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

Text File | 1998-04-02 | 48.9 KB | 1,233 lines

I am making my way slowly through the transcripts of the first three days
of the BSE inquiry.

Please bear with me while I get up to date with this.

One item of note is that Professor Richard Lacey, of the microbiology dept.
at Leeds University and an  outspoken critic of the government's handling
of the BSE crisis in the UK, will give evidence on Tuesday, March 17th.

Dr Steven Dealler, who was a colleague of Professor Lacey and then became
consultant micro-biologist to the Burnley Health Care NHS Trust raised a
number of points with those advising government.  Dr Dealler is scheduled
to give evidence on Wednesday  April 1st.

Mr Mark Purdey, an organic farmer who became concerned about the use of
organophosphates and their potential role in the transmission of BSE, is
scheduled to give evidence later this month.  In addition, Dr Steven Watley
has taken an interest in the question of organophosphates.  He is scheduled
to give evidence onTuesday, 31st March.

Professor Roy Anderson of Oxford University is due to give evidence on 16th
March. He will
describe the inquiries he made with a view to obtaining access to data
about BSE,
access which he did not obtain for some time.


Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:15:24
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] More from the BSE Inquiry - Part Two
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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I am making my way slowly through the transcripts of the first three days
of the BSE inquiry.

Please bear with me while I get up to date with this.

David

>From the transcript of March 10th, 1998

Q. are being asked by Mr Walker, counsel to the inquiry, unless otherwise
identfied in the transcript.

A. are being answered by David Bee, a veterinarian who is believed to be
the first vet to encounter an outbreak of BSE. At that time, in 1985, it
was not recognised as such. Bee also has an interest in nutrition of
cattle, something which not all vets have. He is also president of the
Association which represents British vets looking after cattle.

Q.   What was the purpose of giving cattle this protein feed?

A.   Cattle need specific diets to achieve what the farmer and what the cow
itself requires
to live a normal welfare-friendly fertile life.  The modern dairy cow,
which is producing a
lot of milk -- Peter Stent's is not a particularly high-yielding herd, his
probably would have
been 6,500 litres per year.  But we have herds now producing 13,000 litres
of milk per
year. That cow is a different animal than the cow which was around 30 years
ago when the
farmer would say, if she is a 1,000 gallon cow, 4,500 litres, she is a
jolly good cow.
Things have moved on.  Her breeding is different.  She needs a different
way of being
looked after if she herself is going to remain happy and healthy.  One of
the things she
needs is what is known as "bypass protein".  The cow is a ruminant and
digests food in her
rumin.  If soluble sources of protein go into the rumin, they dissolve and
are utilised as a
nitrogen source by rumin microbes.  The cow needs someof that, yes, to help
her digest
food and produce milk and suchlike, but she also needs protein, which does
not get
digested in the rumin and goes on down to the lower parts of the
gastro-intestinal tract,
and are absorbed there. Even now, it is quite common for cattle to be fed
on fish.
Fishmeal is a common component of cattle diet.  Meat and bonemeal, apart
from the
tragedy of what it also contained, from the cow's point of view, is a
splendid food.  It
contains the right sort of protein, which largely bypasses digestion in the
rumin and is
available lower down the intestinal tract; and from the cow's point of view
from her health,
welfare, fertility and milk production, meat and bonemeal was a good food.

Q.   If I have understood you correctly, what you are saying is that some
time ago the
cows that we had on farms on in this country, and elsewhere, were not cows
which needed
this sort of protein to be added to their diet?

A.   Yes.

Q.   We now have cows which are bred so as to make this, from what you are
saying, a
necessary part of their diet, is that right?

A.   It is a necessary part.  If you have a high-yielding cow and you try
to feed her for a
low yield, she does not look after herself, she falls about, she loses
weight, she does not
get in calf.  She needs to be fed according to her genotype.

Q.   So we have bred animals which need to have an artificial food?

A.   No, you can do the same feeding with natural foods, so we are now
doing the same
thing using soya and rape seed as protein sources, rather than meat and
bonemeal.  My
opinion is that they are not as good from the cow's point of view as the
more insoluble and
less rumin degraded protein sources are.

[SNIP]

Q.   Finally, I would like to turn to a period a bit later on.  Once the
Government had
introduced measures, such as the requirement to notify cattle suffering
from BSE and send
them off for slaughter, when that first happened, the Government introduced
compensation fixed at 50 per cent.  Were you aware locally of any farmers
who felt they
might be better off to try not to comply with that order and get full value
for their cows
somehow?

A.   I was not aware.  It was a conversation that cropped up very, very
frequently amongst
my farming clients.  I am not the best lie detector on earth, but I would
be very surprised if
any of them had tried to bypass that 50 per cent.  They grumbled about the
50 per cent,
but I do not think it resulted in any cows going into the human food chain
that should not
have done.

Q.   Another aspect, the feed ban that came in. Farmers, I imagine,
probably had stocks of
feed on the farm at the time that the ban was introduced.  Do you know how
good they
were about not using that stock?

A.   I would imagine that it was all used.  I do not think there was a
legal requirement for
them to throw it away.  I think it was the manufacture and sale rather than
the use that
was banned.

Q.   So when the ban came in, the existing stocks that farmers had, they
would continue to
use until that ran out?

A.   Yes.

SIR NICHOLAS PHILLIPS:   That was your understanding.  I am not sure that
it is right.
We will be looking at that.

MR WALKER:   Later on, of course, that type of feed, it was still available
for use for
other animals?

A.   Poultry, yes.

Q.   Are you aware of the extent to which farmers might have had the feed
on the farm for
other animals, and happened to use it for calves as well?

A.   To my knowledge, that did not happen, although I have spoken to
colleagues who
have known of  it happening.





Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:15:42
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] More from the BSE Inquiry - Part Three
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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[Please note - this is not an editorial, but is intended as background
information.]

In an earlier posting, I made referrence to the fact that the pet section
of the garden centre that CJD victim Clare Tomkins worked at did not
usually sell animals. This was based on my own experince of such places,
but according to the transcripts, this may not have been correct in this
case. There have been some doubt has to whether Clare was vegan or
ovo-lacto vegetarian. I have therefore included testimony from her father
regarding her diet which will hopefully answer this.

David

>From the transcript of March 10th, 1998

Q. are being asked by Mr Body, counsel representing the families of those
affected by CJD, unless otherwise indicated.

A. are provided by Mr Roger Tomkins, father of Clare Tomkins, one of the
CJD victims.

MR BODY:  Can you give your full name please?

A.   My name is Roger Tomkins.

Q.   What do you do for a living?

A.   I am an engineering director.

Q.   Have you prepared a proof of evidence for the  Committee?

A.   Yes, I have.

Q.   Is that proof of evidence true to the best of your knowledge and belief?

A.   It is indeed.

Q.   Thank you.  Clare Tomkins is your daughter?

A.   Yes she is.

Q.   She is 24 years of age?

A.   Yes, she will be 25 on 13th May.

Q.   We have heard something from Dr Cheales, but can you tell us something
about Clare
before this happened?  Can you give us an impression of her?

A.   She was -- I describe her as very stunning strawberry blond.  She was
a lovely girl,
very pretty, fun-loving, very sporty and very healthy.  She loved family
life, but she also
liked going out dancing, just like any young girl.  The one major thing in
her life was her
love of animals.

Q.   Can you tell us a little more about that?

A.   Yes, she has always had animals from a very young age.  We have dogs,
we have
birds, we have rabbits, we still have those.  She had a pony she used to
share with her
elder sister, Lisa.  One of the loves of her life was horse-riding, she
enjoyed that. Indeed,
she used to sponsor a pony sanctuary in Norfolk, used to contribute money
towards that
and visit that on a regular basis.

[SNIP]

SIR NICHOLAS PHILLIPS:   Can you tell us a little bit about what she used
to eat, her
diet?

A.   Indeed she had been a strict vegetarian since 1985.  She was a
vegetarian not because
she did not like meat, she was a vegetarian because she loved animals.
Therefore, her
philosophy was, "I am not going to eat anything where an animal had been
sacrificed".
That was her philosophy.  This was in1985, so she would have been around
13.  We
thought it was a childhood fad, and but it was not.  It actually grew very
much stronger
until it got to a point where she would not eat any biscuits, sweets, any
other foods
which would have a derivative of animal and fats, et cetera. But prior to
that, her eating
habits were no different to any youngster, that means eating any meats,
beefburgers.  You
go to funfairs, the first thing you do is go to the hot dog stall.  So she
was no different to
anybody else in that regard.

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:19:23
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [US] MIAMI MEAT WORKER DIES
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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Posted for Deborah Nation.

This article appeared in a Daytona newspaper today, Friday 13th March

MIAMI MEAT WORKER DIES

Miami (AP) --- The death of a meat warehouse worker from a rare
brain-wasting ailment similar to mad cow disease has medical investigators
hunting for any link between his occupation and his illness.

Investigators also are pursuing an unconfirmed report of the death of
another Miami meat worker from the same disease, Dr. Steven Wiersma, deputy
state epidemiologist, said Thursday.

"We don't feel there's a lot of reason for alarm that this occupation could
be at higher risk," he said.  "But since we're now hearing rumors of two
cases of meat handlers in the Miami area, we will be looking into that."

Meat handlers have shown no increased rate of either the classic form of
the degenerative brain disease, or a deadly variant blamed in Britain on
contaminated beef.  But the the death of Ozzie Hyman, 55, is getting a
closer look.

Hyman worked for the Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie supermarket chain from
August 1976 until he left on sick leave last October 29, said company
spokesman, Mickey Clerc.  Hyman died at home March 5, the Miami-Dade County
medical examiner's office said.

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:26:19
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Foster fails to revive anti-hunt Bill
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, March 14th, 1998

Blair betrayed us, say anti-hunt protesters
By Joy Copley, Political Staff

TONY Blair was accused of betrayal yesterday as the controversial Bill to
ban foxhunting was effectively killed.

Animal rights campaigners in the House of Commons public gallery were
ejected amid shouts of "Tony Blair promised", "it's a  disgrace" and
"betrayal" after the Prime Minister, who has said he opposes foxhunting,
failed to turn up to vote for a ban.

After a five-hour mauling which saw filibustering led by Tory MPs, the Wild
Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill is now doomed to failure and stands no
chance of becoming law. However,  technically it is still alive. Michael
Foster, the Labour MP for  Worcester, said he was not giving up and would
attempt to bring the Bill back for debate again during the four days still
left for discussion of Private Members' Bills.

One man struggled vigorously with attendants and was carried out of the
Stranger's Gallery, writhing and with his feet in the air.

Downing Street said that the Prime Minister had not changed his mind about
foxhunting but had not attended the debate because of  meetings at
Chequers. This was despite a promise to Roseanne  Mills, 11, a junior
member of the RSPCA, that he would vote to ban foxhunting. He told her in a
written exchange: "Foxhunting is the issue that causes the most public
concern in the UK. I do think hunting is wrong and I will vote in favour of
a ban in the House of
Commons."

Labour MPs, led by Mr Foster, want to keep the Bill alive over the next few
weeks to keep pressure on the Government. They expect  MPs to be flooded
with letters of protest from anti-hunting constituents. Many Labour
backbenchers feel betrayed because the Government has vetoed a ban on
hunting in this Parliament and will not provide extra parliamentary time
for Mr Foster's Bill.

A group of 110 Labour MPs have signed a Commons motion calling on the
Government to take action before the end of this Parliament to facilitate
legislation by granting extra time, including weekends, to any new Private
Members' Bills that come forward.

Nick Palmer, the Labour MP for Broxbourne, said: "We expect more signatures
next week. We want a public commitment. We feel that the current position
where it is totally impossible to get a Private Members' Bill through the
Commons on this subject should not be allowed to continue indefinitely. We
recognise the Government's difficulty with the House of Lords at the moment
but  we are asking ministers to ensure that this situation does not persist
throughout this Parliament."

Mr Foster attacked Tories for filibustering his Bill, which, he pointed
out, had a majority of 260 at its second reading in November.

He accused them of abusing Parliament and insisted: "This Bill is alive and
kicking. If my opponents think they can abuse the House and the electorate
by engaging in delaying tactics, they are sadly mistaken because the
British electorate want to see this Bill passed."

David Maclean, the former Tory minister, who is one of the organisers of
the pro-hunting Tories, said that he had at least 40 volunteers prepared to
turn out on March 20, March 27, April 24 and July 3, the remaining Fridays
left for private members' legislation.

Describing the Bill as "a mangled mess", he said: "We have got to go on
opposing this Bill because it is so badly drafted." He claimed that the
recent Countryside Alliance march of about 250,000 people through London
had left the Government dithering and he mocked the Prime Minister for
failing to turn up to vote, saying: "I assume the wallpaper in Chequers is
being put up by Tony."

So far, 36,956 readers have sent copies of The Daily Telegraph Countryside
Campaign open letter to the Prime Minister.


⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

Disclaimer: Articles from mainstream media sources are posted for
informational purposes. Any views expressed therein are those of the
authors,  and may not necessarily agree with those of 'Animal Voices' or
those connected with 'Animal Voices'. I will be pleased to provide further
information, where possible, but comments about the content should be
addressed to the source and not myself.

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 00:41:57
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, March 14th, 1998

BSE costs ú1bn but the worst is yet to come
By David Brown, Agriculture Editor

THE beef crisis cost Britain nearly ú1 billion in its first 12 months  but
job losses and damage to the industry were far less than expected, thanks
to Government aid, a report by private financial  consultants said yesterday.

But the report warned that the greatest impact of the crisis, which broke
on March 20, 1996, is still to come. Beef farmers, abattoirs and auction
markets are expected to suffer heavier job and financial losses over the
next two years, it said.

The report, by DTZ Pieda Consulting, which was ordered by the last
government on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Treasury,
covered the first year of the beef crisis. It said the beef industry
suffered only modest falls in output and jobs in the first year. The net
loss to the economy was between ú740 million and  ú980 million following
the 36 per cent fall in demand for beef.

Predictions of 46,000 job losses were substantially reduced as support to
the food industry cushioned the effects on employment. The net job losses
were no more than 1,000. Prof Donald MacKay,  chairman of DTZ Pieda
Consulting, and Stephen Nicol, a director of the company, analysed the
impact on job losses and costs to the taxpayer.

Wholesalers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers switched to other meat
products, leading to rises in output and employment elsewhere in the
economy. The ú1.5 billion of subsidy and compensation payments to farmers,
abattoirs and other food businesses did "largely compensate" for the loss
of output.

The report said: "Taking into account the rise in sales due to substitution
of other meat products, in aggregate terms, the farming sector saw an
overall rise in sales plus subsidy payments as a result of BSE in 1996
compared with 1995."

The speed and scale of the crisis varied substantially across agriculture
and industry, depending on the compensation packages available and the
ability of businesses to switch to alternative products. Abattoirs were
badly hit but compensation payments and a fall in cattle prices actually
helped lift profits.

Meat processors received no compensation and were forced to switch to
imported beef and to change their recipes, leading to higher costs and
falling sales. The biggest losers were in Northern Ireland, followed by
Scotland, and northern and south-west  England. In England, the eastern
counties and lowland areas, pig and poultry farmers gained. But their
counterparts in the uplands and western counties lost out.

The report said: "The BSE crisis occurred against a backdrop of existing
changes in the beef industry and broader economy - falling demand,
overcapacity, increasing pressure to improve food hygiene, and the strong
appreciation of sterling, which makes disentangling the precise impact of
the BSE crisis a difficult task.

"The impact of BSE will be to accelerate changes which were happening with
the full effect of the adjustment process being felt by the industry over
the next one to two years as the compensation schemes are phased out."

Mr Nicol said: "The future impacts of the BSE crisis, in job and income
terms, on some sectors, - particularly beef farmers, abattoirs and part of
the marketing chain such as auction markets - are likely to be
significantly greater than those impacts that had occurred up to the middle
of 1997."

Ben Gill, president of the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales,
said: "There is no doubt that the BSE crisis has completely devastated many
family farms and that many still face a bleak future."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.

Disclaimer: Articles from mainstream media sources are posted for
informational purposes. Any views expressed therein are those of the
authors,  and may not necessarily agree with those of 'Animal Voices' or
those connected with 'Animal Voices'. I will be pleased to provide further
information, where possible, but comments about the content should be
addressed to the source and not myself.

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 20:12:40 -0800
From: [e-mail]
To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
Subject: ANTI (TIGER) POACHING GROUPS-INDIA/INDONESIA
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

I would like to contact tiger conservation/anti poaching activist groups
in India and Indonesia - anyone with contacts please write to me at my
email.
Thanks
Pamela Sutton
Wild Tiger Fund Australia Inc.

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 06:28:36 -0800
From: "Linda J. Howard" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>, "Marsha Rubin" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Letters Needed TBS - "Monkeys Are the Funniest People"
Message-ID: <01bd4f55$79c044a0$ec92accf@default>
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The below is being posted at the request of The Jane
Goodall Institute:

The Jane Goodall Institute would like to alert list subscribers to
a disturbing advertising campaign prepared by and currently
airing on TBS. A self-promotion for the campaign says it all:

"Borrowing a page from the old newsreel producers who
featured the antics of chimps and an announcer who
proclaimed, 'Monkeys are the funniest people,'
TBS plans to launch a series of 'Monkey-ed Movies' in
which chimps and orangutans will be shown parodying
scenes from the channel's feature films. Some 40
60-90-second shorts (including 16 devoted to the
James Bond films) have been produced for the
campaign, whick kick[ed] off February 1."

One of the "shorts" that have been seen by
employees of the Jane Goodall Institute features
two young orangs dressed in wigs, face powder, and
ridiculous clothes -- parodying the movie "Interview
with a Vampire. The other features young chimpanzees
dressed in space suits, with fear grimaces behind
the face paint -- parodying the movie "Alien."

Those who join the Jane Goodall Institute in
opposing this exploitation of nonhuman primates
are asked to voice your opinion to:

Mr. Jim Head
Vice President, Original Programming
Turner Broadcasting Services
10550 Techwood Drive.
Atlanta, GA 30318

For more information on Dr. Goodall's views
on this topic, please contact me
personally at the e-mail listed below:

Thank you for your help.
Jennifer Lindsey, Director of Communications
The Jane Goodall Institute
[e-mail]


[Note:  Please keep in mind that portraying monkeys
and apes in this fashion falsely gives the impression
that nonhuman primates could be good "pets."  - ljh]


Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 07:58:01 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) WTO Rules Against US in Turtle Case
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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from Associated Press http://wire.ap.org
------------------------------------------
MARCH 14, 01:26 EST

WTO Rules Against US in Turtle Case

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER
AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A U.S. trade ban designed to protect endangered sea
turtles violates global trade rules, the World Trade Organization
determined in a preliminary ruling.

The draft decision by a three-member WTO hearing panel, if not changed,
would represent a victory for several Asian nations who challenged a U.S.
ban on shrimp imports from nations not adequately protecting sea turtles.

While the decision has not been made public, a consumer group reported the
finding Friday and U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity,
confirmed that the preliminary ruling had gone against the United States.

These officials said the three-member WTO panel had ruled on very narrow
grounds and the United States planned to challenge the decision.

``We simply disagree with the reasoning applied in the case,'' one of the
officials said. ``We are going to fight the panel decision to gain an
outcome that we feel better represents the facts.''

The dispute involves a ban imposed by the United States on sale of shrimp
caught without special devices designed to protect endangered sea turtles.

Shrimp fishermen in the United States are required to use the
turtle-excluder devices on their trawl nets to prevent turtle drownings,
the largest cause of sea-turtle deaths. Environmentalists have contended
that failure to equip shrimp nets with the turtle-excluder devices results
in the death of 150,000 turtles a year worldwide.

Thailand, Malaysia, India and Pakistan challenged the U.S. ban in a case
before the Geneva-based WTO, the referee for global trade disputes. The
four countries claimed that the U.S. ban was being applied in a
discriminatory manner and really represented an unfair trade barrier.

Chris McGinn, deputy director of Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch, said
the turtle ruling is just the latest WTO decision that has gone against
environmental interests.

``This is one more attack by the WTO on environmental law. The WTO favors
trade over all other values,'' McGinn said. ``This puts the United States
in the position of changing U.S. law or facing economic sanctions.''

In its case, the United States argued that the trade embargo was necessary
to protect the turtles because they are threatened with extinction and
other measures do not provide sufficient protection.

The United States in 1996 lost another environmental fight before the WTO
over the issue of whether a U.S. regulation unfairly discriminated against
imported gasoline. In that dispute, brought by Venezuela and Brazil, the
Environmental Protection Agency ended up changing its regulations to end
what the two countries claimed was the discriminatory treatment.
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 12:29:56 EST
From: CFOXAPI <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: Article on Vegetarianism from The Hindu
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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The Hindu
Saturday, March 14, 1998

Vegetarianism helps

Date: 14-03-1998 :: Pg: 31 :: Col: a

For a long time now, doctors have been saying that there is a link between
cancer and eating meat. However, just as in the case of the tobacco industry,
the powerful meat lobby has been able to block or water down any official
acknowledgement of this.

A report commissioned by world research has, after 15 years of scientific
research, conclusively stated that a vegetarian diet can reduce cancer cases
by almost half, which means 3 to 4 million cases a year worldwide. It
specifically warns that grilled and barbecued meat increases the risk of
stomach and colon cancer, and that eating fish can lead to mouth cancer.

This takes us to the famous case in the U.S. between the talk show queen Oprah
Winfrey and the cattle ranchers regarding the ``Mad cow disease'' and beef
eating on her show. In some way, this lady has become America's conscience.
She chose a former cattle rancher turned vegetarian for an analysis which says
14 per cent of all cows in the U.S. are ground up, turned into feed and fed
back to the animals.

Just as, after it was proven that tobacco caused lung cancer, cigarette
packets are required to carry a health warning, shouldn't it now be mandatory
for the burger to do the same?

The World Cancer Research Foundation has after 15 years of scientific research
stated that meat based diets do lead to cancer. This should come as no
surprise. The enormous suffering, pain and death caused to animals is bound to
result in an equal amount of suffering, pain and death to their tormentors.

The arrogance of today's industrial world rules out the belief of a
compassionate universe, where the human is an intimately connected, deeply
involved part of nature. Now we are at war with ourselves and every other
species where everyone dies by degrees. In India, we have turned into a
country which has rejected its old ways and replaced them with modern ones
that have little place for individuals, environment or future generations.

It is science without morality that induced the person in-charge of a
slaughter house in Kerala to say that cows have to be hammered to death to
produce softer meat. Pigeons, rabbits, frogs, rats and earthworms have to be
dissected to educate the 14 year olds, so that they can quickly learn to be
insensitive and cope with the modern world; but how long will this modern
world last? If 100 species of life can disappear in a month. if tigers have
only five years left at this rate of killing, how long does man have?

Excerpted from ``Heads & Tails'' by Mankea Gandhi
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 01:47:12 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Translators needed for vegan passport
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


>From "The Vegan", Winter 1997 from The Vegan Society.
----------------------------------------
Vegan passport editor, George Rodger would like help with translations of
additional entries - in particular: Albanian, Bihari, Bulgarian, Burmese,
Hausa, Kannada (Kanarese), Malayalam, Oriya, Panjabi, Quechua, Rajasthani,
Serbian, Shona, Tamil, Telegu, Ukranian, Yoruba. Write to him at:
17 Howburn Pl, Aberdeen
AB11 6XT
UK
----------------------------------------

The Vegan passport for the vegan traveller contains a description of what
vegans eat and don't eat in 39 languages.

Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 07:58:54 +1100
From: Lynette Shanley <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (AU) Ethics committee and Microsearch
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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On Thursday 12 March a letter was delivered to every member of the NSW
parliament advising them of the problems with Microsearch and Ethics
Committees in Australia.

I also had a meeting with Richard Jones a member of the NSW parliament who
outlined a course of action he will be taking over the matter when
parliament resumes on the 31.3.98.

There is also a small private meeting to be held in NSW regarding ethics
committees. If anyone would like to attend they should contact off list or
at the number below. Numbers are limited.


Lynette Shanley
International Primate Protection League - Australia.
PO Box 60
PORTLAND  NSW  2847
AUSTRALIA
Phone/Fax [phone] 554026
EMAIL [e-mail]


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 08:00:33 +1100
From: Lynette Shanley <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (AU) Cats
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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Our organisation focuses on small cats. One of our members is particularly
interested in lions and would like to join an organisation that works
entirely for lions. Does anyone know of such an organisation.

We have received requests for information from schools and libraries in New
Zealand even though we have never promoted ourselves in New Zealand. If
there are any New Zealanders that have pictures, photos etc of small cats
and would like these given to schools and Libraries in New Zealand would
you please contact me. We are also interested in pictures of lions, tigers
etc. Children always like these pictures.

We have been having a membership drive which seems to be working. We have
approached vets that have an interest in cats. Many vets are reluctant to
hand out leaflets for lions and tigers and other big cats as they seem very
far removed from the domestic cat but we have not met with so much
opposition when it comes to the small cats. If anyone in any state is aware
of vets that are known for their interest in cats we would like to hear
from you. We would like to contact vets in all states but would like more
information on vets in WA ant NT. Please respond off list if you know of
vets that may help us.

If anyone is aware of vets in New Zealand that may help we would also be
interested in hearing from you.


Lynette Shanley
International Society for Endangered Cats.
PO Box 60
PORTLAND  NSW  2847
AUSTRALIA
Phone/Fax [phone] 554026
EMAIL [e-mail]


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 09:42:32 -0800
From: Coral Hull <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Friday 13th Rescue: Lucky Day For 16 Battery Hens
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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...Electronic Press Release.............Animal Watch Australia.......

     FRIDAY 13TH RESCUE: LUCKY DAY FOR 16 AUSTRALIAN BATTERY HENS

Friday 13th turned out to be a 'lucky' day for 16 battery hens rescued
from one of Victoria's larger and most notorious battery hen farms.

Activists raided the farm in the evening of Friday 13th. The hens that
were lifted from the tiny cages were dehydrated, and suffering from the
initial stages of feather loss, caused by overcrowding where boredom and
stress lead to severe mutilations.

It was at this particular intensive farm that several activists had
previously heard hens crying out like babies as the sheds were being
cleared. During this process thousands of 'spent' battery hens are
crushed into plastic crates and loaded onto trucks bound for the
slaughterhouse. This occurs after about 18 months of life in a tiny
cage, or at the end of a battery hen's 'useful egg laying life.' It is
not uncommon for bones and wings to be broken and for feet to be lost
during shed clearing and transportation.

These 16 hens have been saved from this fate, and are now being rewarded
for their bravery by living out the rest of their lives at secluded hen
sanctuaries.

This particular farm is presently under surveillance. Further actions
are expected.

.......................end.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Coral Hull
Animal Watch Australia
http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/animal_watch/au.html
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 18:08:44 EST
From: Dkwgdk2 <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: unsubscribe
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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could you please UNSUBSCRIBE me, Anni Toussant- [e-mail]. sorry i can't
keep up with it all :(
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 18:43:10 -0500
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Subscription Options--Admin Note
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Please...read...........

[Questions?  Need to contact a real person as opposed to Listproc?  Send
e-mail to [e-mail]]

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Here are some items of general information (found in the "welcome letter"
sent when people subscribe--but often lose!)...included:  how to post and
how to change your subscription status (useful if you are going on
vacation--either by "unsubscribe" or "postpone").
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with the following single line:

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To switch back to immediate mail, and to get copies of *your* postings
also, send the following command:

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or the following to not get your own postings:

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If you have problems, please contact:

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     [e-mail]


Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 08:33:08 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Mysterious deaths in Tanzania (Rift Valley fever?)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Mysterious disease killing humans in 2 days (Rift Valley Fever ?)

MALARIA? - TANZANIA
*******************
A ProMED-mail post



Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 12:37:27 -0400

Source: Xinhua News Agency, 11 Mar 1998


In the Kagera region in northwestern Tanzania, almost 700 deaths have
occurred since July of last year from a disease first reported as malaria
but now suspected to be something other.  The disease, unlike classic
malaria, kills within two days.  Currently, 20 to 30 persons are dying each
day, with many deaths going unrecorded in outlying villages.  The actual
death toll may be as high as 1,00.

A mission led by Health Minister Aaron Chiduo is now in the region to probe
the mysterious fever, thought by many to be Rift Valley Fever, which was
recently reported present in the Kenya border region of Arusha.
=====================================================================
========
                   /`\   /`\    Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,         (/\ \-/ /\)   P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,     )6 6(      Riverton,
Saved a pig        >{= Y =}<    Western Australia 6148
And away he run;    /'-^-'\
So none could eat  (_)   (_)    email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweet    |  .  |
Together they ran   |     |}    http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.    \_/^\_/    (Rabbit Information Service website updated
                                frequently)

Jesus was most likely a vegetarian... why aren't you? Go to
http://www.zworx.com/kin/esseneteachings.htm
for more information.

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

Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 20:31:11 -0500
From: Doris & Dan <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: hunting survey
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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>
> There is an African tourism web site ( http://wildnetafrica.co.za )
> that is taking an on-line poll on whether or not site visitors think
> hunting is a legitimate form of eco tourism. The current standing
> is 47% yes,  53% no,  out of 4,000-odd votes cast.
>
> Click on the button that says "Action Station" and you will see the poll.
> After you vote, you will receive an automatic e-mail message thanking you
> for voting.
>
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 23:02:09 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Brazil To Unveil Rain Forest Plan
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

MARCH 14, 20:21 EST

Brazil To Unveil Rain Forest Plan

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) -- The Brazilian government plans to unveil
specific measures to try to halt the rapid devastation of the Amazon rain
forest, a newspaper reported Saturday.

The so-called green package, to be disclosed publically next week,
includes such measures as barring new settlements in virgin forests, said
the Rio daily, O Globo.

Public and private agencies have long maintained that the main cause of
the destruction was the burning and logging of huge tracts of land to
create grazing pastures for livestock.

The government is also expected to increase aid to small farmers to reduce
their dependency on a technique for clearing land known as slash and burn,
and to restrict credit in areas covered with forest.

The government also will no longer grant land ownership titles in regions
that have been deforested without authorization.

Instead, the government will offer financing to farmers who plant crops or
engage in projects suited to the Amazon ecosystem, such as raising exotic
fish.

In January, the government announced that destruction of the Amazon rain
forest reached record levels in 1995 before finally leveling off in the
last two years.

The latest figures show deforestation nearly doubled between 1994 and 1995
-- from 5,958 square miles to 11,621 square miles. The latter figure is
larger than the state of Vermont.

Between 1978 and 1996, more than 200,000 square miles -- or 12.5 percent
-- of the Amazon's rain forest were destroyed.

President Fernando Henrique Cardoso signed a law in February imposing
strict penalties for ecological crimes.

But environmentalists say he watered down the law by vetoing nine
articles, including one that established a three-year prison sentence for
farmers who cut down and burn forest areas.
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 1998 12:33:09 +0800 (SST)
From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (TH)Mixed opinions on fate of macaques
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"



>Bangkok Post
15 Mar 98

Mixed opinions on   fate of macaques

              Meeting sparks heated debate

              Kanittha Inchukul

              Experts differ in their opinions on whether Thailand should
              accept and care for 51 stump-tailed macaques currently kept at
              a university laboratory in the United States which wants to
              relinquish control of them.

              The first meeting among concerned officials and animal rights
              activists last week sparked heated debate on the macaques' fate.

              While the activists called for a commitment from state agencies
              for repatriation of the monkeys, some academics and officials
              argued the University of Wisconsin should continue to care for
              them.

              The activists warned that the lives of the macaques are at risk if
              they are not repatriated to Thailand. But other experts voiced
              concern that the animals, raised in a controlled environment,
              would not be able to adjust to the tropical climate.

              The meeting at the Forestry Department concluded with the
              setting up of a working group to deal with the issue. Chawan
              Tunhikorn, director of the Wildlife Research Division, will chair
              the group which would include many academics from state
              agencies and activists from Wildlife Fund Thailand, Thai Society
              for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Wild Animals
              Rescue Foundation (WAR).

              WAR veterinarian Chisanu Tiyacharoensri revealed that he
              received a fax from the US warning that the animals would be
              killed if there was no commitment from the Thai government.

              "The university is planning to sell the macaques to animal dealers
              in Miami and buy them back to kill them later so urgent action is
              needed," he said.

              The macaques are at the Henry Vilas Zoo at the university which
              is planning to sell them to a laboratory or terminate them
after the
              fund from the National Institute of Health for a primate research
              programme has been cut.

              The university broke an agreement with the NIH when its
              researchers took monkeys into invasive research, killed some for
              their tissues and sold others even though the animals are subject
              to behaviour research.

              Animal rights activists in Madison have been attempting to save
              their lives and raise funds to keep them at the zoo until they are
              returned to Thailand from where their forebears were exported
              30 years ago.

              But academics warned that the macaques have little chance of
              surviving in the changing environment because they have been
              raised under a controlled environment for research.

              The macaques have low immunity and may be unable to survive
              in a tropical climate with its different diseases. Moreover,
stress
              during transportation and changing temperatures, food and
              caretakers may contribute to their fatality, said opponents to the
              repatriation.

              Pradon Jatikawanit, former director of the National Laboratory
              Animal Centre, stressed that the repatriation must not lead to
              repeated abuse of the macaques, adding that the high expense to
              operate their new shelter will be a future problem.

              Veterinarian Panthep Rattanakorn of Kasetsart University also
              objected to the need to spend a large amount of money to raise
              them because the species developed in the laboratory is not
              worthwhile for conservation purposes and would possibly cause
              genetic contamination.

              Mr Chisanu argued that there are many vaccines to protect the
              macaques against diseases.

              Wildlife Fund Thailand secretary-general Pisit na Pattalung
              argued that money should not be a factor in considering the
              animals' welfare. "We will try to raise funds to keep them alive,"
              he said.

              But all participants agreed that if the macaques are returned to
              Thailand, they have to be kept in captivity.

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

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