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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN//2.0"> <html> <head> <title>AR-NEWS Digest</title> </head> <BODY bgcolor=fbfaea text=#211818 link="#190748" alink="#FFFFEF" vlink="#401C92"> <center> <IMG SRC="IMAGES/HEAD.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/head.gif" USEMAP="#toplinks" BORDER="0"><BR> <img src="IMAGES/YCBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/ycbar.gif"><a href="../INDEX~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/index.html"><img src="IMAGES/HOMEBAR.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/digest/images/homebar.gif" border=0></a><br></center> <map name="toplinks"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="345,27,393,54" href="../../../tppmsgs/msgs0.htm#14" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/envirohome.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="458,7,512,27" href="../SUPPOR~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Support.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="401,7,446,26" href="../SEARCH~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/search.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="352,7,386,26" href="../ORGS~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Orgs.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="298,7,337,25" href="../NEWSPA~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/newspage.html"> <AREA SHAPE="rect" COORDS="211,7,286,27" href="../SUB~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/sub.html"> </map> <center><TABLE cellspacing=15 border=0> <TR> <TD width=50 align=center> </TD> <TD width=400 align=left> <!-- PAGE CONTENT GOES BELOW --> <hr> <pre> AR-NEWS Digest 428 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Olympics - Dioxin Stockpile Safely Secured by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 2) Enviros Stand With Natives to Protect Great Bear Rainforest by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 3) Irish Sea Lobsters Contaminated by UK Plutonium Factory by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 4) [UK] Quarantine rules for pets may be scrapped by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 5) Macau bullfights a red rag to students by Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 6) (CN) Zoo-born Jingxin offers hope as pandas decline in by Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 7) (TW) Pandas may come to Taiwan by Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> 8) [CA] A twist to feeding geese by David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> 9) Fwd: State Senate gets into Kodo ferret death penalty foray by LMANHEIM@aol.com 10) (US) NYC CACC Demo by Marisul@aol.com 11) Moscow Circus Folds - animals stranded by CircusInfo@aol.com 12) U.S. Ethics Panel Urges Ban on Human Cloning by Vegetarian Resource Center <vrc@tiac.net> 13) ANIMAL RIGHTS '97 Program brochures available by FARM <farmusa@erols.com> Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 00:23:05 -0700 (PDT) From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Olympics - Dioxin Stockpile Safely Secured Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970607002337.250ff206@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From The Greenpeace Media Release Server COUNTDOWN FOR HOMEBUSH BAY Sydney, 5 June 1997, World Environment Day : Greenpeace activists this morning left Homebush Bay, confident that the abandoned dioxin stockpile is safely secured in two 20 foot containers. Greenpeace handed the container keys and waste inventory to the site manager. "The toxic dioxin stockpile of 69 drums is no longer a threat to the environment and community," said campaigner Matt Ruchel." It is now up to the EPA to manage the stockpile properly as a Scheduled Waste." "But community concern about toxic waste in Homebush Bay will not be abated by government rhetoric," said Ruchel. Greenpeace sampling results released this week, show that fish in the bay have dioxin levels 10 - 15 times higher than American and Canadian standards. Government maintains that fishing is illegal but it is widely known that the fishing continues. Since Greenpeace began the clean-up we have been approached by numerous residents who are extremely concerned about ongoing threats to the health and safety of their children, many of whom fish and play on the toxic shores of Homebush Bay. "The state government has a clear responsibility to clean-up the bay but the polluters should not get away scott free," said Ruchel. "Union Carbide has left without cleaning up its toxic debris and ICI, producers of plasticisers, is about to vacate its Homebush Bay premises. The government must ensure that ICI meets all of its legal and moral obligations to clean up its toxic mess before the 2000 Olympics." Greenpeace today reiterated its demands for a clear commitment and timeline to clean up all of the contamination in the Homebush Bay area. As a matter of urgency, the state government should take the opportunity of World Environment Day to enforce the fishing ban and post clear warning signs every 100 metres around Homebush Bay. Contact : Matt Ruchel, 0411 742 754 Jill Emberson, 0411 742 753 Greenpeace National Office 02 9261 4666 ENDS Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 00:23:08 -0700 (PDT) From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Enviros Stand With Natives to Protect Great Bear Rainforest Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970607002339.250fd0be@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From The Greenpeace Media Release Server ENVIRONMENTALISTS STAND WITH NUXALK NATION TO PROTECT THE GREAT BEAR RAINFOREST (BELLA COOLA, British Columbia) Friday, 6 June, 1997 -- Today four environmental groups joined people of the Nuxalk Nation in blockading International Forest Products' logging operations on Ista, a rainforest valley sacred to the Nuxalk people. Today's activities follow yesterday's protest by Nuxalk hereditary chiefs and people, at which time head hereditary chief Lawrence Pootlass invited environmentalists to help the Nuxalk protect the rainforest. Since dawn this morning, Nuxalk people, members of the Forest Action Network, Greenpeace, Bear Watch and PATH (approximately 70 people in total) are blockading the main logging road under a banner which read "Standing Together to Protect the Great Bear Rainforest". The road is the only access point to all road building and clearcutting operations in the valley. "When they clearcut our ancient rainforests they clearcut the Nuxalk culture. As they clearcut Ista, which is sacred to the Nuxalk, they are clearcutting our history," said head hereditary chief Lawrence Pootlass. "We acknowledge and respect the commitment of these four environmental groups to protecting the ancient rainforests. We have extended an official invitation to these group by way of a protocol (1)." Interfor has already clearcut three cutblocks this year on Ista and plans to clear 11 more areas in the next three years. They have the rights to log at least seven more of the remaining intact valleys in Nuxalk territory within the next 10 years. "It is only by people joining together that we have a chance to protect the last of the world's temperate rainforest," said Tamara Stark of Greenpeace. "If we stand by now, if our voices remain silent, within a decade there will be little rainforest left to fight for." "Today's protest illustrates that a growing number of groups are refusing to accept Interfor's destruction of the rainforest and their complete disrespect for the wishes of the Nuxalk people," said Gavin Edwards of the Forest Action Network. In 1994, the elected Band Council asked Interfor to stop clearcutting on Nuxalk land and in 1995 the head hereditary chief asked them not to clearcut the sacred rainforests of Ista. Interfor refused and 21 people were subsequently arrested for trying to protect these lands. International Forest Products is the second largest company logging the rainforest, and have licenses to log the largest number of intact rainforest valleys on the coast. Approximately half these valleys will be roaded or logged within five years. The Great Bear Rainforest is the largest contiguous unprotected rainforest in British Columbia and is a forest of global ecological significance. Satellite mapping recently carried out by the World Resources Institute shows that half of the world's temperate rainforest has already been destroyed and that temperate rainforests are more endangered than tropical rainforests. - 30 - FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT : Members of the environmental groups and the Nuxalk Nation on site, via the Greenpeace ship the Moby Dick: 011-872-624-628-410 Greg Higgs, Forest Action Network: 250-799-5800 Tzeporah Berman, Greenpeace: 604-253-7701, 604-220-7701 (cell) Nuxalk Nation House of Smayusta: 250-799-5376 PHOTO AND VIDEO FOOTAGE AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING MARY MACNUTT AT 604-253-7701; 416-505-1792 NOTE: (1) Copies of the Nuxalk/environmental groups' protocol available upon request. (2) Logistical support provided by the environmental aviation group, Lighthawk. Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 00:23:11 -0700 (PDT) From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Irish Sea Lobsters Contaminated by UK Plutonium Factory Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970607002342.250fc4d6@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >From the Greenpeace Media Release Server IRISH SEA LOBSTERS CONTAMINATED BY BRITISH PLUTONIUM FACTORY Paris, June 6, 1997 - Newly released data indicate that radioactive contamination of lobsters in the Irish Sea is increasing dramatically due to discharges from the British Sellafield plutonium reprocessing factory. Greenpeace has warned that the new level of contamination found in the lobsters is 30 times higher than the limit set by a 1989 EC Directive for radioactivity in foodstuffs following a nuclear accident. "Sellafield is poisoning the environment and risking the public health of millions of people in the UK and neighbouring countries," said Damon Moglen of Greenpeace International. "This is all but criminally negligent behaviour and we call on the new British government to stop these discharges as part of its review of UK environmental policy." According to data contained in British Nuclear Fuel's Statutory Environmental Monitoring Programmes for the fourth quarter of 1996, lobster samples taken from the Irish Sea near Sellafield contained disturbingly high levels of the radioactive isotope Technicum-99--as high as 36,000 Becquerels per kilogram (1). This is more than twice the contamination found in lobsters checked during the first quarter of 1996 and is some 92 times greater than levels found in lobsters off the site in 1993. Sellafield is now estimated to discharge as much as 9 million litres of radioactive effluent into the Irish Sea each day (2). Contamination from the plant is found throughout the Irish Sea and up into the North, Baltic, Norwegian, Barents and Greenland Seas. The frightening revelation comes amidst allegations that radioactive discharges from the French La Hague plutonium factory is causing similar risks to the environment and public health. Contamination has been found at increasing levels in seaweed, fish and crustaceans around La Hague and up into the North Sea and Nordic and Arctic waters. On a yearly basis, La Hague pumps some 230 million litres of radioactive effluent into the Atlantic Ocean. La Hague is in fact the single largest source of radioactive contamination in the European Community. ----------------------------- FOR INFORMATION : Damon Moglen, mobile phone: ++31-6-5341-7947 NOTES: (1) Technetium-99 (Tc-99) is a radioactive isotope of technetium. It emits beta particles and has a half-life of 213,000 years. In the human body, Technetium is believed to concentrate in the thyroid--but little research has been done on its effects on human health.Technetium does not occur naturally in the environment to any significant extent and has been introduced into the environment through nuclear weapons testing and plutonium reprocessing. (2) Reprocessing activities at Sellafield greatly increased as of 1994 with the opening of new plutonium factory called THORP (Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant). In preparation for the opening of THORP, the UK government approved 900% and 1100% increases in the site's liquid and gaseous discharges respectively. Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 01:17:44 -0700 (PDT) From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [UK] Quarantine rules for pets may be scrapped Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970607011816.369f282c@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" >From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, June 7th, 1997 Quarantine rules for pets may be scrapped THE Government is to consider scrapping the tough quarantine rules for animals coming into Britain if they are inoculated against rabies. Jeff Rooker, the agriculture minister, confirmed in a Commons written answer yesterday that he was prepared to consider inoculation as a substitute for the current six-month quarantine requirement. It follows last month's announcement that ministers would review the whole quarantine system as it affected domestic pets. A ministry spokesman said the details of the review had yet to be set in place. "You have to make sure that any substitute is as effective as quarantine in keeping Britain rabies-free." Lady Fretwell, chairman of the lobby group Passports for Pets, said the answer was "a step in the right direction". Lady Fretwell, who had to put three of her dogs through quarantine on returning with her husband from diplomatic duties, said her group would still be pushing for a "clear policy statement" from the Government, as well as a Green Paper. "We still have a long way to go," she said. "But we hope they will make a decision based on information and will correct the myths that have existed." ⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1997. Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 23:18:36 +0800 (SST) From: Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: Macau bullfights a red rag to students Message-ID: <199706071518.XAA32684@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >South China Morning Post Saturday June 7 1997 Macau bullfights a red rag to students HENRIQUE ALMEIDA Two dozen bulls are being flown to Macau for another series of fights despite threats of protests, organisers said yesterday. Last year, a bull-fighting tournament aimed at promoting the enclave attracted condemnation from students and animal rights protesters. It was postponed because of bad weather, although the Macau Government deemed it a success. This year's five million pataca fight will bring to the enclave some of the best Portuguese bullfighters and 24 bulls for what the Portuguese call a festa brava (wild party). Up to 5,000 spectators are expected to fill the purpose-built bamboo stadium. But opponents of the spectacle pledged to relaunch action which turned last year's planned party into a controversy. "It just shows an incredible lack of sensitivity from the Macau Government in regard to animal life and money," Yuri Pereira, 17, a student from the Liceu de Macau, said. He said students would oppose the fights and animal protection groups based in Hong Kong were considering their strategies. Amy Chow Tak-sum, a member of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said: "We are discussing with other concerned organisations in Hong Kong what the most appropriate action is." This year, the organisers aim to familiarise the Macau population with bullfighting, which in Portugal dates to the 12th century, by exhibiting bullfighting weapons and paraphenalia. "We want to spread the Portuguese culture and the bullfighting tradition of Portugal," Jose Pinto, one of the organisers, told a Chinese newspaper. The event is scheduled for September 27 until October 5. Bulls and horses will be flown in on a charter flight, arriving five days before the show. Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 23:18:43 +0800 (SST) From: Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (CN) Zoo-born Jingxin offers hope as pandas decline in Message-ID: <199706071518.XAA08131@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >South China Morning Post Saturday June 7 1997 Zoo-born Jingxin offers hope as pandas decline in the wild REUTER Beijing Zoo officials yesterday showed off a bouncing baby panda that represents a chance for the survival of the endangered species. "This is the only panda born in a Chinese zoo last year to survive," Beijing Zoo's panda consultant Hou Qiming said as he picked up a wriggling, eight-month-old Jingxin in her cage. Jingxin was born on October 4 last year, but her birth was kept secret for several months until her keepers were sure she would survive. She lives under the 24-hour watch of dedicated keepers in the panda compound of the Beijing Zoo. Jingxin is a product of careful monitoring by panda experts, round-the-clock care and attention from her keepers and a brief one-hour mating between her famously frigid parents. Only 1,000 pandas survive in China and experts fear their numbers are slowly declining due partly to their notoriously poor ability to mate and reproduce. Mr Hou estimated that pandas living in the wild had a 20 per cent chance of producing a healthy cub while those that bred in captivity had a 90 per cent chance of survival. Jingxin was one of a pair of cubs born to the Beijing Zoo's Le Le, or Happiness, last October. Her sibling did not survive. Le Le, 11, became pregnant last year after twice being artificially inseminated and also after two one-hour mating sessions with males Liang Liang and Ying Ying. The pairings have left zoo keepers with the problem of trying to trace the father to prevent future inbreeding. However, Mr Hou said he was fairly confident that Liang Liang, 11, was the father of the cub. Jingxin showed off for visitors by sprawling across an old tyre hanging in her cage, sliding over a metal rocking chair and gambolling around her keeper in search of arrow bamboo stalks. "She's in a very good condition. She was separated from her mother at five months . . . because we thought that we should let the mother rest," Mr Hou said. Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 23:18:49 +0800 (SST) From: Vadivu Govind <kuma@cyberway.com.sg> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: (TW) Pandas may come to Taiwan Message-ID: <199706071518.XAA09304@eastgate.cyberway.com.sg> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" >CNA Daily English News Wire PANDAS MAY COME TO TAIWAN Taipei, June 6 (CNA) Zoologists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered in Taipei on Friday to discuss the preservation of endangered species. Wang Binluo, the director of the Chinese Zoological Association and the leader of the 14-member mainland delegation, said that one of the main topics of discussion is the possibility of sending Pandas to Taiwan. Only a few thousand Pandas are left in the wild, mostly in remote mountainous regions of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces in mainland China. Wang said that Taiwan's climate and zoo facilities would have to be evaluated prior to any exchanges. Hung Wen-tung, director of the Taipei Zoological Society and sponsor of the seminar, expressed optimism that the first batch of endangered animals from mainland China, such as lesser pandas, clouded leopards and otters, would soon be exhibited in local zoos. However, the Council of Agriculture (COA) was more reserved. On Thursday the mainland delegation, which includes preservation experts and zoo directors from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, met with COA officials to discuss the possibility of sending endangered animals to Taiwan. COA officials noted that many factors have to be taken into consideration, such as Taiwan's climate and environment and whether Taiwan is capable of taking care of Pandas and other endangered species. They added that the animals also have to pass quarantine. Taipei Zoo Director Chu Hsi-wu said that while the zoo has the necessary facilities and manpower to accept endangered species from mainland China, there are concerns whether Taiwan is a suitable place for the preservation of such creatures. The Taipei Zoo holds exchanges with other zoos in the region. On Thursday the facility received brown bears, a crocodile, a python, leopards, pumas and other animals from the Singapore Zoo. The animals will be allowed to adjust to their new environment before being put on public exhibition in the summer. (By Lilian Wu) Date: Sat, 7 Jun 1997 11:50:24 -0700 (PDT) From: David J Knowles <dknowles@dowco.com> To: ar-news@envirolink.org Subject: [CA] A twist to feeding geese Message-ID: <1.5.4.16.19970607115057.260f397c@dowco.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" 
