Jesse Helms – man or mouse?
There’s good and bad news on the
animal rights front. Here’s our
investigative correspondent Iggy to bring us the latest news:
Jesse Helms – man or mouse?
Jesse Helms – man or mouse?
Coalition: Farm Bill Amendment Weakens AWA
Farm Bill Amendment Weakens Animal Welfare Act To Exclude Most
Animals Used in Labs from Humane Protection; Coalition Urges Defeat
Contact: Nancy Blaney of the Working Group to Preserve the Animal Welfare Act, 703-521-1689
Tina Nelson of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, 215-887-0816
WASHINGTON, May 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today Congress will come one step closer to making the U.S. the only country with animal protection laws to exclude most research animals from the protection of the law. The Conference Report to the Farm Bill, which the House will consider today, includes an amendment offered by Senator Helms that denies the Animal Welfare Act's (AWA) requirements for humane care to 95 percent of research animals, i.e., birds, rats, and mice, from receiving humane care. Instead of using hearings and debates before making a significant and controversial change to the AWA, Senator Helms introduced an amendment that passed in the Senate by voice vote with only a few members present. This amendment is now part of the Farm Bill.
Contact: Nancy Blaney of the Working Group to Preserve the Animal Welfare Act, 703-521-1689
Tina Nelson of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, 215-887-0816
WASHINGTON, May 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today Congress will come one step closer to making the U.S. the only country with animal protection laws to exclude most research animals from the protection of the law. The Conference Report to the Farm Bill, which the House will consider today, includes an amendment offered by Senator Helms that denies the Animal Welfare Act's (AWA) requirements for humane care to 95 percent of research animals, i.e., birds, rats, and mice, from receiving humane care. Instead of using hearings and debates before making a significant and controversial change to the AWA, Senator Helms introduced an amendment that passed in the Senate by voice vote with only a few members present. This amendment is now part of the Farm Bill.
Black Hog Down
BWar is hard on animals too.
Animal People newspaper and
other mainstream news sources wrote about Marjan, the famous elderly lion, blinded by a grenade in 1995, who died in the Afghanistan zoo. Only in Animal People do we also learn about a little black bear whose nose “was painfully infected by Taliban soldiers who tortured him with a pointed stick.” I’m sure all my brothers and sisters in the Afghan zoo and other zoos around the world are suffering merely because they are cooped up in unnatural surroundings. But the violence and neglect caused by humans and their persistent fighting amongst themselves only makes life worse for all living things on the planet.
There is a World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and its director John Walsh, who go around the world trying to help the animals in Afghanistan and other countries at war. Animal People reports that the best use of WPSA in that country was that they paid off back wages of the zoo employees so they would stay on the job.
There is a World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and its director John Walsh, who go around the world trying to help the animals in Afghanistan and other countries at war. Animal People reports that the best use of WPSA in that country was that they paid off back wages of the zoo employees so they would stay on the job.
Hemp Food Stays in Stores
DEA Backs Down in Face of Imminent Court Action
ARLINGTON, VA -- The Drug Enforcement Administration handed a victory to the multimillion-dollar-a-year hemp food industry last night when they told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit they will extend the "grace period" for hemp food products that contain "any THC." The extension reassures retailers stocking and selling hemp food products that, for the next 40 days, the DEA will not commence enforcement action. Ultimately, the hemp food industry expects to prevail against the DEA's attempt to ban hemp foods because Congress exempted nutritious hemp seed and oil from regulation (see 21 U.S.C. §802(16)), and the trace infinitesimal THC in hemp seed and oil is not psychoactive and does not interfere with workplace drug-testing (see http://www.TestPledge.com).
ARLINGTON, VA -- The Drug Enforcement Administration handed a victory to the multimillion-dollar-a-year hemp food industry last night when they told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit they will extend the "grace period" for hemp food products that contain "any THC." The extension reassures retailers stocking and selling hemp food products that, for the next 40 days, the DEA will not commence enforcement action. Ultimately, the hemp food industry expects to prevail against the DEA's attempt to ban hemp foods because Congress exempted nutritious hemp seed and oil from regulation (see 21 U.S.C. §802(16)), and the trace infinitesimal THC in hemp seed and oil is not psychoactive and does not interfere with workplace drug-testing (see http://www.TestPledge.com).
Slaves to fashion: What fur?
Speaking as an animal that has, throughout time, been eyeballed by humans as mostly a delectable honey-baked ham or candidate for a barbecue – always the main course, never the guest – I’m not writing this for my own or my species sake. Yes, perhaps they used to (do they still?) make footballs out of our skin. But pigs have hair, not fur, which is why my dander-allergic daddy picked me for a pet in the first place. Nobody will be wearing a floor-length Iggy to keep them warm this year. I know fur must be warm, though, as my kittycat friends and nemeses in the backyard can attest. I can hardly fault my human friends for wanting to cozy up in a fur during these cold gray days. I’m a tropical pot-bellied pig by nature and spend my winter days on the back porch by a heater.
But here’s my plea for all Freep readers to call for an end to killing animals for fur. I know none of you wear fur, don’t get me wrong. Here’s some quick facts on the fur industry you can use in your arguments and a few local retailers to boycott:
But here’s my plea for all Freep readers to call for an end to killing animals for fur. I know none of you wear fur, don’t get me wrong. Here’s some quick facts on the fur industry you can use in your arguments and a few local retailers to boycott:
DEA to ban hemp foods, New legislation will criminalize retailers
According to a recent DEA ruling,
hemp foods will fall under the
category of a Schedule I narcotic after a grace period ending on February 6th, 2002. By that time all retailers and manufacturers are to have disposed of any of their remaining supplies of hemp foods, and already any further manufacture of these products is to have ceased.
This ruling has come about as the DEA is trying to “clarify” the federal language regarding marijuana. Prior to this ruling, there was no official distinction between marijuana and hemp. Now that the DEA has taken care of this little snafu, in typical fashion, what we have left is the endangerment of the fledgling, yet flourishing, hemp industry here in the United States.
The U.S. government, the only government of an industrialized nation to have a ban on the production of industrial hemp, banned marijuana in 1937. However, to this day there are many Americans who do not realize that hemp, the very useful and now THC-free part of the cannabis sativa plant, played a large part in the colonists’ successful boycott of British goods, an act that made a successful American Revolution a reality.
This ruling has come about as the DEA is trying to “clarify” the federal language regarding marijuana. Prior to this ruling, there was no official distinction between marijuana and hemp. Now that the DEA has taken care of this little snafu, in typical fashion, what we have left is the endangerment of the fledgling, yet flourishing, hemp industry here in the United States.
The U.S. government, the only government of an industrialized nation to have a ban on the production of industrial hemp, banned marijuana in 1937. However, to this day there are many Americans who do not realize that hemp, the very useful and now THC-free part of the cannabis sativa plant, played a large part in the colonists’ successful boycott of British goods, an act that made a successful American Revolution a reality.
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's Top Five Nuclear List for 2001
The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has released its Top Five List of
Nuclear Events for 2001. Topping the list is the US notice of withdrawal
from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The second spot on the list is
the US boycott of an international conference to speed up entry into force
of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Foundation president David Krieger stated, "The US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and its hostility to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty reflect a pattern of US unilateralism that is extremely dangerous in the area of nuclear weapons. It is likely to lead to new regional nuclear arms races, to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to competition for the weaponization of space."
Rounding out the Top Five List are the pledge by US President Bush and Russian President Putin to reduce nuclear arsenals, the destruction by the Ukraine of its last nuclear missile silo and Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power by 2025.
Foundation president David Krieger stated, "The US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and its hostility to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty reflect a pattern of US unilateralism that is extremely dangerous in the area of nuclear weapons. It is likely to lead to new regional nuclear arms races, to the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to competition for the weaponization of space."
Rounding out the Top Five List are the pledge by US President Bush and Russian President Putin to reduce nuclear arsenals, the destruction by the Ukraine of its last nuclear missile silo and Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power by 2025.
NO BUCKS for cat research
When OSU alumni and Buckeye fans came to soak up the glory of a new team, a new coach, and a newly-renovated stadium, animal activists were on hand to remind them that a university is more than just sports. OSU’s reputation rides on the value of its teaching and research. Right now, OSU is tarnishing that reputation by endorsing Podell’s cats-on-speed experiment which has been condemned by academics and AIDS activists, as well as advocates for animals. POET asked alumni to support the Buckeyes with cheers and enthusiasm, but to withhold their buck$ until this cruel and unnecessary research is shut down.
On May 1, 2001 cat #OOIOZ3, involved in the experiment, was “Found Dead.” Details have yet to be released. As we have said many times before this project will NOT help cats nor will it help people. Please continue to speak out for the cats.
On May 1, 2001 cat #OOIOZ3, involved in the experiment, was “Found Dead.” Details have yet to be released. As we have said many times before this project will NOT help cats nor will it help people. Please continue to speak out for the cats.
Covert Action Exposes Cruelty at Egg Farm: Advocates Rescue 34 Sick, Injured, and Dying Hens
Investigators from the Ohio animal rights organization
Mercy For Animals (MFA) have released
the findings of a month-long investigation into animal mistreatment at Buckeye
Egg Farm and Daylay Egg Farm, Ohio’s two largest egg producers.
MFA’s investigation at Buckeye’s facility in La Rue and Daylay’s facility in Raymond began after the organization’s requests for tours of the facilities were ignored. Both Buckeye Egg Farm and Daylay Egg Farm confine millions of hens in tiny "battery cages" (long rows of wire cages holding an average of eight birds per cage).
At both facilities investigated, MFA discovered severe
overcrowding and confinement, hens trapped in the wire of their cages, and dead birds left to slowly rot next to their cage mates. At Daylay, a live hen was found thrown in a dumpster filled with trash and hundreds of dead birds.
The investigation uncovered countless
MFA’s investigation at Buckeye’s facility in La Rue and Daylay’s facility in Raymond began after the organization’s requests for tours of the facilities were ignored. Both Buckeye Egg Farm and Daylay Egg Farm confine millions of hens in tiny "battery cages" (long rows of wire cages holding an average of eight birds per cage).
At both facilities investigated, MFA discovered severe
overcrowding and confinement, hens trapped in the wire of their cages, and dead birds left to slowly rot next to their cage mates. At Daylay, a live hen was found thrown in a dumpster filled with trash and hundreds of dead birds.
The investigation uncovered countless
Compiled News Updates
MEDICAL MARIJUANA RESEARCH FINALLY APPROVED
Source: Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/, Marijuana Policy Report Vol. 7, No. 2 ? Spring 2001
(California) On June 13, a federal shipment of marijuana arrived at the San Mateo County Health Center for a medical marijuana study involving people with AIDS. The county will test the feasibility of allowing patients to take marijuana out of a hospital setting to smoke it for medical research. Assuming that there are no diversion problems or other drawbacks, the study? s subsequent phases may generate the clinical data needed to meet FDA?s requirements for the approval of marijuana as a prescription medicine. This study is unique in that it is being funded entirely by the county. (And it is the only study underway in the country.)
Source: Marijuana Policy Project http://www.mpp.org/, Marijuana Policy Report Vol. 7, No. 2 ? Spring 2001
(California) On June 13, a federal shipment of marijuana arrived at the San Mateo County Health Center for a medical marijuana study involving people with AIDS. The county will test the feasibility of allowing patients to take marijuana out of a hospital setting to smoke it for medical research. Assuming that there are no diversion problems or other drawbacks, the study? s subsequent phases may generate the clinical data needed to meet FDA?s requirements for the approval of marijuana as a prescription medicine. This study is unique in that it is being funded entirely by the county. (And it is the only study underway in the country.)