Dear All

Please send protest emails and forward this alert.

From the Sled Dog Action Coalition, http://www.helpsleddogs.org

Contact information, email blocks and sample letter are below.

Please help the dogs by sending protest emails to organisations that support the Iditarod. These dogs are helpless victims of profoundly inhumane treatment and cannot speak for themselves. What happens to the dogs during the Iditarod includes death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, bloody diarrhoea, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, broken bones, torn muscles and tendons, sprains, torn footpads and anaemia.

Dog beatings and whippings are common. During the 2007 Iditarod, eyewitnesses reported that musher Ramy Brooks kicked, punched and beat his dogs with a ski pole and a chain. Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing Manual, "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..."

Iditarod dog kennels are puppy mills. Mushers breed large numbers of dogs and routinely kill unwanted ones, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged, drowned or clubbed to death. "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote former Iditarod dog handler Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper.

Most Iditarod dogs are forced to live at the end of a chain when they aren't hauling people around. It has been reported that dogs who don't make the main team are never taken off-chain. Chained dogs have been attacked by wolves, bears and other animals. Old and arthritic dogs suffer terrible pain in the blistering cold.

Most Internet service providers allow people to send up to 50 email addresses at a time. For your convenience, the addresses have been divided into groups of 50. Please email the first group first. Individual email addresses are given under the sample letter. The groups contain addresses for the Iditarod sponsors, promoters, and the sponsors of the 111 mushers who signed up for the 2008 Iditarod. Email blocks with semicolons are on:
http://www.helpsleddogs.org/sponsors.htm .

GROUP ONE EMAIL ADDRESSES:

Chris.Coelen@RDFUSA.com, fingber@ncohf.org, rick.blake@harcourt.com,
KCarroll@ap.org, corporate_communications@hmco.com, publicwebsite@ng.army.mil,
investorrelations@citi.com, kenneth.gibson@whg.com, admissions@liberty.edu,
LaneRobertW@JohnDeere.com, martha.aronson@medtronic.com,
mike.morgan@harley-davidson.com, BOD@jarden.com, rwhatley@jbpco.com, toyota_cares@toyota.com,
Brooke.Fisher@RDFUSA.com, IR@arraybiopharma.com, inquiries@stanfields.com,
help@hotchillys.com, rayboggs@partsonsale.com, smckane@ncohf.org, jack.hayes@noaa.gov,
timothy.mitchell@chicagoparkdistrict.com, llangsdorf@about.com, info@rivermuseum.com,
readacross@nea.org, consumervacation@globusfamily.com,
landerson@aaamidatlantic.com, chavez.jeannie@aaa-newmexico.com, dfoersom@abercrombiekent.com,
sales@knightlytours.com, communications@wysetc.org, contactus@insightvacations.com,
margareth@travcoa.com, info@mayflowertours.com, tarmstrong@tauck.com,
info@para-tours.ch, clare.sloane@contiki.com.au, gwen@fourseasonstrvl.com,
ddziedzic@naperville-lib.org, info@exploretours.com, charles.king@csplc.com,
dleclair@ford.com, media@cerberuscapital.com, WRAMCPublicAffairs@na.amedd.army.mil,
Shareholders.IM@pg.com, walt.riker@us.mcd.com, frank_blake@homedepot.com,
Catherine.Gacad@wellsfargo.com, Greg@Harper-Street.com

GROUP TWO EMAIL ADDRESSES:

ptira@mcclatchy.com, pcandino@prismnetwork.com, concierge@travelwizard.com,
vacations@countrytours.com, david.curtis-brignell@mill-cop.com,
tmattia@na.ko.com, newsroom@alaskaair.com, sales@gitsat.com, crosbyk@kclibrary.org,
rabello@hollandamerica.com, jbenson@princesscruises.com, greenbergr@us.panasonic.com,
patrick.korten@kofc.org, brendan@alaskaaces.com, larrysr@searsandassociates.com,
affeob@allenfamilyfoods.com, r.signer@appenzellerbier.ch,
resumes@crowley.com, rcs@gci.com, Mayor@ci.anchorage.ak.us, bcartiff@jccpgh.org,
travel@sunconnections.com, travel@kriegner.com, kate@gallantins.com,
jim@NorthernOutfitters.com, lisa@coastalhelicopters.com, GregG@milldirecttextiles.com,
info@penfieldusa.com, kathy@uphere.ca, theteam@clustrmaps.com, sales@distinctiveescapes.com,
corporate@cabelas.com, pubaffmr@chevrontexaco.com, fhees@alaskanbeer.com,
ircontact@simon.com, mayor@ci.wasilla.ak.us, kroger.investors@kroger.com,
employment@providence.org, investor.relations@horizonlines.com,
investor_relations@netapp.com, ssolomon@dixieline.com, manager@ci.nome.ak.us, info@penair.com,
adsales@olntv.com, info@dekastanjeboom.be, brugge@krokodil.be, info@wegwijzer.be,
larsn@capitalelec.com, enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com,
investor.relations@blockbuster.com

GROUP THREE EMAIL ADDRESSES:

info@workman.com, investor_relations@scholastic.com, jschrank@cclphoenix.org,
peter.spiers@elderhostel.org, rdatz@educationworld.com,
info@americansky.co.uk, agent@uniquetrav.com, reception@harveyworld.com.au, Wendi@Luxtravel.com,
info@strongtravel.com, glainfo@hollandamerica.com, POlson@randomhouse.com,
info@reisky-schlese.de, info@sahalesnacks.com, beaversports@beaversports.com,
CustomerService@northlandservices.com, mail@trippodi.de, mbphotos@rockisland.com,
info@pioneerlodgeak.com, h.weishaupt@freesurf.ch, contact@seapet.com,
sales@pjoperating.com, jim@trailridgeair.com, iand@camelbacktravel.com,
info@intrawld.com, sspilka@wiley.com, cech@dogcompany.at, kirtroger@ralik.net,
info@nationaldogfood.com, jeffm@creagan.biz, abbietaylor@theblackdog.com,
reservations@akalpinelodge.com, info@theoutdoorsource.com, sales@trekkerdesigns.com,
info@pinkandblue.be, info@sportees.com, cblough@wccfcu.com, para@alaska.net,
roger_millay@discovery.com, yum.investor@yum.com, richard.edwards@polarisind.com,
jcondemi@mountainhardwear.com, feedback@laurelpubco.com, kathy@ziwipeak.com,
dmcpherson@wned.org, websales@antonbauer.com, communications@girlscouts.org,
wegerer@swbell.net, nwdunnings@msn.com, news12nj@news12.com

GROUP FOUR EMAIL ADDRESSES:

royaldutchshell.shareholders@shell.com, orders@riverboatdiscovery.com,
AskMLP@muni.org, charlene@permafrost.com, msteele@eaglepack.com,
Chancellor@uaa.alaska.edu, webmaster@cariboucreekgold.com, info@blackwoodpetfood.com,
contact@redpawfeed.com, contact@propacpetfood.com, taplowf@firstmate.com,
blanchard@macniderart.org, jsiegel@naturesbest.com, sledder1@pacbell.net, mead@unr.edu,
sales@immunocorp.no, jbilitz@jjkeller.com, ryoung@altitudetraining.com,
investor.relations@akzonobel.com, info@inlettower.com, spikealaska@earthlink.net,
hsl@xyz.net, info@akdogtour.com, rodney.bolls@bglobal.us, info@ndindustries.com,
qiviut@gci.net, traxak@clearwire.net, sales@kaladi.com, Macgellan@mac.com,
info@westernplows.com, tchozes@pathwaynet.com, sales@ursawagon.com,
gsipe@cogentsolutionsgroup.com, customersupport@batteriesplus.com, info@teckcominco.com,
sales@edmundoptics.com, anni@visees.no, post@noraid.no, post@brynje.no,
info@kamik.com, johnb@icicleseafoods.com, gene@motosolutions.com,
reservations@krabloonik.com, alcansigns@alaska.net, dpowers@akserigraphics.com,
tours@atlastravelweb.com

Sample Letter (Please personalise your letter before sending):

Dear Iditarod Supporter:

Please end your organisation's support of the Iditarod dog sled race. For the dogs, this event is a bottomless pit of suffering. What happens to the dogs during the Iditarod includes death, paralysis, penile frostbite, bleeding ulcers, bloody diarrhea, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, viral diseases, broken bones, torn muscles and tendons, sprains, torn footpads and anaemia. At least 133 dogs have died in the race. No one knows how many dogs die after this tortuous ordeal or during training. For more facts about the Iditarod, visit the Sled Dog Action Coalition website:
http://www.helpsleddogs.org .

On average, 53 percent of the dogs who start the race do not make it across the finish line. According to a report published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, of those who do finish, 81 percent have lung damage. A report published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine said that 61 percent of the dogs who complete the Iditarod have ulcers versus zero percent pre-race.

Iditarod dog kennels are puppy mills. Mushers breed large numbers of dogs and routinely kill unwanted ones, including puppies. Many dogs who are permanently disabled in the Iditarod, or who are unwanted for any reason, including those who have outlived their usefulness, are killed with a shot to the head, dragged, drowned or clubbed to death. "Dogs are clubbed with baseball bats and if they don't pull are dragged to death in harnesses....." wrote former Iditarod dog handler Mike Cranford in an article for Alaska's Bush Blade Newspaper.

Dog beatings and whippings are common. During the 2007 Iditarod, eyewitnesses reported that musher Ramy Brooks kicked, punched and beat his dogs with a ski pole and a chain. Jim Welch says in his book Speed Mushing Manual, "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..."

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."

During the race, veterinarians do not give the dogs physical exams at every checkpoint. Mushers speed through many checkpoints, so the dogs get the briefest visual checks, if that. Instead of pulling sick dogs from the race, veterinarians frequently give them massive doses of antibiotics to keep them running.

Most Iditarod dogs are forced to live at the end of a chain when they aren't hauling people around. It has been reported that dogs who don't make the main team are never taken off-chain. Chained dogs have been attacked by wolves, bears and other animals. Old and arthritic dogs suffer terrible pain in the blistering cold.

Please end your organisation's association with this horrific race.

Sincerely,

Iditarod Sponsors:

Cabelas
Email: corporate@cabelas.com

Chrysler (Cerberus Capital Management, L.P.)
Email: media@cerberuscapital.com

Coca-Cola
Email: tmattia@na.ko.com

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels
Email: david.curtis-brignell@mill-cop.com

Wells Fargo & Company
Email: Catherine.Gacad@wellsfargo.com

Kroger Company (Fred Meyer Stores)
Email: kroger.investors@kroger.com

Spenard Builders (Lanoga Corporation)
Email: ssolomon@dixieline.com

Chevron Corporation
Email: pubaffmr@chevrontexaco.com

Exxon Mobil Corporation
Email: enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com

Anchorage Daily News (Mc Clatchy Company)
Email: ptira@mcclatchy.com

Providence Health System
Email: employment@providence.org

Alaska Airlines (Alaska Air Group)
Email: newsroom@alaskaair.com

Peninsula Airways, Inc. (Pen Air)
Email: info@penair.com

Alaska Brewing Company
Email: fhees@alaskanbeer.com

The City of Nome
Email: manager@ci.nome.ak.us

5th Avenue Mall (Simon Property Group)
Email: ircontact@simon.com

Horizon Lines
Email: investor.relations@horizonlines.com

City of Wasilla
Email: mayor@ci.wasilla.ak.us

Network Appliance, Inc.
Email: investor_relations@netapp.com

General Communication, Inc. (GCI)
Email: rcs@gci.com

Crowley Maritime Corporation
Email: resumes@crowley.com

Anton/Bauer, Inc.
Email: websales@antonbauer.com

Anchorage Municipal Light and Power
Email: AskMLP@muni.org

Alcan Signs
Email:alcansigns@alaska.net

Global Information Technologies
Email: sales@gitsat.com

Alaska Serigraphics
Email: dpowers@akserigraphics.com

The City of Anchorage
Email: Mayor@ci.anchorage.ak.us

Iditarod Promoters:

"Wife Swap," ABC-TV (RDF Media Group, Pangea Management Group)
Email: Chris.Coelen@RDFUSA.com

National Weather Service
Email: jack.hayes@noaa.gov

Harcourt School Publishers
Email: rick.blake@harcourt.com

National Children's Oral Health Foundation
Email: fingber@ncohf.org

Associated Press
Email: KCarroll@ap.org

Chicago Park District (Polar Adventure Days)
Email: timothy.mitchell@chicagoparkdistrict.com

Carnival Corporation
Email: rabello@hollandamerica.com, jbenson@princesscruises.com

Home Depot
Email: frank_blake@homedepot.com

National Education Association
Email: readacross@nea.org

Panasonic
Email: greenbergr@us.panasonic.com

About . com
Email: llangsdorf@about.com

US Army Garrison Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Email: WRAMCPublicAffairs@na.amedd.army.mil

Kansas City Public Library
Email: crosbyk@kclibrary.org

Elderhostel
Email: peter.spiers@elderhostel.org

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
Email: info@rivermuseum.com

EducationWorld . com
Email: rdatz@educationworld.com

Houghton Mifflin Company
Email: corporate_communications@hmco.com

Travel Channel (Discover Communications, Inc.)
Email: roger_millay@discovery.com

PBS Nature
Email: programming@thirteen.org

PBS Reading Rainbow
Email: dmcpherson@wned.org

Riverboat Discovery
Email: orders@riverboatdiscovery.com

Scholastic Corporation
Email: investor_relations@scholastic.com

Workman Publishing Company
Email: info@workman.com

Girl Scouts of the USA
Email: communications@girlscouts.org

Fodors (Random House)
Email: POlson@randomhouse.com

Christ Lutheran School
Email: jschrank@cclphoenix.org
Email: cehlers@cclphoenix.org

Versus Cable TV
Email: feedback@versus.com
Email: adsales@olntv.com

University of Alaska Anchorage
Email: Chancellor@uaa.alaska.edu

Naperville Public Libraries
Email: ddziedzic@naperville-lib.org

Globus Tours (includes Globus, Cosmos, Monograms, Avalon)
Email: consumervacation@globusfamily.com

Frommers . com (Wiley Publishing, Inc.)
Email: sspilka@wiley.com

AAA Mid-Atlantic
Email: landerson@aaamidatlantic.com

AAA New Mexico
Email: chavez.jeannie@aaa-newmexico.com

Abercrombie & Kent, Inc.
Email: dfoersom@abercrombiekent.com

Kriegner Travel Services, Inc.
Email: travel@kriegner.com

Grayline of Alaska
Email: glainfo@HollandAmerica.com

Senior Sojourns, Inc.
Email: Pat@SeniorSojourns.com

Strong Travel Services
Email: info@strongtravel.com

Explore Tours
Email: info@exploretours.com

Distinctive Escapes
Email: sales@distinctiveescapes.com

Camelback Odyssey Travel
Email: iand@camelbacktravel.com

Intra World Travel & Tours
Email: info@intrawld.com

International Student Travel Confederation
Email: communications@wysetc.org

Four Seasons Travel
Email: gwen@fourseasonstrvl.com

LuxuryTour . com
Email: tours@atlastravelweb.com

World Wide Country Tours
Email: vacations@countrytours.com

Luxury Travel, Inc.
Email: Wendi@Luxtravel.com

Harvey World Travel
Email: reception@harveyworld.com.au

Knightly Tours
Email: sales@knightlytours.com

Unique Travel
Email: agent@uniquetrav.com

American Sky
Email: info@americansky.co.uk

Sun Connections Travel & Cruises
Email: travel@sunconnections.com

Amazing Journeys, LLC
Email: bcartiff@jccpgh.org

Contiki Holidays
Email: clare.sloane@contiki.com.au

Insight Vacations
Email: contactus@insightvacations.com

Travcoa
Email: margareth@travcoa.com

Mayflower Tours
Email: info@mayflowertours.com

Tauck World Discovery
Email: tarmstrong@tauck.com

Para Tours
Email: info@para-tours.ch

Travelwizard . com
Email: concierge@travelwizard.com

News 12 New Jersey
Email: news12nj@news12.com

MacNider Art Museum
Email: blanchard@macniderart.org

Musher sponsors:

National Guard Bureau
Email: publicwebsite@ng.army.mil

John Deere & Company
Email: LaneRobertW@JohnDeere.com

Liberty University
Email: admissions@liberty.edu

Red Roof Inns (Owned by Westbridge Hospitality Fund and Citigroup's Global Situations Group)
Email: investorrelations@citi.com
Email: kenneth.gibson@whg.com

Medtronic
Email: martha.aronson@medtronic.com

Harley-Davidson, Inc.
Email: mike.morgan@harley-davidson.com

Toyota Motor Corporation
Email: toyota_cares@toyota.com

Leer, Inc. (J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc.)
Email: rwhatley@jbpco.com

Worth Sports (Jarden Corporation)
Email: BOD@jarden.com

Alaska Knights of Columbus (Knights of Columbus)
Email: patrick.korten@kofc.org

Array BioPharma Inc.
Email: IR@arraybiopharma.com

Hot Chillys (Stanfield's Ltd.)
Email: inquiries@stanfields.com
Email: help@hotchillys.com

Massachusetts Solar (Solatron Technologies, Inc.)
Email: rayboggs@partsonsale.com

Harper Street Publishing
Email: Greg@Harper-Street.com

Alaska Aces (hockey team)
Email: brendan@alaskaaces.com

Gallant Insurance Agency, Inc.
Email: kate@gallantins.com

Northern Outfitters
Email: jim@NorthernOutfitters.com

Coastal Helicopters, Inc.
Email: lisa@coastalhelicopters.com

Ford Motor Company
Email: dleclair@ford.com

7-UP (Cadbury Schweppes plc)
Email: charles.king@csplc.com

Jiffy Lube International, Inc. (Shell Oil Company)
Email: royaldutchshell.shareholders@shell.com

Eukanuba/Iams (Procter & Gamble Company)
Email: Shareholders.IM@pg.com

Blockbuster Video
Email: investor.relations@blockbuster.com

McDonalds Restaurants (McDonald Corporation)
Email: walt.riker@us.mcd.com

Taco Bell (Yum! Brands, Inc.)
Email: yum.investor@yum.com

Polaris Industries Inc.
Email: richard.edwards@polarisind.com

Mountain HardWear
Email: jcondemi@mountainhardwear.com

Sears & Associates
Email: larrysr@searsandassociates.com

Batteries Plus
Email: customersupport@batteriesplus.com

Oomingmak
Email: qiviut@gci.net

Kaladi Brothers Coffee Company
Email: sales@kaladi.com

Tracks of Alaska Photography
Email: traxak@clearwire.net

Alaskan Discovery RV Tours, Ltd.
Email: spikealaska@earthlink.net

Inlet Tower Hotel & Suites
Email: info@inlettower.com

Homer Stage Line
Email: hsl@xyz.net

Alaska Icefield Expeditions
Email: info@akdogtour.com

Intervet (Akzo Nobel)
Email: investor.relations@akzonobel.com

Colorado Altitude Training
Email: ryoung@altitudetraining.com

J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Email: jbilitz@jjkeller.com

bGlobal, Inc.
Email: rodney.bolls@bglobal.us

Trixsyn (Cogent Solutions Group LLC.)
Email: gsipe@cogentsolutionsgroup.com

ND Industries
Email: info@ndindustries.com

Ursa wagons
Email: sales@ursawagon.com

Great Lakes GeoScience
Email: tchozes@pathwaynet.com

Western Products
Email: info@westernplows.com

Macgellan.com
Email: Macgellan@mac.com

Krabloonik Kennels
Email: reservations@krabloonik.com

Mill Direct Textiles
Email: GregG@milldirecttextiles.com

Penfield
Email: info@penfieldusa.com

Reisky & Schlese
Email: info@reisky-schlese.de

Dog Company
Email: cech@dogcompany.at

Allen Family Foods, Inc.
Email: affeob@allenfamilyfoods.com

Parker, Smith & Feek, Inc.
Email: jmshanholtz@psfinc.com

Michael Bertrand Photography
Email: mbphotos@rockisland.com

Michael Trippodi Dienstleistungen
Email: mail@trippodi.de

Sahale Snacks
Email: info@sahalesnacks.com

Northland Services
Email: CustomerService@northlandservices.com

Beaver Sports
Email: beaversports@beaversports.com

Eagle Pack
Email: msteele@eaglepack.com

Co-Fly Industries
Email: charlene@permafrost.com

Sportees Activewear
Email: info@sportees.com

Pioneer Lodge
Email: info@pioneerlodgeak.com

Bi-Polar Racing
Email: jeffm@creagan.biz

The Black Dog Tavern Co.
Email: abbietaylor@theblackdog.com

Alpine Lodge
Email: reservations@akalpinelodge.com

National Dog Food
Email: info@nationaldogfood.com

FogTech (Motosolutions)
Email: gene@motosolutions.com

Caribou Creek Pet Foods
Email: webmaster@cariboucreekgold.com

The Outdoor Source
Email: info@theoutdoorsource.com

ClustrMaps
Email: theteam@clustrmaps.com

West Rib Café and Pub
Email: dennisfreeman@yahoo.com

Talkeetna Chocolate Corner
Email: kirtroger@ralik.net

Trekker Design
Email: sales@trekkerdesigns.com

Up Here Publishing Ltd.
Email: kathy@uphere.ca

FirstMate Pet Food
Email: taplowf@firstmate.com

Appenzell Brewing Company
Email: r.signer@appenzellerbier.ch

Bed & Breakfast 'De Kastanjeboom'
Email: info@dekastanjeboom.be

Toy Store De Krokodil Brugge
Email: brugge@krokodil.be

Wegwijzer Travel Information
Email: info@wegwijzer.be

Pink & Blue Publicity
Email: info@pinkandblue.be

Hotel Restaurant Stossplatz
Email: h.weishaupt@freesurf.ch

Sea Pet (Sea Starr Animal Health, Inc.)
Email: contact@seapet.com

Laurel Pub Company
Email: feedback@laurelpubco.com

Ziwipeak Limited Natural
Email: kathy@ziwipeak.com

John Hall's Alaska
Email: info@kissalaska.com

Ten Squared Racing
Email: info@10squaredracing.com

Capital Electric
Email: larsn@capitalelec.com

Icicle Seafoods, Inc.
Email: johnb@icicleseafoods.com

Blackwood Pet Food
Email: info@blackwoodpetfood.com

Sound Electric
Email: karen@soundele.com

Siberian Husky Club of Greater Chicago, IL
Email: jsiegel@naturesbest.com

Bay Area Siberian Husky Club, CA
Email: sledder1@pacbell.net

Northern California Siberian Husky Club
Email: mead@unr.edu

Redpaw Feed
Email: contact@redpawfeed.com

Pro Pac Dog Food (Midwestern Pet Foods, Inc.)
Email: contact@propacpetfood.com

Kamik
Email: info@kamik.com

Bynje
Email: post@brynje.no

Noraid
Email: post@noraid.no

Vi sees
Email: anni@visees.no

Macrogard (Immunocorp)
Email: sales@immunocorp.no

HomeSchoolers' Support Association
Email: nwdunnings@msn.com

Prism Health Networks
Email: pcandino@prismnetwork.com
Email: mzygaj@prismnetwork.com

Siberian Husky Club of Metro Dallas
Email: wegerer@swbell.net

Teck Cominco
Email: info@teckcominco.com

Edmund Optics
Email: sales@edmundoptics.com

GoNorth Alaska Travel Center
Email: para@alaska.net

Wayne County Community Federal Credit Union
Email: cblough@wccfcu.com

PJ Operating Corp.
Email: sales@pjoperating.com

Trail Ridge Air, Inc.
Email: jim@trailridgeair.com

Oasis Environmental
Email: info@oasisenviro.com

Diabetes Sports and Wellness Foundation
Email: bob@dswf.org

Contact Camden Councillors about proposed animal lab

Many of you will remember the news before Christmas that the government had apparently given the go ahead for a new massive research complex to be built at St Pancras. For the story see:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3001342.ece+

Despite what the story claims, planning permission has not yet been granted by Camden Council for this project, let alone architects or builders engaged.

There is huge controversy over the project, centred around local residents who had been promised the land for children's play areas and community facilities which are severely lacking in the area.

Now it's time to remind the councillors of Camden that there are many other reasons to oppose this project, and that they will face opposition from many sides.

The proposed project is not even the highest bidder, yet another example of the government paying back all the millions donated to the Labour Party by the pharmaceutical and biotech industry.

The recent escape of foot and mouth disease from a government research centre in the Surrey Countryside shows just how insane an idea it is to build this facility right in the heart of London, close to the new European transport hub.

This whole project wreaks of New Labour corruption and arrogance, and the potential for yet another disaster is glaringly obvious given this government's track record.

And victims of all this sleaze and incompetence will not just be the thousands of Camden residents ripped off by corrupt officials, but also the tens of thousands of animals who will be tortured and killed in useless experiments, just to further the careers of a few inept "scientists", to push more dangerous drugs onto the market and provide yet more profits for the greedy drug companies.

Contact Camden Councillors, ask them to refuse planning permission for the above reasons, and to use the land for the benefit or local residents as promised.

Please contact us with any replies arevents@lists.rbgi.net

CAMDEN COUNCILLORS:
Penelope Abraham
Labour
email: penelope.abraham@camden.gov.uk
David Abrahams
Lib Dem
email: david.abrahams@camden.gov.uk
Nasim Ali
Labour
email: nasim.ali@camden.gov.uk
Omar Faruque Ansari
Lib Dem
email: faruque.ansari@camden.gov.uk
Paul Barton
Conservative
email: paul.barton@camden.gov.uk
Christopher Basson
Lib Dem
email: christopher.basson@camden.gov.uk
Theo Blackwell
Labour
email: theo.blackwell@camden.gov.uk
Paul Braithwaite
Lib Dem
email: paul.braithwaite@camden.gov.uk
John Bryant
Lib Dem
email: john.bryant@camden.gov.uk
Patricia Callaghan
Labour
email patricia.callaghan@camden.gov.uk
Libby Campbell
Lib Dem
email: libby.campbell@camden.gov.uk
Frédéric Carver
Lib Dem
email: frederic.carver@camden.gov.uk
Fazlul Chowdhury
Labour
email: fazlul.chowdhury@camden.gov.uk
Martin Davies
Conservative
email: martin.davies@camden.gov.uk
Maya de Souza
Green
email: maya.desouza@camden.gov.uk
Russell Eagling
Lib Dem
email: russell.eagling@camden.gov.uk
Jill Fraser
Lib Dem
email: jill.fraser@camden.gov.uk
Roger Freeman
Conservative
email: roger.freeman@camden.gov.uk
Julian Fulbrook
Labour
email: julian.fulbrook@camden.gov.uk
Janet Grauberg
Lib Dem
email: janet.grauberg@camden.gov.uk
Arthur Graves
Lib Dem
email: arthur.graves@camden.gov.uk
Mike Greene
Conservative
email: mike.greene@camden.gov.uk
Duncan Greenland
Lib Dem
email: duncan.greenland@camden.gov.uk
Abdul Hai
Labour
email: abdul.hai@camden.gov.uk
Syed Hoque
Labour
email: syed.hoque@camden.gov.uk
Rebecca Hossack
Conservative
email: rebecca.hossack@camden.gov.uk
Nurul Islam
Labour
email: nurul.islam@camden.gov.uk
Geethika Jayatilaka
Labour
email: geethika.jayatilaka@camden.gov.uk
Heather Johnson
Labour
email: heather.johnson@camden.gov.uk
James King
Lib Dem
email: james.king@camden.gov.uk
Chris Knight
Conservative
email: chris.knight@camden.gov.uk
Andrew Marshall
Conservative
email: andrew.marshall@camden.gov.uk
Andrew Mennear
Conservative
email: andrew.mennear@camden.gov.uk
Lulu Mitchell
Conservative
email: lulu.mitchell@camden.gov.uk
Keith Moffitt
Lib Dem
email: keith.moffitt@camden.gov.uk
Chris Naylor
Lib Dem
email: chris.naylor@camden.gov.uk
Adrian Oliver
Green
email: adrian.oliver@camden.gov.uk
Chris Philp
Conservative
email: chris.philp@camden.gov.uk
jamin Rawlings
Lib Dem
email: ben.rawlings@camden.gov.uk
Flick Rea
Lib Dem
email: flick.rea@camden.gov.uk
Kirsty Roberts
Conservative
email: kirsty.roberts@camden.gov.uk
Roger Robinson
Labour
email: roger.robinson@camden.gov.uk
Alexis Rowell
Lib Dem
email: alexis.rowell@camden.gov.uk
Matthew Sanders
Lib Dem
email: matt.sanders@camden.gov.uk
Jane Schopflin
Lib Dem
email: jane.schopflin@camden.gov.uk
Ralph Scott
Lib Dem
email: ralph.scott@camden.gov.uk
Keith Sedgwick
Conservative
email: keith.sedgwick@camden.gov.uk
Jonathan Simpson
Labour
email: jonathan.simpson@camden.gov.uk
Dawn Somper
Conservative
email: dawn.somper@camden.gov.uk
Anna Stewart
Labour
email: anna.stewart@camden.gov.uk
Philip Thompson
Lib Dem
email: philip.thompson@camden.gov.uk
Sue Vincent
Labour
email: sue.vincent@camden.gov.uk
Don Williams
Conservative
email: don.williams@camden.gov.uk
Brian Woodrow
Labour
email: brian.woodrow@camden.gov.uk

Urgent: Action on Animal Circuses

A UK Government instigated report is threatening to derail attempts to end the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in England, Scotland and Wales. Please take action today to help end the suffering of circus animals. This will have a profound effect on the impact of the new Animal Welfare Act 2006, and raises concern about future Government action on issues such as primate pets and exotic pet fairs, which were due to be dealt with by secondary legislation, under the Animal Welfare Act. It is urgent that people contact the relevant Ministers and their MPs - if you do not have time to read the background section, please scroll straight down to "We need your help".

Background
In November, the report of the Government's Circus Working Group (CWG) was published. The CWG Chairman academic lawyer Mike Radford, advised that the report should not be regarded as establishing conclusively one way or another whether the welfare of non-domesticated circus animals is either compromised or of an acceptable standard. Although stating, "the status quo is not an option", he also contends that any attempt to ban the use of certain species in circuses under secondary legislation may be subject to legal challenge.
The CWG was convened after Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) minister Ben Bradshaw gave an undertaking in the House of Commons in March 2006 that a ban on the use of non-domesticated species would be brought in after the passage of the Animal Welfare Act. As a result of this undertaking, amendments that would have put a ban on the face of the legislation to the (then) Animal Welfare Bill were withdrawn. This promised was reiterated when the Bill was debated in the House of Lords, when another ADI amendment was discussed.
The CWG was comprised of animal welfare and industry groups; each group nominated three experts to sit on an Academic Panel, which would review the evidence submitted by each side. The plan was that the results would inform the Government's decision-making. Unfortunately, the strategy was flawed from the outset. The make-up of the academic panel meant a stalemate or other "inconclusive" outcome was highly likely.
ADI participated, but warned that Defra's insistence on only looking at published scientific studies on animals with travelling circuses would result in too little evidence, as this has not been an area of great academic interest and therefore the necessary studies, for a robust review, have simply not been commissioned.
In the absence of specific circus studies, ADI (and the other groups) submitted scientific studies of the effects of captivity and transportation on animals in other industries; this would provide data that could be read across to the circus situation. However, all this evidence was excluded from the academic panel's deliberations, on the basis that the "particularity" of the circus environment is such that it cannot be compared with zoos, or animals in transportation or other captive situations for other industries, etc.
Since the wealth of available evidence on the use of animals in travelling circuses is empirical: for example first-hand investigator's notes, time budget observations, and videotape, we argued that this should be accepted. Some of the video tapes show continuous scenes in excess of 300 hours. However, all of the empirical evidence, including observational studies, was excluded. The Government also excluded all evidence on training and animal control, saying that this could be dealt with at a later date. Considering the large amount of the animals' time spent in these interactions with their human workers, even the Chairman of the CWG commented that perhaps it would have been better to include these activities.
As a result, the CWG's report is not only inconclusive, but it is also contradictory and the Chairman admits that huge amounts of evidence were simply not looked at.

Download a PDF of ADI's comprehensive response to the CWG Report here:
http://www.ad-international.org/admin/downloads/adi_resp_to_cwg_271107_fin.pdf

How many animal circuses are left in the UK?
Ten years ago there were around 200 wild performing animals touring the UK, or in UK circus animal supply facilities, including 16 elephants on tour. Then in January 1998, ADI released the shocking findings of an 18 month undercover investigation of the British circus industry, leading to the convictions for cruelty to animals of several people, including Mary Chipperfield, supplier of trained animals to Hollywood and Disney. Within months the public voted with their feet, and the number of animal circuses in the UK halved. The Government promised to act.
In 2007, there were just four circuses left with wild animals - a total of 47 animals including just one elephant. It is time for Government to act or face the creeping rise of this miserable industry once again.

Public and political opinion
If the Government does not act to ban the use of wild animals in circuses it is flying in the face of the commitment made to Parliament in 2006.
At that time 144 MPs had signed and Early Day Motion (EDM):
(http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=464&ssi=10.

Previous EDMs calling for an end to the use of animals in travelling circuses consistently secured signatures of similar numbers of MPs or more. Consistently, MORI and NOP opinion polls commissioned by ADI over the past decade have found that 80% of the public support an end to the use of animals in travelling circuses.

Click here for more information on opinion polls on animal circuses and local authority positions.
http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=245&ssi=10

We need your help

It is vital that you write to each of the following:

Hilary Benn MP
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Lord Rooker
Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare, DEFRA, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR

Your MP,
House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA

Please ask for a clear prohibition of the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and note:

1. The Circus Working Group report has proved inconclusive; that significant evidence and relevant information was excluded, including scientific evidence from other industries; there was no examination of training and control methods; and that the methodology employed was flawed from the outset.
2. There is strong public and political support for an end to the use of animals in travelling circuses.
3. The use of all (not just wild) animals has been successfully banned on land belonging to over 200 local Councils in the UK.
4. This is a vital first test for the Animal Welfare Act - if it cannot prevent an arthritic old elephant from touring the UK, or lions and tigers continuing to tour the UK in cages on the backs of lorries, then what can it achieve?

For more information on the treatment of animals in circuses, please click here:
http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in_entertainment/go.php?id=249&ssi=10

Animal Defenders International
Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP

Selfridges are still selling foie-gras so let's keep the pressure on them until they stop. Please pick one day this week and phone and email them to say:

"Please stop selling foie-gras. Foie-gras is produced by force feeding ducks or geese large amounts of food so that their livers swell to up to 10 times the normal size and become diseased and fatty. Often their organs rupture or the tube goes through their neck and the birds die an agonising death. Over 90 per cent of the 30 million birds used in foie-gras production each year in France are male ducks. The same number of female ducklings - which are not used in foie-gras production – are either gassed or thrown into electric mincers at a few days old. No ethical company would support this barbaric practice so please stop now."

Selfridges phone number: 0800 1234000

Selfridges email: connect@selfridges.co.uk

It takes only a few minutes to email or phone Selfridges so pick a day now and let's bombard them with messages!

Thank you.

Honourable President Of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil
email: presidentofindia@rb.nic.in
website: http://presidentofindia.nic.in/

Shri M. Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India
Vice-President's House, 6 Maulana Azad Road, New Delhi - 110 011 (INDIA)
ph: 011-23016422, 23016344
email: vpindia@nic.in
website: http://164.100.24.167/Chairman-Rajyasabha/writetochairman.htm

Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India
South Block, Raisina Hill, New Delhi, India -110 011
ph: 91-11-23012312; fax: 91-11-23019545 / 91-11-23016857
web email: http://pmindia.nic.in/write.htm

Sh. Sevugan Regupathy, Minister of State for Environment & Forests
TS. No. 3108, East Second Street, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu (INDIA)
ph: (04322) 227799
email: r.sevugan@nic.in

Secretary, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Paryavaran Bhavan
CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003 (INDIA)
ph: +91-11-2436 1896, 24360605, 24360570, 24360519
email: envisect@nic.in
website: http://envfor.nic.in/

Smt. Ambika Soni, Minister of Tourism & Culture
RNo 301, Transport Bhawan
1, Parliament Street, New Delhi - 110 001 (INDIA)
ph: 91-11-23717969; 91-11-23718310; 91-11-23710431
fax: 91-11-23731506; 91-11-23321397
email: tourismminister@nic.in, ps-mtc@nic.in, ps2motc@nic.in, santha@nic.in,
jmukharjee2001@yahoo.co.in, rsguptagad@yahoo.co.in

Indian Embassies:
http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/govtofindialinks.asp#6

All emails in this alert:
presidentofindia@rb.nic.in, vpindia@nic.in, r.sevugan@nic.in,
envisect@nic.in, tourismminister@nic.in, ps-mtc@nic.in, ps2motc@nic.in,
santha@nic.in, jmukharjee2001@yahoo.co.in, rsguptagad@yahoo.co.in,
ambassador@indiagov.org, dcmoff@indiagov.org, culturewing@indiagov.org

Honourable Government Officials of India:

Please uphold longstanding Indian law that makes owning or "dancing" a bear illegal. With roughly 8,000 non-captive sloth bears left in India, the World Conservation Union classifies this species as "vulnerable." Moreover, the use of dancing bears to amuse tourists is an unusually cruel form of entertainment.

Over 100 cubs are unlawfully snatched from the wild each year. Sloth bears, some only weeks old, are seized from mothers shot dead before their eyes. Many succumb to starvation, dehydration, suffocation or shock during long journeys with Kalandar gypsies who use them to beg for money. An estimated 500 to 600 sloth bears are forced into lives of misery. Wild bears may live over 20 years; as dancing bears, they die by seven or eight years of age.

As babies, the bears' teeth are filed to render them defenceless. Later their tender muzzles are pierced with a fire-heated needle to thread a training rope through mutilated bone, cartilage and nerve membrane. Trainers drag bears by these ropes to control them and make them perform unnatural stunts such as balancing upon two legs. The rope grinds against a bear's open wound, leading to chronic infections. Agitated bears appear to "dance." In reality, they are frantic to escape the pain.

Over time the bears are so conditioned to "dance" on hot plates, they begin their weary waltz as soon as they hear familiar music. Most endure lifelong malnutrition and abuse that can result in blindness, intestinal disorders and behavioural aberrations such as chronic pacing.

Many tourists will not holiday in countries that condone or ignore such blatant cruelty. I urge government officials to enforce the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and subsidise bear sanctuaries for retired dancing bears, all of whom are too disfigured and tame to survive in the wild. Please permanently end the dancing bear trade and help Kalandar nomads find new means of employment.

Thank you,

Stop The Whale Killers: Japan, Norway, Iceland

1. Japanese Whaling
Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

Complete contact information:

Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda
Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Public Relations Office, 1-6-1 Nagata-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100 - 8968, Japan
email: kanteihp-info@cas.go.jp
web email: http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment.html

Ministry Of Foreign Affairs Of Japan
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Masahiko Koumura
Kasumigaseki 2-2-1, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8919, Japan
ph: +81- (0) 3-3580-3311
email: webmaster@mofa.go.jp
website: http://www.mofa.go.jp

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Norinsuisansho)
Minister Masatoshi Wakabayashi
1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8950, Japan
ph: +81-3-3502-8111
email: voice_kanri@nm.maff.go.jp, kouhou_rinseika@nm.maff.go.jp
website: http://www.maff.go.jp/eindex.html

Ministry of the Environment (Kankyosho)
No. 5 Godochosha, 1-2-2 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8975, Japan
ph: +81-3-3581-3351
email: MOE@env.go.jp
website: http://www.env.go.jp/en/

Japan National Tourist Organisation
JNTO Headquarters 10th Floor, Tokyo Kotsu Kaikan Building, 2-10-1 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0006, Japan
AMERICAN offices: visitjapan@jntonyc.org, info@jnto-lax.org
CANADA: info@jntoyyz.com
UK (London): info@jnto.co.uk
GERMANY (Frankfurt): fra@jnto.de
AUSTRALIA (Sydney): jnto@tokyonet.com.au
website: http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/contact/regional_offices.html

More Japan Gov. links: http://www.mofa.go.jp/link/index.html

Japanese Embassies:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/mofaserv.html
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Japan/Japan.html

Email Block:
kanteihp-info@cas.go.jp, webmaster@mofa.go.jp,
kouhou_rinseika@nm.maff.go.jp, voice_kanri@nm.maff.go.jp, MOE@env.go.jp,
visitjapan@jntonyc.org, info@jnto-lax.org, info@jntoyyz.com,
info@jnto.co.uk, fra@jnto.de, jnto@tokyonet.com.au

Sample letter #1 / JAPAN:

Honourable Officials Of Japan:

I respectfully ask Prime Minister Fukuda to work with ministries and agencies toward stopping Japan's whale hunt.

As a member of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan should uphold its pledge to the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary around Antarctica. Yet Japan's whaling fleet headed to the Southern Ocean Sanctuary on November 18, 2007 to slaughter over 1,000 whales -- with 50 endangered humpback whales among those targeted.

Japan has killed whales in defiance of international treaty obligations for two decades. Now Japan hunts a species whose numbers have dropped by an estimated 90%. Humpbacks are so threatened, their slaughter is forbidden.

Japan is known for its modern social and industrial perspectives -- except in the area of whaling. I urge you to act in accordance with 21st Century conservation policy. Whales are already vulnerable to chemical pollution, seismic and naval sonar, entrapment in nets, ship strikes, habitat loss and other hazards. Whales are slow breeders with a high infant death rate. Scientific and commercial hunts impede population recovery. To expand Japan's "kill list" with endangered humpbacks is scandalous.

Japan has long exploited IWC's exemption for "scientific whaling." There is no rationale for butchering whales to analyse migration, age, ecology or behaviour. Top IWC scientists have repeatedly condemned manipulation of this loophole. Science-based slaughter is a veil for commerce in whale meat. Whale cuisine shows up in Japan's school lunch programs and even dog food.

I encourage Prime Minister Fukuda to lead Japan in the right direction. Abide by IWC rulings and end the whale hunt now.

Thank you,

2. Norwegian Whaling
Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

Complete contact information:

Norwegian Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs
Helga Pedersen, Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs, Grubbegt. 1, P.O. Box 8118, Dep, NO-0032 Oslo, Norway
ph: +47 22 24 64 00; fax: +47 22 24 95 85
email: postmottak@fkd.dep.no, jorn.krog@fkd.dep.no,
magnor.nerheim@fkd.dep.no, kirsten.selvig@fkd.dep.no,
arne.benjaminsen@fkd.dep.no, johan.williams@fkd.dep.no
website: http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/fkd.html?id=257

Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
Postboks 2009 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway
ph: +47 800 30 179
email: postmottak@fiskeridir.no, info@fiskeridir.no
web email: http://www.fiskeridir.no/fiskeridir/english/contact_us

Norwegian Institute of Marine Research
P.O. Box 1870, Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway
ph: +47 55 23 85 00; fax: +47 55 23 85 31
email: post@imr.no
website: http://www.imr.no/english/contact

NIFES, National Institute of Nutrition and Seafood Research
P.O. Box 2029 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway
ph: +47 55 90 51 00; fax: +47 55 90 52 99
email: postmottak@nifes.no
website: http://www.nifes.no/index.php?page_id=126&lang_id=2

Norwegian Seafood Export Council
P.O. Box 6176, Strandveien 106, 9291 Tromso, Norway
ph: +47 77603333; fax: +47 77680012
email: postmottak@seafood.no, mail@seafood.no, norge.jp@seafood.no,
hans-petter.nas@seafood.no, hpnaes@softbank.ne.jp
website: http://www.godfisk.no/

Norwegian Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Fiskeriforskning)
Muninbakken 9-13, Postboks 6122; N-9291 Tromso, Norway
ph: +47 77 62 90 00; fax +47 77 62 91 00
email: post@fiskeriforskning.no, office@fiskeriforskning.no
website: http://www.fiskeriforskning.no/

National Veterinary Institute
Communications Director Steinar Q. Andersen: steinar.andersen@vetinst.no
ph: +47 23 21 60 90, +47 906 71 341; fax: +47 23 21 60 01
Director Roar Gudding: roar.gudding@vetinst.no
ph: +47 23 21 63 00, +47 915 58 121; fax: +47 23 21 60 01
web email: http://www.vetinst.no/eng/kontakt

Norwegian Tourist Board
P.O. Box 2893, Solli, N-0230 Oslo, Norway
ph: +47 22 92 52 00; fax: +47 22 56 05 05
email: norway@ntr.no, greatbritain@ntr.no, usa@ntr.no
website: http://www.visitnorway.com/

NORWEGIAN EMBASSIES:
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/norway1.htm

postmottak@fkd.dep.no, jorn.krog@fkd.dep.no, magnor.nerheim@fkd.dep.no,
kirsten.selvig@fkd.dep.no, arne.benjaminsen@fkd.dep.no,
johan.williams@fkd.dep.no, postmottak@fiskeridir.no, info@fiskeridir.no,
post@imr.no, postmottak@nifes.no, postmottak@seafood.no, mail@seafood.no,
norge.jp@seafood.no, hans-petter.nas@seafood.no, hpnaes@softbank.ne.jp,
post@fiskeriforskning.no, office@fiskeriforskning.no,
steinar.andersen@vetinst.no, roar.gudding@vetinst.no, norway@ntr.no,
greatbritain@ntr.no, usa@ntr.no, emb.washington@mfa.no

Sample Letter #2 / NORWAY:

Honourable Officials Of Norway:

I respectfully ask you to stop Norway's whale hunt.

Norway, a member of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), should uphold the moratorium on commercial whaling. But like Japan, Norway is criticised for its defiance of international treaty obligations.

I urge you to act in accordance with 21st Century conservation policy. Whales are already vulnerable to chemical pollution, seismic and naval sonar, entrapment in nets, ship strikes, habitat loss and other hazards. Whales are slow breeders with a high infant death rate. Scientific and commercial hunts impede population recovery. To perpetuate this violence against nature is scandalous.

Please do not exploit IWC's exemption for "scientific whaling." There is no rationale for butchering whales to analyse migration, age, ecology or behaviour. Eminent scientists and legal authorities rebuke "scientific whaling" as pointless and illegitimate. Science-based slaughter is a veil for commerce in whale meat.

Moreover, whale hunts are profoundly inhumane. Harpoons explode inside their bodies, shredding internal organs. It can take up to a half or full hour for a whale to die. Some, tied to the side of whaling vessels, suffocate as they thrash about in vain attempts to escape.

Personally, I cannot tour or otherwise support any society that condones senseless brutality against animals. Please abide by IWC rulings and end Norway's whale hunt now.

Thank you,

3. Icelandic Whaling
Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

Complete contact information:

Ministry of Fisheries in Iceland
Einar Kristinn Gufinnsson, Minister of Fisheries
Jon B. Jonasson, Permanent Secretary of Fisheries
Skulagata 4, 150 Reykjavik, Iceland
ph: 00 354 545 8300; fax: 00 354 562 1853
email: jon.b.jonasson@sjr.stjr.is, postur@sjr.stjr.is
web email: http://eng.sjavarutvegsraduneyti.is/Enquiry/

Office of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde
Stjornarradshusinu vid Laekjartorg, 150 Reykjavik, Iceland
ph: (+354) 545 8400; fax: (+354) 562 4014
email: postur@for.stjr.is
website: http://eng.forsaetisraduneyti.is/

Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Foreign Affairs & External Trade, Ingibjoerg Solrun Gisladottir
Raudararstigur 25, IS-150 Reykjavik, Iceland
ph: +354 545-9900; fax: +354-562-2373, 562-2386
email: external@utn.stjr.is, postur@utn.stjr.is
website: http://www.mfa.is/

More Iceland Gov links: http://www.government.is/

Icelandic Tourist Board
http://www.icetourist.is/displayer.asp?cat_id=491
email: info@icetourist.is, scandinavia@icetourist.is, info@icetourist.de,
usa@icetourist.is
website: http://www.icetourist.is/

Iceland Embassies:
http://www.embassyworld.com/embassy/Iceland/Iceland1.html

jon.b.jonasson@sjr.stjr.is, postur@sjr.stjr.is, postur@for.stjr.is,
external@utn.stjr.is, postur@utn.stjr.is, info@icetourist.is,
scandinavia@icetourist.is, info@icetourist.de, usa@icetourist.is,
icemb.wash@utn.stjr.is

Sample letter #3 / ICELAND:

Honourable Officials Of Iceland:

I understand Iceland suspended its whale slaughter, but intends to renew it in the near future. I respectfully ask you to permanently stop whale hunts.

Iceland, a member of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), should uphold the moratorium on commercial whaling. Like Japan, Iceland has been criticized for its defiance of international treaty obligations.

Environmental organizations and tour operators have stated Icelandic whaling hinders tourism and whale watching. Why risk revenue and project a negative international image?

I urge you to act in accordance with 21st Century conservation policy. Whales are already vulnerable to chemical pollution, seismic and naval sonar, entrapment in nets, ship strikes, habitat loss and other hazards. Whales are slow breeders with a high infant death rate. Scientific and commercial hunts impede population recovery. To perpetuate this violence against nature is scandalous.

Please do not exploit IWC's exemption for "scientific whaling." There is no rationale for butchering whales to analyse migration, age, ecology or behaviour. Eminent scientists and legal authorities rebuke "scientific
whaling" as pointless and illegitimate.

Moreover, whale hunts are profoundly inhumane. Harpoons explode inside their bodies, shredding internal organs. It can take up to a half or full hour for a whale to die. Some, tied to the side of whaling vessels, suffocate as they thrash about in vain attempts to escape.

Personally, I cannot tour or otherwise support any society that condones senseless brutality against animals. Please abide by IWC rulings and end Iceland's whale hunt permanently.

Thank you,

4. US ONLY! : US Whale Protection
Try to change some words, pare down letters, and make them your own.

To find your Congressional reps & get their contact info try:
Congress.org: http://www.congress.org/
USA Senate: http://www.senate.gov/
USA House of Representatives: http://www.house.gov/
Congressional Switchboard: 202-224-3121

Sample letter #4 / US CONGRESS:
The Honourable Representative _________________________________
US House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honourable Senators ______________________________________
The US Senate, US Capitol Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Representative __________________________________ and

Senators _______________________________________________ :

On November 18, 2007, Japan's whaling fleet headed to Southern Ocean Sanctuary around Antarctica to slaughter over 1,000 whales -- with 50 endangered humpback whales among those targeted.

Japan now hunts a species whose numbers have dropped by an estimated 90%. Commercial slaughter of humpbacks has been illegal for more than 40 years. I call upon my elected officials to advocate uncompromising US guidance for whale protection in the 21st Century.

As members of the International Whaling Commission (IWC), Japan, Norway and Iceland should uphold the moratorium on commercial whaling. These nations (especially Japan) are criticized for their continuing defiance of international treaty obligations.

Whales are already vulnerable to chemical pollution, seismic and naval sonar, entrapment in nets, ship strikes, habitat loss and other hazards. Whales are slow breeders with a high infant death rate. Scientific and commercial hunts impede population recovery. For Japan to expand its "kill list" with endangered humpbacks is scandalous.

Whaling nations have long exploited IWC's exemption for "scientific whaling." There is no rationale for butchering whales to analyse migration, age, ecology or behaviour. Eminent scientists and legal authorities rebuke "scientific whaling" as pointless and illegitimate. In fact, science-based slaughter is a veil for commerce in whale meat.

Moreover, whale hunts are profoundly inhumane. Harpoons explode inside their bodies, shredding internal organs. It can take up to a half or full hour for a whale to die. Some, tied to the side of whaling vessels, suffocate as they thrash about in vain attempts to escape.

The United States needs to let whaling nations know: If you fail to act in accordance with IWC rulings, you face serious consequences. If Japan proceeds without penalty, whale populations and marine ecosystems may never recover. Please help lead the way in whale protection before it's too late.

Thank you,

** Saturday 2nd February 2008 to Friday 8th February **
** International Boycott Japan Awareness Week **

A week asking people not to buy Japanese goods, EVER!

A week asking campaigners to create actions and events in their locality be it something as simple as leafleting consumers.

Since the ban on whaling in the mid 1980s Japan has killed thousands of whales for "scientific research".

Also every year over 20000 dolphins are cruelly killed.

Take the pledge - if it says 'Made In Japan' send a message to the Japanese Government and companies , tell the bloody murderers to go to hell. Pledge to boycott Japanese goods, eg Honda, Toyota, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Nissan, Canon, Toshiba. A full list can be found at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Japanese_companies.

Sign the petition:
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/japkill/

Please contact Cetacea Defence (cetaceadefence@hotmail.com) for further information and fliers and confirm your involvement between 2-8th February.

Canadian politicians

The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
House of Commons, Parliament Buildings, Wellington Street, Ottawa, Ontario; Canada, K1A 0A6
ph: 613-992-0927; fax: 613-995-7858
email: Hearn.L@parl.gc.ca, mp@loyolahearn.nf.net, min@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade
House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
ph: 613-943-0267; fax: 613-943-0219; email: Emerson.D@parl.gc.ca

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, K1A 0A2
ph: 613-992-421; fax: 613-941-6900
email: pm@pm.gc.ca, Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

The Honourable Gerald Keddy
Parliament Member for the South Shore of Nova Scotia, House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
ph: 613-996-0877; fax: 613-996-0878
email: Keddy.G@parl.gc.ca

Contact information for all members of the Canadian Parliament:
http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/SenatorsMembers_house.asp?Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1&Sect=hoccur

Canadian Embassies:
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/cra-en.asp

Canadian Tourism
Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)
Suite 1400, Four Bentall Centre, 1055 Dunsmuir St./Box 49230, Vancouver, BC V7X 1L2, Canada
ph: 604-638-8300
website: http://www.corporate.canada.travel/en/ca/

Sample letter
Try to shorten and personalise your letter before sending.

Dear Prime Minister Harper and Honourable Government Officials Of Canada:

I urge you to terminate the government-subsidized slaughter of seals. If Canada resumes its seal hunt in March 2008, I renew my pledge to boycott Canadian seafood and tourism.

In the last two years, 98% of seals killed ranged from 2 weeks to 3 months in age. During the annual ambush on whelping grounds, pups are gunned down, bludgeoned, kicked, and thrashed with hakapiks. Some are left to rot on the ice floes.

Last year, sealers killed 215,000 seals, even as more pups perished amid melting ice. Global warming threatens to deplete ice fields in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and off Newfoundland where harp seals breed. If Canadian authorities intend to initiate "real action" on global warming, they should phase-out this unsustainable hunt rather than inflate kill quotas.

It's time to close a contentious industry. In January 2008, the Fur Institute of Canada's Bruce Williams told The Canadian Press the sealing trade is in "crisis" due to anticipated seal import bans in Germany, Italy and Austria. Belgium and Holland have already enacted bans on seal goods.

As you know, the European Commission is considering a ban throughout the European Union. Ironically, Canadian Fisheries Minister Loyola Hearn recently interpreted a scientific review from the European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) to mean Canada "upholds the...humaneness of hunting practices and techniques." In fact, EFSA's report reveals critical flaws in Canada's Marine Mammal Regulations with regard to animal welfare.

In one of several examples, EFSA recommends seals not be moved, gaffed or hauled until confirmed dead or irreversibly unconscious. Canadian law presently lets hunters hook seals without verifying unconsciousness or death. Photographic documentation depicts sealers dragging alert animals with boathooks. A team of impartial veterinarians once determined 42% of examined seals failed to become insensible from cranial injury. They
concluded the seals were cognizant when skinned.

Since ethical concerns do not seem to influence policy, I reiterate my commitment to the international boycott of Canadian seafood and tourism