A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue #
02/25/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MicheleARivera@aol.com
~ SavingLife@aol.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Animal Rights Theatre - Wall
International by Park StRanger@aol.com
2 ~ The Animals' Agenda Website
3 ~ What Are We Doing This For? by
KMBWolf@aol.com
4 ~ March of Crimes
5 ~ Anyone Have a Muzzle? by Marc Bekoff
6 ~ Not Dairy by Robert Cohen
7 ~ Elephant Crushes Trainer to Death in Moscow
8 ~ Executioner of Olde
9 ~ Quote To Remember
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Animal Rights Theatre - Wall International
by Park StRanger@aol.com
The
literary and performing arts are wonderful ways to raise awareness of animal
issues. It is easy to see the influence of movies like Bambi, Babe and
Chicken Run. It was a fictional novel, Upton Sinclair's The Jungle
(1906), which prompted government investigation of meatpacking plants and
reformed the food laws of that time. Works of poetry and music have
inspired many to live more compassionately. Live theatre is also a
powerful vehicle for spreading our animal concerns.
Norman Wall is an English playwright who has formed touring groups in England
and Sweden. While in Sweden he worked with the Nordic Society For The
Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals in a theatrical capacity and was engaged by
the Swedish Animal Ombudsman to write, direct and participate in theatre
activities as a means to increase awareness of animal rights issues.
He has written several children's plays that concern animal rights and
environmental issues. One of them, Billy the Bear, was performed by The
Norwegian National Theatre. My favorite piece by Wall is The Litterbug,
in which the title character learns respect for nature from friendly forest
creatures, and that littering not only messes up the environment, but also
endangers animals. Other titles include Minny the Mink (who escapes from
a fur farm), Charley the Chicken, The Green Elephant and several more which all
have happy endings for the animals and teach lessons about respecting the world
and it's inhabitants. All the plays feature opportunities for music, scenery,
makeup and costumes which can be as elaborate as you can fashion; or these
elements could be done very simply and still be effective.
Norman explains what motivates him- "By writing plays about these things,
I try to raise the understanding, the awareness of the rights of animals to
people around the world into making this world a better place for
animals. By giving animals their freedom, by treating them as living
creatures like
ourselves and by raising the status of animals, it follows that we also raise
the status of human life."
If you work with children, are an elementary school teacher or someone involved
in a children's theatre group you will want to check out Mr. Wall's website for
more information about producing his plays. A children's theatrical
production not only influences the audience, but also teaches and motivates the
young cast members who are involved. Any child who takes a part in such a
play and goes through the rehearsal process is likely to become an animal
advocate for life.
Wall International is dedicated to increasing the awareness of animal welfare
issues in the public mind. Learn more about the plays and also children's
books and music at
Animal Theatre
http://www.osonet.com/Animaltheatre
Wall international
http://www.wallinternational.com
children's
play for animal rights
http://www.animalfreedom.org/english/action/childrensplay.html
or email Norman Wall at wallinternational@hotmail.com for more information
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The Animals' Agenda Web Site
Go to www.animalsagenda.org to stay informed
about critical animal protection matters between issues of the magazine.
Packed with useful features, the site contains news and updates, tips for
taking effective action, an overview of the current issue as well as previously
published articles, a special
newcomers section, and much more. You can search our directory of animal
advocacy organizations and database of books and resources to find exactly what
you need to help you and help animals.
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What
Are We Doing This For?
by KMBWolf@aol.com
Why are we spending our hard earned money on
animals? Why are we spending our time protesting and going through ingredient
lists? What are we doing this for?
What about the hassle? The frustration? The constant insults from other people?
Don't we have better things to do?
Why are we breaking our backs for animals we will never see? What are we
doing this for?
The dogs? The cats? The mice? The rats? Perhaps.
The fox with a broken paw, struggling for life? The cow trapped in darkness,
waiting for the knife? Maybe.
The homeless kitten, softly mewing for a home? The motherless veal calf, crying
in his crate? I suppose...
The dolphin drowning alone in the net off the shore? The mouse suffocating on
the glue trap under a pantry shelf? Yes.
What are we doing this for? To stop their suffering and to stop their
death. That is what we strive for, and
that is what we'll do.
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March of Crimes
PETA
needs your help to convince the March of Dimes to stop funding cruel, worthless
experiments on animals. March of Dimes experimenters have sewn shut the
eyes of newborn kittens, then killed them after they had endured a year of
blindness; administered alcohol, nicotine, and cocaine to pregnant
and newborn animals; and performed other agonizing experiments on primates,
ferrets, sheep, and other animals.
The March of Dimes relies on donations from individuals who are unaware that
their contributions are being used to torture animals instead of helping
babies. Their single largest fundraiser is WalkAmerica, a series of
walk-a-thons held in every major U.S. city throughout April and May.
Your presence at the WalkAmerica event in your area is vital to educating March
of Dimes supporters about the charity's choices when it comes to deciding what
projects to fund. It is critical that caring activists encourage WalkAmerica
participants to designate their contributions for non-animal projects only,
like a birth-defect registry that could save countless babies' lives.
Please contact us at 757-622-7382, or via e-mail at JayK@PETA-online.org, as
soon as possible to arrange a peaceful, educational leafleting event at your
local WalkAmerica event, and visit www.MarchOfCrimes.com for more information.
Thank you for all you do for animals!
Jay M. Kelly, Coordinator
March of Dimes Campaign
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Anyone Have a Muzzle?
'Joking'
tome about dogs is nasty, unsupported by facts
by Marc Bekoff - bekoffm@spot.colorado.edu
http://www.bouldernews.com/livingarts/books/14edogz.html
The Truth About Dogs: An Inquiry Into the Ancestry, Social Conventions, Mental
Habits and Moral Fiber of Canis familiaris by Stephen Budiansky. Viking $24.95. 263 pp.
When I began reading "The Truth about Dogs" I thought that someone
was going to tell it like it is at last; that I was going to learn that the
beliefs people held about "humans' best friend" and the feelings
people have about the nature of the deep and reciprocal interrelationships
between dogs and humans would be shown true.
I was wrong. Rather, I learned through the tiresome use of cute phrases,
slippery writing, convoluted arguments, uncritical evaluations of data,
insulting statements about researchers with whom author Stephen Budiansky
disagrees, ignorance of the work of numerous scientists who have studied dog
behavior and sweeping over-generalizations that dogs are social parasites who
prey upon human frailties and insecurities.
According to Budiansky, a correspondent for the Atlantic Monthly who has
written previous books on animals, dogs are "biological freeloaders"
who "... have got us exactly where they want us, and we ... go along with
it all." He concludes that, "We didn't choose dogs. ... They chose
us, and we're stuck with them." Budiansky also claims that dogs are
constructed by the human need for connection and love and really don't do much
for humans other than to create an image that they really care. But he also notes
that "No one has actually done a study of this ..."
It would have served Budiansky and his readers better to wait for studies to be
conducted, for in their absence his claims are thoroughly vacuous. And,
in fact, there's much scientific evidence that shows that dogs are very
important to humans as social companions and for helping people heal from
physical and psychological illnesses.
Budiansky notes early on that he will likely engender the wrath of many
readers. Thus, he writes, "So let me hasten to add: I am joking.
Mostly." If so, then why a book at all?
But it becomes clear that Budiansky has an agenda that goes well beyond that of
writing off dogs as social parasites. For example, he wields a sharp scalpel
when he writes about an unnamed "pseudo-intellectual" feminist social
theorist who used ethological data to advise an American presidential
candidate to act like an "alpha male." Why is this
"pseudo-intellectualism," whereas Budiansky's own guesses, his own
pseudo-scientific views about the behavior of dogs, are not? There's a
disturbing double-standard here.
In his final sentence, he lays his thesis bare: "Lets face it: If dogs
truly were human they would be jerks. As dogs they are wonderful."
Personally, I wonder why individuals who unconditionally love others would be
called jerks.
All in all, Budiansky continually undermines his own credibility by using nasty
innuendo and arrogance. There's no reason to be insulting and nasty, especially
considering that no one, Budiansky included, really knows the truth about dogs.
Nobody reading this book will, either. Dogs are complex beings whose
psyches, moral fiber and behavior aren't easily understood. Unfortunately, an
uncritical reading will lead readers to draw numerous unfounded conclusions
that are presented as if they're hard-and-fast facts.
Budiansky's high-profile book, like ill-prepared fast-food, is a major
disappointment.
Marc Bekoff (marc.bekoff@colorado.edu) teaches in EPO Biology at the
University of Colorado. He has studied dogs and their wild relatives for over
25 years.
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Not Dairy
by Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com
The current issue of Hoard's Dairyman (January 5,
2001, vol. 146, no. 2, p. 50), interviews dairymen for their methods as to how
they produce quality milk. Industry secrets teach naive milk consumers
things that they would rather not know.
** Matt and Karl Hendel, Minnesota Dairymen reveal:
"Cows are prepped four at a time. First, we use a dry cloth to wipe
off all the manure and sand on the teat base, teat, and teat end. Next,
we dip each teat twice...After dipping, a gloved hand is used to work the dip
into any manure left on the teat and teat end."
(Doesn't that make you want to drink directly from the udder?)
** Patti and Dean Tohl, Oregon dairy farmers, do the following:
"Cows are dry wiped to remove any loose dirt or shavings, stripped, dipped
with iodine, scrubbed, and then redipped."
** Vester and Alma Lou Manning (Virginia dairy farmers) use this
painful technique:
"We feel keeping cow's udders clipped is key number one. Infected
cows are milked last in separate container."
(Who gets to drink the milk from the infected cows?)
** Rick and Bernie Corcoran from Batavia, New York mean business! Business means showing little or no
compassion to their cows:
"We feel culling is a top priority role in producing quality milk.
Our cull rate is 25 to 30 percent."
(Culling means sending sick or non producing cows to the slaughterhouse.
The Corcorans replace 25-30 percent of their cows each year).
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE COWS
Perhaps the Corcoran brothers will read a story appearing on page 52 of the
same issue:
THE DO'S AND DONT'S OF CATTLE TRANSPORT
These quotes come from the article:
"Cattle in transit are really stressed."
"One rest stop every 24 to 30 hours is enough."
"Be sure to give proper preventive medicine for shipping fever."
"Yelling at and beating animals makes them difficult to handle."
"If properly used, and electric prod or hotshot is effective in moving
animals."
"Avoid overcrowding...give pregnant animals in the third trimester more
space."
"In cold weather, cattle can be loaded tighter than in hot weather."
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Elephant Crushes Trainer to
Death in Moscow
from: SimonChai@aol.com
MOSCOW,
Feb 22 (Reuters) - An elephant crushed its trainer to death after a performance
at a Moscow theatre, employees said on Thursday.
Two employees at Durov's Little Corner, a small animal theatre named after a
famous family of circus performers, said trainer Alexander Terekhov had been
crushed to death in the elephant's pen after the evening's performance.
"We're still investigating the incident," one of the employees, who
did not give his name, told Reuters.
Interfax news agency said ambulance workers had confirmed the incident.
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Executioner of Olde
by Diana Moreton - tapster@mindspring.com
Like executioner of olde
he leads the ragged, gentle giant
around and around and around
Medieval citizens echo hushed remarks
dead eyes roll in giant's head
elephant spirit crushed long ago
Birds chirp as waves slap nearby
giant calls to mother and mate
returns a sacred sound
Invisible call, invisible bond
never beaten with ankus
by Executioner of Olde
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Quote
To Remember
"The
man who has become a thinking being feels a compulsion to give every
will-to-live the reverence for life that he gives his own.
~ Dr
Albert Sweitzer (1875-1965)
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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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