Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news69~2.htm/text0001.txt

Text File | 1998-04-02 | 73.3 KB | 1,724 lines

>A number of sushi bars have recently opened in Israel, and I have been
>contacted regarding health implications. Is anyone aware of regulations
>regarding preparation and sale of sushi?

Apart from the usual health problems associated with fresh food there is a
major potential problem associated with sushi that includes fresh fish, and
this is anisakid worms.  This is a comparatively recent problem.  When fish
were gutted at sea immediately after being caught the anisakid worms were
removed when the fish were gutted.  Over the last 30 odd years the move has
been towards chilling the fish and gutting them on-shore.  When this occurs
the anisakid worms have time to migrate from the dying gut into the flesh.
When these live worms are consumed they can cause disease in humans.  I have
spoken to the owner of the major Japanese restaurant in Queenstown about
this and given him some documentation.



--
Dr Paul Mason
Consultant Parasitologist
72 Rockside Road
DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND
=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    The Balance:
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   NATURE's balance is so fine-
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Take care when altering her design!
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    A species introduced could grow
And away he run;    /'-^-'\     To be a source of endless woe;
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    While culling another could unfold
The pig so sweet    |  .  |     A horde of pests it once controlled.
Together they ran   |     |}    from "The Judgement of the Animals"
Down the street.    \_/^\_/     by Willow Macky (published by the RNZSPCA)
***************************************************************************
Rabbit Information Service      http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
P.O. Box 30,                    email [e-mail]
Riverton,                       Was Jesus a vegetarian? Vegan and AR info;
Western Australia 6148          http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/4620

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

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 98 07:32:42 UTC
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: AR Victory from 1996
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

(PETA Calendar) On this day in 1996, Idaho (USA) passed a ban on
Greyhound racing.

- Sherrill
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 09:47:56 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas - the agreement
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

A few people have asked that I keep them up to date on the Vilas situation.

To start, I expect most of you have not seen the document which started
this affair, so here it is:

WISCONSIN REGIONAL PRIMATE RESEARCH CENTER

June 15, 1989

Dr. David Hall
Director, Vilas Park Zoo
702 S. Randall Ave.
Madison, WI 53715

Dear Dr. Hall:

     I want to inform you of the Primate Center's policy regarding our monkeys
that reside at the Vilas Park Zoo in a building we refer to as the "WRPRC
Vilas Park Zoo Facility". This building was constructed with funds provided
by the federal government to the Primate Center. Thus, despite its somewhat
ambiguous designation, the facility is owned and operated by us and,
accordingly, the University of Wisconsin.

     More than a few of the monkeys housed at this facility have lived their
entire lives there, and animals are removed from their natal groups only to
prevent overcrowding. The groups have been established for the principal
purpose of studying social organization and social dynamics in stable
primate societies. Accordingly, on those infrequent occasions when animals
are removed from a group, the removal is guided by procedures aimed at
ensuring the least disruption of the group and at preserving social
stability.

     The research performed on troops housed at the zoo is purely observational
in nature. As a matter of policy, no invasive physiological studies are
carried out on these animals.  In addition, the Center's policy regarding
animals removed from these established groups ensures that they will not be
used in studies at our facility involving invasive experimental procedures.
Such animals will be assigned to the Center's non-experimental breeding
colony, where they are exempt from experimental use.

     This policy on the uses of monkeys at the WRPRC Vilas Park Zoo facility
has the endorsement of my administrative council as well as the staff
veterinarians and animal care supervisors responsible for the care and
humane use of all Center animals. As evidence of this, their signatures are
also affixed.

     Let me take this opportunity to point out that the Center has long taken a
leadership role in the humane treatment of research animals. Our housing
meets or exceeds all applicable standards. Our 12-person animal care staff
has an average length of nearly 20 years of dedicated service to the Center
and its animals. In addition, our chief veterinarian is one of just a
handful of veterinarians in the state to be certified as a Diplomat of the
American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, and our assistant
veterinarian has developed a highly regarded program of pairing caged
monkeys to enhance their psychological well-being.

Yours Truly,
[signed]
Robert W. Goy, Director


Administrative Council

[signed]
William E. Bridson
Associate Director

[signed]
Robert K. Watson,
Assistant Director

Animal Care Unit

[signed]
Wallace D. House
Chief Veterinarian

[signed]
Viktor Reinhardt
Assistant Veterinarian

[signed]
Stephen G. Eisele
Breeding Supervisor

[signed]
Milford Urben
Vials Park Zoo Facility Supervisor

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 09:54:10 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas - Agreement Confirmed
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

April 18, 1990

Dr. David Hall, Director
Vilas Park Zoo
702 S. Randall Avenue
Madison, WI 53715

Dear Dr. Hall:

     I confirm that the existing and future policies of the Wisconsin Regional
Primate Research Center are that any animals bred at the zoo are used in
non-interventive behavioral research or for breeding purposes only.

     We are very pleased to have the zoo facility and will do all in our power
to make it an interesting display for the public as well as a significant
Center for behavioral studies. We are addressing new ways in which the
condition of the animals can be improved. In particular, with regard to the
hair loss seen during the late winter months.

     In addition, we are currently establishing field research in the
conservation biology of stump-tail macaques. We hope to provide some
illustrated posters of our studies concerning this endangered species in
the wild. The posters will show how studies in captivity strengthen
conservation efforts in the wild. I will of course consult with you in the
preparation of these posters, which I hope would also be of interest to
your Commission and to the public.

     My predecessor, Dr. Goy wrote to you last year on June 15 and on July 17.
Our policies were spelled out in detail in those letters and these policies
will remain in place. In particular, Dr. Goy's letter of June 15 addresses
this topic. You are aware that the Center, which is one of seven
federally-funded Primate Research Centers in the USA, carries out basic
research in biomedical and behavioral sciences relevant to both human and
animal health and conservation.


With best wishes.

Sincerely yours,
[signed]
John Hearn



Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 10:02:54 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas - Recent Confirmation
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Inventory of Monkeys Used by the Primate Center From the Center's Henry
Vilas Zoo Colony

Statement by Graduate School Dean Virginia S. Hinshaw
(8/13/97)

"An inventory conducted August 11-12, 1997 by officials from the Wisconsin
Regional Primate Center indicates that Primate Center monkeys housed in the
UW facility at Henry Vilas Park Zoo were used in invasive research
projects. This represents a serious breach of the 1989 local agreement
between directors of the center and the zoo.

"According to the June 19, 1989 agreement, no invasive studies were to be
performed on animals housed at the zoo. While federal regulations for
research were strictly followed by the center, the assignment of monkeys
from the Vilas facility to some research projects did not adhere to that
agreement.

"I want to reiterate my instructions to the center's leadership on Monday,
Aug. 11, that no monkeys housed in the Vilas facility will be assigned to
invasive research projects. No such assignments have been made in 1997, and
none will be made in the future.

"The records of animals assigned from the zoo to the center since 1989
show:

òA total of 65 monkeys were used in invasive research studies, and 39 of
those monkeys died or were euthanized as a result of the research. The
remaining 26 monkeys are still part of research projects at the center.

òAn additional 26 monkeys were euthanized and used in a tissue distribution
program at the center from 1990 to 1996. The goal of the program was to
provide researchers with normal tissues important for many internal and
external biomedical research projects. That program was discontinued in
June 1996.

"The decisions made regarding these animals were improper, given the
guidelines in the 1989 policy statement. The administration of Vilas Park
Zoo should have been consulted about these decisions. I regret that this
activity has cast doubt on a facility that is important to the community. I
should emphasize that none of the monkeys currently housed at the Vilas
facility have been used in invasive research experiments. I also want to
make it clear that, in the past, monkeys from the Vilas facility have been
sold as a colony management practice, primarily to prevent overpopulation.
>From 1989 to 1995, 110 monkeys were sold to other facilities, such as
research universities, companies and an NIH research center. However, no
animals have been sold since 1995.

"I would also like to address concerns about the future of the center's
monkey colony housed at the zoo. The center's lease at the zoo is expected
to expire in 2003, and we are currently working to find a long-term home
that is best for the welfare of the animals and are committed to supporting
the animals financially. But there is no quick resolution to this issue and
finding an appropriate arrangement for the colony may take several years.
"It is clear that the animal assignment process at the center regarding
these specific monkeys failed. This process will be corrected. We are
currently conducting a search for a new director of the center, and we look
forward to working with that individual to strengthen our excellent
research programs and promote public confidence in the center.

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:07:50 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],
        [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],
        [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: Opposition to Florida "Bear" Plate
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

A proposed new "conserve wildlife" license plate is being promoted in Florida
by Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Sierra Club, Wildlife Foundation of Florida
and the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission who have submitted 15,000
signatures and $30,000 to apply for the new plate that will feature the image
of a Florida black bear and a snowy egret with the "Conserve Wildlife" slogan.
The next step is approval by the Florida legislature which is now in session.
Rep. Sharon Merchant (R-N.Palm Beach) and Sen. Charlie Crist Jr., (R-
St.Petersburg) are sponsors.

Since our organization has first-hand knowledge of the debacle of another
Florida specialty plate -- the Panther plate, we are strongly opposed to yet
another plate where use of the proceeds from the sale of the plates is
questionable.

The bear plate funds will be administered by the "Wildlife Foundation of
Florida" whose mission statement is "to provide assistance, funding, and
promotional support for the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, and
in so doing, contribute to the health and well-being of Florida's fish and
wildlife resources and their habitats."  Not one word is stated about bears
and the board consists of, among others, former and present Game Commission
officials.  This "Foundation" was established in 1996 under the provisions of
Florida Statute 372.0215, as a "citizens support organization" and its Sept.
11, 1997 literature outlines that "Through the Foundation, the Commission
sponsored five young people to represent Florida in the International Youth
Hunter Education Challenge in New Mexico.  Financial assistance was provided
by the National Wild Turkey Federation and the National Rifle Association.
(July 1996, 1997)"  If this bear plate is approved, millions of dollars will
probably be under the control of the "Wildlife Foundation of Florida" and
Florida Statute 372.0215 gives them wide latitude for the use of the funds.
Unlike the Panther plate, the Bear plate does not specifically do anything to
help the bears and leads the public into thinking they are doing so because of
the bear image on the plate.

It is also noted that sponsors of this plate are promoters of hunting and the
Florida Game Commission waited until 1994 to end the hunting of Florida black
bears.  Why are they now jumping on the bear conservation bandwagon?  Is this
a ploy to pave the way to revive bear hunting in Florida?

Florida activists are strongly urged to contact their state legislators to
OPPOSE the legislation establishing this bear plate.  Your legislators are in
Tallahassee right now for the current session and could approve this plate at
any time.

Elise Matthes
Sarasota In Defense of Animals
P.O. Box 15653, Sarasota, FL 34277
Tel:  [phone]
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:59:54 EST
From: DDAL <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: WY Wild Horse Spring Round Up Postponed
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit



       FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bureau of Land Management Changes Position on Spring Wild Horse Roundups after
Public Outcry

Washington, DC.  March 17, 1998 -- The Doris Day Animal League applauds the
decision today of the Bureau of Land Management to place a moratorium on the
roundup of wild horses in Wyoming until after the Spring foaling season.  The
Doris Day Animal League, The Fund for Animals and the newly-formed Wild Horses
and Burros Freedom Alliance had strongly protested the proposed roundup as
exceedingly cruel, inhumane and unnecessary.

Al Pierson of the Bureau of Land Management office in Wyoming stated that the
Bureau has decided to postpone all roundups of horses in Wyoming until after
June when the foaling season is over.  This is the first time the BLM has not
conducted a Spring gather in recent history, according to Mr. Pierson's press
statement.

"This is another important step in what is turning out to be a great year for
the millions of Americans who lobby to help animals," says Holly Hazard,
Executive Director of the Doris Day Animal League.  Last week, the League
received word from the White House that "Buddy", President and Mrs. Clinton'd
dog, will be neutered for health and humane reasons.  That follows the fourth
annual Spay Day USA in late February, when nearly 100,000 cats and dogs were
spayed or neutered as part of the national effort to solve the pet
overpopulation crisis that results in the deaths of millions of pets in the U.
S. each year because there are not enough good homes for them.

The animal protection organizations had been concerned about the Spring wild
horse roundups because the mares would either be in foal at the time of
roundup and would be much more prone to abortions during the stressful
gathering procedure, or would have newborn foals who, because of their
unstable condition and their tender hooves, could not keep up with their
mothers during a roundup and would be lost or killed during this BLM activity.

Ms. Hazard stated in testimony before the Bureau of Land Management at a
hearing in Rock Springs, Wyoming in late February that, "The decision for the
roundup of the horses in the Spring was the most invasive and expensive option
for horse removal, and the March 1 start date is inhumane and contravenes the
agency's own statement that roundups will not occur during foaling season."
Ms. Hazard added that the Bureau's change in position was a refreshing
decision on the part of government leaders who listened to the arguments set
forth by concerned citizens and had the courage to take the responsible
action.  The League is delighted that the wild mares of Wyoming will have an
opportunity during the Spring foaling season to give birth and care for their
young without the intrusion of the Federal Government's roundup program.

The Bureau of Land Management has come under increasing criticism from animal
rights organizations for continuing to round up wild horses and burros while
it has an excess of over 5,000 horses languishing, unadopted in federal
corrals.  This inventory costs the taxpayers an estimated $50,000 per week.



Contact:  Linda Dozoretz
  213/656 4499

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:55:46 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas - pits of despair
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit


The Vilas rhesus macaques have been in solitary confinement for about 13
days now. I was once held in solitary confinement for 4 days (for
suggesting that monkeys should not be tortured) and am unable to imagine
the poor psychological condition these monkeys must now be in.  Loneliness
and depression have surely become their new reality.

These monkeys have lived their entire lives surrounded by their families
and friends; now they are unbearably alone.

The UW breaks it promise to the protect these monkeys moment by moment.

I am sure the following people would enjoy hearing your opinions and
suggestions very frequently concerning these monkeys.  I write them daily.

R

Johnathon Barry,  UW Regent
608 527 2026

WRPRC Interim Director: Joseph W. Kemnitz
1220 Capitol Court
Madison, Wisconsin 53715-1299
[phone]
FAX [phone]
[E-mail: [e-mail]]


Virginia S. Hinshaw, Dean
The Graduate School
University of Wisconsin-Madison
500 Lincoln Drive
Madison, WI 53706-1380
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[e-mail]


David Ward, University of Wisconsin Chancellor
161 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Dr.
Madison 53706
telephone [phone].
[E-mail: [e-mail]]



Kathleen Falk,County Executive
Room 421, City-County Building
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison 53709
telephone [phone]
[E-mail: [e-mail]]


Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 11:38:23 -0800
From: "Bob Schlesinger" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Kansas Legislature gives first-round approval to "The Scruffy Bill"
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

Kansas Legislature gives first-round approval to "The Scruffy Bill"

             By JOHN A. DVORAK Mid-America Correspondent
             Date: 03/17/98 22:15

             TOPEKA -- Amid daily debates, maneuvering over
             taxes and lunches with lobbyists, the Kansas
             Legislature finally found a few minutes on Tuesday
             to deal with Scruffy.

             The death of the Yorkshire terrier, widely
             publicized after Kansas City, Kan., police received a
             videotape of its torture killing, prompted angry
             residents to write and telephone politicians.
             However, the Legislature took little notice.

             Rep. David Haley, a Kansas City, Kan., Democrat,
             introduced a bill to toughen penalties for animal
             cruelty, only to find he could not get a committee
             hearing for the measure.

             All that changed Tuesday. Bypassing the committee
             system, Haley asked the House to amend what has
             become known as "the Scruffy bill" into an
             unrelated crime bill. The House agreed.

             The bill received first-round approval Tuesday. If it
             wins a final OK as expected today, it goes to the
             Senate.

             "This bill addresses depravity and perversion,"
             Haley said.

             Opponents said they lacked information describing
             how the tougher penalties would work. For
             example, the proposal may be setting out the same
             penalties for torturing a dog as for leaving a dog
             without adequate water, they said.

             Under the measure, animal cruelty would become a
             felony rather than a misdemeanor.

             The maximum penalty wouldn't change much.
             Haley said offenders in extreme cases would be
             subject to 13 months behind bars, instead of the
             current 12 months.

             However, a felony record is far more serious than a
             misdemeanor record, and prosecutors give greater
             attention to felonies than misdemeanors, Haley
             said.

             Haley credited the lobbying from citizens and
             animal welfare groups for the action.

             The bill may not be the perfect answer, but it
             warranted debate in the Legislature, said Melody
             Kelso, executive director of Animal Haven, a
             Johnson County shelter for unwanted animals.

             Animal Haven gave Scruffy's owners another dog
             and started a memorial fund, which now has
             $2,500 in contributions, to finance education
             programs and emergency animal care.

             Scruffy was killed last June, and someone made a
             videotape.

             A month ago, word of the killing surfaced. A
             confidential source gave Kansas City, Kan., police
             officers the tape, which showed four young men
             choking the dog. They doused the animal with a
             flammable liquid, set it on fire and beat it to death
             with a shovel.

             Four persons have been charged in the case.

             Despite all the publicity, the Legislature wasn't on
             track to debate tougher animal cruelty penalties.

             The Scruffy bill was originally assigned to the
             House Agriculture Committee, which sometimes
             considers animal bills. The committee never held a
             hearing. The House Judiciary Committee, which
             reviews crime issues, wasn't enthusiastic about
             getting the bill.

             "It's late," said House Speaker Tim Shallenburger
             of Baxter Springs.

             The Legislature adjourns next month, and no
             committee wanted to deal with the Scruffy bill, he
             said.

             "I've got a lot of other things to do," said Rep. Tim
             Carmody, an Overland Park Republican who heads
             the Judiciary Committee. "It's an issue of where
             your priorities are."

             Carmody voted for the bill. Only one representative
             from Johnson and Wyandotte counties -- Rep. Kay
             O'Connor, an Olathe Republican -- voted no.

             "I don't like doing those kinds of amendments," she
             said. "It gets very hard to be a good judge."

             Issues should be carefully considered by a
             committee, which can unravel all their
             implications, instead of being brought directly to
             the House, she said.

             Wyandotte County District Attorney Nick Tomasic
             hasn't taken a formal stand on the bill, but he said
             citizen interest in Scruffy runs high.

             Tomasic said his office had received hundreds of
             letters about the killing, some of them expressing
             outrage and others urging him to aggressively
             prosecute the case.

             The letters have come from around the nation, and
             one came from Hong Kong, he said.

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 12:38:42 -0800
From: Dena Jones <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) California Legislative Alert
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

***  CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE ALERT ***  CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE ALERT ***

There are currently several bills being considered in the California
Legislature that have the potential to improve the lives of companion
animals in the state:

* AB 68 Animal Shelters - Sales Tax would exempt municipal shelters and
nonprofit humane societies from paying sales tax on adoption fees and
other related charges.                               .

* AB 1856 Spaying/Neutering would require all shelters, individuals, pet
shops, and breeders to spay or neuter dogs and cats before selling or
giving them away.

* AB 2020 Pets in Housing would provide that a homeowner who is 55 years
or older or disabled and who agrees to abide by reasonable rules must be
allowed to have a companion animal in a mobilehome park or condominium.

* SB 1659 Carbon Monoxide Ban would ban all use of carbon monoxide for
euthanizing dogs and cats.

* SB 1785 Animal Shelters would require that dogs and cats in a shelter
be held for a minimum of 5 business days, instead of the current 72
hours, before being euthanized.

* SB 1991 Animal Cruelty would require a person who is convicted of
certain forms of animal cruelty and who is placed on probation to be
evaluated to determine the need for psychological counseling.

These bills are being strongly promoted by their sponsors and have a
chance of passing.  What is needed now is a show of public support.
Three of the bills ù AB 1856, SB 1659, and SB 1991 ù will be heard in
committee within the next two weeks.  If you are a California resident,
PLEASE consider writing a letter on one or more of these bills. In a
close vote, even a single letter can make a difference!

Specific information on the bills follows.  Although you may write your
elected officials on any of the bills, it is most important that members
of the committees where the bills have been assigned hear from their
constituents.  Names of committee members are given below.  If you don't
know the name of your assembly members or senator, e-mail your zip code
to "[e-mail]".  Or, you can visit the California legislative Web
site at http://www.sen.ca.gov.  At this site, you can also view texts of
legislation and subscribe to a service that allows you to receive
automatic updates on individual bills via e-mail.

Address all letters to: The Honorable ________, State Capitol,
Sacramento, CA 95814.

AB 1856 Spaying/Neutering
* Hearing date: March 31
* Committee: Assembly Consumer Protection, Government Efficiency &
Economic Development
* Committee members: Susan Davis (Chair), George Runner (Vice Chair),
Elaine Alquist, Gil Cedillo, Liz Figueroa, Brooks Firestone, Peter
Frusetta, Mike Machado, Jim Morrissey, Grace Napolitano, Virginia
Strom-Martin, Nao Takasugi, Scott Wildman.
* Points to make:
   -More than 600,000 cats and dogs were euthanized in CA shelters last
year.
   -Unwanted animals are abused and may pose public health and safety
concerns.
   -Current law is not adequately addressing the state's companion
animal overpopulation problem.

SB 1659 Carbon Monoxide Ban
* Hearing date: March 24
* Committee: Senate Judiciary
* Committee members: John Burton (Chair), Tim Leslie (Vice Chair),
Charles Calderon, Ray Haynes, Bill Lockyer, Jack O'Connell, Adam Schiff,
Byron Sher, Cathie Wright.
* Points to make:
   -Carbon monoxide chambers are outdated, dangerous, and inhumane.
   -Only a small number of the larger shelters continue to use this
method of euthanasia.
   -Studies have shown that euthanasia by sodium pentobarbital is less
expensive and more humane.

SB 1991 Animal Cruelty
* Hearing date: March 31
* Committee: Senate Public Safety
* Committee members: John Vasconcellos (Chair), Richard Rainey (Vice
Chair), John Burton, Quentin Kopp, Bruce McPherson, Richard Polanco,
Adam Schiff, Diane Watson.
* Points to make:
   -Connection between violence toward animals and violence toward
humans is well documented.
   -Only the most extreme cases of animal cruelty are successfully
prosecuted.
   -If ordered, the cost of the counseling would be paid by the
defendant.


Posted by:
Animal Protection Institute
P.O. Box 22505
Sacramento, CA 95822
[phone]
[phone] (fax)
[e-mail] (e-mail)
http://www.api4animals.org (Web site)
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 16:55:01 +0000 (GMT)
From: Pat Fish <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: South Park Hunting Episode (N.America)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

18-Mar-98 Wednesday

Comedy Central will be re-running the "South Park" episode on hunting,
tonight at 10PM and 1AM EST.  The episode should be re-run again on Saturday
at 10PM.  This is the same episode regarded by many ARAs as being
anti-hunting.

MSNBC will also be having an interactive News Chat on the controversial
"South Park".  This should take place between 5-7PM EST.  Viewers can call
1-888-MSNBC-US or e-mail [e-mail]

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 14:29:27 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christine M. Wolf" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Utah tightens ballot initiative rules
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From the "NRA Alerts" e-mail list...



>March 17, 1998
>
>UTAH
>
>Good News!  Governor Mike Leavitt has signed the following
>bill into law:
>
>HB 304, a bill that would require 10% of registered voter
>signatures from 20 counties  -- current law requires only 15
>counties -- to qualify any ballot initiative.  This change in the
>law will make it much more difficult for the animal extremists to
>push ballot measures.
>





******************************************************************
Christine Wolf, Director of Government Affairs
   The Fund for Animalsphone: 301-585-2591
    World Buildingfax:   301-585-2595
  8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301e-mail: [e-mail]
   Silver Spring, MD 20910web page: www.fund.org

Wild animals never kill for sport.  Man is the only one to whom the torture
and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
     -James Anthony Froude

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:54:39 -0500 (EST)
From: "Jeffrey A. LaPadula" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: ADL-NJ This weekend! Special meeting!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

ello all,

This Saturday, March 21, we will be holding our bi-weekly meeting from 12 -
2 in the Atruim of the Rutgers Student Center of New Brunswick.  This is a
special meeting as Brett Wycker, of Vegan Resistance for Liberatioin from
Philly, is coming to talk to the ADL-NJ about Grand Juries.  Please try to
come out to see him as this is a great oppurtunity.  He is currently dealing
with Grand Jury harrassment.

Following the meeting, from 2 - 4 we will not be going to Guarino's in East
Brunswick (they are on vacation until March 31).  Instead, we will be
returning to Marriane's in Highland Park.

Directions are on the webpage (which has been updated quite a bit) or you
can email or call (732.545.4110) for them.

I hope to see many new faces out this weekend!

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


Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:57:43 -0800
From: Hillary <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Sweatshops Galore
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Report: Sweatshops Still Being Used

.c The Associated Press

 By LAURA MYERS

WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite promises from corporate America to stop using
overseas sweatshop labor, young women in China are working 15-hour days for
a few dollars to make designer-label clothes, a private U.S. group reported
Wednesday.

``Workers were paid pennies to produce these things,'' Charles Kernaghan,
director of the National Labor Committee, said as he stood at a table
overflowing with silk blouses and Kathie Lee Gifford handbags.

The committee, which receives about 13 percent of its funding from
organized labor in the United States, said its report was compiled from
interviews with workers conducted by local Chinese women.

Most of the 18 big-name companies and labels listed in the 85-page report -
from Kathie Lee Gifford and Ann Taylor to Wal-Mart and J.C. Penney - said
they don't condone such working conditions by subcontractors and promised
to investigate.

Kernaghan's group made headlines a couple of years ago when it reported
clothing sold by Wal-Mart, J.C. Penny and Kmart with Gifford's label was
produced in Honduran sweatshops, and after investigating the television
personality admitted his findings were correct.

A spokesman for Gifford noted she has been at the forefront since then of
an effort to ensure U.S.-sold goods aren't made by poorly treated workers.
She also is a member of a White House task force that agreed with American
companies last April on a voluntary code of conduct that forbids buying
from foreign sweatshops.

``Kathie Lee said a year and a half ago that she would not tolerate
sweatshop conditions,'' said her spokesman Richard Hofstetter. He said
Gifford hired a company to spot-check factories and pulls out of overseas
factories that treats workers badly.

Hofstetter said the alleged conditions detailed in the new report would be
investigated. One incident involved young women working at a Chinese
factory making Kathie Lee Gifford handbags for Wal-Mart for 13 cents an
hour, 10 hours a day without days off.

According to the U.S. corporate code of conduct, workers must have days
off, cannot be forced to work overtime and must be paid a living wage. In
China, a subsistence wage is 87 cents an hour, the report said.

The Kernaghan group's investigation of 21 Chinese factories that produce
garments for export to the United States found 60- to 96-hour work weeks of
up to seven days and 10- to 15-hour shifts common. Most laborers were
migrant women in their teens or early 20s. Wages ranged from 13 to 28 cents
an hour. The women were housed in crowded dorms and fed meals consisting
mostly of rice and little meat.

Pro-labor lawmakers, including Rep. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., complained at a
news conference that U.S. corporations are using low-wage labor overseas at
the cost of American jobs.

``Corporate America has taken gross advantage and is exploiting desperate
people,'' Sanders charged.

Betsy Reithemeyer, a spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, denied that the company
exploits overseas workers. She also questioned the labor group's methods.
The report information is a year old - several factories mentioned are no
longer even at the same address - and the charges weren't brought to the
attention of the companies, she said.

Ann Taylor said its contract allows the company to make surprise visits,
and when violations are found the contractor must make improvements. ``If
the problem is not resolved, we cease doing business with that factory,''
the company said in a statement.

Duncan Muir, a spokesman for J.C. Penny, said the company doesn't believe
any of its subcontractors - which are given work by a primary contractor -
violate Chinese labor laws or abuse workers.

Liz Claiborne, among the biggest users of Chinese labor among clothing
makers, said in a statement the company uses only contractors that pay at
least minimum wages and treat workers well.

Other companies listed in the report included Adidas, Bugle Boy, Dayton
Hudson Corp., Disney, Ellen Tracy, Esprit Group, Federated Department
Stores, Kmart Corp., The Limited, May Co., Nike, Ralph Lauren, Reebok
International and Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 18:58:45 -0800
From: Hillary <[e-mail]>
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Gardenburgers CONTAIN EGGS
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Gardenburger Recalls Veggie Burgers

.c The Associated Press

 WASHINGTON (AP) - An Oregon company recalled a gourmet brand of vegetarian
burger Wednesday because the packages do not say the burgers contain egg
whites - a serious risk to people who are allergic to eggs.

Gardenburger Inc. recalled 452 cases of Gardenburger Gourmet Style
Fire-Roasted Vegetable veggie patties after discovering the labels
inaccurately left egg whites off the ingredient list.

People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to egg whites run the risk
of a serious, even life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the
patties, the Portland company said.

The patties were sold in the freezer sections of grocery stores and natural
food stores in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri,
Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

The recalled patties are in 10-ounce, magenta-colored cartons with the
following dates on the bottom flap: 012099, 021099, 020999, 022599, 022699
and 030699.

Consumers who have bought recalled patties may return them to the place of
purchase for a refund.

AP-NY-03-18-98 1659EST
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 19:05:45 EST
From: Dtbartlett <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Va. Beach Wildlife forum
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Press Release

For Immediate Release                        For further information
March 13                                            Dale Bartlett,
757/427-6387

Virginia Beach SPCA presents free "Wild Neighbors" public forum

Virginia Beach, VA -- On Wednesday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m. at the Princess
Anne High School auditorium, the Virginia Beach SPCA will present a free
public forum to discuss urban and suburban wildlife issues.

Who should attend?  Anyone with an interest in the wild critters with who we
share our neighborhoods.  Whether you are concerned about raccoons in your
chimney, geese or other fowl in your yard, or would like to learn how to help
injured and orphaned wildlife babies, you should not miss this forum.

Speakers include:
 Dr. John Hadidian, HSUS Director of Urban Wildlife Protection.  Dr. Hadidian
is  one of the nation's foremost experts on urban wildlife and chief
contributor to and editor of  the book "Wild Neighbors";

Dr. John W. Grandy, HSUS Senior VIce President for Wildlife Protection.  Dr.
Grandy, an internationally respected wildlife advocate and biologist, is a
former student of Princess Anne High School;

Glen Askins, Wildlife Biologist for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries

Virginia Tavenner, wildlife rehabilitator and coordinator of the VBSPCA's
wildlife referral line;

Evelyn Flingus, Education Chairwoman of Wildlife Response, a local
rehabilitation network;

Valerie Reich, of the Virginia Beach Department of Public Health; and

Sharon Adams, Executive Director of the VIrginia Beach SPCA.

Attendees will learn humane ways to solve conflicts with wildlife around homes
and buildings, what laws restrict apply, and who to call for various wildlife
situations in the South Hampton Roads area.  They will have the opportunity to
sign up to learn how to rehabilitate injured and orphaned wildlife babies, or
to assist these animals through the VBSPCA Wildlife Referral Line, by
transporting animals to rehabbers, or by becoming neighborhood wildlife
contacts.

Attendance is free, and the forum will be taped by Virginia Beach Television
for broadcast at a later date.

Call 757-427-6387 for details.

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 15:03:58 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christine M. Wolf" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (MD) UPDATE: Alert on Elephant Legislation
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

The Judiciary Committee held a hearing on this bill on Tuesday, March 17.
Although many animal advocates testified, Ringling Brothers' lobbyist also
testified, as well as a few children who were opposed to the bill.

I am told by Delegate Morgan that the committee will vote on this sometime
over the next few weeks.

The vote could go either way, and if the committee does not approve the
bill, IT IS DEAD!  Pressure on Judiciary Committee members is crucial at
this point!  If you have already called, please call again, and if you
haven't, start dialing!

This could be precedent-setting legislation.


>>MARYLAND ALERT
>>
>>SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ELEPHANTS!
>>
>>House Delegate John S. Morgan (R-Howard/Prince George's) has introduced
>>House Bill 1031 to prohibit the use of elephants for entertainment purposes
>>in Maryland. This bill will prevent carnivals, circuses, fairs, and other
>>events from using live elephants in the state of Maryland.
>>
>>The use of live elephants at circuses and fairs is cruel to the animals and
>>dangerous to Maryland citizens and children! Many communities across North
>>America have banned the display of live elephants for entertainment
>>purposes, and it is time for Maryland to do the same!
>>
>>You have three Delegates and one Senator who represent you in Annapolis.
>>Please contact them immediately and tell them to SUPPORT House Bill 1031.
>>Call 1-800-492-7122 or write to:
>>
>>        The Honorable __________
>>        Maryland General Assembly
>>        Annapolis, MD 21401
>>
>>Here are a few points you may wish to make in your phone calls or letters:
>>
>>*** The use of elephants is dangerous to Maryland residents and children. In
>>the 1990s alone, at least 20 people have been killed by elephants at
>>circuses and other events. The nation watched the television news in horror
>>recently as an elephant named Tyke escaped from a circus in Honolulu and
>>rampaged through the city until she was shot and killed.
>>
>>*** Elephants are highly intelligent and social animals whose natural
>>behavior patterns are denied by being chained, confined, and forced to
>>perform unnatural tricks. Most circus elephants are chained by two or more
>>legs for 95% of their lives in a space the size of a Volkswagen, and
>>unchained only to perform and walk to and from the arena. Dozens of circus
>>elephants have died over the last few years from injuries and from diseases
>>such as tuberculosis. Already in 1998, a 3-year-old baby elephant named
>>Kenny collapsed and died in the Ringling Bros. circus, soon after the
>>audience applauded his performance.
>>
>>*** Physical punishment is used to force animals to perform in circuses. In
>>his book Circus Kings, Henry Ringling North of the Ringling Bros. family
>>wrote, "All sorts of brutalities are used to force (animals) to respect
>>their trainer and learn their tricks. They work from fear."
>>
>>***Numerous communities in the U.S. ù including Takoma Park (Md.),
>>Hollywood and Lauderdale Lakes (Fla.), Waukegan and Collinsville (Ill.),
and >>Quincy and Revere (Mass.) ù have banned elephant acts
>>
>>If one of your Delegates is a member of the House Judiciary Committee listed
>>below, it is especially important that you contact him or her right away.
>>The Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on House Bill 1031 on Tuesday,
>>March 17, at 1:00 p.m.
>>
>>Listed below are the members of the House Judiciary Committee and the last
>>four digits of their telephone numbers. If you are calling from the
>>Baltimore/Annapolis area, dial (410) 841 and then the last four digits. If
>>you are calling from the Washington/Montgomery/Prince George's area, dial
>>(301) 858 and then the last four digits.
>>
>>Joseph F. Vallario, Jr. (Chair), D-Prince George's County, 3488
>>Ann Marie Doory (Vice Chair), D-Baltimore City, 3476
>>Rushern L. Baker, III, D-Prince George's County, 3058
>>Phillip D. Bissett, R-Anne Arundel County, 3211
 >>Emmett C. Burns, Jr., D-Baltimore City, 3350
>>Michael W. Burns, R-Anne Arundel County, 3233
>>Michael G. Comeau, D-Harford County, 3289
>>Mary A. Conroy, D-Prince George's County, 3098
>>Dana Lee Dembrow, D-Montgomery County, 3052
>>Gilbert J. Genn, D-Montgomery County, 3045
>>Sharon Grosfeld, D-Montgomery County, 3028
>>Thomas E. Hutchins, R-Charles County, 3247
>>Nancy Jacobs, R-Harford County, 3289
>>Pauline H. Menes, D-Prince George's County, 3114
>>Kenneth C. Montague, Jr., D-Baltimore City, 3259
>>Donald E. Murphy, R-Baltimore County, 3378
>>Timothy D. Murphy, D-Baltimore City, 3319
>>Anthony J. O'Donnell, R-St. Mary's County, 3314
>>Marsha G. Perry, D-Anne Arundel County, 3223
>>Carol S. Petzold, D-Montgomery County, 3001
>>Frank S. Turner, D-Howard County, 3205
>>David M. Valderrama, D-Prince George's County, 3012
>>
>
>>

Thank you for your help. As always, if you have any questions or need any
further information, please contact me at The Fund for Animals.


******************************************************************
Christine Wolf, Director of Government Affairs
   The Fund for Animalsphone: 301-585-2591
    World Buildingfax:   301-585-2595
  8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301e-mail: [e-mail]
   Silver Spring, MD 20910web page: www.fund.org

Wild animals never kill for sport.  Man is the only one to whom the torture
and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself.
     -James Anthony Froude

Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 20:01:39 EST
From: Marisul <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US): Utne Reader:"Kosher Meat Calms Consumer Concerns"
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

>From The Utne Reader, March, 1998

'A Cut Above:  Kosher meat calms consumer concerns

by Rabbi Yonason Goldson

[From Troika (Fall 1997).]

     You are what you eat.
     This bit of folk wisdom increasingly guides the eating habits of our
health-conscious society. Sugar-free, fat-free, all-natural foods have spread
through grocery aisles like crabgrass over an anemic lawn. Vegetarians, in
particular, wave the banners of animal rights and wholesome eating. But now,
even the most enthusiastic carnivore can indulge unapologetically: Kosher meat
has arrived.
     Actually, kosher meat, a cornerstone of Jewish law, has been around for
three thousand years. But over the past few years our taste for it has grown
12 to 15 percent annually. According to Forbes magazine, non-Jewish patronage
accounts for nearly all this increase, despite flat food sales overall. Jewish
law does not impose dietary restrictions primarily for health reasons, but
people equate kosher food with healthy food.
     Many national brand products, from ketchup to cream of coconut, carry on
their labels emblems testifying to production standards conforming to Jewish
law. Observant Jews depend on these symbols, representing varying degrees of
supervision stringency, for their daily sustenance. Yet, not only kosher Jews
find them relevant. "Say your party guest list includes friends who are
Muslim, lactose-intolerant, and have high blood pressure," says Rabbi Norman
Schloss, an Orthodox Union inspector who oversees much of the southeastern
U.S. kosher production. "An O-U symbol tells you the product is free from
pork, which Islamic law prohibits; free from lard and animal oils, which are a
problem for people with high cholesterol; and (unless it is accompanied by an
additional D for dairy) free from casein, which would cause your lactose-
intolerant friend terrible distress." Many kosher symbols exist; some are
regional, while others have specific meanings. P, for example, means approved
for Passover use.
     For most kosher foods, the cost of supervision, distributed over large
production runs, adds less than a penny to the price. But kosher meat
typically costs as much as 25 percent more than nonkosher meat. Why, then, do
people buy it? "The main reason is health," says Kay Diamant, who with her
husband owns one of St. Louis' three kosher butcher shops. "People know that a
pound of kosher meat goes into a pound of kosher meat. They're afraid of what
else might be going into meat that isn't kosher."
     Studies by the consulting firm Kosher Coordinators show that over a third
of the 6 million consumers of kosher food in 1995 bought kosher because they
believed it to be better for them. Another third included Muslims, Seventh-Day
Adventists, vegetarians, and lactose-intolerant people. Less than one-third of
the total were Jews. A study by National Foods, producers of Hebrew National
hot dogs and meats, indicates that non-Jews constitute 90 percent of their
market, largely because they associate the word kosher on the label with
quality.
     They may be right. True, the meat industry has come a long way since
Upton Sinclair described the Chicago stockyards as places where poisoned rats
became tidbits in sausage. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
estimated in 1995 that pathogens in meat and poultry cause at least 4,000
deaths and 5 million illnesses annually in this country. Following a 1993 food
poisoning outbreak, reportedly traced to fast food restaurants in the
Northwest, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed treating all meat with
antibacterial sprays. This process was never implemented, but Dr. Bill Kelly,
USDA senior supervisor in Jefferson City, Missouri, explains that salting meat
(to draw out residual blood, in accordance with kosher law) produces the same
benefits. Most kosher meat is salted in large, 30- to 40-pound chunks, so the
concentration of salt is minimized by the large ratio of volume to surface
area.
     Health is one reason why vegetarians disdain meat; humanitarian concern
is another. Although inhumane treatment of animals does not pertain
specifically to kosher laws, Jewish law prohibits it. Animals from large
herds, penned in feedlots, often suffer mishandling that causes lacerations,
bruising, or broken limbs, all of which invalidate the animal's kosher
standing. It makes more sense for kosher slaughterhouses to draw from smaller
or free-ranging herds in which the animals are treated better and are in
better shape. Pen-fed veal is prohibited outright by almost all authorities
because of the gross mistreatment of the calves, which are tightly confined
and often force-fed to develop the tenderness that makes veal distinctive.
     Along the same lines, ritual slaughter, or sh'chita, involves severing
the animal's throat with a single, swift cut from a perfectly smooth blade,
believed to inflict no pain. Animal-rights activists have long held
reservations concerning the conventional stun method, which leaves the animal
alive, if unconscious, even as it is butchered.
      Simple reflection on the world of difference between the respective
processes that bring meat to the kosher and nonkosher counter is allaying a
growing number of meat consumers' apprehensions about both health and
humanitarianism. Although animal treatment concerns may remain, healthier
livestock processed under more humane conditions conjures up images less
repellent than those Sinclairian descriptions imprinted on our national
consciousness. Perhaps knowing this, and faced with yet another veggie burger,
the broad-minded leaf-eater may return to the real thing.
  -------------------
ò  "Letters to the editor are welcome ([e-mail]). We want to know what
you think about what you're finding in the magazine and online. Please include
your name, street address, and daytime phone (optional). Letters may be edited
for length and clarity."
Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 19:03:14 -0500
From: joemiele <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: NJARA NEWS RELEASE
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>NJARA NEWS RELEASE
>New Jersey Animal Rights Alliance, PO Box 174, Englishtown  NJ  07726
732-446-6808
>
>March 18, 1998
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
>
>Contact: David Sauder
>609-772-2521
>
>
>The Great American Meatout
>
>Voorhees - The Delaware Valley District of New Jersey Animal Rights
Alliance will hold an educational rally on the corner of Route
561/Haddonfield-Berlin Road and Voorhees Drive (near Ritz movie theatre
sign) on Saturday, March 21 from 12:30pm - 2:00pm.
>
>This event will recognize the Great American Meatout, now in its 14th
year. Patterned after the Great American Smokeout, the purpose of this
event is to alert consumers to the devastating impacts of an animal-based
diet on the animals, human health, world food supplies, and our natural
environment. People are asked to "kick the meat habit", at least on the day
of the Meatout, and encouraged to explore a more sustainable and less
violent diet. Nearly 1.5 million Americans are crippled and killed each
year by chronic diseases that have been linked conclusively with excessive
consumption of animal products. The raising of animals for food uses up to
90% of our agricultural resources, depletes irreplaceable topsoil and
pollutes groundwater, destroys forests and other wildlife habitats, and
causes intense suffering to billions of animals in America's "factory
farms". Over 9 billion animals are killed annually, in the United States
alone, for human consumption.
>
>The first day of spring - the symbol of a new beginning - seems a most
appropriate time to eschew animal flesh and choose a vegetarian lifestyle
instead. The Great American Meatout, started by Farm Animal Reform Movement
in 1985, is celebrated in cities and towns throughout the United States as
well as in Canada.
>
>NJARA is a community based, non-profit, educational organization working
toward a more peaceful, non-violent co-existence with our earthly
companions, both human and nonhuman. Through its programs of promoting
responsible science, ethical consumerism, and environmentalism, NJARA
advocates change that greatly enhances the quality of life for animals and
people, and protects the earth.
>
>
Peace,
Joe


"Anybody who's effective among the masses usually is considered extremist,
subversive, seditious, and - you know - irresponsible"
     Malcolm X


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

Visit NJARA's *UPDATED* web page!

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

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


Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 17:38:19
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Professor Richard Lacey's evidence
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Unfortunately, there was a typo in the original posting of this article.
Therefore, I'm posting a corrected version. Sorry about any inconvenience.

David

BSE Inquiry - Day 5

Professor Richard Lacey's evidence

David J Knowles
Animal Voices News

Tuesday, March 17th, 1998 - The BSE Inquiry today heard evidence from
Professor
Richard Lacey, professor of clinical microbiology at Leeds University.

Lacey told the inquiry that he had serious concerns about the use of
injectable products
into cattle. BST was one example, he said. Giving cows an injection of BST
was a
concern to him because it was already well known from human medicine that
if you put
someone under stress to increase a particular metabolic function, as is the
case with BST,
in cows, then you often unmasked a latent infection.

He added that there was also a possibility that BSE could be transmitted by
the multiple
use of needles and syringes. He was also concerned that injection sites
which oozed blood
could also provide a route of transmission.

Lacey told the inquiry that he had raised these concerns at the Veterinary
Products
Committee, which he was a member of at the time. He stated the committee was
examining requests from two companies to allow the use of BST in British
cattle.

Commenting on the Southwood Committee, Lacey said he was surprised there
was no one
appointed to the committee who specialised in human medicine or microbiology.

Lacey was asked by inquiry counsel, Paul Walker, what he thought about the
Spongioform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee's comments remarks that:"Many
extensive epidemiological studies around the world have contributed to the
current
consensus view that scrapie is not causally linked with CJD.  It is urgent
that the same
reassurance can be given about the lack of effect of BSE on human health.
The best way
of doing this is to monitor all UK cases of CJD over the next two decades.
This UK
cohort of CJD cases will be available for the testing of any future
hypotheses.  The cost is
low, the priority very high."

"It is the second sentence that concerned me.  Within a report assessing
research priorities,
it seems to me totally inappropriate, the sentence: 'It is urgent that the
same reassurance
can be given about the lack of effect of BSE on human health.'

"You only produce reassurance about the lack of a danger after the event
has happened or
the research has been done.  That is the problem, that this already is a
statement that is
outside the context of the terms of reference.  It is totally wrong, in
1989, to be discussing
reassurance because they had not actually produced the data.  This is why I
have written it
in my evidence that, in principle, the best way of doing this is to monitor
all human cases
of CJD over the next twenty years.  How can you produce urgent reassurance
if you are
planning to monitor cases for twenty years?"

Lacey said that there is a great deal of pressure for various reasons to
hope and want BSE
to disappear by it self. He did not believe that this would happen,
however, based on
scrapie in sheep, which has been present for centuries.

 He said he could not believe the official figures because:"... first, the
number of cases has
been very obviously associated by the compensation paid.  Farmers rightly
are interested in
their livelihoods, money and so on.  First of all, there was no
compensation paid, then 50
per cent, then 100 per cent and the numbers went up.  Then the compensation
dropped."

"...There seems to be an exclusive access from the Department of Zoology in
Oxford and
the Ministry vets.  I would like them to be published, and I would like to
see exact details
of the false positives."

Lacey told the inquiry that he had a deputation from the rendering industry
come to his
home on Friday.

"They are worried about their livelihoods.  What they told me I found very
disturbing.
That is because the value of animal carcasses who die is now negative, the
animals are
being buried, in a massive scale, in farm graves.  They produced video and
photographic
evidence of this, including cattle.  And I fully understand the emotions
and reasons, why
the incredible pressure to try to reduce BSE numbers and get accreditation
that farmers
should dispose of animals in that way; and the passport documentation goes
back to the
Ministry, but there is no record of the disposal of the animal.  Because of
this pressure
from [the] European Union I believe this is happening very, very widely.

"There is also a silly consequence of BSE, the fact that the carcasses are
now worthless.
It is also extremely relevant to the increasing epidemic of E-coli 0157,
because these open
graves, which apparently only contravene the 1986 Dogs Act, have access to
all sorts of
birds, and the infection will be spreading around.  The knackermen
[renderers] are
desperate, they are all going bust.  The farmers are burying their animals
on their own
fields.  I really think that something has to be done about this, because
it means the actual
figures, the animal deaths, the causes of death, the infectivity, are going
to be lost.

Lacey gave evidence that in 1992, after the feed ban had been introduced,
that a farmer in
York had contacted him about a cow which he thought had BSE. The cow has
two calves
which subsequently became ill. One had been born the year after the feed
ban had been
brought into effect. The farmer had been visited by the first of two vets
from MAFF. This
vet had confirmed it was BSE, and put a restriction order on it. A second
MAFF vet had
then been to visit the farm and told the farmer: "It is not BSE because it
is born after the
feed ban." He told the farmer to "Have it slaughtered and send it into the
food chain if you
want to use it."

The farmer, said Lacey was ethical and so did not. The farmer's own vet had
been called in
and diagnosed the calf as suffering from a condition he called ketosis
which, Lacey said,
just means a non-specific chemical change.

"I saw the animal. It was vesiculating, its muscles were twitching, it had
lost weight, an
awful amount of weight, it could not stand up properly.  It was in a
terrible state, it is
clinical BSE.  I have seen several.  So the farmer gives the animal to me
and, Stephen [ Dr
Dealler] has it slaughtered, and we have the head taken off and the brain
preserved and
sections taken.  And we sent the sections to three different laboratories,
including
Weybridge, the Ministry's, and they all confirmed BSE..."

Lacey said he thought the actions of the second MAFF vet and the farmer's
own vet was a
procedure to obstruct the diagnosis of BSE.

Lacey said that he had encountered serious problems regarding the
publishing of a book ha
had written about the BSE problem. He refused to name the publisher, due to
them being
intimidated.

"... I was approached in early 1994 by a small  publishing company based in
Wales who
asked me to write a book on the history of BSE.  I said that I would be
delighted to.
Somehow the local community where the publisher is -- was -- got to find
out this was 9
happening; and it is a rural community, and they began to be intimidated,
from bricks
through windows, wire cutting et cetera.  They then decided to set up a new
company in
Jersey in order to prevent this; and this is why it is published in a
subsidiary company, in
Cypsela.  Incidentally, this company has now gone bankrupt and someone has
taken all the
money, and they owe me several thousand pounds, but that is an aside.  I
actually made
ú6,000 out of this, just in case anyone thinks that I am profiteering out
of the bad food.

"Anyway, they were obviously in difficulty; they sent it for review, copies
to various
people, and several magazines did reviews; but the significant one was The
London Times
[They were] sent a copy, directly from the publishers.  And a hostile
review appeared in
November1994 written by two journalists.  I was not consulted.

"The people quoted in it were the Ministry of Agriculture vets, who were
highly critical of
this book, basically saying I was lying; and subsequently not a single
major book chain
stocked it.  I purchased 1,000 copies and gave them away to people I
thought ought to see
it. Subsequently, I was speaking to one of the authors of The Times article
who told me,
over the telephone, that he had not actually read the book."

"[People who wanted a copy] had to write to the publishers, as they could
not know who
the publishers were, it was a question of writing to the Channel Islands.
It was not listed
in any catalogue and was virtually impossible to get. Lots of people used
to phone me up
and ask me for it and I used to give them a free copy."

He was asked if there was any diference between the way BSE had been handled
compared to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease which had occured in the
70's.

" I can make a contrast of the discrepancy between the control of diseases
in animals that
have a primary and adverse effect on farming and farming communities, like
foot and
mouth disease, like salmonella pullorum, which is entirely a chicken
salmonella.  There
action has been taken vigourously and sensibly and radically.  Diseases
which impinge
onto the human population, for example salmonella Campylobacter and BSE,
the main
thrust of the control has been cosmetic to appear to be taking action, and
the main attempt
has been to so-called restore consumer confidence.  Thus food poisoning in
general
continues to rise.  We have had no adequate resolution of the salmonella in
eggs problem.
We have had no adequate resolution of the very high numbers of
Campylobacter from
affected animals.  So there has been a major difference.

"If BSE had had a major impact on farming, cattle farming, then more action
would have
likely been taken. As the disease largely affects dairy cows towards the
end of their life,
the potential effect on human population has obviously not been taken as
the first priority;
the first priority has been towards the welfare of the animal husbandry."

He said he stood by his comments that, in the worst case scenario, up to 5%
of the UK's
human population could be affected by CJD, and called on the government to
make CJD a
notifiable disease.



Date: Thu, 19 Mar 1998 10:58:47 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (HK/Thailand)Cholera warning (from eating Thai cockles)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Cholera warning for your information.(Thailand/HK/China etc)
Source Promed


CHOLERA - CHINA (HONG KONG) EX THAILAND (03)
********************************************
A ProMED-mail post

[see also:
Cholera - China (Hong Kong) ex Thailand                980212200848
Cholera - China (Hong Kong) ex Thailand (02)           980215171220]

Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 12:43:34 +0800
From: Wing-lok Lo <[e-mail]>


In January 1998, 9 people contracted cholera in Hong Kong after eating
cockles imported from Thailand.

In March 1998, another 19 people were found to be infected on returning to
Hong Kong after travelling to Thailand. Among the 19, 3 were symptomatic.
The remaining 16 were found to be asymtomatic carriers of _Vibrio cholerae_
El Tor, serotype Ogawa. These 19 people were among a total of 64 people
travelling to Thailand in 2 tour groups. 40 people departed from Hong Kong
with the first group on 1 March 1998 and the second group of 24 people
departed on 2 March 1998.

The problem of cholera in Thailand was discussed briefly on ProMED-mail
last year. It was highlighted then that Thailand was not among the
countries who would notify the WHO of cholera cases occurring in the
country. My search of the WHO website on global cholera update for 1997 and
1998, confirmed that no Thailand data is available. Can anyone explain the
non-notification of cholera by Thailand? Can anyone inform me on the most
recent situation of cholera in Thailand? Are there any other countries
affected by cholera exported from Thailand?

Perhaps it is time that Thailand should consider playing a more active role
in the global surveillance of infectious diseases, as every member of the
international community should, by at least notifying the WHO of its
cholera cases.

--
Dr. Wing-lok Lo
102 Kamming House
49-51 Queen's Road Central
Hong Kong
e-mail: [e-mail]

[All countries belonging to WHO who have signed the International Health
Regulations (IHR) are obligated to report any suspect case of cholera to
WHO within 24 hours, but not all comply, often because they fear a ban on
their food exports as a result of notifying the disease.  An unfortunate
example is the current European Union ban on fish exports from East Africa
because of the cholera epidemic there.

If anyone has current information on cholera in Thailand, we would be glad
to hear it.  Japan often finds cholera in Japanese travelers returning from
Thailand; details of imported cases appear in Japan's epidemiological
records.

The asymptomatic carriers identified among travelers could pass the disease
on to fellow Japanese on their return.  This could explain the occasional
case of cholera that  Japan reports in a  person with no history of foreign
travel - Mod.JW]
......................................jw/es
=====================================================================
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