A n i m a l   W r i t e s © sm

The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter

  

 

    Publisher   ~ EnglandGal@aol.com                                       Issue # 04/16/00

        Editor    ~ JJswans@aol.com

    Journalists ~ PrkStRangr@aol.com

                     ~ MRivera008@aol.com

                     ~ SavingLife@aol.com

 

 

    THE EIGHT ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:

  

    1  ~ Good News for the Dolphin by PrkStRangr@aol.com

    2  ~ Twenty-One Signs You May Be an Animal Rights Activist

                                    By Diana Morton - tapster@mindspring.com (tapster)

    3  ~ The Cycle of Violence by karen@allforanimals.com

    4  ~ Perspective by PawAngel@aol.com

    5  ~ Carnegie Science Center Chick Hatchery Promotes Animal & Child Abuse

    6  ~ Nogales, Sonora "Suspends" Bullfights

    7  ~ ‘JG' (poem)

    8  ~ Quote To Remember

 

 

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Good News for the Dolphin

by PrkStRangr@aol.com

 

One year ago, Secretary of Commerce William Daley made a decision that would have increased dolphin deaths and gutted the meaning of the Dolphin-Safe Tuna label.  In order to appease the WTO and complaints by Mexico and other countries that the U.S. dolphin safe label interfered with free trade, Daley announced that the label could be used on tuna caught by encircling nets which injure and kill dolphin.  This policy was to go into effect this April 11, but on that same day U.S. Federal District Court Judge Thelton Henderson ruled that it would not.

 

In ruling in favor of a suit brought by the Humane Society of the United States, Earth Island Institute, environmental activist David Brower, and other organizations, Judge Henderson stated that "...the Secretary acted contrary to the law and abused his discretion when he triggered a change in the dolphin safe label standard."  

 

This federal court decision is good news for the dolphin and those who seek their protection, but let us not forget about the plight of the tuna.  Blue fin tuna and other species are being driven to the point of extinction by the fishing fleets of the world.

 

For the animals, for the environment, for yourself, Go Vegan.

 

More information about this court ruling can be found at...

Humane Society of the United States | Today's News | HSUS Applauds Decision Preserving "Dolphin Safe" Tuna Label

http://www.hsus.org/whatnew/dolphin041200.html

  

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Twenty-One Signs You May Be an

Animal Rights Activist

By Diana Morton

tapster@mindspring.com (tapster)

 

* If you recognize immense animal suffering behind most exploits of man.

 

* If you perceive meat-eating as a ravenously selfish, satanic ritual; wrought in cannibalism.

 

* If you see nothing except screaming dead animal corpses on plates instead of great smelling meat

 

* If you feel like a spy in the meat section of the grocery store.

 

* If you feel incredibly sorry for animals all of the time.

 

* If your heart literally aches for animals all of the time.

 

* If you feel like you store an animal data bank in the left side of your brain.

 

* If you take the side of the animal all of the time.

 

* If you find it difficult to distinguish between a token domestic and a factory-farmed animal.

 

* If you are willing to be made a laughing stock to rescue one animal.

 

* If you want to vomit when they start talking in code: hamburger, steak, ham, pork, hot dog, etc

 

* If you want to vomit when they pray sanctimoniously over tortured, butchered animal corpses and utter, "Thank you, Jesus!"

 

* If you can't think of any place to go because you suspect an animal may have suffered somewhere down the line.

 

* If people start to whisper when you are near about who they had for dinner.

 

* If you empathize at all times with the eternal suffering and pain of animals because of man's oppression over them.

 

* If you bond with people better by strategically placing animals between you.

           

* If you know in your heart, Earth is a big cesspool, as you try to buy the next generation some more time.

 

* If you strongly suspect you were an animal in your past life.

 

* If you know in your heart ALL animals think, feel, reason, love, and communicate in their own languages; and just can't fathom why others don't see this obvious truth.

 

* If you believe God honors and values the lives of all animals as much to die for as your own.

 

* If you understand and embrace the concept of love to be unconditional and all-inclusive.

 

            ..... yes, you may just be an animal rights activist!

 

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The Cycle of Violence

By Karen Stevens, Founder/President

ALL FOR ANIMALS

(http://www.allforanimals.com)

karen@allforanimals.com

 

The links between cruelty to animals and human brutality.

 

"He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men.

            We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals."   

                                                                                    --Immanuel Kant

 

Lock the doors. Install metal detectors. Ban guns. Restrict the media. All of this has been suggested as solutions to the rampant violence occurring in our schools and other public buildings. Each may sound like the ideal solution, but what we must first do is look at the roots of violence and address those issues. Violent tendencies can most often be traced to a person's childhood.

 

Consider these facts:

 

-- Most serial killers such as Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam"), and Jeffrey Dahmer begin their path of destruction as children or young adolescents by abusing and killing animals.

 

-- Most serial killers have a history of parental neglect, brutality, and rejection.

 

-- Most serial killers are men.

 

While this certainly doesn't mean that every person with these characteristics will become a serial killer, it does mean we should become aware of the early warning signs and take appropriate action where necessary.

 

Just what starts these young boys on the road to animal cruelty and later violence against people? Some have suggested that these children lack the capacity to love and to form close ties to either animals or people. Or, perhaps, they feel helpless and use animals as victims to demonstrate their power and authority or as scapegoats for the anger they feel against parents or society as a whole.

 

Research strongly suggests that animal abuse is not just the result of some personality flaw in the abuser, but a symptom of a deeply disturbed family.  Cruelty to animals can be one of many signs of a family in need of professional help.

 

The U.S. Department of Education lists animal cruelty as a warning sign of a troubled and potentially dangerous child. And, the FBI uses reports of animal cruelty to analyze the potential threat of suspected and known violent criminals.

 

There are several programs aimed at addressing the problem of animal abuse and human violence. In California, for instance, Senator Jack O'Connell introduced SB 1991, an amendment to Section 597 of the Penal Code, requiring persons convicted of animal cruelty to pay for, and successfully complete, appropriate counseling designed to evaluate and treat behavior or conduct disorders.

 

We must also impose harsher penalties for animal abusers. Did you know that if someone destroys a valuable portrait of your companion animal, it's a felony, but if someone inflicts bodily harm on your dog or cat, it's often considered only a misdemeanor? [27 states, including California, now have some form of felony animal abuse laws in effect.]

 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO STOP ANIMAL ABUSE AND HUMAN VIOLENCE:

 

a) PREVENT the problem. Some acts of cruelty take place because adults fail to discipline children who are abusing an animal. Without proper intervention, children may graduate to more serious abuses including violence against people. Do not ignore even minor acts of cruelty! Correct the child and express your concerns to his/her parents.

 

b) REPORT anyone you suspect of abusing an animal or person to law enforcement officials. You may also seek assistance by looking in the "social services" section of the telephone book.

 

c) EDUCATE yourself by visiting the following web sites:

 

"The Cruelty Connection"

Links to several web sites exploring this issue.

http://animalrights.miningco.com/msubviolence.htm

 

"Feminists for Animal Rights"

Dedicated to ending all forms of abuse against women and animals.

http://arrs.envirolink.org/far/

 

"First Strike", a program of the Humane Society of the United States. "First Strike" is spreading the word  that childhood cruelty toward animals is often just the beginning in an escalating pattern of violence.

http://www.hsus.org/current/strike.html

 

"The Latham Foundation"

Produces videos on the links between animal abuse and other forms of family violence.

http://www.latham.org/violence.htm

 

d)  READ the following books:

 

*Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Animal Abuse: Linking the Circles of Compassion for Prevention and Intervention, Frank R. Ascione and Phil Arkow (editors)

 

*Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence: Readings in Research and Application; Randall Lockwood and Frank R. Ascione (editors)

 

            *Both books available through Amazon.com.

 

e)  INCREASE AWARENESS of the problem by:

 

- Writing a letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

 

- Making a contribution of your time or money to existing human and animal protection programs.

 

- Campaigning for stricter laws against animal abuse by writing to elected officials.

 

- Purchasing a video on animal abuse and giving it to the local public access TV station for airing.

 

People around the world are just beginning to understand that the connection between animal cruelty and human violence is part of a complex net of disturbed relationships. As Anthropologist Margaret Mead said: "One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it." By working together on this problem, we can make a positive difference in the lives of both animals and people!

 

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Perspective

by PawAngel@aol.com

 

 In 1992, I rescued from death row and adopted my dog who outweighs me by 20 lbs.  I named him Forte.  He was about 9 or 10 months old at that time.  He grew into a wonderful dog who reminds you of “Strongheart” of the ’50s.  A dog so strong yet gentle and fair, who protects little ones from big bullies in the doggie park, who teaches us how to appreciate what we have instead of feeling self-pity, who shows us true spiritual strength — as his name indicates.

 

After giving me 6 years of joy, Forte had a serious spinal surgery last July, but it turned out to be the vet's intentional misdiagnosis, rather.  What Forte actually had was Degenerative Myelopathy, and any surgery would make it worse.  The vet knew it, but because he wanted to gain more experience in operating big dogs, he decided to practice on Forte.  As a result, it took most of his walking ability.  He, however, started to do better thanks to weekly acupuncture and homeopathic treatments.  His hind legs were [so] extremely weak that he could no longer run or jump, but could still enjoy walking around in the neighborhood and the doggie park.

 

Then, on the 6th of January, he had a bloat, a stomach turn.  As you may well know, the bloat is very common among big dogs, especially Great Danes.  It happens when a dog has much water or food in his stomach and jumps around or runs around.  So, it definitely caught us by surprise since he could hardly walk now.  But we figured that when he loses balance due to his neural problem, he sometimes swings his body and spins 360 degrees trying to catch himself, and the centrifugal force must have worked against him... 

 

Most dogs do not survive the bloat primarily because people do not catch it soon enough.  The dog has to be operated within a few hours.  They open the dog to untwist the stomach, and even if the dog survives through the surgery, some of them do not make it over the following few days.  Forte was hospitalized for 4 days under critical condition, and the vet said that he had a 50% chance to live.  The vet techs, however, said that they had never seen a dog with such a strong will to live.  He wanted to live.  He wanted to come home.  He wanted to be with me.

 

This incident worsened his Degenerative Myelopathy as expected, and he is now on a wheelchair.  We knew that to put him through any surgery again would make it worse because of the effect of anesthesia, but we did not have a choice.  He cannot stand up by himself anymore, and I now have to feed him 3~4 times a day and make sure that he stays calm for a couple of hours before and after every meal; i.e., it almost requires a full-time attention.

 

He now walks around the block on his cart and is very appreciative about it.  It requires a bit more work on my side, but as long as he is happy and wants to live, I will do anything to support his will.  Many people have commented that most people would put him down by now.  But if you see his happy face, you would not be a human if you could do that.  People should consider putting animals to sleep only if the animal was miserable, in pain or wishes to go.

 

Above all, the past nine months have taught me to perceive hardship as part of experience but not as my life itself, and to appreciate and respect “life” more than ever.

 

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Carnegie Science Center Chick Hatchery

Promotes Animal & Child Abuse

 

The Carnegie Science Center has been flooded with mail from animal sanctuary directors, humane educators, Pittsburgh residents, and citizens throughout the United States urging the Center not to install a perpetual chick hatchery as part of a new "Exploration Stations" program. United Poultry Concerns sent a letter to every CSC Board Member respectfully urging that the hatchery be replaced with a technology that will not propagate thousands of chicks, thereby teaching children that it is neat to propagate baby animals that conveniently disappear, out of sight, out of mind, after the "miracle of birth" is over.

 

The Center intends to lie to children, and to the public it solicits for funding, about the true fate of these birds that no one, sadly, is asking for -- baby birds the Center will dump, week after week, at auctions and anywhere else it can get rid of them.  There will, of course, be no accountability. The Center is going to lie to the public by posting photos at this shameful exhibit of "happy endings."

 

United Poultry Concerns has respectfully urged the Carnegie Science Center, in express-mailed letters, to replace the proposed live bird hatchery with an "exploration station" that, while being fun, also incorporates mature and compassionate values. The hatchery does not meet this standard. It is not creative, it is not compassionate, it is not about "Nature." It is an abuse of nature, because the birds are being hatched, motherless, in a piece of mechanical equipment, and dumped somewhere each week. The hatchery is an exhibition of sordid politics and dishonesty. It is a betrayal of the public which the Center solicits for funding.

 

The Carnegie Science Center, in doggedly going forward with this irresponsible, inhumane chick hatchery display, despite local and national public protest, based on incontrovertible arguments, is saying that it not only doesn't care about the chicks (many of whom will be born deformed and trashed alive, where the public can't see). The Center is showing that it doesn't care about children or about public trust either. 

 

If we have any compassion in us for the innocent trust of children, or for the helpless life of these baby birds, we must tell Carnegie: "Install a computerized chicken program instead."

 

Source: franklin@smart.net

 

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Nogales, Sonora "Suspends" Bullfights

 

According to an employee at the Nogales, Sonora tourist office today, Mario de la Fuente Flores' bullring has "suspended" holding bullfights and hasn't had any since November or December!

 

According to this employee, bullfights were suspended "because the tourists did not come" and the tourists did not come "because the animal rights gave very bad information about bullfighting."  She didn't know when the fights might resume.

 

Dillard's Box Office announced it would no longer sell tickets on 11/16/99, one day after an article appeared in the Arizona Daily Star featuring bullfighting from two perspectives -- bullfighter Diego O'Bolger and animal rights activist Lisa Markkula.

 

Apparently, attendance never recovered.  Let's hope the fights are suspended permanently.  Thank you everyone who contacted anyone on this issue!

 

  Animal Defense League of Arizona

  P.O. Box 43026 * Tucson, AZ 85733

  tel. and fax (520) 623-3101

  The Animal Defense League of Arizona is unaffiliated with any other group.

 

Source: "Lisa Markkula" <markkula@msn.com>

 

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‘JG'

 

She sits atop the greenest hill

the likeness of their image

peaceful aura replaces doubt

unto the end she softly shouts

 

Gracefully moves throughout the day

a strong, poised, meaningful way

rushing in with primate knowledge

shared with every school and college

 

Is this ‘The Jane' we used to see?

Swinging with Tarzan from tree to tree?

Africa's animals, once kingdoms profuse

slip slowly through a time worn noose.

 

1999 © By C. Sparkie.

tapster@mindspring.com

 

(Written for Dr. Jane Goodall)

 

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Quote To Remember

 

  "He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. 

            You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful

            and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be

            worthy of such devotion"

                                                                        -- Unknown

  

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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=-

Message boards:  http://www.envirolink.org/express/

Animal Rights Resource Site

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