Komputer for Alle 1998 #6/1998 CD 6 (Gul).iso/web/ffa/wwwenv~1.org/arrs/digest/news38~1.htm/text0015.txt

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>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (HK) Sea horses threatened by corralling for medicines
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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South China Morning Post
Internet Edition

April 28
     Sea horses threatened by corralling for medicines
     FIONA HOLLAND


     They mate for life and perform a twirling dance of courtship every morning,
a prelude to one of the most bizarre forms of reproduction in the animal
world: male pregnancy.

 Sea horses might inhabit a mythical kingdom of strange beasts if they did
not frequent the seas off South America, Africa, Asia and Australia.

 And the fish with the head of a horse and tail of a dragon even survives in
Hong Kong waters.

 This is ironic since Hong Kong today is a leading entrepot for the seahorse
trade, fuelled by traditional Chinese medicine, which has decimated
populations throughout Asia.

  Divers often spot mature sea horses in shallows near coral or sea grass,
and Hong Kong University doctorate student Andy Cornish said they occurred
across the territory from Lamma to Mirs Bay.

 Curling their tails around a perch of sea grass or one of Hong Kong's shark
nets, they prey on passing fish, plankton or crustaceans.

 "Shark nets are absolutely perfect for sea horses, they have got to have
something to hold on to," he said.

 The 35 species of sea horses identified worldwide are threatened by
traditional Chinese medicine, where they are used for ailments including
asthma, heart and kidney disease and as an aphrodisiac.

 Until the 1970s sea horses were commercially harvested in Hong Kong and
today sport fishermen continue the tradition, netting them for fun.

 But this hobby could represent a big threat to the population along with
reclamation and pollution, said Mr Cornish.

 "Anywhere else where they have been collected they have been decimated."

 Sea horses are not protected by law - except in marine parks and reserves -
and are thus at risk of exploitation.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:06 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (MY) Policy on turtles pays off
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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 The Star Online Home Page


                   Sunday, April 27, 1997

                   Policy on turtles pays off

                   By Ruben Sario

                   KOTA KINABALU: A joint effort by Malaysia and the
                   Philippines to conserve sea turtles in waters off
                   Sabah's east coast has earned both countries an
                   international award.

                   Sabah Tourism and Environment Minister Datuk Bernard
                   Dompok said both countries have been jointly awarded the
                   Paul Getty Conservation Award by the American-based Paul
                   Getty Foundation.

                   Dompok was in Manila last week to receive the award on
                   behalf of Sabah Parks, which manages the Turtle Islands
                   Park, located about 40km north of Sandakan.

                   Both Malaysia and the Philippines also shared a
                   US$50,000 (RM120,000) cash prize that was part of the
                   award.

                   Dompok said Sabah Parks' board of trustees would have to
                   decide how Malaysia's share of RM60,000 would be used.

                   Last year, Malaysia and the Philippines signed an accord
                   to jointly conserve the sea turtles found in abundance
                   in the islands along the borders of both countries.

                   The Turtle Island Park on the Malaysian side of the
                   border covers an area of 1,740ha, including three
                   islands -- Pulau Selingan, Pulau Bakkungan Kecil and
                   Pulau Gulisan.

                   Across the border in Philippine waters are the islands
                   of Pulau Bakkungan and Pulau Langan.

                   These islands are well-known nesting sites for the green
                   and hawksbill turtles which lay their eggs on the
                   beaches almost every night throughout the year.

                   Malaysia's turtle conservation efforts began in earnest
                   in 1966 when the country's first turtle hatchery was set
                   up in Pulau Selingan.

                   In 1971, the Sabah government acquired the three
                   islands, which were subsequently converted into a marine
                   park to protect the turtles and their eggs.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:12 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (MY) Aussie bees rescuing our honey industry
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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 The Star Online


                   Monday, April 28, 1997

                   Aussie bees rescuing our honey industry


                   BATU PAHAT: Bees of the Australian species, Apis
                   melifera, are now being bred locally following the
                   outbreak of a disease which has almost paralysed the
                   local honey production industry.

                   The National Apiary Centre at Parit Botak, 25km from
                   here, has been experimenting with the new bees since
                   December.

                   The cenyre's head, Zakbah Mian, said the shift to the
                   Australian bees was made following the outbreak of an
                   unidentified disease caused by a virus which had killed
                   millions of local bees of the species Apis cerana in
                   several states over the past two years.

                   "The centre has decided to use the Australian bees to
                   replace the local species so as to sustain domestic
                   honey production and reactivate the Agriculture
                   Department's efforts to make apiculture a commercially
                   viable economic activity for farmers," he said in an
                   interview.

                   The first colony of Australian bees was exposed to the
                   local environment within the centre in December, and is
                   being multiplied for distribution to the farmers.

                   They have been found to adapt well to the local climate
                   and are resistant to the disease.

                   According to Zakbah, the centre was established ten
                   years ago as a programme under the crop protection unit
                   of the department.

                   To date no specific regulatory body has been set up to
                   control the development of apiculture.

                   "The centre receives limited funding which is just
                   sufficient for the full development of the programme.
                   However, there are many areas that need looking into
                   especially those pertaining to research and development.

                   "There has to be specific research to develop new breeds
                   of quality bees and to develop new plant sources to
                   enrich nectar and pollen supply, the main support for
                   the commercial production of honey," he said.

                   Andek Makkah, a prominent bee-farm operator in Serkat,
                   Pontian, said the disease had paralysed the activities
                   of more than 1,000 bee farmers in Johor, Malacca, Negri
                   Sembilan and Selangor.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:17 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Painful finale to snake stunt
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South China Morning Post
Internet Edition
April 28

     Painful finale to snake stunt
     VIVIAN LEE

     An amusement park stunt in which six people including a child and a baby
were locked in a room with thousands of poisonous snakes ended yesterday -
with one of them being bitten by a cobra.

 Lei Ansheng, 31, was bitten on the finger shortly before the group came out
of the room where they had spent 100 days with 38,888 snakes. Mr Lei needed
treatment from a doctor.

 The owners of Flying Dragon World, in Panyu, Guangdong, aimed to set a
world record by putting the six - Mr Lei, three women aged 21 to 26, a
three-year-old girl and a boy of six months - in a sealed glass room with
the reptiles.

 The park was criticised by Hong Kong human rights activists after the six
were repeatedly bitten. One-third of the snakes were selected for the stunt
because they were poisonous.

 A park spokesman said the performance had been a success. He said the group
was cheered by the many visitors to the park when they emerged from the cage.

 The snakes were to be kept in the cage for display purposes, he added.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:23 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail], [e-mail]
Subject: (MY) Agro disease research
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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The Star Online

                   Tuesday, April 29, 1997

                   More joint efforts on agro disease research


                   KLUANG: The government will have more joint programmes
                   with foreign agriculture agencies in a bid to become a
                   regional centre for scientific research on tropical
                   agriculture diseases.

                   Agriculture Minister Datuk Amar Dr Sulaiman Daud said
                   vast tracks of agricultural land complemented by skilled
                   workers and good infrastructure facilities made Malaysia
                   the ideal place to conduct such works.

                   He said local agencies were holding discussions with
                   their foreign counterparts to set up more joint research
                   centres here.

                   He said Malaysia and other tropical countries suffered
                   huge losses yearly because of agricultural diseases,
                   adding that the losses had caused a significant drop in
                   agricultural produce throughout the region.

                   "However, any studies conducted must be collaborative
                   efforts between local and foreign agencies so that
                   Malaysia can enjoy long term benefits," he said after
                   opening the Veterinary Institute's Screw-Worm Fly
                   Laboratory, the first of such laboratory in the world.

                   The laboratory, set up under the Malaysia-Australia
                   Technical Cooperation Programme, will study the
                   sterilisation of the screw-worm fly to control and
                   eradicate the livestock pest.

                   Dr Sulaiman said the the findings from the laboratory
                   would help local livestock farmers reduce losses worth
                   about RM20 million yearly.

                   Acting Australian High Commissioner David Mason said his
                   government's decision to fund the A$3.6 million (RM7.2
                   million) laboratory reflected its confidence in Malaysia
                   as research partners, adding that several other
                   Australian agriculture agencies contributed RM4.55
                   million towards the project.

                   He said eventhough Australia does not face the
                   screw-worm fly problem, it decided to embark on this
                   project for mutual benefits.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:28 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (Asia) Ivory trade
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
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>Hong Kong Standard, 29 Apr 97

Couriers smuggling ivory legally: WWF

By Lucia Palpal-latoc

HONG KONG emigrants and expatriates leaving the territory are being used as
couriers to smuggle out ivory because of existing loopholes in legislation,
the World Wide Fund for Nature said.

The discovery of the modus operandi by unscrupulous traders has prompted
the WWF to call for a total ban on the export of ivory and ivory products.

Smuggling operations in Hong Kong were detailed in an 80-page report on the
ivory trade in Asia conducted by the Trade Records Analysis of Flora and
Fauna (Traffic), a WWF wildlife trade monitoring program.

Ivory is taken from tusks of African elephants which are among endangered
species included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered
Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

WWF-Hong Kong director David Melville said commercial trade in ivory and
ivory products had been banned in the territory since 1989.

Fines of up to $5 million and two years' imprisonment are imposed under the
Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species) Ordinance.

But the law says that residents, either locals and foreigners, who are
moving out of the territory are allowed to ship out five kilograms of ivory
for personal use.

``Because of this legal loophole some people had been used as couriers to
Japan and Taiwan,'' Mr Melville said.

``They are not violating existing laws because they declare the ivory
products as personal effects.''

Mr Melville said he did not know how much the couriers get for smuggling
ivory.

He also did not know whether the unscrupulous traders came from Hong Kong
or overseas.

Most couriers included the ivory in their luggage while some send it to
other countries by post, Mr Melville said.

He suspects that the use of couriers explains why there has been a huge
decline in the territory's ivory stock.

In July 1990, the stock level was 463.4 tonnes and dropped to 286.3 in
December 1996.

Mr Melville said about 20 tonnes of ivory was shipped out from Hong Kong
every year, mostly to Japan, Taiwan and Singapore.


Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:34 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Oldest giant panda hits 35
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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South China Morning Post
Internet Edition

     April 29

     Oldest giant panda hits 35
      REUTER

     Dudu, the world's oldest living captive giant panda, has celebrated her
35th birthday with a special dinner of milk and cake in a zoo in central
China, state television said yesterday.

 Dudu, a big red bow tied around her waist, slurped from a large bowl of
milk while her keepers lit candles on her cake. Dudu has lost most of her
teeth and can only eat the most tender of bamboo stalks, Chinese Central
Television said.

 Pandas seldom live beyond 25.

 Dudu's keepers at Wuhan Zoo in Hubei province hope to enter her in the
Guinness Book of World Records  as the world's oldest living panda in
captivity, the television report said.

 Lili, a panda at Beijing Zoo, lived to the ripe old age of 29.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:39 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (CN) Zookeepers in panic over panda paternity
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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The Straits Times

APR 29 1997

     Zookeepers in panic over panda paternity


     BEIJING -- Zealous efforts to breed pandas in captivity have led
     to a paternity crisis at the Beijing Zoo, the official Xinhua
     news agency reported yesterday.

     Zookeepers have been unable to determine which male fathered a
     panda cub that is already more than six months old.

     "The mother panda Le Le mated with two male pandas and was
     artificially inseminated before she gave birth," Beijing Zoo
     director Zong Ying was quoted as saying.

     Identifying the father is "very important" to avoid in-breeding,
     which could damage the health of subsequent generations, he said.

     The giant panda is one of the most endangered species on earth,
     making sustainable breeding in captivity crucial to the species'
     preservation.

     The rate of successful breeding remains low, although China has
     scored some success in developing artificial insemination
     techniques. An adult female can become pregnant only once a year.

     Le Le gave birth to two cubs on Oct 4 last year, but only one
     survived. -- AFP, Reuter.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:45 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (UK) `Mad cow' link to dogs
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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Hong Kong Standard, 29 Apr 97

Officials kept quiet on `mad cow' link to dogs


LONDON: Government researchers found six years ago that dogs were
susceptible to a form of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or ``mad
cow'' disease, from eating contaminated pet food, it was claimed on Monday.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, commenting on a report in
The Independent, confirmed the results of the 1992 study were never
published.

At the time, government scientists had studied the brains of 444 hunting
hounds that had died after showing signs of distress associated with BSE,
and found abnormalities called fibrils, tiny fibres first noticed by
scientists studying scrapie, a spongiform encephalopathy in sheep.

The fibrils confirmed that some of the brains showed signs of a canine
equivalent of mad cow disease.

Consultant microbiologist Stephen Dealler, a leading critic of government
handling of the BSE crisis, said it was ``incredible that this experiment
was known about before the last general election''.

The test results were reported verbally to the government's advisers on BSE
in 1992, but then the chairman of the Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory
Committee, David Tyrell, said the dog study should not be taken further.

A ministry spokesman said the study was halted because no danger to public
health had been ascertained.

``You can be absolutely certain that the presence of scrapie associated
fibrils shows these dogs had the disease,'' said Mr Dealler.

Last week, Norwegian scientists said they thought an 11-year-old golden
retriever had died from spongiform encephalopathy._ AFP

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:28:50 +0800 (SST)
>From: Vadivu Govind <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (SG) Possible tiger sightings
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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The Straits Times

 APR 29 1997

     Tiger mystery: keep away from Ubin, police advise
By Melissa Heng


     POLICE have advised the public to keep away from Pulau Ubin and
     told residents to stay indoors at night after two reports of a
     tiger being sighted there.

     But, so far, two search parties have not found the animal.

     A team of experts from the National Parks Board and the Singapore
     Zoological Gardens went to the island yesterday. But all they saw
     were marks of prints made by wild pigs and dogs, said a Parks
     officer who asked not to be named.

     He said: "There is still no confirmation of any tigers here. We
     found markings, but they are definitely not a tiger's."

     A zoo spokesman said yesterday that it was possible for a tiger
     to swim from Johor to the island.

     Yesterday was the second time in four days that search parties
     have gone on a tiger hunt.

     The first one took place on Friday, two days after a villager
     spotted an "orange-coloured animal with black stripes on its
     face", police said. But a five-hour search for the animal proved
     fruitless.

     Then, on Sunday, workers on the island said they saw two tigers
     near one of the quarries. Villagers said they have also seen
     "tiger footprints".

     An island resident, Mr W. S. Lee, a researcher in his 40s, said
     in Mandarin: "The tiger has become a hot topic in the village.
     The more we talked, the more we feared the rumour to be true.

     "It is not that unlikely. Elephants have crossed over to the
     island before. Well, so can tigers. It's only about 1 km between
     Johor and here."

     He was referring to an incident in 1991, when an elephant turned
     up on Pulau Ubin and attacked people. The beast was captured five
     days later and taken back to Johor by road.

     Mr K. P. Tan, 52, a Nature Society of Singapore member agreed
     that it was possible for tigers to cross the water, but he
     doubted the sightings were genuine.

     He said: "Tigers are solitary animals. And like other wild
     animals, they stay away from people.

     "The chances of coming in contact with a tiger at close range, as
     the villagers claimed, is like striking a lottery."

     Residents on the island, however, are taking no chances. One
     40-year-old housewife who only wanted to be called Mrs Tan, is
     making sure all her fences are secure.

     She said in Mandarin: "Of course I'm afraid. I make sure my door
     is locked before I go to sleep now."

     According to 1995 reports, about 600 people live on Pulau Ubin.

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 10:04:19 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Vegetarian prisoner files lawsuit
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

from private e-mail:
-------------------------------------
>From Harold Thompson (state prisoner incarcerated in rural Tennessee):

"The week of 10 March I filed a lawsuit on the absence of a vegan-vegetarian
diet at this place and at all Tennessee prisons. Two others and I are
claiming the denial of a vegan-vegetarian diet line, while for Jewish and
Nation of Islam prisoners non-pork religious diet is provided, violates out
deeply held religious belief in the sanctity of and reverence for all life.
The South Carolina prison system recently settled a vegetarian prisoner's
lawsuit out of court by placing a vegan-vegetarian diet line in all South
Carolina prisons. Of course, animal rights issues will be brought up in our
lawsuit's trial if we are forced to go to trial. It is filed under 42 U.S.C.
1983, All Writs Act and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993....

The lawsuit is straight to the point and should obtain the desired results as
in South Carolina prisons. Hopefully vegetarians and animal rights activists
will be willing to send information which I can present to the court proving
a vegetarian or vegan diet's healthful effects as opposed to consumption of a
meat diet and info on the inhumane, barbaric way animals are treated by meat
and poultry producers?"

If any of you can help Mr. Thompson, want more information about his lawsuit,
or simply would be willing to drop him a note, please write to him directly.

HIS ADDRESS:    Harold H. Thompson, #93992
                         Turney Center Industrial Prison
                         Route 1
                         Only, TN  37140-9709




Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 12:42:39 -0400 (EDT)
>From: [e-mail] (truddi lawlor)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: US- IFAW aids in animal rescues in flooded areas
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Emergency Relief Team at the International Fund For Animal Welfare, home
office located in YarmouthPort, Massachusetts, has spoken with HSUS and
other small relief groups to help assess needs in the flood torn areas of
the Dakotas and other states.

"HSUS is coordinating the efforts and IFAW has donated needed funds to
assist in the rescue efforts." said Sarah Scarth, IFAW Emergency Relief Team
Coordinator, "IFAW Emergency Relief Division has aided many in need
throughout the world ... Oil-spill victums in Japan and Monk Seals, for
example ... we were there after Hurricane Andrew and the hurricane in
northern Florida.  Our team members are located all over the world.  when
the need is great ... we try and help."

International Fund for Animal Welfare
Po Box 193. 411 Main Street
YarmouthPort, MA 02675
508-362-4944

Visit our Internet website at WWW.IFAW.ORG

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 05:59:09 -0700
>From: Beth Brown <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Longs Drugs Selling Live Fish
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Longs Drug stores, a major retail drug chain in California, is selling
small, plastic, cube-shaped aquariums, each holding three tiny live
fish, marketed under the name "Aqua Babies."

Not only is Longs supporting the taking of animals from their natural
habitat and placing them in captivity (not to mention breeding them for
profit), but the drug store chain has to be responsible for the fish
while they sit on stores shelves, waiting to be sold at $13 a pop, which
creates more work for store personnel.

The typical scenario, I would imagine, goes something like this:
enthralled child begs parent to buy aquarium, parent does so, novelty
wears off in a couple of days, fish eventually die of starvation or
neglect or disease, child is upset, parent flushes fish down toilet.
Upshot: Child effectively learns that living things can be purchased as
entertainment novelties, and that their lives have no significance or
import. Thus, the speciesist mindset is perpetuated.

I suggest the following:
--Talk to your local Longs drug store manager to express your objection
to their selling live animals
--Call Longs customer service at 510/937-1170 to complain
--Report the situation to your local humane society
--Contact Karen Norman-Boudreau at Aqua Babies, 707/829-1194.

Thanks for your support.

Beth Brown
Animal Rights Lobbying Network
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 13:38:16 -0400
>From: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Subject: (US) Baby Giraffe Dies of Broken Neck
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
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from AP Wire page:
-------------------------------
 04/29/1997 13:11 EST

 Baby Giraffe Dies of Broken Neck

 POWELL, Ohio (AP) -- A 7-month-old giraffe ran into a wall, broke its neck
and died
 after being spooked by a fallen feed barrel at the Columbus Zoo.

 The steel cable supporting the barrel snapped late Thursday or early Friday.

 Cheyenne, a reticulated giraffe, had been born at the zoo.
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 14:33:32 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Ming-Lee Yeh <[e-mail]>
To: Julie Beckham <[e-mail]>
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Pigs In Taiwan
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

Dear Julie and all friends who are concerned about animals in Taiwan,

It is so glad to see your post. Although we believe that Taiwanese
government considers about the international voice, we have never directly
received any response from the government. Your post let us know your
voice did work.
Now we still don't know if the government does take any humane method on
terminating victimed pigs in Taiwan. But we believe the more voice you
make, the more possiblity the Taiwanese government would change.

Please keep continuing your support on this issue!

Thank you very much for all your helps!

For animals,
Minglee Yeh
The representative in the US of
Life Conservationists Association of Taiwan,

 On Mon, 28 Apr 1997, Julie Beckham wrote:

> Hello:
>
> I hope that this is an appropriate posting to ar-news.
>
> I just wanted to let you know that about a week or so ago, a reporter
> from Taiwan called me regarding my letter to the Representative in
> Washington DC.  He said that he had seen the letter and wanted to know
> how I learned of the situation.  He then asked me if PETA was behind my
> letter.  I told him that I had received information from an email listing
> and was writing as a person concerned over the inhumane and cruel
> treatment of the pigs.  He was very polite and said that the letter had
> gotten attention.  Of course, I haven't received any response, but I did
> find it curious that he called me.
>
> Julie
>
>
>
> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 1997 11:45:00 -0400 (EDT)
> From: Ming-Lee Yeh <[e-mail]>
> To: allen schubert <[e-mail]>
> Cc: [e-mail]
> Subject: Re: (TW)PETA--PIGS BEATEN, ELECTROCUTED, AND BURIED ALIVE IN
> TAIWAN
> Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
> Mime-Version: 1.0
> Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>
> Dear PETA and all friends,
>
> Thank you for your support to the animals in Taiwan. The Life
> Conservationists Association (LCA) in Taiwan very much appreciates what
> you have done.
>
> Acctually, President Lee is an expert in agriculture economy. As we
> understand from all media, what he and his government is more considering
> about how to rescue the pork markets rather than other issues related to
> this disease. However, the experiences tells is that his government does
> care about the international images of Taiwan. So we always believe that
> international voice will help any animal rights activities within that
> island.
>
> All supports and voices are most appreciated. And we do wish the
> international continues to support. In addition, we also want to know how
> President Lee and his government respond your appeals. By this way, the
> LCA is able to judge which strategy is more effective in the future.
>
> Please let us know any response that you receive from Taiwanese
> government. Thank you for your help!
>
> Minglee Yeh
> Representative in the US
> Life Conservationists Association of Taiwan
> [e-mail]
> tel/fax/: 703-2041858
>
>
>

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 14:15:42 -0500
>From: "Forrest M. Brownell" <[e-mail]>
To: [e-mail]
Cc: [e-mail]
Subject: Don't Be a Turkey
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

The following was written for a pre-publication mock-up of WildLife, but
the sudden spurt of activity at the local gun club prompts me to forward
it to the list. Who knows? It might even save a life.

Forrest Brownell
Editor, WildLife Magazine

[e-mail]


Spring turkey season opens in all of New York State north of the
Bronx-Westchester county boundary on May 1 and remains open until the
end of the month, running through the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

DON'T BE A TURKEY

Are you a bird-watcher, a mushroom hunter, a wildflower lover, a
whitewater boater, an angler? Do you find the call of the spring
woodlands irresistible? Does the prospect of a weekend picnic in a
forest clearing or by the shore of a mountain pond make the work-week
bearable? Good! The all-too-short season of rebirth and renewal should
be enjoyed to the fullest.

A warm sun, a gentle breeze, a forest floor blanketed with Wake-Robin --
for one short moment your world is a passable imitation of the peaceable
kingdom.

But is it? Well ... at least the hunters have gone home, you say. No
more uneasy trailside encounters with armed strangers, whose grins and
silences are equally unsettling.

Not quite. Deer season is long over, but if you think that the hunters
are gone from the woods now, think again. Spring turkey season is just
getting started. One hunting writer calls it 'the most dangerous [time]
of the year'.

Armed with 10- and 12-gauge shotguns firing magnum loads of lead shot,
turkey hunters in North America killed seven people and wounded or
crippled an additional 116 in 1995 alone. Ten more died or were injured
as the result of 'self-inflicted' wounds.

Common sense suggests that most of the hunters' victims were themselves
hunters, but don't look to the published statistics to learn how many
non-participant bystanders were killed or injured. This information
isn't considered important enough to report publicly.

Still, the risk is relatively small. That won't be much comfort, though,
if you're one of the unlucky few, and you certainly can't rely on the
hunters to worry about your safety. 'Accidents will happen,' they often
say, implying that it's just too bad if they happen to you. Just one of
those things.

So -- your safety is your responsibility alone. You're on your own. How,
then, can you avoid becoming a spring statistic?


To begin with, follow these few simple rules.


* If you're planning an outing, find out if hunting is permitted where
you're going. Don't _assume_ that parks and wildlife refuges are closed
to hunters -- check with whatever authority manages the facility. And
never assume that you won't meet hunters even in 'closed' areas. Hunters
often take liberties with the law. Walk alertly at all times when in the
spring woods, wherever you are, and be especially watchful around dawn
and dusk.

Even if you're on posted private property, you may get an unwelcome
surprise. Ask any farmer about the trouble he (or she) has had with
trespassing hunters. Chances are good you'll get an angry earful in
reply.


* Don't go alone. This is always good advice, of course, but it makes
even more sense when there are hunters in the woods.  A party of two is
less likely to be 'mistaken for game' (the excuse most often offered by
hunters who kill), and -- if the worst happens -- someone will be there
to provide first aid or go for help.


* You may be one-hundred-percent American, but don't wear red, white or
blue clothing. Spring turkey hunters are hunting cock (male) birds, and
their target is the male bird's bluish head and red wattle (a loose flap
of highly pigmented skin hanging from the cock bird's chin). You don't
want to be mistaken for a turkey, do you?

You may think that no sane person could confuse, say, a 150-lb man in a
red wind-breaker for a thirty-pound bird with a blue head and a red
wattle, but don't bet your life on any hunter making this
not-very-subtle distinction. You can't even be sure that the hunters you
meet can _see_ you -- or anything else, for that matter. No state
requires hunters to pass a vision test to get a license.


* If you think that you hear the turkey's characteristic gobbling call,
don't try to stalk the bird to get a picture. Turkey hunters use
tape-recorded calls and other sound lures to entice male birds in range.
If you're chasing a call, you could be walking right into some hunter's
zone of fire.

Don't think you can rely on shouted warnings to alert hunters to your
presence at the last minute, either. By all means shout -- your voice
_should_ identify you to any hunter in possession of his senses. You
can't, however, be sure that you'll be heard. Just as no state requires
licensed hunters to pass a vision test, none requires them to prove that
they can hear. Muzzle blast -- the loud bang made when a gun is fired --
can permanently damage the delicate structures of the inner ear. As a
result, many older hunters and former servicemen have very poor hearing.
Just ask me (but speak loudly when you do).


* Consider wearing an international orange (also known as 'blaze' or
'hunter' orange) vest and hat. Don't think that your vest is Superman's
cape, though: nearly as many people are killed or injured wearing hunter
orange as not, and at least one state expert actually suggests that this
'safety' color may act as a 'releaser', spurring an over-excited hunter
to blast away. _I_ wear hunter orange whenever I'm walking where I might
meet hunters, but I never imagine that it makes me immortal, and I do
sometimes wonder if I'm not simply making myself a better target.


* Protect your eyes. Number 4 shot (a size often used by turkey hunters)
is dangerous out to 300 yd, and beyond. A single stray pellet can leave
you half-blind, as can a twig or thorn. Always wear some sort of eye
protection when walking in the woods. Eyeglasses with impact-resistant
lenses are better than nothing, but safety glasses are best.

Many sporting goods retailers sell 'shooter's glasses' specifically
designed to protect the eyes. Buy a pair, and wear them. Is your
eyesight worth less than a hunter's?


* If harassed or threatened by hunters -- it _does_ happen; it's
happened to me -- say and do nothing. A hunter is armed, after all, and
you're (probably) not. Just keep walking until you're well out of
danger, and then sit down and make complete notes about the incident.
Your notes should include, at a minimum:

(1) The time and place. (Always carry a map, and always know where you
are on that map.)

(2) The number of hunters and their descriptions: height, weight, age
and sex; distinctive physical characteristics and articles of clothing;
back-tag number(s). Do your best. It won't be easy. Spring turkey
hunters are usually covered in camouflage from head to toe, often
including camouflage scarves or face paint. Some states -- New York is
one, at least in the Northern zone and Catskill Park -- don't even
require that hunters wear identifying back tags.

(3) What was said and done by the hunters. Be as complete and accurate
as you can. Record every epithet and gesture that you can remember, and
be sure to note how many times you found a gun pointing your way. There
is _never_ an excuse for a hunter to point a gun at anyone else, even if
the magazine is empty and the action is open. This is a violation of the
fundamental rule of responsible gun handling, and it may in itself
constitute reckless endangerment or criminal assault.

When you get out of the woods, jot down the descriptions and plate
numbers of any other cars in the parking area, especially those with
rear-window gun racks or stickers identifying the owner as a member of a
'sportsman's' organization.

As soon as possible, report the incident to both the local conservation
officer and your state police -- and be sure to let WildLife know, too
(see below). Insist that an attempt be made to identify the hunters
responsible, and that the appropriate criminal charges (harassment, for
example, or reckless endangerment or assault) be brought.

Don't expect fast action, however, and keep in mind that it's now a
crime in most states for non-hunters to 'harass' hunters. If you were
foolish enough to reply in kind to the hunters who threatened you, _you_
may well be the one arrested.


* Lastly, take a lesson from the Scout Motto: 'Be prepared'. If, despite
all your precautions, the worst happens, a 'battle dressing' (an
absorbent pad combined with a pressure bandage, sold by many surplus
stores) and a cell phone could save a life. At the very least, take a
battle dressing with you on all your outings. They're cheap, and when
compressed they're no bigger than a Walkman (TM).

The dressing won't do any good if you don't know how to use it, of
course, so be sure that you learn how to control bleeding and shock --
the two great killers in gunshot wounds -- well in advance of need.


To sum up: Walk alertly and be prepared. Don't bet your life on being
heard or seen by hunters, and don't think you won't look like a turkey
to someone with a gun in his hands. Always remember that, until
licensing requirements are made more rigorous and hunters are compelled
to take responsibility for their actions, your safety rests in your
hands alone.

With a few easy precautions, though, you can minimize an already small
risk. Whatever you do, don't let yourself be scared out of the woods.
Spring is here at last. It won't stay long. Get out and enjoy the
natural world to the fullest.

...

Have you been threatened by a hostile hunter? Do you know of any other
instances of hunter-associated crime -- trespass, vandalism or assault?
Has a hunting 'accident' been reported in your local paper? Don't keep
it to yourself -- tell WildLife about it. Contact the editor at
315-262-2120 (e-mail: [e-mail]), today.

Copyright 1997 WildLife Magazine

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 97 15:12:11 UTC
>From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Lori Gauthier, Animal Rescuer in Kentucky
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

I talked to Lori this morning (she's the one who's singlehandedly been
rescuing animals in the floods there). Things have calmed down somewhat;
there are two things she needs now: dog/cat food and emotional support
from people.   She broke down crying on the phone. She's just seen too
much in such a short time for a person to handle. If you can, please send
her a short card or note of encouragement or call her. Thank you. It will
help her a lot. :-)

Her phone#: [phone]. Address: Lori Gauthier, "A Dog's Life,"
2342 US Hwy 68, Maysville, KY   41056 USA


-- Sherrill
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 18:51:58 -0400 (EDT)
>From: [e-mail]
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Next Magazine: Hazy Shadiness of Wintour
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

>From Next Magazine, April 18, 1997

Hazy Shadiness of Wintour

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ended a lukewarm Fashion
Week with a bang this Saturday, throwing their fantastic Fur is a Drag ball
at Club Expo, which featured Moby as the guest DJ, and a hilarious
performance by Misstress Formika as a fur drenched Anna Wintour.  Performance
artist David Ilku (renowned for his Michael Alig impersonation) played a
thickly-accented banana-chomping Karl Lagerfeld, and Miss Understood sang a
rendition of "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals", a Gilda Radner tune dating
back to her Saturday Night Live days, introducing it as "a song which totally
captures the spirit of how Anna Wintour feels about animals."

David Ilku's Karl Lagerfeld proceeded to munch loudly on his bananas the
entire time he spoke into the microphone, making his extremely thick German
accent even more indecipherable -- but the highlight of the entire event had
to be when Misstress/Wintour slipped off her incline, attempted to stand up,
and slipped again.  She covered herself like a true pro, exclaiming, "First
they throw a  raccoon on my plate -- now they throw oil under my feet."
 Following this, she announced that beyond supporting fur, she also supports
cloning so that she won't "miss a luncheon -- I have a lot of networking to
do." Immediately, half a dozen figures in Anna Wintour masks raided the
stage.

Seen at the event were the likes of Jem Jender, Calvin Klein supermodel Joel
West, and a very enthusiastic crowd that cheered and drank all through the
night.  "It was great," says Dan Mathews, the Director of Campaigns at PETA,
"because that midtown crowd doesn't always get exposed to the trash which we
revel in downtown.  I think we've definitely shown how low class fur can be."

Obviously, not everybody who caught wind of the event was as enthusiastic.
 When the real Anna Wintour heard about it, she immediately faxed a memo to
Dan Mathews, via her lawyers, which stated:
"We understand that you are using Ms. Wintour's name in a solicitation to
members of the public to attend a PETA fund raising event.  Please be advised
that such use violates Ms. Wintour's rights under New York Civil Rights Law
Sections 50 and 51.  Violations of that statute entitle Ms. Wintour to
injunctive relief against the unauthorized use of her name, as well as the
recovery of damages and punitive damages.  Please ... destroy all copies of
the invitation that make use of her name, as well as ... materials ... that
use her name or picture.  If we do not receive your written assurance ... we
will advise Ms. Wintour [to] ... resort to her more formal remedies to obtain
relief."

Ingrid E. Newkirk, President of PETA, immediately faxed back a response:
"I regret to advise you that Mr. Mathews is out of the office having his legs
waxed in preparation for next week's event.  Your client sounds easily
rattled.  I do hope this news doesn't push her over the edge."

"The entire event served to give Anna Wintour and fur-wearers around New York
an extended Maalox moment," Dan Mathews says.


Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 17:17:07 -0700 (PDT)
>From: [e-mail] (pawsinfo)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Free Feral Services (WA)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

The Progressive Animal Welfare Society is dedicated to helping all animals.
In order to continue this pledge, PAWS offers the following services to our
feral feline friends:

* Humane Traps Available
* FREE testing for feline leukemia
* Free Spay/Neuter surgery
* Free ear notching

For more information about PAWS free feral services, or to donate to this
project, please contact:

Roquel Williams
P.O. Box 1037
Lynnwood, WA 98046
206-787-2500
email: [e-mail]

**********************************************************

Bob Chorush  Web Administrator, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
15305 44th Ave West (P.O. Box 1037)Lynnwood, WA 98046 [phone] ext
862, [phone] fax
email [e-mail]      http://www.paws.org

Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 21:04:31 -0400 (EDT)
>From: [e-mail]
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Bruner withdraws Candidacy from Florida Game Commission
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>

Sarasota in Defense of Animals (SDA) has strongly opposed the appointment of
Maxwell J. Bruner to the Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission and has
actively campaigned for the past several months against Bruner's confirmation
by the Florida Senate.  Sumner D. Matthes, Wildlife Coordinator for SDA,
testified in opposition at the Senate Committee on Executive Business, Ethics
and Elections on April 23, 1997 in Tallahassee, Florida.

At continuation hearings on April 28, 1997, Bruner angrily withdrew his name
from consideration after hours of testimony in which critics exposed his
record on wildlife issues, his credibility, integrity and lack of commitment
to public service.  Most damaging were the testimonies of his acquaintances
in the Fort Walton region who accused Bruner of "snorting cocaine," a violent
temper, and animal torture.  These charges were in addition to the proven
records of Bruner's convictions of hunting violations.

We are pleased that Maxwell J. Bruner has withdrawn his candidacy and trust
that Governor Lawton Chiles will carefully choose the next candidate to fill
the vacancy on the Florida Game Commission.

Members of SDA praise the outstanding investigative work of Ken Johnson, of
The Humane Society of the United States Southeast Regional Office, and agree
with Johnson's statement that "good ol' boy politics will not be tolerated."


Sarasota In Defense of Animals
P.O. Box 15653, Sarasota, Fl 34277-1653
Fax:  [phone]
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 20:57:14 -0600
>From: [e-mail] (The Gross's)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: Rodeo protest in Waukegan, Illinois
Message-ID: <v02120d10af8c63dd6dbd@[206.225.192.68]>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Chicago Animal Rights Coalition (CHARC) will be holding a rodeo protest at
the Lake County Sheriff's Headquarters at 25 South Utica in Waukegan,
Illinois on May 5th from 11:00am to 1:00pm.  This will be the first protest
to start the final demise of the Wauconda rodeo.  This protest also will
emphasize the misinformation and unlawful behaviors of the sheriff's
department.  For more information please contact Greg or Terry Campbell at
847-438-0901.





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