IDA - Bay Area Events

IDA Events
1. Help IDA Shine the Spotlight on UCSF's Massive Animal Welfare Violations
2. International Day of Protest to Stop Japanese Dolphin Slaughter
3. IDA's World Go Vegan Days
4. October Gopher Gardening Event Cancelled
5. Career Opportunities at IDA

Other Events
1. Circus Celebrates Humans' Animal Nature
2. Musical Benefit for China's Moon Bears
3. Compassionate Cooks' October Cooking Class
4. Wildlife Conservation Expo
5. Action Alert: Urge Oakland City Officials to Remove Oakland Animal Services From Police Control


IDA EVENTS

1. Help IDA Shine the Spotlight on UCSF's Massive Animal Welfare Violations

The University of California - San Francisco (UCSF) recently paid $92,500 in fines to avoid USDA hearings on the 75 counts of animal welfare violations officially lodged against their laboratories. By agreeing to the settlement, researchers are able to evade scrutiny of the unpleasant facts about their mistreatment of animals in the 600 to 800 experiments conducted at UCSF at any given time. The University seems especially determined to keep their researchers' actions hidden from the public, which pays for their experiments with millions in tax dollars. Fortunately, the Bay Guardian newspaper is running a cover story in this week's issue (http://www.sfbg.com) on the USDA charges against UCSF and researcher Stephen Lisberger.

UCSF's transparent attempt to evade scrutiny, coupled with exposure of their misdeeds in the local media, provides animal advocates an excellent opportunity to spotlight UCSF's long history of animal welfare violations. That is why IDA began a week of demonstrations at UCSF on Monday, during which we will concentrate on educating the public about the horrors taking place inside UCSF labs while encouraging insiders to "blow the whistle" on UCSF's animal cruelty.

What You Can Do

- We need more people to join us for Friday's demo at UCSF. Please come in support of the animals for an hour or two between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

What: Demonstration against UCSF animal welfare violations
When: Friday September 30th, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Main Entrance of UCSF Parnassus Campus, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco (click http://www.ucsf.edu/maps/parnassus.pdf for a campus map)

- IDA would like to keep the pressure on UCSF by doing twice-weekly demonstrations at the University following this week. Please contact Karen Steele at (415) 388 9641 ext. 217 or karen [at] idausa.org to RSVP for a day and time you will be able to attend this week, and to let us know when you would be available for ongoing leafleting. Posters and leaflets will be provided. For more information on UCSF's animal welfare violations, please visit http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/ucsf/index.html .


2. International Day of Protest to Stop Japanese Dolphin Slaughter

Every year from October through March in small towns along the Japanese coast, fishermen engage in the largest massacre of dolphins anywhere in the world, killing about 20,000 marine mammals in the most brutal ways imaginable. Most of them are butchered for meat that is sold in restaurants and supermarkets, while some are sold to marine parks.

This annual slaughter continues because those who profit from selling dolphin meat the deliberately hide their bloody actions from the Japanese people. That is why OneVoice and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society are organizing an international day of protest to inform the public and put pressure on the Japanese Government to stop the killing.

What You Can Do

Please join IDA and the Earth Island Institute as we co-host a demonstration at the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco to coincide with protests taking place around the world.

What: International Day of Protest Against Japanese Dolphin Slaughter
When: Saturday, October 8th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Japanese Consulate, 50 Fremont Street (between Market and Mission Streets), San Francisco (click http://tinyurl.com/dy29d for directions)

To RSVP or for more information, contact Karen Steele at (415) 388 9641, ext. 217 or karen [at] idausa.org .

To learn more about the annual dolphin massacre in Japan, visit http://www.savetaijidolphins.org .


3. Enjoy Discounts at Veg Restaurants During IDA's World Go Vegan Days

This October 30th through November 1st, animal advocates around the world will celebrate IDA's first annual World Go Vegan Days with activities to promote compassionate food choices. World Go Vegan Days offers vegans and animal advocates an opportunity to help their family, friends and co-workers learn more about how a plant-based diet can improve their health, alleviate animal suffering and preserve the environment.

As part of World Go Vegan Days, a number of Bay Area restaurants are offering special deals to encourage people to explore the wide range of tasty foods that don't contain any meat, dairy or eggs. For example, San Francisco's renowned Millennium Restaurant (http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com), which has been voted Favorite Restaurant by VegNews readers for three years running, is offering a unique insert menu during World Go Vegan Days at a discounted price. Be sure to pay a visit to Millennium, as well as other participating restaurants, between October 30th and November 1st.

What You Can Do

- Take someone out to eat during World Go Vegan Days to show them how delicious vegan food can be. Check back at http://www.WorldGoVeganDays.com in the coming days for a list of participating restaurants and the special deals they are offering.

- Work with restaurants in your neighborhood to get them to offer special deals during World Go Vegan Days.

- Volunteers will be needed for World Go Vegan Days events in the San Francisco Bay Area. We will keep readers informed of these opportunities in future alerts.


4. October Gopher Gardening Event Cancelled

On the first Saturday of each month, IDA volunteers work with the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department to create a wildlife "sanctuary" along the Great Highway. Unfortunately, we have recently learned that we will have to cancel the October date because the Park's gardener will be away and a replacement cannot be found in time to work with our team. However, Gopher Gardening will resume on the first Saturday in November, and we hope you will be able to join us then.

What: Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach
When: Saturday, November 5th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Where: Corner of the Great Highway and Wawona Street, San Francisco, at the small brick Recreation and Park maintenance building (click http://tinyurl.com/4hnh2 for directions)

For more information, please contact Karen Steele at (415) 388-9641, ext. 217 or karen [at] idausa.org .


5. Career Opportunities at IDA

If you love animals and want to make your living making their lives better, then consider joining the IDA team as a full- or part-time employee. IDA currently has several job openings we are looking to fill with dedicated advocates who want to make a real difference for the animals.

IDA's headquarters is located in beautiful Mill Valley, about 10 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. If you want to work for an organization that is dedicated to helping animals, we'd love to hear from you. Please click http://idausa.org/about/jobs.html for position descriptions and qualifications and to apply. If you know someone who may be interested in working for IDA, please forward this post on for his or her consideration.


OTHER BAY AREA EVENTS TO HELP ANIMALS

1. Circus Celebrates Humans' Animal Nature

"Not The More Lovely: A Circus Sideshow" combines music, dance, poetry, animation, performance art and glamorous costumes in a spectacle that is sure to please animal lovers and animal rights defenders. Conceived by Karen Penley and presented by Circus Proboscis, the show explores the idea that society can only bring itself back from the brink of global destruction if humanity realizes its essential animal nature and appreciates the glories of creation that surround us. Don't miss this unique multimedia theater event.

What: Not The More Lovely: A Circus Sideshow
When: Every Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m. from September 30th through October 22nd
Where: NOHspace, 2840 Mariposa Street (at 17th Street), San Francisco (click http://www.theatreofyugen.org/nohspace.html for directions)

Tickets are $12 - $15 apiece (on a sliding scale). For more information and to make reservations, visit http://home.earthlink.net/~kpenley/circus.htm or call (415) 662-6826.


2. Musical Benefit for China's Moon Bears

Inspired by the plight of Asiatic Black Bears (a.k.a. Moon Bears), three local bands are playing a benefit for the Animals Asia Foundation (http://www.animalsasia.org). This non-profit organization is dedicated to ending the torture of Moon Bears, who are kept in tiny cages and harvested for their bile across China to make medicine that can be more easily manufactured using herbs and synthetic substances.

What: Musical Benefit for China's Moon Bears featuring The Guilty Party, Barbara Steele and Skyscraper
When: Thursday, October 6th beginning at 9:00 p.m.
Where: The Eagle Tavern, 398 12th Street (at Harrison Street), San Francisco (click http://tinyurl.com/7py67 for directions)

A suggested donation of $5.00 per person will be requested at the door. For more information about The Eagle Tavern, visit http://www.sfeagle.com or call (415) 626-0880.


3. Compassionate Cooks' October Cooking Class

Compassionate Cooks' October class, "Comfort Foods for Chilly Autumn Nights," focuses on those hearty foods that warm us up from the inside out, such as African Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew with Couscous, Lentil Loaf with Mushroom Gravy, Potato Leek Soup, Creamy Caesar Salad, and Apple and Berry Crisp. As the days begin to get shorter and the nights longer (and cooler), you'll be glad you learned to make these nutritious, delicious foods. Plus, sign a friend up for October's class and you may win a gift certificate good for any future Compassionate Cooks class!

What: Compassionate Cooks' October Class
When: Saturday, October 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: The First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th St. (at Castro), Oakland (click http://www.uuoakland.org/directions.htm for directions)

The cost of the class is $40. Register online at http://www.compassionatecooks.com or by calling (510) 531-COOK. You can also mail a check to Colleen Patrick-Goudreau P.O. Box 18512 Oakland, CA 94619. Signup deadline is Friday, October 7th.


4. Wildlife Conservation Expo

The Wildlife Conservation Expo, sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Network (http://wildnet.org/index.htm), features some of the foremost conservationists in the world gathering for two days of presentations, wildlife exhibits and film documentaries. IDA and many other animal protection organizations will have exhibit tables at the Expo, and wildlife artists will display and sell their wares to benefit the Wildlife Conservation Network.

What: Wildlife Conservation Expo
When: Saturday and Sunday, October 8th and 9th, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Where: Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Road, Los Altos Hills (click http://wildnet.org/downloads/Foothill_map_Expo2005.pdf for a campus map)

Admission is $50 for both days, or $30 for Saturday only. To see the speaker schedule and exhibitor list, and to purchase tickets, please visit http://wildnet.org/expo2005.htm .


5. Action Alert: Urge Oakland City Officials to Remove Oakland Animal Services From Police Control

Since 1991, charges of mismanagement, neglect and animal cruelty have plagued Oakland Animal Services (OAS), which for decades has been run by the Oakland Police Department (OPD). Recently, these charges have again been leveled against the OPD with renewed force, yet OAS remains under their control.

Police officers are not experts in animal behavior or welfare, nor do they have training in conducting animal cruelty investigations. Rather than running an animal shelter, the OPD should be allowed to focus on what they do best: solving crimes and protecting the public. To ensure the well being of animals at OAS, experienced animal welfare experts should take charge of the shelter.

What You Can Do

Please click http://ga0.org/campaign/OAS2 to send an automatic email urging Oakland city officials to transfer management of OAS from the OPD to those who have expertise in caring for animals. You can also contact these individuals by phone, fax or postal mail.

Deborah Edgerly, City Administrator
One City Hall Plaza, 3rd Floor
Oakland, California 94612
Tel: (510) 238-3301
Fax: (510) 238-2223

Vice Mayor Jane Brunner
One Frank Ogawa Plaza
One City Hall Plaza, 2nd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Tel: (510) 238-7001
Fax: (510) 238-6910