A n i m
a l W r i t e s © sm
The
official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Publisher ~ EnglandGal@aol.com
Issue #
06/10/01
Editor
~ JJswans@aol.com
Journalists ~ Park StRanger@aol.com
~ MichelleRivera1@aol.com
~ sbest1@elp.rr.com
THE TEN ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ I Didn't Know
2 ~ SHARK's Tiger Truck
3 ~ Bonzai Kitties
4 ~ Rolling Black Out - June 21
5 ~ .....then humans arrived
6 ~ PeTA's Hoof & Mouth Comments
7 ~ Bottle Feeders Needed
8 ~ SPCA Warning
9 ~ For Wreathe
10 ~ Memorable Quote
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I Didn't Know
from The Animals' Agenda - March 1990
found at www.AnimalConcerns.org
Near the beginning of July [1990] there was an
article in a Halifax newspaper about a 61-year-old Nova Scotia fisherman who
bludgeoned an endangered leatherback turtle caught in his mackerel net. The
animal was struck 6 times on the head with a hammer and paddle and dragged to
shore, where he was cut loose and swam back to sea, badly injured. "I
didn't know you weren't supposed to kill it," was what the fisherman was
quoted as saying in his defense.
People like the fisherman abound in this world. It causes me to wonder how they
grow up from infancy and childhood, when affection and empathy for animals is
greatest, to an adulthood in which killing is the first or only answer when
faced with a conflict with an animal. As soon as a child is born, someone will
inevitably pop a brand new stuffed animal into the bassinet to welcome the new
arrival. Often these stuffed animals are not just toys to the child -- they're
friends who provide protection and good
counsel. Added to the animal toys are the unlimited children's stories with
animals as central characters -- animals who teach children right from wrong
along with manners, kindness, and fairness.
Then one day the child comes home and asks if it's true what the teacher said,
that hamburger comes from cows who are killed and that the red stuff you always
said was "just part of the meat" is really blood. And he is told not
to worry about it; that's what the animal was born for. And one day he spends
the afternoon on the back step confused because his parents just scolded him
for throwing a rock at the neighbor's dog -- yet he knows Daddy poisoned the
raccoon who used to come around, and he knows
there's a bird in the house who can't use her wings because she's kept in a
small but pretty cage, and he knows that Mommy has something looking very much
like the neighbor's dog hanging on a padded hanger in her closet. Then on
another day, Mommy puts away his stuffed animals, or throws them out, and his
uncle drops by and puts a gun in his small 12-year-old hand and tells him he'll
teach him what people do to real bears.
And suddenly at school the hamsters, mice and rabbits he remembers
scuffling softly in hay in kindergarten and first grade are floating in jars of
formaldehyde on the shelves in his biology class, and the teacher is
instructing him in the correct way to kill the frog before he cuts it into
pieces to learn about the marvels of life.
And before that child becomes a man, he has learned that real animals are
germy, stinky, dangerous, and undeserving of respect. He has learned that
animals are here for his gratification, and that the valuable lessons they
taught him in his childhood are applicable to humans only. And he becomes the
61-year-old fisherman who was so flabbergasted when a creature who shared the
sea with mackerel came up in his net that the only solution was to bash its
head open. And all that his parents, his teachers, his society, and his
religion taught him in all his years of living and maturing can by summed up in
9 words:
"I didn't know you weren't supposed to kill it."
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SHARK's Tiger Truck
by Steve Hindi - shindi@sharkonline.org
I think everyone who cares about animals would
have thoroughly enjoyed occurrences in St. Charles, Illinois last night. The
Sterling and Reid Circus came to town, and not by coincidence, so did our Tiger
Truck, showing video footage of Tyke the elephant being gunned down in the
streets of Honolulu a few years ago.
The circus was set up close to a busy street. When the Tiger made the first
pass, everyone looked, trying to understand what was happening. On the second
pass a minute later, the circus goofs were trying to laugh it off, and were
waving at us.
But by the third pass, the goofs had lost their sense of humor completely, and
were shaking their fists at us and blowing us off! Very shortly thereafter, the
first St. Charles police car showed up to offer a Kleenex to the crybaby goofs.
The officer dutifully watched the Tiger as it cruised back and forth exposing
circus cruelty.
A short time later, another officer showed up, following the Tiger. He seemed
surprised when the Tiger turned around and followed him. We met up, and the
officer expressed doubt that the Tiger was street legal. I expressed no doubt
whatsoever that it was.
In the end, the police did nothing. The circus goofs continued to cry, threaten
and flip us off (which also represented their collective IQ), and people caught
an eyeful of what circuses are really all about.
We'll be back for tonight's performances.
[To see a picture of the Tiger Truck, check the following
website.]
The Tiger Truck /
SHARK
http://www.animalsvoice.com/PAGES/wycd/debate.html
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Bonzai Kitties
A
week doesn't go by that we at Animal Rights Online don't receive at least one
request for information on how to stop the cruelty at the Bonsai Kitty
website. For those who haven't seen it, please don't give the webmaster
the satisfaction of your visiting the site. For those that have seen it,
the following letters from PeTA and the ASPCA may answer some of your
questions:
Dear Friend,
Thank you for contacting us about BonsaiKitten.com. We share your
disgust with this disturbing Web site and are extremely concerned about its
influence. Please file a complaint at the following Web site:
www.ifccfbi.gov. This is a reporting
center Web site set up by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for
Internet fraud and other forms of Internet crime.
Although we have found this site to be a "joke," we
still feel it is inappropriate and certainly not funny. The Humane Society of
the United States (HSUS) investigated the origin of the site and found that the
name and address under which the site is registered, a "Dr. Michael Wong
in New York," is false information. The site was reportedly created by a
student at M.I.T. as a joke among friends. When this site initially appeared in
December, a local humane organization did get involved on a local level in
checking out this person but discovered no evidence of actual animal abuse
having occurred. We believe that the Web site's creator was simply trying to
generate attention by upsetting people who care about animals.
So far, it has been an uphill battle, as the only law that even
remotely covers issues like this is a law that covers e-mailed obscenities;
therefore, if the site is not in violation of the host's user agreement, no law
is being violated, and the site can remain up. As you may know, this site has
been closed down at least twice before but continues to reappear with different
Web addresses. If enough people file complaints with the FBI, stressing the
influence it may have on cases of actual cruelty, maybe it will be
removed permanently.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact us about this
issue and for all you do to help animals.
Sincerely,
Kelly S. Cunningham
Administrative Assistant
757-622-7382, ext. 398
KellyC@peta-online.org
<> <> <> <> <> <>
The ASPCA Speaks Out Against Bonsai Kitten Presents Steps to Encourage Shutdown
of Offensive Website
The ASPCA shares your anger and concern about the Bonsai Kitten website. Our investigation
of this website showed that it was false and bogus. It is a "joke" website that is mired in poor taste and
immature humor that is obviously the creation of an uninformed individual with
too much time on his hands.
We appreciate your effort in contacting us, and would like to pass to you some
general information on how to fight against this and other sites which you may
encounter. Unfortunately, new ones appear every day.
While internet technology has made a positive contribution to our society, it
has also resulted in the rapid expansion of publicity for individuals who
promote animal abuse. Moreover, thanks to the active participation of web-users
such as yourselves, the above-mentioned website has been forced to shut down
and move a number of times.
In the United States, individuals have the constitutional right to Freedom of
Speech and therefore, they may discuss and advocate for animal abuse on the
Internet and in other public forums. If they go beyond words and speech and
actually practice what they preach, animal cruelty is a crime in every state.
A 1999 federal law bans the knowing creation, sale or possession of depictions
animal cruelty, with the intention of placing the depiction into interstate or
foreign commerce for commercial gain. The new law covers any visual or auditory
depiction of intentionally maiming, mutilating, torturing, wounding or killing
a live animal. If the conduct in the depiction is illegal under federal law, or
state law in the state where the creation, sale or possession takes place, then
this new law will apply.
The place where the actual animal cruelty took place is not significant under
this statute. Anyone convicted of the interstate or foreign sale of these
depictions of animal cruelty can be faced with a fine, or up to a five year
prison sentence. Exception is made for depictions serious with religious,
political, scientific, educational, journalistic, historical or artistic value.
We encourage concerned citizens to write the various internet service providers
which host these websites that advocate animal abuse. You can find the address
of the provider by connecting with Network Solutions and inputting the name of
the website. PLEASE NOTE that Network Solutions is not responsible in any way
for the content of the websites they register. Remember, Network
Solutions is also the ASPCA's registrar and a very fine company.
We also suggest that you contact local and national media organizations to make
them aware of these sites. Finally, you may want to write the online providers
with which you regularly do business to encourage them to screen their own
sites and not allow websites which promote animal cruelty.
If you have concrete information that an individual is engaged in the creation,
sale or possession (with intent to sell) of these depictions of cruelty, and
you know the city in which this person lives, the most effective response
remains with traditional measures. While the ASPCA is a national organization
in many respects, our powers to enforce animal cruelty statutes are limited by
law to the State of New York. We care, however, that acts of animal cruelty and
neglect be addressed wherever they occur. In this situation, we would urge that
you contact any or all of the following organizations and advise them of the
facts of the situation:
For more information, please visit these websites:
ZDNet: Bonsai Kitten: An Obvious Hoax
http://netscape.zdnet.com/zdhelp/stories/main/0,5594,2692699,00.html
Wired.com: FBI Goes After Bonsaikitten.com
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,41733,00.html
Bonsai Kitten: The world's Most Hated Website?
http://www.about.com/culture/urbanlegends/library/weekly/aa021401a.htm
© 2000 The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal
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Rolling Black Out - June 21
ROLL
YOUR OWN BLACK OUT THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER
JUNE 21, 2001, THURS. EVE, 7-10 PM worldwide, all time zones.
As an alternative to George W. Bush's energy policies and lack of emphasis on
efficiency, conservation and alternative fuels, there will be a voluntary
rolling blackout on the first day of summer, June 21 at 7pm -- 10pm in any time
zone (this will roll it across the planet). Its a simple protest and a symbolic
act. Turn out your lights from 7pm-10pm on June 21. Unplug whatever you can
unplug in your house. Light a candle to the Sungoddess, kiss and tell or not,
take a stroll in the dark, invent ghost stories, anything
that's not electronic-have fun in the dark.
Read the 1999 book "Natural Capitalism" by Hawken and Lovins to learn
that conservation/high efficiency technologies already ARE on-the-shelf. If implemented these revolutionary ideas
would pay themselves off within five years, after which we'd be pumping far
less greenhouse gas into the
atmosphere and saving bucks to boot.
Forward this [message] as widely as possible, to your government
representatives and environmental contacts. Let them know we want global
education, participation and funding in conservation, efficiency and
alternative fuel efforts -- and an end to over-exploitation and misuse of the
earth's resources. Anyone knows that the Cheney-Bush team is blowing smoke when
they tell us that "... conservation can't help, it'll just be too
expensive to implement those technologies..." While on the other hand,
technology to develop and deploy weapons to blow incoming ICBMs out of the sky
are easy to come by.
Rosalind Renfrew, Ph.D.
dissertator
Department of Wildlife
EcologyUniversity of Wisconsin -
Madison, WI 53706
608-263-7595
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.....then humans arrived
from Andrew Gach - UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net
Disproving
previous theories that climate change, disease or a gradual change in habitat
led to the extinction of most of the large animals in Australia and the
Americas, researchers can now firmly place the blame on ancient human hunters
and their appetite for meat.
Researchers precisely dating bone specimens of elephant-sized marsupials, giant
snakes and other extinct animals in Australia found that the wildlife
disappeared within a few thousands years after humans reached the continent.
Another study, using a computer math model, concluded that the arrival of
humans on the American continents initiated the decline of mammoths, camels,
saber-toothed tigers and other large animals. More than two-thirds of the large
animals that evolved in the Americas before humans were gone
by 11,000 years ago.
Both studies, appearing Friday in the journal Science, contribute to a debate
that has been continuing for more than a century among scientists intrigued by
the question: What killed off the big animals in the newly settled continents
of the world?
Some have long blamed humans, but other experts say it could have been climate
change, disease or a gradual change in habitat.
The two new studies pin the blame firmly on humans.
Full story
http://nandotimes.com/healthscience/v-text/story/22329p-419806c.html
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PeTA's Hoof & Mouth Comments
The recent controversy over comments made by
Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich of People for the Ethical Treatment of
Animals, in which they opined that it might be beneficial in the long run if
Hoof & Mouth Disease came to America, may be a bigger threat than
previously thought. But it won't be PeTA that is the cause, instead it
will be meat producers who just can't wait to put profits before the welfare of
animals.
The following information can be found at Vegan Street
Vegan News - In the News
http://www.veganstreet.com/news/01_05_08.html
U.S. Eases Ban on EU Meat Imports
May 15, the U.S. announced that it was easing its 10-week ban on animal imports
and raw meat products from the European Union. The United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) determined that there was a reduced risk of foot-and-mouth
disease entering the country through Europe.
Countries whose meat products have been allowed back within the U.S. borders
are Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal,
Spain and Sweden. British, French, Irish and Greek meat imports would continue
to be banned.
"The lifting of the restrictions will begin immediately," said USDA
spokesman Kevin Herglotz.
Bobby Acord, associate Administrator of the USDA's Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, emphasized that most imports of European beef remain in
place, due to mad cow restrictions.
"Essentially this (action today) only allows the importation of pork or
pork products and semen," he said.
Animal semen is imported for livestock breeding purposes.
Chandler Keys, vice president of public policy for the National Cattlemen's
Beef Association, urged the EU to similarly use "scientifically based
principles" and end its ban on U.S. beef containing growth hormones.
"One good turn deserves another," Keys said.
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Bottle Feeders Needed
KittyKind,
one of the largest privately run animal rescue groups in New York City, has
helped Neighborhood Cats on several occasions by adopting out hard-to-place
cats. Now we have an opportunity to help them.
Frequently, KittyKind needs short term foster care for kittens that are being
bottle fed. The need usually arises on very short notice so a list is
needed of potential foster homes to call when necessary.
If you might be able to foster and bottle feed at some point, please contact Marlene
Kess, the director of KittyKind her via email with your contact information or
leave a message on the KittyKind voicemail.
email: markess@webtv.net
KittyKind voicemail: (212) 726-2653
Thanks for helping if you can,
NEIGHBORHOOD CATS
[Editor's Note: For those not in New York, bottle feeding and
foster care volunteers are frequently needed by rescue groups in all
areas. Check with your local shelter or rescue.]
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SPCA Warning
To
all dog guardians:
Cocoa mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foremans Garden Supply, and other
garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called Theobromine. It
is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really
attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths
already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks.
Just a word of caution -- check what you are using in your gardens and beware
of what your gardeners are using in your gardens.
Theobromine is an ingredient in all chocolate -- especially dangerous is dark
or baker's chocolate -- which is the most toxic to dogs.
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For Wreathe
from "Nursery Rhymes for the Tender-hearted"
by Christopher Morley
contributed by Susan Gordon - veganvirago@home.com
Scuttle, scuttle, little roach--
How you run when I approach;
Up above the pantry shelf,
Hastening to secrete yourself.
Most adventurous of vermin,
How I wish I could determine
How you spend your hours of ease,
Perhaps reclining on the cheese.
Cook has gone, and all is dark--
Then the kitchen is your park;
In the garbage heap that she leaves
Do you browse among the tea leaves?
How delightful to suspect
All the places you have trekked;
Does your long antennae whisk its
Gentle tip across the biscuits?
Do you linger, little soul,
Drowsing in our sugar bowl?
Or, abandonment most utter,
Shake a shimmy on the butter?
Do you chant your simple tunes
Swimming in the baby's prunes?
Then, when dawn comes, do you slink
Homeward to the kitchen sink?
Timid roach why be so shy?
We are brothers, thou and I.
In the midnight, like yourself,
I explore the pantry shelf!
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Memorable Quote
"I do not see any reason why animals should be slaughtered to serve
as human diet when there are so many substitutes. After all, man can live
without meat."
~ Tenzin Gyatso
14th Dalai Lama of Tibet
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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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