Dear All,
Welcome to the latest edition of the ACE e-newsletter!
The e-newsletter features campaigns which are predominantly e-based or are on a strict time limit. Those of you who also received our snail mail bulletin may be interested to note that it is no longer produced due to editorial time constraints.
Please note: The information reproduced in our e-newsletters is done so in good faith on the understanding that the originators have checked the validity of the content before posting. Nothing in this email newsletter is intended to encourage illegal action in whatever country you are reading it in.
We have included some telephone and fax numbers with some of the alerts, please remember to add international dialling codes where necessary.
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Many thanks to all those who continue to keep in touch and welcome to those who receive this for the first time.
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Delegation-Canada@ec.europa.eu
, ottawa-ob@bmeia.gv.at , ottawa@diplobel.org
, verwaltung@dgparlament.be , mailmn@storm.ca
, or@sabor.hr, ctcny@cyprustradeny.org
, ottawa@embassy.mzv.cz , ottamb@um.dk
, embassy.ottawa@mfa.ee , embassy@finland.ca
, germanembassyottawa@on.aibn.com
, embassy@greekembassy.ca , ottawaembassy@dfa.ie
, sysadmin@huemott.org , ambasciata.ottawa@esteri.it
, redazione.web@governo.it , embassy.canada@mfa.gov.lv
, litemb@storm.ca , washington.info@mae.etat.lu
, info@dutchhelp.com , ottawa@polishembassy.ca
, embportugal@embportugal-ottawa.org
, romania@romanian-embassy.com
, ottawa@slovakembassy.ca , cgspain.toronto@mail.mae.es
, sweden.ottawa@foreign.ministry.se
, generalenquiries@BritaininCanada.org
cc to: stavros.dimas@ec.europa.eu
Honourable Officials, Ladies, Gentlemen:
Year after year, the world has watched in horror and revulsion as one of the most cruel and hideous mass slaughters of living, feeling beings takes place on the ice floes of Eastern Canada. As a result of the intransigence of Canadian government officials, all of Canada and it's citizens have come to be reviled and viewed with disgust by sane and caring people around the globe, while appeals to their leaders fall on deaf ears.
Most informed individuals understand that the sealing industry survives by subsidies - carried on the taxpaying backs of the many, for the benefit of the very few, but so long as the world is silent and complicit by opening their markets to Canadian seal products and goods, there will not be an end to this obscenity. Therefore, in the name of humanity and civilized people everywhere, we appeal to all the nations of Europe for your help in ending this sadistic atrocity. We ask that European countries ban importation of all Canadian seal products, and any other Canadian products so that this may serve to send a clear message that such wanton abuse and cruelty are unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The civilized world will not stand by in silence so long as the brutality of the seal slaughter is allowed to continue. It is time to end this barbaric orgy of death; it is time to stop the insanity and put an end to this medieval blood letting. We urge you to ban Canadian seal products and boycott all other Canadian goods.
Respectfully,
The following are eye-witness accounts from crewmembers onboard Sea Shepherd's the Farley Mowat. The very witnessing of these events is considered illegal by the Canadian government.
We encountered the sealing vessel the Cathy Erlene, registered to Sydney NS. Upon approach we saw two small aluminum boats carrying two men each darting from ice floe to ice floe searching for baby seals. It seemed they had a system. The barbarians on the Cathy Erlene were cruising through the ice searching for the few seal pups there were. They carried on their disgusting massacre carelessly firing upon the unsuspecting babies, their only goal to find and maim the infants. We witnessed two helpless victims, metres from the ship writhing in agony, hot blood spilling onto the ice and heard their cries as they continued to suffer for a good long time awaiting the small boats to arrive and fulfill their doom. Stepping onto the ice the babies, still alive turn their heads to the approaching man with a club. There is nothing humane about this massacre. What I saw today I will never forget, their cries will fill my thoughts and torture my soul. I can say I am truly embarrassed to be of the same race as these cowards and ashamed to be a Canadian today.
-Shannon Mann, Canada
Nothing prepared me for this, no video or previous encounter with the sealers on the ice. I watched in horror and disgust as two murderers clambered from their small boat, club in hand, and smashed in the skull of a baby harp seal. For an hour or so my memories are fuzzy with blood, abuse and worst of all the cries of seals as they are brutally killed. We will do whatever we can to expose this unnecessary, disgusting slaughter of life. Canada can not continue to censor it's dirty secret any longer.
- Laura Dakin UK
First sight of human life on the ice I see two men lifting a seal impaled through the neck onto a sealing boat... the seal was still moving. There was lots of ice covered with blood everywhere. There was a larger boat that the smaller boats were dropping off the seals to be skinned, one of the crew of the boat got up to wave smugly at us. They were skinning them and throwing the seal carcases back overboard. They call it a seal hunt, but I don't think walking up to a stationary seal and smashing its head in is hunting - it is an act of pure cruelty. No wonder they don't want the rest of the world to see what is happening.
-Daniel Bishop, England
It is untrue to say that killing these seals is being done humanely. Today we have seen sealers shooting the baby seals to wound them so they can't flee, beating them with wooden clubs, then killing them by cutting the arteries under their flippers. The seals die slowly and in pain. It is a horrible thing to see.
- Dr Merryn Redenbach, Melbourne Australia
When I woke this morning I looked through the port hole and saw red patches of blood on the ice and I knew the seal hunt had begun. On the deck I immediately saw a small boat and two men who stopped on a little piece of ice in order to slaughter an innocent baby harp seal. Actually there were two small boats and one sealing ship. The hunters carried a hakapik and bashed the seal's head. Some of the seals were still alive when they were delivered back to the sealing ship where they were finally skinned.
- Anne Fourier, France
The Farley Mowat will continue to document the atrocities of the sealers and the incompetence of the Canadian Coast Guard.
An international boycott of East Coast Canada products and tourism has been called. Please take a few moments to let local officials in sealing towns know the strength of your disgust:
Sealing town officials:
ST. JOHN'S
Mayor: Dennis O'keefe
Email: dokeefe@stjohns.ca
BONAVISTA
Mayor: Betty Fitzgerald
Email: town.bonavista@nf.sympatico.ca
FOGO ISLAND
Mayor: Andrew Shea
Email: info@town-fogo.ca
GANDER
Mayor: Claude Elliot
Email: info@gandercanada. com
Councilor: Allan Scott
Email: allanscott@nf.sympatico.ca
Councilor: Carl Smith
Email: emsmith@nl.rogers.com OR carl@carldsmith.com
Let Eastern Canada Tourism Boards know that you intend to boycott:
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR TOURISM
TOLL FREE: 800-563-6353 (Canada and USA)
TEL.: 709-729-2830
FAX: 709-729-0057
Email: tourisminfo@mail.gov.nf.ca
TOURISM QUEBEC
FAX: 1-514-864-3838
Email: info@bonjourquebec.com
NOVA SCOTIA TOURISM
TOLL FREE in North America:
1-800-565-0000
FAX: 902-424-2668
Email: explore@gov.ns.ca
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Campaign launched to close Manchester dog track
Regular leafleting/demos to take place at Belle Vue
Help also needed to stop proposed track in Bolton
A campaign has been launched to close the greyhound track at Manchester's Belle Vue Stadium, the place where commercial dog racing began in this country in 1926.
Manchester Animal Protection Society already hold demos outside the stadium every few weeks, but these are now to be supplemented by regular leafleting sessions by our newly-formed Manchester branch.
It is hoped there will be demos and/or leafleting at Belle Vue on most Saturday evenings, to coincide with the track's biggest race-night of the week.
Address of the stadium is Kirkmanshulme Lane, Gorton, Manchester, M18 7BA and map/directions can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2lx5yy
Please contact our Manchester branch at greyhoundactionmanchester@hotmail.com if you're interested in helping out.
If you don't live anywhere near Manchester, but would like to help organise/take part in regular demos outside your local greyhound stadium, please get in touch with Greyhound Action - info@greyhoundaction.org.uk - for advice and information.
Demonstrations/leafleting already take place at several of the 30 major British dog tracks on a regular basis and our ultimate aim is to have a presence outside all of them at least once a week. This has proved to be an extremely effective method of campaigning, which has led to a substantial reduction in attendances at greyhound stadiums where frequent demos take place, pushing those dog tracks ever nearer to their ultimate closure.
If you are not able to take part in demonstrations, please consider sending us a donation to support this national public education campaign, which can only be kept going through the generosity of those supporters who provide us with funds to cover the high cost of producing and distributing large amounts of leaflets and posters. Cheques/POs should be made payable to Greyhound Action and sent to Greyhound Action, PO Box 127, Kidderminster, DY10 3UZ, England.
If you prefer, you can now donate by PayPal (www.paypal.co.uk) to info@greyhoundaction.org.uk
Greyhound Action Manchester are also campaigning to halt a proposed dog track in Bolton.
Go to www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/bolton.htm to learn how you can help.
Take a look at the home pages of our UK and international sites at:
www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/greyhound.html and www.greyhoundaction.org.uk/igreyhound.html
for more action alerts, news and information.
Please feel free to forward/crosspost/circulate this message.
Tony Peters, Greyhound Action
www.greyhoundaction.org.uk
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Please urge your MP to sign this new EDM that has been put forward by the Labour MP Alan Meale.
Early Day Motion
EDM 1288
BADGER CULLING AND CONTROL OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS
31.03.2008
Meale, Alan
That this House is aware that currently the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is considering giving the go-ahead for a widespread cull of badgers in England and Wales, under the guise of helping to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle; believes that such a course of action would stand against the advice of the Government's own appointed Independent Scientific Group on the subject which concluded in its report that badger culling would make no meaningful contribution to cattle tuberculosis control in the UK; recalls that the Department's own recent public consultation on the subject prompted a record 47,472 responses, 95 per cent. of which opposed such actions, including responses from a number of key stakeholders such as the National Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and others who indicated that they will not allow such measures to be carried out on any of their land holdings; calls on the Government to listen instead to these views and learn from their expertise and concerns; and asks them not to authorise such action but instead to urge agricultural interests to focus their endeavours on other disease control methods including more vigorous testing of cattle and increased biosecurity.
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A badger cull in Wales would be a colossal mistake: for cattle, farmers and badgers, says the RSPCA.
The Welsh Assembly Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones has announced a badger cull in Wales as part of a strategy to tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle.
"This decision flies in the face of sound scientific judgement," says John Avizienius, deputy head of farm animal science at the RSPCA. "The most authoritative scientific research ever undertaken on the subject recommended against badger-culling.
"What's the point of spending £34 million on a ten-year study, killing over 11,000 badgers and then ignoring the results? A cull would be a worrying waste of time, resources and badger lives. It also risks distracting attention from worthwhile efforts to reduce the spread of bovine TB in cattle."
As a former herdsman, John Avizienius speaks with authority and empathy about the devastating impact herd restrictions can have. "Farmers' concern about the increase of TB in herds is entirely understandable," he says, "but this makes it all the more crucial to focus efforts on disease control methods which will work," he adds, "not embarking on a badger cull which is very likely to make matters worse."
Both the RSPB and the National Trust agree that a badger cull won't work. "We are not a bunch of badger-huggers," says Dr Rob Atkinson, the RSPCA's head of wildlife science. "Our opposition to a badger cull is based on solid science not sentiment. The RSPCA cares as much about cattle welfare as badgers. We are keen to work with farmers and governments to find positive solutions to the challenge of TB in cattle."
The RSPCA strongly supports:
- enhanced testing of cattle and better biosecurity
- quarantine arrangements for cattle moved from farm-to-farm
- financial assistance to farmers to implement these and other measures to tackle bovine TB.
The decision to cull badgers somewhere in Wales could increase the occurrence of bTB in neighbouring areas, according to the scientific evidence. Furthermore, it is not possible to cull only diseased badgers because there is no reliable test to identify them. This means that most of the badgers killed in any cull would be disease-free because the available evidence shows that the vast majority of badgers are free from TB.
The RSPCA is urging members of the public to write to the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones at the Welsh Assembly Government and to seek a meeting with their Assembly Members to urge against a cull.
The Minister can be e mailed at elin.jones@wales.gov.uk
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Campaign against the racing of oxen in Chieuti, Italy
On the 22nd of April each year, an oxcart race takes place in Chieuti. Four carts are pulled at great speed through the town by pairs of oxen. The animals undergo training throughout the year in preparation for the event, and the day before the race, a rehearsal is held. The oxen are then shut in their stables to protect them from any interference by members of opposing teams. The next morning, the day of the race, the oxen are washed and decorated. Before the start of the ordeal the teams are blessed by the village priest.
The oxen are raced for almost three miles, through the town, out into the country, up and down hills, then back down the main street to the church. They are watched by large crowds of spectators, and chased by riders on horseback, who spur on the oxen using lances with sharp spikes. The next day, St. George's Day, the winner of the race gets to wear a multicoloured hat during the procession, and carry an effigy of St.George.
Animal rights organisations demand that animals are not used for this festival, as it is clear that the oxen and horses are subjected to enormous stress.
Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml3a9Y17qso
Please send protest letters ( in Italian and in English) to:
Ministry for the Environment: Capo.ufficiostampa@minambiente.it
Press office of the Ministry of the Environment: dpn-dg@minambiente.it
Chieuti Townhall: comunedichieuti@virgilio.it
Italian Embassy in London: stampa.amblondra@esteri.it
In Italian
Egregi Signori,
Come dimostrano le foto, gli articoli e le testimonianze raccolte dalle associazioni animaliste, la corsa dei buoi di Chieuti, Foggia provoca sicuramente sofferenze agli animali in gara, pungolati perché corrano e perfino stramazzano al suolo per affaticamento, ma i cavalli anche soffrono.
Riteniamo pertanto che la Corsa dei buoi sia uno spettacolo crudele, eticamente squalificante e dannoso per l'immagine turistica di Chieuti e della provincia di Foggia e Italia. Chiedo pertanto che la "Corsa dei buoi" venga sostituita definitivamente con un'altra manifestazione in onore di S. Giorgio in cui non vengano impiegati animali.
Fino ad allora ci asterremo dal soggiornare in località turistiche della provincia di Foggia e daremo la massima pubblicità a questa nostra decisione con amici e conoscenti sensibili, affinché essi stessi non si rechino per turismo in località della provincia foggiana.
Distinti saluti.
Name/Country
In English:
Dear Sirs,
The photographs, videos, articles and testimonies of protestors serve to demonstrate only too clearly that the animals participating in the festival in chieuti are made to suffer; to make them run, the oxen are goaded with spiked lances.
Not only are the oxen hurt and even collapse through exhaustion, but the horses also suffer.
This is a cruel spectacle that shows Chieuti, as well as the province of Foggia, and Italy, in a very bad light, and discourages tourism. I would ask you therefore, to permanently abolish the Chieuti oxcart race, and celebrate St.George's Day in a way that does not involve the abuse of animals.
Until this happens, I will not be visiting Italy and I will tell my friends and acquaintances of my decision, so that they also will not travel to Italy
Yours Sincerely,
Name/Country
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We need your help once again to help protect the cormorants on Middle Island in Lake Erie. Point Pelee National Park is attempting to move forward with a cull of thousands of cormorants over the next few years. There was a public consultation on this matter last autumn and the good news is that the results of that consultation showed that the vast majority of people are opposed to the culling for cormorants.
Now they conducting another public consultation related to the environmental assessment and we need your help again to ensure that they understand that we are still opposed to the killing and other management of cormorants on Middle island.
Please send them a quick note telling them that you are opposed to the killing and other management of cormorants on Middle Island.
The EA posting can be found at http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/documents/26210/26210E.pdf All of the contact info is on the web page.
Here is the e-mail address for quick reference: pelee.info@pc.gc.ca
If you have any difficulties, please let me know.
Thanks again for your support of the Middle Island cormorant colony.
Julie Woodyer
Campaigns Director
(Email) julie@zoocheck.com
Campaigning for the protection of wild animals...
Visit Zoocheck's website www.zoocheck.com
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Please Help Animals in Circuses!
An appeal from Lady Stratford
You may be aware that my late husband, Tony Banks MP, abhorred any form of animal cruelty. This is a passion I shared - and continue to share - with Tony. As a supporter of CAPS, I know that I share this with you too.
I am a patron of CAPS for several reasons. One of these is that I believe none of us has the right to keep animals in captivity for our entertainment. A prime example of this is the use of performing animals in circuses, which continues to this day. Tigers, lions, horses, zebra, camels, dogs, reindeer, alligators and even an elephant, are among the animals currently used in circuses in the UK.
The Circus Working Group (CWG) report published by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in October 2007, claimed that evidence of animal suffering in circuses is "inconclusive", despite considerable amounts of documentation submitted by animal protection groups.
A new Early Day Motion (EDM 965) on Animal Welfare in Circuses has recently been put before Parliament by Mark Pritchard MP. Already, many members of parliament have signed this EDM, with one of the first being another CAPS patron, Mr Mike Hancock CBE. The EDM calls for the Government to maintain its commitment to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and to restrict the use of domesticated animals through a strict licensing system. It is important that domestic animals do not get left out in this current decision; while we are unlikely to get a ban on domestic animal use at this time we need to restrict their use as much as possible as the Government is not expected to return to this issue for many years to come. CAPS will, of course, continue to campaign against the use of all animals in circuses.
I am calling upon you to help in three ways:
a.. By urging your MP to sign EDM 965. If they have already signed it, please thank them for doing so.
b.. By writing to DEFRA Minister Hilary Benn, asking him to implement a ban, in keeping with EDM 965.
c.. Please encourage your family and friends to do likewise! Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I do hope that you can help us work towards a ban on keeping animals in circuses.
Yours faithfully
Sally Banks,
Lady Stratford
Feel free to download the two sample letters from our website, although writing your own may have more impact!
The Captive Animals' Protection Society
PO Box 4186
Manchester
M60 3ZA
Phone 0845 330 3911
http://www.captiveanimals.org
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Drs. Freischlag and Miller
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
720 Rutland Ave. # 925; Baltimore, MD 21205
Julie Freischlag M.D., Director, Department of Surgery - General Surgery
ph: 443-287-3497; fax: 443-287-3500; email: jfreisc1@jhmi.edu
Edward D. Miller, M.D. Dean of Medical Faculty and Chief Executive Officer
100 SOM Administration
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
733 North Broadway; Baltimore, Md. 21205
ph: 410-955-3180; fax: 410-955-0889; email: emiller@jhmi.edu
Chi V. Dang, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research
ph: 410-955-2773; fax: 410-955-0185; email: cvdang@jhmi.edu
Office of Policy Coordination [including Use of Experimental Animals]
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
100 N. Charles St., Suite 900; Baltimore, MD 21201
ph: 410-516-5560; fax: 410-516-6399; email: policy@jhmi.edu
web mail: _http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Research/OPC/comments.html_
(http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Research/OPC/comments.html)
Animal Care and Use Committee
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
ph: 443-287-3740; email: acuc@jhmi.edu
EMAIL BLOCK
jfreisc1@jhmi.edu, emiller@jhmi.edu, cvdang@jhmi.edu, policy@jhmi.edu,
acuc@jhmi.edu
SAMPLE LETTER
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am surprised to learn about the use of live pigs in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine third-year surgery rotation. John Hopkins is now the sole top-ranked US medical school that incorporates animal experiments into its basic medical student curricula.
I respectfully ask you to join Stanford, Columbia, Duke, University of Pennsylvania and others among the 144 US allopathic and osteopathic medical schools that have discarded old-fashioned live animal labs.
I understand pigs are anaesthetised and sliced open to teach surgical skills intended for humans. Upon conclusion, pigs are killed and discarded. While pigs and people share similar organs, each species is so diverse in terms of its anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics - animal studies have delayed progress and endangered public safety with misleading data.
It is irresponsible to rely upon animal research when simulators and other animal-free techniques now offer human-focussed data and skills.
Research from US and UK universities rates a pig's intelligence as above that of a three-year-old child. Certainly, these sentient creatures endure pain, anxiety and fear as surgical "models" confined in laboratories.
Please terminate the use of live animals at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Thank you for your valuable time and consideration.
Sincerely,
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In Nepal, rhesus monkeys either co-habitat with humans as revered temple monkeys or live a tribal life deep in the high mountain forest. They are an integral part of the land's eco-system and culture and are worshipped by the Hindu population. However, commercial interests have led to the removal of monkeys from their natural environment. Instead of living a free life in temple compounds or in the jungle, some rhesus monkeys have been put behind bars. Here they undergo tests to benefit biomedical and possibly bio-terrorism research in the USA.
For more information please visit: http://www.stopmonkeybusiness.org
Write a letter to the Nepalese government or Embassy
Send the letter to:
Hon. Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister, Singha Durbar, Kathmandu , Nepal
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Kathmandu , Nepal
Faxes: + 977 1 227 286 or 428 570
email: info@opmcm.gov.np
For addresses of Nepalese embassies go to http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/missions.asp
Dear Prime Minister, Ambassador,
Since 2003 your government allows the breeding and export of rhesus monkeys for biomedical. What's more, your government actually provide primate centres with monkeys from National Parks managed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
The primary objectives of your government are to conserve the country's major representative ecosystems, unique natural and cultural heritage, and give protection to the valuable and endangered wildlife species. Now that you are supporting the breeding and exporting of primates for biomedical research, these objectives are being violated.
Monkeys are considered sacred and an important part of Nepal 's heritage for a number of reasons. Monkeys are highly intelligent animals and maintain intricate social structures. They have complex emotional lives, caring for one another and showing love to their babies as we humans do to our children. Ethically, using monkeys in experiments that inflict mental and physical pain is unacceptable and unconscionable.
Research illustrates that primate experimentation is no longer the "gold standard" for study design. Past experience has demonstrated that animal-modelled biomedical research yields results that cannot be safely applied to humans. In addition, there are now many alternative research methods (methods not using living animals) that are capable of providing clinically relevant data.
We believe the decision is not in accordance with the Working Policy on Wildlife Farming, Breeding and Research 2003, as communities living with monkeys do not benefit from this development at all, and inflicting suffering to animals goes against the spirit of the Muluki Ain. If the Government is serious about supporting animal conservation and helping farmer communities it should implement long term, scientific solutions to monkey overpopulation, such as birth control and farm land protection.
Nepal will not deserve credit for providing monkeys for biomedical research by maintaining outdated, unreliable, and unethical methods for conducting studies. We are now living in an era when ethics as well as state-of-the-art study design are important considerations when doing research.
Global trends indicate a strong movement towards the abolition of experiments on primates. This is one of the reasons why it is increasingly difficult for American research centres to find sufficient research primates. However, an increasing number of primates are needed by the US , especially for bio-terrorism research. American centres try to find loopholes in the world's legal animal rights provisions, and in Nepal (one of the few countries in the world still largely without such legislation) it has found ideal working ground.
I strongly request your government to demonstrate its commitment to enlightened and ethical research practices by halting (breeding facilities for) biomedical research on Nepalese monkeys and implement legislation to prevent such developments from reoccurring.
Thanking you in advance,
Name/Country
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Please e-mail Burberry CEO Angela Ahrendts (angela.ahrendts@burberry.com), Burberry CFO Stacey Cartwright (stacey.cartwright@burberry.com), Burberry Creative Director Christopher Bailey (christopher.bailey@burberry.com) and Burberry Secretary Michael Mahony (michael.mahony@burberry.com) and let them know that you don't agree with the company's use of fur.
You can also use the following link to forward this information to your friends and family members:
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/ukburberry/forward
Ask them to join you in making compassionate choices a part of their everyday lives.
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Your help is needed! Westchester County in New York is hoping to adopt legislation to ban sales of shark fin soup in that county.
This would establish a very important precedent and may lead to other jurisdictions taking similar action.
WildAid is requesting that all shark supporters please send letters of support for this initiative to the following address:
Legislator Thomas J. Abinanti, Chair
Environment & Energy Committee, County of Westchester, Board of Legislators, 148 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
Fax: 1-914-995-3884
The committee coordinator is Christopher Crane, Esq.
The working title is Local Law to Ban Shark Fin Products
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February 4th marked the third anniversary of the law banning hunting with dogs in England and Wales. The legislation was a victory for everyone opposed to animal cruelty and a long-overdue reward for years of relentless campaigning by IFAW and other organisations, much of it made possible by dedicated and concerned people like you.
But sadly, I have to tell you that some hunters believe that the law is beneath them. Since the ban there have been 23 successful convictions for illegal hunting. Additionally, IFAW hunt monitors have seen and reported other hunting incidents that they believe to be illegal. There have also been many cases of out-of-control hunt dogs running amok, killing or maiming pets and other animals.
IFAW monitors continue to follow hunts to ensure that they are obeying the law. Of course, if hunts have nothing to hide then they should not object to being monitored peacefully. However, monitors regularly face harassment and sometimes violence.
We're doing all we can at IFAW to ensure the ban is enforced - but we urgently need your help.
You can do two things to help us protect animals from the cruelty of illegal hunting:
Please email your Chief Constable to explain how crucial it is that the police enforce the ban. When hunting was legal the police would attend hunts to ensure public order. Now we need them to observe hunts, to gather evidence of hunting law breaches and to protect monitors.
Please email your MP: ask you MP to raise the importance of enforcement of the hunting ban with local police chief constables, as well as the Home Office.
Please do these two things today. The law is already on the side of the animals - they need your help now to make sure the law bites. Thank you for making sure your voice is heard.
IFAW
87-90 Albert Embankment, London . SE1 7UD . United Kingdom
http://www.ifaw.org
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A general election may not be as far away as some might think. It is possible one may be called in May next year or Gordon Brown may wait until 2010.
Whichever date it is there is one thing that is certain. Our opponents, the hunting fraternity, are lavishly funding and providing active on the ground support to pro hunting candidates in all the key battleground seats David Cameron must win to form a government. This is happening across the whole country.
This is no paper exercise in support, it is a massive, active mobilisation by the Countryside Alliance (through the front organisation known as 'Vote Ok') in order to bring about a government that will repeal the Hunting Act. We know that the vast majority of Conservative candidates are pro hunting as are nearly 50% of the current Lib Dem party.
Cameron has promised his friends a free vote in government time to repeal the Hunting Act early in a new Parliament under a government run by him.
What I am asking now may be difficult for some people but it is absolutely essential if we are to prevent our opponents destroying everything thing we have ever worked for. The result would be the loss of the Act and a massive move backwards in all our aims and objectives for years to come.
I know that many people feel let down and angered by the lack of enforcement of the hunt ban, numerous other issues both in animal welfare and across the board. I share many of the frustrations that people have but would ask that people see things long term and in a practical way.
What we need to do is ensure that the Parliament after the next election retains an anti hunt majority.
That means people actively helping those candidates nearest to their locality, who are against repeal of the Hunting Act, to keep their seats.
This work has to start NOW as our opponents have been off the starting block for a long time and they will put every last effort into defeating us.
Please would you consider helping the anti hunt candidate(s) in your region in whatever way you can in these coming days, weeks and months. There are many different tasks, leafleting, stuffing envelopes, canvassing etc that can be done, even if it is just a couple of hours a week or month-anything is invaluable.
Also, let the candidate know that you are helping because of their support for the Hunting Act and to keep it in place.
There are also candidates in key battleground areas that people might be able to help with by the occasional travel to, perhaps on a Saturday or any other free days.
The Countryside Alliance know that if they don't get Cameron elected at the next election then the Hunting Act stays in place for another 5 years and that would finish them off because during that time it will be much more actively enforced and/or strengthened. They fear the Act staying in place more than anything which is why they are putting some more effort and financial backing into trying to get Cameron into power.
Please do help in whatever way you can as soon as possible and please try to get others to do likewise.
This is a battle we must win and we can win if we all work together to stop Cameron in his tracks.
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Demo: End animal experiments in Scotland
From 3.30 pm, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
As part of International Lab Animal Day 1World Scotland will be holding an event to protest against the scandal of vivisection in Scotland. Over 400,000 animals are abused and killed in Scottish labs each year in a field of 'science' which is coming increasingly under fire from scientists and doctors worldwide. Adverse drug reactions are killing more and more people every year and we still don't have cures or effective treatments for many of our most common and deadly conditions.
Vivisection harms people and animals
Demand real research, not lucrative careers for researchers
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The time has come: I am standing as a candidate in the Greater London Assembly Elections on 1st May 2008 for Southwark & Lambeth!
We are launching our campaign and need your help! The next five weeks will be filled with activities to raise our profile. Admittedly, we would have had a greater chance of being elected if we had contested the London-wide seats (11 out of a total of 25 GLA seats), however, democracy does not come cheap, and nominating a candidate for the London-wide list would have cost £5,000. By contesting the Lambeth/Southwark constituency, we hope to considerably raise our profile generally, especially with a view to next year's European Parliament elections in June.
Following the launch recently of the Dutch political Party for the Animals international website (www.partyfortheanimals.nl), and the recent electoral success of the Spanish political party for the animals (PACMA) who won over 41,000 seats in national elections, Animals Count aspires to become the next big development in European political parties for animals. We believe London should aim to become the leading city in the world for animal protection!
Our 3 main aims will be:
1. A basic animal health care system comparable to the NHS, including subsidised veterinary treatment and emergency care.
2. Healthy food provision in schools, hospitals, care homes, council premises, etc., by promoting plant-based diets and banning products from intensively farmed animals.
3. Green recreation and wildlife protection through preservation and expansion of parks and green corridors.
Please donate either your time or sponsor us, or both if you can. This is a very exciting opportunity, and the first in the UK, to represent the interests of non-human animals at a political level.
If you want to help, please get in touch with me at info@animalscount.org or 07880 624310 (preferably evenings).
With kind regards and I look forward to hearing from you,
Jasmijn de Boo
Chair, Animals Count - a political party for people and animals
PO BOX 51250, London SE11 4UN
www.animalscount.org
Animals Count; they count on you!
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Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats in Maidstone, Kent is urgently looking for suitable 'foster' families and help in re-homing as many as 28 goats, following the MOD's recently announced decision that it has no immediate need to continue hyperbaric research using animals in support of its Submarine Escape Rescue and Abandonment System. Previously used as part of a series of trials conducted for the MOD by QinetiQ, the goats, which are all healthy, well cared for and socialised animals, range in age from 18-months to eight years and include a mix of male and female Saanan, Toggenburg and Anglo-Nubian breeds. As no other research involving animals is carried out by QinetiQ, retaining the herd is no longer necessary, so new homes are urgently needed for all of them.
"On arrival at Buttercups, the goats will be put into the required quarantine and housed separately to existing animals to await re-homing," explained Bob Hitch, sanctuary founder. "All the goats will have received independent veterinary care and inspection before being transported to our sanctuary. While here they will continue to receive from our trained staff and volunteers the high level of care and attention they are accustomed. However with limited space and resources at the sanctuary we really need to identify new homes and conduct the necessary home visits as quickly as possible."
Some knowledge of goat keeping is desired but not essential and as these are herding animals, single goats will not be re-homed, unless they are integrated into existing herds.
Buttercups is reliant on donations and also runs goat husbandry workshops throughout the year for those wanting to learn more.
"We are delighted that Buttercups is willing to find suitable homes for these goats and we are providing them with both financial and material support to assist in this process," explained Tim Sharman, team leader for Maritime Life Support at QinetiQ. "All the goats are healthy and regularly inspected by an independent vet - we simply no longer have a requirement to conduct animal trials and are now making every effort to find suitable and appropriate new homes for all of them."
Buttercups Sanctuary for Goats, which has the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP as its Patron, became a registered charity in 2003 and is the only registered Goat Charity in the UK that takes into care and provides shelter and welfare for animals that have often suffered cruelty, neglect or abandonment. It was founded by Bob and Valerie Hitch who have been caring for goats since 1989.
Buttercups is unable to financially support the re-homed goats on an ongoing basis but will continue to oversee the welfare of the animals once they are re-homed, so for logistical purposes is looking for suitable homes within the Kent and East Sussex areas, but others at a greater distance may be considered. More information and an application form on how to foster a goat, please visit:
http://www.buttercups.org.uk
For further press information on fostering the goats, please contact Bob Hitch on 01622 746410
For further information on the research trials please contact:
Douglas Millard in the QinetiQ Press Office on Tel: +44 (0) 1252 39 4611 / 3500
Email: DMillard@QinetiQ.com / PressOffice@QinetiQ.com
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URGENT APPEAL
Freshfields Animal Rescue in Ince Blundell has been helping animals in the Liverpool area for just over 30 years now. We have on occasion suffered some very lean times. We have a reputation as the rescue that will take on animals that others will not. Because of this we have a number of animals, both dogs and cats included, that can only ever be re-homed to the right kind of people. Our staff, train in behaviour therapy so that we can work with the animals in our care to give them the chance of a normal life in the future. We have a strict non destruction policy and consider any animal passing through our care to be our responsibility for the duration of its lifetime. We never abdicate responsibility once an animal has been passed to new owners.
TODAY FRESHFIELDS IS SUFFERING BADLY. WE DESPERATELY NEED MORE DONATIONS (ONE OFF AND REGULAR) TO CONTINUE OUR WORK
PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE HELPING THE MANY ANIMALS THAT ARE BROUGHT TO OUR DOOR EVERY YEAR. WE DESPERATELY NEED YOUR KIND DONATIONS IF WE ARE TO CONTINUE WITH OUR VITAL WORK.
TO MAKE A DONATION:
Telephone us on: 0151 931 1604
Visit our website: www.freshfieldsrescue.org.uk
Write to us:
Freshfields Animal Rescue
East Lodge Farm
East lane, Ince Blundell, Liverpool L29 3EA
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Many thanks for your continued support. Our e-newsletters can now also be viewed on-line at
www.anthony-dacko.net , Anthony puts them in the 'Latest News' section of his excellent site.
Until next time...
For the animals.....ACE
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