|
|
Ralph: click me
Webmaster:
Nefer Sekhmet, OM
Design by Helen
|
A monthly Magazine edited and published by Maria Lopes - March 2006 Dear Friends,
The E.U. has just inaugurated
a discussion forum about "What sort of European
Union do you want?".
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."
Protest against the "Farra do Boi" Source:WSPA and Mentayflor 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 special occasions. Prominent businessmen, citizens, cattle breeders, restaurateurs, and politicians often donate the oxen. The Farra begins when the ox is driven from its pen and chased through the streets by crowds of villagers with sticks, knives, whips, stones, bamboo lances, and ropes.The attackers men, women, and children pursue the ox as it attempts to flee, even into the ocean. 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. Participants break the animal's horns and legs and cut off their tales. Oxen may be stabbed or hit as many times as possible as long as the blows are not fatal, for the cattle must survive until the end. This torture may continue for THREE DAYS OR LONGER. Finally the animal is killed and the meat is divided among the participants to eat. Please send protest letters to: cgmp@mp.sc.gov.br;governo@brasil.gov.br; joao.vasconcellos@embratur.gov.br;visitbrazil@braziltourism.org; governador@scc.sc.gov.br;ci@alesc.sc.gov.br;pgj@mp.sc.gov.br; ssp@ssp.sc.gov.br;vicegovernador@ccv.sc.gov.br,cerimoni@pm.sc.gov.br; gknaesel@sol.sc.gov.br;dpm@cptec.inpe.br;cartas@jb.com.br ; benedet@ssp.sc.gov.br;alesc@alesc.sc.gov.br;sol@sol.sc.gov.br; pmgovcelsoramos@terra.com.br;camich@pm.sc.gov.br; bemestaranimal@pmf.sc.gov.br;walmor@prsc.mpf.gov.br; oabpresidente@oab-sc.org.br;redacao@diario.com.br;anoticia@an.com.br; bomdiasc@rbstv.com.br GOVERNADOR DE SANTA CATARINA Luiz Henrique da Silveira Prezado Sr. Governador, Verificamos a cada ano que, embora o Supremo Tribunal Federal tenha definido que a prática conhecida como "farra do boi" seja um crime, ela ainda continua sendo realizada no litoral de Santa Catarina. Conforme o Recurso Extraordinário número 153.531-8/SC; RT 753/101ª, por força de acórdão do Supremo Tribunal Federal, na Acção Civil Pública de n° 023.89.030082-0, a "farra do boi" foi considerada intrinsecamente cruel, sendo um crime punível com até um ano de prisão para quem o pratica, colabora ou, no caso das autoridades, exime-se de impedi-la. Há ainda a Lei Federal 9.605/98, que prevê em seu artigo 32, que é proibido "praticar ato de abuso, maus-tratos, ferir ou mutilar animais silvestres, domésticos ou domesticados, nativos ou exóticos", impondo pena de detenção e multa, sendo aumentadas até um terço se ocorrer a morte do animal. Entendemos que a lei não vem sendo cumprida com o rigor e a responsabilidade que a questão merece, por isso, através desta carta, solicitamos que nossa Polícia Militar aja para prevenir, impedir e, se necessário, reprimir e prender os cidadãos que desrespeitarem a citada legislação que garante aos nossos animais o direito de não serem molestados, torturados e mortos. É horrível conviver em meio à barbárie covarde e coletiva que nos últimos anos, conforme registra a imprensa, vem causando a morte de animais indefesos, farristas ignóbeis e até mesmo de crianças inocentes. Além de prejuízos a propriedades, carros e transtornos no trânsito. Vários relatos populares dão conta de que a polícia pouco ou nada faz para coibir a farra. Essa atitude, além de ir contra a lei, vai contra a vontade da maioria dos eleitores, conforme pesquisa de opinião pública de seu conhecimento e também dos turistas que já começam a expressar repúdio em visitar nossa terra que, como outras no País, fica cada vez mais conhecida como lugar onde pessoas maltratam os animais para se divertir, desobedecendo as leis e com certa conivência do poder público. Escrevemos esta carta realmente preocupados, pois, no final de janeiro, em entrevista à televisão Bandeirantes - Barriga Verde, o senhor deu a entender que a polícia não vai coibir a prática cruel da farra do boi. Não há nada mais destruidor para a imagem de um Estado do que a violência. A violência nos deixa inseguros, apodrece a cultura, apaga a alegria, afugenta os turistas e é péssimo para as futuras gerações. Nossa sociedade vem buscando formas de combater a violência em várias instâncias e na área cultural isso não pode ser diferente. Felizmente Santa Catarina tem várias tradições secularmente pacíficas. É papel do governo preservar o boi de mamão, a renda de bilro e a cultura da paz. Ainda há tempo para reparar esse engano. Estamos em fevereiro e é possível planejar uma grande ação preventiva e educacional contra os maus tratos e ainda uma fiscalização eficaz no período da farra. Por favor, dê uma resposta positiva aos apelos da grande parcela da sociedade que se preocupa em proteger os animais e a imagem festiva e alegre do Estado. Aguardamos sua resposta, Sr. Governador. Nós e todos que lhe reenviarem esta mensagem. Atentamente Name/Country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ITALY APPEAL AGAINST THE "GIOSTRA DEL PITU" OF TONCO,ASTI Source: Massimo Siri Every year in Tonco, province of Asti, takes place a Medieval Joust,in which a number of men on horseback,armed with clubs, will ride up and down trying to hit a turkey, killed shortly before (for fun!),and hung upside down from a rope, then decapitated after a number of attempted strikes(in the 2005 edition there were 85 strikes). We all recall with horror the sound of that poor head being smashed in, the feathers flying off in the air, the bloody neck getting longer and loger until the mangled head flying off in blood and fragments of organic material. The white body of the turkey now red with blood was placed on the ground with the clubs of the horseriders in the form of a cross to the mockery of children and adults. The head, now reduced to a bloody formless mass is stuck on the end of a club as a trophy by the winner, to the applause of the inhabitants of Tonco. Here you can see some photos of the 2004 edition: http://www.agireora.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Magnish&file=index&gallery_ID=48&cont=display_image Believe me, this spectacle is really horrendous,it has been going on, it is said, for hundreds of years and in Tonco the people will not hear of giving it up. We have gathered 5,000 signatures for a petition against the use of the animal, while the inhabitants of Tonco amount to about 800, but the joust is publicised on a vast scale, with the buying up of entire pages of local newspapers, and for this reason the inhabitants of other areas nearby also arrive to witness the event. Please send protest letters to: Sample letter in Italian and English below. Presidente della Provincia di Asti:dott. Marmo, roberto.marmo@virgilio.it Comune di Tonco tonco@reteunitaria.piemonte.it Sindaco di Tonco:Giancarlo Casorzo casorzog@libero.it With CC to newspapers: "LA STAMPA" pagina della Provincia di Asti asti@lastampa.it "LA NUOVA PROVINCIA" d.peira@lanuovaprovincia.net "GAZZETTA D'ASTI" all'attenzione di Marco Pozzo, gazzettadasti.segreteria@tin.it "CORRIERE" asti@ilcorriere.net Block to copy past: TO: roberto.marmo@virgilio.it,tonco@reteunitaria.piemonte.it, casorzog@libero.it CC: asti@lastampa.it,d.peira@lanuovaprovincia.net, gazzettadasti.segreteria@tin.it,asti@ilcorriere.net Spettabili signori, Protestiamo contro la macabra "Giostra del Pitu"programmata a Tonco (AT) il marzo, dove un tacchino ucciso appositamente verra' appeso ad una fune con la testa in giu' e preso poi a bastonate da uomini a cavallo fino a staccarne la testa determinando cosi' il vincitore. Uno "spettacolo" che disprezza la vita degli animali e la sensibilita' delle persone di buon cuore, che denota arretratezza culturale e civile dell'amministrazione comunale di Tonco, una vergogna che fa sprofondare Tonco e i suoi abitanti nel Medioevo dipingendoli a ragione come retrogradi e sanguinari. Quale insegnamento educativo si pensa di dare ai bambini e ai ragazzi che assistono alla flagellazione di un tacchino fino a staccargli la testa maciullata dalle bastonate? Proibite simili nefandezze oppure fate sostiture il tacchino con un sacco di caramelle per i bambini, che squarciato dai cavalieri ne liberi il contenuto in dolci anziche' dare la visione orribile del sangue di un povero corpo maciullato. Distinti saluti Name/Country ________________________________ Dear Sir/Madam, We wish to protest about the macabre "Giostra del Pitu", in Tonco that takes place every year in March, in which a turkey, previously killed for the purpose, will be hung upside down from a rope and struck by men on horseback with clubs until the head of the animal is severed, which will decide the winner. This is a "performance" which is disdainful of the life of animals and the sensitivity of decent people, and indicates the cultural and civil backwardness of the municipal administration of Tonco; it is a disgrace which plunges Tonco and its inhabitants back into the Middle Ages, depicting them rightly as primitive and bloodthirsty. What signal is being sent to children and young people who are present at the scene of a turkey being decapitated, its head crushed to pulp by the clubbing? We ask you to prohibit such iniquities or replace the turkey with a sack of sweets for the children, which pour out once the riders have slashed open the sack, rather than showing the bloody body of the animal crushed to pulp. Yours faithfully, Name/Country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SLOVENIA Protest against the killing of bears Source: Society for the Rights and the Liberation of Animals My name is Damjan Likar from Slovenia. I am the member of The Society for the Rights and the Liberation of Animals. We will be glad if you send your protest letter about killing bears in Slovenia. SLOVENIA IS ABOUT TO KILL AROUND 100 OF ITS BROWN BEARS The Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning of Slovenia, Mr. Janez Podobnik, has issued a decree by which approximately 100 brown bears should be killed in 2006. The Minister argues that there are too many bears in Slovenia and that the size of population of the animal has to be balanced with the environment. In Slovenia, the brown bear is an endangered species, protected by the Endangered Species Act. The Minister's decision to decree the culling of the bear population - arguing overpopulation, no less - is therefore incomprehensible. How can there be "too many" bears if they are endangered and accordingly protected by a number of legal acts, in Slovenia itself as well as internationally? Besides, nature can be trusted to take care of overpopulation and ensure natural balance by itself - it is not necessary for man to do so. In many areas where hunting is outlawed (e.g. natural parks and reserves) there are no occurrences of natural imbalance. Human interfering with natural processes will only bring about even greater imbalance. Even though the Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning is bound by the Constitution of the Republic of Slovenia to ensure the preservation of the environment and natural habitats, he has decreed the killing of no less than 100 inhabitants of this country - for they are living beings and a part of our natural wealth. Is the killing of bears consistent with preserving this natural wealth - or is it about destroying it? Even though any incitement to violence is unconstitutional, the Minister of the Environment himself has decreed the killing of living creatures, which will inflict immeasurable violence upon nature. And even though torture of animals is expressly forbidden by the Slovene constitution, the animals to be killed will be victims of immense suffering. Furthermore, Slovenia already has a strategy of brown bear population management. It was adopted by the government and it provides for many non-violent means which could be used in this case, without having to resort to killing. In light of this Strategy, the Minister's decision to order the killing of bears, instead of managing their population by other means available, is even more incomprehensible and unacceptable. We ask you to join us in our protest against the imminent killing of bears. To: Janez Podobnik Minister za okolje in prostor Vlada Republike Slovenije Dunajska c. 48, SI-1000 Ljubljana janez.podobnik@gov.si Janez Jan¹a Predsednik vlade Republike Slovenije Gregorèièeva 20, 25, SI-1000 Ljubljana gp.kpv@gov.si Dr. Janez Drnov¹ek Predsednik Republike Slovenije Erjavèeva 17, SI-1000 Ljubljana gp.uprs@up-rs.si Your Excellency, I, the undersigned, protest against the killing of 100 brown bears in Slovenia, planned to take place in 2006. There is no rhyme or reason in causing suffering to innocent living creatures and in violence towards nature. If it is true, as alleged, that there are too many bears in Slovenia, that is no reason for resorting to killing, as there are other, non-violent means of resolving the situation. Slovenia has provided for such means, witness its Strategy of brown bear population management. Furthermore, nature can be trusted to ensure natural balance on its own; there is no reason for man to interfere, as attested by numerous natural reserves where there is no hunting and also no imbalance. Human interfering with natural processes can bring about ever greater imbalance - and ever greater damage to all of us. Your Excellency, I appeal to you to do everything in your power to prevent the planned killing of bears - the killing of innocent living beings that have the same right to life as humans. Thank you for your kind attention. Sincerely, Name/Country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPAIN EMAIL THE POLITICAL PARTIES TO BAN BULLFIGHTS IN CATALONIA Source: Manuel Maciá,PACMA The political parties in Catalonia are discussing again a law to ban bullfights in the region. Now it's again time to email them and politely ask them to ban this barbarity. Please try to write different letters. Please send emails to: info@socialistes.org, correu@pelcanvi.org, gsoc-cpc@parlament-cat.net, grupciu@parlament-cat.net, gruperc@parlament-cat.net, grupicv-ea@parlament-cat.net, grupppo@parlament-cat.net, Dear Sirs, Please ban bullfights in Catalonia, show the world that Catalonia can be different. Yours sincerely Name/Country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- U.S.A. Call for End To Primate Research at Uconn Source:http://www.kinshipcircle.org "Vivisection is dictated by convenience, not science... It may be a feat of engineering, but it has no place on the meaningful study of human disease and its treatment." Dr. David Johnson, MRCS, IRCP MF (Hons.) D. (Obst.), RCOG., 'Animal-oriented medicine: The be-all or the end-all?', DLRM Newsletter, No. 11, 2004 SOURCE OF INFORMATION University of Connecticut Animal Rights Collective http://www.uconnanimalrights.blogspot.com/ Additional Contact Info: University of Connecticut Health Center, http://www.uchc.edu/ University of Connecticut, http://www.uconn.edu/ PETITION: RELEASE OF RHESUS MONKEYS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT http://www.petitiononline.com/ctmonkey/ CONTACT INFORMATION Sample letter follows Dr. Philip Austin, President Office of the President, University of Connecticut 352 Mansfield Road; Storrs, CT 06269-2048 ph: 860-486-6123, 860-486-2333/2337; fax: 860-679-1225 email: philip.austin@uconn.edu Peter J. Deckers, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Dean, School of Medicine 263 Farmington Avenue; Farmington, CT 06030 ph: 860-679-2100/2594; fax: 860-679-1255 email: deckers@nso.uchc.edu Dr. David Waitzman, Department of Neuroscience ph: 860-679-4313; email: waitzman@nso2.uchc.edu URL: http://grad.uchc.edu/phdfaculty/waitzman.html Jason Cromer, Graduate Assistant to Dr. Waitzman ph: 860-679-4313; email: Cromer@neuron.uchc.edu URL: http://neuroscience.uchc.edu/Students/Cromer.html COPY LETTERS TO UConn Senior Administration Sandra Armstrong, Chief Information Officer 860-679-3855; sarmstrong@uchc.edu Anthony Borda, CHE, Associate Vice President, Operations 860-679-4132; borda@uchc.edu Bruce Carlson, Chief of Staff 860-679-8048; bcarlson@adp.uchc.edu Chris Dugger, Chief Operating Officer, UConn Medical Group 860-679-8811; cdugger@uchc.edu Bruce Koeppen, M.D., Dean, Academic Affairs and Education 860-679-2385; koeppen@nso.uchc.edu Marc Lalande, Ph.D., Associate Dean, Basis Science Research Planning and Administration 860-679-8349; lalande@uchc.edu Ellen Leone, Associate Vice President, Operations, Director of Nursing 860-679-8826; eleone@uchc.edu Joan Mazzone, Associate Vice President, Human Resources 860-679-4245; mazzone@adp.uchc.edu Peter Robinson, D.D.S., Dean, School of Dental Medicine 860-679-2808; probinson@nso.uchc.edu Richard Simon, M.D.; Director, Human Subjects Protection Office Chief of Medical Staff 860-679-3533; simon@nso.uchc.edu Magda Stayton, Associate Vice President, Development 860-679-8077; mstayton@foundation.uconn.edu Steven Strongwater, M.D., Associate Dean, Clinical Affairs Director of Clinical Operations, Hospital Director 860-679-2222; strongwate@adp.uchc.edu Daniel Upton, Chief Financial Officer 860-679-1145; upton@adp.uchc.edu James Walter, Associate Vice President, Communications 860-679-4710; walter@nso.uchc.edu Scott Wetstone, M.D., Director, Health Affairs Policy Planning 860-679-4440; wetstone@nso.uchc.edu Susan Whetstone, Chief Administrative Officer 860-679-8328; whetstone@adp.uchc.edu ALL EMAILS IN THIS ALERT: philip.austin@uconn.edu, deckers@nso.uchc.edu, waitzman@nso2.uchc.edu, Cromer@neuron.uchc.edu COPY: sarmstrong@uchc.edu,borda@uchc.edu,bcarlson@adp.uchc.edu, cdugger@uchc.edu,koeppen@nso.uchc.edu,lalande@uchc.edu, eleone@uchc.edu,mazzone@adp.uchc.edu,probinson@nso.uchc.edu, simon@nso.uchc.edu,mstayton@foundation.uconn.edu, strongwate@adp.uchc.edu,upton@adp.uchc.edu, walter@nso.uchc.edu,wetstone@nso.uchc.edu,whetstone@adp.uchc.edu Dear Dr. Austin, Dr. Deckers, Dr. Waitzman, Mr. Cromer, University of Connecticut Administration: I support research that generates data relevant to human health. However, I oppose superfluous experiments that sacrifice animals, in many cases, to satisfy curiosity or acquire grants. In a study conducted by Dr. David Waitzman and graduate student Jason Cromer, permanent data collection chambers are installed over holes drilled into the heads of rhesus monkeys. Stainless steel springs are embedded in the monkeys' eyes. To gauge neurological activity associated with eye motion, researchers induce brain damage in monkeys constrained in straightjackets for the duration of the tests. The monkeys are destroyed and their brains are removed for further analysis. I respectfully request the release of two surviving monkeys still confined in Dr. Waitzman's neuroscience lab at the University of Connecticut Health Center. I am dismayed the University rejects pleas to free these monkeys, especially after 7-year old Cornelius recently succumbed to a grand mal seizure and heart attack and Aries was killed as part of the research protocol. The University alleges to follow proper animal care guidelines. Yet, Cornelius' death during the study indicates experimenters may have violated Section 2.31 of the federal Animal Welfare Act (d)(v) which states, "Animals that would otherwise experience severe or chronic pain will be painlessly euthanized at the end of the procedure or, if appropriate, during the procedure." Experimentation upon nonhuman primates is not only cruel, but also dissuades progress in the pursuit of viable alternatives. Non-animal modalities have proven more applicable to the study of human anatomy and physiology. Many facilities now fulfill study criterion with in vitro analysis, cell imaging, epidemiology, computer simulators, videos and mathematical modeling, genetic and protein analysis, clinical research, human brain mapping technologies, autopsy/biopsy studies, advanced MRI imaging, and other non-animal research tools. While experimentation upon primates has not led to cures for AIDS, Alzheimer's or cancer, it has shown us that primates form complex social unions and experience a full range of emotions. Rhesus monkeys are bright, perceptive creatures with physiological and psychological instincts as intricate as our own. The remarkable likeness between humans and monkeys demands our reassessment of their involuntary use in laboratory research. In addition, stress itself--from repeated handling, injury and restraint--can significantly obscure neurological data intended for extrapolation to humans. Rather than mutilate and kill rhesus monkeys, Dr. Waitzman could enlist fully consenting human participants to undergo non-invasive magnetic brain imaging (which calculates the activity of single cells) and eye tracking. When Dr. Waitzman's protocol expires on March 31, 2006, I implore the University to retire the two remaining rhesus monkeys to an accredited sanctuary for rehabilitation and a life free from undue distress. Please also initiate a permanent moratorium on the use of nonhuman primates in biomedical research at all UConn facilities. I ask the University of Connecticut to evolve with the most proficient and humane research technologies available to modern science. Thank you, Name/Country -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PETITIONS STOP BULLFIGHTING IN FREJUS (BLOODY FRENCH TOWN) http://www.petitiononline.com/d83v03/petition.html Petition against the Portuguese reality show "Celebrities Circus" This petition is in Dutch. Naam = Name http://www.circusleed.nl/emailactieendemol.php Save South African Primates http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/932716846 Slaughter in Mamak, Turkey http://www.petitiononline.com/Mamak/petition.html PETITION AGAINST FARRA DO BOI: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/441230448?ltl=1142717792 Boycott Coca Cola: Stop the Iditarod http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/969670728 PROACT SLOVAKIA 2006 http://proact-campaigns.net/slovakia2006/mining_operations.html THE RSPB MUST TAKE URGENT ACTION! http://www.petitiononline.com/rspb0206/petition.html
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 |
|
|
