VERY URGENT: Help protect Animal Rights and Democracy.

October 31, 2006

VERY URGENT - SEND THIS E-MAIL TO ALL YOUR CONTACTS

BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS A LAW TO DECLAREANY ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS / ACTIVISTS AS TERRORISTS

If the Bush Administration plans to protect the industries that exploit, torture and kill animais are approved, under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), legal and constitutional activities such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts, media campaigns, legislative proposals, or even telling the public what happens in puppy mills, factory farms, or canned hunting facilities, could be classified as acts of terrorism.

THIS IS AN ILLEGAL AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC LAW SONLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT CRUEL INDUSTRIESTHAT EXPLOIT AND DESTROY NATURE, TORTURING AND KILLING ANIMALS

HELP STOP THIS - TAKE ACTION NOW:

http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M721107147435993136908765

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9014956 & type=CO

http://www.stopaeta.org

WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO? - CALL AND WRITE your U.S. Representatives now! (not State Reps but US Reps) 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose HR 4239. - Contact your Senators and express your anger concerning their unanimaous decision to AETA in the Senate 202-224-3121.- Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121. - Forward this webpage url to your Congresspersons so they may quickly see that they will lose votes if they vote yes on AETA. They are here to serve you and it's you're job to let them know what you want.- Forward this message to all your friends,the ACLU & social advocacy groups everywhere.- Write letters to the editor to your local area newspapers.- Try to get radio interview time to make the public aware of the issue.- Take out paid ads in papers, magazines and other publications For just a few dollars you may make a world of difference.- For the very few who can afford to, rent a billboard and we will provide the art work for it.(It's the most efficient form of advertisting there is).- Educate yourself on the issue as much as you can so you can better defend your position.- Send a message to Congress NOW! click here

Urge your representative to oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

International Fund for Animal Welfare October 30, 2006

Are you a terrorist if you act for animals???

Let your Representative know you oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

I need your help with two critical animal welfare issues now under consideration by the US federal government.

Your First Amendment rights to speak out to protect animals are under attack. When the House of Representatives returns to Washington in two weeks they will be debating an extremely dangerous bill that will give jail time and fines for any action that can be linked to a loss of profit to any company classified as an "animal enterprise". This includes anyone who produces or distributes animals or products from animals, animal entertainment (including rodeos, circuses, zoos or aquariums), research facilities, pet stores and even animal fighting.

Under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), legal activities such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts, media campaigns, legislative proposals, or even telling the public what happens in puppy mills, factory farms, or canned hunting facilities, could be classified as acts of terrorism.

The AETA is in all likelihood not constitutional and needs to be stopped now before it becomes law. The AETA could severely intimidate animal activists like yourself who wish to legally protest cruelty to animals. Sufficient laws are already on the books to accommodate any and all illegal activist activities.

Please urge your representative to oppose AETA.( http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M721107147435993136908765 )

Thanks for all you do for animals,Fred O’ReganPresident and CEO

P.S. Visit IFAW’s Action Center to protect the rights of animal activists and push for better care for captive elephants.

Worried about Donating online?I used to be too ... so I made sure our online system is safe, secure, and state-of-the-art. It also eliminates check-processing costs, so more money goes directly to saving animals. But if you prefer to donate by phone or mail, simply click here for address information.

NOTE: To make sure you continue to receive further emails from IFAW, please add fred to your email Address Book. If you use a spam filter program, please assign this address a status of “safe” or “trusted.” If you have an AOL, Hotmail, MSN or email address, this is particularly important as we receive many “bounce backs” from these email addresses.

PO Box 193 • 411 Main Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675www.ifaw.org

IMPORTANT NEWS

National Coalition Formed To Defeat AETAThe Equal Justice Alliance was formed recently in Washington D.C. to defeat AETA. This is a national alliance of social advocay organizations.(www.noaeta.org) Supporters Spreading The Word We are getting about 2,000 visitors pers day. People are interested in this issue. It's basically Corporate America vs. Grassroots America. Don't let them win! The more people that call the U.S. House of Representatives, the better our chance of stopping AETA in its tracks.

SITE CREATED BYROCKNEY SHEPHEARD ROCKY

PLEASE REPORT ANY BAD LINKSSITE BEST VIEWED AT 1280 X 1064PLEASE EMAIL US WITHCONTENT SUGGESTIONS ROCKY LAST UPDATE OCT 30, 2006

"There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular, but must take it because his conscience tells him that it is right." Now is one of those times. -MLK

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VEGA RADIO INTERVIEWWITH ROCKY SHEPHEARDOCT 12, 2006

AETA REFERENCE(AEPA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE PROTECTION ACT OF 1992 - Public Law 102-346(Public Law 102-346) UNITED STATES CODE TITLE 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedures - Part I -- Crimes - Chapter 3--Animals, Birds, Fish, and Plants(AETA) Download H.R. 4239

(AETA) Download S. 3800Statement of John E. Lewis, Deputy Assitant Director Counterterrorism DivisionFederal Bureau of InvestigationBefore the Senate Judiciary CommitteeMay 18, 2004 Rutger's Univeristy School of Law - Animal Rights Law Project - An academic project of Professor Gary Fancioen And Adjunct Porfessor Anna E. Charlon (Demonstrating and Civil Disobedience: A Legal Guide for Activists)

The American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) attack on civil liberties: A critical analysis of the " Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act" and "Environmental Corruption Organizations - Preventative Legislation and Neutralization Act" January 2004Congress.org

Public Citizen - Congress Watch

ARTICLESMathew Scully Washington Post Interview with Matthew Scully, Aug. 25, 2004

GENERALHerbWeb.com Excellent online reference list

WHAT IS (AETA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT?

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is a bill which seeks to amend the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act (AEPA - PL 102-346), a section under Title 18 of the criminal code which protects animal enterprises from illegal acts comitted by animal activists. The AETA bill (S 3880) recently passed in the Senate on Sept. 30th, 2006, was introduced by Mr. Inhofe (R-OK), Mrs. Feinstein (D-CA), Mr. Thune (R-SD), and Mr. Isakson (R-GA).Its counter-part is currently pending in the House (H.R. 4239) and will be voted on sometime in November after congress reconvenes from recess on November 9th.

WHY AETA IS NOT GOOD FOR US

• AETA risks having a chilling effect on First Amendment protected speech for everyone including law abiding citizens, who risk being tarnished a terrorist even if wrongfully charged. On the chance that a law-abiding citizen wins his/her case, the damage to their reputation will already be done. Appeals often take years.• Anyone engaging in non-violent civildisobedience causing at least $10,000 profit loss, will be considered a terrorist. If this were law at the turn of the 20th century, the suffragettes, notably Susan B. Anthony, as well as, civil rights leaders including Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King, and Mahatma Ghandi, may have been labelled terrorists. • AETA risks punishing content based speech.• AETA would foster a slippery slope and a precedent by which to target other content-based speech as terrorism or target any unfavorable group as terrorists.• AETA risks singling out animal advocates forpenalties that are harsher than for other felonies.• Laws penalizing tort, harassment, etc. already exist and the bills' additional penalties are unnecessary.• The bills' exemptions would not be an adequate defense against being wrongfully arrested or charged, and do not resolve ambiguities in the bills or the chilling effect on protected free speech.• AETA risks further frustrating protected free speech rights that calls attention to the government's failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. There are no similarly harsh penalties against animal enterprises that are in gross violation of the AWA, or that act with depraved indifference or with intent to do harm. SUMMARY We believe that the true purpose of AETA , is to severely chill AR activism by intimidating those who would legally protest, and as such attempts to prevent the loss of profit to corporations and businesses -special interest groups (who see the ever swelling tsunami of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare consciousness) heading right their way.

We further believe that there are sufficient laws already on the books to accomodate any and all illegal activist activities. As an example, Surely, we do not advocate threat, vandalism, and bodily injury, but why should any sector of society receive special treatment and consideration under the law from threat, vandalism and bodily harm moreso than any other sector? The justice system has already successfully prosecuted cases using existing law and we maintain that AETA isnot only uneccessary but will have a stigmatic and chilling effect on our first amendment rights to free speech, preventing individuals from exercising their right to protest, under the constitution, for fear of being unjustly labeled and prosecuted as a terrorist.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is in all likelihood not constitutional and needs to be stopped now before it becomes law. The Senate passed S 3880 in the 'wee hours' of 09/30/06 and the House is next in line to vote sometime after November 9th.

Don't sell out your rights to corporate America! Let your voice be heard!

Send a message to Congress NOW! click here

ANALYSESAward winning journalist Will Potter's in-depth analyses of the The Animal Enterprise Protection Act of 1992, The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act currently in the House, and the passing of S 3880.A more apt definition of domestic terrorism. Read about 30 plus years of violence and harrasment at U.S. abortion clinics, and ask yourself why there is no Abortion Enterprise Terrorism Act? The American Jurist Free speech: a domestic terrorism casualty? rmust register first (fast registration)

My beef with animal-rights analysis. The New Standard Villified as 'Terrorists.'Eco-Activists Face New Offensive by Business

THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT!

WHAT CAN I DO?

CALL AND WRITE your U.S. Representatives now!(not State Reps but US Reps) 202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose HR 4239. Contact your Senators and express your anger concerning their unanimaous decision to AETA in the Senate 202-224-3121.Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121.

Forward this webpage url to your Congresspersons so they may quickly see that they will lose votes if they vote yes on AETA. They are here to serve you and it's you're job to let them know what you want.Forward this message to all your friends,the ACLU & social advocacy groups everywhere.

Write letters to the editor to your local area newspapers.

Try to get radio interview time to make the public aware of the issue.Take out paid ads in papers, magazines and other publications For just a few dollars you may make a world of difference.

For the very few who can afford to, rent a billboard and we will provide the art work for it.(It's the most efficient form of advertisting there is).

Educate yourself on the issue as much as you can so you can better defend your position.

Send a message to Congress NOW! click here

SPEAK UP!

Send us emails expressing your opinions on the question of the week and I'll post them on this site. rocky

After reading H.R. 4239, what activities currently deemed legal for AR activists (by the big loophole), will suddenly be prohibited if AETA becomes law?

HANG THIS FREE POSTER!ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE!CLICK TO OPEN / RIGHT CLICK TO SAVE8.5" X 11" (250 DPI)

ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING AETA (You may be shocked!)

The Fur Commission Feline Conservation Society Collie Club of America Mosslerdogs Sportsmen and Animal Owners Feinstein and Inhoffe National Animal Interest Alliance American Physiological Society University of California PresidentRodeo Attitude News Nature Neuroscience Society of Toxicology

AAASpet age.comWisconson Farm Bureau Federation

ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING AETA

Equal Justice Alliance is a national coalition of social advocacy organizations preserving free speech and equal treatment under the law.

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (3/6/2006).HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) Statement in Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (10/8/2006).ASPCA Legislation Alert (contact congresspersons) League of Humane Voters Legislation AlertPETA Tell Congress That Exposing Animal Abuse Is Not Illegal!

Compassion Over Killing action alert

The SHAC 7 PETFINDER.COM Adopt a homless pet (action alert)In Defense of Animals Urge Your Representative to Oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act! (contact congresspersons) Farm Sanctuary Oppose attempts to criminalize animal rights protests FARM Statement on AETA Friends of Animals Statement on AETA

Big Cat Rescue Graciously lent us CapWiz for form submissions! Thank you.

Defenders of Wildlife The American Legislative Exchange Council’s attack on civil liberties: Kinship Circle action alert Animal Legal Defense Fund action alert National Anti-vivisection Society NAVS Don't Let the Federal Government Brand "Advocacy" as "Terrorism"The Animals Voice good resources AnimalConcerns www.animalconcerns.orgJewish Vegetarians of North America item 15Best Friends Animal SocietyBest Friends Network/ Animal Law CoalitionK9 Magazine The UK's Leading Lifestyle Magazine for Dog LoversThe Kitty Liberation Front The Guardians of Nature

Primate Freedom Project Education Advocacy Support

Animal Person Deconstructing the ethics, economics, and language of our relationship with nonhuman animals.Last Chance for Animals Justice for AnimalsBreak the Chains blog is a news and discussion forum for supporters of political prisoners, prisoners of war, politicized social prisoners, and victims of police and state intimidation. NYC Indymedia Justice for Animals (free media for free people)Green Bloggers The Global Source for the Green MovementAlliance for Animals Millwaukee The Global Source for the Green Movement New York Companion Bird Club Message board

Dogster's For the love of dog blog

Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut

Action For Animals – AustinAction For Animals – OaklandAlley Cat AlliesAmerican Anti-Vivisection SocietyAmerican Vegan SocietyAnimal AcresAnimal Legal Defense FundAnimal PlaceAnimal Protection InstituteAnimal Rights Coalition, MNAnimal Rights HawaiiAnimal Rights InternationalAnimal Sanctuary FoundationAnimal SwitchboardAnimal Welfare AdvocacyAnimal Welfare Institute American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to AnimalsArizona State University Animal Welfare AssociationThe Association of SanctuariesAssociation of Veterinarians for Animal RightsAvian Welfare Coalition AZVegan.comBay Area VegetariansBest Friends Animal SocietyCatskill Animal SanctuaryCARE (Coalition for Animal Rights Education)Compassionate ConsumersCompassionate Cooks DawnWatchDogs Deserve BetterEast Bay Animal AdvocatesEastern Shore Sanctuary and Education CenterEqual Justice Alliance FATE (Friends of Animals and Their Environment)FaunavisionFeathers FoundationFlorida Voices for Animals Herbivore Magazine In Defense of Animals International Fund for Animal Welfare L.A. Lawyers for Animals League of Humane VotersLeague of Humane Voters - CALeague of Humane Voters - NYMaryland Animal AdvocatesMercy For AnimalsMidwest Avian Adoption & Rescue Services (MAARS)National Anti-Vivisection SocietyNew England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS)Oasis SanctuaryPeaceful Prairie SanctuaryPeople for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)Physicians Committee for Responsible MedicinePuppy Mill Awareness DayRabbitWiseRational AnimalsSan Diego Animal AdvocatesSatya MagazineSHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness) Sonoma People for Animal RightsStopAETA.org SuperVegan.comStudents for Education and Animal Liberation United Animal NationsUnited Poultry ConcernsValley Vegan Society (Northampton, MA)VeganFreak.comVeganicaVegan OutreachVegan RadioVegetarian AdvocatesVegetarian Society of El PasoThe VegNews Network VegNews MagazineViva!USAVoice for a Viable FutureWoodstock Animal Rights Movement Woodstock Farm Animal SanctuaryWorld Orchard Project