TAKE ACTION: Help protect Nature and Animals.

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TAKE ACTION: Help protect Nature and Animals

 

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http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=4349059

 

 

Beijing Executes Dogs in Mass Cull

Urge Chinese Ambassador to U.S. to stop the killing

 

On Tuesday, November 7th, the Beijing Municipal government started a

massive canine killing campaign aimed at eradicating large-breed dogs,

unregistered dogs and smaller dogs who exceed the one dog per family quota. At

this time, it is not known how many dogs have been killed or will be killed in

the coming days as the cull continues.

 

Beijing's brutal actions are reminiscent of a rabies cull conducted in

August of this year in the southeastern county of Mouding in Yunnan Province.

Officials there ordered the brutal execution of nearly 55,000 dogs -- 90% of the

region's canines -- over a five-day period because of a rabies scare.

Authorities bludgeoned most of these dogs to death right in front of their

guardians, while poisoning, hanging or electrocuting others.

 

Now it seems likely that this atrocity is being repeated in a crude

attempt to make Beijing " rabies free " in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics being

held in the Chinese capital. The international community and public health

organizations have strongly criticized China for their cruel and reactive dog

culls and for failing to implement effective preventive methods of controlling

rabies. If the city of Beijing is modern enough to host the Olympic Games, then

they certainly have the ability to humanely manage communicable diseases through

such measures as vaccinations and spaying/neutering of companion animals.

 

Instead, authorities are also enforcing other draconian laws to reduce the

canine population. For example, they plan to round up and kill all stray dogs,

all those over 35 centimeters (13.7 inches) tall, and all those who exceed the

one dog per family quota. Many Chinese citizens regard their canine companions

as members of the family, just as people in other cultures do. To arbitrarily

take these animals' lives is an affront to the bond between people and the

animals they so dearly love. It also brings shame upon China in the eyes of the

world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call or fax the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. immediately and urge him to

push his government to put a stop to the killing in Beijing and to initiate

effective preventive measures against the spread of rabies.

 

His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong

Ambassador of the People's Republic of China

Embassy of the People's Republic of China

2300 Connecticut Ave. N.W.

Washington, DC 20008

Tel: (202) 328-2574

Fax: (202) 328-2582

E-mail: webmaster

 

 

 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization

with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and

exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts

include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots

activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and

Cameroon, Africa.

 

 

 

 

 

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Give Thanks with the Right Food

November 2006

Read this issue of Greentips online

 

In the hubbub of planning and preparing a Thanksgiving feast for friends

and family, it can be easy to forget the environmental impact of our food

choices. Growing, harvesting, and transporting the ingredients for a typical

Thanksgiving meal consumes a significant amount of water and energy and

contributes to air and water pollution, habitat degradation, and global warming.

 

Fortunately, you can make a holiday meal that is not only delicious but

also kinder to the environment and your family's health. Here's how:

 

a.. Look for food produced in your region. Food travels an average of

1,500 miles or more from the farm to the supermarket, consuming fossil fuels and

emitting air pollutants and heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Regionally grown meat

and produce not only travel a shorter distance to your table and arrive fresher,

but may also come from smaller farms that often follow more environmentally

friendly practices.

 

 

b.. Choose organic. Organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic

fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and antibiotics (today's industrialized animal

production relies heavily on antibiotics to accelerate growth and prevent

diseases that stem from overcrowding). Overuse of these substances generates air

and water pollution and makes it more difficult to treat human diseases and ward

off agricultural pests. If organic turkey is not available in your supermarket,

choose turkey that has been raised without antibiotics. Also look for organic

apples, celery, potatoes, and green beans because these holiday favorites are

among the fruits and vegetables that typically carry the highest pesticide

residues.

 

 

c.. Support genetic diversity. Today's large-scale farms focus on only a

select few varieties of livestock and crops; for example, of the more than 250

million turkeys sold in the United States each year, 99 percent are the

Broad-Breasted White variety. And of the thousands of potato varieties

available, a small number now account for the majority of commercial production.

As our agriculture system becomes more homogeneous, so does the risk of

catastrophic losses if a disease spreads rapidly throughout a plant or animal

population upon which our food supply depends. Choosing heirloom (or " heritage " )

varieties such as American Bronze turkeys and fingerling potatoes helps support

biodiversity and ensures a reliable food supply for future generations.

 

 

d.. Go meatless. Meat production can deplete environmental resources

more than other food production, so consider a meatless main dish.