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AR-NEWS Digest 414
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) The Fruits of Medicine
by Andrew Gach
2) (US) Man Charged for Mistreating Horse
by allen schubert
3) Medical notes
by Vadivu Govind
4) Re: (NZ) Fish is an animal, police legal section determines
by Vadivu Govind
5) Animatronics in Lost World
by PAWS
6) U.S. Surgical, Health Services Corp. in Pact
by Snugglezzz@aol.com
7) Letters for Taiwan
by Vadivu Govind
8) Fwd: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know
by BHGazette@aol.com
9) (TW) Stray Problem Dogs Taiwan
by Vadivu Govind
10) FRANCE TO KEEP US MEAT BAN
by Vadivu Govind
11) FWD: Congress attacks consumers' right to know
by Andrew Gach
12) Northern VA mallard needs help
by TARowley@aol.com
13) Re: Northern VA mallard needs help
by ****
14) Fwd: Elephants Orphaned by Sri Lanka War
by LMANHEIM@aol.com
15) (US) PETA-REBA McENTIRE URGED TO "SCALE" BACK CRUELTY TO FISH
by allen schubert
16) Admin Note--Crossposting
by allen schubert
17) two activists arrested for circus demonstration
by ric
18) Fwd: Poachers Plunder Midwest Mussels
by LMANHEIM@aol.com
Date: Fri, 23 May 1997 21:03:03 -0700
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: The Fruits of Medicine
Message-ID: <33866877.306@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Royalty demand may cut access to Down syndrome test
The Associated Press
NEW YORK (May 23, 1997 1:43 p.m. EDT) -- A scientist who helped develop
a prenatal blood test for Down syndrome is demanding royalties that
would sharply increase the cost of the widely used procedure and might
limit its availability.
The test, which looks for telltale chemicals in the blood, is given to
almost every pregnant woman in the United States.
In 1986, Dr. Mark Bogart discovered the link between a hormone known as
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and the incidence of the congenital
birth defect. He patented his discovery in 1989.
A company he heads, Biomedical Patent Management Corp., has sent scores
of letters recently to laboratories nationwide demanding they pay
royalties whenever they test for the hormone in pregnant women. His
company has threatened to sue for patent infringement if they refuse.
Experts in prenatal testing say the sum Bogart demands, up to $9 per
test, can use up or exceed insurance reimbursement levels.
"This is a dangerous, precedent-setting issue," Dr. Robert Elser,
director of clinical chemistry and immunochemistry at York Hospital in
York, Pa., told The New York Times. "The consequences on public health
could be enormous."
Bogart's lawyer, Andrew J. Dhuey, disputed that point, saying he and his
client are willing to waive part or all of the licensing fee for
Medicaid patients whose federally funded insurance won't pay the full
cost of the test.
"We have the means to make sure that this does not create any
availability problems for the poor," Dhuey told The Associated Press in
a telephone from San Francisco.
Some labs have said they may be forced to stop performing the test,
which determines the risk of the chromosomal defect Down syndrome. The
defect results in varying degrees of mental retardation.
"They're essentially being extorted. I think all the labs should get
together and fight the patent," said Michael Epstein, head of the
intellectual property and patent department at Weil, Gotshal & Manges, a
New York law firm.
Dhuey said his client is merely trying to collect money that he is owed
according to U.S. patent law.
"All prenatal screening using HCG as a marker falls within the scope of
this patent," Dhuey said. "The labs that complain so much, they pay
royalties every day on devices and on drugs that are being used and it's
unfortunate that they don't see that there's no fundamental difference."
Bogart told the Times the labs were trying to make money off his patent.
"Why should they be allowed to make large profits, but those of us who
provided the test should not be allowed to make any?" said Bogart, now
director of Mid-Pacific Genetics in Honolulu.
-- By MATT CRENSON, the Associated Press.
============================================================
It's unfortunate that the discoverers of antibiotics didn't think of
getting a patent! They (or they descendents) could have become
millionaires.
Andy
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 00:26:42 -0400
From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) Man Charged for Mistreating Horse
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970524002433.006d447c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from AP Wire page:
------------------------------
05/23/1997 18:40 EST
Man Charged for Mistreating Horse
HIALEAH, Fla. (AP) -- Dehydrated, his hooves split and huge sores on his
body, Aldrovandi was in pretty bad shape after an 18-mile ride on
concrete.
``The horse was beat to hell,'' said Laurie Waggoner, an investigator
with the South Florida chapter of the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals.
Trainer George Parrish sold the 4-year-old colt Wednesday for $1,000 to
Samuel Carter, who said he was taking Aldrovandi from Hialeah Park to
Georgia. Parrish assumed he meant by van.
But Aldrovandi showed up before dawn Thursday at Calder Race Course in
suburban Miami, 18 miles away, tied to a park bench where Carter was
sleeping.
The horse was underweight, with sores on his back and his hooves split
from the ride, said Rudy Espinosa, a detective for Metro-Dade police.
The retired race horse was placed in Waggoner's care after his ordeal. He
was resting Friday at a farm and was expected to recover after a
veterinarian treated him with intravenous fluids, Waggoner said.
Carter, 46, was charged with a felony count of cruelty to an animal and a
misdemeanor count of confinement of an animal without sufficient food or
water. Carter, who was freed on his own recognizance, faces up to six
years in prison and fines of $15,000.
Parrish said Friday he bought Aldrovandi for $500 last week from another
trainer for use as a riding horse, but decided not to use him. The animal
had lost by 36 lengths in a $6,500 claiming race on April 16.
``He just couldn't run,'' Parrish said.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 19:22:18 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Medical notes
Message-ID: <199705241122.TAA14089@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>Straits Times
24 May 97
Cot-death finding
LONDON -- Putting babies to sleep on an old mattress could increase the
risk of cot death, Scottish researchers said yesterday.
A study published in the British Medical Journal of 201 cases of sudden
infant death syndrome in Scotland found that sleeping on a mattress used
previously by another child or adult may be an additional factor behind
infant deaths. Researchers said the findings were unexpected. -- Reuter.
No risks for women
LONDON -- Breast-feeding does not have long-term adverse effects on the mineral
content of women's bones or increase risks of suffering from the bone-wasting
condition osteoporosis, the British medical journal, The Lancet, reported
yesterday.
In a research letter two doctors based in Cambridge, England, said
their studies had shown that although significant decreases in bone mineral
occured during
breast-feeding, these changes were reversible and did not persist after a
subsequent
pregnancy. -- Reuter.
Cancer drug hope
LONDON -- Bark from an African tree could revolutionise cancer treatment,
according to research by British scientists published yesterday.
Scientists at the British Cancer Research Campaign believe a drug,
Combretastatin,
which is derived from the African Bush Willow, could stop the growth of
many
common tumours. Trials of the drug are expected to start in 18 months'
time. -- AFP.
Cellphone no threat
HELSINKI -- A Finnish study, partly-funded by the telecommunications
industry, had found mobile phones posed no health threat to phone users,
although they did transmit heat to people's brains, researchers said on
Thursday.
The study by four Finnish institutes examined the effect of radio
frequencies used by mobile phones on the brains of 19 people and on mice,
and found no health hazards.
Researchers said it was clear human brains do convert mobile phone radio
waves into
heat, but the levels were far from hazardous. -- Reuter.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 19:28:45 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Cc: pisces@pisces.demon.co.uk
Subject: Re: (NZ) Fish is an animal, police legal section determines
Message-ID: <199705241128.TAA06226@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
This is a slightly longer version of what I posted earlier today. I'm
posting this cos I think Sgt Bruce's comments on fishing here are rather
siginificant.
- Vadivu
>Straits Times
24 May 97
Jail me, pleads man who killed his son's goldfish
WELLINGTON -- A man who pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty towards a
goldfish called Moby is now in jail at his own request, The Evening
Post newspaper reported here yesterday. Darren Hura, 32, was convicted in
the Upper Hutt District Court earlier this week and remanded for sentence on
June 5.
The Post said he walked across the road to the police station and asked
to be locked up until then.
Senior Sergeant Steve Bruce said it was the first time someone had
asked to be put in jail.
"It is bizarre. Most of them don't want to go to jail and go out of
their way to avoid it," he said.
On the charge of aggravated cruelty, Hura initially pleaded not guilty
and there was some dispute whether a fish was an animal. The police legal
section determined it was an animal because it was a vertebrate with a spine
and was kept in a state of captivity and depended on man. Sgt Bruce said the
case had caused quite a furore at the police station. We're wondering if we
should put police out on the police launch to check up on what fishermen are
doing to their fish," he said.
Prosecuting Sergeant Neil Ford told the court that Hura had argued with
his partner who then walked out on him, taking their two children with her.
Hura had thrown his son's goldfish bowl from a second-storey kitchen
window. The bowl smashed, Moby spilled on to the front lawn and died.
When spoken to by police, Hura had asked what else was he to have done
when he wanted to get rid of it. -- AFP.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 08:21:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: PAWS
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Animatronics in Lost World
Message-ID:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
PAWS applauds the very strong and clearly expressed anti-captivity theme
in the new movie "The Lost World." We also congratulate Stan Winston
Studios for the truly incredible and life-like animatronics in the film.
As some of you will remember, Stan Winston attended PAWS Animals in
Entertainment Conference two years ago and was the recipient that year of
our Humane Achievement Award.
PAWS looks forward to the day when ALL animals in films and television
will be animatronic!
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 08:56:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Snugglezzz@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: U.S. Surgical, Health Services Corp. in Pact
Message-ID: <970524085634_1009263612@emout17.mail.aol.com>
(From Wire Reports): U.S. Surgical Corp. said Friday it signed a five-year
contract to provide surgical supplies to Health Services Corp. of America, a
Missouri-based health-care purchasing organization.
The contract makes U.S. Surgical the primary vendor of suture products,
surgical staplers, and laparoscopic products to about 960 hospitals covered
by Health Services.
The Norwalk, Conn.-based supplier of surgical equipment said it expects the
contract to generate nearly $300 million in sales.
_________________________________________________________________
(As most of you know, U.S. Surgical has used live dogs for years to test
their products)
-- Sherrill
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 21:27:13 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, ar-views@envirolink.org
Subject: Letters for Taiwan
Message-ID: <199705241327.VAA19945@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hi everyone,
You can write letters regarding the Taiwanese dog extermination program to:
President Lee Teng-Hui
Office of the President
122 Sec 1 Chungking S. Rd
Taipei, Taiwan
Republic of China
Fax: (international access code is 011 for USA) + 886 2 311 9574
Mayor Wu Den Yih
Kaohsiung,
Taiwan.
Fax + 886 7333 7633
Chairman Tjiu Mau Ying
Council of Agriculture
37 Nanhai Road
Taipei.
Thanks!
- Vadivu
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 11:37:05 -0400 (EDT)
From: BHGazette@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know
Message-ID: <970524113704_1889014482@emout02.mail.aol.com>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
From:dbriars@world.std.com
Sender:mclibel-approval@world.std.com
Reply-to:dbriars@world.std.com
To:mclibel@europe.std.com
Date: 97-05-23 22:11:41 EDT
Subject: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know
Date: May 23, 1997
From: alliance@MR.Net (Ronnie Cummins)
via Reclaim The Streets
Action Alert: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know Regarding
Genetically Engineered Foods, Bovine Growth Hormone, and "Cruelty Free"
Cosmetics
Ronnie Cummins, Pure Food Campaign
Tel. 218-226-4164 or 218-226-4155 Fax 218-226-4157
email: alliance@mr.net
http://www.geocities.com/athens/1527
May 12, 1997
Members of Congress are expected to reintroduce this spring
a so-called "FDA Reform" bill, H.R. 1411, in the House and
Senate which--among its provisions--will attempt to
undermine consumers' rights to know what has been done to
food products, animal drugs, and cosmetics. Specifically,
"national labeling uniformity" provisions in "section 28" of
the forthcoming "Drug and Biological Products Modernization
Act of 1997" will make it nearly impossible for consumers to
know whether food has been genetically engineered or not,
whether toxic pesticides and other carcinogenic residues
remain on food products, and whether cosmetics have been
produced in an animal "cruelty free" manner. The bill, co-
sponsored by 138 members of the House of Representatives in
1996 in the form of a similar bill, H.R 3200, would outlaw
local and state "rBGH-free" labeling and advertising and
make it all but impossible to require mandatory labeling of
genetically engineered foods and crops. Section 28 basically
prevents states or local legislative bodies from initiating
labeling laws relating to food safety, genetically
engineered foods or "cruelty free" cosmetics.
Critics point out that H.R. 1411 appears to be yet another
manifestation of the new global economic order under the
GATT agreements, whereby local, state, and national laws in
regard to food safety, genetic engineering, pesticides, and
disclosure of food or cosmetic production methods are
eliminated or weakened in order to facilitate the rapid
penetration and monopolization of global markets by giant
transnational corporations--in this case multinational
chemical, factory farm, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and
cosmetics firms. This type of anti-consumer right to know
legislation becomes necessary for industry as consumer alarm
over genetic engineering, factory farming, food safety,
cloning, and animal cruelty intensifies. A 1997 industry
poll found 93% of American consumers demanding mandatory
labeling of genetically engineered foods, and 54% desiring
organic production methods. Similar polls have found 80% of
consumers expressing concern about food safety and pesticide
residues, with 66% opposed to the cloning of animals.
Consumers demanding animal "cruelty free" cosmetics, foods,
and "dolphin safe" tuna have likewise had a major impact in
the marketplace.
The Pure Food Campaign has begun working with consumer
activists and public interest organizations across the U.S.
to demand that "section 28" regarding "national uniformity"
consumer labeling be removed from H.R. 1411. Citizens are
urged to contact their state legislators (whose powers to
enact pro-consumer food safety and "cruelty free" labeling
laws will be taken away) and federal Representatives and
Senators to demand a written guarantee that they will not
support any bill with language or provisions that would
eliminate or reduce consumer choice in labeling. While
contacting legislators, people are also urged to point out
that it is outrageous that the FDA is not requiring national
mandatory labeling of rBGH and all genetically engineered
foods, since this is what 93% of the population wants.
If you want to organize a grassroots lobbying campaign in
your area, please contact the PFC. We can put you in contact
with others in your region who share your concerns. And
finally, as we kill the anti-consumer provisions of this
bill, we must begin to build a mass movement for mandatory
labeling of all gene-foods,and mandatory disclosure of all
relevant production methods and country of origin
information for food, animal drugs, cosmetics, and other
consumer products.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ RTS
now run a genetics information email list. If you would
like to be on it (and are not already) reply putting
'Subscibe Genetics' in the subject box. If you have anything
to contribute to the list then send it in and it will be
forwarded - unedited wherever possible. Please do not send
attachments (so as to avoid virus), instead just add text to
emails main body. Many thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reclaim the Streets PO BOX 9656 London N4 4JY 0171 281 4621
Message: subscribe mclibel
To unsubscribe, change the message to: "unsubscribe mclibel"
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 02:13:30 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (TW) Stray Problem Dogs Taiwan
Message-ID: <199705241813.CAA20106@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>CNA Daily English News Wire
STRAY PROBLEM DOGS TAIWAN
Taipei, May 23 (CNA) Ridding Taiwan of stray dogs would be an "impossible
mission," officials of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA)
said Friday.
They were responding to the request by the Council for Agriculture (COA),
which has ordered the extermination of stray dogs from July 1 in three major
cities in Taiwan for fear of the outbreak of rabies.
EPA officials said the stray dog population on the island has been about 1.3
million for five years, with only about 5 percent of that number, or 70,000
dogs, actually killed each year.
Meeting the COA goal would require environmental agencies to increase their
workload 18 times, the officials said. Local environmental agencies also
complained there are too few animal shelters to handle the load. According
to regulations, stray dogs found to be diseased are to be killed on the
spot, but healthy
strays are to be kept for three days before being euthanized.
Meanwhile, a veterinary official said in a public hearing in Taipei Friday
that the urgent task is not to increase the number of killings but to step
up vaccinations.
Some EPA officials also complained that before the COA issued the rabies
warning, they received some 600 calls a day complaining about stray dogs,
but afterward the number soared to around 1,000.
In related news, the World Society for the Protection of Animals issued a
statement Thursday, urging Taiwan to abandon its canine euthanasia plan.
The group accused Taiwan of not improving its treatment of stray dogs,
saying that killings here of stray dogs are not only brutal and inhuman but
the worst in the world.
In an investigative report released in February, the group said that Taiwan
often killed strays by gassing, drowning, or burying them alive.
The group said it has urged other animal rights groups in the world to
address the issue and write letters to President Lee Teng-hui to express
their concern. (By Lilian Wu and Herman Pan)
Date: Sun, 25 May 1997 02:15:07 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind
To: ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-news@envirolink.org
Subject: FRANCE TO KEEP US MEAT BAN
Message-ID: <199705241815.CAA28525@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>CNA Daily English News Wire
FRANCE TO KEEP US MEAT BAN
Geneva, May 23 (CNA) France will ban imports of US meat treated with
hormones, even if it means heavy fines, according to reports from the
Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO) on Friday.
France would also require special labels on American meat from July 1 so
that consumers would know its country of origin, the WTO report said.
Since 1989, the European Union has barred imports of beef produced with the
aid of synthetic growth hormones. But the WTO in an interim report issued
recently, said the ban was therefore an unfair trade barrier.
French agriculture minister Philippe Vasseur called the US complaint
"entirely unfriendly", saying he saw no reason "to try to impose meat on
French consumers which they do not want." He said: "My preferred solution,
the solution preferred by France, would be to refuse imports of US meat
treated with hormones."
He added: "I say quite clearly, France is entirely prepared to pay penalties
if that is what is needed to prevent hormone-treated American meat from
gaining entry to our territory." (By Maurus Young)
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 17:54:19 -0700
From: Andrew Gach
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: FWD: Congress attacks consumers' right to know
Message-ID: <33878DBB.2A10@worldnet.att.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Subject: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know
Date: May 23, 1997
From: alliance@MR.Net (Ronnie Cummins)
via Reclaim The Streets
Action Alert: Congressional Attack on Consumers' Right to Know
Regarding Genetically Engineered Foods, Bovine Growth Hormone, and
"Cruelty Free" Cosmetics
Ronnie Cummins, Pure Food Campaign
Tel. 218-226-4164 or 218-226-4155 Fax 218-226-4157
email: alliance@mr.net
http://www.geocities.com/athens/1527
May 12, 1997
Members of Congress are expected to reintroduce this spring
a so-called "FDA Reform" bill, H.R. 1411, in the House and
Senate which--among its provisions--will attempt to
undermine consumers' rights to know what has been done to
food products, animal drugs, and cosmetics. Specifically,
"national labeling uniformity" provisions in "section 28" of
the forthcoming "Drug and Biological Products Modernization
Act of 1997" will make it nearly impossible for consumers to
know whether food has been genetically engineered or not,
whether toxic pesticides and other carcinogenic residues
remain on food products, and whether cosmetics have been
produced in an animal "cruelty free" manner. The bill, co-
sponsored by 138 members of the House of Representatives in
1996 in the form of a similar bill, H.R 3200, would outlaw
local and state "rBGH-free" labeling and advertising and
make it all but impossible to require mandatory labeling of
genetically engineered foods and crops. Section 28 basically
prevents states or local legislative bodies from initiating
labeling laws relating to food safety, genetically
engineered foods or "cruelty free" cosmetics.
Critics point out that H.R. 1411 appears to be yet another
manifestation of the new global economic order under the
GATT agreements, whereby local, state, and national laws in
regard to food safety, genetic engineering, pesticides, and
disclosure of food or cosmetic production methods are
eliminated or weakened in order to facilitate the rapid
penetration and monopolization of global markets by giant
transnational corporations--in this case multinational
chemical, factory farm, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and
cosmetics firms. This type of anti-consumer right to know
legislation becomes necessary for industry as consumer alarm
over genetic engineering, factory farming, food safety,
cloning, and animal cruelty intensifies. A 1997 industry
poll found 93% of American consumers demanding mandatory
labeling of genetically engineered foods, and 54% desiring
organic production methods. Similar polls have found 80% of
consumers expressing concern about food safety and pesticide
residues, with 66% opposed to the cloning of animals.
Consumers demanding animal "cruelty free" cosmetics, foods,
and "dolphin safe" tuna have likewise had a major impact in
the marketplace.
The Pure Food Campaign has begun working with consumer
activists and public interest organizations across the U.S.
to demand that "section 28" regarding "national uniformity"
consumer labeling be removed from H.R. 1411. Citizens are
urged to contact their state legislators (whose powers to
enact pro-consumer food safety and "cruelty free" labeling
laws will be taken away) and federal Representatives and
Senators to demand a written guarantee that they will not
support any bill with language or provisions that would
eliminate or reduce consumer choice in labeling. While
contacting legislators, people are also urged to point out
that it is outrageous that the FDA is not requiring national
mandatory labeling of rBGH and all genetically engineered
foods, since this is what 93% of the population wants.
If you want to organize a grassroots lobbying campaign in
your area, please contact the PFC. We can put you in contact
with others in your region who share your concerns. And
finally, as we kill the anti-consumer provisions of this
bill, we must begin to build a mass movement for mandatory
labeling of all gene-foods,and mandatory disclosure of all
relevant production methods and country of origin
information for food, animal drugs, cosmetics, and other
consumer products.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 21:55:45 -0400 (EDT)
From: TARowley@aol.com
To: ar-views@envirolink.org
Cc: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Northern VA mallard needs help
Message-ID: <970524215542_-1833585165@emout10.mail.aol.com>
Hi all -
I don't know if anyone remembers my post on the mallard with the broken beak.
I have been diligently feeding her cracked corn and duck feed everyday for
the last two months. I went out there to feed her today and learned that
Prince William County animal control picked her up. Ironically, I pulled up
next to the animal control officer and had no idea that "Precious" was in the
back of that truck in a cage.
It is my understanding that she will be placed in the hands of wildlife
rehabbers; however, given that she doesn't have a tongue, I was told that she
will probably be advised by the rehabbers to EUTHANIZE her. Please everyone
that gives a damn, call animal control at 703-792-6465 and let them know that
she is cared for. She is able to eat and I am willing to pay $300 out of my
own pocket to have a prosthetic beak put on. She has been taken from her
home and her mate and is living in a cage. I had to tell the animal control
officer how to feed her, she didn't know what to do.
Also, please call the local paper, The Potomac News, who is aware of this and
is working up a story to save this bird. The number there is (703) 878-8056.
Please help me, but most importantly, do what you have to to save this
mallard. She is about to get a death sentence.
Teresa
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 22:17:17 -0400 (EDT)
From: ****
To: TARowley@aol.com
Cc: ar-views@envirolink.org, ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Re: Northern VA mallard needs help
Message-ID:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
Teresa:
Please find out what wildlife rehabilitator this duck went to. Let me
know if I can help. I have some wildlife rehab experience.
Peter McKosky
dolphins@pgh.nauticom.net
On Sat, 24 May 1997 TARowley@aol.com wrote:
> Hi all -
>
> I don't know if anyone remembers my post on the mallard with the broken beak.
> I have been diligently feeding her cracked corn and duck feed everyday for
> the last two months. I went out there to feed her today and learned that
> Prince William County animal control picked her up. Ironically, I pulled up
> next to the animal control officer and had no idea that "Precious" was in the
> back of that truck in a cage.
>
> It is my understanding that she will be placed in the hands of wildlife
> rehabbers; however, given that she doesn't have a tongue, I was told that she
> will probably be advised by the rehabbers to EUTHANIZE her. Please everyone
> that gives a damn, call animal control at 703-792-6465 and let them know that
> she is cared for. She is able to eat and I am willing to pay $300 out of my
> own pocket to have a prosthetic beak put on. She has been taken from her
> home and her mate and is living in a cage. I had to tell the animal control
> officer how to feed her, she didn't know what to do.
>
> Also, please call the local paper, The Potomac News, who is aware of this and
> is working up a story to save this bird. The number there is (703) 878-8056.
> Please help me, but most importantly, do what you have to to save this
> mallard. She is about to get a death sentence.
>
> Teresa
>
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 22:36:31 -0400 (EDT)
From: LMANHEIM@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: Elephants Orphaned by Sri Lanka War
Message-ID: <970524223630_1009334972@emout10.mail.aol.com>
In a message dated 97-05-24 21:20:37 EDT, AOL News writes:
<< Subj:Elephants Orphaned by Sri Lanka War
Date:97-05-24 21:20:37 EDT
From:AOL News
BCC:LMANHEIM
.c The Associated Press
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Government soldiers have found three
baby elephants orphaned in the jungles of war-torn northern Sri
Lanka, apparent victims of the fighting, an official said Saturday.
The elephants, which were found over the last six weeks, are
less than six months old, said Nandana Atapattu, a deputy director
of the Wildlife Conservation Department. They have been taken to
safety.
``This is very rare, especially during the rainy season. It is
obviously because of the disturbance in the area,'' Atapattu said.
Soldiers also found an elephant that died after stepping on a
land mine in the war zone, Atapattu said. Electric wires also kill
elephants in the area.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature estimates that between 2,500 to
3,000 elephants roam the jungles of this Indian Ocean island
nation.
But 40 percent of them are in war-ravaged northern Sri Lanka and
wildlife officials can't reach them. >>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Elephants Orphaned by Sri Lanka War
Date: 97-05-24 21:20:37 EDT
From: AOL News
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) - Government soldiers have found three
baby elephants orphaned in the jungles of war-torn northern Sri
Lanka, apparent victims of the fighting, an official said Saturday.
The elephants, which were found over the last six weeks, are
less than six months old, said Nandana Atapattu, a deputy director
of the Wildlife Conservation Department. They have been taken to
safety.
``This is very rare, especially during the rainy season. It is
obviously because of the disturbance in the area,'' Atapattu said.
Soldiers also found an elephant that died after stepping on a
land mine in the war zone, Atapattu said. Electric wires also kill
elephants in the area.
The Worldwide Fund for Nature estimates that between 2,500 to
3,000 elephants roam the jungles of this Indian Ocean island
nation.
But 40 percent of them are in war-ravaged northern Sri Lanka and
wildlife officials can't reach them.
AP-NY-05-24-97 2114EDT
Copyright 1997 The
Associated Press. The information
contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
prior written authority of The Associated Press.
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 22:56:47 -0400
From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: (US) PETA-REBA McENTIRE URGED TO "SCALE" BACK CRUELTY TO FISH
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970524225644.006c2a1c@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
from PETA web page:
--------------------------------
REBA McENTIRE URGED TO "SCALE" BACK CRUELTY TO FISH
--------------------------------------------------------------------
For Immediate Release:
May 23, 1997
Contact:
Michael McGraw 757-622-7382, ext. 310
Nashville, Tenn. -- Reba McEntire is no stranger to charity
fundraisers: Her benefit concerts always pack sell-out crowds. But
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is hoping that
with Reba's Pro-Am Bass Tournament this weekend, the "Queen of
Country" will expand her compassion to include some of the
forgotten animals--fish.
In a letter to Ms. McEntire, PETA urges her to adopt guidelines
aimed at "tackling" many of the blatant abuses common in fishing
tournaments. PETA is asking Ms. McEntire to ban barbed hooks, the
use of live baits, and stringers--all of which jeopardize a fish's
chance of survival after release.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 22:57:58 -0400
From: allen schubert
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Admin Note--Crossposting
Message-ID: <3.0.32.19970524225756.006c5060@clark.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Please do not "crosspost" when posting to AR-News!
While crossposting is often frowned upon on many lists, on AR-News it can
lead to a "degradation" of the "news" concept. Crossposting to other lists
and/or individuals when posting to AR-News may be convenient for the
poster, but may later cause problems for AR-News. Many people quickly go
for the reply option and, depending on software, may "default" through
options asking "reply to all?" or "reply to all recipients?"--this is one
cause of comments/discussion/chat interfering with the "news" of AR-News.
Not everyone has unlimited access or time to the internet, therefore many
people subscribe to a "news" list for news, not discussion. Please
remember this when posting to AR-News.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 23:09:58 -0400
From: ric
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: two activists arrested for circus demonstration
Message-ID: <3387AD86.532A@mail.flipag.net>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Nicolas Atwood, 24, and Ricardo Rodriguez, 18, were arrested in West
Palm Beach, FL. after they walked into a 'circus ring' carrying a banner
which read, "Animal Abuse is Not Entertaining!", during the beginning
act of the circus, (before any animal acts occurred.) The two were
dragged out of the ring by security and into another area until police
officers came. They were released immediately and are charged with
disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor charge. The are members of the ADL,
Animal Defense League.
During the same circus, two large banners with animal rights messages
were hung from the sides of the auditorium at which the circus occured
and animal cruelty awareness slogans were written on various places of
the auditorium with chalk. Protesters with signs occupied the perimeter
of the auditorium as well.
Date: Sat, 24 May 1997 23:15:09 -0400 (EDT)
From: LMANHEIM@aol.com
To: ar-news@envirolink.org
Subject: Fwd: Poachers Plunder Midwest Mussels
Message-ID: <970524231508_270768724@emout17.mail.aol.com>
In a message dated 97-05-22 07:12:53 EDT, AOL News writes:
<< Subj:Poachers Plunder Midwest Mussels
Date:97-05-22 07:12:53 EDT
From:AOL News
BCC:LMANHEIM
.c The Associated Press
By PAUL SOUHRADA
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - When the Ohio River and its tributaries
recede from the high levels of the spring thaw, wildlife officers
from Ohio and West Virginia prepare for the annual onslaught of
unwanted visitors - poachers who plunder riverbeds of millions of
pounds of freshwater mussels.
The poachers, often outfitted with diving gear and maps of
mussel beds, slip across the border under cover of darkness. They
can scoop up thousands of dollars worth of the clamlike creatures
in one night and smuggle their take to buyers in states where
mussel harvesting is legal.
Eventually, the mussels wind up at one of the handful of
exporters in Tennessee, Alabama and Iowa before being shipped to
Japan and other Asian countries for use in the $3 billion-a-year
cultured pearl industry. The shells are processed into pieces the
size of a match head. The pieces are then inserted into oysters to
shorten the production time for pearls.
Some types of mussels are protected by the government as
endangered species. In Ohio, there is a daily limit of 15 mussels
per person, and they can be used only for bait. A bill passed by
the state House and pending in the Senate would outlaw the taking
and selling of mussels entirely.
Andrew Pierce, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in Delaware, Ohio, said poachers started moving into Ohio
and West Virginia in 1991, looting the waters of the Muskingum
River near Marietta and other areas of the Ohio River basin.
Since then, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has put two or three
full-time officers on mussel enforcement throughout the summer and
fall. They scour seldom-traveled roads, boat launches and motel
parking lots for trucks with out-of-town license plates.
``Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas have been depleted
of commercial shells,'' Pierce said. ``What's left are too small to
harvest.''
An average night's work can bring a poacher $1,000, though some
haul in $4,000 worth of shells in one shift. Shells generally sell
for $2 to $4 a pound, but prices have shot up as high as $13.
A few poachers who have been taken to federal court have been
given jail time. But a typical sentence is probation and a fine of
a couple of hundred dollars.
North America is home to about 300 species of mussels. About 20
percent of them are on the federal endangered species lists.
Mussels can live for decades and grow as large as a foot wide and
weigh several pounds.
``Freshwater mussels are probably the most endangered animals in
North America,' said Cindy Chaffee, a biologist with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in Bloomington, Ind.
About 8,000 tons of mussels are pulled from streams each year,
and roughly 6,000 tons are shipped to Japan, Korea and China, said
Lonnie Garner, president of exporter U.S. Shell Co. in Hollywood,
Ala. The others are lost or die en route.
In addition to the damage by poachers, mussels have been hurt by
pollution, vanishing habitat and the arrival of foreign zebra
mussels that overwhelm the native species.
So, what are mussels good for?
Determining water pollution, for one thing, Ms. Chaffee said.
``They are probably the best indicator we have for water
quality. When they start dying off or become unable to breed, we
know there are problems with other wildlife and humans in the
area.''
Tom Watters, a mussel expert with the Ohio Biological Survey at
Ohio State University, offered another reason for protecting
mussels: ``They've been here for 500 million years, and they have a
right to remain here.
``We don't understand ecosystems enough to say ... what kind of
domino effect their disappearance might have.''
But Garner, while not supporting the poachers, thinks the
environmentalists' concerns are overblown.
``Shells are a renewable resource,'' he said.
He said the state could stop poaching if they legalized
musseling. He estimated that Ohio alone could support a mussel
industry worth $5 million to $8 million a year, employing 1,500
people.
Since that is not likely to happen, enforcement efforts are on
the rise.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, which is
responsible for enforcing wildlife regulations on the Ohio River,
has worked closely on anti-poaching efforts with officers from
Ohio. But only last month did the state begin routine mussel
enforcement operations, said Lt. Terry Dunn, head of the division's
law enforcement section.
``It was a little bit out of guilt or shame,'' Dunn said. ``Ohio
was carrying the ball, and we wanted to pick up our end.''
AP-NY-05-22-97 0706EDT
Copyright 1997 The Associated Press. The information
contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
prior written authority of The Associated Press.
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News. >>
---------------------
Forwarded message:
Subj: Poachers Plunder Midwest Mussels
Date: 97-05-22 07:12:53 EDT
From: AOL News
By PAUL SOUHRADA
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - When the Ohio River and its tributaries
recede from the high levels of the spring thaw, wildlife officers
from Ohio and West Virginia prepare for the annual onslaught of
unwanted visitors - poachers who plunder riverbeds of millions of
pounds of freshwater mussels.
The poachers, often outfitted with diving gear and maps of
mussel beds, slip across the border under cover of darkness. They
can scoop up thousands of dollars worth of the clamlike creatures
in one night and smuggle their take to buyers in states where
mussel harvesting is legal.
Eventually, the mussels wind up at one of the handful of
exporters in Tennessee, Alabama and Iowa before being shipped to
Japan and other Asian countries for use in the $3 billion-a-year
cultured pearl industry. The shells are processed into pieces the
size of a match head. The pieces are then inserted into oysters to
shorten the production time for pearls.
Some types of mussels are protected by the government as
endangered species. In Ohio, there is a daily limit of 15 mussels
per person, and they can be used only for bait. A bill passed by
the state House and pending in the Senate would outlaw the taking
and selling of mussels entirely.
Andrew Pierce, a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service in Delaware, Ohio, said poachers started moving into Ohio
and West Virginia in 1991, looting the waters of the Muskingum
River near Marietta and other areas of the Ohio River basin.
Since then, the Ohio Division of Wildlife has put two or three
full-time officers on mussel enforcement throughout the summer and
fall. They scour seldom-traveled roads, boat launches and motel
parking lots for trucks with out-of-town license plates.
``Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky and Arkansas have been depleted
of commercial shells,'' Pierce said. ``What's left are too small to
harvest.''
An average night's work can bring a poacher $1,000, though some
haul in $4,000 worth of shells in one shift. Shells generally sell
for $2 to $4 a pound, but prices have shot up as high as $13.
A few poachers who have been taken to federal court have been
given jail time. But a typical sentence is probation and a fine of
a couple of hundred dollars.
North America is home to about 300 species of mussels. About 20
percent of them are on the federal endangered species lists.
Mussels can live for decades and grow as large as a foot wide and
weigh several pounds.
``Freshwater mussels are probably the most endangered animals in
North America,' said Cindy Chaffee, a biologist with the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in Bloomington, Ind.
About 8,000 tons of mussels are pulled from streams each year,
and roughly 6,000 tons are shipped to Japan, Korea and China, said
Lonnie Garner, president of exporter U.S. Shell Co. in Hollywood,
Ala. The others are lost or die en route.
In addition to the damage by poachers, mussels have been hurt by
pollution, vanishing habitat and the arrival of foreign zebra
mussels that overwhelm the native species.
So, what are mussels good for?
Determining water pollution, for one thing, Ms. Chaffee said.
``They are probably the best indicator we have for water
quality. When they start dying off or become unable to breed, we
know there are problems with other wildlife and humans in the
area.''
Tom Watters, a mussel expert with the Ohio Biological Survey at
Ohio State University, offered another reason for protecting
mussels: ``They've been here for 500 million years, and they have a
right to remain here.
``We don't understand ecosystems enough to say ... what kind of
domino effect their disappearance might have.''
But Garner, while not supporting the poachers, thinks the
environmentalists' concerns are overblown.
``Shells are a renewable resource,'' he said.
He said the state could stop poaching if they legalized
musseling. He estimated that Ohio alone could support a mussel
industry worth $5 million to $8 million a year, employing 1,500
people.
Since that is not likely to happen, enforcement efforts are on
the rise.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, which is
responsible for enforcing wildlife regulations on the Ohio River,
has worked closely on anti-poaching efforts with officers from
Ohio. But only last month did the state begin routine mussel
enforcement operations, said Lt. Terry Dunn, head of the division's
law enforcement section.
``It was a little bit out of guilt or shame,'' Dunn said. ``Ohio
was carrying the ball, and we wanted to pick up our end.''
AP-NY-05-22-97 0706EDT
Copyright 1997 The
Associated Press. The information
contained in the AP news report may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without
prior written authority of The Associated Press.
To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
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