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A monthly
Magazine edited and published by Maria Lopes Dear Friends, Every day we are confronted with either new forms of animal abuse and torture or with the increase of this abuse. The "human race", which considers itself the superior species on earth makes this world a hell for non human animals. Constantly we are seeing new bullrings being constructed for the torture and killing of animals, not only in Spain but also in France where the number of bullfights steadily increases. The greed and eager desire of making money at the cost of animal torture has no limits. They breed bulls without stopping and without market for all of them. They increase the number of charitable bullfights, any pretext is used to torture several bulls in one afternoon, it does not matter whether it's to help people with cancer, to help religious associations, disabled people or even NGOs like Caritas, Doctors without Frontiers, you name it. Only this month several bullfights took place in Spain described as "charitable". Three days ago we learnt that China is the new destination of bullfights. Yes, you read correctly, the Chinese want bullfights because they love them. We aren't surprised. We are talking about a nation where many millions (not all of course) aren't concerned about non human animals any more than they are concerned about their fellow human animals. This is the country where SARS and other diseases appeared due to the fact that they eat every being that flies, walks or crawls. But it's not only China. No country in the world can say it respects and does not abuse non human animals, they all figure on the black list. This month we report another new form of abuse, and a terrible one - the "hog-dog" rodeos that take place in Alabama, USA. More than ever we must unite ourselves and fight all the abuses perpetrated on non human animals. We are their warriors and we must fight each battle as it arises on their behalf. They rely on us and we rely on all of you. For the Animals Maria Lopes
"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for
survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. It is
my view that the vegetarian manner of living, by its purely physical effect on
the human temperament, would most beneficially influence the lot of
mankind." Albert Einstein (Nobel Prize) BRAZIL
WHAT IS FARRA
DO BOI? Source: WSPA and Linda Furness
One of the most
savage rituals of cruelty toward animals is Brazil’s Farra
do Boi. Farra do boi, loosely translated as “ Festival of
the Oxen” or “Ox Fun Days”, involves the torture- killing
of several hundred oxen each year in more than thirty
communities throughout the Brazilian state of Santa
Catarina. In other states of Brazil, the spectacle is
denounced and has stirred violent protests.
Until recently,
Farra do Boi occurred primarily during Easter week and on
New Year’s Day in remote coastal villages.Today some
communities hold weekly Farras to “celebrate” weddings,
birthdays, soccer games and other
Before the
event, the ox is confined and starved for several days. To
increase the ox frenzy, food and water are placed within
sight, but out of reach. After Days of Torture, the Relief of Death
WSPA sources in
Brazil have seen cattle tormented in every conceivable
way. The helpless animals are doused with gasoline and set
on fire. Pepper is thrown into their eyes, which are often
then gouged out.
Some say the
ritual is a symbolic re-ennanctment of the Passion of
Jesus, with the ox representing Judas. Other believe the
animal represents Satan, and torturing the Devil washes
away their sins. Please send letters to: (Sample letter in English and Portuguese)
Mr. Luiz
Henrique da Silveira
camich@pm.sc.gov.br R. José da Costa Moellmann, 193 88020-170 Florianópolis - sc Telefone: (048 ) 221-3186 Fax: (048 ) 221-3137
Write
to the Embassy of Brazil in your country
Embassies of Brazil to Other Nations http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/brazil1.htm
Embassy
in Washington
3006 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, D.C. 2000 Phone: (202) 238-2700 Fax: (202) 238-2827 E-mail: webmaster@brasilemb.org
Please try to
at least change some of the words in the sample to reflect
your own feelings.
Please keep it respectful. Dear Governor,
I am
writing in reference to the cruel festival "Farra do Boi".
I respectfully urge the State of Santa Catarina to take
immediate action and abide by the decision of the Supreme
Tribunal Federal to ban the Farra do
Boi.
The holy
day tradition involves the population of each of the
little coastal towns and villages.
The day is spent beating to death an ox with knives,stones, sticks and piercing objects. The animals bones are broken and the eyes are poked out. Exhausted, tortured and suffering, they "comfort" the animal by giving him salt water to drink.
This
barbaric "holy day" tradition has been posted on the
Internet for the world to see. We've learned that right after the last Carnival, people in the city of Florianopolis have promoted Farra do Boi and none were arrested. The practice has been banned since 1997 but the Governor Esperidiao Amin does not take action in order to educate people or stop the torture.
According
to Federal law number 9605/98, torturing animals is a
crime. It's outrageous that violent people, such as the
seven men who tortured and killed a horse in 2000, are not
in jail.
People throughout the world are waiting and hoping for severe changes in the State of Santa Catarina.
Name/Country
Exmo.Senhor
Governador,
Venho
por este meio requerer a V.Exa que tome medidas
imediatas para fazer cumprir a decisão do Supremo
Tribunal Federal no que respeita á proibição da
chamada "Farra do Boi".
De acordo
com a lei federal nº 9605/98 a tortura de animais é um
crime. É simplesmente revoltante que pessoas tais como os
sete homens que em 200 torturaram e mataram um cavalo não
estejam presos.
Esta suposta tradição religiosa que envolve a população de várias vilas e aldeias consiste em torturar com facas, paus, pedras e objectos pontiagudos, um boi até á morte. A barbaridade é tal que os olhos dos animais são estirpados e os seus ossos partidos. Exaustos, torturados e em agonia, o povo "conforta" os mesmos dando-lhes água salgada a beber!!!!!!! Esta bárbara tadição "religiosa" é conhecida no mundo inteiro e ninguém consegue entender como é possível que a lei não se faça cumprir. Tenho conhecimento que após o último Carnaval as pessoas da cidade de Florianópolis levaram a cabo esta bárbara prática sem que ninguém tenha sido preso. Esta prática está proíbida desde 1997 mas o governador Esperidião Amin não toma medidas para fazer cumprir a lei. O mundo tem os olhos postos no Estado de Santa Catarina e exije que a lei seja cumprida. Atentamente
Name/Country SPAIN HAPPY ROYAL WEDDING BUT WITHOUT BULLFIGHTS Source: Adela On the occasion of the royal marriage of Prince Felipe, Spain, there is a chance that a bullfight and a hunting party will be organised. To prevent this, please send a letter to the Royal House (letter in English and Spanish) Honorable Sirs: I learned that there will be a celebration with hunting and bullfights on the occasion of the wedding of the future King of Spain, Prince Felipe. These acts are totally inappropriate of a modern country. To associate the wedding with the suffering of the animals in the name of an anticuated tradition approved only by a pitiful minority, is not only archaic, but undignified of a modern and democratic Royal House!
The Royal Family
doesn’t seem aware of the fact that both Spaniards and
European citizens have shown their total rejection to any
kind of spectacles and acts where animals are victims of
torture and death. The influence of the bullfighting
circles may have reached the Royal House…but it is
considered unjust and immoral that the Royal Family should
accept this type of acts so cruel and degrading to men and
animals alike!
Respectfully yours, ___________________________ Subject: Enhorabuena por la boda real. !Pero sin toros y sin caza, por favor!
Distinguidos Señores, Los actos mencionados son impropios de un país moderno. Unir la boda al sufrimiento de animales en nombre de una tradición caduca y minoritaria, no es solo arcaico, sino indigno de una casa Real moderna y democrática. La Casa Real no parece consciente de que tanto los españoles, como el resto de los ciudadanos europeos, han mostrado su rechazo total a cualquier tipo de espectáculos y actividades en las que los animales son víctimas de torturas o muerte. La influencia de los círculos taurinos puede que alcance la esfera de la Casa Real, pero considero injusto e inmoral que la Familia Real acepte este tipo de acciones, crueles y denigrantes para hombres y animales. Esperamos que los futuros Reyes de España transmitan su preocupación en educar a sus hijos en el respeto por TODOS los seres vivos y en situar la democracia sobre los intereses de grupo. Con todos mi respetos, Name/Country/e-mail VENEZUELA BULLFIGHTS IN CARACAS - UPDATE Source: INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS Unfortunately the bullfights of 14th and 15th of February took place in the Poliedro de Caracas. This time the thousands of letters sent to the authorites of Venezuela were unable to prevent this cruelty. We have now yet another city with bullfights. We might have lost one battle but we have not lost the war. Thanks to all that protested. VIETNAM Vietnam Action Alert
Source:
Greyhound Action International.
Like other south east asian countries, Vietnam is expanding it's greyhound racing industry with support and encouragement from the rest of the greyhound world. The Australian industry is particularly prominent in this expansion as many of the greyhounds are exported from there.
The Peoples Committee have also granted Sports and
Entertainment Services (SES) responsible for greyhound
racing in Vietnam, a 30 year license for the development
of greyhound racing in Cambodia.
Name/Country
International Relations
Department U.S.A. HELP STOP THE HOG DOG RODEOS Source:Linda Furness and Hsus
A recent undercover investigation by
Alabama news station WPMI-NBC revealed the horrors of
Alabama’s “hog-dog rodeos”—public entertainment events
where trained attack dogs are set upon penned pigs.
Videotape of one of these events shows “torture and
bloodshed” as screaming pigs are mauled by the dogs.
Another shot shows children tackling a pig with a snout
taped shut and an apparently broken leg. One spectator
justified the event, “They got a lot of young people
around in this part of the country that don't have much to
do around here and that gives them an outlet." However,
much like dogfighting and other organized animal fighting
events, hog-dog rodeos cause barbaric cruelty and
encourage violence in the community.
Click
here
http://www.wpmi.com/news/special_reports/story.aspx?content_id=DC687807-1B8B-43AE-8D0B-9FB9B095AEC9
to read and view WPMI’s investigative story online. Please sign the petition on line http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/savepigs/ and Please send protest letters to (sample letter below but please try to write a different one):
Clarke County District Attorney
Robert ("Bobby") D. Keahey Dear District Attorney Keahey, I am writing on behalf of the animals, which are being used in the hog/dog rodeos that are held in Clarke county. This spectacle is a very sad commentary on the state of animal protection within Clarke County, and the entire State of Alabama! Besides the glaring fact that this horror, is an outrageous case of animal cruelty, calling it family entertainment, is shocking to say the least. Isn't there enough violence in our country, perpetrated by both children and adults? By allowing this spectacle of cruelty to continue, is to condone this type of barbaric behavior in our society. I am aware that one of these barbaric "rodeo's" are to be held tomorrow, 2/21/04. Please do the right thing, close it down and confiscate the animals, before any more suffer. Send a clear message to all who attend and condone this behavior that such barbaric behavior will not be tolerated in a civilized society. The entire country is waiting to see if you will do the right thing. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your reply. Sincerely, Name/Country/Email New list of promoters of Iditarod dog torture in 2004
Since our
last action alert, other organizations have become
sponsors or promoters of the barbaric Iditarod dog
sled race. Brutal dog-torture continues at the hands
of hardhearted Iditarod mushers, although some
organizations have ended their involvement. Please
help the dogs who are forced to run in the Iditarod
dog sled race by sending protest emails to these new
race sponsors and
promoters.
Emails are first given in block form and then individually under the sample letter. Please blind copy the email addresses (Contact information for all the sponsors and promoters can be found on http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm along with email addresses with semi-colons in block form which can be found on the bottom of the page): info@napapijriusa.com,ir@gmodelo.com.mx ,
procermexlt@corona-extra.com
,
kesewell@rochester.k12.mn.us
, ra@cmp.it,jkern@esc11.net,lhbroadus@esc11.net ,
sales@eniva.com,bruce.riggins@meristar.com
,
PLEASE PERSONALIZE SAMPLE LETTER (If you will be boycotting, please say so.): Dear I understand your organization sponsors or promotes the Iditarod dog sled race, and I want to bring some facts to your attention. This race is condemned by animal protection groups and animal lovers across the United States. Please stop supporting this abusive race, and all of the evils associated with it.
Mushers
treat their dogs abominably. In the Iditarod, dogs are
forced to run 1,150 miles, which is the approximate
distance between Los Angeles and Seattle, over a
grueling terrain in 8 to 15 days. Dog deaths and
injuries are common in the race. USA Today sports
columnist Jon Saraceno called the Iditarod "a
Please
visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website
http://www.helpsleddogs.org
and be sure to read the quotes
on
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks.htm
. At least 120 dogs have died in the Iditarod. There is no official count of dog deaths avalable for the race's early years. Causes of death have included strangulation in towlines, internal hemorrhaging after being gouged by a sled, liver injury, heart failure, and pneumonia. "Sudden death" and "external myopathy," a fatal condition in which a dog's muscles and organs deteriorate during extreme or prolonged exercise, have also occurred. In the 2001 Iditarod, a sick dog was sent to a prison to be cared for by inmates and received no veterinary care. He was chained up in the cold and died. Another dog died by suffocating on his own vomit. On average, 54% of the dogs who start the race do not even make it across the finish line. Of those that finish, 81% have lung damage. Tom Classen, retired Air Force colonel and Alaskan resident for over 40 years, tells us that the dogs are beaten into submission: "They've had the hell beaten out of them." "You don't just whisper into their ears, 'OK, stand there until I tell you to run like the devil.' They understand one thing: a beating. These dogs are beaten into submission the same way elephants are trained for a circus. The mushers will deny it. And you know what? They are all lying." -USA Today, March 3, 2000 in Jon Saraceno's column Beatings and whippings are common. Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing Manual, "I heard one highly respected [sled dog] driver once state that "'Alaskans like the kind of dog they can beat on.'" "Nagging a dog team is cruel and ineffective...A training device such as a whip is not cruel at all but is effective." "It is a common training device in use among dog mushers...A whip is a very humane training tool."
Mushers
believe in "culling" or killing unwanted dogs,
including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently
disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any
reason, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged or
clubbed to death. Jon Saraceno wrote in his March 3, 2000 column in USA Today, "He [Colonel Tom Classen] confirmed dog beatings and far worse. Like starving dogs to maintain their most advantageous racing weight. Skinning them to make mittens. Or dragging them to their death."
The race
has led to the proliferation of horrific dog kennels
in which the dogs are treated very cruelly. Many
kennels have over 100 dogs and some have as many as
200. It is standard for the dogs to spend their entire
lives outside tethered to metal chains that can be as
short as four feet long. In 1997 the United States
Department of Agriculture determined that the
tethering of dogs was inhumane and not in the animals'
best interests. The chaining of dogs as a primary
means of enclosure is prohibited in all cases where
federal law Iditarod dogs are unhappy prisoners with no chance of parole. Please end your organization's association with the Iditarod dog sled race. Sincerely, Name/Country ____________________________________
NEW 2004 IDITAROD SPONSOR
Alaska
Airlines NEW 2004 IDITAROD PROMOTER
TIME for
Kids NEW 2004 IDITAROD MUSHER SPONSORS
Corona
Extra Beer (Grupo Modelo, S.A. de C.V.)
Napapijri
Bamber
Valley Elementary School
Kefas
Outward Call
Autonomous
Region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia Italy
Anchorage
Sheraton (MeriStar Hospitality, Corp.)
Oakridge
School
Envia
Corporation
CMP - Net
Solutions
Pheasants
Forever Visit: http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm for complete contact information.
PETITIONS Baby Sea Turtles In Danger! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/771891222
OH No Gunshot as a Method of
Euthanasia Bill
Send the Message that Steel-Jaw Leghold
Traps are Inhumane Stop animals 'cruelty and abuses in Romania! http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/Romania Monkey Business in Nepal http://www.gopetition.com/online/3130.html Please implement the Israeli Court's decision to ban force feeding
Disclaimer: All items published in this magazine were received by us and we pass them on in good faith. We are not responsible for incorrect email addresses, errors, omissions etc. by the originators.
INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS
This Magazine published by Maria Lopes |
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