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IDA News: 2-09-05
Valentine's Day is a time to show those we love how special they are to us. If there's someone special in your life who you're planning to give a gift as a way of sharing your true feelings, you can express your affection for them and your love for animals by making a donation to IDA in that person's name. This will give us the vital resources we need to continue helping animals all year long. There are many other ways that you can help animals this Valentine's Day and beyond. Perhaps the best way is to make compassionate lifestyle choices, such as buying products not made from or tested on animals and speaking out against animal abuse and exploitation. The key to a compassionate lifestyle is cultivating a mindset that is respectful of animals and encourages others to see animals as living beings, not mere commodities or objects. This effort is at the heart of IDA's Guardian Campaign, which focuses on aligning people's language with their love of animals. Using the term animal "guardian" instead of "owner" sends a positive message about the bond between humans and animal companions, helping people see this relationship from a fresh perspective. This Valentine's Day, be the best guardian you can be: give your animal companions some extra affection, and maybe a special gift that says "I love you." You can also make a difference for the animals that will last well beyond Valentine's Day by campaigning to get your community to adopt "guardian" language as part of its animal-related ordinances. Dozens of cities across North America have already incorporated this compassionate change into their by-laws, and millions of people are now officially recognized as guardians. With your help, your hometown could be next! Visit our Website at http://www.guardiancampaign.org for more information, and contact max [at] idausa.org for help getting started. We truly appreciate everything that you do for animals. Have a great week.
Table of Contents:
1. February's Guardian of the Month - Anthony Marr
2. IDA Sues UCSF for Illegally Withholding Records
3. Support Arizona Animal Protection Bill
4. Have a Heart This Valentine's Day - Go Fur Free!
5. Stop Extermination of Exotic Deer in California National Park
1. February's Guardian of the Month: Anthony Marr
After a decade of full-time activism on behalf of animals, Anthony Marr decided to take his message on the road. He started the seven-month, 41 state Compassion for Animals Road Expedition
(CARE) tour to show people all across the country how animals are treated in our society and tell them what they can do about it. He bought a used 21' RV and a 10' trailer, and equipped the mobile unit with a 54" TV to bring behind-the-scenes videos to the public and spread awareness of animal issues.
Joining Anthony on the nationwide tour was dietitian and best-selling author Brenda Davis (who penned "Becoming Vegetarian," "Becoming Vegan," "Dairy-Free and Delicious" and "Defeating Diabetes"), and her then 14-year-old son Cory. The trio partnered with vegetarian and animal advocacy groups throughout the U.S. to deliver educational presentations at hundreds of universities, high schools, middle schools, and public venues between September 2003 and April 2004!
As part of their message, the CARE tour supported IDA's Guardian Campaign by urging people to use compassionate language. "If one insists on having an animal for companionship or partnership of some kind, it is a responsibility above all else to safeguard the well-being of the animal," says Anthony. "The prime currency should not be money, nor utility, nor performance, nor even companionship; it should be love, unconditionally given, gratefully received and joyfully returned." Well put, Anthony!
Anthony is featured on the Guardian Campaign Website at http://www.guardiancampaign.com . IDA honors an extraordinary guardian each month in our e-news, and you can learn about past Guardians of the Month on our Website.
2. IDA Sues UCSF for Illegally Withholding Records
IDA is suing the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in Superior Court for violating the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Last fall, IDA submitted a CPRA request to UCSF seeking copies of all protocols cited in the USDA's charges against UCSF for Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations. IDA specifically requested disclosure of the names of investigators responsible for the 75 AWA violations, which the USDA characterized as "grave." These included failing to provide animals with post-operative pain relief, leaving animals unmonitored after surgery (resulting in suffering and death), and forcing monkeys to breed while still nursing infants. To date, UCSF has refused to provide the documents to IDA.
The suit is the third CPRA legal action IDA has filed against the University of California. In 1992, the court forced U.C.
Berkeley to release unedited copies of animal research protocols with researchers' names included. In 2001, the court ruled that UCSF must disclose full copies of research protocols, but allowed them to withhold researchers' names. However, the court also ruled "there may be a basis for reconsidering whether any individual researcher's right to privacy is outweighed by Petitioner's right to know that researcher's identity." Among the considerations was evidence that a researcher had violated the AWA, which UCSF has been found guilty of yet again.
For more information on animal experiments being conducted at UCSF, visit http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/ucsf/index.html .
Meanwhile, in Great Britain, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) produced leaked documents in court proceedings in which research personnel describe monkeys screaming in pain during experiments. BUAV submitted the documents as evidence that research scientists and technicians are breaking laws intended to protect laboratory animals. Citing the fact that animals are not being given the 24-hour veterinary care required by law (resulting in unnecessary suffering and sometimes death), BUAV is seeking an official judicial review of laboratory protocols.
To read the article on the court proceedings published in the British newspaper The Guardian, click here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1407818,00.html.
3. Support Arizona Animal Protection Bill
Representative John Nelson has introduced a bill in the Arizona legislature that will strengthen existing anti-cruelty statutes, making it easier for investigators to file charges against animal abusers and for the law to prosecute offenders. Nelson's House Bill 2302 seeks to clarify how requirements for water, food, and shade/shelter for all animals in Arizona are defined to ensure that animals receive adequate care.
Bowing to pressure from agribusiness, Speaker of the House James Weiers has voiced opposition to the bill. However, his support is essential in order for this very important legislation to pass.
What You Can Do:
1. Call Speaker of the House James Weiers at (602) 926-4173 and politely ask him to do right by the animals and support House Bill 2302.
2. Please call Representative John Nelson at (602) 926-5872 to thank him for introducing this important bill.
3. If you live in Arizona, please also ask your House Representative to support HB 2302. Click here
(ga0.org/campaign/Arizona) to send a letter online.
4. Have a Heart This Valentine's Day - Go Fur Free!
IDA is urging everyone to shun cruelty this Valentine's Day - and all year round - by saying NO to fur! Animals used to make fur clothing - whether they are raised on fur farms or trapped in the wild - suffer agonizing deaths before being stripped of their skin. We are doing all that we can to raise awareness about the bloody multi-billion dollar fur industry, which preys upon people's vanity by touting fur as chic and glamorous in glossy magazine advertisements. IDA has a different message for consumers, expressed in a colorful poster designed by world-renowned artist Peter Max. We are running the poster as an ad in subway cars all over Chicago this winter to remind people to make a compassionate fashion statement by refusing to wear fur. You can view the full-sized ad at http://www.furkills.org/ad_full.shtml .
The majority of fur products - about 85% - are imported from China, where animal welfare regulations are non-existent. A recent report produced by an international coalition of animal advocacy organizations has unveiled horrific conditions on Chinese fur farms. Investigators found workers attempting to stun animals by repeatedly slamming them against the ground or bashing their heads with clubs. Such unreliable methods left many animals fully conscious even after their skin was stripped off. Investigators witnessed animals breathing and looking around for as long as ten minutes after being skinned. You can learn more about the investigation's findings at
http://www.careforthewild.org/appeal.asp?apid=31 .
What You Can Do:
1. Organize an anti-fur demonstration in your area. IDA can provide materials - including brochures, posters and wallet-sized cards - that you can hand out to people in front of stores that sell fur clothing. Contact antifur [at] idausa.org to order materials or for help planning your event. Be sure to tell us your plans so we can include your event on our Action Calendar and alert IDA members in your area.
2. Tell your family and friends about the suffering that animals raised and trapped for fur are forced to endure, and ask them not to wear fur. We will be happy to provide materials to help you educate people, which you can also leave in stores or include with your outgoing mail.
5. Stop Extermination of Exotic Deer in California National Park
The National Park Service is planning to kill much of the non-native deer population in Point Reyes National Seashore because they compete with native species for food. The deer were originally purchased in 1948 from the San Francisco Zoo by a Point Reyes resident who released them into the wild to hunt.
When Point Reyes became a national park in 1962, hunting was banned in the area and the remaining deer proliferated. At present, about 1,150 exotic deer live in the park.
The plan devised by the National Park Service proposes a combination of lethal and non-lethal control methods (such as
sterilization) to deal with the deer. The park's Environmental Impact Statement is available online at http://www.nps.gov/pore/home_mngmntdocs_exoticdeer_deis.htm .
What You Can Do:
1. The National Park Service is accepting public comments on their proposal between now and April 8, 2005. Please contact the Superintendent of Point Reyes and urge the use of non-lethal methods to control the deer. Let her know that humans caused the overpopulation problem, and any solution must take the interests of the deer into consideration.
Write to:
Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes, CA 94956
Attn: Non-native deer management plan
Email: ann_nelson [at] nps.gov
2. If you live in or are visiting the Bay Area, attend a public information meeting being presented by the park to learn more about their plans, discuss alternatives, and convey your opinion in person.
WHEN: Thursday, March 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Point Reyes National Seashore Park Headquarters in the Red Barn classroom.
The Cat Therapist Shares Her Wisdom
Please take a moment to read the latest advice from the Cat Therapist. Click here for her new column:
http://idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html .
IDA's Auction for the Animals
IDA is holding a special
Auction for the Animals on eBay to raise awareness and funds to help fight animal abuse. The auction will run in two waves, one starting on February 10, 2005 and the next starting on February 17, 2005. Each auction will run for one week.
During this very special Auction for the Animals, you can help IDA help animals while having fun bidding on a wide selection of elegant, exciting and unique auction items. Surprise a loved one with a special Valentine's Day gift, or buy something for that hard-to-shop-for family member. Better yet, treat yourself to that trip you've always wanted to take while supporting IDA in the process. Some of the auction items include:
- Fantastic travel and accommodation packages, including trips to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Las Vegas and San Diego and other exciting vacation destinations.
- Celebrity memorabilia donated by famous friends of IDA.
- One-of-a-kind items, such as tickets to see a taping of "The King of Queens" and a VIP photo shoot by celebrity photographer Andy Pearlman.
- Tickets for great entertainment and sporting events.
Starting on February 10, you can view all of the items for auction at http://www.ebay.com/ida .
Don't keep our special Auction for the Animals a secret: help us spread the word by using the Tell-A-Friend feature at the bottom of this e-newsletter!
Help Someone Kick the Meat Habit with FARM's Meatout Monday Newsletter
If you know someone who says they'd like to cut meat out of their diet but thinks it's too hard, then tell them about Meatout Mondays, a free weekly e-newsletter designed to help those who don't want to quit "cold turkey" kick the meat habit one day at a time - starting with Mondays! Easy and fun to read, Meatout Mondays encourages individuals to make changes at a pace that is comfortable for them, and is an excellent tool for introducing vegetarianism to anyone.
Every week, Meatout Mondays includes tasty vegan recipes, new product and book reviews, important health information, and inspirational stories of people who have changed their lives for the better by cutting animal products from their diets. This week's Meatout Mondays features a short article about IDA Spokesperson and vegan bodybuilder Kenneth G. Williams. Click here (http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-02-07.htm) to read the latest issue.
Please visit http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-02-07.htm to review past issues and to subscribe your friends and family members. Meatout Mondays is a free e-newsletter, and individuals can easily unsubscribe at any time.
--------------------------------------------------
Team IDA encourages teammates to take part in local athletic events to raise awareness of animal issues and much-needed funds to rescue and protect animals from cruelty and abuse. You don't have to be an avid runner or a serious athlete to sign up. Just by cheering and wearing your Team IDA apparel you can show your pro-animal attitude.
Wear your Team IDA t-shirt whenever you are running, biking, walking, or just hanging around your neighborhood to help promote a cruelty-free world. If you have a Team IDA t-shirt and have received comments about it, we want to hear from you! If you do not already have a Team IDA t-shirt, please call (415) 388-9641 to receive one. Also, if you have participated in any events in your area on behalf of Team IDA, or would like your picture and bio posted on our website, please let us know!
You can also make Team IDA even more successful by spreading the word: a great way to do this is by distributing Team IDA brochures at races and placing them in athletic stores and clubs. Team IDA brochures are always available free of charge by (415) 388-9641.
We are always interested in learning more about your experiences and hearing your ideas regarding Team IDA. Please send an email to teamida [at] idausa.org and tell us your story. Visit http://www.teamida.org for more information. Join Team IDA today!
http://ga0.org/join-forward.html?domain=indefenseofanimals
You can sign up for In Defense of Animals Action Center at:
http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/join.html
1. February's Guardian of the Month - Anthony Marr
2. IDA Sues UCSF for Illegally Withholding Records
3. Support Arizona Animal Protection Bill
4. Have a Heart This Valentine's Day - Go Fur Free!
5. Stop Extermination of Exotic Deer in California National Park
1. February's Guardian of the Month: Anthony Marr
After a decade of full-time activism on behalf of animals, Anthony Marr decided to take his message on the road. He started the seven-month, 41 state Compassion for Animals Road Expedition
(CARE) tour to show people all across the country how animals are treated in our society and tell them what they can do about it. He bought a used 21' RV and a 10' trailer, and equipped the mobile unit with a 54" TV to bring behind-the-scenes videos to the public and spread awareness of animal issues.
Joining Anthony on the nationwide tour was dietitian and best-selling author Brenda Davis (who penned "Becoming Vegetarian," "Becoming Vegan," "Dairy-Free and Delicious" and "Defeating Diabetes"), and her then 14-year-old son Cory. The trio partnered with vegetarian and animal advocacy groups throughout the U.S. to deliver educational presentations at hundreds of universities, high schools, middle schools, and public venues between September 2003 and April 2004!
As part of their message, the CARE tour supported IDA's Guardian Campaign by urging people to use compassionate language. "If one insists on having an animal for companionship or partnership of some kind, it is a responsibility above all else to safeguard the well-being of the animal," says Anthony. "The prime currency should not be money, nor utility, nor performance, nor even companionship; it should be love, unconditionally given, gratefully received and joyfully returned." Well put, Anthony!
Anthony is featured on the Guardian Campaign Website at http://www.guardiancampaign.com . IDA honors an extraordinary guardian each month in our e-news, and you can learn about past Guardians of the Month on our Website.
2. IDA Sues UCSF for Illegally Withholding Records
IDA is suing the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in Superior Court for violating the California Public Records Act (CPRA). Last fall, IDA submitted a CPRA request to UCSF seeking copies of all protocols cited in the USDA's charges against UCSF for Animal Welfare Act (AWA) violations. IDA specifically requested disclosure of the names of investigators responsible for the 75 AWA violations, which the USDA characterized as "grave." These included failing to provide animals with post-operative pain relief, leaving animals unmonitored after surgery (resulting in suffering and death), and forcing monkeys to breed while still nursing infants. To date, UCSF has refused to provide the documents to IDA.
The suit is the third CPRA legal action IDA has filed against the University of California. In 1992, the court forced U.C.
Berkeley to release unedited copies of animal research protocols with researchers' names included. In 2001, the court ruled that UCSF must disclose full copies of research protocols, but allowed them to withhold researchers' names. However, the court also ruled "there may be a basis for reconsidering whether any individual researcher's right to privacy is outweighed by Petitioner's right to know that researcher's identity." Among the considerations was evidence that a researcher had violated the AWA, which UCSF has been found guilty of yet again.
For more information on animal experiments being conducted at UCSF, visit http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/ucsf/index.html .
Meanwhile, in Great Britain, the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) produced leaked documents in court proceedings in which research personnel describe monkeys screaming in pain during experiments. BUAV submitted the documents as evidence that research scientists and technicians are breaking laws intended to protect laboratory animals. Citing the fact that animals are not being given the 24-hour veterinary care required by law (resulting in unnecessary suffering and sometimes death), BUAV is seeking an official judicial review of laboratory protocols.
To read the article on the court proceedings published in the British newspaper The Guardian, click here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1407818,00.html.
3. Support Arizona Animal Protection Bill
Representative John Nelson has introduced a bill in the Arizona legislature that will strengthen existing anti-cruelty statutes, making it easier for investigators to file charges against animal abusers and for the law to prosecute offenders. Nelson's House Bill 2302 seeks to clarify how requirements for water, food, and shade/shelter for all animals in Arizona are defined to ensure that animals receive adequate care.
Bowing to pressure from agribusiness, Speaker of the House James Weiers has voiced opposition to the bill. However, his support is essential in order for this very important legislation to pass.
What You Can Do:
1. Call Speaker of the House James Weiers at (602) 926-4173 and politely ask him to do right by the animals and support House Bill 2302.
2. Please call Representative John Nelson at (602) 926-5872 to thank him for introducing this important bill.
3. If you live in Arizona, please also ask your House Representative to support HB 2302. Click here
(ga0.org/campaign/Arizona) to send a letter online.
4. Have a Heart This Valentine's Day - Go Fur Free!
IDA is urging everyone to shun cruelty this Valentine's Day - and all year round - by saying NO to fur! Animals used to make fur clothing - whether they are raised on fur farms or trapped in the wild - suffer agonizing deaths before being stripped of their skin. We are doing all that we can to raise awareness about the bloody multi-billion dollar fur industry, which preys upon people's vanity by touting fur as chic and glamorous in glossy magazine advertisements. IDA has a different message for consumers, expressed in a colorful poster designed by world-renowned artist Peter Max. We are running the poster as an ad in subway cars all over Chicago this winter to remind people to make a compassionate fashion statement by refusing to wear fur. You can view the full-sized ad at http://www.furkills.org/ad_full.shtml .
The majority of fur products - about 85% - are imported from China, where animal welfare regulations are non-existent. A recent report produced by an international coalition of animal advocacy organizations has unveiled horrific conditions on Chinese fur farms. Investigators found workers attempting to stun animals by repeatedly slamming them against the ground or bashing their heads with clubs. Such unreliable methods left many animals fully conscious even after their skin was stripped off. Investigators witnessed animals breathing and looking around for as long as ten minutes after being skinned. You can learn more about the investigation's findings at
http://www.careforthewild.org/appeal.asp?apid=31 .
What You Can Do:
1. Organize an anti-fur demonstration in your area. IDA can provide materials - including brochures, posters and wallet-sized cards - that you can hand out to people in front of stores that sell fur clothing. Contact antifur [at] idausa.org to order materials or for help planning your event. Be sure to tell us your plans so we can include your event on our Action Calendar and alert IDA members in your area.
2. Tell your family and friends about the suffering that animals raised and trapped for fur are forced to endure, and ask them not to wear fur. We will be happy to provide materials to help you educate people, which you can also leave in stores or include with your outgoing mail.
5. Stop Extermination of Exotic Deer in California National Park
The National Park Service is planning to kill much of the non-native deer population in Point Reyes National Seashore because they compete with native species for food. The deer were originally purchased in 1948 from the San Francisco Zoo by a Point Reyes resident who released them into the wild to hunt.
When Point Reyes became a national park in 1962, hunting was banned in the area and the remaining deer proliferated. At present, about 1,150 exotic deer live in the park.
The plan devised by the National Park Service proposes a combination of lethal and non-lethal control methods (such as
sterilization) to deal with the deer. The park's Environmental Impact Statement is available online at http://www.nps.gov/pore/home_mngmntdocs_exoticdeer_deis.htm .
What You Can Do:
1. The National Park Service is accepting public comments on their proposal between now and April 8, 2005. Please contact the Superintendent of Point Reyes and urge the use of non-lethal methods to control the deer. Let her know that humans caused the overpopulation problem, and any solution must take the interests of the deer into consideration.
Write to:
Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore Point Reyes, CA 94956
Attn: Non-native deer management plan
Email: ann_nelson [at] nps.gov
2. If you live in or are visiting the Bay Area, attend a public information meeting being presented by the park to learn more about their plans, discuss alternatives, and convey your opinion in person.
WHEN: Thursday, March 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Point Reyes National Seashore Park Headquarters in the Red Barn classroom.
The Cat Therapist Shares Her Wisdom
Please take a moment to read the latest advice from the Cat Therapist. Click here for her new column:
http://idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html .
IDA's Auction for the Animals
IDA is holding a special
Auction for the Animals on eBay to raise awareness and funds to help fight animal abuse. The auction will run in two waves, one starting on February 10, 2005 and the next starting on February 17, 2005. Each auction will run for one week.
During this very special Auction for the Animals, you can help IDA help animals while having fun bidding on a wide selection of elegant, exciting and unique auction items. Surprise a loved one with a special Valentine's Day gift, or buy something for that hard-to-shop-for family member. Better yet, treat yourself to that trip you've always wanted to take while supporting IDA in the process. Some of the auction items include:
- Fantastic travel and accommodation packages, including trips to Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, Las Vegas and San Diego and other exciting vacation destinations.
- Celebrity memorabilia donated by famous friends of IDA.
- One-of-a-kind items, such as tickets to see a taping of "The King of Queens" and a VIP photo shoot by celebrity photographer Andy Pearlman.
- Tickets for great entertainment and sporting events.
Starting on February 10, you can view all of the items for auction at http://www.ebay.com/ida .
Don't keep our special Auction for the Animals a secret: help us spread the word by using the Tell-A-Friend feature at the bottom of this e-newsletter!
Help Someone Kick the Meat Habit with FARM's Meatout Monday Newsletter
If you know someone who says they'd like to cut meat out of their diet but thinks it's too hard, then tell them about Meatout Mondays, a free weekly e-newsletter designed to help those who don't want to quit "cold turkey" kick the meat habit one day at a time - starting with Mondays! Easy and fun to read, Meatout Mondays encourages individuals to make changes at a pace that is comfortable for them, and is an excellent tool for introducing vegetarianism to anyone.
Every week, Meatout Mondays includes tasty vegan recipes, new product and book reviews, important health information, and inspirational stories of people who have changed their lives for the better by cutting animal products from their diets. This week's Meatout Mondays features a short article about IDA Spokesperson and vegan bodybuilder Kenneth G. Williams. Click here (http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-02-07.htm) to read the latest issue.
Please visit http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-02-07.htm to review past issues and to subscribe your friends and family members. Meatout Mondays is a free e-newsletter, and individuals can easily unsubscribe at any time.
--------------------------------------------------
Team IDA encourages teammates to take part in local athletic events to raise awareness of animal issues and much-needed funds to rescue and protect animals from cruelty and abuse. You don't have to be an avid runner or a serious athlete to sign up. Just by cheering and wearing your Team IDA apparel you can show your pro-animal attitude.
Wear your Team IDA t-shirt whenever you are running, biking, walking, or just hanging around your neighborhood to help promote a cruelty-free world. If you have a Team IDA t-shirt and have received comments about it, we want to hear from you! If you do not already have a Team IDA t-shirt, please call (415) 388-9641 to receive one. Also, if you have participated in any events in your area on behalf of Team IDA, or would like your picture and bio posted on our website, please let us know!
You can also make Team IDA even more successful by spreading the word: a great way to do this is by distributing Team IDA brochures at races and placing them in athletic stores and clubs. Team IDA brochures are always available free of charge by (415) 388-9641.
We are always interested in learning more about your experiences and hearing your ideas regarding Team IDA. Please send an email to teamida [at] idausa.org and tell us your story. Visit http://www.teamida.org for more information. Join Team IDA today!
http://ga0.org/join-forward.html?domain=indefenseofanimals
You can sign up for In Defense of Animals Action Center at:
http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/join.html
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