A n i m a l W r i t
e s
© sm
The official
ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com Issue # 04/23/00
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ PrkStRangr@aol.com
~ MRivera008@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1
~ HSUS Decries U.S. Coast Guard's Use of Force Against Whale Activists
2
~ Help For Activists In Contacting The Media by Chibob44@aol.com
3
~ Excuses For Fishing
4
~ CAFT/LCA Website Campaigns
5
~ Three Hearts That Beat As One
by Diana Moreton -
tapster@mindspring.com
6
~ Elephant Rampage in California Proves Circus Danger, AGAIN!
7
~ Job Opportunity
8 ~ The Earth's
Custodians (Poem)
9
~ Quote To Remember
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HSUS Decries U.S. Coast Guard's
Use of Force Against Whale Activists
WASHINGTON
(April 20, 2000) ~The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s
largest animal protection organization with more than seven million members and
constituents, is strongly criticizing the U.S. Coast Guard for injuring an
animal rights activist protesting gray whale hunts by the Makah Indian tribe in
Neah Bay, Washington.
Today,
a protester on a jet-ski was run over by a U.S. Coast Guard boat, rescued and
flown to a local hospital with a shoulder injury. The protester interrupted a
hunt in progress preventing a successful attack on a gray whale. The Coast
Guard has imposed a fine up to $250,000 and six years in prison for violating a
500-yard *exclusion zone* around the hunters. The Coast Guard is providing
protection for the Makah during the hunts and has resorted to force to prevent
interference, including ramming protesters boats. According to reports, another
activist suffered minor injuries on Monday, April 17, after a Coast Guard
vessel rammed a protest boat. In addition, several activists have already been
arrested for violating the zone and their vessels seized.
"While
we recognize that the actions of the protester violated the Coast Guard's
exclusionary zone, the reaction of the Coast Guard personnel was uncalled
for," said Naomi Rose, Ph.D., marine mammal scientist for The HSUS.
"The Coast Guard has a duty to protect, not endanger, lives."
Patricia
Forkan, HSUS Executive Vice President, added, “Neither the Makah whaling crew
nor the protester were endangering human lives. Has this situation become so
politically divisive that people would find it acceptable for the Coast Guard
to add to the violence instead of to diffuse it? To run over defenseless
protesters?”
In
a 1997 backroom deal with the Russian government, the U.S. delegation to the
International Whaling Commission (IWC), under orders from the Clinton/Gore
Administration, secured to the Makah a share of the Russian Chukotka natives’
IWC gray whale quota 20 whales through 2004 with a maximum of five per year. The Makah have said that five families may
seek hunting permits this year, to take the maximum number allowed under this
arguably illegal arrangement.
The
HSUS condemns the whale killing as a senseless, inhumane tragedy that is a
devastating loss in the name of “tradition.” Makah representatives had sought
for years to resume whale hunting, a “right” they feel is guaranteed to them by
a 1855 treaty with the United States government.
The
centuries-old tradition ended in the 1920s when commercial whalers hunted the
grays to near extinction. Attempts to revive the ancient practice have divided
the Makah leadership. Despite the internal divide, Makah hunters killed its
first whale in 70 years last May. In
recent years, gray whale stocks have rebounded, leading federal officials to
remove them from the Endangered Species List in 1994. Gray whale populations
worldwide are estimated at more than 23,000.
However,
in recent weeks, 30 gray whales have washed ashore dead along their migration
route on the North American Pacific Coast. Last year during the gray whales’
migration the death toll was 273, according to reports. While scientists are
unsure what is causing the death of the whales, it is another indicator that
the gray whale should be protected and not subject to slaughter.
Source: dano@rockisland.com
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Help For Activists In Contacting The Media
by
Chibob44@aol.com
Time
and time again I read of abuse and other things happening in some area and
wonder why the media haven't been notified.
Sometimes the people involved tell me the media doesn't care or that
they are controlled by the opposition (government, business, hunters,
etc.) While there may be some control,
it is not far reaching. In cases where local
media cannot be made to inform the public on abuse issues, extend your contact
beyond your immediate area. Send news
releases to media all over the region -- or even the state. Major urban media is more apt to run stories
than local when there are controversial issues.
In
any case, there is a specific way to write news releases. Most people do not follow the best form --
and/or make them too long.
I
am attaching a news release model form I designed for my students and one we
use here in IL. Use this form when
writing a news release whether it be to advise the medium of something or to
give notice of a news conference.
The
news conference is a very powerful way to get an issue before the press (and
the public.) There, you can make your
point, answer questions, show videos, photos, etc. At the conference, be sure to have a media-kit for each
attendee. This should contain a
statement of the issue, valid and verifiable proof (documentation) of the
charges or assertions you are making, photos and video if available. It is also a good idea to have an expert
present at the conference. This is a
big media draw. If you are talking about
the link between animal and people abuse, bring in an expert on the subject and
mention he/she will be at the conference.
Hold
the conference at a local motel meeting room or some other place easily
accessible to attendees. Invite members
of ALL media -- print as well as electronic.
For
further help and to have any questions answered you can contact Robert at
chibob44@aol.com I am a co-chair of a
Political Action Committee that works only on animal issues and am a registered
lobbyist in IL. We work with the media
all the time
How To Build A
News Release
NEWS
RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE NEWS RELEASE
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: John Smith 312 555 1212
Julie Jones 312 555 1234
BEGIN
YOUR NEWS RELEASE WITH AN ATTENTION-GETTING HEADLINE.
KEEP
IT TO ONE OR TWO LINES AND WRITE IN CAPS.
This
is the format for a news release (sometimes referred to as a press
release.) Note the short paragraphs and
simple words. Here are some tips for
writing great releases:
1. Keep the release to one page. Remember, media people get dozens of news
releases every day. Make yours easy to
read with short graphic paragraphs.
2. In your first paragraph give the main
details. Remember the journalistic
"what, who when where how."
However, use a Tabloid technique to get their attention.
3. In writing the text remember to use text
designed to agitate, penetrate, get attention.
For instance, instead of writing, "Jones has beaten his child
before, but the judge still said the child had to be returned to
him." Write, "Judge Kelly,
unconcerned with the child’s welfare, ordered her returned to her abusive
father."
If
you would like to make a comment but don’t know how to work it in, consider
quoting someone. In some cases, writers
design a statement and then ask someone they know if it would be okay to use
their name in quoting. For example,
let’s say you wanted to blast the judge in the statement above. You could "quote" someone. E.g., A neighbor, Mary Wilson, is afraid for
the child’s life "That man has beaten that poor girl time and again. It’s just a matter of time before he kills
her.." Remarked Wilson after the hearing.
"What kind of screwball judge would do a thing like that?"
You
see how this allows you to make powerful statements and do so in a way that is
stronger and often more credible than a simple text paragraph.
Send
your news releases via FAX to the Assignment Editor when sending to radio or
television and to the Managing Editor for newspapers. Use a cover page or memo.
You do not have to know the editor’s names. Send them as soon as you feel media should know. If possible, send Sunday evening so that
they are waiting when staff arrives Monday morning. In general, it’s best to send your releases late at night for
recovery early in the morning. (And the
lines are less busy.)
It
is always best to use a LETTERHEAD when sending news releases. If your group is too small to have
letterhead stationary, you can devise one easily enough with your word
processor.
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Excuses For Fishing
*
Fish don't feel pain
Fish
have a complex nervous system and all the sensory organs necessary for the
sensation of pain. It's therefore
logical to assume that they do feel pain.
A
three year investigation by a panel of scientists and representatives from
angling and shooting organizations ( the Medway Report) concluded that fish,
like other vertebrates are capable of suffering.
*
Some points concerning fishing
If
a fish is not landed quickly it can become exhausted, fish muscle takes a long
time to recover and an exhausted fish may be virtually unable to move for
several hours.
Once
out of the water, the change in air pressure can lead to bleeding from the
gills. Handling the fish can damage its
delicate outer skin of mucus making it vulnerable to disease causing
micro-organisms.
Fish
kept in crowded keep nets are susceptible to the spread of disease, aggression from other fish and suffocation
caused by the slow diffusion of gasses in the water.
All
this is in addition to the suffering caused by being dragged out of the water
in the first place by a (usually) barbed hook which is sometimes (fatally)
swallowed.
*
Most anglers only do it for relaxation
Surely
people can find a way to relax without causing the suffering and death of
others?
*
Most of the fish get put back
But
it is catching them in the first place that causes them suffering
* Fish are free-range
Why
should a free-range animal be any more deserving of an unnecessary death than
any other animal? The suggestion that
individuals should pay for their freedom with their lives is moral
nonsense. All animals should be free
and we have no right to deprive them of that freedom or their lives for such
trivial reasons as money, the taste of their flesh or the pursuit of 'sport'.
*
Some points concerning fish slaughter
UK
fishing vessels alone catch 500,000 tons of fish every year and there are no
specific regulations governing their slaughter.
They
die of shock, asphyxiation, crushing by the weight of the catch and freezing on
ice bedding. Many, like cod, haddock,
plaice, skate and sole can still be alive when landed and gutted. Eels are killed by burying in salt (it takes
2 hours) or are chopped into pieces and boiled.
Farmed
fish such as salmon and trout are bled to death with or without stunning. Trout are starved for 3-6 days beforehand
and may simply to taken from the water and packed in ice for transport to the
market, taking up to 14 minutes to die.
*
Fish is good for you
The
North Sea. where 40% of our fish is caught, has become so polluted that some
fishermen now wear protective face masks to prevent the rashes and other skin
disorders that contact with the water can cause.
Moderate
amounts of fish from unpolluted waters (if there are any) are undoubtedly good
for you. But there are three things to
remember here: firstly, it has been clearly established that fish can and do
suffer when they are caught, secondly, fishing has already had a disastrous
effect on the environment (fish stocks are now at their lowest level ever); and
thirdly, all benefits of eating fish can be easily obtained from a vegan
diet. The ethical choice is clear.
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CAFT/LCA Website Campaigns
The
www.FurFreeFriday.com web site, administered by Last Chance for Animals and the
Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, is still up and running. We are encouraging activists to list their
upcoming events on this site so that we can direct new activists in your
direction.
Secondly,
our www.SkinnedPuppy.com web site, which publicizes our Burlington Coat Factory
campaign, is receiving a very large number of hits each day. Even better, it appears that most of our
hits are coming from people who typed in "Burlington Coat Factory" at
their favorite search engine. In other
words, the majority of the hits we are receiving are coming from Burlington
Coat Factory customers!
We
have put three banner ads on SkinnedPuppy.com for anyone who wants to put one
of them on their web site. This will
provide a link to SkinnedPuppy.com, to increase traffic even more. There are three banner ads to choose from. Please consider placing one of these
banners, with a link to SkinnedPuppy.com, on your web site.
Source: Coalition to
Abolish the Fur Trade
PO Box 822411
Dallas, TX
75382
www.banfur.com
CAFT13@aol.com
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'Three Hearts That Beat As One'
by Diana Moreton - tapster@mindspring.com
As
soon as the pretty woman greeted me at her front door, I knew love was in the
air. As the dog barked and the cockatoo
quipped, who would have thought this modern day beauty would be harboring two
Vietnamese pot bellied pigs in her back yard; one Duncan, I believe, resembling
the Tazmanian Devil?
As
we drew nigh to the love nest; their immaculate pen, Duncan and Rosie looked
like they were wiggling in lovable excitement as Angie approached them. Were
they genuinely fond of Angie because they recognized she was kind enough to
give them room and board? Were they
happy to see a new face coming out to meet them? Or perhaps these two angels with hooves were deeply in love with
this woman who rescued them from the dinner plate.
After
some swift observation, I think these fat specimens of virtue absolutely love
their lives with Angie. I think every moment of every day they exult the sun
and the winds, and when Angie is not right there with them, gaze at the house
on the forgiving hill, in gratitude. I
think their conversations are about her, and are of loyalty and highest esteem,
that she could look down upon the lowly and actually care. Who is this goddess of two pigs?
Dear
Angela, Sweet Saint Angela. Thank you
for not looking at us as mere food.
Thank you for recognizing our similarities, instead of our differences.
Thank you for piercing the veil of ignorance and depravation, placing us on the
highest pedestal of life; a footing equal to your own. You don't know what this means to us and the
swine nations. They may still try to
eat us, but we know you love us, and that is all that matters. As we squirm and tremble to get away, we
will remember the Saint who lived in the house at the top of the forgiving
hill.
www.koreananimals.org
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Elephant Rampage in California
Proves Circus Danger, AGAIN!
According
to Ed Stewart at the Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) in Galt, CA, an 18
year-old African elephant from the Culpepper and Merriweather Circus escaped
and went on a rampage Thursday night in the Yucca Valley near San Bernardino,
CA. Reports from CA news outlets verify
the elephant crushed a circus employee's hip and was loose for several hours
before being recaptured.
Sterling
and Reid Circus is currently touring New Mexico and has been the subject of
national media reports since April 2, 2000 when a 400 pound bear named Gaika
fell from a moving truck in Louisiana and was not missed until the driver
stopped for fuel 20 miles later. A New
Mexico Game and Fish permit shows that in addition to bears, the circus is
traveling with three elephants, tigers and horses. Flyers for the circus showcase a hyena and shark as well, neither
of which were disclosed on the Game and Fish permit.
Animal
Protection of New Mexico (APNM) has learned the three elephants, sub-contracted
through Miller Equipment Company, a subsidiary of Carson and Barnes Circus
based in Hugo, OK, are all wild caught Asian elephants. Chang, Lulu and Zola were captured as
juveniles between 1965 and 1975 and broken for circus life. (Carson and Barnes
are known to have an equally poor animal care record and one USDA complaint reveals
a Carson and Barnes employee stabbing two elephants with a knife in 1995 when
they reached for hay.)
"Wild
animals who have known freedom are more prone to escape and rampage than
animals born in captivity and New Mexicans should be wary of attending any show
with exotic animal acts," says Elisabeth Jennings, APNM's Executive
Director. APNM contends elephants are
inherently wild animals and even those born in captivity are prone to rampages
that damage property or injure and kill spectators, workers and innocent
community members. Further proving the
danger and frequency of rampages, current federal legislation H.R. 2929 would
ban traveling elephant acts and elephant rides.
Sterling
and Reid Bros. Combined Shows has an abysmal record of animal care and is
currently the subject of two open investigations by the USDA. Their history includes: a tiger escaping
from a performing area; animals left without protection from the elements;
cages too small to allow normal postural adjustments; and inexperienced and
unqualified animal handlers.
Sterling
and Reid have already performed in Hobbs and Roswell and will hold performances
in Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Vegas, NM when they return from El Paso this
weekend. APNM will leaflet and
demonstrate at Sterling and Reid performances on April 24 - 25 in Albuquerque
across from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center 2401 12th St. NW and April 26 in
Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Rodeo Grounds on Rodeo Road. Leafleting is planned for every circus performance from 3:30 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day.
Animal
Protection of New Mexico
PO
Box 1215 Santa Fe, NM 87504
Source:
Mrokke@aol.com
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Job Opportunity
FARM
has the following openings at our national headquarters in suburban Washington,
DC:
CAMPAIGNS
DIRECTOR (assists with running Animal Rights 2000, the Great American Meatout,
World Farm Animals Day, and other national grassroots campaigns)
DIRECTOR
OF CHOICE (plans and manages an ongoing national campaign to introduce
plant-based nutrition education and meals in schools)
FINANCE
DIRECTOR (responsible for fund raising and accounting for expenses)
OFFICE
COORDINATOR (assists office manager in the daily running of the FARM office,
including answering telephone inquiries, filling requests, conducting mailings,
and ordering and organizing supplies and merchandise)
Each
position requires applicable prior experience, dedication to promoting animal
rights and a vegan lifestyle, self-starting quality, and ability to work in a
team setting.
We
offer an unparalleled opportunity for professional growth, and personal
fulfillment, along with modest pay and housing, if needed. The office is
located in a safe and pleasant residential neighborhood of Bethesda, MD, 20
minutes from downtown Washington.
FARM
is a national organization promoting planetary survival through plant-based
eating. Our programs include the Great
American Meatout, World Farm Animals Day, National Veal Ban Action, Letters
From FARM, CHOICE, Industry Watch, and occasionally, a national convention like
ANIMAL RIGHTS 2000. To learn more about FARM and our programs, check our web
sites at www.farmusa.org, www.meatout.org, www.choiceusa.net, and
www.animalrights2000.org
To
apply, send resume and a letter noting position(s), special qualifications and
interests, availability, and salary requirements to:
Employment, FARM, 10101 Ashburton
Lane, Bethesda, MD 20817.
Source: FARM
<farm@farmusa.org>
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The Earth's Custodians ©1996
Shaken,
scared, confused, lonely.
He breathes
heavily,
As he sits by
the roadside
Where his
mother has died.
Wheels of
Monsters - Devilish Fiends -
Her body left
limp from man-made machines.
A life gone
unnoticed without a care;
He lets out a
yowl as our beware...
"Take
care of this world in which you belong;
You, too, may
not be here for very long.
For, you may
find yourself insignificant someday
And whimpering
on the side of the roadway.
So, when a car
speeds by
And there's an
awful cry
From animal
youngins
Who wonder
where mom's been...
Remember...the
mother left there -
Deathly still,
And that you
are the Earth's caretakers...
Custodians, if
you will."
Written
By: Robyn L. Stacey
KYLPTTY44@aol.com
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Quote To Remember
"I abhor vivisection...it should be
abolished. I know of no achievement
through
vivisection, no scientific
discovery, that could not have been obtained without
such barbarism and cruelty."
-Charles Mayo, Founder of the Mayo Clinic
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Susan Roghair
- EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights
Online
P O Box 7053
Tampa, Fl
33673-7053
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
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