A n i m a l W r i t e s © sm
The official ANIMAL RIGHTS ONLINE newsletter
Established
1997
Editor ~ JJswans@aol.com
Issue # 09/19/04
Publisher ~ Susan
Roghair -
EnglandGal@aol.com
Journalists ~ Greg Lawson - ParkStRanger@aol.com
~ Michelle Rivera -
MichelleRivera1@aol.com
Webmasters ~ Randy Atlas - ranatlas@earthlink.net
~ Trevor
Chin -
tmchin@yahoo.com
Staff
~ Alfred Griffith - agriffith@igc.org
~ Andy Glick - andy@meatfreezone.org
~ Sheridan Porter -
Pad4Paws21@aol.com
~ Bill Bobo - RunRun@aol.com
~ Katie Vann - Vann167@aol.com
THE ARTICLES IN THIS ISSUE ARE:
1 ~ The Hunters Become The Hunted
2 ~ O'Barry Ban Lifted
3 ~ Hamsters For Kerry
4 ~ The Dove is a Peace Sign, So Kill Them
5 ~ Employment Opportunity
6 ~ Puppymill Case Outcome
7 ~ Requiem For a Victim of Vivisection in Oregon
8 ~ Memorable Quote
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~1~
The Hunters Become The Hunted
By Anita Chaplin, London - anita.chaplin@btinternet.com
A
great many of us have had our faith slightly restored in the government by
yesterday’s debate in the commons about hunting. MPs backed a ban on hunting in
England and Wales by 339 to 155 votes. Hurray! Who cares if Tony does have an
ulterior motive – finally he’s doing something that the caring leftfield public
want.
Of course, it still has to be debated in the Lords and would not be due to come
into force for nearly two years, but fingers crossed!
Of course there are a lot of people who are infuriated by this, namely the
upper classes and rural communities, but any rational person can see the gaping
holes in their selfish arguments.
Fox hunting is a thinly veiled excuse for a jolly day out riding with their
friends – with the added bonus of being able to shed the thin veneer of
civilised behaviour and revert to their baser instincts for the day.
Hunt advocates defend it by saying it is a sport. The dictionary defines sport
as an activity, usually involving physical exertion that is partaken for
pleasure/recreation, often in a competitive manner. A fox is not much
competition for a pack of hounds and people on horseback, and it certainly is
not getting much pleasure from the activity. The pleasure, therefore, is on the
part of the hunters as they watch a helpless fox being ripped apart for their
entertainment.
On the other hand, if it is just a sport, why are they reacting to the ban so
strongly? If sport is just recreation, why do people take it so seriously? They
could easily take up another sport instead – put their energy and “community
spirit” into something more constructive. Of course, many people do take sport
very seriously – some football fans are like religious fanatics, but then their
sport is not harming any other living creatures. If it did involve the
exploitation of vulnerable people such as children, nobody would protest
against that being banned.
There are also those who defend fox hunting because they believe it is a
necessary way of culling a rural predator. As a believer in animal rights, I won’t
advocate the deliberate slaying of any creatures unnecessarily, but for the
sake of argument, if it is absolutely necessary, then it should be done in a
discrete manner, which doesn’t involve a public spectacle that allows
bloodthirsty people to celebrate their alleged “supremacy” over a more
vulnerable species. I don’t know all the details of alternative ways of killing
foxes (nor do I want to), but I don’t think it is necessary for me to know that
either. All I know is that death by the teeth of a dozen hounds is not the best
way and there are better alternatives.
One pro-hunting protester was quoted in the news as suggesting that the
government were trying to “mess up the countryside.” How? What? It just doesn’t
make sense. Does country life revolve entirely around hunting? In what way does
altruism mess up the countryside? By banning fox hunting, they are not
indulging every whim of country folk, but the world does not consist only of
human beings.
There is a prevailing attitude of “us and them” – that urbanites don’t
understand the special needs of the countryside. That is akin to suggesting
that those in the city are stupid and uneducated – that just because they don’t
live in the country, they are incapable of learning about or imagining what happens
there. In fact it is more likely to be the opposite and a bit of distance from
an issue allows people to make a more objective and rational decision.
Whenever some big changes to society are proposed, someone always brings up the
issue of jobs being at stake. Keeping people in jobs is not the most important
thing in life. People need to be able to adapt to a changing environment. A
factory that produced high levels of deadly gases and refused to change it’s
practises would be closed, regardless of whether people lost their jobs. If a
practise is unethical it should be stopped - this is the way it should be.
Industry does not purely serve the purpose of providing jobs – it also needs to
contribute something productive (however tiny) to society.
The arrogance and hypocrisy of those pro-hunt supporters who turned up at the
Commons yesterday had to be seen to be believed. This is the same demographic
who promote themselves as being law-abiding, upstanding members of the
community, while criticising animal rights campaigners who resort to direct
action. Yet interestingly, reports about yesterday’s events claim that fifteen
people are being held over clashes with police and 19 people, including two
police officers, were thought to be injured. Very civilised…
At least when animal rights activists protest, they are standing up for
vulnerable creatures who are unable to defend themselves. The pro-hunt
supporters are trying to preserve their own self interest- thinking only about
themselves. The phrase that sums it up is ‘throwing their toys out of the
pram.’ It’s not about hunting specifically, it’s an ego thing – they are just
sore because they weren’t “consulted.” Since when were the general public
consulted about the introduction of new laws anyway?
These are people who are not used to their views being ignored. Welcome to the
real world, where the government doesn’t always represent your interests, but
hopefully, over time, benevolence towards all living creatures will prevail.
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~2~
O'Barry Ban Lifted
From The Scoop (newly launched regional Caribbean Newspaper)
Contributed by Ric O'Barry - ricobarry@bellsouth.net
Sunday
Sep 5th, 2004 - Government has lifted the ban against Ric O'Barry, the
internationally renowned mammal specialist who had joined the worldwide protest
against the start of a Swim With The Dolphins programme in Antigua.
Chief Immigration Officer, Col. Clyde Walker, confirmed word of the lifting of
the restrictions against O'Barry.
O'Barry was denied entry when he attempted to visit Antigua on
November 11th, 2001. An American Airlines supervisor in
Miami describes the action taken against O'Barry as "very
strange" but maintained that the airline had no choice but to comply with
the orders from the authorities in St. Johns. The Daily Observer
reported in its November 14th issue that O'Barry was banned for one reason
and one reason only, "the Government and Dolphin Fantasias
did not want to hear what a world-renowned expert had to say."
Col. Walker confirmed that O'Barry was "no longer banned from
Antigua and was welcomed to travel to the island." The removal of the ban
now clears the way for O'Barry to accept an invitation from ABITPC to do a
book signing and an educational lecture on his 43 years of
working with dolphins both in the wild and in captivity.
This was the plan back in 2001 when he was prevented by the Bird
administration.
Martha Watkins Gilkes of ABITPC says that she will now invite
the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) to join her organization in
reissuing their invitation to O'Barry to visit in early
October. The 2001 ban raised questions about freedom of
speech in Antigua. O'Barry was told by a supervisor of American
Airlines that his suitcase had already been taken off the plane, and that
he should not board another airline to make the trip since he would face
arrest and deportation by Antiguan authorities.
News of the lifting of the ban comes days after American physician Dr.
Graham Simpson admitted violating the US Trade embargo against Cuba by
buying wild dolphins for aquatic parks in the Caribbean. Simpson
said that he was negotiating a fine up to $70,000 US. "The
fine is a good thing," O'Barry says.
Richard O'Barry has worked both sides of the dolphin street, the first 10
years with the dolphin captivity industry, the past 30 years against them.
Working back in the 1960s for the Miami Seaquarium, O'Barry captured
and trained dolphins, including the five dolphins who played the role
of Flipper in the popular American TV series of the same name. When Cathy
- the dolphin, who played Flipper most oof the time - died in his arms, O'Barry
realized that capturing dolphins and training them to perform silly tricks
is simply wrong. From that moment on, O'Barry knew what he must do with
his life. On the first Earth Day, 1970, he founded The Dolphin
Project, dedicated to freeing captive dolphins that were viable candidates
and educating people throughout the world to the plight
of dolphins in captivity. Over the years he has released 24
captive dolphins back into the wild. He launched a searing campaign
against the billion-dollar dolphin captivity industry, telling the
public what was really gong on at dolphin shows and dolphin swim
programs and urging people not to buy tickets to see the dolphins play the
fool.
O'Barrys 43 years of experience with dolphins and his first hand
knowledge about the methods used to capture and train them has taken him
all over the world to participate in lectures and conferences about
the controversial dolphin captivity issue.
"The people who capture and confine dolphins are telling the public they
are doing it to teach the public respect for nature. This is the
hypocrisy that this industry is based upon. In reality, they're in it
for the money. Take it away and they'll quit treating
dolphins like this," O'Barrys says and adds: " Dolphins are
free ranging, intelligent and highly complex marine mammals.
They belong in the oceans, not playing the clown in our human
schemes.”
To recognize his contribution, in 1991 O'Barry received
the Environmental Achievement Award, presented by the Committee for the
United National Environmental Program (US/UNEP). His
book Behind the Dolphin Smile was published in 1989. A second
book, To Free a Dolphin, was published in September 2000.
Both are about his work and dedication.
Today, O'Barry is the Marine Mammal Specialist for ONE VOICE, a
leading French Animal protection organization that aims to stop the capture,
confinement and commercial exploitation of dolphins
worldwide. In July this year, ONE VOICE successfully persuaded
the Haitian government to confiscate
and release six dolphins captured for a dolphin swim
program.
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~3~
Hamsters For Kerry
by Demnymets@aol.com
While the animals have friends on both sides of
the "aisle" when it comes to their protection, it's about time some
of them spoke up! How easy it would be for the humans if all species
would kick in? Leave it to our esteemed members of the Hamster Delegation
to be the first to go on record to endorse a U.S. Presidential
candidate. Let the debates begin at:
Keeping
the Wheels Spinning For Democracy!
http://www.hamstersforkerry.com/
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~4~
The Dove is a Peace Sign, So
Kill Them
By Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com
The
State motto of Michigan is:
"Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice"
"If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."
During the past week, an estimated 260,000 birds have been shot from the
Michigan sky onto a not-so pleasant peninsula as a result of a newly enacted
law. Why? Because some people view target practice on doves as fun.
Is there ever a reason to kill people? I've yet to find a good one.
Can we put an end to war? All living creatures are connected. Is this
concept so difficult to comprehend? I
would think that compassion is instinctual. Perhaps I am wrong. What do you
think?
Is there reason to kill animals in the name of entertainment? How can we
respect human life and expect peace in our little corner of the world after
showing such disrespect to any innocent living creature possessing the ability
to experience fear and feel pain? Can one ever justify the broken wings
and shattered bones from invading bullets?
How, in this day and age, can mankind pass legislation allowing people with
guns the right to shoot doves in the name of sport? Do you see something
symbolic and ironic in this governmental lack of compassion to beautifully
winged birds of peace?
One group of concerned people has spent the past two years lobbying state
officials and Michigan's governor, to no avail.
For more information and updates, please visit
http://www.StopShootingDoves.org
What can you do? Send your letter of outrage to the editor of three of
Michigan's daily newspapers. Let Michigan know that the eyes of America
and the rest of the world are watching in disgust.
Lansing State Journal (150 words or less) --
Email: opinions@lsj.com
Detroit Free Press (200 words or less) --
Email: letters@freepress.com
Detroit News (250 words or less) --
Email: letters@detnews.com
Be sure to provide the newspapers with your name, phone number, and city of
residence for verification.
Please send a copy of your letter to:
contact@stopshootingdoves.org
Do this for the doves. Do this for all of the animals. Do this for the people.
Do this out
of love. Turn your compassion into action.
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~5~
Employment Opportunity
Public
Policy Coordinator
The Animal Protection Institute (API), one of the world’s leading animal
advocacy organizations, is seeking to fill the full-time position of Public
Policy Coordinator in its Sacramento, CA office. Legal and legislative advocacy
is at the heart of API’s strategy to better the lives of animals nationwide.
This newly-created position functions as part of a skilled team that works
toward creating stronger protections benefiting animals at the federal, state,
and local levels. API is building a strong and dynamic team to advance its
mission. All applicants must be committed to advocating for the rights for
animals and committed to the goals of API.
API is a national, nonprofit animal advocacy organization founded in 1968 and
headquartered in Sacramento, CA. API advocates for the protection of animals
from cruelty and exploitation through legislative action, litigation, advocacy
campaigns, and public education. API has a full-time staff of 21, and an annual
budget of $2 million. API also operates the API Primate Sanctuary, a 186-acre
facility located in Dilley, Texas that serves as home for more than 400 rescued
primates.
The Public Policy Coordinator will:
<> Assist the Director of Legal and Government Affairs with legal
research and analysis, including assessing potential lawsuits to advance animal
protection.
<> Assist the Director of Legal and Government Affairs to lobby for
API-sponsored local, state, and federal legislation through letters, phone
calls, hearings, testimony, and visits to elected officials.
<> Work with key API staff to develop and implement campaigns related to
animals in entertainment and captive wild animals.
<> Assist with drafting FOIA requests, litigation declarations, and
agency petitions as directed.
<> Assist staff and grassroots groups on animal-related laws and
policies.
<> Respond to inquiries from the public and API supporters on the laws
and regulations and issues concerning animals in entertainment and exotic
animals.
<> Participate in the planning, researching, and writing of articles and
reports for API publications.
Qualifications:
<> Bachelor’s degree required; advanced education in public
administration, law, or public policy or related work experience recommended.
<> Demonstrable commitment to animal protection and the vision and values
of the Animal Protection Institute is essential.
<> Knowledge of and experience with legislative and regulatory processes
preferred.
<> Excellent oral and written communication skills.
<> Strong organizational skills with experience of handling multiple
projects simultaneously and working well as part of a team.
Reports To: Director of Legal and Government Affairs
Compensation: Salary flexible depending on experience; excellent benefits
package including health insurance, paid vacation; dental/vision reimbursement.
To Apply: Please send resume by October 4, 2004. Interviews will be held during
the week of October 11, 2004. Send to:
Nicole Paquette, Esq.
Director of Legal and Government Affairs
Animal Protection Institute
1122 S Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-3085, ext. 214; (916) 447-3070 FAX; npaquette@api4animals.org
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~6~
Puppymill Case Outcome
From Victoria King - hero@bigplanet.com
In the Hollybelle Maltese puppymill case in
Tennessee, the Defendant, Jennifer Siliski, was convicted of 9 counts of animal
cruelty and 2 counts of animal torture. She had 240 maltese, housed 2-3 per
cage, in her home. Needless to say, the conditions were deplorable. She
tattooed the eye rims of many dogs so they would appear to have black eye rims
as required by the breed standard.
The judge sentenced her to 10 days in jail. The volunteers that have fostered
close to 300 maltese dogs and some ragdoll cats are now being forced to return
these animals to animal control for a public auction. About 150 volunteers have
spent 50-300 hours caring for these dogs and cats. The auction proceeds will be
used to pay off the Defendant's debt owed to the county for caring for the
dogs. From statements made on other forums, it appears that people (puppymill
breeders and brokers most likely) as far away as NC and IL are making the
journey to bid on the dogs at auction.
Volunteers have donated time and money to care for these animals and paid for
the vet bills while in their care. Now they have to raise money to
"outbid" potential puppymill/puppy broker buyers on each of the 289
maltese dogs (many dogs were pregnant and have given birth to puppies) and
20-30 ragdoll cats. These volunteers, and the animals they are caring
for, need your prayers and support.
Tax-deductible donations can be sent to:
People for Animals, Inc.
P.O. Box 991
Franklin, TN 37065-0991
All money will be used so that the volunteers can purchase these animals in
order to keep them out of the hands of other puppymillers. If any money is left
over, it will be used by People for Animals for spay-neuter assistance in
Williamson County, TN. You can read more about people for animals at
www.people-for-animals.org
<http://www.people-for-animals.org>
Additional Info: The judge has refused to allow the animals to be spay/neutered
prior to the auction because it would "reduce their value." There is
a very good chance these poor animals will end up in yet ANOTHER mill
situation.
Contact info for protesting this mess is:
Mayor Rogers Anderson
Admin Complex
Suite 125
Franklin, TN 37064
Voice:615-790-5700
Email: dianeg @ williamson-tn.org (remove spaces)
County Commissioner:
Houston Naron Jr.
1320 West Main Street
Franklin 37064 TN
Email: houstonn @ williamson-tn.org (remove spaces)
Local Newspapers:
www.tennessean.com <http://www.tennessean.com>
The Judge (if you can call him that):
Hon. Robert E. Lee Davies
Williamson County Circuit Court
P.O. Box 1469, Franklin, TN 37065
Also send a copy to the Judge's administrative assistant at the Judicial
Center.
Donnise Soloman
Williamson County Circuit Court Judicial Center
135 Fourth Avenue South
Franklin, TN 37064
The auction is October 16th
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~7~
Requiem For a Victim of
Vivisection in Oregon
By Fitz-Randolph Moore
I don't know where she was born,
whether she was wild or tame.
I do know that she was a dog,
And Josephine was her name.
Maybe she was brought here
Or picked up as a stray,
But to Josephine, in Yamhill County,
Life really seemed okay.
She was checked out by a vet
Put in a clean, dry place to stay
People gave her food and water,
And a little exercise every day.
People came to the shelter,
And some took a dog or cat away.
Some came with food, toys or bones,
Some came and took her out to play.
When people came to visit,
She'd jump up on the wire,
And wag her tail furiously
To be with them was her heart's desire.
One day a man came to her,
Who patted her and said "Good dog."
She went with him from cage to cage,
And rode till she scented a river's fog.
"Oh," she thought, "this may be good -
An even better place to stay -
Maybe a family with kids -
And a great big space to play!"
The truck stopped at a pole barn
With wire all around; while
Fifty dogs barked their welcome,
She wagged her tail at the sound.
There were dogs, and bitches and pups,
Most all of them big and black.
She knew that eventually,
She would find her place in the pack.
She was fed and watered, and
Her area cleaned every day,
But she sure missed the people
Who used to take her out to play.
Over a year, a couple of times,
Josephine was caged with a dog
Who would sniff and wag his tail;
And they mated in the river's fog.
Instinct told her to have puppies,
But something wasn't right -
One afternoon, a big truck came -
Into a cage and driven into the night.
Through gates and walls and guards -
Everything but a moat -
Into a big, stinking building
Where everyone wore a white coat.
Oh, these new sights and smells
Could not mean anything good.
"Run, Run" her instinct screamed,
But there was no way she could.
Josephine smelled chemicals and illness;
She sensed other animals' pain.
"What kind of place is this?;
A vet's clinic run by the insane?"
Whitecoats brought her food and water
And cleaned up her space, but
How she longed for a friendly pat
And the sight of a smiling face.
Josephine knew one thing for sure
Both the Shelter and the farm
Were far better places than this,
Where she sensed she'd come to harm.
In a room filled with bright lights,
Restraints hung from a shiny table.
As they strapped her down, Josephine
Understood as best she was able.
Josephine awoke in her cage,
With a great soreness of her jaws.
Thirsty, grateful, there was water
She slept, her sore muzzle on her paws.
Time went by, and she felt better -
Whitecoats came, and whitecoats went.
Josephine had no idea
Her life would soon be spent.
One last trip to the bright lights,
The whitecoats gathered 'round the table.
Josephine felt the straps again, trying
To comprehend as best she was able.
Josephine closed her eyes for the last time,
And the whitecoats harvested their tissue.
The mutilated corpse was incinerated, and
Whitecoats could publish in the next issue.
Thousands and thousands of Josephines,
Whether of pure or mixed breed,
All small sacrifices on the altar
Of institutional and corporate greed.
Copyright 1998, Fitz-Randolph Moore
Permission to reprint so long as copyright is attached.
(Josephine, a sixty-eight pound black and tan "hound" was sold by
Richard Lee (Lee Farms) to Oregon Health Sciences University on January 15,
1998, because she wasn't a good breeder. She was two-and-a half years old
when she was killed at OHSU on May 26, 1998.)
Richard Lee violated Yamhill County Animal Control laws by adopting Josephine
from their shelter and then later reselling her for research.
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~8~
Memorable Quote
"My doctrine is this, that if we see cruelty or wrong
that we have the power to stop, and do nothing, we make ourselves sharers in
the guilt."
~ Anna Sewell
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Susan Roghair - EnglandGal@aol.com
Animal Rights Online
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«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»
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