Quarterly Summer 2003 Volume 52 Number 3 About the Cover
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
AWI Quarterly Summer 2003 Volume 52 Number 3 ABOUT THE COVER In 1995, USA Today reported that three-year old Jacob Swartz of Quinlan, Texas was mauled by a cougar. His six-year old sister, Erin, also suffered injuries. This was not some random, unpreventable attack in the woods; the cougar was the family pet who escaped while his pen was being cleaned. The cougar was shot and killed. Though big cats, like the cougar on our cover (photographed by Frans Lanting/courtesy of Minden Pictures), may start out as cute and cuddly cubs, they eventually grow into their wild and potentially dangerous natural selves. Increas- ingly, people are keeping wild animals as pets: lions, tigers, bears, bobcats, rep- tiles, amphibians, and rodents from across the globe. It is outright dangerous to keep exotic animals as companions; they can hurt their human attendants, escape ANIMAL WELFARE ACT and harm other domestic and native animals, and carry diseases such as monkey- AWI Fights for Primates in the Courts…2 pox that can be transferred to humans. Exotic animals in poor facilities such as AWI roadside zoos can pose similar dangers as their keepers are ill-equipped to care for Quarterly these animals appropriately (see story pages 8-10). FREE TRADE Summer 2003 Volume 52 Number 3 The Ins and Outs of the WTO…4-5 FOUNDER Become a “Free Trade” Expert in Ten Minutes!...4 Christine Stevens USTR’s Pig Politics...5 DIRECTORS AWI Fights for Primates in the Courts Compassion Over Killing Marjorie Cooke Roger Fouts, Ph.D. FARM ANIMALS John Gleiber hico, a 25-year old chimpanzee, spends his days in solitary confinement at Fredrick Hutchison, Jr. a roadside zoo in South Carolina. As a result of his deprivation, he engages Helping Small-Scale North Carolina Farmers Improve Pigs’ Lives…6 Cathy Liss in stereotypic rocking, pacing, and head bobbing, indicators that Chico Cynthia Wilson, Chair C Learn About the Dirty Secrets of Animal Factories...6 is psychologically ill. Aberrant behaviors such as this would not be seen if he Willow Creek Farm…7 OFFICERS were in a natural environment. Chico is not alone. “It is still common practice in The WTO threatens a nation’s ability Buckeye Egg Factory Closed...7 Cathy Liss, President research institutions to keep nonhuman primates singly housed in subminimal to refuse importation of products of Cynthia Wilson, Vice President sized cages with little to do but engage in stereotypical locomotion or behavioral animal cruelty, such as banning trade in Fredrick Hutchison, Jr., CPA, Treasurer eggs from hens trapped in battery cages Marjorie Cooke, Secretary pathologies resulting from boredom and frustration,” said Viktor Reinhardt, WILDLIFE AWI’s Laboratory Animal Advisor, who was the clinical veterinarian in a primate (see story pages 4-5). SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE research facility for more than a decade. Cute, Cuddly, and DEADLY…8-10 Marjorie Anchel, Ph.D. Playing Russian Roulette With Wildlife Imports...10 Gerard Bertrand, Ph.D. More than 100,000 non-human primates, intelligent, social beings, are con- F. Barbara Orlans, Ph.D. fined in zoos, experimental laboratories, and dealer premises across the country. Roger Payne, Ph.D. Each of these individuals deserves to be housed in an enriched environment with Samuel Peacock, M.D. the opportunity to share it with at least one companion. In 1985 Congress con- NEWS FROM CAPITOL HILL Hope Ryden John Walsh, M.D. curred with this perspective and adopted an amendment to the Animal Welfare AWI Adds Legislative Muscle...12 Act (AWA) mandating “a physical environment adequate to promote the psycho- Crane Conservation Act of 2003...12 INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE logical wellbeing of primates.” This would include providing the animals with Marine Turtle Conservation Act of 2003...13 Aline de Aluja, D.M.V., Mexico companions, sufficient space to engage in species-typical locomotion, elevated Ambassador Tabarak Husain, Bangladesh Jim Nahmens/www.natures-spirit.com A Bill to End the Use of Steel Jaw Leghold Traps...13 Angela King, United Kingdom resting structures, foraging devices and manipulanda (toys). Godofredo Stutzin, Chile On July 22, the Animal Welfare Institute joined the Animal Legal Defense Agnes Van Volkenburgh, D.V.M., Poland Fund (ALDF) and three individuals in bringing suit against the United States De- MARINE ANIMALS Alexey Yablokov, Ph.D., Russia partment of Agriculture (USDA) for its failure to adequately implement this vital The Tide Turns at the IWC…14-15 STAFF AND CONSULTANTS legal mandate. Four years ago, the USDA had developed a detailed, scientifically Ava Armendariz, Graphic Designer sound Policy providing comprehensive information on how to promote psycho- Congressional Assault on Marine Mammals...15 Amy Conklin, Editorial Assistant logical well-being of primates (see AWI Quarterly, Fall 2002). If finalized, this Stealing from the Solomons...16 Tom Garrett, Consultant for Rural Affairs report would be of practical help to USDA inspectors who must enforce the law John Gleiber, Assistant to the Officers Diane Halverson, Farm Animal Advisor and to primate facilities licensed or registered under the AWA. However, USDA Marlene Halverson, Farm Animal has shelved this Policy. Good news! The recently-concluded BOOK REVIEWS Economic Advisor AWI’s lawsuit would require USDA to make a final decision regarding IWC meeting established a Conserva- Eating Apes, by Roger Fouts…11 Christopher J. Heyde, Research Associate its Primate Policy within 30 days. As world-renowned chimpanzee expert and tion Committee and rejected attempts to Lynne Hutchison, Executive Secretary resume commercial whaling (see story For Bea, by Cathy Liss…11 Nell Naughton, Mail Order Secretary friend of AWI, Jane Goodall, noted, “It is a disgrace that after all these years Viktor Reinhardt, D.M.V., Ph.D., Congressional intent has been brushed aside at the expense of these magnificent pages 14-15). Laboratory Animal Advisor beings.” Jen Rinick, Research Assistant AWI is grateful for the legal representation provided by Wendy Anderson of Adam M. Roberts, Senior Research Associate ALDF and the law firm of Meyer & Glitzenstein. Wendy Swann, Research Associate Contact AWI at: PO Box 3650, Washington, DC 20027, phone: (703) 836-4300, facsimile: (703) 836-0400, Ben White, Special Projects Consultant email: [email protected] or visit AWI’s website at: www.awionline.org TheThe IInsns andand OutsOuts ofof thethe WTOWTO USTR’s Pig Politics The premise of the WTO and its predecessors is to “lib- such as Poland, for instance, could provide financial support eralize” trade between nations by progressively dropping to family hog farmers since, in most instances, raising ani- USTR factsheet on “U.S. Pork Industry & Trade” tariffs and other trade restrictions. However, in an effort to mals humanely comes at a higher cost to the producer. This cheers America’s annual export of over 700 thou- increase the free flow of products across the globe, the WTO would help these farmers survive the constant barrage of Asand metric tons of pork, valued at more than prevents import restrictions based on the process by which cheap corporate hog factory products. $1.5 billion. This, claims USTR, generates “wealth and a product is created and prevents any member country from The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has not create[s] good paying jobs that contribute significantly enacting legislation or regulations that treat one nation dif- backed the call for increased attention to animal welfare con- to the economic well-being of rural America.” But ferently than another. This has led to a remarkable roster of cerns within the WTO (not surprisingly), but the European American family farmers don’t benefit; it’s the corporate disputes under the WTO involving dolphins, furbearers, and Parliament has developed a fairly strong position on the sub- agribusinesses that dominate the domestic and foreign many other species. ject. On July 3, 2003, by a vote of 297 to 93, the Parliament markets, subjecting pigs to intensive confinement. Notably today, as food becomes an increasingly global approved a resolution that “calls for enhanced recognition USTR is brazenly using the Central America Free New Zealand International Exclusive Tours International Exclusive New Zealand issue, trade disputes involving the international commerce of non-trade aspects of agricultural policy by strengthening Trade Agreement to eliminate the “sanitary barriers” in meat products have increased exponentially: the U.S. and non-trade-distorting agricultural support measures through that contribute to American pork exports from being Australia have complained about Korean restrictions on the ‘green box,’ to ensure that well-targeted and transparent restricted in the region. “Sanitary” measures are rules on importing chilled beef; Hungary has complained about Tur- support measures to promote environmental and rural devel- food safety to prevent the spread of diseases and toxins, key’s import restrictions on pet food; the U.S. and Canada opment, employment and animal welfare goals are exempted through the food supply. have complained about European restrictions on the import from reduction commitments...” (emphasis added). USTR is also trying to undermine “China’s zero of beef from animals given growth hormones; Australia and AWI will push hard for WTO members to include ani- tolerance on pathogens (listeria and salmonella) in raw New Zealand have complained about U.S. restrictions on mal welfare protection more clearly during the negotiations. meat.” lamb imports; Poland has complained about high duties im- “Opening the Australian market for U.S. pork ex- posed on pig meat imported into the Czech Republic; Brazil ports is a priority for the Bush Administration,” says The WTO pushed Congress to weaken America’s has challenged Argentina’s rules on poultry imports; and a THE OUTSIDE ACTION USTR. The U.S. won’t let food safety issues interfere democratically-enacted law barring the import of series of disputes have arisen over food from the sea includ- with our ability to flood a market with cheap hog factory dolphin-deadly tuna.