ANIMAL PEOPLE Newspaper Goes to Press
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“Madness” in Karachi (page 19) Korean animal researcher clones human stem cells S E O U L ––“I never destroy any life during my process,” Seoul National University stem cell research laboratory director Woo Suk Hwang recently told New York Times c o r r e- spondent James Brooke. Woo Suk Hwang on May 20, 2005 announced that he had become the first scientist to successfully clone human stem cells––“a (Robert L. Harrison) major leap,” wrote Brooke, “toward the dream of growing replacement tissues for conditions World standards for farm animals like spinal cord injuries, juvenile diabetes, and congenital immune deficiencies.” P A R I S ––“I am delighted to down comfortably and stand naturally when Said Woo Suk Hwang, “We use only report that the 167-member World Organi- transported. Painful procedures, including a vacant [unfertilized] egg, with no genetic zation for Animal Health in their afternoon whipping, tail-twisting, use of nose twitch- materials” from which to form an embryo. session of May 24, 2005 unanimously es, pressure on eyes, ears or external geni- Trained as a veterinarian, Woo Suk voted to adopt the first ever global animal talia, or the use of unsuitable goads or Hwang, 52, was raised by a widowed mother welfare standards––an effort that has the other aids such as sticks with sharp edges, who supported six children as a dairy hand. Macaque at the Korea Animal Protection potential to benefit literally billions of farm metal piping, fencing wire or heavy leather “I could communicate with cows eye Society shelter in Daegu. (Kim Bartlett) animals,” Youth for Conservation founder belts should not be used to move animals,” to eye,” Woo Suk Hwang told Brooke. Suk Hwang appeared to refer only to never Josphat Ngonyo of Kenya e-mailed to ANI- Owen said. “Drivers transporting animals Woo Suk Hwang is a devout practic- destroying any human life. His past achieve- MAL PEOPLE, moments ahead of a simi- must be trained in humane handling. When ing Buddhist, wrote Apoorva Mandavilli in a ments have included producing the first cow lar note from World Society for the Protect- animals are killed for disease control, the profile for the journal Nature Medicine. conceived in South Korea through in vitro fer- ion of Animals publicist Jonathan Owen. methods should result in immediate death But in conversing with Brooke, Woo (continued on page 18) “WSPA expects this to be just the (continued on page 8) start of further guidelines that the World Organization for Animal Health will issue to protect the welfare of farm animals,” Owen agreed. “This marks a new dawn for the welfare of billions of farm animals around ANIMAL PEOPLE the world. It is now globally recognised at About Animals the government level that cruelty to farm News For People Who Care animals is unacceptable,” affirmed veteri- narian David Wilkins of the International Coalition for Farm Animal Welfare. “The new standards lay out mini- June 2005 mum conditions advised by the chief veteri- Volume XIV, #5 nary officers,” of the member nations, Owen summarized. “Areas of particular significance include that animals must be able to lie Anti-dog meat & fur movement + building momentum in China + HONG KONG––“We are tackling dogs and cats throughout the Guangdong mar- dog and cat eating in China by freely distribut- ket where Robinson bought him. ing our video Dr. Eddie: Friend....or Food? Background scenes demonstrate that in a pack which includes a pet care leaflet, the foreground incidents are not unusual, even stickers promoting dogs and cats as friends with westerners present. and helpers, and a letter from Animals Asia Those who eat dogs and cats––about Foundation founder Jill Robinson explaining 10% in southern China, 6% in South Korea, why we believe dogs and cats should not be on fewer everywhere else––are adamant as ever the menu,” Animals Asia Foundation execu- about continuing. Many older men eat dogs tive director Anne Mather e-mailed to A N I - for much the same reason that American and MAL PEOPLE on May 29, 2005. European counterparts might take Viagra. “We are happy to say that the Some older women, especially in South response to the pack has been absolutely over- Korea, consume a tonic made from cats who whelming,” Mather continued. “The initial have been boiled alive. 10,000 packs, which we expected to last a Because Asian politics tend to be year, were finished in just six weeks! We are oligarchic, dominated by older men, legisla- receiving calls from pet clubs all over China tion pertaining to dog and cat consumption whose members have heard of the packs and seems to be going backward. Rhino mud-bathing at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Kenya. (Kim Bartlett) are requesting their own. Thus we are in the Beijing in March 2005 began issuing midst of producing a further 40,000 for free certificates of approval to dog butchers, cov- South Africa rethinks game ranching distribution. In addition, <www.sina.com>, ering meat hygiene and slaughtering methods. J O H A N N E S B U R G ––South Afri- Van Schalwyk broadened the panel (China’s biggest web portal), is streaming the South Korea appears to be on the can environmental affairs and tourism minis- inquiry after an initial meeting earlier in May Dr. Eddie film for free on their pet site.” verge of repealing an unenforced 1991 ban on ter Marthinus Van Schalwyk on May 30, identified far more threats to “regulated, The Dr. Eddie video, also available selling “disgusting” foods, meaning dog and 2005 expanded the scope of an expert panel responsible and sustainable” hunting than he in an English version, tells the story of a dog cat meat, in favor of introducing a similar reg- convened to review common game farming had anticipated, he said. whom Robinson rescued from a live meat mar- ulatory regimen. abuses to include all aspects of game farming Television documentaries and the ket in Guangdong a few years ago. Eddie is The political setbacks follow rising and hunting. efforts of animal advocates have focused now part of the Dr. Dog therapy program in affluence that enables dog and cat eaters to eat “It is possible that a partial or full attention on abuses associated with “canned” Hong Kong, one of many Dr. Dog programs dogs and cats more often, leading to increased moratorium on any hunting of large predators lion hunts, detailed in Canned Lion Hunting: begun by the Animals Asia Foundation in consumption and profitability for dog and cat may be required, and a complete ban on cap- A National Disgrace, by <www.Canned- major cities of Southeast Asia to help raise farmers. In China, where old resistrictions on tive breeding of large predators is not exclud- Lion.com> proprietors Chris Mercer and appreciation of dogs wherever they might be personal mobility have recently been eased or ed from the range of possible policy options,” Beverley Pervan. Formerly the directors of on the menu. ignored, to attract cheap labor from the coun- Van Schalkwyk told Veronica Mohapeloa of the Kalahari Raptor Centre, Mercer and After showing Dr. Eddie at work, tryside, enough dog and cat eaters are swarm- BuaNews in Tshwane. Pervan are also regular ANIMAL PEOPLE helping humans, the video offers black-and- ing into Beijing to support as many as 100 “The government is planning a book reviewers. white footage of humans violently abusing (continued on page 14) sweeping reform of hunting laws––including a But the “canned lion” issue is only possible moratorium on hunting lions and part of the game farming conundrum. leopards,” predicted Tony Carnie of the Cape Former agricultural land converted Times. “This follows mounting concern about to game farming now occupies three times as ‘canned’ lion shoots, policy discrepancies much acreage in South Africa as the national among provinces and legal grey areas created park system, observed World of Birds by dropping fences between state and private Wildlife Sanctuary operator Walter Mangold, game reserves,” Carnie elaborated. “A panel of Hout Bay, in a faxed statement to A N I - is also to probe the ownership, management, MAL PEOPLE. and impacts of the hunting industry.” “Game farming is just another name Said Van Schalwyk, “This should for ‘sustainable use,’” Mangold pointed out. lay the basis for the development of a coherent “Sustainable exploitation sems to have set of norms and standards that can be used to become the best and perhaps only solution to guide the regulation of hunting.” (continued on page 6) 2 - ANIM AL PEOPLE, June 2005 into his new yard. So I aimed my camera again. And again I c o u l d n ’t find Buck in the viewfinder . so I looked up and found that he had gone to visit the two dogs who lived in the yard to my right . jumping the 6-foot fence with ease. In a few minutes, he jumped back again and I finally got his picture. And I kept taking pictures when it occurred to me . Buck COULD have jumped to my left . to freedom! Back then he was in the last dog yard at the edge of our property, beyond which was raw land. And I remember asking him, silently as I composed his pictures, why he didn’t jump to my left and escape. Then I heard his answer . in my mind. I know it was his thought, not mine, because I was busy photographing him and thinking about what I was doing. And I heard Buck say: “ You don’t understand. Yo u ’ re not fencing me in (in this dog yard), you’re fencing the June 2005 cruel world OUT.