A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue #
01/24/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Raised In Fear by Scott Lustig
2 ~ Everyday Activism by KMBWolf@aol.com
3 ~ Animal Rights 2001 Registration Opens
4 ~ Lemsip Laboratory Chimpanzees Retired to a
Sanctuary
5 ~ State & Federal Authorities Unwilling To
Enforce Animal Protection Laws
6 ~ USDA Seeks Comments on Regulating Hunting,
Breeding, & Security Dog Dealers
7 ~ Homeless Dogs in Chile by Gerald
Hendricks
8 ~ The Dedication by
WantNoMeat@aol.com
9 ~ Quote To Remember
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Raised in Fear
by Scott Lustig
For more than 30 years at the State University of
New York (SUNY) Health Science Center in Brooklyn, Professor Leonard Rosenblum
has been tearing baby monkeys away from their mothers to study the effects of
maternal deprivation on the development of panic and other anxiety disorders in
children, and to investigate the workings of these disorders. But 50 years of
research from clinical (human) studies have already demonstrated that children
raised in stressful conditions and denied their mother's attention are more
likely to develop anxiety disorders in later life. Still, the monkey
experiments continue at huge public expense. Since 1990, Rosenblum has
collected more than $2.5 million in taxpayers' money, mostly in the form of
National Institutes of Health grants.
In his most common experiments on monkey “models,” Rosenblum forces macaque
mothers and infants to live with unpredictable access to food. At first, the
mothers find food easily. Then, the food is hidden and dispersed, making it
hard to gather. The mother monkeys must repeatedly endure this alternating
access. Unable to feed their infants regularly, the mothers suffer constant
anxiety. The babies, deprived of their mothers, become isolated and withdrawn.
These normally playful and curious infants sit hunched over, crying, shaking,
and clasping themselves. When the infants' mother returns, they cling to her
desperately, never knowing when she will unpredictably be forced away from them
again.
MENTAL MADNESS
Rosenblum's experiments began in the 1960s when it was thought that monkey
experimentation would shed light on the association between maternal
deprivation and psychological distress in humans, first identified by
researchers in the 1940s and ’50s. Since then, infant monkeys have been
subjected to numerous cruelties in the name of "research," all
varying in the nature of the deprivation and isolation forced upon them. Infant
monkeys have been given artificial "puppet" mothers that are manipulated
by researchers. In some experiments, the puppets’ body temperatures are made
ice cold, preventing the infants from clinging to them. Other artificial
"mothers" have been constructed of sandpaper or other uncomfortable
materials, and some mechanical "mothers" even dislodged the clinging
infants with hidden spikes, catapults, compressed air, or vigorous shaking.
Researchers have also placed mother-deprived infants with a series of foster
mothers, preventing the infant monkeys from ever experiencing any real bonding
or maternal care. In one of the most egregious of maternal deprivation
experiments, during the early 1970s, the University of Wisconsin's Harry Harlow
confined infant monkeys alone for weeks in metal isolation chambers. Harlow himself
referred to these chambers as "a modified form of sadism."
At Emory University in Georgia, Charles Nemeroff, Paul Plotsky, Charlotte Ladd,
and others are studying the mechanisms of certain brain chemicals involved in
producing the distress reaction to maternal deprivation. These experiments have
included subjecting monkeys to the same model of
unpredictable food access "perfected" by Rosenblum. At the University
of Wisconsin, Gary Kraemer deprives female infant marmoset monkeys of maternal
attention in order to study the neurochemical reasons why girls who are raised
abusively and neglectfully tend to become abusive and neglectful themselves as
mothers.
CONFLICT AND INCONSISTENCY
Animal advocates and a growing number of scientists have criticized such experiments.
According to Stephen Suomi, Ph.D, a maternal deprivation researcher at the
National Institute for Child Health and Development, "Most monkey
data...have only verified principles that have already been formulated from
previous human data. To date the monkey data have added little to knowledge of
mother-infant interactions." Murry Cohen, M.D., a psychiatrist and
director of the Medical Research Modernization Committee, says that
"Rosenblum knows that the diagnostic symptoms of panic disorder (e.g., palpitations,
sensation of respiratory distress, feeling of choking, chest pain...feeling of
loss of control, fear of dying, numbness) simply cannot be assessed in monkeys
because these symptoms must be subjectively experienced and reported by the
patient rather than observed by the clinician. The diagnosis, then, cannot, by
definition, be given to non-human primates."
Among Cohen's other arguments are that monkeys differ in reactions to maternal
deprivation depending on their species, making it impossible to determine which
species is the closest “model” for humans. Moreover, Cohen argues that in
addition to the stress they suffer from deprivation experiments, the monkeys
suffer further from the injections, restraining jackets, and other devices and
tests they are forced to undergo. Laboratory stressors such as transport and
handling, artificial lighting, caging, noise levels, and chemical sterilizers
also influence the monkeys' behavior and physiology, distorting the research
results.
The gamut of maternal deprivation experiments, including Rosenblum’s, are
fraught with conflicting and inconsistent data, according to Martin Stephens,
Ph.D., vice president for animal research issues at The Humane Society of the
United States. Stephens writes in a critique that in the majority of
experiments, the monkeys' responses have contrasted widely with what the
researchers had expected based upon information from previous experiments. He
stated, “Skepticism of animal models should remain firm. First, experiments
have had very little clinical impact. Second, they siphon money away from
acceptable research on the human condition. Third, they subject animals
to harsh treatment.” Neal Barnard, M.D., a psychiatrist and president of
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, agrees. “The time is long past
when such experiments, which cause considerable distress in animals, are
tolerable,” he says. "These vaguely rationalized and obviously distressing
experiments should not have been done."
Even Rosenblum himself has cast doubt on his research, writing in *a 1995 issue
of Psychiatric Clinics of North America, "Because of limitations imposed
on the interpretation of behaviors observed in nonverbal primate subjects,
extrapolations of primate findings to human panic and anxiety should be made
with caution." The British medical journal The Lancet stated succinctly in
October 1998 that "animal models of anxiety cannot substitute for clinical
[human] studies."
MONEY WASTED, NEEDS UNMET
Currently, 16 million Americans suffer from panic and other anxiety disorders.
Thankfully, many are getting help through therapy and medication -- treatments
developed through clinical studies. But while Rosenblum's research continues to
attract large amounts of funding, the needs of many human patients go unmet.
Even though one of the stated purposes of Rosenblum's research is to help
children suffering from anxiety disorders, the New York Times reported last
December that nearly 400 severely mentally ill children in New York are on
waiting lists to enter residential treatment facilities, "but cannot be
admitted because the existing facilities are filled to capacity. They are
languishing in hospitals, foster care, or jail."
Funding shortages also hamper the provision of clinical treatment services such
as outpatient therapy, medication, mobile crisis teams, and day treatment --
all increasing the risk that children with anxiety disorders will experience
suicide, school violence, juvenile crime, and family breakup.
Criticism of animal models is further justified by the availability of
technologies in brain imaging, such as positron emission tomography (PET) and
magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), which are providing more accurate data
on human brain processes. As the mental disorders research community has become
more familiar with the usefulness of these devices, it has become more
outspoken in admitting to the weakness of animal models, while at the same time
advocating for further study into the potential of other non-animal research
tools. According to an editorial in the May 1999 issue of the American Journal
of Psychiatry, "From reliance on animal models of psychopathology with all
of their shortcomings, the field has evolved to the use of multidisciplinary
techniques, of which functional brain imaging represents one of the most
promising."
The SUNY Health Science Center would do much more to honor its "commitment
to confront the health problems of urban communities," as expressed in its
mission statement, by terminating Rosenblum's studies and further directing its
resources and expertise to current human mental health needs. Then, the macaque infants and mothers who
have spent so much of their lives in small, desolate cages can gain their
freedom, and the medical and governmental bodies charged with responding to
human needs can better promote public health.
Law student Scott Lustig works as a case manager for people with
developmental disabilities, and also is a co-leader with Urban Action Engine,
Inc. in a campaign against psychological experiments on monkeys at SUNY.
Your Agenda:
Contact Dr. John C. LaRosa, President,
SUNY Health Science Center,
450 Clarkson Ave.,
Brooklyn, NY 11203;
(718) 270-2611; fax: (718) 270-4732;
and
John W. Ryan, Chancellor,
State University of New York,
SUNY Plaza,
Albany, NY 12246;
(518) 443-5157.
Tell them to end Rosenblum's cruel and wasteful experiments and direct the
resources of SUNY's Health Science Center to services for and research with
human anxiety disorder patients.
To read the abstracts to Rosenblum's studies online, visit Medline at
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=Pubmed. To read the abstracts
to Rosenblum's studies, use the Medline database on the National Library of
Medicine site at www.nlm.nih.gov. Cohen's critique is available at www.mrmcmed.org.
“Reprinted with permission from The Animals’ Agenda, P.O. Box
25881,
Baltimore, MD 21224; (410) 675-4566; www.animalsagenda.org.”
Email: office@animalsagenda.org
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Everyday Activism
by KMBWolf@aol.com - staff writer
Want to help animals, but have limited
time? Feel bad that you can't volunteer at your local shelter or protest
at the nearest Macy's? Fret not, my friend, for there are small simple
things you can do each day that will change the lives of millions!
~~ When you get mail from organizations that claim to help animals, but
actually help to kill others (like local kill shelters and places like WWF and
NWF), take those cards that ask for your donation and write "No Money
Until You Stop The Killing" and mail it. You won't have to pay for postage
because most organizations give you envelopes with postage paid already. That's $0.34 that won't go to animal
suffering!
~~ Teach a fact about animal rights to a neighbor, friend, family member, or
coworker a day. Don't come across strongly, and do not break into an
argument. Even if the person says that you are wrong or crazy, rest assured
that your thought is in their mind, and might change their way of thinking.
~~ Go vegan! With each dairy, meat, egg, and animal product subtracted from
your menu, lives are saved. Tell others why you are not eating "the
norm."
~~ Post no-kill shelter phone numbers on bulletin boards. There is always
someone looking for a companion.
~~ Become the human billboard. Wear buttons with animal rights
messages. Wear hats with logos of animal friendly companies.
~~ Buy smart. Shop only cruelty free. With a more and more companies opposed to
animal testing, the choices become easier to the compassionate shopper.
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Animal Rights 2001 Registration
Opens
from FARM - campaigns@farmusa.org
We are pleased to announce that registration for
Animal Rights 2001, the first national conference of the new millennium, is now
open.
The early registration fee for this five-day event has been reduced to only
$100 until February 15. Low-income discounts and work scholarships are
available as well. For on-line or mail registration and additional information,
visit http://www.AnimalRights2001.org
Animal Rights 2001 will be held on the same dates (June 30-July 4) and in the
same venue (Mclean, VA, Hilton) as the highly successful Animal Rights 2000
conference. Room rates in our special block are still only $85 double and
$95 triple/quad.
We are planning a superb program that provides for extensive networking and for
sharing about our progress and prospects and improved organizing and outreach
techniques. There will be five plenary sessions, 75 workshops, 50 campaign
reports, and 12 'rap' sessions. Other functions include 80 exhibits, 70 videos,
group workouts, Newcomer Orientation, Affinity Meetings, Employment
Clearinghouse, banquet and receptions, US Animal Rights Hall of Fame, celebrity
awards, and Lobby Day.
The outstanding speakers roster includes: Carol Adams, Sara Amundson, the
Baustons, Lawrence Carter-Long, Murry Cohen, Robert Cohen, Joyce D'Silva (UK),
Karen Davis, Gail Eisnitz, Bruce Friedrich, Mark Glover (UK), J.P. Goodwin,
Holly Hazard, Alex Hershaft, Steve Hindi, Elliot Katz, Patrick
Kwan, James LaVeck, Howard Lyman, Mike Markarian, Robert Nixon, Jack Norris,
Wayne Pacelle, Alex Pacheco, Heidi Prescott, Tom Regan, Craig Rosebraugh, Ken
Shapiro, Michelle Thew (UK), Cres Vellucci, Zoe Weil, Steven Wise, David
Wolfson, and 80 more.
We look forward to seeing every one of you at the first conference of the
Animal Liberation Millennium.
Alex Hershaft, National Chair; Norbert Banholzer, Registrar.
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Lemsip Laboratory Chimpanzees
Retired to a Sanctuary
from Linda J. Howard - lindajhoward@earthlink.net
December 14, 2000 ~ Contact: Carol Asvestas, Tel:
210-269-1198 / 210-688-9038 E-Mail WAO@stic.net
San Antonio, TX. The National Sanctuary for Retired Research Primates is
pleased to announce the arrival today of eight chimpanzees. These individuals
are the last of the "stow-aways" from New York University's
Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Surgery in Primates [LEMSIP.]
Earlier this fall, National Sanctuary for Retired Research Primates welcomed
Late, Conrad, Pammy, Tina, Samantha, Kayla, Katherine and Katina who were
formerly at LEMSIP.
"These 16 chimpanzees were slated to go to The Coulston Foundation if a
sanctuary home could not be found, which makes us all even more thankful that
their new permanent home is here," stated Michelle Reiniger, NSRRP's
Assistant Director of Animal Care.
New Iberia housed the 15 adult chimpanzees and Katina, a three-year old
youngster, for New York University when LEMSIP closed during the interim while
they were seeking placement for the chimps in a sanctuary.
NYU funded construction of the spacious, indoor/outdoor, chimpanzee-friendly
enclosure at NSRRP, and also sent the University's experienced lead
veterinarian and chief caretaker with the chimpanzees to assist with
socializing them.
Along with Dr. James Mahoney, Dr. Dana Hassleschwart and Danny Boutte will stay
with the chimps as long as necessary to assure successful assimilation as a
social group.
Since its opening in November 1998, NSRRP has accepted over 300 monkeys and 24
chimpanzees from within the research community. NSRRP is the only bio-safety
level two sanctuary in the US and was the first sanctuary in the United States
to house HIV infected chimpanzees.
NSRRP is a non-profit permanent sanctuary, dedicated to giving quality lifetime
care to retired research primates. It is the mission of NSRRP to provide
sanctuary to the increasing overflow of primates in need of retirement from
research. NSRRP accepts primates who cannot be placed in other facilities,
whose only alternative is euthanasia or reintroduction into research.
For more information, please visit our website
http://www.primatesanctuarynsrrp.org/
Please
Note: NSRRP is a division of The Wild Animal Orphanage
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State & Federal Authorities
Unwilling
To Enforce Animal Protection Laws
from In Defense of Animals - ida@idausa.org
JEFFERSON
CITY, Mo. - On October 24, deputies from the Lawrence County Sheriff's
Department and the Humane Society of Missouri raided the dog kennel owned and
operated by Randy and Linda Daugherty - licensed by the USDA and the Missouri
Department of Agriculture - and discovered 6 dead dogs and 88 others starving
and injured in squalid living conditions.
To further illustrate the severe negligence by both state and federal officials
responsible for inspections at commercial pet producing facilities - commonly
referred to as "puppy mills" - Mike Gochnauer, also of Missouri, was
finally charged with over 30 violations by USDA officials, two years after In
Defense of Animals (IDA) assisted the media in a televised expose of conditions
at his licensed facility.
"USDA and Missouri Department of Agriculture policies favor the economic
vitality of puppy mills rather than the welfare of the animals, as the statutes
mandate," said Marshall Smith, Director of Investigations for IDA and a
former USDA investigator. "In the Daugherty case, despite the
extreme conditions in which the dogs were discovered, USDA officials have commented
that the Daugherty's kennel will remain federally licensed unless they are
convicted of violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act."
USDA policies favor local interventions in theses situations. However,
the organizations relied on by USDA are mostly non-profit and exist on
donations. These institutions, such as the Humane Society of Missouri,
struggle to find economic resources. In the Daugherty case, rescued dogs
had to be transported to an intensive care veterinary unit over four hours
away, stretching limited resources even thinner.
"In spite of intense media attention, USDA failed to take appropriate
enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in the Gochnauer case. News footage that
was taken from a county road clearly revealed the inhumane conditions at the
kennel as well as Gochnauer firing a shotgun at me and a television crew,"
said Smith. "In the two years since conditions were broadcast to the
public, USDA has finally filed a complaint against Gochnauer. Unfortunately,
once a complaint has been filed, cases can still take over two years before
they are resolved. In the meantime, Gochnauer may still be allowed to
market puppies and house breeding animals in a manner that violates federal
regulations."
IDA is currently leading a national boycott of Petland - one of the country's
largest pet store chains that sell puppies and kittens - and is supporting
demonstrations and other activities directed toward other like-minded pet
stores. IDA is also encouraging stores to work with local pounds, shelters
and rescue groups to place adoptable animals in loving homes.
Contact: Marshall Smith (573) 636-9291
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USDA Seeks Comments on Regulating
Hunting, Breeding, & Security Dog Dealers
WASHINGTON,
Dec. 1, 2000 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to amend Animal
Welfare Act regulations by including wholesale dealers of hunting, breeding,
and security dogs.
"Currently, commercial dealers of hunting, breeding, and security dogs are
only covered by policy. We are proposing to include those dealers that
wholesale these animals under our regulations. This will allow us to
better ensure that the standards of care provided in the AWA are being
met," said W. Ron DeHaven, deputy administrator for animal care with the
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and
regulatory programs mission area.
Notice
of this action is scheduled for publication in the Dec. 4 Federal
Register. APHIS documents published in the Federal Register, and related
information, including the names of organizations and individuals who have
commented on APHIS dockets, are available on the Internet at
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html
Consideration will be given to comments received
on or before Feb. 2, 2001. Please send an original and three copies to
Docket No. 99-087-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite
3CO3, 4700 River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238.
Comments received may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building, 14th
Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between 8 a.m. and 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Persons wishing to review
comments are requested to call ahead on (202) 690-2817 to facilitate entry into
the comment reading room.
[Editors Note: The breeders are making themselves heard, let's make
sure the animals' voice is heard as well. Let the USDA know what you
think.]
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Homeless Dogs in Chile
by Gerald Hendricks - fine_dogs@prodigy.net
I
am concerned about the welfare of the dogs and cats in Chile. I was
visiting a year ago and it was so painful to see the starvation of all these
poor animals on the streets.
In a country where there is no leash law, many animals roam on the streets
looking for food in trash cans and sleeping rough on the streets. Many of them
are hit by cars. Fortunately there is a local Humane Society there, which is a
private non profit organization, whose funds are realized entirely
through donations and fund raising projects.
The local council provides the grounds but are unable due to financial
constraints to provide the necessary funds to build a proper shelter or for the
basic maintenance, such as veterinary services and feeding, or a vehicle for
transportation of stray animals and use as an ambulance. In Villa Alemana
for example, a medium sized town in central Chile, where the average income is
no greater than $200 a month and above average unemployment. The hundred
members, most of them out of work are only able to give their love and
undivided attention to these animals who live overcrowded in cramped
conditions. Although most of them work hard in maintaining the place, clean and
provide the animals with food to the best of their abilities. They are unable
to build a large all weather shelter, which is badly needed to house the
hundreds and even thousands of animals roaming the streets. Most of them come
in with diseases.
The president of this organization, Mrs Silvia Gomez, is in bad need for
support to provide these animals with the necessary care and attention. An
example. $2 would supply 1/2 kilo of cat food, $5 would pay for all shots for 1
dog, $10 would pay for veterinary fees for neutering or spaying.
Please contact Pamela Hendricks (fine_dogs@prodigy.net) for further
information.
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The Dedication
by WantNoMeat@aol.com
To all those beasts I dedicate
for you possess not one evil trait
for all those who have died
to live in peace you have tried
There is more to you then your taste
your living worth turned to waste
I can't eat you anymore
If only I could erase before
Born to a world without mercy
compassion you don't get to see
You suffer our human greed
disregarding your every need
I pity our blind mankind
compassion left us behind
Unable to make a stand
you die by our bloody hand
Subjected to our brutal reign
billions a year are slain
only to die you were born
few of us will ever mourn
Your blood is so easily shed
to your death you were led
rancid smell of your own death
as you took your final breath
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Quote To Remember
"While
we ourselves are the living graves of murdered beasts, how can we expect any
ideal conditions on this earth?"
~~George Bernard Shaw
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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/
-=Animal Rights Online=-
&
Advisory Board Member, Animal Rights Network Inc.,
not-for-profit publisher of The Animals' Agenda Magazine
http://www.animalsagenda.org/
The Animals' Agenda Magazine: WebEdition
«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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