IDA eNews: 8/30/06

IDA ACTION ALERTS
1. New Elephant Abuse Allegations Surface at El Paso Zoo
2. Chicago Foie Gras Ban Under Attack
3. Help Save Endangered Steller Sea Lions

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. Pig Documentary to Air Nationally
2. Participate in National Primate Liberation Week
3. Hurricane Katrina - One Year Later

IDA ACTION ALERTS

1. New Elephant Abuse Allegations Surface at El Paso Zoo
Employee caught beating Sissy on 1999 video allegedly strikes
another elephant

In 1999, two El Paso Zoo employees were captured on videotape
viciously beating an elephant named Sissy with ax handles. With
three of her legs chained to the ground and the fourth tied to a
bar, Sissy was unable to escape the blows, which were so hard
that she fell down twice. The Zoo director at the time defended
the violence by saying it was for "the safety of zookeepers."

Given this audacious response to a well-documented incident of
abuse, it is not surprising that seven years later we may be
seeing history repeat itself as Allan Seidon, one of the same
handlers caught red-handed in this infamous video, is alleged to
have hit another elephant at the Zoo. An anonymous source at
City Hall recently told reporters that Seidon (who was not fired
after beating Sissy but promoted to zoo collections supervisor!)
has struck another elephant under his care. While Zoo officials
have not responded to these allegations, Seidon allegedly has
been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Following the public's outrage over Sissy's abuse, she was
transferred to The Elephant Sanctuary ( http://elephants.com/ ), a
2,700-acre refuge in Hohenwald, Tenn., where she has flourished
and now lives with a large group of Asian elephants. Activists
had also worked to get Juno and Savannah, the two elephants
remaining at the El Paso Zoo, sent to the sanctuary to join
Sissy, but the El Paso City Council last year instead voted to
make improvements to the Zoo's outdated elephant enclosure. Yet
in the year since that vote took place, the City Council has
taken no significant action.

The fact that El Paso Zoo has repeatedly failed to protect
elephants from physical abuse is but one of the institutional
failings of its elephant program. The Zoo also cannot provide
the large amount of space that elephants need for movement that
is critical to maintaining their health, and the Zoo fails to
meet the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' recommendations for
elephant group size. It is abundantly clear that El Paso is
unable or unwilling to commit the resources necessary to fulfill
the physical and social needs of the two elephants at the Zoo,
and therefore, in the interest of Juno and Savannah's health and
safety, the Zoo must send them to The Elephant Sanctuary and
close the elephant exhibit.

What You Can Do:

Urge El Paso's Mayor and all City Council members
(http://ga0.org/campaign/EPZelephantabuse/udinnkzyt7wj5x?) to close the Zoo's elephant
exhibit and send the two remaining elephants, Juno and Savannah,
to The Elephant Sanctuary where they will have a chance at
healing and a better life. To have a greater impact, also
contact these officials directly by postal mail, phone or email.


Mayor John Cook
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: (915)541-4145, Fax: (915)541-4501
mayor [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 1 - Ann Morgan Lilly
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4151, Fax: 915-541-4380
district1 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 2 - Susie Byrd
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4416, Fax: 915-541-4348
district2 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 3 - J. Alexandro Lozano
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall,
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4515, Fax: 915-541-4258
district3 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 4 - Melina Castro
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4140, Fax: 915-541-4213
district4 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 5 - Presi Ortega
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4701, Fax: 915-541-4360
district5 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 6 - Eddie Holguin Jr.
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4178, Fax: 915-541-4262
district6 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 7 - Steve Ortega
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4108, Fax: 915-541-4134
district7 [at] elpasotexas.gov

District 8 - Beto O'Rourke
2 Civic Center Plaza
10th floor of City Hall
El Paso, Texas 79901
Phone: 915-541-4123, Fax: 915-541-4300
district8 [at] elpasotexas.gov

2. Chicago Foie Gras Ban Under Attack
Illinois Restaurant Association files lawsuit to overturn humane
law

In April 2006, Chicago became the first U.S. city to ban foie
gras when the City Council passed an historic ordinance
prohibiting the sale of products made from the fattened,
diseased livers of force-fed ducks and geese. Yet on August
22nd, the day the ban went into effect, the Illinois Restaurant
Association and one restaurant announced they would file a
lawsuit charging that the City Council overstepped its bounds in
passing the ban. In addition, several restaurants have publicly
declared their intention to defy the ban by illegally serving
foie gras.

The plaintiffs' lawsuit claims that the City Council lacks the
authority to ban foie gras simply because of the cruelty
involved in its production because the product in question is
not produced in Chicago. Yet Jennifer Hoyle of the city's law
department dismissed this argument as unfounded. "Fireworks,
guns, we regulate all those things and they aren't produced in
Chicago," she said. The ban's legitimacy is also supported by a
recent Zogby poll showing that 79% of Illinois residents oppose
force feeding and support a foie gras ban.

Meanwhile, a small but vocal number of chefs have said that they
will still serve their customers foie gras -- it just won't
appear on the menu. Didier Durand, chef and owner of Cyrano's
Bistrot & Wine Bar, explains how this will work. "On the check
you won't see foie gras," he said. "You will see roasted
potatoes $16." It is noteworthy that none of the restaurants
claiming to still serve foie gras have been fined, raising
concerns about the effectiveness of a law that is not being
enforced.

What You Can Do:

- Chicago residents: Tell your Chicago City Councilmember that
you support the ban on foie gras ( http://tinyurl.com/4cuyr ). Let
them know that the criticism they are getting right now is only
coming from a small group of people with a vested economic
interest in perpetuating the cruelty of foie gras, and that the
majority of Chicago residents are proud to live in the first
U.S. city to take a stand against the abuse of ducks and geese
for a frivolous and overpriced "delicacy."

- Bills to ban foie gras are pending in several states right now
( http://www.stopforcefeeding.com/page.php?module=article&article_id=25 ).
If you live in a state where a ban has not been introduced,
please contact banfoiegras [at] idausa.org for information on how to
get your legislators to introduce a ban.

For more information about foie gras, please visit
http://www.StopForceFeeding.com .

3. Help Save Endangered Steller Sea Lions
Tell government agencies to protect this species

The Department of Commerce (DOC) and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are currently seeking public
input from U.S. residents regarding management of the Steller
sea lion, which is on the decline even though it is protected
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the Marine Mammal
Protection Act.

Over the last 40 years, about 80% of the world's Steller sea
lion population has died off, leaving only about 40,000 alive
today. Researchers believe that overfishing in Alaska, which
depletes the Steller sea lions' food supply, is the main cause
for their waning numbers. The request for comments from the DOC
and NOAA allows the public to determine how the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS), which is responsible for preserving
the Steller sea lion, manages this species.

What You Can Do:

Let decision makers know that protecting the endangered Steller
sea lion from extinction is more important than profits for
fisheries (http://ga0.org/campaign/StellerSeaLion/udinnkzyt7wj5x?). Be sure to edit the
sample letter to express your personal perspective. To have even
more impact, also send a letter to:

Diana Hynek, Departmental Paperwork Clearance Officer
Department of Commerce, Room 6625
14th and Constitution Avenue, NW.
Washington, DC 20230

Comments must be received before October 16, 2006 to be
considered. For more information, contact Dan Lew at (206)
526-4252 or Dan.Lew [at] noaa.gov .


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. Pig Documentary to Air Nationally
Watch 110 Kilos in 25 Weeks on Link TV in September

Back in February of this year
( http://www.idausa.org/undercovertv/utv_witness.html ), IDA
helped get the groundbreaking animal rights documentary The
Witness aired across the nation on Link TV
( http://www.worldlinktv.org ), a satellite channel that reaches
millions of viewers throughout the U.S. We are pleased to report
that this station will be airing another animal-related film
starting on Labor Day called 110 Kilos in 25 Weeks.

This documentary portrays what it is like to be a pig on a
modern farm in Holland. The title refers to the rapid growth
that the subject of the film, Knor, undergoes as an animal who
was brought into the world for the sole purpose of being turned
into pork products. He is fattened quickly and slaughtered when
only six months old to maximize the farm's profit.

What You Can Do:

If you get Link TV (channel 375 on DirectTV, and channel 9410 on
the DISH Network), watch 110 Kilos in 25 Weeks when it airs. See
the program schedule.
( http://www.linktv.org/programming/programDescription.php4?code=knor )


For more information on factory farming, please read IDA's
factsheet. ( http://www.idausa.org/facts/factoryfarmfacts.html )

2. Participate in National Primate Liberation Week
Join or organize an event between October 7th and 15th

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW ( http://www.saenonline.org ) is
coordinating the annual National Primate Liberation Week (NPLW)
this year from October 7th to 15th. This is the only national
event that focuses exclusively on the use of primates in
laboratories.

Please speak out for the chimpanzees, rhesus monkeys, spider
monkeys, marmosets, lemurs, squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, and
all the other innocent primate species who suffer in research
experiments during this week of action. Last year, NPLW events
were held in 21 cities covering 17 states and Australia. Please
help make this year even bigger.

What You Can Do:

If you would like to participate in or organize an event, please
write to saen [at] saenonline.org . SAEN will post your event on their
NPLW 2006 webpage to let people know it is happening.

Also visit http://www.vivisectioninfo.org to learn more about how you
can help animals in labs.

3. Hurricane Katrina - One Year Later
Rescue and rebuilding continue on anniversary of national
tragedy

It was exactly one year ago yesterday, Tuesday, August 29th,
that Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast region. The
Category 5 storm killed at least 1,800 people and caused over
$80 billion in damages, making it the worst natural disaster in
U.S. history.

Animals were hit perhaps the hardest of all. While some
guardians refused to leave their homes without their animals,
tens of thousands of animal companions were abandoned to almost
certain death because Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
rescuers ordered evacuees to leave their friends behind. Many
drowned in the floodwaters while others died from starvation or
disease in Katrina's wake. Millions of farmed animals also lost
their lives.

Brave rescuers from around the nation who entered the disaster
zone as the storm receded to help animal survivors found a
devastated wasteland in total chaos. They broke into houses and
took any animals still alive to makeshift shelters that were
quickly filled beyond capacity. Their heroic efforts saved
thousands of lives and relieved much suffering.

IDA-Project Hope rescuers were among the many that conducted
search and rescue missions and provided care for newly-homeless
animals. We are still dealing with Katrina's aftermath even a
year later. IDA's Matt Rossell and Connie Durkee, for instance,
have made numerous trips to New Orleans and Mississippi,
assisting with rescue efforts for animals affected by Hurricane
Katrina. They rescued dozens of animals and continue, to this
day, supporting the overcrowded shelters in the gulf area by
transporting animals to the Northwest. Connie is currently on a
relay meeting volunteers from the Waveland Animal Shelter in
Mississippi halfway in Denver to transport displaced animals to
the Seattle area.

Katrina was a wake up call for the nation, and the U.S.
government has taken action to help prevent such tragedies from
reoccurring. Many states have passed or are considering bills to
ensure the safety of animals in large-scale disasters, and
Congress recently approved the Pets Evacuation and
Transportation Standards (PETS) Act. If President Bush approves
the PETS Act, local and state authorities will be required to
provide for the needs of animal companions and their guardians
during disasters to be eligible for FEMA grants.

While these new federal and state laws are a step in the right
direction, each of us must also do our own part. The new
documentary Dark Water Rising: The Truth About Hurricane Katrina
Animal Rescues ( http://www.darkwaterrising.com ), sponsored
nationally by IDA, is a timely reminder that we must never let
such a tragedy happen again. Based on his experiences making the
film, director Mike Shiley stresses the primacy of individual
preparedness. "Anyone who believes their government will fully
protect them during an emergency is setting themselves up for
disaster," he said. "Every person must take personal
responsibility for the welfare of their family -- human and
animal alike -- before disaster strikes."

What You Can Do:

- Learn more about how to prepare yourself and your family for
disaster.
( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=4183041 )

- Learn more about Dark Water Rising,
( http://www.guardiancampaign.com/article_060802.htm ) including
when it will screen in your area and how to order a DVD.

- Donate to IDA to support our ongoing rescue efforts
( http://idausa.org/donate.html ). Please indicate "hurricane" in
the first name field in the "in honor of" section of the form.

IDA's Vehicle Donation Program

Did you know that your car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle could
save a life?

If you have an old vehicle that's taking up space in your
driveway or garage, you could donate it to IDA through our Car
Program to help us save the lives of animals!

It's simple to do. Just visit our web site at
http://www.idausa.org/supportf.html and follow the link under the
heading "Donate Your Used Vehicle" which will direct you to a
form that you can fill out and submit to us electronically. Or
give us a call at (415) 388-9641, ext. 218, and Sage, our Member
Services Assistant, will help you.


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