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From ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2007:

 

 

 

Letters

 

 

Quaker questions

 

I don't think I am alone in wishing that the Christian

churches would join the rest of us in fighting for the animals. Most

churches have strong environmental statements, caring for creation

and so on, but take little action in terms of condemning the cruelty

and misery inflicted on animals by humans.

I am not a Quaker, but I applaud their move to come to grips

with the issues by agreeing to examining the following questions at

the Friends World Council for Consultation Triennial, which will be

held in Dublin in August 2007--

" This Concern has been raised by the Central and Southern Africa

Quakers for discussion at the Dublin Triennial:

Do we recognise the suffering imposed upon billions of

nonhuman animals by human animals in the flesh and milk industry; in

vivisection laboratories; in using them for power and entertainment

and in the taking of their natural habitat? Given that nonhuman

animals are utterly powerless to resist this oppression, how is our

Society called to act? "

May I suggest that " animal people " with church connections

draw the attention of their church to the Quaker example?

--Olga Parkes

New Lambton Heights, Australia

<animals

 

 

Michael Vick

 

Now that Michael Vick has been indicted on felony dog

fighting charges, it is high time to ramp up campaigns against this

" sport " and those involved in it.

I applaud the Humane Society of the United States and others

for calling on the NFL to immediately suspend Vick. But I feel that

our collective response must be stronger. Let us hold peaceful anti-

dog fighting rallies at every NFL game all over the country. Every

game is televised and has tons of media coverage, so it will be free

publicity for our issue.

And let us not forget Vick's endorsement deals, which funnel

millions of dollars into his bloody hands. Sponsors are very

vulnerable to public opinion and media notice. How about a few

rallies outside the corporate offices of a few of the companies which

have so far ignored this issue?

Other companies whose products Vick has reportedly endorsed

are Coca Cola, Powerade, Kraft, Rawlings, and Hasbro. Vick had

also been a pitchman for AirTran Airways since 2004, but his

contract with them expired and was not renewed.

--David Sickles

PO Box 29

Factoryville, PA 18419

<defendanimalsnow

 

 

Bucharest update

 

In 2004 ANIMAL PEOPLE visited our shelter in

Dragomiresti-Vale, Romania, described us favorably in your article

" The Vampires of Buch-arest, " and ever since have sent us ANIMAL

PEOPLE, which provides us with very interesting and valuable

information.

Since then, we have signed a contract with the Animal Survey

Agency, which enables us to save some of the dogs who have been

taken from the streets and open courtyards, and are required to be

killed after 14 days.

Unfortunately, due to our disastrous financial situation,

we could build only three more kennels. This is very sad and

frustrating, as we have a lot of space at our disposal.

We have just finished disinfecting and deparasitizing our

facility, and are now vaccinating. We are only four people: me,

our vet tech, and two keepers. We need more staff, but where to

find them and how to pay them?

Fortunately we have not lost our sense of humor. This is

good news for our little souls at the shelter, no?

--Monika Stampfli-Muller

Asociatia Pas-cu-Pas 2003

Dragomiesti-Vale

Jud. Iflov, Romania

Phone: 0749-272-226

 

 

Helping animals in Ethiopia

 

I am a physician who lives in Houston, Texas. I am a U.S.

citizen but originally from Ethiopia.

In November 2006 I cofounded an organization dedicated to

the memory of my mother, whom I lost when I was five.

In April 2007 I went back to Ethiopia to find out about the

wildlife situation in my native country. While there I was

confronted by the overwhelming numbers of homeless dogs, who are the

most mistreated, abused, neglected sentient beings in Ethiopia.

Their suffering so bothered me that a day does not go by that I don't

think of them. I saw so many hungry, sick, neglected dogs it was

stupefying.

I have videos of mothers in the middle of busy streets in

mid-day, so dehydrated their skin could be raised like a tent,

trying to breastfeed 10 puppies at a time. I have seen dogs being

systematically poisoned by strychnine, continuously convulsing and

foaming at the mouth until their rib cages stop moving and they stop

breathing.

Because of what I have seen, I have decided to mount a

campaign to bring awareness to the problem in Ethiopia. I know the

suffering in other countries is similar, but in India, for example,

there are now many great animal protection organizations. In

Ethiopia, awareness of the plight of nonhuman animals, especially

domestic animals and farm animals, is nonexistent. There is one

organization I am supporting called the Homeless Animal Protection

Society. This is the only organization I know of in Ethiopia that

deals with dogs, among other nonhuman animals. They are under

funded, understaffed, and in their current situation they will not

be able to bring relief to the suffering of even a fraction of the

750,000 dogs found in the capital city of Addis Ababa alone.

What my organization would like to do is create a

state-of-the-art spay/neuter clinic, hospital with 6 surgery rooms,

an educational center, a center for community outreach and teaching,

a temporary shelter that can accommodate 50 to 60 dogs, and a

holding area for at least 10 to 20 dogs. We want it to be the best

in Africa, so that we can have people from other African countries

come and train, and learn about animal welfare.

To this end we have already secured the help of U.S.

veterinarians who would go to Ethiopia for a couple of weeks at a

time to teach. We have been promised by the mayor of Addis Ababa

that we will be given land on which to build the facility. We have

labor already in place in the city. We have already contracted an

architectural engineering firm to do the work. Architectural

drawings will be created shortly. What is left is to secure the

funding necessary to make it reality.

This is our vision. We can't do it by ourselves. We need

the goodwill of people like yourselves to make the dream a realty.

--Anteneh Roba, M.D.

President

Amsale Gessesse

Memorial Foundation

223 Westheimer Road

Houston, TX 77006

<aamsale

<www.amsalefoundation.org>

 

 

Editor's note:

 

ANIMAL PEOPLE publisher Kim Bartlett was founding patron of

the Homeless Animal Protection Society, begun by Efrem Legese and

Hana Kifle in 2001. ANIMAL PEOPLE sponsors their salaries.

 

 

Congressional success

 

As result of the cooperative effort of many individuals and

organizations, as well as hard work by Congressman Christopher Shays

and his staff, our effort to reinvigorate the Congressional Friends

of Animals Caucus has been a huge success. The caucus membership

has doubled. We now have 41 members. Republican membership in the

caucus has increased to 40%, up from 19% when we started.

Now that we have achiev-ed caucus reinvigoration through

increased membership and greater bipartisanship, Congressman Shays

and his caucus co-chair will be evaluating future caucus activities,

hearings, and projects to enable the caucus to play a more

significant role in animal protection.

--Jerry Simonelli

Centreville, Virginia

<jsimonelli

 

 

Pro-animal musicians

 

Many great musicians and vocalists affiliated with the music

industry merit commendation for their fervent and compassionate

animal rights and vegetarian advocacy. This includes Paul McCartney,

Chrissie Hynde, Boston's Tom Scholz, Moby, Morrissey, Joan Jett,

and pianists Linda Gentille and Will Tuttle. The latter also wrote

an enlightening book aptly titled " The World Peace Diet. " All are

extremely talented and blessed with benevolent souls.

--Brien Comerford

Glenview, Illinois

<Bjjcomerford

 

 

Collecting change

 

When visitors leave a foreign country by airport or cruise

ship, they often have change with them that cannot buy anything. If

humane societies had change collection boxes at the points of

departure, with the permission of the authorities, many of us would

happily give them the money.

--June P. Wilson

San Francisco, California

 

 

Editor's note:

 

The Blue Cross of India has done this at the Chennai airport

for many years. It appears to be an effective fundraising method.

 

 

 

Animal caretakers everywhere should beware of Lyme disease

 

Nic Meeuwenoord, 55, used to manage a riding school before

he became sick. In the summer of 1996, after carrying a stack of

fresh hay, he discovered a red circle on his leg. Later that year

he started suffering from fevers, painful joints, throat pain,

weight loss and forgetfulness. No doctor could tell him what his

problem was.

By now Nic is convinced he contracted Lyme disease from a

bite by a tick infected with the agent Borrelia burgdorferi.

According to Nic, Lyme is " The most underestimated disease. " He

himself has become invalid, although he still walks with crutches.

" Putting a pistol against your head is not a solution, " says

Nic, who finds dealing with the constant pain and exhaustion caused

by Lyme extremely difficult.

Animal caretakers around the world should be aware that they

are extra-susceptible to contracting Lyme disease. They should not

underestimate the effects of Lyme, which can be literally crippling.

Working with Animal Nepal in Kathmandu, I concentrated on

rescuing injured and sick street animals. While handling cats, dogs,

and cows, I regularly came across ticks. At times a tick would jump

across and attatch itself to my skin. Once or twice I found a

swollen tick a few days later, hidden under my armpit or on the side

of my leg. I never thought much of it, not even when I started to

become sick in 2003. At first I suffered from recurring infections

and neck pain. Later I developed neurological problems. I started

to faint and could no longer walk straight. I become forgetful,

suffered mood changes, and developed heart problems.

Over the next two years I was treated for all sorts of

disorders, but nothing made me feel better. In February 2006 a

Dutch general practitioner tested my blood for Lyme titres. Then

things fell into place.

Although I do not know for sure if I contracted lyme during

my work with animals, I warn all animal handlers to take extra care.

Lyme is a very serious disease which--if not quickly diagnosed and

effectively treated--can kill you. Even less serious cases such as

mine change one's life considerably. I have not been able to work in

three years. I have been treated with multiple antibiotics for

almost a year.

Although my condition is slowly improving, I may not be able

to return to my job and passion--animal welfare--for quite a while.

I hope there is no such thing as a chronic antibiotic resistant Lyme

infection.

Animal welfare organizations in tick infected areas should

conduct regular Lyme titre tests on workers and volunteers,

especially those who are often sick. Partners and children should be

included, as research suggests the disease can be handed from mother

to child, and is sexually transmittable. People who have been out

walking in nature or have worked with tick-carrying animals should

carefully check their clothing and body for the presence of ticks.

Those who are bitten ideally should immediately take a course of

antibiotics and continue to watch their health.

Suspected Lyme patients who are not taken seriously by their

doctor or do not receive proper treatment (preferably according to

the guidelines of International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society)

ideally should go to a place where they can receive extended

antibiotics and supportive treatment.

--Lucia de Vries

Kathmandu, Nepal

<luciadevries

<www.animalnepal.org>

 

 

 

Economic impact of animal control

 

Have you ever seen any reports or studies completed on the

impact of animal control in a community? I believe that law

enforcement and public education by animal control officers has

created more business in our community, and would like to be able to

describe our program in terms of economic impact as well as in terms

of services provided.

We encourage pet keepers to get rabies vaccination, have their cats

and dogs sterilized, get veterinary treatment and grooming, feed

their pets properly, provide shelter for pets, clean up after dogs,

etc.

This creates a demand for veterinary services, pet-sitting

and poop cleaning businesses, boarding kennels, grooming shops,

trainers, pet food, and supplies for pets such as leashes, dog

houses, water and food bowls, and fenced yards.

When we started enforcing sanitation complaints on pets,

poop clean-up businesses developed. Since 1980 the number of

veterinary clinics in our city has increased from 10 clinics to 24.

The number of vets has gone from 15 to more than 65.

I realize that some of this might have happened anyway, but

believe that animal control law enforcement has encouraged it.

--Jim Weverka

Animal Control Chief

3140 N Street

Lincoln, NE 68510

Phone: 402-441-7900

Fax: 402-441-8626

<JWeverka

 

 

Statistics & tactics

 

First, let me thank you for being at the Animal Care Expo in

Dallas in May. The session on statistics, in which ANIMAL PEOPLE

participated, was most meaningful to me.

I recently left a cushy job in the health insurance industry

to join the management staff at the Bay Area Humane Society. Only a

few years ago I became aware and horrified by the realities of our

relationship with animals. That was the first big blow. The second

was realizing that despite the existence of national-level,

multi-million-dollar organizations dedicated to animal welfare and/or

animal rights, many groups seem to be run more like a dysfunctional

support group than a business. I'm hoping I can change that, at

least in my community.

I am so grateful for publications and work like yours that I

could carry on for pages, but forgive me for stopping here, because

I have a feral cat spay day to prepare for.

I do want you to know that I have cut back my giving to many

national organizations, primarily because I am focusing my time and

money on two local groups--but I am sending you what I can because I

applaud your approach, and you did not send me any damned address

labels, notepads, cards, or most importantly, some story that is

a complete insult to my emotional maturity and intelligence. Thank

you for a respectful, intelligent request for support!

--Lisa Kay Peters

Development director/fundraising manager

Bay Area Humane Society

1830 Radisson St.

Green Bay, WI 54302

Phone: 920-469-3110

<www.BayAreaHumaneSociety.org>;

also secretary,

<www.CatsAnonymous.org>

 

 

" What then must we do? "

 

I just read your " What then must we do? " funding appeal.

Brilliant. To animal people it is an overwhelming world. So many

cares, endless suffering. Where to donate? Maddening.

Recently we adopted two cats from a shelter. We selected

two, and said a prayer that the others would be adopted. I take

comfort in knowing that for all the suffering, there are little

success stories the world over. Because of my interest in animal

rights, a friend became involved and has saved five animals. I

guess that's the ripple effect. She is a teacher, and her class

" adopted " a greyhound after visiting a retired greyhound facility.

Maybe one or two kids will grow up with the compassion of your

adorable Wolf, whose drawings I cherish. So, bless your hearts,

and thank you for the words I am often in need of.

--Stephanie Ferneyhough

Stanford, California

 

 

Response to " Meat-eating & moral leadership "

 

 

" Great editorial "

 

Great editorial about meat-eating and moral leadership in the

movement. I hope a lot of folks read it!

And of course, what great news re: Oregon banning gestation crates!

--Paul Shapiro

Factory Farming Campaign

Humane Society of the U.S.

2100 L Street NW

Washington, DC 20037

Phone: 202-452-1100

Fax: 202-258-3081

<pshapiro

<www.hsus.org>

 

 

FoA is vegan

 

Our food policy is simple: we advocate life-affirming,

vegan cuisine, so all food purchased by Friends of Animals and

offered at FoA events is plant-based: vegan.

I'm writing another vegan cookbook that will be released next summer.

--Priscilla Feral

President

Friends of Animals

777 Post Road

Darien, CT 06820

Phone: 203-656-1522

Fax: 203-656-0267

<info

<www.friendsofanimals.org>

 

 

IFAW doesn't serve fish from endangered species

 

Although we wholeheartedly support the vegetarian/vegan

philosophy, IFAW supports a process of thoughtful, progressive

disengagement from lifestyles that cause cruelty to animals. As an

international organization working with people from many different

backgrounds and cultures, we believe that we will best serve the

animals and achieve victories against cruelty if we encourage and

support people who have goodwill toward animals and want to make some

positive steps towards living in a more peaceful way with their

animal neighbors.

We have the utmost respect for people who choose to adopt a

vegetarian/vegan lifestyle, but because we collaborate with people

from many cultures, we feel that we can really make a difference for

the animals if we do not restrict our membership and welcome all

people who love and care for animals. Out of respect for IFAW staff

and donor dietary preferences, all IFAW-catered events and meetings

serve only vegetarian dishes and/or fish from non-endangered species.

--A.J. Cady

Program Director

Animals in Crisis & Distress

International Fund

for Animal Welfare

P.O. Box 193

Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

Phone: 508-744-2000

Fax: 508-744-2009

<info

<www.ifaw.org>

 

 

RSPCA responds Re: Freedom Food

 

I would like to clarify a few points in response to your June

2007 editorial " Moral leadership, big groups, and the meat issue. "

Contrary to what you reported, Freedom Food has not " been

afflicted by one scandal after another, " and we are baffled as to

why you mention Freedom Food in the same breath as the egg

mislabelling incident, when we spoke up in shock about it at the

time.

Freedom Food has in fact gone from strength to strength,

with new farms coming on board and new products being launched into

supermarkets.

Further, whilst some footage recently shown on ITV was

shocking and frustrating, resulting in the farms being suspended

from Freedom Food, it did not show any " abuse " of animals as

reported in your article.

Since Freedom Food was launched more than 330 million animals

have been on the scheme. That's a third of a billion animals who

have benefited directly as a result of Freedom Food. We will

continue to strive to make improvements for farm animals--and firmly

believe that if you want to help farm animals, Freedom Food is the

best scheme in Britain to support.

--Leigh Grant

Chief Executive

Freedom Food

Wilberforce Way

Southwater, Horsham

West Sussex RH13 9RS;

Phone: 44-0870-010-1181

Fax: 44-0870-7530-048

<www.rspca.org.uk>

 

 

Editor's note:

 

The claim that no abuse was documented at the farms that were

suspended from Freedom Food appears to depend on a definition of

" abuse " as an act of commission, which excludes neglect. Humane

laws, however, often define neglect as a type of abuse.

The egg mislabeling scandal undercut the Freedom Food premise

that the RSPCA is capable of monitoring animal agribusiness closely

enough to prevent bogus claims from eroding humane standards.

Millions of falsely labeled " free range " eggs from " free range " farms

that never existed were marketed for years all over Britain, in

direct competition with Freedom Food eggs, apparently without the

Freedom Food inspectors ever suspecting anything was amiss. When the

fraud was detected, it was revealed by inside whistleblowers using

routine ultraviolet light " candling, " or egg-sorting, which showed

the grid pattern of the cages on the eggs' shells.

The RSPCA nonperformance in response to the mislabeling

stands in distinct contrast to the response of the comparatively tiny

U.S. organization Compassion Over Killing to the use of misleading

" Animal Care Certified " labeling by members of United Egg Producers,

the largest egg industry trade association. COK took the matter

promptly to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, winning a series of

rulings that resulted in United Egg Producers agreeing to replace the

" Animal Care Certified " label with " United Egg Producers Certified "

by April 2006.

 

 

Indian journalists dispute British report of

jihadi involvement in Kazaringa rhino poaching

 

You have cited my Hindustan Times report of May 27, 2007 [about the

arrest of alleged Naga poaching kingpin Lalkhang Go] in the June 2007

issue of ANIMAL PEOPLE in support of the May 5, 2007 Guardian report

linking animal body parts trade with jihadi.

The Guardian report is far-fetched, and is typical of their

anti-Islamic slant. They spoke to people who would, even if you

kill them, never say they are Bangladeshi immigrants. Nor do

sandbar dwellers have the propensity to brandish arms. The story was

more like a Hollywood script.

Jihadis and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-or for that

matter most other militant groups in Northeast India-do not gel. And

if you think my report justifies battering the Islamists, well, the

NSCN, KRA, KLA, NDFB, and other Northeast Indian rebel groups are

predominantly Christians, and there have been intelligence reports

about churches funding them.

By the same logic, illegal wildlife traders should be equated with

Christianity. But this is not a case of religion. The main driving

force is money, and the end-users of animal body parts are

invariably the Chinese or southeast Asians or Europeans and

Americans, who are either Marxists, Buddhists, those adhering to

indigenous faiths or Christians. Least of all Muslims.

I am not a Muslim, but I think most people in US and Europe are

overdoing the bit against the Islamic world.

--Rahul Karmakar

<rahconteur

 

 

Editor's note:

 

Adrian Levy and Cathy Scott-Clark of the Guardian reported

meeting armed suspected poachers believed to be from Bangladesh on a

sandbar. Levy and Scott-Clark did not equate these men with the

sandbar dwellers of the region, who as Rahul Karmakar mentions are

historically not warlike.

Both Hamas and al Qaida were reportedly involved in northern

African wildlife trafficking for at least a decade before September

11, 2001, in different regions. Yemen was the reputed hub of the

global traffic in rhino horn even before that. Levy and Scott-Clark

hypothesized, as ANIMAL PEOPLE summarized, that similar factions

may now be working in eastern India.

Fourteen endangered Asian rhinos have been poached within

Kaziranga National Park, in Assam state, eastern India, since

March 2007. Four suspects from a Christian village in early August

reportedly admitted killing five of the rhinos.

 

 

Christian terrorists

 

The ANIMAL PEOPLE report on poaching drawing references from

The Hindustan Times and The Guardian seems to be anomalous. One

poacher who was arrested recently confessed to have had arms training

from an " underground outfit " of Nagaland. He didn't name any outfit.

However, the outfits in Nagaland are Christian terrorists, and have

no reported links with Islamic terrorists.

Further, the Guardian reporters who visited Kaziranga and

reported on poaching nexus should have done a little more research

before coming to their conclusion.

The Nagas, a tribe in eastern India, are traditionally

trained as sharpshooters. In recent months a tranquilizer gun was

seized from poachers at Kaziranga which, when investigated, was

found to be licensed gun to the wildlife chief of Nagaland. Civil

service officers from Nagaland were also arrested in the park,

killing wildlife.

The alleged illegal migrants encroaching the reserve forests

are used as guides. The chain of transporters and poachers vary from

place to place and it is assumed that the route from Assam runs to

Kathmandu where the trade becomes international.

I have been reporting about poaching in northeastern India

for several years now and my observations are based on hard evidence,

not assumptions. We have been broadcasting a campaign against

poaching, the details of which are available on <www.ndtv.com>. I

have no reason to believe that Islamic terrorists are active in this

region, either collecting funds through poaching or otherwise.

--Kishalay Bhattacharjee

Bureau Chief

New Delhi Television

Guwahati, Assam

India

 

 

The importance of confinement-free housing to sheltering animals successfully

 

I never realized how important confinement-free housing is

for the health and well-being of animals in shelters and sanctuaries

until I visited Home for Life. Previously, I had visited animal

facilities in which all or most of the animals were isolated alone in

cages or tiny rooms. I was told by the directors that this was the

only feasible way of providing care.

Confinement-free housing at Home For Life is the core of the humane

care this sanctuary provides. Its effect on the animals' lives is

pervasive.

Every animal here has the opportunity to walk, run, and

climb if able. Even those who are severely handicapped, i.e.

blind or partially paralyzed, are provided with settings and devices

that encourage movement and interaction. In addition to large living

environments, there are bigger areas to which many of the animals

are brought for exercise and play. Even dogs who have difficulty

getting along with others are provided with spacious accomodations

that offer them continual visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation.

The animals at Home For Life have opportunities for ongoing

relationships with the other animals who live with them. This is

made possible by the confinement-free housing, which recognizes the

social nature of animals, the comfort and pleasure they derive from

each other, and the possiblity of fulfillment of many of their needs

without the continual presence of people.

Many other shelters I have visited-even those that declare

themselves in their literature and fund-raising letters to be

" cage-free " -keep all or most of their animals alone in cages or other

tiny enclosures. These rooms, sometimes no larger than 3 to 5 feet

square, with four walls that create total isolation, provide no

possibility of visual, auditory, or tactile contact with the

outside world. Only at times do the dogs have a limited view, and

then only by standing on their hind legs.

What happens to animals in shelters and sanctuaries who do

not live in confinement-free housing?

Animals who are severely confined and isolated often develop

negative behaviors, such as withdrawal, twirling, or aggression

that make them unadoptable or unapproachable. Others become

extremely anxious, scratching at the walls of their enclosures.

Various justifications have been made for keeping animals

confined and isolated. They include:

" If we make the housing larger, we would not have room for

so many animals, " or " The animal has a private space, " or " We

take the animal out for a walk, " or " We focus on adoption, " even

though the animal might be there for years.

Shelters end up euthanizing animals who develop withdrawal,

aggression, etc. because confinement has been so devastating to them.

Donors who receive appeals from animal care facilities need

to do their homework. Organizations can misrespresent their living

facilities. The best way to know an animal shelter or sanctuary is

to visit. Other ways of learning include carefully reading and

looking at websites, as well as contacting the organization and

asking specific questions such as " Exactly how large is an animal's

living space? Do animals live alone or together? " When

an organization describes itself as " cage-free " or " no-kill, "

explore the meaning of those terms with the people asking you for a

donation.

In summary, nothing justifies isolation and severe

confinement. Each day in the lives of animals is important. We owe

it to them to make the present time fulfilling and meaningful.

--Irene Muschel

New York, N.Y.

<benirv

 

 

Spanish activist objects to " running of the nudes "

 

On July 5, 2007, People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals organized their sixth annual " Running of the Nudes " protest

against the so-called " running of the bulls " at the Festival of San

Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. Year after year this protest tries to

congregate as many nude runners as possible, who end up showing

their genitals in the media in a carnival where the focus on

bullfighting is completely lost.

The PETA campaigns turn women into objects and their bodies

into advertisements. At <www.RunningOfTheNudes.com> PETA claims

people should take part in their demonstration because " It's about

babes--not bulls. Hardly-dressed hotties and nearly-nude dudes--need

we say more? " The suffering and death of the bulls who are murdered

in Pamplona remains practically unmentioned.

The " Running of the Nudes " is now even promoted by the city

of Pamplona as one of the attractions offered during the week of the

" Running of the bulls. " This must be the only protest in the world

against an injustice that helps to attract tourists to the injustice.

If there was any doubt about the response the " Running of the

Nudes " provokes in the people of Pamplona and the Spanish public, a

quick look at the media coverage will clarify the issue. The size of

the breasts of the activists is of more interest than the sad reality

the bulls will endure just a few hours after PETA's carnival.

As an organization dedicated to promoting respect toward

non-human animals and focused on ending their exploitation, Igualdad

Animal is opposed to the " Running of the bulls " and the bullfights in

Pamplona or wherever these terrible events take place. We also

consider creativity to be a very important part of activism in

defense of animals, but we must try to represent non-human animals

with respect. We fight against a terrible reality that must not be

hidden and must be treated seriously: mothers separated from their

babies, mutilations, uncountable hours of suffering, millions

murdered daily at slaughterhouses, bullrings, laboratories...

All of this suffering happens with the complicity of a

society immersed in consumerism and triviality.

We regret that organizations that supposedly want to defend

non-human animals support and promote PETA. Supporting their

demonstrations implies supporting and promoting their ideology.

Their position is fundamentally opposed to respect for non-human

animals and the abolition of their exploitation.

We encourage the people of Pamplona and Navarra to openly

oppose the " Running of the bulls " and other ways of exploiting

animals. Those of us who reject animal exploitation and PETA are

with you.

--Sharon Nunez

Igualdad Animal/Animal Equality

C/ Montera, 34 28-28013

Madrid, Spain

Phone: (+34) 915 222 218

<SharonN

<www.igualdadanimal.org>

 

 

Editor's note:

 

Nunez also sent a multi-paragraph outline of nine objections

to other PETA activities and policies that she believes are

" welfarist " rather than " abolitionist, " each footnoted with web

addresses giving further particulars.

 

 

A reader in Havana

 

Thank you for sending me ANIMAL PEOPLE every once in a while.

I do my best here in Cuba. Our conditions are not very good, and

the only thing I could do was to adopt five lovely stray dogs who

were in dire straits.

-- Cristina Bergnes

Havana, Cuba

<cbergnes

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

[ANIMAL PEOPLE is the leading independent newspaper providing

original investigative coverage of animal protection worldwide,

founded in 1992. Our readership of 30,000-plus includes the

decision-makers at more than 10,000 animal protection organizations.

We have no alignment or affiliation with any other entity. $24/year;

for free sample, send address.]

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