IDA eNews: 6/20/07

ACTION ALERTS
1. Federal Legislation Threatens State Animal Protection Laws
2. Urge Veg Rockers Not to Perform at Brutal Rodeo
3. Hurricane Season is Coming: Are You Prepared?

CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES
1. Exciting IDA-Africa Benefit: Born To Be Wild
2. International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats - July 25
3. New Online Video Documents Japanese Dolphin Slaughter


ACTION ALERTS

1. Federal Legislation Threatens State Animal Protection Laws
Urge your members of Congress to ensure Farm Bill preserves voters' rights

In recent years and for the first time in American history, several states have passed laws prohibiting certain particularly inhumane factory farming methods. However, California's ban on force-feeding ducks and geese, the phasing out of gestation and veal crates in Arizona and elsewhere, horse slaughter bans in several states, and other key animal protection laws could all automatically become null and void if an agribusiness-driven provision buried in the new Farm Bill being considered by Congress is approved.

If this provision passes, states and localities will be forbidden to enact laws banning practices or products that they decide are a threat to public health, safety, or morals -- including those aimed at improving animal welfare, food safety, or environmental sustainability. Here is the language of the provision from Title 1 of the draft Chairman's Mark for the Farm Bill ( http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/2007FarmBill.html ) as it is currently written:

“SEC. 123. EFFECT OF USDA INSPECTION AND DETERMINATION OF NON-REGULATED STATUS

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no State or locality shall make any law prohibiting the use in commerce of an article that the Secretary of Agriculture has--
(1) inspected and passed; or
(2) determined to be of non-regulated status.”

Though short, this provision is wide in scope, and could have disastrous consequences for animal protection, potentially destroying years of hard work and closing off future prospects for passing humane laws. It would effectively take democracy out of the hands of states and voters and allow the federal government to dictate what constitutes "humane" treatment of animals -- even as our society is starting to recognize certain industrial farming practices are inherently cruel and unacceptable.

What You Can Do:

The Agriculture Committee is expected to vote on the Farm Bill on June 26, and could send it to the House floor by early to mid-July with Title 1, Section 123 still in place. Please "Take Action" now to tell your federal Representative and Senators that they must not pass a Farm Bill that would prevent states and localities from making their own laws to protect animals, food safety, and the environment ( %takeaction-farmbill123% ). Feel free to edit the sample letter as you wish, and to follow up with a polite phone call or letter to your elected officials ( http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/leg-lookup/search.html ).


2. Urge Veg Rockers Not to Perform at Brutal Rodeo
Tell Def Leppard and Bon Jovi that animal cruelty isn't cool

Wyoming's Cheyenne Frontier Days is one of the largest and most violent rodeos in the world. That is why it seems especially odd that rock group Def Leppard (http://www.defleppard.com) -- half of whose members are vegetarians -- have agreed to play there, along with Bon Jovi ( http://www6.islandrecords.com/bonjovi/lost_highway_splash/ ).

While the details of Jon Bon Jovi's dietary ethics are unknown, it is public knowledge that Def Leppard band members Phil Collen, Rick Allen, and Vivian Campbell, as well as producer John "Mutt" Lange, do not eat meat. Collen, the band's lead guitarist, went vegetarian in 1983 out of empathy for animals and the horror they suffer on factory farms, eventually inspiring some of his band mates -- and many fans -- to go veg. Despite this, Def Leppard has still signed onto the lineup at Cheyenne Frontier Days, which has a particularly long and bloody history of injuring and killing animals ( http://www.shameoncheyenne.com ) in the course of competitions.

By getting Def Leppard and Bon Jovi to perform at Frontier Days, promoters hope to draw a paying crowd of music fans to a cruel rodeo that they would otherwise not choose to attend. Worse yet, by playing at this event, the bands are directly supporting the abuse of animals for "entertainment," which is simply unacceptable for musicians who already understand that animals deserve compassion. IDA joins SHARK (SHowing Animals Respect and Kindness) ( http://www.sharkonline.org ) in calling on both Def Leppard and Bon Jovi to pull out of the Cheyenne gig, and we need your help to convince them.

Last year, after SHARK urged Carrie Underwood not to give a concert at Cheyenne Frontier Days, the singer did the right thing by choosing not to perform. IDA partnered with SHARK to get coffee giant Starbucks to drop their corporate sponsorship of this rodeo. Now we hope to convince Def Leppard and Bon Jovi that they shouldn't use their music and fame to promote animal exploitation.

What You Can Do:

Please "Take Action" to urge Def Leppard ( %takeaction-defleppard% ) and Bon Jovi ( %takeaction-bonjovi% ) not to play at Cheyenne Frontier Days. Feel free to edit the sample letter (note that there are separate alerts for each band), and to politely contact their publicists by phone, fax, email, or postal mail.

Def Leppard
Mr. Todd Nakamine
Universal Music Enterprises
2220 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tel: (310) 865-7797
Fax: (310) 865-0119
umepublicity [at] umusic.com

Bon Jovi
Ms. Laura Swanson, Publicist
Island Def Jam Music Group
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 333-8533
laura.swanson [at] umusic.com

Get the facts about rodeo cruelty ( http://www.idausa.org/facts/rodeos.html ).


3. Hurricane Season is Coming: Are You Prepared?
Keep yourself and your animal companions safe when disaster strikes

Hurricane season is just around the corner, so it is important to plan ahead for the safety of loved ones (both human and non-human) in the event of a large-scale emergency. The best way to do this is to be well prepared before disaster strikes. Here are some tips for keeping your animal companions out of harms' way during a crisis situation.

Pack Emergency Kits

You may wish to pack two emergency kits for your animals - one that has everything they need to stay in your home and another portable kit that you can take with you should you need to evacuate. You may wish to put the portable kit in the trunk of your car so that it will be ready if you need to leave on short notice. These kits should include:

- Enough food (including treats) and water for at least three days preserved in airtight containers
- Food and water bowls
- A pan, litter, and scoop (for cats)
- A supply of any medications your animals need
- A first aid kit (with bandages and medical tape, antiseptic ointment, latex gloves and a reference book on animal first aid)
- Collar with ID tag and a harness or leash
- Copies of vaccination papers and registration information
- A collapsible carrier or crate with bedding
- A picture of your animal companions with description (age, sex, weight, etc.)

Be sure to check on your kits periodically to make sure the food and water is still fresh and that any documentation is up to date. Also consider getting an identification microchip implanted under your animal companion's skin and registering with a nationwide recovery database. Consult your veterinarian for more information.

Plan Ahead

Before, during or after an emergency, you may need to determine whether it would be best to stay in your home or evacuate. Whatever you do, keeping your animal companions with you is the best way to ensure their safety. Depending on the nature and extent of the crisis, you may not be able to return home for days or even weeks. Leaving animals alone during an emergency can put them in serious danger of becoming lost, hurt, or killed, so this should be avoided if at all possible.

If for some reason you absolutely must evacuate your home without your animals, do not leave them outside: put them in the most secure area of your home. Also leave out at least a 10-day supply of dry food and several dishes full of water. Your toilet can also be a water source, but be sure that it is free of disinfectants and other toxic chemicals. If you do evacuate without your animals, leave a sign on the front door indicating that there are animals inside, as well as how many and what kinds.

However, you should be able to take your animals with you in the event of a disaster if you take these precautions:

- Know where to go: Many emergency shelters will not allow animals, so you should be prepared to go elsewhere in a crisis. Staying with friends or family in a safe area is perhaps the best choice. Also make a list (including addresses and phone numbers) of hotels that allow animals during an emergency situation and kennels where you could board your animals. Your local animal shelter or animal care and control agency may be able to help you find this information.

- Create a support network: Talk with your family, friends, or neighbors about evacuating your animals should disaster strike when you are away from home. Make sure your backup has a key for your house and any phone numbers where you can be reached, and that you have their phone numbers. Also show them where your emergency kit is kept in case sudden evacuation is necessary. Agree on a meeting place where you can rendezvous.

- Let rescuers know that there are "animals inside": Put stickers in the windows nearest your doors that indicate you have animals, including what kind and how many. If you are away from home when disaster strikes (a fire, for example), this will let rescue workers know to look for your animals.

Know What to Expect

Each region of the country is susceptible to different types of disasters: for instance, while hurricane season endangers the southeastern U.S. every summer, earthquakes could strike the West Coast at any moment. If you know what kinds of disasters are most likely to occur in your area, you will be better able to prepare for them. Visit http://www.ready.gov or call 1-800-BE-READY for information about the types of emergencies you may have to deal with and the plans your state and local governments have in place to handle large-scale disasters.


CAMPAIGN NEWS & UPDATES

1. Exciting IDA-Africa Benefit: Born To Be Wild
Dr. Sheri Speede to tell chimpanzees' stories at L.A. event in July

In 1998, Sheri Speede, DVM created IDA-Africa ( http://www.ida-africa.org ) to advocate for endangered wild chimpanzees and gorillas, and later opened the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center to provide a refuge for orphaned chimpanzees whose mothers were killed for bushmeat. Today, the Center in Cameroon is home to 57 chimpanzees living safely together in extended family groups under forested canopies.

Dr. Sheri Speede and chimpanzee-loving celebrities will be in Los Angeles next month for Born To Be Wild, an exciting IDA-Africa event featuring hors d'oeuvres, cocktails, silent and live auctions, a raffle, and much more. Dr. Speede will also share stories and footage of orphaned chimpanzees, news about IDA-Africa's education campaign, and visions for the future of Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center and great ape conservation. You won’t want to miss this very special event.

What: IDA-Africa Benefit: Born To Be Wild
When: Thursday, July 10, 2007, 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Where: The Bernheim Estate, 13211 Mulholland Drive, Beverly Hills, California (map - http://tinyurl.com/2o6a62 )

Tickets: $75 in advance or $85 at the door. To register, please choose one of these options:
- Secure On-Line Registration Form ( https://www.applyweb.com/public/register?s=IDAABTBW )
- Printable Registration Form ( http://www.ida-africa.org/files/documents/Register_for_IDA-Africa_2007_LA_Benefit.pdf )

If you are unable to attend, please make a donation ( http://www.ida-africa.org/index.php?page_id=239 ) to help the chimpanzees.

For more information or for event sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Weil, Weil Public Relations, (818) 341-3646 or Rachel [at] weilpr.com .


2. International Day for Korean Dogs and Cats - July 25
IDA to hold protests concurrent with events around the globe

This year, IDA will again join forces with Animal Freedom Korea (AFK) ( http://www.animalkorea.org ) against dog and cat meat consumption by co-hosting the third 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 take place on Wednesday, July 25, 2007, to coincide with the first of Korea's "Bok days" (literally, the hot, dog days of summer). Some South Koreans eat more dog meat this time of year because they believe eating animals who do not sweat will keep them cool.

In the past two years, IDA and AFK successfully organized activists from a dozen countries -- from North and South America to Europe, Africa, and Asia -- 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. Click here ( http://www.idausa.org/slideshow/bok_06 ) to see pictures of previous events.

Many of the dogs slaughtered for meat in South Korea are either raised under harsh conditions on meat ranches ( http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/alert_060505.html ) or strays captured by butchers. About one third are animal companions, stolen from their families' yards, homes, and lives. They are packed into cages and trucked to market, where they are electrocuted, strangled, or bludgeoned to death, then cooked and eaten.

In Western society, cats and dogs are among our closest and most loyal friends. South Koreans also have animal companions, who they love and protect from harm. The canine and feline species were genetically selected by humans, tamed over centuries, and therefore dependent on us in many ways. Tragically, there are some in South Korea value cats and dogs more for their flesh than for their lives. That is why these animal victims need us to speak up for them this July 25.

What You Can Do:

Please join IDA and other animal advocates in pressuring the South Korean government to enforce a ban against the eating of dogs and cats. IDA will hold a demonstration outside of the South Korean consulate in San Francisco, Calif. on July 25, and we hope you will join us.

What: San Francisco protest against South Korean dog and cat meat trade
When: Wednesday, July 25 from 12:00 - 1:00 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 a protest at the Korean Embassy or Consulate nearest you on or around July 25! If you don't live in a city with an Embassy or Consulate, you can still organize a demonstration in a busy location with a lot of foot traffic. Write to koreandogs [at] idausa.org and we'll add your event to our protest page and send you posters and leaflets.

Please visit http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/korea/korean.html to learn more about IDA's efforts to stop the Korean dog and cat meat industry.


3. New Online Video Documents Japanese Dolphin Slaughter
Save Japan Dolphins coalition spotlights both animal cruelty and health concerns

The Save Japan Dolphins coalition ( http://www.SaveJapanDolphins.org ), of which IDA is a member, is making every effort to stop the annual dolphin slaughter that takes place in Japan between October and March. By exposing the brutal massacre of about 20,000 dolphins and whales every year, we show the international community what a small number of fishermen want to keep hidden: the unnecessary and almost unimaginable cruelty of herding dolphins together and spearing them to death.

The coalition recently produced a short video ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5lHbtyxzs ) for the International Whaling Commission on the dolphin slaughter which also documents the health hazards associated with eating dolphin meat. Much of the meat is contaminated with mercury, ( http://www.earthisland.org/saveTaijiDolphins/newMinamata.html ), which can cause Minamata poisoning in humans and result in irreversible brain damage and severe birth defects. In January 2007 ( http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/feature_070103.html ), we reported that Japan's largest grocery store chain, the Okuwa Supermarket Corporation, announced that they would no longer sell dolphin meat in their stores for this reason.

The Save the Japan Dolphins coalition (consisting of IDA, the Animal Protection Institute, Earth Island Institute, the Elsa Nature Conservatory, and One Voice) has teamed up before for the annual Japan Dolphin Day, an international day of action to stop the dolphin slaughter. For the past two years on Japan Dolphin Day, we have joined with Earth Island Institute to coordinate numerous protests outside Japanese Consulates ( http://www.idausa.org/campaigns/marine/feature_060927.html ) and held major press conferences to break this important story to the media.

What You Can Do:

1) Watch the Save the Japan Dolphins coalition video about the Japanese drive fishery ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wd5lHbtyxzs ). The footage is all new, shot by pioneering dolphin advocate Richard O'Barry ( http://www.dolphinproject.org/?pageid=21299 ) last fall in Taiji, Japan. Be aware that some of it is very graphic.

2) Politely contact Japanese officials and demand a permanent end to the drive fisheries and the preservation of dolphins and whales as natural treasures.

Ryozo Kato
Japanese Ambassador to the U.S.
2520 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 238-6700
Fax: (202) 328-2187


$50 = $100 -- Double Your Gift Today!

Did you know that thousands of American corporations match the charitable donations dollar-for-dollar that their employees make to not for profit organizations? You may be eligible to maximize your gift to IDA -- at no added expense to you! Matching gift programs are also a great way for your employer to become involved in IDA's work on behalf of animals worldwide.

Even if you are not currently an employee, you may still be able to take advantage of this charitable benefit. The charitable contributions of corporate officers, directors, and, in some cases, spouses and retired employees, are matched by many companies. To find out if your company offers a matching gifts program to its employees, and to learn more about your company's giving guidelines, please contact your human resources office. If your company does offer this program you will be asked to fill out a form to accompany your gift, and IDA will take care of the rest! If you have any questions please contact Leila Attarzadeh, Director of Development at (415) 388-9641 ext. 208.