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A monthly Magazine edited and published by Maria Lopes - June 2005 Please take an hour of your time to send the
letters and sign the petitions on behalf of the animals.
They only have our voice to speak for them. For the Animals
Maria Lopes Coordinator of the International Movement Against Bullfights "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) AUSTRALIA Wallabies Massacred
Source: Against AnimalCruelty
Tasmania's
It's a sad day when an estimated 100,000 of Australia's native animals are killed in a most brutal way and it does not make the news or warrant comment from any politicians!
Last month a huge number of wallabies were
killed using 1080 poison on King Island near Tasmania, Australia. 1080 kills in
the most horrible protracted way; it takes the animal around 12 hours to die and
during that time they scream, suffer violent seizures and vomit. Of course, 1080
is indiscriminate and many non-target species will have died as well. Not only
will the adult animals die, but pouch young and young at foot will also die
slowly of exposure and starvation. All because the farmers on King Island want
to keep the grazing land for their cattle alone. 1080 poison is a cheap, brutal
and temporary solution with no long term effect. King Island
farmers should stop blaming wildlife for the ecological problems they themselves have created, accept the presence of wild populations and, first and foremost, fence their land. Unless farmers look to long-term solutions such as wallaby proof fencing, they will continue to have wallabies and other native herbivores grazing their pastures. How you can help?
Write to the King Island Mayor and tell him what
you think of the recent massacre:
Mayor David Brewster,
Cnr Meech and George Streets, Currie, King Island Australia or by email to kicouncil@kingisland.net.au.
For more information on this issue you can go to
the Against AnimalCruelty Tasmania's website at www.aact.org.au
Dear Mayor Brewster,
I was saddened to hear of the mass slaughter of wallabies by the poison 1080 on King Island in May. This poison, as well as being extremely cruel in the death that it inflicts, is indiscriminate and will have killed many non-targeted species. Not only are adult wallabies killed after up to 12 hours of agony, but pouch young are left to die a slower death through starvation. I beg you to discourage the use of this brutal poison and offer financial incentives to those farmers who invest in long-term and eco-friendly solutions such as wallaby proof fencing. Wildlife cannot be blamed for the problems that we ourselves have created, nor should it be made to suffer. If we want to restrict grazing land to cattle we must be prepared to pay to properly fence it. Yours sincerely Name/Country EUROPEAN UNION Dog and cat fur imports in the EU
Source: Mark Richards
You can leave your address at the end of the
letter if you live in the EU.
Please write to the EU Commissioner responsible
for this issue:
Commissioner Markos Kyprianou
European Commission Directorate-General Health and Consumer Protection Rue de la Loi 200 / Wetstraat 200 B-1049 Bruxelles / Brussel - Belgium Email: cab-kyprianou@cec.eu.int Dear Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, I would like to express my concern that EU
citizens are unwittingly purchasing items containing dog and car fur and that
these furs contain excessive levels of chromium which damages child
DNA.
Dog and cat fur is found in ski boots and
gloves, trim on parkas, full coats, covering sleeping cat figurines, as hair
bows - dyed to look like faux fur- and other items, including dog chew
toys.
The overwhelming majority of EU citizens, MEPs
and EU Council of Agriculture Ministers would like to see a ban put in place.
Many EU citizens are also alarmed about the cruelty to cats and dogs: two
million are raised under cruel conditions and then skinned alive, strangled or
stabbed solely for their furs and skins (Humane Society of the US undercover
investigation in China).
Legally, the EC treaty permits a complete ban on
this trade (investigation by UK Matrix Chambers, May 2004). Furthermore, France,
Italy, Greece, Belgium and Denmark, USA and Australia have decided to take
action and ban imports of dog and cat fur.
I would like the Commission to discuss this
issue and protect EU citizens from this deceptive, dangerous and cruel trade by
banning imports of dog and cat fur.
Thank you very much in advance for your
time.
Yours sincerely,
Name/Country GREECE
The Greek Mythe about Animal
Welfare
Source: Marijo Gillis
Kostas Karamanlis, Prime Minister of the
Hellenic Republic
Prime Minister's Political Office - remarks, queries, proposals Maximos Mansion ('Megaro Maximou') 19, Herodou Attikou str, GR-106 74 Athens email: info@primeminister.gr Theodoros Roussopoulos, Nea Democratia
Spokesperson
email: info@primeminister.gr Prime Minister's Press Office
Ioannis Andrianos, Director 19 Herodou Attikou St., Megaro Maximou 10674 Athens ph: +30 210 7243333 email: pressoffice@primeminister.gr Dimitris Avramopoulos, Minister of
Tourism
Ministry of Tourism, 119 Mesogion Ave., 10192 Athens ph: 210-6969813-5 email: dimavra@otenet.gr, info@mintour.gr Petros Molyviatis, Minister of Foreign
Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 3 Akadimias St., Stoa Davaki, Athens ph: 210-3682700 email: mfa@mfa.gr, cio@mfa.gr Aristotelis Pavlidis, Minister for the Aegean
& Island Policy
Ministry for the Aegean & Island Policy Athens Office, 9 Filellinon St., 10557 Athens ph: 210-3311714-16 email: Info@Ypai.gr Konstantinos Karamanlis, Minister of
Culture
Ministry of Culture, 20-22 Bouboulinas St., 10682 Athens ph: 210-8201100 email: generalenquiries@noc.culture.gr, w3admin@culture.gr Anastasios Papaligouras, Minister of
Justice
Ministry of Justice, 96 Mesogion Ave., Athens ph: 210-7711019; email: minjust@otenet.gr George Savvaides, Greek Ambassador to the
U.S.
Embassy of Greece, 2221 Massachusetts Ave. N.W. Washington, DC 20008 ph: 202-939-1300; fax: 202-939-1324 email: evie@greekembassy.org web email: www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Contact.aspx?office=1> Greek Consul General: NYCcons@greekembassy.org EMAIL BLOCK contains all emails in this alert copy and paste to address bar info@primeminister.gr,pressoffice@primeminister.gr,
dimavra@otenet.gr,info@mintour.gr,mfa@mfa.gr, cio@mfa.gr,Info@Ypai.gr, generalenquiries@noc.culture.gr, w3admin@culture.gr,minjust@otenet.gr, evie@greekembassy.org,NYCcons@greekembassy.org, emarinak@tui.gr,paravantes@cityofathens.gr, anastasi@cityofathens.gr, editor@ekathimerini.com,elef@enet.gr,elet@enet.gr, info@apogevmatini.gr,tanea@dolnet.gr,zougla@otenet.gr, espresso@espressonews.gr,info@archenoah-kreta.com Honorable Officials of Greece: I remain committed to a tourism boycott of
Greece. I am shocked the Ministry of Tourism has lavished $100 million on the
"Live Your Myth In Greece" campaign when the ultimate myth endures: It's a fable
about officials who work to end the abuse of homeless animals in
Greece.
It is a fiction-based story, built upon words
without merit.
During the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, the
world learned an estimated 80% of Athens' strays had vanished as authorities
swept the streets for a sleek world reception. Images of emaciated animals,
hangings, shootings and poisonings emerged in The BBC, Greek TV News, New York
Post, Chicago Tribune, and other media outlets.
We saw cannibalized puppies and carcasses lining
gutters. We heard about laced with herbicides, pesticides and ground glass. We
saw ravenous strays foam at the mouth, convulse and die. We read about a live
dog crushed with the garbage and a burned kitten pulled from the
trash.
The outcry from the global animal welfare
community led to minor modifications. Two showcase shelters were unveiled to
greet international press, even as animals continued to rot alive in makeshift
pounds throughout
Greece. And where are the survivors the street dogs
supposedly rescued by the municipal government in a zero-hour effort to appear
humane? Greek sources report these dogs have disappeared.
In fact, little has changed. Eyewitness accounts
and photographic evidence attest to ongoing cruelty. At municipal animal
shelters, animals still languish in their own waste. Food is scarce and water
bowls are infested with dead insects and muck. Males and females are permitted
to breed unrestrained and starving dogs feed on newborn puppies.
Once again, I implore the Greek government to
enforce animal welfare legislation. Certainly some of the millions spent on
tourism ads could be directed toward humane reform. If Greece hopes to market
itself as a
sophisticated travel destination, it must align itself with European law designed to protect companion, farmed, and captive animals. Specifically, I call upon the Greek government
to:
--Repeal Animal Welfare Law #3170 and uphold
European Union Law, which Greece ratified in 1992. Officials have consistently
ignored or misconstrued the vague language in Law #3170. Animal abusers are
neither prosecuted nor penalized for their crimes.
--Issue a declaration from the Office of the
Prime Minister denouncing animal abuse and neglect.
--Enact a Ministerial Decree that authorizes
non-government animal protection societies and individuals to legally transport
abandoned animals to loving homes in Europe and America. Please lift the
Ministry of Agriculture's current embargo on the free passage of Greek strays to
permanent homes abroad.
--Thoroughly investigate and terminate, if
necessary, veterinarians within the Ministry of Agriculture who obstruct the re
homing of animals abroad. In addition, I urge the Greek government to monitor
and penalize, when appropriate, state veterinarians on the Greek mainland and
islands who undermine humane reform or violate anti-cruelty law.
--Subsidize and institute nationwide low-cost
spay/neuter, vaccination/treatment, microchip identification, adoption/re
homing, and humane education within the school system.
The Hellenic Veterinary Association rejects
spay/neuter aid from veterinarians in other countries. This is unacceptable.
Greece has demonstrated its inability to manage the animal overpopulation
crisis. I ask the Greek government to facilitate licensing for foreign
veterinarians who have volunteered to assist in sterilization, vaccination and
treatment for animals in Greece.
I will continue to encourage family, friends and
colleagues to boycott Greece as a vacation spot until visible strides are made
to enforce animal welfare law and institute humane reform.
Sincerely,
Name/Country NETHERLANDS
Stop Torment Of 1600 Monkeys In Netherlands
Lab
Source:KINSHIP CIRCLE LETTER
CAMPAIGN
2 letters
PETITION: PRIMATES SUFFER FOR SCIENCE IN
BPRC
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/757205473?ltl=1117097977#body Target: R. Bontrop, Director, Biomedical Primate Research Centre Sponsor: Nijn Esra, nijn@care2.com SAMPLE LETTER #1
TO: BPRC Biomedical Primate Research Centre
(BPRC)
P.O. Box 3306 2280 GH Rijswijk The Netherlands ph: + 31 15 284 2699; fax: + 31 15 284 3999 general email: website@bprc.nl, info@bprc.nl website: http://www.bprc.nl ADDITIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION FOUND
AT:
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/idp/idp/entry/147 Biomedical Primate Research Centre
(BPRC)
P.O. Box 3306 2280 GH Rijswijk The Netherlands KEY PERSONNEL:
Ronald E. Bontrop, General and Scientific Director ph: 31 (15) 284-26-99; fax: 31 (15) 284-39-99 email: bontrop@bprc.nl Dr. Bert 't Hart, Chairman, Dept. of
Immunobiology
ph: 31 (15) 284-2691; email: hart@bprc.nl P. Heidt, Chairman, Dept. of Animal Science
ph: 31 (15) 284-2723; email: heidt@bprc.nl J.L. Heeney, Chairman, Dept. of Virology
ph: 31 (15) 284-2660; email: heeney@brpc.nl A. W. Thomas, Chairman, Dept. of Parasitology
ph: 31 (15) 284-2538; email: thomas@bprc.nl H. v.d. Ruit, Chairman, Dept. of Finance and
Support
ph: 31 (15) 284-3249; email: ruit@bprc.nl Mr. Herbert Brok, Lab. of Immunobiology
ph: 31-15-284-2723; fax: 31-15-284-3999 EMAIL BLOCK:
website@bprc.nl,info@bprc.nl,bontrop@bprc.nl,hart@bprc.nl,heidt@bprc.nl, heeney@brpc.nl,thomas@bprc.nl,ruit@bprc.nl,jonker@bprc.nl,amor@bprc.nl Biomedical Primate Research Centre
(BPRC):
I understand BPRC is the European leader in
breeding and use of primates for animal experimentation in the areas of
immunobiology, infectious disease, parasitic disease, xenotransplantation,
radiation, toxic gasses, and neurological abnormalities.
While BPRC's mission to "study, prevent and/or
treat human diseases" is commendable, I fail to see how confining 1600 monkeys
inside your facility in the Netherlands accomplishes this task.
BPRC claims to function under the "auspices of
animal welfare." Yet, the Dutch government has admitted your laboratory does
"not meet generally accepted standards." Animal welfare professionals who have
visited the
primate laboratory observed over 500 macaques isolated in cramped cages. Babies are forcibly separated from female "breeding" monkeys at birth and chimpanzees are caged alone with no stimulation or enrichment whatsoever. These animals exhibit aberrant behaviors such as
repetitive banging against bars, spitting, and feces smearing. Tragically, many
of BPRC's test "models" are no longer even used in studies.
I strongly encourage BPRC to evolve with modern
science through the application of validated non-animal modalities. Animals
endure unceasing anxiety and pain for experiments that prove inapplicable to
human health.
For example, BPRC researchers have acknowledged chimpanzees do not contract human AIDS or develop its clinical symptoms. Nonetheless, one chimpanzee was isolated for a decade, simply to see what might happen if infected with human HIV. Animal testing is simply bad science. In fact,
according to America's Acting FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, a mere 8% of
animal-tested drugs pass Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Of those pharmaceutical
products, at least half fail in the late stage Phase 3 trials. With a 92%
failure rate, it's no surprise adverse reactions to drugs (ADRs) are the fourth
primary cause of death in the U.S.
In Canada, more than 16,000 seniors died from
ADRs over a five-year span from 1999 to 2003. The British Medical Journal
reported in 2004: "[Animal] research is poorly conducted and not thoroughly
evaluated." Scientists described contrived illness or injury in animals as
incongruous with humans and said drug doses differ substantially from those
administered to humans.
The alarm over drugs from Bextra, Celebrex and
Aleve to Premarin, Fen-phen and Vioxx ought to serve as a red light for animal
experimenters. How many more humans will suffer heart failure, cancer or stroke
before animals are recognized as a flawed model? Conversely, the release of
potentially helpful drugs may be delayed because they test useless or toxic in
animals.
The European Union and the Dutch Ministry of
Education annually hand BPRC more than £1.3 million in grants. That's nearly £3m
of European taxpayer money. Please stop wasting government funds to torment
sentient creatures in futile studies. Thank you for accepting my comments. I
look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Name/Country SAMPLE LETTER #2 TO: EUROPEAN COMMISSION & DUTCH GOVERNMENT Ministerie O.C. & W. t.a.v. dhr. L. Hermans Postbus 25000 2700 LZ Zoetermeer The Netherlands email: l.m.l.h.a.hermans@minocw.nl website: http://www.minocw.nl/ Ministerie L.N. & V.
t.a.v. dhr. Mr. L.J. Brinkhorst Postbus 20401 2500 EK Den Haag The Netherlands web email form: http://www.minlnv.nl/reageer/ website: http://www.minlnv.nl/ Ministerie van VROM
De Directie Stoffen, Veiligheid, Straling DGM/SVS/ipc 655 Postbus 30945 2500 GX Den Haag The Netherlands email: csr.ggo@rivm.nl website: http://www.rivm.nl/csr Mr. Janez Potocnik
Commissioner for Research Directorate F European Commission Rue de la Loi 200 B-1049 Bruxelles Belgium Email: janez.potocnik@cec.eu.int EUROPEANS: Also write or email your local Member
of the European Parliament (MEP) to ask for a European ban on the use of
chimpanzees in medical research, and an end to EU funding for BPRC. Find contact
information here:
http://www.europarl.eu.int Honorable Officials of the Netherlands and
European Commission:
As someone who advocates viable medical
research, I feel government agencies should be accountable for how they dispense
federal funds to research facilities.
The European Union and the Dutch Ministry of
Education annually hand the Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC) more than
£1.3 million in grants.
That's an investment of nearly £3m in European taxpayer money--for the use of 1600 primates in antiquated experiments. In the United Kingdom and New Zealand
experimentation on Great Apes is already banned. I strongly encourage you to
issue a comprehensive European ban on the use of Great Apes in research and to
quit funding BPRC.
BPRC claims to function under the "auspices of
animal welfare." Yet, the Dutch government has admitted the laboratory does
"not meet generally accepted standards." Animal welfare professionals who have
visited the
primate laboratory observed over 500 macaques isolated in cramped cages. Babies are forcibly separated from female "breeding" monkeys at birth and chimpanzees are caged alone with no stimulation or enrichment whatsoever. These animals exhibit aberrant behaviors such as
repetitive banging against bars, spitting, and feces smearing. Tragically, many
of BPRC's test "models" are no longer even used in studies.
BPRC could choose to evolve with modern science
through the application of validated non-animal modalities. Instead, animals
endure unceasing anxiety and pain for experiments that prove inapplicable to
humans. For example, BPRC researchers have acknowledged chimpanzees do not
contract human AIDS or develop its clinical symptoms. Nonetheless, one
chimpanzee was isolated for a decade, simply to see what might happen if
infected with human HIV.
Animal testing is simply bad science. In fact,
according to America's Acting FDA Commissioner Lester M. Crawford, a mere 8% of
animal-tested drugs pass Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials. Of those pharmaceutical
products, at least half fail in the late stage Phase 3 trials. With a 92%
failure rate, it's no surprise adverse reactions to drugs (ADRs) are the fourth
primary cause of death in the U.S.
The British Medical Journal reported in 2004:
"[Animal] research is poorly conducted and not thoroughly evaluated." Scientists
described contrived illness or injury in animals as incongruous with humans and
said drug doses differ substantially from those administered to
humans.
The alarm over drugs from Bextra, Celebrex and
Aleve to Premarin, Fen-phen and Vioxx ought to serve as a red light for animal
experimenters and their subsidizers. How many more humans will suffer heart
failure, cancer or stroke before animals are recognized as a flawed
model?
I join animal protection organizations worldwide
in asking you to close BPRC and work with animal welfare experts to release the
animals to specialized wildlife sanctuaries.
Renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall has
shown that primates form complex social unions and experience a full range of
emotions. Chimpanzees can foresee future events and communicate in sophisticated
patterns of sign language. Any facility that gasses, poisons, mutilates and
burns primates in the name of science is a disgrace in the civilized
world.
Thank you,
Name/Country REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Demand end to hare coursing
Source: ICABS
Please write to Minister Dick Roche and ask him
to refuse further licences to the Irish Coursing Club. Stress that the hare is
now widely considered to be a species in decline and that it must be protected
from all threats. Tell him that he has a duty to take the hare off the quarry
list to ensure the long-term well-being of the species.
SAMPLE LETTER (If possible, please write your own original letter. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence). Minister Dick Roche
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Custom House Dublin 1 Tel: 01-8882403 Fax: 01-8788640 Email: minister@environ.ie Dear Minister Roche,
Due to growing concerns about the status of the
Irish Hare species, I urge you to refuse any further licences to the Irish
Coursing Club.
In an answer to a recent Dail Question, you
stated that "there is no clear or definitive evidence" that hare numbers have
declined and that "the impact of hare coursing on the conservation of hare
populations would not be considered significant." Well, Minister, I consider
coursing's interference with thousands of hares to be very significant
indeed.
These hares, which should be allowed to live
free from human interference, are snatched from the wild by coursers, trained to
run up coursing fields and forced to run for their lives in front of greyhounds.
They are kept in captivity for up to two months.
The hares affected by this unnecessary activity
are not just those injured or fatally battered by the greyhounds. The blood
sport has a wider implication for the species. Hares die while being netted for
coursing, leverets left behind when nursing hares are captured are doomed to
die, leverets born in captivity are unlikely to survive and captured hares are
susceptible to the life threatening capture myopathy condition during their time
in captivity and weeks after being released.
More and more experts are coming forward to
voice their concern about the status of the hare population in Ireland. This,
Minister, includes the Heritage Council which your Department funds to propose
policies and
priorities for the protection of the national heritage. This body has labelled the hare a "declining species". Hares have been protected from coursing
activities in all our neighbouring jurisdictions. How much more persecution will
the species have to endure before it is finally banned here too?
I look forward to your positive
reply.
Yours sincerely,
Name/Location
SPAIN
CAMPAIGN AGAINST "BULL FORCED INTO SEA" , BOUS A
LA MAR
Source: INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST
BULLFIGHTS www.iwab.org
The Valencian town of Dénia works itself up into
a frenzy for the much-anticipated Toros/Bous a la Mar. This bull running
extravaganza is staged annually to commemorate the Day of the Sacred Blood of
Our Lord Jesus Christ (el Día de la Santísima a Sangre de Nuestro Señor
Jesucristo).
There can't be many Christian communities who choose to venerate Jesus Christ by holding a bull run in the local harbour. This outrage happens every year between the 3rd and 11th July. It's not the first time that bulls die either drowned or by other causes, also they are chased with sticks and kicked. Please send protest emails to the authorities
listed below.
Write a polite letter in your own language because it will have more impact. Mayor Leave your letter or comment on line at: http://www.ayto-denia.es/Contenido.asp?p=34 Department of Environment mediambient@ayto-denia.es Tourism tourist.info@denia.net PETITIONS
Canned Hunt Petition
http://www.careforthewild.com/petition.asp?pid=1 Ban Blood Sports in Ireland
www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/784506550 Protest Against Destiny's Child
http://www.bontvoordieren.nl/actiedest.php URGENT: Save El Paso Zoos Elephants
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/567430478 Help to close the Dolphin Tank at Manati Park
Bavaro
http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/309558120 Cancel the Bear Show at the Washington Fair
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/970842875?ltl=1119314759 WE MUST STOP JAPAN’S SLAUGHTER
OF HUMPBACK AND FIN WHALES http://www.bluevoice.org/jcemail/whale-protest.html Free Bobo the Baby Babboon
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/257825987 FREE ANNE!! Urgent Circus Elephant UK Campaign!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/778767586 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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