Animal Action Alerts#50

ALERT: Ask President Obama to Support Non-Animal Research

BACKGROUND: http://ida.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3721.0&printer_friendly=1

PLEASE CONTACT: Office of Public Liaison, http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/opl/

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

The 1993 NIH Revitalization Act mandated that the National Institutes of Health implement a plan to "conduct or support research into methods of biomedical research and experimentation that do not require the use of animals." However, despite this law, funding for animal grants has not decreased over the past 16 years, and the number of animals used in laboratories has actually increased. This lack of initiative is driven by an "old boys' network" in the NIH’s peer review system that promotes outdated animal research methods at the expense of innovative and modern human-centered methodologies.



That is why I urge President Obama to allocate the recent $10.4 billion NIH stimulus grant exclusively toward funding non-animal projects. Experience demonstrates that vivisection is not only unconscionably cruel, it is also imprecise and inaccurate – often dangerously so. Please set a compassionate, responsible precedent and insist that the NIH use its bonus to develop and implement non-animal methods. Thank you.


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ALERT: Texas A&M University Kills Bats with Cruel Research

BACKGROUND: http://www.batworld.org/wall_of_shame/Texas_A&M_Kills_Bats_with_Cruel_Research.html

PLEASE CONTACT:

Dr. Vincent Gresham, vgresham@vprmail.tamu.edu

Dr. Glen Laine, glaine@tamu.edu

Dr. Betsy Browder, bbrowder@cvm.tamu.edu

Director Dewey Kramer and Ms. Olivia Ash, animalcompliance@vprmail.tamu.edu

Dr. Eleanor M. Green, emgreen@tamu.edu

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Dear [NAME],



I am gravely concerned by Dr. Christopher Quick's use of bats in his "research" at Texas A&M University. Photographic evidence reveals that Quick's experiments feature intense, terrifying confinement and painful, invasive procedures. During Quick's research, bats have become injured, burned, mutilated, and – not surprisingly – a number have died.



Bats are sentient beings capable of perceiving pain, fear, and stress, just as we humans do. I respectfully submit that it is unconscionable to use them in this way. I kindly urge you to halt Dr. Quick's exploitation of bats and encourage him to employ humane, non-animal models for his research.



Thank you for your consideration, [YOUR NAME, STATE/PROVINCE, COUNTRY]



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ALERT: Save the Indigo Tunnel, Maryland’s Largest Bat Hibernaculum

BACKGROUND: http://www.batworld.org/main/action_alert-IndigoTunnel.html

PLEASE CONTACT:

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Director John Griffin, jgriffin@dnr.state.md.us

Wildlife and Heritage Services Director Paul Peditto, ppeditto@dnr.state.md.us

Associate Director Glenn Therres, gtherres@dnr.state.md.us


Senator George Edwards, george.edwards@senate.state.md.us

Governor Martin O'Malley, www.governor.maryland.gov/mail/

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Dear [NAME],

Please accept my comments regarding the Indigo Railroad Tunnel near Hancock. This tunnel represents Maryland's largest known bat hibernaculum, serving as protection for at least five species, including the increasingly rare Eastern Small-Footed Bat.

I understand that the tunnel has been proposed as the site for a new bicycle trail, complete with pavement and lighting. As an alternate-transport enthusiast, I would support such development under other circumstances. However, this change would make the tunnel decidedly inhospitable to the bats. Moreover, the trail can easily be routed around the tunnel, and there are five other open tunnels along the length of the trail.

I respectfully urge you to oppose the transformation of Indigo Railroad Tunnel into a bicycle trail. I encourage you to preserve this tunnel as a safe haven for the treasured bats who reside there.

Thank you kindly, [YOUR NAME, STATE/PROVINCE, COUNTRY]


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ALERT: Urge Iditarod Sponsors To Stand Up For The Dogs

BACKGROUND: http://ida.convio.net/site/MessageViewer?em_id=3701.0&printer_friendly=1

PLEASE CONTACT: Chevron Corp., comment@chevron.com

Wells Fargo, Inc., c/o Deborah Frank, frankdm@wellsfargo.com

Exxon-Mobil, enterprise.comments@exxonmobil.com, customer.relations.e-mail@exxonmobil.com, and http://www.exxonmobil.com/imports/contactus/contactus_contact.aspx

General Communications, Inc. President Ronald Duncan, rduncan@gci.com and admin_mgmt_external@gci.com

Fred Meyer Corp. President Michael Ellis, c/o Melinda.merrill@fredmeyer.com

Target Corp., guest.relations@target.com (Please reference the “Teacher on the Trail” program.)

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Dear [NAME],

Dogs exploited for the Iditarod sled race suffer in nearly every way imaginable. That is why I am alarmed to learn of [COMPANY]'s support for this cruel event.

Born in puppy mills and chained nearly every day thereafter, the lives of sled dogs begin and end in agony. Dogs are regularly beaten, whipped, and bludgeoned to force them to comply with mushers' demands. During the Iditarod race, dogs suffer a host of painful ailments, including paralysis, frostbite, bleeding ulcers, lung damage, pneumonia, ruptured discs, and shattered bones. On average, only 47 percent of dogs who start the race survive to the finish line.

I trust you find such treatment as unconscionable as I do, and I urge you to take a stand against it. Please insist that [COMPANY] permanently discontinue its support of animal cruelty, and end your alliance with the abhorrent Iditarod race.

Thank you for your kind consideration, [YOUR NAME, STATE/PROVINCE, COUNTRY]


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ALERT: U.S. Residents, Urge Congress to Audit National Eye Institute

BACKGROUND: http://www.all-creatures.org/alert/alert-20090414.html

PLEASE CONTACT: Your federal Representative and Senators, by entering your zip code at http://www.congress.org/.

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

I respectfully urge you to order a General Accounting Office (GAO) audit of the funding of primate brain mapping projects. At least 57 researchers funded by the National Eye Institute are all working on the same projects – projects that are costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.



Michael Budkie, executive director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, has recently released a comprehensive report based on his findings via the Freedom of Information Act. I kindly request that you review this evidence and do all you can to put a stop to this profligate, runaway spending: http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/res-nei-report2009.pdf



The gratuitous torture of animals aside, these wasteful experiments represent a gross misuse of taxpayer money at a time when this country can afford it least. Please order a GAO audit of primate brain mapping projects. Thank you.



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ALERT: Romanian Horses in Desperate Need of Your Help

BACKGROUND / PETITION LINK: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/romanian-horses-are-in-desperate-need-of-your-help


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GOOD NEWS / INTERESTING ARTICLE (NO ACTION NEEDED): Is One-Click Activism Effective?, http://strikingattheroots.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/is-one-click-activism-effective/



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