Animals through the World - Online since June 2003

A monthly Magazine edited and published by Maria Lopes
November 2003

We want to thank to all of you that continue this desperate fight to save animals. This month other countries join the list of abusers, Gibraltar, Jamaica and New Zealand.

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)

EUROPEAN UNION

PLEASE URGE MEP'S TO SIGN THE FOLLOWING WRITTEN DECLARATION

Source: Respect for Animals

We are trying to generate letters to MEPs urging them to sign a Written Declaration in the European Parliament calling for a ban on the trade in domestic dog and cat fur throughout Europe.

The Written Declaration expires on 22 December 2003, to be considered it has to have 314 signatures and very few Written Declarations do achieve this so it is very important that this does get the necessary number as it will show the strength of opposition that exists to this vile trade.

Till the 20th of November the signatures of the MEP's were 214, so we need 100 more to the adoption of the Written Declaration.

Please send emails to your MEP's urging them to sign this Written Declaration. Please note that only European citizens should sent emails and also that you must send the emails to the MEP's of your Member State, not to the others otherwise they will not pay any attention. Bellow a sample letter is provided but only for European citizens.

To find the MEP's of your Member State go to:

http://wwwdb.europarl.eu.int/ep5/owa/p_meps2.repartition?ilg=EN&iorig=home

Dear MEP,

As your constituent, I strongly encourage you to sign the Written Declaration in the European Parliament that calls for a ban on the import,export, sale and production of cat and dog furs and skins in Europe. If you have already signed this declaration, I thank you. If not you may add your signature, before the December 22, 2003 deadline, at these locations:

Strasbourg: by the Hemicycle (8.30-20.00 hrs)
Brussels: Room PHS 02A19 (8.30-18.00 hrs)

European markets have seen a rise in items deceptively called Gae-wolf, Sobaki, Asian Jackal, Wildcat, Goyangi and Katzenfelle. I find it increasingly difficult to shop, knowing that merchants sell unmarked, dyed and misleadingly labeled boots, coats, linings, toys and homeopathic remedies. A ban on cat/dog furs and skins would restore consumer confidence in our manufacturers and retailers.

I respectfully ask you to sign the Written Declaration by December 22nd to solidify the European Parliament's position and ensure a response from the European Commission. I would also ask you to persuade your peers to do the same. I thank you in advance for helping to prohibit the import/export, sale and production of cat and dog furs and skins in Europe.

Sincerely,

Your name and country.

GIBRALTAR

PLEASE HELP TO STOP THE CULLING OF BARBARY MACAQUES

Source: Primfocus

Even though humane population control is possible -- and despite objections from leading primatologists and the Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society -- the government of Gibraltar has embarked upon the culling of Barbary macaques. [For more information, please see the news article appended further below.]

News Article
http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v426/n6963/full/426111a_fs.html

Primatologist rocks Gibraltar by quitting over macaque cull
QUIRIN SCHIERMEIER

[MUNICH] A top primatologist has pulled out of field research in Gibraltar, in protest at the culling of a group of marauding Barbary macaques that had been part of a long-term conservation study.

Robert Martin, vice-president of the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History, also boycotted an international macaque conference last week in Gibraltar — even though he was one of its organizers.

"The culling without warning of half of our study group has effectively terminated our research project. There is no point in continuing," says Martin.

The couple of hundred semi-wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) that populate the rock of Gibraltar, a small British crown colony at the southern tip of Spain, are the only non-human primates living outside captivity in Europe. The well-characterized population provides an ideal model for ecologists studying the genetic effects of habitat fragmentation — a key question in primate ecology and conservation biology.

Eight years ago, Martin, then at the University of Zürich, Switzerland, began monitoring reproduction and genetic variability in a 50-strong macaque colony on Gibraltar's Middle Hill. The study was meant to provide guidelines for the conservation management of threatened wild macaque populations in forest fragments in Algeria and Morocco.

It is not known whether the Barbary macaques are indigenous to Gibraltar, but legend says that when they leave, the peninsula will cease to be British. The myth has been taken so seriously that after a critical decline during the Second World War, Winston Churchill, then Britain's prime minister, issued a 1942 order to import some of the animals from North Africa.

The macaques are a major tourist attraction, but in recent years they have multiplied to nuisance levels. The Gibraltar government has repeatedly ordered the culling of monkeys found roaming built-up areas in search of food. In July, half of Martin's study group were killed after some animals were found vandalizing property and attacking children.

"There was a public-health risk, so we had no choice," says Mark Pizarro, a surgeon at Gibraltar's veterinary clinic.

But Martin says that the monkeys would not have outgrown their habitat if the government had not ignored timely scientific advice. "I submitted as early as 1997 detailed proposals on effective population control by
means of contraception, but nothing much was done," he says.

The Gibraltar Ornithological and Natural History Society, which has recently taken over the management of the macaque colony, tried in vain to prevent the culling.

"There was too much public pressure on the government to take action," says John Cortes, general secretary of the society, whose intervention persuaded the government to agree not to have the entire group killed,
as had been initially planned.

Martin's withdrawal from the government-sponsored conference is understandable, says Cortes. "But I still believe it would have been better if he had come and made his point here."

Please write to the government of Gibraltar's Environmental Agency and Tourist Board in protest of the killing of Barbary macaques. Ask that Gibraltar immediately implement humane sterilization techniques to prevent
the monkeys from overpopulating and being deemed "nuisances". Ironically, these "nuisances" are one of the biggest tourist attractions for Gibraltar, so be sure to let them know that you will not visit Gibraltar as long as
they are killing the monkeys.

Contact:

Gibraltar Environmental Agency
37 Town Range
Gibraltar
Tel: (350) 70620
Fax: (350) 74119
Email: envag@gibnet.gi

Gibraltar Tourist Board
Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square
Gibraltar
Tel: (350) 74950
Fax: (350) 74943
Email: tourism@gibraltar.gi

Dear Sirs,

I was outraged when I took knowledge that you are planning a cull of the Barbary Macaques.

Gibraltar is the only place in Europe where we can see them in freedom.

Your excuse for these culling has to do with the fact that they are "nuisances" ! due to overpopulation.

There are methods to prevent the monkeys from overpopulating and being deemed "nuisances" like implementing humane sterilization techniques .

Ironically, these "nuisances" are one of the biggest tourist attractions for Gibraltar, so be sure that I will not visit Gibraltar and I will advise all my friends and relatives to do the same as long as you continue to kill the monkeys.

Yours sincerely, Name/Country/Email

JAMAICA

PROTEST JAMAICA'S DOLPHIN COVE

SOURCE: HumaneLines; sample letter provided by Kinship Circle

BACKGROUND: The Jamaican government has given the owners the green light for the expansion of Dolphin Cove, a captive dolphin facility on Jamaica's north coast. This move has come despite the two major newspapers in Jamaica being inundated with letters in opposition to the project.

CONTACT:
The Honorable Dean Peart, Minister of Land and Environment
email: nrcareg@mail.infochan.com

SAMPLE LETTER:

Minister Peart:

Please accept this letter as a petition requesting that you withdraw a permit issued to the owners of Dolphin Cove, a captive dolphin exhibit on Jamaica's north coast, allowing for the expansion of the facility.

The expansion will cause more dolphins to suffer in captivity as it further depletes regional populations. Moreover, this commercially motivated expansion will devastate the area's already fragile coral reef habitat. In addition,

Do not sacrifice Jamaica's marine wildlife to promote a tourist attraction. Thank you for considering international opinion regarding this serious matter.

Sincerely,

Name/Country/Email

JAPAN

SEA SHEPHERD ACTION ALERT:
Japan Arrests Crewmembers, Seizes Cameras, Film & Video

If you've been visiting our website regularly and/or been receiving emails from us, then you're well aware that Sea Shepherd is currently in the midst of an urgent life and death campaign in Taiji, Japan, to stop the annual
Japanese dolphin slaughter.

Since late September, several Sea Shepherd volunteers have been Taiji, Japan, risking their lives to document and try to stop the dolphin drive which claims the lives of thousands of dolphins and small whales each year.
Despite death threats, police harassment and constant hardship, the Sea Shepherd crewmembers have remained in the area on a round-the-clock vigil.

On October 6th, Sea Shepherd crewmembers exposed the atrocities of the Taiji dolphin slaughter to the world by providing major media the gory images and video of the hunt (can be seen at our website). This made headlines around the world and fueled a global protest on Nov. 4th in 22 cities. Another protest is planned for Dec 10th - details are below.

Although the dolphin hunt continues in Taiji, the ruthless fishermen are not able to kill as many as last year due to Sea Shepherd's direct intervention and the embarrassing media coverage provided by our documentation.

Rather than helplessly witness and document more dolphins being killed, on November 18 (in Japan) two Sea Shepherd crewmembers - Allison Lance-Watson of the USA and Alex Cornelisson of the Netherlands - jumped into the frigid waters and swam for an hour to untie and sink the nets penning a pod of dolphins awaiting slaughter. Together Allison and Alex were able to save the lives of 15 dolphins by creating an escape route back to the open sea.

Both crewmembers were immediately arrested by police when they swam on-shore and taken to a jail in nearby Shingu. The arrest left two other Sea Shepherd crewmembers to continue the campaign in Taiji - Nik Hensey of the USA and Thomas Heineman of Germany. Nik has been in Taiji for over 2 months.

During the evening of Wednesday, November 19 (in Japan), Japanese police raided the trailer park where the Sea Shepherd crew are based in Taiji.

The Shingu police ordered Nik Hensey and Thomas Heineman to leave the trailer. The police then entered and boxed up all the property in the trailer including cameras, film, clothing and a laptop computer, leaving
them stranded in a hostile village in Japan without personal assets.
Neither of the men was charged with a crime.

The police have continued to hold Allison and Alex Cornelisson in the jail at Shingu. They have not been allowed to communicate with any persons outside of the jail. Sea Shepherd has been trying to reach them through diplomatic channels.

In defense of the horrifically cruel slaughter of the defenseless dolphins at Taiji, the Japanese are exercising a police-state approach to any person who attempts to document the atrocities - it is now illegal to photograph or film the slaughter of dolphins and small whales.

**WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP**

Contact the Japanese government offices below and request that they
immediately:

1) Release Allison Lance-Watson and Alex Cornelisson from jail and drop any charges.

2) Return the personal property, cameras, film and documentation belonging to the Sea Shepherd crew in Japan.

3) Reverse any new law or regulation which makes it illegal to photograph, film, or videotape the dolphin slaughter.

4) Permanently stop the barbaric slaughter of dolphins and whales in Taiji and all coastal fishing villages in Japan.

Japanese Embassies and Consulate Offices - To find a Japanese embassy or
consulate office near you, link here:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html

Mr. Yoshiki Kimura, the governor of Wakayama
Prefectural Office of Wakayama
1-1 Komatsubaradouri, Wakayama-shi
Wakayama-ken, 640-8269 Japan
Tel: +81-73-441-2034 Fax:+81-73-423-9500
Email: teigen-s@office.wakayama.go.jp

Prime Minister of Japan
Mr. Junichiro Koizumi,
1-6-1 Nagata-cho 1 Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. 100-8968 JAPAN
Tel:+81-3-3581-2361
Send an e-message by completing the form on this webpage:
http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html

ALSO CONTACT the US STATE DEPT and urge it to put pressure on the Japanese
government:
http://contact-us.state.gov/
AND
http://contact-us.state.gov/ask_form_cat/ask_form_foreign.html

*DEC. 10 INTERNATIONAL PROTEST AGAINST DOLPHIN SLAUGHTER*

Sea Shepherd is organizing another "International Day of Protest Against Japanese Dolphin Slaughter" for December 10th at Japanese Consulates around the world. This will compliment to our successful world-wide demonstration held on Nov. 4 and keep the pressure on the Japanese government. For more information, please visit our Taiji webpage:
http://www.seashepherd.org/taiji.shtml

NEW ZEALAND

PROTEST AGAINST THE BRUTAL RODEOS

Source: INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST BULLFIGHTS

Many of you probably aren't aware that also New Zealand has brutal rodeos.

We pass below the testimony of an activist that lives in New Zealand and attended a rodeo when she was a kid. Her name Elly Maynard from Sirius GAO.

"The horses and bulls stood in their confined stalls. Foam flecked their mouths, the whites of their eyes showed and their fear was palpable. Their fear was also imparted in an incredible stench. They defecated through fear.

Thick leather cinches were placed around their genitals, but not too tight. The cowboy positioned himself on their bodies and the gate was swung open. As this happened,another cowboy pulled on the cinch and it was tightened, causing excruciating pain to the animal. Another cowboy armed with an electric cattle prod would push it into the animal's body and then the "show" would begin!

The animal bucked, trying to dislodge not only the alien on its body, but the cause of the pain around its hindquarters and the pain of where it had been "zapped" with the electric cattle prod. When the whistle sounded and if the cowboy was still on its back or if he had been thrown early, an out-rider would race alongside the animal and loosen the cinch and the animal would no longer buck but would then race around the arena to the cheers of the crowd.

Something of what I would like to tell all people involved in bloody Rodeos!"

You can also tell them the same, please send emails stating what you think about the rodeos to the following addresses:

North Island Club Director
LeAnn Blake
P O Box 302
TAUMARUNUI
Ph 07 896 8490
027 280 5005
E-mail: klblake@xtra.co.nz

SOUTH KOREA

ANTI-GREYHOUND RACING IN KOREA

Source: http://www.animalkorea.org

Millions of dogs and cats are tortured and eaten in Korea every year. The introduction of greyhound racing in Korea would inevitable leave many unwanted dogs who would be tortured and eaten.

PLease email those involved in the trade of and exploitation of greyhounds in Korea. Some emails may be returned "undelivered".

Emails:

greypark@greypark.co.kr , jechon21@chol.com, srosier@gra.nsw.gov.au ,
W.Truss.MP@aph.gov.au , admin@anzga.org.au , neil@anzga.org.au,
helpdesk@tab.co.nz , nzrib@tab.co.nz

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Sir/Madam,

Greyhounds surplus to requirements in Korea will be tortured alive and eaten: there is no hope, opportunity or rehoming programmes for the greyhound that are retired or injured or have failed the grade in Korea.

The NZRB and other boards, in accordance with the Racing Act 2003, must comply and exhibit a sense of social responsibility by having regard to the interests of the community in which it operates. Greyhound racing Boards should not help establish greyhound racing in Korea.

Please click here to see where the innocent dogs will end up:
http://www.koreananimals.org/images/mm4.jpg Please also visit the campaign against the trture of cats and dogs in Korea: http://www.koreananimals.org

Thank you very much indeed for your time and I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,
Name/Country/Email

___________________

Letter and information courtesy of http://www.greyhoundaction.co.uk

Please ask the Korean government to drop plans for the introduction of greyhound racing.

Emails (please note that some may be sent back "undelivered"):

president@cwd.go.kr, Webmaster@cwd.go.kr, m_opm@opm.go.kr,
maxhint@korea.com, jechon21@chol.com, greypark@greypark.co.kr

sample letter

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you regarding greyhound racing in Korea. I am aware that greyhounds that are surplus to requirements are being slaughtered. Abusing animals in the name of entertainment and then killing them for human consumption is NOT a tourist attraction and it will inevitably have a negative effect on your tourist trade.

The greyhound racing industry has been in decline for many years especially in the USA where the industry has had massive financial losses. This is for several reasons, the first being that it has been recognised as a cruel
sport and banned in many states in the USA and even more recently it has been abolished in South Africa.

The second reason is that by far more profitable ventures such as lotteries and casinos have increased in popularity and attracted the public and the tourist trade. The third reason is that greyhound racing attracts and is associated with the criminal underworld and the use of illegal drugs as recently exposed in a documentary by the BBC.

I urge you to reconsider and keep greyhound racing out Korea. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Name/Country/Email

U.S.A.

PETITION & LETTER TO BLAST MURKOWSKI - HELP SAVE THE WOLVES IN ALASKA

PETITION: http://www.savealaskawolves.org

Source: Judy Reed/Earthlink

Info Sources:
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/contact.html

Help Save Wolves in Alaska: Urge Governor to Cancel Proposed Aerial Shooting of Wolves

Recently, Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski approved a plan that would allow citizens to shoot wolves from airplanes. Along with the Alaska Board of Game (ABG), the Governor claims the measure is needed to
boost "game" animal populations such as moose and caribou. It would be the first such program of legal aerial wolf kills in Alaska in more than a decade.

The Animal Protection Institute (API), as well as other animal protection and conservation organizations, has pledged a tourism boycott if the plan goes forward. The aerial killing could start as early as January 2004 in some areas of the state. Please urge Governor Murkowski to abandon this cruel and unnecessary program. Be sure to tell him you will boycott Alaska if the state begins killing wolves from the air. See below for more details.

Killing Wolves: Cruel, Unnecessary, Ecologically Unsound, Publicly Objectionable
Under the plan unanimously approved by the ABG, the state would enlist volunteer pilots to begin shooting wolves from aircraft.

The program calls for eliminating as many wolves as possible from an experimental management area, plus a larger area surrounding it -- a total of some 1,700 square miles.

Hunters in planes would search for wolves, "buzz" the pack, and chase them until the animals are exhausted. Pilots will then shoot the wolves from the air or land and shoot the animals as they flounder in the snow.

Such practices cause tremendous stress for wolves, disrupt pack dynamics by separating adults from their young, and can result in wounded individual wolves who are too physically compromised to survive in the wild.

The people of Alaska have twice voted to revoke aerial gunning of wolves in the last seven years. But certain state officials flagrantly flaunt public opinion in favor of appeasing hunters who demand that wolves be killed to boost moose and caribou herds.

Since the early 1970s, poll after poll has found that overwhelming majorities of Americans support efforts to protect and restore wolves.

Wolves are worth more alive than dead. A number of studies have shown that wolves are so appealing to people that the species has had a positive effect on tourism and associated industries in areas where
wolves are present. For example, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service projected that interest in seeing wolves will attract more visitors to Yellowstone National Park and eventually generate an additional $23 million annually to the local economy. Indeed, merchants in Yellowstone's gateway communities have attributed a recent economic upturn to the return of the wolf to the park. The International Wolf Center in Ely, MN, where the wolf never disappeared, added $3 million to the local economy in 1995 and created, directly and indirectly,
the equivalent of 66 full-time jobs.

Wolves are ecologically important keystone predators. Recent research in Yellowstone National Park demonstrates that the reintroduction of wolves has helped boost biodiversity and maintain ecological
stability within the park. The presence of wolves has changed elk behavior, causing them to avoid high-risk areas such as streambeds, thus giving young cottonwood and willow sprouts a chance to grow. The trees in turn, decrease erosion and add cooling shade over the stream, improving habitat for birds and fish. The research also suggest that the decline of aspen groves in Yellowstone and other areas of the Rocky Mountains may be at least partly because of the absence of wolves.

Please Personalize Sample Letter

Governor Frank Murkowski
P.O. Box 110001
Juneau, AK 99811
907-465-3500
Fax 907-465-3532
governor@gov.state.ak.us

Re:   Cancel Aerial Shooting of Wolves

Dear Governor Murkowski:

I decided against an Alaskan vacation when I heard that you approved a plan that would allow citizens to shoot wolves from airplanes.
Along with the Alaska Board of Game (ABG), I understand you claim the measure is needed to boost "game" animal populations such as moose and caribou.   It would be the first such program of legal aerial wolf kills in Alaska in more than a decade.

This is an outrageous decision. I share the views of most Alaskans -- who have twice voted to revoke aerial gunning of wolves in the last seven years -- that land-and-shoot wolf killing are abhorrent, inhumane and unethical and should remain banned. Stop pandering to state officials who flagrantly flaunt public opinion in favor of appeasing hunters who demand that wolves be killed to boost moose and caribou herds.

Killing wolves is cruel, unnecessary, ecologically unsound, and publicly objectionable. Please consider:

~~ Wolves are worth more alive than dead.   A number of studies have shown that wolves have had a positive effect on tourism and associated industries in areas where wolves are present. Indeed, wolves are important to Alaska¹s billion-dollar tourism industry.

~~ Wolves are ecologically important keystone predators.   Recent research in Yellowstone National Park demonstrates that the reintroduction of wolves has helped boost biodiversity and maintain ecological stability within the park.

~~ Wolves keep Alaska¹s moose and caribou populations healthy and strong because they are beneficial to the overall health of natural ecosystems.

~~ The presence of wolves has changed elk behavior, causing them to givie young cottonwood and willow sprouts a chance to grow. The trees in turn, decrease erosion and add cooling shade over the stream, improving habitat for birds and fish.

Please reverse this dreadful decision. Wolves deserve to live in peace and from harm from humans. When any aerial shooting program does stop, I will resume my dream vacation in Alaska.

Sincerely,

Name/Country/Email

___________________________________________