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Human
Earth Animal Liberation (HEAL) PO BOX 58502 Seattle,
WA 98138-1502 (206)244-1894
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HEAL
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| Teen Liberty | Prison Reform | Human Liberation | Earth Liberation | ||
| Animal Liberation |
HEAL’S animal liberation agenda
HEAL acknowledges and celebrates all sentient beings, human and non-human alike. We believe that nonhuman animals should be free from cruelty and confinement. We accept the principles of the "circle of life" philosophy and believe that all life lives by taking life or the potential for life. We acknowledge that nature is out of balance and that humans and non-humans alike are suffering as a result. We do not dictate, encourage or manipulate our members or our community into vegetarian/vegan living. We believe all life has value and that all living things require nutrients taken from other living things. We would never shame a dog or a crow for eating flesh or scavenging. Nor would we shame a human being for doing so. We do encourage everyone to live waste-free. Whether you consider yourself an herbivore or omnivore, please do your very best to keep your garbage/waste to a minimum.
We accept that vivisection is a money-making scheme that needlessly tortures billions of nonhuman animals to provide added liability insurance for pharmaceutical companies who will and do test their products on cold-blooded reptiles just to get the results needed to get the next damaging and deadly drug in to the consumer market. This is why HEAL does actively work to expose the fraud and harm of animal experimentation! lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll HEAL'S ANIMAL LIBERATION PROJECTS Why
Should The UW Offer Alternatives to Dissection? The
University of Washington must offer standard animal-free alternatives in
all classes requiring dissection of nonhuman animals.
As a public university, the UW has a special responsibility to
its students, as well as state and national taxpayers, to abide by the
U.S. Constitution, including the first amendment, which, guarantees
freedom of religion. While
dissection is a heatedly debated and controversial issue, it must be
concluded to be reasonable that those students who oppose it on ethical
and/or religious grounds should be given an animal-free option in
courses that require dissection. Many
universities have already made the needed changes in efforts to respect
diversity and embrace new technologies.
Universities that offer alternatives include the University of
California, University of Illinois, University of Virginia, Harvard
University, and Johns Hopkins Medical School.
The alternatives to dissection available today include plastic
models of dissected animals that students can take apart, virtual
dissection software, and three-dimensional films.
The University of California and the University of Virginia
currently offer online virtual dissections as an alternative.
Finally,
Freedom of Religion is a right under the first amendment.
Many orthodox religions, including Judaism, find touching or
dealings with dead animals "unclean" and therefore cannot
fulfill such requirements, as dissection, due to their religious tenets.
Because the University of Washington is a "public" (as
opposed to private) school, they have an obligation to respect and
accommodate students who are religiously opposed to participating in
dissection. Students are
being forced to choose career over morality in many cases, which, sets
an unpreferable standard for behavior in the "real world."
Since this choice is unnecessary, it begs questioning (which we
have done) the University. As said previously, other universities offer a standard
option for students who oppose the use of nonhuman animals. Since other accredited public and private universities are
offering standard alternatives to dissection and/or not using dissection
at all, it is only rational that the University of Washington would be
willing to give their students the same alternatives.
By not offering standard alternatives they are bending the will
of many less vocal students to submit to their system or forget their
career goals. That isn't
fair. And, in our opinion,
is a violation of the highest principle of human rights, that of free
will. If you find that you agree that students should be offered a standard alternative in Biology and Zoology lab courses, please take a moment to sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/uwdisalt/petition.html. If you would like more information regarding dissection alternatives and student rights please visit http://mail.rochester.edu/~nobs/dissection, http://www.dissectionchoice.org/faq.html, http://avar.org/avar_sep_2001_alternatives.pdf and http://www.internichebrasil.org/literatura/andrew2.htm. If you are a student being unfairly discriminated against by the biology and zoology departments and wish to take legal action, please contact us for help. If you have any questions, please e-mail us at heal@heal-online.org.
HEAL BOOK PROJECTHEAL has created an online store at http://www.cafepress.com/heal. Also, we are planning to put together a book of art, short stories, poems, and essays regarding human liberation, earth liberation, and animal liberation to sell through this shop. Art includes photography and political/social commentary cartoons. If you would like to submit your work for consideration in the project, please bring it to a HEAL meeting (schedule online at http://www.heal-online.org/events.htm), submit it online to heal@heal-online.org, or mail it to us at HEAL, PO Box 58502, Seattle, WA 98138-1502. The rewards for contributing items to this project are: helping to educate others about global liberation, having your work published, and a $10 reward for selected items (which you can choose to waive and donate to HEAL). You keep the rights to your material. We only ask that you include with all submissions a letter or e-mail to the effect that you are permitting HEAL to use your work and the work's title. lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
Stop
Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism
lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll animal liberation ACTION ALERTS Action Alerts are in order of Priority with Newest/Priority Alerts First! Tell Western Washington
Fairgrounds to Ditch Cruel Circus!--Circus Vazquez is scheduled to
appear at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup May 16 to 20.
Last month, a tiger with the circus was attacked and killed by one or
more of her cagemates after the circus left six tigers crammed together
in one cage. This terrifying incident - which surely caused the tiger
prolonged fear and suffering when she was unable to escape the mauling -
was hardly surprising. Federal records reveal that Circus Vazquez
has been cited numerous times by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) for failing to provide adequate space for tigers. Circus
Vazquez is currently traveling with elephant handler Will Davenport. In
the past year, the Davenport family has been repeatedly cited by the
USDA for inhumane handling and failure to provide adequate care to three
elephants, named Queenie, Tina and Jewel. Last year, Tina and Jewel
suffered such extreme weight loss that USDA ordered them off the road.
In 1997, Heather, the Davenports' young African elephant, was found dead
in a crowded, overheated trailer. In 2001, Circus Vazquez was
involved in smuggling an elephant into Mexico, and two elephants
traveling with the circus rampaged through a church. The elephants
nearly trampled two people, and they caused an estimated $75,000 in
damages. Please ask the fairgrounds to cancel Circus Vazquez's
upcoming appearance immediately. Take Action Now for Polar Bears!--As climate change causes the continued shrinkage of Arctic sea ice, polar bears are increasingly at risk. Leading American scientists say placing the polar bear on the federal Endangered Species list is key to its survival. A federal court has given the Bush administration until May 15 to decide if it will list the polar bear as endangered. Click here to tell Secretary of Interior Dirk Kempthorne that the polar bear, and its fragile Arctic habitat, requires protection from the effects of global warming.
Take Action for Black Bears!--Right now a project called the Yazoo Pumps threatens to destroy 200,000 acres of Mississippi Delta wetlands – the home of the Louisiana black bear. The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a plan to stop the Yazoo Pumps, but we need your help to make sure there is a groundswell of public support for this plan. Write the EPA today to say how important this is to you!
Please
Contact the National Institute of Health and Speak Out Against
Vivisection!--Many
people find this hard to believe, but the U.S. government continues to
sink millions of dollars each year into funding cruel and outdated
experiments on animals to test the effects of nicotine and tobacco.
Please join IDA during this week's observance of World Week for Animals
in Laboratories (WWAIL) (http://ga0.org/ct/97AH7971BUAf/)
to call attention to this outrage and speak out in opposition. Help Stop
Bear Poaching!--America’s
bears are facing a poaching plague. The reason? The lucrative black
market for bear parts is on the rise. But bipartisan legislation
in Congress can help put an end to this disturbing trend.
Urge your Representative to sign on as a cosponsor to the Bear
Protection Act (H.R. 5534) -- a bill that would help save America’s
bears. Elephant Abuse is Not Entertainment!--There is a TV series coming to TNT, "Greatest Show on Earth," that promises a "behind-the-scenes" look at the legendary Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. But the real story is that Circus staff regularly abuse and torment performing elephants with bull hooks, chains and other devices. Protect circus elephants.»
Help Stop Shark Finning!--Every year, fishermen globally pull tens of millions of sharks on deck and crudely slice off their fins. The fishermen then throw the sharks overboard, now finless, and they sink to the ocean floor where they drown or bleed to death. Shark finning is as brutal as it is wasteful - which prompted the U.S. government to enact the Shark Finning Prohibition Act of 2000, making the practice illegal. Or, at least, that was the intention. Take Action: http://takeaction.oceana.org/t/6207/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=24185
Save the
Buffalo!--Yellowstone's
wild, free-roaming buffalo herd is under siege. The Bush
Administration is turning the herd's birthing ground into a
killing ground for hundreds of mighty bison -- better known as
American buffalo. We must
speak out
against this cold-blooded cruelty NOW -- because every week, more of
these noble creatures are being herded into cattle trucks to be
slaughtered. This winter alone, more than 1,200 wild bison have
been brutally killed -- or shipped to slaughterhouses -- by the Montana
Department of Livestock, with the cooperation and approval of the
National Park Service. And come May, newborn calves are just as
likely to be killed as their mothers. We cannot stand by and let
this massacre continue:
Send a protest message now. Save the Leatherback Turtles!--Shhhh. Did you hear that? That was the sound of another species doomed with extinction. And that's the problem. There was no sound. No loud explosion. No sonic boom. No tremor that shakes the world when another beautiful creature goes extinct. Instead magnificent creatures like the leatherback turtle slip nearer to the edge in utter silence every 20 minutes. That's about 3 species every hour. 72 of Mother Nature's precious creatures each day. A devastating 500 a week and a world-changing 26,000 a year. In fact, right now the world's largest turtle and the second largest reptile on the planet, the leatherback, may be nothing more than a memory in a few decades if current rates of loss continue. Angela, we're talking about an incredible creature that has survived on this planet for more than 100,000,000 years. Yet populations of these sweethearts of the sea have declined by more than 80% in many areas thanks to pollution, poaching and commercial development, not to mention the potential for climate change to cause havoc, such as raising water levels and swallowing up their nesting areas beach by beach. But you can give a voice to these helpless creatures and help stop the extinction clock for the leatherback turtles and all species right now, simply by signing our petition
Oppose plans to kill
sea lions at Bonneville Dam--The
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is accepting comments
on a proposal authorized by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
to remove up to 85 California Sea Lions per year on the Columbia River
below Bonneville Dam. The 5-year plan translates either to a
life-sentence of confinement in a zoo or aquarium, or death for up to
425 federally protected sea lions. Public comments are
being accepted through April 4 - speak out today!
Take Action for Wildlife!--Meet Tim Koopman. This California rancher might have a very different relationship with the endangered wildlife that lives on his land if he hadn’t enlisted in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) about eight years ago. Now the California tiger salamanders, western pond turtles, western bluebirds and other wildlife on his land have become a regular part of Tim's land -- and important part of his operations. Help support wildlife-friendly ranchers and farmers like Tim. Urge your Senators and Representative to support wildlife-friendly agriculture and adequately fund conservation programs in the federal Farm Bill.
Save the Seals!--As you read this, fishermen in Canada are preparing for the 2008 seal hunt. They will kill an astonishing 275,000 seals, almost all of them babies just weeks old. The Humane Society of the United States' ProtectSeals team is also preparing. We'll be on the ice, too -- documenting the cruel realities of the largest commercial slaughter of marine mammals. Will you stand with us and help us tell the world what is happening? Here are two steps you can take to speak out against the hunt and spread the word on how we can end it. Help send a strong message to the Canadian government to end the seal slaughter. The hunt is opposed by the overwhelming majority of people in Canada and around the world, and Canada's Minister of International Trade, David Emerson, is in a unique position to stop it. But he must be convinced that the seal hunt damages Canada's economy and international reputation. Contact the Canadian Minister of International Trade and urge him to end the seal hunt.
Home Foreclosures Have Unexpected Victims!--Losing a home is an emotional experience for anyone, but news sources now report that beloved companion animals are also being affected in the foreclosure crisis. Cats, dogs and other pets are being left to fend for themselves when homeowners are forced to move to a rental unit that doesn't accept animals, or families simply cannot pay for pet care any longer because of rising home debts. Luckily, the Senate is considering the Foreclosure Prevention Act (S. 2636). Support this legislation today! >>
Tell the USDA that animal welfare matters--Costa Rican President and Nobel Laureate, Oscar Arias Sanchez, is the official one millionth signatory to the petition for a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, an international agreement that would unite governments in agreeing that animal welfare matters. The fact that so many people, representing every country in the world, have signed the Animals Matter petition in support of a declaration to protect animals is a truly groundbreaking achievement. It is also a powerful message to decision makers. Help WSPA send a message to USDA Secretary Schafer that the U.S. government should support this crucial initiative for animals >>
Stop
Science Center from Presenting "Elephant in a Bubble" Stunt--Take
Action (http://ga0.org/campaign/elephant_bubble/wdi5ekd4pm6x667?)
to tell them it's wrong to exploit an
endangered species. Speak Out Against Chico's Death--A macaque monkey named "Chico" who bit 3 people after escaping from the home of his irresponsible "owners", has been killed despite pleas from the public to spare his life, and an offer from a doctor at the Born Free Sanctuary in Texas to pay for rabies testing. As the generous doctor said: "there was no medical basis for the decision to euthanize Chico and doesn't understand the rationale of putting a monkey to death when that animal shows no signs of neurological disease." For more of the story see: http://www.kxly.com/Global/story.asp?S=7992762 Please let the officials know what you think of their heartless actions by contacting:
Mayor Mary Verner
509-625-6250 (tel)
Pigs Tortured in Name of Medical Education!--Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD is one of the last schools to use live animals for surgical training. Tell the Dean of Johns Hopkins to stop teaching cruelty to animals and start teaching compassionate medicine! One of their heartless practices involves anesthetizing pigs and cutting into their bodies with scalpels while they are still alive. When the class is over, the poor creatures are killed and their bodies end up in waste disposal bags. It’s time for every single medical school to stop inflicting pain and suffering on defenseless animals and start using human-focused or computer simulated teaching alternatives!
Support the
Bear Protection Act of 2008!--U.S.
Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) recently re-introduced H.R.
5534, the Bear Protection Act of 2008, to protect North American
bears. The Act specifically bans the import, export and interstate
trade of all bear parts and products, while closing loopholes in
existing state laws. Early findings from WSPA’s
investigation led California Fish & Game agents to arrest four
merchants at three TAM shops in San Francisco. The individuals were
charged with illegally selling bear bile, a felony offense in
California. Federal legislation is needed to effectively punish this
type of egregious behavior in all 50 states.
Please contact your U.S. representative today
and urge him or her to
co-sponsor and support H.R. 5534, the Bear Protection Act of 2008.
Tell
Philly Zoo Director Dewan: Scrap Plans to Breed Elephants, Send Them
To Sanctuary Instead!--Last week, the Philadelphia Inquirer
published an excellent Op-Ed (http://www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/16066857.html)
by attorney and elephant advocate Marianne Bessey highlighting the
absurdity of claims that breeding elephants in zoos is essential to
conservation, especially in light of South Africa's plans to cull
elephants whose population has grown in number in the
space-restricted Kruger National Park. Bessey's message is
especially relevant to the Philadelphia Zoo, which is scheduled to
ship three African elephants to a breeding facility in central
Pennsylvania in the next few months. Shocking
Video Shows Puppy Thrown from Cliff!--You
might have seen the video footage of what appears to be a U.S.
Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff. It's horrifying, and we need to
urge the Marine Corps Base Hawaii to take this case very seriously.
Please click the link below to sign the petition
today!
http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/puppy_thrown?rk=S1czWPsqjUc6W Where the Buffalo Can't Roam--There are few animals that evoke the majesty and heritage of the American wilderness more than the Bison (commonly known as the Buffalo). Yet some of our country's last remaining wild bison are being trapped and killed as they migrate from the safety of Yellowstone in search of food during the harsh winter months. What's worse is that this brutal treatment is based on an outdated justification. The government spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars each year to capture and slaughter Yellowstone bison in the Horse Butte peninsula (just outside the western boundaries of the park). This slaughter is motivated by a perceived need to protect cattle from bison-borne disease. The problem is that there aren't any cattle grazing in the peninsula; in 2002 cattle grazing on public lands was stopped by a court order and the remaining private land in the area has been purchased by new owners who have declared the property open to bison. Earthjustice, the Buffalo Field Campaign, and local landowners are calling for a halt to the buffalo slaughter and the initiation of a new environmental impact study that takes into account the current circumstances in the area and removes the justification for the killings. We need your help to encourage the U.S. Park and Forest services stop the senseless killing of the bison. Please take action to let the government know that you want this tragedy to end.
A Recovery Plan for American Wolves!--With the support of caring people like you, today we launched our latest legal efforts to save wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies, notifying the Secretary of the Interior that we intend to sue to reverse last week's elimination of vital federal protections for these amazing animals. But with the future of wolf recovery and the lives of hundreds of wolves at stake, Defenders of Wildlife is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a lasting future for wolves in America. You can help. Please send a message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service right now and urge federal officials to adopt a national wolf recovery strategy.
Ask Congress to Stop Ships from Killing Endangered Right Whales!--Fewer than 350 North Atlantic Right Whales are alive today, making the species one of the most critically endangered on the planet. And the leading cause of death to these whales is also the most easily prevented: collisions with ships. One year ago, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) approved a policy requiring ships to slow to 10 knots in whale populated waters, a speed which has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of injury and death to whales. Unfortunately, White House politics and the shipping industry have blocked this policy from becoming law. Ship strikes accounted for 27 reported deaths of large whales along the Atlantic coastline between 2001-2005, and an estimated 4 Right whales are killed by ships annually. It is critical that the situation improve immediately. Further delays in taking action will increase the likelihood that the population will never recover. By supporting the Ship Strike Reduction Act of 2008, you can ask Congress to help slow down the ships and significantly reduce risk of injuries and death for the North Atlantic Right Whale.
Tell the USDA to Protect Downer Cows--An investigation by The Humane Society of the United States at a cattle slaughterhouse has led to the largest beef recall in U.S. history. Their investigation documented animals too sick or injured to stand or walk—called "downers" by industry—being kicked, beaten, dragged with chains, shocked with electric prods, sprayed in the face with hoses, and rammed by forklifts in efforts to get them to their feet to pass USDA inspection. Despite claims that downers were being eliminated from the food supply, downed animals may be falling through the cracks as a result of poor oversight, anemic enforcement, and a loophole created by inconsistent agency regulations. This loophole results in animals who are beaten, kicked, and dragged to their death. TAKE ACTION Demand that the USDA eliminate this dangerous loophole and immediately put in place a "bright line" ban on all downers. Public officials receive a lot of email, so it's important to personalize the subject line and message so that your message will stand out and have a greater impact. Check out HSUS's Action Alert here: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/CA_2008_investigation
Stop the Long Distance Transport of Animals for Slaughter!--Following a two-year investigation, Handle with Care, a coalition of leading national and international animal welfare organizations led by WSPA, has launched a campaign to end the long distance transport of animals for slaughter. Farm animals are often transported over long distances within and between countries on grueling journeys that can take days, weeks or even months. The animals suffer greatly from stress, exhaustion, injury, disease and sometimes death as they are transported in cramped quarters often without access to food, water or rest. The Handle with Care Coalition identified some of the worst journeys around the world: the grueling, month-long trip that 4 million sheep annually make from Australia to the Middle East; the 3-week journey that 100,000 cattle endure under miserable conditions from Brazil to Lebanon; and the illegally-long drive suffered by 10,000 horses per year from Spain to southern Italy. In North America, up to 15,000 pigs each year are shipped by truck and then ship from Canada and the mainland U.S. to the Hawaiian Islands. Forced to lie in their own excrement, the pigs make the journey without ever leaving cramped, filthy containers for up to a week or longer. Although the transport of pigs from Canada to Hawaii has stopped for now, it could resume at any time, and animals shipped from the mainland U.S. continue to endure this long cruel journey. You can help us put an end to this cruel and unnecessary trade. Find out how >>
Take Action for Prairie
Dogs--The Prairie Dog Coalition is a little ahead in the votes, so
please keep A first for the
anti-bullfighting movement--The
United against Cruelty conference, taking place February 21 and 22 in
Barcelona, will be the first time that representatives from such diverse
fields as animal welfare, politics, science, art and media gather to share
their unique perspectives on the cruelty of bullfighting. WSPA and
our member society Asociación Defensa Derechos Animal (ADDA) are hosting
the conference. Delegates will also support a resolution encouraging
the Catalan Parliament to push forward with a proposed ban on bullfighting
in the region, which when passed will relegate this cruel 'sport' to the
past once and for all. Sign
our petition to end cruel bullfighting in
Save Healthy Animals from Needless Death!--Animal care and control centers across the country are doing everything they can, but the number of healthy and treatable dogs and cats that are euthanized is still devastatingly high. Support comprehensive programs for ending euthanasia of healthy and treatable animals!
Help Make Sure the FBI Tracks Animal Cruelty!--The Tracking Animal Cruelty Crimes Act (S. 2439), recently introduced by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), directs the U.S. Attorney General to modify the FBI's crime data reporting systems to list cruelty to animals as a separate offense category. Research clearly demonstrates that there is a close association between animal abuse and family violence, as well as other crimes. In addition, animal abuse frequently is one of the first signals of a child, and family, at risk. Without accurate tracking, there is no way to access important information such as trends or the relationship to demographic and geographic data, on which to base policy development and resource allocation. TAKE
ACTION Making a call is easy. A staff member will take your message and pass it to your legislator. You can say:
Then, send a follow-up email to reiterate your support for having animal cruelty added as a separate category in the FBI's crime database.
Take Action
for Wolves!--It’s happened. Despite the opposition of tens of
thousands of Defenders supporters, the Fish & Wildlife Service just
made it much easier to kill wolves in the Greater Yellowstone and Northern
Rockies region -- even while they remain protected under the
Endangered Species Act. Take
action now. Tell Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne that this rule change
is unacceptable. Urge Canon to Help Save Whales!--Today is the 13th day in a row without whaling in the Southern Ocean due to the presence of the Greenpeace Ship Esperanza. It looks like the whalers are still intent on hunting though, so we're calling on prominant figures in Japan to speak up. One man with more influence than most is the CEO of Canon, the world's number one camera maker, and current head of the Japanese Business Federation. He'd also make a perfect whale defender, since Canon has built so much of its reputation on conservation of endangered species (you may have seen their ads in National Geographic--every month since 1981). This is the statement we're asking Canon's CEO, Mr. Fujio Mitarai, to sign: "Canon is committed to building a better world for future generations, and does not support the hunting of endangered or threatened species with anything other than a camera. Canon believes the lethal whaling research programme in the Southern Ocean should be ended, and replaced with a non-lethal research programme." Please write a letter to Canon urging them to join the cause
"It's
the most important wildlife conservation legislation in history,"
said John Kostyack, NWF's wildlife policy expert.:
"Really?"
Could this new global warming bill--the Climate Security Act--truly be as
big as the Endangered Species Act...or the Clean Water Act...or the Clean
Air Act? If so, how? "Well" said John, "Global
warming has the potential to wipe out all of the conservation victories of
the last century."
Two Voter Approved Wildlife Initiatives In Jeopardy!--In 1996, the voters approved Initiative 655, prohibiting the cruel and unsportsmanlike practice of hunting cougars with hounds. In 2000, voters approved Initiative 713, to restrict inhumane steel traps and certain poisons used to kill wildlife. Unfortunately, each year since then, the legislature has considered bills that would substantially rollback these critical protections for wildlife. Take action today to protect Washington’s wildlife!
Take Action for Sea Turtles!--What could a Pacific leatherback sea turtle possibly have in common with a T-rex? Granted the docile and majestic turtle doesn't connote the same thrilling terror as one of the most fearsome predators of all time, yet the two lived side-by-side some 65 million years ago. In fact the very first sea turtles began to evolve around 110 million years ago. >>Take Action: Tell the federal government to protect sea turtles!
Take Action for Cows!--The USDA is considering misleading labels such as "naturally raised" for meat, even though it doesn't mean that the animal was physically unaltered, able to roam freely, or graze on pasture. From both an animal welfare and a human health perspective, this is horrible news. My husband and I are vegetarian, but we have friends and family who eat meat and who we know try to be as conscientious as possible of the quality and treatment of the animals. Please join me in telling the USDA to drop the misleading labels »
Save the Birds!--Carbofuran is one of the deadliest pesticides out there -- and, thanks to the efforts of people like you, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is just inches away from finalizing a ban on its use in the U.S. Take action now to tell officials to stand strong on carbofuran! In August of 2006, after receiving more than 20,000 comments from Defenders supporters, the EPA announced its intention to ban carbofuran because of the ecological and public health risks it poses. Birds are especially threatened by this deadly pesticide. Carbofuran has been the greatest chemical threat to wild birds since DDT was banned in the early 1970s, killing millions of birds from more than 100 species -- including bald and golden eagles, red-tailed hawks and migratory songbirds. Send officials at the EPA a message of encouragement to stand strong on their commitment to ban carbofuran to prevent the needless deaths of millions of birds -- and protect the health of American citizens.
Save the Chukchi Polar Bears!--America’s polar bears could disappear forever within a few short decades. But that’s not stopping the Bush/Cheney Administration from opening tens of thousands of square miles of vital polar bear habitat to exploitation by Big Oil. Take action now! Tell the Department of Interior to stop the sale of new oil leases in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea!
Take Action for Black
Bears and Their Habitat!--Years ago, black bears were almost wiped out
along with millions of acres of bottomland hardwood wetlands that
supported them. Just as the now-federally threatened bear is
making its return to Mississippi, the Army Corps of Engineers is proposing
a project that could wipe out 200,000 more acres of wetlands. Sign
the petition telling them you won't stand for this! Tell
Mars Inc., to Stop Testing on Animals & Ask the FTC to Clamp Down on
Mars' Lies--Despite
the fact that candymaker Mars, Inc., has funded unnecessary and deadly
studies on mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs and is currently funding
an experiment on rats at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF),
the company continues to deceive consumers regarding its animal-testing
policy. See this site: http://tinyurl.com/ytfcdt
to sign a petition, asking Mars to stop testing on animals. Save the Whales!--Humpback whales in the Southern Ocean are safe from Japan's annual hunt, at least for this year. But over the next three months, Japan plans to kill 935 minke whales and 50 endangered fin whales! Japan must follow through on its commitment to not target humpback whales, and stop the senseless killing of other whale species! Sign the petition today >>
Urge Congress to Support Mandatory Alternatives Petition!--In November 2007, a groundbreaking petition was filed with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking that the agency require the use of scientifically proven non-animal test methods in the drug testing process. The petition is supported by dozens of experts and organizations but it needs the support of Congress. Please "Take Action" at http://ga0.org/campaign/map/wdi5ekd4vd8wt75? to ask your Congressional Representatives to review the petition and write a letter of support to the FDA. Thank you for taking this important step to reduce the numbers of animals killed in drug testing.
Help IDA stop cruel nicotine experiments on monkeys at OHSU!--Take Action to urge OHSU and NIH officials to end funding for needless experiments Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) experimenter Eliot Spindel has been killing infant monkeys in nicotine studies for 24 years. But that's not enough for him--Spindel has a ticket to ride the federally-funded gravy train and continue these needless experiments until 2012. Since 1992, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has given Spindel at least $7.6 million of our tax dollars to conduct experiments on animals that tell the public what we already know: Nicotine is detrimental to human health. Yet Spindel continues to implant nicotine pumps into the backs of pregnant monkeys, delivering daily doses of the addictive substance to the mothers. He cuts their babies out at various stages of development, kills them, dissects their lungs--and passes this off as science. "Among the most horrifying things I witnessed at the lab were the times when baby monkeys were stolen away from their mothers. This was a chaotic, ugly, heart-wrenching scene. A worker wearing thick leather gloves would reach into the cage where the baby clung to her mother's breast, and snatch the baby by one shoulder and arm and rip her from her mother who was screaming and desperately fighting to keep her baby safe. Once removed, the entire room of monkeys would erupt into total pandemonium --screaming, thrashing, and crashing against the sides of their cages -- some even reaching out through the bars in vain to get the baby back." --IDA's Matt Rossell, who worked as a caretaker in Spindel's lab from 1998-2000 What You Can Do--Please Take Action ( http://ga0.org/campaign/spindel/wdi5ekd4vd8wt75? ) to urge OHSU and NIH officials to end funding for Spindel's experiments, and to redirect tax dollars into useful efforts to help people stop smoking, and to keep young people from ever lighting up.
Help give polar bears the
gift of a future on our planet
by signing this Holiday
SOS Card to President Bush in support of their protection under the
Endangered Species Act. Please
add your name to the card right now -- because the polar bear can't
wait. Within the next 30 days, the Bush Administration will either throw
polar bears a lifeline -- or condemn them to extinction. Take Action for Salmon and Steelhead!--Please visit our online action center before December 15th and tell NOAA Fisheries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Marine Fisheries Service) that you demand all options be considered in the federal recovery plan for Columbia-Snake River salmon and steelhead, including lower Snake River dam removal.
Thousands Protest Pet Massacre!--As we get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, we wanted to add to the excitement of the season by sharing some of the recent successes from the Care2 community. And what better way to start than to talk about a Care2 member from New York who was able to mobilize thousands of people to protect animal rights! Nadia Donato was reading the news on Care2 when she came across the October 12 massacre of family pets in Puerto Rico. She was appalled and decided to create an online petition. So far, close to 17,000 people world-wide have signed. In fact, it generated so much attention that it was picked up by the Associated Press and other news media, forcing Puerto Rican officials to look into the horrible killings of cats and dogs. Sign this petition »
Save the Humpback Whales!--This year, 1,400 whales, including 50 humpback whales, could die in another senseless annual hunt. Sign the petition to the Ambassador of Japan today >>
Tell Whole Foods to Cut The Bull--Since we sent out our alert on Wednesday, November 14, thousands have contacted Whole Foods to express their concern about the use of illegal drugs on cows fattened at the Beef Northwest feedlots. Whole Foods sells Country Natural Beef. Country Natural Beef's cows are fattened exclusively at the Beef Northwest feedlots. In addition, the owner of Beef Northwest, John Wilson, is also a member of the Country Natural Beef co-op. The FDA recently warned Beef Northwest about the use of illegal drugs on cows. In their letter, the FDA calls the meat treated with these drugs "adulterated" and "unsafe." Whole Foods responded to concerned citizens who sent them an e-mail, by claiming that they "have controls in place to ensure that the meat sold in our stores meet our strict quality standards." However, Whole Foods makes no mention on either their website or in their e-mails regarding any testing protocols in place to ensure that the meat they sell does not contain unsafe levels of these drugs. This is not the first time Whole Foods has overstated their position. Whole Foods used to advertise Country Natural Beef (CNB) as "grass fed." In August, we pointed out to Whole Foods that there is not a blade of grass to be seen at the feed lots. Country Natural Beef cows were fed grain, cooked potatoes and dark, used vegetable oil during the approximate three months they were at Beef Northwest’s feedlot prior to slaughter. By coming forth and sharing this information, Beef Northwest workers are risking their jobs. Please stand up for these workers and make sure that Beef Northwest does not retaliate against them for speaking the truth. Tell Whole Foods to cut the bull. Demand that Whole Foods test all the meat it sells to ensure that it doesn’t contain unsafe levels of illegal drugs. ‘Wildlife Survival’ Depends on You--Capitol Hill could finally lend a hand to polar bears and other wildlife that are facing a grim future due to global warming. Last month, the Global Warming Wildlife Survival Act -- crucial legislation already passed in the House -- was introduced in the Senate. Urge your Senators to be a part of the solution to global warming -- tell them to co-sponsor this important bill today!
Save the Whales!--The
U.S. Navy wants to put a training range for lethal mid-frequency sonar
next to a key migratory route for endangered right whales -- off the coast
of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Click
here and tell the Navy not to put its proposed sonar range next to the
right whale's migratory route. Stop VW's Cruel Bird Experiments!--What do European robins, garden warblers, and zebra finches have in common? They're all beautiful birds who love the freedom of flight and their natural surroundings. They all have glorious voices and instincts to match. And they have all been decapitated in cruel experiments sponsored by Volkswagen. IDA was sickened to learn that the Volkswagen Foundation is paying experimenters at German and U.S. universities to capture and use these beautiful songbirds in worthless experiments that terrify the birds before they are ruthlessly killed for curiosity's sake. Although the use of any animal for experimentation is objectionable, the thought of birds who are universal symbols of joy and freedom captured, caged, terrorized, and vivisected, is particularly heinous. Birds are indeed so fragile that they often die of fright from the capture or transportation process. These atrocious acts are taking place at the University of Oldenburg in Germany and Duke University in North Carolina. Songbirds captured from the wild and captive canaries and finches are exposed to different light cycles or are fitted with eye caps glued tightly to their heads to block out all light. Researchers then cut the birds' heads off to slice their retinas out of their eyes, and dissect and study their brains for clues to the secret of migration. IDA has written to Volkswagen of America?s new CEO, Stefen Jacoby, asking him to assure us, for a start, that no more birds will be killed using the company's money. Today we are kicking off a campaign starting with a demonstration in downtown Detroit, home to the automaker's U.S. headquarters where activists will wield a giant banner that reads "VW: Stop Killing Birds!" The Volkswagen Foundation has funded many other experiments on animals, and we want Mr. Jacoby to end them all. We've asked him to start with the birds, and from there we will work with the company to make sure that the Volkswagen Foundation, which does many good things, stops funding all deadly projects. The company may insist that it has nothing to do with the Volkswagen Foundation?s policies and functions but the foundation would not have come into being in 1961 without the automaker, and revenues for the foundation continue to accrue from returns on the VW shares held by the State of Lower Saxony. What You Can Do: Help drive Volkswagen to make the right decision. Please Take Action: http://ga0.org/campaign/vw/wdi5ekdrhdx8t8w? and send a polite message to Stefan Jacoby, VW President and CEO asking him to use his influence to earmark funds for research that does not entail the use of animals.
Save the Dolphins!--Last year, you and 25,000 other WaveMakers contacted the Japanese Embassy, calling for an end to Japan's annual dolphin hunt. But the Japanese government chose to respond by upping its quota this year. We need to generate even more public outcry on this issue, to make our voice heard. How many letters are enough? We'll know it when the hunt is called off. >>Take Action: Tell Japan - no more dead dolphins!
Factory
farms should NOT be exempt from key environmental laws--Overwhelmingly,
in the United States animals raised for meat, eggs and milk are confined
inside barren warehouses, overcrowded cages, or restrictive pens or stalls
on industrialized factory farms. Not only do intensive animal agribusiness
practices cause untold animal suffering; they also create a tremendous
amount of pollution with devastating consequences for the environment and
public health in surrounding communities. The agribusiness lobby is
pushing Congress to pass H.R. 1398/S. 807, which would exempt these
industrialized facilities—some of which generate as much waste as a
small city—from the same pollution reporting and clean-up requirements
applicable to other industrial sectors. TAKE ACTION
Please support animals, the environment, and rural neighbors
by contacting your two U.S. Senators and your U.S. Representative and
urging them to oppose legislation (H.R. 1398/S. 807 or any similar
provisions) exempting factory farms from basic environmental requirements.
You can reach your federal legislators by calling the U.S. Capitol
switchboard at 202-224-3121, To find your Senators' and Representative's
office phone number see: https://community.hsus.org/humane/leg-lookup/search.html
Take Action to Stop Puppy Mills!--The pet store pup was too cute to resist. Mary bought him and named him "Mooch." Two months later, her new puppy unexpectedly died. Seeking a reason for Mooch’s death, Mary went to the breeding facility where he was born. There, she learned the meaning of the term "puppy mill." Mooch is just one of thousands of puppies being bred at puppy mills in Virginia. No one knew the extent of the puppy mill problem in that state. Until now. five-month undercover investigation by The Humane Society of the United States has revealed a substantial puppy mill industry in Virginia, one largely unregulated and often in violation of state and federal laws. Watch our undercover video exposing these mills today, and then take action.
Orangutans Could Be Extinct In 20 Years!--Across the world, illegal timber operations are decimating vital habitat for orangutans and other wildlife. In fact, a recent U.N. report predicts that orangutans could be extinct within the next 20 years -- the victims of habitat destruction due mainly to illegal timber harvests and land conversion. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have an opportunity in today to help save orangutans and other wildlife threatened by illegal logging. Take action now! Urge your Senators to support the Wyden-Alexander Amendment to the Farm Bill, an important provision to curb illegal logging and protect wildlife habitat around the world.
Help Protect Arctic Breeding Ground!--The Bush administration is renewing its attempt to sacrifice the fragile Teshekpuk Lake region of Alaska's Western Arctic Reserve to oil and gas drilling. We need your immediate help to block this assault, which would allow drilling in one of the most sensitive and important Arctic wildlife habitats as early as next summer. Go to http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/biogems_westernarctic_0711 right away and tell the Bush administration to safeguard the entire Teshekpuk Lake region -- an area protected by four previous administrations due to its extraordinary importance to wildlife.
Take Action to Stop Dogfighting Now!--It is sick and disturbing that dogfighting rings exist in the U.S. today. But the fact is that dogs will continue to be abused and killed until we make sure that operators of dogfighting rings (as well as spectators) are appropriately punished. Let's protect dogs from this horrible practice once and for all»
Take Action to Save Grizzlies and other Forest Wildlife!--Everybody needs a home -- especially grizzly bears and other wildlife that depend on habitat in our National Forests to survive. But a proposal introduced in August by the Bush/Cheney Administration would dismantle vital protections for our National Forests and grasslands and eliminate key federal protections for all wildlife in those areas… including the still-struggling grizzly bear. We have just a short time to stop this awful plan. Send a message to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service right now, and urge federal officials to abandon their latest regulatory assault on the National Forest Management Act.
Support a Global Solution to Animal Cruelty--Animals give us so much - loyal companionship, productivity in work situations and insights into the beauty and mystery of nature. That's why it's so hard to fathom how animal cruelty could be so shockingly prevalent - both in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Support a world where animal welfare matters, and animal cruelty ends >>
Take
Action Against Animal Patents--While
it seems horrible that an animal could be considered an invention, a mere
object like a toaster; the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has
been granting patents on animals for over 20 years. The The American
Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), however, contests the legality of animal
patents and recently filed a challenge to Patent No. 6,924,413, issued for
rabbits and other animals whose eyes have been purposefully damaged so
they can be used to develop treatments for dry eye. Recognizing the
merits of AAVS's challenge, the USPTO recently decided to open an
investigation into the rabbit patent. The USPTO agreed that substantial
new questions of patentability were raised. The USPTO, however, is
reluctant to look at whether animals really should be considered
patentable "subject matter."
Stop Hunters from Killing Endangered Chimpanzees--Did you know that humans are hunting down their closest animal relatives and selling them for meat? It's time to speak out against the cruel practice pushing chimps and other endangered species to the brink of extinction! >>
Ask Canadian Government to Investigate Canada's Foie Gras Industry--Farm Sanctuary, in cooperation with Canadian group Global Action Network (GAN), has released Round 2 of its investigation into the Canadian foie gras industry. The undercover footage shot at Aux Champs D’Elise and Palmex, the second and third-largest foie gras producers in Canada respectively, further confirms the immense cruelty inherent in the production of foie gras. Video and photographic evidence from Palmex and Champs D’Elise show ducks suffering the gruesome after-effects of force feeding: ducks gasping for breath, choking blood and regurgitated food, many barely able to hold up their heads. Others are shown dead in their cages, having succumbed to the debilitating effects of being force fed up to a third of their own body weight daily. In addition to dead and dying ducks, undercover footage shot over a 5-day period by an investigator working at Aux Champs D’Elise depicts shocking acts of cruelty: employees bashing the heads of ducks against the concrete floor, hurling them through the air by their necks and even sawing off an animal’s head, all while the ducks are fully conscious. This latest investigation into the Canadian foie gras industry is a follow up to Farm Sanctuary and GAN's June 2007 release of an investigation into Elevages Perigord, Canada's largest foie gras producer. You can view this investigative video here. Combined, the three Canadian producers investigated—Elevages Perigord, Palmex and Aux Champs D’Elise—produce over 80% of Canada's foie gras. At least one-third of Canada's foie gras is exported to the U.S. and effectively comprises 72% of the foie gras imported by the U.S. (with the remainder coming from France). Based on the incontrovertible evidence of rampant cruelty in Canada's foie gras industry, Farm Sanctuary and Global Action Network are calling upon Canada's Minster of Agriculture to investigate Canada's foie gras industry and to put an end to its unabashed cruelty. What you can do: Please contact Canada's Minister of Agriculture and ask him to fully investigate Canada's foie gras industry and to take all steps necessary to stop its cruelty.
Campaign Against Salvatierra--I am sending you the link of a shameful event called Marquesada that will take place in the state of Guanajuato, MX in a town called Salvatierra from Sept. 27 to 29, 2007. The main entertainment as they call it will be a mere imitation of the pamplonada. In the link they refer to it as culture, tradition and entertainment where brave participants will have an intense experience by mistreating animals. Here is the link: http://marquesada.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=27 The
e-mail to the mayor of the town is Raul
Cardiel Gutierrez The
governor of Guanajuato Juan
Oliva Ramirez www.gobernador@guanajuato.gob.mx
or to to his website: www.guanajuato.gob.mx
and click on CONTACTO to the right of the screen.
Please
take the following 5 simple but crucial steps to help protect companion
animals and ban bullfights, animal circuses, the fur trade, animal
experimentation and other barbarities in Portugal--A
pioneer legislative accomplishment for animals in Portugal is within our
reach, but we need your support :: Please support the “Manifesto
ANIMAL”, to end the crimes without punishment...
Dolphins and other
ocean wildlife are in trouble. But this week we have a chance to
help protect them when the Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a
hearing on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international
agreement that would help protect our oceans and the wondrous wildlife
that lives there. This
is an important opportunity. Please urge your Senators to support
ratification of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Save the Dugongs of Okinawa: Important developments have unfolded in Japan since we wrote you earlier this month about the threatened dugongs and plans to expand a U.S. military base on Okinawa's coast. The large marine mammals and their habitat on the north-east coast of Okinawa Island can be saved, but our window of opportunity to act is closing fast. Shinzo Abe's recent resignation as Prime Minister of Japan, and the discovery of precious colony of blue corals in the airbase construction site have improved our odds of success. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed airbase site is open for public comment throughout September. After that time, the authorities will tell us "you've had your chance". Can you send a message to the Japanese government right now.
Take Action to Save Wild Horses: Please "Take Action"-- http://ga0.org/campaign/sheldon_hart_horses/wdi5ekdrre5wddx? and urge the Fish and Wildlife Service to follow "Alternative A- (no action)" and not round up any more horses at the Sheldon refuge until a thorough, scientific Environmental Impact Statement is performed to determine the sustainable carrying capacity of the Refuge. Such drastic action as capture and removal should not be allowed, in the absence of an exhaustive, scientific evaluation, after which the public should be fairly allowed the opportunity for input. Address your comments to: Paul Steblein, Project Leader Sheldon-Hart Mountain Wildlife Refuge Written comments can be e-mailed to: or mailed to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 111, Lakeview, OR 97630
Act Quickly! Comments on the revised draft EA need to be submitted no later than Wednesday, September 26th to be counted in the public record.
Save Alaska's Wolves: When people think of Alaska, they think of its amazing wildlife and natural beauty. But Alaska has a terrible secret: Each year, the state permits private citizens to chase down and kill dozens of wolves using low-flying aircraft and high-powered rifles. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and anti-wolf officials in the state have worked hard to obscure the truth about the aerial gunning program, even going so far as to earmark $400,000 in state funds to “educate” Alaskans about the state’s baseless aerial gunning program. Help us expose Alaska’s secret slaughter. Watch Defenders’ new video online right now and urge Governor Palin to end aerial gunning of wolves.
Take Action to Save Salmon Habitat: Trout Unlimited has designed this effort to be a practical approach to saving wild salmon and their coldwater habitat. Our goal is to harness the collective power of the marketplace and use it to leverage the kinds of conservation actions necessary to make real and lasting wild Pacific salmon and steelhead recovery a reality. By signing onto the Bill of Rights you are joining that community, and gaining a voice demanding healthy wild salmon and steelhead populations that can and will be heard. I need you to act today to turn this trend around. Sign the Salmon Consumers Bill of Rights.
Calves Abused By Dairy Companies--Take Action: Did you know the dairy products you buy could be associated with baby calves being taken from their mothers just hours after birth and shipped away to live in cramped, filthy crates with barely enough room to move? This shocking scenario is a sad reality for the young calves at Mendes Calf Ranch in Tipton, California. Take Action >>
Take Action for Endangered Species: We have a historic opportunity to bolster endangered species protections, but we need your help. The Senate Finance Committee is expected to vote within the week on the Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2007. This bill would provide significant new tax incentives to encourage ranchers, farmers and other private landowners to help the recovery of endangered species on their land. Email your Senator today in support of S. 700, the Endangered Species Recovery Act.
Tell Congress to Support the Federal Dog Protection Act: Next to my husband, my nearly two-year-old puppy is my best friend. And if you love pets like I do, you too were horrified by the whole Michael Vick scandal this summer, which shed light into the cruel and secretive world of professional dog fighting. Let's protect dogs from this horrible practice once and for all»
The Last Stand for Polar
Bears: As news becomes ever more grim for polar bears, we
finally have a chance to permanently safeguard the Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge -- one of the most important habitats they have left.
Write
your elected officials today and urge them to support the Udall-Eisenhower
Arctic Wilderness Act (H.R. 39), a bill that would permanently protect the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In a report issued last week,
the government’s top scientists have painted a bleak picture: polar
bears will likely disappear entirely from Alaska within 50 short years due
to a drastic decline in Arctic sea ice. To make matters worse,
ExxonMobil and other big oil companies continue to push for drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- one of the most important onshore
denning habitats for America’s remaining polar bears. With around
400 crude oil and toxic spills each year, the Prudhoe oil field (just 30
miles west of the Arctic Refuge) is testament to the destruction that the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would face if Big Oil were allowed
in. Now, we have a chance to safeguard this special place --
permanently. The Udall-Eisenhower Arctic Wilderness Act will make the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge forever off limits to Big Oil’s rigs --
and give America’s polar bears a fighting chance to survive. Butto
preserve the Arctic Refuge for good, your elected officials must
hear from you. Tell
Congress to support this legislation. It is vital to protecting our
remaining polar bears and other Arctic wildlife. Take Action for Prairie
Dogs: Did you know that more than two-thirds of all wildlife
protected under the Endangered Species Act -- including Utah prairie dogs
and other animals -- make their home on private land? Yet conserving
habitat for these species has offered few rewards to farmers, ranchers and
other landowners … until now. Please
urge your Representative and Senators to support the Endangered Species
Recovery Act of 2007 (H.R. 1422 and S. 700), important legislation that
would help private landowners protect imperiled wildlife that live on
their property. Save the Wales from Navy Sonar: The Navy's sonic assault on whales should be stopped immediately. I'm asking for your help to make it happen. Let me be clear: I have the deepest respect for the U.S. Navy. When I was growing up, my father was a doctor and commander in the Navy. His role in helping to establish a base at the South Pole in 1957, as part of the International Geophysical Year, had a lifelong impact on me. We loved the Navy because it helped win World War II. But we also loved the Navy because it was a leader in the scientific study of the natural world. That's why I feel so strongly that today's Navy should be using its vast resources to protect not just our nation but the health of our planet’s oceans as well. And it's why I am so distressed by the acoustic onslaught the Navy is now waging beneath our planet's oceans -- an onslaught known to kill whales with dangerous mid-frequency sound waves. Mid-frequency sonar is designed to detect enemy submarines. The Navy's warships deploy underwater speakers that blast the ocean with noise in excess of 235 decibels -- a sonic barrage roughly comparable to a Saturn V rocket at blast-off. That explosive level of noise can cause whales -- who have an exquisite sense of hearing -- to panic, surface too quickly, and hemorrhage internally. Many beached whales have been found bleeding around their brains and ears after their fatal encounters with military sonar. Imagine a sound so disorienting or so painful that you jump out of the sea and die on the beach rather than be subjected to it for another minute! From a whale's point of view, the Navy's sonic assault must seem like torture. But that torture isn't just cruel, it's unnecessary. You see, the Navy could adopt simple safety measures when training with sonar that would prevent the needless infliction of pain and death on these magnificent animals. For example, the Navy could avoid marine habitats where whales are known to migrate, feed, and raise their young. These common-sense precautions would not compromise military readiness. But the Navy refuses. So the maiming and killing of whales goes on. This callousness toward nature -- toward the ocean itself -- does not reflect the Navy I grew up with. We deserve better. And, as Americans, it's our right to demand better. Our message is simple: Whales should not have to die for military practice. Please join me and millions of other people in getting that message to the U.S. Navy and to Congress. Click here now and tell the Navy to do the right thing.
Hoot and Holler for the Spotted Owl!--The Bush Administration has come up with some misleading names for appalling projects, but this one is a real stand-out: the "Draft Spotted Owl Recovery Plan." This plan would push the endangered bird closer to extinction, while increasing the profits of Big Timber. The Bush Administration seems intent on using poor science to justify cutting down ancient trees and threatening the species within these old-growth forests. Click here to tell the Bush Administration that we won't allow such bad policies to slip under the radar!
Help Get Tonka and Luna Removed From Ringling's Traveling Circus--After countless hours chained in cramped train cars, most of the elephants traveling with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus are finally given at least a brief opportunity to stretch their legs, as they are walked from the train to the arena in each performance city. Sadly, Luna and Tonka, two elephants who have been described by ex-Ringling employees as especially dangerous, are denied this chance. Instead, to protect the public, they are usually taken to the arena by truck, forced to endure additional time standing inside a dark and cramped space. Though these elephants are apparently considered too dangerous to consistently walk with the other elephants along routes that put them in close proximity to people, Ringling Bros. still continues to allow them to travel and perform for the public. Not only does this put many children and adults at risk each week, but it increases the level of suffering and stress experienced by these magnificent animals. | ||||
