Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news65~6.htm/text0000.txt

Text File | 1998-04-02 | 117.7 KB | 2,936 lines

From: [e-mail] (Bob Phelps)
Subject: GE FOOD ALERT

Dear All,

Indications are that the Food Authority has finalised its recommendations
to Health Ministers over a Standard on GE foods. They are likely to
consider the recommendation later this month.

A whisper that labelling will not be required. Thousands of signatures went
to federal parliament and the ALP policy now says 'label', however, it is
state Ministers who will carry most weight.

We need a LETTER TO THE PREMIER OF YOUR OWN STATE OR TERRITORY.

Following is the text of our recent letter to Wooldridge and Premiers. Also
the text of our widely circulated petition.

Hope you can take a moment to write in, no matter how brief.

Best wishes,

Bob
_______________________

February 3, 1998

Dr Michael Wooldridge
Minister for Health
Parliament House
Canberra 2600

Dear Minister,

Re: A standard and labels on genetically engineered foods

Please ensure that a standard on genetically engineered foods is introduced
as soon as possible. ANZFA first sought public submissions on the proposed
standard in 1993 and its latest public discussion paper appeared almost a
year ago, but there is still no resolution.

Until the standard on genetically engineered foods is operating, we urge
you to ban genetically engineered whole foods from the food supply.

Food Authority personnel say the delay in reaching agreement with all
stakeholders on the proposed standard is principally over labelling. ANZFA
and industry have always opposed any general requirement to label
engineered foods but this is clearly out of step with most public opinion,
as confirmed by numerous credible surveys here and overseas which show that
around 90% of people want comprehensive labelling. For example, in the
DIST-commissioned ISSS study by Jonathan Kelley of ANU (1993), 67% of
people said they would try genetically engineered foods, but 89% said they
would not buy such foods if they were unlabelled.

We propose that all foods or food products covered by a patent, plant
breeders right or other intellectual property right protection (including
genetically engineered foods) should be labelled, at least for the duration
of that monopoly ownership.

The need for labelling arises from the novelty of engineered foods which
often contain genes and proteins never in food before. Some will also
contain elevated levels of synthetic chemicals and toxins as a result of
using gene technology. For example, Roundup residues in Roundup Ready
(herbicide tolerant) crops, and Bt microbial toxins.

The safety of new foods entering the food supply has generally been based
on a long term history of safe use, so a precautionary approach should be
taken to all novel foods which have no such history. Pre-market human
testing, post-release monitoring, and an adverse reactions register are
needed, particularly to protect the growing number of people who are immune
compromised, have allergies or are hyper-sensitive to dietary and
environmental substances. Labelling is necessary to empower food buyers to
make fully informed choices on their own behalf.

Industry argues it need not label because engineered foods and their
conventional counterparts are 'substantially equivalent'. But 'substantial'
is undefined and 'equivalence' is judged only on a restricted range of
criteria. It is a public relations concept created by industry to assuage
public concern and legitimate claims for the right to know how food is
produced.

The food industry cannot have it both ways. At the Industrial Property
Rights office they claim a monopoly over new food crops on the basis of
their novelty and the inventive processes which lead to their creation. But
to regulators and the public they claim genetically engineered foods are no
different from conventional counterparts and therefore need not be
labelled.

Industry also claims that labelling may imply a negative difference from
other products. This enters the realm of advertising and promotion whereas
all agree that labels are basically to provide information. What people
choose as a result of the information on labels is their own business.
Indeed, much process information is already provided voluntarily by food
processors, in recognition of a broad public commitment to foods that are
produced without damage to the environment, workers health, safety, and
rights, and with minimal cruelty to animals.

In summary, the new standard on genetically engineered foods should be
developed and agreed to as soon as possible. It should require such foods
to be labelled at least for the period of monopoly ownership, since such
exclusive ownership is based on their novelty. Labelling would also satisfy
the buyers right to know.

Yours sincerely,





Bob Phelps
Director

Cc ANZFA
_______________________________________

PETITION TO THE AUSTRALIAN SENATE

A CALL TO LABEL GENETICALLY ENGINEERED FOODS AND FOOD PRODUCTS

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Australia, call on all
Senators to support implementation of the following:

*       a requirement to label with the production process, all foods from
genetic engineering technologies or containing their products;
*       real public participation in decisions on whether to allow
commercialisation of foods, additives and processing agents produced by
gene technologies;
*       premarket human trials and strict safety rules on these foods, to
assess production processes as well as the end products.

Precedents which support of our petition include several examples of foods
already labelled with the processes of production: irradiated foods (here
and internationally); certified organic foods; and many conventional foods
(pasteurised; salt-reduced; free-range; vitamin-enriched; to name only a
few).

We ask you all to accord a high priority to supporting and implementing our
petition.
________________________________________

If the mood takes you, please also follow up with a letter similar to the
following:

February 3, 1998

John Anderson
Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
Parliament House
Canberra   2600

Dear Minister,

Please direct AQIS to test shipments of imported dry soybeans for Roundup
herbicide residues. If illegal levels of the chemicals are found, we ask
you to ban the beans from the Australian food supply.

Since we first made this request in 1996, the Australia New Zealand Food
Authority has rejected Monsanto's application via the NRA, for a 200-fold
increase in the Roundup MRL in imported dry soybeans to 20mg/kg. It is
unlikely for further consideration to be given to such a proposal soon.

The legal MRL thus remains at .1mg/kg.

Yet changed agricultural practices in the USA, as a result of the
introduction of Roundup into broad-acre agriculture, make it probable that
the current MRL is being exceeded because:

*       Roundup Ready crops, which have substantially increased in acreage
this season, can be often sprayed with Roundup, less carefully and at
higher doses by US farmers for greater weed kills, without damaging the
crop;
*       Monsanto now recommends that US farmers desiccate their crops with
Roundup just prior to harvest, to remove leaves and twigs which may jam
harvesting machines;
*       Monsanto says Roundup has an average half-life of 60 days in soil
and 14 days in water, so it is also likely to persist in foods from plants
sprayed directly with it.

The health of Australians may be adversely impacted, particularly those who
eat soy because they are immune compromised, hyper-allergic, menopausal or
recovering from cancer. Soy is especially recommended by doctors and other
professionals for these groups. But because soy is in a very large number
of processed foods and is not generally labelled, it is difficult for food
buyers to make informed choices about the soy they eat.

It is very important that the legality and safety of soybean shipments be
established at the port of entry before they enter the food supply. Again,
we therefore urge you to have all imported soy shipments tested for Roundup
pollution, and kept out of Australia if they exceed current Maximum Residue
Levels.

Yours sincerely,






Bob Phelps
Director


Bob Phelps
Director
Australian GeneEthics Network
c/- ACF 340 Gore Street, Fitzroy. 3065 Australia
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] {Int Code (613)}
email: [e-mail]
WWW: http://www.peg.apc.org/~acfgenet  (under construction)


=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweet    |  .  |
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)

Jesus was a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620/essene.htm
for more information.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
       - Voltaire

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 14:50:42 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (NZ)More sea lion deaths a concern
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> email: [e-mail]
>
> Elayne Ravji FOENZ
>
> Department of Conservation Press Release 4 February 1998
>
> More Sea Lion Deaths a Concern
>
> This is the first in a series of written updates on the New Zealand sea
> lion mass mortality event. The updates will be issued by the Department
of
> Conservation on a regular basis as new information comes to hand, and
will
> also be available on its website, "www.doc.govt.nz".
>
> The number of dead sea lion pups and adults found on subantarctic islands
> is increasing, the Department of Conservation reports.
>
> Reporting from the Auckland Islands, DOC-contracted vet Nick Gales said
> total sea lion pup mortality was now 45 percent, or 1353 pups, out of a
> total pup population of 3033 pups at the Auckland Islands group. While
the
> pup deaths on Figure of Eight Island was above normal, Dr Gales had not
> observed any symptoms of the disease.
>
> Location.         Total pups born.  No. dead pups.   % mortality
>
> Dundas                    2374                1145                    48

>
> Island
>
> Sandy Bay               488                   154                     31
> (Enderby Island)
>
> Figure of Eight          120                   34                      28
> Island
>
>
> South East                51                    20                  20

> Point
> (Enderby Island)
>
> TOTAL:                  3033                 1353                     45
>
> At Davies Point on Campbell Island, 24 dead pups had been found and two
of
> six adult females there appeared to have symptoms.
>
> About 95 percent of the sea lions breed on two small islands, Dundas and
> Enderby, which are part of the Auckland Islands group.
>
> DOC marine mammal expert Mike Donoghue said the deaths of adult sea
lions,
> especially the females or cows, was a greater concern as it meant the
> remaining sea lion pups will die from starvation if their mothers did not
> return with food for them, in addition to losing potentially pregnant
> females. Cows usually left their pups while they foraged for food for up
to
> three to five days, so it was difficult to know when or if the mothers
> would return.
>
> Mr Donoghue said an unknown number of adults might have died at sea so
the
> exact extent of adult mortality might never be known. Update figures on
the
> estimate of dead adults were expected tomorrow morning.
>
> Dr Gales fitted seven Enderby Island cows with satellite tags about two
> weeks ago but only three had returned, suggesting the remaining four cows
> had died. Seven sea lion pups were also tagged at the same time, and four
> pups had since died.
>
> Minister of Conservation Nick Smith said the latest information on adult
> sea lion deaths was tragic.
>
> "The New Zealand sea lion had already been pushed to the brink of
> extinction in the early 19th century and we were beginning to have
success
> with small increases in the population over the last few years. The news
> about adults dying is very sad and we will need to keep a close eye on
the
> remaining animals over the coming days and weeks."
>
> Dr Smith said a decision to review the sea lion bycatch from the squid
> fishery, will be made when further information on the cause of the deaths
> is known later in the month.
>
> Post-mortem examinations of dead sea lion pups and other samples brought
> back from the Auckland Islands were being conducted by the Massey
> University Cetacean Investigation Centre in Palmerston North, in
> conjunction with MAF. No results were expected immediately, and DOC would
> release final results when they were received.
>
> Mr Donoghue said the three most likely possible causes of the deaths were
a
> virus, a bacteria or a biotoxin, although it could be weeks before any
> definite results were available.
>
> New Zealand sea lions, previously known as Hooker's sea lions, are one of
> the world's rarest sea lion. Classified as threatened, the estimated
> population is between 11,000 and 15,000 and they are confined to the
> southern waters of New Zealand. They have been legally protected since
late
> last century and are New Zealand's only endemic seal species.
>
> For further information, please contact Nicola Patrick, Department of
> Conservation Public Awareness Unit on 04-4713117 or 025-571503.
>

=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweet    |  .  |
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)

Jesus was a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620/essene.htm
for more information.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
       - Voltaire

Date: Tue, 03 Feb 1998 23:30:14 PST
From: "Cari Gehl" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Fwd: Minke blubber from Norway to Iceland?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: text/plain

Forward from the MARMAM mailing list:

------------->
>Dear Marmamers,
>An Icelandic businessman plans to import up to 100 tonnes of minke
whale
>blubber from
>Norway. An application for an export licence is now being processed by
>the Norwegian authorities, who in turn expect to furnish a reply within
>a couple of weeks. The Icelandic authorities have already announced
that
>they will permit the import of whale products.
>
>For further details about this application, see the High North Web
News,
>2 February, enter http://www.highnorth.no, and click then on the News
>button.
>
>Sincerely
>Rune Frovik
>High North Alliance, [e-mail], http://www.highnorth.no
>


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 15:50:38 +0000
From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Mainland to export live chickens to Hong Kong
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

HONG KONG consumers will have their first chance to buy live chickens since
an epidemic of bird flu swept the area late last year.

A total of 38,000 live chickens will have been transported to Hong Kong
from the Chinese mainland by this coming Saturday.

People in Hong Kong will be able to buy live chickens on Sunday from all
the markets, China News Service reported.

According to officials with Guangnanhang Co, Guangdong Province's poultry
export agency, 14,000 of the chickens will come from Shenzhen and the
others from other chicken farms in the province.

Because of the bird flu quarantine, the chickens will not reach markets
until Sunday.

The source said that the number of chickens exported to Hong Kong in the
future will depend on the sales of the first batch.

The price for live chickens is not expected to increase greatly.

Prior to the breakout of bird flu in Hong Kong, Guangnanhang Co shipped
about 100,000 live chickens to Hong Kong every day, 80 per cent of them
cultivated in Guangdong Province.

On January 23, World Health Organization officials announced that the bird
flu, which caused a panic in Hong Kong and left sales of chicken
plummeting, was unlikely to have come from the mainland.

No case had been detected either in humans or among poultry in Guangdong
Province.

The organization made the announcement after summing up its week-long
inspection of influenza surveillance in southern China.

Until the day before the announcement, many people believed the virus was
carried to Hong Kong through importation of live chickens from Guangdong
Province. [POSTER'S NOTE - THEY STILL DO SO BELIEVE!]

The mainland stopped exporting chickens to Hong Kong on December 24.

And from December 29 to 31, Hong Kong killed 1.5 million live poultry to
prevent the spread of the bird flu.

Ever since the slaughter, no case of humans infected by the bird flu has
been reported.

Although no cases of A H5N1 bird flu in human beings and chickens have been
reported in the South China province, Guangdong will further tighten its
testing for the bird flu virus over the next six months, said Xu Dezhi,
director of the Guangdong Commission of Foreign Trade and Economic
Co-operation.

According to the Chinese news service, Xinhua, local chicken dealers report
that the sales of chicken have come near to normal levels over the past
week in Macao.

(CD News)
Date: 02/04/98
Copyright⌐ by China Daily
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 01:37:46 PST
From: "Cari Gehl" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Fwd: STOP KANSAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: text/plain

This is forwarded from rec.pets.herp:

-------------------begin forwarded message--------------------

STOP KANSAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP

There is only one form of entertainment in the United States in which
people gather and pay money to watch live wild animals tormented,
ridiculed, and then butchered by means that can take up to an hour to
terminate life. It puts participants at a substantial health risk,
dismisses sanctioned wildlife management procedures, and exposes
children to adult behaviors that are dangerous and inhumane.

Only a handful of states bear the shame of being home to rattlesnake
roundups and in 1992, Kansas joined this ignoble clan. In 1994, against
the advice of the Kansas Wildlife Federation, the Kansas Audubon
Council, the Topeka Zoo, the Sedgwick County Zoo, the Kansas
Herpetological Society, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
(KDWP), a Bill to legalize commercial sale of native prairie
rattlesnakes became law. The expressed purpose of this Bill was
to enhance rattlesnake roundup activities in Kansas.

The Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, KS has had a Bill (HB2370) drafted
and introduced which would revoke the changes enacted through the 1994
legislation. We have collected 23,442 signatures from zoo visitors who
oppose roundups. Larry Miller, a biology teacher in Topeka, KS has
championed an intensive letter-writing campaign through his students. We
are now trying to get a hearing for HB2370 but are up against a
Chairperson, Rep. Flowers, who "has an admitted bias against
rattlesnakes" and "does not expect to grant us a hearing".  We expect
that she will make a final decision within the next week
or two.

I have not been able to sway Rep. Flowers by topics of environmental
ethics or animal cruelty.

As are all legislators, I'm sure that she is concerned about public
perception of our fine state. IF YOU HAVE READ THE ARTICLE IN THE
PREMIERE ISSUE OF "AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION"  ENTITLED
"RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUPS IN KANSAS, A BRIEF HISTORY", please write her and
bring that to her attention.

Let her (politely) know your perception of our state given that roundups
occur here. Rep. Flowers is certainly concerned with human health risks,
although she has dismissed any dangerous
behaviors taught to children as being "no worse than watching TV" (of
course, our state law does not endorse TV violence like it does
rattlesnake roundups).

She has since received several letters from educators who strongly
disagree!

Other health issues are:

     1) roundups invite snake bite: two people were bitten at last year's
roundup

     2) uninspected meat from blatantly unhealthy (dehydrated, broken)
snakes is served.

I would like to think that Kansas roundups can be stopped before they
become deeply rooted here. If you would like to help us get a hearing
for Bill 2370, please contact the following two people:


Representative Joann Flower
Chairperson, House Agriculture Committee
[e-mail]

Representative Galen Weiland
Ranking Democrat, House Agriculture Committee
[e-mail]

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Karen S. Graham
Curator of Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fishes
Sedgwick County Zoo
5555 Zoo Blvd
Wichita, KS 67212
[phone] ext. 229
[phone] fax
[e-mail] (Karen S. Graham)
--------------------end forwarded message----------------------------

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 01:43:43 PST
From: "Cari Gehl" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Fwd: KANSAS RATTLESNAKE ROUDUP UPDATE
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: text/plain

An update on the situation from rec.pets.herp:

-----------------------begin forwarded message-----------------

KANSAS RATTLESNAKE ROUNDUP UPDATE

     2 February 1998

Greetings,

I just received a phone call from Representative Douglas Johnston in
regard to HB 2370.  He told me that HB 2370 (the bill he wrote to stop
thecomercialization of rattlesnakes in Kansas) still has a chance.  It
is in the agriculture committee, and the chairperson is Representative
Joann Flower.  Rep. Flower would rather not hold a hearing on the bill,
but she is receiving a LOT of calls, letters, and e-mail requesting a
hearing. Thus, she still might decide to hold a hearing.  Rep. Johnston
said the mail she receives in the next few days may prove the deciding
factor.

I know many of you have already either called, wrote, or e-mailed Rep.
Flower.  It would be helpful if you could find one or more others that
would do the same very soon.  Your message can be short and to the
point, or it can give details as to why you feel a hearing is needed on
HB 2370. Rep. Flower can be contacted using the addresses below.
Messages from people living in rural areas or from people living in
states other than Kansas are important.

     Representative Joann Flower
     The State Capitol Building
     Topeka, KS 66612

     or

     e-mail:   [e-mail]

WE must act now if we are to have a chance with this leglislation.  It
may be a long shot, but EVERY message of support for HB 2370 may have an
impact.

Another bill that would ban the importation of venomous snakes that are
not native to Kansas should be assigned to a committee very soon
according to Rep. Johnston.  It is an excellent bill, and it has been
introduced in the past.  The problem has been that it never made it out
of committee due to the committee chairperson.  I will give you more
details on that bill when I receive them.  Also, if any of you have
informaiton please feel free to forward it to the others.

Thanks again for all of your help.


Larry L. Miller, Instructor
Environmental Action Class
Topeka Collegiate School
2200 S.W. Eveningside Drive
Topeka, KS 66614

---------------------------end forwarded message----------------------

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 18:17:57 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (Aust)Urgent letters needed GE crops
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Friends,

HERBICIDE TOLERANT CROP PLANTS ARE TO BE COMMERCIALISED. MORE
CHEMICALS IN
FOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENT!

WITH THE HOLIDAYS, WE OVERLOOKED THE PROPOSALS, DUE FOR COMMENT
NOW.

WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET MORE DETAIL FROM THE COMPANIES ASAP AND
WILL SEND
DETAILS.

THE NATIONAL REGISTRATION AUTHORITY ON AGVET CHEMICALS WOULD
ALSO HAVE TO
REGISTER THESE PLANTS FOR SPRAYING WITH HERBICIDE. THAT WILL BE DONE
AFTER
GMAC'S ASSESSMENT. WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.

GMAC PROMISED NOT TO 'APPROVE' ANY HERBICIDE TOLERANT CROPS UNTIL A
NATIONAL STRATEGY IS PUT IN PLACE. THERE IS NO SUCH YET AND WE WANT
AN OPEN
PUBLIC PROCESS TO DEVELOP IT.

PLEASE IMMEDIATELY MAKE COMMENTS/PROTESTS TO:

The Secretary
Genetic Manipulation Advisory Committee
GPO Box 2183
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

__________________________________________________________________________

GR-5: General release of glufosinate ammonium (Basta Herbicide) tolerant
hybrid canola cultivars

                                        AgrEvo Pty Ltd
 Organisation proposing release:        1731 Malvern Road
                                        Glen Iris VIC 3134
 Organism to be released:               Canola (Brassica napus)

Brief description of the nature and effect of the genetic modification:

A new system has been developed for making hybrid varieties of canola. (Hybrid
varieties of canola provide higher yields.) The system involves ensuring
that plants cross-pollinate (with other canola plants) rather than
self-pollinate. To ensure that the plants cross-pollinate, a bacterial gene
conferring male-sterility has been introduced into the plants. A second line
of plants contains a bacterial gene that restores fertility, so that the
hybrid formed when the two lines cross is fertile.

Selectable marker genes, encoding resistance to the herbicide glufosinate
ammonium (Basta) and the antibiotics kanamycin and neomycin, were also
transferred to the transgenic plants. This gene was inserted to allow
identification and selection of the transgenic plant cells in the
laboratory.

Further information: The institution's contact officer for this proposal is
Mr Peter Whitehouse, telephone [phone], facsimile [phone].

__________________________________________________________________________

GR-4: Evaluation of Roundup Ready (Roundup Tolerant) cotton grown under
commercial use
conditions

                                        Monsanto Australia Limited
 Organisation proposing release:        PO Box 6051
                                        St Kilda Road Central VIC 8008
 Organism to be released:               Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

Brief description of the nature and effect of the genetic modification:

The cotton plants have been modified to express the
5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene from the soil
bacterium, Agrobacterium. This gene produces a protein which confers
tolerance to glyphosate (the active constituent in the herbicide Roundup).

In addition, the plants express a selectable marker gene from the bacterium
Escherichia coli, neomycin phosphotransferase, which confers resistance to
the antibiotics kanamycin and neomycin. This gene was inserted to allow
identification and selection of the transgenic plant cells in the
laboratory.

Some cultivars will also express the CryIA(c) gene, derived from the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. This produces a highly specific
insecticidal protein (Bt) that is toxic to the major caterpillar pests of
cotton. The Bt protein is non-toxic to humans, other animals and most other
insects.

Further information: The institution's contact officer for this proposal is
Ms Marion Sheers, telephone [phone].
_________________________________________________________________________


Bob Phelps
Director
Australian GeneEthics Network
c/- ACF 340 Gore Street, Fitzroy. 3065 Australia
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] {Int Code (613)}
email: [e-mail]
WWW: http://www.peg.apc.org/~acfgenet  (under construction)


=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweet    |  .  |
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)

Jesus was a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620/essene.htm
for more information.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
       - Voltaire

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 18:20:12 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (NZ)More on sea lion deaths
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> Elayne Ravji FOENZ
>
> Evening Standard 4/2/98
>
> Wellington- Massey University scientists trying
> to find the cause of the deaths of hundreds of
> Hookers sea lions say while the present epidemic
> would dent the population, it was likely to recover
> over time.
> Cetacean investigation centre director Per Madie said
> yesterday it was "highly unlikely" the entire population
> would be wiped out an organism because it would wipe
> itself out by killing off its host.
> But, he added, scientists were no closer to finding out
> what had killed the seal lions. The Department of
> Conservation said as many as 1000 adults and 1400
> pups had been found dead in the Auckland Islands group,
> 320km south of New Zealand.
> DOC public awareness co-ordinater for the Southland
> conservancy, Tom O' Conner, said the bodies of adult
> females were being washed up on the shore, making
> the situation more serious.
> "For every dead female, thats one pup on the beach
> that starves," he said.
> Adult females were again pregnant so the embryos would
> also die if the females were struck by the mystery illness.
> Mr Madie said an autopsy of two pups had found a slight
> lung infection but that could be unrelated to the deaths.
> It was initially believed a virus might be responsible for
> the deaths but so far there had been no evidence to
> confirm that.
> The team was now culturing tissue samples in the hope
> the micro-organism causing the deaths would become
> apparent.
> However, that was likely to take weeks.
> If the deaths were caused by a virus, the only remedy
> would be a vaccine, which could take years to develop.
> NZPA.
>

=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweet    |  .  |
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)

Jesus was a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620/essene.htm
for more information.

It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.
       - Voltaire

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 18:27:02 +0000
From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (HK) The slaughter that saved lives
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Slaughter: had the authorities not ordered the killing of chickens in Hong
Kong, the virus may have had time to find the right 'code', enabling it to
spread through the air.

South China Morning Post - 4th February, 1998 - by MARGARET CHENG

The Hong Kong Government may have attracted a barrage of criticism when it
decided to slaughter all Hong Kong's chickens, but researchers in the
frontline believe that that one decision may have saved the world from the
worst influenza pandemic ever seen.

Professor Robert Webster, one of the world's leading experts on bird and
human influenza viruses said, "By killing everything in the markets they
have probably saved the world . . . It is possible the health department
prevented the next pandemic of influenza, so I applaud them."

Mr Webster, a professor of virology at St Jude Children's Research Hospital
in Memphis, in the United States, spent most of January in Hong Kong
working with a Hong Kong University research team, trying to get ahead of
the H5N1 virus before it has another go at killing humans.

With no new cases appearing in the past month, and live chickens due to
return to the markets this weekend, research teams around the world are
trying to take stock of what they have learned so far.

They have genetically analysed versions of the virus found in proven human
cases, as well as versions found in chickens, and earlier versions found in
other birds. They have also studied the behaviour of the virus in
laboratory animals to see if it can adapt easily to species other than
birds. Their findings are chilling.

There was a lot of panic about the bird flu and much of the anxiety was
misplaced, based on ignorance and fear of the unknown. But had people known
what the laboratory teams now know, they would have had genuine cause for
those fears.

Professor Webster's team injected the H5N1 virus into mice to see if it
would pass easily from an infected mouse to an uninfected mouse, and also
to see whether it would grow and change within those mice.

Not only did it pass very rapidly from rodent to rodent, the H5N1 refined
its killing skills as it went through the mouse population.

After infecting just a few, it developed the ability to go straight to the
mouse's brain, infect and destroy it. This quality, described as
neurovirulence, meant it could kill rapidly and effectively. Professor
Webster found the results astonishing. "It's very hot in mice even though
mice are not a natural host for influenza," he said. "There is something
unique about this virus."

The fact that H5N1 infected chickens, killing them rapidly and
dramatically, was unusual, said Professor Webster. The H5N1 bird influenza
virus has been seen before, but not in chickens - it turned up in turkeys
in England a few years ago, but did not infect humans.

The speed with which H5N1 kills chickens is also unusual. While bird
influenza viruses have decimated chicken populations before, they usually
took a few days. But in Hong Kong, H5N1 wiped out entire sheds of chickens
within a day.

Professor Ken Shortridge of Hong Kong University described the rapid deaths
of chickens he had seen at the Cheung Sha Wan wholesale market, saying, "We
would see poultry still eating. Then they'd keel over with blood coming
from their cloaca [ano-urinary opening]."

The same sort of death occurred during the world's worst documented
influenza pandemic in 1918. That pandemic killed between 20 and 40 million
people, most of them healthy young adults.

Young soldiers would faint on the parade ground and be taken off to the
medical tent. Within a few hours they would die, often haemorrhaging so
violently the blood would hit the side of the tent.

Knowing this, and seeing what was happening in the chickens and the mice,
the scientists dealing with the Hong Kong H5N1 knew they were up against
something potentially deadlier than anything seen in decades.

"There's something special about this virus that we really don't
understand," said Professor Webster.

Ebola, the African virus, though terrifying, does not pass as easily from
person to person as a human influenza virus - you need to be in direct
contact with infected body fluids to get it. However, influenza - like the
common cold and human black plague virus - can be transmitted by "aerosol"
- the droplets we breathe out every time we exhale.

In crowded places like Hong Kong, where people live in cramped apartments,
travel to work in overcrowded buses and trains, and work penned up like
battery hens in offices, such a virus can move through the population at
high speed.

However, all the evidence assembled so far suggests the H5N1 virus has not
yet learned the trick of spreading itself this way. Bird influenza viruses
spread through infected faeces.

When H5N1 spread through chickens in farms and markets, it travelled easily
because the birdcages were up against one another, with the faeces from
infected birds falling into their neighbours' cages.

Professor Webster said that where cages were properly separated, you would
see one row of dead birds and another of perfectly healthy birds.

While the H5N1 does not seem to have developed this vital ability to spread
through the air yet, Professor Webster and his colleagues believe it is not
far off doing so.

The virus has already changed quite a bit in the 18 people infected to
date. When genetically analysed, the virus found in those 18 is different
enough to fall into two groups.

This means the virus is doing what other influenza viruses do - mutating
each time it copies itself. It operates like a massive computer trying
different codes, changing combinations, then trying those combinations to
see if they will unlock barriers.

It has already developed the code needed to cause serious illness in
humans. Evidence that some poultry workers have developed antibodies to the
H5N1 virus without developing the illness suggests that in earlier versions
the virus did not have the ability to invade human systems effectively
enough to cause serious illness.

H5N1 has killed 30 per cent of its known human victims to date. Among them,
the children who contracted the virus had a milder illness and survived -
apart from the first victim, who may have died from being given aspirin
(which should never be given to children with a fever). But nearly all the
teenagers and adults fared very badly. In the adult/teenager group, more
than 60 per cent died, while others spent months in intensive care.

Had the Government not stepped in, the virus would have gone on infecting
chickens and people, and it would have had time to find the right code to
enable it to spread through the air.

"If you just let this alone and had not done something, sooner or later it
would have found the right one to go from human to human," said Professor
Webster.

Now we are entering the next phase of the game as the live chickens are
brought back. It is imperative that these birds be kept away from ducks and
geese, the birds known to harbour the H5N1 virus.

In ducks, geese and other water birds, the virus has no effect, remaining
hidden and seemingly harmless. But once transferred to chickens, it changes
quickly enough to pose a threat to humans, hence the need to segregate the
bird species. An important unknown in this dangerous game is whether H5N1
has been eradicated by killing the main source - the chickens - or whether
it is still silently passing, in a non-pathogenic form (a form which does
not cause noticeable illness) through humans.

"We just have to hope there's not any virus silently ticking away out
there," said Professor Webster. "There's no guarantee . . . we haven't
ruled that out."

That missing piece of the jigsaw may be found in the middle of this month,
with the release of the results of a Centre for Diseases Control (CDC)
study of thousands of people in Hong Kong.

"The CDC did a very detailed epidemiological study of whether there was
silent passage in humans. It will give a much better idea," said Professor
Webster.

But amidst all these questions, one thing does seem clear. The world was
given a desperately needed breathing space - maybe even a big head start -
on this killer, because the Hong Kong authorities ignored the political
fallout and did their best to eradicate the source of the infection.

How big that start is, or even whether, as some are daring to hope, the
human virus has been smothered at birth, remains to be seen.

"Every day that passes without a new case, is a day closer to the year
needed to say there is no more," said Professor Webster.

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 07:15:49 -0800
From: Ilene Rachford <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Fur  Segment on TV
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

For those in the Dayton, Ohio area...

WHIO-TV. Channel 7 news, will run a two-part segment on fur, Thursday
and Friday, February 5 and 6 on the 11:00 PM news.

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 10:14:08 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: USDA Animal Care to Hold Public Meeting in May
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>                                   Jim Rogers     [phone]
>                                           [e-mail]
>                                   Jerry Redding [phone]
>                                                   [e-mail]
>
>
>ANIMAL CARE TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETING IN MAY
>
>       WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 1998--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service animal care program plans to
>hold a public meeting to discuss the animal welfare program and
>initiatives.
>
>       "This is your meeting," said Michael V. Dunn, assistant secretary for
>marketing and regulatory programs.  "In order to better serve our
>customers, we are asking the public to submit agenda topics for this
>meeting."
>
>       The public meeting will be held at the USDA Conference Center,
>4700 River Road, Riverdale, Md. 20737, on Tuesday, May 12.
>Registration will take place from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.  The meeting will begin
>immediately after registration and end at 5 p.m.
>
>       APHIS is requesting meeting topics from the general public, animal
>researchers, exhibitors, dealers, transporters, and animal interest
>groups.  To submit a topic or for more information on the public meeting
>contact W. Ron DeHaven, acting deputy administrator, Animal Care,
>APHIS, 4700 River Road, Unit 81, Riverdale, Md. 20737, [phone]
>or fax on [phone].  Suggestions for the meeting must be received
>by March 16.
>
>       Notice of the public meeting is scheduled for publication in the
>Feb. 4 Federal Register.
>
>                                       #


Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
[e-mail]

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 10:45:05 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Andriana Furs in Trouble, Protest at Creditors Meeting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

For Immediate Release
February 3rd, 1998






Major Furrier in Debt, Activists
To Rally at Creditors Meeting, Then Controversial Mink Farm

Chicago- Andriana Furs, a major Chicago retailer, is reportedly $5 million in
debt and will be holding a creditors meeting at the offices of their attorney
Fagel & Haber, 140 South Dearborn on Wednesday the Fourth.

Chicago members of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, a Dallas based
organization, say that they will hold a 2:20 PM rally outside the law offices,
hoping to influence creditors to show no leniency towards the fur chain.
Confrontations are expected.

"Because of Andriana, hundreds of thousands of animals have been anally
electrocuted, gassed, or had their necks broken.  Their decline, and eventual
demise, is one of the best things that could happen for the animals that we
share this planet with," declared CAFT spokesperson Fred Tyler.

Inside sources indicate that while Andriana had done $22 million in sales in
1996, that figure had dropped to $10 million in 1997.  "This was the year that
the fur industry sent out a barrage of press releases claiming that they were
back," said CAFT executive director J.P. Goodwin, "but a sales decline of over
50% at Andriana proves that they were simply playing with numbers, hoping that
the people would fall for it."

Andriana has already announced that they have lost their lease on their store
at 919 Michigan Ave.

The animal rights organization has announced that they will then go to Downers
Grove to hold a 5:30 PM vigil outside of Charles Ide Mink ranch at 8250
Edgewood Dr. Last summer thousands of mink were released from the Ide mink
ranch by the underground Animal Liberation Front.  CAFT activists hope to
influence the town to shut the farm down on the grounds of animal cruelty.

-30-

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 11:06:41 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: Ringling Elephant ALERT!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Baby Elephant Dies After Ringling Performance

Whistleblowers called PETA to report that on January 24, Ringling Bros. Circus
forced Kenny, an endangered Asian baby elephant, to perform three shows even
though he was sick.  Soon after the third show ended, the 3-year-old elephant
died.  According to the federal Animal Welfare Act, Ringling is required to
provide adequate veterinary care to it animals.  Please urge the U. S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) to suspend Ringling Brothers' exhibitor
license immediately pending a thorough investigation into Kenny's death and
the veterinary treatment he received.  Please tell Sears that its sponsorship
of Ringling Bros. should stop.

Write to:

Ron DeHaven, D.V.M.
Deputy Administrator
Animal Care
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Unit 97 4700 River Road
Riverdale, MD 20737

email:  [e-mail]
fax:    [phone]
phone:  [phone]


Arthur Martinez, Chairman & CEO
Sears, Roebuck & Co.
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, Il 60179
phone:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 98 11:05:08 UTC
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Sears and Ringling Bros.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

I'd like to suggest, too, that when you all write Sears asking them to
stop sponsoring Ringling Bros., that you tell them emphatically that
you will boycott Sears until you hear that they have stopped sponsoring
Ringling Bros., and that you will encourage your friends, relatives, and
acquaintances to do the same!!!!!

Sherrill
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 11:29:28 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas Update
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

     Last night the Dane County Public Works Commision met and considered the
resolution to develop a choice of options for the future disposition of the
Henry Vilas Zoo's 150 macaques.
     Once again, the small audience was mostly pro-monkey, but the University
of Wisconsin Primate Center had brought reinforcements.  Beside the interim
director, the center's head veterinarian, and the center's animal use
coordinator also attended.
     We heard from these three staff members that they really love monkeys and
have their best interest at heart. They told the Commission that going to
the Tulane Regional Primate Research Center would be a wonderful experience
for the monkeys.  They also stated that all the folks down at Tulane love
monkeys too.  It sounded sort of like Club Med for macaques.
     And then one of the Commission members asked about Peter Gerone (Tulane's
imfamous director), and wasn't it true that he had been an outspoken critic
of any improvement to lab animal housing and care when Congress had been
discussing such matters? And maybe Tulane was monkey-hell.
     And people spoke who know all these monkeys by name.

     The Public Works Commission was rumored to be the most conservative and
most difficult of the current hurdles before the monkeys.
     Last night at about 9 p.m. the Commission voted unanimously to approve the
resolution.  Futher, they began to question why the University's breach of
its agreement with the Zoo has not been considered by the county's legal
staff.

     The next hurdle before these high-hurdling monkeys is the Dane County Ways
and Means Commission.  They will once again need your support and calls.
     In response to a letter from the County Executive's office to the UW
asking for a 45 day delay in moving the monkeys to Tulane, the UW has
replied that it will grant a 30 day stay. The monkeys have a window of
opportunity now.
     Locally, we will use this time to develop more options and continue our
search for a compassionate and safe final home for our friends.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 12:11:34 -0500
From: "Patrick Tohill" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Serengeti's Lions Saved from Deadly Dog Disease
Message-ID: <01bd318f$f22901e0$LocalHost@siliasmi>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
     boundary="----=_NextPart_000_001B_01BD3166.0952F9E0"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
(w) 416-369-0044(h) 416-538-1972

SERENGETI'S LIONS SAVED FROM DEADLY DOG DISEASE

TORONTO, February 4, 1998--The prognosis for lions in Africa's famous
SerengetiNational Park is looking much better, according to researchers
working in the park. Anoutbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) killed over
a thousand lions in 1994--a third ofwhat is already an endangered
population. The virus, fairly common in dogs, is often fatalto lions,
killing at least half of all infected animals.
To combat this problem, the World Society for
the Protection of Animals (WSPA)launched "Project Life Lion".
Researchers knew the virus was originating in Tanzania'sdog population. Mass
vaccinations of the region's dogs were carried out in an effort tocreate a
mobile living buffer zone against the spread of the disease.

Nearly 12,000 dogs have been vaccinated since
the project began in November 1996.Another 500 to 700 dogs are being
vaccinated each week. By March, researchers aim tohave vaccinated at least
70 per cent of the dogs in the 50 nearest villages.

Three years into the project, the lions at last
show signs of a comeback. During theepidemic, one population of lions had
dropped from 240 to 142 lions. However, over ahundred cubs have since been
born. Researchers are monitoring vaccinated dogs for anysigns of the disease
reappearing but so far it appears to have been eliminated.  "Lion
numbers continue to increase with no clinical signs of canine distemper in
thepopulation since the 1994 epidemic," said Dr. Sarah Cleveland, WSPA
Consultant inTanzania. "We have had no cases of rabies in the
vaccination zone since July 1997, whichsuggests that the vaccination program
is also starting to have a marked impact on theincidence of this
disease."

Although the vaccination program appears to be
working, the scars of the past epidemicremain as a reminder that the work
must continue and blood samples are beingcontinually taken from vaccinated
animals to ensure that the virus has not re-emerged.

Photos available upon request.

Regards
Patrick TohillCommunications OfficerWSPA
Canada44 Victoria St., Suite 1310Toronto, ON M5C 1Y2In Canada
1-800-363-WSPAIn Toronto 416-369-0044
The World Society for the Protection of Animals
has been at the forefront of animal protection and wildlife conservation for
more than 40 years. Recognized by the United Nations, WSPA represents more than
300 member societies in over 70 countries.
Visit WSPA's website at http://www.way.net/wspa/



Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 12:59:52 -0800
From: Mesia Quartano <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Shy lion rescued from Mexican street, taken to zoo
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

01:04 PM ET 02/03/98

Shy lion rescued from Mexican street, taken to zoo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A homeless baby lion found hiding under a car in
one of Mexico City's roughest neighborhoods was captured with lassos and
taken to a zooTuesday, firemen who rescued it said.

"We took it to a circus but they said they didn't have any lions, so we
took it to the Chapultepec Zoo instead,'' fireman Israel Mendoza Sanchez
of Mexico City's central fire station told Reuters.

"Maybe it was someone's pet.''

The six-month-old female lion was found by traffic reporters working for
a Mexico City radio station in the asphalt jungle of Doctores, one of
the capital's most crime-ridden areas, early Tuesday morning.

"I hope it eats some of the criminals,'' said a caller to the radio
station Radio Red, when the escapee was reported.

"This rescue was very unusual,'' Mendoza added. "We usually only get
calls for escaped birds.''

REUTERS

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 12:16:42 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Victoria Mireles)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Whaling article
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7BIT
MIME-Version: 1.0 (WebTV)


Today's Chicago Tribune has two articles devoted to whales/whaling.

The first is "Killing the Great Beast" by Marzio Mian.  This can be
viewed at:
www.chicago.tribune.com/leisure/movies/
article/0,1051,ART-2595,00.html

It is a first hand account of a journalist who accompanied a Norweign
whaling vessel.

The second is "Whale Tales:  Capturing their beauty and curiousity on
film" by Patrick T. Reardon.  This can be viewed at:
www.chicago.tribune.com/leisure/movies/
article/0,1051,ART-2594,00.html

If for some reason you are unable to access the articles and wish to
read them, email me directly and I will try to send them to you.

Victoria

It is not enough to be compassionate.  You must act.

His Holiness, Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, 1992.




Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 14:23:53 -0400
From: Ty Savoy <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (Ca) Police Bust Cockfight
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


        BURNABY, B.C. (CP) -- Authorities have put a dent in illegal
cockfights after a police raid in suburban Burnaby.

        RCMP stumbled upon a major cockfighting ring while investigating a
report Saturday night of a man threatening someone with a plank.

        Thirty-nine people were arrested and the SPCA confiscated 72 birds
and a variety of cockfighting paraphenalia.

        The birds have since been humanely destroyed, as required under the
Criminal Code.

        "It's a very nasty business," said Brian Nelson, the SPCA's director
of field operations for the Vancouver area, as he inspected one of dozens of
lethal 10 centimetre-long steel spurs seized at the scene.

        "It's a bloody sport and the loser usually dies. They (spectators)
bet on the outcome."

        Nelson said the cockfights apparently had been held at the same
Burnaby sight for years.

        Among the evidence seized: six wooden cases filled with gleaming
steel spurs with sharpened blades; a cockfighting trophy; a timer for timing
cockfighting rounds; tethering poles for training the birds; and a simulated
cock with ruffled feathers used to provoke the birds into a fighting frenzy.

        Nelson said the birds, which are carefully bred, can fetch from $100
to thousands of dollars, depending on their fighting ferocity.

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 12:11:21 -0600
From: Steve Barney <[e-mail]>
To: AR-News <[e-mail]>
Subject: [US] "Dane County 0fficial seeks delay in monkey departure"
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

For more related info, go to:

     http://www.uwosh.edu/organizations/alag/#Issues



Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee, WI
Wednesday, February 4, 1998
Page 5B

-- Beginning --

Dane County 0fficial seeks delay in monkey departure:
Executive wants time to raise money to keep animal colony at zoo

By KEVIN MURPHY
Special to the Journal Sentinel

Madison Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk made an "llth hour" request
Tuesday to the University of Wisconsin Madison to delay plans to ship to
Louisiana a monkey colony the school maintains at the Dane County Vilas
Zoo.

The UW Regional Primate Research Center had planned to send about 100
rhesus monkeys to a similar center at Tulane University by mid-February,
said Joseph Kemnitz, the center's interim director.  The center also
plans to ship 50 stump-tail macaques to Thailand, Kemnitz said.

However, on Tuesday, UW Graduate Dean Virginia Hinshaw gave the county
until March 2 to make a commitment regarding the monkeys' future.

"This is a difficult situation, and I'm not one to engage in casting
stones at anyone, but it's quite fair for me to expect a firm commitment
from the county.  I need a commitment to be sure the animals are
situated," Hinshaw said.

Falk's request was aimed at buying time to raise private funds to
continue the popular exhibit at the zoo, said Topf Wells, Falk's
spokesman.  The county has not budgeted any money for the monkeys'
upkeep this year.  The university has provided the funding and staffing
for the colonies.

Recently raised concerns that the Tulane center will not honor an
agreement between the center and the university to prohibit invasive
research on the monkeys also prompted Falk to ask for a temporary halt,
Wells said.

Last year, officials with the University of Wisconsin Primate Center
announced they would no longer support the Henry Vilas Zoo's two
colonies of macaques, which had been used primarily for behavioral
studies.

The center began seeking a new home for the monkeys in October, when it
was told by the National Institutes of Health that it could not use a
$4.5 million grant to maintain the colony. The National Institutes of
Health said there was not enough research being done to justify the
colony's $30,000 yearly food and veterinary expense.

The National Institutes of Health told the center to find a new home for
the monkeys by Feb. 1.

The center has housed the two monkey colonies, 100 rhesus, and 50
stump-tails, as research subjects at the zoo since 1963, making it the
oldest stable breeding colony of macaques in captivity.

Kemnitz announced last month that the rhesus monkeys would be going to
Tulane University in New Orleans for use as a breeding colony.  The
stump-tails, considered an endangered species, are destined to go to a
sanctuary in Thailand that has not been built yet.

-- End --


Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 12:43:49 -0600
From: Steve Barney <[e-mail]>
To: AR-News <[e-mail]>
Subject: [US] "Disposition of zoo animals troubling for visitor" (ONW, 2/2/98)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

If you have any ideas about how to do something about this problem of
selling zoo animals for meat, please e-mail me.

Thank you,
Steve Barney, Representative
Animal Liberation Action Group (UW Oshkosh)
<[e-mail]>


Oshkosh Northwestern
Oshkosh, WI
United States
Monday, February 2, 1998
Page A6

-- Beginning --

Disposition of zoo animals troubling for visitor

To the Editor:
Awhile back, this paper carried an article about a city, in western
Wisconsin, whose community was distressed to learn that the animal
broker from whom their seasonal zoo leased animals, was indeed selling
some of the juvenile animals, specifically bears, as meat to Japan, when
the animals were returned to him at the close of the season.

This situation made me wonder what happens to the bear cubs displayed at
our Oshkosh zoo at season's end.  When I called our zoo director I was
told that when the cubs leave the zoo and are returned to the animal
broker that 1. The zoo has no idea what becomes of the animals. 2. Has
no control nor responsibility over what happens to them.  I was given
the phone number of the lessor with whom our zoo deals. The woman at
that number did confirm that she sells bear meat, but that by no means
were all returned bears sold as meat. She ended by saying that they were
her animals and their outcome was none of my business.

Maybe it is none of my business, and maybe the zoo director is correct
in maintaining that it is not the zoos' concerns.  But as a visitor to
the zoo, I would like to be able to make an informed decision as to
which exhibits to patronize.

The animals with a short, one-season cuteness factor face, at best, an
uncertain future.  Whereas animals whose attraction value persists into
adulthood, like the lemurs, the macaws, Elliot the goat, can be enjoyed
year after year.

My son and I will continue to visit the zoo and to support it through
donations and memorial bricks.  But we will confine our viewing to adult
animals and not babies that are gone after one season of cuteness.

Janice Keck
Oshkosh

-- End --

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 14:47:47 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: Letters Needed!  Important Shelter Program Slammed in Press
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

 NY Daily News Slams Important Shelter Program


The February 2 edition of the New York Daily News contains an
article written by Lisa Rein which seeks to discredit a very
important new program to deal with companion animal
overpopulation in New York.  The program, instituted by the
Center for Animal Care and Control (CACC), requires a redemption
fee to retrieve a lost animal.  The fee increases if the animal
is not neutered, or if the animal needs shots or a license.  The
fee increases even more if the individual refuses to allow the
shelter to spay or neuter the animal.  And, if the animal is not
claimed, he or she may be euthanized.

In New York, more than 60,000 stray animals end up in the
shelters every year.  The CACC has implemented this plan to help
deal with the overpopulation problem in a more humane way while
attempting to ensure that as many animals are spayed and neutered
as possible.  With so many animals ending up in shelters year
after year, the shelter has made a really good and helpful
decision that will force the public to deal responsibly with the
continued problem.

Please write to Lisa Rein to let her know that you support the
CACC's program and ask her to write a follow-up story about it's
positive merits.

Write to:

Lisa Rein
New York Daily News
450 W. 33rd St.
New York, NY 10001
Phone:  [phone]

Email:  [e-mail]

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 15:15:21 -0500 (EST)
From: "Jeffrey A. LaPadula" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US-NJ) WEEK LONG FUR DEMO IN NEW JERSEY!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

 FUR IS MURDER, FUR IS DEATH, FREE THE ANIMALS, A.L.F.

 The week long demo is going to be at Furs by Guarino, 339 Rt. 18 in East
 Brunswick, NJ
 Starting This Saturday.
 We'll be out there every day from February 7 to February 14 for the
 entire time they are open, which is:
 Sundays: 12:00 to 5:00
 Thursdays: 9:30 to 9:00
 all other days: 9:30 to 5:30

 This is the first time this tactic is being tried in this half of the
 world to our knowledge, and we need everyone's help to make it a sucess.
 We've seen this be a powerful tool in the anti-fur campaigns in both
 England and Vienna.  England now has only 4 fur shops left in the entire
 country, and has a bill in the works to ban fur farming.  Austria just
 saw the closing of it's last remaining fur farm.
 Needless to say, things are a little farther behind here in the US.  New
 Jersey alone has some 65 fur shops, not to mention department stores
 selling fur.  But things are changing.  As I'm sure you all know, three
 fur shops just decided to close down, and a fourth is admittedly on the
 verge.  This protest is an opportunity to show that fur is absolutely
 unacceptable and we will see the end of the fur industry in this
 country.
 This is a particularly important time to make this statement, as the
 time before Valentine's Day is one of the top fur seasons.
 What we need is people to come out.  Having a few people all week will
 mean nothing.  Local people need to find a way to be there whenever
 possible, be a few hours before work, after school, or better yet taking
 a day off.  Those from farther away - if you can take a day and organize
 some people from your area to come support, it would be of great help.
 We are asking that people who will be able to make it let us know when
 we can expect you so we can get an idea of what days we need more people
 on.  But if you can come any of the days, please do.  The more people
 the stronger we are!

 ************************************************************************
          ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE - NEW JERSEY
                        Animal Defense League-New Jersey
       P.O. Box 84
                               Oakhurst, NJ 07755>                                  [phone]
                         http://envirolink.org/orgs/adl

 ************************************************************************



Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 14:54:11 -0600
From: Steve Barney <[e-mail]>
To: AR-News <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [US] "Disposition of zoo animals troubling for visitor" (ONW,
 2/2/98)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

You can also reply to the recently posted Letter to the Editor
("Disposition of zoo animals troubling for visitor" (ONW, 2/2/98)),"
from the Oshkosh Northwestern with a letter to the editor of your own by
e-mail: <[e-mail]>; phone: [phone]; fax:
920-235-1527; or post: Letters to the Editor, Oshkosh Northwestern, PO
Box 2926, Oshkosh, WI 54903.


Date: Wed,  4 Feb 98 16:30:10 -0500
From: Karin Zupko <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Free Leadership Trainings for Students (US-New England)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Type: text/plain
Mime-Version: 1.0 (NeXT Mail 3.3 v118.2)

Leadership Trainings for Students, FREE of charge!

"Building a Successful Animal Protection or Environmental Group"
workshops will be held this year in the New England
Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS) office at Downtown Crossing,
Boston.  If you or someone you know would like to meet other student
activists with similar interests, consider joining us!  NEAVS
leadership trainings promote a positive atmosphere and are designed
to give new life and ideas to student groups.  Attention will be
focused on effective communication, group building, leadership
styles and campaign planning.  College students will also enjoy our
new format, expanded to better meet the needs of active university
groups, with more time for networking.  Call Karl to register by
February 18 at [phone] or e-mail <[e-mail]>.  After
February 18, call for space availability.

College Training
Feb. 21, 1998
11:00 - 6:00PM
Light vegan lunch provided
Snow date: Feb. 22

High School Training
Feb. 28, 1998
12:30 - 5:30PM
Vegan snacks provided
Snow date: March 1
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 17:55:34 -0400
From: Ty Savoy <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (Ca) Seal Oil Gets Healthy Thumbs-up
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


        ST. JOHN'S Nfld. (CP) -- A personal endorsement from Newfoundland's
fisheries minister that seemed almost too good to be true became the
unofficial launch last fall for one of the hottest sellers in the province
-- seal oil capsules.

        John Efford told a gathering of his federal and provincial
counterparts that within two months of following a two-pill-a-day regimen,
the painful circulation ailments associated with his diabetes disappeared.

        "All I can say is that after 20 years as a diabetic, I don't have
those serious problems anymore," Efford said. "The doctors had said there
was nothing they could do."

        Since then, seal oil -- marketed as a nutritional supplement -- has
been sliding off the shelves in Newfoundland pharmacies and health-food
stores at a rapid pace.

        Sold under the names Omega Vite and Terra Nova, the products are
available in select stores accross Canada. Both companies expect the pills
will be more widely distributed within the next few weeks.

        No one disputes the nutritional value of seal oil capsules, which
are a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids.

        But researchers believe more study is needed to support
disease-related anecdotes that echo Efford's.

        "Based on all the evidence we have to date, we know seal oil is at
least as good for you as fish oils," said Fereidoon Shahidi, a biochemist at
Memorial University in St. John's.

        "In fact, its effects may even be far more outreaching."

        Cod liver oil and others like it contain significant doses of vitamin A.

        However, the nutrients from harp seal oil, which is made from the
blubber of the mammals, are more easily absorbed by the body, said Shahidi.

        Studies have shown Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of some
health problems such as heart disease by keeping arteries clear and by
lowering cholesterol.

        In Japan, components of Omega-3 are sold as a prescription drug for
about $1 US a capsule to treat severe heart problems.

        Fatty acids also play an important role in brain and vision
development in infants.

        Other seal oil faithful insist the capsules have relieved their
arthritis symptoms.




Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 17:19:22 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Susan Lucci in Fur -- Action Alert
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Ask Susan Lucci to Give Up Fur

Daytime drama queen Susan Lucci recently helped promote the Maximillian
fur collection at Bloomingdale's in exchange for a donation to her
favorite charity. Please let the star of All My Children know that there
are numerous other ways to raise money that don't promote cruelty to
animals.

Write to:

Susan Lucci
c\o Wendy Morris
PMK
1775 Broadway
Suite 701
New York, NY 10019
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 17:20:03 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Help Stop St. Jude's Annual Coon Hunt
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Help Stop St. Jude's Annual Coon Hunt

Marlo Thomas, celebrity spokesperson for St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital, has refused to get involved to stop The World's Largest Coon
Hunt, an annual benefit for the hospital.á During the hunt, terrified
raccoons are dragged across a pond followed by hounds who then tree
them.á PETA has repeatedly appealed to Marlo to ask St. Jude to use
nonviolent fundraisers. Please add your voice to ours.á

Write to:

Marlo Thomas
420 E. 54th St.
Suite 28G
New York, NY 10022

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 17:17:20 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Lobster Action Alert
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Help Keep Lobsters Out of Hot Water

A new crane game, like those packed with stuffed toys at video arcades,
is turning up in restaurants. The "Lobster Zone" is touted in
advertisements as "giving the patron an opportunity, at $2.00 a pop, to
pluck a live lobster out of the tank by manipulating a plastic claw with
a joystick control." Once captured, the lobsters are swung into position
and dropped into a bucket, their last stop on their way to the kitchen
where they will be boiled alive. Please urge the manufacturer to
discontinue the Lobster Zone.á

Write to:

J.R. Fishman, President
Advanced Games & Engineering, Inc.
1231 NE Eighth Ave.
Fort Lauderdale,á FL 33304
Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 17:26:29 -0500
From: joemiele <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (NJ)  IMPORTANT COYOTE MEETING
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Friends:

As you may know, the New Jersey Department of Fish, Game, and Wildlife is
allowing a seventeen day coyote hunt, currently underway, that will last
until February 16.

The New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance will be holding a public meeting to
educate the public and the press about this recreational hunt.

Please join us on Monday, Feb. 9, at 7:30 pm at the Paramus Public Library
(East 116 Century Rd., Paramus) for a presentation and discussion about
these remarkable animals, how they came to be in our state, why we are
fighting the NJ coyote hunting season, and what you can do to help.

For More information contact NJARA - 732-446-6808

Peace,
Joe

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Visit NJARA's web page!

http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/njara/index.html

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 14:54:54 -0800
From: Bob Chorush <[e-mail]>
To: "'[e-mail]'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: [WA] Legislation Affecting Animals - ALERT
Message-ID: <0036E62F4D76D111AD4B004095020B36012313@EXCHANGE>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain

ACTION ALERT!  ACTION ALERT!  ACTION ALERT!


The 1998 Washington state legislative session has begun and as usual
there are a number of bills that will affect animals. Please contact
your legislators ASAP regarding the following bills. Remember, in the
state legislature you have 1 senator and 2 representatives.


* Ask your representatives to SUPPORT  HB 2804
Permits animal control agencies and humane societies to own and operate
veterinary medical facilities (such as spay/neuter clinics).

* Ask your representatives to SUPPORT  HB 2807
Bans the ownership of tigers and other large species of exotic cats in
Washington state.

* Ask your representatives to OPPOSE  HB 2980
Exempts university research data from public inspection and copying
until such data are published.
Companion bill: SB  6642

* Ask your senator to OPPOSE  SB 6256
Reduces protection for horses under the state anti-cruelty statute.


* Leave a message for your legislators on the toll free legislative
hotline:
1-800-562-6000. The operator can tell you who your senator and
representatives are if you don't know.

* If you have the time, it's also a very good idea to send a quick note
to your legislators at the following addresses:

 Representatives:PO Box 40600, Olympia, WA  98504-0600
  Senators:PO Box 40482, Olympia, WA  98504-0482

* Or to find their e-mail address:

 Senate Web:http://www.leg.wa.gov/www/senate.htm
 House Web:http://www.leg.wa.gov/www/house/members/housepg.htm


For more info. about these bills call PAWS:  425/787-2500, x812 or x811
or go to web site http://www.paws.org/activists/leginfo






Bob Chorush, Web Administrator
Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
15305 44th Ave W. Lynnwood,WA 98046
425-787-2500 ext 862 fax [phone]
[e-mail]


Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 21:24:50 +0100
From: 2063511 <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Monkeys in Gibraltar.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-disposition: inline
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Jordi From Barcelona, Catalonia;

Gilbratar, in the south of spain, in United Kingdom, live many monkeys. In
last years, this Monkeys reproduced very fast and for this Gibraltar
governement decided use female contraceptive.

This notice is from DIARIO MEDICO in Spain.

Visiteu les meves pαgines / Visit my homepages

http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/vines/6506
http://www.geocities.com/colosseum/loge/3128
http://www.geocities.com/hollywood/academy/2855

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 21:00:12 -0500 (EST)
From: "Jeffrey A. LaPadula" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US-NJ) More on week long fur demo in New Jersey.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

This Saturday, February 7, we start our week long protest at Furs By
     Guarino, 339 Rt. 18, New Brunswick, that will continue until February 14.
The ADL-NJ will be there every moment that the store is open (the times are
listed below) so everyone can make it out for a while, at least.  This is
the first time that this tactic has been used in the US.  So, let's make it
really successful!

Last weekend we had our first protest there and the police gave ADL-NJ
members some rediculous problems.  They claimed that we were a safety
hazzard and that we needed to be behind a barricade so that we weren't
disrupting traffic - in other words, they wanted to hide us and make it so
that no one could see us.  Completely ludicrous, and a violation of our
Freedom of Free Speech, ADL-NJ members went to discuss what to do.  Upon the
return, only moments later, the police had actually left!  So, for the rest
of the demonstration things went really well.  We stood where we wanted to
stand.  Police drove by, according to a reporter from the Home News, to
"monitor" us. . . So, we won the day...

The times that we will be at Guarino are as follows:

Saturday, February 7:  9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM
Sunday, February 8:    12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Monday, February 9:    9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM
Tuesday, February 10:  9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM
Wednesday, Feb. 11:    9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM
Thursday, Feb. 12:     9:30 AM  - 9:30 PM
Friday, February 13:   9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM
Saturady, February 14: 9:30 AM  - 5:30 PM

Because it is well known that no such safety violation exists, the police
are going to try to arrest activists for any reason that they can.  On
Saturday, John Guarino has apparently decided to hold a party in the parking
lot.  For the reason stated above, it is extremely important to not get
lured into doing something something that is arrestable.  It's what they are
trying to do.  Our focus is the animals, not the party.  So, it is EXTREMELY
(I really can't stress this enough)important to NOT allow yourself to be
baited into anything arrestable.  This holds true for the rest of the days,
although once Guarino sees that his attempts to disrupt our focus aren't
working the rest of the week should be rather unconfrontational.  Just be
aware of your actions.

For directions or any other additional information, feel free to contact the
ADL-NJ at the office:  732.545.4110

Directions can also be found on the webpage.

Please help and come out.  This won't work unless we do!

For total liberation,
-corinne




****************************************************************************
                     ANIMAL DEFENSE LEAGUE - NEW JERSEY
                                 P.O. Box 84
                             Oakhurst, NJ 07755
                             [phone]
                    http://envirolink.org/orgs/adl
****************************************************************************


Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 20:38:44 -0500
From: "Bina Robinson" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: hunter recruitment
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

from Civitas February 4, 1998
Star-Gazette (Elmira NY)  January 21, 1998
Pa. Game Commission mulls several hunting proposals by George Osgood

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvanians will see major changes in hunting seasons and
opportunities - including a provision to allow young hunters to shoot
antlerless deer during buck season - if a package of proposals unveiled at
a meeting last week gets final approval in April.

One of the proposals under consideration by the Pennsylvania Game
Commission would allow hunters ages 12-16 who have antlerles deer licenses
to shoot does during the two-week buck season, as well as in the
traditional three-day antlerless deer season that follows.

Commission workers suggested the measure to improve the success rate of
young hunters and possibly get them "hooked" on hunting for life at a young
age.

"It's a new twist, one that we're sure will be an eye-opener, given the
agency's traditional conservative posture in making changes to buck
season," Commission Executive Director Donal C. Madl said.  "But we believe
it will help Pennsylvania build its youth hunter corps."

And sell more licenses both shor-term and long-term.

Over the past several years, commission agents have sold about 100,000
junior licenses annually.  In 1976, the agency sold a record 168,546.  The
huge decrease points to fewer and fewer youths entering the sport, a fact
that troubles older hunters as well as commission workers.

Under the proposal put forth by the Game Commission,  junior hunters could
shoot both a buck and a doe on the same day.

Reinstating the "bonus" antlerless deer license statewide.  Until 1997,
hunters could buy a second (and, in some cases, third) doe tag from
counties that had a surplus and use it to take a second (or third)
antlerless deer.  The commission scrapped bonus licenses last year under
pressure from legislators and hunters who though the state's deer herd was
too small - especially in the northcentral counties.

Allowing spring turkey hunters to take two gobblers starting in the 1999
season.

"The primary value of a two-bird spring baglimit is the portential to
increase wild turkey hunting recreation," Commission biologist Bill Drake
said.  "However, the change could lead to a decline in hunting quality
caused by a population with fewer adult gobblers, increased hunter
interference and a potential for additional turkey-hunting-related
accidents.  We do not expect a decline in willd turkey reproduction."

Starting fall small game seasons for pheasant and rabbit at the same time
squittel and grouse seasons open.  Trdaditionally squittel and grouse
season opens two weeks before pheasant and rabbit.  /the proposal before
the commission calls for all four to open on Oct. 17 this year.  The change
would likely require archery deer hunters to wear fluorescent orange
clothing during the last fou weeks of their season.

Game commissioners have asked staff memgers to research and prepare reports
on whether shooting hours could be safely (sic) extended to a half hour
after sunsetl  Legal hunting currently ends at sunset.

To comment on the proposals, write: Donald C. Madle, Executive Director,
Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Ave. Harrisburg PA 17110-9797.

END of article, which is an example of how far game officials are willing
to go to keep hunters happy and recruit new ones.  They are targeting women
as well as children with special programs.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 20:20:01 -0600 (CST)
From: Suzanne Roy <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Global Day of Action Against P&G
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

IN DEFENSE OF ANIMALS
131 Camino Alto, Suite E
Mill Valley, CA  94941
415/388-9641
[e-mail]

Global Day of Action Against P&G is slated for March 28, 1998.  Last year,
80 protests took place in 10 countries around the world.

IDA has just done a mailing to activists and organizations in the U.S. about
Global Day.  The mailing includes packets with our new anti-P&G brochre.
If you do not receive one of these packets in the next few weeks, and you
would like to participate in Global Day, please  e-mail us your name and
address at [e-mail].

Check out our website at www.idausa.org for a list of P&G facilities around
the U.S.  Please help to make Global Day of Action Against P&G on March 28
even bigger than last year!

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 18:16:40
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [CA] Winging it to Mexico
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From Maclean's Newsmagazine - February 2 - 8th edition

Winging it to Mexico

Butterflies are free - or at least millions of monarchs will be once a
795,000-hectare Monarch Butterfly Model Forest is created in Mexico. Last
week, the Canadian and Mexican governments signed an agreement to share
equally the $2.4 million cost of the area that will protect the
butterflies. They migrate between the teo countries, spending summer in
southern Canada and wintering in the mountainous south-central states of
Michoacan and Mexico, where impoverished residents hack away at the forest.

"If things don't change, smaller forests will mean a lot fewer
butterflies," says Steve Ward, a scientist with Environment Canada.

The plan will encourage a more sustainable use of forest resources and
strengthen the region's economy, so area residents and the colourful
buttersflies can both prosper.



Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 18:22:23
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [US] Alicia's gutsy move
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From The [Vancouver] Province - Tuesday, February 3rd, 1998

Alicia Silverstone thinks disection is the unkindest cut of all. The young
Hollywood powerhouse has dashed off a letter to the National Association of
Biology Teachers, urging them to use other ways to study animal innards.

"When I was in high school, my biology teacher refused to allow me an
alternative to disecting animals, and I felt frowned upon for standing up
for my beliefs," the Clueless star wrote below a People for the Ethical
Treatment of Animals letterhead.



Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 18:35:21
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Home Office steps in to aid hunting Bill
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 5th, 1998

Home Office steps in to aid hunting Bill
By Jon Hibbs, Political Correspondent

THE Government rode to the rescue of the Bill to ban foxhunting yesterday
with an unexpected offer to help redraft the legislation to make it more
effective.

The intervention by the Home Office took MPs by surprise and prompted calls
from Tories opposed to a ban for the private members' measure to be
scrapped altogether.

The Bill to outlaw all hunting with hounds is going through detailed
scrutiny in committee following overwhelming support in a free Commons vote
last year.

Ministers have insisted that they will remain neutral and not interfere
with the progress of the legislation, even though business managers are
worried that opposition in the Lords could hold up the passage through
Parliament of the Government's own programme.

However, George Howarth, the junior Home Office minister, stunned the
committee yesterday by announcing that there were "defects" in the Wild
Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill that would have to be corrected before
debate could continue. Amendments are expected to be tabled next week.

The interruption was welcomed by the promoter of the Bill, Mike Foster,
Labour MP for Worcester, who said the Home Office had offered the help of
parliamentary draftsmen to ensure that it was watertight.

As currently drafted, the Bill would impose a blanket ban on hunting that
could technically be used to prosecute dog-owners whose pets chased
rabbits. Ministers want to clear up the legal ambiguity by ensuring the
wording makes clear it would only be a criminal offence if an animal was
caught intentionally by hounds.

Tory opponents criticised the collaboration as "a shambles". James Gray, MP
for Wiltshire N, called for the legislation to be abandoned.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 20:48:04 -0600 (CST)
From: Suzanne Roy <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Marine World Shopping for New Orca
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The following article appeared in the Vacaville (CA) Reporter on Friday,
Jan. 30, 1998:

MARINE WORLD WANTS WHALE TO JOIN VIGGA

By:  John Scheibe, Staff Writer

     Marine World Africa USA is looking for another killer whale to replace
Yaka, who died at the bottom of a 20-foot park pool in October.

     While Yaka was taken from the sea at a young age, Marine World spokesman
Jeff Jouett said her replacement likely would come from captivity.

     "We're talking to a number of oceanariums around the world," Jouett said on
Thursday.  He said Yaka's replacement would come from one of the 49 killer
whales in captivity worldwide.

     Bringing in a killer whale already in captivity is less risky since it
already is used to living in a captive environment.

     "Their odds of survival are higher than for a whale taken from the wild,"
said Mark Palmer of the Earth Island Institute, a nonprofit environmental
organization based in San Francisco.

     Jouett said he did not know how long it would take to land a whale nor how
much it would cost.

     "A lot depends on the type of arrangement we're able to get from another
oceanarium," Jouett said.

     Marine World officials want a whale to provide company to Vigga, the park's
remaining killer whale.

     "Killer whales are social creatures and are healthier in the company of
others," Jouett explained.

     Jouett emphasized that park officials do not know how soon they will find
another whale, nor how much it will cost to transfer the creature to the
Vallejo park, which has been closed for the winter since November.  It is
slated to reopen March 1.

     News of the search for another killer whale drew criticism from Earth
Island Institute.

     "These magnificent creatures belong in the sea, not in a pool," said Earth
Island's Mark Berman.  "They (Marine World) need to get out of the whale
business entirely."

     Yaka's remains were buried at the Coyote Point Museum in San Mateo days
after her death.  The museum, however, ran into trouble with San Mateo
County officials because it failed to get a county burial permit.

     County public health officials worried the huge animal may have been buried
improperly and her remains could pollute the local environment.  They
considered forcing the museum to unearth the remains.

     But San Mateo County Supervisors decided last month to leave Yaka's bones
in the ground.

     This is good news to Coyote Point Museum officials.  They plan to leave the
skeleton underground for about a year while bacteria cleans the remaining
flesh off the bones.  The bones will then be disinterred and reassembled
before being put on display near the museum's front lobby.

     Judy Chovan, the museum's executive director, said landing the skeleton was
a coup for the museum.

Date: Wed, 4 Feb 1998 22:48:08 -0500
From: [e-mail] (Molly G Hamilton)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Call Ringling on death of baby Kenny!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>


Call Ringling's public relations which is actually Ringling themselves
and voice your outrage about Kenny and animals in entertaiment.  Tell
them that they could have a wonderful circus without the animal acts.

Phone [phone]
fax: [phone]

Address:
Feld Entertainment Inc.
8607 Westwood Ctr. Drive
Vienna, Va  22182

Also write to Sears Marketing Director and tell him to stop sponsering
Ringling.

John Lebbad
Director Of Marketing
727SMA-490
333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, IL  60179

Molly

_____________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com
Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:30:29 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Four-State Dogfighting Ring Terminated
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>                                   Jim Rogers      [phone]
>                                            [e-mail]
>                                   Jerry Redding  [phone]
>                                                    [e-mail]
>
>
>FOUR-STATE DOGFIGHTING RING TERMINATED
>
>     WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1998--A three-year investigation jointly
>conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas
>Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney's
>Office in Austin, Texas, has led to 29 people being charged with
>violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
>
>     "I can't think of a more cruel act than throwing two dogs into a pit
>just to watch them fight," said Michael V. Dunn, assistant secretary of
>agriculture for USDA's marketing and regulatory programs.  "Dogfighting
>is disgusting, and it is illegal.  We have no tolerance for this sort of
>activity."
>
>     Jackie Freeman, an investigator for investigative and enforcement
>services with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of
>USDA's marketing and regulatory programs mission areas, worked with
>Texas officials for the last three years to help break the case.
>
>     "It is very rewarding to know that these people are finished in the
>underground dog-fighting arena," Freeman said.  "Everyone involved in
>this case takes great satisfaction from knowing that we saved countless
>animals from torturous suffering and even death in the fighting pits."
>
>     Freeman added that, while 29 people have been charged, the
>investigation is far from over.
>
>     This sort of large-scale investigation has a domino effect, she said.
>When one person is charged, he or she generally "rolls over" on a few
>others.  We have destroyed their confidence and trust in one another.
>Underground dog fighting will never be the same.
>
>     The AWA prohibits participation in any animal fighting venture, by
>causing one animal to fight with another animal for purposes of sport,
>wagering or entertainment, whenever one or more of the animals was
>moved in interstate or foreign commerce.  Criminal violations of the AWA
>are punishable by imprisonment for up to one year and fines not to
>exceed $100,000 for each count of conviction.
>
>                                #


Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
[e-mail]

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 21:25:35 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Animal Advocates Infiltrate Circus
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Animal Advocates Infiltrate Circus
.c The Associated Press

By EMMA ROSS

LONDON (AP) - Circus animals are routinely beaten, whipped and clubbed by
trainers, according to a report by animal rights advocates that calls for a
ban on the use of animals in traveling shows.

In an 18-month undercover investigation by the London-based Animal Defenders,
field officers infiltrated 10 British circuses by getting jobs as grooms.

The authors of the report say in the best of conditions, circuses cannot
properly care for the animals. In the worst, they say, circus animals in
Britain should be brought under laws regulating standards of animal welfare in
zoos and safari parks as they are in the United States.

The report, which will be presented today to members of Parliament, examined
23 circuses and drew on 400 hours of videotape that included scenes of
beatings and long confinements.

A spokesman for the Chipperfield circus family, one of Britain's largest
circus organizations and one of the circuses infiltrated, responded that all
its animals are seen regularly by veterinarians.

The Animal Defenders' investigation could have far-reaching international
effects, said Richard Farinato, director of captive wildlife protection at the
Humane Society of the United States.

``It should blow it wide open,'' Farinato said. ``It's going to be much more
difficult for circuses to explain away the odd incidents that come out.''

One piece of the British group's footage featured an elephant being beaten
relentlessly with an iron bar. In another, an 18-month-old chimpanzee is being
kicked and whipped.

``Elephants were beaten with pitchforks, shovels, elephant hooks and anything
else to hand - on one occasion, the animal was brought to the ground
screaming,'' Animal Defenders director Jan Creamer said. ``In over 20 years of
studying the use of animals and campaigning for animal protection, this is the
most appalling abuse I have ever seen.''

The report concluded that ``abuse is part of daily life for circus animals,
whether it be a smack, a punch, a whipping, club or full blown beating.''

Such abuse is outlawed by Britain's basic animal cruelty laws, but Creamer
said the problem is that it must be witnessed to be prosecuted.

AP-NY-02-04-98 0422EST

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 21:35:05 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Brigitte Bardot Pushes Dog Sterilizing
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Brigitte Bardot Pushes Dog Sterilizing
.c The Associated Press

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Brigitte Bardot, the French film star-turned animal
rights advocate, launched a sterilization campaign Wednesday for the hundreds
of thousands of stray dogs in Romania.

Between 100,000 and 200,000 mangy mutts roam the streets of Bucharest,
cowering in doorways, dashing in front of cars and foraging for food.
They bite 50 people a day - nearly twice as many as in New York,
a city three times larger.

Even Hillary Rodham Clinton's security guards had to deal with the mongrels,
chasing a pack away from a hospital just before she arrived for a visit in
1996.

Ms. Bardot wrote to Bucharest mayor Viorel Lis last year to persuade him to
give up plans to kill hundreds of the strays.

During her four-day visit, she will attend an international conference on
animal protection and meet President Emil Constantinescu.

On Friday, she will visit dog shelters around the capital.

Bardot also will launch the Romanian-language edition of her memoirs,
``Initials: BB,'' which includes four poems written by her father.

AP-NY-02-04-98 1749EST

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:10:26 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: National Fisheries Institute Denounces Animal Rights...
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Subject: National Fisheries Institute Denounces Animal Rights...
Date: Tue, 20 Jan 1998 14:07:28 EST

National Fisheries Institute Denounces Animal Rights
Activist Campaign Against Seafood Consumers

ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Fisheries Institute (NFI)
announced its opposition to a new campaign by animal rights activists and
others that encourages restaurants to stop offering swordfish caught in North
Atlantic waters.á The "Give Swordfish a Break" campaign, sponsored by the
"SeaWeb" campaign, the Natural Resource Defense Council and a Washington, D.C.
restaurant, advocates that other restaurants boycott swordfish during 1998.
Campaigners argue that such action is necessary to ensure the conservation of
wild swordfish populations.

According to Richard E. Gutting, Jr., Executive Vice-President of NFI, "In our
view, the expert scientists and officials who are responsible for conserving
these swordfish stocks, and who have authorized their harvest, are better
qualified to judge what is needed for conservation than the self- appointed
advocates of this boycott campaign."

Federal fishery officials limit the total amount of swordfish that can be
harvested each year.á These officials also allocate this total catch among
various groups of fishermen.á Federal law requires that these allocations
ensure that swordfish stocks remain productive, and that the allocation among
fishermen is fair and equitable.á These U.S. catch limits and allocations must
also be consistent with the strict measures adopted by international fishery
commissions made up of many nations.

Swordfish migrate widely throughout the world's oceans and are harvested by
fishermen from many nations.á In the U.S., swordfish are harvested in the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. These fish are highly valued by both big game
fishermen and those fishermen who make their livelihood supplying restaurants
and supermarkets.á The competition for swordfish between these two fishing
groups is fierce.

Past swordfish harvests in the Atlantic were too high and depressed the size
of their stock.á Following the most scientific assessment of these fish in
1996, the world's most expert swordfish scientists advised the international
commission that because of the resilient nature of swordfish, lower harvests
would improve the condition of the stock.á These limits were quickly approved
by the international commission and were then implemented by U.S. officials.
U.S. fishery officials concluded that these reductions would "stop the decline
of the swordfish stock."á These strict new limits, which cut harvests in half,
are now being enforced.

"Some big game fishermen apparently are angry that fishery officials did not
give them the exclusive right to harvest swordfish when the new harvest limits
were imposed," says Gutting. "If they now could convince everyone to stop
buying swordfish, only big game fishermen would be harvesting them. These
sport fishermen appear to have joined forces with animal rights activists who
believe for moral or philosophical reasons that humans should not eat other
animals."

Despite the progress made towards conserving Atlantic swordfish, NFI remains
concerned about the stock.á It is vital that all fishing nations adhere to the
strict international harvest limits, otherwise the sacrifices of U.S.
fishermen will be for naught.á Fortunately, most nations are complying,
however, some may not be enforcing these limits.

According to Nelson Beideman of the Blue Water Fishermen's Association, an
organization representing commercial fishermen, "American fishermen have
abided by all national and international regulations governing swordfish.á In
fact, we have sacrificed over 50 percent of our catch since 1989 to promote
the conservation of these fish.á Any boycott would unjustly harm both American
fishing families and seafood consumers without providing any tangible
conservation benefits."

Under federal law, U.S. fishery officials must evaluate the performance of
other nations.á If they find that any nation is failing to adhere to
international standards, these officials are directed to ban the importation
and sale of the products concerned.á This government-to-government strategy
aimed at violators offers the best way to ensure compliance, and NFI is
working closely with U.S. officials to ensure that international harvest
quotas are enforced strictly.

According to Gutting, "Broad-based boycotts, even when well intentioned, often
hurt innocent people.á We fail to see how a boycott would be justified in this
circumstance when it would punish American fishermen and others complying with
conservation requirements, and there is a better way to obtain compliance."

Neighboring Washington, D.C., restaurateurs, too, are opposed to the
campaign's approach.á According to Bob Kinkead, owner and executive chef of
Kinkead's, "While we all want to conserve our wild fish population for future
generations, this campaign is akin to throwing the baby out with the bath
water.á If restaurateurs are concerned about the profusion of small fish, then
they should demand only large fish from their suppliers.á The solution is that
simple."

As 1998 is the "Year of the Ocean," annual rights activists, sport fishermen
and other groups with marine-related campaigns are attempting to position
their efforts in terms of fishery "conservation."á Please bear in mind that
big game and commercial fishermen compete for the fish, and that some people
believe passionately that humans should not eat animals.á In reality, this
debate really has more to do with who should get the fish, or whether fish
should be harvested at all, than it has to do with the biological condition of
the stocks.

The National Fisheries Institute is a non-profit trade association
representing more than 1,000 companies involved in all aspects of the fish and
seafood industry.á The Institute acts to ensure an ample, sustainable and safe
seafood supply for consumers.

The commercial seafood industry directly employs more than 250,000 people and
contributes more than $41 billion to the economy which includes $27.8 billion
in expenditures at foodservice establishments and $13.2 billion at the retail
level.

SOURCEá National Fisheries Instituteá

CO:á National Fisheries Institute; Natural Resource Defense Council; Blue
Water Fishermen's Association; Kinkead's

ST:á District of Columbia
IN:á AGR
SU:

01/20/98 14:04 EST <http://www.prnewswire.com/>http://www.prnewswire.com

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:19:00 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Praise, Condemnation on Cow Cloning
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Subject: Praise, Condemnation on Cow Cloning
Date: Wed, 21 Jan 1998 06:46:23 EST

Praise, Condemnation on Cow Cloning
.c The Associated Press

By ALISON FITZGERALD

BOSTON (AP) - Animal scientists offered congratulations.
Animal-rights groups offered condemnations.

The reactions came after scientists announced Tuesday they had developed a
technique for cloning genetically customized calves able to produce medicines
for humans in their milk.

Drs. Steven Stice and James Robl presented their research on the second day of
an International Embryo Transfer Society conference. Other researchers said
the calves mark the most viable step so far toward ``pharming,'' the
development of pharmaceuticals using farm animals.

``We're working in the same area toward the same goal,'' said Dr. Will
Eyestone, with PPL Therapeutics in Blacksburg, Va.

Animal rights activists were troubled by that goal.

``We condemn all who engage in cloning or genetic engineering both human and
animal cells for the alleged purpose of furthering pure science,'' the
Massachusetts chapter of Earth First! said in a statement. ``The cloning of
living cells steps beyond the field of science and into the realm of
creation.''

Hundreds of miles away, 13 pregnant cows are waiting to give birth to cloned
calves at a ranch near College Station, Texas. Six will be identical to George
and Charlie, the cloned calves born last week. The rest are females, which is
where the real payoff will come.

Stice and Robl said they will try to use their technique to have cows make
human serum albumin.

Albumin, a blood protein that regulates the transfer of fluids in the body, is
critical to people suffering from liver disease, malnourishment, extreme burns
and other conditions.

Cows that can produce human serum albumin would be a huge boon to hospitals,
which are forced to rely on donated blood for the 480 tons of albumin needed
every year in the United States. It is estimated that a single cow could
produce up to 176 pounds of albumin annually.

Advanced Cell Technology, which was founded by Stice and Robl, already has a
deal with Genzyme Transgenics Corp. of Framingham to produce albumin.

Stice said marketing such products is still years away because the process
must be perfected and approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

George and Charlie aren't the first animal clones with altered genes. Cloned
lambs Molly and Polly in Scotland have a human gene expected to make them
produce a protein, Factor IX, helpful in blood clotting.

But Dr. Ian Wilmut, the Scottish researcher who genetically engineered Molly,
Polly and Dolly, acknowledged that drug-making cows could be more valuable
because they produce much more milk than sheep.

AP-NY-01-21-98 0643EST

Date: Wed, 04 Feb 1998 22:28:16 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Farm Goes From Horses to Satellites
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Farm Goes From Horses to Satellites

PULLMAN, Wash., Jan. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Farming was simple in 1914 when
Gaylord Madison broke land out of sagebrush 11 miles south of Hermiston, Ore.
Horses.á Moldboard plows.á Lots of sweat and aching muscles.

It's a very different operation today.

In 1994, Gaylord's grandson, Kent Madison, introduced precision farming to his
15,000-acre operation where he grows winter and spring wheat, grain corn,
buckwheat and canola under irrigation.á Equipment on combines receive signals
from satellites and Coast Guard beacons that pinpoint his location in fields.
A monitor collects yield data, which is tagged with location data and stored
on a memory card about the size of a thick credit card.

Back in his farm office, Madison slips the memory card into his personal
computer and downloads the data for future analysis.á An aerial photography
service takes infra red photographs of growing crops four times each growing
season.

Madison says correlating infra red data with other data systems has given him
a more accurate picture of what's happening in his fields.

He says his initial interest in precision farming was to cut input costs, and
hopefully to increase yields.á It's paying off.

Madison will be one of 25 speakers at the Western Precision Agriculture
Conference Feb. 10-11 in Boise.á Precision agriculture, the kind of thing
Madison is involved in, is a data-intensive way of managing farms by treating
relatively small areas of large fields as if they were separate units.á Each
unit is managed for maximum profit.á In Boise, Madison will tell farmers how
he imports infra red aerial photographic images into his computerized mapping
software and correlates them with yield data collected from his center-pivot-
irrigated fields with global positioning system technology.

"It is becoming apparent to us that some of our yield decisions were not soil
or variety dependent, but were due to lack of water uniformity or yield
mapping operator errors," Madison says.

Other speakers include Richard Johnson, Northwest Precision Agriculture,
Blackfoot, Idaho.á He will explain how farmers can put together the complex
puzzle of precision components, such as yield monitoring, precision
application, Global Information System software, grid sampling, and remote
sensing.á He will answer questions farmers commonly ask about precision
farming.

Paul Fixen, senior vice president, Potash & Phosphate Institute, Brookings,
S.D., will tell farmers about sensing and mapping crop protein and using the
data to refine site-specific nitrogen management programs.

John S. Warinner, professional engineer, Fountainhead Irrigation, Inc., Walla
Walla, will explain how conventional irrigation system design and management
approaches fail to provide the detailed information required to profitably
apply new, efficient irrigation methods.

Corey Colliver, Springhill Engineering, Belgrade, Mont., will explain how
Global Positioning System and Geographical Information System software can
correlate site-specific weed management data with other aspects of management.

A four-person team of Washington State University and private industry
scientists will report on use of precision farming technology in potato
production under center pivot irrigation.

The Boise conference is sponsored by WSU, in cooperation with the University
of Idaho and the Idaho Precision Agriculture Association.á It will feature
nationally known speakers with in-depth talks, case studies and technical
information.

Thirty to 40 vendor displays are expected.

Tim Fiez, WSU soil fertility specialist, said the conference is for producers
of all crops, regardless of whether they are using precision agriculture or
are just curious about it.

Registration costs $199.á For a complete brochure call WSU Conferences and
Institutes, 800-942-4978 or 509-335-3530, or e-mail [e-mail].á Lodging
is available at a special rate of $80 plus tax for single or double occupancy
at the host hotel, "The Grove, a West Coast Hotel," in Boise, 800-426-0670.

Additional information is available from University of Idaho extension
potato specialist John Ojala at the Idaho Falls Research and
Extension Center,
208-529-8376, or on the World Wide Web at:
<http://www.eus.wsu.edu/c%26I/programs/precisionag.htm>http://www.eus.wsu.e
du/cI/programs/precisionag.htm.

This and other news releases from the WSU College of Agriculture and
Home Economics are available on our World Wide Web site.á
The URL is:
<http://coopext.cahe.wsu.edu/~news/>http://coopext.cahe.wsu.edu/~news/

SOURCEá Washington State Universityá
CO:á Washington State University
ST:á Washington, Idaho
IN:á AGR EDU
SU:

01/22/98 15:03 EST <http://www.prnewswire.com/>http://www.prnewswire.com



</pre>



     <!-- END OF PAGE CONTENT -->







     <!-- 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/msgs21.htm#2179" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/cgi-bin/relocate.cgi?http%3a//www.outpost.com/promos/valentines/%2aCyberian+Outpost" target=_top><img
src="../../SUPPORT/BANNERS/OTHERS/CYBERIAN/2VALENT.GIF" tppabs="http://www.envirolink.org/support/banners/others/cyberian/2valent.gif" border=1
alt="Cyberian Outpost"></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>









</BODY>







</HTML>