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July/August 2008 3/22/13 9:09 PM Page 1 Feds funding egg industry No big effort to defeat California anti- SAN FRANCISCO––U.S. Agricul- veal calves in crates that prevent them from ture Secretary Ed Schaefer personally approved turning around and extending their limbs. giving $3 million collected from egg producers The American Egg Board money Olympic for co-promotions by the American Egg Board would more than double the campaign fund in to the agribusiness campaign against the opposition to Proposition Two, which had California Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty raised $2.16 million as of August 12, 2008, Act, alleges a lawsuit filed on August 13, 2008 according to the California Secretary of State’s wins for by Californians for Humane Farms. office. Supporters had raised $4.3 million, The California Prevention of Farm $3.5 of it from the Humane Society of the U.S. Animal Cruelty Act, Proposition Two on the and individual HSUS employees. The United 2008 California state ballot, would reduce the Egg Producers Association has predicted that animals stocking density for caged laying hens by 2015, animal use industries will need to spend about and after 2015 would prohibit raising pigs and $50 million to defeat Proposition Two. Californians for Humane Farms is the ––but some umbrella for the Yes on Proposition Two com- mittee, whose major funders are Farm Sanctuary and the Humane Society of the U.S. “As reported in Egg Industry m a g a - quiet gains zine,” explained a Yes on Proposition Two committee media statement describing the law- B E I J I N G ––Political stress over suit, “the American Egg Board ‘unanimously Tibet and controversies arising from the passed a motion at its 2007 fall meeting in aftermath of the May 12, 2008 Sichuan California that $3 million be held in reserve to earthquake appear to have deferred expec- assist the state if necessary in the industry’s tations that China would introduce a Animal Rescue Beijing volunteer. current battle with animal activists [concerning] national humane law as a goodwill gesture (Kim Bartlett) a referendum on the November 2008 ballot that just ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games in humane law and reportage about controver- would eliminate cage production in California.’ Beijing. sial animal issues nearly vanished from “As a federal commodity promotion The anticipated introduction, all state media––except for warnings that program,” the Yes on Proposition Two com- but promised by state media for several Beijing restaurants should not serve dog mittee statement continued, “the American Egg years, did not happen. Instead, as the meat during August and September, while Board is strictly prohibited from expending any 2008 Olympics approached, speculation visitors filled the city to attend the (continued on page 10) Hen at Pasado’s Safe Haven. (Kim Bartlett) about the possible content of a national Olympics and the Paralympics for handi- capped athletes, to be held afterward. But the Beijing Pet Dog Management Office. a branch of the police department, in mid-July summoned Animal Rescue Beijing founder Wu Tianyu ANIMAL PEOPLE and China Small Animal Protection Association founder Lu Di “to discuss the News For People Who Care About Animals situation of pet dog control in Beijing,” Animal Rescue Beijing volunteer Irene Zhang told ANIMAL PEOPLE. Joining the delegation, Zhang July/August 2008 described a positive atmosphere and out- Volume XVIII, #6 come. “The police promised that if there are any complaints about a dog,” Zhang e- mailed to ANIMAL PEOPLE, “they would not take the dog away, but would (continued on page 14) European Commission proposes a seal product import ban––maybe B R U S S E L S ––The European Com- tus and credibility,” summarized World mission on July 23, 2008 adopted a proposal Animal Net founder Wim de Kok. “for a regulation banning the trading of seal Insisted European Union environ- products within, into, and from the European ment commissioner Stavros Dimas, “Seal Union,” said the EC press agency, “to ensure products coming from countries which prac- that products derived from seals killed and tice cruel hunting methods must not be skinned in ways that cause pain, distress and allowed to enter…The EU is committed to suffering are not found on the European mar- upholding high standards of animal welfare.” ket. Trade in seal products would only be Acknowledged the EC press state- allowed,” the EC announcement continued, ment, “Seals are sentient mammals who can “where guarantees can be provided that hunt- experience pain.” ing techniques consistent with high animal But the statement added, “European welfare standards were used and that the ani- Food Safety Authority scientific opinion indi- mals did not suffer unnecessarily.” cates that seals can be killed rapidly and effec- The caveats may set animal advo- tively by a number of methods without causing cates up for another disappointment like the avoidable pain, distress and suffering…In one that followed a 1991 proposed European countries where seal hunting continues, a cer- ban on imports of leghold-trapped furs. tification scheme would be established, cou- Enforcement, originally to start in 1995, was pled if necessary with a distinctive label or The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on July 15, 2008 repeatedly delayed by U.S., Canadian, and marking, which will ensure that seal products authorized China to buy 119 metric tons of elephant ivory from the official government stores Russian diplomatic pressure. In July 1997 the traded are clearly certified as coming from a kept by Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe––and touched off an explosion of ban was amended by the European Union country meeting strict conditions. poaching and culling. (Page 15.) (Photo by Kim Bartlett) General Affairs Council into a mere agreement “The proposal will now be submitted to establish “humane” trapping standards. to the European Parliament and to Council for “After certain leghold traps and even their approval,” the announcement concluded. drowning sets, illegal in many countries, Added Dimas at a news conference, 2001 anthrax attacks that killed five were included in the standard” that was even- “The images of seal hunting that circulate tually adopted by the International Standards around the globe every year are a reminder of are traced to animal researcher Organization, “the whole exercise lost impe- (continued on page 20) WASHINGTON D.C.––The Fed- “Because the notes in some of the eral Bureau of Investigation on August 7, letters mailed to news media and two senators ANIMAL PEOPLE 2008 released investigation reports that identi- included radical Islamist rhetoric, investiga- PO Box 960 Nonprofit Organization fy U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of tors initially believed the letters might have U.S. Postage Paid Infectious Diseases anthrax researcher Bruce been sent by Al Qaeda,” Shane and Lichtblau Clinton, WA 98236-0960 E. Ivins as the probable mailer of anthrax-con- recalled. “But the F.B.I. quickly settled on a ANIMAL PEOPLE, Inc. taminated envelopes that killed five people different profile: a disgruntled American sci- and sickened 17 others in October 2001. entist or technician, perhaps one specializing After learning of his impending in biodefense, who wanted to raise an alarm indictment for murder, Ivins, 62, on July 29, about the bioterrorism threat. 2008 took a fatal overdose of Tylenol mixed Added Los Angeles Times staff writ- with codeine. ers David Willman and David C. Savage, John W. Ezzel, who hired Ivins to “Ivins was the sole custodian of the unique work at the Army institute in Fort Detrick, strain of anthrax that caused the deaths, and Maryland, told Scott Shane and Eric had started working late in his laboratory the Lichtblau of The New York Times that Ivins nights before the letters were mailed, accord- had conducted “experiments in which animals ing to a federal affidavit from Thomas F. were exposed to anthrax to test vaccines.” Dellafera, a postal inspector who was part of The animal research gave Ivins the investigation team. When asked for sam- access to anthrax spores and the equipment ples of the anthrax he was working with, the needed to turn them into a weapon. (continued on page 9) July/August 2008 3/22/13 9:09 PM Page 2 2 - ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2008 July/August 2008 3/22/13 9:09 PM Page 3 Editorial feature ANIMAL PEOPLE, July/August 2008 - 3 Updated expectations of animal charities If for just 15¢ you could ensure that every donation you make to animal charity goes should verifiably endeavor to help animals, committing the overwhelming volume of to a charity that does what it claims to do, and does it well, would you spend the 15¢? resources raised to animal protection work other than fundraising, administration, and the The ordering price of the newly published 10th annual edition of the A N I M A L maintenance of reserve funds. PEOPLE Watchdog Report on Animal Charities is $25.00––about the same as the average “a) ANIMAL PEOPLE believes that all fundraising and program literature distrib- donation to any type of charity these days. Divide the Watchdog Report price by the 165 suc- uted by an ethical animal protection organization should be truthful, accurate, and up-to-date, cinct reviews of prominent animal charities that it contains, and the average price per review and should be amended or withdrawn, as is appropriate, when circumstances change or new is 15¢, barely a third of the cost of mailing a donation. information emerges. If a project, campaign, or program is announced but fails to be devel- The ANIMAL PEOPLE Watchdog Report on Animal Charities helps you to target oped, for whatever reason, donors should be told what happened and what was done instead your donations and bequests to accomplish more for animals.