1.  LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
A. BSE: The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS, USDA) will accept public comments on the new BSE regulations (see http://tinyurl.com/3hhyo ) until April 12, 2004. Information on the regulations and where to submit comments can be found at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/news/2004/bseregs.htm (The e-mail address for submitting comments is: FSIS.RegulationsComments@usda.gov ) Although many within the meat and dairy industries are in favor of the ban on the use of nonambulatory cattle for human food (see, for example: http://tinyurl.com/yrkgu ) agribusiness and their legislative allies are reported to be lobbying against it: http://tinyurl.com/3f3vd  The House of Representatives recently defeated an amendment to prohibit other nonambulatory animals from being used for human food by a 141-276 vote: http://www.aasrp.org/hot_topics/2004/March%202004/Downer.htm
 
B. FOIE GRAS: Bills against the production of foie gras have been introduced in both California and New York (see: http://tinyurl.com/2vcyg and http://www.nofoiegras.org ). The California legislation (S.B. 1520) seeks to ban the sale and production of foie gras, with fines of up to $1,000 per bird per day. A hearing on the California bill is scheduled for April 26th. The New York legislation (S. 5153 and A 01821) would "make it unlawful to force-feed a bird by hand or machine, for the purpose of fatty enlargement of the bird's liver." In Israel, the Parliamentary Committee on Education (which is in charge of the Animal Protection Law) made clear that it will block any attempt to go around the Israeli High Court's August 2003 decision to ban the force-feeding of geese, according to Anonymous for Animal Rights: http://www.upc-online.org/ducks/31204.htm

 

C. GESTATION CRATES: A bill to ban gestation crates for pregnant pigs in Maryland was defeated by 3 votes (22:25) on March 24th.  S.B. 417 requires that housing systems provide pregnant pigs with enough room to turn around, with a 10-year phase-in period. It would not prohibit farrowing crates, in which pigs are kept for a few weeks to give birth and nurse their babies. The bill is expected to be reintroduced next year: http://www.hsus.org/ace/18491

 

D. HORSE SLAUGHTER: With a 55:54 vote, on March 25th, the Illinois House of Representatives failed to raise the 60 votes necessary to advance S.B.1921, which would prohibit the slaughter of horses. Selling and eating horsemeat is already illegal in the state but horses can be slaughtered and the meat exported. That's what Cavel International intends to do. Its horse slaughterplant, the only one in the U.S. other than two in Texas, was destroyed by fire of undetermined cause in March 2000 (see item #8: http://tinyurl.com/2ccqa ). A new, high-security slaughterplant has been built and Cavel plans to begin killing up to 100 horses a day by mid-April. However, S.B.1921 is expected to be brought up for a vote again soon (see: http://tinyurl.com/2e9qb ). Additionally, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 857, see: http://tinyurl.com/2eorr ) is a federal bill which seeks to prohibit U.S. trade and transport of horses intended for human consumption. The bill needs 218 votes to clear the U.S. House of Representatives, where it is currently pending with 180 co-sponsors.

 

"Bill Banning Horse Slaughtering Fails," Daily Chronicle, Scott Miller with Paul L. Mikolajczyk, March 27, 2004.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2004/03/26/news/news01.txt
"Horse Slaughtering Facility Set to Open in DeKalb," WTVO, Katie Hammer, March 26, 2004. http://www.wtvo.com/Global/story.asp?S=1741174&nav=0RePLq6q
SEE ALSO: "Horses: Beloved Friends – Or Food?" The Chicago Sun-Times, Tom McNamee, March 21, 2004.
http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-horse21.html

 

E. PMU/ADOPTIONS: Research over the last few years indicating serious risks with hormone replacement therapy (http://tinyurl.com/wnke ) has caused the market for pregnant mare urine (PMU) to plummet. Efforts are underway to find homes for tens of thousands of horses who may otherwise be slaughtered. United Animal Nations is managing an on-line database for
PMU ranchers and horse protection advocates to list horses available for adoption: http://tinyurl.com/2qqjo  Another adoption site is at: http://tinyurl.com/yqwbr

 

F. CONGRESSIONAL SCORECARD: The Humane Society of the U.S. has prepared a "Congressional Scorecard" which shows how federal legislators in the 108th Congress (2003 to early 2004) voted on issues, including the "downer" ban, horse slaughter, and animal fighting. The document also includes write-ups on nonambulatory animals and BSE; enforcement of the Humane Slaughter Act; cockfighting; hoop barns for pigs; antibiotics, school lunches and soymilk: http://www.hsus.org/ace/20641  

 

2.  CAMPAIGNS
A. MEATOUT: Held annually on March 20th, this year activities occurred in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, as well as in 24 other countries. Meatout messages remain displayed on billboards and nearly a thousand buses in major cities. They can be viewed on the web site along with event details, a report on last year's observances, available resources and other information: http://www.meatout.org  USA Today reported that U.S. retail sales of vegetarian foods and dairy alternatives grew 113% to $1.6 billion from 1998 to 2003. See also Farm Sanctuary's new VEG FOR LIFE web site: http://www.vegforlife.org/eats.htm

 

B. EAT LESS MEAT: On March 15th, Compassion in World Farming Trust launched this new campaign which calls on the government to reduce meat consumption 15% by 2020. It also urges consumers to eat less meat and purchase only organic or free-range meat. Campaign materials include an 18-minute video: "Eat Less Meat - It's Costing the Earth," an extensive report: "The Global Benefits of Eating Less Meat" (available on-line), and a U.K. poll linking meat and obesity. See: http://www.ciwf.org.uk/eatlessmeat/index.html

 

3.  EVENTS
A. VEGFEST 2004: The Vegetarians of Washington (state) are holding this 3rd annual event featuring more than 130,000 samples of 400 types of vegetarian food at the Fisher Pavilion, Seattle Center, this weekend from 10 to 6. Admission is $5 , free for children 12 and younger. See: http://www.vegfest2004.org and http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/165964_vegfest24.html 
 

 

C. PROTECTING ANIMALS THROUGH THE WORLD'S LEGAL SYSTEM: Viewpoints from Five Continents. This conference, to be held April 2-4 at the California Western School of Law in San Diego, Ca., will bring together prominent legal scholars, attorneys, government officials and leaders of organizations from around the world to discuss the global status of animal welfare and how it can be improved. Farmed animals are specifically considered in a number of sessions. See: http://www.internationalanimalwelfare.com/pages/1/index.htm

 

D. FARM ANIMAL FORUM/PEACEABLE KINGDOM:  This Farm Sanctuary activist training and education seminar, to be held April 3th in Chicago, features Carol Adams, Gene & Lorri Bauston, Jim Mason, Michael Greger, and Wayne Pacelle. A "Say No to Veal" demonstration will be held on the evening of April 2rd: http://www.farmsanctuary.org/farmanimalforum/
In conjunction with the conference, the new documentary, PEACEABLE KINGDOM, will be shown at Northwestern University on April 4th: http://www.tribeofheart.org/pk.htm

 

E. COMPASSION FOR ANIMALS ACTION SYMPOSIUM: This 5th annual event, organized by Veg Events, will be held April 3-4 in Orlando, Fl. Speakers from national animal protection and vegetarian organizations, academia and law enforcement will participate in presentations, panels and group discussions. Peaceable Kingdom (see above) will be shown. For the list of speakers and other information, visit: http://www.vegetarianevents.com/

 

F. THE PRACTICE OF ANIMAL LAW: Perspectives on its Past, Present and Future is the title of a conference to take place at American University in Washington D.C., on April 17, 2004. Among the topics to be covered are: consumer protection statutes with particular focus on food-related complaints, civil rights protection, lobbying, petitioning the government, and using your law degree to affect animal law. The conference will conclude with the D.C. premiere of Peaceable Kingdom (see above). For more information, call: 202-274-4077 or e-mail: hmaurer@wcl.american.edu

 

G. FIRST ANNUAL ANIMAL LIBERATION STUDENT ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE: Syracuse University will be the site of this conference to take place April 23-25th. The theme of the opening session will be "Education, Theory and Action of Animal Liberation," with a keynote presentation entitled "The Holocaust on Your Plate: A Case for Comparing Atrocities ( http://www.masskilling.com ) " and a screening of Delicacy of Despair ( http://tinyurl.com/28tce ). Saturday's theme is "Education, Theory and Tactics of Animal Liberation," with topics including veganism, radical tactics, academics and activists, and environmental ethics. Sunday is devoted to an "In-Depth Analytical Seminar on the Liberation of Animals," with a consideration of the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). See: http://www.cala-online.org/Student_Association/events.htm 

 

H. HELPING ANIMALS 101: PETA's 2-day regional conference will be May 8-9 in DETROIT. Participants will learn how to write effective letters to the editor, stage a demonstration, and debate animal rights both privately and publicly. An optional activism event will be held on May 10th. LOS ANGELES will be the site for a June 26-27 conference at Venice Beach High School, with an optional event on the 28th. See: http://www.helpinganimals101.com/index.html

 

I. EATING FOR PEACE: the International Humanities Center will conduct a veg-a-thon from June 1-21. Participants will register supporters to sponsor them while they abstain from meat for 21 days. The project's purpose is to raise funds for children victimized by war, help alleviate world hunger, improve participants health, and help protect the environment. The mission of Eating for Peace, a non-profit organization, is to promote vegetarianism to humanitarians and promote humanitarianism to vegetarians. Proceeds will be channeled through UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) to provide emergency medicine and equipment, nutrition, and educational materials for malnourished children. See: http://www.eatingforpeace.org