FBI Arrests 4 AR Protesters for Leafleting, Chaulking, etc.

FBI Arrests 4 AR Protesters for Leafleting, Chaulking, etc.

As Will Potter said, "it was only a matter of time" before the government used the sweeping new "anti-terrorism" legislation on activists. On February 19 and 20 of 2009, the FBI arrested four young animal activists in California for organizing and attending various demonstrations against cruel animal testing, posting flyers criticizing specific professors and researchers at University of California Santa Cruz, and for chalking anti-animal-testing slogans on the sidewalk. What is their alleged crime? Using harsh language like "murder" or "torture" when describing the tests and distributing leaflets that name specific university staff who are involved in the cruel animal tests. Their charge? Animal Enterprise Terrorism. Chalking, leafleting and protesting are not acts of terrorism. These are not even crimes.

Background on AETA
Despite major criticisms from the ACLU, National Lawyers Guild, dozens of civil liberties groups and nearly every major animal rights organization, the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) passed Congress. It is sweeping and over-broad legislation that paints effective animal activists as terrorists. The bill's intentions are clear: scare activists from speaking out on controversial issues and protect the financial interests of so-called "Animal Enterprises". Much like the Red Scare of the 1930's, this new law is part of a coordinated effort to scare environmental and animal activists from controversial campaigns. It's been dubbed the Green Scare.

Background on the UCSC campaign
Students and community members have been waging a heated campaign against animal testing in Santa Cruz. There have been legal protests like demonstrations, marches, leafletings, speaking events etc. There have also been illegal forms of protests, including some damage to university property. The university has seen many protests on its campus, and the researchers who are involved in animal testing have even seen demonstrations in their neighborhoods.

The campaign is seeing some victories and as a result the government is cracking down hard on prominent activists. This has happened many times in the past, sometimes the government has even been successful. The civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960's and 70's were constantly under government surveillance. It can be intimating to think about how the government is targeting activists, but there is hope! We can and must repeal the AETA and create greater protections for free speech. Social movements have accomplished greater tasks.

For more detailed info about these recent arrests, read Will Potter's analysis on GreenIsTheNewRed.com.

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Llamas attend owner's funeral in Ohio

Animals are people too!

http://www.news-herald.com/
PERRY, Ohio - A northeast Ohio farmer who died of cancer has been laid to rest with the help of some of the llamas he raised on his farm.

Two of Terry McCrone's llamas made up an honor guard at his funeral Friday at Perry Christian Church. Four others from a statewide drill team joined them, wearing purple ribbons as they lined up outside the church. The llamas also escorted a hearse to Perry Cemetery.

The 61-year-old McCrone died Feb. 7. The Rev. Bob Ladygo of Bible Baptist Church says McCrone's llamas would visit him at his window after he became sick.

The ribbons the llamas wore were given to McCrone's wife and daughter.

Information from: The News-Herald, http://www.news-herald.com/


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http://www.kansas.com/nl/weird/story/699700.html

Animal sanctuary boss defiant over cancer

Keith Hall with one of the animals he cares for.
TRACEY GRAY
21 February 2009 17:00

A dedicated animal sanctuary owner diagnosed with cancer has been told he may not have long to live - but insisted he will carry on fighting and caring for his animals for as long as he can.

Keith Hall, 62, who runs Hallswood Animal sanctuary in Stratton Strawless, has been told by doctors the throat cancer he was diagnosed with has become more aggressive and the chemotherapy he was receiving at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is not going to help.

He said: “I have still got fight in me, and while that is there, I will carry on. The doctors have said I may die, but I do not think that way, you have to have hope.”

He is now turning to alternative medicine to help relieve his symptoms. He says homeopathic medicine he orders from Mexico, because they are not available in the UK, have made him feel better.

Mr Hall said: “I know something like this does not work for everybody, but since using this treatment I can eat, I am back at work and I feel a lot better than I have done in a long time.”

Mr Hall revealed he had been overwhelmed by the support he has received since news of his illness was announced In January.

Since then he has been inundated with thousands of emails, cards and telephone calls from well wishers and fellow cancer sufferers.

He said: “I want people to know, that even if the doctors may say there is no hope, that is not the case, there may be other routes or treatments out there for them.”

Mr Hall has been working with animals since his teenage years and by the 1970s had three sanctuaries in Essex.

He has spent almost 40 years rescuing injured and abandoned animals at Hallswood Animal Sanctuary in Stratton Strawless.

His first wife Ann died in 2003 when she died after contracting MRSA while in hospital, and that led him to become chairman of an MRSA support group campaigning for better conditions in hospitals.

In 2004 he was joined at the sanctuary by Lyz, whom he has married.

Do you know someone who has shown courage in the face of adversity? If so contact reporter Tracey Gray on 01603 772418 or email tracey.gray@archant.co.uk

****bLOGGER nOTES

I hope he can set up a better foundation than Sue Stiles did for her Dancing Star Farm Animal Sanctuary. She left it to environmentalists more concerned with wild-life conservation and preservation and have commenced killing off dozens of Sues sanctuary animals,....read more about that and sign our petition by clicking onto the title above.


http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=ENOnline&category=News&tBrand=ENOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED21%20Feb%202009%2010%3A02%3A35%3A987

Bill of Rights for Animals

For those of you who didn’t know, today kicks off National Justice for Animals Week!

Started by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), February 22-28 is a week dedicated to raising awareness of animal abuse and to share information on how communities can come together to create and enforce tougher laws to protect animals.

As part of this week, the ALDF would like to send a message to Congress that we, the people, support legislation that protects animals and provides them with basic legal rights.

Enter the Bill of Rights for Animals, which would entitle animals to the following:

The Right of animals to be free from exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse.

The Right of laboratory animals not to be used in cruel or unnecessary experiments.

The Right of farm animals to an environment that satisfies their basic physical and psychological needs.

The Right of companion animals to a healthy diet, protective shelter, and adequate medical care.

The Right of wildlife to a natural habitat, ecologically sufficient to a normal existence and self-sustaining species population.

The Right of animals to have their interests represented in court and safeguarded by the law of the land.
These all seem to be fairly straightforward ideas. Unfortunately, from backyards to factory farming and labs, animals are still suffering and cases of abuse and neglect aren’t a scarcity.

That being said, it’s time to speak up for out voiceless friends and send a clear message to Congress that we want legal protection for animals. While it's not an actual bill, hopefully someday it will be. It’s also something that legislators will certainly have to consider the next time a piece of legislation to protect animals passes through their hands.

As of today, there are 261, 659 signatures and counting. Just kidding, it’s 261, 686. 27 people signed in the time it took me to write this!

Please take a moment to add your name in support of the Bill of Rights for Animals, and be sure to spread the word to at least 500 of your nearest and dearest!




http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare/blog/a-bill-of-rights-for-animals/