Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news66~1.htm/text0002.txt

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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 19th, 1998]

Animal rights group in hoax bomb threats

A NEW splinter group of violent animal rights extremists sent out hoax
bombs as a warning to 20 targets in Britain yesterday.

The Provisional Animal Liberation Front said it would be launching a
genuine campaign of terror within two months. Anyone working in, or
associated with, industries involving animals is liable to be chosen as a
target.

The group sent the hoax devices to organisations and individuals plus a
list of targets and a statement outlining its aims. "Unlike some areas of
the animal liberation movement, we do not accept that it is wrong to
endanger secretaries and others who may be perceived by some as
'innocent'," said the statement.

"We argue that anyone who profits in any way from animal abuse is as guilty
as those who actually perpetrate the obscenities. The abusers at the 'sharp
end' could not continue in isolation. They shall all pay. None who receives
rewards from evil deeds shall be exempt from vengeance until they renounce
animal torture."

Companies and individuals were sent video cassette boxes containing cat
litter and a diagram showing how a real bomb could just as easily have been
sent. Recipients came from areas such as vivisection, meat and fishing
industry, pet trade, field sports and live export industry. A zoo and a fur
trade company were also targeted.

Packages were also sent to two individuals who appear to have angered the
group. Edinburgh's Roslin Institute, which produced Dolly the cloned sheep,
was also on the hit list. Dr Maggie Jennings, who works for the RSPCA's
research animal department, received a package. The RSPCA is opposed to
experiments on animals but Dr Jennings is described by the group as a
"pro-vivisector's lackey".

The statement said real bombs would be sent next time. "We intend these
hoaxes to act as a warning so animal abusers and traitors may have the
opportunity to change their ways before our unashamedly violent campaign
begins in earnest," it said.

One box was sent to the Dover Harbour Board because the activists claim
that it has refused to stop live animal exports. Robin Webb, Animal
Liberation Front press officer, said: "The Front would not condone any
action that endangers human life. But at the same time we do understand the
frustration that people feel when they see that peaceful protest is not
changing things."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

[Note: The RSPCA does condemn the use of animals in cosmetics testing, but
does not have a position on testing for medical/pharmacutical research.
David]

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 01:07:11
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Man is cleared over ú3m rhino horná
plot
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 19th, 1998]

Man is cleared over ú3m rhino horn plot

A LEGAL executive accused of conspiring to sell almost ú3 million worth of
rhino horn was cleared yesterday.

Judge Peter Langan ruled at King's Lynn Crown Court that there was no case
to answer against Paul Rexstrew, 45, of Wimbledon, south-west London. The
jury was directed to return a verdict of not guilty. Four people - Carol
Scotchford-Hughes, 50, of Willingham, Cambs; Elaine Arscott, 40, and David
Eley, 54, both of Great Shelford, Cambs; and Wilfred Bull, 64, a serving
prisoner - have admitted conspiring to sell rhino horn between Jan 1 and
Sept 4, 1996 and are due to be sentenced next month.

The court was told that the conspiracy was hatched by Bull, who was serving
life for murdering his wife in 1985. He had collected the 127 black and
white rhino pieces before their trade was outlawed in 1985 and wanted to
sell them in preparation for his expected release in 1997.

The court was told that Bull brought in his mistress, Scotchford-Hughes,
who recruited Eley and Arscott. They hoped to sell the horns in the Far
East, where they are sought after as a medicine and an aphrodisiac. But the
RSPCA was tipped off after Arscott, using a false name, phoned the London
Stock Exchange to inquire about a sale. Police and RSPCA
officers posed as buyers and arranged to purchase the 517lb of rhino horn
for ú545 per pound.

Rexstrew, who worked for a firm of London solicitors, had been brought in
by Bull to make the financial arrangements. But Judge Langan accepted a
defence submission that there was no case to answer because he had not
known the subject of the deal was the outlawed rhino horn.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.



Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 01:11:49
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] ú1,000 fines for stealing bluebells
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 19th, 1998]

ú1,000 fines for stealing bluebells
By A J McIlroy

BLUEBELLS are to be protected with fines of up to ú1,000 per plant under
legislation to stop the wholesale plundering of the countryside for wild
bulbs.

The wildflowers are being stripped from woodlands and hedgerows and sold at
garden centres, nurseries and car boot sales. Under amendments to the
Wildlife and Countryside Act to be announced by the Environment Department
next month, sale of bulbs picked illegally will be banned and offenders
will face fines of up to ú1,000 per plant.

Environment groups, including the Wildlife Trusts and English Nature, have
campaigned for bluebells to be protected in the wild. "We are delighted
that the Government is taking this action," said Isobel Bretherton, for the
Wildlife Trusts. "There is a lucrative trade in wild
bulbs thought to be worth well over ú1 million annually and wholesale
bluebell woods have been plundered of tens of thousands of bulbs, adding to
the threat to the survival of this much loved wildflower.

"Until now, it has been legal to dig up bluebell bulbs with a landowner's
permission but the damage to bluebells in the wild is mainly down to
unauthorised picking and it is to deter those that the legislation is
aimed. Many of the damaged carpets of bluebells are hundreds of years old
and it can take more than 100 years to regenerate a bluebell wood."

Amendments to the Act prevent the sale of bluebells from the wild but
allows the sale of cultivated bulbs. Traders prosecuted for selling
bluebell bulbs would have to prove that they were not from the wild.
Disappearance of ancient woodlands and loss of thousands of miles of
hedgerows threaten the bluebell, with grazing deer another hazard.

The Wildlife Trusts said: "Our bluebells are internationally important
since Britain accounts for 20 per cent of the world's population of the
flower. It is usually found in woodland, hedgerows and under bracken but in
the west of Britain it also grows in more open habitats, such as coastal
grassland."

A spokesman for the Environment Department said: "Fines of up to ú1,000
must discourage people from thinking of picking a whole carpet of bluebells."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.



Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 01:15:33
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Rasher's dash makes it the Tamworth 3
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Thursday, February 19th, 1998]

Rasher's dash makes it the Tamworth 3

ANOTHER Tamworth pig has made a break for freedom. Rasher, a brother of
Butch and Sundance, who made headlines when they escaped last month, ran
off as he was being loaded on to a van taking him for slaughter.

But his brief spell on the run ended last night when he was cornered near a
piggery, three miles from the farm in Allington, Wiltshire, where he
escaped on Tuesday. Animal sanctuary owner Kevin Stinchcombe, who is
looking after Butch and Sundance, caught the latest escaper with the help
of nine farm workers and he will soon be reunited with his brothers.

Rasher escaped by slipping through the arms of his owner Mike Hawker after
barging him aside and jumping over a paddock fence. Mr Hawker, 38, said: "I
sold the litter at market last November. But Rasher was far too wild so we
left him on the farm. We decided to fatten him
and keep him for meat. He was ready for the slaughterhouse. But he had
other ideas.

"The last I saw of him was his trotters as he disappeared into a field of
wheat."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.



Date: Thu, 19 Feb 98 07:51:53 CST
From: "Vicki Sharer" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Noah's Ark
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

áááá Dear Animal Lover and Friend:
áááá
áááá This is an alert to all Iowans that animal cruelty legislation is =
áááá currently being reviewed by committees in the House and Senate.á There
áááá = are several bills floating around that have been introduced but they
áááá all = lack important provisions that we feel are very important to
áááá adequately = protect animals from abuse.á We have introduced our own
áááá language and = suggestions in this regard but we have very little time
áááá to get this = whole thing approved and out of committee for a vote.á
áááá As you know this = year is critical that this issue is passed in Iowa
áááá as a result of the = publicity and coverage of the Noah's Ark cat
áááá killing incident.á Already = many lawmakers in Des Moines seem to have
áááá forgotten all about this and = have become apathetic towards the
áááá animal protection issue and we need to = influence them immediately!
áááá =20
áááá
áááá We desperately need help from Iowans to write to these legislators, =
áááá paticularly those on the Judiciary committees to get this bill out of
áááá = committee with the provisions we want.á Anyone who reads this from
áááá Iowa = is asked to contact Laura Sykes at the Noah's Ark Animnal
áááá Foundation = immediately via phone, fax or e-mail, to get more
áááá information about = writing or calling their representatives and
áááá senators.á We must not lose = this battle, for all those that died so
áááá tragically ast March--we can't = forget them.
áááá
áááá Lauraá Sykes
áááá Director, Noah's Ark Animal Foundation P.O. Box 748, Fairfield, IA
áááá 52556
áááá [phone]á Fax [phone]=20 E-mail:á [e-mail]

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 08:04:33 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: TX Alert: Animal Friendly License Plates
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

ANIMAL FRIENDLY LICENSE PLATES IN TEXAS

The highways of the Lone Star State just became a bit friendlier with the
new Texas "Animal Friendly" license plates.

The lobbying efforts of The Fund for Animals and the Texas Humane
Legislative Network were successful last year, when the Texas Legislature
enacted a bill which created the "Animal Friendly" license plates.
Motorists can purchase the special plates for $25 over the regular vehicle
registration fee.á From each purchase, $20 is deposited into a special Texas
"Animal Friendly" account which will provide funding for free and reduced
costs spay and neuter programs across Texas.

Over 1,000,000 homeless dogs and cats end up in animal shelters across Texas
each year.á Most of these animals are destroyed.á Only major metropolitan
areas in Texas have access to free or reduced cost spay and neuter programs
to help stem the tide of dog and cat overpopulation.á The "Animal Friendly"
license plates will provide revenue to help establish affordable spay and
neuter programs across Texas.

The Texas Department of Health is overseeing the "Animal Friendly" account,
with an appointed advisory board.á Non-profit animal protection
organizations, municipalities and veterinary organizations can apply for
funding for spay and neuter programs after the initial sales goal of
$500,000 is met.

The Fund for Animals is providing posters, advertisements and brochures to
Texas humane societies, animal control organizations, and interested
veterinarians in an effort to help market the plates.

To receive an application for an "Animal Friendly" license plate, contact
the Special Plates Branch of the Texas Department of Transportation at (512)
374-5010.á You can also contact the Texas office of The Fund for Animals at
[phone] and we will be happy to send you an application in the mail.

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 09:05:06 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Lawrence Carter-Long)
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: Dumped email
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

My apologies for cross-posting.

Anyone who has responded, or written me
as a result of anything I have posted recently
please re-send your message.á My computer
zapped out this morning as I was downloading
my email and it dumped all the messages I
received since leaving work yesterday.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

My best to all -

Lawrence Carter-Long
Science and Research Issues, Animal Protection Institute
email: [e-mail], phone: [phone] x. 215
world wide web: <http://www.api4animals.org/>http://www.api4animals.org/

"Xenotransplantation is a unique medical enterprise.á It
puts the public at risk for the benefit of the individual."

Dr. Fritz Bach, Harvard University School of Medicine
New York Times, February 3, 1998

-----Annoying Warning Notice -------

My email address is: [e-mail]
LEGAL NOTICE: Anyone sending unsolicited commercial
email to this address will be charged a $500 proofreading
fee. This is an official notification; failure to abide by this
will result iná legal action, as per the following:

By U.S. Code Title 47, Sec.227(a)(2)(B), a computer/modem/printer
meets the definition of a telephone fax machine.
By Sec.227(b)(1)(C), it is unlawful to send any unsolicited
advertisement to such equipment.
By Sec.227(b)(3)(C), a violation of the aforementioned Section
is punishable by action to recover actual monetary loss, or
$500, whichever is greater, by each violation.



Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 09:33:17 -0800
From: "Bob Schlesinger" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Nadas arrives safely in Utah!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

February 19, 1998

KANAB, UT
After nearly 12 hours in a shipping kennel, Nadas arrived in Las Vegas at 9:30
pm and was picked
up by staff members of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary who then drove him to
their sanctuary in Kanab,
Utah.á Nadas exited the kennel wagging his tail and he is evidently in
excellent health and good spirits.

Nadas was originally to arrive in Las Vegas at 3PM, however the first leg of
the flight, from
Medford to Portland, was delayed due to the lack of cargo space on the
plane he
was to
orignally have been put on. He arrived in Portland by late afternoon and was
kept in a baggage
holding area until he was boarded on a 7:30 pm Alaska Airlines flight to Las
Vegas.á The baggage
handlers in Portland were excellent, making certain he was well cared for and
had plenty of water.
For security reasons, however, he was not permitted to leave the kennel during
the long 12 hour
ordeal ending with his arrival in Las Vegas.á (I know I couldnt have lasted
that long )

According to Raphael dePeyer of Best Friends, Nadas was in excellent spirits
after his 4 hour
drive from Las Vegas to Kanab, Utah.á He characterized Nadas as a "real
sweetheart" and "a
very well mannered well behaved dog", a very different picture than Jackson
County Oregon officials
had attempted to paint during his incarceration.

Current pictures of Nadas will be posted at the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary
web site when they
become available, at
<http://www.bestfriends.org/>http://www.bestfriends.org and
will also be carried by Ark Online at
<http://www.arkonline.com/>http://www.arkonline.com


Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 13:35:52 -0500
From: Shirley McGreal <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Indonesian reforestation funds allegedly diverted
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

By Liz Chidley of the "Down to Earth" Campaign

The Indonesian government was unable to fight last year's forest fires or
to take effective preventive action for the future since it had set aside
part ofá its substantial 'Reforestation Fund' for the national car project
(headed by President Suharto's son Tommy). So said IMF managing director
recently in Paris, according to an article in the International Herald
Tribune (full text below.)

In the past, Suharto has used (or tried to use) this money from timber
taxes to support the falling rupiah, to balance the state budget and to
fund the development of the state aircraft project, forest clearance for
the Central Kalimantan agricultural megaproject and his friend Bob Hasan's
new paper pulp factory.

Since withdrawal of state subsidies for such pet projects is one of the
conditions of the IMF loan to support the Indonesian government in its
current economic crisis, it will be interesting to see how much of the
Reforestation Fund will now be made available to tackle the forest fires
which are affecting several parts of Indonesia this year!

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

Subject: IHT: New Indon forest fires worry SEAsia

Renewed Indonesia Fires Worry Southeast Asia
.
By Michael Richardson
International Herald Tribune, 13 February 1998

SINGAPORE With the Indonesian government short of money and preoccupied with
an economic crisis that threatens to lead to serious social unrest, concern
is growing in Singapore and Malaysia that the region will again be smothered
in smoke pollution from uncontrolled forest fires in Indonesia.

Last year, such fires caused widespread health problems, disrupted air and
sea traffic, and hit Southeast Asia's multibillion-dollar tourist industry.

Scientists and weather experts warned on Thursday that if the fires
continued to gain a strong foothold in Indonesian Kalimantan and Sumatra,
then Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand and the Philippines
could see a repeat of the pollution that blotted out the sun for days at a
time in the worst-affected areas between August and November and prompted
many tourists to cancel their vacation plans.

This would be a major blow for a region already battered by a currency and
banking crisis, and now facing the specter of rising unemployment and
inflation as economic growth slows sharply, economists said. Indonesian
officials said in Jakarta on Thursday that satellite photographs showed more
than 90 "hot spot" areas, up from 23 last week, that were affected by new or
resurgent fires in parts of Kalimantan and Borneo, gripped by one of the
worst droughts in living memory.

"We could certainly be in for a repeat of last year if the fires keep
burning," said Steve Tamplin, regional adviser on environmental health in
the World Health Organization office in Manila.

"Firefighters couldn't do very much to contain the fires once they got
started." This is because in East Kalimantan Province on the island of
Borneo, where most of the fires are blazing, there are vast dried-out peat
and coal seams close to the surface. Once they catch fire, they are very
difficult to put out. They also release poisonous sulfur and nitrogen
pollutants into the atmosphere along with heavy smoke.

Soetarso, a senior official at the Coordinating Board for National Disaster
Management in Jakarta, said recently that the Indonesian government hoped
the fires would not spread smoke to other countries. " We might not have the
money to fight the fire because of our economic problems," he added.

Such comments and the apparent inability of Indonesian authorities to
control the fires, despite an official ban on burning and evidence that most
are deliberately set by plantation companies or farmers to clear land for
development, are causing increasing concern in neighboring countries that
have to bear the consequences.

Malaysia is especially worried because it will be host to the Commonwealth
Games in September, the month in which the air pollution was at its
unhealthiest in 1997.

Malaysian leaders fear that a recurrence this year of the pall of smoke from
Indonesian fires, which traps transport and industrial fumes to create
noxious smog, will deter athletes from competing.

Singapore also has health and economic concerns. Environment and Health
Minister Yeo Cheow Tong said recently that the government was keeping a
close watch on the situation and helping to alert the Indonesian authorities
to new fires using satellite pictures. "What we would like to do is to
understand from them their capabilities at the present moment for fighting
those fires," he said.

Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia agreed on a joint action plan in December
to prevent a recurrence of the smoke pollution, under which Jakarta agreed
to improve its fire-fighting capabilities.

The International Monetary Fund's managing director, Michel Camdessus,
said recently that Indonesia was unable to use its special reforestation
fund to help cope with the fires last year because the money had been
earmarked for a "national" car project.

When the IMF started looking at Indonesia's finances to draw up a
loans-for-reforms package, he said, it found a "well-endowed" reforestation
fund that was intended to help replant and protect the country's tropical
forests, the second largest in the world after Brazil.

But no money had been taken from it to fight the forest fires or set up
better anti-fire defenses, Mr. Camdessus told an anti-corruption business
forum in Paris. "When asked why the money had not been spent, we were told
it was because it had been set aside for the project to create a national
car," he said.

"Little is known about this extra-budgetary Reforestation Fund, but it
contains billions of dollars drawn from timber taxes," said Gerry van
Klinken, editor of Inside Indonesia, a magazine published from Melbourne.
"Administered via presidential decree, it has long been a convenient-fund
for many other purposes beyond restoring forest cover." He said that its
major use was to provide cheap loans to commercial timber plantation
companies, which replanted cut forests with quick-growing pine or acacia
trees for pulp factories.

Indonesian environmentalists and some officials blame plantation companies,
many with close connections to the government, for starting most of the
fires because it the cheapest and quickest way of clearing forest and scrub
land for commercial development.



|--------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Dr. Shirley McGrealááááááááááá | PHONE: [phone]á FAX:
803-871-7988|ááááá

| Int. Primate Protection League | E-MAIL: [e-mail]áááááááááááááááá |
| POB 766 Summervilleááááááááááá |
<http://www.ippl.org/>http://www.ippl.orgáááááááááááááááááá |
|ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá |
| "It was the first time in my life that I was important enough forááááá |
| someone I'd never met to hate me" - George Orwell of his days as aáááá |
| civil servant in Indiaáááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------|


Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 11:08:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: USA TODAY Editorial on Bison/Snowmobiles
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from <http://www.usatoday.com/>http://www.usatoday.com

TODAY'S DEBATE: SNOWMOBILING IN THE PARKS
Thursday, February 19, 1998


OUR VIEW:
For parks' sake, enact ban

Throughout winter, there are days when the Yellowstone plateau looks
and sounds more like Daytona than a national park. Thousands of
snowmobiles cover its trails like swarms of two-stroke hornets,
producing a chain-saw howl and leaving a pall of blue-white haze in the
air. Air pollution along the park's snowmobile trails is sometimes worse
than in downtown Denver.

In Yellowstone in winter, two facts are evident. First: Snowmobiles are
fun. Second: They should be banned from the nation's parks. The noise
and air pollution are unacceptable, and the trails may affect the
migration of park bison. Last year, about half the 1,100 bison
slaughtered for leaving the ice-bound park followed snowmobile trails.
This year the toll is 11, but it's been a mild winter and, after the last
bloody season, there are fewer animals to start with.

Between all the dead bison and all the howling snowmobiles, it
sometimes seems the park has been deeded over to narrow local
interests. Lawmakers from nearby towns and surrounding states have
so bullied the National Park Service that Yellowstone's original mission
- to preserve the natural beauty - is being compromised by local
interests. For example, Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., a state that earns
millions from the park's proximity, has introduced legislation that
actually schedules Yellowstone's winter season, as if Washington
politicians know better than park rangers.

Plainly, communities around Yellowstone rely on it to attract visitors.
But local economic development is not a primary park objective and,
besides, the nearby Targhee and Gallant national forests offer more
recreation. The park is a key attraction. But Viki Eggers of the West
Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce says snowmobilers, who stay an
average seven to 14 days, spend fewer than two in the park.

Other parks increasingly are suffering similar noise and pollution. In
winter, it is snowmobiles, each of which can produce up to 1,000 times
more pollution than a car. In the summer, it is personal watercraft,
which can leave 30% or more of their oil-gas fuel mixture in the water.
The noxious fumes and obnoxious noise quickly can destroy the
contemplative park experience sought by millions of others.

Yellowstone's winter season will close in weeks. But the harm will
continue as long as the Park Service fails to curtail inappropriate
activities. As with private cars in Yosemite Valley, the parks cannot
sustain the increase in snowmobiles and other two-stroke machines.
Ban them now, and save the parks for years.


OPPOSING VIEW:
Let all enjoy our parks

By Sen. Conrad Burns

Last fall, the National Park Service settled a lawsuit filed by the Fund
for Animals, an extreme preservationist organization, and moved
toward closing snow-mobile trails in Yellowstone.

Folks living around the park feared for the future of their communities
for months, while the National Academy of Sciences and eventually the
Park Service admitted that trail closures weren't necessary.
Unfortunately, future trail closures are still possible because of more
legal actions by the Fund for Animals.

At the request of families and businesses near Yellowstone, I
introduced legislation to require the Park Service to keep the park open
for some winter recreation, set specific opening and closing dates for
park seasons, and consult the park's gateway communities on decisions
that affect them.

Some have tried to characterize this legislation as providing unlimited
winter access to Yellowstone. It doesn't. Science dictates that there
must be some limits on winter use, and my legislation respects these
limits. The Park Service must be allowed to carry out its mission of
protecting Yellowstone, but gateway communities must be protected as
well.

The Park Service estimated trail closures would result in the loss of
$117,000 to $1.3 million for gateway communities. Making matters
worse, the Wyoming Department of Commerce found the Park Service
used out-of-date statistics and flawed assumptions to reach its
conclusion, and real losses would be closer to $3.8 million. This loss is
unacceptable, especially when science says trail closures are
unnecessary.

The families Yellowstone supports need assurances that winter
recreational activity will continue, rather than precariously living year to
year.

But more than that, decisions we make in our parks must have a strong
scientific basis, and science shows that trail closures are not necessary.
I look forward to working with the Park Service to preserve the
integrity of the park system and to develop a "good neighbor" policy.


Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., is a member of the Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources.

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 12:08:09 -0800
From: Lionel Friedberg <[e-mail]>
To: Animal Rights News <[e-mail]>
Subject: SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Copies of Gail Eisnitz's powerful exposΘ of animal abuse in the U.S.
meat industry, SLAUGHTERHOUSE, are available from the Humane Farming
Association in San Francisco.á This is a must-read book.á I urge you to
get a copy and then pass it on to concerned individuals and
decision-makers throughout the nation.á Believe me, this potent book
will change your life.á Contact the Humane Farming Association on
415-771-2253.
Lionel Friedberg
Los Angeles
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:42:57 -0500
From: "Bina Robinson" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Fw: ACTION ALERT: JAPANESE WHALERS USING OUTLAWED æCO
LDÆ HARPOON
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit



----------
> From: [e-mail]
> To:
> Subject: ACTION ALERT: JAPANESE WHALERS USING OUTLAWED æCOLDÆ
HARPOON
> Date: Thursday, February 19, 1998 5:40 AM
>
> Please Forward To All Your Contacts....
>á
>á JAPANESE WHALERS STILL USING OUTLAWED æCOLDÆ HARPOON
>á
>á ôJapan has alternative secondary whale killing methods....
>á One is second harpoon without penthrite grenade and the other is
electric
>á lance.ö (Ishikawa)
>á
>á ô...the crew prepared to use one of the two available secondary killing
>á methods. The first of these was to shoot a second (cold) harpoon into
the
>á whale.ö (Wall°e)
>á
>á HAS JAPAN HARPOONED ITSELF IN THE FOOT ?
>á
>á The use of non-explosive æcoldÆ harpoons for minke whaling was banned by
the
>á International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1981 on the grounds that it is
>á inhume.
>á
>á Now it is revealed that Japanese whalers, during commercial minke whale
hunts
>á (conducted under the guise of ôscientificö whaling) in the Antarctic
>á æSanctuaryÆ and the western North Pacific, are using the cold harpoon
>á extensively as a secondary killing method.
>á
>á A leading Norwegian whaling scientist has inferred that the cold harpoon
is
>á used in
>á preference to the æelectric lanceÆ secondary killing method.
>á
>á During recent Japanese minke whale hunts, around a quarter (26%) of
whales
>á caught were subjected to one or more cold harpoons following an
unsuccessful
>á first strike by penthrite explosive grenade harpoon. Of the minke whales
>á struck with the cold harpoon, about half (53%) remained alive after one
or
>á more shots and were then subjected to electrocution with electric lance
>á apparatus.
>á
>á Both penthrite and cold grenade harpoons are used to recapture
struck-and-lost
>á whales.
>á
>á The IWC member governments seem to have been unaware of the ongoing use
of
>á cold harpoons by Japanese whalers; thus the Government of Japan appears
to
>á have deliberately kept the use of cold harpoons a secret from the IWC.
>á
>á The inefficient and inhumane cold harpoon and electric lance secondary
killing
>á methods are used instead of a second or third explosive penthrite
grenade
>á harpoon for economic reasons - they destroy less of the commercially
valuable
>á flesh on the small minke whale.
>á
>á The Government of Japan (GoJ) argues that because of its technical o
> ainst the IWC decision to ban the cold harpoon for commercial killing
>á of minke whales, Japanese whalers have no obligation to adhere to the
ban; and
>á IWC regulations - including the ban - do not apply to ôscientificö
research
>á whaling anyway.
>á
>á By blatantly ignoring the cold harpoon ban, the GoJ and the Japanese
whaling
>á industry are imposing their ethical values on a majority of the
international
>á community: cultural imperialism from a government and industry which
regularly
>á accuse all who oppose commercial whaling of cultural imperialism.
>á
>á The GoJ has clearly acted in bad faith, with complete disregard for the
humane
>á treatment and welfare of individual whales, the regulations of the IWC,
the
>á widespread international public concern about inhumane killing of
whales,
>á JapanÆs international reputation and the overseas perception of the
Japanese
>á public in general.
>á
>á During Japanese pelagic (open ocean) minke whaling operations in the
Southern
>á Ocean (Antarctic) and western North Pacific, the whalers use a penthrite
>á explosive grenade harpoon as the primary killing method when capturing
minke
>á whales. Between just 26% and 29.4% of the minke whales are killed
>á instantaneously (Wall°e 1996, GoJ 1994). The majority of whales that
survive
>á the first harpoon strike are then subjected to a secondary killing
method.
>á Until 1996 it was thought that the inefficient and inhumane æelectric
lanceÆ
>á apparatus was the only secondary killing method employed in Japanese
pelagic
>á minke whaling, except for occasional re-shooting with a second explosive
>á harpoon when the first is poorly placed, pulls out or the fore-runner
(harpoon
>á line) breaks. During a joint Japan-Norway defence of the electric lance,
it
>á was revealed that Japanese whalers also use non-explosive æcoldÆ
harpoons,
>á despite the fact that the cold harpoon is banned by the IWC because of
its
>á unacceptable inefficiency and inhumaneness, whether or not it is used as
a
>á primary or secondary killing method.
>á
>á Quite simply, Japan has unwittingly admitted to using an internationally
>á outlawed weap
> ment with the penthrite explosive grenade harpoon in the mid
>á 1980Æs, the non-explosive æcoldÆ grenade harpoon had been the chosen
primary
>á killing-capture method employed in Japanese commercial whaling
operations for
>á minke whales since 1971. A non- exploding grenade was used against minke
>á whales in order to æprevent extensive damage and consequent loss of the
>á carcass, caused by the explosion of the grenade in such a small animalÆ
(Best
>á 1974). The lethality of the cold harpoon is directly related to the
damage the
>á projectile causes to the organs and tissues it hits on passage through
the
>á whaleÆs body. æThe killing effect and the crushing and damage that
arises are
>á due more to a direct hit in vital
>á organs and damage from the wing-formed harpoon claws and fore-runner,
than
>á damage from the harpoon head. The cold harpoon therefore works more like
a
>á large arrowÆ (╪en 1992).
>á
>á As a primary killing method, use of the cold harpoon failed to achieve
>á instantaneous death or insensibility in 80-90% of cases. Times to death
(the
>á time between first harpoon strike and death or insensibility) were
>á unacceptably long, with mean times to death of between 5 and 11 minutes
that
>á indicated prolonged periods of suffering. There is no question that the
cold
>á harpoon as a killing method - whether primary or secondary - is
inefficient
>á and inhumane.
>á
>á PROHIBITION OF THE COLD HARPOON
>á
>á Under Article V.1 (f) of the 1946 International Convention for the
Regulation
>á of Whaling (ICRW), the IWC may amend the Schedule of the ICRW to specify
or
>á prohibit the types of gear and apparatus and appliances which may be
used in
>á whaling. In 1980, the IWC voted to prohibit use of the cold harpoon for
the
>á commercial killing of all whale species except the minke whale, with
effect
>á from the start of the 1980/81 pelagic season and 1981 coastal season, on
the
>á grounds of its inhumaneness (IWC 1980). In 1981, Australia proposed a
Schedule
>á amendment to prohibit use of the cold harpoon on the minke whale, again
due to
>á its inhumaneness. After discussion this was agreed subj
> e start of the 1982/83 pelagic season and the
>á 1983 coastal season (IWC 1981). This established a clear precedent,
>á demonstrating that it was within both the framework of the ICRW and the
>á competency of the IWC to take decisions and make regulations concerning
the
>á welfare of whales and to prohibit the use of certain pieces of whaling
>á equipment on the grounds of inhumaneness.
>á
>á NO MENTION OF COLD HARPOONS
>á
>á Documents submitted by the GoJ to the IWC in recent years make no
mention
>á whatsoever of cold harpoons being employed as an alternative secondary
killing
>á method to the electric lance during pelagic whaling operations. The only
>á reference which could be said to æhintÆ at the possible use of cold
harpoons
>á comes from a GoJ document (GoJ 1994) concerning the 1993/94 season,
which
>á states: æAs Japan had lodged formal objection to Schedule 6 of the
Convention,
>á adopted in 1981, pertaining to the obligation to use explosive harpoons
in the
>á whale catch, the Japanese scientific research catch pursuant to Article
VIII
>á of the Convention, conducting (sic) since 1987, has been exempted from
the
>á provisions of Schedule 6.Æ Thus it does appear that, until 1996, it was
GoJ
>á policy to deliberately keep the
>á use of cold harpoons a secret from the IWC. Breach Marine Protection
brought
>á this matter to all the IWC Commissioner's attention in 1996. Despite
BMP's
>á published evidence, no discussion of Japan's use of this banned killing
method
>á has taken place within the IWC.
>á
>á ELECTRIC LANCE ONLY?
>á
>á It is apparent from documentation submitted to the IWC that the majority
of
>á IWC member governments, non-governmental organisations and researchers
have
>á been unaware that the Japanese whalers have used anything other than the
>á electric lance as a secondary killing method - except for the limited
use of a
>á second explosive penthrite harpoon to secure a whale with a poorly
placed
>á first shot, or which is lost when the first harpoon pulls out or the
fore-
>á runner breaks - as the following examples illustrate:
>á
>á ôThe two main secondary methods of killing currently o
> f large calibre rifle (Norway)ö (GoUK
>á 1995).
>á
>á ôIf a whale is not killed instantly by an explosive harpoon, the
Japanese use
>á electric lances as a secondary killing deviceö (McLachlan 1995).
>á
>á ôThe Japanese and Norwegians use different techniques for dispatching
wounded
>á whales. The Japanese whalers winch the whale to the ship, implant
electrodes
>á through the blubber...ö (Kestin 1995).
>á
>á USE OF COLD HARPOON REVEALED
>á
>á The following is from a paper submitted by Hajime Ishikawa of the
Institute of
>á Cetacean Research, Tokyo: ôJapan has alternative secondary whale killing
>á methods in order to kill a whale which does not die with the first
explosive
>á harpoon in Japanese Whale Research Programme under Special Permit (JARPA
and
>á JARPN). One is second harpoon without penthrite grenade and the other is
>á electric lance.ö
>á
>á The use of alternative secondary killing methods employed in Japanese
pelagic
>á whaling operations to dispatch wounded whales is expanded upon by
Professor
>á Lars Wall°e, chief scientific advisor on whaling to the Government of
Norway,
>á member of the IWC Scientific Committee and the Norwegia delegation, in
the
>á second paper in question, his analysis of recent Japanese whale killing
data
>á with special emphasis on the use of the electric lance. The paper
included the
>á following references to the cold harpoon:
>á
>á ô...If a whale died instantaneously or within a few minutes, no
secondary
>á killing method was used. But if the whale showed signs of life after the
first
>á hit, the crew prepared to use one of the two available secondary killing
>á methods. The first of these was to shoot a second (cold) harpoon into
the
>á whale. This operation could be repeated. The second method available was
to
>á use electrical stunning...ö
>á
>á With regard to use of the cold harpoon as a secondary killing method,
Wall°eÆs
>á analysis is reliable. He clearly states that he was provided with a
>á comprehensive data file, in which the records for each of the 891 whales
were
>á complete. These included records of: ô(first) secondary method (none,
harpoon,
>á lance), number of col
> ectric current,
>á time to firing of (first) cold harpoon, time to use of lance, loss/
recapture,
>á ...ö
>á
>á COLD HARPOON - THE FIRST CHOICE
>á
>á In his paper, Wall°e implies that given the choice of employing the
electric
>á lance apparatus or re-shooting with a cold harpoon, it is the cold
harpoon
>á which is the preferred option of the Japanese whalers, as the following
>á reiterations show:
>á
>á ô...the crew prepared to use one of the two available secondary killing
>á methods. The first of these was to shoot a second (cold) harpoon into
the
>á whale... The second method available was to use electrical stunning...ö
>á
>á ôThe electric lance was sometimes used in addition to a cold harpoon if
the
>á first (or second) cold harpoon failed to kill the animal.ö
>á
>á ôIn most cases the whalers chose the secondary killing method they
considered
>á most suitable in the circumstances. If, for instance, the whalers
considered
>á that the first harpoon was in danger of being pulled out, a second
harpoon was
>á used. On the other hand, if the whale was too close to the boat, it was
often
>á not possible to shoot it with a second harpoon, but the electric lance
could
>á conveniently be applied. In some cases either secondary killing method
could
>á be used with an equal chance of success as judged by the whalers.ö
>á
>á CONCLUSION
>á
>á This matter of JapanÆs use of the cold harpoon must now be dealt with
>á internationally at the highest levels of government, both through the
IWC and
>á private channels. This issue not only highlights the urgent need for a
firm
>á resolution seeking to enforce the 1981 IWC decision, but also the need
for
>á rigorous measures to deal effectively with the perennial problem of
>á inhumane killing of whales.
>á
>á Any further delay by the GoJ in implementing genuine attempts by the
>á international
>á community, through the IWC, to minimise, eliminate and prevent the
significant
>á proportion of slaughter which fails to meet the IWC definition of Humane
>á Killing is simply not acceptable.
>á
>á The GoJ has evidently absolved itself of responsibility over the matter
of
>á humane killing. As Fukuzo
> the Institute
>á of Cetacean Research stated (1993): ôBut even if methods are discovered
which
>á guarantee animals a more pain-free death, we must consider the costs of
>á implementing change, and the effect these costs will have on product
prices.
>á There are thus certain practical limitations when it comes to developing
>á humane methods of slaughter.ö
>á
>á WRITE NOW TO YOUR IWC COMMISSIONER ASKING HIM WHY NOTHING HAS
BEEN DONE
TO
>á STOP THIS ON-GOING ATROCITY. DEMAND HE TABLES A MOTION AT THE 50th
IWC
MEETING
>á (MAY 1998) CONDEMNING JAPAN'S USE OF THE 'COLD' HARPOON.
>á
>á List of IWC Commissioners from: [e-mail]
>á
>á Full text at:
<http://members.aol.com/breachenv/cb-coldh.htm>http://members.aol.com/breach
env/cb-coldh.htm
>á
>á Japanese contacts to protest:
<http://members.aol.com/breachenv/r-r.htm>http://members.aol.com/breachenv/r
-r.htm
(Read &
>á React - Hall Of Shame [Japan]).
>á
>á Popular Resolution on Abolition of Inhumane Commercial Slaughter of
Whales -
>á Sign-On Petition at:
<http://members.aol.com/breachenv/popreslt.htm>http://members.aol.com/breach
env/popreslt.htm
>á
>á David Smith
>á Campaign Director
>á Breach Marine Protection UK
>á email: [e-mail]
>á Tel/Fax: [phone]
>á
<http://members.aol.com/breachenv/home.htm>http://members.aol.com/breachenv/
home.htm
>á
>á Rapid Environmental Disaster - Response. & Rescue
>á (R.E.'D.R.Res) Hotline: [phone]
>á
>
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 15:43:12 -0500
From: "* Radio-Active *" <[e-mail]>
To: "RPM" <[e-mail]>
Subject: DOGS & LIGHTBULBS (Humor) :-)
Message-ID: <01bd3d76$fed43fc0$701e35cf@valuedcu>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
charset="us-ascii"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

~~ A little humor ! (From a person who is owned by three German Shepherds)



HOW MANY DOGS DOES IT TAKE TO CHANGE A LIGHTBULB?


ROTTWEILER:á Just one.á You want to make something of it?

DOBERMAN:á Immediately decides to change the brand of lightbulb and find a
more efficient form of lighting--perhaps a fluorescent bulb.

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD:á One, but just "try" to convince them that the
burned-out bulb is useless and should be thrown away.

JACK RUSSELL TERRIER:á Two, but the job never getsá done--they just keep
arguing about who is supposed to do it and how it's supposed to be done!

BULLDOG:á Just one.á But it takes them three years to do it.

POMERANIANS don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will
get a German Shepherd in to do the job for them while they're out.

PUG:á Er, two.á Or maybe one.á No-- on second thought, make that two. Is
that OK with you?

GOLDEN RETRIEVER:á The sun is shining, the day is young, we've got our whole
lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid burned-out
light bulb?

AFGHAN:á Lightbulb?á What lightbulb?

CAT:á I don't waste my time with these childish jokes. >^,,^<

SHIBA-INU:á Zero!á Shiba's aren't afraid of the dark!

SCHIPPERKE:á It's your lightbulb--change it yourself.á Unless.....is
there food involved??

POODLE:á Sorry, Just had my nails done

BEAGLE:á How many cookies do I get?

WEIMARANER:á Light bulb?á You want ME to change a LIGHTBULB??

LAB:á Why change it?á The darker it is, the longer I can sleep.

BASENJI:á LIGHTBULB?? We don't change no steenking lightbulbs!!

MALAMUTE:á Let him do it, you can pet me while he's busy.

BOXER:á If I could stop wiggling my butt long enough to quit falling off the
chair.........

AMERICAN BULLDOG:á One.á JUMP,remove bulb , land. JUMP, replace bulb, land.
Two:á What lightbulb?á So?á We can play in the dark.

GOLDEN RETRIEVER: "I'll be glad to change the light bulb for you, but first
can't we play catch with the tennis ball, or frisbee - and then I want to
lick your face and rest my head in your lap and look up at you with my sad
eyes. What, you're changing the light bulb yourself - you didn't have to do
that - but I looooove you so much for being my friend and doing that."

DALMATIAN:á Just one, but it will really hate the new bulb.

ROTTWEILER:á I'll change the light bulb if I can eat the old one.

CORGI: I cant reach the stupid lamp!

SPRINGER:á Lightbulb?á Lightbulb?á That thing I just ate was a
lightbulb?

STANDARD POODLE:á None.á Go get human, sit under it, look up and point it
out--then go lie down in disgust that it took so long.

BORDER COLLIE:á Just one.á And he'll rewire the house while he's at it.

WOLFDOG:á Let me see that light bulb, anyway.á What's it made of, what's
inside of it, what will happen if I drop it.á I might change it, but let me
think about it.á You're not trying to tell me what to do, are you? Hey, I
just had a great idea.á I think I'll change that light bulb!

GERMAN SHEPHERD:á "I'm kinda busy right now!á I have to chase the
cat,protect the kids, herd the horses, beg for food and take a nap.á I'll
add the lightbulb to my "To Do" list...."

DACHSHUND:á Well, first get me a ladder and a treat......no, you took too
long.á I want TWO treats and I'll do it.........No, not that treat, the
other kind.á Geez..........do I have to do everything? (of course, followed
by "the look".)

IRISH SETTER:á It only takes one, but it will put in a really dim bulb.

PIT BULL TERRIER:á Jump and take hold of old light bulb.á Now, let go of old
light bulb..........I said LET GO OF LIGHT BULB. Please???? Let go of the
light bulb??????

GOOD OL' SOUTHERN HOUND DOG:á HUH????




Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:10:04 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: "Linda J. Howard" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Support Animal Rights Music Group
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

posted for "Linda J. Howard" <[e-mail]>
------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone,

The below is being reposted for Scott.

Consolidated is a music group which has been a strong advocate for animal
rights for years -- they even encourage grassroots groups to give out
literature at the band's performances.á Let's try to support them.

***********************************************************
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 1998 09:18:09
From: [e-mail]
Subject: Consolidated

I am reaching out to you for some support.á As you know, Consolidated is a
band that fervently fights for the rights of women; victims and survivors of
abuse including domestic violence and rape; animals as proclaimed in the PETA
doctrine; and the environment.á Adam Sherburne, ConsolidatedÆs leader,
doesnÆt
merely support these beliefs, he has committed his life to these beliefs.

Adam devotes the time he is not writing, recording, and performing to
volunteer for all of these causes.á He is a modest person that does not
promote the fact that he donates his spare time at a rape crisis center and
speaks to classes at various universities in the Pacific Northwest.á He gives
interviews for his band and turns them into an opportunity to explain the
importance of preserving our environment, protecting animals, and asserting
the rights of women.á He encourages varied activist organizations to table
and
speak at his concerts.á He even donates the lion share of profits from album
sales derived from touring to these organizations.

However, in order for Consolidated to continue to spread the message, the
band
has to sell more albums!á This is my simple request.á Please, please strongly
encourage your friends and colleagues to purchase a copy of the new album.
If
you could get some people to buy the new album ôDroppedö and start talking
about the band it would really help.á I want you to get involved.á This is an
important band that deserves some attention!

> I will leave you with one simple question.á Who would you rather see
sending a
> message to the world, the Spice Girls or Consolidated?
>
> I sincerely thank you for considering my request.
>
> Scott Cohen
> Sol 3 Records
>




Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:11:54 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: Animal Liberation Collective <[e-mail]>
Subject: David Lavigne - Feb 26th -Lecture
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

posted for Animal Liberation Collective <[e-mail]>
----------------------------------------------
Please circulate widely:
--------------------------------------------------------------------

The Seal Hunt Controversy:
The Issues and the Interest Groups

A Lecture by Dr. David Lavigne - Executive Director of the International
Marine Mammal Association

TURSDAY FEB. 26TH 1998 7:00 PM
OVC 1714, LIFETIME LEARNING CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH
GUELPH, ONTARIO

ADMISSION: FREE

For more info contact:

=============================
Animal Liberation Collective
-----------------------------
U.C. 216
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario
N1G 2W1

e-mail: [e-mail]
web: <http://www.tao.ca/~alc/>http://www.tao.ca/~alc/
phone: [phone]
fax: [phone]
-----------------------------
Liberation to Freedom!
=============================






Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 21:14:23 -0800
From: Ilene Rachford <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: 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

Hello, all,

I found the following on another list. I think this is important enough
to share. I' m sending this with the permission of the poster.

Ilene


I want to bring to your attention an atrocity that is taking place in
the US under the guise of raising money for sick kids with cancer.

If you follow the link below you will go to a site that will explain
that this hospital's biggest fundraiser, their "brightest shining star"
is this annual Coon Hunt.á In 1998, I am having a hard time believing
that
this board of directors, and their patron, Marlo Thomas, can justify
that this event is not inhumane.

Making money for finding cures for childhood cancer at the expense of
wildlife?á Have we all gone nuts or what?á Understand please, this is
not a "using animals for research" issue.á This is hunting for dollars
and raccoons are the bait. Can their fundraisers not find a more humane
way to raise money?

Here is the link (this just went up yesterday and is factual and true).

<http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4892/coonhunt.html>http://www.ge
ocities.com/RainForest/Vines/4892/coonhunt.html

If you think this is as inhumane and barbaric as I do, then please sign
the online petition that is there.

Thank you


Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:02:25 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) No evidence tv show caused drop in cattle prices
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Amarillo Globe-News
<http://www.amarillonet.com/>http://www.amarillonet.com/oprah/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Web posted Thursday, February 19, 1998 6:59 p.m. CT

No evidence tv show caused drop in cattle prices

By CHIP CHANDLER
Globe-News Staff Writer

A defense witness testified on Thursday that he sees no direct evidence
that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" caused a drop in cattle prices in April 1996.

Dr. Marvin Hayenga, an agricultural economics professor from Iowa State
University, testified as an expert witness in the area cattlemen vs. Oprah
Winfrey trial's 22nd day.

He said prices in live cattle markets dropped for four reasons:

* high supplies;

* a higher number of cattle sold on futures markets;

* a decline in exports to Southeast Asia; and

* packing plants taking bigger percentages in costs.

The factors combined to increase supplies of cattle, which in turn caused
demand and prices to go down, Hayenga said.

Cattlemen are suing Winfrey, Harpo Productions Inc. and Howard Lyman
because of statements made on Winfrey's April 16, 1996, show they say were
defaming to the cattle industry.

Hayenga's testimony directly contradicted that of plaintiffs' witnesses who
said that Winfrey's show was to blame. The plaintiffs' experts said other
factors in the market could be eliminated from the equation when prices
dropped from the $60 range to about $55 within a week of the show.

Hayenga also testified that any losses that original plaintiff Paul Engler
and his companies suffered in the futures market could not be attributed to
Winfrey's show.

Engler had testified that his company had hedged the market, selling
contracts for cattle early to ensure higher prices. He said he sold more
hedging contracts starting May 2, 1996, because of the show's effect on
prices.

The defense expert said he doubted Engler's claims.

"If the show is the cause, in my view (selling hedging contracts) needs to
be much more immediate," Hayenga said.

Earlier Thursday, the executive producer of Winfrey's show continued to
battle plaintiffs' attorneys who wanted her to admit there were false
statements or inaccuracies made on the show.

Diane Hudson also said a former Harpo Productions Inc. employee was lying
when he said another producer - James Kelley - feared Hudson would fire
Kelley.

"Well, you should know that Mr. (LaGrande) Green made up a lot of things,
I've come to find out," Hudson said.

Green, who was fired by Hudson in part because he is a self-admitted sex
addict, had said Kelley was told to "cut (a) boring beef guy out" when he
was editing the "Dangerous Foods" show.

Green, who testified via videotaped deposition earlier this month, also
said that Hudson would not promote Kelley "because Oprah would have her
job."

Hudson admitted she did not plan to promote Kelley, but she said it was her
own decision.

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:02:29 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Alamosa, Colo., Animal Exhibitors Settle Alleged AWA Violations
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá Jim Rogersááááá [phone]
>ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá [e-mail]
>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá Jamie Ambrosi [phone]
>ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá [e-mail]
>
>
>USDA AND ALAMOSA, COLO., ANIMAL EXHIBITORS SETTLE ALLEGED
>AWA VIOLATIONS
>
>áááá RIVERDALE, Md., Feb. 19, 1998--The U.S. Department of Agriculture
>and licensed animal exhibitors Bethan and I.B. Chapman, doing business
>as Alamo Tiger Ranch in Alamosa, Colo., have agreed to a consent
>decision and order regarding violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
>
>áááá The Chapmans neither admitted nor denied any violations of the AWA
>but agreed to a permanent license disqualification.á They also agreed to a
>civil penalty of $30,000 of which $29,000 is suspended providing there
>are no future violations of the AWA.
>
>áááá "The most important item in this settlement is the permanent license
>disqualification," said W. Ron DeHaven, acting deputy administrator for
>animal care with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of
>USDA'S marketing and regulatory programs mission area.á "Shortly
>before USDA issued the original charges, the Chapmans voluntarily
>surrendered their animals which were then placed with the help of a
>local APHIS inspector.á Now, without being able to qualify for another
>USDA license, the Chapmans will not be able to obtain animals for
>exhibition in the future."
>
>áááá The AWA requires that regulated individuals and businesses provide
>animals with care and treatment according to the standards established
>by APHIS.á Animals protected by the law must be provided with adequate
>housing, handling, sanitation, food, water, transportation, veterinary
>care, and shelter.
>
>áááá The law covers animals that are sold as pets at the wholesale level,
>transported in commerce, used for biomedical research, or used for
>exhibition purposes.
>
>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá #


Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
[e-mail]

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:14:27 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Oprah Producer Tough on the Stand
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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from Associated Press <http://wire.ap.org/>http://wire.ap.org
----------------------------------
02/19/1998 20:14 EST

Oprah Producer Tough on the Stand

By MARK BABINECK
Associated Press Writer

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) -- Attorneys for cattlemen suing Opraháá
Winfrey tried mightily but failed Thursday to get heráááááááá
executive producer to admit there was anything wrong with the
show they say sank cattle prices.áááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
Efforts to grill Diane Hudson became so intense that U.S.áááá
District Judge Mary Lou Robinson often admonished theáááááááá
attorneys for being argumentative and repetitive.áááááááááááá
áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
The questioning stalled when Ms. Hudson calmly refused to
acknowledge that anyone made any false statements on the April 16, 1996,
talk show.

``I believe today as I did then that guests believed what they were
saying was true,'' Ms. Hudson said.

Texas cattlemen claim that a market plunge
á following Ms. Winfrey's talk show about
``dangerous foods'' cost them $12 million.
They are suing her, her production company and
her vegetarian activist guest, Howard Lyman,
for business disparagement.

Marvin Hayenga, an agricultural economics
professor at Iowa State University, testified
for the defense that oversupply, weak exports
and seasonal factors pushed already slumping
cattle prices lower in the spring of 1996.

``There is no way to sort out the Oprah show
for all of that price decline,'' he said.

On Tuesday, the judge tossed out the part of the case that Texas
cattlemen had filed under the state's ``veggie libel'' law, ruling the
cattleman had not proved their case. The judge did not rule the law
unconstitutional, however.

Part of the talk show centered on mad cow disease, which hasá
stricken British herds since the 1980s. A related strain of a
similar human ailment is suspected of killing 23 peopleáááááá
there. Mad cow disease has never been reported in the Unitedá
States.áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
Ms. Hudson, in her second day on the stand, said beefáááá
industry spokesman Gary Weber had plenty of opportunity onááá
the show to mention a voluntary ban on a feeding practiceáááá
suspected of spreading mad cow disease.áááááááááááááááááááááá
áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá
Ms. Hudson said Weber didn't mention the ban on usingáááááááá
processed cattle in cattle feed until the taping had run well
past the allotted time.

Weber, speaking for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, later
complained about his appearance on the show and returned for a follow-up
show to reiterate that the U.S. beef industry was working to prevent mad
cow disease.

Ms. Hudson explained his first remarks were cut for time constraints and
editing flow, not content.

``What I'm saying is, why did he wait 20 minutes into the conversation
when (the voluntary ban) is germane to what's going on?'' she said.

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:15:16 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Wendy's Loses $4M in Fourth Quarter
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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Wendy's Loses $4M in Fourth Quarter
.c The Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) - Wendy's International Inc. said Thursday it lost $4
million in the fourth quarter because of expenses tied to closing restaurants
and pulling out salad bars.

The fast-food chain's loss for the three months ended Dec. 28 amounted to 3
cents a diluted share. In the comparable period in 1996, Wendy's earned $40.2
million, or 30 cents per diluted share.

Fourth-quarter revenues rose 5 percent to $512.7 million from $488.7 million a
year earlier.

Wendy's said it took a $72.7 million pretax restructuring charge in the latest
quarter. Without the charge, fourth-quarter earnings would have been $45.9
million, or 34 cents per diluted share.

The results matched analysts' expectations, according to a survey by First
Call Corp. Wendy's shares edged up 6 1/4 cents to $21.31 1/4 on the New York
Stock Exchange.

For all of 1997, net income fell to $130.5 million, or 97 cents a diluted
share, from $155.9 million, or $1.19 a diluted share, in 1996 Full-year
revenues rose 7.4 percent to a record $2 billion.

A total of 228 Wendy's company-owned stores were sold to new or existing
franchisees last year, which generated a pretax gain of $81 million compared
to $67 million in 1996.

The company, based in this Columbus suburb, plans to open another 575 Wendy's
and Tim Hortons - which specialize in coffee and baked goods - this year and
675 in 1999.

AP-NY-02-19-98 1703EST

Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 23:20:49 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Subscription Options--Admin Note
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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the usual posting.......

[Questions?á Need to contact a real person as opposed to Listproc?á Reply
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To switch back to immediate mail, and to get copies of *your* postings
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Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 20:32:26
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Publican faces jail as beef law starts to bite
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Friday, February 20th, 1998]

Publican faces jail as beef law starts to bite
By Michael Fleetá

A PUBLICAN intends to defy the Government ban on selling beef on the bone
despite yesterday becoming the first person in England to face prosecution
under the new law.

Alan Coomber was told that he was likely to be taken to court after two
health inspectors, posing as a love-struck couple, ordered a pair of T-bone
steaks for lunch but slipped the meat into plastic bags.

Bemused staff at the Bell Inn, at Iden, near Rye, East Sussex, were then
shown the couple's identity cards and told that the steaks had been seized
as evidence.

Mr Coomber, 52, was told to telephone Rother district council at Bexhill,
where he was informed that one of the steaks had been sent for analysis and
he was likely to be prosecuted. "I could have saved them the bother of
analysing them - they were best British T-bone steaks," Mr Coomber said.

Yesterday his pub was still advertising 8oz, 16oz and 28oz T-bones and he
said that as long as people wanted to buy them, he would sell them. "I fear
that if I obey this ban and stop serving up T-bones I could go bankrupt,"
Mr Coomber said.

He had already defied a council warning which told him that a report had
been received that he might be selling T-bones "for human consumption" and
that it was a "serious criminal offence" with a penalty of six months in
prison or a fine of ú5,000.

Despite the warning and the seizure of two of his steaks, Mr Coomber said
he would continue to stand up for the rights of the British beef-eater. He
said: "I'm not guilty of selling infected meat, only of selling something
that my customers want and thoroughly enjoy. At the
end of the day this is about the right to choose what we want, the right of
people to come here and say 'I will have a T-bone steak'."

He is prepared to be taken to court. "I shall stand up and take my
punishment. I would not want to go to prison, but we would not want to stop
selling T-bones."

David Edwards, the council's solicitor, said in a statement: "The council
has a duty under the Food Safety Act 1990 to enforce the Beef Bones
Regulations.

"The council itself would be guilty of maladministration if it didn't take
appropriate action. A warning letter was sent to Mr Coomber on Feb 5.
Subsequently a test purchase was made on Feb 17. Proceedings are now being
commenced." Mr Edwards said.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.


Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 12:53:53 +0000
From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Reserves protect rare animals
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Date: 02/20/98
Copyright⌐ by China Daily

LHASA (Xinhua) -- The Tibet Autonomous Region has set up 13 nature reserves
to protect wildlife, rare plants and the chilly natural environment on the
plateau.

A natural laboratory for research into geology and biology in China, the
reserves cover 326,000 square kilometres, or 27.1 per cent of Tibet's area.

The Qomolangma Reserve, which was set up in 1989, is the highest nature
reserve in the world.

The State-class nature reserve covering Tingri, Dinggye, Nyalam and
Gyairong counties in southern Xigaze has fir trees, dragon spruce and
Chinese hemlock, as well as long-leaf pine and Himalayan ormosia trees.

In the forests of the reserve live long-tailed leaf monkeys, Assamese
macaques, Tar sheep, leopards and snow leopards, all subject to national
protection.

Archaeologists have discovered a fossil complex composed of three-toed
horse, oak tree and spore pollen fossils in Gyirong, considered to be
evidence that the area rose abruptly after the late Tertiary period.

The Changtang Nature Reserve, set up in 1993 in Shuanghu, Nyima and Gerze
counties in northern Tibet, is the largest zoo of its kind in the world.

Covering a combined area of 247,100 square kilometres, it has an average
elevation of 5,000 metres. The reserve is home to Tibetan yaks, Tibetan
antelopes, wild Tibetan donkeys and argalis, all rare animals subject to
second-class protection by the State.

In fresh-water and salt lakes are found ducks, cranes and fish unique to
plateau lakes.

In Xainza Nature Reserve, in Xainza County, Nagqu, in northern Tibet, lakes
cover 40,000 square kilometres. Ice water flows down the Kangdese Mountain
into them and water plants and animals thrive.

The reserve is one of seven in China to be home to black-necked cranes,
which are subject to State first-class protection. It has the highest
elevation and largest area in China.

The Medog Nature Reserve at the turn of the Grand Canyon of the Yarlung
Zangbo River in Southeast Tibet was set up in 1986.

It has an elevation of 600 metres and, with an area of 626.2 square
kilometres, is a museum of the northernmost tropical forests in China.
Rugged terrain and frequent landslides make it impossible for the area to
have a land road open all the year round.

The Zayu Nature Reserve, covering 1,014 square kilometres in Zayu County,
Nyingchi Prefecture, is a zone of subtropical forests.



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