Showing posts with label canned hunting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label canned hunting. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

HELP BAN COYOTE & FOX PENNING IN FLORIDA

Show your
appreciation for coyotes with a gift to Project
Coyote


ACTION ALERT
HELP BAN COYOTE & FOX PENNING INFLORIDA
YOUR VOICE NEEDED!
On February 17th, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will consider whether to ban or restrict the controversial practice of coyote and fox “penning” in the state. “Penning” involves the trapping, trading and selling of live coyotes and foxes to hound hunting training facilities. The captured wild canines are then released into pens and used to “train” hunting dogs. Considered “sport” – and legal in many states across the South and Midwest – one coyote or fox may be pitted against packs of hound dogs who are released into the pens to pursue the wild animals- domestic canine pitted against wild canine. This practice parallels dog and cock-fighting – activities made illegal in all U.S. states in the last twenty years. Many penned coyotes and foxes are literally torn apart by the dog pack.
A recent investigation of several penning facilities across the state by the FWC led to the arrest of 12 people and the issuance of 46 citations for various violations related to penning practices. Operators of such pens often charge a fee for individuals to train their hunting dogs on the captive coyotes and foxes. Project Coyote, the Animal Welfare Institute, and other national and state organizations strongly condemn coyote/fox penning as inhumane and ecologically reckless and seek to ban this practice nationwide. Moreover, transporting wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of rabies and other diseases. See our letter to the FWC supporting a ban on this practice, signed by over 60 prominent scientists/biologis ts, ethicists, veterinarians, and attorneys.
On February 17th the FWC will hold a public hearing in Apalachicola and consider recommendations from the Florida Division of Law Enforcement regarding this practice. Your voice is needed in support of a ban of this practice prior to February 17th! (PLEASE SUBMIT COMMENTS BY Feb. 15th )
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1. PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR A COMPLETE BAN OF “PENNING” STATEWIDE. Submit comments to (see talking points above and below):
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 South Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600
EMAIL: Commissioners@ MyFWC.com
Please also cc your letters to:
Governor Charlie Crist (Charlie.Crist@ MyFlorida.com)
Mr. Nick Wiley, Executive Director, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Nick.Wiley@myfwc.com)
Major Curtis Brown, Special Ops. Coordinator Florida Division of Law Enforcement (curtis.brown@myfwc.com)
Ms. Kathleen Hampton, Office of Executive Director (Kathleen.Hampton@MyFWC.com)
1. Call your state representative and senator (FLORIDA RESIDENTS ONLY) and request that they please ask the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to ban fox pens (You can find their contact information here: www.capwiz.com/compassionindex/dbq/vote_info )
2. If you live in Florida, please consider attending and testifying at the FWC hearing on February 17th in Apalachicola where they will receive the staff recommendations regarding penning and accept public testimony on this issue. We need a good showing at this hearing! Details:
Date: February 17th
Time: 8:30am EST (penning report & testimony expected during afternoon)
Place: Franklin County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola, FL
More info: myfwc.com/COMMISSIO N/2010/Comm_ 10_AgendaFeb. htm
POINTS YOU MAY WISH TO INCLUDE IN YOUR LETTER in addition to expressing your strong support for a statewide ban on the practice of coyote and fox penning:(Remember to include your first and last name and your full mailing address.)
* Such practices are inhumane, ethically indefensible, ecologically reckless and counter to sound scientific management.
* Transporting wild animals for penning purposes has directly led to the spread of rabies and other diseases.
THANK YOU FOR WRITING AND MAKING YOUR VOICE HEARD! PLEASE SHARE THIS ACTION ALERT WITH OTHERS!
To view video clips and photos of this practice see the following links (WARNING: disturbing and graphic content):
www.trainingnottorture.org
www.youtube.com/user/wildlifepenning
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MhNRwOtJNQ&feature=related
coyoteinfo.typepad.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNVMu8jSYD8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mom_wMCNshw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gd94TA58Ag
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbb_nKIy_ i4&feature= rec-LGOUT- exp_fresh+ div-HM
************ ********* ********* ********* *
Project Coyoteis a non-profit fiscally sponsored project of Earth Island Institute that promotes educated coexistence between people and coyotes and advocates on behalf of coyotes and other native carnivores. We depend on our members and supporters to help us continue our work on behalf of America’s native “song dog.” Please join us today! All donations are tax-deductible. Visit us at www.ProjectCoyote.org





Project Coyote
P.O. Box 5007
Larkspur, CA 94977
415-945-3232
Copyright © 2009 All rights reserved.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

URGENT: Action needed to prevent the city of Bend, Oregon from killing geese!

Dear Friends of Canada Geese:

It has come to our attention that the city of Bend, Oregon is considering
lethal action against the Canada geese that inhabit their city. Please click
the link below for the news article:

http://kohd.com/page/147627


Please contact the people below to voice your opposition to any lethal
action against the geese.

Many communities and golf courses have managed to control their geese
populations successfully without bloodshed. There is absolutely no
justification for killing the geese when they are attracted to the lawns and
ponds of the city. Please suggest that the city modify its landscape as a
permanent and effective deterrent to the geese. The city of Moncton, New
Brunswick has also been successful at getting geese off athletic fields by
turning on the lawn sprinklers. The city can also place swan decoys to fool
the geese and professionally controlled herding dogs have been very
successful at getting geese off lawns.

Mayor - Kathie Eckman: KEckman@ci.bend.or.us



Mayor Pro Tem - Mark Capell: mcapell@ci.bend.or.us

Councilor - Jodie Barram: jbarram@ci.bend.or.us


Councilor - Oran Teater: oteater@ci.bend.or.us


Councilor - Jeff Eager: jeager@ci.bend.or.us


Councilor - Jim Clinton: jclinton@ci.bend.or.us


Councilor - Tom Greene: tgreene@ci.bend.or.us




City Manager - Eric King: citymanager@ci.bend.or.us



City Hall
(541) 388-5505
710 NW Wall Street
Bend, Oregon 97701



Bend Metro Parks and Recreation - Board of Directors

All BMPRD board members
board@bendparksandrec.org


Or Individual Directors

Scott Wallace
swallace@bendparksandrec.org

Scott Asla
sasla@bendparksandrec.org


Ruth Williamson
rwilliamson@bendparksandrec.org


Ted Schoenborn
tschoenborn@bendparksandrec.org


George Thayer
gthayer@bendparksandrec.org


Thank you all very much for your help!

Choo and Earl Rosenbloom

--
Love Canada Geese 2010 Calendar is now available. For preview, please visit:

http://www.LoveCanadaGeese.com/2010calendar.html





Actions Everyone Can Take to Stop Canned Hunts in D.C. Area Public Parks

No matter where you live, this should concern you. Even our
international friends can express outrage that this is being proposed in
parkland so close to our nation's capitol. There is enough bloodshed
in the world without promoting it in areas where visitors to Washington
D.C. bring their families to enjoy nature.

TIME SENSITIVE: Canned hunts are scheduled to begin on November 14th.

PLEASE FORWARD WIDELY AND CALL OR EMAIL TODAY!

ISSUE: Fairfax County, the largest, most prosperous County in northern
Virginia (which borders Washington, D.C.), plans to turn its public
parks into canned hunts for bow hunting beginning November 14th. After
sneaking plans past public scrutiny, the Park Authority plans to
initiate bow hunting in Colvin Run Park, and expand it to other Fairfax
County Parks.

ACTION : Please call or email both Sharon Bulova and John Dargle, Jr.
immediately. Please mention that you and your friends, family members
and children enjoy the parks and do not want to be exposed to the
horrors of bow hunting (see more talking points below the list of
additional officials.)

Sharon Bulova, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors

Email: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov
(fairfaxcounty. gov
)

Tel: 703-324-2321

John Dargle, Jr., Director of Fairfax County Park Authority

Email: john.darglejr@fairfaxcounty.gov
(fairfaxcounty. gov
)

Tel: 703-324-8702

EXTRA HELP: If you want to go the extra mile to help the deer and our
surrounding population, please call or email one or two, or all of the
officials listed below. (All email addresses end in fairfaxcounty. gov )

Fairfax County Executive, Anthony Griffin, (703) 324-2536
coexec@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor John Foust (703) 356-0551(Dranesvill e District)
dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Catherine Hudgins (703) 478-0283 (Hunter Mill District)
hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Michael Frey (703) 814-7100 (Sully District)
sully@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Linda Smyth (703) 560-6946(Providence District)
provdist@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Jeff McKay (703) 971-6262 (Lee District)
leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Penelope Gross (703) 256-7717 (Mason District)
mason@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Gerald Hyland (703) 780-7518 (Mount Vernon District)
mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor John Cook (703) 425-9300 (Braddock District)
braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov

Supervisor Pat Herrity (703) 451-8873 (Springfield District)
springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov

TALKING POINTS: Please be polite and use these talking points in your
call or email:

n Bow hunting is dangerous and unpredictable; visitors to the parks
and residents of the surrounding area can be injured by this brutal
activity.

n Even the "best" bow hunters almost never kill the deer
immediately. The hunter waits 45 minutes to an hour for the deer to
run, bleed out and become exhausted. Then, the hunter attempts to follow
the blood trail to find the deer and finish killing it, often in front
of children and visitors to the park.

n It exposes children and impressionable adults to extraordinary
animal cruelty and teaches them that killing animals is OK – mental
health officials and the FBI consider cruelty to animals a precursor to
more violent crimes against humans who are perceived as vulnerable; is
that the lesson we want our children to learn?

n Bow "hunters" are often inexperienced and have a high
rate of injuring, rather than killing deer, leaving them to die a slow,
agonizing death; many deer can be seen fleeing with arrows piercing
their limbs and organs.

n There is no way to know how far the deer will run, if she will
die, what injury will occur, if she will die over weeks, or run into
backyards and roads, and die a painful death.

n It causes a public safety hazard: panic-stricken animals often
flee their pursuers, running into roads causing car accidents.

n It serves no purpose; the deer return in subsequent years to
breed and multiply; nature abhors a vacuum

n It makes Fairfax County and the metropolitan Washington , D.C.
area look cruel, barbaric and primitive to the rest of the world.

n This is not rural park area; this is within densely populated,
urban land.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Eddie Bauer Returns to its Outdoor Roots With the Launch of the New Heritage Collection

SEATTLE, Sept 16, 2009 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --
This fall, Eddie Bauer returns to its roots as the Original Outdoor Outfitter with the launch of its new apparel line: The Heritage Collection. The new line pays homage to Eddie Bauer's founder - champion marksman, hunter and fisherman - and the classic styles that first wore the Eddie Bauer label. The collection represents timeless, essential pieces for the American sportsman, reflecting the same spirit of adventure and craftsmanship that Eddie, as master of field and stream, embodied during his long career.

Eddie Bauer's Heritage Collection features 22 new styles for men representing the classic sportsman, upland field, fly-fishing, and aviation. From hunting coats and rugged chaps to fly-fishing vests, moleskin field shirts, and leather bomber jackets, each piece is built on the principle of field-functional design and master craftsmanship. The collection uses only the finest materials, such as Eddie Bauer Expedition Cloth, a rugged, balanced weave cotton with a patented wax finish that's baked permanently into the fibers, creating a fabric that's highly water- and wind-resistant, breathable and abrasion-resistant.

The Heritage Collection is now available at eddiebauer.com and will be coming to select stores at the end of September 2009. To view the entire collection, click on the following link: http://www.eddiebauer.com/EB/Men/Mens-Heritage-Clothing/index.cat


For nearly 90 years, Eddie Bauer has been recognized as the Original Outdoor Outfitter in revolutionizing the outerwear industry. Major milestones include:
Full article:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/eddie-bauer-returns-to-its-outdoor-roots-with-the-launch-of-the-new-heritage-collection-2009-09-16

Friday, July 17, 2009

RHINOS, RED HERRINGS AND RUSES: ARA RESPONDS TO SANPARKS CEO

PRESS RELEASE: 16 July 2009

“Red herrings and spin-doctoring” is how Animal Rights Africa (ARA) spokesperson, Michele Pickover, reacted to claims made by SANParks CEO, Dr David Mabunda, during a media briefing in Pretoria on July 14, 2009.

Mabunda was responding to an earlier press release by ARA in which concern was expressed about the SANParks decision to sell off over 300 White Rhino from Kruger National Park this year. “We were, and still are, concerned about the destination and fate of those animals once they are sold, and nothing Mabunda said during his media address has made us any less concerned. Far from being a ‘cacophony of baseless emotional outbursts’, as Mabunda referred to the assertions in our statement, comments made by him during his media briefing on July 14th and during interviews on Radio 702 on the 14th and 15th July, confirm the validity of our concerns”

“Mabunda persists in denying that rhino are not trophy hunted in national parks in spite of the fact that we have never made any claims to this effect. What we have expressed concern about is that rhino from KNP are moving across unfenced boundaries on the park’s western border into the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR) and on the parks Eastern border into Mozambique where they can then be privately sold to foreign trophy hunters for exorbitant sums. Whilst on the one hand denying that SANParks sells rhino to be hunted at the whim of the buyer, Mabunda admits that SANParks has no control over the fate of the purchased rhino once they leave the KNP, saying that hunting permits are issued by the relevant provincial authority without SANParks’ involvement. This is consummate obfuscation and doublespeak. The fact is that SANParks has no policy regarding the destination and fate of the rhino it sells, which means that those animals could end up in zoos and hunting facilities.

Mabunda’s indignation at claims by ARA that KNP rhino could end up as hunting trophies is nothing more than a smokescreen for SANParks’ problematic rhino management policy. Also, his claims that the “recent emotional outburst by animal rights organizations is informed by an anti-hunting campaign deliberately directed at a soft target and cleverly disguised with our rhino population management intervention as a scapegoat to celebrate Animal Rights Week”, is nothing short of ludicrous, particularly as Animal Rights Week has never been observed in South Africa in 2009 and ARA has never heard of such an event.

Adding to ARA’s concerns about the sale of KNP rhino is the July 15, 2009 Beeld report which quoted Mabunda as saying during his July 14 media briefing that there are between 9000 and 12000 White Rhino in KNP. “If this in fact what Mabunda claims then we are very concerned that up 3000 White Rhino could disappear from KNP and the park management would be none the wiser, “says Pickover.

Responding to an invitation by Mabunda during a Radio 702 interview on July 14 that ARA should join him for a “cup of tea”, Pickover said, “We will certainly take him up on his offer and hope that such a meeting actually does materialise. Two previous attempts by us to meet with Mabunda have come to nothing, and a recent request to meet with Kruger National Park scientists to discuss issues relating to elephant management was also denied. However, should such a meeting take place we have a number of questions we would like answered. These are:
What is the exact figure for the number of rhinos (both black and white) killed by poachers in national parks and protected areas since 2005?
How much money has been made from these recent rhino sales?
Can SANParks provide us with a detailed breakdown and proof of how this money will be spent?
Will SANParks heed/support the call made by ARA for rhino management to be subjected to a public participation process and for the establishment of National Norms and Standards for Rhino Management in South Africa?
Does SANParks have a written policy regarding the post-sale hunting of Kruger animals and sale of Kruger animals to hunting destinations, zoos and circuses? If yes what is it, if no why not?
What role does the SANParks Ethics Committee play in decisions to sell rhino? Is the sale of rhino approved by the SANParks ethics committee? If so what is the process for approval?
How does SANParks evaluate and investigate potential destinations? If SANParks does not allow the sale of rhino to hunting destinations, is this a condition of the sale and clearly articulated in the tender documents, sale agreements etc.? If not, why not?
Will SANParks provide ARA with access to their register of buyers of rhinos from national parks since 1999?
How many rhinos have been sold by SANParks since 1999, including their ages and sexes?
If SANParks is not specifically selling rhinos to hunters, hunting outfitters and hunting destinations then why did they advertise the auction sale of the rhinos recently in hunting magazines?
How did SANParks arrive at the number of 350 “surplus” rhinos and determine which rhinos would be removed? ARA is concerned about the ecological and scientific validity of this decision and therefore requests the scientific data and evidence to support this.
How does SANParks ensure that Kruger animals are not being hunted outside the boundaries of Kruger where fences have been removed with SANParks approval?

“ARA believes that the management of all wildlife in South Africa should be totally transparent and with stakeholder participation wherever practically
possible, hence the transparent response by ARA to Mabunda’s dismissal of our concerns and the public airing of the questions we will put to
Mabunda should he go through with his offer to meet with us, “said Pickover. “We remain committed to policies that underpin ethical conservation and
which show respect for the inherent value of every animal.”

Ends.

Contact persons for ARA:
Steve Smit +27 (0) 82 659 4711
Michele Pickover +27 (0) 82 253 2124
ARA email - info@animalrightsafrica.org

ARA website – www.animalrightsafrica.org

Monday, July 13, 2009

THE TRUTH ABOUT WWF

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66178175201


Recent News
Thank you for your visit please find out more about the WWF and take action if you like... dont forget to tell your friends and invite them to discover the truth!
Millions of people have no idea about the WWF they think that they care about animals!!!!! Well they dont!

The WWF was the driving force in pressuring the U..S.. Congress to legislate the screening of chemicals for "endocrine (hormone) disrupting" effects and has subsequently been heavily involved in establishing the framework for the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) massive chemical-testing program now under development. . As its Web site points out: "WWF invested substantial resources in the EPA's Endocrine Disruptor Screening and Testing Advisory Committee," which "agreed upon a set of tests to form the foundation for the screening and testing program.." What the WWF neglects to mention, however, is that 10 of the 15 recommended screens and tests are animal-poisoning studies, some of which kill hundreds or thousands of animals at a time.. According to scientific estimates, the WWF-backed endocrine testing program will kill up to 1..2 million animals for every 1,000 chemicals tested, and with environmental organizations pressing for tens of thousands of chemicals to be retested under this program, the toll in animal suffering and death will be staggering.. The WWF is also pressuring government agencies in Europe to embark on a similar animal-testing program..

In addition to lobbying for more chemical testing, the WWF has teamed up with Procter & Gamble, S..C.. Johnson, and other chemical companies to create an institute to pursue "basic research" on endocrine disruptors.. On top of this, the WWF is now pushing the U..S.. Congress to pass a bill that would pour additional millions in public funds into endocrine research--much of which would likely be used to fund experiments on animals..

Unfortunately, the "endocrine disruptor" issue is not an isolated example.. The WWF has been a major force in pressuring the European Union to amend its Chemicals Policy to require companies to test and retest as many as 30,000 new and existing chemicals.. The British Institute for Environmental Health estimates that this process will kill upwards of 45 million animals if the standard battery of animal-poisoning tests is used.. The WWF's U..S.. and Canadian offices are also calling for more testing of pesticides, despite the fact that more than 9,000 animals are already killed for each pesticide product on the market.. The organization has called for certain pesticides to be tested for "developmental neurotoxicity" (DNT) using a test that kills upwards of 1,300 animals each time it is conducted.. This test has been heavily criticized by scientists, including the EPA's own Scientific Advisory Panel, which concluded that "the exposure of rat fetus/pups was not shown to be equivalent to human fetus/infant during equivalent stages of brain development" and that "the current form of the DNT guideline is not a sensitive indicator of toxicity to the offspring.." In other words, WWF is calling for thousands of animals to be killed in a test that scientists admit is not relevant to humans!

In its defense, the WWF says that "in the absence of effective, validated alternatives, WWF believes that limited animal testing is needed for the long-term protection of wildlife and people throughout the world.." However, there is nothing "limited" about the massive amount of animal testing that the WWF is endorsing.. Dr.. Joshua Lederberg, Nobel Laureate in Medicine, pointed out in 1981: "It is simply not possible with all the animals in the world to go through chemicals in the blind way we have at the present time, and reach credible conclusions about the hazards to human health.." Now more than 20 years later, millions of animals are still dying in agonizing chemical toxicity tests, and we are no closer to getting dangerous chemicals out of the environment. . In fact, despite killing hundreds of thousands of animals in painful chemical toxicity tests, the EPA has not banned a single toxic industrial chemical in more than a decade!...

The WWF Endorses the Killing of Wild Animals, Too!!!
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) gives special meaning to the word "conservation. ." The organization, founded in 1961 by a group of wealthy trophy hunters, apparently believes that conserving animals means keeping them around long enough for well-heeled "sportsmen" to blast them out of the woods, oceans, skies, plains of Africa, and jungles of Asia.. Past WWF chapter presidents include C..R.. "Pink" Gutermuth, who also served as president of the National Rifle Association, and trophy hunter Francis L.. Kellogg, who is legendary for his massive kills.. In its early days, the WWF even used fur auctions to raise funds...

Since then, the WWF has learned that most people are appalled by hunting and trapping, so today, the organization veils its true stance under phrases like "sustainable development, " arguing that killing is acceptable under some circumstances. . When answering difficult questions about its policy on hunting, trapping, and whaling, the WWF is careful never to state outright that it approves of all these activities.. But don't be fooled, the WWF's intentions are all too clear and deadly!!

Sealing
According to the Web site of the WWF's Canadian office, "WWF is not an animal welfare organization. . We support the hunting and consumption of wild animals provided the harvesting does not threaten the long-term survival of wildlife populations. . WWF has never opposed a sustainable seal hunt in northern or eastern Canada.." However, despite the WWF's portrayal of the situation, the Canadian seal hunt is anything but a "subsistence" hunt--it is the largest slaughter of marine mammals in the world.. Quotas established by the Canadian government have soared to an all-time high: 350,000 seals per year for the next three years.. Not since the mid-1800s, when unrestricted slaughter saw a million seals per year killed, has so much blood been shed on the ice off Canada's East Coast...
Worse is that the Canadian government has stated in internal documents that having the WWF's support for any raise in seal quotas is important, and the WWF's position statement suggests that it had been working with the Canadian government before the quota was announced.. In other words, the WWF had the power to help avert the largest quota of harp seal pups in history but chose, instead, to let it happen without so much as a word of opposition!! !

Whaling!!!
While the WWF states that it opposes "commercial whaling," it does support the slaughter of whales by native tribes and under some other conditions.. When asked directly about its policy, WWF is vague, stating: "WWF's views on whether sustainable whaling should be permitted derive from its mission 'to conserve nature and ecological processes and to help build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature..'" In the past, WWF officials have clearly stated that "WWF International has the national WWF organizations behind it in the view that as soon as one can ensure a sustainable commercial harvest of the great whales under secure international control, then whaling will no longer be a WWF concern...."

Sport Hunting!!!
As one would expect of an organization founded by hunters, the WWF does not oppose the slaughter of animals with guns and other weapons for sport.. Rather than working to stop the killing, the WWF believes that hunting should be regulated, arguing that wealthy trophy hunters can bring income to poorer nations.. The WWF claims that it has no power to stop hunting, stating, "The decision to allow trophy hunting is a sovereign one made entirely by the governments concerned. . We will continue to monitor governments' enforcement of important trade laws to ensure that trophy hunting is done within the legal standards of that area...."

Elephants!!!
The WWF believes that culling-another way of saying "killing"-elephants is acceptable, as is the trade in ivory, because the profits that it brings spur governments to keep elephants from going extinct.. In 2000, U..S.. News & World Report reported that WWF representatives traveled to Nairobi to ask the United Nations to lift the ban on the ivory trade in order to allow a "sustainable harvest of ivory for horns and hunting trophies..."

The WWF's bizarre view-that we must kill some animals now in order to save animals to kill later-has proved false time and again.. The trade in ivory has only encouraged rampant poaching, the senseless slaughter of elephants.. The WWF tries to duck the issue by falsely stating, "The decision to cull, or to select animals from the herd for removal or death, is indeed an agonizing choice, but it is one made entirely by the governments concerned and there is no international involvement in those decisions.."

Trapping!!!
As with hunting and whaling, the WWF refuses to condemn the massive killing of animals with steel-jaw leghold traps.. While calling itself a "preservationist" organization that "seek[s] to be the voice for those creatures who have no voice," the WWF stands back from the issue, stating that "the trade in furs, skins, and other products of animals that are not endangered isn't the focus of our campaign.."
But no matter how hard the WWF tries to "greenwash" its support of animal slaughter, its real message rings out loud and clear: Animals are ours to hunt, trap, kill, poison, and use as we see fit.. And although appeals to preserve genetic diversity, ecosystems, and the planet sound good on paper, they mean little if what the WWF is really advocating is more efficient killing fields...

Wolf Hunting!!!
Despite an ongoing international tourist boycott that was called in response to the wolf "control" program in Alaska, in which at least 100 wolves have been shot as of March 2004, the WWF is promoting several trips to Alaska throughout June, July, and August 2004 as part of "WWF Travel," an "ecotourism" program.. When asked why the WWF was sending its members to Alaska, effectively undermining efforts to save wolves in the state, the WWF travel desk representative stated that the WWF did not consider the matter of wolf-killing a priority..

WHAT YOU CAN DO?

Please write to the WWF and express your opposition to its involvement in the slaughter of millions of animals in laboratories. . Let the WWF know that you contribute only to organizations that oppose outdated animal-poisoning tests and that there is no such thing as conservation through killing..

..

James P Leape, Director General WWF-International
Ave du Mont-Blanc
1196 Gland
Switzerland
Fax: 41 22 364 5468
E-Mail: jleape@wwfint. org

Carter S Roberts, President and CEO WWF-US
1250 24th St NW
Washington, DC 20037
Fax: 202- 778-9637
E-Mail: patricia.. gvozdich@wwfus. . org

MJ Russill, President and CEO... WWF-Canada
245 Eglinton Ave E, Ste 410
Toronto, ON M4P 3J1
Fax: 416-489-3611. ..
E-Mail: mrussill@wwfcanada.org...

Elizabeth Salter Green, Head...
European Toxics Programme...
WWF-UK...
Panda House, Weyside Park
Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR
Fax: 011 44 148 342 6409
E-Mail: esaltergreen@wwf.org.uk
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66178175201

Asian gangs pushing rhinos to extinction, report warns

Robert Evans


Poachers seeking horn for traditional medicines are driving once thriving
populations of rhinos in Africa and Asia toward extinction, global nature
protection groups said on Thursday.

In a report issued in Geneva, they said illegal slaughter of the already
endangered animals is rising fast, with rates hitting a 15-year high amid
stepped-up activities by Asian-based criminal gangs feeding the demand for
horn.

³Illegal rhino horn trade to destinations in Asia is driving the killing,
with growing evidence of involvement of Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai
nationals in the illegal procurement and transport of the horn out of
Africa,² the report declared.

³Rhinos are in a desperate situation,² said Susan Lieberman of the
Swiss-based environmental body WWF International, which issued the report
together with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The report, presented to a meeting of the United Nations- sponsored CITES
agency which works to prevent trade in endangered species, said South Africa
and Zimbabwe were seeing a particular surge in poaching.

While between 2000 and 2005 a relatively low total of three rhinos were
estimated to have been illegally killed each month in Africa out of a total
population of some 18,000, 12 were now being slaughtered monthly in the two
countries alone.

In India, 10 of the animals had been slaughtered for horn since January and
at least seven in Nepal, out of a total population for the two countries of
just 2,400, the report said.

In many Asian countries, rhino horn has long been regarded as a vital
ingredient in folk cures for many illnesses as well as for male sexual
impotency, although medical specialists say it has no healing or potency
powers.

Trade in any rhino parts is banned under the international CITES treaty, the
Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

But the WWF's Lieberman said the upsurge marks ³the worst rhino poaching for
many years² and represents a deadly threat to the animals' survival around
the world.

It was time for governments ³to crack down on organized criminal elements
responsible for this trade, and to vastly increase assistance to [rhino]
range countries in their enforcement efforts,² she added.

Steve Broad, who heads the TRAFFIC network that works with WWF and IUCN in
monitoring wildlife trade, said a lack of law enforcement and a low level of
prosecutions of arrested poachers was making the situation worse.

³Increasingly daring attempts by poachers and thieves to obtain the horn is
proving to be too much for rhinos, and some populations are seriously
declining,² he declared.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/technology/science/asian-gangs-pushing-rhinos-to-extinction-report-warns/article1211182/

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Action needed to protect Kansas' Frogs from Hunters

Committee To Abolish Sport Hunting

PO BOX 13815, LAS
CRUCES, NM 88013-3815

(575) 640-7372

CASH@AbolishSportHunting.com

www.AbolishSportHunting.com



7/11/09





Urge the Kansas Attorney General to halt the state’s illegal frog hunting season!
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks has set a frog hunting season to
run from July 1 through October 31, 2009. According to state hunting
regulations, the hunt is being carried out illegally.
According to the pro-hunting website ammoland.com, “The
best method (of hunting frogs) is to walk quietly through the water at night
and shine a bright light along the bank until a pair of glowing eyes appear.
Temporarily blinded by the light, frogs can be grabbed or netted” (http://www.ammoland.com/2009/06/25/bullfrog-hunting-season/

accessed 7/11/09).



Hunting with the use of an artificial light is
specifically prohibited by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks as its
web site clearly states. It is illegal
to: “throw or cast the rays of a spotlight, headlight or other artificial
light… for the purpose of spotting, locating or taking any wildlife species
while having in possession any archery or firearms equipment”
(http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations/Antelope-Elk/General-Information

accessed July 11, 2009).



While hunting with an artificial light is clearly against
the law in Kansas, nothing about this is stated in the state’s fishing
regulations, where the frog hunting regulations can be found.
WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE FROGS
Contact Kansas Attorney General Steve Six and request that his office
immediately conduct an investigation into this seemingly illegal state hunting
season. Ask that the hunting season be
cancelled and that those responsible for it are disciplined to the fullest
extent of the law. Please send C.A.S.H.
a copy of your correspondence so we can gauge how much attention is being paid
to the issue.

Kansas Attorney General Steve Six

Memorial Hall, 2nd Floor

120 SW 10th Street

Topeka, KS 66612

(785) 296-2215

1-888-428-8436

Fax (785) 296-6296

general@ksag.org
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Mr. Six:



I am writing to respectfully request that your office
look into what may be an illegal frog hunting season being overseen by the
state Department of Wildlife and Parks. Placed
among the state fishing season regulations, frog hunting regulations permit the
use of bows and arrows as well as crossbows and seemingly permit the use of
artificial lights as a hunting aid.
Because state hunting regulations specifically prohibit: “throw(ing) or
cast(ing) the rays of a spotlight, headlight or other artificial light… for the
purpose of spotting, locating or taking any wildlife species while having in
possession any archery or firearms equipment”
(http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Hunting/Hunting-Regulations/Antelope-Elk/General-Information
accessed July 11, 2009) it appears that the Department is allowing illegal
means to hunt frogs, in violation of its own regulations.



Because of this apparent violation of state law, I respectfully
request that you commence an investigation into the frog hunting season being
promoted by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. If your
investigation finds my concerns to be valid, request that you at once cancel the
frog hunting season and discipline those responsible. Please respond to my
concerns at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Elephant murderers arrested in Mozambique!Letters needed!

Letters calling for long prison terms for the
elephant killers may be addressed to:

The Ambassador of Mozambique
1525 New Hampshire Av. NW
Washington DC 20036-1203

The High Commissioner for Mozambique
21 Fitzroy Square
London W1T 6EL, United Kingdom

Mozambique: Foreign Poachers Arrested in Beira

7 July 2009


Maputo ­ The Mozambican police have arrested two professional hunters,
both European nationals, for killing an elephant belonging to the
Gorongosa National Park (PNG), in the central province of Sofala.

According to the PNG Communication Department, the two are Victor
Ildefonso Anselmo, of Portuguese nationality, linked to the company
"Ideal Safaris", and a Frenchman, Julien Raymond. They were arrested on
25 June, and charged with killing a protected species, hunting during
the closed season. the illegal possession of firearms, and theft of an
electronic tracking collar belonging to the PNG.

The stolen collar identified the elephant, known to the PNG as "G4".
This animal moved frequently between the national park and the Zambezi
river, passing through hunting areas on its route. The PNG believes the
elephant was killed on 18 or 19 June near Chiramba, in Chemba district.

Elephants are protected in Mozambique. The movements of the PNG's few
elephants are monitored by the satellite signals issued by their
collars. The PNG says that local officials and communities were
perfectly aware of the animal's movements.

It seems that the two poachers did not realize that the collar was still
issuing a strong signal. It was this that allowed the police to track
them down and arrest them.

The PNG conservation department noted something was wrong on 12 June,
when "G4" slowed down. It was suspected that the animal was injured. By
19 June the signal stopped moving at all. But on 20 June, the satellite
showed that the collar was moving to a house in Beira, hundreds of
kilometres from the last known position of the elephant.

On 25 June, members of the Criminal Investigation Police (PIC),
accompanied by PNG staff, were able to use the signal to track the
stolen collar, and the poachers, down to a specific house in the Beira
neighbourhood of Palmeiras.

In the house, the police found, in addition to the stolen collar, six
guns of various types, a large amount of ammunition, five elephant
tusks, including those of "G4", elephant feet, and various buffalo
trophies, none of which had any documentation indicated that the animals
had been legally hunted.

One of the tusks was 3.7 metres long and weighed 55 kilos. Such a large
tusk is regarded as national heritage, and cannot be exported.

"G4" is one of a group of six bull elephants imported from South
Africa's Kruger National Park last year to restock the PNG, which lost
all its elephants during the war of destabilisation. The PNG
administration puts the damage done by the two poachers at 50,000 US
dollars - the costs of capturing the elephant and transporting it to
Mozambique, and of acquiring the satellite tracking equipment.

The Director of the PNG Conservation Department, Carlos Lopes Pereira,
declared "this case shows that poaching is going on, involving
unscrupulous individuals capable of killing whatever appears in front of
them for easy profit".

The PNG has thanked the police for their speedy and effective
cooperation in tracking down the poachers. Now the park is waiting to
see what attitude the authorities responsible for licensing professional
hunters will take.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200907070963.html



Dr. Shirley McGreal, OBE, Chairwoman
International Primate Protection League
PO Box 766
Summerville, SC 29484, USA
Phone - 843-871-2280, Fax- 843-871-7988

E-mail - smcgreal@ippl.org
Web: www.ippl.org

Working to Protect All Primates Since 1973

One of the advantages of being disorderly is that
one is constantly making exciting discoveries. ~ AA Milne

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

White rhino from Kruger sold to hunters, it is feared


Hundreds of white rhino from one of the world's most famous game reserves are to be herded up and sold, many of them to private hunters.


South African National Parks bosses admitted they had earmarked up to 350 rhino be sold from Kruger this year to raise money for other projects

Photo: REUTERS
Up to 350 of the rare animals will be sold this year alone from the Kruger National Park under fundraising plans drawn up by the South African government.

Animal rights groups have criticised the move and warned it would undermine conservation efforts at the reserve, which is visited by 1.5 million tourists every year.




Steve Smit, spokesman for Animal Rights Africa, said: "The idea of herding up animals from a major wildlife reserve and selling them to private institutions is outrageous.

"We have a duty to protect these rare animals, but the South African government is more interested in making money than conservation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/5758266/White-rhino-from-Kruger-sold-to-hunters-it-is-feared.html

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

HSUS-They Shoot Endangered Animals,Don't They?



The recent decision by a federal court in the District of Columbia to overturn a controversial federal policy allowing the killing of captive and endangered exotic mammals at some of the nation’s estimated 1,000 “canned” shooting ranches was a particularly satisfying victory in our long-term campaign to end the unethical practices of Safari Club International, the world’s largest trophy hunting organization.

This is the group that has manufactured a set of awards programs to encourage competitive killing of rare animals—such as “Bears of the World” or “Cats of the World.” To secure all of SCI’s awards, including the “grand slams” and "inner circle," a trophy hunter would have to kill more than 320 different species and subspecies of mammals.

It’s a selfish, all-consuming passion to kill and display trophies and to occupy a higher place in the hunting pantheon—whether they are shot in the wild or dispatched in one of these drive-by shootings on a fenced preserve. Typically, those involved have the means to pursue any form of entertainment or pastime, yet they choose to spend their dollars and their limited time shooting the world’s rarest and most beautiful animals. How sad.


© iStockphoto
The endangered addax is targeted by SCI.
Our lawsuit, filed jointly with several conservation groups, successfully challenged a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruling that permitted the shooting of three critically endangered species bred and raised on game ranches—scimitar-horned oryx, addax, and dama gazelle. These antelope have magnificent horns which trophy hunters prize.

SCI argued that charging high fees to kill endangered animals creates a market that encourages money to flow to overseas conservation programs that could benefit the beleaguered species. That bit of twisted logic—kill them to save them—didn’t stop the court from striking down the program.

Last year, The HSUS won another major victory over SCI, which had earlier persuaded Congress to allow U.S. sport hunters to kill Canadian polar bears and import their trophies. We helped persuade the USFWS to list the bears—imperiled by climate change—as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. This prohibited the import of polar bear trophies, removing a major incentive to shoot them. But SCI and its trophy hunting cohorts are so bent on killing these imperiled animals, they have filed several lawsuits challenging the decision to list polar bears, and are even lobbying Congress to reopen the polar bear trophy trade. That's right, these groups would rather see the polar bear stripped of federal protection, and potentially go extinct, than temporarily refrain from shooting just one of the hundreds of species regularly sport-hunted around the globe. Yesterday, Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) introduced a bill to authorize the import of sport-hunted polar bear trophies.

John J. Jackson III, a former SCI president, once tried to explain what motivates the group's members: “A trophy of any species attests that its owner has been somewhere and done something, that he has exercised skilled persistence and discrimination in the agile feat of overcoming, outwitting, and reducing game to possession.”

This is a chilling rationale for participation in this so-called sport. Is it “skilled persistence” on display when the trophy collector is driven to a feeding station at one of these canned hunting operations to shoot semi-tame, captive animals with the kill all but guaranteed?

SCI thinks these kinds of captive shoots are fine and permits them to be counted in its record books. In fact, SCI has one hunting achievement award—"Introduced Trophy Animals of North America"—that can be claimed only by patronizing captive hunting ranches. It’s in effect a marketing effort that drives hunting participation at the ranches in Texas and elsewhere around the country. Yet even other hunting groups that encourage and maintain trophy records, such as the Boone and Crockett Club and the Pope and Young Club, do not permit the listing of trophies from fenced enclosures.

The fight to weaken Endangered Species Act protections and its Orwellian “killing is conservation” theme are woven throughout SCI’s 38-year history. The Tucson-based organization once sought to circumvent the federal law by seeking government approval to import an astonishing 1,125 trophies of 40 species on the endangered list. They included gorillas, cheetahs, tigers, orangutans, and snow leopards.

With a straight face and not a hint of irony, SCI claimed its goal was “scientific research and incentive for propagation and survival of the species.” There was one small problem. The animals they wanted as trophies weren't yet dead. Request denied by the USFWS.

Now a U.S. District Court judge, agreeing with The HSUS, once again held the line on animal protection. An organization that in reality operates as an enemy of the world’s endangered species while masquerading as a conservation organization has been stymied yet again.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

CANNED PREDATORS:MASSIVE ANIMAL WELFARE CATASTROPHE PREDICTED


There is a misconception that the recent case lost by theSouth African Predator Breeders Association means the death knell of the cannedhunting and breeding industry. The general public, both locally and internationally, cannot be faulted for thinking that canned hunting in SouthAfrican is a thing of the past. But nothing can be further from the truth. Farfrom being controlled, statistics are showing that the canned hunting industry,with active support from the government, is growing exponentially. And it isnot only confined to the hunting of large predators - elephants, rhinos andevery other wild species is also hunted and killed in this way.Over the past year provincialand national Environmental Affairs spokespersons have been at pains to promiselion breeders that the industry is not geared for demise. As recently as 9 July2008 the former Deputy Minister, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, unequivocally assuredthem that "government does appreciate the existence of the industry and that there is no way that the regulations will eventually lead to the closure of the industry as the industry is an accepted part of the tourism experience package that South Africa markets."(http://www.search.gov.za/info/previewDocument.jsp?dk=%2Fdata%2Fstatic%2Finfo%2Fspeeches%2F2008%2F08071012451002.htm%40SpeechesandStatements&q=(+((mabudafhasi) %3CIN%3ETitle) +)+%3CAND% 3E(+Category% 3Cmatches% 3Es+)&t=R+ Mabudafhasi+ on+lion+breeders )The breeding and hunting of predators and the fact that atleast 11 people have been killed by captive lions since 2005, is a threat toSouth Africa´s tourism industry. It cannot be emphasised enough that ourgovernment has been pivotal in facilitating the canned predator breeding andhunting industry and therefore cannot simply shy away from its responsibilitieswith regards to the enormously negative consequences of its rampant unethicaland unsustainable "consumptive use" policies. The very existence of so many lions in captivity itselfconstitutes an animal welfare and animal rights crisis which must not beallowed to continue. This will remain the case even should all hunting andbreeding of captive raised predators be stopped. ARA calls on Minister Sonjica to be proactive and takeurgent action to act in the interests of the 4000 predators held in captivityin South Africa so that a welfare crisis of astronomical proportions, whichwill also harm South Africa´s image internationally, can be avoided. TheDepartment of Environment needs to work closely and partner with animalprotection organisations to devise a plan that would address the ethical andwelfare concerns of the predators caught up in the industry. Said ARA spokesperson Michele Pickover, "South Africaurgently needs a new, ethics-based approaches to wildlife conservation. The wayconservation is currently practiced in South Africa has become part of theproblem, not part of the solution."Ends. Contact persons for ARA: Steve Smit +27 (0) 82 6594711 Michele Pickover +27 (0) 82253 2124 ARA email - http://us.mc337.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info%40animalrightsafrica.org ARA website - www.animalrightsafr ica.orgMichele PickoverCurator of ManuscriptsHistorical PapersThe LibraryUniversity of the WitwatersrandPrivate Bag X1PO Wits 2050South AfricaTel: +27 11 717 1940Fax" +27 (0) 86 553 3438email: http://us.mc337.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=michele.pickover%40wits.ac.zawww.historicalpaper s.wits.ac. za"Over Analysis Leads to Praxis Paralysis"

Friday, June 12, 2009

INTERNATIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO E-BAY-MONDAY,JUNE 15-ACTION ALERT!

INTERNATIONAL CALL-IN DAY TO eBAY – MONDAY, JUNE 15
Big Wildlife, along with the Alaska Wildlife Alliance and Raincoast Conservation, has urged eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of lions, leopards, bears, wolves, and other large predators on its website. To date, eBay has refused to ban the trophy hunts from its site. Click here to read more about our eBay campaign.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:*On Monday, June 15, urge eBay to stop posting these cruel trophy hunt sales.Ebay employees to contact:Jack Christin, eBay Senior Regulatory CounselPhone: 408-376-5145Cell: 408-679-3621
Email: jchristin@ebay. comTerri Deanzo, eBay, Office of the PresidentPhone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press "0." An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person's last name. Key in "Deanzo.")
Email: csme@ebay.comAmy Skoczlas-Cole, eBay's Global Citizenship GroupPhone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press "0." An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person's last name. Key in "Skoczlas.")
Email: askoczlascole@ ebay.com

Saturday, May 30, 2009

URGENT ACTION ALERT FROM BIG WILDLIFE!LETTERS NEEDED!

URGENT: Please sign Big Wildlife's letter below as instructed and return it to Brian Vincent <brian@bigwildlife.org>.
Contact information for EBay is also below for your own letters to protest the sale of hunted-animal "trophies."
Please cross post.
Deadline to sign onto letter: Friday, June 5, 2009




Two Simple Steps to Save Lions, Leopards, Bears, Wolves, Other Predators
ACTION ALERT
TAKE TWO SIMPLE STEPS TO SAVE WOLVES, BEARS, LEOPARDS, LIONS
1) Sign onto Big Wildlife letter to eBay urging the company to stop selling trophy hunts of carnivores
2) Contact eBay directly to urge the company to ban trophy hunt sales
Scroll down for more details
In February, Big Wildlife <http://bigwildlife.org/> , Alaska Wildlife Alliance <http://www.akwildlife.org/> , and Raincoast <http://www.raincoast.org/> Conservation <http://www.raincoast.org/> urged eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of lions, leopards, bears, wolves, and other predators on its website. (Scroll down to end of alert to see trophy hunting items recently posted on eBay.) The online auction website regularly permits postings of guided hunts of carnivores throughout the world. Unfortunately, last week, we received a letter from eBay Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Tod Cohen, informing us that the company had no interest in halting its sales of trophy hunts. (Read Los Angeles Times story, eBay <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/05/ebay-will-continue-to-allow-postings-of-guided-trophy-hunts.html> Will Continue to Allow Postings of Guided Trophy Hunts <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/05/ebay-will-continue-to-allow-postings-of-guided-trophy-hunts.html> .)
TWO EASY STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO STOP eBAY'S TROPHY HUNTS:
Step 1.) Sign onto Big Wildlife letter to eBay:
Big Wildlife is urging groups and individuals to add their names to a letter we've drafted to eBay (see letter below). To include your name to Big Wildlife's letter, please send the information below to Brian Vincent at brian@bigwildlife.org. Brian will then add your name to our sign-on letter. Big Wildlife will send the final letter to eBay on June 5.
Information to send to brian@bigwildlife.org to add you name to sign-on letter:
Your name:Title:Organization:Address:Email:Phone:URL:
Deadline to sign onto letter: Friday, June 5, 2009
Big Wildlife sign on-letter:
Dear Mr. Donahoe:
We, the undersigned, urge eBay to halt the sale of trophy hunts of lions, leopards, bears, wolves, and other large predators on its website. As you are aware, in February the Alaska Wildlife Alliance, Big Wildlife, and Raincoast Conservation wrote to you requesting that your company ban such trophy sales. We were deeply disappointed to learn from eBay Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Tod Cohen, that the company has no interest in halting its sales of trophy hunts. In a May 5 letter to the wildlife groups, Mr. Cohen wrote:"While these decisions are never easy for us to make, the conclusion to this broad decision-making process is that we will not be expanding the scope of hunting experiences prohibited at this time. eBay is an open marketplace based on the principle that anyone can buy or sell just about anything, as long as those sales comply with applicable laws and our policies..."
Mr. Cohen also clarified that eBay has refused to post the sale of items the company and the general public find "offensive." For example, Mr. Cohen wrote, "Nazi paraphernalia is not only offensive to millions of people but much of it is illegal to possess and sale in Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. So eBay decided years ago to prohibit the sale of most Nazi items within our 'Offensive Material" policy. This policy also gives us the direction to remove items'when the item or description graphically portrays violence or victims of violence and lacks substantial social, artistic, or political value.'"
Expansive hunting of top predators such as lions, leopards, wolves, and bears ignores the importance these species play in natural systems. As "keystone species," they help maintain ecological integrity and preserve species diversity. The disappearance of carnivores triggers the loss of other species and the intricate connections among the remaining residents begin to unravel. Most of these species face growing threats from habitat destruction, aggressive lethal "management," and poaching. Trophy hunters target the largest and most healthy animals, disrupting the intricate social structures of predators and eliminating those individuals who are most critical to sustaining viable populations.
In addition, trophy hunting of carnivores is unethical, cruel, and unnecessary. It is important to note that hunters kill these animals simply for "sport" and for a trophy head and hide, not for subsistence. Some of the methods used by trophy hunters and included in some of the eBay sales are especially barbaric. For example, a number of eBay postings advertise using hounds to chase bears and cougars and placing bait to lure lions, bears, and wolves.
Again, we urge eBay to end its practice of selling these types of trophy hunting opportunities. Thank you.
Sincerely,Big Wildlife will add your name here along with other cosigners
Step 2.) Contact eBay directly and urge the company to immediately stop posting sales of trophy hunts of carnivores including lions, leopards, bears, wolves, coyotes, and other predators:
Ebay employees to contact: Jack Christin, eBay Senior Regulatory CounselPhone: 408-376-5145Cell: 408-679-3621Email: jchristin@ebay.com
Terri Deanzo, eBay, Office of the PresidentPhone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press "0." An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person's last name. Key in "Deanzo.")Email: csme@ebay.com
Amy Skoczlas-Cole, eBay's Global Citizenship GroupPhone: 408-376-7400 (After dialing number, you will hear a recording. Press "0." An automated voice message will ask you to spell the person's last name. Key in "Skoczlas.")Email: askoczlascole@ebay.com
SOME RECENTLY POSTED ITEMS ON eBay (Click highlighted text to go to eBay posting):" <http://cgi.ebay.com/AFRICA-DANGEROUS-GAME-MAILE-LION-HUNT-24-999_W0QQitemZ390045804571QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item390045804571&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1> Africa Dangerous Game Maile Lion Hunt: <http://cgi.ebay.com/AFRICA-DANGEROUS-GAME-MAILE-LION-HUNT-24-999_W0QQitemZ390045804571QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item390045804571&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1> This auction price of $12,500 is the 50% deposit required to book the hunt the remaing 50% will be due on arrival, which is $12,500. The main difference between the different Lions is the size of the mane. The more expensive Lions have bigger black manes while the ones with less pronounced manes cost less. This is all based on good genes."
" <http://cgi.ebay.com/AFRICA-DANGEROUS-GAME-LEOPARD-HUNT-16-999_W0QQitemZ390045794935QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item390045794935&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C> Africa Dangerous Game Leopard Hunt: Dreamin of having a leopard trophy on your wall, dream no more. We could help you with leopard hunting in South Africa...African leopard hunting is usually done by baiting with freshly killed antelope and other prey species. African leopards may also be hunted by tracking. Some African leopards are hunted after being spotted by a hunting party on safari. Once a leopard is spotted it can be tracked and taken by the hunter. Some countries in Africa currently allow leopards to be hunted with dogs and this has become a popular and effective way of hunting them." Price: $8,500.
³ <http://cgi.ebay.com/ONTARIO-TIMBER-WOLF-HUNT-NEAR-100-OPP-ON-http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390045814530&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=390026932972&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refw> Ontario Timber Wolf Hunt, Near 100 Opp on Wolf: The hunt is a real hunting adventure! Near 100% opportunity on timber wolf, we hunt over bait in a heated treestand...Choose any weapon.² Price: $699. ³ <http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-ALBERTA-WOLF-HUNT-100-OPP-HUNT-OVER-http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390046370978&ssPageName=MERCOSI_VI_ROSI_PR4_PCN_BIX&refitem=390027588479&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&refw> 2009 Alberta Wolf Hunt, 100% Opp, Hunt Over Bait: We¹re overrun with wolves, we have trophy wolves.² Price: $1,199.00. ³ <http://cgi.ebay.com/2009-B-C-SPRING-BLACK-BEAR-HUNT-WITH-HOUNDS_W0QQitemZ390045858864QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item390045858864&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%> 2009 Spring Black Bear Hunt With Hounds: Price Includes 2 Bears. We hunt Black Bears with hounds, hunters have the opportunity to hunt black bears or the desirable colour phased bear in brown, blonde or cinnamon tones." Price: $3,999.00
³ <http://cgi.ebay.com/ALASKA-SPRING-or-SUMMER-GRIZZLY-BEAR-HUNT-5-899_W0QQitemZ390045843910QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item390045843910&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%> Alaska Spring or Summer Grizzly Bear Hunt: "Wow Fall Sale, Only $5899, That's Over $7,000 in Savings. "
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Vincent at brian@bigwildlife.org
*NOTE: While Big Wildlife is opposed to all trophy hunting of wildlife, we are focused primarily on protecting top, at-risk carnivore species. We do, however, support other campaigns by animal rights groups against eBay.
-- BE SURE TO CHECK OUT BIG WILDLIFE'S WEBSITE AT: www.bigwildlife.org <http://www.bigwildlife.org>
Big Wildife is a project of the Earth Island Institute. Visit Earth Island at: www.earthisland.org <http://www.earthisland.org>
"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men."-- Leonardo Da Vinci
"One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds."-- Aldo Leopold

Friday, May 8, 2009

STOP PACKAGING AND PROMOTING CRUELTY!PETITION TO SIGN


STOP packaging and promoting cruelty!
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-packaging-and-promoting-crueltyTarget:
To stop promoting and advertising hunting holidays
Sponsored by:
Victoria Lovell
I am planning to write to Tivoli hotels & resorts to complain about their 'Wild Boar Hunting' packages in Portugal. Wils Boar can be hunted with guns, dogs and bow& arrow.
Not only is hunting obviously immoral and unethical..... It has zero to do with population control (as zoologists, vets and scientists have proven time and time again) and more to do with the human ego and cruelty. Legal, neatly laid-on and packaged cruelty. Making the entire issue of hunting seem a normal, natural, happy, sporting affair to be enjoyed as a leisure pursuit on holiday, as opposed to the unjustifiable slaughter it really is.
Please see the link below for yourself:
http://www.tivolihotels.com/hotels-portugal/on-line-reservations/packages/tivoli_marina_vilamoura/pack-wild-boar-hunt-tivoli-marina-vilamoura/promotion.aspx
My aim is to get as many names together as possible, to show we, the general public, will be boycotting Tivoli Hotels & Resorts untill they stop promoting and earning from such outdated, blood thirsty practices.
I will also be writing to www.huntinginturkey.eu, who organise and promote hunting as holidays. wild Boar, Deer, Lynx and Birds among other Animals too.
Hunting is as viscious as it is neanderthal.... All forms of hunting MUST be stopped, but I am focusing on this particular form and promotion of it right now.
ALSO please write to the hotels yourself at: htmarinavilamoura@tivolihotels.comWild Boar are timid harmless creatures, who only become agrressive when their young are threatened.
PLEASE repost! Thank You!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

THE NYS HOME RULE TRAPPING BILL IS CLOSER TO BECOMING LAW!

The League of Humane Voters of NYS (LOHV NYS) is pleased to let you knowthat Senator Serrano has AGREED to sponsor the Home Rule Trapping Bill! Thishappened yesterday!!!

HOME RULE TRAPPING BILL:
This bill would allow municipalities to pass trapping bans or trappingrestrictions. In years past, both Rockland and Suffolk Counties' bans wereoverturned by NY State Courts in proceedings brought by the NYS DEC .

Senator Serrano readily agreed to become the Senate sponsor of AssemblymanEnglebright's excellent bill: A04777, which had been without a Senatesponsor and Senate bill number until yesterday. Further excellent news isthat Senator Serrano is on the Environmental Conservation Committee, wherethe bills are now!!!!

The Senate Bill number is S05423, and the text of the bill is below - followlink:
http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi and enter the bill number.

Now that there is an Assembly Bill and a corresponding Senate Bill, and bothbills have been referred to their respective EnvironmentalConservation(Encon) Committee, IT'S IMPERATIVE TO CONTACT THE FOLLOWINGLEGISLATORS:

Chair of the Senate Encon Committee: Senator Antoine Thompson (Buffalo)Contact information for Senator Thompson is:
http://www.nyssenate60.com/60/Contact.aspx
Chair of the Assembly Encon Committee: Assemblyman Robert Sweeny ofLI(Suffolk) Contact information for Assemblyman. Sweeny is:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=011<http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=011&sh=con> &sh=con

Both of these legislators MUST PASS THE BILL OUT OF THEIR COMMITTEE in orderfor it to get it to the floor for a vote this session.
PLEASE CONTACT THEM TO LET THEM KNOW OF YOUR SUPPORT. IF YOU KNOW ANYconstituents IN THEIR DISTRICTS please forward this post to them and let usknow who they are.

To THANK Senator Serrano for becoming the Senate sponsor of the Home ruletrapping bill: http://www.nyssenate28.com/28/Contact.aspx
To THANK Assemblyman Englebright for sponsoring it in the Assembly - contactinformation: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=004<http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=004&sh=con> &sh=con

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BAN CANNED HUNTING BILL
Please also urge the same Encon Committee chairs ABOVE to pass the CannedHunting bills out of committee and to the floor.

These bills are:
S3223 sponsored by Senator Carl Kruger - contact information:
http://www.nyssenate27.com/27/Contact.aspx
A06788 - sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick - contact information:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=066<http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=066&sh=con> &sh=con

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DISSECTION NOTIFICATION WITHIN BROADER BILL:
To see the text, link to: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A03467

A3467 sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal Contact info.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=067<http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=067&sh=con> &sh=con
S3751 - sponsored by Senator Thomas Duane contact information:
http://www.nyssenate29.com/29/Contact.aspx

Both bills are in their respective Education Committee - PLEASE CONTACT THECHAIRS AND ASK THEM TO PASS THESE BILLS OUT OF COMMITTEE Chair Assembly:Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan contact info:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=037
Chair Senate - Senator Suzi Oppenheimer Contact information:
http://www.nyssenate37.com/37/Contact.aspx

LOHV NYS continues to work on other NYS bills this session and will keep youposted.

Feel free to contact us for further information. Check out www.lohv.org andlink to issues to see fact sheets on the above bills.


We are grateful for all of your efforts on behalf of animals.

Peter Muller
Chair, LOHV NYS
The League of Humane Voters NYS
877-lohv-us-7