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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN//2.0"> <html> <head> <title>AR-NEWS Digest</title> </head> <BODY bgcolor=fbfaea text=#211818 link="#190748" alink="#FFFFEF" vlink="#401C92"> <center> <IMG SRC="IMAGES/HEAD.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/head.gif" USEMAP="#toplinks" BORDER="0"><BR> <img src="IMAGES/YCBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/ycbar.gif"><a href="../INDEX~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/index.html"><img src="IMAGES/HOMEBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/homebar.gif" border=0></a><br></center> <map name="toplinks"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="345,27,393,54" href="../../../tppmsgs/msgs0.htm#14" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/envirohome.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="458,7,512,27" href="../SUPPOR~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Support.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="401,7,446,26" href="../SEARCH~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/search.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="352,7,386,26" href="../ORGS~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Orgs.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="298,7,337,25" href="../NEWSPA~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/newspage.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="211,7,286,27" href="../SUB~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/sub.html"> </map> <center><TABLE cellspacing=15 border=0> <TR> <TD width=50 align=center> </TD> <TD width=400 align=left> <!-- PAGE CONTENT GOES BELOW --> <hr> <pre> AR-NEWS Digest 336 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Greyhounds - 3/12/97 Hearing to Ban GH Racing in MA by baerwolf@tiac.net (baerwolf) 2) Fwd. GP Action Against Destructive Fishing Methods in N. Sea by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 3) [UK] E coli warning 'was covered up' by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 4) [UK] Beekeeping curb as pest hits hives by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 5) [UK] Rabbits catch Railtrack on the hop by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 6) Easter Bunnies and Chicks by SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US 7) Scorecard Request by Friends of Animals <foa@igc.apc.org> 8) Kim Basinger and PAWS on March 7 Leeza by PAWS <paws@CapAccess.org> 9) Prince pardoned by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 10) Human clones could follow soon by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 11) Catching Emus by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 12) Controversial dog fur 'factory' closed down by jonathanowen@wspa.org.uk (Jonathan Owen) 13) Bill would ban human cloning by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 14) Vivisectors worried about funding by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 15) RFI-Iditarod/PHC by AAVSONLINE@aol.com 16) ALF strikes DC Miller's Furs - twice! by Franklin Wade <franklin@smart.net> 17) (RFI )-Biotech products by Karin Zupko <ma.neavs.com!karin@ma.neavs.com> 18) [US] Update on Freeman Wicklind. Jailed Activist in Mpls, MN by David Rolsky <David.J.Rolsky-2@tc.umn.edu> 19) Montana Continues Killing Yellowstone Bison by Mike Markarian <MikeM@fund.org> 20) Murat Tiger Trainer & Old Indiana Park Deaths by Nichen@aol.com 21) HungerStrike Support/Anti Fur Mobilization in NY State-Full Text by jun1022@gate.cybernex.net 22) Crossposting (Admin Note) by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 23) Re: [US] Update on Freeman Wicklind. Jailed Activist in Mpls, MN by ARAishere@aol.com 24) Press Release -- Keeping Genetically Engineered Food Out of the Organic Market by pmligotti@earthlink.net (Peter M. Ligotti) 25) (US) Part of New York City quarantined for beetle by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 26) (US) Iditarod...another dog dies by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 27) [UK] Meat report cover up - part 1 by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 28) [UK] Meat report cover up - part 2 by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 29) [UK] Meat report cover up - part 3 by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 30) [UK] Doomed bees' buzz-word is 'quack' by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 31) [UK] Meat report cover up - part 4 by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 32) FWD: The Grassroots Forest Appropriations Initiative (FY 98) by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 33) Immune System Toxins Maim People & Wildlife by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 02:29:08 -0500 (EST) >From: baerwolf@tiac.net (baerwolf) To: Veg-Boston@waste.org, ar-news@envirolink.org, veg-ne@empire.net Subject: Greyhounds - 3/12/97 Hearing to Ban GH Racing in MA Message-ID: <199703060729.CAA14566@mailrelay.tiac.net> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Greetings Compassionate Ones - There will be a Hearing on HB3434, the bill to Ban Dog Racing in Massachusetts on Weds, March 12th 1997 in Room B-1 of the MA State House, Boston * at 9:30 AM (call 722-2000 to confirm time - time may change). Your attendance and work in favor of HB3434 are very important to assist in its success. One hour before the hearing, A press conference will be held by greyhound-friendly people (Greyhound Protection League, local veternarians, MSPCA, and others) on the State House front steps ............................................................ ......... To help the bill succeed, you are asked to do the following before the March 12th hearing: 1) Call/ Write/Fax /or E-Mail the two Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Gov. Regulations a) Sen Michael Morrissey 617-722-1494 b) Rep Daniel Bosley 617-722-2030 e-mail: Rep.DanielBosley@house.state.ma.us -- Ask them to report HB3434 favorably out of committee. -- 2) Call/ Write/Fax /or E-Mail a copy of the above to your Representative and Senator. -- Also tell your Rep/Sen that dog racing is not a sport and you want it banned in Massachusetts. You can find the name of your Rep./Sen. by either calling the town clerk's office, or by calling 617-722-2000 ( the House switchboard. 3) Thank Representative Shaun Kelly ( tel. 617-722-2230) for introducing HB3434, the bill to Ban Dog Racing in MA. 4) Attend the press conference ( one hour before the hearing * ) If you have any questions or need information call Greta at 413-442-6079 or Steven at 617-478-7731 days. For latest hearing time call 617-722-2000 a day or two before the hearing. ( * Hearing time was not finalized at this writing.) Thank you for your time. sbaer steven baer baerwolf@tiac.net Massachusetts Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 03:05:41 -0800 (PST) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Cc: The.Greenbase@g2.greenpeace.org Subject: Fwd. GP Action Against Destructive Fishing Methods in N. Sea Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970306030603.0b0f2a24@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Forwarded from the Greenpeace press office GREENPEACE ACTION AGAINST DESTRUCTIVE FISHING METHODS IN NORTH SEA ENTERS SECOND DAY Amsterdam, 5 March, 1997 -- Despite retaliation from trawlermen, Greenpeace activists in inflatable boats went back into action in the North Sea this morning and continued to challenge North Sea beam trawlers which use heavy chains to plough up the seabed. Four swimmers -- all experienced Greenpeace activists -- confronted the Maria, a Dutch beam trawler fishing off the German coast, by swimming in front of the boat. Greenpeace first asked the trawlermen to stop using destructive chains to dig up the sea bed in order to catch plaice and sole, but they refused. Yesterday, while Greenpeace used non-violent methods to try to persuade the fishermen to stop using destructive chains, fire hoses were used on the activists and discarded debris and wooden blocks were thrown at the rubber boats during yesterday's action. "We understand that fishermen feel their livelihoods are at stake," said Greenpeace campaigner Just van den Broek. "But the livelihoods of all fishermen are at threat from destructive fishing practices. Beam trawlers which drag heavy chains through the sea bed are causing untold damage to marine life. For every kilo of marketable fish caught in this way up to six kilos of dead fish and invertebrates are thrown away." At least half the North Sea is regularly ploughed up by beam trawling chains. The method requires massive engine power from the trawlers. The seabed of the southern North Sea is the worst affected, with some areas being swept several times a year by beam trawls. Trawlers using this method come from coutnries including the United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium, but the majority are Dutch owned. In a week's time European environment and fisheries ministers get together at the Interim Ministerial Meeting (IMM) in Bergen to decide the fate of the North Sea. The last North Sea Conference in Esbjerg, Denmark, in 1995 agreed that fisheries needed urgent action and called the IMM in order to integrate environment and fisheries policy. "This meeting is the Environment ministers' chance to show that they are being taken seriously," said van den Broek. "Unfortunately the signs are that they are about to play second fiddle to the fisheries departments. If this happens, North Sea fisheries will be heading for the same fate as those off eastern Canada, where cod stocks have all but disappeared." ends For details of photographs and footage of the action contact: Anke Scheibe (footage) on 31 20 524 9543, Steve Morgan (photos) 31 20 524 9514 For further information contact Peter Pueschel, Greenpeace Campaigner on board the MV Greenpeace on 49 172 381 8145; James Gillies, Press Officer, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam on 31 20 524 9548. Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 03:05:44 -0800 (PST) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] E coli warning 'was covered up' Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970306030606.0b0f5bf4@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Thurday, March 6th, 1997 E coli warning 'was covered up' By George Jones and Joy Copley THE Government was plunged into a new row over food safety last night after allegations that the Ministry of Agriculture suppressed a damning report by its own hygiene inspectors warning that abattoirs were becoming breeding grounds for the E coli organism which has killed at least 20 people by food poisoning. The report exposed serious lapses of hygiene and warns of "major contamination" of carcasses by animal excrement. The allegations that the report was not published could lead to new demands for the resignation of Douglas Hogg, the Agriculture Minister, who last month survived a Commons censure motion on the Government's handling of the BSE crisis. Labour called for a Commons statement, claiming that if the report, which was prepared in 1995, had been made public, lives might have been saved in the recent E coli outbreak. The Ministry of Agriculture rejected as "nonsense" the allegation that the report had been suppressed. A spokesman said that it had been circulated to the meat industry and while it had not been published formally it was available to "members of the public who telephoned the Meat Hygiene Service". The report, Red Meat, leaked to the Financial Times, alleges that abattoirs were being contaminated by the admission of filthy animals for slaughter. It was drawn up by a government inspection team that visited every abattoir in Britain. According to the report, animal faeces that could harbour the E coli 0157 organism were finding their way on to carcasses being prepared for human consumption. "Major faecal contamination on the carcass, due to poor dressing practices, is a serious cause for concern," it says. "Dirty animals arriving at the abattoir are a case of further contamination; organisms such as escherichia 0157 and salmonella can be introduced into the plant on the skins of dirty livestock. Most plants have no formal procedure to clean up dirty stock." The inspectors recommended that a national policy should be devised to define unacceptable contamination and urged that dirty animals should be refused entry at all abattoirs. The Financial Times claimed members of the inspection team were encouraged by Ministry officials to water down the report because of the damage it would do to the meat industry. When they refused, a decision was apparently taken not to publish. It quoted Bill Swann, editor of the report, as saying that if its recommendations were fully implemented the risk from E coli would be much diminished. The Ministry tried to play down the significance of the report yesterday. A spokesman said a summary went to a Meat Hygiene Service Industry forum last June. The world's worst outbreak of E coli food poisoning began in Scotland at the beginning of winter. John Barr, the family butcher implicated in the outbreak, closed his shop in Wishaw, Lanarkshire. Three months later the epidemic had left 18 pensioners dead, while more than 400 people had been taken ill. The Government ordered an inquiry and appointed a team of investigators, who tracked the source of the outbreak to bacteria found in the gravy and meat of pies produced by John Barr & Son in the Wishaw shop. Mr Barr, once voted best butcher in Scotland, was charged with culpable and reckless conduct in relation to the alleged supply of contaminated meat. At the end of last month he was allowed to re-open his shop, to a remarkable show of support and goodwill from customers. Last month, bereaved families formed Hush, a support group, to demand "full and honest disclosures" of actions by all parties involved in the tragedy, including Mr Barr, the Government, and health and environmental officials. Paul Santoni, solicitor for the families, said the number of dead and those still displaying symptoms - including children - served as "a gruesome and poignant reminder" of the need for legislation and justice. Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 03:05:47 -0800 (PST) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Beekeeping curb as pest hits hives Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970306030609.0b0fc730@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, March 6th, 1997 Beekeeping curb as pest hits hives By David Brown, Agriculture Editor A BLOOD-sucking pest which attacks bees, threatening honey supplies, has spread to every county in England and Wales only five years after arriving in Britain, the Ministry of Agriculture said yesterday. It is now poised to cross into Scotland. The whole of England and Wales will be declared a Statutory Infected Area from tomorrow in the battle to control the parasite causing varroa disease which has swept through hives with remarkable speed. It will be an offence to move bees and hive frames containing honeycomb into and out of England and Wales except under licence. The parasite, which attacks adult bees and grubs, weakens colonies enormously and causes heavy losses of honey. It has spread across Europe from Russia and the Far East on infested bees and first appeared in Britain in April 1992 at an apiary at Torbay, Devon. Latest surveys in Cumbria and Greater Manchester have shown that 11 out of 101 apiaries were affected. Although none has been found in Northumberland so far, beekeepers are so sure it is there that they have asked for controls to be extended along the full length of the Scottish border. Checks show that Scotland and Northern Ireland are still free of the disease. Tim Boswell, horticulture minister, said yesterday: "We have consulted the national beekeeping organisations and taken their views into consideration. The whole of England and Wales is now an infected area." The disease cannot be eliminated from hives without destroying the bees but it can be controlled with pesticide strips which attack the mites entering hives. Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 03:05:49 -0800 (PST) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Rabbits catch Railtrack on the hop Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970306030611.0b0fefb2@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, March 6th, 1997 Rabbits catch Railtrack on the hop By Robert Uhlig, Technology Correspondent RAILTRACK now has a new excuse for delayed trains - burrowing rabbits. Embankments, cuttings and sidings across the country are riddled with rabbit warrens and at risk of collapse, according to a report published today. "We've got a problem with rabbits and have to keep an eye on their burrowing," a Railtrack spokesman said. "On the West Coast line near Rugby, rabbit warrens have already added to the instability of cuttings and caused a landslide after a flash flood." Fencing to keep railside rabbits from farmers' crops also protects them from predators, and as the breeding season begins, the problem could get out of control. Rabbits have been on the increase since the 1950s, when an epidemic of the viral disease myxomatosis devastated the population. However, according to a report in today's New Scientist, researchers from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have found that rabbits have gained resistance to the weakening virus. "Colonies spring up, grow and can cause a problem. We keep an eye on it and do cull them," the spokesman said. "But it's a difficult balance between keeping the rabbits under control and being called a rabbit murderer." Date: Thu, 6 Mar 97 08:08:27 UTC >From: SDURBIN@VM.TULSA.CC.OK.US To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Easter Bunnies and Chicks Message-ID: <199703061407.JAA09212@envirolink.org> I've just discovered an ad for baby Easter Bunnies $4.00 and Easter Chicks $1.00 each. I was hoping this wasn't going on around here anymore, but, evidently it is. Please write or fax telling them these fragile little creatures are not toys and should not be sold as novelties for Easter. Thanks so much!! Write to: Farmer's Feed Store, 121 North Main, Sapulpa, OK 74066 Fax #: 918-224-7697 Phone#: 918-224-4460 --Sherrill Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 08:08:27 -0800 (PST) >From: Friends of Animals <foa@igc.apc.org> To: chrisw@fund.org, ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Scorecard Request Message-ID: <2.2.16.19970306115709.62c703ce@pop.igc.org> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Chris- Please send me a scorecard. Nice letter on Campfire in the Post, btw. thanks, Bill Bill Dollinger Friends of Animals 2000 P. Street, NW #415 Washington, DC 20036 Date: Thu, 6 Mar 1997 11:24:38 -0500 (EST) >From: PAWS <paws@CapAccess.org> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Kim Basinger and PAWS on March 7 Leeza Message-ID: <Pine.SUN.3.91-FP.970306112214.14271A-100000@cap1.capaccess.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII Kim Basinger (spokesperson for PAWS' Free the Elephants Campaign) will appear on the Leeza Show tomorrow, Friday, March 7th along with PAWS' founders Pat Derby and Ed Stewart. The whole hour will be devoted to the issue of captive elephants. The show is syndicated so check your local listings for network and time of broadcast! Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 09:20:47 -0800 >From: Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Prince pardoned Message-ID: <331EFCEF.DD4@worldnet.att.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit The following is from a Wall Street Journal article (Mar. 6, 1997) regarding Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire's Governor. The article was written by James M. Perry, staff reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL. ================================================================== CONCORD, N.H. -- Jeanne Shaheen had barely settled into her new job as New Hampshire's first woman governor when she was hit by a crisis last month -- life or death for Prince the dog. Prince is a rambunctious 3 1/2 -year-old Labrador from Portsmouth, down on the state's seacoast. Last year, Prince escaped home confinement and pretty much gobbled up a neighbor's rooster. Though he had never threatened any human beings, Prince was sentenced to death as a "vicious" animal by a special police panel. Animal lovers rallied "round Prince, and in her first major decision Gov. Shaheen, a Democrat, said she was prepared to pardon the dog. In no time at all, Prince was bustled out of Portsmouth to a new home in the country, where he (with help from a human friend) wrote the governor a nice note. "I have been a lifelong Republican [which often left me a little grumpy and may account for my snapping at that rooster]," Prince declared. "But you have captured my heart forever." ----- snip --------- Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 09:47:32 -0800 >From: Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Human clones could follow soon Message-ID: <331F0334.265F@worldnet.att.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Human clones could follow soon, pioneering scientists warn Reuter Information Service LONDON (Mar 6, 1997 10:37 a.m. EST) - The scientists who created Dolly the sheep, the world's first adult clone, said Thursday the developments could be applied to human cloning soon, and there should be international laws preventing such work. "If you really wanted to do it it could be done," said Ian Wilmut, the chief scientist at Scotland's Roslin Institute where the sheep experiment was carried out. News that a sheep had been cloned using a cell from an adult sheep shocked the world and prompted a flurry of soul-searching about whether the technology was morally acceptable. This week U.S. President Bill Clinton banned federal funding of cloning and German Research Minister Juergen Ruettgers called for a worldwide ban on cloning human beings. Danish scientists trying to produce cloned cattle said on Wednesday they were halting experiments pending a full debate. The scientists behind the technique, developed at the Roslin Institute and PPL Therapeutics Plc, told British parliamentarians on Thursday work with human eggs would be "distressing" and "offensive." Wilmut said that if scientists were prepared to take the "distressing" step of working with 1,000 human eggs, the size of the experiment that produced the sheep breakthrough, "you might expect to make significant progress in one or two years." But he added: "It is the unanimous view of the group within the institute and within the company that we would find this sort of work with human embryos offensive. "We could see no clinical reason why you would wish to make a copy of a person and we are pleased that it is already illegal in this country so we would support wholeheartedly the idea of (international) prohibition in as effective a way as possible." Wilmut's testimony went directly against Ruth Deech of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which regulates fertility research, who said on Wednesday she could see circumstances under which cloning people would be desirable. She told the same committee that, for example, people at risk of having a baby with certain rare genetic disorders could instead be cloned, leaving the baby free of the defect. Deech said there was no need for a blanket prohibition on human cloning but perhaps the law needed "tweaking" to make sure experiments were properly controlled. But the scientists from PPL and the Roslin Institute defended their work with animals, saying it held out the prospect of cheaper food and new remedies for genetic diseases. The Roslin and PPL researchers say cloning is a natural outgrowth of their research into animal breeding and the production of medicines from animal blood and milk. Date: Thu, 06 Mar 1997 09:59:32 -0800 >From: Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Catching Emus Message-ID: <331F0604.5B69@worldnet.att.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit 
