Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news6~11.htm/text0006.txt

Text File | 1998-04-02 | 130.5 KB | 3,105 lines

El Nino forces sea lions onto Chile beaches

Reuters News Service
SAN ANTONIO, Chile, February 19, 1998

A fearless sea lion pup waddles up to a fisherman on the beach, its sad,
black eyes begging for a scrap of fish. But the old man boots the hungry
pup away and another fisherman nearby growls, "If I had a stick of
dynamite, I'd blow them up."

The southern sea lion pups have become a common sight on the beaches of
this small fishing harbor 68 miles west of Santiago since January. They
are victims of the erratic weather pattern called El Nino.

El Nino results from an interaction between the surface layers of the
ocean and the overlying atmosphere in the tropical Pacific. Depending on
the region, it can cause droughts or floods as well as unusually warm
ocean currents.

These warmer waters have pushed fish farther offshore in search of
colder waters, so the parents of the young sea lions have left them
behind to pursue the fish.

"They wean them before they normally do, which is usually between six
and 10 months of age," said Jose Luis Brito, head of a rehabilitation
campaign in San Antonio manned by about two dozen volunteers. "The
little ones cannot swim far. They get weak and fall sick."

The pups, cold from their lack of blubber, turn to Chile's beach in
search of warmth and rest. Dozens have died.

"In the 100 kilometers (62 miles) of coast around San Antonio we have
found 107 dead ones," Brito said. "We have found pups in yards and in
the streets where cars pass. We found two swimming in a freshwater
streamlet of the San Pedro River eating dead fish and we have also found
them around the containers at the port."

Brito's team nourishes the pups, lets them swim a few hours a day in a
shallow pool and then returns them to the sea. Since January, they have
housed 86 pups and returned 72 of them.

But money, medicine and fish to feed them are scarce, he said. The
volunteers spend about $100 to $150 a day, excluding medicine and
equipment. The group has launched a campaign to collect funds.

But while the young sea lions' stomachs are rumbling, local fishermen
are grumbling. They see the creatures as rivals in their efforts to put
food on their families' tables.

"In one fishing net, 10, 15, 20 sea lions gather. How many fish are they
going to leave?" asked one fisherman, his crossed arms defensively
resting on his yellow overalls.

Fisherman probably will not have to complain much longer. Brito expects
the beaching trend to slow down when El Nino is over, which climate
experts expected to occur in April.

San Antonio's beaches are not the only ones being flooded by sea lions.
Silvia Arancibia, a university professor, said she counted 30 dead sea
lions and dozens of dead sea birds scattered on the sand while she was
on vacation at the Pan de Azucar National Park, 620 miles north of
Santiago.

Even farther north, in the Peruvian port of Callao just outside Lima,
two sea lions are being rehabilitated, Brito said, adding that he is
advising the caretakers.

And sea lions are not the only animals affected by El Nino. The
phenomenon has also caused sea turtles to migrate from Central American
waters to northern and central Chile.

The turtles, which prefer warmer waters, follow the El Nino current,
Brito said. His volunteers sheltered two stray turtles, which eventually
died.

El Nino has also caused feeble pelicans to flock to Chile's coasts in
abnormal quantities, he said. At beaches in northern Chile, pelicans,
sea lions and stray dogs fight viciously over fish scraps that the
public throws them.

Meanwhile, in southern China, fisheries officials suspect El Nino of
causing rare whale beachings in the South China Sea island province of
Hainan this month. And in Alaska, Fish and Wildlife Service officials
said hundreds of thousands of seabirds have starved to death as warmer
waters forced their food sources deeper into the ocean beyond their
reach.

By TIFFANY WOODS, Reuters
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:01:39 -0800
From: Andrew Gach <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Hormones, rats and appetite
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Study points up new hormones found that affect appetite

Copyright ⌐ 1998 Nando.net
Copyright ⌐ 1998 Reuters News Service

BOSTON (February 19, 1998 5:24 p.m. EST
<http://www.nando.net/>http://www.nando.net) -
Scientists have found two new hormones that seem to influence eating
behavior and could lead to new treatments for obesity and help adults
with diabetes control the disease.

The Texas researchers' finding is published in Friday's issue of Cell
magazine.

"It could also be of value for people suffering from the effects of
emaciation such as cancer patients or AIDS patients," said Dr. Masashi
Yanagisawa of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at
Dallas.

The hormones, dubbed orexin-A and orexin-B, are released by nerve cells
in the region of the brain known to play a key role in appetite. When
Yanagisawa and his colleagues injected the hormones into the brains of
rats, the animals began eating more. When they starved the animals,
brain levels of the hormones increased.

The team also pinpointed proteins studding the surface of nerve cells
that react to the presence of orexin-A and orexin-B. That reaction
sparks a chemical cascade that affects eating behavior.

Finding a way to prevent or slow the release of the hormones, or
blocking the protein receptors that are sensitive to them could lead to
a new way to control appetite. The process could also be turned around
to encourage eating in people who have become dangerously thin.

Weight control is believed to be important for preventing or controlling
a host of health problems, the most prominent of which are heart disease
and the form of diabetes that appears in adulthood.

"For the treatment of adult diabetes, one of the most important aspects
is to lose weight," Yanagisawa said.

The team is now trying to genetically engineer rats that lack one of the
orexin hormones and both protein receptors to see if the defect affects
their appetites.

Yanagisawa said researchers at SmithKline Beecham were already trying to
create an oral medicine that will block the protein receptors.

The newly discovered hormones are two of about a dozen chemicals in the
body known to affect eating behavior, Yanagisawa said.

Whether the two forms of orexin are more important than the others "is
something we have to study from now on," he said.

The hormones get their name from the Greek word orexis, which means
appetite.

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

If the animal researchers stepped out of their labs and learned about
*people*, instead of messing with rats, maybe they would figure it out
that weight control in humans has more to do with psychological and
cultural factors than hormones and appetite.

Andy
Date: Thu, 19 Feb 1998 22:02:48 -0800
From: Andrew Gach <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Propagating rare cheetahs for the animal trade
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Science working to keep king cheetahs alive

Reuters News Service
Africa News Online
POTGIETERSRUS, South Africa, February 19, 1998

Scientists trying to save the rare king cheetah have performed a world
first to achieve what three males and five females failed to do
naturally.

The first artificial insemination of the highly prized animals was
carried out recently in this northern South African town. While it will
take a month to find out if the operation was successful, Professor
Woody Meltzer of the veterinary school of Pretoria University has high
hopes.

"We hope to achieve two pregnancies out of five," Meltzer said after the
marathon operation performed with Dr. Ian Espie, chief veterinary
surgeon at the National Zoological Gardens, which owns the cheetahs.

Four of the females and one of the males are king cheetahs -- a
recessive genetic mutation that causes the graceful cats' normal spots
to blend together to form striking strips down their backs.

King cheetahs are rare in nature and are therefore treasured by zoos and
parks around the globe. There are only about 250 cheetahs in the Kruger
National Park, the largest concentration in South Africa.

Willie Labuschagne, the zoo's director, says a king cheetah is worth
about $45,000, compared with $4,000 for a regular cheetah. He says the
zoo, based in Pretoria, will not sell any king cheetah cubs it gets from
the artificial insemination but will "enter into exchange programs with
other zoos."

He cites an agreement with Wuppertal Zoo in Germany to swap a king
cheetah for a bongo, a rare antelope found in Central African jungles.

Artificial insemination is not new to cheetahs. A female was
successfully impregnated in the United States. But it has never been
done successfully elsewhere and has never been attempted with king
cheetahs anywhere in the world.

Meltzer says that if they can produce cubs they will use artificial
insemination far more frequently. "This is just the beginning," he said.

South Africa's two other cheetah breeding centers have successfully bred
cheetah using natural methods. Meltzer and Espie believe the zoo's
cheetahs have not bred because of low sperm counts in males reared in
captivity and a lack of natural circumstances for both males and
females.

The zoo has tried using the traditional "lovers' lane" method whereby
males are released into a narrow fenced run between the females'
enclosures. The females then select which male they would be willing to
mate with and the two are put in the same cage for five days.

But this did not work and "plan B" -- artificial insemination -- was put
into effect.

The females and males were tempted by food into boxes at the side of
their enclosures, from where they were put in crates and taken to the
makeshift operating room. The animals were then anesthetized and a male
and a female placed side-by-side. Semen was extracted from the male and
the female was cut open and her ovaries checked.

By Clyde Russell, Reuters
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 17:29:28 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (Australia)RSPCA supporting cruel live sheep trade?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear AR,

Coral Hull, it seems is correct. The welfarists may be the biggest danger
to the AR movement.

I am a member of the RSPCA (WA). I just received a flyer and a postcard
addressed to Richard Court (Premier).

The *postcard* reads

Dear Mr Court,
I am appalled by the horrific transportation of
live sheep to the Middle East, and call for this industry
to be regulated immediately,

Sincerely,

_____________________________

The *colour flyer* states all the nasties in detail of transport in trucks
and what happens to sheep being sent on the live sheep ships including
pelletised feed, suffocation, heat stress etc. and then neglects to cover
the ritual "halal" method of killing faced by the sheep at its destination
of having their throats slit unstunned.
The flyer asks for *"regulation"* and states "We seek only to regulate, not
ban, the trade - so that the unacceptably high mortality rates are reduced
through proper controls and legally enforcable regulations; built around
appropriate and acceptable animal welfare standards."

This is a horrible sell out to the poor sheep.

It may be being supported nationwide by all RSPCA state bodies.

Perhaps someone should contact the different RSPCA Australian State offices
and ask why the RSPCA is *supporting* CRUELTY TO ANIMALS...and offering to
REGULATE such CRUELTY.

****BAN THE LIVE SHEEP TRADE AND THE LIVE EXPORT OF OTHER MEAT
ANIMALS****
(*regulation* of the live sheep trade only condones the continuation
of this cruelty to sheep and other animals sent live overseas)

Anyone wanting to protest to the RSPCA (WA)?
Their address is:
P.O.Box 463,
Cannington,
Western Australia 6107

Fax [phone]

Kind regards,


Marguerite



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

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

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

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 06:41:53 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: JESUS WAS A VEGETARIAN
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

posted for [e-mail]
-------------------------------------------
Rocky Mountain News
Denver Colorado
February 19, 1998

VEGETARIANS SEEK BIBLE'S SUPPORT
by Virginia Culver
Denver Post Religious Writer

Vegetarians have proven again the Bible can be used to support almost any
stand.á But their effort so far, it seems, hasn't amounted to a hill of beans.

Leaders of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote to hundreds of
religious leaders in January, pushing for vegetarianism among Christians.á The
letter quoted Scriptures and said there is "convincing evidence Jesus was a
vegetarian."

They also claimed Christians were meat-free the first 3 centuries after Jesus.

>From the few leaders who responded came Scriptures saying the exact opposite.

PETA sent letters to the nation's 449 Catholic bishops and some of the best-
known evangelical Christians:á Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and
Oral Roberts.á Only 16 bishops wrote back.

PETA particularly trageted Catholics because the nation's Catholic bishops
last fall considered, but did not pass, a suggestion that Catholics return to
the practice of not eating meat on Fridays.á PETA hoped to get some mileage
for its cause during Lent, which begins next Wednesday.á Many Catholics give
up meat on Fridays of Lent.

Bruce Friedrich, vegetarian campaign coordinator for PETA, based in Norfolk,
Va., had his own reason for pushing Catholics toward veggies.á He'a a
Catholic, "and I thought it was good to get the beam out of my own church's
eye first," he said.á He was paraphrasing the Bible verse about getting the
beam out of your own eye before you worry about the mote, or speck, in your
friend's eye.

Friedrich disputes the Bibical report that fish were present when Jesus
reportedly multiplied the loaves and fishes to feed a huge crowd.á He said
fish were not in the original version of the story.á He also said there is no
biblical proof that Jesus ate lamb during Passover, despite the existence of
that story.

He quoted Bible verses and saints, including St. Basil, who've spoken against
meat.á St Basil reportedly said, "The stream of meat darkens the light of the
spirit."

Monsignor Raymond Jones, writing in the absence of Denver Archbishop Charles
Chaput, thanked Friedrich for the letter and said he'd make certain Chaput saw
it.

The Catholic catechism is clear that meat-eating is OK, said Greg Kail,
archdiocesan spokesman.á He add, however, that Catholics give up meat or
anything else as "a way to focus on prayer," not as a way to protect animals.

"Catholics respect the integrity of creation," he said.á Nevertheless, he
doesn't expect "a big shift to vegetarianism" in the church.

"The archbishop has been know to enjoy a hamburger," Kail added. (The
archbishop has also been known to hunt and fish-Ed.)

A couple of Catholic bishops wrote to Friedrich saying they are vegetarians,
but they doubt his Scriptural experise about Jesus' habits.

"Creation was for man and to support his life," wrote Monsignor Donald E.
Heinstshel, an aide to Bishop John Hoffman of Toledo, Ohio.

Billy Graham's office tossed back a few verses, including a passage in Genesis
that quotes God as say, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for
you."


Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 06:56:39 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: "* Radio-Active *" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Admin Note -- Inappropriate Posting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

"* Radio-Active *" <[e-mail]> -- WARNING -- Your post,
"DOGS & LIGHTBULBS (Humor) :-)" was appropriate for private e-mail or,
perhaps, discussion oriented e-mail lists.á Please do not post jokes to the
entire AR-News list.

WARNING TO ALL OTHERS -- Do not post jokes on AR-News.

Allen Schubert
AR-News Listowner
----------------------------------------------------
Due to the sudden surge of inappropriate postings to AR-News, the Listowner
(me) will implement a new policy in dealing with such postings.á At the
_earliest_possible_convenient_time_, I will ban the offending individual
from posting to AR-News for a minimum of two (2) weeks.á An individual who
repeatedly posts inappropriate material _may_ be banned from posting
permanently.á

***NOTE:á If you are banned from posting, be sure to remind me when the two
weeks are up.á The process to REMOVE the person from a "banned" status does
not always work well.á A potential side effect of the process is that it
may "lock" the AR-News list, meaning that no one may post or
subscribe/unsubscribe.

If you have questions as to the appropriateness of a post, DO NOT HESITATE
to contact the Listowner ( [e-mail] ) concerning the
appropriateness of a news item.á I have supported this in the past, though
these discussions did not make it to the list.

I am avoiding making this a "moderated" list (one in which the Listowner
approves/releases posts to the list) as such action will reduce the speed
of posting -- plus, it puts the decision of what is considered "animal
rights" in the hands of one person.á My goal here is to eliminate non-news,
discussion/opinion posts to AR-News and not to decide what is/isn't *animal
rights* and to allow news items to be posted as rapidly as possible.
Further, a "moderated" list would punish the many for the infractions of
the few.á (Something that I found highly offensive since childhood.)

***If you have problems with this policy, please feel free to e-mail me
_privately_ to discuss this.á (Posting to the list would be inappropriate.)

allen
-------------------------------
Please do not post commentary or personal opinions to AR-News.á Such posts
are not appropriate to AR-News.á Appropriate postings to AR-News include:
posting a news item, requesting information on some event, or responding to
a request for information.á Discussions on AR-News will NOT be allowed and
we ask that any
commentary either be taken to AR-Views or to private E-mail.

Continued postings of inappropriate material may result in suspension of
the poster's subscription to AR-News.

Here is subscription info for AR-Views:

Send e-mail to:á [e-mail]

In text/body of e-mail:á subscribe ar-views firstname lastname

Also...here are some websites with info on internet resources for Veg and
AR interests:

The Global Directory (IVU)
<http://www.ivu.org/global>http://www.ivu.org/global

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 07:13:01 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Poultry Growers Air Problems
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

factory farming
from Associated Press <http://wire.ap.org/>http://wire.ap.org
------------------------------------------------
02/20/1998 01:41 EST

Poultry Growers Air Problems

By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A few anonymous complaints from chicken growers
about the big companies they work for prompted the Arkansas Poultry
Federation to rally in support of the state's largest industry.

Ina Young, whose Paris, Ark., chicken farm contracts with Tyson Foods to
hatch eggs, presented state legislators Thursday with a half-dozen
anonymous letters from farmers complaining they are being shortchanged by
poultry companies.

But the complaints did not sit well with the House and Senate
Agriculture, Economic and Industrial Development committees. At least
four committee members are involved in the poultry industry; they said
they knew of no significant problems.

Mrs. Young's complaints also were countered by several other farmers
called before the committee by the poultry federation.

A spokesman for Tyson, the nation's largest poultry company, said the
differences boiled down to poor relations among some farmers and
corporate executives.

``We have not done as good of a job communicating with our growers as we
probably should have,'' said Tyson Foods spokesman Archie Schaffer, who
sat silently though the legislative meeting. ``It's my belief the vast
majority of these growers out there are happy with their relations.''

Arkansas is the nation's top producer of broiler chickens, generating
$2.1 billion in 1996, the latest year for which figures were available,
according to the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of
Arkansas.

Most poultry companies contract with local farmers to raise
company-supplied chickens, then pay the farmers by the pound when the
birds are killed and processed for food.

Mrs. Young said poultry companies entice farmers with the possibilities
for profit, then burden them with requirements a few years later.

``You're barely into this before they want to upgrade something at your
expense -- everybody has to put in equipment,'' Mrs. Young said.

Farmers who do not change equipment, or who do not meet the average
production standards for their area can be placed on probation by
companies and eventually dropped as growers, Mrs. Young said.

Lawmakers said most problems appeared to be contract disputes -- to be
settled through negotiations, not legislation.

State Rep. John Hall said most company requirements were reasonable, and
farmers themselves often were to blame if they did not fare well.

``If you put the effort into your chicken houses, you keep your equipment
up to date, you more than likely are going to produce a good chicken and
make some money,'' said Hall, who raises chickens for Tyson Foods.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 07:27:05 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Farmers Get More Time To Stop Run-Off
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

factory farming/environment/pfiesteria
from CNN Custom News <http://www.cnn.com/>http://www.cnn.com
------------------------------------------
Maryland State News
Reutersááááááááááááááááááá
20-FEB-98

Farmers Get More Time To Stop Run-Off

(ANNAPOLIS) -- A compromise has been reached that will give farmers more
time to develop and implement plans to stop run-off from their fields into
the Chesapeake Bay. The run-off contains residue from fertilizer and is
blamed for the pfiesteria outbreak that killed thousands of fish last
summer. The compromise will require farmers to implement a plan reducing
phosphorus by the year 2006. In addition, the proposal would finance a
project to use chicken manure to generate electricity at the Eastern
Correctional Institution, a prison in Princess Anne.
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 09:38:56 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: (Australia)RSPCA supporting cruel live sheep trade?
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

It should also be remembered that when mink were released from a farm in the
UK last summer, the RSPCA went and helped capture the animals and gave them
back to the fur farmer.

JP
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 07:40:42 -0800 (PST)
From: "Christine M. Wolf" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Good Morning America glorifies rodeo
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

On this morning's episode of Good Morning America, weatherman Spencer
Christian was on location in Texas, at a livestock "show" and rodeo event.
Dressed in a leather jacket and cowboy hat, he praised the rodeo's success
(they apparently sold thousands of tickets), and even did one shot sitting
atop a "prize" bull.á They also showed footage of the rodeo, making no
mention of the pain inflicted upon these animals.

Contact info for Good Morning America:

GMA
147 Columbus Ave.
New York, NY 10023-5900
phone:á 212-456-5900
fax:á 212-456-7290

e-mail: [e-mail]

Spencer Christian's office:á 212-456-6610á (you might want to ask him what
torturing animals has to do with the weather forecast!)

******************************************************************
Christine Wolf, Director of Government Affairs
The Fund for Animals phone: [phone]
World Building fax:áá 301-585-2595
8121 Georgia Ave., Suite 301 e-mail: [e-mail]
Silver Spring, MD 20910 web page: <http://www.fund.org/>www.fund.org

"The fate of animals is of greater importance to me than the fear of
appearing ridiculous; it is indissolubly connected with the fate of men."
ááá - Emile Zola

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:48:51 -0500
From: Shirley McGreal <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Editorial blasts primate center director
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

UW Can't Escape Blame For Monkey Mess
By: Dave Zweifel
The Capital Times

Can't say I've ever met this guy Joe Kemnitz, the man who runs the
University of Wisconsin's Primate Center, and I've got a hunch I don't want
to either.

He's the person at the eye of the controversy over the monkeys that are
facing eviction at the Vilas Zoo.

The other night he appeared before a Dane County Board committee to discuss
what to do about those monkeys and, in the process, insisted that it's all
our faultá - The Capital Times' - there's a crisis in the first place.

Kemnitz cited the National Institutes of Health decision to cut funding for
the monkey house.á The UW director claimed it was The Capital Times'
"expose-like" stories about how the Primate Center had thumbed its nose at
an agreement it had with the zoo that caused the NIH to do so.

If that is indeed the case, maybe Secretary of Health and Human Services
Donna Shalala ought to take a closer look at how the NIH is being operated
along with its relationship to the Primate Center.á I've sent her a letter
asking her to.

In the meantime, though let's get some things straight.

It was Kemnitz himself who first broached the news that the monkeys would
soon have to go.á He told the Wisconsin State Journal in early July last
year that the Primate Center, "is looking for options for the monkeys since
no funded research is now being conducted on them."

The options, he added, include selling the monkeys to a private research
company, sending them to another public research facility or leaving them at
the zoo.á A pharmaceutical company was also interested in buying them to
conduct research on baldness.

It was that story that prompted contacts with The Capital Times, urging us
to help save the monkeys from what some considered a cruel fate.

In the process of working on a story of our own, our reporter, Jason
Shepard, discovered that the Primate Center had already been using some of
the zoo monkeys for invasive research even though it had signed an agreement
with the zoo that it would not.

At first Kemnitz denied that was true.á Then after confronted with hard
evidence, he said it involved just a few monkeys.á But the deeper Shepard
dug, the more agreement violations he found.á Eventually, it turned out that
201 monkeys had been whisked from the zoo for use in violation of the
agreement.

We did ,indeed, play many of those stories on Page 1 because it involved a
significant issue that overshadowed the monkey controversy itself.á It
involved a UW research department furtively thumbing its nose at an
agreement that had been made in good faith by the zoo and then trying to
cover it up.á Indeed, Shepard's stories were an expose on a department that,
to put it mildly, needed one.

Now, if it is true, as Kemnitz says, that the NIH has cut out its funding
for the zoo monkeys because of all this, maybe the Primate Center director
ought to go a step further.

>From what I understand, the NIH hasn't really cut the Primate Center's total
grant.á Rather, it has directed that the $100,000 that has gone to the zoo
monkeys no longer go there, but be used for other research.

If that's the case, then the center really hasn't lost money at all.

Perhaps then it is not too much to ask that it and the university use other
funds, at least temporarily, to give local people the chance to save the
monkeys.á It's the least they could do to atone for the games they have
played over this entire mess.

|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Dr. Shirley McGrealáááááááááááá |áá PHONE: [phone]ááááááááááááááááá |
| Int. Primate Protection Leagueá |áá FAX: [phone]ááááááááááááááááááá |
| POB 766áááááááááááááááááááááááá |áá E-MAIL: [e-mail]ááááááááááááááá |
| Summerville SC 29484ááááááááááá |áá Web:
<http://www.ippl.org/>http://www.ippl.orgáááááááááááá |
|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|



Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:49:56 -0500
From: Shirley McGreal <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Confiscated chimps given to B dealer
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

State Seizes Alamo Couple's Chimps
By: Michael Pena, Times Staff Writer
The Times, Contra Costa Bay Area, 12 February 1998

Alamo - Authorities converged on the home of an Alamo Oaks couple Wednesday
to take away nine primates they have kept for 30 years and give them to a
Texas auto dealer and exotic animal collector.

Veterinarians from the state Department of Fish and Game tranquilized
17-year-old Jimmy Joe and 21-year-old Sheba in their cage, which fronts the
home of Gail and Daryl Morrow.á They carried the groggy chimpanzees in a
stretcher to steel cages the apes will call home until they reach Buddy
Jordan's ranch in Bulverde, Texas.

Jimmy Joe -- the 4-foot-2, 185-pound chimp who bit off parts of two people's
fingers and prompted neighbor's complaints with his banging - was shrugging
off the effects of the anesthetics as workers slipped his mate, Sheba, into
another cage.á Seven capuchin monkeys also were removed.

"We had no idea they'd be here today," said a distraught Darryl Morrow, 60.
"It's just not right."

The state Fish and Game Commission in November denied the couple's request
to renew their animal care permit, which expired in 1996, because the cages
weren't up to standard, the chimps were left unattended, neighbors
complained of the noise at night and because of the two biting incidents.

Contra Costa Sheriff's deputies, count animal services officers and game
wardens have come out to the Morrow's home on Cross Road because of
complaints.

"This is not an easy situation for us," said Steve Martarano, a Fish and
Game spokesman.á "We understand they've had these animals for a long time.
That's why we took every precaution to make sure this was done right."

Deputies were on hand Wednesday in case the chimps escaped.á But once the
chimps were hit with the tranquilizer darts, the yelping and screeching
ceased.

"I think the transition is going to be very hard for them," said Gail
Morrow, 58.á But she added, "It's probably going to be harder on me than
them."

The primates were taken in an enclosed trailer to Jordan's ranch near San
Antonio, where he said he has a "primate preserve for rare, endangered
species."

Jordan owner of NBJ Zoological Park, has been accused of buying exotic
animals for breeding and "canned hunts," where guests pay to shoot the
animals in an enclosed area.

He denied those allegations and says he has collected 1,500 animals of 58
different species as a hobby, not for the money.á Jordan did not pay for the
Morrow's primates, Martarano said.

"We're going to keep them," Jordan said.á "We enjoy having animals."á In
fact, he encouraged the Morrows to visit once the 15-foot by 30 foot chimp
cages are built.á Until then, they'll be kept in 100-square-foot bear cages,
Jordan said.

News of the couple's struggle to keep the primates has spread around the
country and into Canada.á Because few places have facilities and permits to
house chimpanzees, many organizations got involved with the search for a new
home.

April Truitt of the Primate Rescue Center in Kentucky said she was
negotiating with the couple's Danville attorney, Allan Moore, but talks
ceased when Gail Morrow faxed her a letter from the state department of Fish
and Game.

The letter, dated Jan. 21 and hand-delivered Feb. 6, directed the Morrows to
cooperate with the department to relocate the chimps or have them removed.
The letter was delivered to the Morrow's home address in late January but
returned to the sender soon after - which is why the letter had to be
hand-delivered on Feb. 6, according to Martarano.

"Unfortunately, they hand-delivered it on the day of compliance," Moore said.

The couple vigorously attempted to relocate their primates after the
commission denied their permit renewal request, said Moore.á He added he
notified Fish and Game officials about how close the Morrows were to finding
a new home for the primates.

"I've been working on this literally nonstop," said Truitt, who was trying
to line up sanctuaries for the chimps.

Representatives of the International Primate Protection League said they
were surprised they weren't contacted by Fish and Game officials and that
the primates were given to someone licensed as an animal dealer.á Jordan has
a Class B permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.á Such permits are
primarily for brokers who buy animals for resale but also allow them to do
limited exhibiting and breeding, said Lynn Tuck of the Agriculture Department.

Martarano said Jordan came highly recommended by veterinarians in the
department, but at least one person isn't convinced.

"It's my understanding that Mr. Jordan is a primate dealer, and that's very
different from the work that a sanctuary does," said Lynn Cuny, executive
director of Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation, near San Antonio.

|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Dr. Shirley McGrealáááááááááááá |áá PHONE: [phone]ááááááááááááááááá |
| Int. Primate Protection Leagueá |áá FAX: [phone]ááááááááááááááááááá |
| POB 766áááááááááááááááááááááááá |áá E-MAIL: [e-mail]ááááááááááááááá |
| Summerville SC 29484ááááááááááá |áá Web:
<http://www.ippl.org/>http://www.ippl.orgáááááááááááá |
|---------------------------------|----------------------------------------|



Date: 20 Feb 1998 12:58:36 EST
From: [e-mail] (Katherine Perkinson)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Japan Killing Bears and Monkeys
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"


For Release: February 1998
PRESS RELEASE

JAPAN CONDEMNED OVER 'HYPOCRISY' OF KILLING BEARS AND MONKEYS
DURING ITS GREEN
WINTER
OLYMPICS


The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), together with
its Japanese member society All Life in a Viable Environment (ALIVE),
has condemned Japan over the killing of hundreds of endangered Japanese
black bears and macaques (or 'snow monkeys') that live in and around the
site ofá the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano Prefecture.

There is no government protection for these species, despite the fact
that they are extinct in many parts of Japan, and thousands are legally
killedá every year by people who see them as pests.á Bears are even seen
as potential sporting trophies and are shot on sight or trapped and
speared.á In 1996, over 1,000 snow monkeys and 100 bears were killed in
Nagano Prefecture alone (there are only 1,300 black bears in this
region). In addition, hundreds of monkeys are caught from the wild each
year and sold to vivisection laboratories as fresh live specimens.

Victor Watkins, WSPA's Director of Wildlife, said "It is hypocrisy for
Japan to pretend that the Winter Olympics are the 'nature olympics'
whilst killing increasing numbers of the wild bears and monkeys that
live in the area.á There are only between 10,000-15,000 black bears left
in Japan and around 2,000 are killed each year.á At this rate, Japan's
bears will not last long."

The snow monkeys of the Jigokudani area of Yamanouchi Town in Nagano
Prefecture are a world-famous tourist attraction, with their habit of
taking baths in the area's natural hot springs during winter months.
However, there are controversial plans to reduce this small population
of monkeys from 400 to less than 100 over the next few years, by killing
any that are found on farm land and capturing wild monkeys to sell to
vivisection laboratories. Meanwhile, snow monkeys in surrounding areas
continue to be killed in increasing numbers.

WSPA and its member society ALIVE are lobbying the Japanese authorities
to undertake humane management of bears and monkeys, by using electric
fencing and adverse conditioning techniques to keep the animals from
raiding farm land in search of food, as well as looking at the long term
restoration of natural habitat and food bearing vegetation.

People wishing to express their opposition to the killing of Japan's
endangered bears and monkeys should write to:

Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Prime Minister's Office, 2-3-1
Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0014, Japan

Governor Goro Yoshimura, Nagano Prefectural Office, 692-2 Habashita,
Minami Nagano, Nagano-shi 380 0837, Japan



For further information, please contact:

US: Laura Salter, WSPA Public Affairs Manager, [phone]

UK:á Jonathan Owen, WSPA Press Office,44-171 793 0540

Japan: Fusako Nogami, ALIVE Tel. [phone]
Email: [e-mail]



Date: 20 Feb 1998 12:43:33 EST
From: [e-mail] (Katherine Perkinson)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Seregeti Lions Protected from Deadly Disease
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

February 1998
PRESS RELEASE
SERENGETI'S LIONS PROTECTED FROM DEADLY DOG DISEASE

An endangered population of lions in Africa's famous Serengeti National
Park in Tanzania may have been saved from being wiped out by the deadly
canine distemper virus (CDV), according to researchers funded by the
World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

An outbreak of the disease, spread by dogs, killed over a thousand lions
(a third of the population) and other wild carnivores in 1994.á Though
fairly common in dogs, distemper is often fatal to lions, killing at
least half of all infected animals.

WSPA's 'Project Life Lion' is the first ever mass vaccination of rabies
and distemper in dogs to protect wildlife.á It has established an
invisible barrier to protect the lions from future outbreaks of CDV,
with approximately 12,000 dogs that live around the national park having
been vaccinated to date and acting as a mobile living buffer against the
spread of the disease.

Since the start of the three year project in November 1996, over 12,000
dogs living in and around the Serengeti have been vaccinated and
researchers are currently vaccinating between 500 and 700 dogs every
week in an attempt to protect at least 70% of the population. In what is
the second phase of Project Life Lion, researchers aim to have
vaccinated dogs in 50 villages in the area by the end of February 1998.

In fact, the lions show signs of making a comeback.á During the
epidemic, one population of lions had dropped from 240 to 142 lions.
However, over a hundred cubs have since been born. Researchers are
monitoring a number of vaccinated dogs for any signs of the disease
reappearing but so far it appears to have been eliminated.

Dr Sarah Cleaveland, WSPA Consultant and Research Fellow at the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, saidá " There is no serological
evidence that the distemper virus is currently circulating in the
domestic dog population.á Lion numbers continue to increase with no
clinical signs of canine distemper in the population since the 1994
epidemic.á We have had no cases of rabies in the vaccination zone since
July 1997, which suggests that the vaccination programme is also
starting to have a marked impact on the incidence of this disease."

Although the vaccination programme appears to be working, the scars of
the past epidemic remain as a reminder that the work must continue and
blood samples are being continually taken from vaccinated animals to
ensure that the virus has not re-emerged.
-ends-

For further information and/or comment, please contact:

In the US: Laura Salter, WSPA Public Affairs Manager, [phone]
In the UK: JONATHAN OWEN, WSPA Press Officer T.0171 793 0540;
Dr Sarah Cleaveland, WSPA Consultant, Tanzania: T/F. 00 255 675 2850

* Broadcast quality footage, photographs and interviews with WSPA
representatives are available upon request.
* Trips to see Project Life Lion in action may be arranged as
appropriate.

Editors' Notes

1. There are an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 dogs bordering the Serengeti
National Park.á The project aims to vaccinate at least 70% of the dog
population. (The vaccine is over 90% effective in dogs.) The project is
concentrating on the study area along the western border of the park.
This is the most likely area for the disease to flare up again, with its
high human and dog populations.

2.á Project Life Lion is working to monitor the course of the disease,
promote public awareness and education and provide epidemiological
research on the affected populations.

3. Project Life Lion has the co-operation of the Tanzanian Wildlife
Parks, Tanzanian Wildlife Services, Ngorogoro Conservation Area
Authority and - as the epidemic has also reached the Maasai Mara
National Park - the Kenya Wildlife Service.áá It also has the support of
the tribes people in the area.
Date: 20 Feb 1998 12:43:32 EST
From: [e-mail] (Katherine Perkinson)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Reforms for Dogs in Taiwan
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

For release: February 1998
PRESS RELEASE

TAIWANESE REFORMS GIVE HOPE TO THE THOUSANDS OF TAIWAN'S
'THROW-AWAY DOGS'

Reforms to Taiwan's barbaric policy of dumping stray dogs on rubbish
tips or cramming them into 'shelters' where they were often left to die
of starvation have been welcomed by the World Society for the Protection
of Animals (WSPA).á This follows an international campaign led by WSPA
and its Taiwanese member society Life Conservationist Association Taipei
(LCA) to expose Taiwan's official approach to strays as 'throw-away
dogs', with tens of thousands of dogs cruelly killed every year in what
has been described as a 'holocaust' of stray dogs.á WSPA has worked to
introduce humaneá treatment of companion animals in Taiwan and give hope
for the thousands of 'throw-away dogs in Taiwan.

In January this year, WSPA revisited over 30 government dog pounds
throughout Taiwan with a consultant veterinarian from WSPA member
society the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(ASPCA) and found that significant improvements had taken place during
the past year, with many new facilities having been built.á For
instance, dogs are now given food and water instead of being left to
rot.á The shocking conditions of overcrowding previously witnessed by
WSPA investigators are no longer in evidence in most of the dog shelters
visited.á In addition, there was no evidence of dogs being beaten to
death or left to starve.á The apparent elimination of these brutal
methods of euthanasia, common just a year ago, represents a major
breakthrough.á However, the drowning and/or electrocution of dogs is
still practised and WSPAá is continuing to work to introduce humane
methods of euthanasia as 'the norm'.

Although much has been achieved in the last year, it is vital that
efforts are continued to improve the situation for Taiwan's throw-away
dogs; for example, the creation of spaying and neutering clinics and
proper management and veterinary procedures.

Taiwan's reforms follow the first ever introduction, by a WSPA-led
international task force of veterinarians and animal experts in August
last year, of modern and humane management methods for dealing with
stray animals in Taiwan.á During this 'mercy mission', the task force
established humane methods and trained officials in ways of controlling
Taiwan's exploding population of stray dogs. This was done in
co-operation with the Taiwanese Government.

The plight of Taiwan's strays was first revealed in a 1996 WSPA report,
'Disposable Dogs: Made in Taiwan', based on extensive inspections of
Taiwan's government dog pounds, that showed how dogs were being treated
as rubbish and removed from the streets by rubbish collectors only to be
left to die of starvation and disease in overcrowded cages.á WSPA had
never seen such systematic and appalling cruelty anywhere in the world,
with thousands of dogs routinely electrocuted, gassed, drowned, boiled
or buried alive in Taiwan each year.

WSPA has been informed by Taiwan's Vice-Chairman of the Council of
Agriculture, Mr Lin Shaung-Nung, that an animal protection act, the
first legislation of its kind in Taiwan, will become law later this
year.á Joy Leney, WSPA Director of Companion Animals, said " WSPA is
delighted with the government's response to our recommendations
resulting in the recent changes that have taken place in Taiwan and
although there is much left to do, we believe that it is highly unlikely
that the horrific scenes of mass suffering of dogs that we witnessed in
the past will ever be seen in Taiwan on such a wide-spread scale again."

There are an estimated two million stray dogs in Taiwan and over 66,000
dogs were 'removed' from Taiwan's streets in 1995.á WSPA's member
society LCA will continue to monitor the treatment of stray animals in
Taiwan and check on the progress of the reformed dog pounds.

The following materials are available upon request:

* copies of WSPA's 'Disposable Dogs: Made in Taiwan' report and
1998 'Follow-up Investigation and Survey of Government Holding
Facilities for Stray Dogs in Taiwan'
* interviews with WSPA investigators
* broadcast quality footage illustrating the plight of Taiwan's
strays
* colour photographs of Taiwan's stray dogs

For further information, please contact:


UK:á Jonathan Owen, WSPA Press Office, 011-44-0171 793 0540

US: Laura Salter, WSPA Public Affairs Manager, [phone]

TAIWAN: Life Conservationist Association: Tel. [phone]
Fax. [phone].
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 10:36:29 -0800
From: [e-mail] (Lawrence Carter-Long)
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: BBC News: Scientists warned of human BSE in 1988
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

BBC News: Sci/Tech
Friday, February 13, 1998 Published at 23:04 GMT

Scientists warned of human BSE in 1988

Scientists wanted a test that could identify BSE before cows showed symptoms

Scientists warned as early as 1988 that "millions" of people could be affected
by a human version of BSE, according to confidential documents obtained by
a BBC programme.

While ministers maintained that British beef was safe to eat, scientists were
uncertain about the dangers, in particular whether it was possible that BSE
could be transferred to humans.

The programme also makes it clear that independent scientists appointed by
the government to investigate BSE were uneasy about denials that beef was
safe.

The document was written by civil servants for Sir Richard Southwood,
Professor of Zoology at Oxford University, at the start of his inquiry into
BSE in 1988.

This was eight years before the link between mad cow disease or BSE and its
human equivalent, new variant CJD was isolated.

The paper told Professor Southwood that a test was urgently needed which
could identify animals with BSE before they showed symptoms of the
disease.

"Otherwise, were there a hazard to humans, it could be 10 or more years
before it is revealed by clinical disease, by which time thousands/millions
might have been infected," said the report.

The Southwood report concluded that the risks to human health were "remote
and most unlikely".

But it added "if our assumptions are incorrect the implications would be
extremely serious."

The document reveals that eating meat was being considered as one
theoretical route for BSE to pass between cow and human. Other suggested
means of infection were contact with blood, body fluids and even animal
hides.

Sir Richard Southwood said: "We felt we were on the edge of something that
could have enormous implications."

Jim Hope, a scientist at the Neuropathogenics Unit, Edinburgh, said: "We
were the experts. We didn't have many of the answers ... Rather than explain
that to a general public it was thought better to give the impression that we
had everything under control, which we didn't and which we never have."

Details about the confidential report are revealed in the first part of the
BBC2
documentary series Mad Cows and Englishmen to be broadcast on Sunday at
2005GMT.

It also reveals that a government doctor diagnosed BSE 14 months before the
disease was officially announced, and that another nine months passed
before important tests were done.

The official announcement of the first case of BSE was made in November
1986, but Carol Richardson, a pathologist at the Central Veterinary
Laboratory, diagnosed the disease in September 1985.

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

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

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

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

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

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



Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 12:37:21 -0600
From: [e-mail] (Rick Bogle)
To: "AR-News Post" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Vilas monkeys still fighting
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Last night the public gallery was filled to near capacity as the Dane
County Board of Supervisors considered Resolution 241 ordering the Vilas
Zoo director to develop a series of humane options for the 150 monkeys
owned by the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center but housed at the
county zoo.

The resolution passed 17 to 4 with an amendment asking that the university
grant an extension on its imposed deadline of March 1. The county board has
asked the university to extend the monkeys' shipment date until March 30 in
order to give the county and concerned citizens a chance to investigate
alternatives.

Much work has already gone into the search for humane alternatives to
placement in the tropical disease studies a Tulane.á Three sanctuaries are
waiting in the wings, though funding for the necessary housing construction
remains a problem.

The Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center put on a perfomance that can
only be described as Theater of the Macabre.á With a full cast of
veterinarians, animal managers, researchers, and acting director the county
board was told about the staff's love for monkeys and their deep concern
for their welfare.

The board was told not to get "all goofy" and emotional over animals, but
to make a decision based on logic.á They were told that the recent case of
herpes-B, transmitted in a new and unique way,á represented a risk which
would require the county to spend additional hundreds of thousands of
dollars.

They also explained that animal sanctuaries cannot be trusted to care for
the monkeys, and that the monkeys might be exposed to an illness at a
sanctuary. They thought it much more humane for the monkeys to be sent to
Tulane where infectious and parasitic disease are the stock in trade.

The center staff talked about the "breeding potential" of the rhesus
colonies which would result in run-away growth, and how no one would be
interested in observing them if the cages were not filled with babies.

We heard from a man who had trained at Tulane that it was monkey paradise
and that they would be given special treats.

The questions cannot be ignored.
Why is the primate center staff working so hard to keep these animals out
of a sanctuary?
Why are they willing to send a colony to a sanctuary in Thailand but not to
a sanctuary in the U.S.?
What deal has the center made with Peter Gerone and Tulane that cannot be
broken?
Is spongiform encephalopathy endemic in primate center staff or is it
localized in Wisconsin?

You who have continued to write, call, and email have had an unimaginable
impact on the county officials. Without your efforts it is likely that the
monkeys would be gone already. Much remains to do; the university still
owns the monkeys and money must soon be located to fund their possible move
to Texas.

Ráááá
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:21:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: State sues over elk management rights
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Casper Star-Tribune (<http://www.trib.com/>http://www.trib.com)

>> State sues over elk management rights
>>
>> CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - The state is asking a federal court to decide
>> whether Wyoming or the federal government have control over elk on the
>> National Elk Refuge.
>>
>> The state's lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Cheyenne on
>> Wednesday is an effort to get a clear decision on whether the state
>> has the authority to vaccinate elk on the refuge against brucellosis,
>> Gov. Jim Geringer said during a news conference.
>>
>> "A lack of a decision has been hindering so many people for so long,
>> we decided we needed a decision over who can oversee the health of
>> wildlife in Wyoming," he said.
>>
>> The lawsuit is the latest move in the continuing debate between the
>> state and Fish and Wildlife Service over how best to control the
>> spread of brucellosis in and around Yellowstone National Park.
>>
>> Wyoming last month asked the Fish and Wildlife Service to approve a
>> state vaccination program for the refuge to prevent the spread of the
>> disease.
>>
>> But the Fish and Wildlife Service refused to grant the state
>> permission for the vaccination, saying any vaccine to be used must be
>> proven completely safe and effective.
>>
>> But Geringer said there is nothing in federal laws to take away state
>> authority over wildlife, even if the wildlife is on a national refuge.
>>
>> As a result, the state is seeking a court ruling that would allow it
>> to proceed with the vaccination, he said.
>>
>> The Republican added he hoped the state and the Fish and Wildlife
>> Service could reach an agreement on the issue before it goes to court
>> before U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer.
>>
>> "I see it as a catalyst for a cooperative solution," he said.
>>
>> The state and Fish and Wildlife Service have been at odds for years
>> over how to control the spread of the disease and Geringer said he
>> decided to file the lawsuit because of the length of time the debate
>> has been going on.
>>
>> He added the state continues to find itself in the middle of
>> conflicting demands from the Fish and Wildlife Service, which leans
>> against the vaccination of wildlife, and the U.S. Department of
>> Agriculture, which has a "zero tolerance" policy on brucellosis.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 15:04:54 -0800
From: Ilene Rachford <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: More on St. Jude's Coon Hunt
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi, all...

For those of you who are as outraged as I am about this....

I talked to the person in charge of this...á David Voye at
1-800-238-6030. He is *proud* of the *wonderful* volunteers who have
been doing this for 22 years and raised $1.4 million. The annual event
will be held in April in Parsons, TN (Hmmm....for those activists in the
area who may want to show up!)

When I questioned him, he admitted he wouldn't like his pet being chased
by a much larger animal, but "think of all the good it's doing for St.
Jude's research".

I think it would be good for Mr. Voye to know how we feel about this.
Especially as it's their dime!

Ilene

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 11:21:33 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Committee approves bill to de-list grizzly bears
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from Casper Star-Tribune (<http://www.trib.com/>http://www.trib.com)

>> Committee approves bill to help de-list grizzly bears
>>
>> CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Grizzly bears in the Greater Yellowstone Area
>> would be moved one step closer to being removed from the list of
>> endangered and threatened species under a measure headed for the
>> Senate floor.
>>
>> The Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources
>> Committee on Tuesday approved Senate File 18, which would specify that
>> only black bears, and not grizzly bears, could be killed when they are
>> caught damaging property.
>>
>> Existing law says any bear can be immediately killed by the owner of
>> property the bear is damaging. SF18 would specify that the law applies
>> only to black bears.
>>
>> Bill Wichers, deputy director of the state Game and Fish Department,
>> said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing to move forward
>> with a plan to remove Yellowstone-area grizzlies from the endangered
>> species list early next year.
>>
>> But he said the federal agency has identified the exiting state law as
>> an impediment to the de-listing process.
>>
>> "One of their major concerns is that grizzlies won't need to be
>> re-listed," he said. "The state has to have a conservation statement
>> that gives adequate protection to grizzly bears."
>>
>> The measure now goes to the Senate floor for debate.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 12:57:10 -0000
From: "David Meyer" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>, <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: Confiscated chimps given to B dealer- correction on inof
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Just for the record
> State Seizes Alamo Couple's Chimps
> By: Michael Pena, Times Staff Writer
> The Times, Contra Costa Bay Area, 12 February 1998

> the primates were given to someone licensed as an animal dealer.á Jordan
has
> a Class B permit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.á Such permits
are
> primarily for brokers who buy animals for resale but also allow them to
do
> limited exhibiting and breeding, said Lynn Tuck of the Agriculture
Department.

Class B license is for resale of random source animals protected under the
animal welfare act.á It does not permit breeding (class A license) or
exhibition (class C license)

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 17:08:20 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) NJ DEP to hold waterfowl seminar
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

>From the Press of Atlantic City
Environmental Digest
By Matthew J. Dowling
Staff Writer

DEP to hold waterfowl seminar Feb. 22

The New Jersey Department of Environmental ProtectionÆs
Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife has scheduled a waterfowl
seminar Feb. 22 at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
from noon to 5 p.m.
The program, which will be in the college's A-wing lecture
hall, will focus on the current status and management of duck
and goose populations in New Jersey.
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 13:42:26 -0800 (PST)
From: Michael Markarian <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: March 2: Protest Animal Damage Control
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

ACTION ALERT

NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION AGAINST THE WAR ON WILDLIFE
Please Join Activists Nationwide in Protesting Animal Damage Control


On Monday, March 2, activists around the country will protest animal control
programs such as leghold trapping, snaring, aerial gunning, denning,
shooting and poisoning by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's misnamed
"Wildlife Services" agency (also known as "Animal Damage Control"). This
agency is funded by our tax dollars -- to the tune of $37 million dollars
last year alone -- and kills millions of wild animals at the request of the
special interest ranching industry. The victims include wolves, coyotes,
foxes, bobcats, blackbirds, geese, beavers, raccoons, rabbits, and numerous
other species of wildlife.

Please join members of The Fund for Animals, Friends of Animals, and
Compassion Over Killing on this day of protest at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Monday, March 2, 1998
ááááá 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: U.S. Department of Agriculture
áááááá corner of 14th St. & Independence Ave.
áááááá (From the Smithsonian metro stop on the orange/blue line, exit at
Independence Ave. and walk one block west to 14th St.)

WHY: Tell officials in our nation's capital to cut funding for this wildlife
killing program. Speak out for wildlife and for your tax dollars!

For more information call The Fund for Animals at [phone].

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 17:34:25 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Canadian Beaver Killers
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Paula Lishman Knit Fur is a fur manufacturer in Canada which produces beaver
coats.á Their distributor in Dallas is Berman and Associates.

We called Berman and Associates to get the name of their manager so that we
could send them some information him or her some information on the fur trade.

The man who answered the phone hung up on me after screaming that beavers were
a nuiscance.á I called him back to inform him that I did not appreciate being
hung up on.á He said "get it again" and hung up once more.á Then he called
here and made various threats.

Please call Berman and Associates at 1-800-580-6575 and demand that they stop
selling beaver coats and learn some tact when dealing with polite inquiries
about their product.

Please remember that when you call a 1-800 phone line, the number you call
from will show up on their bill.á Toll free calls are free from most pay
phones.

Once again, Berman and Associates can be reached at 1-800-580-6575.

I am sure that all of your friends and fellow activists would like to call
this company as well so feel free to distribute this to interested parties.
This is not meant to encourage harrassment.á Of course harrassment is a
relative term, and that definition will vary from person to person.

Thank you.

Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
PO Box 822411
Dallas, TX 75382
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 08:57:58 +0800
From: bunny <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (USA) Endangered Species petition
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Subj: Endangered Species petition
Date: 98-02-18 23:30:19 EST
From: [e-mail] (Richard Schwartz)
To: [e-mail]

Shalom,

áááá Because of the importance of the issue, I am forwarding the
message below.
áááá Best wishes,
áááá Richard
------------------
------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
From:áááááááááá "Richard Schwartz" <CSIMAIL/SCHWARTZ>
To:áááááááááááá schwartz
Date sent:ááááá Wed, 18 Feb 1998 09:53:54 -0400
Subject:ááááááá Endangered Species petition

Date:ááá Tue, 17 Feb 1998 12:11:56 -0500
From:ááá [e-mail]
Subject: Endangered Species -- Action Now!!

á The following is a sign-on petition that US PIRG is circulating about
endangered species legislation.á A vote on S.1180 could be coming up in the
Senate as early as the end of February or March.á We have to let our
Congresspeople know that we do not support S.1180, but are in strong support
of H.R. 2351.á This is a great opportunity to take part in advocacy on this
issue!

B'Shalom,
Heather Kaplan

* START * PETITION TO SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES * KEEP IT ALIVE!
* * PLEASE SIGN AND FORWARD BY APRIL 15th, 1998 * URGENT! * *


We're experiencing the greatest rate of extinction since the
dinosaurs - up to 50,000 species a year.á In the U.S., we
have lost over 500 plants and animals since the signing of
the Declaration of Independence; 250 of these species have
disappeared in the last 15 years.á This massive loss of life
threatens our own existence, by depriving us of potential
cures to deadly diseases and decimating local economies.á For
example, in the Pacific Northwest, the fishing industry has
lost approxmiately $1 billion in the last ten years due to
the decline in salmon.

The U.S. Congress is now considering two radically different
bills to reauthorize the Endangered Species Act.á Kempthorne's
Extinction bill (S.1180) rolls back 25 years of conservation
efforts, sacrificing protections for endangered species to
benefit industry.á Miller (H.R. 2351) strikes a reasonable
compromise, balancing wildlife needs with landowners, while
working for the recovery of species.

Congress could vote on these bills as early as the end of
February, 1998.á Please keep our endangered species alive
by signing the below petition and forwarding to family,
friends, and lists interested in preserving our environment.

* HOW TO SIGN THIS PETITION * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Copy this entire email (from * START * to * END *) into a
new email.á After the last signature below, enter a new line,
with the next number.á Please list your name, city, state
and zip code.á Forward to your family, friends, coworkers,
and relevant lists.á Please cc: your message to
<[e-mail]>.

* PETITION TO CONGRESS * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Member of Congress:

We are currently faced with the greatest rate of extinction
worldwide since the disappearance of dinosaurs 65 million
years ago, losing up to 50,000 species a year. Since 1973,
the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has halted the potential
extinction of dozens of animals, including the bald eagle,
the gray wolf and the California sea otter.

Senator Kempthorne's (R-ID) and Chafee (R-RI) are pushing
forward a bill, S.1180, that protects the interests of
industry at the expense of endangered species. At the same
time, Rep. Miller (D-CA) has introduced a moderate bill,
H.R. 2351, that strikes a balance between wildlife and
landowners without sacrificing protection and recovery
for endangered species.

Please vote against S.1180 and support H.R. 2351.

* SIGNED *

1) Christopher Chatto, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
2) Chris Mullin, Quincy, MA 02169
3) Elizabeth Hitchcock, Washington DCá 20003
4) Richard Trilsch, Washington, DC 20003
5) Adam Ruben, Boston, MAá 02111
6) Mark Ferrulo, Tallahassee, Flá 32303
7) Kim Delfino, Washington, DC 20007
8) Richard H. Schwartz, Staten Island, NY 10314
9) Rachel Freedman,Needham,MA 02192
* FOR MORE INFORMATION * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

<<http://www.pirg.org/>http://www.pirg.org/><http://www.pirg.org/>http://ww
w.pirg.org/
-The State Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs)

[e-mail]
-general email address for inquiries

<<http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/>http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/><http://w
ww.pirg.org/enviro/esa/>http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/
-The PIRG's endangered species pages, including fact sheets
on Kempthorne's Extinction Bill (S.1180), Miller's Recovery
Bill (H.R. 2351), and what else you can do.

<<http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/petition/>http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/p
etition/><http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/pe>http://www.pirg.org/enviro/esa/pe
tition/
-A web-based version of this petition, and detailed
instructions on how to sign an email petition.

* * PLEASE SIGN AND FORWARD BY APRIL 15th, 1998 * URGENT! * *
* PETITION TO SAVE ENDANGERED SPECIES * KEEP IT ALIVE! * END *
------------------------------



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Date: Wed, 18 Feb 1998 23:26:22 -0500
To: [e-mail]
From: "Richard Schwartz" <[e-mail]> (by way of
Vegetarian
Resource Center <[e-mail]>)
Subject: Endangered Species petition
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=====================================================================
========
áááááááááááááááááá /`\áá /`\ááá Rabbit Information Service,
Tom, Tom,áááááááá (/\ \-/ /\)áá P.O.Box 30,
The piper's son,áááá )6 6(ááááá Riverton,
Saved a pigááááááá >{= Y =}<ááá Western Australia 6148
And away he run;ááá /'-^-'\á
So none could eatá (_)áá (_)ááá email: [e-mail]
The pig so sweetááá |á .á |á
Together they ranáá |áááá |}ááá
<http://www.wantree.com.au/~rabbit/rabbit.htm>http://www.wantree.com.au/~rab
bit/rabbit.htm
Down the street.ááá \_/^\_/ááá (Rabbit Information Service website updated
ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá frequently)ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá

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

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

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 21:41:17 EST
From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: ACLU and Virginia Animal Rights Activists Speak Out!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Animal Rights activists speak out
(from WWBT Channel 12- Richmond Virginia)
áááá Animal Rights activists say theyÆre being unjustly silenced. Police
say theyÆre in violation of the law. Now the ACLU has become involved in
trying to sort out whoÆs right.
áááá Police allegedly told them that by using a megaphone to spread
their message, they are in violation of the cityÆs noise ordinance. But
the Civil Liberties Union says protestors are well within their rights
to voice their opinion.
ááááFor the past two days, circus goers have been greeted with the
blaring sound of this megaphone...the message being spread not an
unusual one for Animal Rights activists protesting the treatment of
circus animals. The silent carrying of signs isnÆt disturbing, but
police say when if it disturbs nearby citizens then thereÆs a problem.
áááá The cityÆs noise ordinance does indeed say that...thatÆs why the
group has strategically distanced themselves to be in compliance with
the law.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------
For more info-contact
RICHMOND ANIMAL RIGHTS NETWORK (RARN)
[e-mail]
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:11:46
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Water is clear of BSE pollution, claims firm
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, February 21st, 1998

Water is clear of BSE pollution, claims firm
By A J McIlroy

A WATER company protested last night over "unsubstantiated" claims that
BSE-infected water may have leaked into its supplies.

Mid Kent Water said its supplies were of the "highest quality". The firm
dismissed a neurologist's claims that a plant disposing of the remains of
infected cattle could have caused contamination. Mike Clark, managing
director, said tests by the company had shown no trace of pollution.

Dr Alan Colchester, consultant neurologist at Guy's Hospital, London, said
on Radio Four's Today programme yesterday that he believed that water
supplies in Kent could have been contaminated by Thruxted Mill, just
outside Canterbury. He said: "There's quite strong evidence that, at least
some years ago, there was very poor procedural supervision.

"Infected remains of animals were left lying around and probably
contaminated protein carrying material is still lying around in and under
the soil." But Cheale Meats, which has owned Thruxted Mill since 1991, says
it has transformed the rendering plant into one of the country's most
sophisticated.

The Environment Agency, that regulates the quality and quantity of the
waste water and disposal of solid waste from the plant, said: "There is no
risk to drinking supplies in the Ashford area, or to public health."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.á

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:16:29
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Warning to RSPCA over vegetarians
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, February 21st, 1998

Warning to RSPCA over vegetarians
By Hugh Muir

THE RSPCA has been warned that any moves to promote the cause of
vegetarianism will endanger its charity status.

Officers have obtained counsel's opinion which limits the extent to which
the charity can try to prevent suffering to animals by preventing their
consumption. The news has dismayed the many vegetarians within the society,
who include eight of the 23 members of the ruling council.

As trustees of the charity, they take great personal risks if they
inappropriately ignore legal advice. Last night, one source said: "It's
extremely disappointing. If we cannot campaign on subjects such as this,
how can we move things forward?"

The legal prohibition will, however, hearten activists who feel that the
society's priorities have shifted from animal welfare towards animal "rights".

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.á

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:23:44
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [EU] Progress over beef 'blocked by Germans'
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, February 21st, 1998


By Toby Helm, EU Correspondent, in Brussels

GERMANS in the European Commission have been accused of wrecking progress
towards lifting the 23-month-old world ban on British beef.

The officials and the Bonn government are accused of ignoring scientific
evidence on BSE to keep the ban in place, so protecting Germany's market
from British imports. The accusations are from within Brussels, where the
commission is supporting British efforts to ease the ban, in the face of a
massive German opposition.

The Telegraph has also learnt that the Germans say they will not consider
lifting any part of the ban on British beef unless Germany is exempted from
new European Union meat hygiene rules backed by Britain. Bonn says that
because it has not had a case of BSE in domestically-bred cattle it should
not be expected to obey rules banning materials such as brain and spinal cord.

The move will infuriate Jack Cunningham, the Agriculture Minister, who has
been fighting for the new rules to be imposed across the EU. Senior figures
in Brussels say the Bonn government's agenda is driven by economic and
political motives, and is being advanced by top German Eurocrats in the
commission's Consumer Health Division DG24. Such officials are supposed to
act in the EU's interests.

The Director General of DG24 is Horst Reichenbach, a German, who has pushed
for the toughest possible conditions to be imposed before the British ban
can be eased. "Reichenbach and his people have done everything they can to
hold things up," said one senior commission figure. "Science is no longer
the consideration. It has all become political - and personal." Mr
Reichenbach was not available for comment yesterday.

The German block on progress is also angering Franz Fischler, the Austrian
Commissioner for Agriculture, who wants to see the embargo lifted
immediately for BSE-free herds in Northern Ireland.

A senior German diplomat said last night that it was unclear whether
Germany would support moves to ease the ban in the near future. "We have
some concerns regarding the safety of beef and especially the controls on
exports. There have been some cases of fraud with beef coming out of
Britain. If it is proved that beef is safe and the controls are good then
we can consider it."

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.á

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:23:29
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [CH] Panda dies aged 30
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

>From The Electronic Telegraph - Saturday, February 21st, 1998

Panda dies aged 30

ONE of the longest-living pandas in captivity, Qiang Qiang, has died aged
30 at a breeding centre at Chengdu, in China's Sichuan province, the Xinhua
News Agency reported yesterday.

⌐ Copyright Telegraph Group Limited 1998.á

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 18:44:35
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [US] Rootworms learn crop rotation
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

For years many farmers have practiced a crop rotation system of alternate
plantings of wheat and soy beans so as to beat crop destruction by root worms.

The worms apparently like the taste of wheat roots, but are repelled by soy
beans.

Now, it would appear, the root worms have learned to outwit the human farmers.

By laying their eggs in fields planted with soy beans, they have learnt
that next season that field will be planted with wheat, supplying the
larvea with a plentiful food source.

[Source: The Globe and Mail]



Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 22:41:32 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Defense witness calls plaintiffs' witness testimony
á `invalid'
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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

Web posted Friday, February 20, 1998 7:30 p.m. CT

Defense witness calls plaintiffs' witness testimony `invalid'
Cattlemen vs. Oprah Winfrey

By CHIP CHANDLER
Globe-News Staff Writer

A report that said Oprah Winfrey's April 16, 1996, talk show was the
"dramatic shock" that led to crashes in the cattle markets was invalid,
unscientific and poorly conceived, a defense witness said Friday.

Dan Slottje, who was qualified as an expert witness in economics and
statistics, said a series of mistakes in a report by plaintiffs' witness
Dr. Wayne D. Purcell "renders all of his conclusions invalid."

Purcell had testified on Feb. 10 that the show had an extraordinary impact
on the market the week it aired and the following week. The shock lasted
into the summer and fall, he said.

Area cattlemen have alleged that statements on Winfrey's show were false,
causing a drop in the cattle market.

But on Friday, Slottje tore apart Purcell's math skills in testimony that
lasted about 20 minutes.

Purcell had acknowledged mistakes on a chart prepared for the jury. He said
the figures were correct on a computer disk, and an error was made when the
chart was printed.

Slottje contradicted that, saying, "The data on the diskette is precisely
what is on the hard copy. It's all incorrect."

Plaintiffs' attorney Joseph Coyne asked if Slottje thought Purcell was
lying.

Slottje said he did not say that, but he added that he believed Purcell's
"final conclusions are wrong. . . . The raw data on his diskette is wrong."

Coyne only asked a few questions of Slottje; attorney David Mullin, who
represents several other plaintiffs in the case, asked none.

Slottje's brief testimony was the most dramatic of the trial's 23rd day.

Jurors then listened to the videotaped deposition of Chuck Schroeder, chief
executive officer of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. His
testimony is expected to continue on Monday.

Schroeder testified that his organization took a public stance that Winfrey
showed a "commitment to fairness" when she aired an April 23, 1996,
follow-up show on food safety that included a brief segment on mad cow
disease.

In the segment, NCBA spokesman Dr. Gary Weber spoke with Winfrey for about
three minutes on the disease. He had been a guest on the first show and
complained that he did not get to make all of his points on bovine
spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease.

Schroeder also testified that an NCBA memo to the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange complained that traders let news stories affect their judgment.

The cattle market crashed about a year after Winfrey's show after stories
ran about an Iowa rose gardener who supposedly died of new-variant
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a human form of BSE. The stories were later
discounted.

In the NCBA memo, an unidentified employee wrote that "such issues should
not be used to add volatility to the market."

Winfrey's attorney, Charles Babcock, pointed out that the NCBA did not
provide the memo to the defense despite a subpoena for all BSE-related
documents. The defense got the memo and others like it from other sources,
Babcock said.
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 11:47:32 +0000
From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Animal park fun for the family
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Date: 02/21/98
Author: Hong Xia
Copyright⌐ by China Daily
<http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/>http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/

SOME tigers are wandering in a large grassy area. Suddenly they see a
guinea fowl and dash towards it. In seconds, one of them pounces on it and
devours it.

These tigers live not in the wild but in the Shanghai Wild Animal Park.

Visitors see the tigers from a car or van. For their safety, the doors and
windows are kept closed.

The guinea fowl is thrown to the tigers by one of the keepers. Tigers,
which weigh about 300 kilograms, need at least 10 kilograms of food every
day. This costs about 30,000 yuan (US$3,600) a year.

One tiger has even been trained to pose for pictures with visitors. It is
quite safe for visitors to pet him as he lies lethargically beside them.

Visitors can also see a pride of African lions on the grass. The male --
the lion king -- has four "wives," according to a tour guide. The lion king
normally does not hunt, as the females catch chickens or other things to
feed him. A grown lion consumes about 5 kilograms of food a day.

The park has been designed to imitate the natural environment of animals so
that they feel like they are in their natural habitat, said Fei Zhenxuan,
vice-general manager of the park.

In the carnivore breeding area, visitors are usually pestered by brown or
black bears which beg for bread, fruit or other food. The bears walk
leisurely on the road and they are seldom frightened by vehicles. If the
car or van stops, the curious bears sometimes put their paws on the windows
and beg for food.

The agile monkeys live peacefully together with the slow-moving bears.

The carnivore and herbivore areas are divided by fences and
electrically-operated gates.

The giraffes look like gentlemen as they linger on the grass. But they
sometimes try to stretch their long necks through the vehicle windows
asking for food from the visitors, who are sometimes given leaves in advance.

In addition, they can see takins, spotted deer, wild donkeys and
white-mouth deer.

The green and blue peacocks can fly and range freely through the park.

The park also has an enclosed garden for birds, almost a hectare in area.
The garden has more than 10 kinds of beautiful birds such as golden
pheasants, blue magpies and black-bollared starlings. Within the cage,
there is a rockery, flowers, grass and trees. Birds can make nests and
raise their young in the enclosure.

The park has 200 kinds of rare animals from various places around the
world, Fei said. They include giraffes, zebras, gazelles and white
rhinoceroses from abroad. It also includes some of China's first-priority
protected animals such as the giant panda, golden monkey, South China tiger
and Asian elephant.

It is a State-level wild animal park, jointly constructed by the Ministry
of Forestry and Shanghai municipal government. Located 35 kilometres away
from the centre of Shanghai, the park covers an area of 153 hectares.

In the children's garden, people can see 10 kinds of small animals,
including puppies, kittens, chickens, lambs, little pigeons and monkeys
living in their own cages or lingering outside. Visitors can fondle, feed,
play and take pictures with them as they like.

Visiting and interacting with the animals, helps people to strengthen their
bonds with the natural world.

Visitors can watch several animal performances in the morning. And they can
enjoy a large-scale outdoor performance -- 100 people dancing with animals
-- for an hour every afternoon.

The trained dancers imitate the manner and bearing of peacocks, cranes,
camels, horses, birds, elephants and monkeys, and dance with them to music.

MORE ABOUT THIS PARK AT:
<http://www.earth.org.hk/zoopage2.html#Shanghai>http://www.earth.org.hk/zoop
age2.html#Shanghai
Date: Sat, 21 Feb 1998 11:47:06 +0000
From: jwed <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Extension of "Zoo with Laboratory"
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

Date: 02/21/98
Author: Guo Nei
Copyright⌐ by China Daily
<http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/>http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/

Base expanded to protect pandas
IN a fresh effort to protect giant pandas in China, Chengdu municipal
government is working to push forward the construction of Chengdu Giant
Panda Breeding and Research Base.

The base, on Hutoushan Hill about 10 kilometres north of Chengdu, in
Southwest China's Sichuan Province, is one of the four leading giant panda
research centres in the country. The others are in Beijing, Fuzhou of
Fujian Province and Wolong, Sichuan Province.

With dense bamboo bush and a clear spring, it houses 23 giant pandas.

It is believed that there are no more than 1,000 giant pandas living in the
world.

Chengdu authorities plan to complete the third phase of construction of the
base by the year 2005.

The work, which needs 450 million yuan ($53.6 million) of investment, is
listed at the top of the agenda in Chengdu municipal government's five-year
plan (1996-2000).

As the first part of the third-phase construction, a 5 million yuan
(US$595,000) laboratory covering 1,000 square metres has been under
construction since early last year.

With the completion of the third phase, the base will be expanded from the
current 35 hectares to 200 hectares, with a special zone providing a
natural habitat for the pandas to prepare to return to the wild.

Half of the investment will come from municipal government allocations and
the rest is expected to come from earnings from giant panda exhibitions and
donations, according to Li Shaochang, an official with the base.

He said 40 million yuan (US$4.8 million) have been invested in the first
and second phases of the base's construction.

MORE DETAILS AND PHOTOS AT:á
<http://www.earth.org.hk/zoopage.html#Chengdu>http://www.earth.org.hk/zoopag
e.html#Chengdu

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:00:27 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) USDA Moves to Help Pork Prices
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

government subsidies of factory farming
from Associated Press <http://wire.ap.org/>http://wire.ap.org
----------------------------------------
02/20/1998 16:33 EST

USDA Moves to Help Pork Prices

By CURT ANDERSON
AP Farm Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Agriculture Department will buy $30 million worth
of pork to help boost sagging hog prices for farmers, Secretary Dan
Glickman announced Friday.

Purchase of the hams, ground pork and canned pork, which will go into
emergency food assistance programs, comes as current hog prices are
running about $17.50 per hundred pounds below last year's levels,
according to the National Pork Producers Council.

Prices are expected to drop as much as 30 percent below 1997 levels
during this spring and summer unless the market rapidly improves.

``The purchases will help producers during a period of low market prices
and the many food banks and other charitable institutions who are
reporting that their stocks of protein foods such as meats are low,''
Glickman said.

The pork council attributes the price decline to high supplies of meat
coupled with lower-than-expected demand, driven in part by fewer exports
to Asian countries that are in the midst of a financial crisis.

``Global events are impacting hog prices and many U.S. pork producers'
very survival is at stake,'' Jerry King, president of the producers
council, said Friday.

But pork farmers want additional actions. In a letter to Congress, 75
producers said more needs to be done to boost exports, including purchase
of pork for international food aid programs and requiring that pork trade
barriers be lowered as part of an International Monetary Fund bailout in
Asia.

Glickman noted that the Agriculture Department has already granted export
credit guarantees to enable South Korea to purchase $13 million worth of
pork as it recovers from its financial woes.

Also Friday, U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky announced that
Taiwan will lift its ban on American pork, setting a quota of some 12,500
metric tons of pork products that can be shipped to that nation.

Taiwan agreed to end the ban as part of its effort to join the World
Trade Organization.

``Our trade negotiators have hit a home run for us in Taiwan,'' King
said.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:03:43 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) New Corn Hybrid Could Cut Pollution
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

genetically engineered food (?) /environment/factory farms/hog farms
from Associated Press <http://wire.ap.org/>http://wire.ap.org
----------------------------------------
02/20/1998 16:30 EST

New Corn Hybrid Could Cut Pollution

By CURT ANDERSON
AP Farm Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Phosphorus in animal manure could be reduced by 40
percent, and farmers might save money on feed, because of a new corn
hybrid aimed at cutting water pollution, researchers said Friday.

``We believe we can get to the market with a product that's going to meet
the needs of the animal, the producer and be better for the
environment,'' said Bill Neibur, corn research director at Pioneer
Hi-Bred International, an Iowa-based seed company.

Agriculture Department officials announced the corn hybrid along with
President Clinton's new clean water initiative, which would update the
Clean Water Act that expired in 1992.

``This is great news for those of us who want to reduce the amount of
nutrients running into our waters,'' Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
said.

Phosphorus in animal manure -- particularly from large-scale operations
like corporate hog farms -- is carried into lakes and streams by
rainwater. It can cause unnaturally high growth of algae and other
organisms, killing fish and creating oxygen-depleted dead zones.

Chicken manure runoff is suspected in an outbreak of fish-killing
pfiesteria piscicida last summer in Maryland tributaries of the
Chesapeake Bay. The manure is widely used on Maryland's Eastern Shore to
fertilize corn and soybeans.

The corn hybrid was developed and patented by an Agriculture Research
Service geneticist in Aberdeen, Idaho. Pioneer signed the first license
to develop the corn for commercial use and hopes to have it ready by
2000.

``USDA is making this technology widely available to maximize its
environmental benefits and boost farm income,'' Glickman said.

The USDA geneticist, Victor Raboy, said regular corn contains plentiful
amounts of phytic acid. That stores phosphorus in an unusable form in
animals with one stomach -- including chickens and hogs -- meaning that
much of it winds up in their manure.

The new hybrid reduces phytic acid by two-thirds, which can cut
phosphorus in chicken and hog manure by between 25 percent and 40
percent. At the same time, the animal is able to absorb more phosphorus
into its body as a nutrient, reducing the costly need for farmers to add
it to feed.

The low-acid corn plant is undergoing tests to determine whether it has
desirable yields and resistance to pests and disease.

The corn feed would have little impact on cattle and other
multiple-stomach animals. They have an enzyme that breaks down phytic
acid and already absorb more phosphorus into their bodies.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:06:08 -0500
From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US/CN) Perdue Chicken Builds in China
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

factory farming (international)
from Associated Press <http://wire.ap.org/>http://wire.ap.org
----------------------------------------
02/20/1998 15:28 EST

Perdue Chicken Builds in China

SALISBURY, Md. (AP) -- Perdue Farms Inc. is building its first overseas
production facility in China.

The poultry giant announced yesterday that it has entered into a joint
venture with a Chinese company to establish a poultry processing complex
near Shanghai similar to its operations in Maryland.

The company has been exporting chicken parts -- including feet, which are
considered a delicacy -- to China for seven years.

``It's something we just think is a tremendous opportunity, and it's
something we're serious about,'' Perdue spokesman Dick Auletta said.
``It's just a tremendous, tremendous market.''

Construction should be completed by the end of this year in the joint
venture agreement with Dah Chong Hong, a prominent trading company and
large export customer of Perdue, and a group of Chinese partners.

After construction of the processing facility is completed, sales efforts
will focus on supermarkets and restaurants in the Shanghai area.

Perdue Farms is the third largest poultry producer in the United States.
Each week, Perdue processes and ships in excess of 42 million pounds of
chicken products and 3.5 million pounds of turkey products.

Chicken and turkey products are sold nationwide, and Perdue international
operations export to more than 30 countries around the world.

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:06:25 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: EUROPE COULD FACE 'DEVASTATING' OUTBREAKS OF ANIMAL DISEASES
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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EUROPE COULD FACE 'DEVASTATING' OUTBREAKS OF ANIMAL DISEASES
ááááá Copyright © 1998 Scripps Howard
ááááá
áá BRUSSELS (February 18, 1998 00:24 a.m. EST
<<http://www.nando.net/>http://www.nando.net/><http://www.nando.net/>http:/
/www.nando.net) --
áá Europe faces "devastating" animal disease epidemics in the future and
áá should alter its strategy for containing them, the United Nations Food
áá and Agriculture Organization warned Tuesday.
áá
áá The agency called for a cut in herd concentrations, an increase in
áá border controls and the development of animal identification systems.
áá
áá It also suggested the private sector be obliged to take on some of the
áá costs of containing diseases and warned governments that the
áá privatization and decentralization of national veterinary services
áá could reduce their effectiveness.
áá
áá The agency's recommendations are aimed at containing fast spreading
áá diseases such as swine fever and foot and mouth disease, rather than
áá the BSE "mad cow" disease, which develops more slowly.
áá
áá Europe has suffered more epidemics than any other region. Nine of the
áá 15 major epidemic livestock diseases recorded internationally have
áá occurred in Europe. The FAO blames dense populations of livestock and
áá an increase in long-distance animal transportation as trade increases.
áá Both trends stimulate the rapid spread of disease.
áá
áá Farms in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany concentrate up to 3,600
áá pigs per square mile of land. "This causes increasing pollution and
áá should not be tolerated any more," said Yves Leforban, FAO health
áá officer.
áá
áá The Netherlands, affected last year by a costly outbreak of swine
áá fever, and Denmark are among countries already taking steps to cut
áá animal densities. Eastern European countries are less of a problem
áá because farming is less intensive there.
áá
áá In a report Tuesday the FAO challenged the practice by which the
áá public sector in Europe bears the cost of epidemics and compensates
áá the private sector for losses incurred.
áá
áá It argued this did little to encourage sanitary methods. "Industry
áá does not appear to be able to discipline itself and it may be that
áá government compensation instills false security."
áá
áá The FAO suggests a compulsory insurance program for livestock owners
áá to protect against the costs of disease. It said certification and
áá identification of animals were essential for their safe movement.
áá
áá By MICHAEL SMITH, The Financial Times
áá

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:06:19 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Early identification of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE: 19 FEBRUARY 1998 AT 19:00:00 ET US
áááá
áááá Contact: Jill Shepherd
áááá [1][e-mail]
áááá [phone]
áááá [2]BMJ-British Medical Journal
áááá
áááá
áááá Early identification of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.
áááá Some promising approaches but no clear answers yet
áááá
áááá The medical world has long been calling for a method of early
áááá identification of cases variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, says
áááá Pocchiari in this week's BMJ. Exposure of the human population in
áááá Britain to the agent causing variant is likely to have occurred in
áááá the 1980s through beef products affected by bovine spongiform
áááá encephalopathy (BSE), suggests the author. He notes that even though
áááá it is reassuring that there have only been 24 cases of variant CJD
áááá and that the number of new cases did not increase last year, he
áááá fears that it is impossible to predict how many people are now
áááá incubating the variant form of the disease.
áááá
áááá Pocchiari fears that the disease may be accidentally transmitted by
áááá medical procedures and in particular, cites concern about plasma
áááá derived products because they are prepared in huge pools, with the
áááá chance of including blood from potentially infected donors. If we
áááá were able to detect variant CJD at an early stage, batches of plasma
áááá suspected of contamination with the disease could be withdrawn.
áááá
áááá Definite diagnosis of all forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is
áááá still possible only by examination of the brain, one the patient has
áááá died, says Pocchiari and a simple but specific blood test is badly
áááá needed.
áááá
áááá Contact:
áááá
áááá Professor Maurizio Pocchiari, Professor of Virology, Istituto
áááá Superiore di Sanita, Rome email:[3][e-mail]
áááá
áááá ###
áááá
áááá
áááááá _______________________________________________________________

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:07:13 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Former Deputy Forest Supervisor Blasts SW Grazing Subsidies
á (fwd)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit



FORMER DEPUTY FOREST SUPERVISOR BLASTS SOUTHWEST GRAZING SUBSIDIES

Douglas Barber, former Deputy Forest Supervisor of the Apache-Sitgreaves
National Forest, has written a letter to Senator Pete Domenici (R, NM),
calling for an end to the grazing allotment permit system and subsidized
public lands ranching. His 3/11/96 letter states:

á "I have been convinced for a number of years that the existing term
á grazing permit system is broken beyond repair...What we have is a comatose
á patient on life support, and it's time turn the machine off.

á There is no question that grazing has damaged Southwestern streams and
á riparian habitat. The Forest Service recognizes that, but it can't seem to
á realize that managing it better costs too much and leads to marginal
á solutions. For legal, political and agency reasons, it seems incapable of
á doing the right thing, which is often to eliminate it.

Barber cited a $100,000 fencing project, paid for by Arizona Game and Fish,
to "help" the threatened Apache trout:

á "Did we build the fences to protect the streams, or to protect the cows?
á After all, if the cows weren't there, the fences wouldn't have been needed
á ...the taxpayers are taking a tremendous beating. For their trouble, they
á get an additional 20 miles of fence which hampers their access to the
á streams."

á Fencing streams so cows can remain on the National Forest is simply not a
á good investment. And the situation is getting worse...the agency has the
á mindset that if a piece of land can be grazed, it must be grazed. It's as
á if the cows have an inalienable right to be there. So, the taxpayers
á continue to spend far more than we take in...and then spend a small fortune
á to mitigate the damage...The term 'welfare ranchers' is really untrue, but
á not for the reasons ranchers would like us to believe. Welfare would be far
á less expensive.

á My experience tells me preserving public land grazing is not in the public
á interest."

_____________________________________________________________________________

Kieran Sucklingáááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá [e-mail]
Executive Directorááááááááááááááááááááááááááá 520.623.5252 phone
Southwest Center for Biological Diversityáááá 520.623.9797 fax
<<http://www.sw-center.org/>http://www.sw-center.org/><http://www.sw-center
.orgááááááááááááááááááááá/>http://www.sw-center.orgááááááááááááááááááááá pob
710, tucson, az 85702-710

** End of text from cdp:headlines **

***************************************************************************
This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking
service.á For more information, send a message to [e-mail]
***************************************************************************

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:07:41 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic Threatens Developing
á Countries, Global Economy
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Cardiovascular Disease Epidemic Threatens Developing Countries, Global
Economy
áááá Embargoed For Release: 16 February 1998 at 16:00:00 ET US
áááá
áááá Contact: Carole Bullock or Brian Henry
áááá [1][e-mail]
áááá 214-706-1279 or 214-706-1135
áááá [2]American Heart Association
áááá
áááá For journal copies only, please telephone: [phone]
áááá
áááá
áááá NR 98-4859 (Cir/Reddy)
áááá
áááá DALLAS, Feb. 17 -- Developing nations, including China and India,
áááá face an epidemic of heart disease and stroke that could devastate
áááá their economies, researchers report in today's Circulation: Journal
áááá of the American Heart Association.
áááá
áááá The lead author of the study, K. Srinath Reddy, M.D., D.M, says, "It
áááá will impede economic expansion within the countries." In addition,
áááá affluent residents in developing nations represent a growing market
áááá for medical products and services. "If a large number of people from
áááá the purchasing middle classes are going to be spending their money
áááá on expensive heart surgeries or angioplasties, how will they have
áááá the money to buy the global goods?"
áááá
áááá The epidemic mirrors that of the United States and other
áááá industrialized nations 30 years ago, says Reddy, professor of
áááá cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New
áááá Delhi,
áááá
áááá One reason for the epidemic of cardiovascular disease is the surge
áááá in life expectancy due to declines in infectious and nutritional
áááá deficiency diseases and the improved economic conditions that have
áááá characterized most developing countries. In India, for example, life
áááá expectancy rose from 41.2 years in 1951 to 61.4 years by 1996.
áááá Ironically, these extra years provide a longer time period for such
áááá risk factors as smoking, high-fat diet, and sedentary lifestyle to
áááá set the stage for heart attack and stroke.
áááá
áááá Reddy warns that smoking, high-fat diets and other adverse lifestyle
áááá factors -- which tend to accompany industrialization and
áááá urbanization -- could make cardiovascular disease death and
áááá disability numbers rise at even more alarming rates than those
áááá predicted on the basis of the aging population.
áááá
áááá "The industrialized nations had both the means and the time to cope
áááá with their epidemic; the developing countries have neither," he
áááá says. Calling the situation "urgent," Reddy says national and
áááá international health agencies must coordinate risk-reduction efforts
áááá to head off the current epidemic.
áááá
áááá The projected increase in cardiovascular disease will be
áááá economically disastrous, Reddy says. Creating adequate facilities to
áááá care for millions of new heart disease and stroke patients would be
áááá beyond the abilities of most developing nations. Even at current
áááá levels, the high costs of treating these diseases consume a
áááá disproportionate share of health-care spending in countries that
áááá also are battling pre-industrialized infectious and nutritional
áááá deficiency diseases.
áááá
áááá In 1990 cardiovascular disease caused an estimated 5.3 million
áááá deaths in developed countries and 8 to 9 million in developing
áááá nations. In urban China, the proportion of cardiovascular disease
áááá deaths tripled between 1957 and 1990, jumping from 12 percent to 36
áááá percent of all deaths. In India, deaths from circulatory system
áááá diseases (heart, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases) are
áááá projected to rise by 103 percent in men and 90 percent in women
áááá between 1985 and 2015, based solely on demographic trends rather
áááá than lifestyle changes.
áááá
áááá Deaths from cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attack and
áááá stroke, fell in Australia, Canada, France, the United States and
áááá Japan over the last several decades. "However, the emergence of the
áááá cardiovascular disease epidemic in the developing countries during
áááá those same decades has received little attention," says Reddy.
áááá
áááá People in developing countries die from cardiovascular disease at
áááá younger ages than those in industrialized societies. In 1990 nearly
áááá 47 percent of cardiovascular disease deaths in developing countries
áááá were people younger than 70, compared to almost 27 percent for
áááá industrialized countries. As a result, the World Health Organization
áááá estimates the developing countries' contribution to the global
áááá burden of cardiovascular disease in terms of disability-adjusted
áááá years of life lost was 2.8 times that of developed countries.
áááá
áááá "This whole process of change from infectious and nutritional
áááá deficiency diseases to chronic disease is called the modern
áááá epidemiological transition," Reddy says. "The developed countries
áááá have gone into a later stage of the transition in which they
áááá continue to have these diseases but at a later age, and the overall
áááá burden is decreased."
áááá
áááá Reddy believes that developing countries need to apply knowledge
áááá acquired in the earlier epidemic to the present one. The challenge
áááá is not whether developing countries will experience the modern
áááá epidemiological transition, but whether the middle phase of the
áááá transition can be abbreviated so countries can arrive more quickly
áááá at the later stage when deaths occur at older ages.
áááá
áááá With consumption of tobacco rising in developing countries, even as
áááá it falls in industrialized nations, tobacco control is seen as the
áááá highest public health priority. "Tobacco is the leading avoidable
áááá cause of death worldwide because it contributes to deaths from
áááá cancer and respiratory disease as well as from cardiovascular
áááá disease," he says. Developing countries face obstacles to
áááá eradicating tobacco use because of the industry's aggressive
áááá advertising and because tobacco is a significant cash crop in many
áááá of those countries, Reddy says. "Tobacco is addictive not only to
áááá persons but even more so to governments."
áááá
áááá Large rural segments of the developing countries may be the place to
áááá start. Reddy suggests that the most cost-effective strategy would be
áááá to discourage high-risk behaviors in rural areas as soon as possible
áááá because the residents have not acquired adverse behaviors, but they
áááá are in imminent danger of doing so. Other sections (especially urban
áááá communities) that have already acquired a high-risk profile need to
áááá also be targeted for risk reduction.
áááá
áááá Reddy's co-author is Salim Yusuf, D. Phil., director of the division
áááá of cardiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont., Canada.
áááá
áááá Media advisory: Dr. Reddy can be reached at 011-91-11-685-2899. His
áááá fax is 011-91-11-686-2663. Dr. Yusuf can be reached at (905)
áááá 527-7327. (Please do not publish telephone numbers.)
áááá
áááá q\nmr\jrnls98\dw
áááá
áááá ###
áááá
áááá
áááááá _______________________________________________________________

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:09:58 -0500
From: Vegetarian Resource Center <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Film: "It's a dog's life" (fwd)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
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Date: Mon, 16 Feb 98 22:53:57 CST
From: David Briars <[e-mail]>
Subject: Film: "It's a dog's life"

Subject: "It's a dog's life"
Date: 14 Feb 1998
From: MichaelP <[e-mail]>
áááá 11 Febuary 1998
áááá by Zoe Broughton
áááá UNITED KINGDOM
áááá ____________________

áááá "It's a dog's life" has just won a Genisis Brigitte Bardot Award in
áááá the United States and has been shortlisted for a British
áááá Environmental Media Award as scoop of the year. Here OneWorld's Zoe
áááá Broughton tells the story behind the making of the film.

áááá My main worry when I finished making an undercover documentary in
áááá Europe's largest animal testing laboratory was that nothing would
áááá happen after the film was broadcast. But a year on, I am happy to
áááá report that changes were made.

áááá In October 1996 I gained employment as a laboratory technician at
áááá Huntingdon Life Sciences. I worked there cleaning cages, holding
áááá animals to be tested on and, unknown to them, gathering evidence
áááá which I wrote in a detailed diary. After two weeks I had enough
áááá evidence to convince the Independent Television Commission that it
áááá was in the public interest to grant me a licence to film inside.

áááá I wore a camera strapped to my body, underneath my lab clothes.
áááá Though the lens and microphone were very small, the recorder and
áááá batteries were bulky, and - I thought - very obvious.

áááá After a total of ten gruelling weeks, I had filmed an entire
áááá process of puppies being brought in, tested upon and killed. The
áááá film was broadcast on Channel 4 on March 26th 1997 and the response
áááá has been amazing.

áááá Small World Productions, Channel 4 Television and The Guardian
áááá Newspaper all received hundreds of letters of support for exposing
áááá the cruel treatment of dogs in the laboratory; the Home Office,
áááá RSPCA and Animal Aid were inundated with phone calls.

áááá The film showed that the tests done at Huntingdon Life Sciences Ltd
áááá (HLS) were not to be relied on. The data - due to technicians'
áááá short cuts - was inaccurate. Many of the company's clients withdrew
áááá their work causing the company's share price to plummet from 126p
áááá down to 50p.

áááá The two animal technicians shown in the film hitting and shaking
áááá the dogs were sacked. They were then arrested by the police and
áááá have now pleaded guilty to charges of animal cruelty under the
áááá Protection of Animals Act. A third technician shown fiddling the
áááá doses has also lost his job.

áááá The British Home Office began a full investigation. On July 24
áááá 1997, Home Office Minister George Howarth told parliament in a
áááá written answer:

áááá "Shortcomings relating to the care, treatment and handling of
áááá animals, and delegation of health checking to new staff of
áááá undetermined competence, demonstrate that the establishment was not
áááá appropriately staffed and that the animals were not at all times
áááá provided with adequate care."

áááá As a result the Home Office decided to revoke the company's working
áááá licence unless 14 conditions were met. This company which,
áááá according to Home Office estimates, was currently using 1,000
áááá beagles, 200 marmosets, 450 macaques, 13,000 mice, 35,000 rats,
áááá 2,000 rabbits, 4,000 guinea pigs, 3,000 birds, 4,000 fish and
áááá smaller numbers of other animals, could have been shut down. The
áááá company improved its working practices and a licence was granted
áááá for 1998.

áááá Huntingdon Life Sciences has associated companies in Korea, Japan
áááá and America. While I was investigating HLS in the UK, unknown to me
áááá another woman was scrutinising HLS Inc in East Millstone, New
áááá Jersey, for the campaigning group People for the Ethical Treatment
áááá of Animals (PETA).

áááá The alleged violations witnessed included puppies being killed in
áááá the same room where post mortems were being carried out. One puppy
áááá watched as a power saw was being used to cut the skull of a dead
áááá puppy on the next table. In another case a puppy was cut from neck
áááá to groin, exposing its ribcage. It then howled, threw back its head
áááá and writhed from side to side, obviously still alive.

áááá HLS Inc have taken PETA to court and successfully injuncted the
áááá animal rights group. As a result, PETA has been barred from using
áááá the videotapes and documents in their campaign against HLS Inc.
áááá They say they are unable to get the US Department of Agriculture to
áááá follow up the case because of this ruling.

áááá I still have flashbacks of the gruesome images I witnessed. I
áááá watched dogs being slowly poisoned with agrochemicals. I sat and
áááá filmed as needles were inserted into a dog's leg over and over
áááá again by poorly-trained technicians. I saw technicians playing
áááá around whilst performing experiments, nudging each other and
áááá wiggling each others' glasses so they couldn't see to find a vein.

áááá I will never forget the sound of the high pitched squealing of the
áááá dogs and I live with the fact that I never said anything then to
áááá stop what I saw, focusing only on getting the video footage out to
áááá the public to reveal what really goes on inside an animal testing
áááá laboratory.

áááá To recuperate I have taken to living on a houseboat which I have
áááá named 'The Beagle' in memory of those I didn't save.
áááááá ______________________________________________________________

áááá The film was made throughSmall World Productions, an international,
áááá ethical, not-for-profit video production company specialising in
áááá the issues of environment, development, social justice, minority
áááá rights and peace.

áááá Small World Productions, 1A Waterlow Road, Archway, London, N19
áááá 5NJ, UK

áá Tel: [phone]
áá Fax: [phone]

áá e-mail: [e-mail]

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Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 23:42:08 -0500
From: Wyandotte Animal Group <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: USDA Amends Tuberculosis Regulations to Include More Livestock
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá Dawn Schuááááá [phone]
>ááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá [e-mail]

>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá Jerry Reddingá [phone]
>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá [e-mail]
>
>
>USDA AMENDS TUBERCULOSIS REGULATIONS TO INCLUDE MORE
>LIVESTOCK
>
>áááááá WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 1998--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's
>Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its tuberculosis
>regulations.
>
>áááááá The amended regulations will require two annual herd tests for all
>livestock in newly assembled herds on land where a tuberculous herd
>has been depopulated.á Existing regulations already cover cattle and
>bison.
>
>áááááá "This addition to the tuberculosis regulations will help ensure
>continued progress toward eradicating tuberculosis from the U.S.
>livestock population," said Joan M. Arnoldi, deputy administrator for
>APHIS' veterinary services, a part of USDA's marketing and regulatory
>programs mission area.
>
>áááááá For further information, contact: James Davis, senior staff
>veterinarian, USDA, APHIS, VS, National Animal Health Programs, 4700
>River Road, Unit 36, Riverdale, Md. 20737, [phone].
>
>áááááá This notice is scheduled for publication in the Feb. 23 Federal
>Register.
>
>áááááá Consideration will be given to comments received on or before April
>24.á An original and three copies should be sent to Docket No. 97-062-1,
>Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Suite 3C03, 4700
>River Road, Unit 118, Riverdale, Md. 20737-1238.
>
>áááááá Comments may be reviewed at USDA, Room 1141, South Building,
>14th Street and Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., between
>8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.á Persons
>wishing to review comments are requested to call ahead at (202)
>690-2817 to facilitate entry into the comment reading room.
>
>áááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááááá #


Jason Alley
Wyandotte Animal Group
[e-mail]

Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 20:47:48
From: David J Knowles <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [UK] Parrot calls "Help" for trapped man
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>From The Province - Thursday, February 19th, 1998

BRISTOL, England - A parrot helped rescue a man trapped under the wheels of
a van by mimiking his calls for help.

Sonny, a nine-year-old red-and-green macaw, drew attention to the plight of
Richard Stone, whose van had rolled forward on to him, crushing his leg.

Stone, 58, had left his van to open some gates at Cheddar, Somerset,
western England, but forgot to set the handbreak.

As evening drew in, he feared his cries of distress would go unanswered.
No-one was nearby and he was far from the nearest road.

But 100 yards away at the Broadway Caravan Park, the macaw heard Stone's
shouts and repeated them. The bird's squawks of "help" alerted Richard Herd
and Jeremy Burstow, who work at the park.

"We were at the bottom end of the park when we heard Sonny squawking 'Help,
help. help'," Herd said yesterday.

"At first we thought someone was winding Sonny up but as soon as we got
there he stopped making a noise. In the distance, we could hear a man's
voice shouting out so we rushed out of the park to see what was going on."

Burstow reversed the van off Stone's leg. Stone, who suffered only severe
bruising to his ankle, said he was in terrible pain.

"I thought I was going to be stuck under the van all night long," he said.
"Sonny is a real life-saver. I don't know what would have happened if he
had not heard me."

Che Moore, the parrot's owner, said Sonny was normally rather shy. "He
usually mimicks people when they have gone away. He can say 'hello' and
'goodbye' and knows a few of the people who work here by name."

Duncan Bolton, curator of Bristol Zoo, said: "If a parrot hears a call from
a distance, it will try to answer it in whatever way it feels appropiate.
It treated the cries for help as another parrot calling and responded in
the same way."



Date: Fri, 20 Feb 1998 20:53:37 -0800
From: Andrew Gach <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Squabbles in the chicken industry
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Poultry growers air problems, commend big companies

The Associated Press
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas, February 20, 1998

A few anonymous complaints from chicken growers about the big companies
they work for prompted the Arkansas Poultry Federation to rally in
support of the state's largest industry.

Ina Young, whose Paris, Ark., chicken farm contracts with Tyson Foods to
hatch eggs, presented state legislators Thursday with a half-dozen
anonymous letters from farmers complaining they are being shortchanged
by poultry companies.

But the complaints did not sit well with the House and Senate
Agriculture, Economic and Industrial Development committees. At least
four committee members are involved in the poultry industry; they said
they knew of no significant problems.

Young's complaints also were countered by several other farmers called
before the committee by the poultry federation.

A spokesman for Tyson, the nation's largest poultry company, said the
differences boiled down to poor relations among some farmers and
corporate executives.

"We have not done as good of a job communicating with our growers as we
probably should have," said Tyson Foods spokesman Archie Schaffer, who
sat silently though the legislative meeting. "It's my belief the vast
majority of these growers out there are happy with their relations."

Arkansas is the nation's top producer of broiler chickens, generating
$2.1 billion in 1996, the latest year for which figures were available,
according to the Cooperative Extension Service of the University of
Arkansas.

Most poultry companies contract with local farmers to raise
company-supplied chickens, then pay the farmers by the pound when the
birds are killed and processed for food.

Young said poultry companies entice farmers with the possibilities for
profit, then burden them with requirements a few years later.

"You're barely into this before they want to upgrade something at your
expense -- everybody has to put in equipment," Young said.

Farmers who do not change equipment, or who do not meet the average
production standards for their area can be placed on probation by
companies and eventually dropped as growers, Young said.

Lawmakers said most problems appeared to be contract disputes -- to be
settled through negotiations, not legislation.

State Rep. John Hall said most company requirements were reasonable, and
farmers themselves often were to blame if they did not fare well.

"If you put the effort into your chicken houses, you keep your equipment
up to date, you more than likely are going to produce a good chicken and
make some money," said Hall, who raises chickens for Tyson Foods.

By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press Writer



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