Ringling Bros. Circus Protest/Leafleting in San Jose

August 19, 2008

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS and join Citizens For Cruelty-Free Entertainment to distribute informational leaflets at Ringling

Bros. Circus In San Jose on August 20. See

the schedule below. Leaflets and signs will be provided at all

leafletings listed below.

Finally, after eight years of legal maneuvers, Ringling will stand trial for elephant abuse this October. For more information on former Ringling employee Tom Rider's lawsuit visit http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8500317 & nav=168Y.

The Bay Area has always been steadfast in standing up for the animals

and Citizens For Cruelty-Free Entertainment has provided a significant

amount of video evidence for this trial.

Please join us to educate the public about the inherent cruelty of using animals in entertainment. We have seen Ringling's attendance drop steadily over the years -- let's make sure they know they are not welcome here at all.

LEAFLETING TIMES AT RINGLING BROS. CIRCUS

(NOT SHOW TIMES)

SAN JOSE ARENA - Autumn & Santa Clara St. in San Jose

Wednesday ..... 8\20 ........ 6 PM Thursday ...... 8\21 ........ 6 PM Friday ........ 8\22 ........ 6 PM

Saturday ...... 8\23 ........ *1:15 PM & 6 PM

Sunday ........ 8\24 ........ *3:15 PM

To Car Pool or For More Info. Call 650\654-9955 or email deniz_b.

*It's especially important to be prompt,

as we leaflet two shows at that time - people coming out of an earlier

show and people going into the next show. The people come out all at

once, if we're late we'll miss them.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP AT ALL PERFORMANCES YOU CAN ATTEND.

The Sad Lives Of Animals with Ringling Bros. Circus

To see video of Ringling's abuse s below:

Ringling Kills 4 Baby Elephants In 8 Years

Bertha dead at a few months of age.

September 2005: Ringling did not announce Bertha's birth or death.

Riccardo dead at 8 months of age.

August 4, 2004: Ringling claims he fell off a 19-inch-high-round platform. After making Riccardo suffer all night with two broken legs, Ringling took him to a hospital the next morning where x-rays revealed " severe and irreparable fractures. " Riccardo was killed that day.

Benjamin dead at 4 years of age.

1999: Drowned in a pond while attempting

to avoid " trainer " Pat Harned, who witnesses said " poked " Benjamin with

an ankus. A USDA investigator concluded that seeing and/or being

" touched " or " poked " by Harned with an ankus caused physical harm and

lead to Benjamin's death. This incident was videotaped but Ringling requested the USDA not release it to the public.

Kenny dead at 3 years of age.

1998: Ringling

elephant " trainers " Gunther Gebel-Williams and Mark Gebel, against

veterinarian orders, forced Kenny, who was bleeding from his rectum, to

perform. Kenny died later that day after passing a large amount of

blood from his rectum.

Ringling routinely uses ropes and chains to separate 18-month-old-baby elephants from their mothers. USDA told Ringling that this practice violates Federal law; Ringling defended it calling it " industry standard. "

In the wild female elephants never leave their mothers; males leave at about age 13-15 years.

Chained Most of Their Lives

Elephants in the wild can roam up to 50 miles a day. Ringling

keeps elephants chained by 1 front and 1 back leg for most of their

lives; the rest of the time they are confined in small barren pens in

parking lots.Pat Cuviello