IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. Japan Dolphin Day: Abolish the Slaughter
2. Stop Abuse of Chimpanzee "Actors"
3. USDA Takes a Stand Against Abuse of Show Horses

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. Fur Free Friday 2006 is Coming
2. World Vegetarian Day in San Francisco
3. World Farm Animals Day Off to Great Start


IDA ACTION ALERTS


1. Japan Dolphin Day: Abolish the Slaughter
Attend one of IDA's protests on September 20th

Every year from October through March in small towns along the Japanese coast, fishermen kill about 20,000 marine mammals in the most brutal way imaginable. They use loud noises to disorient and herd whole pods of dolphins, porpoises and small whales into shallow bays, then stretch nets across the mouth of the bay to close off all exits. The next morning, the slaughter begins, as fishermen use sharp spears and hooks to massacre the helpless cetaceans. Most of them are butchered for meat that is sold in restaurants and supermarkets, while some are sold to marine parks where they spend years in loneliness and deprivation for the "entertainment" of audiences.

This annual slaughter is the largest massacre of dolphins anywhere in the world, and it continues because the atrocity is deliberately kept hidden from the Japanese people. That is why each year on September 20th, a host of groups around the world join together to organize an international day of protest to expose the killing and put pressure on the Japanese Government to end it once and for all. As part of this day of action, IDA and the Earth Island Institute ( http://www.earthisland.org ) will co-host a demonstration at the Japanese consulate in San Francisco to coincide with protests taking place around the world. Volunteers from both groups will carry signs and hand out literature condemning the slaughter. IDA will also hold protests at the Japanese consulate in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Portland, Ore.

What You Can Do:

1. Take part in Japan Dolphin Day on Wednesday, September 20th. See a list of events and contacts ( http://www.earthisland.org/savetaijidolphins ).

2. Attend IDA's protests against Japanese dolphin slaughter in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, or Portland, Ore. on September 20th.

Los Angeles - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
350 S. Grand Ave., Suite 1700 ( http://tinyurl.com/hnnau )
Los Angeles, CA 90071

Portland - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m
Pioneer Courthouse Square
Corner of SW Morrison and Broadway ( http://tinyurl.com/lwt54 )
Portland, Oregon

San Francisco - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
50 Fremont St., Suite 2300 ( http://tinyurl.com/f6o4m )
San Francisco, CA 94105

Seattle - 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.
601 Union St., Suite 500 ( http://tinyurl.com/krogg )
Seattle, WA 98101

Contact Melissa Gonzalez at (415) 388-9641, ext. 228 or Melissa [at] idausa.org if you have any questions. If you don't live in one of these cities, organize a protest at the Japanese consulate or embassy nearest you.

3. WRITE JAPANESE OFFICIALS TODAY. Let them know that the blood that continues to spill from the dolphins slaughtered in Japan stains our humanity and taints Japan's international image. Demand a permanent end to the drive fisheries and the preservation of dolphins and whales as natural treasures.

CONTACT:
Ryozo Kato
Japanese Ambassador to the U.S.
2520 Mass. Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 238-6700
Fax: (202) 328-2187
jcc [at] embjapan.org

Minister of Fisheries
1-2-1 Ksumigaseki 1 Chome
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
100-8907 JAPAN
Fax: 81-3-3502-8220

4. For more information, including photos and video of the Taiji dolphin slaughter, see http://www.savetaijidolphins.org .


2. Stop Abuse of Chimpanzee "Actors"
Tell CareerBuilder to stop making ads that support animal cruelty

In 2005, CareerBuilder, an employee-recruitment agency, began running a series of advertisements that featured chimpanzees dressed in suits and ties mimicking human behavior in an office setting. The ads ostensibly illustrate employees who are behaving like "monkeys." The behind-the-scenes reality for chimpanzees forced to perform in ads is a lifetime of misery. Removed from their mothers shortly after birth, they are beaten and traumatized and are left with lifelong emotional scars. When they grow too strong to be managed, usually around age eight, they are often discarded at seedy roadside zoos, where they are left to suffer in tiny cages for decades.

Chimpanzees suffer tremendously when they are used as props or as "actors." Like us, they feel and express emotions such as joy, despair, and empathy. In jungles and rainforests, where they belong, chimpanzees have very complex social structures; they seek out mates, raise children, spend time with friends, make and use tools, curiously explore their surroundings, and play. Yet eyewitnesses at facilities that train (i.e., break) great apes have reportedly seen baby chimpanzees severely beaten with fists, rocks, and broom handles. Beatings are routine in order to ensure that the animals remain fearful and obedient.

CareerBuilder and its ad agency, Cramer-Krasselt, have ignored a groundswell of public opposition to the ads and even launched a new series of these disgusting commercials during the 2006 Super Bowl. We must keep up the pressure and let them know that people find it unacceptable to cruelly exploit and physically and psychologically abuse these highly intelligent, social animals.

What You Can Do:

Tell the CEO of Cramer-Krasselt, Peter Krivkovich, that using chimpanzees in commercials is cruel and unacceptable ( %takeaction-ChimpActors% ), especially today when computer graphics can be used to create "actors" that are just as realistic as live animals.

Also write personal letters and make phone calls to Krivkovich and CareerBuilder CEO Matt Ferguson, as these carry more weight than form emails. Be sure to point out that HotJobs, a competitor of CareerBuilder owned by Internet giant Yahoo!, has made the compassionate decision never to use apes in its promotions or advertisements.

Matt Ferguson
President and CEO, CareerBuilder, Inc.
8420 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 1000
Chicago, IL 60631
Tel: (800) 891-8880
Fax: (773) 399-6313
Webform: http://careerbuilder.com/share/AboutUs/ (scroll to bottom and click on "feedback")

Peter Krivkovich
President and CEO, Cramer-Krasselt
225 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60601-7601
Tel: (312) 616-9600
Fax: (312) 616-3839
pkrivkov [at] c-k.com


3. USDA Takes a Stand Against Abuse of Show Horses
Thank the agency for enforcing anti-cruelty laws

For the first time in the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration's 68-year history, the competition ended without a grand champion being declared because the USDA enforced federal laws against soring, a cruel practice used by many trainers to make horses walk with an exaggerated gait.

The practice of soring, in which trainers use caustic chemicals like diesel fuel and mustard and even slicing the skin around horses' hooves to make them step higher, has been illegal since 1970 when Congress passed the Horse Protection Act. Yet soring remains common, as it gives competitors an edge over those who obey the law.

The USDA is now cracking down on abusers, led by deputy administrator Chester Gipson. "You need to decide which way you're going to go," he told Tennessee Walking Horse industry members at a meeting recently. "You can step up and do your job, or you will put us in a position where we are forced to do it for you." The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders and Exhibitors Association has already taken steps to address the problem.

What You Can Do:

- Contact USDA deputy administrator Chester Gipson ( %takeaction-ShowHorses% ) to thank him for having the courage to protect show horses from abusive practices.

Chester Gipson
Deputy Administrator, USDA/Aphis Animal Care
4700 River Road, Unit 97
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Chester.A.Gipson [at] usda.gov
Tel: (301) 734-4980
Fax: (301) 734-4993

- Read a recent article in Time magazine ( http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1532318,00.html ) about the USDA's actions.


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. Fur Free Friday 2006 is Coming
Start planning now to make this year bigger and better than ever

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving for the last two decades, thousands of people around the U.S. have held demonstrations, marches, vigils and other activities for Fur Free Friday to protest a global multi-billion dollar industry that kills over 40 million animals annually. Holding this national day of action on the busiest shopping day of the year allows activists to reach the greatest number of consumers, including those who may be thinking about buying fur as a gift or for their own use.

While fewer full-length coats are being sold, the popularity of fur trim, often used on jacket collars and cuffs, has dramatically increased in the last decade. Industry experts predict that the number of pelts used to make fur trim will soon surpass those used for full-length garments. Fur manufacturers and fashion designers have especially used fur trim to target the youth market. Fur trim is the industry's way of "introducing" young consumers to fur, increasing the chances of their purchasing a full-length garment in the future. The media reinforces the idea of fur being fashionable by showing supermodels, rappers and other celebrities wearing fur and fur trim while remaining silent about the cruelty involved in its production.

Consumers' ignorance of fur production cruelty is essential to the fur industry's survival. Animals raised in fur mills are killed by anal or vaginal electrocution, which fries them from the inside out and stops their hearts while they are fully conscious. About one quarter of animals caught in the wild with traps escape by chewing their own limbs off (only to be killed by predators). If people knew the ugly truth about fur production, including the industry's use of fur from dogs and cats, they would realize that even a little trim causes animals a lot of unnecessary suffering. Yet fur is now sold not only in fancy fur boutiques but also by mainstream department stores like Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Fur's broader availability as a commodity "normalizes" cruelty, making it easier for consumers to block out the fur trade's animal fashion victims.

What You Can Do:

Every year, animal advocates use both tried-and-true tactics and creative new ways to wake people up to the painful and deadly ordeal that animals like foxes, mink and chinchillas undergo to make a profit for the fur industry. For example:

- Anti-fur marches bring a compassionate message to the streets where people throng on the busiest shopping day of the year in search of gifts for their loved ones. Energetic anti-fur protesters on the march remind them to leave animal pelts off their shopping lists.

- Fur funerals and vigils honor the lives and mourn the deaths of the over 40 million animals that are killed every year to make fur garments, toys and fashion accessories.

- Street theatre brings the suffering of fur-bearing animals to life and engages audiences with props, drama and creative costumes.

- Undercover video footage ( http://www.undercovertv.org/vp_fur-farm.php ) shows people what the fur industry is desperate to hide: the abuse of animals that is a daily part of their inhumane operations. Exposing fur mills or wildlife trapping with a battery-powered TV/VCR or TV-equipped FaunaVision vehicle is an incredibly powerful way to make a lasting impression on people who may never have seen the reality of animals' suffering before.

- Film screenings give people an opportunity to learn about the fur issue in greater depth, empowering them to speak out against cruelty to animals. Tribe of Heart's The Witness tells the powerful story of one man's sudden awakening to animal suffering and attempts to educate others. This documentary remains one of the most effective tools animal advocates have to open people's eyes to the fur industry's abuse of animals.

IDA has big plans to help animals this Fur Free Friday: what about you? Please be a hero to animals this November 24th by taking part in this important annual day of action aimed at putting the brutal fur trade out of business. If you would like more information on getting involved, please contact antifur [at] idausa.org .


2. World Vegetarian Day in San Francisco
SFVS & IDA co-present 2-day event in Golden Gate Park

San Francisco, California -- named for Saint Francis, patron saint of animals -- is one of the most vegetarian-friendly cities on the planet, making it a fitting location for a World Vegetarian Day celebration co-presented by the San Francisco Vegetarian Society (SFVS) ( http://www.sfvs.org ) and IDA.

SFVS and IDA's World Vegetarian Day celebration will take place at the San Francisco County Fair Building in beautiful Golden Gate Park ( http://tinyurl.com/pbrzd ) on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The North American Vegetarian Society (NAVS) ( http://www.navs-online.org ), which started World Vegetarian Day in 1977, declared SFVS's 2005 celebration a winner in their Best World Vegetarian Day contest (group/institution category). Last year, approximately 3,000 visitors enjoyed SFVS's World Vegetarian Day festival. With IDA on board, we hope this year's event will be even bigger and better!

SFVS and IDA's World Vegetarian Day celebration will feature:

- World-renowned speakers John Robbins ( http://www.foodrevolution.org ), Howard Lyman ( http://www.madcowboy.com ), Dr. Alan Goldhamer ( http://www.healthpromoting.com/Articles/articles/meet.htm ), Dr. Joel Fuhrman ( http://www.drfuhrman.com ), Dr. Doug Graham ( http://www.doctorgraham.cc ), Dr. Milton Mills
( http://www.pcrm.org/magazine/gm06winter/mills.html ) and more

- The OrganicAthlete ( http://www.organicathlete.org ) Conference on Saturday, September 30th with speakers and presentations from top vegan athletes

- International vegan cuisine and healthy food demos

- Vegan vendors and non-profit booths

- A fabulous eco-fashion show

- Live entertainment, including a performance by acclaimed musician Nellie McKay ( http://www.nelliemckay.com )

- A catered vegan dinner (Saturday at 6:00 p.m.) for $12

World Vegetarian Day is free to kids, students and seniors. It is also free to everyone who comes before 10:30 a.m., after which a $5 donation is suggested.

What You Can Do:

Take a vacation in the City by the Bay -- America's top tourist destination -- during this special two-day event. San Francisco experiences its famed Indian Summer in September and October, so expect to enjoy some comfortably warm, sunny weather. Here are some essential veggie visitor tips and resources for your West Coast adventure:

- Vegan Dining: San Francisco boasts over 20 vegetarian and vegan restaurants (and about 90 in the greater Bay Area) that run the gamut of cuisines, from the culinary stylings of Millennium ( http://www.millenniumrestaurant.com ) to Café Gratitude's ( http://www.withthecurrent.com/cafe.html ) exquisite raw foods and Golden Era's ( http://www.goldeneravegetarian.com ) vegan Vietnamese. Consult Bay Area Vegetarians' "Ultimate Guide to Veg Living in the Bay Area" ( http://www.bayareaveg.org/ug/index.htm?city=-1&cat=1&veg=1&sort=4 ) to read reviews of the Bay Area's array of vegan restaurants.

- Visit an Animal Sanctuary: There are two farmed animal sanctuaries within driving distance of San Francisco: Animal Place ( http://www.animalplace.org ) and Farm Sanctuary ( http://www.farmsanctuary.org ). Please go to their websites for more information on planning visits to these wonderful places where rescued cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and rabbits live naturally in peace and harmony without fear of abuse or slaughter.

- Travel & Tourism: Visit the San Francisco Convention & Visitor's Bureau ( http://onlysf.sfvisitor.org ) for more information about planning a trip to the Bay Area, from finding an affordable hotel to exciting sights and activities that you and your family can enjoy during your stay.


3. World Farm Animals Day Off to Great Start
Start planning an event in your community now

Dozens of communities throughout the U.S. and a dozen other countries have begun planning their World Farm Animals Day (WFAD) event around October 2nd (Gandhi's birthday)! IDA is proud to co-sponsor this global day of action coordinated every year by Farm Animal Reform Movement ( http://www.farmusa.org ).

This year's featured event is a "die-in," where activists stage group deaths to represent the animals who needlessly suffer and die every day for the dinner table. This event sends a powerful message and provides a great media photo opportunity.

Other activists are choosing the more traditional funeral marches, cage-ins, video screenings, feed-ins, lectures, library exhibits, and info tables.

FARM provides free display and handout materials, instructions, national registry, and media liaison. You provide a few hours and a lot of heart. Several national organizations -- including IDA -- have signed on as co-sponsors. The animals need every one of us!

Each coordinator will be entitled to a 50% discount on FARM's new $12 "Stop the Slaughter" WFAD 2006 T-shirts and may receive an original WFAD proclamation by the local mayor or governor (when available).

This year's observance marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of The Jungle, a powerful novel in which Upton Sinclair exposed the terrible conditions of Chicago's slaughterhouses. The book was instrumental in launching the U.S. consumer movement and enacting meat inspection legislation. But conditions for the animals (and the workers) have remained virtually unchanged.

What You Can Do:

Make sure that your community is represented in this global effort! Please visit the WFAD website ( http://wfad.org ) to register and to receive an Action Kit. You can always update your plans later.


Loving Tributes

Do you have a friend or family member whose concern and care for animals you've always wanted to express appreciation for? Are you struggling to find the perfect gift for someone special on that special occasion? Perhaps you want to congratulate a new graduate, or send a unique birthday tribute or wedding present? Or maybe you or someone you know has recently lost a beloved person or animal in their life and you'd like to express your condolences.

IDA's Loving Tributes is a great way to honor your special friends or memorialize a dearly departed companion. IDA gratefully accepts and appreciates gifts "in honor" or "in memory" of a special person or companion animal.

We will notify anyone whom you designate of your thoughtful gift that helps animals. If you choose, we would be happy to print your Loving Tribute of $100 or more in a special section of IDA's Magazine.

You can make a Loving Tribute gift with MasterCard or Visa via our secure online server ( http://www.idausa.org/support.html ). If you prefer, you may send a check to IDA, Attn: Loving Tributes, 3010 Kerner Blvd, San Rafael, CA 94901, or call (415) 388-9641 to make a donation with your credit card.


The Cat Therapist

Twice a month, Carole Wilbourn, the Cat Therapist, answers questions and offers advice on how guardians can enrich their relationships with their beloved feline companions. Click http://idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html to read the latest Cats on the Couch column. Also visit Carole's Cat Store ( http://www.thecattherapist.com/cat_store.htm ) to purchase a copy of her classic book, "Cat Talk: What Your Cat is Trying to Tell You."

Subscribe to IDA's Weekly eNews

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