Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news39~1.htm/text0001.txt

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                     Monk Seals cling to survival in the Leeward
                     Islands
                     Base on Midway wiped out 90 percent

                     May 8, 1997
                     Web posted at: 11:30 p.m. EDT

                     From Correspondent Greg Lefevre

                     LAYSAN ISLAND, Leeward Islands (CNN) -- The most
                     endangered seals in the world, Hawaiian Monk
                     Seals, are clinging to survival in the last ocean
                     wilderness in the Western Pacific.

                     There are an estimated 1,200 of the seals left,
                     some of them captives in ponds in Hawaii and
                     remote Laysan where they are being raised by
                     scientists bent on keeping the species alive.

                     "They are on the brink, but there is a chance to
                     bring them back," says Birgit Winning of Oceanic
                     Society Expeditions.

                     The seals were hunted to extinction in their only
                     other known habitats in the Adriatic Sea and the
                     Caribbean and are, in Winning's words, "very
                     fragile."

                      It is widely believed that Monk Seals got
                             their name because they prefer to live in
                     isolation. In fact, virtually every outside
                     influence adversely affects the monk seals' life
                     cycle, their breeding and, ultimately, their
                     population.

                     Underwater, they move shyly away from approaching
                     humans, darting behind rocks or coral
                     outcroppings. On shore, a basking seal wants
                     nothing to do with an itinerant albatross.

                     "They don't like to spend time up on the beach
                     with other animals," says Stan Minasian of the
                     Marine Mammal Fund.

                     Base on Midway wiped out 90 percent

                     Killed off elsewhere by hunters, pushed    [fish]
                     out of the Hawaiian Islands by progress,
                     the monk seals were nearly wiped out in the
                     Leeward Islands by the U.S. Navy, which set up a
                     base in their midst on Midway Island.

                     "The population at Midway has plummeted by 90
                     percent because of the human disturbance," Winning
                     said.

                     The few remaining seals are further endangered by
                     factors so unusual it almost seems as if fate has
                     a grudge against them.

                     For one thing, a small group of extremely
                     aggressive males injures and sometimes kill mating
                     females.

                      Also, the very coral reefs that protect
                               the seals sometimes poisons them.
                     During dredging or storms, coral releases a toxin
                     that collects in fish and eels, the seals'
                     preferred food.

                     "Monk seals, when they eat the eels, can die from
                     ciguatoxin poisoning," Minasian said.

                     For decades, Midway Island's status as a military
                     base made it off-limits to scientists who wanted
                     to study the seals.

                     Now, volunteers who pay to join scientific
                     expedition to do such things as putting bands on
                     birds will be able to gather data on seals for the
                     first time in decades. The idea is to help
                     biologists keep this shy and rare seal from
                     slipping off into history.


Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 00:25:51 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Bengal Tiger Attacks Trainer
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(follow-up story)
from AP Wire page:
------------------------------
05/08/1997 23:45 EST

 Bengal Tiger Attacks Trainer

 By MICHAEL RAPHAEL
 Associated Press Writer

 BROAD TOP CITY, Pa. (AP) -- A circus trainer's bright new suit may have
caused a
 Bengal tiger to attack him during a performance, a coroner said.

 Wayne Franzen, founder of the Franzen Brothers Circus, died within minutes
after
 suffering a punctured lung and neck wounds during Wednesday's attack
before an
 audience of 200 children and their families.

 Franzen was wearing the suit for only the second time, and James
Zangaglia, chief
 deputy coroner for Cambria County, said the tiger apparently lunged at the
costume.

 Witnesses said the animal, one of three in the cage, attacked Franzen when he
 turned his back, then dragged him around the ring by the neck.

 ``My father should have known better,'' said Brian Franzen. ``We ran in
there, and I
 was hitting the cat in the head with a pipe, but it was too late. He was
already dead.''

 The 50-year-old Franzen started the circus 24 years ago after leaving his
job as a
 school teacher in Wisconsin.

 A trapeze artist and a novelty seller quit after Franzen's death, leaving
13 employees.
 The afternoon show in central Pennsylvania was canceled Thursday but the
night
 show was held, minus the tiger act.

 ``We have to take in money,'' said Brian Franzen. ``Otherwise, I wouldn't
have money
 to feed the animals or move the circus.''

 The big cat, Lucca, appeared calm in its cage Thursday. Brian Franzen said he
 intends to return Lucca to the show when an insurance company completes its
 investigation of his father's death.

 ``I go up there and it purrs to me. It doesn't understand what happened,''
he said.
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:25:09 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
To: "Animal Rights" <[e-mail]>
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01:49 PM ET 05/08/97

Tiger kills trainer at U.S. circus performance


       (Adds quotes from mental health worker)
         PITTSBURGH (Reuter) - A tiger mauled and killed its trainer
during a circus performance in Pennsylvania as a crowd of
children watched in horror, authorities said Thursday.
         The tiger attacked Wayne F. Franzen and dragged him around a
circus pen in Carrolltown, Pennsylvania, Wednesday night during
a fund-raising performance for a local school.
         ``We're not really sure what happened exactly,'' Cambria
County Coroner Dennis Kwiatkowski said. ``We have reports saying
he was attacked from behind and reports saying he was attacked
from the front. He was pronounced dead at the scene.''
         Franzen, 50, owned the Franzen Brothers Circus Inc. of
Bushnell, Florida. His son managed to get the Bengal tiger into
a cage after the attack.
         A crowd of about 300 people, more than half of them
children, was watching the performance at a local fairground. An
emergency counseling service was set up at the circus for those
who witnessed the attack.
         ``Most of the kids felt confusion,'' said Philip Garmen,
director of mental health at the Cambria County Mental Health
Center. ``A lot of them were elementary school age and they're
not really attuned to death and dying. Some of them said they
didn't want to go to the circus again.''
         Garmen said crisis counselors were receiving calls Thursday
from parents who saw the attack and still were shocked or
concerned about the possible effects on their children.
         Kwiatkowski said an autopsy would be performed on Franzen
but police were not investigating the incident. ``It's a pretty
clear-cut case,'' he said.
         Circus officials were not available for comment. Garmen said
circus workers told him the tiger would not be used in a
performance again, and would likely be retired to a zoo.
      ^REUTER@


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:26:21 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
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12:50 PM ET 05/08/97

WTO rules for US in EU beef ban--US trade group


         WASHINGTON (Reuter) - The World Trade Organization has ruled
that the European Union unfairly barred U.S. meat shipments in
the ``hormone beef'' dispute, a U.S. trade group official said
Thursday.
         ``We've heard from several sources it (the WTO interim
report) is favorable to our side,'' Chuck Lambert of the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association said. ``We're willing to
work with the administration and the Europeans to see this issue
is resolved.''
         Since 1989, the EU has barred imports of high-quality U.S.
beef produced with the aid of synthetic growth hormones. The EU
said the ban was based on health concerns but U.S. officials
said the synthetic hormones were identical to natural hormones
and were safe for use.
         Neither side would comment on the report, which was
distributed late Wednesday and was supposed to be confidential.
         Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said a U.S. victory
''would be very positive news for us.''
         Further talks were possible but interim reports usually
provide the basis for final rulings.
         Under an adverse WTO ruling, the EU could drop the ban,
appeal the decision or compensate the United States for a
continued ban.
         ``This is the first milestone toward getting a positive
resolution,'' Lambert said.
         The NCBA says the ban cost at least $100 million a year. It
says that without the ban, U.S. sales of high-quality beef to
Europe could have grown to $250 million a year.
         Glickman told Reuters that he had not seen the WTO interim
report.
         But if reports of U.S. victory were correct, ``this is
obviously very consistent with what we have believed since the
beginning, which is sound science will show the EU beef ban is
inconsistent with accurate and sound science,'' he said.
         ``We will be extremely happy is this report is true. It
would be very positive news for us, we've been fighting this
thing for a long time.''
      ^REUTER@


Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 00:29:50 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) U.S. Battles WTO Over Beef Hormones
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from AP Wire page:
------------------------------
 05/08/1997 23:30 EST

 U.S. Battles WTO Over Beef Hormones

 By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
 AP Economics Writer

 WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States, in a decision that could have major
 ramifications on global farm trade, has won a preliminary victory before
the World
 Trade Organization in a bitter fight with the European Union over the use of
 hormones in beef.

 U.S. officials, who have seen the initial decision, said a three-judge WTO
panel has
 held that the European Union's ban on U.S. beef treated with growth
hormones is
 not based on sound science.

 ``Our argument was that in the name of food safety, the EU instituted a
 discriminatory and protectionist regime that closed its market to foreign
imports of
 beef. Based on our review of the draft panel report, it appears the panel
has come
 down on our side,'' said one U.S. official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity.

 The 60-page ruling has not been made public but was provided to U.S. and
 European trade officials earlier this week. Both sides have 30 days to
file comments
 and then the WTO panel will issue its final ruling, which can then be
appealed by the
 losing side to a WTO appeals panel.

 But if the preliminary outcome is upheld on appeal, it would represent a
major victory
 for American agriculture interests who have argued for years that the EU
ban was an
 unfair trade barrier because it was not based on scientific fact.

 It could also set a precedent in the interpretation of a new set of trade
rules that went
 into effect in January 1995 prohibiting countries from erecting trade
barriers to
 agricultural products that are not based on sound scientific evidence.

 The United States, the world's biggest exporter of farm products, pushed
hard during
 the last round of global trade negotiations, known as the Uruguay Round,
to get just
 such protections written into international trade rules.

 In addition to the dispute over beef hormones, the United States is
proceeding with
 WTO cases challenging restrictions against other American agricultural
products,
 including a Japanese ban on import of certain types of American apples.

 Under WTO rules -- if the United States position is upheld on appeal --
European
 countries would either have to drop their ban on American beef containing
hormones
 or provide trade compensation in the amount of the injury to American
producers.

 The U.S. beef industry contends it is losing $250 million annually in
potential sales
 in Europe because of the ban.

 While the Geneva-based WTO was attacked by American critics as a threat to
 American sovereignty, the United States has brought more cases than any other
 nation -- a total of 26 since the beginning of 1995. Most of those have
yet to reach
 final decisions.
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:31:32 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
To: "Animal Rights" <[e-mail]>
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10:50 AM ET 05/08/97

Yemen says doing its best to curb rhino trade


         SANAA, Yemen (Reuter) - Yemen is doing all it can to limit
the smuggling of African rhinoceros horn, a Yemeni official said
Thursday in response to renewed claims that the poor Arab
country plays a key role in the illicit trade.
         The horn is prized in Yemen for use in the handles of
traditional daggers known as jambiyas.
         Yemen ``has exerted all possible efforts to limit the
smuggling of rhino horns into Yemen within the framework of our
commitment to carry out the ban,'' the official told Reuters.
         He said Yemen had ``asked the international community to
cooperate in an effective way to prevent the export of this from
countries where this rare animal lives.''
         Wednesday ,the wildlife trade monitoring organization
TRAFFIC said Yemen played a central role in illicit rhino horn
trade, worsening the endangered species' perilous status in
Africa.
         TRAFFIC estimated at least 165 lbs. of rhino horn had been
smuggled into Yemen every year between 1994 and 1996. ``This
amount could originate from up to 25 rhinoceroses,'' it said.
         The Yemeni official said the government ``is ready to
cooperate with any international body or country to help
preserve the lives of the remaining animals.''
         Yemen has not joined CITES, the Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, according
to TRAFFIC -- the wildlife trade monitoring programme of the
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the World Conservation
Union (IUCN), both based in Gland, Switzerland.
         International commercial trade in rhinos and rhino products
has been banned under CITES since 1977, but member countries
will meet next month to examine the state of rhineroceros
species and problems of continued illegal trade.
         There are fewer than 10,000 rhinos remaining in the wild in
Africa, compared to 70,000 in 1970, TRAFFIC said.
      ^REUTER@
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:33:06 -0400
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11:29 AM ET 05/08/97

NZ to query China about Antarctic fishing fleet


         WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Reuter) - New Zealand said Thursday
it would ask China about reports from conservation groups that
Beijing is building a 200-boat fishing fleet to exploit
lucrative toothfish grounds in the Southern Ocean.
         ``We have no information about the Chinese fleet ourselves
but ... it is something we will be asking the Chinese
authorities for some comment on,'' senior Foreign Affairs
official Stuart Prior told a news conference. ``Clearly it would
be a development of some significance.''
         The World Wildlife Fund said it had information from the
conservation monitoring group Traffic that China was building
the fleet to cash in on the lucrative species.
         China has not signed the 1980 Convention on the Conservation
of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which is designed
to protect the environment in that region.
         Toothfish, first named five years ago as the Patagonian
toothfish, was identified as a rich commercial catch only two
years ago. It is a long fish with a large mouth and believed to
be bottom dwelling, living off cod. It lives for up to 25 years.
         In Japan it is sold as ``mero,'' fetching $7,000 a ton.
         The issue would be discussed at the Antarctic Treaty
Consultative meeting in Christchurch this month.
         ``The matter is of very considerable significance for the
Antarctic Treaty because the treaty is imposing considerable
compliance costs on countries, commercial organizations, tourist
operators, and if they see operators working without those
costs, you have an incredible situation.''
         New Zealand had already begun talks with France, Australia
and South Africa about sharing information about how to control
the problem but Prior said control was difficult because of the
vast distances involved.
      REUTER
 ^REUTER@


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:36:20 -0400
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08:17 AM ET 05/08/97

London's newest bakery wishes dogs 'bone appetit'


         By Scott McCormack
         LONDON (Reuter) - Like any sweet-toothed youngster Barney
could hardly contain his excitement as he raced toward the
bakery counter.
         His breath clouded the display glass while he examined the
rich variety on offer, from cream-topped brownies to dipped
biscotti to tiered birthday and wedding cakes.
         And then in deep anticipation of his impending treat he let
out a loud bark.
         Barney is a regular patron of the latest American trend to
hit Britain -- a canine confectionery.
         Three Dog Bakery opened for business two weeks ago and hopes
to cash in on the country's renowned love for dogs, just as it
has done at seven locations throughout the United States.
         Demand has been enthusiastic.
         Within its first week London's newest culinary adventure
began to sell out of many items.
         MASTER OF THE HOUSE
         Clutching Barney's lead while trying to keep track of her
three children, Tess Atkinson shrugged as she paid the cashier
for a bagful of treats.
         ``He was found abandoned as a newborn so this is all a bit
upmarket for him,'' she said, petting the eight-month-old puppy.
         Barney barked again and jumped up on the nearest passer-by.
         ``He has no manners but just look how cute he is,'' Atkinson
apologised.''We do spoil him, but why not? He rules the house
anyway.''
         With two carefully wrapped 'Boxer Brownies' for her twin
bull terriers, Kelly Laws admitted to having visited the bakery
three times in the first few days it opened.
         ``We used to laugh at the Americans how they pampered their
dogs. Now look at what we're doing,'' she said. Laws gives Jazz
and Casey their treats while she eats her dinner in front of the
television. ``They're my children. I don't ever plan to have
real ones, so they get to play the part,'' she added.
         PITY THE POSTMAN
         The concept for the pooch patisserie was dreamed up six
years ago by Americans Dan Dye and Mark Beckloff, who became
disgusted by the unpronouncable ingredients in many dog foods.
         They began to cook up their own varieties using only natural
ingredients, and soon realised they had stumbled on an untapped
market after friends hankered for treats for their own dogs.
         Britain represents the company's first foray into overseas
markets.
         ``The London store has been begging for more product,'' said
Evan Wooton, U.S. general manager of the chain, which bakes most
of the treats at its Kansas City base and ships them to London.
``If customer traffic is any indication, the English love it.''
         The bakery has maded several concessions for local tastes,
including treats in the shape of a postman's leg and a daily
newspaper as well as a lamb and mint flavouring.
         The treats are relatively inexpensive -- many between 30 and
50 pence (55-80 cents) -- and the bakery itself very
unpretentious, tucked away in the corner of a pet superstore
supplying every possible variety of pet paraphernalia.
         ``We wanted to reach as many dog owners as possible,''
Wooton explained, adding that the company is also in the process
of launching a more upmarket version of the bakery.
         YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
         Three Dog Bakery's brochure says it uses only natural
ingredients and that humans can eat its products too. ``You
could feel great about eating any treat that we produce. We eat
everything we make!'' it proclaims.
         So the decision was made to put the claim to the taste, and
a sampling menu hastily assembled.
         First came a 29 pence Postman's Leg with the lamb and mint
flavour of the month. It resembled a Christmas biscuit baked a
deep golden brown, and indeed proved extremely crunchy with a
slightly minty aftertaste. It did not melt in the mouth but
certainly did not taste anything like one might imagine dog food
to be.
         Carl Davis, who works behind the counter, said many of the
items are up to three weeks old because they are shipped over
from the United States. Dogs, apparently, are not as picky as
humans about freshness.
         Next came a Boxer Brownie, an oversized, sinful looking
chocolate mass, costing 69 pence, topped with a generous dollop
of whipped cream.
         The brochure explains that no sugar is added to any product
and carob used instead of chocolate, which may be healthy for a
dog, but for a somewhat more discerning palate produces a gooey
and largely tasteless treat.
         One man walking past the bakery said his six-year-old
daughter had discovered a brownie meant for her golden retriever
and stuffed half of it in her mouth.
         ``It came out almost as quickly with a big 'yuck','' he said
as he scooped up his daughter. ``Our dog just swallowed the rest
whole.''
         Not all dogs in the store proved such eager customers.
Hobbes, a black labrador, ran straight past the bakery counter
to a nearby display featuring dried pigs' ears.
         ``He doesn't go for all that fancy stuff,'' said his owner
somewhat proudly. ``He is a dog after all.''


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:37:38 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
To: "Animal Rights" <[e-mail]>
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11:03 AM ET 05/08/97

Kabul symbol of hope, zoo lioness, gets pregnant


         By Tim Johnston
         KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuter) - The lioness in Kabul Zoo, long
a symbol of hope in Afghanistan's capital devastated by years of
fighting, has become pregnant, the zoo director said Thursday.
         ``She is due to give birth in four or five months. This is
the first birth we have had in the zoo for seven years,'' said
director Abdul Razziq.
         Her mate won't be able to witness the event, however -- he
was blinded in a grenade attack in early 1995.
         For three years after the collapse of the Communist regime
in Kabul in 1992 the zoo was on the front line. Keepers used to
crawl along trenches into the zoo to feed its diminishing
population.
         The zoo's continued existence during the fighting is a
symbol of hope for the future for the city's population -- a
small survivor of past normality in a sea of destruction.
         ``During the fighting most of the animals were killed or
taken away. The cages were destroyed, as was our collection of
stuffed animals.'' Razziq said.
         Many animals became victims of the crossfire. The elephant
was killed with a rocket-propelled grenade in 1994 and a black
bear, which still limps disconsolately around the cracked
concrete of its pen, was wounded by rocket shrapnel.
         Kabulis again started to visit the zoo after the front line
moved away in 1995. The male lion was blinded in a revenge
grenade attack after a young fighter who climbed into the lions
compound was mauled to death.
         There have since been attempts at a limited rehabilitation
of the zoo.
         It has acquired some monkeys, wolves and a vulture with a
broken wing, and Razziq said they hoped to buy two tigers that
have been captured in the eastern Afghan province of Laghman.
         But as Razziq readily admitted, conditions are far from
perfect.
         ``The main problems are a lack of money and and the
inconvenience of the cages for the animals. Some international
aid agencies have said that they will help with rehabilitating
the pens, but nothing has come of it,'' he said.
         One problem they are unlikely to have is security. The two
turbanned Taleban fighters collecting the admission fee were
both armed with automatic rifles.
         Kabul is now ruled by the Taleban, who took over in
September last year. But they are still fighting rival factions
-- including the government it dislodged -- for the 25 percent
of Afghanistan they do not control.
      ^REUTER@


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:39:07 -0400
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10:34 AM ET 05/08/97

Hedgehog barbecue enrages British animal activists


         LONDON (Reuter) - British hedgehog-welfare activists vowed
Thursday to disrupt plans by a self-styled ``king of the
Gypsies'' to hold a traditional Gypsy barbecue where the small
woodland animals would be grilled on skewers and marinated in
honey.
         Former bare-knuckle fighter Bartley Gorman is selling
tickets for a Gypsy festival on his land in Uttoxeter, central
England, in July. Attractions include Gypsy music around
traditional campfires, and barbecued hedgehog.
         ``We are going to get this stopped,'' said Anne Jenkins of
Britain's Hedgehog Preservation Society.
         ``It gives people ideas and we have to make sure that this
is stopped because we want to prevent this idea catching on,''
she told Reuters. ``The fad is growing for exotic food, you can
go down city high streets and buy ostrich steak, alligator stew
and so on. We don't need hedgehogs appearing, it's a bit sick.''
         Jenkins said the society's members would prefer to have the
festival stopped by using British laws against the breeding or
trapping of hedgehogs. ``But if we have to call our people out
to picket it, we will,'' she added.
 ^REUTER@


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:42:05 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
To: "Animal Rights" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: APHIS Press Release USDA Announces Wisconsin's Accredited-Free Tuberculosis
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 ----
>From: Questa Glenn <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Date: Thursday, May 08, 1997 11:19 PM
Subject: APHIS Press Release USDA Announces Wisconsin's Accredited-Free
Tuberculosis

                                   Dawn Kent      [phone]
                                               [e-mail]
                                   Jerry Redding  [phone]
                                                    [e-mail]


USDA ANNOUNCES WISCONSIN'S ACCREDITED-FREE TUBERCULOSIS
STATUS

     WASHINGTON, May, 8, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
amending the tuberculosis regulations by raising Wisconsin's
tuberculosis status to accredited-free.

     Wisconsin's accredited-free status was suspended on Dec. 8, 1995,
following the discovery of an infected herd in the state.  A state with
accredited-free (suspended) status is qualified for redesignation to
accredited-free status after the herd in which tuberculosis was detected
has been quarantined and the disease eliminated.  Additionally, an
epidemiological investigation must confirm that the disease has not
spread from the herd.

     "We are confident that Wisconsin meets this criteria," said Joan M.
Arnoldi, deputy administrator for veterinary services with the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and
regulatory programs mission area.

     The tuberculosis regulations govern the interstate movement of cattle
and bison to control the spread of the disease.  A state's status is based
on its tuberculosis infection rate and the effectiveness of its
tuberculosis
eradication program.

     Tuberculosis is a serious, communicable disease of livestock and
humans.  It can cause weight loss, general debilitation, and sometimes
death.

     For further information contact: Mitchell Essey, senior staff
veterinarian, National Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River
Road Unit 36, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1231, [phone].
[e-mail]

     Notice of this interim rule became effective upon publication in the
May
7 Federal Register.

     Consideration will be given to comments received on or before July 7.
An original and three copies should be sent to Docket No. 96-093-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700
River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238.

     Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between
8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.  Persons
wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead at (202)
690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

                                #

NOTE: USDA news releases, program announcements, and media
advisories are available on the Internet.  Access the APHIS Home Page
by pointing your Web browser to
http://www.aphis.usda.gov and clicking on "APHIS Press Releases."
Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press
releases automatically.  Send an e-mail message to
[e-mail]
and leave the subject blank.  In the message, type
subscribe press_releases


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 00:41:50 -0400
>From: "radioactive" <[e-mail]>
To: "Animal Rights" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: APHIS Press Release USDA Proposes to Revise Regulations for Importing Coffee
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>From: Questa Glenn <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Date: Thursday, May 08, 1997 10:24 PM
Subject: APHIS Press Release USDA Proposes to Revise Regulations for
Importing Coffee

                                   H. Nolan Lemon, Jr. [phone]
                                                    [e-mail]
                                   Jerry Redding         [phone]
                                                            [e-mail]
v


USDA PROPOSES TO REVISE REGULATIONS FOR IMPORTING COFFEE

     WASHINGTON, May 8, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture is
proposing to revise its coffee regulations to prohibit the importation of
fruits and berries and to clarify rules for moving samples of unroasted
coffee through Hawaii and Puerto Rico to other destinations.

     "USDA is proposing to amend its coffee regulations to list fruits and
berries as items prohibited entry into all parts of the United States,"
said
Alfred S. Elder, acting deputy administrator of plant protection and
quarantine with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part
USDA's marketing and regulatory programs mission area.

     Current regulations do not specifically list the restricted goods.
The
regulations list fruits and vegetables that are permitted entry.

     "Coffee fruits and berries present significant risks of introducing
the
Mediterranean fruit fly, which is a serious plant pest that attacks a wide
range of host plants grown throughout the United States," said Elder.

     This proposed rule would also remove unnecessary text in the
regulations for moving samples of unroasted coffee through Hawaii and
Puerto Rico in transit to other destinations.

          The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the May 9
Federal Register.  For more information, contact James Petit de Mange,
staff officer, Phytosanitary Issues Management Team, PPQ, APHIS, 4700
River Road, Unit 140, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1236, telephone (301)
734-6799 or e-mail him at [e-mail].

     Consideration will be given to comments received on or before July 8.
Please send an original and three copies to Docket No. 97-011-1,
Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700
River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238.

     Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between
8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.  People
wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead on (202)
690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.

                                #

NOTE:  USDA news releases, program announcements, and media
advisories are available on the Internet.  Access the APHIS home page
by pointing your Web browser to
http://www.aphis.usda.gov and clicking on "APHIS Press Releases."
Also, anyone with an e-mail address can sign up to receive APHIS press
releases automatically.  Send an e-mail message to
[e-mail]
and leave the subject blank.  In the message, type
subscribe press_releases


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 12:52:37 +0800
>From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Salmonella found in meat (Victoria,Australia)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Salmonella still a risk in Victoria according to investigaion.

Front page lead article - The Age Newspaper (Victoria,Australia) 4.5.1997

According to "The Age" Newspaper (Victoria, Australia  4th May 1997),
Victorians are eating
meat produced by several shoddy, unhygienic and poorly supervised abattoirs,
processors and smallgoods manufacturers, according to senior industry
figures and meat inspectors.

One of the largest processors in the state is taking expired and returned
meat from retailers, then
reprocessing, repackaging and reselling it in a major breach of health
regulations, according to a company
inspector.

The chairman of the Victorian Meat Authority, Mr John Watson, said he did
not deny there were problem areas, but believed quality control systems were
much better since self-regulation was introduced in July 1994.

An investigation by "The Sunday Age" has uncovered a series of problems
within the [meat] industry
including:

*Since processors began employing their own safety inspectors, some have
been pressured not to report
major safety breaches.

*Companies are often warned in advance if their meatworks are going to be
independently audited.

*Federal Government Documents predicted major health risks if the Victorian
deregulation went ahead.

*A CSIRO study shows much higher contamination, including salmonella, of
domestic meat compared to meat
produced for the export market.

*People identified and convicted of meat substitution and criticised by a
royal commission into the industry
in the 1980's have re-emerged as operators.

**Mutton is being regularly substituted for lamb.

Since self regulation was introduced by the State Government, the industry
has been controlled by the Victorian Meat Authority. It employs five
inspectors, assisted by another six staff from a private auditing firm to
oversee 654 licensed processing premises and more than 200 transport vehicles.

One of these inspectors told "The Age" :We simply have to rely on well
trained operatives doing the right thing. It's not the system. How do you
control so many loose cannons?

The Managing Director of one of Victoria's largest meatworks, Mr Castricum
said "Total self-regulation of the
meat industry is very dangerous I think." He said "There are still people in
Victoria letting the side down."

One supermarket was said to have sent back substandard meat on a monthly basis.

One meat inspector claimed "I'm seeing unsafe things all the time, things
that go past the critical control point, bile and spillage from the
intestines, splitting of carcases. I've seen splitting of diseased animals
when they have abcesses in the lungs, in the liver, on the backbone and they
split them with no sterilisation, spray them and all that does is spread the
bacteria out of the abcess."

"You should actually stop production when you have either a risk of
contamination from some pathalogical
condition or spillage of intestinal contents. That's just not happening."

"Sick, injured or dying animals were being slaughtered without veterinary
supervision, potentially creating a major health risk," the inspector said.

"The moment we talk about these dangers we get a reaction of anger or
aggression from management," the inspector said. "The prime objective is to
keep production flowing, not safety."

"The public should be desperately worried, and if they knew what we knew,
they would be," he said.

An unpublished copy of the CSIRO health study - part funded by the meat
industry- contains data indicating that there were differences in the level
of [salmonella] contamination of export and domestic meats.

A table, authenticated by the author of the report, the CSIRO program
manager for food safety, Mr Barry
Shay, states that salmonella was found in 2.24 per cent of domestic boneless
beef meat samples and in
.38 per cent of export samples.

Mr Shay said the bacterial count was simply an indicator of poor hygiene and
likely spoilage rather than safety. He said the salmonella findings were
based on too small a sample to be meaningful.

The secretary of the Meatworkers Union, Mr Wally Curran, said the auditing
system was a joke, and their should be spot inspections of meatworks.

One inspector employed at a processing plant supplying packaged meat
products said it regularly recycled
expired and returned products.

"They take the product back from the supermarkets, they heat it rapidly,
cool it, vacuum pack it,
and its resold as pressed meat, original product" he said.

NB According to this article Meat processors often knew two days before hand
of an impending inspection.

End
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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



                       ("\''/").___..--''"`-._
                       `9_ 9  )   `-.  (     ).`-.__.`)
                       (_Y_.)'  ._   )  `._ `. ``-..-'
                     _..`--'_..-_/  /--'_.' .'
                    (il).-''  ((i).'  ((!.-'



Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 15:40:03 +0900 (JST)
>From: [e-mail] (Aki Nagao)
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: ISAHAYA BAY IS DYING IN JAPAN
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>


Would you like to read following message ,please?
Thanks for your time and considerations!

------ Forwarded Message

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ISAHAYA BAY IS DYING - WORLDWIDE  PROTESTS BEING IGNORED
Japan Wetland Action Network Action Alert
Contact: Maggie Suzuki JAWAN International Liaison
email: [e-mail]
tel/fax: [phone]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
(The following is an amalgamation of several action alerts and upates send out

to email subscribers to the English-language publication, "Japan Environment
Monitor," and will appear in JEM's upcoming printed version.
Visit JEM's home page at
http://www.yin.or.jp/user/greenstar/
If you would like to subscribe to JEM's email or printed version, please
contact$B!!(BMaggie Suzuki.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SYNOPSIS
Japan's largest tidal flat wetland at Isahaya Bay (3,000 hectares) is dying,
cut off from the sea on April 14th by a Ministry of Agriculture land
reclamation project.A number of endemic species will be completely wiped out
by the project. Migratory shorebirds flying immense journeys between Australia

and Siberia will lose their largest feeding & resting site in Japan. All the
mudflat-dwelling creatures - crabs, mudskippers (fish which "walk" on their
flippers), shellfish and other invertebrates, will die within a few weeks if
two sluice gates in the seawall are not opened to let tides flow in and out.

Justifications for the project have long since dried up - new farmland is not
wanted and grave doubts about its flood control function emphasized by
authorities have been$B!!(Bexpressed by an internal expert panel whose 1986 report

was supressed until recently.

All Japan's major conservation organizations and many others in the US,
Australia, Canada, Russia and elsewhere, as well as hundreds of individual
citizens, have sent in urgent faxes to the authorities asking the gates to be
opened. National Dietmembers and$B!!(Bthe national press have shown an active
interest in the issue, so far in vain.

Please add your voice.

Please send a letter to Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto asking that the gates

in the seawall at Isahaya Bay be opened and the project subjected to  a
rigorous review.

The Hon. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Prime Minister of Japan
1-6-1 Nagatacho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100 Japan
Fax: [phone]

Succinct letters to the editor of any of Japan's English newspapers, to the
Asian Wall Street Journal or any other publication to which you subscribe
would also be very helpful.

Please send copies of your letters if possible to Maggie Suzuki:
fax: [phone], email: [e-mail]

The fiddler crabs of Isahaya Bay wave their claws in vain, beckoning to a tide

t
hat no longer rises. They started to die just a few days after the Ministry of

Agriculture closed off the bay on Monday
April 14th. Isahaya's 3,000 hectares of mudflats will die by the end of May if

they don't open 2 sluice gates at either end of the 7.5 km seawall constructed

across the middle of the bay. Opening these gates will let tidal flows return
to the flats.

Hundreds of fax letters have already been sent in to Fujimoto Takao, Minister
of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the governor of Nagasaki Prefecture
,
 from ordinary citizens and nature conservation groups in Japan and around the

world. Our heartfelt thanks to those JEM email subscribers who responded to
our urgent action bulletins.

"My mother is from the Ariake Sea area," writes one Japanese housewife, "and
her stories of its unique life forms delighted my youth. I cannot endure the
thought of Isahaya Bay being lost. ... If this kind of thing keeps up, the
human race will have no future."

"Destroying nature for the sake of not just human beings but for the profit of

the construction industry may provide temporary benefits to a few, but it's
quite clear that in the long run it will  devalue our national worth," writes
a salaryman.

The lead editorial of the Asahi Shimbun on April 16th, entitled, "Land
Reclamation for Whom?" lambasted the project, concluding "What is most
pressing now is to open the seawall and save the tidal flat creatures from
being exterminated. The ecology of the Ariake Sea has developed over the
course of 6 million years. Who will claim$B!!(Bresponsibility for destroying it?"

On April 28th, 8 Democratic Party National Dietmembers, including party
representative Hatoyama Yukio visited Isahaya to view the site and meet local
government  representatives. "It smells of death," said Mr. Hatoyama in a
television interview.  After inspecting the seawall and the tidal flats, the
group talked with local government and pro-development representatives.

In a press conference Mr. Hatoyama said, "They ought to open the sluice gates
right away. There should be enough time to give more consideration to the
project, and aim for the co-existence of both human life and a diversity of
wildlife. We did not come here to say no to the whole concept of reclaiming
land, but with respect to public works projects, in the context of changing
times, we must summon the courage to distinguish which ones are really needed
and which are not. It has already been two weeks since the seawall was closed
off and there is no leisure time to go through all the various legal
procedures. I hope to take this up at the highest level of government. There's

a possibility that Prime Minister Hashimoto will give me a hearing on this
issue."

Conservation Organizations Around the World Protest

On April 24th, all the major nature conservation organizations in Japan,
including World Wide Fund for Nature Japan (WWF-J), the Wild Bird Society of
Japan, the Nature Conservation Society of Japan and Japan Wetlands Action
Network, held a joint press conference in Tokyo to publicize their statements
calling for opening the gates and reviewing the project. Letters have also
been sent by major nature conservation organizations around the world,
including the National Wildlife Federation & the National Audubon Society (US)
,
 the Australian Marine Conservation Society & the Queensland Wader Study Group

(Australia), the Socio-ecological Union and the Wader Study Group of the
Russian Federation, the United Nations University (Tokyo), Ocean Voice
International (Canada), and Friends of the Earth- International.

Barbara Bramble of the National Wildlife Federation, the United States's
largest conservation organization, writes, "[We] request that you immediately
suspend and conduct a thorough review of the Isahaya Bay Land Reclamation
Project and that you give serious consideration to the alternative plan
proposed by local citizens' groups."

Daniel Beard, formerly of the Bureau of Land Reclamation and presently Senior
Vice President for Policy of the National Audubon Society writes "Japan is
blessed with a precious, unique ecosystem found nowhere else in the world. The

National Audubon Society, as an environmental organization deeply concerned
with the rapid decimation of
birds and their habitat, strongly urges you to reconsider the Isahaya Bay
project."

The role of Isahaya Bay as a vital feeding and resting stopover site for
migratory shorebirds (waders) which are now in the midst of their spring
migration, was emphasized in a letter signed jointly by Dr. Svetoslav Zabelin,

Chairman of the International Socio-ecological Union and Dr. Pavel Tomkovich,
Chairman of the Working Group on Waders of the Russian Federation; "Isahaya
Bay is a treasure of Japan as well as a world heritage. Reclamation of Isahaya

Bay will cause the loss of a major stopover for numerous flocks of migratory
birds of Eastern Siberia. For some waders Isahaya Bay is the single place to
refuel their flight energy on their tremendous way from the Arctic tundra to
Australia."

>From the other end of the flyway comes a letter from the Australian Marine
Conservation Society, "We have hoped that Japan delivered the same amount of
dedication to preserving the environment as it has to developing as a wealthy
and highly successful industrial nation. What has happened in the Isahaya
wetlands example?"

The United Nations University, located in Tokyo, warns, "The present [Isahaya]

project will not reflect well on Japan internationally in the light of its
commitments to the preservation of the environment, rare habitats, and
sustainable development."

No Reaction

So far, none of the letters sent to the Ministry of Agriculture have gotten an

answer, and the sluice gates at either end of "The Wall" remained closed.
There is no reason why they cannot be opened at this time. Even if the
Ministry intends to stick to its plan of converting the area to land reclaimed

for agriculture and a freshwater reservoir, they should at least delay this
until recommendations made by the Environment Agency to provide sewage
treatment facilities to the surrounding watershed, now completely lacking,
have been implemented. Even if it continues to ignore the Ministry of
Construction and its own expert panel's warnings about the inadequacy of the
seawall as a flood control measure, it should at least open the gates when no
flood hazard is imminent. These gates can be open or shut in 6 minutes.

Although fishing cooperatives have been catching and releasing some marine
fish, such as mullet and eel, Yamashita Hirofumi of Japan Wetlands Action
Network has dismissed the MAFF-sanctioned action as "a public relations trick.
" The authorities have made no effort to relocate any of the endangered
species now dying on the flats. JAWAN conducted a "Mudskipper Rescue" on April

27th, involving Kagoshima University experts and local schoolchildren.

Will Pressure from the US Government to Increase Domestic Demand Solidify
Japan's Determination to Go Through with the Isahaya Project?

Before Prime Minister Hashimoto met President Clinton on April 25th, Mr.
Clinton reportedly sent Mr. Hashimoto a memo asking the Japanese government to

continue to make its utmost efforts to stimulate domestic demand rather than
depend on exports which invite a trade balance unfavorable to the US. In the
past, Japan's preferred way of "stimulating domestic demand" has been through
public works like the Isahaya Bay Land Reclamation Project. It looks very much

as if the US government, which has recently made a renewed commitment to
restoration of the Everglades, is not aware of the consequences of Japanese
"domestic demand stimulation" in terms of gratuitous destruction of wetlands
and other precious natural ecosystems.

YOU CAN HELP

Please send a letter to Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto asking that the gates

in the seawall at Isahaya Bay be opened and the project subjected to  a
rigorous review.

The Hon. Ryutaro Hashimoto, Prime Minister of Japan
1-6-1 Nagatacho Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 100 Japan
Fax: [phone]

Succinct letters to the editor of any of Japan's English newspapers, to the
Asian Wall Street Journal or any other publication to which you subscribe
would also be very helpful.

Please send copies of your letters if possible to Maggie Suzuki:
fax: [phone], email: [e-mail]

BACKGROUND ON ISAHAYA BAY

Isahaya Bay - Biodiversity and Wetland Values
Isahaya Bay is a quiet pocket bay in Nagasaki prefecture Japan approx. 100
square km. in area, part of the Ariake Sea, an inland sea in southwestern
Kyushu. Its depth is in the 10 meter range, and tidal differences can be up to

6 meters. Its 3,000 ha. of muddy tidal flats are composed of fine silt; with a

high proportion of organic matter. It is the largest tidal flat wetland in
Japan, comprising about 6% of the national total. Japan has lost 40% of its
tidal flat area since the war.

A total of 144 species of waterbird including 60 species of shorebird have
been recorded. Recent maximum fall and spring counts of shorebirds are in the
vicinity of 4,000+ - 6,000+ birds. Twenty five percent of the global
population of Saunders's Gull (Larus saundersi, total world pop. 2-3,000)
winters at the site. Surveys have revealed about 282 species of bottom-
dwelling invertebrates. Species new to science are still being discovered. It
has been estimated that at least 5 endemic species will face grave danger of
extinction due to the land reclamation project. Red data book listed fish such

as the mudskipper (Boleophthalmus pectinirostris) will lose their prime
habitat site in Japan.  Japan's largest community of a saltwater plant, Suadea

japonica, Rare in Japan's Red Data Book, is located on Isahaya's flats. The
endangered status of at least 20 species will be greatly exacerbated by the
project. Isahaya Bay meets all the criteria as a wetland of international
importance under the Ramsar Convention.

The Reclamation Project
On April 14th, 1997, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
completed a sea               wall extending across the center of Isahaya Bay,

cutting off 3,550 ha., of the upper part of the bay, including all its tidal
flats, from the tides. The plan to convert this area to 1,600 ha. of
agricultural land and a 1,700 ha. freshwater reservoir was commenced in 1989,
despite decades of protest by fishers.
 Another stated purpose is to control flooding from heavy rains and tidal
surges.

The flood control function of the project has been seriously called into
question by an internal MAFF panel of experts, whose 1986 report was
suppressed until leaked in January 1997. The national Ministry of Construction
,
 presently building a dam on the Honmyo River which flows into the Bay, has
publicly questioned the functionality of the project as a flood control
measure.  No bids have been made for any of the agricultural land to be
reclaimed, which will be exorbitantly expensive and run the risk of being
periodically flooded.

In 1989, the project was estimated to cost 135 billion yen; this has escalated

to a staggering 235 billion yen (@US$1=120 yen, approx. US$ 2 billion). Most
of the money has already been used just to build the 7.5 km long seawall -
land reclamation and irrigation facilities have not been started yet. The MAFF

refuses to issue a final estimate.

The environmental impact assessment for the project was typical of Japan's
"rubber-stamp" EIA system, which is presently under review. This document
stated that, for example, the migratory waterbirds would find other habitat in

the greater Ariake Sea, of which Isahaya Bay is part, but no surveys were
performed to determine whether sufficient suitable alternative habitat is
available. A national report on bottom-dwelling organisms, which are the food
of migratory shorebirds, published in December 1996 by WWF-Japan states, "...
compared with inner bay tidal flats of Saga and Fukuoka prefecture in the same

greater Ariake Sea area, both the number of species and volumes of individuals

recorded were particularly great for Isahaya Bay."

Comments in a Wider Perspective
The spectacle of extremely powerful authorities overstepping the boundaries of

their usefulness, willfully ignoring common sense protests by a clear-sighted
minority, dragging the susceptible along with them by pulling rank and playing

on fears, and in the process perpetrating unconscionable crimes which are at
the same time thunderingly stupid policy, can't help but remind me of the
Japanese government's approach to World War II. We even have the element of
international treaties supposed to govern minimal conduct being ignored.

The forced completion of the Isahaya land Reclamation Project is a
particularly striking example of mere power excersizing itself in a universe
of its own making, completely divorced from present economic, social and
ecological realities. Which will it mean if present political realities -
including the dependence on Tokyo of the local governments which continue to
actively go along with the project - permit the project to go ahead and the
tidal flats to die miserably?

The results of an annual public opinion poll conducted by the Prime Minister's

office were released on  April 26th.  In answer to the question "How well do
you think public opinion is reflected in national policy,"  77% replied either

"not much," or "hardly atall." This is a new low in public confidence, which
rallied a little during the non LDP cabinet years.

It looks as if the Japanese government, despite its democratic structure, in
not actually being governed by the will of the people, and at the same time is

incapable of governing itself in accordance with the minimal dictates of
reason. Although fairly representative of the situation of humanity as a whole
,
 the Isahaya situation is, I hope, blatant enough to remind us we do not want
to be going any further in that particular direction.



------ End of Forwarded Message
  :+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:
           $B"v(B NAGAO AKi $B"v(B
   Graduate student,Faculty of Law
   [e-mail]
  +:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:03:46 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: (HK) Greenpeace in HK
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>Hong Kong Standard
9 May 97
Law doubts force Greenpeace rethink
By Maureen Pao


Greenpeace director Anne Dingwall is still looking for a replacement to run
the group's Hong Kong office. Picture: Mike Ho

GREENPEACE has opted to register its new Hong Kong office as a ``company''
rather than as a ``society'' because it wants first to see what the
proposed changes to the Societies Ordinance would mean for activists.

The international environmentalist group took the move even though future
Secretary of Justice Elsie Leung Oi-sie last week said groups like
Greenpeace, which she named specifically, would not be considered political
groups under the new ordinance.

This means it would not be subject to the ban on overseas contributions.

But Anne Dingwall, acting director of Greenpeace in Hong Kong, said: ``We
will have greater confidence when this is put into writing.''

The group's seven-man office, while based here, will focus its activities
primarily on the mainland.

The separation between politics and environmentalism is in line with
Greenpeace's own philosophy.

Ms Dingwall said: ``Greenpeace has a 25-year-old policy of remaining
independent from politics.''

This is one reason the group opted not to open an office in China.

All non-governmental organisations wishing to operate there must affiliate
with a government body.

A Greenpeace office in China would be required to work under the State
Council-controlled National Environmental Protection Agency.

Another reason Greenpeace set up here was that it was not on friendly terms
with Beijing, Ms Dingwall said. Two Greenpeace exercises last year _ a
protest in Tiananmen Square against China's nuclear testing that was shut
down by police after 30 seconds, and a Greenpeace vessel that sailed to
Shanghai to deliver a similar message _ raised communist hackles.

Transport, communication and infrastructure issues also affected the
decision, Ms Dingwall said.

The fledgling chapter is also continuing its search for a permanent
director.

More than 100 applications, mostly from expatriates, have been received
since the search began early last year.

``We are looking for someone who is trilingual (Cantonese, English and
Putonghua), who is familiar with Chinese culture,'' she said.

The group is now turning to candidates with a business, rather than
environmentalist, background.

``People can always learn issues. What we need are the skills,'' she said.



Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:03:53 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (HK) Fisherfolk hail deity Tam Kung
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>Hong Kong Standard
9 May 97
Fisherfolk hail deity Tam Kung
By Priscilla Cheung


Shau Kei Wan will come alive for the birthday of Tam Kung, the deity who
could heal the sick and control the weather.

THE sweet scent of joss sticks and colour processions will help devotees
celebrate the birthday of the child god Tam Kung next Wednesday.

Hailed locally in Hong Kong, the Taoist deity is second only in popularity
among the fisherfolk to Tin Hau, the Taoist Queen of Heaven.

Each year, thousands turn up at the Shau Kei Wan temple at A Kung Ngam _
the largest Tam Kung temple in Hong Kong _ to pay homage on his birthday.

Fisherfolk arrive early on boats bedecked with flags, paper shrines and
decorations. They pray for rain or calm seas, while others pray for health,
wealth, knowledge and wisdom.

Dozens of religious, regional or trade organisations sponsor parades, lion
dances and Cantonese opera shows during the day.

Complete with the intoxicating fragrance of joss sticks and colourful
decorations, the stretch of Shau Kei Wan Main Street becomes a boisterous
fairground.

Tam Kung is believed to have been born during the Qing Dynasty. It is
believed that he was an orphan raised by his grandmother and worshipped as
a god when he was just 12.

It is said he drew powers from the nine dragons who resided in the hills of
Kowloon, and could heal the sick and control the weather.

He could ease drought by flinging a handful of peas into the air and
summoning rain, and quell any violent storm.

Amid a cholera outbreak in the early 1960s, thousands of devotees went to
the temple to pray for Tam Kung's help. The epidemic miraculously subsided,
and thousands of lives were saved.


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:04:17 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (SG) Do not avoid chicken to fight cancer, say doctors
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Please see "(SG) Cancer: Case for macrobiotics" for letter in response to this.
Vadivu
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------

>The Straits Times
 MAY 5 1997
     Do not avoid chicken to fight cancer, say doctors
     ALLISON LIM


     NEVER mind that doctors today are able to cure nearly all early
     cancers. Never mind that new treatments for cancer can buy time
     even for people in its advanced stages.

     The disease is still shrouded in myth.

     Doctors Teo Cheng Peng and Khoo Kei Siong, medical oncologists at
     the Singapore General Hospital, say that even though there have
     been amazing advances in the last 20 years which have improved
     cancer treatment, many patients still come to them burdened with
     misconceptions.

     Next Saturday they will speak at a forum to address some of these
     misconceptions, including:

     Myth 1: All cancers are fatal.

     The fact is that many cancers can be cured, especially if they
     are detected early, says Dr Khoo, a senior registrar.

     Doctors consider patients "cured" of the disease if it has not
     recurred after many years.

     Myth 2: Western cancer treatments kill.

     It is quite understandable why people believe this, say the
     doctors.

     "Many people would know of someone who suffered from cancer and
     died after going to the hospital for treatment," says Dr Khoo.

     "So they end up thinking that the treatments kill."

     Part of the reason is that Western cancer treatments are
     sometimes used for palliation, to buy more time for a dying
     patient and make them feel more comfortable.

     Dr Khoo says: "For example, a man knows of a neighbour suffering
     from advanced lung cancer who is coughing badly and cannot
     breathe. He goes for treatment and later dies.

     "And he thinks: 'Oh, chemo and radiation therapy kills.' "

     The fact is, says Dr Khoo, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may
     have worked because it reduced the size of the tumour and the
     patient no longer coughs or shows the other symptoms and is
     comfortable.

     "But if the cancer is already very advanced, there is nothing we
     can do to stop the disease from advancing and ultimately he is
     going to die from it."

     Dr Teo, who heads the SGH oncology department, says this is why
     some people think that chemotherapy is "poisonous" and would kill
     the patient more quickly.

     The truth is that chemotherapy is beneficial for certain cancers
     including breast cancer, lymphomas and germ cell cancers.

     And chemotherapy is not necessarily a terrible experience to go
     through.

     This is because there are drugs and other devices which can help
     patients deal with the side-effects of chemotherapy.

     These include anti-vomiting drugs, appetite stimulants and stem
     cell growth factors which encourage cells damaged or weakened by
     chemotherapy to regenerate.

     Dr Khoo says the myth of dangerous Western treatments also apply
     to surgery.

     He gives this example: One of his patients, a 40-year-old mother
     with breast cancer, completed her chemotherapy treatment
     successfully to reduce her breast tumour.

     She was later advised to go for surgery to remove the remaining
     tumour, which would have given her a good chance of living.

     "But she chose not to because she was certain that she would die
     after surgery."

     Instead she went on a macrobiotic diet. Now her condition has
     worsened.

     Myth 3: Certain foods are "poisonous" and should not be eaten.

     Dr Teo says that this belief is probably an extension of the myth
     that chemotherapy is toxic.

     "The patient's family and friends may tell them to avoid toxic
     foods such as chicken, prawns and eggs and encourage them to take
     more vegetables instead."

     Ironically, chicken and eggs are among foods that the patient
     needs because they are high in protein and keep the patient
     healthy.

     While good nutrition is not a cure for cancer, it makes the
     patient stronger so that he/she can withstand more aggressive
     forms of therapy such as chemotherapy and radiation.

     According to studies in the United States, patients who lose as
     little as 6 per cent of their body weight may reduce their
     survival time by half.

     Yet the same studies show that 30 to 87 per cent of cancer
     patients are malnourished. They often have a poor appetite. Some
     are also hypermetabolic, which means their bodies use up energy
     faster than usual.

     Cancer patients must therefore ensure their diets are adequate
     and balanced. Dr Teo says that patients must eat enough to keep
     up their strength and must eat a variety of foods.


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:04:33 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: (SG) Cancer: Case for macrobiotics
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>The Straits Times
MAY 9 1997

     Cancer: The case for macrobiotics

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

     WE CERTAINLY need to dispel the many myths surrounding cancer.
     Your report, Do Not Avoid Chicken To Fight Cancer (Life!, May 5),
     is, unfortunately, based on the biggest myth of all.

     The mother of all cancer myths is this: Doctors know the whole
     truth about cancer and anything else is a myth.

     What Drs Teo and Khoo say is merely based on their personal
     knowledge and understanding. It is not the absolute truth. Nor is
     it the entire truth.

     For example, your article reports: "The truth is that
     chemotherapy is beneficial for certain cancers ..."

     Well, it is equally true that a number of medical studies found
     that cancer patients who do not receive chemotherapy, radiation
     or other medical treatment tend to live longer and suffer less
     discomfort.

     Dr Khoo went on to cite the example of his patient with breast
     cancer who declined surgery, went on a macrobiotic diet and "her
     condition has worsened".

     While this one incident may be true, it is again equally true
     that, worldwide, thousands of people have recovered from cancer
     -- and other life-threatening illnesses -- by adopting a
     macrobiotic diet based around whole grains, vegetables, beans and
     seaweed.

     These survivors included medical doctors such as Dr Anthony
     Sattilaro, author of Recalled By Life, and Dr Hugh Faulkner,
     author of Physician Heal Thyself.

     Dr Sattilaro lived for about 12 years after he was diagnosed with
     cancer that had spread to five different parts of his body, while
     Dr Faulkner lived seven years after he was diagnosed with
     advanced pancreatic cancer.

     The medical profession is often quick to dismiss these recovery
     stories as anecdotal evidence which is unscientific and therefore
     unimportant.

     Yet, Dr Khoo finds it important to highlight this one equally
     unscientific anecdote of one person who did not get better.

     The statement that chicken and eggs are among the foods that a
     cancer patient needs is just as unscientific.

     It is based simply on the understanding that chicken and eggs are
     rich in protein.

     But other foods, including soy beans and fermented soy bean
     products like miso, are also rich in protein. More importantly,
     these foods have been proven scientifically to possess
     anti-cancer properties.

     Scientific literature is rich with studies showing that all sorts
     of grains, beans and vegetables help fight cancer.

     Have there been any scientific studies which show that chicken
     and eggs can do the same job? That cancer patients really need to
     eat chicken and eggs, meaning they will definitely die if they
     don't?

     On the contrary, there are plenty of scientific studies which
     show that a high meat diet contributes either directly or
     indirectly to the development of many types of cancer.

     Is there even anecdotal evidence of people who recovered from
     cancer by eating chicken, eggs and meat? I have not come across
     any before.

     Yet, I know of many cancer patients who recovered fully, or whose
     conditions improved significantly, meaning they suffered less
     pain, felt more energetic, etc -- after they switched to a
     vegetarian or macrobiotic diet (which includes fish in certain
     cases).

     Sure, going vegetarian or macrobiotic will not guarantee recovery
     from cancer. Just as seeking medical treatment is also no
     guarantee.

     But if there are any vegetarians who recovered from cancer after
     they started eating meat, I would love to hear from them. Richard
     Seah Siew Sai President The Macrobiotics Society (officially
     known as Macrobiotics Study Centre)


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:04:40 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (TH) Farmers make peace with their enemy
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



May 9, 1997

                               [BANGKOK POST]

                                CONSERVATION

             Farmers make peace with their enemy

             Villagers now try to protect elephants

             Chakrit Ridmontri

             Pineapple farmers in Prachuab Khiri Khan have
             made their peace with their old enemy the
             elephant and are now working to protect the wild
             animals.

             Not only have the planters diversified their
             pineapple crops into less tasty treats they have
             also started to bring in tourists to see the
             elephants in their natural habitat.

             Nong Changreung, a village headman in Tambon
             Huey Sat Yai, Hua Hin district, said more than
             200 families living on the edge of Kaeng Krachan
             national park had planted other crops instead of
             just pineapples.

             At a meeting held yesterday at the Faculty of
             Forestry, Kasetsart University, to discuss the
             relationship between elephants and energy needs,
             he said villagers were now friends with the
             beasts.

             The problem in Tambon Huey Sat Yai started in
             1978 when villagers started to move to the area
             under a government relocation plan to give
             degraded forest plots to landless farmers.

             Mr Nong said that as more and more families,
             presently numbering 200, came the pineapple
             plantations began to encroach on land used by
             elephants near the park.

             "In the past, we were kept busy chasing the
             elephants away using many tactics such as by
             flashing lights at them, using electric fencing,
             or even shooting them," he said.

             The thawing in relations followed the planting
             of fruit trees five years ago.

             They started to plant guava and rose apple
             orchards and graze cattle.

             Other villagers became traders, selling foods
             and drinks to tourists who visited the park.
             Finally, they brought tourists to see the
             elephants.

             With assistance from the Energy Conservation
             Promotion Fund and Wildlife Fund Thailand, the
             villagers set up a centre to promote
             conservation of the wild elephant. They mapped
             out wild elephant trails and natural tourist
             spots such as waterfalls to help tourists
             visiting the park.

             A conservation group was also set up to
             undertake forest and animal conservation
             programmes. They now have members in eight
             villages.

             Pongpisit Viseshakul, director of the Energy
             Conservation and Renewable Energy Division, said
             the fund had contributed some five million baht
             to support conservation activities in Huey Sat
             Yai.

             He said elephant problems were related to
             increasing energy consumption since when dams
             and gas pipelines were built villagers were
             evicted and forced to live in forest areas
             alongside the elephants.

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



Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:04:45 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (TH) Attempt to curb preventable illnesses
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



May 9, 1997

                               [BANGKOK POST]


                                   HEALTH

             Public behaviour change urged

             In attempt to curb preventable illnesses

             Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
             Chiang Mai

             The nation's loss of control over deaths and
             sickness caused by illnesses that can be
             prevented is mainly due to failure in
             influencing a change in public behaviour, it was
             revealed at a health conference yesterday.

             Nitiya Phensirinapha of Sukhothai Thammathirat
             University said the best way to influence public
             behaviour is by making them aware of the effects
             their daily behaviour has on health.

             Asst Prof Nitiya said: "Since it is not possible
             for health educators to compete with increasing
             commercials that influence the use of unhealthy
             products, it is necessary to enable the public
             to think for themselves."

             Vivat Rojanaphitayakorn of the Communicable
             Diseases Control Department said: "Instead of
             only focusing on technical information, the
             authorities should also approach the public to
             find out the actual cause of illness and the
             possible ways of control."

             Dr Vivat said statistics collected from VD
             patients visiting government clinics show that
             despite a reduction in the number of reported
             cases, as high as 90 percent of infections are
             still caused by sex workers.

             "In this case, we can say that we have succeeded
             in controlling the rise of VD, but have failed
             to influence the behaviour of the group of men
             that continue to visit sex workers," he said.

             Dr Vivat said it is good to monitor the
             occurrence of diseases, "but what is the use if
             we don't make use of the information gathered"?

             Chaisri Suphornsilpachai of the Medical Services
             Department said it is time authorities divert
             their focus from communicable to
             non-communicable diseases.

             Dr Chaisri said despite a change in the nation's
             disease pattern due to rapid industrialisation,
             authorities continue to give importance to
             communicable diseases rather than the
             non-communicable.

             "For over 10 years, the three major causes of
             deaths in the country are accidents, heart
             disease and cancer, but information collected on
             these diseases is done only once a year or
             sometimes once in two years. On the other hand,
             information collected on communicable diseases
             is updated every month," she said.

             Dr Chaisri said it is also important to identify
             the causes of diseases or the risk factors,
             instead of only compiling statistical
             information.

             "The surveillance system of the Epidemiology
             Division only focuses on statistics of reported
             cases and the format of collecting the
             information is very uniform-like, the same
             throughout the country and not based on local
             problems. Nothing is done to identify the risk
             factors, which are believed to change every two
             years," she added.

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


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 16:04:51 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (JP) Global warming may cause malaria outbreak in western Japan
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>Asahi Shimbun
May 9, 1997
Global warming may cause malaria outbreak in western Japan


As the pace of the global warming accelerates in the next century, western
Japan may be threatened by an outbreak of malaria and a surge in the death
toll of the elderly due to sunstroke, according to the draft of a report by
the Environment Agency.

It gives a general picture of how the progress of the so-called greenhouse
effect may affect human health, agriculture and the natural environment in
21st-century Japan.

A task force of 30 experts commissioned by the agency warned in the report
that Japan should quickly begin drawing up measures to protect people,
particularly the elderly and people living in cities.

The report is a compilation of recent domestic environmental studies. It
gives a broad-range projection on what would happen in Japan if the amount
of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubles. Most of its assumptions are
also based on a forecast by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
that the global average temperature will rise by about 2 degrees in 2100
from the 1990 level.

As a result of global warming, the draft report warns, the number of those
suffering sunstroke will drastically increase. It cites cases in Tokyo
where the number of people sickened by heat increased dramatically when the
day's average temperature rose above 27 degrees and the highest temperature
exceeded 32 degrees, in 1994 and 1995.

If the annual average temperature rises by 3 degrees, more people above age
65 will die in western Japan, the report says.

Also, malaria may prevail in the whole of western Japan, not only in Amami
Oshima and other Nansei group islands as previously predicted, the report
says. The basis for the assumption is a recent finding by the National
Institute for Environmental Studies, after a survey in southern China, that
an epidemic can break out even in regions where average monthly
temperatures get as low as 13 degrees.

In agriculture, the effects of global warming will vary depending on the
region, the report says. The rice harvest will shrink in western Japan--by
37-38 percent in Nagoya, for example. By contrast, northern Japan will
enjoy larger harvests--by 6-22 percent in Sapporo. The total yearly
domestic rice yield will vary between a decrease of 6 percent and an
increase of 9 percent.

The report also warns that a major review of river flood and dam control
will become urgent because snow will begin melting earlier than it does
now.

If the sea level rises by 30 centimeters, 57 percent of existing seashores
will disappear, it also says. Should it become one meter higher, more than
20 trillion yen will have to be spent on upscaling breakwaters and
remodeling port facilites, it estimates.

The report concludes that global warming can inflict unpredictable damage
to the nation in every possible aspect from vegetation, agriculture,
fisheries, urban infrastructure, transportation networks and people's
lifestyles.

It stressed more research efforts should be made without delay to come up
with effective countermeasures.

Kazuhiro Ueda, professor of environmental economics at Kyoto University,
said the latest report will help improve people's awareness of the genuine
need to tackle global warming.

"Finally, we've got some basic material to start deliberations over the
issue on the national level," he said.

-END

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[top]  [prev] [next]  [bottom] [par]  [??]

Blaze kills two firefighters

Asahi Shimbun

SAPPORO--Two firefighters died Thursday while battling a blaze at a
two-story electric shop in Sapporo's Toyohira Ward, municipal fire
department officials said.

Osamu Tsutsumi, 42, and Kazuo Okada, 37, were overcome by smoke and
collapsed on the second floor of the building. They died of carbon monoxide
poisoning at a hospital, the officials said.

The firefighters were not wearing gas masks when they were found
unconscious. However, both had entered the building wearing gas masks and
equipped with air tanks, the officials said.

The officials said they did not know why the masks were removed. Police
began their investigation this morning. The cause of the fire is not known.
been established.

They said the two firefighters might have been involved in a so-called
backdraft phenomenon when they opened the door to enter the room. A
backdraft is a sudden flare-up caused by a sudden supply of oxygen into a
closed, burning area.

Another firefighter went upstairs with Tsutsumi and Okada, but went out of
the building to replace his air tank. When he returned to the second floor,
he found his colleagues lying on the floor, police said.

Police began their investigation this morning. The cause of the fire has
not been established.

-END

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
[top]  [prev] [next]  [bottom] [par]  [??]

Ainu bill passes Lower House

By MAKOTO USHIDA

Asahi Evening News

A bill that acknowledges the presence of the Ainu people and promotes their
culture--for the first time in the nation's history--passed a plenary
session of the Lower House unanimously on Thursday.

The bill had been approved unanimously by the Upper House in April, so
Thursday's passage means the new law will go into effect within three
months of an official announcement.

The Ainu Shinpo, or the Ainu New Law, is significant because it replaces
the former discriminatory "aborigine law" of the Meiji Period. It was this
law that sought to stamp out the identity of the Ainu people, a minority
indigenous to northern Japan.

That policy of "Japanization" was designed to deprive the Ainu of their
land and turn these former hunters and fishermen into farmers. The law also
sought to suppress their language and cultural heritage.

"I hope the new law will help usher in a new age of equality between
Japanese and Ainu societies," said Jiro Sasamura, who currently heads the
Ainu Association of Hokkaido.

With the passage of the new law, Sasamura also expects to create an "Ainu
forest" where traditional Ainu lifestyles can be recreated.

Sasamura also wants the education system modified in order to preserve the
Ainu language since schools have been overwhelmed by Japanese-language
courses.

"There are currently 14 facilities where the Ainu language is taught," said
Sasamura. "I want to expand this coverage to the 56 municipalities in
Hokkaido where the association operates branches."

"What we want from now on are ethnic policies for the Ainu people, not
welfare policies," said Sasamura. "And I want the Japanese people to
realize that Ainu people live throughout Japan, and not only in Hokkaido."

Sasamura said he was concerned about Ainu people living outside Hokkaido.
"It is true that many of them were driven out of their homeland of Hokkaido
because of discrimination," he said. "So I want to see new ethnic policies
enforced." Current welfare policies for Ainu people apply only to those
living in Hokkaido.

The Ainu New Law declares that the culture and traditions of the Ainu
people should be protected and promoted to bring about a society where
Japan's northern-based minority can take "ethnic pride" in itself. It says
nothing, however, about the indigenous rights or other ethnic rights of the
Ainu people.

"We cannot live only on culture, and we feel the government has dodged the
essential issues," says Koichi Kaizawa, who fought the Nibutani Dam court
battle in the Sapporo District Court.

Kaizawa, who lives near the dam site in Biratori, Hokkaido, argued and won
the case in March on the grounds that the dam obliterated Ainu holy
grounds, or chinomisiri, by putting them under water.

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 05:28:09 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Pat Fish <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: RFI:Commercial Slams Vegetarians/PathMark (US NYS)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII


On Wednesday morning at about 11 AM, Warner Bros. TV affiliate WPIX in NYC
ran a Pathmark commercial, apparently about their meats.  I only caught the
tail end of it.  There were some women near the meat fridge-pits, talking
over their shopping carts, and the commercial ends when one woman leans over
to another and asks "You aren't a vegetarian, are you?" in much the same
tone people might use to ask "you aren't a jehovah's witness are you?".

Did anybody see this commercial, and can you provide details?


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 18:02:31 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: (IN) Vandalur Zoo to create new 'genetic lines'
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



    [THE HINDU]
    Monday, May 05, 1997
    SECTION: Regional
    Vandalur Zoo to create new 'genetic lines'
    Date: 05-05-1997 :: Pg: 03 :: Col: d
    By P. Oppili

               CHENNAI, May 4.

               The Arignar Anna Zoological Park (AAZP), Vandalur, is
               taking up newer techniques to improve the successes in
               captive breeding of many an endangered species of
               animals.

               To create new `genetic lines', the national coordinated
               breeding programme has been introduced by the Central
               Zoo Authority of India (CZAI), under which several
               species of animals are being exchanged between various
               zoological parks in the country, according to Mr. M.
               Jagannatha Rao, Deputy Director of the park. The CZAI
               has identified a few major zoos which have a proven
               record of breeding endangered species and one among them
               is the Vandalur Zoo.

               Under the coordinated breeding programme, the AAZP has
               been selected as a centre for breeding Asiatic lions and
               tigers in captivity.

               In the last three years animals such as wild dog and
               lion tailed macaques had been sent to Hyderabad Zoo,
               Nilgiri langurs to Nandankanan Zoo, Orissa, and zebra to
               Kanpur Zoo, while the park received wolf from
               Nandankanan Zoo, Orissa and reticulated python from the
               Snake Park Trust, Chennai.

               It is estimated that due to human interference, over 200
               species of birds and mammals have been eliminated in the
               last 300 years, making it important not only to protect
               the natural habitat of the animals, birds and reptiles,
               but also to establish the zoo banks for species.

               The viable breeding groups of the species have to be
               established in zoological parks or preferably in
               specially established centres where they could be bred
               successfully. When sufficient number of the species have
               been accumulated in the zoos and breeding centres, the
               same could be reintroduced into the natural habitat.

               In India, 66 species of mammals, 38 bird species and 18
               reptile species are considered endangered. The Indian
               zoos have been successful in captive breeding of some of
               the species such as tigers, wild dogs, wolves, clouded
               leopards, binturong, Indian rhinoceros, lion-tailed
               macaques, smooth Indian otters, gaurs, Nilgiri tahr,
               wild ass, Indian elephants, sloth bears, muggers, and
               monal pheasants.

               Though the zoos have achieved some success, their
               efforts have been mostly sporadic and confined to
               individual initiatives. After initial success, most of
               the efforts suffered due to constraints of financial or
               technical resources, transfer of key personnel or lack
               of proper management plans for zoos in general and
               species in particular.

               The outstanding success of captive breeding and
               reintroduction is that of three species of crocodiles
               into the wild, since the initiation of the Crocodile
               Breeding and Management Project in India in 1975. Under
               this programme over 1,500 gharials and 1,000 saltwater
               crocodiles have been released into the wild.

               The Sangai or Manipur deer is another example, says
               Mr.Rao. The habitat of the species has been restricted
               to 25 sqkm area, known as Kaibul Lamjao Park in Manipur.
               The brown antlered deer was considered extinct in 1951.
               However, a few specimens have been located in the area
               since.

               Captive breeding is a management tool which requires
               multidisciplinary input from veterinary science,
               pharmacology, embryology, genetic engineering,
               endocrinology, biology and animal husbandry. Success of
               the captive breeding programme mainly depends on
               understanding the biology of the species, availability
               of enough animals of suitable age and sex, availability
               of sufficient space, facilities and management and
               finally redistribution of stock to ensure continual
               mixing of the `gene pool', the officials say.

               Coordination and cooperation among the zoos is
               absolutely essential for free exchange or loan of
               animals for the success of captive breeding. Maintenance
               of proper breeding records and studbooks are also
               important for coordinating breeding efforts and
               information exchange among zoos.

               To accelerate the breeding rate, new techniques such as
               artificial insemination and embryo transfer have been
               developed in advanced countries.

               Mammals such as Asian elephant, Indian giant squirrel,
               black buck, lion, tiger, panther, lion-tailed macaques,
               Nilgiri langur, wild dog and striped hyena, exotic
               species like hippopotamus, grey kangaroo, chimpanzee and
               zebra, peafowl, sarus crane, spoon bill and white stork
               and marsh crocodile, Indian rock python and reticulated
               python have been bred in captivity at the AAZP.


Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 18:02:48 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (IN) Trouble in the fish market
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"




   [THE HINDU]
   Monday, May 05, 1997
   Trouble in the fish market
    Date: 05-05-1997 :: Pg: 17 :: Col: d
    By Malabika Bhattacharya

               CALCUTTA:

               At least Rs. 25 crores worth fish, a good part of which
               are prawns, have perished in the past two weeks in West
               Bengal, especially in the coastal regions, thanks to the
               excessive cultivation of fish in the ponds, popularly
               known as bheris spawning diseases.

               The average Bengali, known for his intense love of fish,
               was shocked one fine morning when the headlines in some
               of the popular Bengali dailies said that lots of fish,
               especially prawns, in the countless bheris located in
               South Bengal were infected with bacterial and viral
               diseases and perished before they could reach the
               markets. ``It could be the excessive use of pesticides
               in paddy-fields near the ponds where prawns are
               cultivated,'' said Mr. Kiranmoy Nanda, the State
               Fisheries Minister.

               Mr. Nanda tried to bring the situation under control by
               taking appropriate measures. He could do so in case of
               sweet-water fish such as rohu, katla, bhetki and so on
               but found it difficult to treat the diseased prawns.

               Four years ago, a similar disease broke out in Andhra
               Pradesh and the entire prawn community got nearly wiped
               out giving a severe jolt to the cultivators. In 1995,
               bacterial infection claimed a large number of prawns in
               the coastal areas of neighboring Orissa. Bengal's
               coastal regions were also affected by the disease.

               In 1995-96, the State earned foreign exchange worth Rs.
               350 crores from the export of 14,000 tonnes of prawns.
               This figure is set to rise to Rs. 416 crores in 1996-97
               when the exports are estimated to have touched 16,000
               tonnes. This time, the earnings would positively shrink
               because of the sudden illness that struck the prawns.
               What is worrying the Government is the plight of the
               countless farmers who do not know how to repay the loans
               they had taken from the banks for pisciculture. The
               farmer is in for bad times. So is the average man who
               could buy fish at a reasonable price from the market
               every day till the outbreak of the disease. For, many
               Bengalis depend on fish for its high protein value,the
               absence of which would make the families depend on other
               protein sources which more often than not are beyond the
               reach of the common man.

               Currently, the price of a sweet-water fish such as rohu
               has almost doubled, nearly Rs. 15 more per kg than the
               original price. Only a few days ago, the fish-lover
               suffered because of the truck strike. The price of the
               sweet-water fish, the bulk of which comes from Andhra
               Pradesh, shot up by Rs. 20 per kg. Even after the strike
               was called off, prices did not show signs of going down.
               And now, with the disease, the chances of the price
               going down to a reasonable level appear to be dim.

               The State Fisheries Department took measures the moment
               the news of the disease reached the Writers' Building,
               the State Secretariat. It had also begun a training
               programme for the farmers for teaching them the means of
               checking such an outbreak of disease. Although the
               problem has been brought within control, the fate of the
               farmers dealing in prawns in Digha and Tamluk in
               Midnapore district appears to be a little uncertain. An
               estimated 36,000 hectares in the State is currently
               under prawn cultivation. An additional 7,000 hectares
               will shortly be brought under it. Basirhat, Haroa,
               Sandeshkhali, Minakha, Basanti, Gosaba, Sagar, Digha and
               Tamluk in both North and South 24- Parganas districts
               house a large number of bheris. Hundreds of people are
               dependent on these bheris for survival. Apart from the
               two districts, the white spots disease has been detected
               in fish even in Murshidabad and Nadia districts. This
               year, Digha alone suffered a loss of foreign exchange
               worth Rs. 12 crores because of the disease. Its 112
               bheris were hit by the disease.

               Mr. Nanda has blamed some of the bheri owners for the
               current misfortune that has befallen the farmers. The
               owners, according to him, have been cramming the ponds
               with fish more than its capacity with a view to earning
               a high profit. They even prepared the fish feed
               containing extra nitrate, administered antibiotic
               medicines and used pesticides for increasing production.

               Mr. Nanda may be right. But,what is surprising is the
               fact that the Government, till the outbreak of the
               disease, did not think of taking measures to discipline
               these bheri owners or to train the farmers on how to
               tackle the situation. Critics have charged Mr. Nanda
               with carefully avoiding the reality. He, they allege,
               was more concerned with the volume of production as that
               would mean Bengal retaining the top position in the
               country in pisciculture.

               Mr. Nanda, however, says the Government has sought funds
               from the World Bank to set up a research laboratory to
               detect and analyse the disease and evolve medicines to
               cure the fish. Laboratories, he says, will be set up in
               all the districts for testing soil and water.


Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 18:23:16 +0800
>From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Jill Robinson <[e-mail]>
Subject: Chinese Circus
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Many readers were distressed by the report from Guangzhou in China earlier
this week concerning circus animals that were in danger of being abandoned.
Ms Jill Robinson, China Director of IFAW (International Fund for Animal
Welfare), has investigated the situation and reports that the logistical
problems were solved and the animals have returned to their "normal" life
in Anhui Province.


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

http://www.earth.org.hk/
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 09:52:16 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Brucellosis...wildlife to livestock concerns
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
05/09/1997 08:01 EST
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- A federal team is reviewing Wyoming's efforts to
control
 brucellosis after officials in several states expressed concern the
disease might be
 spread from wildlife to cattle herds.

 Stuart McDonald of the Agriculture Department said the inspection ``should
be taken
 as part of a quality assurance program to ensure Wyoming is as good as we
know it
 is.''

 The state already had been declared brucellosis-free. But officials in
some states
 threatened to impose sanctions on Wyoming beef several months ago amid fears
 the disease, which is called undulant fever in humans, could be picked up
from wild
 animals.

 McDonald said inspectors will look at livestock auction facilities and
laboratories.
 Some team members are inspecting areas near Jackson and Yellowstone National
 Park, where elk are found near cattle herds, to check the state's program
for keeping
 wildlife away from cattle.

 State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Micheli said he has confidence in
Wyoming's
 program, but adds, ``You always have apprehension about the unknown.''
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 10:04:44 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) McDonald's 55-Cent Big Mac a McFlop
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
05/09/1997 06:05 EST

 McDonald's 55-Cent Big Mac a McFlop


 NEW YORK (AP) -- The sizzling sales McDonald's hoped for when it launched a
 55-cents deal on Big Mac sandwiches have so far turned out to be a McFlop,
The
 Wall Street Journal reported today.

 The burger behemoth has been surveying 3,000 of its domestic restaurants
-- about
 a quarter of the total -- since it began the Big Mac offer two weeks ago
and has found
 that sales are actually off as much as 6 percent compared with last year, the
 newspaper said.

 ``There was a lot of anticipation for this to kick in, and it hasn't
yet,'' said Bob Srygley,
 the operator of four stores in Arkansas. He said he has been forced to
throw away
 several trays of Big Mac buns because of the lagging sales.

 Dick Adams, the head of a San Diego-based consortium of McDonald's
franchisees,
 said many of his group's members are ``almost relieved'' that the
promotion has yet
 to catch on, because it isn't clear that any profit can be made at the
55-cent price.

 A McDonald's spokesman told the newspaper that despite the reports, the
company
 has seen an increase in total sandwich sales. He added that the 55-cent
promotion
 is ``a long-term initiative to increase restaurant and company profits and
cash flow
 while giving customers a better value (and it) is doing just that.''

 The 55-cent deal -- McDonald's was founded in 1955 -- is expected to last
until at
 least December.

 Several franchisees said that while the Big Mac sales are disappointing,
there has
 been a strong reaction to the restaurants' 55-cent breakfast sandwiches.

 In addition to the 55-cent deals, the restaurants also are planning a
speedier service
 campaign, which would guarantee that customers receive their orders within 55
 seconds of paying for them. Those who don't would receive a McDonald's
``Oops''
 coupon for a free sandwich on another visit.

 The 55-second initiative could begin by mid-July, the newspaper said.
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 10:07:37 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Dogcatcher Cleared in Stray Deaths
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
-----------------------------
05/09/1997 05:49 EST

 Dogcatcher Cleared in Stray Deaths

 SWANSEA, Mass. (AP) -- A former dogcatcher who resigned amid criticism over
 reports that he killed more than 600 dogs was cleared of any wrongdoing by
a state
 prosecutor.

 Herman Camara, who quit in January, reported killing 639 of 762 stray dogs
-- nearly
 84 percent -- that he caught over the last three years.

 Camara said he tried to find the owners first. But critics said the
figures suggest he
 didn't try hard enough -- and noted that he was paid as much as $60 for
each dog he
 reported handling.

 The matter is closed as far as the state is concerned, Assistant Attorney
General
 Jeremy Silverfine said in a letter dated May 1.

 ``There does not appear to be sufficient evidence of criminal conduct to
merit further
 action by the attorney general's office,'' he wrote.

 Jeffrey Michaelson, Camara's attorney, said Thursday that the decision was a
 ``complete vindication'' for his client, who was pleased, but still
``smarting from what
 was a lot of unfair publicity.''

 He said Camara does not plan to reapply for his old job, a part-time post
he held for
 17 years. Camara worked alone and boarded the dogs at his private livestock
 auction business.

 Camara was paid $7,500 a year on top of $6 a day for each dog in his care,
for up to
 10 days. He asked the town for the maximum $45,720 for the 762 dogs he
said he
 cared for over the last three years. The town budgets $15,000 a year for
boarding
 costs.

 Camara said he returned anywhere from two to five dogs a week to their
owners.

 Nancy Sullivan, president of Swansea Friends of Animals, was angry about the
 decision.

 ``I personally feel the attorney general didn't do a very good job,'' she
told the
 Providence Journal-Bulletin.
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 10:09:28 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Circus Goes On After Tiger Attack
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

(another followup story on the circus tiger in PA)
from AP Wire page:
--------------------------------
05/09/1997 03:20 EST

 Circus Goes On After Tiger Attack

 By MICHAEL RAPHAEL
 Associated Press Writer

 BROAD TOP CITY, Pa. (AP) -- After the show, Brian Franzen stood in the
rain crying
 next to his beloved elephants, camels and donkeys. The night before, one
of the
 circus' tigers attacked Franzen's father, dragging him around the ring by
his neck
 until he was dead.

 The Franzen Bros. Circus, started by Wayne Franzen 24 years ago, held another
 standing-room only performance Thursday night. Smiling children clutching
bags of
 cotton candy and bright balloons streamed out of the big top. Nearby, 10
restless
 Bengal tigers stared out from their tiny cages.

 The younger Franzen said his father would have wanted the show to continue.

 ``We have to take in money,'' Franzen said, a slight catch to his voice.
```Otherwise, I
 wouldn't have money to feed the animals or move the circus.''

 To Wayne Franzen, the animals were all that mattered. He had a better
rapport with
 his creatures than with people, his son said.

 The circus, billed as ``America's Favorite Show,'' canceled its afternoon
performance
 Thursday in Broad Top City, about 110 miles east of Pittsburgh. The
evening show
 went on minus the tiger act. A trapeze artist and novelty seller quit on
Wednesday
 night, leaving 13 employees.

 The circus, one of 100 such small shows traveling the country, began when
Wayne
 Franzen quit his shop teaching job in Wisconsin and started a one-ring act.

 At first, the only animals in the show came from farms -- horses, dogs and
goats.
 Eventually Franzen, who trained all the animals himself, added more exotic
animals.

 On Thursday, some customers returned advance tickets, but others came to
fulfill
 promises to excited children.

 ``The kids seem fine,'' said Karen Stevenson. ``I think the adults are
more worried
 than the kids.''

 Wayne Franzen was wearing a new bright suit with puffy sleeves for only
the second
 time when the tiger apparently lunged out at the costume from behind, said
James
 Zangaglia, chief deputy coroner of Cambria County.

 The suit may have prompted the attack, authorities said.

 Brian Franzen and Patty Frederick, a nurse who was in the crowd, rushed to
 Franzen's side.

 ``We ran in there, and I was hitting the cat in the head with a pipe, but
it was too late,''
 Brian Franzen said.

 Parents shielded the eyes of sobbing children, and announcers urged people
in the
 crowd to leave quietly and orderly.

 The tiger's paw punctured Franzen's lung. Cambria County Coroner Dennis
 Kwiatkowski said Franzen bled to death within five minutes from extensive
wounds
 in his neck. The tiger tore apart his trachea and his esophagus.

 Brian Franzen said he intends to return the 6-year-old cat named Lucca to
the show
 when an insurance company completes its investigation.

 ``I go up there and it purrs to me. It doesn't understand what happened,''
he said.

 Rodney Huey, a vice president at Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey
Circus, said
 tiger attacks are rare because good trainers build trust with animals.
Circus workers
 have been injured while breaking up fights among big cats.

 ``I don't know what happened on that circus, but our history shows that
... there have
 been fights, people have gotten bitten or cut here and there,'' he said.
``We have
 never had a cat trainer killed in the ring or even attacked.''
Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 23:59:54 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (KP) `Bangsaeng' Urged to Be Ecosafe
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>The Korea Herald
      9 May 97 : `Bangsaeng' Urged to Be Ecosafe

     In its letters to Buddhist temples across the nation, the Ministry of
     Environment yesterday called for more environmental- friendly rituals
     on Buddha's birthday.

     ``Bangsaeng, an aged ritual of releasing live fish into rivers or
     lakes, may cause the disruption of the local ecosystem or
     environmental contamination,'' the letter said. The ministry asked
     Buddhist temples to be more careful in selecting fish which won't harm
     the ecosystem. The temples will conduct the ritual on Buddha's
     birthday next Wednesday.

     Imported foreign fish such as bluegill and bass released by Buddhists
     for the annual Bangsaeng ritual have been the main culprit in
     disrupting the local ecosystem. Preying on the species native to the
     nation's rivers and lakes, the released foreign fish, classified as
     carnivorous fish, have posed a new threat to the local ecosystem.

     The ministry has been launching a nationwide campaign to exterminate
     harmful foreign species such as bullfrogs, bluegills and bass since
     early this year.


Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 12:36:27 -0400
>From: "H. Morris" <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: veg survey
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii"

<x-rich>Hey all--


part of the results of the veg survey in which so many of you participated are now available at:


http://www.veganstandards.org/survey1.html


The rest will be posted shortly.


Hillary

<bold><italic>Vegan Standards and Certification Project, Inc.

</italic></bold>91 Joralemon Street

Suite 4

Brooklyn, NY 11201

email: [e-mail]

www.veganstandards.org

718-246-0014

fax: [phone]
</x-rich>
Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 14:15:18 -0400
>From: Shirley McGreal <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Nigerian hangings
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

WWF-Canada recently nominated Shell Oil for an environmental award. Like
many others, I registered my protest due to Shell Oil's hanging of 9
Nigerian environmentalists, and received the following response from
WWF-Canada which seems to feel you can "compartmentalize" corporations'
activities and, towards the end of the letter, that nobody should criticise
WWF's positions. Shirley McGreal

>Comments: Authenticated sender is <[e-mail]>
>From: "Jeff Kenney" <[e-mail]>
>To: Shirley McGreal <[e-mail]>
>Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 12:16:46 +0000
>Subject: Re: Nigerian hangings
>Reply-to: "Jeff Kenney" <[e-mail]>
>Priority: normal
>
>Dr. McGreal,
>
>Thanks for registering your concern about WWF's
>nomination for the B.C. Environmental Award. We
>have heard from a number of people and want to
>share the following statement with you concerning
>the rationale behind the nomination. Within the next
>week Monte Hummel, President of WWF Canada,
>will be getting back to all those who have written to
>WWF with some additional comments. In the
>meantime, I  would like you to know that your
>comments have been received and are being
>considered.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Jeff Kenney
>Communications Officer
>WWF Canada
>
>=======================================
>
>
>
>May 1, 1997
>
>World Wildlife Fund's Nomination
>for the B.C. Environmental Award
>
>During April, World Wildlife Fund Canada submitted a
>nomination for the 1997 Minister's Environmental Awards
>in B.C. WWF nominated Shell Canada Limited, Chevron
>Canada Resources, Petro-Canada and Mobil Oil Canada
>in recognition of their recent donation of 320,000 acres
>of mineral exploration rights off the northwestern coast of
>British Columbia to the Nature Conservancy of Canada.
>
>This gift was announced at a formal signing ceremony in
>Calgary on March 19th. His Royal Highness, Prince Philip,
>attended the ceremony to witness the donation in his
>capacity as President Emeritus of WWF International. Also
>in attendance were representatives of the Haida Nation,
>aboriginal residents of the area, who paid their highest
>tribute in support of this action.
>
>WWF views the contribution of the four oil companies as
>being very significant, as it is a critical step towards the
>establishment of the Gwaii Haanas National Marine
>Conservation Area Reserve which will constitute the
>marine component of Gwaii Haanas National Park. WWF
>is now pressing the federal government to take the
>necessary steps to have the marine reserve formally
>designated. The contribution of mineral permits is the
>largest in Canadian history to advance marine con-
>servation. WWF believes that the contribution serves as
>an international example of how energy companies,
>governments, conservation groups and aboriginal people
>can work together for the environment.
>
>Because of the conservation significance of this specific
>contribution by the four oil companies, WWF nominated
>them for a provincial environmental award (corporate
>category) on April 7th. The nomination speaks solely to
>the four companies' contribution of the mineral rights. It
>is obviously not an overall endorsement of their environ-
>mental practices or other activities elsewhere in Canada
>or around the world.
>
>WWF believes strongly in encouraging bona fide
>conservation initiatives, regardless of the sector from which
>they originate. As enunciated in WWF Canada's
>"Advocacy with Excellence" policy, "WWF recognizes
>that a wide range of stakeholders in Canada is interested in,
>and necessary to, making progress on conservation concerns.
>These interests include government, business, labour,
>aboriginal interests, scientists and other non-government
>organizations. Therefore, we don't summarily rule out
>working with whole sectors by subscribing to "anti"
>ideologies (e.g. anti-logging, anti-hunting, anti-corporate or
>anti-labour). We support or work with anyone who shares
>our conservation mission."
>
>
>WWF  has not commented on the overall environmental
>record of any of the four oil companies and does not
>anticipate doing so. At the time of the death of Ken
>Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues in Nigeria, WWF
>International did publicly express its concern over the
>situation in the Niger Delta. To quote a portion of that
>statement: "Their death (that of Mr. Saro-Wiwa and
>colleagues) is symptomatic of the wider environmental
>and social problems created by the inequitable distribution
>of oil wealth in Nigeria, particularly among the communities
>most affected by oil operations and by the failure to develop
>the oil industry in an environmentally sensitive way. WWF
>does not feel that the oil companies have operated to the
>high environmental standards that they espouse in the
>developed world and calls upon them to meet international
>environmental and social standards wherever they operate."
>
>WWF holds strongly to its right to act independently in the
>best interests of conservation. In return, we do not try to
>tell other groups whom they should support or criticize. In
>some cases, our approach may mean commending
>corporations for specific conservation contributions in one
>part of the world and, where warranted, criticizing those
>same companies for activities in another part of the world.
>We do not see this as a contradiction in terms or as being
>hypocritical; we see it as a practical effort to reform
>corporate behaviour in the best interests of the environment
>and people.
>
>For more information, please contact:
>Pegi Dover
>Director of Communications
>416-489-4567, Ext. 254.
>([e-mail])
>
>
>

Dr. Shirley McGreal, Chairwoman
International Primate Protection League, POB 766 Summerville SC 29484 USA
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Web page (revised January 1997): http://www.sims.net/organizations/ippl/
April IPPL News is now out featuring news of Limbe Wildlife Sanctuary in
Cameroon
NOTE; THE OLD E-MAIL ADDRESS AT SC.NET WILL NOT BE IN USE AFTER 15 JUNE,
PLEASE DIRECT ALL E-MAIL TO [e-mail]

Date: Fri, 9 May 1997 12:10:54 -0700 (PDT)
>From: [e-mail] (pawsinfo)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Ocean Spray Action Alert
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

To all,

Ocean Spray, the juice company, ran a major coupon ad in Sunday papers
across the country on May 4 which featured a photo of a captive dolphin and
also promoting their support for the Center for Marine Compromise, OOPS, I
mean Conservation?  As you know CMC is a supporter of the Dolphin Death Act,
Sea World, Shedd Aquarium,etc.  Please send a letter to Ocean Spray and
educate them about this wise use sellout organization!!
Linda Compton
Manager, Consumer Affairs
Ocean Spray,Inc.
1 Ocean Spray Drive
Lakeville-Middleboro, MA  02349      1-800-662-3263

FAX FOR BOTH: 508-946-7704
c.c.: Tom Bullock CEO, Ocean Spray
1 Ocean Spray Dr.
Lakeville-Middleboro, MA  02349






Bob Chorush  Web Administrator, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
15305 44th Ave West (P.O. Box 1037)Lynnwood, WA 98046 [phone] ext
862, [phone] fax
email [e-mail]      http://www.paws.org

Date: Fri, 09 May 1997 19:17:43 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Beef Exports Shouldn't Raise Prices
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
----------------------------------
05/09/1997 17:23 EST

 Beef Exports Shouldn't Raise Prices

 By HILLARY CHURA
 AP Business Writer

 CHICAGO (AP) -- The U.S. cattle industry estimates it could reap $250
million a year
 by exporting hormone-fed beef to Europe, thanks to a decision by the World
Trade
 Organization.

 Such sales are not big enough to cause shortages at home and are not
expected to
 drive up prices for American consumers.

 At the same time, some American analysts and commodities investors wondered
 Friday if there really is a big appetite for American beef in Europe.
After all, the
 continent jealously guards its own agricultural interests, has an aversion
to chemical
 additives and has been torn by food-related crises -- most notably the
mad-cow
 disease scare.

 ``Even if we can export, that's no guarantee that people on the other side
will buy it,''
 said livestock analyst Charles Levitt at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago.
``If we want
 to export, we would have to do a pretty good sales campaign to
indoctrinate the
 consumer in Europe as to the safety and wholesomeness of the product, and
that
 would also take time.''

 Futures prices reflected that sentiment Friday on the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange.
 Even though prices rose, the jump stemmed from technical moves and
 ``short-covering,'' or buying by traders who earlier had bet on declining
prices and
 wanted either to lock in profits or limit losses as prices climbed.

 The WTO ruled Thursday that the 15-nation European Union's ban on
 hormone-injected beef was not based on scientific evidence about its
health effects
 and therefore was unjustified. American beef receives hormones to speed
muscle
 growth and produce a leaner meat.

 Many of the EU countries are expected to appeal the decision or, in a
concession to
 their own cattle industries, maintain the eight-year ban by offering lower
tariffs on
 other American imports, Levitt said.

 And if hormone-fed U.S. beef does begin flowing to Europe, the potential
market
 represents only a fraction of the $250 billion-a-year American industry.
The U.S.
 cattle industry estimates it could make $250 million by selling beef to
Europe.

 That means Americans are unlikely to see higher prices at the grocery
stores amid
 fears of supply shortages, said Alisa Harrison, spokeswoman for the National
 Cattlemen's Beef Association.

 Europeans also are more likely to seek more beef liver and other organs,
instead of
 steak and other cuts that Americans buy, Harrison said. She also predicted
U.S.
 farmers will increase production before European demand increases. It
takes about
 two years to bring a cow to market.

 Russell Knutson, a farmer and feedlot operator in Magnolia, Minn., speculated
 Europeans would be slow to buy U.S. beef -- because of their fear of
hormones -- but
 said they eventually would turn to cheaper U.S. products.

 ``Cash talks,'' he said.



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