Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news69~1.htm/text0002.txt

Text File | 1998-04-02 | 70.4 KB | 1,649 lines

Dutch stroke researchers reveal they abandoned tests after deaths

Reuters News Service
AMSTERDAM, March 19, 1998

Dutch medical researchers disclosed Thursday that they had stopped
testing a new stroke treatment following the deaths of 17 patients.

According to Utrecht University Hospital, where the tests were carried
out in 1996, another 36 patients suffered complications as a result of
the experiment.

It said the tests, to treat stroke victims with anti-coagulants more
usually associated with heart patients, ended in May 1996.

A total 1,316 patients were divided into two groups and given either
aspirin, a drug of proven benefit after a mild heart attack, or an
anti-coagulant.

In the second group of 651 people, 53 suffered severe complications and
17 of them subsequently died. In the aspirin group, six patients fell
ill.

Most of the deaths were in the Netherlands, although parallel tests were
reportedly carried out in Britain, Italy and Australia.

Researchers believed the anti-coagulant thinned the blood too much,
leading to internal bleeding.

So far, no complaints have been filed against the hospital.

"The families of the patients fully accept the consequences of the
research," a hospital spokeswoman said. "They were well informed about
the risks and knew bleeding could occur," she added.

Strokes are the second biggest killer in the Netherlands, affecting
around 26,000 people each year. Doctors believe the risk factors for
strokes and heart attacks are similar.

=========================================

Clinical trials are almost always preceded by animal tests.  The reason
given is that preliminary animal testing protects human lives. The above
story shows the fallacy of this presumption.

About 80 percent of medical drugs that reach the clinical trial phase do
not get licensed and of those that do, many need to be withdrawn or
relabelled after widely used.  Tragedies like the one that has now
occurred in the Netherlands are not unique.

Andy
Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 23:08:40 -0700
From: Buffalo Folks <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Quick update, day of prayer, a quick call & as always...thanks
Message-ID: <v04003a01b137b8635e15@[206.230.42.190]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

GREETINGS!
as the National Day of Prayer approaches...a quick update.

computer foul ups have gotten me behind in web page update ...but will do
my best!


Please pass this on to to our web warrior friends!
     ...the 21st will find the prayers rising!

  Also, please take encourage folks (and if you can help) to let local
media know about your event and the national ceremonies and pass on Buffalo
Nations phone number and web page.

thanks so much!
for the earth
su

****************************************
One thing you can do......

A quick call to the new State Vet of Montana, Arnold Gertonson who recently
took over for the folks doing the killing (MT Department of Livestock)
would really help.
Arnold is in charge of "cleaning up the bison, then the elk". He stated in
a recent interview that the reason bull bison were being killed instead of
held for further testing is because they might (uuuhhumph) mate with female
cows (?).  Mr. Gertonson also  acknowledged that althought buffalo "might"
have a spiritual significance, the health and well fare of the people of
montana were more important!
He needs some informed calls letting him know that the buffalo are not only
special to all the people of the united states, but the folks in Montana
are a bit ashamed of this sort of rude neighbor attitude. The State
Department of Livestock is still a public agency which should serve the
public good (even if they hired the Livestock Grower's lobbyist to
represent them against ITBC buffalo lawsuit).
so give him a call:
Arnold Gertonson
office: 406.444.2043
cell: 406.439.3251
email: [e-mail]

thanks!
(and don't forget...Free calls to Congress at 1-800-972-3524.)

Buffalo Nations can use a few more volunteers and of, course donations are
always appreciated.


********************************************************
March 21st, 1998: National Day of Prayer for the buffalo

People will join together on the 21st of March to pray for the last wild
buffalo living in Yellowstone National Park. Prayers will rise up as
sweatfires burn from the the Black Hills in Tasmania to the American Indian
Center of Central Ohio. There will be ceremonies around the United States
including West Yellowstone, Montana, Arizona, Missouri, Washington, D.C.
and South Dakota.

The National Day of Prayer was called by Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Keeper,"According to the
teachings for our way of life from the time of being, the First People were
the Buffalo People; our ancestors that came from  the sacred Black Hills,
the heart of everything  that is...
According to our prophecies, when there are no more buffalo,
then life as  we know it today will also cease to exist.  Hecetu yelo!"

Although spring weather is coming, the volunteers that have worked as front
line warriors to protect the buffalo every day this winter still have one
very large concern.
The Department of Livestock and National Park Service have been ordered to
haze the buffalo back into the park by April 15th.  Any buffalo considered
unhazable will be shot by the D.O.L.  And people numbers are getting lower!

Grace, a volunteer that has been out in the field every day in subzero
mornings still beleives that this is still a critical time for the buffalo,
"Some buffalo were moved away from their familiar migratory path in cattle
trucks by the
Department of Livestock and it remains to be seen whether they will find
their way back into the park."

Another volunteer in West Yellowstone said, "It is strange to hear the
papers tout this year as a victory for the buffalo with headlines saying
that only eleven died. Although the count pales in comparison to 1,100, all
of us who knew the buffalo who died would not say the impact of these
deaths was small. For every one of us who watched the 3 (now dead) calves
nurse on Horse Butte, who looked into the eyes of a bull resting beside
Duck Creek, who watched the grandmother with the broken horn lead her
procession to new ground, not one of us would consider the deaths of these
eleven buffalo a victory."

Without the dilegent efforts of the group of volunteers known as Buffalo
Nations, "Many more bison would have died this winter. The Department of
Livestock has operated as an agency accountable only to themselves. We have
worked all day, every day this winter to keep the buffalo out of the DOL's
way and to hold the agency responsible for their actions.  Clearly we can
not depend upon benevolent winters or El Nino to save the bison, because
all the political cogs are set in place and ready to continue to roll over
our country's last wild buffalo herd."


When: Saturday, March 21
        12:00 noon
Where: Buffalo Nations cabin, Hebgen Lake

Lead Cereomny Day of Prayer for the Buffalo

West Yellowstone, MT

Directions to the prayer day:

>From rte 191, take rte 287 west towards Ennis. Drive 7 miles until you see
the Happy Hour Bar on the left. Look for the first house on the left after
the bar. After this house, look for the second driveway on the right (signs
for Buffalo Nations ). Go up the long driveway leading to a row of cabins,
our cabin is the largest at the top of the hill. The prayer will be out in
front.

All are welcome- safe travels, and we will look forward to seeing you on
Saturday!

Contact for more info:
Buffalo Nations
PO Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070 phone
406-646-0071 fax
[e-mail]










Please check out
http://www.wildrockies.org/buffalo
for updates from the only group working every day in the Park: Buffalo Nations

and find out what you can do
http://www.wildrockies.org/bison

Please pass these URL's on


Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 02:40:32 -0400
From: Ty Savoy <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (UK) Superbug linked to antibiotics in cattle feed
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Superbug linked to antibiotics in cattle feed

By NIGEL HAWKES / The Times of London

London - A clear link between the use of antibiotics in animal feed and the
emergence of "superbugs" in hospitals has been established for the first
time.

Doctors have repeatedly warned of the danger, but proving it has been more
difficult. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of common bacteria
is often blamed on excessive use of antibiotics in medicine, rather than in
animal feedstuffs.

Now gene tests on bacteria in the gut of people, pigs and chickens have
shown that resistance to one particular antibiotic has moved from animals to
humans. The new studies, carried out by Henrik Wegener of the Danish
Veterinary Laboratory, suggest that a common type of bacterium found in the
intestine developed resistance to vancomycin, a widely used antibiotic,
when a similar drug was used in animal feed.

 Antibiotics are given in animal feed because they typically increase the
 growth rate by 5 per cent. Dr. Wegener now believes that they should be
 banned as growth promoters.

Enterococci - bacteria in the gut - became resistant to vancomycin in 1986,
and the resistant forms spread throughout Europe and the U.S. They are not
usually dangerous except in patients with poor immune systems, so these
new strains have not caused as much alarm as vancomycin-resistant
Staphylococcis aureus, known as "superstaph," which has since begun to
appear.

Dr. Wegener showed that the resistance moved from animals to humans by
isolating the gene responsible for vancomycin resistance in enterococci
from people, pigs and chickens. He found that the gene - apart from
disarming vancomycin - contained a mutation.

Bacteria in poultry from several countries all carried one type of mutation,
pigs carried another. Humans carried both.

This means, says Dr. Wegener, that humans must have got the resistance
from animals. If the traffic had been in the other direction, animals would
show both variants.

Avoparcin, the antibiotic used in animal feeds, was banned in 1997, but
animals are now being given another antibiotic, virginiamycin, which is
very similar to the new drug, Synercid, used to replace vancomycin in
human beings. Studies have already shown that some enterococci in farm
animals are resistant to Synercid. "The story about avoparcin and
vancomycin is rewriting itself," Dr Wegener told New Scientist.

Roche Products, the company which makes avoparcin, remains unconvinced.
"These are interesting data, but I'm not sure you can
categorically state from them that it is one-way traffic of resistance," said
Dr. Tony Mudd, of Roche.





Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 07:08:34 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Puppy Mill Closing Fills Shelter
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from CNN Custom News (search: animal rights) http://www.cnn.com
------------------------------------------------
Oklahoma State News
Reuters
20-MAR-98

Puppy Mill Closing Fills Shelter

(ARDMORE) -- A Carter County puppy mill has closed, leaving the Ardmore
Animal Shelter to deal with the problem. A total of 94 animals were
voluntarily turned over to the shelter yesterday. Officials say the animals
were malnourished when they found them. Rescue organizations are expected
to relieve the shelter of some of the animals. (Those interested in
adopting a pet can call 580-223-7070).
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 21:19:13 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (TH) Snake boxing
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>Bangkok Post
20 Mar 98

Kiss of death

              SNAKES: With the king cobra on the
              endangered species list, villagers in
              northeastern Thailand are aiming to get
              the reptile off the dinner menu and into
              the boxing ring

              CHOMPOO TRAKULLERTSATHIEN

              The forests of Khon Kaen used to be a very dangerous place to
              live. Not only were there wild animals such as tigers, bears and
              elephants roaming about, but lurking under every log could have
              been a poisonous snake, including the lethal king cobra. Perhaps
              the villagers of Ban Khok Sa-Nga in this northeastern province
              decided decades ago that the best way to deal with the
              venomous reptiles was to eat them. That would explain why spicy
              stir-fried king cobra, or ngu jong-ang phad phed, is a traditional
              village specialty.

              The succulent dish became so popular over the years that the
              king cobra has been hunted to the point where its population in
              the wild has been drastically depleted, along with the tigers,
bears
              and elephants. Amid growing concerns from conservationists
              over the fate of the snake, villagers in Ban Khok Sa-Nga are
              aiming to create a new image for the king cobra, not as
              mouth-watering meal, but a dignified and fierce fighter.


              Snake hunter and vendor of herbal cures, Buaree
              Khomsingh, 59, gives his pet king cobra, Pui, an
              affectionate nuzzle. "We need to learn how to live in
              harmony with the snake for our own survival as well as
              theirs.'' -- Picture by SOMKID CHAIJITVANIT

              Their efforts, they believe, will not only help save the snake
from
              extinction, but will also assist the villagers financially.

              "Snake boxing" is the brainchild of 80-year-old Ken Dongla, a
              herbal medicine vendor and former cobra hunter who saw the
              potential of the king cobra to pull crowds, alive rather than
dead.

              Some 120 king cobras take turns appearing in the show which is
              held daily at the King Cobra Club of Thailand in Ban Khok
              Sa-Nga, quickly gaining a reputation as "the snake village."

              Visitors, local and foreign, pay 10 baht a head to witness the
              spine-chilling, 10-minute performance in which a man comes face
              to face with a king cobra.

              Boxing snake-style bears little resemblance to the sport as it's
              usually played. It does not involve gloves or punches. There are
              no rules apart from the law of survival. Born a fierce
fighter, the
              king cobra, once released on the 8 x 10-metre boxing ring, will
              instinctively attack its opponent - in this case, a man with bare
              hands. There is no knockout, no winner or loser; just the biter
              and the bitten.

              The income from the show is shared among the performers and
              also used to pay the expenses of the King Cobra Club.

              "Our community's fundamental concept is that human beings raise
              the snakes and the snakes, in return, help raise money for us. We
              strongly believe in mutual support," said veteran snake hunter,
              Buaree Khomsingh, 59, while giving a tender touch to Pui, a
              30-year-old female snake that he caught in a Kalasin forest and
              raised for the show.

              MEDICINE MAN GIMMICK

              It all started back in 1951. Mr Ken put on a snake show as a
              gimmick to sell his herbal medicines which he claimed could cure
              pain.

              "Previously, I had to stop at every household to sell my
              medicines. It was time-consuming and exhausting. So I came up
              with an idea of drawing a big crowd all at the same time by
              inviting them to watch the king cobra show," recalled Mr Ken.

              Years later, he shared his skills in snake hunting and taming
with a
              few brave young men in the village. Now there are about 80 men
              capable of taking part in the show. Children in the village have
              also been taught how to safely handle the poisonous creatures. In
              fact, many youngsters help catch small non-poisonous snakes as
              food for the king cobras in captivity. Travelling snake shows by
              herbal medicine sellers have become something of a tradition in
              Ban Khok Sa-Nga.

              "We live in an arid area where we can't grow rice well. So many
              people turn to something else to make a living. We need to learn
              how to live in harmony with the snake for our own survival as
              well as theirs," said Mr Buaree who has earned his living selling
              herbal cures for more than 20 years.

              Every month, villagers pack their herbal medicines together with a
              few king cobras and set out to various remote villages to sell
their
              wares.

              After announcing their arrival in a village, the vendors will
wait for
              a crowd to gather before starting the snake boxing show. At the
              end of the show, they promote the amazing healing properties of
              their herbal products. Incomes range from 1,000 to 1,500 baht
              per trip.

              A SLIPPERY OPPONENT

              An unwritten rule for every snake handler is to always carry some
              van ngu, or Sanseviera thysiflora, a herb that can offset the
              effects of snake venom. If they are bitten, they will immediately
              chew the herb which will dilute the venom before it is absorbed
              into the blood stream.

              When it comes to "fighting" the snakes in the ring, the "boxer"
              needs to dress appropriately to protect himself from being
bitten -
              long-sleeved shirt, trousers, thick socks and shoes.

              Snake boxer Bancha Laorad, 35, explains how it's done: "As we
              lightly punch at the snake it will raise its head and spread
its hood.
              We have to be careful otherwise it will strike us.

              "Often we are bitten on the legs because we can't avoid their
              swift attack. But it is quite challenging. I enjoy playing
with the
              snake and learning how to avoid its poisonous fangs."

              Apart from their ferocity, most hunters also appreciate the beauty
              of the king cobra.

              "When it spreads out its hood it looks so graceful. The intricate
              patterns on its skin are very eye-catching," said Mr Bancha.

              To become familiar with the snake, he explained, takes time.

              "The close relationship starts when we hang the snake around our
              neck and feed it with small snakes."

              Snake keepers, however, must always bear in mind that they
              can't trust on the reptiles.

              "We must not be careless while playing with the snake. Though
              we feed them every day, they can attack us anytime," he said.

              FUNERAL FOR A SNAKE

              The king cobra has helped certainly upgrade the quality of life of
              villagers of Ban Khok Sa-Nga and most of them feel obliged to
              the snake.

              "My four children can have an education. I have also built a new
              house for my family. Thanks to the snake, my life is better. I
raise
              my three snakes as my own children. Most villagers have to pay
              respect to the creature," said Mr Buaree.

              It is not surprising, therefore, to see villagers conducting a
modest
              funeral ceremony for a snake after it dies.

              "We will not throw its corpse away but bury it instead. A candle
              and a piece of cloth are buried with it and villagers will make
              merit for the deceased reptile," he said.

              The burial ground for the snakes is deep in the forest because the
              villagers believe that cobra bones are still poisonous after
death.

              "It is widely believed that a snake skeleton is lethal to human
              beings so we have to tomb the dead reptiles in a remote area
              which we cover with thorny bushes," said Mr Buaree.

              When alive, the snakes are kept in wooden cages which are
              covered with sacks at night to keep them warm. The keepers
              place a water bowl inside the cage because the animal will die
if it
              doesn't drink for three successive days. King cobras can live for
              up to 30 years.

              HUNTING THE KING COBRA
              Hunting king cobras for food used to be common among male
              villagers in the forests of Chai Yaphum and Kalasin were the
              creatures were in abundance. Travelling on foot and
              accompanied by a strong dog, the hunters would venture deep
              into the jungle for four or five days in search of the elusive
snakes.

              When the dog spotted the reptiles, it would give a signal to its
              master by barking at the snakes. Then the hunter was ready to
              start his hunting game.

              Catching the snake, explained Mr Buaree, required the hunter's
              utmost patience, slow movements as well as strong legs.

              "The hunter had to put a piece of thick cloth on his hand while
              reaching to grab the snake's head. Standing with his legs
apart, he
              had to approach the snake from behind and then quickly grasp its
              head. The animal was then kept in a sack," said Mr Buaree who
              has hunted king cobras for 20 years.

              The dry season is the right time for hunting snakes, especially
              after a forest fire. The heat will drive the snakes out from their
              hiding places in hollow trees or rock crevices.

              These days some villagers still hunt cobras, but not to be killed
              for food; they're more likely to be caught alive so they can be
              part of the snake boxing show. Ban Khok Sa-Nga is also the site
              of an experiment aimed at increasing their population in the wild.
              The Khao Kiew Open Zoo and the Wildlife Fund Thailand
              launched the King Cobra Conservation Project last year.

              Since widespread hunting has depleted their numbers and humans
              have encroached on their natural habitat, the king cobra was
              added to the list of Thailand's 15 preserved species in the 1992
              Wild Animals Reservation and Protection Act. A vet from Khao
              Kiew Open Zoo said that with a large number of king cobras in
              Ban Khok Sa-Nga, the villagers are in a position to breed the
              snakes in captivity. Last year they succeeded in breeding seven
              snakes.

              "We're happy to increase the snake population," said Mr Buaree.
              "We have learnt how to take care of the young and that we must
              not cut the snake's fangs because they will be unable to eat food
              and will die.

              "We have to spend time studying their behaviour. We hope in the
              future we can breed more of them and return them to their natural
              habitat.

              "We owe so much to the snakes. And now it's time for us to pay
              something back."

Article copyright Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd 1998
Reprinted for non-commercial use only.
Website: http://www.bangkokpost.net

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 08:26:32 EST
From: AMPEF <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Actors: Support Health Research
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Actors: Support Health Research

.c The Associated Press

 By JIM ABRAMS

WASHINGTON (AP) - With more money, medical researchers can close in on cures
for diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and spinal cord injuries while saving the
nation billions of dollars in health-care costs, actor Christopher Reeve says.

Reeve, joined by actress Mary Tyler Moore and a dozen lawmakers, held a
Capitol Hill news conference Thursday to appeal for doubling the budget of the
National Institutes of Health.

Paralyzed in a 1995 horse-riding accident, Reeve said new discoveries had
renewed hope of functional recovery for him and others with spinal cord
injuries. ``What if the money isn't there to make it happen?'' he asked.

The National Institutes of Health had a budget of $13.7 billion this year,
about 30 percent of all public and private funding of health research. Reeve
and others at the event want to double that over five years.

Miss Moore, who has suffered from diabetes for 30 years, spoke of the
explosion of new knowledge in medical fields and said the money ``will enable
us to capitalize on this progress.''

Supporters of the NIH said more money for research could result in vast
savings in health-care costs and save Medicare from bankruptcy.

Researchers are close to finding treatments for Alzheimer's, said Sen. Tom
Harkin, D-Iowa. He said Medicare can be kept solvent merely by delaying for
five years that disease's debilitating effects on patients.

He said the Pentagon spends 15 percent of its budget on research, $39 billion
a year, a total three times what the NIH gets for medical research.

``We are at the point where we can literally buy cures and therapies that we
once thought impossible,'' Reeve said. Lack of money, he said, is ``the
equivalent of launching a space shuttle with half a tank of fuel.''

Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., a heart and lung transplant surgeon and chairman of
the Senate health committee that deals with the NIH, said he supports the idea
of doubling the institutes' budget. ``One of the federal government's primary
duties is to ensure our long-term investment in biomedical research,'' Frist
said.

The Senate Budget Committee, in its blueprint approved this week, provides an
additional $15.5 billion over five years for the NIH.

AP-NY-03-20-98 0114EST

 Copyright 1997 The Associated Press.  The information  contained in the AP
news report may not be published,  broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without  prior written authority of The Associated Press.


Date: Fri, 20 Mar 98 08:08:02 UTC
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Man's Best Fish?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

Tokyo (AP): Trendy pet owners in Tokyo have found a new  companion - the
jellyfish.

They don't slobber or bark. They don't leave claw marks on the sofa.
And - best of all - they exude calm.

Single women in their 20s and 30s appear to be fueling the fad.

Along with moon jellyfish, the most popular house-pet varieties
are the octopus jellyfish and a jellyfish that appears to be constantly
upside-down.

They range in price from $14 to $38.

Japan is one of the world's largest jellyfish consumers. Appetizers
made of jellyfish strips steeped in vinegar and soy sauce are on the menus
of most good Chinese restaurants here.


- Sherrill
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 98 08:24:24 UTC
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Puppy Mill
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

More on the puppy mill that was shut down in Oklahoma (USA) by the USDA:
Animal Rescue Foundation in Tulsa, OK has about 127 of the dogs and
puppies. They desperately need foster, permanent homes, and funds to help.

For more info., please email me. - Sherrill
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 08:38:46 -0800
From: Jill Hein <[e-mail]>
To: "'[e-mail]'" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Bear Baiting in Pakistan - Action item
Message-ID:
<[e-mail]>

Subject: Bears in Pakistan
From: "worldwide auto parts" <[e-mail]>
Date: Sat, Mar 14, 1998 00:54 EST
Message-id: <6ed5oq$fki$[e-mail]>

Bear Baiting , or Dungle as it is called in its Native Punjabi language is a
"sport" involving heavy gambling.  The bears that used for this "sport" are
usualy owned by nomadic gypsies, and are dancing bears.  A bear has its
teeth and claws either removed or filed down and is then tethered to a pole
where bull terriers or other breeds of dogs are set upon it.  Each round of
fighting is heavily bet on.  The bears have little defence and are usually
horrifically injured or die.  The dogs also substain life threatening
injuries, some crushed by the weight of the bear as they drag it down by its
muzzle.   The goverment of Pakistan has ruled this cruel sport illegal but
still it continues.  All of us are responsible to encourage the Pakistani
officials to uphold the law.  The bears that are used for this sport are
taken from the wild illegally as cubs.  With poaching, bear bile farming,
bear baiting and habitat loss the bears of Asia have little hope of
survival.  Pakistans wild bear population are decreasing.  Please help us by
writing  to any of the following:

Imran Khan/Fiaz Ahmad
Pakistan Telseek-e-Insurf
205 Scotch Corner
Upper Mall
Lahore Pakistan

Mr Aziz Aslam Khah
Direcotor General- Wildlife
2 Sanda Road
Lahore
Pakistan

Dr Israr Ahmad
36-k Model Tiwb
Lahore
Pakistan

You can also help by writing to the Pakistan embassy in your country.
Please, Please write!

Kind Regards

Rebecca
---END---


Jill Hein
Project Business Unit
Microsoft Corporation

"By ethical conduct towards all creatures, we enter into a spiritual
relationship with the universe"
 - Albert Schweitzer

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 08:17:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Bear hunt proposal protested (NJ)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from The Trenton Times (http://www.nj.com/times)

                    Bear hunt proposal protested

                    State seeks ways to manage population

                                  By TRACEY L. REGAN
                                       The Times
                                     March 20, 1998


              TRENTON - Animal rights groups gathered here yesterday to
protest the
              possible hunting of black bears in New Jersey and to promote
legislation
              introduced this term by Sen. C. Louis Bassano, R-Union, that
would prohibit
              it.

              The black bear population has increased from about 30 bears in
1971, when
              hunting was prohibited, to between 450 and 550 today.

              The state Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, which projects
that number will
              double over the next five years, is considering plans to
manage the population.

              Proposals ranging from moving some bears away from areas of heavy
              population in the northwestern part of the state, to
educational outreach to
              hunting are all on the table, according to Bob Itchmoney,
assistant director of
              the state wildlife division.

              "At this point, we're focusing on educational aspects, like
not feeding bears and
              bear-proofing trash," Itchmoney said.

              Animal rights groups are concerned that the state's Fish and
Game Council,
              which sets the seasons for various game at the end of the
month, will
              recommend hunting the bears, although Itchmoney said he did
not think the
              council was considering a season for bears this year.

              But he added that "there needs to be a goal set for the number
of bears that
              are acceptable." He said the division and the council would
work together to
              establish that policy.

              Animal rights groups argue that hunting is a cruel and often
ineffective way to
              manage wildlife populations, which do a better job of
regulating themselves.

              "We need to learn how to live with wildlife and interact with
wildlife in a way
              that doesn't cause harm," said Wayne Pacelle of the Humane
Society of the
              United States. "People are not going to hunt because they're
worried about
              overpopulation. They'll shoot bears because they want a trophy
head on the
              wall."

              Angi Metler, director of the New Jersey Animal Rights
Alliance, said passing
              anti-feeding laws was a far more effective way of limiting
contact between
              bears and humans. So far, three New Jersey towns have done so,
including
              Vernon, West Milford and Ringwood, she said.

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 12:34:34 EST
From: PDein81533 <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: attn vermonters!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

hi all -
is there anyone out there who is aware of animal abuse or cruelty cases which
occurred in vermont in which humane or police officers, prosecutors, or others
ran into difficulties as a result of the current law (e.g. because it was not
specific or strict enough). any info would be greatly appreciated.  we are
trying to show the vt legislature the need to pass a stricter cruelty bill
with felony provisions.  please respond privately to: [e-mail]
thanks!
pamela dein
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 15:48:11 GMT
From: NAVS <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: NAVS Announces 9th edition of Personal Care For People Who Care
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

NAVS' Book of Cruelty-Free Products
The Power of Pocket Book Advocacy Starts Here


Chicago, IL, March 20 ... The National Anti-Vivisection Society announced
the release of
its 9th edition of PERSONAL CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE, a well-researched 200-
page reference guide for shoppers who care about animals and want to
purchase products
not tested on them.

Considered to be one of the most comprehensive guides of its kind, PERSONAL CARE
FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE lists over 1,700 manufacturers, distributors, mail-order
companies and individual brands that do and do not test their
products/ingredients on
animals.

>From cosmetics to household products, consumers are encouraged to buy from
companies
that "have a heart."  Without marching, chaining themselves to barricades or
getting
arrested, the millions of people who want to end cruelty to animals, but
want a civilized
way to do it, can easily make a difference at the cash register.

Personal Care For People Who Care explains the meaning of "cruelty-free" and
provides
definitions to help the ordinary consumer understand federal regulations and
manufacturers' responsibilities.

Costing only $6.95, the paperback is well worth the investment for the
armchair animal
advocate.  It's an easy way for anyone to add compassion to their shopping list.

The book details the following:

    An explanation of the animal tests used and the non-animal alternative
tests now
     available.
    An alphabetical listing of manufacturers/distributors/mail-order companies/
     and individual brands that do and do not test their products/ingredients on
     animals.
    An easy-to-follow guide to buying cruelty-free products by product type, i.e.,
     baby products, bath products, cosmetics, deodorants, fragrances, hair care,
etc.
    A listing of parent companies and the individual brand names behind them.
Very
     often, individual brand names are not readily identifiable with the parent
company.
     For example, Tide is manufactured by Procter & Gamble.
    A quick reference guide of charities that do and do not fund animal research.

The National Anti-Vivisection Society, headquartered in Chicago, is dedicated to
eliminating the use of animals in product testing, education and research.
For more
information, please contact Clare Haggarty (1-800-888-6287).


    NAVS' Home Page: http://www.navs.orgNAVS' e-mail: [e-mail]

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 14:53:19 -0500 (EST)
From: [e-mail] (Stuart Chaifetz)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Shoprite giving away turkeys, letters needed
Message-ID: <v01540b00630bd585e8e9@[169.132.67.15]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hey all,

Ths Shoprite food stores are currently engaged in a program of giving away
turkeys to customers who shop at their stores.

The way it works is this:

Spend $250 at one specific store and you earn your first free turkey. Spend
another $250 and you have a choice of either another free turkey or  a
shank half of smoked ham. This is going on at all participating stores in
NJ, DE,  PA,  NY,  and CT.

According to a letter we received from the president of Shoprite,  the last
time they held a promotion like this  they gave away 1,000,000 turkeys.

Please take a minute and write a letter to the president of Shoprite, tell
him of the suffering that turkeys endure, and ask him to stop these cruel
promotions.

Dean Janeway
President, Shoprite
PO Box 7812
Edison NJ 08818

Thanks,

Stu C



Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 18:51:08 EST
From: BSVILA <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: MICHIGAN LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Today, Senate Bill 493 was introduced into the Fishing, Hunting and Forestry
Committee of the Michigan Senate by 3 of its 5 Members and passed.  This bill
will create a new section 4016a to the "Natural resources and environmental
protection act" and states:

"Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, a member of a registered
beagle club may live trap and release on beagle club property not more than 5
rabbits per year."

This meanss EACH member can live trap and release 5 rabbits and non-
domesticated rabbits are not covered under Michigan cruelty laws.

Michigan residents call your State Senator and tell him to vote NO on SB 493.

Pat Dodson
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 20:03:46 -0800
From: Hillary <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (US) Bob Barker Marching For Gorilla!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


Bob Barker, King Supporters March on Monkey Jungle

Hundreds Expected to Demand Release of Abused Gorilla

 MIAMI, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was issued today by Blooming
Tree Productions:

On Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m., TV personality and animal activist Bob
Barker will lead a throng of citizens on a short march terminating at
Monkey Jungle -- the Miami tourist attraction which owns King, the
29-year-old 450 pound lowland gorilla.  King lives alone at Monkey Jungle
in a small 30x40-foot concrete-and-bars cage.  The procession, concerned
for King's welfare, will rally directly across the road from the entrance
to Monkey Jungle (14805 SW 216th St.).  Mr. Barker will address the
demonstrators and request the transfer of King from his barren, tiny,
jail-like enclosure to the lush 4-acres of gorilla habitat at Zoo Atlanta.

World-renowned primatologists Dr. Jane Goodall and other notable gorilla
experts have made public pleas for the owners of the unaccredited, roadside
zoo to transfer the solitary gorilla to Zoo Atlanta, where professional
care and gorilla companions await him.

"Support from the public has been absolutely overwhelming," commented Joe
Taksel, managing director of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida
(ARFF), which, along with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of
Seattle, Wash. is sponsoring the event.  "The demonstration was not
originally our idea. We received dozens of phone calls from the public
requesting us to organize the march," Taksel said. King has won everyone's
heart -- everyone, that is, except his keepers at Monkey Jungle."

Two hundred printed, bilingual posters will be distributed to participants,
and an 8-foot banner reading "Let King Go/Libere a King!" will be displayed
during the march. In January, ARFF and PAWS delivered nearly 7,000 signed
coupons to Monkey Jungle demanding King's transfer.

"We've heard all the excuses before during past, similar campaigns," added
PAWS spokesperson Lisa Wathne.  "King has suffered enough.  He deserves a
better life."

King's story can be seen on the web at http://www.saveking.com.  The site,
donated by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa based Internet consulting company,
Blooming Tree Productions, provides up to date developments in the campaign
to save King, a review of the press coverage, and letters from
primatologists, other gorilla experts, and politicians.  An interactive
"Send A Message Of Support" feature provides visitors to the Web site the
opportunity to send Monkey Jungle a message in support of relocating King
to a more suitable home.

SOURCE  Blooming Tree Productions

CO:  Blooming Tree Productions; Animal Rights Foundation of Florida;
Progressive Animal Welfare Society

ST:  Iowa, Florida, Washington

IN:

SU:

03/20/98 18:41 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

To edit your profile, go to keyword NewsProfiles.
For all of today's news, go to keyword News.
Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 21:14:46 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) PROJECT EQUUS -- News Alert!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

posted for  "Project Equus" <[e-mail]>
---------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday, March 17th, 1998, Manitoba's largest horse feedlot operator and
killer/buyer, Pat Houde, was charged with assault, theft and making threats
to Project Equus' Director of Cruelty Investigations, Robin Duxbury, and
photo-journalist, Walter Powers.

Equui Productions, the video production branch of Project Equus, is in the
process of producing an hour long video documentary on the PMU industry in
Canada and the United States.  This past week, Robin Duxbury a/k/a Theresa
Russell, and seasoned news and photo-journalist, Walter "Rusty" Powers,
traveled to Manitoba to  conduct interviews with PMU farmers, the Executive
Director of Winnipeg's Humane Society, Vicki Burns, and others (both pro
and con) who have an interest in the PMU controversy.

Prior to leaving, Duxbury, telephoned Pat Houde and asked if he would be
willing to be interviewed.  He was not, and referred Duxbury to a Mr.
Becker at Ayerst, Organics in Brandon Manitoba to ask for permission.
Duxbury spoke to Becker who, in turn, referred her to Norm Luba, Executive
Director of the North American Equine Ranching Information Council
(NAERIC), an American non-profit organization that controls almost every
move made by PMU farmers.  Thinking this was odd that NAERIC would have
control over a horse feedlot, Duxbury called NAERIC and requested
interviews with several farmers she had been in contact with, Pat Houde and
Norm Luba.  Luba responded in a fax message that NAERIC "interacts with
news media when warranted..." and had "no interest in participating" in
Equui Productions' video project.

Undeterred, Duxbury and Powers went to Manitoba and successfully gained
access at two PMU barns.  The first barn was just outside of Winnipeg.  It
was old, run-down, dark with no ventilation.  The horses there were
Belgians, and the size of the stalls did not meet even the minimum
standards for size in the Wyeth-Ayersts' Code of Practice for PMU farmers.
Half of the horses clearly suffered from hoof deformities and stocking-up.
Undercover video taken shows Duxbury squeezing in between two mares,
talking to them and petting their heads.

The second barn was a stark contrast.  Although the farmer was suspicious
of Powers and Duxbury, he allowed them to have a look around, but asked
that his name not be made public as he was fearful of Norm Luba.  This
farmer's barn was brightly lit, clean and had good ventilation.  Half of
his mares were turned out for their daily two hours of exercise.  When
their exercise period was finished, the other half of his mares would get
their turn-out.  The horses at this barn were primarily appendix quarter
horses.  We asked if any of his foals are sold at auction, and he said yes.
 When asked about horse slaughter, he admitted that it was a reality of the
urine collection industry.

Inasmuch as Pat Houde did not want to be interviewed, Duxbury and Powers
felt it was important for the video project to drive by Houde's feedlot,
the "H" Ranch in Elm Creek, and at least videotape the facility from the
highway.  Duxbury and Powers drove by the feedlot and then parked their
rental car about 1/2 mile away to ready the video camera.  Upon returning,
Duxbury slowed down the car so that Powers could videotape the facility.
Within seconds, a white hauler truck came out of a side road, speeded up
and almost rear-ended the car being driven by Duxbury.  The driver of the
car than came up alongside Duxbury and Powers and ran their car off the
road.  The rental car stalled and Duxbury and Powers were left virtually
defenseless.  The man who emerged from the truck was Pat Houde.  He quickly
approached Duxbury and Powers, opened the car door and began grabbing at
the car keys.  Duxbury fought with Houde, but was out-matched by his
strength.  Powers reached over and tried shoving Houde out of the car.  At
that point, Houde became even more violent.  He thrust his full 250 lb. on
top of Duxbury and began going after Powers and his camera equipment.

Virtually crushed underneath Houde's large frame, Duxbury was unable to
bite him or grab at his genitals..., she could not even see the fight that
was ensuing between Houde and Powers.  After about three minutes of
struggle, Houde succeeded at getting the car keys and then retreated from
the car.  His head and face was dripping with blood.  Powers' face was cut
as well, but it was clear that Houde had met his match.

Feeling defeated, Houde returned to his truck and telephoned the police
from his car phone.  In the meantime, Powers had captured the entire attack
on video.  The tape was clear evidence that Houde's attack was unprovoked.
Powers threw his $50,000 video camera into the back seat of the car and
covered it up, then got on his own cell phone and called the police as
well.  Houde came back out of his truck, walked over to Powers' side of the
car and proceeded to fight again.  Houde opened up the door, but Powers - -
a gutsy, former hockey player - - greeted Houde's face with a boot.
Duxbury, jumped out of the car, and tried to reason with Houde, who
responded with a barrage of four letter words.  Injured even further, Houde
returned to his truck and drove back onto his property.  Two minutes later,
Houde returned with reinforcement, a tall thin blond man who was probably
an employee.  In the meantime,  in the remote area of Elm Creek, a few
motorists slowed down offering to help, but Houde wanted no witnesses, and
angrily told them to leave.

For a third time, Houde approached the car and began to attack Powers
again.  When Duxbury tried to reason with him a second time, Houde turned
and slammed her across the left side of her head, nearly knocking her to
the ground.  In an attempt to defend Duxbury, Powers yelled at Houde to
distract him.  Houde returned his attention to Powers, who then for a third
time kicked Houde in the face.  Houde's reinforcement made no attempt to
help.

By this time, two constables from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
arrived, and told Houde to go home.  Houde lied to Constable Larry Barr
that he had thrown Duxbury's keys away.  Another police officer from
Winnipeg was called upon to go the car rental company and deliver a second
set of keys to the RCMP office in Carmen, a small town about thirty minutes
away from Elm Creek.  The rental car was towed to the RCMP station, where
Duxbury and Powers gave detailed statements.

Constable Barr informed Powers and Duxbury that inasmuch as Pat Houde is a
problem for the RCMP, that they have never seen him attack anyone so
viscously before, and that the reason Houde was probably so relentless is
because no one has ever fought back before and left Houde feeling so
defeated.

Constable Barr said that Houde will be charged with assault, theft and
making threats.  Project Equus is already making plans to file a civil suit
against Houde, and possibly NAERIC.

Walter Powers has worked in television news, both local and national,
including CNN and Fox Network, for 12 years.  During a moment at which his
own life was in jeopardy, he never once forgot to do his job.

Both Powers and Duxbury had to receive minor medical treatment at the
Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg.  Powers suffered a few minor cuts to his
face, leg and back.  Duxbury sustained a ruptured ear drum, and severe
bruising to her left hand, which was crushed by Houde while she was
fighting with him over the car keys.

This video project is a joint effort of Project Equus and United Animal
Nations, and is being edited by Taurus and Equui Productions.  The video
footage obtained for this project will not be available for viewing, except
in the finished video.  However, the video footage of Pat Houde's attack is
being made available to select media upon request.

Anita Vogelsong, Assistant Director
Cruelty Investigations


------------------------------------------------------------
PROJECT EQUUS:

"We Are The Future For Horses;
 We Are A Breed Apart"

Visit us at:   http://www.projectequus.org
E-mail us at:   [e-mail]
-------------------------------------------------------------


Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 21:53:45 EST
From: SMatthes <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: The Great American Meatout axed at Publix Stores (Florida)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Several meatout events were planned for Sarasota, Florida.  Approval had been
granted for vegan food samples for patrons at several Publix Stores to be
prepared and distributed by members of Sarasota In Defense of Animals.  The
group's animal educational mobile unit (also serves as a support unit for K-9
search & rescue and disaster animal response team) was approved by the
shopping center manager to be staffed and stationed in their parking lot for
the public to obtain free literature.  In the early morning hours of March
20th, Publix Supermarket officials abruptly canceled the activities after the
events were prominently publicized in local news paper articles.  Publix
officials claimed they did not want to be "tacked on as part of The Great
American Meatout" and had received "complaints" about the anti-meat event.

Who else but the meat industry would be so threatened by these Great American
Meatout activities to go that far and have that much clout with Publix
Supermarkets?

Publix will be receiving letters and faxes from all who are outraged and
insulted by this incident.  Publix official responsible for this Great
American Meatout debacle:  Mr. Bill Walters, Publix Corporate Headquarters,
Lakeland, Florida, Fax # [phone].

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 22:11:16 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: The Biggest Fish Story Yet:   Let My Fishes Go!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

The Biggest Fish Story Yet:áá Let My Fishes Go!

ItÆs a good bet the fish have no idea whether they're swimming in American or
Canadian waters. But if they're smart, they'll stay on the U.S. side.

A fish civil war: Residents of Minnesota's Northern Angle say they are willing
to join Canada to gain more liberal fishing rights on Lake of the Woods.

By Heather J. Maher
ABCNEWS.com
March 19á ù This could be the ultimate fish story about the one that got away.
áááá From the United States.
áááá One hundred or so Minnesotans who live in the United StatesÆ northernmost
sliverùknown as the Northwest Angleùhave threatened to secede from America if
they don't get equal fishing rights with Canada.
áááá They've bought 15 minutes of fame for their cause with a proposed
amendment to the U.S. Constitution, introduced today in the House of
Representatives, that would let them decide whether to join Canada and acquire
dual citizenship.
áááá Today, calls from the media were clogging the phone of Don McClanathan,
owner of the Bonnie Brae resort on Lake of the Woods, the million-acre lake at
the center of the controversy.
áááá ôCan you call me back in five minutes? I've got some faxes coming in,ö he
said from a place so remote the international-echo effect was happening.
áááá The ruckus is about fish. Specifically, who gets to fish for the fish.
áááá Deep beneath the waters of Lake of the Woods, the fish are oblivious to
the raging battle over whose hook they're allowed to bite. Where Gills Are
Golden
The tiny 120-square-mile patch of America that might land in Canada's lap is
reachable only by boat, snowmobile or plane from Minnesota. If one wants to
drive in, the road winds through Manitoba from the west. Ontario hems it in to
the east and north.
áááá Up here on the 49th parallel, a dozen or so American resort owners are
fighting a David and Goliath battle with the Canadian and U.S. governments.
For
20 years, ever-tighter fishing restrictions on U.S. resorts and their guests
have made it hard to compete with Canadian resorts. Remote border crossing
permits, licenses and fees, and harvest limits have made for some unneighborly
relations.
áááá The Canadian border lies just 1,500 feet from the Bonnie Brae resortÆs
door. But it might as well be 1,500 in fish miles.
áááá Most of this pristine lake, with a name straight out of Grimes Fairy
Tales, lies in Ontario. The U.S. part is ôbig water, most times unnavigable
because of weather conditionsö says McClanathan.
áááá Prized walleye and sager like to hang out around the sheltered islands
and
calm water on the Canadian side of the lake, which has just become no- manÆs
land for guests of American resorts.
Fish Envy
Fish aren't particularly nationalistic. But governments tend to be.
áááá In January, the Ontario government decided that only people who stay at
Canadian resorts can reel in walleye or sager from the Canadian side of the
lake. A fish shortage is the official reason why U.S. resort guests are being
denied the thrill of the catch, though Northwest Angle residents call that
explanation a fish story.
áááá Whatever the reason, guests at the Bonnie Brae Resort have to be content
with the big, empty, American stretch of water. The fish police constantly
patrolùsome resort owners say harassùboats to make sure their rods dip only
into Yankee waves.
áááá Understandably, this makes guests at U.S. resorts unhappy. That makes
American resort owners unhappy.
áááá ôI've already lost a group of 20 who've been with me 14 years,ö says
McClanathan. ôWe want our rights. The treaty of 1909 covered equal use of the
fisheries and commerce on border waters, and this is what we're being denied.ö
áááá American resort owners reason that if the Northern Angle is part of
Canada, their guests can fish to their heartÆs delight.
áááá ItÆs a good bet the fish have no idea whether they're swimming in
American
or Canadian waters. But if they're smart, they'll stay on the U.S. side.
I Can Hum It àá
In order to actually secede from the United States, a two-thirds vote is
needed
in the U.S. House and Senate, and a three-fourths vote of approval by state
legislatures.
áááá Would these Minnesotans really leave the country for better fishing?
áááá ôOh I don't know, that's not really the point,ö says McClanathan.
áááá ôFrankly, I don't think it will go anywhere,ö says George Rioux, Canadian
Embassy spokesman.
áááá ôI don't think that's going to happen,ö says Minnesota representative Jim
Tunheim, whose constituency includes the Northwest Angle.
áááá ItÆs ôa long shotö admits U.S. Rep. Colin Peterson, D-Minn., who
introduced the amendment.
áááá But what if it actually did happen? Do these Minnesotans know what they'd
be signing up for, what their new country is? Do they even know the Canadian
anthem?
áááá ôOh yes,ö McClanathan is quick to assure. ôI watch a lot of hockey.ö

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 22:25:05 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: National Cattlemen's Beef Association: Summary of Facts about
  CJD, nvCJD and BSE
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Summary of Facts about CJD, nvCJD and BSE

DENVER, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The following information was released by the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association

There is a family of diseases known as Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies (TSEs).á Some TSEs affect animals while others affect humans.
While Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), new variant CJD (nvCJD) and Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) belong to the TSE family, they are separate
diseases, each with its own unique features.á Details about classic CJD, nvCJD
and BSE follow:á

About Classic CJDáá

*á Classic CJD is a rare neurological disease that usually affects people over
the age of 55 (median age is 64).á Classic CJD and BSE are not the same
disease.á Classic CJD was first identified in the 1920s, while BSE was not
identified until 1985.

*á Classic CJD affects approximately one person per million each year
worldwide.á Surveillance of classic CJD cases by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that the national incidence rate of
classic CJD in the U.S. has remained relativelyáá
stable since 1979.

*á Classic CJD affects men and women of diverse ethnic backgrounds, and it has
been diagnosed in vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.á It also has been
reported in countries where BSE has never occurred.

*á There is no scientific evidence indicating CJD is caused by BSE.
Classic CJD results when abnormal protein accumulates in brain cells.
Scientists do not know what factors trigger the conversion from normal protein
to the abnormal form.á Some believe the conversion is caused by a spontaneous
mutation of the normal protein itself, while other scientists believe a virus-
like entity may be involved.

About nvCJDáá

*á Classic CJD and nvCJD are distinctly separate diseases, each with its own
unique features.

*á Recent research from the U.K. does support an association between nvCJD and
BSE in that nvCJD likely developed as a result of people consuming products
contaminated with central nervous system tissue from cattle infected with BSE.

*á CDC's monitoring efforts, in collaboration with state health departments,
have found no evidence of nvCJD in the U.S.

About BSEáá

*á First identified in 1985, BSE is a degenerative disease affecting the
central nervous system of cattle.á Commonly known as "mad cow disease," BSE
has not been found in the United States, but it has been detected in the
United Kingdom and a few other European countries.

*á A surveillance program begun in 1990 by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) has found no evidence of BSE in U.S. cattle.á In addition,
the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and many arms of the U.S. livestock
industry have taken a number of measures for more than a decade to prevent BSE
from occurring in the U.S.

*á Research from the U.K. indicates that the BSE disease agent only has been
found in brain tissue, the spinal cord and corneal (eye) tissue of naturally
infected cattle.á It has not been detected in muscle meat or milk.

For more information about CJD, nvCJD and BSE, contact the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association at 303-694-0305.

Classic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and new variant CJD are distinctly
different diseases classic CJDá

Discovery:áá

*á Identified by German psychiatrists Hans Gerhard Creutzfeldt and Alphons
Maria Jakob in the 1920s.

Transmission (3 forms):áá

*á Sporadic form, which is of an unknown origin and accounts for about 85% of
CJD cases.

*á Familial, or genetically inherited form.

*á Acquired form from exposure to CJD-contaminated material as a result of
brain surgery, corneal grafts, dura matter grafts, and human growth hormone.

Incidence:áá

*á Affects approximately 1 person per million worldwide each year.

*á CJD patients are typically over 55 years of age.

Symptoms:áá

*á Includes poor concentration, a lethargic nature and unsteadiness followed
by agitation, dementia and chronic muscle spasms.

*á Symptoms last less than one year, with average duration betweenáá

4 to 6 months.

Diagnosis:áá

*á Sharp-wave complexes present in EEG results.

*á Examination of brain cells shows an absence of amyloid plaques.

nvCJDá

Discovery:áá

*á Documented in Great Britain in 1996.

Transmission:áá

*á Research from the Institute of Animal Health in Edinburgh, Scotland,
indicates a strong likelihood that nvCJD developed in the U.K. as a result of
people consuming products containing central nervous system tissue from cattle
infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathyáá

(BSE).

Incidence:áá

*á Has affected 24 people since 1996 (23 in the U.K. and 1 in France).á NOáá

REPORTED CASES IN THE U.S.

*á Disease has struck people under the age of 45, a number of whom were
teenagers.

Symptoms:áá

*á Patients experience early psychiatric symptoms, earlier loss of
coordination and later onset of dementia.

*á Symptoms last up to 14 months.

Diagnosis:áá

*á Lack sharp-wave complexes in EEG.

*á Examination of brain cells shows amyloid plaques are extensively
distributed throughout the cerebrum and cerebellum.

*á Plaques typically have a dense center surrounded by spongiform change which
give the plaque a daisy-like floral pattern.

SOURCEá National Cattlemen's Beef Associationáá
CO:á National Cattlemen's Beef Association
ST:á Colorado
IN:á FOD
SU:
03/13/98 22:16 EST <http://www.prnewswire.com/>http://www.prnewswire.com

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 22:52:08 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Bob Barker, King Supporters March on Monkey Jungle
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Bob Barker, King Supporters March on Monkey Jungle
Hundreds Expected to Demand Release of Abused Gorilla

MIAMI, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The following was issued today by Blooming
Tree Productions:á

On Saturday, March 21, at 11 a.m., TV personality and animal activist Bob
Barker will lead a throng of citizens on a short march terminating at Monkey
Jungle -- the Miami tourist attraction which owns King, the 29-year-old 450
pound lowland gorilla.á King lives alone at Monkey Jungle in a small
30x40-foot concrete-and-bars cage.á The procession, concerned for King's
welfare, will rally directly across the road from the entrance to Monkey
Jungle (14805 SW 216th St.).á Mr. Barker will address the demonstrators and
request the transfer of King from his barren, tiny, jail-like enclosure to the
lush 4-acres of gorilla habitat at Zoo Atlanta.

World-renowned primatologists Dr. Jane Goodall and other notable gorilla
experts have made public pleas for the owners of the unaccredited, roadside
zoo to transfer the solitary gorilla to Zoo Atlanta, where professional care
and gorilla companions await him.

"Support from the public has been absolutely overwhelming," commented Joe
Taksel, managing director of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF),
which, along with the Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Seattle,
Wash. is sponsoring the event.á "The demonstration was not originally our
idea. We received dozens of phone calls from the public requesting us to
organize the march," Taksel said. King has won everyone's heart -- everyone,
that is, except his keepers at Monkey Jungle."

Two hundred printed, bilingual posters will be distributed to participants,
and an 8-foot banner reading "Let King Go/Libere a King!" will be displayed
during the march. In January, ARFF and PAWS delivered nearly 7,000 signed
coupons to Monkey Jungle demanding King's transfer.

"We've heard all the excuses before during past, similar campaigns," added
PAWS spokesperson Lisa Wathne.á "King has suffered enough.á He deserves a
better life."

King's story can be seen on the web at
<http://www.saveking.com/>http://www.saveking.com.á The site,
donated by the Cedar Rapids, Iowa based Internet consulting company, Blooming
Tree Productions, provides up to date developments in the campaign to save
King, a review of the press coverage, and letters from primatologists, other
gorilla experts, and politicians.á An interactive "Send A Message Of Support"
feature provides visitors to the Web site the opportunity to send Monkey
Jungle a message in support of relocating King to a more suitable home.

SOURCEá Blooming Tree Productionsá
CO:á Blooming Tree Productions; Animal Rights Foundation of Florida;
Progressive Animal Welfare Society
ST:á Iowa, Florida, Washington
IN:
SU:
03/20/98 18:41 EST <http://www.prnewswire.com/>http://www.prnewswire.com

Date: Fri, 20 Mar 1998 22:53:03 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Investigation Leads to Arrest for
  Animal Cruelty
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Georgia Dept. of Agriculture Investigation Leads to Arrest for Animal Cruelty

ATLANTA, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy
Irvin announced today that an investigation by the Georgia Department of
Agriculture has led to the arrest of a Gilmer County woman on 45 counts of
animal cruelty.

Jane Hess was arrested last night by the Gilmer County Sheriff's Department in
Ellijay.

"Inspectors for our Animal Protection Section report that this is one of the
most sickening cases of neglect they have ever seen," said Commissioner Irvin.

Complaints from consumers who bought puppies infested with diseases from Ms.
Hess as well as her desire to be licensed as a dog breeder are what caused the
Georgia Department of Agriculture to begin its investigation.

Department of Agriculture inspectors worked closely with Gilmer County Sheriff
Billy Bernhardt's office and Chief Deputy Andy Key during the investigation
and arrest.

Seventy-five dogs and puppies as well as a blue and gold macaw had to be
removed from two locations owned by Ms. Hess and placed in animal shelters.
The Cherokee County Humane Society initially took control of the animals and
is boarding and caring for them.á Some will later be moved to the Cobb County
Humane Society.

"The cooperation of the authorities in Gilmer County has been tremendous as
has the help and assistance of the Cherokee and Cobb Humane Societies. Through
the efforts of all involved we were able to bring this deplorable situation to
a satisfactory resolution," said Commissioner Irvin.

SOURCEá Georgia Department of Agricultureá
CO:á Georgia Department of Agriculture
ST:á Georgia
IN:
SU:
03/20/98 14:33 EST <http://www.prnewswire.com/>http://www.prnewswire.com


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