AR-NEWS Digest 365

Topics covered in this issue include:

   1) (HK) Tough stance on animal parts
     by vadivu 
  2) (HK) Dealers `risk jail' over rare animals
     by vadivu 
  3) (HK) Bird campaigners get nest egg from the enemy
     by vadivu 
  4) (JP) Care for a bite of marbled pork?
     by vadivu 
  5) (TH) Shoppers want strict hygiene standards
     by vadivu 
  6) (TH) Peacock spared from pot after it kills its owner 
     by vadivu 
  7) (CN) Outbreak sparks import ban
     by vadivu 
  8) Wrong date on HK post
     by vadivu 
  9) Fishermen fined $4 million
     by Andrew Gach 
 10) Doctors warned of homicide charge
     by Andrew Gach 
 11) Re: Mink Farmers Factual Error, accurate reporting???
     by BKMACKAY@aol.com
 12) (US) Navy Dedicates Island As Refuge 
     by allen schubert 
 13) (NZ) US Flag burning in support of Tony Wong 
     by lentils@anarchy.wn.pl.net (Wgtn Animal Action)
 14) (HK)  The real costs of meat
     by vadivu 
 15) (SG) S'pore film raises talk
     by vadivu 
 16) [Aust] 3rd death linked to Salmonella poisoning 
     by bunny 
 17) (US) Consumer groups demand single food-safety agency
     by allen schubert 
 18) (VN) Vietnamese Spare Cats, Save Crops 
     by allen schubert 
 19) (US) Oklahoma Horse Cruelty Case
     by JanaWilson@aol.com
 20) waterfowl hunting
     by Mike Markarian 
 21) [UK] Superior camel search starts in Britain
     by David J Knowles 
 22) [EU] GMO LABELLING LEAVES CONSUMERS IN THE DARK: GREENPEACE 
     by David J Knowles 
 23) Subscription Options (Admin Note)
     by allen schubert 
 24) Food Slander Laws in the USA
     by pmligotti@earthlink.net (Peter  M. Ligotti)
 25) (MY)  Permits needed to keep exotic pets
     by vadivu 
 26) Re: Food Slander Laws in the USA
     by allen schubert 
 27) [UK] British hunters at bay
     by David J Knowles 
 28) [CA] Dumpster-dog case brings change
     by David J Knowles 
 29) 
     by SMB5172@siena.edu
 30) (US) USDA enforcement actions
     by 
 31) (US) Oklahoma Horse Abuse Case Again
     by JanaWilson@aol.com
 32) (US) Bumper Crop of Illnesses Traced to FDA-Regulated Foods,
  Like Fruit Juice, Lettuce and Shellfish
     by allen schubert 
 33) (US) Soybeans, Corn Fall on Taiwan News 
     by allen schubert 
 34) NJ Alert: Protect Black Bears from Hunting!
     by Mike Markarian 
 35) LA Alert: Bills to ban Cockfighting and Canned Hunts!
     by Mike Markarian 
 36) CT Alert: Lobbying Day April 23!
     by Mike Markarian 
 37) USDA
     by ighahorseaid@earthlink.net (IGHA/HorseAid Volunteer)
 38) Huge Fur Protest
     by SUE4TURKEY@aol.com
 39) MN Alert: Don't Let Hunters Hijack the Constitution!
     by Mike Markarian 
 40) [US] Mountain Goat Shooting Plan / Olympic National Park Update
     by millerd1@sunyit.edu (David Lee Winston Miller)
 41) Massachusetts Man  Sentenced for Illegal Alaska Hunting
     by clash 
 42) Dr. Goodall to Speak in the Twin Cities!
     by clash 
 43) (HK) Chicken deaths prompt disease alert
     by vadivu 
 44) (CN) UK expert smells a rat in ear `cloning' claim
     by vadivu 
 45) (TW) Taiwanese admit wrong vaccine used to stem hog disease
     by vadivu 
 46) (CN) Poison catch
     by vadivu 
 47) (US) Chronic diseases to cost US a bomb
     by vadivu 
 48) (UK) 'Stressed cows' feeling better as suit is settled
     by vadivu 
 49) (UK) Call to review British gelatine exports
     by vadivu 
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:02 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: jwed@hkstar.com
 Subject: (HK) Tough stance on animal parts
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27373@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>South China Morning Post, Internet Edition, 4 Apr 97

      Tough stance on animal parts
                CLIFF BUDDLE
     
     A High Court judge yesterday declared war on suppliers of traditional
Chinese medicine who sell products containing parts of endangered species.

 Mr Justice Raymond Sears said the Judiciary had been wrongly accused of not
doing enough to protect animals at risk of extinction.

 Magistrates had every right to jail people who dealt in traditional
remedies containing illicit products, he warned.

 "This sort of activity is allied to the trade in animal parts and judges
must stop it."

 It was important to protect endangered species and substantial sentences,
including prison terms, would be imposed on those who broke the rules.

  The judge told bankrupt businessman Kong Chi-yue, 42, that he had to be
prepared to go to jail if he could not afford to pay a $120,000 fine for
possessing illegal products at his shop in Ma On Shan.

 When Kong's lawyer claimed this would have an adverse effect on his
client's two young sons, the judge said: "He should have thought about that
before he set up in this business."

 Jill Robinson, of the International Fund For Animal Welfare, welcomed the
judge's tough stand. She hoped the warning would help stop the trade.

 Mr Justice Sears said he could not understand how anyone could think that
consuming a piece of tiger bone would do them good.

 "Unfortunately this is the culture in Hong Kong . . . that must be
stopped," he said.

 Kong was fined $250,000 at Sha Tin Court in October when he admitted
possessing 17 grams of pangolin scales, 300 grams of elephant scraps, musk
pods and other illicit products.

  He appealed against the penalty, claiming he did not have enough money to
pay the fine.

 Paul Tong, for Kong, said his client had only been running the shop for two
months before being arrested.

 He was trying to make money for his family and had not realised that by
possessing the animal products he was breaking the law. Kong's business had
now collapsed and he was left struggling with debts.

  "He is broke. He has no money at all," Mr Tong said.

 The judge reduced Kong's fine to $120,000 because the magistrate had failed
to consider his ability to pay.

  But he rejected a request by Kong to be given five years in which to find
the money. The judge said he would have to go to prison for two months if he
failed to pay the fine by early July.

  Mr Justice Sears came under fire last month for quashing a prison term
imposed on a chemist for selling "tiger bone" medicine.

  He said yesterday that judges had a duty to consider the criminality
involved in each case and it was quite wrong to view this as a failure to
protect endangered species.







Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:07 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: jwed@hkstar.com
Subject: (HK) Dealers `risk jail' over rare animals
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27328@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>Hong Kong Standard, 3 Apr 97

Dealers `risk jail' over rare animals
By Roger Neill

PEDDLERS of endangered animal products in the territory have 
been given a stark warning by the judiciary: Stop now or go to jail.

Mr Justice Raymond Sears on Wednesday reduced a fine of $250,000 to 
$120,000 imposed on a former Ma On Shan shop owner for selling 
elephant bones, tiger pills and pangolin scales over the counter.

But he told the defendant if he did not pay within 12 weeks, he would 
be jailed for two months.

Mr Justice Sears encouraged magistrates to fine offenders heavily, 
saying prison sentences should also be handed down.

``Magistrates are justified to hand down prison terms if shops are 
selling animal parts to members of the public,'' he said.

Disgraced ex-chemist Kong Chi-yue begged the judge for clemency, 
saying he had no money to pay the fine, but Mr Justice Sears replied: 
``Let him go to jail then.

``It is important to protect endangered species.''

Hong Kong is party to international treaties against the sale and use 
of endangered species.

Mr Justice Sears objected to criticism of judges imposing light 
sentences on criminals caught selling endangered animals.

``These chemist shops pose some problems to judges and magistrates as 
the people involved often have no money,'' he said.

Kong claimed he went into the business knowing little or nothing about 
Chinese medicine. He said he was unaware of the products being sold, 
saying his one concern was to make money for his wife and children.

Kong was fined $250,000 last year but did not pay the fine.

Mr Justice Sears said Sha Tin magistracy had got it wrong when fining 
the 42-year-old and reduced the penalty to $120,000.

But Alex Yau Shuk-kau, conservation officer with the World Wildlife 
Fund for Nature, said the court decision to reduce Kong's fine sent 
``the wrong signal''.

``If you don't practise what you preach, it's not a good deterrent,'' 
Ms Yau said. This was not the first case in which a fine was reduced 
significantly.

The maximum penalty for selling endangered animal products is $500,000 
and two years in prison.

``No judge has ordered imprisonment and that gives the sign that the 
courts are tolerant of these crimes,'' she said.

Traditional Chinese herbalist Tam Liang-kwan said the government had 
made laws against products containing endangered species well known.

``For many years, we have known this is illegal,'' he said.

                                                     


Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:13 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Bird campaigners get nest egg from the enemy
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27369@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>South China Morning Post, Internet Edition, 14 Apr 97
Bird campaigners get nest egg from the enemy
FIONA HOLLAND

Conservationists are being sponsored by a developer lined up against them in
the battle for the Mai Po marshes.

 World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong holds its 12th Big Bird Race on April
11 and 12 in a bid to raise $2.5 million.

  Companies donate $50,000 to sponsor a team in the bird-spotting race, and
among them is Li Ka-shing's company Cheung Kong (Holdings) - which is
planning a residential development in buffer zones bordering Mai Po.

  The marshes have been designated a "Ramsar" site - a wetland of
international importance - which attracts thousands of migratory birds every
year.

  But environmentalists say the wetland is under increasing pressure from
developers after a landmark ruling by the Privy Council in London last December.

  That gave the go-ahead for Henderson Land's controversial Nam Sang Wai
development and now other developers are appealing against rejections by the
Town Planning Board.

  Chief among challengers are Cheung Kong and New World Development who will
contest decisions against their schemes at Fung Lok Wai and Lin Bearn Tsuen
in the Town Planning Appeal Board this year.

  The manager of the Mai Po marshes, Dr Lew Young, who is heading the race
team sponsored by Cheung Kong, denied the developer's financial support
would alter WWF's position.

  "In the past we have been against it. We are not going to turn up at the
appeal case and say 'yeah, great'.

  "In an ideal situation we would like no further loss of wetlands at Mai Po."

  But he said there was room for co-operation, in the event developers won
their cases, to ensure the least possible damage was done.

  "It does not mean that we are going to change sides," he said.

  Cheung Kong executive director and general manager, Grace Woo, said the
Fung Lok Wai proposal should not preclude co-operation with green groups.

  She argued approval would create a "win-win situation" for the Government,
developer and green groups.
 


Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:21 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (JP) Care for a bite of marbled pork?
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27243@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>The Straits Times, 4 Apr 97
Care for a bite of marbled pork?
By Kwan Weng Kin Japan Correspondent

TOKYO -- People who crave the exquisite taste of Japanese
     shimofuri (marbled) beef such as Kobe and Matsuzaka but find it
     too hard on their wallets may soon have a cheaper but possibly
     just as delicious alternative -- shimofuri pork.

      A brand-new breed of hogs that yields marbled pork has been
     developed at a livestock experimental station run by the Tokyo
     metropolitan authorities.

       The result of eight years of research and development, the
     marbled pork is expected to be available in supermarkets and
     specialty meat stores in the Japanese capital by summer next
     year. Officials at the experimental station said that while normal
     meat has only 2-per-cent fat, the marbled pork has between 4 and
     5-per-cent fat, the same as for Kobe beef.

       Just as with marbled beef, the fat in marbled pork is distributed
     evenly throughout the meat and is clearly visible to the naked
     eye.

      The new pork has been described as a "new taste sensation",
     "excellent" in shabu shabu, or Japanese-style hot pot.

       Local governments throughout Japan have all along been
     promoting research to improve the quality of pork but the Tokyo
     experimental station is the first to come out with a completely
     new line of pigs.

        The aim of their research was to give Tokyo pig farmers an edge
     over their rivals elsewhere in the country. While there were some
     4,500 pig farmers in the Tokyo metropolitan district 30 years ago,
     the number has dwindled to only about 60 and their combined
     annual production totals about 16,000 pigs.

      Eighteen of these Tokyo pig farmers are due to raise the new
     breed -- which has yet to be given a name. Currently, the most
     expensive variety of pork in Japan is the kurobuta (black pig)
     from Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan.

       "We hope our new pork will give Kagoshima's kurobuta a good
     fight. But it will definitely not be as expensive as marbled beef,"
     said Mr Suehiko Saito, a senior official at the Tokyo experimental
     station.

       Surprisingly, Tokyo's marbled pork has its roots in Beijing,
     China.

       It started eight years ago when a staff of the Tokyo livestock
     station, while visiting the Chinese capital, dined on pork from
     local Beijing black pigs and loved it.

        The Japanese researchers, making use of Tokyo's sister-city ties
     with Beijing, managed to procure two boars and five sows. These
     were then mated with two other varieties -- Berkshires for the
     quality of their meat and Durocs for their ability to fatten easily.

      So as not to stress the animals, the researchers avoided
     overcrowding the pigs. But they said they had not gone as far as
     producers of marbled beef, who massage their animals and let
     them listen to piped-in music.



Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:29 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TH) Shoppers want strict hygiene standards
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27384@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>Bangkok Post Apr 4, 1997 - Shoppers want strict hygiene standards
Shops selling tainted food should be named

Anchalee Kongrut

Most supermarket users are concerned with hygiene and want strict health
standards on food.

Many shoppers interviewed in a random survey said they knew little of the
presence of E. coli bacteria in ready-to-cook packaged food sold in
supermarkets.

While some said they knew but still bought packaged food, most called for
hygiene standards to be strictly controlled by the authorities.

Primprow Chudabala, an office worker, said she usually bought ready-to-eat
packaged food for her family because of her tight schedule.

She admitted she was unaware of the E. coli scare but if it was correct, the
authorities should name shops where the bacteria was found.

"The authorities should inform people instead of protecting supermarkets,"
she said.

Mrs Primprow, 40, said she was fastidious about food and usually threw it
away before the expiry date.

"But you can't expect every buyer to be as fastidious. I suggest the
authorities suspend operations of food suppliers who do not follow hygiene
standards."

Mrs Primprow also urged authorities to remove from the shelves any food that
is below standard.

Rosawan Peunsujarit, an estate agent, said inspectors should carry out
frequent spot checks on supermarkets and food suppliers.

But any such effort would fail if the authorities considered food hygiene a
matter between themselves and business operators and kept consumers in the
dark, said Miss Rosawan, 26.

A co-founder of Le Dalat, a Vietnamese restaurant, who did not want to be
identified, said she knew little about E. coli but was more concerned about
formalin used on fresh fish.

"Buying fresh food has become a threatening thing for me," she said. "I am
very careful in choosing fish and vegetables. Most fresh fish and vegetables
sold in markets is tainted with harmful preservatives. I wish the
authorities would look into fresh food preserving."

A manager of one of the oldest supermarket chains in Bangkok, who requested
anonymity, said the key solution was to enforce hygiene standards in food
supply businesses and educate people about preparing food.

His supermarket maintains high standards of hygiene and has a lab to check
quality, he said, but declined to detail his control procedure.

"Even if we claim our food hygiene to be better than others, there will
always be food experts who will criticise our standard. I believe our loyal
patrons know best," he said.

An employee in the food section of a well-known supermarket on Ratchadapisek
Road said the company gets its supply for ready-to-cook packaged food from
fresh markets, such as Pak Klong Talad.

He declined to discuss the procedure in preparing the packages.

Under a Food and Drugs Administration order issued in January, supermarkets
were told to label food packages with the ingredients, expiry date and the
name of the supplier.

Pakdi Photisiri, the administration secretary-general, said supermarkets had
been given permission to use existing labels for one more year before
switching to labels with an approval symbol.

New supermarkets or those which do not label food packages must use the
administration label immediately.

Article copyright Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd 1997
Reprinted for non-commercial use only.
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.net




Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:34 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TH) Peacock spared from pot after it kills its owner 
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA26293@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>Bangkok Post Apr 4, 1997 - Peacock spared from pot after it kills its owner

Vichai Thongto was killed by his own pet - a peacock.

"I have been working for 10 years and I never before heard of a peacock
killing a person," a nurse said yesterday at a hospital in Ratchaburi where
Mr Vichai died.

Mr Vichai, 30, was feeding the family's four caged peacocks on Sunday when
the sole male bird, named Yoong Thong - Golden Peacock - hurled itself at
him, clawing at his head.

"One of the birds was hatching her eggs, that's why this male peacock was
very fierce," Mr Vichai's sister said. "He is usually fierce, but not this
fierce."

Mr Vichai at first told no one of the attack, said the sister. But he
started suffering headaches and went into shock, and was in a coma by the
time he was taken to hospital later that day.

A nurse in Ratchaburi Hospital's neurological department confirmed that when
Mr Vichai's relatives brought him in, they explained he had been attacked by
a peacock.

Doctors found a 0.5-centimetre puncture above his left ear, and a CAT scan
showed a blood clot on his brain, the nurse said.

Mr Vichai was operated on the same night, but died on Monday, she said.

His father, Mr Somchai, said the life of the killer bird would be spared.

He said he still loved Yoong Thong and the three other peacocks, but would
donate them to a local zoo because of pressure from his relatives.

Mr Somchai, 55, said that if they had just recently acquired the bird, he
"would have it cooked to make a curry out of it".

But as they had raised it for eight years, since it was a baby, he was not
inclined to seek revenge. - AP

Article copyright Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd 1997
Reprinted for non-commercial use only.
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.net


Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:03:44 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CN) Outbreak sparks import ban
Message-ID: <199704040503.NAA27331@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>South China Morning Post, Internet Edition, 3 Apr 97

     Outbreak sparks import ban
     AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
     
     Beijing has banned the import of pigs, cattle and sheep from Taiwan after
an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that has cost the island billions of
dollars in lost revenue.

 The import ban was issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Agriculture, the
China Daily  said.

 The move prohibits the direct or indirect import of pigs, oxen and sheep,
as well as their by-products.

 It followed Taiwan's decision to reject offers from the mainland to help
fight the outbreak.

 The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait has sent
an official letter expressing sympathy and concern for pig producers in Taiwan.

 The ministry reiterated its willingness to supply vaccines to Taiwan.





Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 13:10:34 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Wrong date on HK post
Message-ID: <199704040510.NAA27495@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Sorry, the date on this post should have been 4 Apr 97.

-Vadivu


>South China Morning Post, Internet Edition, 14 Apr 97
>Bird campaigners get nest egg from the enemy
>FIONA HOLLAND


Date: Thu, 03 Apr 1997 21:18:52 -0800
>From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fishermen fined $4 million
Message-ID: <33448F3C.334@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Cape Code fishermen banned forever from federal waters, fined $4 million

The Associated Press 

BOSTON (Apr 3, 1997 9:55 p.m. EST) -- In the largest fisheries fraud
case in U.S. history, two Cape Cod brothers were fined $4.3 million and
forever banned from federal waters for illegally catching depleted
scallops and groundfish and then lying about it.

"They violated practically every significant regulation we had on the
books," Mitch MacDonald, an enforcement attorney with the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, said Thursday.

"At one of the most critical times in our fishery's history, they tried
to evade everything we were trying to do to save the fishery."

James and Peter Spalt of Barnstable operated at least seven corporations
that pursued, bought and sold Atlantic sea scallops and groundfish. The
brothers were charged with more than 300 violations of federal fisheries
laws between March 1994 and February 1995.

Those violations included catching more fish than allowed, spending more
days at sea than allowed, using too many crew members on vessels, buying
or selling illegal fish, and lying to federal authorities about all of
the above.

In addition to fining the brothers, U.S. Administrative Law Judge Peter
Fitzpatrick revoked their five vessel permits and one fish dealer
permit. Also, their applications for other permits were denied.

Fitzpatrick's decision on Wednesday fined the Atlantic Spray Corp. $1.02
million; Corsair Corp. $779,000; Sakonnet Corp. $766,000; Hudson Corp.
$719,000; Cape Spray Fisheries Inc. $646,000; and South Channel Corp.
$393,000. All are owned by Peter and James Spalt.

The Spalts' businesses earned between $6 million and $10 million a year.

"There was nothing that happened that they didn't know about," MacDonald
said.

The Spalts were accused of illegally catching at least 400,000 pounds of
fish worth at least $2 million. They did this by illegally lining
dredges with nets to catch fish and by illegally hiding scallops
in monkfish boxes.

The violations allegedly occurred on more than 86 percent of the 125
trips the Spalts' vessels took during the period, authorities said. The
fish were sold to restaurants, fish markets and other distributors.

Twelve captains who worked for the brothers' fleet also were charged in
the investigation. They have either paid fines or been grounded for
months or years, MacDonald said.

It was the largest fisheries fraud case in U.S. history, according to
the Commerce Department.

The Spalts will appeal Fitzpatrick's decision to federal court in
Boston, their attorney, Leonard Rose, said Thursday.

"We think that so many errors have been committed and so many
constitutional violations have been committed," Rose said without
elaborating.

MacDonald said the investigation is continuing, and other family
members, employees and business partners may be charged.
Date: Thu, 03 Apr 1997 21:23:16 -0800
>From: Andrew Gach 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Doctors warned of homicide charge
Message-ID: <33449044.F9A@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Clinic withdraws controversial transplant policy on brain-dead donors

Copyright © 1997 The Associated Press 

CLEVELAND (Apr 3, 1997 8:31 p.m. EST) -- Faced with a prosecutor's
warning that the idea amounts to homicide, a renowned heart clinic
decided Thursday not to allow doctors to take organs from brain-damaged
patients moments after they died, CBS News reported.

CBS said the Cleveland Clinic had adopted a protocol to allow doctors,
with family approval, to withdraw life support from brain-damaged but
not yet brain-dead patients if no pulse could be felt in the neck for
two minutes.

Because organs are in high demand for transplants and deteriorate
without oxygen, there is a premium on declaring death quickly, CBS
noted.

The clinic withdrew the protocol Thursday without ever using it, but
maintained in a letter to CBS that it "met the highest legal and ethical
standards," the network said.

Cuyahoga County Assistant Prosecutor Carmen Marino told CBS' Mike
Wallace that after his office learned of the protocol, he warned clinic
lawyers that the procedure could be considered homicide.

"Anyone who participates and promotes this type of protocol and executes
it would be liable for violating Ohio's, not only death statute, but
homicide statutes," Marino told CBS.

The Cleveland Clinic told The Associated Press it had no immediate
comment Thursday night.

Marino also could not be reached for comment Thursday night. The
Cuyahoga County prosecutor's office was closed for the night. Calls to
Marino's home by the AP were met with a busy signal.
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 01:18:36 -0500 (EST)
>From: BKMACKAY@aol.com
To: MINKLIB@aol.com, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: Mink Farmers Factual Error, accurate reporting???
Message-ID: <970404011835_-1101531275@emout07.mail.aol.com>

JP's right, of course.  Mink don't hibernate.  The farmers quoted don't live
in northern Canada, either.  They live in the southernmost tip of the
country, just north of the line of latitude that defines northern California.
 Assuming they know where they live they possibly do know that mink don't
hibernate, but that some of mink's prey does, in the northern part of the
species' range...in other words, this seems to smack of  another example of
how badly reporters screw up their reports.  (If you've ever dicussed
ANYTHING with print media and seen the results in the next day's paper,
you'll know what I mean).  But even if a single quoted mink farmer reallly
was that stupid (and this whole episode seems to have been marked by
monumental stupidity) it does not negate EVERYTHING else ALL or ANY of them
are quoted as saying.  It's not that I'm giving the mink farmers the benefit
of the doubt out of any resect for thier horrid profession, it's just that I
rather think they'd have noticed that mink don't hibernate...the entire
breeding cycle being dependent upon and wrapped up in the fact that they
don't.  

Cheers,

Barry.

In a message dated 97-04-01 10:20:31 EST, MINKLIB@aol.com writes:

 << Subj:Mink Farmers Factual Error
  Date:97-04-01 10:20:31 EST
  From:MINKLIB@aol.com
  Sender:owner-ar-news@envirolink.org
  Reply-to:MINKLIB@aol.com
  To:ar-news@envirolink.org
 
 Just to clarify something, the mink farmer quoted in the newspaper article
 Alan posted exemplified how little fur farmers actually know about mink.
  Mink DO NOT hibernate as this individual claimed.  Therefore, I think we
can
 take much of there other claims with a grain of salt as well, considering
how
 little these people actually know.
 
 JP Goodwin
 Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
 
 
Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 02:06:54 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Navy Dedicates Island As Refuge 
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405020651.006be0cc@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
---------------------------------
 04/03/1997 18:32 EST 

 Navy Dedicates Island As Refuge 

 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Navy and the Fish and Wildlife Service are
dedicating the
 island of Midway as a national wildlife refuge. 

 Situated about 1,250 miles northwest of Honolulu, the island is best known
as the
 site of the Battle of Midway during World War II. 

 Now, millions of migratory birds come to the atoll to nest. 

 Under Navy jurisdiction since 1903, the island now will be under the Fish and
 Wildlife Service and will be open to the public for the first time in 50
years, the
 Pentagon said Thursday. 
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 18:50:49 -0400
>From: lentils@anarchy.wn.pl.net (Wgtn Animal Action)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: phil@ch.planet.gen.nz, safe@chch.planet.co.nz
Subject: (NZ) US Flag burning in support of Tony Wong 
Message-ID: 




United States flag burned outside Embassy by Animal Liberation group

 Friday 4th April 1997

A local Animal Liberation group torched a United States Flag at the
American Embassy at 5pm today in support of a teenage activist
currently on hunger strike in an American jail..  Wellington Animal
Action says it burnt the flag as a protest against the inhumane and
brutal treatment of a sixteen year old Tony Wong of Indiana, USA

Wong began his 40th day of a hunger strike today, the longest hunger strike in recent 
memory in U.S. social justice causes. He also began his fifth day of being force-fed by 
personnel at the juvenile prison were he is being held. Wong says the feeding is causing 
more pain, and more blood, to pour out of his nose, and says the prison refuses to stop the 
feeding or treat him.

Wong will not eat until the Clinton Administration agrees to support federal legislation 
banning the barbaric leghold trap, and end opposition to the European Union wild fur ban, 
which would stop the importation to EU countries of fur from nations not yet banning the 
trap. The U.S. has not banned the trap and is threatening to sue the EU. The third demand 
asks New York to kill a measure that would legalize a "snare trap" for beavers. 

Mark Eden from Wellington Animal Action says the burning of the flag
by the activists is only part of the growing international support
for Wong, jailed Feb. 24 for at least 2 months at the Plainfield
Indiana Boys' School for protesting against animal cruelty at a fur
store last November 29th. 

Mr Eden says "We are demanding Wong's immediate release, and an end to the unethical
and unnecessary force-feeding by the prison authorities".

For more info contact - Mark Eden 
Ph (64)-4-3856728


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Wellington Animal Action
PO Box 6387, Te Aro
Wellington
Aotearoa/New Zealand
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++






On March 11th a fur farm breeders co-op building in Utah was totally destroyed in an 
arson attack claimed by animal liberationists acting in support of Tony Wong. Over a 
million dollars of damage was caused in the attack. The Animal Liberation Front has 
firebombed a fur store in New York and an animal research laboratory in California over 
the last few weeks in solidarity with Tony Wong and other animal rights prisoners hunger 
striking in the United States. Animal rights activists from all over North America will 
protest in Indiana this weekend in an effort to force the authorities to free Tony Wong.

International contacts
Activist Civil Liberties Committee USA (916) 452-7179
Campaign Against the Fur Trade USA (214) 5031419




Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 15:41:04 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK)  The real costs of meat
Message-ID: <199704040741.PAA31509@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


 >Hong Kong Standard, 3 APR 97
Letters to the Editor
Time to delete meat

I REFER to the article ``New abattoir to be environment friendly'' 
("Hong Kong Standard", 26 March).

In the first place an abattoir cannot possible be environmentally 
friendly _ whatever the cost of mitigation measures.

And it is certainly not going to be animal-friendly nor, at $1.9 
billion, taxpayer friendly. And what about the cost and health hazards 
of disposing of the nine tonnes of animal carcasses that are generated 
each day, according to current Hong Kong Government figures? 

And what about the disease hazards created by putting so many animals 
and carcasses in one place?

"E-coli" and foot and mouth disease are topical at the moment but 
they are only two of a whole variety of infections that can easily 
break out in centralised facilities and spread like wildfire.

And what about the cost of treating the afflictions that result from a 
meat-based diet: for example, heart disease, strokes and bowel cancer?

The least we can do is to cut down on eating meat for the sake of our 
health, the animals and the environment.

Every child has the right to a healthy diet _ that means no meat.

Dr John Wedderburn, Hong Kong (via e-mail)





Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 15:50:11 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (SG) S'pore film raises talk
Message-ID: <199704040750.PAA31916@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times, 2 April 97
S'pore film raises talk

One of the home-made features to debut at the 10th Singapore International
film festival this week is God or Dog, directed by Singaporean Hugo Ng.

The movie is about a jobless man named Arthur Sin who assumes the
personality of a spiritual medium. It is based on the real-life murders of
two young children by Adrian Lim in 1981.

The film is already being talked about by festival-goers because of its
violence and graphic sex scenes.

There is one scene where Sin (played by Ng) killes a poodle brutally by
twisting its neck.

A press release with film anecdotes states that the dog was put to sleep
temporarily and "subjected to our manipulation".

The dog did wake up in the end, but it died a few months ago, the release said.

And it will not be the only cast member missing the film's premiere this
Sunday. According to Shin Min Daily News, actress Tay Teow Li, 25, who plays
Sin's second wife, died in her sleep three weeks after shooting wrapped up.
The cause of death is not known.

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 17:53:14 +0800
>From: bunny 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [Aust] 3rd death linked to Salmonella poisoning 
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970404175008.24dfd6e0@wantree.com.au>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Melbourne Age reports (29.3.1997) in an article titled
"Third death heightens food fears" that the Victorian state coroner was
investigating Victoria's third salmonella-linked death this year as health
officials battle to retain public confidence in food hygiene standards.

A 27 year old man who died at his Springvale home on 9 March was found to
have the rare salmonella typhimurium 43 in his body. The cause of his death
is not known.

Six other people have fallen ill with the rare strain, including a woman who
was admitted to hospital, in the state's third salmonella outbreak this year.

Deadly Trail
------------

Friday 21st March

Two people die and 30 are ill from Salmonella muenchen poisoning after eating
ham and corned beef products from the Largo factory in Reservoir.

Tuesday 25th March

Pork, ham and pate rolls from the World Hot bread bakery in Springvale
cause an unprecedented outbreak of salmonella. By the weekend, 554 people
with salmonella typhimurium are linked to the outbreak.

Friday 28th March

One young man dies and it is announced he has extremely rare Salmonella
typhimurium 43, which has made 6 others ill. Health authorities close the Hop Ky
Restaurant in Springvale.

*Postscript :In the last two days it has been stated in the media that a
popular liver paste and another product are now under recall from Victoria,
Australia
(a brand also sold in Western Australia imported from Victoria). WA health
officials have found contamination of some type in the eastern state
smallgoods. Further details should be available soon. An appeal for
increased food monitoring standards has also been heard through the media
and sales of smallgoods in Victoria's markets have declined as the public
become wary of eating possibly contaminated processed meats.

Kind Regards,

Marguerite Wegner
Western Australia
rabbit@wantree.com.au
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere ai te karohirohi
i mua tonu i o koutou huarahi.
                              -Maori Prayer

(May the calm be widespread, may the sea be as the smooth surface of the
greenstone and may the rays of sunshine forever dance along your pathway)

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 08:03:24 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Consumer groups demand single food-safety agency
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405080322.0068937c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN web page:
---------------------------------
                     Consumer groups demand single food-safety agency

                     April 3, 1997                      
                     Web posted at: 5:40 p.m. EST

                     In this story:

                        * Several agencies responsible
                        * FDA: Current system works
                        * Related stories and sites

                     WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The recent hepatitis scare in
                     frozen strawberries has prompted renewed calls
                     from consumer groups for the creation of a single
                     federal food-safety agency.

                     Consumer advocates wrote President Clinton
                     Wednesday, saying the latest outbreak follows a
                     year of increased food scares and signifies the
                     need for a single agency to monitor food safety.

                     "Last year, there was a bumper crop of food-borne
                     illnesses from FDA-regulated foods," said Caroline
                     Smith DeWaal of the Center for Science in the
                     Public Interest, one of the groups demanding
                     action.

                     Among recent food scares in the U.S., according to
                     DeWaal:

                        * More than 1,000 people fell ill from eating
                          parasite- tainted Guatemalan raspberries.
                        * At least 100 people received E.coli poisoning
                          from lettuce.
                        * One child died and dozens of others fell ill
                          from drinking E.coli-tainted apple juice.
                        * Hundreds of people became sick after eating
                          bad oysters.

                     Although the U.S. food supply is considered the
                     safest in the world, an estimated 9,000 Americans
                     die every year from food poisoning. Between 9
                     million and 33 million become sick every year from
                     some form of food poisoning, records show.

                     Several agencies responsible

                     The current food-safety system spreads
                     responsibility among numerous agencies, including
                     the United States Department of Agriculture, the
                     Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental
                     Protection Agency. For example, the USDA regulates
                     meat; the FDA regulates most other food.

                      DeWaal and others contend the system
                                is too inefficient, and that years of
                     underfunding have left the FDA with a food safety
                     program that is little more than a recall agency
                     for contaminated foods.

                     In January, Clinton asked Congress for a $43
                     million food budget increase to help the agencies
                     better monitor potential food hazards, among other
                     things.

                     But the consumer groups say piecemeal reforms
                     aren't enough.

                     Nancy Donley of Safe Tables Our Priority, whose
                     6-year-old son died after eating an
                     E.coli-contaminated hamburger, said she "can't
                     help but wonder if my only child would be alive"
                     if a single agency had existed for food
                     regulation.

                     FDA: Current system works

                     Vicki Peal, whose father died after eating a bad
                     oyster, said she fears "the consequences of having
                     (the FDA) oversee new food-safety threats."

                     The FDA, meanwhile, insists that the       [meat]
                     various federal food agencies combined
                     are up to the job.

                     "It's best to see this as sort of an integrated
                     package of many people from many perspectives with
                     different skills trying to assure the public
                     health," said Dr. Michael Friedman, acting
                     commissioner of the FDA.

                     Correspondent Eugenia Halsey contributed to this
                     report.
Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 08:46:56 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (VN) Vietnamese Spare Cats, Save Crops 
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405084654.0068e090@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
----------------------------
 04/04/1997 04:32 EST 

 Vietnamese Spare Cats, Save Crops 

 HANOI, Vietnam (AP) -- Cats in northern Vietnam are off the menu and on
the prowl. 

 In Thai Binh province, where cats are a delicacy, authorities have banned
felines
 from restaurant menus to preserve them for rat-hunting duty, official
media reported
 today. 

 Millions of ravenous rats in Thai Binh have been devouring rice crops by
the acre.
 And farmers are turning to their dwindling cat population for help. 

 ``So many cats have been sold for food, few are left in the villages,'' the
 state-controlled New Hanoi newspaper quoted local officials as saying. 

 The newspaper said many cats are smuggled from Thai Binh to China where
 restaurant-owners offer higher prices for the meat. 

 The Red River delta province of Thai Binh, about 70 miles southeast of
Hanoi, is the
 biggest rice-producing area in northern Vietnam. 
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:50:11 -0500 (EST)
>From: JanaWilson@aol.com
To: Ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma Horse Cruelty Case
Message-ID: <970404105010_-867446969@emout11.mail.aol.com>


Numerous complaints of starving horses at riding stable results in 
seizure of eight emaciated horses.

    Second Chance Animal Sanctuary of Norman, Oklahoma, in 
conjunction with the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department, the 
District Attorney's Office, and the City of Norman Animal Control 
Department seized eight horses from the Thunderbird Riding Stables 
for animal cruelty.  According to Second Chance cruelty investigator 
Jamie McAloon, "The horses were nothing but skin and bone, no fat 
tissue left, and little or no muscle left. You could count every rib, 
their backbones protruded, and each horse had rain rot and sores from 
ill-fitting harness.  They literally couldn't afford to lose another 
ounce.  Despite their poor condition, the horses were still being 
worked as riding horses."

   Owners Cindy and Bobby Steveson of Thunderbird Riding Stables 
blame the horses' poor condition on age and a bad winter.  Second 
Chance has had the horses' ages estimated by two separate 
veterinarians who determined this was not the case.  The horses were 
as young as 8 years old and up.  Central Oklahoma has had no winter 
to speak of -- we've just had one of the mildest winters on record.  
The last excuse was that the horses had poor or few teeth and 
couldn't or wouldn't eat.  Veterinarians and horse experts determined 
that the horses all had their teeth and were fully capable of eating. 
 "The only thing wrong with these horses is they need food."

   In addition to the eight horses that were seized, investigators 
discovered seven more horses on the property in as poor a condition 
and also being ridden.  The State Department of Tourism owns the 
State Park in which the stable operates, and lease the property to 
the stable.  Although the Dept. has received several complaints and 
have seen the horses it is not willing to take a stand to help the 
horses.  In fact the Department's statement to the media is that its 
veterinarian gave the horses a "clean bill of health."  

   Please write to the Director and ask that the Department of 
Tourism show some compassion for these animals and insist that the 
stable owners provide adequate food and veterinary care to these 
horses, and in addition that any horses in poor health not be ridden.

   Letters of protest to:  John Ressmeyer, Director
                                       Oklahoma Department of Tourism
                                       P.O. Box 52002
                                       Capitol Post Office
                                       Oklahoma City, OK 73152-2002
                                       FAX:  521-2428

   Letters commending the action taken for the horses' welfare to:

    District Attorney's Office      Cleveland County Sheriff's Office
    Cleveland County                   203 S. Jones
    201 S. Jones                            Norman, OK  73069
    Norman, OK  73069               FAX:  366-5705
    FAX:  360-7840

    Chief Phil Cotton                    Second Chance Animal Sanct.
    201-B W. Gray                       P.O. Box 1266
    Norman, OK  73069               Norman, OK  73070
    FAX: 366-5329                      Email:  OKPIG@juno.com

Transcribed by Mary Morrison, Norman, OK.
                                 
                                                       For the Animals,
                                                          Jana, OKC
                                       

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 08:20:28 -0800 (PST)
>From: Mike Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: waterfowl hunting
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970404164621.2c5f49c2@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The following is from a hunting magazine. I would encourage everyone to
write a brief comment opposing an increase in season lengths and bag limits.
-- Mike

>Duck Hunters:
>Sound Off!
>Here's your chance, duck and goose hunters of the West: The U.S. Fish and
>Wildlife Service will be taking public comments until June 27 on whether to
>modify the way it sets waterfowl hunting regulations.
>
>Potential changes include increases in season lengths and bag limits and
>hunter opportunity. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know which
>alternative anti-hunting forces are recommending, and you can bet this small,
>but vocal crowd will weigh in with its opinions.
>
>The Adaptive Harvest Management Working Group has recommended an adoption of
>moderate to liberal options as opposed to restrictive alternatives, and would
>provide additional hunting opportunity that would maintain biological
>soundness and reflect the desires and needs of state wildlife agencies.
>
>Each year the USFWS sets overall parameters for hunting seasons and bag
>limits in each of the Pacific, Mississippi, Mountain and Eastern fly zones
>used by migratory waterfowl. State agencies can then adopt season dates and
>bag limits that do not exceed the federal agency's guidelines.
>
>The proposal for regulatory alternatives was scheduled to be included in the
>Federal Register during mid-May, and the public comment period will end June
>27. Comments can be sent to: Chief, Office of Migratory Bird Management, U.S.
>Department of Wildlife Service, ms 634-ARLSQ, 1849 C. Street N.W.,
>Washington, D.C. 20240.

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 08:37:06 -0800 (PST)
>From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] Superior camel search starts in Britain
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970404083722.20b725ec@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


The Electronic Telegraph is the on-line version of the British-based Daily
Telegraph newspaper.

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Friday, April 4th, 1997

Search for a superior camel starts in Britain

ONE of the world's leading racehorse owners has turned to experts in
Newmarket to help produce better, faster camels for his home country.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, is keen to
encourage camel racing, a traditional sport in the Gulf region. The Sheikh,
who owns major horse studs in Suffolk, has asked for help from the
Newmarket-based Equine Fertility Unit.

Experts, led by Dubai-based Dr Lulu Skidmore, are adapting modern breeding
techniques - such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer - for the
camels. Dr Skidmore spent five years in Dubai at Sheikh Mohammed's Camel
Reproduction Centre learning about the
animals' basic reproductive physiology.

Using ultra-sound scanning, she can now pinpoint exactly when a female camel
is ovulating and hence when it should be mated. Embryos can then be
recovered from top camels and transferred to surrogates to help maximise the
number of animals which the best camels can produce.

The use of camels in the Gulf has been hit hard by the arrival of four-wheel
drive vehicles. The Sheikh and others are now keen to champion their
sporting prowess.

Prof Twink Allen, of the Newmarket Equine Centre, said: "Camels are the
national animal in the Gulf and their racing is extremely important.
Naturally, there is a desire to get more offspring from the most competitive
animals, that is to exploit the superior genes of the best
stock."

© Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997.

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 08:37:51 -0800 (PST)
>From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [EU] GMO LABELLING LEAVES CONSUMERS IN THE DARK: GREENPEACE 
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970404083807.20b74942@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From the Greenpeace Press Office

GMO LABELLING LEAVES CONSUMERS IN THE DARK: GREENPEACE 

BRUSSELS, April 2 1997 - Labelling regulations announced by the
European Commission today will continue to leave consumers in
the dark about whether food products contain genetically altered
organisms by not requiring segregation from natural grains.

Greenpeace spokesperson Isabelle Mister said the Commission had
failed to require any labelling at all for the controversial
genetically modified soya bean and maize. Soya beans are used in
60 per cent of processed food products in supermarkets including
pasta, chocolate and ice-cream.  

The commission also failed to require the segregation of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) such as soya beans and
corn from natural grains. "Therefore these labelling regulations
will only tell consumers a product may contain genetically
altered organisms," she said.

"The Commission through these regulations is effectively denying
consumers the choice they are demanding : to avoid genetically
altered food products," Meister said.

The European Commission announced the adoption of a proposal for
labelling of food products which "may contain or may consist of
genetically modified organisms" (GMO's).

Genetically altered soya beans formed less than two per cent of
the 1996 soya bean harvest in the United States, which is the
largest exporter into Europe, but are not segregated from the
natural soya beans. The Commission proposal does not requrie
segegration of US imports of soya beans nor does it require
labelling of food products made from GMO soya beans.  

"Until the Commission requires the segregation of natural grains
and organic material from the genetically altered material
consumers will not have choice about what they eat," Meister
said.

The Commission in its announcement acknowledged that the public
demand the full application of the precautionary principle to
genetically modified products yet the commission has failed to
implement this approach by approving GMO soya beans and maize
and oil seed rape.

CONTACTS:  ISABELLE MEISTER mobile 31-6534 17947 or 32-2-2801400

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 11:44:05 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Subscription Options (Admin Note)
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405114402.0068c9b8@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

routine posting........

Here are some items of general information (found in the "welcome letter"
sent when people subscribe--but often lose!)...included:  how to post and
how to change your subscription status (useful if you are going on
vacation--either by "unsubscribe" or "postpone").
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allen
********
"We are either part of the problem or part of the solution. Walk your talk
and no one will be in doubt of where you stand." 
  -- Howard F. Lyman
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:06:02 -0700
>From: pmligotti@earthlink.net (Peter  M. Ligotti)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Food Slander Laws in the USA
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

There are 13 states in the USA which currently have passed anti-free speech,
anti-activist food slander laws:

Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan
(passed just last week), Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas.
Here is a article from the Fall 1995 issue of Earth Island Journal on the
Food Slander laws.

"Food Slander" Is Now a Crime

by Gar Smith

On August 17, a group of activists dumped a mixture of Diet Coke,
NutraSweet (aspartame) and rBGH-enhanced milk (produced from cows
injected with genetically engineered hormones) onto the pavement at
Atlanta's Cheshire Bridge Shopping Center.

The demonstration, sponsored by the Pure Foods Campaign (PFC), took its
inspiration from the Boston Tea Party. But while dumping tea was
considered a patriotic act in Boston Harbor, dumping soda, sweetener and
milk is considered a crime in Georgia.

"Food slander" laws, in force in Georgia and at least ten other states,
make it a civil crime to denigrate or criticize food products without a
"scientific basis," explained PFC coordinator Ronnie Cummings. "Industry
lobbyists admit that these laws are probably unconstitutional... their
real purpose is to intimidate activists and concerned consumers."

Emory Law School professor David Bederman joined the PFC protest and
explained to reporters how "food disparagement" laws were ultimately
intended to scare not only citizens, but the media as well.

In Georgia, South Dakota, Alabama, Florida, Idaho, Texas, Arizona,
Oklahoma, Mississippi, Colorado and Louisiana it is now against the law
to publicly criticize corporate food products under so-called "food
disparagement" laws promoted by agriculture, chemical and biotechnology
industry lobbyists. Similar laws are under consideration in Ohio and
Illinois. "These laws are intended to curtail the right to free speech,
to make it illegal to hand out leaflets or to dump rBGH milk in the
gutter," Cummings charged.

PFC claims that Food and Drug Administration Commissioner David Kessler
"lied to Congress" when he assured legislators that bovine somatrotropin
(BST), the genetically engineered growth hormone, was destroyed by
pasteurization. Kessler's assurance, which spared Monsanto (BST's
manufacturer) the expense of any further research, was based on a
scientific paper written by Paul Groenewegen, a graduate student from
Guelph, Canada. According to PFC, Groenewegen was "outraged" to learn
that the FDA had misrepresented his research. Far from destroying BST,
Groenewegen's research showed that subjecting BST to pasteurization
temperatures 120 times normal only destroyed 19 percent of the BST in
milk. PFC also charges that the FDA will not release research that
"proves that lab animals got cancer from BST," despite numerous Freedom
of Information Act requests.

Monsanto's claim that BST is "identical" to natural hormones is also
fraudulent, PFC contends, since BST replaces the naturally occurring
amino acid lysine with epsilon-N-acetyl-lysine. While this may not sound
significant, it is known that the alteration of a single amino acid can
trigger sickle cell anemia or predispose some people to Alzheimer's
disease.

While rBGH is banned in Europe and Canada, and has been boycotted by 95
percent of US dairy farmers, the FDA, Environmental Protection Agency
and Department of Agriculture continue to license the drug (and other
new genetically engineered foods) without pre-market safety tests.
Thanks to industry pressure, genetically engineered foods are not
required to carry identifying labels.

"Instead of giving us affordable, healthy, natural, clean food --
safety-tested and clearly labeled to enable consumers to exercise free
choice -- the powers-that-be seem intent upon taking away our right to
know what's been done to our food," Cummings stated. "Government and
corporation hacks use 'risk assessment' and 'cost accounting' to tell us
it's 'too expensive' to clean up food-industry practices, even as the
Centers for Disease Control admit that 20-80 million people a year get
food poisoning."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

What You Can Do:

PFC invites activists to stage milk-dumps around the country to call
attention to "food slander" laws. For more information, contact: PFC,
860 Highway 61E, Little Marais, MN 55614; (218) 226-4146; (800)
451-7670.


Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 00:57:46 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (MY)  Permits needed to keep exotic pets
Message-ID: <199704041657.AAA25459@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Star (4-Apr-97)
Permits needed to keep exotic pets

JOHOR BARU: The National Park and Wildlife Department has made it compulsory
for those wanting to keep exotic animals as pets to get a special permit.

  The department's public relations officer Mohd Fuad Mohd Sharif said that
the move was necessary to prevent cruelty against such animals.

  Those keeping exotic pets without permits would be charged under the
Protection of Wildlife Act 1972 which carries a fine of up to RM5,000 or
three years' jail or both upon conviction.

  "We are aware that some people keep  exotic birds, mammals, reptiles and
amphibians as status symbols. Such cases are not new as we have prosecuted
many offenders since the Act came into force in 1972," he said.

  Mohd Fuad said it was not easy to rear exotic animals as some owners would
not know how to care for them.







Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 12:07:00 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: pmligotti@earthlink.net, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: Food Slander Laws in the USA
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405120657.006be24c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

For additional information on the web concerning such matters, see:

Rutgers  Animal Rights Law Center 

Product Disparagement Statutes

http://www.animal-law.org/pdstat/index.html

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 09:12:30 -0800 (PST)
>From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [UK] British hunters at bay
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970404091246.29ef8474@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Form The Province (Vancouver, BC), Thursday, April 3rd, 1997

CANDIAN PRESS

LONDON - Faced with a real threat that the next government in Britain might
ban hunting to hounds, people who work in "country sports" announced the
formation of a union yesterday to fight for their way of life.

The aimof the union is not to bargain for wages but to inform the public -
who routinely and overwhelmingly tell pollsters they oppose the hunt - what
would happen to the rural economy if they got their wish.
Organizers of the union warned that tens of thousands of people living in
rural Britain directly or indirectly depend on country sports such as fox-
and stag-hunting, hare-coursing, shooting and angling for their livelihoods.

Union chairman John Fretwell said country sports generate the equivalent of
about $14 billion Cdn a year in economic activity "and that's a lot of money
in anybody's language."

However, much of the anti-hunting sentiment resides in the Labour [P]arty,
which appears poised to win the May 1 election and has promised to hold a
free vote on hunting with hounds.


Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 09:12:32 -0800 (PST)
>From: David J Knowles 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [CA] Dumpster-dog case brings change
Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970404091248.30570018@dowco.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From The Province

By Ian Austin
Staff Reporter

Jasper the dumpster dog has struck a blow for deprived dogs everywhere.

The plucky Skye terrier's plight has led to a change in what happens to dogs
whose owners are charged with neglect or abuse.

In the past, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has had to
apply to the B.C. Supreme Court to get custody of an animal.

But B.C. Supreme Court Master Shelley Nitikman ruled yesterday that animals
whose owners face charges will now stay with the SPCA pending the outcome of
the court case.

"The unfortunate circumstances of Japser may help other animals," Donna
Miranda, a volunteer for [various] animal welfare [groups].
David Wotherspoon, the SPCA's lawyer, said Jasper could barely walk, had
heart disease, a sore on his right hind leg, a hernia and matted fur reeking
of urine and feces after being rescued from a dumpster Jan. 20.

"This application is about a dog named Jasper, a 15-year-old Skye terrier, "
said Wotherspoon. "In the context of all the evidence, I say that he was
abused and neglected."

Bruce Ralston, lawyer for Jasper's owners, Janice and John Montroy,
presented 50 letters of support from family, friends and teachers. "It would
seem rather unlikely, if not preposterous,  for someone to put the dog in a
dumpster and come back and claim it four days later," Ralston said.

[As I posted earlier, the SPCA contest that Jasper was abused/neglected over
a long period of time, and the condition he was found was not caused by a
night in the dumpster. I altered the description of about Donna Miranda from
the original, which did not accurately describe her involvement with the
groups.]

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 12:24:24 -0500 (EST)
>From: SMB5172@siena.edu
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Message-ID: <970404122424.64014502@siena.edu>

ar-news mail postpone
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 97 09:31:20 -0000
>From: 
To: "ar-news" 
Subject: (US) USDA enforcement actions
Message-ID: <199704041723.LAA22228@dfw-ix14.ix.netcom.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The USDA continues its barrage of press releases featuring the fines they 
are assessing for violations of the animal welfare act.  But these fines 
are almost always suspended instantly, yet the USDA uses the total number 
of fines assesed in its PR information.  Note the following 2 examples 
recieved today, the first of which involves a suspended fine so long as 
no other violations occur-- BUT THE LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED SO THERE CAN BE 
NO FURTHER VIOLATIONS--

LOGAN, IOWA, ANIMAL DEALER SURRENDERS
LICENSE TO USDA

     RIVERDALE, Md., April 3, 1997--The U.S.
Department of Agriculture and Ernest Yancy,
a licensed animal dealer doing business as S
& Y Kennel in Logan, Iowa, have agreed to a
consent decision and order regarding
violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

     Yancy neither admitted nor denied any
violations of the AWA but agreed to a civil
penalty of $5,000 and will surrender his
license.  The $5,000 penalty is suspended
provided there are no further violations of
the AWA for a period of one year.  Yancy
will not be allowed to receive a license under the AWA for a period of 
four years.
-----

FREDERICK, S.D., ANIMAL DEALER SETTLES WITH
USDA FOR $4,000

     RIVERDALE, Md., April 3, 1997--The U.S.
Department of Agriculture and Donna Voeller,
a licensed animal dealer doing business in
Frederick, S.D., have agreed to a consent
decision and order regarding violations of
the Animal Welfare Act.

     Voeller neither admitted nor denied any
violations of the AWA but agreed to a civil
penalty of $4,000 and a 45-day license
suspension continuing until she demonstrates
that her facility is in full compliance with
the AWA.  The fine is suspended providing
Voleller does not violate the AWA for a
period of one year.




from David Meyer
Last Chance for Animals
lcanimal@ix.netcom.com
http://www.lcanimal.org
8033 Sunset Blvd., #35
Los Angeles, CA  90046
310/271-6096 office, 310/271-1890 fax

Read "In Your Face, from Actor to Animal Activist",
the true story of Last Chance for Animals founder, Chris DeRose
Details available at http://www.lcanimal.org

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 12:41:31 -0500 (EST)
>From: JanaWilson@aol.com
To: Ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Oklahoma Horse Abuse Case Again
Message-ID: <970404124131_1152622969@emout11.mail.aol.com>


The area code for the Norman, Okla. area is 405...

                                            For the Animals,
                                                  Jana, OKC
                  

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 12:42:10 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Bumper Crop of Illnesses Traced to FDA-Regulated Foods,
  Like Fruit Juice, Lettuce and Shellfish
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405124208.006b06c8@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) web page:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
Wednesday, April 2, 1997

Contact: Bill Bryant 202/332-9110 ext. 370 or Penelope Miller, 332-9110
ext. 358

Heather Klinkhamer, S.T.O.P., 202/332-9110

 Bumper Crop of Illnesses Traced to FDA-Regulated Foods, Like Fruit Juice,
Lettuce and Shellfish

      Consumer Organizations Call on Clinton to Form New Food Agency

WASHINGTON, DC--Consumer organizations today called on President Clinton to
form a new independent food agency to address existing and emerging hazards
in the food supply. Citing recent examples of deadly bacteria in unexpected
foods, such as lettuce and unpasteurized juice, the groups warned of more
"bumper crops of illnesses."

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and Safe Tables Our
Priority (S.T.O.P.) urged President Clinton to form an independent federal
food agency to assure American consumers that existing and emerging food
hazards will be fully addressed.

"Bacteria in hamburger killed my son. Now it's showing up in more foods,
like lettuce and unpasteurized juice," said Nancy Donley, president of
S.T.O.P. "We have one food supply. We need one food agency."

In 1996, there were numerous food safety problems with FDA-regulated food
products, including:

   * A parasite, Cyclospora, on raspberries from Guatemala caused over 1000
     consumer illnesses all over the country and in Canada.

   * E. coli poisoning outbreaks traced to lettuce caused at least 100
     consumer illnesses in three states.

   * E. coli and Cryptosporidium poisoning from unpasteurized juice
     products, including Odwalla juice, caused over 100 consumer illnesses
     and one death in at least 5 states.

   * 23 deaths were traced to one bacteria, Vibrio vulnificus, in raw
     shellfish.

   * Over 70 consumer illnesses from shellfish were traced to raw oysters
     from Louisiana. In January 1997, in another major outbreak, over 400
     consumers became ill from oysters.

Many of those examples represent emerging food safety problems. The groups
noted, however, that the agency in charge of those serious hazards, the
Food and Drug Administration, is poorly-funded and inadequately staffed.

"Last year, there was a bumper crop of foodborne illnesses from
FDA-regulated foods," said Caroline Smith DeWaal, director of food safety
at the CSPI. "Years of inadequate funding have left FDA with a food safety
program that is little more than a recall agency for contaminated foods."

"FDA hasn't controlled food hazards that already exist, like deadly
bacteria in oysters." said Vicki Peal, a Florida schoolteacher who lost her
father to deadly oysters. "I fear the consequences of having this agency
oversee new food safety threats."

The organizations praised the Clinton Administration for taking positive
steps to improve food safety by adopting mandatory systems for preventing
contamination in meat, poultry and seafood plants. However, in a memo to
the President, they warned that piecemeal reform was not enough.

"The bottom line is that consumers are paying a terrible price for the
inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the existing system of foodborne
illness prevention," the groups advised the President. "It is time to
reinvent and rationalize the system."

The groups said that "piecemeal reforms" are not enough. "We need
fundamental reform," they advised the President, "if we are to benefit from
a more effective food safety system. We need a single federal food agency
to address the unacceptably high rate of foodborne illness and inconsistent
food safety policies across the federal government.

"We need the government to adopt food safety assurance systems that are
proactive in identifying and preventing contamination rather than waiting
until large food poisoning outbreaks and public outcry make action a
political necessity."

Also signing onto the memorandum to the President are Consumer Federation
of America, Public Voice for Food and Health Policy, Government
Accountability Project, and United States Humane Society.

CSPI is a nonprofit health-advocacy organization that focuses on nutrition
and food safety. It is based in Washington, D.C., and is supported largely
by its 900,000 members. It does not accept industry or government funding.
CSPI led efforts to win passage of the law requiring nutrition labels on
food packages and has publicized the nutritional content of many popular
restaurant foods.

S.T.O.P., Safe Tables Our Priority, is the only national grassroots
organization representing foodborne illness victims, their friends, and
families. S.T.O.P. maintains a victims assistance hotline, 1-800-350-STOP.

Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 13:05:38 -0500
>From: allen schubert 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Soybeans, Corn Fall on Taiwan News 
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970405130535.006cce94@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


("all things are connected")
from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
04/04/1997 11:46 EST 

 Soybeans, Corn Fall on Taiwan News 

 CHICAGO (AP) -- Corn and soybeans futures prices fell early today on
Chicago's
 Board of Trade on plans by Taiwan to limit imports of the feed and kill
many of its
 diseased pigs. 

 Taiwan will halt soybean imports for three months as it slaughters up to
1.5 million
 hogs vulnerable to hoof-and-mouth disease, the U.S. Agriculture Department
attache
 in Taiwan said. The disease is not harmful to humans but is fatal to
animals. 

 The USDA announcement comes as heavy export sales finally taper off. The
amount
 of soybeans sold for export last week was almost half recent averages, an
agency
 report indicated Thursday. 

 Taiwan, one of the United States' most consistent customers, also will
need 1.5
 million fewer tons of corn to feed its declining pork population. 

 That adds to a dull export picture. South Korea is buying Chinese corn
instead of
 pricey U.S. grain, and it appears other countries are shopping elsewhere
as well.
 There was no news overnight of export sales. 

 Last week's corn export sales were less than half of the previous week and
far below
 analysts' expectations. 

 Wheat futures fell in sympathy with soybeans and on beneficial rain that
has fallen in
 Midwestern wheat fields this week. 

 Soybeans for May delivery fell 7 cents to $8.64 a bushel; May corn fell 2¾
cents to
 $2.98¼ a bushel; July wheat fell 3 cents to $3.70 a bushel; May oats fell
2½ cents to
 $1.68½ a bushel. 

 Livestock futures prices were mostly lower on the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange. 

 Hog futures fell after Japan denied it might lower restrictive tariffs by
25 percent and
 thus import more pork from the United States. 

 Wholesale prices have shot up 24 percent since the middle of March when Japan
 banned Taiwanese imports after the hoof-and-mouth outbreak. Some analysts
 speculated a reduction in tariffs would spark U.S. exports to Japan by as
much as 70
 percent. 

 April lean hogs fell .7 cent to 73.27 cents a pound; May frozen pork
bellies fell 1.87
 cents to 78.30 cents a pound; April live cattle fell .3 cent to 67.77
cents a pound; April
 feeder cattle rose .32 cent to 70.52 cents a pound. 
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:09:53 -0800 (PST)
>From: Mike Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+announce@ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: NJ Alert: Protect Black Bears from Hunting!
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970404183605.5e7f5fd6@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

NEW JERSEY ALERT

DON'T LET NEW JERSEY PUT BLACK BEARS UNDER THE GUN!

Although there are only an estimated 350 black bears in New Jersey, the
Division of Fish, Game & Wildlife wants to expose them to sport hunting.
Assemblymember Kevin O'Toole has introduced A-2016 to prohibit the hunting
of black bears, and the bill is currently in the Environment, Science, and
Technology Committee. Please contact the seven members of the Committee
listed below, and ASK THEM TO SUPPORT A-2016.

* Steve Corodemus, Chairman, 908-229-6070 (phone), 908-229-6323 (fax)
* John Rooney, Vice-Chairman, 201-967-8910 (phone), 201-967-0331 (fax)
* Francis Bodine, 609-234-8080 (phone), 609-234-3990 (fax)
* David Wolfe, 908-840-9028 (phone), 908-840-9757 (fax)
* Barbara Wright, 609-395-8260 (phone), 609-395-8572 (fax)
* Reed Gusciora, 609-292-0500 (phone), 609-633-2179 (fax)
* Robert Smith, 908-752-0770 (phone), 908-752-1590 (fax)

You can write to the members above, as well as to your own State
Assemblymember and State Senator, at The Honorable __________, State
Capitol, 125 West State Street, Trenton, NJ, 08625. Please tell them:

* Bear problems can be resolved with education, electric fencing, and
properly stored food and trash.
* With only 350 bears in the state, a sport hunting season may jeopardize
the survival of the population.
* Most New Jersey residents want to protect bears; fewer than 2 percent of
New Jersey residents hunt.

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:09:37 -0800 (PST)
>From: Mike Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+announce@ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: LA Alert: Bills to ban Cockfighting and Canned Hunts!
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970404183546.5e7f2ff0@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

LOUISIANA ALERT

SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO BAN COCKFIGHTING AND CANNED HUNTS!

Two important pro-animal bills are now before the Louisiana Legislature.
Please call or write both your State Representative and State Senator in
Baton Rouge immediately and ask them to vote "YES" on:

HB 1983 -- A BILL TO BAN COCKFIGHTING. Louisiana is one of only five states
that still allows the barbaric bloodsport of cockfighting. Cocks are
equipped with razor-sharp "gaffs" on their legs, and are forced to fight
until the death. Tell your legislators that this bloodsport has no place in
a civilized society.

HB 1523 -- A BILL TO BAN CANNED HUNTS. At cruel and unsporting "canned
hunts," wealthy trophy hunters pay to shoot captive animals on fenced-in
ranches. HB 1523 would prohibit the shooting of captive mammals on fenced-in
ranches, and would stop this "shooting fish in a barrel" industry in Louisiana.

Contact your State Representative and State Senator at the address or phone
number below. If you do not know who your State Representative and State
Senator are, call your library, town hall, or League of Women Voters.

  The Honorable __________The Honorable __________
 Louisiana House of RepresentativesLouisiana Senate
    PO Box 94062PO Box 94183
  Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9062Baton Rouge, LA 70804
   Phone: (504) 342-6945Phone: (504) 342-2040

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 10:09:21 -0800 (PST)
>From: Mike Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, seac+announce@ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu,
        en.alerts@conf.igc.apc.org
Subject: CT Alert: Lobbying Day April 23!
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970404183530.5e7f1d9a@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

CONNECTICUT ALERT

JOIN US IN HARTFORD FOR LOBBYING DAY ON APRIL 23!

Two important pro-animal bills are now before the Connecticut General
Assembly. Please call both your State Representative and State Senator in
Hartford immediately and ask them to vote "YES" on:

HB 6577 -- "An Act Concerning the Control of Nuisance Wildlife." Last fall a
nuisance wildlife control trapper was arrested for drowning two raccoons off
a West Haven dock. He's claiming that the Department of Environmental
Protection encourages such practices. HB 6577 will prohibit nuisance control
trappers from using cruel methods such as drowning, body-crushing traps, and
other "tools of the trade" such as injections of paint thinner! It will also
require them to receive training in prevention measures and humane capture
and release.

HB 6517 -- "An Act Concerning the Animal Protection Control Fund." The state
spay/neuter program at municipal pounds has been suspended due to lack of
funds. HB 6517 would provide funding by creating a special spay/neuter
license plate and by reducing the cash rebate after an adopter has the
animal sterilized.

(Call 1-800-842-1420 for Senate Democrats, 1-800-842-1421 for Senate
Republicans, 1-800-842-8267 for House Democrats, and 1-800-842-1423 for
House Republicans. Call your Registrar of Voters to find out which Senator
and Representative represent you.)

After you call your legislators about these two bills, VISIT THEM IN PERSON
AT THE FIRST EVER ANIMAL LOBBY DAY AT THE STATE CAPITOL! Come to the
gold-domed Capitol Building in Hartford on April 23 and learn about the
legislative process, meet other animal advocates from around the state, and
meet your legislators. TO REGISTER PLEASE CALL JULIE LEWIN AT THE FUND FOR
ANIMALS AT 860-521-7290 RIGHT AWAY!

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 11:02:02 -0800
>From: ighahorseaid@earthlink.net (IGHA/HorseAid Volunteer)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: USDA
Message-ID: 
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

What?

Horseburgers in the White House??

------

(see: http://home.earthlink.net/~ighahorseaid/news.html - Smokey Jett Jr.'s
"politically INcorrect DOGma HOUSE", and
http://home.earthlink.net/~ighahorseaid/legis.html for details)


Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 14:00:45 -0500 (EST)
>From: SUE4TURKEY@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: ar-views@envirolink.org
Subject: Huge Fur Protest
Message-ID: <970404140044_-669154676@emout15.mail.aol.com>

Hello Everyone,

There will be a huge protest of Winters Furs in Red Bank, New Jersey on
Saturday, April 12th at 1:00pm. Many members of adl-Syracuse are attending.
If you want to carpool with them contact Joel Capolongo at 315-453-2297. If
you want to attend and you're in NJ contact Krazy Mike 908-974-8903.

Protesting  and accessories are being discussed. Contact Mike.

Peace,
Sue.
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 15:08:44 -0800 (PST)
>From: Mike Markarian 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: MN Alert: Don't Let Hunters Hijack the Constitution!
Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970404233449.67bfae4a@pop.igc.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>>MINNESOTA ACTION ALERT
>>
>>DON'T LET HUNTERS HIJACK THE CONSTITUTION!
>>
>>Hunting lobbyists are again trying to amend the state constitution to make
>>recreational hunting a constitutional right. Such an amendment may prohibit
>>the future enactment of any restrictions on hunting. Please contact your
>>State Senator and State Representative and ask them to oppose any proposal
>>to make hunting a right.
>>
>>To find out who your State Senator and State Representative are, please call
>>Senate Information at (612) 296-0504, House Information at (612) 296-2146,
>>or the League of Women Voters at (612) 224-5445. You may get their direct
>>telephone numbers from the Information offices, or write:
>>
>>The Honorable __________
>>Minnesota State Senate/House of Representatives
>>Saint Paul, MN 55155
>>
>>Here are a few points you may wish to make:
>>* There is no constitutional right to food, shelter, or a job, so why should
>>hunters be so privileged?
>>* Legislators should not be prevented from making educated decisions on
>>future laws concerning wildlife.
>>* The state would be subject to lawsuits from hunters who claim a "right" to
>>longer seasons or bag limits.
>>* The constitutional right to hunt was defeated last year, and should simply
>>be laid to rest permanently.
>>
>>If you have any questions about this legislation, please contact Linda
>>Hatfield at (612) 822-2720 or . Thank you!
>>
>>
>
>

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 1997 20:39:43 -0500
>From: millerd1@sunyit.edu (David Lee Winston Miller)
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: [US] Mountain Goat Shooting Plan / Olympic National Park Update
Message-ID: <199704050140.UAA27100@envirolink.org>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


As most of you know, the Olympic Mountain Goats are threatened with a
possible shooting plan designed to wipe them out.  (Many of you have already
written on this issue.)  The Park Service continues to claim that the goats
are non-native despite evidence to the contrary.

The following is an excerpt from the park's "Olympic National Park
Update--The Quarterly Newsletter of Olympic National Park" just released and
dated March 31, 1997  Vol. II, No. 1.  (I found it at
http://www.nps.gov/olym/qrtly3.txt --file dated as Last Modified on 04/02/97
13:37:08 Local time.)

>Discussions Continue On 
>Mountain Goat Management
>
>The NPS and the Department of the 
>Interior continue discussions with 
>Congressman Norm Dicks' office, aimed at 
>reaching a mutual understanding regarding 
>non-native mountain goat management in 
>Olympic National Park. This most recent 
>round of talks began in December in 
>response to concerns raised by Congressman 
>Norm Dicks, as well as many members of 
>the public. During this interim discussion 
>period, the Environmental Impact 
>Statement process remains on hold.

In an earlier letter, dated March 5, the National Park Service mentioned "a
preferred alternative of elimination of mountain goats within Olympic
National Park by shooting."  On the positive side, the Park Service noted
that "Future management of mountain goats is currently under discussion
within the NPS and the Department of the Interior."

The Park Service is feeling the heat, but possibly hoping the issue will
cool down.  To keep the issue alive, please see:
   http://www.sunyit.edu/~millerd1/GOATSUPD.HTM

--Winston Miller
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
David Lee Winston Miller  (a.k.a. "Winston Miller")
 Mail: millerd1@sunyit.edu
 Homepage: http://www.sunyit.edu/~millerd1
*****************************************************************

Date: Fri, 4 Apr 97 23:02:25 -0000
>From: clash 
To: 
Subject: Massachusetts Man  Sentenced for Illegal Alaska Hunting
Message-ID: <199704050359.WAA09670@vixa.voyager.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

>  Massachusetts Man
>              Sentenced for Illegal Alaska Hunting
>
>A Massachusetts man who hunted illegally in Alaska will pay nearly $30,000 
>in 
>fines and restitution and will not be able to hunt during his two-year 
>probation
>as punishment for violating federal wildlife protection laws.  Because of 
>the 
>felony conviction, he will never again be able to own a firearm.
>
>In a week-long trial last autumn in a Springfield, Mass., courtroom filled 
>with 
>life-size mounted game animals, a federal jury convicted Lawrence J. 
>Romano, 50,
>of Mount Washington, Mass., of six felony charges for hunting without a 
>valid 
>license in Alaska and then transporting the illegally taken game across 
>state 
>lines.  Those actions violated the Lacey Act, a federal statute regulating 
>the 
>sale and purchase of wildlife in interstate commerce. Romano operates several
>tatoo parlors in the Northeast.
>
>During the March 27 sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge Michael A. Ponsor 
>fined Romano $20,000.  In addition, Judge Ponsor ordered Romano to pay the 
>State
>of Alaska $9,994 in restitution of lost hunting license revenue and placed 
>him 
>on supervised probation for two years. 
>
>As a condition of his probation, Romano will not be allowed to hunt or to 
>be in 
>the company of people engaged in hunting anywhere in the world during his 
>probation.
>
>The judge also ordered that firearms would not be allowed in the Romano 
>residence during the probationary period and advised Romano that, as a 
>convicted
>felon, he would never be authorized to possess a firearm for the rest of his 
>life.  
>
>Judge Ponsor also approved a forfeiture order for six big game mounts that 
>wildlife agents seized from Romano's home in February 1995.  These mounts 
>included Dall sheep, moose and caribou that had been killed illegally in 
>Alaska.
>A life-size brown bear mount, seized from the Romano residence, was 
>previously 
>forfeited to the government as part of a civil action.
>
>During the criminal trial, the prosecution presented evidence that Romano 
>illegally hunted in Alaska from 1990 through 1994 without a valid Alaska 
>hunting
>license and then transported the illegally killed animals to 
>Massachusetts.  The
>prosecution provided documentation showing that Romano falsely claimed to 
>be an 
>Alaska resident on his application for an Alaska hunting license, thereby 
>saving
>thousands of dollars in hunting and licensing fees.  Because Romano 
>purchased 
>the services of Alaska guides during the course of his illegal hunting 
>activities and then transported the unlawfully taken wildlife across state 
>lines, his conduct violated the felony section of the Lacey Act.  
>
>While searching the Romano residence, state and federal wildlife agents 
>discovered a live black bear in a cage behind his house and a live 
>copperhead 
>snake, which is an endangered species in Massachusetts, in the cellar.  Both 
>animals were possessed in violation of state law and were seized by the 
>Massachusetts Environmental Police, with the assistance of officers of the 
>Animal Rescue League of Boston.  Romano paid a $5,000 fine in state court 
>stemming from these violations. 
>
>This case was investigated by special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
>Service from Boston, New York and Anchorage, Alaska; the Massachusetts 
>Environmental Police; the Massachusetts State Police; and investigators 
>from the
>Alaska State Troopers Fish and Wildlife Protection.  The case was 
>prosecuted by 
>Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of the Major Crimes Unit and Trial 
>Attorney Charles W. Brooks of the Justice Department's Environmental 
>Division.
>
>                             -FWS-
>                                
Date: Fri, 4 Apr 97 23:08:31 -0000
>From: clash 
To: 
Subject: Dr. Goodall to Speak in the Twin Cities!
Message-ID: <199704050405.XAA10997@vixa.voyager.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Dr. Jane Goodall, a veteran of over 35 years of scientific study of the
Chimpanzees of Gombe Stream, Tanzania, Africa, has moved her written
reports to be archived at the University of Minnesota.  

"Base Camp Minnesota" is planning a welcome party to Dr. Goodall which
will including a welcome address from both the mayors of the Twin Cities,
Saint Paul and Minneapolis.  

Dr. Goodall will then present one hour of her slides of Chimpanzees from
Gombe Stream, FREE to the PUBLIC at College of Saint Catherine in Saint
Paul on April, 19th 1997 at noon.  Seating is limited so be sure to call
early to reserve your seats; only two tickets will be issued per call and
the box office will mail out the tickets up to the week of the event.
Call the O'Shaunessey Auditorium Box Office at 690-6700.    

This event is sponsored by The Environmental Law Society at Hamline
University School of Law, Saint Thomas and Saint Catherines & Aveda.


D'Arcy Kemnitz
And Justice for All
Box D2063 Hamline University School of Law
1536 Hewitt Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnesota  55104
(612) 305-0740
Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:03 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (HK) Chicken deaths prompt disease alert
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA00687@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>Hong Kong Standard, 5 Apr 97
Chicken deaths prompt disease alert
By Yau Wai-ping and Fong Tak-ho

THE Department of Health was put on alert on Friday after news 
that a disease has killed more than 1.7 million chickens in Guangzhou 
in the past few months.

A Hong Kong government spokesman said the department would ensure 
there was no health risk to Hong Kong people.

He said consumers need not be concerned because the territory had an 
efficient quarantine mechanism for preventing sick animals crossing 
the border.

Ng Fong Hong Ltd, which distributes food from China, said it only 
imported chickens from Dongguan and Shenzhen.

The Guangzhou government said the epidemic was under control.

Unqualified vets and poor knowledge of disease prevention were to 
blame for the chicken plague, China's official "Nanfang Daily"
said on Friday.

The paper said the outbreak was sparked late last year in southern 
Guangzhou, and soon spread to most parts of the city.

The plague had cost at least 10 million yuan (HK$9.3 million).

A Chinese official said the chances of someone accidentally eating 
contaminated chicken were slim, as the taste, texture and colour of 
the meat changed once the chicken was infected.

A Guangzhou resident contacted by the "Hong Kong Standard" on 
Friday said people there were still buying chicken and the price had 
not been affected by the incident.

Another resident was unaware of the outbreak since it had not been 
reported on local television.

Guangzhou was hit by a massive food poisoning case last week in which 
at least 100 children became ill after having eaten food believed to 
have been tainted with rat poison .

Two of the victims died.

The Guangzhou government said the epidemic would not pose a health 
risk to residents because no chicken dealers would buy dead chickens 
from farmers.

It told Guangzhou residents to consume chickens normally because 
chickens killed by the epidemic would not be sold in markets.

                                                     


Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:20 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CN) UK expert smells a rat in ear `cloning' claim
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA04992@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


 >Hong Kong Standard, 5 Apr 97
UK expert smells a rat in ear `cloning' claim
By Fong Tak-ho
The purported human ear allegedly grown from cells and 
grafted onto a live rat.

A SHANGHAI surgeon claims to have used a cloning process to grow 
a human ear and graft it on to a rat _ but a Western expert has 
dismissed it as a publicity stunt.

Dr Cao Yilin, who says he grew the ear from human cells and cartilage 
then transplanted it surgically on to the rat's body, predicted on 
Friday that the process could one day be used to grow vital organs for 
transplant.

Dr Cao said it also would remove the necessity for patients' own 
tissue to be grafted to repair damage from injuries or diseases such 
as cancer. He said the organ-cloning technology should be sufficiently 
mature by the turn of the century to be used for replication of bone, 
trachea, liver, muscle and skin. But a London University cloning 
expert said such procedures were impossible at present.

Professor Steve Cheung said a similar claim was publicised 18 months 
ago but it turned out to be a plastic ear attached to a mouse. ``The 
same story has appeared again and I think it's nothing but a publicity 
stunt.''

                                                     


Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:31 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) Taiwanese admit wrong vaccine used to stem hog disease
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA06253@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times, 5 Apr 97
Taiwanese admit wrong vaccine used to stem hog disease
TAIPEI -- A wrong vaccine has been used to counter the
     widespread hog disease in Taiwan because inaccurate tests were
     used to determine its effectiveness, admitted embarrassed Taiwan
     officials.

        The Taiwan Council of Agriculture said that three million tubes
     of vaccine, a mixture of the 01 and Asia1 solutions, were ordered.
     But it has since instructed the supplier to change the remaining
     supply which had not been used to the pure 01-type, according to
     a report in the Lianhe Zaobao newspaper.

        The officials have also attempted to allay public fear by insisting
     that the diluted vaccine was just as effective in preventing
     healthy pigs from getting the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease.
     But these claims were repudiated immediately by the head of the
     Veterinary Faculty of the National Taiwan University, who said
     that it "might not be as effective".

        Since the announcement of the hog epidemic on March 20, more
     than 1.5 million pigs have been afflicted with the disease.



Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:37 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (CN) Poison catch
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA06140@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>The Straits Times, 5 Apr 97
EAST ASIA FILE

POISON CATCH: The health authorities in
     the southern Chinese port of Zhuhai seized four tonnes of
     blowfish from boats, the China Daily reported yesterday. The fish
     is banned in China because of its poisonous internal organs. The
     boat owners were fined 5,000 yuan (S$860) each, and the 209
     boxes of fish were destroyed. -- AFP.

Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:45 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Cc: jwed@hkstar.com, monster@pacific.net.sg
Subject: (US) Chronic diseases to cost US a bomb
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA04222@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times - APR 5 1997
     Chronic diseases to cost US a bomb
ATLANTA -- The cost of treating chronic diseases could reach
     "mind-boggling" heights as the population in the United States
     aged over the next 20 years unless preventive efforts were
     increased dramatically, health officials warned on Thursday.

      A St Louis University study, published by the US Centres for
     Disease Control and Prevention, showed state public-health
     departments allocated only about 3 per cent of their budgets
     currently to prevention and control efforts.

      In 1994, just over US$287 million (S$413 million) was spent at
     the state level on preventive efforts aimed at the six leading
     chronic diseases -- heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, chronic
     obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic liver disease.

        The figure represented 0.07 per cent of the estimated US$425
     billion spent annually to treat those same diseases, the study
     showed.

       Dr Ross Brownson, director of St Louis University's Prevention
     Centre, said: "At least spending one-tenth of that on prevention
     seems to me to make sense. There's such a huge amount spent at
     the other end, and we know prevention would save us dollars up
     the road in a big way."

         Chronic diseases, which are largely preventable, account for about
     two-thirds of all medical expenditure in the US and nearly
     three-quarters of all deaths.

       Experts said that the financial toll of treatment could be
     expected to rise dramatically as the American population aged in
     coming decades, compounding problems for federal Medicare and
     Medicaid health-care programmes. -- Reuter.



Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:51 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (UK) 'Stressed cows' feeling better as suit is settled
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA06284@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times , APR 5 1997
     'Stressed cows' feeling better as suit is settled

CHARLESTON (Maine) -- Farmer Richard Hall said he and his
     cows were feeling better even if they did not get everything they
     wanted in a court battle with an electric company, the Bangor
     Daily News said on Thursday.

       Mr Hall had filed a suit against Bangor Hydro, claiming that his
     cows were producing less milk because they were being zapped by
     small amounts of electricity escaping into the ground from a
     utility line.

       The two sides reached an out-of-
     court settlement this week, the exact terms of which were not
     released.

        Mr Hall claimed a US$350,000 (S$510,650) loss between 1986 and
     1992 due to reduced milk production but was not satisfied with
     the settlement entirely.

       "I didn't get what I wanted or what I should have, but I think in
     the process what we did has helped a lot of farmers out and a lot
     of people,"
     he told the newspaper.

       The utility maintained that the cows' milk production dropped
     because the farmer bought sick cows and did not know how to
     operate his feeding equipment properly. The company was
     "pleased with the results", an attorney said.

       Similar suits have been filed elsewhere by farmers contending
     that cows are more sensitive than humans to stray electricity,
     which causes them to eat less and get sick more often. -- Reuter.


Date: Sat, 5 Apr 1997 12:57:57 +0800 (SST)
>From: vadivu 
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (UK) Call to review British gelatine exports
Message-ID: <199704050457.MAA06080@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>The Straits Times, APR 5 1997
MEDICAL NOTES
Call to review British gelatine exports
     BRUSSELS -- The European Commission has been asked to
     review its decision last June to allow exports of gelatine from
     Britain after scientists said that the material could not be
     guaranteed free from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) or
     "mad-cow disease".

       The panel's Multi-Disciplinary Scientific Committee concluded
     on Thursday that the technical treatment terms set out by the
     commission "do not adequately guarantee the inactivation of the
     BSE agent". -- AFP.




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