Help DEFEAT AB734. Keep the CA ban on kangaroo imports in effect.

http://www.vivausa.org/urgentactions/ab734.html

They are at it again! Help DEFEAT AB734

It seems that Assembly woman Nicole Parra (Representing Fresno, Kern, Kings, and Tulare Counties) has taken on the charge to help Adidas continue killing kangaroos so they can use their skins for soccer cleats!

Over the past 2 years 3-4 bills have been introduced to remove this protection for these unique creatures. Adidas was at the hearing last session, working hard to get support for these bills so that they could continue funding the killing.

The bill removes the current ban on the importation and sale of any part or product of all species of kangaroos except those listed as endangered.

The bill has been assigned to the Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

Points to consider:

Laws already exist to protect endangered species. This wasteful use of tax payer money is being introduced to help a foreign corporate interest -- not the kangaroos.
As the bill states, there are indeed some kangaroos who are endangered.
Kangaroos are wild and are shot at night by hunters. They are not always able to distinguish between those who are 'approved' to be killed and others who are endangered.
In Queensland, Australia, the Western Grey Kangaroo is not allowed to be killed, but it can be mistaken for the Eastern Grey who is allowed to be hunted. It states that on the Queensland Parks and Wildlife's website at http://tinyurl.com/5keww.
The law that they are trying to change was made to protect certain "look-alike"species so that Californians do not unwittingly contribute to the extinction of a species.
California and Federal laws prohibit the sale of seal products from Canada because of the cruel killing not because they are endangered.
If the kangaroo is a mother and she has a baby in her pouch, the baby is taken out and killed by a heavy blow to the head (according to the Australian Code of Practice). Killing the adults for their skins and killing the babies in the pouches is just asking for a decline in their populations. This is commonsense.

Right now we are asking you to send letters of OPPOSITION to AB734 to:

Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee Members:

Lois Wolk, Chair
916-319-2008|
916/319-2108 FAX
Assemblymember.wolk [at] assembly.ca.gov

Michael Villines, Vice Chair
916-319-2029
916/319-2129 FAX
assemblymember.villines [at] assembly.ca.gov

Joe Baca
916-319-2062
916/319-2162 FAX
Assemblymember.Baca [at] assembly.ca.gov

Patty Berg
916-319-2001
916/319-2101 FAX
assemblymember.berg [at] assembly.ca.gov

Rudy Bermúdez
916-319-2056
916/ 319-2156 FAX
Assemblymember.bermudez [at] assembly.ca.gov

Lynn Daucher
916-319-2072
916/319-2172 FAX
Assemblymember.Daucher [at] assembly.ca.gov

Mervyn Dymally
916-319-2052
Assemblymember.dymally [at] assembly.ca.gov

Bill Emmerson
916-319-2063
916/319-2163
assemblymember.emmerson [at] assembly.ca.gov

Barbara S. Matthews
916-319-2017
916/319-2117 FAX
[No email provided]

Bill Maze
916-319-2034
916/319-2134 FAX
Assemblymember.maze [at] assembly.ca.gov

Nicole Parra (AUTHOR OF THE BILL)
916/319-2030
916/319-2130 FAX
Email: Assemblymember.Parra [at] assembly.ca.gov

Fran Pavley
916-319-2041
916/319-2141 FAX
Assemblymember.Pavley [at] assembly.ca.gov

Sharon Runner
916-319-2036
916/319-2136 FAX
Assemblywoman.Runner [at] assembly.ca.gov

Lori Saldaña
916-319-2076
916/319-2176
[No email provided]

Viva!USA would appreciate receiving copies of your letters (via e-mail to roos [at] vivausa.org) and if you receive your Assembly Member's position.

Don't forget to include your names and full mailing address.

If you would like regular e-mail updates on this bill, please sign up at AB734 [at] vivausa.org or keep an eye on our Urgent Alerts button on our website.

Thank you and we hope we can count on you to help stop this bill - yet again!

Viva!USA
PO Box 4398
Davis, CA 95617
530/759-8482
530/759-8487 fax