IDA's Bay Area Events

Table of Contents
1. Lark Creek Inn Goes Foie Gras Free - June 9th Protest Cancelled!
2. Boycott Canadian Seafood: Attend Red Lobster Protest
3. Attend SF Commission of Animal Control and Welfare Meeting
4. Urge the Oakland City Council to Keep Animal Shelter Open
5. Animal Images Used as Targets at Oakland Archery Course

1. Lark Creek Inn Goes Foie Gras Free - June 9th Protest Cancelled!

In a letter to the Animal Rights Committee of the Marin Peace & Justice Coalition dated June 2, 2005, The Lark Creek Inn indicated that they have taken foie gras off their menu and are not serving it at this time. That same day they took foie gras off their web site sample menu. As a result, the protest that was slated for today, June 9th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at The Lark Creek Inn in Larkspur, Calif. has been CANCELLED.

Unfortunately, The Lark Creek Group continues to sell and promote Foie Gras at some of their other restaurants, particularly One Market in San Francisco and Parcel 104 in Santa Clara.

What You Can Do

Please send a letter of thanks to The Lark Creek Inn for not selling foie gras in Marin, and ask that they extend this compassionate policy to their other restaurants.

Mr. Bradley Ogden
Chef/Owner
Lark Creek Restaurant Group

Marin office:
234 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur,CA 94939
Tel: (415) 924-7767
Fax: (415) 924-7117
or
San Francisco Office:
1 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: (415) 777-5588
Fax: (415) 777-4411

For more information about The Lark Creek Group, go to http://www.larkcreek.com


2. Boycott Canadian Seafood: Attend Red Lobster Protest

The horrific slaughter of over 300,000 harp seals each year by Canadian fishermen continues despite massive worldwide protests. Now is the time to put an end to this atrocity once and for all by hitting the seal hunters where it hurts: their paychecks. While Canadian exports of seafood to the U.S. are worth at least $3.3 billion, Canadian fishermen make a mere $16 million from the seal hunt every year - a fraction of a percent of their total annual income. By boycotting the Canadian seafood industry, we can ensure that Canadian fishermen pay a high price for choosing to continue the cruel seal hunt.

A boycott against Canadian seafood is already well underway, with restaurants and retailers such as Legal Sea Foods, Down East Seafood and Whole Foods Market on board. Now it's time for Red Lobster - one of the largest importers of Canadian seafood - to stop supporting the seal hunt.

What You Can Do

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is coordinating a day of action against Red Lobster on June 25th, when activists will be organizing demonstrations at Red Lobster locations across North America. Please join IDA at a protest in the Bay Area to let the public know that the franchise's purchasing decisions directly subsidize the inhumane seal massacre.

What: Canadian seafood boycott protest at Red Lobster
When: Saturday, June 25th from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Where: The Red Lobster at 1210 El Camino Real, San Bruno (click http://tinyurl.com/98wng for directions)

For more information and to RSVP, contact Alicia Moore at (415) 388-9641 ext 228, or Alicia [at] idausa.org You can learn more about HSUS's campaign to stop the seal hunt at http://www.protectseals.org


3. Attend SF Commission of Animal Control and Welfare Meeting

The San Francisco Commission of Animal Control and Welfare is meeting today to discuss recommendations regarding vicious dogs and will take public comments on the issue. In light of recent incidents, the Commission may discuss possible prohibitions on the breeding and selling of pit bulls in the city and county of San Francisco. Donna Reynolds from Bad Rap, an expert regarding pit bulls, will be one of the featured speakers. Please attend this meeting to learn more and to voice your concerns about this issue.

What: SF Commission of Animal Control and Welfare Meeting
When: Thursday, June 9th at 5:30 p.m.
Where: City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408, San Francisco (click http://www.sfgov.org/site/cityhall_index.asp?id=5244 for directions)


4. Urge the Oakland City Council to Keep Animal Shelter Open

Oakland Animal Services recently closed down on a normal operating day due to lack of funds to pay an adequate number of staff. This actually cost the taxpayers more money than if the shelter had stayed open because animals that could have been adopted out one day earlier now remain in the shelter. In addition, the animals were kept unnecessarily in cages for an additional day when they could have been adjusting to a new home a day sooner.

What You Can Do

Click http://ga0.org/campaign/OAS to let the Oakland City Council know that instead of closing the shelter down on normal business days, the City needs to make sure it has the resources to stay open so that animals can find homes.


5. Animal Images Used as Targets at Oakland Archery Course

The Archers' Course at Robert's Park in Oakland is using depictions of animals (such as deer, coyote and bears) as targets, rather than the typical "bull's eye." They shouldn't be using animal pictures, given that Roberts Park is an archery range, not a hunting practice area.

What You Can Do

Please write a polite letter to the Archer's group encouraging them to change their targets.
Redwood Bowman
10900 Skyline Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94611

Let them know that animal images should not be used as targets, as it is inappropriate and incites violence against animals. Ask them to replace the animal targets with the traditional "bull's eye" used at other archery ranges.