IDA's Bay Area Events

Table of Contents:
1. Demonstration Against the Rodeo
2. Boycott Canadian Seafood: Attend Red Lobster Protest
3. Hunting Expo Protest
4. Gopher Gardening
5. Thank You for Making IDA's International Day for Korean Dogs & Cats a Success


1. Demonstration Against the Rodeo

The horses, cows, calves and bulls used in rodeos are normally docile animals, but they must appear wild and dangerous in order for the cowboys to seem brave and for the "entertainment" of the crowd. Handlers therefore terrorize and torture animals behind the scenes where they are held in chutes from which they cannot escape. Rodeo workers use electric prods, flank straps, ropes and spurs to enrage and agitate these otherwise gentle creatures.

When the door of the chute opens and the poor animals try to escape their tormenters, they are only further brutalized for "sport." Baby calves only a few months old are chased on horseback, lassoed and strangled by a rope around the neck, then slammed on their backs and tied by their legs. Cowboys jump from horses on top of steers, grab their horns and violently twist their heads until they are forced to hit the ground. Already domesticated horses are made to appear as if they are bucking broncos by tightly cinching flanks around their sensitive abdomens where there is no rib cage. The horses run and jump in a frenzy trying to alleviate their pain, making them appear wild and ferocious.

Animals used in rodeos are controlled and oppressed both openly and behind the scenes by humans in a display of domination over "brute" animals. People who attend rodeos may not be aware of the terror and suffering that animals endure for their amusement, so we aim to inform them. Please join Silicon Valley IDA for a demonstration against the rodeo.

What: Demonstration against the rodeo
When: Saturday July 23 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Salinas Sport Complex, 1034 N. Main Street, Salinas (click http://tinyurl.com/a7uuf for directions)

For more information about the event or carpooling, call (408) 286-5204 or (650) 965-8705, or write to bkind2animals [at] comcast.net .


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.

Following in the footsteps of the Humane Society of the United States' (HSUS) successful day of action in June, Harpseals.org is coordinating another day of action against Red Lobster in July, when activists will be organizing demonstrations at Red Lobster locations across North America. Please join IDA activists and other animal advocates at a protest in the San Francisco 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, July 30 from 12:00 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 Karen Steele at (415) 388-9641 ext 217, or karen [at] idausa.org . You can learn more about the international campaign to stop the seal hunt at http://www.harpseals.org .


3. Hunting Expo Protest

Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods prides itself on giving back to the community by supporting charitable causes such as child welfare and protection organizations. So why are they hosting a fall hunting and shooting expo at their San Jose location? Billing this event on their website as "a fun filled day at the store" is odd, given that they are essentially promoting the brutal murder of helpless animals with high-powered weapons. Perhaps stranger still is that a sporting goods retailer would promote hunting, which cannot even be considered a sport because the animal "participants" would not take part in it if given the choice. Hunters define the activity as a sport only because they basically see living beings as sporting goods, akin to moving targets expressly made by nature for their shooting pleasure.

Mel Cotton's also claims on their website that they hold on-site events to "educate" customers. The only thing a hunting and shooting expo teaches people is disrespect for the lives of our fellow beings and their habitats. Of course, as a business Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods aims to make money, and this expo gives them an excellent opportunity to sell more guns and hunting equipment. Obviously, Mel Cotton's real purpose for holding this event is to make a pretty profit off the blood of innocent animals.

Join Silicon Valley IDA in protesting Mel Cotton's first-ever "murder of animals" event.

What: Hunting expo protest
When: August 6 and 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: 1266 West San Carlos Street, San Jose (click http://www.melcottons.com/storedirect.html for directions)

Schools, teachers and students are welcome at this protest. Signs will be provided. For more information about the event, call (650) 965-8705, or write to bkind2animals [at] comcast.net .

If you are unable to attend the protest, please call or write Mel Cotton's and politely let them know that you will not shop there if they continue to promote the killing of wildlife. Let them know that being hunted, shot and killed for "sport" is no "fun" for the animals.

Contact information:
Mel Cotton's Sporting Goods
1266 West San Carlos Street
San Jose, CA 95126
Tel: (408) 287-5994
Fax: (408) 298-3536
Email: http://www.melcottons.com/feedback.html


4. Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach

Join the San Francisco Wildlife Protection Project, a joint effort by IDA and the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, to create a wildlife "sanctuary" along the Great Highway. By landscaping the area according to the Parks Department's specifications, volunteers create a habitat for native gophers and prevent them from being trapped and killed. This is an ongoing monthly effort, and happens on the first Saturday of each month. Please give us a hand so we can help the gophers.

What: Gopher Gardening
When: Saturday, August 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (note that this event will take place on the 2nd Saturday of the month in August and September rather than the 1st Saturday of the month)
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 to this event.

For more information, please contact Kevin Connelly at (415) 388-9641, ext. 226 or kevin [at] idausa.org .


5. Thank You for Making IDA's International Day for Korean Dogs & Cats a Success

On July 15, 2005 demonstrations were held throughout the world to kick off International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats, shining a spotlight on the illegal dog and cat meat trade in South Korea. Activists worldwide joined together in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Tanzania and the United States to speak in defense of Korean dogs and cats. This day also signified the first of Korea's Bok days, the hottest days of the year, and the season when the most dogs are consumed. Why? Because some hold a superstitious a belief that eating the flesh of dogs (who do not sweat) will keep them cool in hot weather.

Thank you to all the IDA members and the wonderful dogs that joined us at the South Korean Consulate for the demonstration in San Francisco. Your presence made a powerful statement to consulate officials and helped inform Bay Area residents and visitors of the plight these poor animals face as victims of cruelty. We successfully presented over 5,000 petition signatures we had collected to the Korean Consulate. A representative sent by the Consulate General took the time to meet with us, accept the petitions, and listen to our concerns about this issue.

IDA will continue to work hard on our campaigns to end the terrible suffering of these and other animals. Please visit our website for campaign developments at http://www.idausa.org . We will keep you updated on upcoming demonstrations for this and other campaigns we are working on through our weekly Bay Area alerts.

As IDA's Bay Area Campaign Coordinator, I urge everyone to attend future demonstrations and to be a strong voice for the animals that so badly need our help. Please feel free to contact me at Karen [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 217 concerning upcoming Bay Area events. Thank you once again for your invaluable help.