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1994-06-07
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Putting People First / May 31, 1994
===================================
PEOPLE'S BULLETIN
===================================
News and notices in the struggle against animal rights and eco-
extremists
copyright@1994 Putting People First
Permission to reproduce all or part of
an item id freely granted on the condition
that credit s given to Putting People First.
Putting People First is a nonprofit organization of citizens who believe in
western civilization; that we need to return to common sense in man's
relationship with his fellow man; and that public policy should be based on
science and rationality, not emotionalism.
PO Box 1707
Helena, Montana 59624
(406) 442-5700
FAX (406) 449-0942
======================================================================
GATT REMOVES TUNA BOYCOTT
A panel of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) ruled that
the United States boycott of tuna caught in purse seine nets is illegal.
This ruling will be fought strongly by the environmentalist groups that
forced the boycott in the first place.
In the May 23rd Wall Street Journal, purse seine fishing is described
as net fishing which "encircles both tuna and the dolphins with whom they
often travel, causing many of the air-breathing dolphins to drown." In
actuality, purse seine fishing as done by U.S. fishing boats is far better
ecologically than what was forced on the tuna industry by the boycott.
Under the purse seine fishing, the dolphin mortality rate is less than
one percent, and large, male, yellow fin tuna which swim under dolphins, are
taken rather that the female and young tuna which are being harvested now
because of the boycott. Taking only the reproducing and the young tuna will
cause a reduction in the number of tuna in the future.
The GATT position is going to cause some friction with U.S. trade
policy. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) chairman of the Senate Environment and
Public Works committee said he was "extremely disappointed" in the decision.
He indicated the decision "only further reinforces the need to work toward
environmental reform in GATT." Critics have charged GATT would undercut
U.S. environmental policies.
U.S. Trade Representative Mickey Kantor didn't comment on if the U.S.
would block a GATT ruling. He did say the U.S. would refuse to alter the
Marine Mammal Protection Act, which requires a boycott of tuna caught in
purse seine nets.
INTERNATIONAL WHALING COMMISSION MEETS IN MEXICO
Next week the International Whaling Commission meets in Puerto
Vallarta, Mexico. Two issues will be hot topics at the meeting. One is that
Japan and Norway will be pushing to resume commercial whaling of minke
whales on a small, sustainable yield basis. Norway took less than 300 of
minkes last year -- legally -- in spite of the moratorium. Numerous animal
rights and Green groups were pressuring President Clinton to place sanctions
on Norway, but Clinton refused.
The second big issue at the Conference will be the French proposal to
set up a whale sanctuary in the Antarctic Ocean. Greens such as the
Environmental Investigation Agency (that brought us the doctored film about
pilot whaling by the Faroese), and Greenpeace (that brought us the doctored
film about sealing), have pressured the National Marine Fisheries Service of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to purport that not only
are giant sea mammals threatened by commercial whaling but, "in addition,
whales and dolphins increasingly suffered skin burns because of the growing
depletion of the ozone layer."
According to Dr. S. Fred Singer, of the Science & Environmental Policy
Project, "The NMFS paper presents a one-sided view; it ignores all published
scientific evidence that disagrees with its cataclysmic thesis." The
contention that whales and dolphins are suffering from a poxlike disease
caused by the depletion of the ozone layer, is, according to Singer, "on a
par with past hoaxes, since discredited, claiming that the temporary UV
increase due to the ozone hole has produced blindness in Patagonian sheep,
melanoma in Chilean babies, etc., etc."
Greenpeace says that if they cannot get agreement on a sanctuary that
includes minke whales, they will wait until next year's meeting and try
again.
-Contact:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Washington Science Center
Bldg. 5, 6010 Executive Blvd.
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 713-2370
Fax (202) 482-6203
TIMBER SUMMIT FLOPS
After all the hoopla last year in Portland at the Timber Summit, the
Clinton Administration came up with a plan expected to placate both sides --
the timber industry and the environmentalists. The plan calls for an end to
logging bans but with greatly reduced cutting levels compared to the high
levels of the 80s, and requires more protection for wildlife.
The timber industry has sued claiming the plan cuts too much logging
and last week the environmentalists sued claiming the plan does not go far
enough in protecting wildlife.
EXTREMISTS TARGET BURGER KING
Burger King has been targeted by animal extremists because the fast
food franchise does not necessarily want to sell tofu burgers. That does
not seem like a big deal. This is a free society. Businesses are allowed to
choose what they want to sell. Or are they?
Lorri Bauston. spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary, an organization backing
the campaign to get Burger King owners to give up their rights and sell
veggie-burgers nationwide, said in an AP news story that, "We need
vegetarian options at fastfood restaurants. We need the convenience just
like everyone else."
The City Council of Berkeley, California has got involved, sending a
letter urging Burger King to cave in. If there is a market for
veggie-burgers, then some entrepreneurial vegetarian should open up their
own fast-food restaurant, not try to overthrow American businesses by
telling them what they MUST sell, or soon they will be telling them what
they cannot sell -- meat.
-Burger King is suffering an onslaught of negative letters
generated by PeTA.
To offer support write:
Burger King
P.O. Box 020783
Miami, FL 33102-0783
BUCKMASTERS TO SPONSOR THE LARGEST CELEBRATION OF HUNTING IN 1994
Buckmasters Country Jam Expo will be held in the Georgia Dome in
Atlanta, Georgia July 8 to 10. "Hunters Unite For Hunting" promises to be
the Superbowl of the hunting industry.
The Expo will include a gigantic consumer show, the Buckmasters Top Bow
Indoor Shooting Series, and the first ever country rock concert hosted by
Country Music Superstar Travis Tritt. The Charlie Daniels Band is scheduled
to appear along with many other top country music entertainers.
"We will be celebrating the hunting sportsman's role in conservation
and wildlife management," reports Jackie Bushman, CEO and founder of
Buckmasters, the nation's largest white-tailed deer hunting organization.
-For information contact:
Buckmasters
P.O. Box 235006
Montgomery, AL 36223-5006
(205) 271-3337
Fax 205-244-6563
MONTANAN OFFERS FOURTH WILDERNESS BILL
Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT) has introduced the Montana Jobs Security
and Lands Protection Act (S. 2125). He hopes this bill will end the sixteen
year struggle to create a successful wilderness bill for Montana. Each of
the other two men in the Montana Congressional Delegation have introduced
their own versions of a wilderness bill.
A bill written by Congressman Pat Williams (D-MT) recently passed the
House. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) reintroduced what he calls a "compromise"
bill, a bill that failed to pass two years ago. New York Congresswoman,
Carolyn Maloney has added her own wilderness bill into the hopper.
Burns' bill, the Montana Jobs Security and Lands Protection