefer my own cooking. I have gotten to be a pretty
good cook. You have to learn to cook when you've been a vegetarian for
twenty-five years."
Fran said "Twenty-five years? Wow. What made you such a committed vegetarian?"
I said "Environmental reasons. The destruction of our natural resources
from so much animal agriculture. The way grazing on public lands has turned our
prairie grasslands into wastelands." The conversation moved on to other
topics at that point, which was a shame because it would have been a good time
to mention the bison. I could already see my supervisor and the superintendent
gritting their teeth.
After we had finished our tour of the park, we all walked Fran out back to the
van, as Isabel was taking Fran to dinner. On the way we were all saying our
good-byes. I said it was very nice to meet you. Fran said "Maybe we will
see each other again at another park." I said, "Maybe
Yellowstone." She said "Yellowstone?" I said "As an
advocate for animal rights and vegetarianism, the bison situation has long been
one of my major concerns. I went to Yellowstone in 1998 to learn as much as I
could about the situation. You know, I wish we could abandon the Interagency
Bison Management Plan, it really hasn't done us any good."
Fran said, "Yes, it's been a public relations nightmare. You know we are
starting to shoot the bison with a vaccine to prevent brucellosis. Maybe we can
stop shooting them with bullets." I wish I could have talked with her more
about this topic, but the superintendent was hurrying Fran off to dinner.
Public relations nightmare, I bet it is.
As the van pulled away, my boss Paul said, "You just had to talk about the
bison." I replied, "It just came up naturally in the conversation and
I think I was rather mild about it, sure beats a protest by activists with
signs now doesn't it?"
Now that I have met Fran, I am sure she will remember me when I write her a
letter soon about the bison. I am also preparing a video about the bison to
send her, with footage shot by the Buffalo Field Campaign, an activist group
working to stop the slaughter.
To learn more about the Yellowstone bison and the BFC, please visit them at
www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
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~2~
Interfaith Service in Celebration of Animals
13th June 2004
The first British Interfaith Service in celebration of animals,
sponsored by the World Congress of Faiths, will be held at Golders Green
Unitarian Church, Hoop Lane, London, NW11 8BS, 13 June starting at 3 pm.
"I believe that religions should speak out on behalf of the protection of
animals," said the Revd. Professor Andrew Linzey, who will be giving the
keynote address at the service. Professor Linzey holds the world's first post
in theology and animals - the Bede Jarrett Senior Research Fellowship at
Blackfriars Hall, University of Oxford, and is also the author of a collection
of liturgies for animals (Animal Rites, published by SCM Press). The service
will include readings, prayers and meditations from representatives of the
Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Jain faith traditions. The
service is organised by Andrew Burns (from the World Congress of Faiths) who
said, "This is an exciting venture which will bring together - for the
first time - representatives of the world faiths in an attempt to raise
consciousness about the treatment of animals within the various
traditions." The service will be hosted by Golders Green Unitarians.
"We are delighted to have this ground breaking service in our Church"
commented the minister, the Revd Feargus O'Connor, "Unitarianism has a
long history of welcoming interfaith dialogue and cooperation between
faiths"
For further information please contact;
Andrew Burns on 07713725353
The Revd Feargus O'Connor on 0207 837 4472
The Revd Professor Andrew Linzey on 01865 201565 or email at: andrewlinzey@aol.com
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~3~
United Poultry Concerns Fifth Annual Forum 2004
Mad Cows to Mad Chickens: What Insiders Can Tell You About
Agribusiness, Animal Liberation, and Your Diet
Meet the eyewitnesses and hear their testimony from “behind the scenes” of the
meat, poultry, egg, dairy, medical, and “alternative” animal production
industries
Saturday, August 21 – Sunday August 22, 2004
Hilton Airport Norfolk Hotel
1500 N Military Hwy
Norfolk, VA 23502
Toll Free: 800-422-7474
$92.00 single/double occupancy
Guests must advise they will be with UNITED POULTRY CONCERNS group when making
their reservation. Each reservation must be guaranteed via credit card number
or check.
Vegan Luncheons and morning coffee service will be provided both days by United
Poultry Concerns
Registration: $75 per person. Students & seniors: $40.
Send your registration to UPC, PO Box 150, Machipongo, VA 23405
Speakers:
Sarahjane Blum, media director for GourmetCruelty.com, a grassroots coalition
dedicated to exposing the truth about the cruel delicacy of foie gras through
undercover investigation, open rescue, and educational outreach.
Virgil Butler, former Tyson chicken slaughterhouse worker in Grannis, Arkansas.
Virgil's testimony about the horrible conditions at Tyson and ongoing website
revelations led to a front-page article in the Los Angeles Times , “A Killing
Floor Chronicle,” Dec. 8, 2003.
Terry Cummings, codirector of Poplar Spring Farm Animal Sanctuary, visited Springfield
Farm, a “free-range” turkey farm in Sparks, Maryland and saw how the turkeys
actually live.
Cheri Ezell-Vandersluis, former dairy cow farmer, had an “epiphany” that led
her to go vegetarian and switch to being the director of Maple Farm Sanctuary
in Mendon, Massachusetts.
Mary Finelli, editor of the online newsletter Farmed Animal Watch, toured the
touted “humane” farm, Polyface Farm, in Virginia, and saw a different story.
Lester Friedlander, DVM, former chief veterinary USDA Meat Inspector at the
largest slaughterhouse in the country, was one of the first veterinarians in
the US to study tapes of what infected cows look like and was fired by the US
Department of Agriculture for speaking out on 48 Hours (CBS) and Prime Time
Live (ABC).
Michael Greger, M.D., Mad Cow Coordinator for the Organic Consumers Association
and Chief BSE Investigator for Farm Sanctuary, is the author of “The Killer
Among Us” and many other articles on human and animal health issues.
Pattrice Jones, co-director of the Eastern Shore Sanctuary & Education
Center and coordinator of the Global Hunger Alliance, lives and learns from
chickens and chicken “growers” in the heart of the Delmarva poultry industry.
Jim Mason, co-author of Animal Factories and author of An Unnatural Order,
worked undercover as an artificial inseminator at a ConAgra turkey breeding
operation in Missouri.
Paul Shapiro, campaigns director for Compassion Over Killing, a nonprofit
animal advocacy organization whose work on behalf of farmed animals has been
featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco
Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, among other media outlets. As a COK investigator, he
has documented the conditions for animals in factory farms, livestock auctions,
and slaughter plants.
<><><><><>
Register Now! Bring a Friend! (a registered friend)
United Poultry Concerns is a nonprofit organization that promotes the
compassionate and respectful treatment of domestic fowl. www.upc-online.org
United Poultry Concerns, Inc.
P.O. Box 150
Machipongo, VA 23405-0150
757-678-7875
FAX: 757-678-5070
www.upc-online.org
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~4~
New Animation About Veal
Farm Sanctuary has a new cartoon about veal. It's an
interesting and amusing piece about a mob family at an Italian restaurant. You
might like to pay the site a visit, for some people it loads slow and for some
it doesn't work. But we think it's worth a try.
http://www.noveal.org/forgetaboutit/
Farm Sanctuary's No Veal
Campaign
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~5~
Good News
I have some good news for a change.
I just received a wonderful message from Mayor Barbara Arnott of Napier, New
Zealand. She tells me that the Napier City Council will not be replacing
Marineland's captive dolphins once the remaining two have died. She goes on to
say that they are working on an exit plan in anticipation of the death of the
dolphins.
We won this one folks. New Zealand will finally become dolphin friendly.
To all of you that took the time to respond to the action alert and write a
letter, thank you very much.
Ric
Richard O'Barry
Marine Mammal Specialist
One Voice - France
phone/fax 305-6681619
e-mail ricobarry@bellsouth.net
www.onevoice-ear.org
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~6~
Warning!!! - Alert!!!
We have been informed that there are counterfeit flea and
tick products available on the internet that have caused companion animal
illness and death. If you are going to use flea & tick products, please
stick with name brands from a reliable source. Please spread the word. The
following websites will give more information on this problem.
http://www.nofleas.com/Press-Release.asp
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/petproduct.htm
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/retailerfactsh.pdf
http://www.frontline.com/epa/
http://www.thedogdaily.com/netscape/you_dog/trythis/archive/counterfeit_flea/
http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/radio/more/counterfeit.html
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~7~
Barcelona Bans Bullfights
In an historic vote, the Barcelona City Council officially
declared Barcelona an anti-bullfight city. For more on this exciting news,
check the following website:
WSPA - News - Archive -
Animals in entertainment - Barcelona votes 'No' to Bullfighting
http://www.wspa.org.uk/index.php?page=951
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~8~
Iraqi Dogs Need Your Help
From iraq.dogs@srdogs.com
Please post and distribute this as far and as widely as
possible:
A good friend of the Senior Dogs Project who is in the military has been
stationed in Mosul, Iraq, since last year. Soon after being stationed there,
his great love of dogs (and the dogs' recognition of his feelings for them) led
him to befriend a number of them who had been displaced by the turmoil of the
war. Despite the friendly nature of the dogs and the fact that they were
"strays" through no fault of their own, the military commander
ordered that the dogs be rounded up and shot.
A few of the dogs managed to evade the first round up, among them
"Blue," a German Shepherd who had clearly been a police dog, but who
is basically a lovebug. He waits quietly for our friend each morning, sitting
beside his truck, asking for nothing more than a bit of attention and a few
crumbs, and in return offering a wagging tail, trusting eyes, and loyal
companionship.
As of Monday, April 26, the commander in Mosul has reinstituted the "round
up and shoot" orders and has told our friend that if Blue is still around
on Friday, April 30, the commander will personally shoot him. We realize that there
are many terrible things going on in Iraq and that innocent men, women, and
children are dying. We don't understand the point, however, of deliberately
shooting an old dog who offers nothing but comfort and affection to our
beleaguered troops, asking nothing in return.
If you can help in any way -- by contacting news media or anyone you may know
in the military -- please do so. We may not be able to do anything to stop the
horrific developments of the war in Iraq, but perhaps we can save the life of a
few old dogs and the faith in humanity of a troop of soldiers. Please let us
know if you are able to take any action: iraq.dogs@srdogs.com (srdogs.com)
Teri Goodman
Coordinator
The Senior Dogs Project
http://www.srdogs.com
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~9~
A Dog's Soul
by Anonymous
Contributed by Pearlmom1@aol.com
Every dog must have a soul
Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
Are buried with his pride
Where he decides the good and bad
The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgment carefully
Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for
Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho' he is unloved,
And he'll serve tho' badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
An understanding Soul!
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~10~
Memorable Quote
"Humans -- who enslave, castrate, experiment on and fillet other animals
--
have an understandable penchant for pretending animals do not feel pain.
A sharp distinction between humans and 'animals' is essential if we are to
bend them to our will, make them work for us, wear them and eat them
without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret. It is unseemly of us, who
often behave so unfeeling toward other animals, to contend that only
human animals can suffer. The behavior of other animals renders such
pretensions specious."
~ Carl Sagan, "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors"
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
http://www.oocities.org/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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