A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 09/05/01
Editor
~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~ MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE SEVEN ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Got Antibiotics? by Robert Cohen
2 ~ Excerpts from Organization 101
3 ~ Tetrazzini Vegetarian
4 ~ Wanted: Guardian Angels
5 ~ The White Card Dog
6 ~ Think Of Me by WantNoMeat@aol.com
7 ~ Memorable Quote
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Got Antibiotics?
by Robert Cohen - i4crob@earthlink.net
http://www.notmilk.com
This past week, 34,000 quarts of drug-laced milk
were shipped to Michigan stores.
ANTIBIOTICS CONTROVERSY
The angriest denials that I've heard from dairymen, and most spirited debates
that I've been participated in with dairy industry representatives, center
around whether or not milk and dairy products contain antibiotic residues.
Dairy farmers argue that the presence of antibiotics or antimicrobials is not
possible because every truckload of milk is tested by the truck driver as it
leaves the farm. Milk is then tested again by the processor. Safeguards make it
impossible for drug-laced milk to reach the market, farmers reason.
Unfortunately for dairymen, they are wrong. Milk does contain
antibiotics. Concentrated dairy products like ice cream and butter can also
contain concentrated amounts of antibiotics.
Bacteria develop immunities to wonder drugs. The medical community wonders why
new strains of bacteria have developed. Wonder drugs no longer work.
Americans consume antibiotics with immune bacteria, and the mystery is solved.
On August 31, 2001, there was a recall of milk in Michigan.
Here is the Detroit News article:
<> <> <> <> <>
LONDON'S FARM DAIRY STARTS VOLUNTARY MILK RECALL
PORT HURON -- London's Farm Dairy has issued a voluntary recall of milk because
it was contaminated with antibiotics, the Michigan Department of Agriculture
said.
Susan Esser, manager of the state dairy program in Lansing, said up to 8,500
gallons of milk were sent to stores on Tuesday. She said it's not clear what
the possible risks might be.
John Stout, quality control manager at the dairy, said the milk was sent to
various stores throughout eastern Michigan. He would not specify which stores
received the milk.
Stout said the company still was investigating to see if the contamination was
actually antibiotics, but Esser said the test had been positive. Stout said:
"There is no safety or health risk. This is just an issue related
to
making sure we don't have a regulatory problem related to the
parameters of the product. This is not a food safety
issue."
Stout said the company learned of the contaminated milk on Wednesday morning
and began calling customers to take the milk off the shelves.
He said he believed all stores had been called by Thursday afternoon. Stout
said the dairy, which is owned by Grand Rapids-based Country Fresh Inc., still
is investigating which products are affected. The dairy produces under the
brands London Farm Dairy, Country Fresh and Borden. It was not clear which or
how many products were contaminated.
Calls for comment to Country Fresh were not returned.
<> <> <> <> <>
ANTIBIOTICS IN MILK
After
genetically engineering the bovine growth hormone, Monsanto learned that cows
were getting mastitis, painful ulcers on their udders which resulted in an
increase in pus, blood and bacteria in milk.
Monsanto arranged to have their top scientist, Margaret Miller, hired by FDA
where she reviewed her own research. Aware that dairymen would have to treat
cows with more antibiotics, Miller simply raised the allowable levels of
antimicrobials farmers could put in milk. Miller arbitrarily increased the
allowable level by one hundred times -- from one part per hundred million to
one part per million!
Michael Hansen of Consumers Reports testified and brought attention to
Congressional committees that 52 drugs are known to be used as antibiotics to
treat mastitis. According to Consumer's Union, FDA had approved only 30 of
those antibiotics.
Milk is routinely tested for the presence of six different antibiotics. Farmers
are aware of the antibiotics being tested. Do you imagine they might be tempted
to use any of the other 46 not currently being tested?
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Excerpts from Organization 101
www.randomhouse.com
If you're
like a lot of people, you'd like to contribute something positive to society.
Perhaps you'd like to revive a neighborhood park, help homeless cats and dogs,
or fight drug abuse in your community. And even though you know you should be
more active in helping to solve these problems, you never get around to doing
anything; it seems like too much work. But contrary to popular belief, making a
difference in the world around you can be very easy if you do one simple thing:
Start with small, realistic, tangible goals.
To begin: Tune into the television nightly news ("Entertainment
Tonight" does not count) and watch the entire program from start to
finish. Ask yourself: Which stories make me cry? Which stories make me angry?
Which stories make me pay attention? Write your answers on a piece of paper and
ask yourself the same questions when reading a newspaper or a newsmagazine like
Newsweek or U.S. News & World Report. Be sure to take careful notes.
Do you see a pattern to your answers? For example, if the stories that caught
your attention were all related to environmental issues, like an oil spill in
the Atlantic Ocean and an ancient forest clear-cut in Washington state, then
you have a pattern. On the other hand, if your answers are diverse -- a story
about gunfire in Los Angeles and an article about federal welfare cuts -- then
you need to narrow your focus. Choose the topic that meant the most to you and
make that your project.
Once you've completed that step, ask yourself: What specific issue in this
topic do I want to work on? For example, if your topic is gun control, perhaps
your goal can be reducing the number of handguns brought into your city's
schools. That's specific. But if your goal is to ban all guns in the United
States, your scope is too broad. The more particular you can be about your
goals, the better. Take your time and be thorough. Most important, be
definitive.
101
Now that you've narrowed your focus to a specific goal, you're ready to be an
activist. But before you take your demands to City Hall, you need to learn how
most activists and organizations get the job done. Welcome to Activist
University. Ninety-nine percent of all
social change is achieved by an organized group of individuals working together
toward a common goal. A small minority of these groups are large, national
organizations boasting millions of members with big bank accounts. But most of
the important work being done on behalf of "the cold, the tired, and the
hungry" is handled by grassroots organizations and their volunteers. They
make a big difference with their small, individual efforts to solve the bigger,
pressing problems.
WHAT'S A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION?
A grassroots organization, as the name suggests, is a group of dedicated
individuals working to solve social ills by attacking them at their
"roots." For example, grassroots animal advocates may physically
capture stray cats and dogs for a spay/neuter program. Grassroots antipoverty
activists may walk the streets late at night providing free counseling and food
for the homeless. Unlike the paid staff members of national organizations,
these activists volunteer their time; they are not paid for their services. In
my opinion, these people fit the definition of a hero: people who donate their
time and energy to make the world a better place to live.
There are thousands of grassroots organizations throughout the world, ranging
from two individuals working as a team to fix up a neighborhood park to huge,
regional organizations boasting a board of directors and hundreds of volunteers
dedicated to feeding the city's homeless. But even with clear differences in
numbers and size, all of these groups share a common bond: They all saw the
need to solve a pressing problem.
EARTH 2000 IS BORN
My own grassroots organization was born the night before my twelfth birthday.
The night before, at midnight, trying not to disturb my sleeping parents, I
snuck down the stairs to eat the last chicken salad sandwich. While eating, I
turned on the television. After passing through a few station test patterns and
the Home Shopping Network, I landed at the beginning of a talk show, "The
Morton Downey Jr. Show."
I, like most kids in America, was never allowed to watch television late at
night. Being thus denied late-night television forced me to formulate my own
theories about the racy shows airing at that hour. You can imagine my
disappointment when all I found was a loud-mouthed cigarette-smoking host
(standing in an equally scary audience) arguing with a British woman over
something having to do with rabbits and a cure for cancer. Intrigued, I took a
bite of my sandwich and tried to make sense out of what was going on.
The topic was animal rights and the woman's name was Ingrid Newkirk. She
supported animal rights so much that she founded People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals -- also known as PETA -- a national animal rights advocacy
organization. I liked her immediately. The host and the majority of the
audience, on the other hand, did not like her and showed it by screaming vulgar
comments at her. Surprisingly, despite the continued barrage of immature and
rude comments, she stayed calm and cool. I, on the other hand, was so upset
over the infantile behavior of the host and audience that I declared, "I
support animal rights!" -- and ate a piece of chicken that fell off my
day-old sandwich. Obviously, I wasn't sure what animal rights meant.
I soon learned. Ingrid looked into the audience and said that when it comes to
pain, a pig and a boy feel the same level of anguish. I thought about her
comment, looked at the crumbs on the floor from my sandwich, envisioned a
chicken being slaughtered for my meal ... and a few seconds later, vomited
right into the downstairs toilet. My mind, body, and soul had decided that it
was wrong to eat that chicken salad sandwich because an animal had been
tortured and abused.
Growing up in Pennsylvania Dutch country, where vegetarianism is scarce (a
local Amish diner called their one vegetarian dish "The New Age") and
where slaughterhouses and factory farming are common, I never thought about
exploring my dietary choices. It never occurred to me that my steak dinners,
veal piccata, and chicken salad sandwiches had come from "farm"
animals. I grew up eating meat; it was a staple in my diet. And I bet it never
crossed my parents' minds to explain meat eating to me; it was just a part of
life, like drinking water and breathing clean air. Yet I was constantly
reminded by my father why eating meat was a luxury: When he was a child in
South Korea, meat was expensive; he grew up "suffering" on a mostly
vegetarian diet. We ate meat in part because of guilt.
After lifting my head out of the toilet, I knew it was my mission to help
animals and their environment by stopping my own cruel and destructive ways of
living. I decided to adopt a plant-based vegetarian diet. That night, I also
decided to start a group, to call it Earth 2000, and to use it to tell other
kids my age that animals are part of our community, and not a commodity to be
exploited. The "2000" part of the name signified that I intended to save
the planet by the end of the century. No problem, I thought to myself. After
all, I had plenty of friends and a whopping $10 (which was a lot of money to an
eleven-year-old in those days) to spend on this new project. Feeling better, I
went up to my room and back to sleep.
The next day, I told all my friends not to give me gifts for my birthday. I
didn't want a Swatch watch or a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure.
Instead, I wanted them to join Earth 2000 as pioneer members. Many were
enthusiastic about my plans and were ready to free animals from nearby factory
farms, while some were joyous simply because they got to keep my birthday
presents for themselves.
On that day, an organization consisting of a handful of neighborhood kids, who
collectively had $23.57 to spend, started working to save the planet by the
year 2000. Sure, we couldn't drive -- heck, we couldn't even cross the street
-- but we had the three things every greeat activist group needs: dedication,
enthusiasm, and tenacity. And on top of that, we were young and didn't have
jobs, bills, or any of the other annoying things adults always fret about. On
April 21, 1989, the Earth 2000 Crusades began.
These "crusades" accomplished a lot despite their modest beginnings.
From waging controversial campaigns against a development corporation to
launching award-winning antifur consumer boycott campaigns, the seed I planted
in 1989 has grown into a large, impressive national movement. We have proved
that young people have the tenacity, intelligence, and enthusiasm to make a
real, lasting difference in the world. You'll learn more about specific
campaigns later in the book.
I WANT TO START A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, TOO!
Whoa ... slow down, Speed Racer! Before you jump right in and start a brand-new
organization, consider exploring these easier alternatives:
* JOIN AN EXISTING ORGANIZATION. If you see a problem you want to solve,
chances are others have seen it, too. Look around your community: Is there
already a group working on your issue? If there is, join and offer your time
and ideas. This way, you'll be able to devote more energy to the root cause of
the problem and less to constructing a new organization. It is
counterproductive to have two organizations working on the same problem. There
is power in numbers.
*MAKE ALLIANCES WITH OTHER GROUPS. If there isn't a group working directly on
your issue, consider joining an organization you think might be interested in
broadening its mission. For example, if your goal is to provide meals for the
homeless, you could join a local vegetarian society. You could convince them to
start a program (which you enthusiastically volunteer to coordinate) to cook
vegetarian meals for the less fortunate. Always be on the lookout for ways to
contribute to and broaden the mission of other community organizations.
*INFILTRATE INACTIVE ORGANIZATIONS. I know. It sounds like a sneaky, evil way
to abuse a nonprofit organization. But community groups often lose their
freshness and spunk when they've been around for a few years. When an existing
organization is spending its funds on new stationery instead of on their
original mission, it is time to infiltrate them. In a way, you are doing them a
favor.
[Editor's note: For a great list of existing animal oriented
groups and their locations, see the following website: www.worldanimal.net ]
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Tetrazzini Vegetarian
8
oz fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 medium zucchini, sliced
1 cup red or green bell pepper, sliced
1/2 cup onion chopped
2 T soy margarine
1 cup broccoli florets
1-1/2 cup vegetable stock
1 cup soy milk
1 16-oz box spaghetti, cooked according to package directions
1/3 cup nutritional yeast flakes
1/2 t nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oven to 350 degrees
Saute mushrooms, zucchini, bell pepper, and onion in margarine in large
saucepan about 5 minutes, until tender. Stir in broccoli.
Mix flour and stock; stir into saucepan with milk. Heat to boiling,
stirring constantly, until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Stir in pasta,
nutritional yeast flakes, nutmeg, and salt and pepper.
Spoon pasta mixture into 2-quart casserole or baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, 45 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned.
Makes 8 servings.
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Wanted: Guardian Angels
http://www.idausa.org/alert/currentalerts/angels.html
WANTED: Guardian Angels needed to spread the word
about IDA's "They Are Not Our Property - We Are Not Their Owners"
Campaign.
In Defense of Animals is searching for more Guardian Angels to lead the
campaign in their community to change the language of their local laws to read
guardian in place of "owner" with regard to companion animals.
Boulder, Colorado was the first to make this change on July 11, 2000. In
February of 2001, West Hollywood and Berkeley, California made similar changes
to their ordinances to reflect the fact that their citizens are indeed
guardians of their dogs, cats and other companions. Boulder citizens are now
seeing the changes everywhere -- the Boulder newspaper is routinely using the
word guardian (not "owner") in articles and editorials; the Humane
Society of Boulder Valley is using guardian in their daily language and in all
printed material; and signs erected by City Staff in dog parks now use the new
terminology.
This simple wording change is an effort to elevate the status of animals beyond
that of mere property to that of sentient individuals with needs and rights of
their own. Most of you probably already consider your animal companion as a
member of your family instead of as a commodity (like your sofa or your car).
Much abuse is perpetrated because dogs, cats and other companions are perceived
of as the "property of owners." Even when someone is charged with the
crime of animal abuse, quite often he/she is let go with a mere "slap on
the wrist," to go back into the community to continue his/her abusive
ways. Think of the changes we might see if we educate our children to the fact
that they are guardians of living beings rather than "owners of
property."
Last year 5 million adoptable animals were killed in shelters. At the very same
time the lethal dose was being administered, puppy mills were producing
countless numbers of dogs, cats and other animals to be "sold" to
"owners" at pet stores. Guardians would realize the importance of
always adopting and rescuing instead of buying and selling animals, and would
understand the commitment to the animal for his/her lifetime.
Today IDA is working with people across the country who wish to make this
simple language change a reality in their communities, both legally and in
everyday language.
If you would like to help or to know more about the campaign, please contact
Laurie Lown, Director of IDA's "They Are Not Our Property, We Are Not
Their Owners" Campaign, by e-mail at laurie@idausa.org
or by telephone at 503-293-1853. Remember that each individual can make a
difference!
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The White Card Dog
Anonymous
The white card over the door said he was a
2-year-old German Shepherd, but the four-legged creature occupying the cramped
cage was neither noble, fearless, majestic, nor proud. He was a layer of skin
draped over a skeletal frame. He hadn't even the strength to lift his
head. The offer of a meat tidbit was ignored, the will to continue
existence in a human world had vanished.
Although he had been placed in a row of cages marked "for adoption,"
officials hadn't bothered with inoculations. A dog that no longer wanted
anybody, was insensitive to the flies that feasted upon his dirty body, could
hardly be expected to appeal to visitors seeking dogs to adopt. He no
longer cared. He had no desire to be anyone's friend. He wasn't
waiting to be claimed by anyone except death. And it seemed as if death
wasn't in much of a hurry either.
I couldn't help wondering how this dog came into this world. Was he the
result of someone who owned a female and felt she was "entitled" to
have at least one litter? Was he the by-product of a family educational
object lesson? "We felt the kids should see the miracle of
birth."
Was he once someone's cute Christmas puppy that was discarded along with the
tinsel and tree? Or was he a training aid, acquired to teach a child
"responsibility"? Perhaps he was once a status symbol, his
usefulness outmoded by changing fads.
Is he nature's result of a dog allowed to run the streets because of the
mistaken philosophy that "dogs should be free and not confined"?
The person who felt his female was entitled to have at least one litter should
be advised that at least one of the dogs he felt she was entitled to have, has
laid down on the floor of a cement cage to die -- unwanting and unwanted.
The parents who gave their children the benefit of seeing the miracle of birth
didn't complete the lesson. Their children didn't get to see the miracle
of death and how it is slowly putting an end to this creature they caused to be
brought into this world.
The parents who hoped a new puppy would teach responsibility to their child
should know that the living, breathing being that they gave to their child has
almost breathed his last. Yes, they should have waited until their child
demonstrated his ability to assume responsibility before placing a life in his
hands.
And to the limp body on that cold cement floor -- what can I say to you, old
fellow? What excuses can I offer for the suffering you have
endured? How can I justify your existence? But it really doesn't
matter to you anymore, does it? You don't even feel the ticks sucking the
last vestiges of life from your veins. We don't deserve to be your best
friend, do we boy?
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Think Of Me
by WantNoMeat@aol.com
Faithfully I'll wait all day
I yearn for you while you're away
Greet me everyday so I can see
my devotion returned, you think of me
My days mundane and world fake
my life not mine to make
In this zoo I hunger to be free
next time you go think of me
In this cage I hopelessly pace
anguish written all over my face
I'll be killed for the fur I wear
think of me as I'm stripped bare
When my throat is slit in an awful death
blood will splatter, I'll gasp for breath
I'll be ground up and labeled prime
think of me at dinnertime
Innocent I've done you no wrong
The biggest buck, I am strong
But I have no chance against a gun
think of me, could I have won
In my barren cage I cry
useless research the reason why
Alone I'll linger in agony
as I fade away think of me
Forced acts and tricks that demean
my beating's secrets keep unseen
behind the curtain my circus plea
Don't be entertained think of me
I endure constant abuse at the rodeos
by those rampant men feeding egos
I'm made to hurt and terrified
think of me as they force a ride
We look to you to be our voice
we were born to a life with no choice
Treated as commodities for human use
think of us and our abuse
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Memorable Quote
"Until we have the courage to
recognize cruelty for what it is -- whether it's victim is human or animal --
we cannot expect things to be much better in this world. We cannot have
peace among men whose hearts delight in killing any living creature. By
every act that glorifies or even tolerates such moronic delight in killing we
set back the progress of humanity."
~~ Rachel Carson
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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online, President
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1395/
-=Animal RightsOnline=-
&
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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