A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue # 05/20/01
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE NINE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ Vegan Rights by Park
StRanger@aol.com
2 ~ In Memory of My Best Friend, Dos: 1986-2001
by Dr. Steve Best
3 ~ Anytime You Think You're Not Making a Difference...
4 ~ Free Books
5 ~ May 26, 2001 Protest
6 ~ Killing Farm Animals & Humans from
Robert Cohen
7 ~ McDonald's Secret Sauce
8 ~ A Tribute To Andy
9 ~ Memorable Quote
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Vegan Rights
by Park StRanger@aol.com
The
National Park where I work is on the border of Mexico, therefore I am exposed
to a constant barrage of images I find offensive. In addition to the
typical ads for rodeos, circuses and the usual distasteful fast death
restaurant promos we all have to face, I see a continuous stream of
"artwork" of
cockfights and bullfights. Some of this smut is even displayed in our
park's art gallery. I have always complained whenever this has occurred
but today a new image made my blood pressure climb.
A coworker ranger had taped paper cutouts of matadors to his office door.
Once again, not expecting any satisfaction, I complained to my boss. You
should understand that my boss ridicules vegetarianism and AR, has had
angioplasty and is on medication because of his lifelong weekly habit of veal
parmesan which he lovingly refers to as "baby cow covered with it's own
mother's milk."
Nevertheless, I told my boss that I was offended by images which promote
violence to animals and that I wanted him to tell this other person under his
supervision to take them down, that such images also glorify acts which are
illegal in this country. "I can't tell someone of Mexican descent to
take down
pictures of his cultural heritage," he told me. "If you are
offended by mere symbols, then the problem is yours not his."
I replied, "So if I put a confederate flag over my desk, a symbol of my
southern heritage, I wouldn't have a problem, and you wouldn't have a
problem. My black coworkers would have the problem, right?"
Somehow my logic failed to convince him. I was forced to tell him that I
would pursue this to the next level of complaining. He smilingly said to
go ahead and take it to his boss, Maria, lets call her. I think Maria
will understand my complaint if I calmly present my case, in spite of her cultural
heritage, but my boss advised me that I would be making a fool of myself if I
made a big deal about this.
I've been told I should find some other park to work at where there is less
animal abuse for entertainment as a part of "cultural
heritage." I have even been told I could leave the Park Service if I
didn't want to wear the leather uniform belt. Sounds a lot like Love it
or Leave it.
Vegans need some basic rights. We should be afforded some of the same
rights which have been extended to other minority groups. But here in
Texas, vegans are fanatics not a legitimate minority group. I have often
considered saying that I practice Jainism to be able to say that animal abuse
offends my religious beliefs, and therefore I have some legal protections.
It is so close to the truth.
We all deserve the right to a positive workplace. In the same way that
women shouldn't be subjected to sexism, in the same way that no one should be
subjected to racism or religious persecution, vegans shouldn't have to put up
with jokes about their personal beliefs. They should not have to submit
to any action nor be forced to participate in any action which violates their
ethics. Thus we come again full circle, animal rights equals human
rights.
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In Memory of My Best Friend,
Dos: 1986-2001
by Dr. Steve Best - sbest1@elp.rr.com
I first arrived in Austin, Texas in 1987, by way
of Chicago. The following year, I decided to rent a house in the charming Hyde
Park area of town. Since I have been a
cat lover my entire life, it was not a problem when the current tenant told me
the house came with a cat. With great interest, I asked where he was, and the tenant
escorted me to the back porch. There,
sleeping on the middle step was the most massive and magnificent cat I have
ever seen. It was love at first sight.
The cat was two years old, with a dense gray and brown coat, and freakishly
large paws that made him look like an escapee from the island of Dr. Moreau.
One could easily mistake this gentle giant for a wild bobcat or a raccoon, as
did many frightened people. Only months later did I learn that he was a Maine
Coon, a particularly large, gorgeous, and intelligent breed of cat whose
origins are surrounded by fascinating myths and folklore.
He was named after Theodosius, the last emperor of a united Roman empire, a
rather violent fellow intolerant of any religious preference but orthodox
Christianity. I cannot take blame for this abominable name (although he
certainly carried the air of a proud tyrant), but fortunately he also had a
nickname, "Dos," appropriate enough since he was big enough for two
cats. For the next 13 years, Dos was my constant companion, my confidant, my
shadow. Through every book I have written, Dos was always
there with me, lying on stacks of papers, helping me get through the drudgery.
I soon learned how intelligent and special he was within the first week of my
privilege to be his caretaker. One day, after walking a couple of blocks to the
bus stop, I noticed that Dos had followed me the entire way, and I had to turn
around and lock him in the house. Otherwise, he was determined to
ride with me on the bus. Soon, I realized that following me down the street was
a habit with Dos, and so every night after midnight we adopted the custom of
taking a long walk together through the town, with no dog ever able to
intimidate him. Sometimes during the day, to the delight of all onlookers, we
would actually jog together for a block or two until one of us tired.
Dos had lots of quirky habits, like quacking instead of meowing, drinking out
of the bathtub, sleeping on his back with all four paws extended in the air,
and purposely knocking keys and books off my desk at night until I let him go
outside (I observed him doing this many times at 3 or 4 a.m. as I pretended to
be asleep). I also noticed how much he liked to ride in the car, and he put his
paws up on the dashboard to look out the window excitedly. Dos had this act
down way before "Toons," the cat from Saturday Night Live. Unlike
most cats, Dos liked to ride in the car for relaxation, and I often took him
with me on errands around town. In size, intelligence and many habits, Dos was
like a dog (or Roman emperor), enough to make me wonder about reincarnation.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Dos played a major role in my dating
life as a happily single bachelor. For whenever I spoke to women about him,
they always wanted to meet him and I never had to say, "So, want to go
back to my place to listen to some music?" Like an overprotective parent,
Dos always could sort out the good from the bad, and any prospective girlfriend
both had to receive his approval and to absolutely adore him (and yes,
sometimes he got the bulk of attention and affection!).
One unfortunate visitor was greeted with a roaring hiss. As always, Dos was
right; that one just didn't work out.
When I finished my PhD and took a job at the University of Texas, El Paso, Dos
drove with me the whole way, sitting in the front seat of a clunky U-Haul van.
He never uttered a quack, but after an hour or so knew it was no ordinary ride
and that we were leaving Austin for good. We moved so many times together,
dislocation had become routine, and he always excitedly explored his new
surroundings. Dos never strayed far from home base unless we were walking
together. Whenever he was AWOL, a quick whistle always brought him into sight
within 15 seconds.
This summer Dos turned 15. During the last two years, he began to move a little
more slowly, ambling ponderously across the landscape like a Brontosaurus.
Still, I thought this King of Beasts would last forever and outlive me.
Yet with a horrible, unexpected suddenness, my delusion was shattered. A couple
of months ago, I noticed he was gasping for breath. I rushed him to the vet and
got the terrible news: Dos was seriously sick with cancerous tumors in his
lungs. I brought him home, which became a hospice, and we began to make our
final peace and loving gestures with each other. Two weeks ago, Dos left the
world. He died on the vet's table, his head cradled in my hands, fighting for
the breath his weak body could no longer give him.
Through the years, I have lost many animals and family members, but oddly
enough, I have never seen anything living die. To watch the being I loved most,
my best friend in the whole world, take his last breath right before me, to
hear the death rattle in his lungs, to see him writhe and struggle for a life
he was not ready to give up, was unbearably painful. I could not stop the
torrent of tears as I hugged his lifeless body in my arms and kissed his
massive head.
Only a fellow animal lover could make sense of the claim that an animal -- not
a human -- could be one's best friend. After all, skeptics would say, Dos
didn't talk to me, didn't tell me he loved me, never thanked me for anything I
ever did. How naively, myopically wrong. Animals do not need human language to
communicate to us and express their deep love and appreciation; they do just
fine with sounds, gestures, and unfathomably deep eyes. In fact, they do
better, since they never lie and their faithfulness is unfailing.
When my human friends who understood what I was going through expressed
sympathies over my loss, I replied, "Dos was family -- only closer."
Grief over the loss of a beloved animal can be deeper than that over a friend
or family member, since typically we spend more time with our animals and our
love for them is more pure and unconditional. I never could understand what
Gandhi and others meant when they spoke of unconditional love until I put it in
the context of what I feel for nonhuman animals. No matter how many times Dos
broke glass bowls, knocked over lamps, or clawed the furniture, anger never
tainted the pure force of love. The
challenge is applying this kind of peaceful attitude to the two-legged animal
known as Ego Maximus. And that is where I usually fall short. But if I see
humans as having tails, pointy ears, and whiskers, I sometimes do better.
No one who met Dos could help but love him. Time and time again, the most
ardent cat haters were won over his charm, personality, and often cranky
independence. Strangers would stop and take pictures of him, and then give them
to me later, as is the case with the first picture link below.
Dos and I went through everything together, good times and bad. He was always
there for me; and now he is gone forever, irreplaceably gone. I loved him as
much as any love could possibly be given. I take comfort in how we enriched
each other's lives and our friendship crossed species boundaries.
And so, Dos, I offer these words that we never needed in your memory. Goodbye, my wonderful friend, I will never
forget you …
http://utminers.utep.edu/best/pics/01.jpg
http://utminers.utep.edu/best/pics/02.jpg
http://utminers.utep.edu/best/pics/03.jpg
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Anytime You Think You're Not
Making a Difference...
From: Artemisd123@hotmail.com
SOURCE: Fund for Animals
Recent
Victories for Animals: Keep this list for inspiration!
* North Carolina grand jury handed down first ever felony animal abuse
indictment against pig farmers.
* The Smithsonian canceled plans for a foie gras celebration due to pressure
from many animal groups and celebrities.
* European government Farm Ministers signed an agreement banning battery cages
for hens (taking effect in 2012).
* President Clinton signed HR1887, barring the Internet sale of "crush
videos."
* New York passed a bill elevating intentional and extreme animal cruelty to a
felony offense.
* New Mexico, Maryland, Maine, Virginia and Nevada enacted laws to allow courts
to order psychological counseling for animal abusers.
* Tennessee, Louisiana and North Carolina enacted animal-friendly vehicle
license plate programs to benefit spay/neuter efforts.
* National Institutes of Health banned the use of mice in monoclonal antibody
production, saving the lives of up to one million mice each year, and admitted
that animals feel "pain, distress or discomfort."
* Twenty-one chimps, formerly owned by the Air Force and then awarded to the
Coulston Foundation for research, will instead be retired to a Florida
sanctuary.
* Nationwide protests dramatically altered the Environmental Protection
Agency's HPV industrial chemical testing program, reducing the number of
animals used from 1.3 million to 500,000, saving the lives and torture of
800,000 animals.
* Colgate-Palmolive declared an "immediate and voluntary moratorium on all
animal testing of its personal care products designed for adults and the
ingredients used in those products." (Moderator's Note: And P&G is
working with PETA, DDAL & other AR Groups to incorporate ICCVAM
"Alternatives" wording into certain federal laws.)
* Mary Kay Cosmetics signed an agreement pledging not to use animals to test
its products or to buy ingredients from companies that do, becoming the largest
company to so pledge.
* The New Zealand Parliament banned the use of all great apes in research,
testing or teaching "unless such use is in the best interests of the
nonhuman hominid" or his/her species.
* The nation of Slovakia banned all cosmetic tests on animals after a
three-year campaign by Slovakian animal protection groups.
* Pepsi withdrew its sponsorship of Mexican bullfighting events and ordered all
its signs removed from bullfighting arenas.
* Oregon passed the strongest law in the country banning "canned
hunts" of exotic mammals in any enclosed area, irrespective of the size of
the enclosure.
* The Hegins (Pennsylvania) pigeon shoot was permanently canceled after a
15-year campaign by animal protection groups and a ruling by the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court.
* Sears ended sponsorship of Ringling Bros. circus after a disastrous year of
animal-related incidents, including the death of Kenny, a baby elephant.
* Redmond, Washington's City Council unanimously banned exotic animal acts.
* Alexandria, Virginia's City Council voted to deny permission for Clyde
Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus to perform there (they will now consider a complete
ban on all circuses and animal acts).
* A Sacramento jury convicted two cockfighters of felony animal cruelty,
marking the first time the California cruelty to animal statute was used to
prosecute cockfighting promoters.
* Another Sacramento jury sentenced a pit bull trainer/dogfighting promoter to
seven years in prison, the longest dogfighting sentence ever in the nation.
* Bunny the elephant, after 45 years of living in solitary confinement in
Indiana, and Sissy, the elephant, after public airing of a videotape involving
her beating at the El Paso Zoo, were both transferred to an elephant sanctuary.
* The Arizona Fish and Game Commission voted 3-2 on the side of animal
protection advocates to ban the contest killing of coyotes, prairie dogs and
other wildlife. The ban was overturned by the Governor's Regulatory Review
Council but the Fish and Game Commission voted 4-1 to resubmit the rule for
consideration.
* Southwest Airlines removed Outdoor Life magazine from its airplanes due to
complaints from passengers about hunting articles.
* Hasbro and USAOPOLY agreed to stop manufacturing "Iditarod
Monopoly."
* France became the final member of the European Union to ratify the Treaty of
Amsterdam, recognizing animals as sentient beings capable of feeling fear and
pain, and of enjoying themselves when well treated. (The EU must now "pay full regard to the welfare requirements
of animals" when formulating policies on agriculture, transport, research
and internal trade.)
* San Francisco and Boulder, Colorado adopted new language referring to animal
"guardians" rather than "owners," thus recognizing
companion animals as more than objects.
* Montgomery, New Jersey Township passed an ordinance prohibiting electric
prods at its annual benefit rodeo. Johnson & Johnson, the top supporter of
the rodeo, dropped its sponsorship. Coca Cola has also dropped its
sponsorship of rodeos and those who support rodeos.
* Estes Park, Colorado voters passed a ballot initiative banning the caging of
animals for exhibition, thus defeating the proposed "plexiglass zoo"
and also prohibiting zoos and most circus acts.
* Israel banned animal experiments in junior high and high schools, including
dissection, after animal rights advocates worked for years and provided
information to the Israeli Minister of Education.
* Harvard and Georgetown law schools began teaching classes on animal
law. The first Animal Law casebook was published.
* Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine became the first veterinary
school to eliminate dog labs.
* Congress substantially increased funding for enforcement of the Animal
Welfare Act.
* San Diego and Houston banned "pound seizure" (stopped selling
shelter animals to research laboratories).
* Major British supermarkets withdrew "exotic meat" from their
shelves.
* Meat alternatives became increasingly more popular and more available at
supermarkets and restaurants in the U.S. and worldwide.
* Congress directed the National Institutes of Health in its appropriations
bill to stop using animals from random-source "B dealers."
* Congress took the first ever vote on trapping with the House of
Representatives voting overwhelmingly to ban leghold traps in National Wildlife
Refuges; the Senate defeated the measure.
* The Queen's Speech in the British Parliament vowed to abolish fur farms.
* The Food and Drug Administration approved Cenestin, a plant-based estrogen
replacement that can be used instead of Premarin (the drug made from the urine
of pregnant mares).
Thank you for each and every single thing you did towards to help achieve these
victories for animals. Every small action we take becomes part of a larger
breakthrough!
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world...indeed, it is the only thing that ever has!"
-- Margaret Mead
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Free Books
from Trevor Chin - tmchin@yahoo.com
Two excellent books have recently become
available for free download from the authors' websites.
* Vegan: the new ethics of eating is available at http://www.vegan.com
* Mad Cow USA: could the nightmare happen here? is available at
http://www.prwatch.org/books/madcow.html
Check them out if you haven't already
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May 26, 2001 Protest
from Donald Barnes - DBARNES1@satx.rr.com
Saturday,
May 26th, is not only Memorial Day weekend, but is also the beginning of Marine
Animal Protection Week. What better time to protest on behalf of
dolphins?
Your help is needed to pressure Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi, Texas,
into giving up their plans to dig a pit for dolphin. Recent experiments
done with mirrors has proven that dolphin are self-aware, and keeping them
captive in sterile aquarium tanks instead of the freedom of their natural ocean
home is undoubtedly cruel. Texas State Aquarium (TSA) has not yet reached
their funding goals, but tentative plans are to break ground this fall.
The protest will be held from 11:30 AM until 2 PM and we will meet at the
street entrance to TSA. We will have a rental truck (8 by 12 foot sign)
on the street in certain view of visitors to the aquarium. We are still
working on the message, but it will be "Boycott TSA" or
"Exploiting dolphin for dollars," etc.
We will have a 50-foot houseboat in the bay immediately behind TSA and easily
visible from the shore. The boat will be fitted with an even larger sign
and will have a speaker system on board to allow clear messages to be sent
across the water to the aquarium.
An airplane out of Houston will circle over the aquarium from 11:30 AM to 1:00
PM trailing a banner which reads, "TSA DOLPHIN will suffer 4 $$$"
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Killing Farm Animals &
Humans
from Robert Cohen - i4crob@earthlink.net
Ex-Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey has been in the
news this recently. Kerrey was a Navy Seal in Viet Nam, and participated
in a 1969 incident in Thanh Phong in which thirteen women and children were
massacred. The slaughter continues to haunt Kerrey.
What I find remarkable is Kerrey's attempt to rationalize the horror of war by
relating his experience to a routine farm practice. A few minutes ago,
while catching up on my reading, I came across this quote which appeared on
page 133 of the New York Times Magazine Section, April 29, 2001:
"Around the farm, there is an activity that no one likes to do. Yet
it is sometimes necessary. When a cat gives birth to kittens that aren't
needed, the kittens must be destroyed. And there is a moment when you are
holding a kitten under the water when you know that if you bring that kitten
back above the water it will live, and if you don't bring it back in that
instant the kitten will be dead. This, for me, is a perfect metaphor for
those dreadful moments in war when you do not quite do what you previously
thought you would do."
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McDonald's Secret Sauce
from Trevor Chin - tmchin@yahoo.com
McDonald's
has been preflavoring their french fries with BEEF for many, many years!
They claimed that they never said their fries were vegetarian. This is a
major infraction upon us vegetarians who may have purchased their fries since
they have always touted frying them in vegetable oil.
There is currently a lawsuit imposed by people of India against McDonald's.
Many Indians have a reverence for cows and are devout vegetarians. It is
our duty as vegetarians to boycott McDonald's, write letters both to McDonald's
and the media, and if possible join in on the lawsuit!
McDonald's Corporation
5200 Town Center Circle, Suite 600
Boca Raton, FL 33486
www.mcdonalds.com
On the following website, you can voice your
opinion:
VeggieFries
http://www.veggiefries.org/mclies.htm#accounts
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A Tribute to Andy
by Carol Ann J. - St. Petersburg, Florida
I read your story again last night
And I grieved.
I cried for the torture and the pain you felt
I cried for the fear in your heart
And the confusion in your mind
And for the relief that death must have brought to your body.
I read your story again last night
And I got angry
I was angry at the people who did this to you
I was angry at the people who supported them
And at the people who turned the other way
And at the darkness in their hearts and souls.
I read your story again last night
And I grew fearful
I was afraid of what mankind was becoming
I was afraid of what tomorrow would bring
And who was going to be hurt next
And for the world that seems to know only violence
You had a name. It was Andy.
You had a life
It was taken away.
Brutally, senselessly, shamelessly.
You breathed, you bled, you feared, you died.
Feelings and experiences exactly as those of humans
Inflicted by humans, watched by humans, heard by humans
I read your story again last night
And I grew hopeful
I hope the eyes and the ears of the world are now open
I hope that hearts will become full of compassion
I hope that your suffering was not in vain
I hope that the death of a boar named Andy will change the world
Or at least the way it thinks
Watch on, from your safe place.
Safe from fear, safe from harm
And know you mattered..........
[Editor's Note: Andy was the boar that was so cruelly castrated and then
killed for a "shock jock" radio show's brand of
"entertainment."]
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Memorable Quote
"It is totally unconscionable to subject defenseless animals to mutilation
and death, just so a company can be the first to market a new shade of nail
polish or a new, improved laundry detergent … It’s cruel, it’s brutal, it’s
inhumane, and most people don't want it."
~ Abigail "Dear
Abby" Van Buren
(Testifying before the House
Judiciary Committee in support
of the
Consumer Products Safe Testing Act, March 1988)
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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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