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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 374 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) (Romania) Urgent help needed by vegetarians by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 2) [DE] Cattle claim diplomatic BSE immunity by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 3) [UK] Ministry blocks fishermen's armada by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 4) [UK] 'Linseed loophole' mocks conservation rules by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 5) [UK] Sharp fall in numbers of endangered grouse by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 6) [UK] Never Mind The Ballots - Reclaim The Streets! by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 7) [UK] Eco Friendly Nuclear Missiles! by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 8) [UK] Riot police clear Trafalgar Square after demo by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 9) [CA] Designer chromosomes developed by Vancouver firm by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 10) [US] DEC buys muskrat-trimmed hats by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 11) [US] Biotech Firm Might Sponsor Classes at Wildlife Refuge Site by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 12) (MY) Successful breeding of rhinoceros hornbill at zoo by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 13) (MY) Mutilated dolphin found on beach by vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 14) Fwd: Campus May Be Monkey Cloning Center by LMANHEIM@aol.com 15) BioTech Global Days of Action Update by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 16) Anti-hunting calls needed by Horgan <horgan@sprintmail.com> 17) (US) RFI: Dog/Animal Bite Protocol by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 18) Blurring the Line by Andrew Gach <UncleWolf@worldnet.att.net> 19) (US) Tourism endangers Thailand's turtles by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 20) Yellowstone Bison Herd Cut in Half Over Winter by Vegetarian Resource Center <vrc@tiac.net> 21) World Week at Rockefeller U. by bstagno@ix.netcom.com (Barbara Stagno) 22) (CH) Japanese Peacocks Grace U.N. Lawns by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 23) (BR) Cats in Court to Protect Brazil Pad by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 24) (CA-US)B.C. Indians Plan To Hunt Again by allen schubert <alathome@clark.net> 25) B.C. Indians Plan To Hunt Again by NOVENAANN@aol.com 26) (CHINA) "Wise-users" gain influence by jwed <jwed@hkstar.com> Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 14:54:19 +0800 (SST) >From: vadivu <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (Romania) Urgent help needed by vegetarians Message-ID: <199704130654.OAA22096@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" This is a forwarded message from Veg-news from John Davis <webmaster@ivu.org>. - Vadivu ------- Forwarded message follows ------- URGENT NOTICE VEGETARIAN ORPHANAGE UNDER THREAT OF CLOSURE IN ROMANIA An orphanage which is home to 12 children in Domnesti, a suburb of Bucharest, is threatened with closure due to government objections to the vegetarian diet which it offers its children. The orphanage is run by the Romanian branch of AMURT (Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team). AMURT is an international non-governmental organization providing development assistance and aid to victims of disaster. THE AMURT Children's Home was opened in 1993 when six children were transferred there from the state run Buffea orphanage, an institution in which 200 children were housed. All the children were suffering from a variety of diseases (including chronic scabies, malnutrition, hepatitis) when they arrived at the AMURT Home. After treatment at a local dispensary and a lot of care, and a pure vegetarian diet, the children were cured of their ailments and today are happy and healthy. The remarkable improvements in the children at the AMURT Home were noted by several institutions including the Ministry of Education which in 1994 selected the AMURT Home as a model orphanage. At that time, delegates from more than 40 countries who were attending an international conference in Bucharest visited the home and were impressed with conditions there. Recently six more children were admitted to the AMURT Home which is now housed in a newly constructed building. Despite permission from the Romanian Ministry of education for the transfer of these children to AMURT, the Commission of Minor's Protection (in the Ilfov jurisdiction--a Bucharest Suburb) has now raised an objection and they cite the vegetarian diet at the AMURT Home as the primary reason. They have ordered that six children be sent back to the large Buffea orphanage, and on 16 April will hold a hearing at which they will make a definitive decision on the recent transfer and also on the right of AMURT to care for any children at all. An unfavourable decision would effectively close this facility. CALL TO ACTION The values of the vegetarian diet are not well known in Romania. A recent TV programme about the AMURT Home also condemned the vegetarian diet. Thus, we call on vegetarians to write to the Commission of Minors Protection and express your support for the right of AMURT to offer a vegetarian diet to these children. Any supporting documentation about the benefits of vegetarianism would be helpful. If you have any medical or professional qualification please mention it. Write or fax: Protection of Minors Mr. Cazacu Alexandru Secretary of Local Council Ilfov jurisdiction street Gheorghemanu nr. 18, sector 1, Bucharest Romania Telephone and Fax: +40 1 3111 417 (if you are sending a fax ask them to turn on the fax machine For additional information about AMURT see our web site http://www.oneworld.org/amurt Contact person for information about this appeal: A.V. Avadhuta, e-mail: newren@compuserve.com tel.+49 6131 834262 fax: +49 6131 834628 postal address: AMURT, Weisenauer Weg 4, 55129 Mainz Germany ------------------ end of forwarded message ----------------- Please forward this elsewhere as appropriate. John -- http://www.ivu.org - International Vegetarian Union http://www.ivu.org/evu - European Vegetarian Union Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:22 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [DE] Cattle claim diplomatic BSE immunity Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001603.23276770@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, April 12th, 1997 Cattle claim diplomatic BSE immunity By Anthea Hall THREE elderly Scottish cows have claimed diplomatic immunity to avoid being slaughtered under BSE regulations in Germany. The 12-year-old British-born Galloways are affectionately called "the Galloway ladies" by their eccentric owner, the lawyer and notary public Axel Schultze-Petzold of Loxstedt near Cuxhaven, who also happens to be honorary consul for Barbados. This January, after five cases of BSE, the German federal government decreed that all cattle born in Britain and Switzerland should be slaughtered. Mr Schultze-Petzold was among the cattle farmers who successfully challenged the law in regional courts, arguing that it was based on a false premise. The idea of giving the cows diplomatic protection occurred to Mr Schultz-Petzold as he was about to set off on his annual promotion visit to the Caribbean. Two years ago, when he sold the herd bred from five original Galloways, he kept the three old ladies, so that they could spend "the eventide of their lives in my pasture". He also insisted that there was no chance of his Galloways developing BSE. "We know the incubation period for the disease is a maximum of six years. I've had the cows on my land for 10 years. The last possible time for the infection to appear was at least four years ago." It was not then clear whether the slaughter decree would be upheld and he was determined that the cattle would not be killed while he was away. He hit on the idea of putting them under the jurisdiction of the Bajan ministry of agriculture with whom he was negotiating. Local farmers were amazed to see the following notice pinned to the fence of the Lower Saxony pasture where the "old ladies" were grazing: "Consulate of Barbados. No entry. Galloway Cattle Control - Minister of Agriculture, Bridgetown, Barbados." Mr Schultze-Petzold, who returns from the Caribbean this week, explained his dilemma from Martinique: "I wrote the notice in a hurry. I was desperate to make sure my cattle were not killed in my absence." He hopes that the cattle may yet be saved by a research project he has devised with the Bajan veterinary authority surgeon in Bridgetown. "It would not be the first time that animals' lives have been saved by a research project. The Barbadan authority agrees that there's no scientific basis for killing my old cattle. Their survival would give their vets the chance do research on them - they have no experience of such cattle. If they are killed there will be no chance to see what happens to them." However, it now appears that nothing will save the old Galloways. Dr Richard Peters, agricultural attachΘ to the German embassy in London, described Mr Schultze-Petzold's diplomatic immunity ruse as "absurd" and said that the 5,000 or so British and Swiss-born cattle in Germany would be slaughtered this summer. "The law, now agreed by both the federal and the 16 Lènder governments, will take effect six months after the original order in January. No cattle born in either Britain or Switzerland will escape the slaughter." Mr Schultze-Petzold has vowed to continue his battle in the courts. ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:27 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Ministry blocks fishermen's armada Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001607.0d3f1184@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, April 12th, 1997 Ministry blocks fishermen's armada HUNDREDS of fishermen from Devon and Cornwall had hoped to stage the most dramatic and poignant demonstration of this election campaign next Friday but have been threatened with having their boats impounded. Sailing en masse from Plymouth, they wanted to draw attention to the fact that this may be the last time it will be possible to see an armada of British fishing boats. By the time of the next election, under the EU's Common Fisheries Policy, much of our fleet will be no more. Astonishingly, however, the fishermen have been threatened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries that, if they try to put their case in this way, their boats will be impounded. This is on the excuse that they might hinder the passage of other shipping, but inevitably the fishermen see this as yet another attempt to stifle public discussion of what has become the biggest single scandal of Britain's entanglement with "Europe". There are four reasons why this has become one of the most extraordinary political stories of our time. First was the treacherous way in which the British people were forced to hand over to the EC the richest fishing waters in the world, containing four-fifths of all Europe's fish, an asset worth billions of pounds a year. Second was the way Brussels then set up the ludicrously bureaucratic system of the Common Fisheries Policy which, by forcing fishermen to throw dead back into the sea more fish than they are allowed to land, has led to one of the world's greatest man-made ecological disasters. A new report from the UN's Food and Agriculture organisation estimates that the CFP now leads to the pointless destruction of 3.7 millions of tonnes of fish each year. Third has been the relentless war waged by Brussels to eliminate much of what remains of Britain's fishing fleet, to make room for the fishermen of the rest of Europe to fish in those British waters. In the next five years this process of destruction will reach its climax, in preparation for the CFP's "definitive" stage in 2003, when national fishing fleets are no more, and "Community fishermen" are allowed to fish only if they have permits from Brussels. But last, and perhaps most shocking of all, has been the way our politicians have consistently tried to hide all this from the British people, an exercise in systematic deceit being perpetuated by all three main parties in this election. One small instance can be seen by comparing the 1997 Conservative Campaign Guide with that of 20 years ago. In 1977 the fisheries section was dominated by the Fisheries Limits Act 1976 which, under international law, gave Britain control over all fishing waters round her coasts out to 200 miles (or the median line). It quoted both Tory and Labour spokesmen promising that this would give British fishermen exclusive rights over much of this area. Only later did they discover that Edward Heath had secretly signed away all Britain's fishing rights, so that, under EC law, British ministers are now forced to sign "designation orders" allowing fishermen of every other EU country (including Luxembourg and Austria) access to British waters. In the 1997 Campaign Guide there is no mention of the Act. Again, in the Conservative manifesto, almost every one of eight sentences on fishing is an evasion of the truth or worse. For instance it says"we reject any idea of a single European fishing fleet", completely ignoring the fact that, since 1994, European Commission documents have dropped any mention of national fleets (plural) and now routinely refer just to "the Community fleet". As for the Labour Party, it wriggles out of the insoluble mess with a vague promise to "seek a thorough overhaul of the CFP" which it knows is meaningless. The truth is that the disaster now confronting Britain's fishermen is so total, and the reasons for this so shameful, that candidates who do not wholly repudiate the CFP must be considered to be in favour of it - betrayal, lies, conservation catastrophe and all. So profound are the political and moral implications of this that no such candidates deserve support. ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:30 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] 'Linseed loophole' mocks conservation rules Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001610.0d3f3a38@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, April 12th, 1997 'Linseed loophole' mocks conservation rules WHEN Clinton Marston, who farms at Syresham, Northants, read two stories in The Telegraph last week, he might have been forgiven for reaching for his shotgun. These reported how two Sussex farmers had exploited a loophole in EU laws to make a mockery of conservation rules by ploughing up large areas of chalk downland that included rare flowers and butterflies. Although Derek Robinson, a member of the Government's Farming and Wildlife advisory group, had been given ú25,000 of taxpayers' money to seed 250 acres with downland flora, he had now discovered he could get EU subsidies of ú180 an acre by covering his fields with useless blue linseed instead. Justin Harmer went even further, ploughing up a 40-acre Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) containing a mass of rare orchids and 33 species of butterfly, because under EU rules this is perfectly legal. The "linseed loophole" overrides the law that SSSIs must remain untouched. Mr Marston found these stories particularly interesting because, for the past year, he has been locked in a bizarre battle with the officials over some boggy fields he added to his farm in 1995. Having paid ú82,000 for 26 acres, he then had a letter from the DoE's "European Wildlife Department" telling him they had been made subject to an order designating them an SSSI. It would now be a criminal offence for him to use them for any purpose whatever. In other words, they were worthless - and even more remarkable was that the officials gave not a single specific reason why his fields should be an SSSI, apart from claiming they were of "national importance". Having vainly spent more than ú10,000 fighting a public inquiry, at which English Nature still could not name a single plant worthy of such draconian protection, Mr Marston has lost well over ú100,000 for no purpose at all, although English Nature now permits him to graze a few Highland cattle on part of the land. As a keen conservationist who has planted 40,000 trees, Mr Marston is totally baffled by this episode, hardly improved by learning that these Sussex farmers are not only encouraged by Brussels to destroy fields of far greater natural importance but rewarded with ú50,000 of EU money into the bargain. Of England's 3,800 SSSIs no fewer than 1,927 were damaged by 1994, nearly 500 permanently, and Brussels is obviously doing all it can to let this continue. ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:32 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Sharp fall in numbers of endangered grouse Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001612.23276e8e@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, April 12th, 1997 Sharp fall in numbers of endangered grouse By Greg Neale ONE of moorland Britain's most endangered birds, the black grouse, is suffering a rapid decline in numbers, a survey says. Figures to be released this week show there are now just 500 black grouse cocks left in England, a halving of the population in eight years. In Wales, there are only 150 male birds left. Across Britain, numbers have fallen from 10,000 to 6,350 since 1972. The survey was carried out by English Nature, the Game Conservancy and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, who are launching a plan to halt the bird's decline in Durham and Northumberland. ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:33 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Never Mind The Ballots - Reclaim The Streets! Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001614.0d3f2180@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" [In the interests of fairness, I am posting this account of the demo, in addition to the one that appeared in the Telegraph - DJK] >From The Urban75 web site (http://194.112.40.4/Urban75/news.html) Never Mind The Ballots - Reclaim The Streets! The RTS crew took to the streets again, this time taking out Trafalgar Square and turning into into a car-free party zone. Marching up from Kennington, South London, the march took in such sights as the Houses of Parliament and a close encounter with Downing Street, illuminated by orange smoke flares, before successfully thwarting the police and getting the sound system kicking in the Square. Despite a wholly peaceful crowd, there was a huge police presence, ominously clad in black boiler suits, steel toecapped boots and - most disturbingly - face masks (why would the police want to hide their faces?). While ravers danced happily on the steps of the National Gallery to the banging choons coming from the McSpotlight sound system, a police helicopter hovered expensively overhead while riot police adopted a wholly inappropriate aggressive stance and sealed off the area. It came as no suprise to learn that there were outbreaks of trouble and several arrests all of which left us wondering exactly who the police were supposed to be 'protecting' and why they needed to be dressed in full riot gear. Provocation perhaps? UPDATE: Six people from the McSpotlight Sound System have been (incredibly!) arrested for conspiracy to murder after they drove their van through the police lines to get into Trafalgar Square. If you witnessed the lorry driving through the police lines please get in touch with RTS at the numbers below. It is vital that we give all the help we can to these people. Information line: 0171 281 4621 - Legal Defence Line: 0181 533 7116 Pirate Radio station 87.8 FM Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:36 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Eco Friendly Nuclear Missiles! Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001616.0d3f015a@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Found this on the Urban75 site as well. Thought you might enjoy. Eco Friendly Nuclear Missiles! This is almost too ridiculous to be true. Because of a new Government ban on chlorofluorocarbons, the US Air Force has had to refit all its nuclear missiles with new eco-friendly cooling systems that don't use CFC's. So if you ever see a nuclear missile heading your way, rest assured - it's making the environment that little bit safer for us all! Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:37 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Riot police clear Trafalgar Square after demo Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001618.0d3f17b6@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Sunday, April 12th, 1997 Riot police clear Trafalgar Square after demo RIOT police charged protesters last night after a demonstration in which thousands marched on Trafalgar Square to support striking dockers and environmental causes. Crowd trouble in Whitehall, on the route of the Social Justice March, and confrontational scenes later between riot police and protesters in the square ruined the "party atmosphere" that the organisers had intended for the event. Police cleared Whitehall shortly after 3pm when marchers who split from the main group tried to climb the security gates that seal off Downing Street. An orange smoke bomb was thrown into the street, distress flares were let off and cans and bottles were thrown. Violence flared again after more than 30 mounted officers in riot gear forced the demonstrators back into Trafalgar Square. Meanwhile, the main body of protesters assembled in the square to listen to speeches in support of the sacked Liverpool dockers. At the same time, the anti-roads direct action group Reclaim the Streets - joined by other groups including Public Nuisance (slogan: They want to fight - we want to dance) - celebrated in carnival atmosphere to the techno-strains of sound system Desert Storm. But after a second sound system was driven in a truck past police lines and parked in front of the National Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square, police, who had seemed content to watch the antics of protesters, moved in. Vans, some of them bearing the name of a Banbury- based rental firm, were driven up to all exits of the square and parked two-deep; parallel with lines of riot police. By around 5pm the police had up to 1,000 riot officers in place. People wishing to pass through the cordon from the square were allowed to do so, but the atmosphere turned more and more threatening as the riot police refused to admit people wishing to return. Police lines then fanned out to push the remaining protesters further from the central area. Splinter groups from the demonstration were directed south of theThames over Westminster and Waterloo bridges, and there were several minor scuffles as they made their way away from the square. But about 1,500 protesters refused to leave and riot police, including some on horseback, moved in, prompting further scuffles and several hand-to-hand clashes. After further action involving baton-charges, the area was finally cleared shortly after 9pm. Scotland Yard said last night that 29 people were arrested, including four for conspiracy to commit murder after a vehicle was allegedly driven at police lines. Police said that the violence did not appear to have involved the striking Liverpool dockers, many of whom brought their families with them for the march, during which a petition was handed in to Downing Street. Jim Davis, a dockers' shop steward, said: "As far as we are concerned, we were here to make a protest over our dismissal, certainly not to get involved in any violence. There are children here." Superintendent Jo Kaye, in charge of the march, said: "Police found themselves in a situation where everybody's safety was threatened by irresponsible and violent behaviour and that is why mounted police were brought in. "The sacked dockers wanted a carnival atmosphere especially as children were involved in the march. I think on the whole they achieved that. It was a small section of the crowd that caused the trouble outside Downing Street." Home Secretary Michael Howard said in a statement that he congratulated police on "the swift action they took to deal with the situation". The statement added: "I am delighted that the Government has provided the police with the necessary powers to deal with lawlessness of this kind." ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 00:15:50 -0700 (PDT) >From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [CA] Designer chromosomes developed by Vancouver firm Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970413001631.0d3f10cc@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 
