POLICE have seized more than 10,000 live snakes and tonnes of snake meat destined for China and Hong Kong from a wildlife trafficking ring on Bangkok's outskirts, police have said.
The raid last night raid on a two-story wooden house uncovered live
snakes in 700 plastic crates, 2,000kg of raw snake meat and large amounts
of boiled and sun-dried meat, said police Captain Yongyuth Duanwong.
Nobody was arrested as the owner of the house reportedly ran away shortly after police arrived at the scene with a search warrant, the captain quoted a worker at the house as saying.
[Link]
(02/10/2002) Cat under bonnet
Kristy Sexton
September 29, 2002
GREASE, a tiny six-week-old kitten, has survived a death-defying ride under a car bonnet.
This week the miracle moggy used up at least one of his nine lives after travelling 40km clinging to a car engine
[Link]
(03/10/2002) Norway protects Keiko
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries is an agency under the Ministry of Fisheries and is responsible for the management of fisheries and sea mammals in
Norwegian waters. In the matter of the killer whale Keiko the Directorate has stated:
- The killer whale Keiko shall not be kept in captivity
- He shall not be commercially exploited
- He shall not be in conflict with other interests and boat traffic.
The Directorate of Fisheries supports the efforts on trying to put the killer whale Keiko back to the wild, as long as the Free Willy/Keiko Foundation has the recourses to care for him, and is cooperating with local animal welfare authorities and the municipality.
here has been issued a restricted area around Keiko. This means that it is forbidden for people and boats to approach the killer whale, and keep a distance of 150 feet. The intension is to let him have some space and to avoid stress, and give the Foundation the possibility to continue their project. So far people respect this regulation.
Sincerely,
Olav Lekve
Head of Corporate Communications
The Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries
(05/10/2002) Missing Bird Returned to Owner After Saying Name
by Alex Tamargo
A Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals staff member recently was able to return a parrot in Swindon, England to his owner after the bird said his name.
After responding to a request to pick up a brightly colored green parrot that was on a fence in someone's backyard, Debbie Sheppard found that the bird liked to "laugh and squawk," but was not able to learn where he'd come from, or to whom, if anyone, he belonged.
So, Sheppard brought the parrot to her home. Soon afterward, he began talking. Among the phrases he used were "kiss, kiss," "tickle, tickle" and "good boy."
The bird also repeatedly said "Basil." Sheppard believed that Basil might be his name, and so contacted local police. She learned from them that a parrot named Basil had been reported missing the previous day.
After getting the name and telephone number of the person who'd made the report, Sheppard reunited Basil with Ann Bradley, who'd been his owner for approximately three years.
[Link]
(07/10/2002) Did this whale coordinate this charm-offensive with Keiko?
Robin Mankey and I have just returned from Japan, we were part of a small group of activists who went to Futo to support Ishi-san, a former dolphin hunter, in his first historic dolphin watching tour.
On Wednesday, the Japanese media turned up in their dozens to cover the event. Two fishing vessels were turned into dolphin watching boats for the day.. us activists with a few media on one with Ishi-san driving and the other vessel packed with Japanese media.
Hours went by . Lots of birds, flying fish - nice scenery. We were all
getting a little nervous knowing that the chances of seeing a dolphin at
this time of the year were only 50/50. Besides, how were we to know
whether the dolphins recognised the sounds of the engines of killer boats.
Ten minutes before we were due to go in, the radio phone crackled. Ishi-san got very excited yelling out - Whale.. Whale .. and pointing in the direction of the media vessel which was some distance away. We could see a black blob in the water. With tears pouring down his face, and all of us standing up shrieking with excitement, we raced across the water to see a very large SPERM WHALE circling the media vessel.
It was so close we all laughed.. just out of touching distance. And for the next 20 minutes that whale just slouched around, giving the media an absolute field day. I have never seen a whale behave that way.. not even in San Ignacio Laguna.
This whale knew the boat was loaded with journalists.. he/she knew how important this historic event was to whales and dolphins.
The next night the story went right across Japan on national television - it was run in all the major papers.
We witnessed a miracle. Human and whale miracle.
Please keep those faxes going to Japan. They are working. Faxes are more
important than emails:
Please circulate this email,
for further info contact sue arnold at
sarnold@byronit.com
(09/10/2002) STOP GREYHOUND RACING IN VIETNAM/ CAMBODIA
Please contact the Peoples Committee below, faxing/phoning is much more effective, and ask them to withdraw their offer to Sports and Entertainment Services, who are responsible for greyhound racing in Vietnam.
They have granted SES a 30 year license for the development of greyhound racing in Cambodia. Racing facilities have been cited in Phom Phenn. This will be catastrophic for the greyhounds if it goes ahead.
Please let them know that greyhound racing is not a tourist attraction. It is considered a cruel sport and banned in South Africa and many states in the USA.
Let them and the contacts below know that you will not be visiting
Vietnam or purchasing any Vietnamese goods or supporting ventures in
Vietnam, until such a time that greyhound racing has been abolished from
Vietnam.
For further information contact:
Greyhound Action International, PO Box 127 Kidderminster, England DY103UZ
Fax/Voicemail: 08701383993
Email:
greyhoundactioninternational@hotmail.com
Please remember greyhound racing in Asia is greatly dependant on the tourist trade to keep going. Please let the tourist offices in your areas know what you think about greyhound racing in Vietnam.
Urge them to contact the Ba Ria Vung Tau Tourist Corporation (details
below) asking them to stop greyh! ound racing in Vietnam as it will no
doubt effect the tourist trade.
The Peoples Committee
86 Le Thanh Ton,
District 1Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (848) 8291056
Fax: (848) 8291054
Ho Chi Minh City is one of the areas targeted by SES to develop a greyhound track.
Department of Tourism
140 Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street,
District 3Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (848) 8296983
Fax: (848) 8293056
The Ba Ria Vung Tau Corporation have invested in SES. As a joint
venture with Australian Hemlock services they are operating the greyhound
track and breeding farm in Vung Tau.
Ba Ria Vung Tau Tourist Corporation Ltd
General Director
Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh
207-Vo Thi Sau- Vung Tau City
Baria Vung Tau Province
Vietnam
Tel: 84-64-856445/856446/856799/856138
Fax: 84-64-856444
Email: vtautour@hcm.vnn.vn
Email:
cndlvn-hanoi@hcm.fpt.vn
Email:
vntourism2@hn.vnn.vn
Vietnam! National Administration of TourismVietnam
Mr. Pham Quang Hung
General SecretaryAdministration of Tourism (VNAT)
80 Quan Su Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 84/4-9421061
Email:
vnat@vietnamtourism.gov
Vietnam National Travel Agency
Mr. Do Dinh Cuong
Managing Director
54 Nguyen Du Street
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 84/4-9422245
Fax: 84/4-9422707
Email: vinatour@hn.vnn.vn
(10/10/2002) UK Government slammed by animal rights
campaigners for blocking an end to EU animal tests for cosmetics
Leading animal rights campaigners the British Union for the Abolition of
Vivisection (BUAV) today reacted angrily to news that the UK Government
has once again betrayed laboratory animals as well as the millions of UK
citizens seeking an end to EU animal testing for cosmetics.
After months of disagreement over proposed amendments to the EU Cosmetics
Directive to outlaw EU cosmetics animal testing and the sale of animal
tested cosmetics, the European Parliament and Council of Ministers are now
in conciliation. At the first conciliation committee meeting in Brussels
yesterday (7th October), the UK Government defended the cosmetics industry
and argued against Parliament's strong stance on animal testing, despite
the depth of public opinion on the issue.
Members of the European Parliament have voted repeatedly for an EU ban on
the sale of cosmetics tested on animals (as well as an animal testing
ban), while the Council claims, despite legal opinion to the contrary,
that such a ban would damage the interests of industry and fall foul of
World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules. The UK's position has remained
unchanged; earlier this year Council adopted a common position that was
set to undermine the position of the European Parliament. At the time the
UK vote was the deciding factor, breaking a 'blocking minority' of smaller
countries committed to the proposed sale ban.
BUAV Campaigns Director, Wendy Higgins says:
"It is really disgraceful that the UK government continues to dismiss
the British people's deep opposition to cosmetics animal testing. It seems
to care more about pandering to the whim of industry than about animals
suffering for vanity products, and most British people will be truly
shocked by that. The cosmetics industry has always called for more time to
develop non-animal test methods, but has failed to deliver so that
whenever the ban has been debated, industry has been able to claim that
new tests are not ready. The suffering has to stop and it's about time
that the UK government showed some resolve in standing up to industry in
order to curb its unethical behaviour."
Get Active
It is still as important as ever that you keep sending your empty
cruelty-free toiletry bottles through the post to the DTI with our BUAV
"Message on a Bottle" campaign stickers. Hundreds of you have
already taken part, but if you'd like to receive more stickers email us at
campaigns@buav.org
NOTES
1. The UK government is represented by the Department of Trade &
Industry at the Council of Ministers.
2. Another conciliation meeting is scheduled for November 6th. They have
until the end of the year to find an acceptable agreement. BUAV supporters
have been inundating the DTI with empty cruelty-free toiletry bottles as
part of its "Message on a Bottle" campaign. Each bottle sent
through the post displays a BUAV campaign sticker urging the DTI to stand
up for lab animals.
(11/10/2002) A letter from Maneka Gandhi, Member of Parliament in India,
to AUDI cars, UK
Thursday, October 10, 2002
I have just seen an appalling advertisement for your car Audi, involving a
rodeo shown in its crudest form. I have contacted several hundred business
companies and people and we will now launch a campaign against the car with
a personal pledge not to buy it.
My name is Maneka Gandhi and I am a Member of Parliament in India.
Maneka Gandhi
Please send AUDI an e-mail and write to as many people as you can to send them an e-mail as well. You could also send a letter to your local
newspapers and complain.
(12/10/2002) Hunting in Decline in the United States
by Katherine Shephard
Statistics recently released by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) show that the number of
hunters in the United States decreased by 7 percent between 1996 and 2001. The statistics also show that the number of wildlife watchers increased by 5 percent during the five-year period.
The data were compiled by the United States Department of Commerce Census Bureau for its National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation. To complete the survey, Bureau employees interviewed members of 76,664 households during a period of one year.
According to the USFWS, between 1985 and 2001, the number of hunters declined from 16.7 million to 13 million, or by 22 percent.
"These are long-term trends, not just a blip in the numbers, and we're delighted to see that more and more people are trading their guns for cameras," said Heidi Prescott, National Director of The Fund for Animals.
"Hunters now make up only 4.6 percent of the population, compared to the 31 percent who are wildlife watchers," Fund Executive Vice President Michael Markarian stated.
University of Wisconsin experts on hunting demographics T.A. Heberlein and E.J. Thomson predicted approximately 10 years ago that by 2050, sport hunting would cease to exist in the United States.
"This latest report shows that they were right on target," said Prescott. "The end of hunting is no more than a generation away."
(20/10/2002) Orphan Elephants Spark Threat of Tourism Boycott
Mbabane
The possible sale of 11 "orphan" elephants from Swaziland's Hlane Royal Game Reserve to US zoos has led to a threat of a tourism boycott by a leading US animal rights
group.
Ted Reilly, the executive director of Big Game Parks of Swaziland, and the country's foremost animal welfare activist, is an unlikely opponent of the US-based People for Ethical Treatment of Animals
[Link]UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
(22/10/2002) Badger traps family
By John Colsea
A TERRIFIED mother and daughter had to call cops yesterday when a snarling badger kept them prisoner in their own home.The hungry creature squeezed past a catflap to search for scraps as Ros Sunley and nine-year-old Romana slept
upstairs.
But the pair were woken as it crashed around their house at 4am — and they peered over the banister to see the badger coming upstairs towards them.
[Link]
(23/10/2002) Contamination aux PCB: une entreprise d'aliments
pour bétail bloquée
Le programme de monitoring et de contrôle CONSUM (Contaminant
Surveillance System), instauré après la crise de la dioxine, a révélé
mardi une contamination aux PCB dans des aliments destinés à des bovins
laitiers. Alors que la valeur limite est de 200 ppb (200 ng/g de graisse),
on a constaté une valeur d'environ 990 ppb. L'AFSCA a immédiatement
bloqué l'entreprise d'aliments pour bétail où ont été produits les
aliments en question, et donné l'ordre de faire analyser tous les échantillons
témoins. Les deux exploitations de bétail laitier qui ont acheté
l'aliment contaminé ont été bloquées, et le lait y sera analysé. Par
ailleurs, les exploitations agricoles auxquelles l'entreprise a livré
d'autres aliments seront retracées par mesure de précaution. (GFR)
(Belga)
(24/10/2002) The European Cetacean Bycatch Campaign is totally opposed to ALL fish farms for the following reasons
The fish are kept in terrible, cramped conditions, as they are intensively farmed; they are continually injected, starved for 7-10 days before being killed, and invariably killed in an inhumane way. The CIWF report is a damning indictment of fish farms. (e-mail us for a copy)
In order to provide fish meal for these fish, industrial ships catch millions of tons of pelagic species. These fish die horribly, the majority of them dying as a result of burst swim bladders. Those still alive when dumped aboard the vessels, are gutted whilst alive.
These vessels are notorious for high levels of cetacean bycatch. As time is money, if a cetacean is found in the nets, tail flukes and pectoral fins are hacked off, and the animals are decapitated in order to remove them from the net. Their bodies are punctured in an attempt to make them sink - to hide the evidence. These barbaric
practices are carried out regardless of whether the animal is alive or dead - post-mortem results have shown this to be the case. We have evidence that levels of cetacean bycatch caused by EU fleets fishing in the waters off W Africa, are even worse than in EU
waters.
These vessels are also depriving cetaceans of their prey, and we are seeing an increasing number of cetaceans stranding due to starvation.
The pollution from fish farms is destroying the marine environment, destroying wild populations of fish and is causing concern re. human health.
Adults have the choice to be vegan or vegetarian - to eat fish or not. However, millions of children have no choice. They eat what they're given. If they eat farmed fish, they are ingesting a cocktail of toxins which have been linked to cancer, disruption of the endocrine system and a number of other hateful diseases. Some adults suffering with certain medical conditions, including problems during pregnancy, are advised to eat oily fish, including salmon, and are
unaware that there are alternatives to fish products. They are told that farmed fish is healthy!
Communities and habitats in the "Third World" are being devasted in order to build fish farms to provide consumers in the "First World" with farmed fish and crustaceans.
On October many groups throughout the UK, mainland Europe, US and Canada will be demonstrating outside supermarkets. There will also be a letter writing campaign.
To date, in the UK, supermarkets will be targeted in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Oxford, London, Dublin, plus around 80 other towns, villages and cities which include Aberfeldy, Aultbea, Aberwstyth, Avoch, Ayr, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Bishopbriggs, Blackburn, Boat of Garten, BognarRegis, Bowling, Bristol, Broadford, Bury, Camborne, Castleton, Chelmsford, Chepstow, Clydebank, Colinsbugh, Colne, Darlington, Dover, Dumfries, Dumbarton, Dunfermline, Elgin, Fort William, Gairloch, Grantown on Spey, Guisburn,
Forfar, Hamilton, Harrow, Keighly, Kirkwall, Kirriemuir, Lerwick,
Langholm, Leicester,Manningtree, Milngavie, Morcambe, Muir of Ord, Nelson, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newport, Newton Stewart, Peebles, Penicuik, Pershore, Pontefract, Portree, Plymouth,
Reading, Runcorn, Rutherglen, St Asaph, Salisbury, Sheffield, Skipton, Sonning, Stirling, Stromness, Swindon, Telford, Tetsworth, Thurso, Troon, Ullapool, Waterville, Westerfield, Wick, Widnes, Woodbridge and York.
If you can support these demonstrations, stage your own, or write to supermarkets, politicians, consumer organisartions, we would be very grateful.
(25/10/2002) IAKA/KAPS Urgent Update:
The dog-meat lobby will stop at nothing to achieve its horrific goal: legalizing dog and cat consumption in South Korea.
After we filed a lawsuit in August against the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drug Administration for failing to enforce its laws against selling dog soup, we were shocked to learn that the suit was rejected.
The reason: in 1994 the dog-meat lobby got the Ministry of Health to secretly eliminate the portion of the 1984 Food Sanitation Law that classified dog meat as a “disgusting food” not fit for human consumption. That effectively ended our lawsuit against the government for its failure to eradicate the dog-meat industry.
Now the dog-meat lobby is trying to get the 1991 Animal Protection Law amended to allow some dogs and cats to be classified as consumption animals.
The only thing standing in the way of the complete legalization of torturing and killing dogs and cats for food is the opinion of people like you.
It’s essential that you make your voice be heard in protest!
Only an overwhelming outpouring of world opinion will persuade the South Korean government to back down. Here’s what you can do to help save the lives of millions of dogs and thousands of cats in South Korea:
- 1 - Copy and send the protest letter to the Bureau of International Expositions, urging it not to select South Korea to host the 2010 World Expo!
- 2 - Copy and send the protest letter to the International Olympic Committee, urging it not to select South Korea to host the 2010 Winter
Olympics!
- 3 - Copy and send the letter to the South Korean president and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to protest amending the Animal Protection Law to classify some dogs and cats as consumption animals!
- 4- Copy and send one of the two protest letters that respond to the letter sent by the Director General of the South Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s Livestock Bureau!
The first letter contains and responds to excerpts from the Director General’s letter – which is full of patronizing, condescending lies about Korean traditions.
The second letter responds to the Director General’s letter, quoting
especially offensive passages.
The Director General’s letter follows that letter; it can also be viewed at our
website
[Link]
Thank you all!
Kyenan Kum
International Aid for Korean Animals
Korea Animal Protection Society
P.O. Box 20600, Oakland, 94620-0600, USA
Link:
www.koreananimals.org
E-mail:
iaka@koreananimals.org
Tel: 510-271-6795
Fax: 510-451-0643
Letter
- 1 -
No
World Expo in Korea!
Mrs Carmen Sylvain
Chairman of the Executive
Committee
Bureau of International
Expositions
56 avenue Victor Hugo
75783 Paris
Cedex 15
Dear Mrs. Sylvain,
I am writing to urge you,
and all of the members of your committee, not to select Yeosu, South
Korea, as the host city for the 2010 World Expo, because of South
Korea’s total failure to enact and enforce strong legislation
banning the torture, killing, and consumption of companion animals,
specifically dogs and cats.
Every day in South
Korea thousands of dogs are hanged by the throat, then beaten and
blowtorched to death. They are forced to die slowly, with the maximum
amount of suffering, because the more the dog suffers, the more adrenaline
is released – tenderizing the meat while torturing the dog. Cats suffer
just as much, if not more – they are thrown, alive and screaming, into
cauldrons of boiling water, where they are forced to remain until they too
die, slowly, and are ultimately rendered into a juice that is falsely
believed to cure arthritis.
Although the torture and consumption of
dogs and cats is illegal under the Korean Animal Protection Law of 1991,
the dog-meat industry still thrives in South Korea: 2.6 million dogs are
tortured, killed, and eaten every year. Not only has the South Korean
government failed to enforce its laws against this heinous practice; now
it is on the verge of amending its laws to reclassify some dogs and cats
as companion animals and others as consumption animals.
I believe that
hosting the 2010 World Expo is a privilege that should only be bestowed
upon an advanced country that has proven it deserves to take its place
among the civilized nations of the world. We hope that you believe, as we
do, that no country that practices such inhumane behavior toward its
companion animals deserves to be rewarded with such a prestigious honor as
hosting the 2010 World Expo.
I implore you to tell the
South Korean government that
the Bureau of International Exhibitions will not select South
Korea to be the host of the 2010 World Expo, or any future World
Expo, until South Koreans
stop eating dogs and cats, and the South
Korean government enacts and enforces a proper law recognizing that
all dogs and cats are pet animals and not consumption animals, and bans
the torture, killing, and consumption of dogs and cats.
Sincerely,
(Your
name)
Letter
- 2 -
No
Winter Olympics in Korea!
Jacques Rogge
Executive Board President
International Olympic
Committee
Chateau de Vidy
1007 Lausanne
Switzerland
Dear Mr. Rogge,
I am writing to urge you,
and all of the members of your committee, not to select Pyeongchang, South
Korea, as the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympics, because of
Korea’s total failure to enact and enforce strong legislation banning
the torture, killing, and consumption of companion animals, specifically
dogs and cats.
Every day in South Korea thousands of dogs are hanged by
the throat, then beaten and blowtorched to death. They are forced to die
slowly, with the maximum amount of suffering, because the more the dog
suffers, the more adrenaline is released – tenderizing the meat while
torturing the dog. Cats suffer just as much, if not more – they are
thrown, alive and screaming, into cauldrons of boiling water, where they
are forced to remain until they too die, slowly, and are ultimately
rendered into a juice that is falsely believed to cure arthritis.
Although the torture and consumption of dogs and cats is illegal under the
Korean Animal Protection Law of 1991, the dog-meat industry still thrives
in South Korea: 2.6 million dogs are tortured, killed, and eaten every
year. Not only has the Korean government failed to enforce its laws
against this heinous practice; now it is on the verge of amending its
laws to reclassify some dogs and cats as companion animals and others as
consumption animals.
We believe that hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics
is a privilege that should only be bestowed upon an advanced country that
has proven it deserves to take its place among the civilized nations of
the world. We hope that you believe, as we do, that no country that
practices such inhumane behavior toward its companion animals deserves to
be rewarded with such a prestigious honor as hosting the 2010 Winter
Olympics.
I implore you to tell the
South Korean government that
the International Olympic Committee will not select South
Korea to be the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, or any future
Winter Olympics, until South Koreans
stop eating dogs and cats, and the South
Korean government enacts and enforces a proper law recognizing that
all dogs and cats are pet animals and not consumption animals, and bans
the torture, killing, and consumption of dogs and cats.
Sincerely,
(Your
name)
Letter
- 3 -
Dear Korean President and
Ministry of Agriculture:
I am writing to you to vigorously
protest your draft legislation to amend the 1991 Animal Protection
Law.
With
the new amendments – whichare muddled, incongruous and impossible to enforce at the local
level – this law,
which is supposedly intended to safeguard animals from cruelty and
suffering, would instead guarantee
that millions of animals would suffer unconscionable pain and a horrific,
violent death.
I
take great exception to these offending passages:
Article 2, Clause 3, of the
amended laws offers immunity
to "pet animals," dogs and cats bred and nurtured for
companionship. But for the first
time in Korean history, it legalizes raising dogs and cats on farms for
the purpose of consumption. That is unacceptable. How can an “animal
protection” law sanction the most inhumane treatment done to animals?
Please revise Article 2, Clause 3,
to specify that ALL dogs and cats
be considered "pet animals,"
as well as all other animals
raised for the purpose of companionship and emotional attachment to humans
and other animals, including rabbits,
guinea pigs, chickens, fish, snakes, lizards and other amphibians.
Article 5, Clause 3, currently mandates that dog and cat "pet owners"
collar their animals with tags that display the owner’s name and address.
Any animals found without proper I.D. are viewed as strays. I demand that
you amend Article 5, Clause 3, to state that ALL dogs and cats discovered
without collars or appropriate identification are to be recognized as lost
pets and treated humanely and fairly.
Article 6 asserts that no one
shall kill animals in a way that is cruel or provokes disgust without
proper reason, as detailed in the following sections: 1. Killing an animal
in public or on a street, 2. Killing by fire and boiling water, 3. Killing
by hanging or beating, and 4. Killing in the presence of other animals.
But Section 1 implies that
it is acceptable to slaughter animals in a nonpublic, secluded location.
It is essential that brutal beating, skull crushing, electrocution,
hanging, blowtorching, and
all forms of cruelty and slaughter be banned in ANY location, whether
public or private.
Overall, these vague regulations do not give local officials the tools to
uphold the law or penalize violators accordingly. I am deeply disappointed
with the Ministry of Agriculture's carelessly improvised amendments. Until
new amendments are drafted to wholly protect animals, South Korea will
receive complaints from around the world. I will join others in protest
against Korea's status as host to the 2010 World Expo and 2010 Winter
Olympics. I will also encourage everyone I know to participate in a
boycott of Korean-manufactured goods.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Protest
letters
to the Director General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s
Livestock Bureau:
Director
General Soe, Seong Bae,
Livestock
Bureau
inistry
of Agriculture and Forestry
1
Jungang-dong, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Prov.
South
Korea
Tel: 82-2-2110-4046
Fax: 82-2-503-7249
Dear Director General Soe, Seong Bae,
This letter replies to
the sickening lies in the disingenuous form letter you have sent in
response to our protest against the failure of your government to protect
the dogs and cats of South Korea. I am extremely disappointed by your
letter’s patronizing and self-serving tone, its utter failure to address
the important issues raised, and, especially, the numerous outright
falsehoods it perpetuates.
First, I note that your form
letters have been sent out under the name Rho Kyeong-Sang, who is no
longer Director General. You, sir, are the present director general, and
as such you are the person who must be addressed and held accountable for
the unconscionable actions of the Livestock Bureau in its complicity with
the torture and murder inflicted upon these animals. At the very least, I
ask you to please change the name on the letter to yours.
Now,
to address the offensive statements in your letter, one by one:
- “Let me take this opportunity to commend you on your advocating
activities regarding animal welfare. In addition, the Korean
government thanks you for the opportunity to comment on your concerns
about the treatment of dogs and cats in Korea.”
Did the author
of the letter actually write that with a straight face? Should we also
accept the commendation of the wolf for our efforts to protect the
henhouse? We totally reject your praise for our animal-welfare activities,
since it is your ministry’s cruel policies that our advocacy activities
are committed to fighting.
- “In common with other peoples around the
world, we abhor horrific and inhumane treatment inflicted on animals.”
If that were truly the case, then shouldn’t you reject the proposed draft
legislation that would designate some dogs and cats as consumption
animals, which would further inflict “horrific and inhumane” treatment on
animals?
- “As in many countries, dogs in Korea are well loved and
considered as human's faithful companion. Its traditional dogs, Jindogae
and Sapsalgae, are preserved and raised as a national treasure. It
is not an unusual sight to see people walking their dogs along the streets
of Korea.”
But that happens on a very small scale. What about the more
than 2 million dogs and cats that are brutally killed every year by dog
and cat butchers? Were they “well-loved,” too?
- “Regardless
of our love of dogs and cats, our traditional habit of dog meat
consumption has remained with us for thousands of years of Korean
history.”
Calling
dog-meat consumption a “traditional habit” that “has remained with
us for thousands of years of Korean history” is one of the most
egregious lies the letter spreads to excuse the torture and slaughter of
dogs and cats. No written history of Korea describes dog eating as a
thousand-year-old tradition. On the contrary, dog-meat apologists always
hide behind the word “tradition,” falsely, when people protest a
practice that only started to
become widespread around the
1980s, at a time when
Korea’s economy began to
improve and the country became more developed.
Some tradition.
Up
until about 600 years ago, Korea was predominantly a Buddhist country;
very little meat is eaten in Buddhist societies, and certainly not dog
meat. The only text that states that dog eating is good for certain
ailments is “Dongyi Bogam,” an old, hopelessly outdated medical book
from the time of the Yi dynasty.
That is one of the most egregious lies the letter spreads to excuse
the torture and slaughter of dogs and cats.
Sunnan
Kum
and Kyenan Kum
grew up in Korea, and even in wartime their family, friends, and neighbors
never ate dog-meat as any kind of tradition, and they all honored many
Korean traditions. The only dog-meat eaters they knew were a few pathetic
old men, who went to small, back-alley dog-soup restaurants because they
believed the ludicrous myth that eating dog meat would increase their
sexual stamina. That futile, hapless search for lost virility should
actually be seen more as a sorry embarrassment to Korean males than as
a
practice to herald proudly (or defend falsely) as part of thousands of
years of culture and tradition. Do you really want to defend proudly the
culture and tradition of Korean male impotence?
- “This
practice is neither a daily habit nor common among Koreans. Dog meat
consumption is rapidly decreasing as a new generation adopts western
culture. It is similar to France's culinary custom of eating horse meat
and snail. Hindu's refuse to consume beef, while other cultures prefer
pork consumption, except for Islam and Judaism. As outsiders, it is
rather odd to hear of the diverse dietary habit. However, one can
imagine that it is natural to them, because it has been passed on and
practiced for countless centuries.”
If
dog-meat consumption were “rapidly decreasing,” as you say in your
letter, then why
propose
legislation to classify some dogs as livestock? The truth is that dog
eating increased in the
1980s,
because of the lobbying and false health-claims of dog dealers. Since then
it has never decreased.
The
reason for that is that the Korean government has never enforced the law.
Not once in the country’s history has any dog-meat butcher, dealer, or
restaurant ever been prosecuted, even though dog eating is illegal. Because
of Korea’s failure to enforce the law, there are now more than 6,000
restaurants and so-called “health” shops selling gae soju and
goyongi-soju (dog juice and cat juice) –
not so healthy, those shops, when you consider the filthy
conditions the frequently diseased and poisoned dogs and cats are kept in.
If
you are so sanguine about this aspect of Korean culture, I challenge you
to visit a dog market, so you can see for yourself the cruel, disgusting
manner in which these caged animals are tortured and killed. Maybe if you
saw what goes on with your own eyes, you wouldn’t be so blithely
oblivious to their suffering.
Dogs
and cats must not be reclassified as livestock animals, because they are
not meat animals like horses, pigs, cows, or snails. It is actually human
tradition not to consume other carnivorous animals, such as dogs and cats.
Ten thousand years ago, humans adopted dogs and cats as their special
companion animals, because the particular character of those animals
especially suited them to be with humans. Almost every country around the
world regards dogs and cats as companion animals; that is the true
traditional culture of the world. People live with dogs and cats, and they
love them as companions. People do not live with cows, horses, pigs, and
snails
as companions in their homes.
- “It
is a commonly accepted fact that every country is endowed with its own
unique characteristic culture. Culture is a metaphor for a gigantic
flow of current, reflecting the ideas, beliefs, or customs of a society. It is formed and generated over centuries. While knowledge or
beliefs are influenced and transformed by trends, accidents, or happenings
in life in a short space of time, culture represents hundreds and
thousands of embedded life habits and styles. It is virtually
impossible to transform one's own culture in a matter of decades. This is where the difficulty lies for Korea with its 5000-year-old
history.”
There
is
no written record of Korean history from 5,000 years ago; there is not
even one
from
3,000 years ago, so how do you know
what went on then?
Even if something were practiced 5,000 years ago, or at any point in
history, that doesn’t justify it, if it’s wrong. Cannibalism was once
part of human culture and tradition, but civilization has evolved to the
point where such a practice has become extinct. It’s
the same
with slavery. Would you justify cannibalism, or slavery, simply because
they were part of history, tradition, and ancient cultures?
- “In
response to criticism within Korea and around the world as well as in a
spirit of humanity against the cruel treatment of dogs and cats by a
relatively small number of insensitive butchers, the Korean government
legislated the Animal Protection Act in May 1991. It aims to protect
animals and reduce unnecessary suffering inflicted on animals. It
prohibits the cruel slaughtering and bad treatment of animals.
- “At
the same time, the government has amended the Food Sanitation Act and
Livestock Product Sanitation Act. In terms of the Livestock Product
Sanitation Act, dogs are not considered as meat for consumption unlike
other livestock.”
What
is the point of amending those acts, when they never have been enforced?
- “And
dog meat is designated as a 'disgusting food' in terms of the Food
Sanitation Act.”
You
should check into that law. According to the Ministry of Health, the
law was eliminated in 1994 – and we are very much enraged by that.
- “Despite
the Korean government's earnest efforts, it has failed to eradicate dog
meat consumption completely. Cultures change at a surprisingly slow
pace. To shed thousands of years of entrenched habits takes an extremely
long time and it cannot happen within decades.”
Exactly
which “earnest efforts” are you talking about? The Korean government
has “failed to eradicate dog meat consumption” because the Korean
government has never enforced the law and has neglected the problem.
It’s certainly not because of some phony excuse of “thousands of years
of entrenched habits.” You need to stop making excuses and start
enforcing the law and educating the Korean public.
- “As
Korea experiences new tastes and embraces Western culture with open arms,
young people, especially, one can reasonably expect that its interest in
consumption of dog meat, already marginal and exotic, will diminish
further.”
That
has never happened.
- “Also
the Korean government will continuously try to prohibit the cruel
treatment of dogs and cats.”
Stop
lying! Again, the South Korean government has never enforced the law or
educated the Korean public about dogs and cats. Worst of all, right now,
as we review your amended draft law, we see clearly that you are trying to
differentiate between pet dogs and eating dogs. Tell your official Lee,
Hee Woo to change the draft law so as to classify all dogs and cats as pet
animals.
- “I
hope this information helps your understanding of the practice of dog meat
consumption in Korea and allays any exaggerated concerns you may have
regarding it. We reiterate that Koreans are also caring and humane
people abided by their peaceful culture. Thank you again for expressing
your concerns and interest in our culture.
“Sincerely
yours
Director
General Rho Kyeong-Sang
Livestock
Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry.”
Is
dog eating part of the “peaceful culture” Koreans are abiding by?
You need to stop this dumb practice!
You need to write a strong law that classifies all dogs and cats
as pet animals, and enforce the law so as to compel Koreans to completely
stop eating dogs and cats.
If
you don’t, we will hold worldwide demonstrations, protests, and boycotts
of Korean business, and we will ask the International Olympic Committee
and the Bureau of International Exhibitions not to select South
Korea
to host the 2010 Winter Olympics or the 2010 World Expo.
Sincerly,
(Your name)
Letter
- 4 -
Director
General Soe, Seong Bae,
Livestock
Bureau
Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry
1
Jungang-dong, Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Prov.
South
Korea
Tel
: 82-2-2110-4046
Fax:
82-2-503-7249
Dear
Director General Soe, Seong Bae,
This
letter replies to the
sickening lies in the disingenuous form letter you have sent in
response to our protest against the failure of your government to protect
the dogs and cats of South Korea. I
am extremely
disappointed by your letter’s patronizing and self-serving tone, its
utter failure to address the important issues raised, and, especially, the
numerous outright falsehoods it perpetuates.
First,
I note that the form letters have been sent out under the name Rho
Kyeong-Sang, who is no longer Director General. You, sir, are the present director general, and as such you are the
person who must be addressed and held accountable for the unconscionable
actions of the Livestock Bureau in its complicity with the torture and
murder inflicted upon these animals. At the very least, I ask you to
please change the name on the letter to yours.
Regarding your commending the protesters for their advocacy of animal
welfare: did the author of the letter actually write that with a straight
face? Should we also accept the commendation of the wolf for our efforts
to protect the henhouse? We totally reject your praise for our
animal-welfare activities, since it is your ministry’s cruel policies that
our advocacy activities are committed to fighting.
If
it were truly the case that you “abhor horrific and inhumane treatment
inflicted on animals,” then shouldn’t you reject the proposed draft
legislation that would designate some dogs and cats as consumption
animals, which would further inflict “horrific and inhumane” treatment
on animals?
It may not be unusual to see people walking their dogs in Korea, but that
happens on a very small scale. What about the more than 2 million dogs and
cats that are brutally killed every year by dog and cat butchers? Were
they “well-loved,” too?
Calling
dog-meat consumption a “traditional habit” that “has remained with
us for thousands of years of Korean history” is one of the most
egregious lies the letter spreads to excuse the torture and slaughter of
dogs and cats. No written history of Korea describes dog eating as a
thousand-year-old tradition. On the contrary, dog-meat apologists always
hide behind the word “tradition,” falsely, when people protest a
practice that only became widespread during
the 1980s, at a time when
Korea’s economy started to improve and the country became more developed.
Some tradition.
Up
until about 600 years ago, Korea was predominantly a Buddhist country;
very little meat is eaten in Buddhist societies, and certainly not dog
meat. The only text that states that dog eating is good for certain
ailments is “Dongyi Bogam,” an old, hopelessly outdated medical book
from the time of the Yi dynasty.
Sunnan
Kum
and Kyenan Kum
grew up in Korea.
Even
in wartime their family, friends, and neighbors never ate dog-meat as any
kind of tradition, and they all honored many Korean traditions. The only
dog-meat eaters they knew were a few pathetic old men, who went to small,
back-alley dog-soup restaurants because they believed the ludicrous myth
that eating dog meat would increase their sexual stamina. That futile,
hapless search for lost virility should actually be seen more as a sorry
embarrassment to Korean males than as
a
practice to herald proudly (or defend falsely) as part of thousands of
years of culture and tradition. Do you really want to defend proudly the
culture and tradition of Korean male impotence?
If
dog-meat consumption were “rapidly decreasing,” as you say in your
letter, then why propose legislation to classify some dogs as livestock?
The truth is that dog eating began to increase in the 1980s, as Korea’s
economy started to improve and the country became more developed, due to
the lobbying and false health-claims of dog dealers. Since that time it
has never decreased.
The
reason for that is that the Korean government has never enforced the law.
Not once in the country’s history has any dog-meat butcher, dealer, or
restaurant ever been prosecuted, even though dog eating is illegal. Because
of Korea’s failure to enforce the law, there are now more than 6,000
restaurants and so-called “health” shops selling gae soju and
goyongi-soju (dog juice and cat juice) – not so healthy, those shops,
when you consider the filthy conditions the frequently diseased and
poisoned dogs and cats are kept in.
If
you are so sanguine about this aspect of Korean culture, I challenge you
to visit a dog market, so you can see for yourself the cruel, disgusting
manner in which these caged animals are tortured and killed. Maybe if you
saw what goes on with your own eyes, you wouldn’t be so blithely
oblivious to their suffering.
Dogs
and cats must not be classified as livestock-meat animals, because they
are not meat animals like horses, pigs, cows, or snails. It is actually
human tradition not to consume other carnivorous animals, such as dogs and
cats. Ten thousand years ago, humans adopted dogs and cats as their
special companion animals, because the particular character of those
animals especially suited them to be with humans. Almost every country
around the world regards dogs and cats as companion animals; that is the
true traditional culture of the world. People live with dogs and cats;
they love them as companions. People do not live with cows, horses, pigs,
and snails as companions in their homes.
Regarding
the letter’s lies about Korean culture, there is no written record of
Korean history from 5,000 years ago; there is not even one
from
3,000 years ago, so how do you know
what went on then?
Even if something were practiced 5,000 years ago, or at any point in
history, that doesn’t justify it, if it’s wrong. Cannibalism was once
part of human culture and tradition, but civilization has evolved to the
point where such a practice has become extinct. It’s
the same
with slavery. Would you justify cannibalism, or slavery, simply because
they were part of history, tradition, and ancient cultures?
You
point to the amendments of the Food Sanitation Act and Livestock Product
Sanitation Act, but what is the point of amending those acts, when they
have never been enforced? And regarding dog meat’s designation as a
“disgusting food” in terms of the Food Sanitation Act, you should
check into that law. According to the Ministry of Health, the law was
eliminated in 1994 – and we are very much enraged by that.
Furthermore,
exactly
which “earnest efforts … to eradicate dog meat consumption” are you
talking about? The Korean government has “failed to eradicate dog meat
consumption” because the Korean government has never enforced the law
and has neglected the problem. It’s certainly not because of some phony
excuse of “thousands of years of entrenched habits.” You need to stop
making excuses and start enforcing the law and educating the Korean
public.
When
you say that Koreans’ “interest in consumption of dog meat … will
diminish,” where is the evidence for this? It has not happened. And as
far as your statement that “the Korean government will continuously try
to prohibit the cruel treatment of dogs and cats,” all
I can say is, Stop lying!
Again,
the Korean government has never enforced the law nor
educated the Korean public about dogs and cats. Worst of all, right
now, as we review your amended draft law, we see clearly that you are
trying to differentiate between pet dogs and eating dogs. Tell your
official Lee, Hee Woo to change the draft law so as to classify
all dogs and cats as pet animals.
Finally,
is dog-eating part of the “peaceful culture” you say Koreans are
abiding by? You need to stop this
dumb practice! You need to write a
strong law that classifies all dogs and cats as pet animals, and enforce
the law so as to compel Koreans to completely stop eating dogs and cats.
If
you don’t, we will hold worldwide demonstrations, protests, and boycotts
of Korean business, and we will ask the International Olympic Committee
and the Bureau of International Exhibitions not to select Korea to host
the 2010 Winter Olympics or the 2010 World Expo.
Sincerely,
Livestock
Bureau Director General’s Letter:
Dear
______________,
Let
me take this opportunity to commend you on your advocating activities
regarding animal welfare. In addition, the Korean government thanks you
for the opportunity to comment on your concerns about the treatment of
dogs and cats in Korea.
In
common with other peoples around the world, we abhor horrific and inhumane
treatment inflicted on animals. As in many countries, dogs in Korea are
well loved and considered as human's faithful companion. Its traditional
dogs, Jindogae and Sapsalgae, are preserved and raised as a national
treasure. It is not an unusual sight to see people walking their dogs
along the streets of Korea.
Regardless
of our love of dogs and cats, our traditional habit of dog meat
consumption has remained with us for thousands of years of Korean history.
This practice is neither a daily habit nor common among Koreans. Dog meat
consumption is rapidly decreasing as a new generation adopts western
culture. It is similar to France's culinary custom of eating horse meat
and snail. Hindu's refuse to consume beef, while other cultures prefer
pork consumption, except for Islam and Judaism. As outsiders, it is rather
odd to hear of the diverse dietary habit. However, one can imagine that it
is natural to them, because it has been passed on and practiced for
countless centuries.
It
is a commonly accepted fact that every country is endowed with its own
unique characteristic culture. Culture is a metaphor for a gigantic flow
of current, reflecting the ideas, beliefs, or customs of a society. It is
formed and generated over centuries. While knowledge or beliefs are
influenced and transformed by trends, accidents, or happenings in life in
a short space of time, culture represents hundreds and thousands of
embedded life habits and styles. It is virtually impossible to transform
one's own culture in a matter of decades. This is where the difficulty
lies for Korea with its 5000-year-old history.
In
response to criticism within Korea and around the world as well as in a
spirit of humanity against the cruel treatment of dogs and cats by a
relatively small number of insensitive butchers, the Korean government
legislated the Animal Protection Act in May 1991. It aims to protect
animals and reduce unnecessary suffering inflicted on animals. It
prohibits the cruel slaughtering and bad treatment of animals. At
the same time, the government has amended the Food Sanitation Act and
Livestock Product Sanitation Act. In terms of the Livestock Product
Sanitation Act, dogs are not considered as meat for consumption unlike
other livestock. And dog meat is designated as a 'disgusting food' in
terms of the Food Sanitation Act.
Despite
the Korean government's earnest efforts, it has failed to eradicate dog
meat consumption completely. Cultures change at a surprisingly slow pace.
To shed thousands of years of entrenched habits takes an extremely long
time and it cannot happen within decades.
As
Korea experiences new tastes and embraces Western culture with open arms,
young people, especially, one can reasonably expect that its interest in
consumption of dog meat, already marginal and exotic, will diminish
further. Also the Korean government will continuously try to prohibit the
cruel treatment of dogs and cats.
I
hope this information helps your understanding of the practice of dog meat
consumption in Korea and allays any exaggerated concerns you may have
regarding it. We reiterate that Koreans are also caring and humane people
abided by their peaceful culture.
Thank
you again for expressing your concerns and interest in our culture.
Sincerely
yours
Director
General Rho Kyeong-Sang
Livestock Bureau
Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry
(26/10/2002) A COMPANY IN IRELAND IS TO FARM SEAHORSES FOR HUMAN
CONSUMPTION
A company based in Co Galway, Ireland intends to farm seahorses for commercial supply to the aquarium and traditional Chinese medicine
trades. It is already supplying public aquariums in Ireland.
Seahorse Ireland Ltd (Eachuisce Eireann Teo) states that Ireland's two native seahorse species perfectly meet the market requirements
for both the Asian medicinal and global aquarium trades. Given their high commercial value and 'almost insatiable market demand', the
company is culturing eight species of seahorse, including the two native species, as 'non-food aquatic products'.
The concerns of the Marine Work Group are summarised in a 22-page report ("Seahorse farming: commerce or conservation?") available on
the Marine Work Group website at:
[Link]
The full (zip file) report can be downloaded (63 Kb) directly from:
[Link]
If you are in a position to publicise this matter, please do so. If
you have any questions, please contact:
The Norwegian Directorate for Nature Management has announced that it will
issue no licenses for wolf hunting this winter.
According to a Directorate spokesperson, the reason for the withholding of
licenses is a recent finding that there are only two pairs of wolves capable
of breeding left in Norway.
The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats
requires the country "to sustain a viable population of wolves within its borders," which "has been identified as being between eight and 10 packs."
Wolves once were nearly extinct in Scandinavia, but a management plan implemented by Norway and Sweden in 1998 brought about a significant
increase in the animals' population. The increase led to more frequent
attacks on sheep on farms, so the Norwegian government permitted hunts to resume last year.
Farmers in Norway have in the past been suspected of illegally attempting to
poison wolves and causing mysterious disappearances of the animals. Wildlife
conservationists fear that if the wolf population once again grows significantly, the attempted poisonings and disappearances will recur.
(28/10/2002) My Animals Need A Loving Home! - A True
Story
by Patty Adjamine
The man walked into the lobby of the animal shelter. Behind him, two dogs followed faithfully, without leashes. Both dogs were calm, obedient and apparently well-trained Chow mixes. Their guardian was distraught.The man waited nervously on a line of other people surrendering animals to the pound. His eyes were desperate as the two dogs stood quietly beside him. He frantically looked around the lobby.
He spotted me with two cats in carriers as I was taking papers from a shelter worker and preparing to leave. He quickly sensed a rescue situation and begged me if I could also take his dogs. "My dogs are wonderful," he told me. "They are well trained, gentle, affectionate, good with kids. They are only two-years-old. I am moving and cannot take them with me. My animals need a loving home!"
I could see his dogs were nice dogs. One of them licked my hand when I petted him. But, I could not take them. I explained to the desperate man that while I could not immediately take his dogs, I would get their intake numbers and let him know what was happening with the animals. I promised, if possible I would try to find a placement
situation for them. He gave me his pager number as he did not yet have a phone. He then reluctantly signed his dogs over to the shelter. When a shelter worker came to take the animals away, both dogs tried desperately pulling back towards their former owner. The former guardian fought back tears and then forced himself to look the other way -- and exit the shelter doors.
That evening I called the shelter to check on the status of the dogs. One had already been "put to sleep.” I was told that both dogs behaved "aggressively" in the shelter. One had been euthanized because he had attempted to bite a shelter worker. The other was being held for another day or two for a "reevaluation." I asked if I could see the surviving dog and was told I could.
I raced to the shelter to see the dog who still was alive. From the back of the cage, this formerly friendly and loving dog was now snarling and assumed a
defensive/aggressive posture. The same dog who earlier licked my hand, now threatened to lunge at me. I dared not attempt to pet him. He was terrified. Upon arriving home, I immediately called the former owner's pager number. Less than five minutes later he called me back. I told him what happened and about his surviving dog. "If you want this dog to live, you need to get to the shelter and reclaim him immediately! He is not going into adoptions.” The man started screaming hysterically on the phone. "THEY KILLED MY DOG??!!"
I tried to explain that his sweet, loving dogs had become fearful and stressed in the shelter. There was no way the shelter could have placed them, but the man was no longer listening to me. The next day the Director of the Shelter called to admonish me for giving the man the information. "The man caused a scene in the shelter! We had to
return the dog to him. We cannot have this kind of chaos!" I told him he should be happy that his shelter had one less dog to kill.
This true event happened several years ago. Since then I have witnessed hundreds of formerly loved and loving pets suddenly undergo drastic personality changes when subjected to the stresses, depression and fears associated with abandonment and being thrust into unfamiliar and frightening surroundings. Sadly, most of these pets die.
The lesson to be learned is that the acquisition of animals is a responsibility. When one's bond to a pet is broken for whatever reason, too often, there is no one else to "pick up the pieces" of that broken commitment. Shelters and rescue groups are not the “solution." We are merely a stopgap for SOME animals. But, quite literally millions fall through the cracks. The real solution is in humanresponsibility:
YOU ARE YOUR ANIMALS' "LOVING HOME."
[Link]
(29/10/2002) Authorities Seize 12 Tons of Shark Fins
by Charlotte LoBuono
Agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service have seized approximately 12 tons of illegally harvested shark fins discovered on a boat
kept docked in Honolulu, HI.
The 82-foot-long King Diamond II was stopped and searched by United StatesCoast Guard officials approximately 350 miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico
and then towed to San Diego, CA.
Possessing only fins of sharks is a violation of the Shark Finning Prohibition Act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in
December, 2000.
Shark fins are sought primarily to meet demand in Asia for soup and aphrodisiacs made with them. After the fins have been cut off, the shark
usually is thrown back into the sea and left to die.
More than 100 million sharks are caught each year for their fins or as bycatch. This seriously threatens especially the basking and whale shark
species because members of them grow slowly, sexually mature late in life and produce few offspring.
"If global protection for these sharks is not implemented soon, the damage
to these species could be irreparable," said International Fund for Animal
Welfare President Fred O'Regan.
[Link]
(30/10/2002) Huge Shipment of Smuggled Ivory Intercepted in China
Customs officers in Shanghai have seized 3,334.6 kg of ivory at Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone in the Pudong New District.
[Link]
(31/10/2002) Gas Pipeline Detoured to Protect Rare Camels
The pipelines of China's ambitious West-to-East Gas Transmission Project, which started in July 2002,will be detoured in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in a bid to protect the habitat of wild Bactrian camels, a highly endangered species ranked on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List.
[Link]
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