If you decide to take action on issue #6, “Stop Korea From Legalizing Dog Meat”, please edit out the third paragraph in the sample letter. In particular, I take objection to the following sentence: “South Korea does not want to be seen by modern nations as a culture that is backward, barbaric or uncivilized…” Eating dog meat is no more uncivilized than eating cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, lamb, etc. All are sentient beings capable of feeling joy, sorrow and pain. However, to vilify an entire culture for eating an animal we regard as special is inherently racist; in the United States, we treat “food” animals no better. The push should be towards a vegetarian (or, better yet, vegan!) diet for all, not towards outlawing specific species of meat that we find objectionable due to cultural reasons.

And do I really need to explain how offensive the “modern nations” remark is?

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Thu, May 22, 2008 at 8:55 AM
Subject: #1. KC DIGEST: Roo Bloodbath, Buffalo Fate, Caddo Kills, Korea Dog Meat…

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST
Please DO NOT HIT REPLY. Respond directly to the author of each alert.
KC Digest is brought to you, courtesy of Kinship Circle.

PART 1: MAY KC DIGEST – Alerts From Kinship Circle Supporters

www.kinshipcircle.org/digest/

PART 1: MAY KC Digest
1. Australia: Kangaroo Bloodbath Begins
2. URGENT ACTION: 9 Bulls In Trap at Duck Creek Face Slaughter
3. Stop The Killing At Caddo Parish, Louisiana
4. UK: “Healthy Eating” Trend Means More Animal Experimentation
5. Email/Call New Huntingdon Life Sciences Shareholder
6. Stop Korea From Legalizing Dog Meat

PART 2: MAY KC Digest
PLEASE RESEND ME PART #2: kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
7. Join Post Card Campaign For NYC Carriage Horses
8. Stop Ohio Bill To Ban And Euthanize All Pit Bulls
9. Egypt: Tragedy At Esma (Sakkara) & Request For Support
10. GUESS Brand Sponsors Bullfighting In Algarve, Portugal
11. 14- and 15-Year-Olds Hunt Big Game? Stop This Now.
12. Officers’ Role In Death Of Black Lab Questioned

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Action Alerts

CREDO Action: Tell the House: Stop Big Media
On May 15, in a near-unanimous decision, the Senate passed a “resolution of disapproval” that would nullify the Federal Communications Commission’s new media ownership proposal. That’s the good news. The bad news is that according to congressional rules, we only have 60 legislative days to get the same resolution passed in the House.

Defenders of Wildlife: Boreal Birds Need Your Help
Oil and gas drilling, mining, logging and other industries are rapidly eating up the boreal forest’s vital habitat for birds and other wildlife. And with just 8% of the boreal forest now protected, more of this special place is being lost each year in the pursuit of profits.

Earthjustice: Polar Bears Left Out in the Cold
The Polar Bear Seas Protection Act, introduced last week by Representatives Jay Inslee and Maurice Hinchey, seeks to protect these critical polar bear habitats until essential environmental impact questions are answered and the Department of the Interior clearly designates critical, protected habitats.

Elaine Vigneault: Oprah is Going Vegan
…for 21 days. Send her a note of thanks, support and/or congratulations! (There’s a link to Oprah’s contact page in Elaine’s post.)

Elaine Vigneault: Vegans Prosper
By the way, if you’re interested in helping vegan businesses, I found two vegan borrowers at Prosper that you can loan small amounts to. (If you don’t know, Prosper is people-to-people lending that allows lenders to get high return on investments and borrowers to get low interest rates on loans. Just cutting out the bank middlemen means more money for everyone.)

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Action Alerts

American Rivers: Say “No” to Proposed San Mateo Creek Toll Road
One of America’s Most Endangered RiversTM : 2007 edition, the San Mateo Creek in California, is once again threatened by the same unnecessary proposed toll road as it was when it was originally listed. The toll road would go directly through the creek bringing with it damaging environmental impacts. Tell the U.S. Department of Commerce to reject Orange County’s Transportation Corridor Agency’s (TCA) proposed toll road and protect San Mateo Creek.

Born Free USA / Animal Protection Institute (API): Help End the Grueling Long Distance Transport of Cattle from Brazil to Lebanon
Live exports from Belem are currently suspended, and this alone is groundbreaking — and the first time ever that animal welfare has been a factor when halting live exports from a port. If the suspension becomes a permanent ban, more than 100,000 cattle a year will be saved from a horrific three-week land and sea journey to Lebanon.

Born Free USA / Animal Protection Institute (API): New York Residents: Protect Animals from Cruel Traps
Your help is needed to defeat Senate Bill 2639 (SB 2639). If passed by the state legislature, this bill would modify the state Constitution to prohibit cities and counties from adopting local laws within their jurisdiction that impact the right to hunt, trap, or fish.

Center for Biological Diversity: Protect Endangered Sea Turtles From Longline Fishing
The federal government is once again proposing to allow longline fishing for swordfish in the waters off California and Oregon. Shallow-set longlining, in which a single vessel can lay out over 60 miles of line and 1,000 hooks at a time near the water’s surface, is one of the most destructive fishing practices ever invented.

invisible voices: Kofa Mountain Lions – formal scoping period
From now until May 24, 2008 it is what they call the “formal scoping period” and we can send letters, electronically or via snail mail, with our thoughts, and have them entered formally and officially in public record. And, especially importantly, we should include our suggestions for alternatives. For instance, no hunting of mountain lions on Kofa NWR by agencies or hunters.
(You can read all of Deb’s related posts here.)

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Sat, May 17, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Subject: Dear TNT, Tell The Truth About Ringling Bros. Circus

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

5/17/08: TNT, Tell The Truth About Ringling Bros. Circus

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

LEFT: A Ringling performance.

RIGHT: Animal Protection Institute photo, January 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida, shows Ringling elephants chained immediately after exiting a transport train (AP Photo/API, Bradley Stookey).

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Natalie Bowman
Date: Wed, May 7, 2008 at 2:00 PM
Subject: Roll in the Hay for Farm Animals

Hi again Kelly,

Here’s some fun news to share with fellow compassionate consumers, if you’d like: Farm Sanctuary and A Scent of Scandal, a celebrated Los Angeles candle company, are thrilled to announce the release of “A Roll in the Hay,” an earth-, animal- and people-friendly soy wax candle to benefit farm animal rescue. A press release with more details follows.

Cheers,

Natalie Bowman
Communications Manager
Farm Sanctuary
P.O. Box 150, Watkins Glen, NY 14891
PH: 607-583-2225 ext. 250

Learn about our shelter residents and take action on their behalf — sign up for our alerts and online newsletter today!

www.farmsanctuary.org/member/

Farm Sanctuary
Rescue, Education, Advocacy

www.farmsanctuary.org

A compassionate world begins with you.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Natalie Bowman, Farm Sanctuary, 607-583-2225 ext. 250,
nbowman [at] farmsanctuary.org
Ari Solomon, A Scent of Scandal, 323-896-2034, ari [at] ascentofscandal.com

A Scent of Scandal Invites Customers to “Roll in the Hay” for Farm Sanctuary

Cruelty-free Candle Company Releases New Creation to Benefit Leading Farm Animal Advocacy Group

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – May 7, 2008 – A Scent of Scandal, a Los Angeles-based company celebrated for its clever and classy cruelty-free candles, has unveiled a new creation: a candle called “A Roll in the Hay,” launched to raise funds for and awareness about Farm Sanctuary, the nation’s leading farm animal protection organization. Fifteen percent of every “A Roll in the Hay” sale will be donated directly to Farm Sanctuary.

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I have two not-so-random songs for your listening pleasure tonight: Morrissey’s Meat is Murder and Me and a Gun by Tori Amos. The first video has some fairly graphic images of animal abuse, and the comments thread for the second is riddled with misogynist trolls. So watch and/or browse with caution.

And since these are both somewhat depressing choices, some loldogz after the jump. Smile, it be Friday, yo!

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Action Alerts

Common Cause: Let’s Do Something about Media Consolidation!
In a recent vote, the FCC overturned a 30-year-ban prohibiting a single company from owning both the local newspaper and a television station. This rule protected community voices and a diversity of viewpoints. Despite overwhelming public opposition, the FCC voted to approve this giveaway to the media industry. But we do have some recourse: Congress can overturn the FCC decision by passing a “Resolution of Disapproval.” The resolution of disapproval of the FCC rule has been introduced in both the House and the Senate. Can you write to your Representatives and Senators (we won in the Senate!) today and urge them to support it? Thank you!

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA): Back the ban: Say no to the horror of live animal export
Since the Handle with Care campaign was launched, the world is waking up to the unnecessary cruelty of transporting animals over long distances for slaughter. Please act now to support a ban on live cattle exports from Belém, one of Brazil’s busiest ports in the state of Pará. Horrifying conditions on the three-week journey to Lebanon cause many animals to die from heat stroke, trauma and respiratory disease.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Save Critical Habitat for Endangered Whales and Marine Life
U.S. activists: Stop offshore oil and gas drilling in Bristol Bay, Alaska, which is critical habitat for endangered whales and marine life.

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Thu, May 15, 2008 at 7:54 PM
Subject: 5/16: PROCTER & GAMBLE CALL-IN DAY (if you miss it, still write)

KINSHIP CIRCLE PRIMARY – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST AS WRITTEN

5/15/08: MAY 16, 2008 IS PROCTER & GAMBLE CALL-IN DAY

EMAIL kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net FOR WORD DOC OF A FORMATTED LETTER.
Easily modify letter and copy/paste it into an email or print out to fax or mail.

Call, email, fax or write — on May 16, from 9:00am to 5:00pm EST — to politely ask Procter & Gamble to end ALL animal experiments. P&G utilizes SOME animal-free tests. Ask them to go 100% cruelty-free.

If you miss the May 16 date, send comments anyway! Animals are regularly poisoned to test chemicals used in hundreds of Procter & Gamble brands: Tide, Dove, Cover Girl, Olay, Bounty, Crest, Febreeze, Cascade, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Head & Shoulders, Iams/Eukanuba…

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, May 14, 2008 at 3:53 PM
Subject: Mother’s Day Tornadoes Hit MO, OK, GA

KINSHIP CIRCLE ANIMAL DISASTER AID NETWORK
Networking resources for animal disaster victims + companion animal campaigns

RELIEF GLOBAL, www.kinshipcircle.org/disasters
5/14/08: “Mother’s Day” Tornadoes Hit Missouri, Oklahoma, Georgia

This alert represents all available information at this time. If more calls for aid become known, we’ll post updates to this disaster report.

IN THIS ALERT:

1. Midwest Tornadoes Ravage Rural Areas
2. Missouri: Scared Animals Begin To Emerge From The Debris

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———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Kinship Circle – kinshipcircle [at] accessus.net
Date: Wed, May 14, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Subject: From Floodwaters To Here: NOLA Rescuer Needs Help

KINSHIP CIRCLE DISASTER AID NETWORK – PERMISSION TO CROSS-POST

The following information is brought to you courtesy of Kinship Circle.
Please DO NOT hit reply! Respond directly to: Linda Watrous, lindakwatrous [at] yahoo.com

ALERT FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE MEMBER:
5/14/08: From Floodwaters To Here – NOLA Rescuer Asks For Help

FROM KINSHIP CIRCLE:

We regularly receive pleas from solo rescuers in New Orleans who comb Katrina-ravaged areas…still looking for left-behind animals. Some have survived on desolate streets since Katrina, burrowing inside broken homes and gutted cars. Others are offspring, born into a bleak landscape.

Once trapped, most animals are sick or injured. These independent NOLA rescuers “scrap” together funds to literally put broken animals back together — and offer them the chance of a safe home. Though nearly three years have passed since the 2005 storms, animals still suffer in areas slow to rebuild and repopulate. Kinship Circle

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