A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 02/21/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Why DawnWatch Has Not Protested
Survivor by KarenDawn1@aol.com
2 ~ The Politics of Puppies
3 ~ VRG's Annual Essay Contest
4 ~ TVP In Hot Tangerine Sauce
5 ~ HSUS and FEMA Sign Historic Agreement
6 ~ New Book by Tom Regan
7 ~ McDonald's Fries
8 ~ Wolf Dreams
9 ~ Quote To Remember
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`
Why DawnWatch Has Not
Protested Survivor
by KarenDawn1@aol.com
Since
DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch, my silence about SURVIVOR has to
be conspicuous. Many organizations have condemned the slaying of a pig on last
week's episode and asked that you complain to CBS. I support all organizations working to help the animals and would
never discourage you from following their direction if you are moved to do so.
But I will share with you why DawnWatch policy with regard to Survivor differs
from some other organizations.
Unlike the American Humane Association which monitors the treatment of
individual animals used in the production of on screen entertainment, DawnWatch
looks at the big picture -- at the effect a portrayal is likely to have on the
rest of the animals who are not featured on the screen.
The pig slaughter scene, though not graphic, was upsetting. I was distressed,
as I am sure many viewers were, to see this little sentient creature being
chased with a knife and to hear his squeal as the first stab was made. It was
very unpleasant to watch Mike's repeated stabs and then his slicing motion,
presumably as he cut the throat. We did not see the pig during the killing.
It was not a particularly humane slaughter. But those who think it was
particularly inhumane need to pick up a copy of Gail Eisnitz's
"Slaughterhouse." (I sell it on my website under Recommended
Reading.) Though we have humane slaughter laws which call for the stunning of
animals before execution, a stun gun miss rate of up to 5% is considered
acceptable in many slaughterhouses. Thus every day hundreds of pigs may be
sliced up and even thrown into vats of boiling water while still conscious. The
feral pig on Survivor lived a much better life than all of those, and died no
worse a death.
Plus, once again, though I felt much compassion for the pig, DawnWatch is
concerned not with the treatment of individual animals on sets, but on the
likely effect their portrayal will have on animals as a whole.
Back to that portrayal:
Mike has gleefully made the kill. (Note: Mike earlier in the show revealed
himself to be repugnantly conniving, urging his tribe to consume egg laying
chickens they had won, rather than pace themselves living off the eggs. He let
only the camera know his motivation -- that he and his hunting skills would be
more needed as soon as the tribe was starving again. Thus Mike is unlikely to
be an audience favorite.)
The rest of the tribe show up and we all see the dead pig. Nick, who
helped corner the pig and has watched the killing says, with no look of
pleasure, "It was gross, it was very gross and brutal."
Elisabeth, arriving, exclaims, "Oh my God, this is like a murder
scene." She wails, hand over mouth, "Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my
God!"
That's how I feel every time I am invited to my family's house and see what's
for dinner. But when is the last time you saw a reaction like that to a carcass
on television? All I ever see is people salivating over cooked animal
parts.
When was the last time any connection was made on television between the
"meat" eaten by millions of viewers every day, and each sentient
being whose life was taken for a meal? Forgive my answer, but I think it was
during the last season of Survivor, when there was a spirited discussion about
the ethics of
wanting to eat chicken without having to face the execution.
Moreover, early in this week's episode, Colby, who has also been hunting for a
pig says, "I am bound and determined to put pork on the plate before I
leave this place."
Pork - live pig. How rarely I see or hear that connection made in the
media.
I am going to share with you a seminal moment in my childhood. We sat down to
the dinner table, where foods such as hamburgers, hot dogs ("Not real
dogs, sweetheart," my mother would explain) and spare ribs were served
nightly. But this night my mother announced a treat -- we were having duck.
Oddly, duck meat has no euphemistic name. The food one eats goes by the name of
the living animal. I couldn't believe my ears. "Not ... not...
ducky?" I asked in horror. I left the table in tears. Yes, I continued to
eat meat through my youth -- even duck once -- but I know a seed was planted
that day. As soon as I had my own kitchen my meals became increasingly, and
finally exclusively, vegetarian.
I hope a lot of children saw Survivor last night. I hope it saves the lives of
a lot of pigs down the line.
"Don't we need to worry about viewers seeing scenes like this and becoming
desensitized to animal suffering?" On the contrary - I think it is safe to
say viewers are entirely desensitized to the suffering of animals they see
eaten on television shows every day. People don't like to make the connection
between
"meat" and animals. Any reminder is a good one.
"Isn't there a difference in killing a pig for food, or as on Survivor,
killing for entertainment?" No. For one thing the pig on Survivor was
eaten -- he was food. More importantly, countless studies published in every
major medical journal have shown that vegetarians are healthier and live
significantly longer than those who eat meats such as pork on a regular basis.
Thus, the mass consumption of pigs by a largely obese society is based not on
health or need but on pleasure; I'd call that entertainment. It is a form of
entertainment responsible for the hideous lives and agonizing deaths of
billions of animals every year.
I found the pig slaughter scene no more offensive than the bacon burger ad I
saw earlier in the evening. The advertisement had a grave effect on not
one but probably millions of animals.
For me, one of the most offensive parts of the show was Kimmi the
"vegetarian" reacting to the pig slaughter (vegetarian is in quotes
because she eats fish): "I cannot deal with you people. What is
wrong with you? This is a sick tribe."
Excuse me? I am vegan, and I am not calling Kimmi sick because she eats fish.
And for the first eighteen years of my life I ate meat and I wasn't sick. Like most people, I avoided making the
connection between the consumption of meat and animal suffering. As I started
making that connection, I moved towards vegetarianism. Who knows, perhaps a few
episodes of Survivor would have moved me there more quickly.
Despite my disappointment with Kimmi's attitude, I was delighted that the
producers chose to include a "vegetarian" on this round of Survivor.
I am aware that this choice was probably spurred by the mass protest the show
received last season from animal rights people. That is why I am not
discouraging any of you from protesting the animal killings if you are so
moved. Survivor does offer an excellent
opportunity to publicize our cause; most of the animal advocacy groups have jumped
on the bandwagon.
It might have been a good political move for DawnWatch to do the same. However, as one who believes that our cause
is advanced rather than thwarted by images connecting meat to animal suffering,
I could not, in good faith, protest what I have seen of Survivor. I hope you
now understand my choice, regardless of whether or not it will be yours.
After all, a wide range of tactics focused on the same goal will make our
movement blossom and grow.
Yours and the animals,
Karen Dawn
www.DawnWatch.com
(DawnWatch is an animal rights media watch that looks at animal issues in the
media and facilitates one click responses to the relevant media outlets. To subscribe to DawnWatch, email
KarenDawn@DawnWatch.com and tell me you'd like to receive alerts. If at
any time you find DawnWatch is not for you, just let me know via email and I'll
take you off the subscriber list immediately. If you forward or reprint
DawnWatch alerts, please include this tag line.)
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
The Politics of Puppies
by Reporter: Craig Cheatham, News 4
http://www.kmov.com/news/News_stories/NEWS_010209_politics_of_puppies.html
Near Rolla (KMOV) -- Missouri is the puppy mill
capital of the United States. Every year tens of thousands of Missouri
puppies are shipped to pet stores all over the country. News 4 has
uncovered disturbing information about the way Missouri inspects those kennels.
"The expressions that you see on the faces of some of these animals are
haunting," says former USDA inspector Marshall Smith.
The front line in the war on puppy mills keeps moving from backyard kennels to
cyberspace. Kim Townsend uses the internet to collect tips and trace
records then posts them on her website nopuppymills.com. "It's
almost become an addiction," says Townsend.
Her addiction is attracting unprecedented attention from the Department of
Agriculture. At a meeting of the Missouri Pet Breeders last year, G.A. Salmon,
the head of the state inspection office challenged 300 breeders to not let one
woman ruin the industry.
"Now you know our friend on the internet and I use that term loosely...
this is a lady who says she's going to put you all out of business. Let
us not let a few people put you out of business," said Salmon. At
the same meeting people distributed letters with Kim Townsend's phone number,
address and a map to her home. Salmon's boss, Dr. John Hunt, the Director
of Missouri's Animal Health Division, sees nothing wrong with Salmon's
actions. "I've got full confidence in G.A.. I hired him and I take
full responsibility for hiring him," says Hunt.
Missouri has more than one thousand animal breeders licensed by the Federal
government, one out of every three puppy mills in the entire country. Why do we have so many? Former federal
inspector Marshall Smith says puppy mills are easy to run, can be very
profitable, and the state does a poor job policing them. "I've seen
dogs covered with mange at kennels that had flawless inspection reports,"
says Smith. We examined dozens of the worst cases in Missouri history.
The state Department of Agriculture never fined the owners a penny, never took
away their state licenses.
In the same cases, the USDA suspended or revoked the federal licenses and
handed out thousands of dollars in fines. "They have twice as much
time and manpower as we do," says Dr. Hunt. Marshall Smith says
they're protecting the industry. Smith says inspectors often overlook repeated
violations.
One kennel, owned by Glen Wilson, is licensed by the USDA and Missouri
Department of Agriculture. "The kennel has no shelter for the
animals, the metal cages are rusty and have sharp edges," says
Smith. The dogs appear to have no protection from the cold. One of
the men on the property drags a dog by the neck and slings it into a pen.
Four months before our visit, Missouri inspector Tom Hawley made only one
observation: all dogs needed to be identified. No mention of eight-foot
tall weeds, or any other problems identified by Marshall Smith.
Breeding is in the blood of Tom Hawley and G.A. Salmon. They owned kennels
before becoming inspectors. Now, the same facilities are in their wives' names.
Hawley is also a regional President of the Missouri Pet Breeders Association.
The USDA calls that a conflict of interest, Dr. Hunt does not.
The state's growing interest in Kim Townsend intensified last year.
Investigators accused her of buying and selling dogs without a license.
They never charged her or required her to get a license. But in her eyes the
message is clear.
Based on information uncovered by News 4, Dr. Hunt has reassigned G. A. Salmon
and Tom Hawley to jobs that no longer allow them to inspect puppy mills.
In our interview Dr. Hunt promised to checkout complaints about the Glen Wilson
kennel "quickly." Hunt told us he has the utmost confidence in
Marshall Smith's observations, but the Department of Agriculture still hasn't
found the time to visit the kennel.
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
VRG's Annual Essay Contest
For Students 18 and Under
from Vegetarian Resource Center - VeggieVeggie@NetZero.net
An
essay contest for students 18 and under is being sponsored by the Vegetarian
Resource Group. First prize in each of three categories is a $50 savings
bond. Categories are: age 8 and under, 9 to 13 and 14 to 18.
Entrants should write a two- to three-page essay on any aspect of vegetarianism
or veganism.
Vegetarianism is not eating meat, fish and fowl. Vegans are vegetarians who do
not eat such animal products as dairy or eggs.
Entries should be based on interviewing, research and/or personal opinion.
You need not be a vegetarian to enter.
Submissions should be postmarked by May 1.
Send entries to
The Vegetarian Resource Group, Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203.
Include your name, address, telephone number, grade, school and teacher's name.
For more information on vegetarianism, please visit www.vrg.org.
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
TVP in Hot Tangerine Sauce
from VegeTexan@aol.com
1
+ 1/2 cup dry textured vegetable protein chunks
juice of six tangerines
1 small onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
red pepper flakes
cashews
Reconstitute large TVP chunks in boiling water until soft. In a large
skillet combine tangerine juice, onion, bell pepper, garlic and hot red pepper
flakes to taste. Bring to a boil uncovered and then cook on medium heat
until juice is reduced to a sauce. Drain TVP and add to other
ingredients. Stir in a large handful of cashews and simmer until sauce is
a thick glaze.
To save work bottled pineapple/orange or other citrus juice can be used and
frozen vegan chiken nuggets can replace the tvp.
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
HSUS and FEMA Sign Historic Agreement
from - "L. French" - elf8000@juno.com
The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) have signed an historic agreement through FEMA's Project Impact
to assist communities and individuals to include animals in their disaster and
evacuation plans. This initiative will include cats, dogs, and other
companion animals as well as horses and livestock.
While animals have held a place in disaster planning for several years, the
recent FEMA/HSUS partnership will bring critical national attention to the
importance of protecting pets during times of natural and man-made disasters.
More than 60% of America's households include pets: a fact which underscores
the need for advanced disaster-related planning. HSUS will continue to
work in cooperation with FEMA and other organizations to promote the
incorporation of pets into individual and community disaster planning
initiatives.
Through their experience across the country, HSUS Disaster Teams have found
that strengthening the local response through emergency planning and education
is the best way to meet a community's needs during times of disaster.
HSUS will develop educational and partnership programs to encourage local
disaster preparedness and include the well-being of pets within the community
in disaster plans.
"The primary reason people choose not to evacuate their homes when asked
to do so by emergency management is because they feel they cannot take their
pets," stated Melissa Seide Rubin, HSUS Director of Disaster and Field
Services. "With this initiative, we will work with emergency
management agencies to create disaster plans that will include pets and assist
in developing guidelines for evacuation, options for animal sheltering, and
expanding our teams of volunteers to assist in disaster response across the
country."
In addition to working with emergency management agencies on local disaster preparedness
plans, HSUS is expanding animal disaster education programs for volunteers and
emergency management personnel. HSUS is in the process of developing
courses to train individuals and community groups in
areas such as animal search and rescue, emergency animal sheltering,
swift-water rescue, first aid, and animal handling skills.
To strengthen the network of disaster resources within a community, HSUS will
promote liaisons between community organizations, veterinary staff, pet owners,
and emergency management agencies to provide crucial elements of disaster
preparedness such as safe areas to shelter pets and identifying
sources of animal rescue equipment and personnel trained in animal rescue in
the case of a potential disaster. HSUS will work with pet and animal
publications and associations to educate pet owners about the elements and the
importance of disaster planning and preparedness for their animals.
"It is important for people to understand that disasters occur more
frequently than just hurricanes and earthquakes. Disasters can strike in
the form of hazardous materials spills, train derailments, and house
fires. Pet owners need to be prepared," explained Rubin.
"It is our goal to provide outlets for
the pet-owning public to access useful emergency planning information and
partnership links so they can be better prepared to provide proper care for
their pets in disaster situations."
Lisa Munniksma at The Trueman Communications Group
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
New Book by Tom Regan
from: Dietrich Haugwitz - dvh@mindspring.com
Tom
Regan's long awaited new book, DEFENDING ANIMAL RIGHTS, is now available.
Tom Regan, universally recognized as the intellectual leader of the animal
rights movement, presents a historically important, multifaceted discussion of
some responses to the question, "Do animals have rights?" ...
Addressing key issues in this sometimes acrimonious debate, Regan responds
thoughtfully to his critics while dismantling the conception that "all and
only" human beings are worthy of the moral status that is the basis of
rights. ...
For full details, table of contents, and ordering instructions, please visit
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/s01/regan.html
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
McDonald's Fries
from - Elizabeth G. Morin - egmorin@learnlink.emory.edu
Perhaps
this isn't news to you, but I for one did not know anything about this and am
completely devastated about the loss of McDonald's fries from my diet. But I
thought those of you who are vegetarians should know and we should all work
together to get McD's to stop using animal flavoring in its fries.
Here is an excerpt from an article posted at http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/2001/01/schlosser2.htm
The McDonald's Corporation most likely drew on these advances when it
eliminated beef tallow from its french fries. The company will not reveal the
exact origin of the natural flavor added to its fries. In response to inquiries
from Vegetarian Journal, however, McDonald's did acknowledge that its fries
derive some of their characteristic flavor from "an animal source."
Beef is the probable source, although other meats cannot be ruled out. In
France, for example, fries are sometimes cooked in duck fat or horse tallow.
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
Wolf Dreams
by Mari Van-Katwyk - GarnetWulf2@aol.com
Intense beautiful eyes
Gaze over the landscape,
What does the exquisite
Wolf see?
The hunter that tracks her
relentlessly,
To slaughter her and the pups
She will bring forth at the
Next full moon.
Or does the shewolf
See a place of beauty and peace.
and a safe haven for her
and her cubs.
A land where they can grow
and frolic and run free
In the forest, and howl at the moon,
In joyful anticipation of being.
She closes her lovely eyes
And dreams of a world
Where she can live
Without the fear of being
Hunted by viscous men.
*“`³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`*“`³¤³“`*:»«:*“`³¤³“`*:»³¤³“`*:»§«:*“`“`*:»«:*³¤³“`³¤³“`
Quote To Remember
"To
inflict cruelties on defenseless creatures, or condone such acts, is to abuse
one of the cardinal tenets of a civilized society - reverence for life.
~ Jon Evans (1917- )
«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»
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
«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»§«¤»„«¤»
(Permission Granted To Quote/Forward/Reprint/Repost This
Newsletter In
Whole Or In Part with credit given to EnglandGal@aol.com)
* Please forward this to a friend who you think
might be interested in subscribing to our newsletter.
* ARO gratefully accepts and
considers articles for publication
from subscribers on veg*anism and animal issues.
Send submissions to JJswans@aol.com