Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news45~4.htm/text0006.txt

Text File | 1998-04-03 | 53.0 KB | 1,228 lines

Congress still debating 'dolphin safe' tuna

Congressional Quarterly

WASHINGTON (July 2, 1997 00:14 a.m. EDT) - Although the environmental
protests of the 1980s that led to protections for dolphins during tuna
harvesting have faded into memory, debate about fishing practices and
international tuna trade continues unabated in Congress.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee dived into the
issue last week, approving a bill by voice vote that supporters say
would protect dolphins from deadly tuna nets, even as it would lift an
embargo on tuna imports from countries that use such nets.

The cuddly image of the mammals in popular culture prompted an outcry
from consumers when reports of dolphin carnage by tuna fisherman
surfaced in the 1970s and 1980s, and led Congress in 1992 to ban
imported tuna caught with methods that killed or harmed dolphins.

The new Senate bill, which is similar to legislation passed by the House
on May 21, would revise the standard for "dolphin safe" tuna to include
fish caught by encircling nets (a practice that, under
existing law, would disqualify canned tuna from earning the "dolphin
safe" label), so long as an observer on the tuna boat certified that no
dolphins had been killed in the catch.

Under an amendment offered by Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, and adopted
by the committee by voice vote, a catch that did not immediately kill
dolphins but seriously or mortally wounded them also would not be
considered "dolphin safe."

The legislation has divided environmentalists, and bill supporters are
not confident that Snowe's expanded definition of "dolphin safe" would
satisfy its opponents.

Similar legislation passed the House easily in 1996 but was killed by
the threat of a filibuster by Democratic Sens. Barbara Boxer of
California and Joseph Biden Jr. of Delaware.

"I don't expect that the changes made will alter Sen. Boxer's position
on this bill," said a member of her staff. Biden also expressed his
continuing opposition to the amended bill. And aides to bill sponsors
were wary of claiming they had yet achieved a compromise that could be
enacted.

"It's been clear all along it's been boiling toward a floor fight," said
William Snape, legal director of the environmentalist group Defenders of
Wildlife, which opposes the bill.

The pending legislation would change U.S. law to implement a 1995
international agreement, known as the Declaration of Panama, and settle
a long-standing dispute between the United States and
Mexico, Venezuela and other Latin American nations over access to the
U.S. market.

At issue is an effort by Latin American fishermen to gain access to the
$1.4 billion U.S. consumer market for canned tuna. They are hindered by
an embargo that was imposed on their tuna under
U.S. law because of fishing practices that endanger dolphins, which
often swim above schools of tuna and can be killed in encircling nets.

The Clinton administration supports the legislation, arguing that the
Panama declaration is a model for reconciling the often-competing
pressures of global trade and environmental protection.

Not only would the bill settle a closely watched trade dispute, bill
supporters say, but it would also create a definition of dolphin-safe
tuna that would better protect fisheries in the eastern tropical
Pacific Ocean and bind Latin American nations to an international
agreement to safeguard the marine ecosystem.

Proponents of the bill warn that if legislation is not enacted, the
Panama agreement will collapse and other nations would feel free to
return to dolphin-killing practices. Opponents say the agreement is
poorly conceived and that Congress should not bow to international
pressure to accept it. By their lights, the Panama agreement is an
effort to promote trade at the expense of U.S. environmental law.

The new legislation would allow a type of purse seine netting that is
less dangerous to dolphins than other nets and require the stationing of
observers on tuna boats to determine whether dolphins had been killed in
the catch.

The bill would limit the annual tuna-related dolphin death toll to 5,000
and set a goal of zero dolphin mortality. The bill would limit the
number of dolphins killed annually to no more than 0.2 percent of the
species' overall estimated population until the year 2000, with that
ceiling dropping to 0.1 percent in 2001.

By ALAN GREENBLATT, Congressional Quarterly
Date: Tue, 01 Jul 1997 22:30:53 -0700
From: Andrew Gach <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Death toll from cancer drug reaches 94
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Japanese death toll from cancer drug reaches 94

The Financial Times

TOKYO (July 2, 1997 00:08 a.m. EDT) -- At least 94 Japanese cancer
patients have died from the side-effects of a popular cancer drug after
the Japanese Health Ministry underplayed the drug's risks.

The revelation has sparked fury over unethical practices in Japan's
drugs industry.

Dr. Masanori Fukushima, head of the Aichi Cancer Center in Nagoya, in
western Japan, said Tuesday that Health Ministry data indicated at least
94 patients had died from the side-effects of irinotecan hydrochloride,
a treatment for lung and cervical cancer. He said the total was likely
to grow.

Fukushima's public warnings last week forced an admission from the
drug's two makers in Japan, Daiichi Pharmaceutical and Yakult Honsha,
that 39 deaths had resulted from its side-effects. On Tuesday the two
firms acknowledged that the figure of 94 fatalities was correct.

In late 1995, 18 months after the drug's commercial launch, the ministry
only admitted that nine people had died from side-effects. At the time,
however, the ministry knew at least 55 people had died out of 1,000
given irinotecan in clinical tests, according to Fukushima.

The Health Ministry still faces criticism over the hundreds of deaths
resulting from HIV-tainted blood products distributed by Green Cross, a
Japanese pharmaceutical company, in the 1980s.  Bereaved relatives and
people infected with HIV from the products have taken legal action
against the ministry for its alleged failure to halt distribution of the
contaminated products.

At least 5,000 cancer patients have been injected with irinotecan,
marketed in Japan under the name Topotecin by Daiichi, and as Campto by
Yakult, since it came on to the market.

The drug is marketed in the U.S. by Pharmacia & Upjohn as Camptosar.

In spite of severe side- effects -- which include damage to blood cells
-- regulators approved it because trials showed potential benefit
outweighing harm. Western drug companies regard the
Japanese market as more prone than their own to concerns over
side-effects.

Irinotecan's use in most overseas markets is strictly limited to the
treatment of cancer of the colon
and has not been linked to unusually high death rates.

The Japanese Health Ministry's decision to extend its use to treat
gastric cancer and cancers of the
lungs, cervix and ovaries was an "irresponsible move to approve a
dangerous drug very loosely,
while many other good foreign drugs that doctors want to use here are
banned," said Fukushima.

The ministry acknowledged that the high number of deaths from irinotecan
had not been publicized but said that it had issued warnings about the
drug's side-effects since its launch and would soon
warn doctors and hospitals "to be more careful about administering the
drug."

By GWEN ROBINSON and DANIEL GREEN, The Financial Times
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 11:23:48 +0200
From: [e-mail] (Bernhard Anderl)
To: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

Content-ID: <[e-mail]>


unsubscribe [e-mail]
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 07:35:20 -0400
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: EU opens mad cow disease conference
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from USA Today web page:
-----------------------------------------
EU opens mad cow disease conference

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The decision to ban bone and meat meal from animal feed
appears to have slowed the
spread of mad cow disease in the 15-nation European Union, an EU
commissioner said Tuesday. The
comments by EU Consumer Affairs Commissioner Emma Bonino opened a two-day
conference on the
disease, which is widely-believed to be caused by cattle feed containing
the ground-up remains of infected
sheep. The disease, also called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE,
created a public panic when the
British government announced last year that a new version of a fatal human
brain illness may be caused by
eating tainted beef.
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 07:49:27 -0400
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (UK) Brit Beef on U.K. Burger King Menu
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
------------------------------------
 07/01/1997 12:09 EST

 Brit Beef on U.K. Burger King Menu

 LONDON (AP) -- With Britain's meat eaters less worried about mad cow
 disease, Burger King said Tuesday it will join rival McDonald's in
 putting British beef back on the menu in local restaurants.

 ``People have become more confident about British beef,'' said Burger
 King spokeswoman Emma Sturt.

 The fast-food giants both pulled British beef out of their U.K.
 restaurants 15 months ago, after the government said a fatal human brain
 ailment, Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease, was apparently linked to a similar
 cattle disease: bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE.

 Both McDonald's and Burger King said from the outset they believed
 British beef was safe, but they had to import substitutes because too
 many customers were scared to eat it.

 McDonald's announced last Thursday it would sell British beef again
 because surveys showed the majority of its customers supported the move.

 Over the weekend, Burger King noticed a big surge in its customers who
 wanted British beef back on the menu, Ms. Sturt said.

 Burger King said it would take special steps to ensure the quality of its
 beef, and this would be explained prominently in leaflets at the
 company's 429 British stores.

 British beef exports are now banned by the 15-nation European Union, and
 the loss of business from McDonald's and Burger King, two of the
 industry's biggest customers, had been a huge blow to British cattle
 farmers who now can sell their product only at home.

Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 07:52:23 -0400
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: EU To Appeal Ruling on U.S. Beef
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from AP Wire page:
--------------------------------
 07/01/1997 09:32 EST

 EU To Appeal Ruling on U.S. Beef

 BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- The European Union said Tuesday it will appeal
 a ruling by the World Trade Organization that its ban on imports of
 hormone-fed American beef is illegal.

 The EU's executive Commission said the panel ignored scientific evidence
 that eating hormone-treated beef poses a health risk. The WTO issued its
 ruling Tuesday, confirming an interim finding made in May.

 The U.S. beef industry has long argued the European ban, imposed in 1988,
 lacked scientific basis and costs its members $250 million a year in
 European sales.

 In a statement, the executive Commission said the WTO's finding ignored
 the right of nations to ``decide what level of (consumer) protection they
 consider appropriate for their citizens.''

 Gerard Kiely, spokesman for EU Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler,
 said an appeal would likely be filed with the WTO in Geneva in late
 August. A new dispute panel would then have between 60 and 90 days to
 make a final ruling, Kiely said.

 If the EU loses an appeal, it would have to lift its ban or compensate
 the United States.

 But a U.S. trade official said Tuesday that after pushing so hard to win
 its case, Washington would probably not be satisfied with payment.

 ``We want market access for our commodities. Compensation isn't an
 issue,'' said the official, who asked not to be named.

 When the EU banned imports of US beef in 1988, Washington retaliated by
 imposing tariffs on imports of European veal and canned tomatoes, valued
 at $100 million. It subsequently sought a formal WTO panel ruling and
 dropped the import penalties.

 In anticipation of Tuesday's WTO ruling, the European Parliament last
 week approved a resolution calling on the Commission to continue blocking
 imports of hormone-treated beef -- even if it loses its appeal.

 The hormone ban is not the only transatlantic food fight. The EU is also
 questioning the hygiene of poultry slaughterhouses in the United States
 and several EU nations ban the import of genetically-modified American
 corn for health reasons.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 07:30:13 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Christine M. Wolf" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: URGENT: CALL YOUR SENATORS NOW TO STOP FUNDING OF TROPHY
  HUNTING PROGRAM
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

NOW IS THE TIME TO TELL YOUR SENATORS THAT YOU OBJECT TO YOUR TAX
MONEY
BEING WASTED ON FOREIGN TROPHY HUNTING PROGRAMS!!

Next week, the senate will consider the Foreign Operations Appropriations
bill for Fiscal Year 1998, S. 955, which makes monetary allocations for the
U.S. Agency for International Development. U.S. A.I.D. has committed to
spending several million of your hard-earned tax dollars on the CAMPFIRE
program in Zimbabwe.

Please see our ACTION ALERT below for details, AND PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS
NOW, BEFORE THIS BILL IS CONSIDERED.
___________________________________________________________________

STOP YOUR TAX DOLLARS FROM FUNDING THE TROPHY HUNTING OF
ELEPHANTS !

The U.S. Agency for International Development (US AID) is using $28 million
of your tax money to fund elephant trophy hunting programs in Africa!
Through the CAMPFIRE program (Communal Areas Management Program for
Indigenous Resources), wealthy hunters come to Africa to shoot elephants
under the guise of returning revenues to local communities who are looking
for a way to benefit from living with wildlife.  Besides being a cruel cloak
for trophy hunting, this program is not meeting its goal of helping local
villagers. In a recent evaluation of CAMPFIRE, conducted by ULG Consultants,
many holes were found in the program, including:

     No quantitative assessment of the size or health of local wildlife
populations was conducted prior to initiating the hunting programs.

     The methodology used by local officials to monitor wildlife populations
who are being hunted was "questionable."

     The project is "subject to collapse once donor funding is withdrawn."
This means that US AID would have to fund this hunting program in perpetuity.

Perhaps even more disturbing is the role that CAMPFIRE and its
subcontractors have played in attempting to re-open the ivory trade.
Delegates from CAMPFIRE and the Zimbabwean government came to the U.S. last
year to testify before Congress in favor of weakening the Endangered Species
Act and downlisting the elephant from Appendix I to Appendix II under the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.  THIS WOULD SPELL
DISASTER FOR THESE MAJESTIC CREATURES WHO HAVEN'T YET RECOVERED
FROM DECADES
OF RAMPANT POACHING!  The money trail from this visit leads back to US AID.

Call your two Senators at 202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard) to tell them
that US AID SHOULD STOP WASTING YOUR TAX MONEY ON CRUEL TROPHY
HUNTING
PROGRAMS AND FUNDING OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENT'S LOBBYING EXCURSIONS.


For more information, or to find out who your senators are, call Christine
Wolf at The Fund for Animals (301-585-2591).  THANK YOU FOR ACTING NOW TO
SAVE THE ELEPHANTS !

******************************************************************
Christine Wolf, Director of Government Affairs
  The Fund for Animalsphone: 301-585-2591
  850 Sligo Ave., #300fax:   [phone]
  Silver Spring, MD 20910e-mail: [e-mail] / web: www.fund.org

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."  (Margaret Mead)

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 11:48:23 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: 1996 Fur Sales Results
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=unknown-8bit


The following article is from the first issue of Inside the Fur Industry, a
quarterly newsletter reporting on the fur trade.  Inside the Fur Industry
contains information that is not being published anywhere else.  If you
follow the fur issue, or run the fur committee of your local group,  then
this newsletter is a must.  A one year subscription is $18.  Subscriptions
are available from:

CAFT
PO Box 822411
Dallas, TX 75382

NUMBER OF FURS SOLD DROPPED IN 1996

The number of fur garments sold in the US dropped in 1996.  In public
relations campaigns the industry is claiming that they experienced a 5% sales
increase, but this is described as misleading by analysts.

In the 1995-96 auction season, mink prices were pushed sky-high as Russia,
South Korea, and China bought up everything in sight.  This increase in
prices hurt fur sales in Asia, and in the US as well.  Fur coats sold for
13.8% more in 1996, which made it possible for the fur trade to claim that
they grossed 5% more that year, with sales ending at $1.25 billion.  What the
trade is hesitant to admit is that less individual coats sold, and that is
why with prices up nearly 14% they could only register a 5% gain.

In fact, much of that 5% increase was not from the sale of fur at all, but
rather from an increase in fur storage.  Whereas $228 million worth of furs
were stored in 1995, $346 million worth were stored in 1996.

The fur industry has used sales increase statistics in public relations
campaigns for several years now.  There logic is that if people see others
buying fur, they wonÆt feel as hesitant to do the same.  Keeping in line with
this campaign, the trade has at times made public statements contending that
the annual fur sales figure of $1.2 billion included only the sales of fur
coats, and not revenues from fur services.

This year it was admitted that the actual sale of fur coats only came to
about $720 million.  The rest of the profits were from the sale of shearling,
fur trim, storage, cleaning, and other services.

Anti fur activists would be mistaken to use this as an excuse to engage in
less campaigning this fall.  So many fur stores have gone out of business
that the remaining furriers still have a decent market share.  Many more
people will have to be convinced not to wear fur if this decline is expected
to continue.

With next years mink prices expected to be lower, it will be easier for
furriers to sell more individual coats.  Furthermore, few animal rights
groups have worked to get fur out of upscale dept. stores.  To make matters
worse, fur trim is openly sold in many stores such as Sears and T.J. Maxx
which have large turnover volume.  To make a huge impression on the number of
animals killed for fur each year, it is suggested that groups work to get fur
out of large chain stores, and push it back into small specialty shops which
have little exposure to the general public.

This year will be a critical one in determining who will be the eventual
winner in the battle between pro and anti fur forces.



Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 12:22:53 -0700
From: Hillary <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Wendy's In Trouble with Vegetarians
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Subj:FEATURE/Vegetarians Tell Dave  To Stuff It Better: FTC/FDA Complaints
Filed
Date:97-07-01 13:04:03 EDT
From:AOL News
 BCC:FreeAnmls

    WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)--July 1, 1997--There's talk
on the Internet about a Wendy's boycott, a class-action lawsuit, and
federal regulatory agency complaints.  This comes hot on the heels
of the widely-publicized McLibel verdict on June 19.  Hey, what's the
big huff?
          Vegetarians are thanking Dave Thomas for trying to stuff his
Veggie Pita right for them.  However, they are asking if it might
just be possible to make it "all vegetable"  as promoted.
          Many vegetarians ate the pita thinking they were getting
something "vegetarian" and "all vegetable" as advertised in Wendy's
Nutrition Guide.  The potential for litigation looms.  An example of
a precedent is a Boulder, Co. police officer who successfully sued
over meat-laden tomato sauce misrepresented as vegetarian.
          "At first, we caught Dave with pants down.  Then, six weeks
later, he was in the buff," exclaims Lige Weill, president of the
Vegetarian Awareness Network, a national public-interest
organization.
          On May 9, Weill contacted the Consumer Relations Department of
Wendy's International, Inc. in Dublin, Ohio after being alerted to
pita problems by Utica, N.Y. consumer activist Pat Fish.  Fish said
Wendy's Fresh Stuffed Garden Veggie Pita contained gelatin in the
sauce.
          Gelatin comes from the collagen-bearing tissues of any animal
slaughtered for food, and it is certainly not vegetarian.
          On June 23, Linda Theado, an employee in Wendy's Research and
Development Department, told Weill she had been working since
February to remove the gelatin.  The pita was rolled out in April,
according to Theado.
          "Wendy's knew about the gelatin before the pita was even in its
restaurants if what Theado said is accurate.  It became apparent
Wendy's was not going to make the public aware of the pita problems
without pressure," says Weill.
          The Vegetarian Awareness Network had heard enough.  On June 26,
it filed formal complaints with the Federal Trade Commission and the
Food and Drug Administration, charging that the pita was not
"vegetarian" or "all vegetable" as advertised in Wendy's Nutrition
Guide.
          "Wendy's meatless marketing misrepresented the contents of the
Veggie Pita.  Wendy's failed to immediately disclose the
discrepancies.  Instead, Wendy's compounded its original
transgressions by intentionally misleading consumers with
misinformation.  Wendy's has been trying to minimize the situation
with spin control," states Weill.
          "Wendy's could make amends for not alerting the public by
removing the gelatin, egg yolk, and dairy ingredients,"  says Weill.
Thus its Veggie Pita would be "all vegetable" as promoted in its
Nutrition Guide.
          The gelatin may be in the sour cream in the Reduced Fat/Reduced
Calorie Garden Ranch Sauce and in the Broccoli Slaw, which contains
the sauce.  Egg yolk may be in the sauce and slaw also.  Dairy
ingredients may be in the pita bread, sauce and slaw.
          When dining in restaurants, vegetarians often have it rough.
Hidden animal ingredients abound.  For example, Taco Bell's
guacamole in its 7-Layer Burrito contains gelatin in the sour cream.
          "I was bamboozled," laments Kevin Muhammad of Virginia Beach,
Va., a vegetarian for religious reasons.  Muhammad consumed Taco
Bell's Veggie Fajita Wrap, not knowing it contains chicken and clam
in the sauce.
          Taco Bell supplies nutritional information quickly and
accurately on its consumer line (1-800-TACO-BELL), whereas Wendy's
hotline (1-800-82-WENDYS) makes getting it tough.  Also chances of
receiving correct information at the counter are slim, especially
since Wendy's has recalled the fraudulent Nutrition Guides due to
negative publicity stemming from false claims.
          "They just don't want their customers to see what's in that
guide -- it's like a smoking gun.  By making the Nutrition Guide
unavailable, they're making it even more difficult for customers to
trust what's in Wendy's food," says Fish.
          "Instead, Wendy's should have notified the public and recalled
the gelatin-laced sauce back in May when vegetarians originally
lodged complaints.  Wendy's has alienated the very market they chose
to court," says Fish.  "Wendy's is showing a real lack of respect
for the values of customers it is targeting," adds Weill.
          Wendy's is apparently targeting the rapidly growing vegetarian
market with its advertising.  For example, a Veggie Pita commercial
aired during "Paul McCartney's Town Hall Meeting" May 17 on VH-1.
McCartney is a long-time vegetarian, and he asked everyone to "go
veggie" during the program.
          36 percent of all Americans look for a meatless entree when
eating out, according to the May issue of Whole Foods.  The National
Restaurant Association is urging its members to add more vegetarian
items to their menus because of growing demand.
          The number of American adults claiming to be vegetarian showed a
100 percent growth rate over a six year period, according to
a survey by Yankelovich Partners.  The number adopting a
vegetarian diet was one million adults per year -- about 20,000 per
week.
          "Dave could benefit by joining our ranks.  He may be eating too
much of his own stuff," says Weill.  Thomas has heart disease and
is recovering from a heart attack.  A vegetarian diet has been shown to
prevent -- and even reverse -- heart disease.  American
nonvegetarian men have ten times the heart disease death rate of
total vegetarian men.
          For more information, please call the Vegetarian Awareness
Network toll-free at 800/USA-VEGE (800/872-8343).
-0-
EDITOR'S NOTE: Any of the above not attributed may be attributed to
Lige Weill, president of the Vegetarian Awareness Network.
      CONTACT:
      Vegetarian Awareness Network
      Lige Weill
      202/347-8343, 423/558-8343, 800/234-8343
      or
      Pat Fish
      315/733-4064

To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 09:47:44 -0700
From: [e-mail] (Lawrence Carter-Long)
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: BizWire: Veg*ns Tell Dave Thomas To 'Stuff' It!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


      FEATURE/Vegetarians Tell Dave
      To Stuff It Better: FTC/FDA
      Complaints Filed

      WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE FEATURES)  -- There's talk
        on the Internet about a Wendy's boycott, a
      class-action lawsuit, and federal regulatory agency complaints.
      This comes hot on the heels of the widely-publicized McLibel
      verdict on June 19. Hey, what's the big huff?

      Vegetarians are thanking Dave Thomas for trying to stuff his
      Veggie Pita right for them. However, they are asking if it might just
      be possible to make it "all vegetable" as promoted.

      Many vegetarians ate the pita thinking they were getting
      something "vegetarian" and "all vegetable" as advertised in
      Wendy's Nutrition Guide. The potential for litigation looms. An
      example of a precedent is a Boulder, Co. police officer who
      successfully sued over meat-laden tomato sauce misrepresented
      as vegetarian.

      "At first, we caught Dave with pants down. Then, six weeks later,
      he was in the buff," exclaims Lige Weill, president of the
      Vegetarian Awareness Network, a national public-interest
      organization.

      On May 9, Weill contacted the Consumer Relations Department of
      Wendy's International, Inc. in Dublin, Ohio after being alerted to
      pita problems by Utica, N.Y. consumer activist Pat Fish. Fish said
      Wendy's Fresh Stuffed Garden Veggie Pita contained gelatin in
      the sauce.

      Gelatin comes from the collagen-bearing tissues of any animal
      slaughtered for food, and it is certainly not vegetarian.

      On June 23, Linda Theado, an employee in Wendy's Research and
      Development Department, told Weill she had been working since
      February to remove the gelatin. The pita was rolled out in April,
      according to Theado.

      "Wendy's knew about the gelatin before the pita was even in its
      restaurants if what Theado said is accurate. It became apparent
      Wendy's was not going to make the public aware of the pita
      problems without pressure," says Weill.

      The Vegetarian Awareness Network had heard enough. On June
      26, it filed formal complaints with the Federal Trade Commission
      and the Food and Drug Administration, charging that the pita was
      not "vegetarian" or "all vegetable" as advertised in Wendy's
      Nutrition Guide.

      "Wendy's meatless marketing misrepresented the contents of the
      Veggie Pita. Wendy's failed to immediately disclose the
      discrepancies. Instead, Wendy's compounded its original
      transgressions by intentionally misleading consumers with
      misinformation. Wendy's has been trying to minimize the situation
      with spin control," states Weill.

      "Wendy's could make amends for not alerting the public by
      removing the gelatin, egg yolk, and dairy ingredients," says Weill.
      Thus its Veggie Pita would be "all vegetable" as promoted in its
      Nutrition Guide.

      The gelatin may be in the sour cream in the Reduced Fat/Reduced
      Calorie Garden Ranch Sauce and in the Broccoli Slaw, which
      contains the sauce. Egg yolk may be in the sauce and slaw also.
      Dairy ingredients may be in the pita bread, sauce and slaw.

      When dining in restaurants, vegetarians often have it rough.
      Hidden animal ingredients abound. For example, Taco Bell's
      guacamole in its 7-Layer Burrito contains gelatin in the sour
      cream.

      "I was bamboozled," laments Kevin Muhammad of Virginia Beach,
      Va., a vegetarian for religious reasons. Muhammad consumed
      Taco Bell's Veggie Fajita Wrap, not knowing it contains chicken
      and clam in the sauce.

      Taco Bell supplies nutritional information quickly and accurately
      on its consumer line (1-800-TACO-BELL), whereas Wendy's
      hotline (1-800-82-WENDYS) makes getting it tough. Also chances
      of receiving correct information at the counter are slim, especially
      since Wendy's has recalled the fraudulent Nutrition Guides due to
      negative publicity stemming from false claims.

      "They just don't want their customers to see what's in that guide
      -- it's like a smoking gun. By making the Nutrition Guide
      unavailable, they're making it even more difficult for customers to
      trust what's in Wendy's food," says Fish.

      "Instead, Wendy's should have notified the public and recalled
      the gelatin-laced sauce back in May when vegetarians originally
      lodged complaints. Wendy's has alienated the very market they
      chose to court," says Fish. "Wendy's is showing a real lack of
      respect for the values of customers it is targeting," adds Weill.

      Wendy's is apparently targeting the rapidly growing vegetarian
      market with its advertising. For example, a Veggie Pita commercial
      aired during "Paul McCartney's Town Hall Meeting" May 17 on
      VH-1. McCartney is a long-time vegetarian, and he asked
      everyone to "go veggie" during the program.

      36 percent of all Americans look for a meatless entree when eating
      out, according to the May issue of Whole Foods. The National
      Restaurant Association is urging its members to add more
      vegetarian items to their menus because of growing demand.

      The number of American adults claiming to be vegetarian showed
      a 100 percent growth rate over a six year period, according to a
      survey by Yankelovich Partners. The number adopting a
      vegetarian diet was one million adults per year -- about 20,000 per
      week.

      "Dave could benefit by joining our ranks. He may be eating too
      much of his own stuff," says Weill. Thomas has heart disease and
      is recovering from a heart attack. A vegetarian diet has been
      shown to prevent -- and even reverse -- heart disease. American
      nonvegetarian men have ten times the heart disease death rate of
      total vegetarian men.

      For more information, please call the Vegetarian Awareness
      Network toll-free at 800/USA-VEGE (800/872-8343). EDITOR'S
      NOTE: Any of the above not attributed may be attributed to Lige
      Weill, president of the Vegetarian Awareness Network.

      CONTACT: Vegetarian Awareness Network | Lige Weill |
      202/347-8343, 423/558-8343, 800/234-8343 | or | Pat Fish |
      315/733-4064

      [Copyright 1997, Business Wire]






Lawrence Carter-Long
Coordinator, Science and Research Issues
Animal Protection Institute
phone: [phone]
[e-mail]

"Faced with the choice between changing one's mind
and proving that there is no need to do so, almost
everyone gets busy on the proof."  -  Galbraith's Law

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 12:36:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: 12 Arrested At Slaughterhouse Protest (US)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

(Activists may want to call the jail at 860-621-0103 to check on the status
of those incarcerted - cres)

URGENT NEWS
ADVISORY

July 2, 1997





12 Activists Jailed
At Slaughterhouse
Demonstration

     SOUTHINGTON, CT -- Twelve animal rights activists were arrested here
Wednesday after militants allegedly locked themselves to a truck carrying
the dead bodies of pigs to the Southington Meat Plant.

     About 40 activists from a half dozen states, including Vermont,
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and New Hampshire participated
in the demonstration, which closed down the slaughterhouse for about 3 hours.

     At least one activist was reported injured after police hit him during the
arrest, and another activist has severe health problems, including diabetes.

      All activists -- except one juvenile who has already been released -- are
on a hunger strike and refusing to pay $1,000 bail. They have been charged
with breach of peace, interference with an officer, reckless endangerment,
criminal mischief, unlawful assembly and trespassing.

     A vigil and protest is being carried out at the Southington Police Station
by about 2 dozen activists, who have vowed to not leave until their friends
are released. One arrest has already occurred at the police station.

     Those arrested include Nick Stillman, Kim Berardi, Chris Rogowski, Vern
Flynn, Heather Neil, Karen Laski, Leis Ellison, Chris Tarbell, Dan Flynn
(released/juvenile), Dan Beban (juvenile), Jerry Vlasak, Adam Weissman
(Weissman was the injured activist).
-30-

Contact: ADL 800-691-9775 / Activist Civil Liberties Committee 916-452-7179


Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 15:08:43 -0500
From: "Robert D. Kewan" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: APHIS Press Release Womack's Out of Business for
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

FORWARDED FROM: /mail/rk/rkewan(#644) From:[e-mail](Alternative Ego)


"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"
                -Margo Channing (Bette Davis)
                        "All About Eve"

  /\_/\
 ( o.o )
  >   <


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 09:19:53 -0600
From: Questa Glenn <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: APHIS Press Release Womack's Out of Business for 10 Years

                                   Jim Rogers       [phone]
                                             [e-mail]
                                   Jamie Ambrosi  [phone]
                                            [e-mail]

WOMACK'S OUT OF BUSINESS FOR 10 YEARS

     RIVERDALE, Md., July 2, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture
and Lorin Womack, a licensed animal exhibitor doing business as Land O'
Lorin Exotics in Batavia, Ill., have agreed to a consent decision and order
regarding violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

     "This decision was the best solution for the animals," said W. Ron
DeHaven, acting deputy administrator for animal care with the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and
regulatory programs mission area.  "We're requiring that Womack use
$15,000 to repair and improve this animal facility and pay $15,000 to the
U.S. Treasurer.  We've also suspended his license for a decade."

     As part of the consent decision, Womack neither admitted nor denied
any violations of the AWA.

     APHIS inspectors found AWA noncompliance items in the areas of
housing, waste disposal, storage, sanitation, pest control, and
recordkeeping.
     The AWA requires that regulated individuals and businesses provide
animals with care and treatment according to the standards established
by APHIS.  Animals protected by the law must be provided with adequate
housing, handling, sanitation, food, water, transportation, veterinary
care, and shelter.

     The law covers animals that are sold as pets at the wholesale level,
transported in commerce, used for biomedical research, or used for
exhibition purposes.

                                #

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


-----FORWARDER'S COMMENTS:
Can anyone confirm this?  I read a recent post that Womack's license was
reissued under a different name and no penalties were charged.  Is the
road-side zoo really closed down?

Please respond privately.

Thanks!

Bob
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 13:25:47 -0700 (PDT)
From: [e-mail] (pawsinfo)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [WA] PAWS Expands Internet Lost and Found Service for July 4th Weekend
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"


MEDIA RELEASE July 2, 1997

 Contact: Bob Chorush - [phone] ext 862

PAWS Expands Internet Lost and Found Service for July 4th Weekend
http://www.paws.org/lostpets

In anticipation of an influx of animals becoming lost because of
firecrackers and fireworks displays, the Progressive Animal Welfare Society
(PAWS) will offer a stepped-up lost and found pet information service for
the long Fourth of July weekend. This expansion of normal lost and found
Internet listings is being set up to help reunite families with pets who
have become scared or disoriented and have wandered away from home.

"The PAWS Internet lost and found service is an important step a pet owner
can take in locating a lost dog or cat," said Deanna Davies, PAWS Companion
Animal Services Director.  "However, it is vital that owners search every
shelter, as well as reports filed by good Samaritans over the Web."

PAWS strongly urges pet owners to keep their companion animals indoors and
wearing ID tags over the holiday. The PAWS shelter notes a six times
increase of lost and found activity following fireworks displays.

Last year PAWSÆ expanded July 4th lost and found service registered 60 lost
animals, with more than 65% of lost dogs being returned to their owners,
several exclusively through the internet. This year, through the Petnet
system, set up with a grant by the Bosack-Kruger Foundation, PAWS will be
able to post information on Lost and Found animals reported to any of 5
local area shelters. Visitors to any of the area shelters will also be able
to search the database for any animal reported lost or found in the area.

The special PAWS lost and found Internet listing service will operate from
Thursday, July 3rd to Monday, July 7th. During this time, listings of lost
or found animals will be posted to PAWS internet site three to four times
per day. PAWS staff will also endeavor to match lost and found reports and
contact owners to speed reuniting families and their pets.

Ways to list a lost or found animal this weekend:

╖ Call [phone] ext 862 and leave a detailed description of the animal
╖ Post directly to PAWS through Internet page http://www.paws.org
╖ email to: [e-mail]
╖ fax to: [phone]
╖ Fill out Lost and Found report at PAWS shelter, 13505 44th Ave W, Lynnwood
(closed  Friday July 4; Open Sat/Sun 11-5pm)

PAWSÆ expanded lost and found service has been funded by a private donor
after fireworks promoters declined to sponsor the lost and found program.

Lost and found pet descriptions will be displayed on the Internet at
http://www.paws.org/lostpets



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: 02 Jul 1997 15:35:18 EST
From: [e-mail] (Joanne deMarrais)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Information Request - RE:  Circo Suarez (aka Suarez Brothers
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit



Dear Friends:

WSPA is assisting various authorities on matters relating to source, care, and disposition
of animals at this circus, which travels throughout Central America, Mexico and parts
of the United States.

Any accurate information which can be provided to WSPA's Boston office will be greatly
 appreciated.  Please respond by private e-mail only to:[e-mail]

In advance, thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

John Walsh
International Projects Director
WSPA - World Society for the Protection of Animals
PO Box 190
29 Perkins Street
Boston, MA  02130  USA
  Telephone:[phone]
 Fax:[phone]
 Home Page:http://way.net/wspa


Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 17:28:51 -0400
From: "D'Amico, AnnMarie" <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>,
        "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: RE: APHIS Press Release Womack's Out of Business for
Message-ID: <c=US%a=_%p=NIH%l=NIHHUB/HUB/[e-mail]>

Please let us know what's going to happen to the animals?

TKS -- AM

----------
 From: Robert D. Kewan[SMTP:[e-mail]]
 Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 1997 4:08 PM
 To: [e-mail]
 Subject: APHIS Press Release Womack's Out of Business for

FORWARDED FROM: /mail/rk/rkewan(#644) From:[e-mail](Alternative Ego)


"Fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy night!"
                -Margo Channing (Bette Davis)
                        "All About Eve"

  /\_/\
 ( o.o )
  >   <


---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 09:19:53 -0600
From: Questa Glenn <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: APHIS Press Release Womack's Out of Business for 10 Years

                                   Jim Rogers       [phone]
                                             [e-mail]
                                   Jamie Ambrosi  [phone]
                                            [e-mail]

WOMACK'S OUT OF BUSINESS FOR 10 YEARS

     RIVERDALE, Md., July 2, 1997--The U.S. Department of Agriculture
and Lorin Womack, a licensed animal exhibitor doing business as Land O'
Lorin Exotics in Batavia, Ill., have agreed to a consent decision and order
regarding violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

     "This decision was the best solution for the animals," said W. Ron
DeHaven, acting deputy administrator for animal care with the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA's marketing and
regulatory programs mission area.  "We're requiring that Womack use
$15,000 to repair and improve this animal facility and pay $15,000 to the
U.S. Treasurer.  We've also suspended his license for a decade."

     As part of the consent decision, Womack neither admitted nor denied
any violations of the AWA.

     APHIS inspectors found AWA noncompliance items in the areas of
housing, waste disposal, storage, sanitation, pest control, and
recordkeeping.
     The AWA requires that regulated individuals and businesses provide
animals with care and treatment according to the standards established
by APHIS.  Animals protected by the law must be provided with adequate
housing, handling, sanitation, food, water, transportation, veterinary
care, and shelter.

     The law covers animals that are sold as pets at the wholesale level,
transported in commerce, used for biomedical research, or used for
exhibition purposes.

                                #

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


-----FORWARDER'S COMMENTS:
Can anyone confirm this?  I read a recent post that Womack's license was
reissued under a different name and no penalties were charged.  Is the
road-side zoo really closed down?

Please respond privately.

Thanks!

Bob

Date: Wed, 02 Jul 1997 18:31:13 -0700
From: FARM <[e-mail]>
To: Veg News <[e-mail]>, A/R Wire <[e-mail]>,
        A/R News <[e-mail]>
Subject: Animal Rights Activists Rally in Nation's Capital
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1


Nearly 600 US animal rights activists and other caring folks rallied
in the nationÆs capital on June 26-30th to gain new skills, to network,
and to ærecharge their batteries.Æ  The program of ANIMAL RIGHTS æ97
featured 75 speakers in 66 seminars and workshops, as well as 40 videos
and 60 exhibits.  Over 50  took part in the Lobby Day that followed.
   Presentations addressed abuse of animals in factory farms,
slaughterhouses, laboratories, pounds, circuses, and in the wild, as well
as organizing and outreach skills. Plenary sessions dealt with the state
of our movement, with movement unity, diversity, and communications, and
with strategies for the 21st century. æRapÆ sessions explored the more
controversial issues facing our movement.
   A moving tribute to movement pioneer Henry Spira and a presentation by
recently released whale defender Paul Watson highlighted the program.
Other key speakers included noted physician Neal Barnard, animal rights
movement cofounder Alex Hershaft, Humane Society of the US officers
Michael Fox, John Kullberg, and Howard Lyman, Ingrid Newkirk of PETA, and
Philosophy Professor Tom Regan.
   The Hyatt Regency Hotel near National Airport  served as convention
headquarters.  Delicious vegan meals were provided by the Hyatt and a
nearby hotel.
   This yearÆs convention was sponsored by FARM, a national public
interest organization promoting plant-based eating.  Supporting
organizations included the American Antivivisection Society, AnimalsÆ
Agenda, Beacon Global Advisors, Coalition for Nonviolent Food, Doris Day
Animal League, Humane Society of the US, In Defense of Animals, IntÆl
Society for Animal Rights, New England Antivivisection Society, North
Shore Animal League, PETA, and PCRM.
   For additional information contact FARM at 301-530-1737 after July
13th. Tapes of all sessions are available from Chesapeake Communications
at 410-379-0812.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 22:23:19 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (VA) Milk Billboard Vandalism
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=unknown-8bit


STYLE WEEKLY JULY 1, 1996

Billboard Defacement Is Udder Vandalism

Got veal?

ItÆs not a slogan thatÆs tearing up the ad world, but itÆs doing a
number on billboards advertising milk. Two Richmond billboards have been
defaced recently with animal-rights messages ù the subtler of the two
mischievously asking ôgot veal?ö That message was scrawled across a
billboard near Blockbuster Video in Carytown.

But a more macabre tableau appeared on Cary Street near the Wonder Bread
baking facility. Baseball hero Cal RipkenÆs milk mustache was
transformed into a blood-dripping mess. Next to the words ô3 glasses a
dayö is painted ô= death.ö Another message blares: ôMale dairy cows are
raised as veal.ö That billboard has been replaced.

Tom Pappalardo, vice president and general manager of Lamar Advertising,
the billboard company that handles the poster, downplays the vandalism.
ôIt hasnÆt been an ongoing problem with that product or any other
product,ö he says. ôI donÆt want to create one.ö

Animal-rights groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
would like nothing better than to create a problem.

ôThatÆs very exciting,ö Bruce Friedrich, vegetarian campaign coordinator
for the Norfolk-based group, says enthusiastically. ôI had heard about
billboard alterations going on on a huge scale in California and
Seattle,ö but this, he says, is the first he has heard about any
Richmond ôalterations.ö

ôPeople drinking milk or eating cheese are supporting the veal industry,
which is extremely cruel,ö Friedrich adds. He says male calves born on
dairy farms are used for veal and forced to exist in small crates for
months.

Roughly 20 milk billboards per month ù featuring New York Knicks star
Patrick Ewing and NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon among others ù have been up
for several months, Pappalardo says.

Calls to the Milk Processors Board were not returned by StyleÆs press
time.

Milk has recently been hailed as nutritious by industry boosters and
vilified as the most treacherous threat to health since the plague by
critics including Dr. Benjamin Spock. Meanwhile, ads for the dairy
beverage ù featuring the famous milk mustache ù have soared in
popularity.

ù J.A.G.
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 1997 22:26:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (VA) Milk Billboard Vandalism
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

In a message dated 97-07-02 22:24:08 EDT, you write:

> STYLE WEEKLY JULY 1, 1996

I meant 1997.....woops....

</pre>
                            <!-- END OF PAGE CONTENT -->

    </TD>


    <TD width=50 align=center>

    </TD>
</TR>

                            <!-- THE BOTTOM TOOLBAR -->

<TR>

    <TD colspan=3 align=center fontsize=2>
    <a href="../SUB~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/sub.html">ARRS Tools</a>  |
<a href="../NEWSPA~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/newspage.html">News</a>  |
<a href="../ORGS~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Orgs.html">Orgs</a>  |
<a href="../SEARCH~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/search.html">Search</a>  |
<a href="../SUPPOR~1.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/Support.html">Support</a>  |
<a href="../ABOUT/INDEX.HTM" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/arrs/about">About the ARRS</a>  |
<a href="mailto:[e-mail]">Contact ARRS</a>
    </TD>
</TR>


                                <!-- END OF MAIN -->

</TABLE></center>




        <!-- THE UNDERWRITERS -->

<table border=0 width=100%>
    <tr><td>

<center>    <hr width=285>
<Font Size=1>THIS SITE UNDERWRITTEN IN PART BY:</FONT>
<BR>


<a href="../../../tppmsgs/msgs9.htm#981" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/cgi-bin/show_support.pl?id=t889237342&sec=sbn_bottom&url=http%3a//www.go-organic.com/" target=_top><img src="../../SUPPORT/BANNERS/CROSS-~1/GO-ORG~1.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/support/banners/cross-promotion/go-organic.gif" border=0 alt="Go Organic"></a>


<hr width=285>

    <br><font size=2>
    <b>The views and opinions expressed within this page are not
necessarily those of the <br>EnviroLink Network nor the Underwriters.  The views
are those of the authors of the work.</b></font>
    </center>
    </td></tr>

</table>

</BODY>

</HTML>