IDA - Bay Area Events

IDA EVENTS
1. Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach
2. International Day of Action for Korean Dogs and Cats
3. 3rd Annual National Feral Cat Summit Coming to Bay Area
4. SFVS & IDA Co-Present World Vegetarian Day in San Francisco
OTHER BAY AREA EVENTS TO HELP ANIMALS
1. Fundraising Party for SF Animal Care & Control
2. Compassionate Cooks' July Cooking Class: "Burgers & Backyard Bites"
3. Book Group Discussion - "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon"
4. Protect Pacific Coast Marine Animals from Drift Gillnet and Longline Fishing


IDA EVENTS

1. Gopher Gardening at Ocean Beach

Join the San Francisco Wildlife Protection Project, an effort by 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 usually takes place on the first Saturday of each month.

What: Gopher Gardening
When: Saturday, August 5th, 9:00 a.m. - 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 to this event.

For more information, please contact Melissa Gonzalez at melissa [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 228.


2. International Day of Action for Korean Dogs and Cats

In an effort to shine a spotlight on the illegal trade in dog and cat meat in South Korea, IDA has again teamed up with Animal Freedom Korea (AFK) ( http://www.animalkorea.org ) to hold our 2nd annual International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats. This year's global day of action, co-sponsored by Korean animal protection groups CARE and KAAP, will be held on July 20th, 2006, to coincide with the first of Korea's "Bok days" (literally, the hot, dog days of summer). South Korea's dog meat consumption increases during this time of year because some superstitiously believe they can keep cool by eating animals who do not sweat.

Last year, IDA and AFK successfully organized activists from a dozen countries - including Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Columbia, Ireland, Mexico, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Spain and Tanzania - for this international day of protest. In the U.S., demonstrators converged on Korean consulates and embassies in New York City; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Ga.; San Francisco and Los Angeles, Calif.; and Portland, Ore. to oppose the illegal eating of cats and dogs in South Korea.

The international press covered the protests favorably in several newspapers and online news websites. In Seoul, South Korea, dozens of protestors rallied the public against dog and cat consumption with colorful signs, costumes and inventive tactics like locking themselves in small cages dressed as dogs. In San Francisco, 20 people came to IDA's protest at the Korean Consulate and a good number brought their companion dogs to be ambassadors for their exploited canine cousins in Korea. In the few short weeks leading up to the demonstration, activists collected over 5,000 petition signatures, which were presented to the Korean Consulate at the protest.

IDA extends our heartfelt thanks to all of the dedicated animal advocates around the world (people and dogs) who made last year's International Day for Korea's Dogs and Cats so successful. Visit http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/int_day_7_05.html to see pictures of last year's events. Please join us again this year on July 20th as we urge the South Korean Government to enforce a ban on the consumption of dogs and cats and introduce meaningful legislation to protect the animals in Korea.

What You Can Do:

- Attend IDA's San Francisco protest on Thursday, July 20th.

What: International Day of Action for Korean Dogs and Cats
When: Thursday, July 20th from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Republic of Korea Consulate General in San Francisco, 3500 Clay Street (near Laurel Street - click http://tinyurl.com/qmhje for a map)

- Organize an event of your own if you can't make it to IDA's protest in San Francisco. Write to koreandogs [at] idausa.org and we'll add your event to our protest page and send you posters and leaflets. To learn more about this issue, click http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/korean.html .


3. 3rd Annual National Feral Cat Summit Coming to Bay Area

IDA is proud to co-sponsor the 3rd Annual National Feral Cat Summit this September in San Francisco. This one-day conference will feature presentations and workshops by feral cat experts and Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) leaders from around the country as well as a special welcome address by IDA founder and President Elliot Katz, DVM. Presentations will emphasize practical information and instruction to help participants more effectively advocate for feral cats and implement TNR programs in their communities.

What: 3rd Annual National Feral Cat Summit
When: Saturday, September 9th, 2006 from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Where: South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Blvd., South San Francisco (click http://www.ssfconf.com/accomodations/accom_directions.asp for directions)

Registration is $40 before August 1st and $50 thereafter (the registration fee includes a vegan lunch). For the complete program and to register, please click http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/special/nfc_summit_2006.htm .


4. SFVS & IDA Co-Present World Vegetarian Day in San Francisco

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. This two-day event will take place at the San Francisco County Fair Building in beautiful Golden Gate Park (click http://tinyurl.com/pbrzd for a map) on Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The festival will feature:

- World-renowned speakers John Robbins ( http://www.foodrevolution.org ), Howard Lyman ( http://www.madcowboy.com ), Dr. John McDougall ( http://www.drmcdougall.com ), Dr. Joel Fuhrman ( http://www.drfuhrman.com ), Dr. Doug Graham ( http://www.doctorgraham.cc ), IDA Spokesperson Kenneth Williams ( http://www.idausa.org/kgw_frame.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

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

Make plans now to attend. 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. This is sure to be an event you won't want to miss!


OTHER BAY AREA EVENTS TO HELP ANIMALS

1. Fundraising Party for SF Animal Care & Control

San Francisco Animal Care & Control (ACC) is having a 17th anniversary bash to raise funds for shelter improvements and everyone is invited! ACC's Green for the Green (G4G) party - or Dollars for the Dog Park - will help the municipal animal shelter improve their facilities by resurfacing their nearby dog park (where the party will be held) with new artificial turf.

Chosen after months of research, the refurbished dog park will have many advantages over the current grass ground cover. This becomes a miserable, muddy bog during rainy months and requires periodic resodding, which can keep the park closed. The artificial turf will include a built-in drainage system and be much easier to maintain and clean. Overall, it will be safer and more pleasant for the dogs and their guardians, improving the quality of animal socialization and play time.

ACC's G4G Party will include delicious vegetarian and vegan food, desserts, wines, a silent auction, live jazz and a few surprises. Dogs are also very welcome to attend!

What: SF Animal Care & Control G4G Party
When: Sunday, July 16th from 6:00 - 9:30 p.m.
Where: 1200 15th Street (at Harrison), San Francisco (click http://tinyurl.com/neo4t for directions)

Tickets to the G4G Party are $25 per person. To reserve your spot, send a check to FSFACC, P.O. Box 2443, San Francisco, CA 94126-2443. You can also pay by credit card by logging on to http://www.Paypal.com and sending payment to the e-mail address HelpAnimals [at] FSFACC.org . To reserve by phone, call (415) 822-5566 (you will be put on a will-call list and can pay at the door on July 16th). To donate a prize for the silent auction, please call (415) 822-5566 (prize donors will be admitted free). ACC volunteers and staff, the volunteers of ACC's rescue partners and FSFACC donors (since July 2005) may attend the party on a "pay-what-you-can" basis.


2. Compassionate Cooks' July Cooking Class: "Burgers & Backyard Bites"

Join IDA-sponsored Compassionate Cooks for their next vegan cooking class, "Burgers & Backyard Bites," and learn to make five delicious, nutritious dishes including mushroom pecan burgers, spicy black bean burgers, tantalizing Thai slaw, perfect potato salad, classic chocolate chip cookies. This class will also feature a special taste test of non-dairy ice creams. Using local, in-season, mostly organic ingredients, Compassionate Cooks features easy-to-prepare recipes and debunks myths about plant-based diets. Join the class in July for yummy food samples and a lot of fun!

What: Compassionate Cooks' July Cooking Class: "Burgers & Backyard Bites"
When: Saturday, July 22nd, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Where: The First Unitarian Church of Oakland, 685 14th Street (at Castro), Oakland (click http://uuoakland.org/directions.htm for directions)

Be sure to register in advance either online at http://www.compassionatecooks.com/reg.htm or by calling (510) 531-COOK. You can also mail a check to Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, P.O. Box 18512, Oakland, CA 94619. The $45 cost of the class includes instruction, food samples, copies of recipes and much more.


3. Book Group Discussion - "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon"

Join Bay Area Vegetarians (BAVeg) ( http://www.bayareaveg.org ) in a book discussion of "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals" by acclaimed author and psychologist Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson. This first-of-its-kind book is about animals who most people eat but never meet. Masson interweaves fascinating facts and history with compelling stories of the individual cows, chickens, sheep and pigs who populate the book's pages. In doing this, he shows how these animals relate to each other and ultimately to us, providing a deeper understanding and appreciation for the emotional lives of non-human species.

Read this powerful and highly recommended book and discuss it with others while enjoying delicious vegan ice cream at MaggieMudd ( http://www.maggiemudd.com ). Click http://tinyurl.com/z8qmv to order a copy of the book - now out in paperback - and to read reviews.

What: Book discussion - "The Pig Who Sang to the Moon: The Emotional World of Farm Animals"
When: Saturday, July 22nd starting at 3:00 p.m.
Where: MaggieMudd, 903 Cortland Avenue, San Francisco (click http://tinyurl.com/nfkpm to view the evite invitation, get directions and RSVP for this event)

This book discussion is part of BAVeg's Compassionate Living program, which is typically held on the 2nd Sunday of each month. BAVeg started this program to provide an opportunity for people to examine different topics related to vegetarian living, education, and advocacy via speakers, discussions, and films. Click http://bayareaveg.org/cl.htm to learn about other upcoming events in this series


4. Protect Pacific Coast Marine Animals from Drift Gillnet and Longline Fishing

The U.S. government is now working towards bringing back two of the most deadly and environmentally-destructive forms of fishing to the U.S. Pacific Coast. Though use of the notorious "curtains of death" known as drift gillnets has been banned on the high seas by the United Nations and restricted in the waters along the entire West Coast, it could be reinstated as soon as August. The revival of drift gillnets and a possible reversal of the ban on deadly longline fishing techniques would put the lives millions of marine animals in currently protected waters at serious risk.

In drift gillnet fishing, fishermen lower gigantic nets approximately one mile in length into the ocean in the evening to catch fish and hoist them up the next morning to retrieve their catch. However, countless other aquatic species -- including sea turtles, whales, dolphins, seals and sharks -- also become entangled in the nearly invisible traps. Some of them (such as marine mammals that need to come up for air and sharks who need to keep swimming in order to breathe through their gills) drown for lack of oxygen. These animals are not commercially valuable and are therefore typically thrown, dead of dying, back into the sea. Many of these species are critically endangered, such as the leatherback sea turtle, which scientists warn could soon become extinct in the Pacific if longlines and gillnets continue to be used.

Similar dangers are also connected with industrial longline fishing, in which a line that is up to 60 miles long is embedded with thousands of hooks and trailed behind a boat. Longline fishing has been banned along the entire U.S. West Coast since 2004, but steps are also being taken to renew the practice in these waters. It is estimated that longline fishing inadvertently snares 40,000 sea turtles, 300,000 seabirds, and millions of sharks worldwide each year. Both of these indiscriminate fishing methods are extremely destructive to the environment. They are to the ocean what clear-cutting is to forests, or what strip-mining for minerals is to the earth. Together they represent the main causes of overfishing and the dangerous depletion of fish populations in the world's oceans.

What You Can Do:

Urge the government not to roll back protections for aquatic animals by reintroducing these destructive fishing practices along the Pacific coast. Click %takeaction-fishing% to send a letter to NOAA Fisheries asking them to keep drift gillnet and longline fishing out of protected areas along the Pacific Coast. Please also contact NOAA Fisheries' director by phone, fax, personal email or postal mail.

Dr. William Hogarth, Director
NOAA Fisheries Service
1315 East West Highway, SSMC3
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Tel: (301) 713-2379
Fax: (301) 713-2384
Email: bill.hogarth [at] noaa.gov