I suspect I won't make any friends with this page...the groups with extreme views from the left will hate me for representing groups from the right...and vice versa.
This subject is a very emotional one for animal lovers...but I feel we need to temper our emotions with facts and reality...so this page contains views, ideas, propaganda, articles, and links to groups with opposing views. It's not a boring subject.
The animal world is not like a Disney movie; ...in nature,
life in the wild is often very violent and cruel. Life frequently ends in sickness, injury and infection, or being killed and eaten by predators. Also; in nature, there is almost always a pecking order among animals of the same species that is ruthlessly enforced. These facts of nature are often ignored by the many groups that seem to think that if humans left animals alone, animal suffering would end.
On the other hand, there's no getting around the fact that animals often do suffer or lead pretty deary existances because of humans. They are caged, penned, experimented on, hunted, shot, trapped, and slaughtered.
So what then, should be our relationship to animals? That's the very controversial and emotional subject of this page.
All my professional life, I've been involved in helping animals...or at least the pets in our area...and have struggled with animal issues. There are no easy answers. Remember that, lest you be too easily influenced by the following articles and arguments.
These issues aren't new...and in fact, a lot of progress has been made in the last 50 years. There are many laws designed to minimize the suffering of animals...on the farm, during shippment, at labs, and at the slaughter houses. And more importantly, attitudes are changing.
There are lots of different groups competing for your money, emotions, and votes concerning the treatment of animals. Hopefully this page will help clarify the different positions and arguments in this very controversial subject.
These first few articles are for not making any dramatic changes in our relationships with animals. Many of the other articles and links to other sites are vey much in favor of completely changing how we relate
Animal Rights; Pro and Con
THE TROJAN HORSE OF ANIMAL PROTECTIONISM
by Patrick H. Cleveland, Ph.D.,
President, CFAAR/San Diego 12/09/1992
MEDICAL MIRACLES AT RISK
The children of this country need to know the facts and opinions about animal research in a truly balanced and unbiased format. This is a complex and controversial subject that only a few teachers are trained to handle. The scientific community is concerned that our children are being misinformed about this Important area of medical research. A chilling indication of how misinformed they are came in a 1991 Gallup poll demonstrating 67% of American teenagers "support animal rights" including bans on all laboratory and medical tests that use animals. They appear to be unaware of the serious consequences of such a ban. This is a science education issue of great importance. How well today's students understand It will affect the fate of millions in the next century through education, regulatory and political processes.
THE TROJAN HORSE
A number of blatant animal rights groups such as the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have developed propaganda programs aimed at school children. However, for the most part they have not been accepted into school curricula because the teachers can recognize this as an extreme position.
A far more dangerous assault has been launched on the classroom by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) under the Trojan Horse of environmentalism, saving endangered species and "animal protectionism". This camouflaged assault is welcomed through the front doors of the schools by many unsuspecting environmentally conscious teachers and administrators as it is proffered by an established group that is well respected for it's previous work in animal welfare - HSUS.
In fact the state of California recently incorporated lessons from HSUS's educational program for school children into the state's new environmental education curriculum guide. HSUS with it's 1.3 million members calls it's self the nations largest animal protection organization. Few people know that HSUS's animal protection philosophy is not animal welfare but an animal rights philosophy that says It is morally wrong for humans to use or kill animals and that they have had that philosophy since 1990.(l)
In recent years HSUS elected to call themselves "animal protectionists" to disassociate their group from the bad press that the Animal Liberatlon Front (ALF) and PETA have brought to animal rights causes. They stress an environmental theme in their "Kids in Nature's Defense" newsletter which was sent last October to over 2 million students in every elementary school in the USA. They also sent The HSUS Student Action Guide to promote activism by forming Earth-animal-protection clubs. Some of these clubs target animal research. HSUS is also influencing other well respected educational resources such the 9 million circulation _Weekly Reader_ and it's companion for middle schools, _Current Science_.
WEEKLY READER
The April 10, 1992 second grade edition of the _Weekly Reader_ published a very biased and misleading debate on "Should Animals be Used to Test New Medicines". The editor of that edition acknowledged that he was an "animal protectionist". Even after being notified of the unbalanced presentation of facts, the October 23, 1992 _Weekly Reader_ senior edition (6th grade) and the October30, 1992 _Current Science_ again contributed to misinformation about animal research by omitting arguments and facts and leading children to accept the misguided position of "animal protectionism".
THE FALSE MIDDLE GROUND
The Weekly Reader/Current Science used the common advocacy technique of posing the two extremes of the argument (pro-animal research vs. PETA) and then led their young readers to the supposed `middle ground" of animal protectionism. This is a technique that HSUS has used before. Sandra Bressler The Executive Director of the California Biomedical Research Association has charged that HSUS is a "false moderate" that attempts to establish a "middle ground that is much closer to animal liberation philosophy than would other wise appear."(2) Just what does animal protectionism mean?
WHAT IS PROTECTIONISM?
Animal protectionists such as HSUS believe in the same animal rights philosophy of moral equality between humans and animals and they share the same goal of working for the abolition of animal research as does PETA and the terrorist ALF. What separates these groups are the tactics they use and the time table set for accomplishing that goal. It's like the difference between a mugger and a con man. They each will rob you they use different tactics, have different time tables, but the result is the same. The con man may even criticize the mugger for using confrontational tactics and giving all thieves a bad name, but your money is still taken. the tactics and time table of the protectionists appear moderate when compared to tactics of confrontation and demands for immediate abolition by PETA. But then again PETA appears moderate when compared to the terrorism of the ALF.
Animal protectionists don't angrily demonstrate, they don't demand an immediate halt to all animal research, they have an Installment plan time table. This year to eliminate primate research, then cats and dogs, then all animals but rats and mice. Their arguments con the public about the necessity of basic research, about the capability of so called alternatives to animals. (Even the most sophisticated technology still cannot mimic the complicated interactions among cells, tissues and organs that occur In humans and animals.) They distort good judgment by selectively focusing on research that easily arouses emotion. They target non-life saving research as they push toward the abolition of all animal research as fast as societal attitudes will allow. They say they will allow animal research if it is absolutely necessary to save human life. But who determines which situations are "absolutely necessary." In the protectionist view, those situations are few in number as they see the life saving argument as but a method to phase out animal research. They are blind to the human suffering and death their actions will bring. They are willing to force the rest of society to suffer the consequences of their "higher moral ethic" but they are not willing to acknowledge or accept responsibility for those consequences.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Recently HSUS President John Hoyt and Board of Directors member Robert P. Welbom enunciated HSUS's calculating tactics and the necessity for hiding their views on abolition of animal research from the public. The following quotes are from presentations to animal rights groups.
Hoyt - "In the early stages of the advent of the philosophy of animal rights, it appeared that established groups such as the HSUS and newly emerging groups such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals could make common cause on most Issues mutually supporting each other's actions and endeavors. ...until, sadly, it became apparent to us and others that the motives and ambitions of the leaders of this endeavor were seriously flawed. ... there has evolved over the past few years a fairly radical difference in the tactics,... Some animal rights groups tend to be confrontational and demonstrative, sometimes resulting in the destruction of property, personal intimidation and, on rare occasions, violence. This is not to say that the rights of animals should be either ignored or minimized as a meaningful and vital philosophy. Indeed, it must not be. But what needs to be said, and understood, Is that those who seek to codify the rights of animals in law or custom are but a small minority ...Do we then imagine, even for one brief moment, that a government -- our government --which declines to sign a magna carta on behalf of children....will be moved to do our bidding to stop the use of animals for research or prohibit their use for food? ... I hardly think so.... ... nor do we believe that the American public will in any large measure be responsive to those groups advocating such abolition"(3)
Welborn - "I question the moral propriety of causing animals to suffer for the purpose of testing products intended for humans or for dealing with human maladies. ... Many people, of course, experience great sorrow when working for animal protection and wish for a complete cessation of animal use and abuse, But if we engage in public discourse on behalf of animal protection and hope to be effective, we must deal with the prevailing human attitudes and laws."(4)
HSUS Vice President for Lab Animals, Martin Stephens was more direct. In an unguarded moment, Katie McCabe documented his views in an unchallenged segment of "Beyond Cruelty."(5) "Yet the Society's leadership is dominated by animal- rightists. Its official spokesperson on the lab-animal Issue, veterinarian Martin Stephens, personally espouses abolitionism. "I myself am an anti-vivisectionist, but I wouldn't impose that view on people now"'. (6)
Katie McCabe also documented in "Who will live and who will die?" previous HSUS Vice President for Lab Animals McArdle's, detailed instructions on how to hide their agenda.
"Acknowledging the limited appeal of an uncompromising vegetarian philosophy", McArdle advised delegates at the 1984 HSUS convention to `avoid the words "animal rights" and "anti-vivisection." They are too strange for the public. Never appear to be opposed to animal research. Claim that your only concern is the source of the animals."(7)
HIDDEN AGENDA
These quotes leave no question about the animal rights philosophy and true goals of the animal protectionists and their intent to disguise their abolitionist goals. Was the _Weekly Reader/Current Science_ Management aware of that agenda? Were the teachers who used the _Weekly Reader/Current Science_ aware? Were the students aware?
NOT AN EXTREME
Pro-animal research is not an extreme position. The vast majority of researchers take their stewardship over animals very seriously and they conduct their animal experiments humanely and with great sensitivity. They insure that animals don't suffer needlessly, they take good care of the animals and are governed by more strict regulations and oversight than any other profession that uses animals. They are continually reviewed by local state and federal agencies. The approval process for animal experimentation is very thorough and is designed to insure the use of the fewest animals possible and that animals are only used because there is no other choice. Researchers occupy the true middle ground.
ABOLITION IN DISGUISE
The _Weekly Reader's_ statement that the pro-research and PeTA positions are "disparate points of view" and indicating that "many people" are animal protectionists, pushes young readers into the "Maybe" false middle ground. Neither the _Weekly Reader_ nor _Current Science_ brought up a single argument against that "middle ground". Arguments such as what are the consequences, who determines if research is necessary, and the fact that very few if any individual expenments can "promise" life saving results. Science just doesn't work that way. Scientists of many different fields work collectively for many years on a common life threatening problem. They can't individually promise or guarantee life saving results. Animal protectionists' conception of how science Is done demonstrates their fuzzy thinking and naivete. Science builds brick by brick upon the knowledge gained in the past. The day of the isolated researcher making swift life saving breakthroughs are long since gone, Putting "life saving" limitations on scientists would also prohibit all basic science research using animals, and all animal research on problems of human suffering. Lets recognize the protectionist limitation to life saving research for what it is: a call for the abolition of all animal research In disguise.
THIS HORSE BRINGS DEATH
Those that use the Trojan Horse of "animal protectionism" to abolish animal research, do a great disservice to patients suffering from the hundreds of diseases we are still trying to cure. Those patients are important - more important than animals. There is a fundamental difference between respect and consideration for animals (welfare) and granting them equal moral rights, just as there is a fundamental difference between humans and animals. Animal protectionism works to blur that difference through anthropomorphism and brainwashing our children. The protectionist's con man efforts in the schools have gone largely unnoticed as scientists have been diverted by the PETA and ALF mugging. Scientists should turn their attention to the schools so our children and their teachers clearly understand these differences and the very real human and animal suffering and death consequences that will accompany the granting of rights to animals.
TELL YOUR TEACHER
Take this article to your childrens' teachers and principals, they need to see what is in the belly of this Trojan Horse.
PLEASE COPY AND DISTRIBUTE
COALITION FOR ANIMALS AND ANIMAL RESEARCH/San Diego
CFAAR/San Diego is a non-profit, pro animal research group of San Diego County physicians, Veterinarians, Scientists, students, research staff and concerned citizens, who are interested in educating the public about the use of animals in research and teaching and about the regulations that govern the humane treatment of research animals.
Permission to reproduce all or part of this article is freely granted on the condition that credit is given to CFAAR/San Diego.
REFERENCES
HSUS; "A Discussion ...Rights for Animals", HSUS pamphlet, 1990.
Bressler, Sandra; "Beware False Moderates", Letter to The Scientist, 10/12/1992.
Hoyt, John A.; "Animals It's Their World Too", Report of the President 1990, HSUS Annual Membership Meeting 10/27/1990.
Welbom, Robert F.; "The Potential for the Institutional Animal Committee", HSUS News Spring 1992.
McCabe, Katie; Personal communication 11/10/1992.
McCabe, Katie; "Beyond Cruelty", The Washingtonian, Volume 25, No. 5, February,1990.
7. McCabe, Katie; "Who Will Live and Who Will Die?", The Washingtonian, Volume 21, No.11, August 1986.
Here's a couple more pro animal research articles about this subject; It's appropriate to read these before reading the positions of the many groups and sites against using animals in research that follow.
LIBERATION ZOOLOGY
by Charles Oliver
Reason Magazine, June 1990.
Scientists proclaimed it the "most dramatic success to date" in the battle against AIDS. Last December, researchers at Tulane University announced that they had successfully immunized eight rhesus monkeys against simian AIDS. It was certainly the biggest breakthrough in AIDS research since scientists first isolated the HIV virus in monkeys back in 1985. The experts caution that it will probably take another 5 to 10 years of experiments--many of them on animals--to develop an AIDS vaccine for humans. But if a growing number of animal-rights activists have their way, those experiments will never occur. "Animal experimentation is just plain wrong," says Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals. "Human beings have no right to the knowledge gained from experimentation on animals, even if it is done painlessly.
...For the rest of this article, go to: http://www.netcat.org/libzoo.html
Americans for Medical Progress
http://www.ampef.org/
WITHOUT ANIMAL RESEARCH:
Polio would kill or cripple thousands of unvaccinated children and adults this year.
Most of the nation's one million insulin-dependent diabetics wouldn't be insulin dependent -- they would be dead.
60 million Americans would risk death from heart attack, stroke or kidney failure from lack of medication to control their high blood pressure.
Doctors would have no chemotherapy to save the 70% of children who now survive acute lymphocytic leukemia.
More than one million Americans would lose vision in at least one eye this year because cataract surgery would be impossible.
Hundreds of thousands of people disabled by strokes or by head or spinal cord injuries would not benefit from rehabilitation techniques.
The more than 100,000 people with arthritis who each year receive hip replacements would walk only with great pain and difficulty or be confined to wheelchairs.
7,500 newborns who contract jaundice each year would develop cerebral palsy, now preventable through phototherapy.
There would be no kidney dialysis to extend the lives of thousands of patients with end-stage renal disease.
Surgery of any type would be a painful, rare procedure without the development of modern anesthesia allowing artificially induced unconsciousness or local or general insensitivity to pain.
Instead of being eradicated, smallpox would continue unchecked and many others would join the two million people already killed by the disease.
Millions of dogs, cats, and other pets and farm animals would have died from anthrax, distemper, canine parvovirus, feline leukemia, rabies and more than 200 other diseases now preventable thanks to animal research.
Animal Rights Myths
The national animal rights groups raise millions of dollars every year from people who think their donations are going to help homeless animals in shelters. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality, it is the local animal welfare organizations that do heroic work in running shelters and rescuing animals. These local groups cannot possibly compete with the fundraising machinery of PETA, Friends of Animals, The Humane Society of the United States and others.
discussing the absurdity of vivisection
http://www.freezone.co.uk/vivabsurd/menu.html
'It could be argued that this [cancer research] is a field of research which has consumed an enormous number of animals - without any tangible result'.
Professor D. H. Smyth.
Alternatives To Animal Testing:
http://altweb.jhsph.edu/
Animal Welfare Information Center:
http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic
Providing information for improved animal care and use in research, teaching, and testing. This is a US Government site:
New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/hottopics/animalexperiments/
the debate over animal experimentation has become deadly serious. In Britain, we've seen bombings, hunger strikes and death threats. The scientists involved, labelled "torturers", live in fear of becoming the next target. Peaceful campaigners for animal rights find themselves branded as "terrorist sympathisers". Yet amidst the violence and rhetoric, one thing is missing: no one really knows what the public think because they haven't been asked where they would draw the line on animal research.
Americans for Medical Progress
http://www.ampef.org/
The mission of Americans for Medical Progress is to bolster public understanding and support of the humane use of animals in medical research. Our supporters include patients, doctors and scientists, as well as the veterinarians, technicians, animal care workers and others who give the animals in our nation's research laboratories the highest levels of humane and responsible care.
Is research with animals necessary?
Why test on animals instead of humans?
Why do some people still experience side effects after a compound has been found safe in animals?
How has animal research helped humans?
Have animals benefited from animal research?
Why are experiments repeated?
Do animals experience pain in animal research?
Do researchers care about the animals they use?
Can other research methods replace animals in research?
What other methods are used in addition to animals in research?
What assurances exist that stolen or lost pets are not used in research?
What happens to animals once an experiment is completed?
What rules and regulations govern the care and treatment of animals in laboratories?
Where do I get more information about the use of animals in research?
Animal Rights and Research
One of the gravest threats to public health and medicine comes from the animal rights movement. Armed with a lexicon of emotional rhetoric and a financial war chest worth millions of dollars, national animal rights organizations have targeted scientists who work with animals in medical research. These groups spread disinformation about research projects. They are causing incalculable delays and adding heavy costs to the acquisition of new scientific knowledge through legislative maneuverings, bureaucratic demands and frivolous litigation. Some activists, operating on the fringe of the movement, have even turned to violence in order to achieve their goals.
Feminists for Animal Rights
http://www.farinc.org
is a non-profit national educational organization dedicated to ending all forms of abuse against women, animals and the earth. Welcome to our online exploration of the interconnections between the exploitation of women and animals and how you can help bring about a more caring society for all. Feminists for Animal Rights is dedicated to ending all forms of abuse against women and animals. Because exploitation of women and animals derives from the same patriarchal mentality, FAR attempts to expose the connections between sexism and speciesism whenever and wherever we can. We feel that a common denominator in the lives of women and animals is violence - either real or threatened - and we work in nonviolent ways to change that.
FAR attempts to raise the consciousness of the feminist community, the animal advocacy community, and the general public about the connections between the objectification, commodification, and abuse of women and non- human animals in patriarchal society. As ecofeminists, we are concerned about cultural and racial injustice and the devaluation and destruction of nature and the earth. We view patriarchy as a system of hierarchical domination, a system which works for the powerful and willing against the powerless and unwilling.
FAR is a network of women striving to live cruelty free. We are dedicated to the promotion of veganism because we acknowledge the feminist precept that the personal is political. We know it is not enough to claim an abstract respect for animals; we must show that respect in our daily lives as well. We are vegan in our orientation because we think it is desirable to work towards the elimination of all products derived from or tested on animals - in our food, clothing, household products, and so on.
Animal Advocacy Is A Feminist Issue
http://www.farinc.org
In patriarchal society women and animals are...
beaten, raped, hated, enslaved as pets, owned for status, sold for money, used for entertainment, cheap labor, sex, experiments...
In patriarchal society women and animals are considered...
inferior, "cute," childish, uncontrollable, emotional, impulsive, instinctive, irrational, evil, property, objects...
In patriarchal society women and animals are referred to as...
chicks, bitches, pussies, foxes, dogs, cows, beavers, birds, bunnies, kittens, sows, lambs, hens, shrews, geese, fillies, bats, crows, heifers, vixens...
Every year in the United States alone...
billions of other-than-human animals are enslaved, tortured, and murdered in animal agriculture, vivisection laboratories; the entertainment industry, by hunters and fishers, in traps and on fur farms, and by other modes of human exploitation.
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
http://www.aspca.org/
Since 1866 the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has been committed to alleviating pain, fear and suffering in all animals. Founded by Henry Bergh, the ASPCA is the oldest humane organization in America, and one of the largest hands-on animal welfare organizations in the world. The ASPCA believes that humans have the ability and the responsibility to provide all animals in our society with an existence that is as peaceful and respectful as possible.
Gay/Straight Animal Rights Alliance
http://www.gsara.uarc.com/
In Defense of Animals:
http://www.idausa.org/index.shtml
"It is up to us to demonstrate through actions and words, that companion animals are much more than mere property. They are our friends and companions, and we are their guardians, advocates and protectors. We look forward to the day when these words--words of love, affection replace those of property and ownership." --Richard Avanzino, Maddie's Fund
Doris Day Animal Foundation
http://www.ddal.org/
The Doris Day Animal League is a nonprofit, national, citizens lobbying organization formed to focus attention on issues involving the humane treatment of animals.
Working with members of the House of Representatives and the Senate both in Washington, D.C., and their home states and districts, the League's goal is to pass laws to reduce the suffering of animals anywhere they are mistreated. Many states and cities have also benefited from the Washington staff's help in drafting legislation, organizing support and actual lobbying for or against legislation.
Educators for Animal Rights
http://www.e4ars.org/
Humane education is desperately needed in our society, to address the ecological, biological, social, economic and ethical challenges we face. Humane education can prepare this generation to be the leaders of the future. Humane education can transform our world today. We can prevent much violence, nurture responsibility and pro-social behavior. We can alleviate the needless suffering of humans and animals, protect the environment and learn to examine relationships between people and between people and animals. Humane education teaches the intrinsic value of all life and will lead our planet boldly into the 21st century. The experiences of African-Americans, woman and other minorities have frequently been omitted from textbooks and public discussion, in the past. However, adults have a voice, and their voices can be heard.
The Alliance for Animals
http://www.allanimals.org
The Alliance for Animals is one of the foremost organizations in Wisconsin devoted to increasing public awareness of animal abuse and promoting the humane treatment of all animals. Through our bi-monthly newsletter, action-oriented committees, public programs and affiliated chapters throughout the state, the Alliance responds to a wide spectrum of animal rights issues, including specific instances of cruelty to animals, wildlife management practices, genetic engineering and factory farming.
American Humane Organization
http://www.americanhumane.org/
PETA
http://www.peta-online.org/ The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This is one of the biggest and best known of the out-front, very political, action groups.
Compassion Over Killing:
http://www.cok-online.org/
Founded in 1995, COK believes in granting basic rights to sentient nonhuman animals and, therefore, in ending institutionalized animal exploitation.
To this end, COK's main function lies in organizing public demonstrations, conducting investigations, educating consumers, and actively working to promote nonviolence toward all sentient beings.
Animal Politics.com
http://www.animalpolitics.com/ Dedicated to the establishment of
rights for animals through participation in the political process.Animals Elect America is a nationwide PAC, dedicated to the establishment of rights for animals through participation in the political process.
We lobby congress, support specific legislation, and offer our support (both financial and our votes) to local and national candidates we feel are favorable to the establishment of rights for animals.
The Animal Protection Institute
http://www.api4animals.org/
The Animal Protection Institute (API) is a national animal advocacy nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, contributions to which are tax-deductible. Founded in 1968, API's mission is to advocate for the protection of animals from cruelty and exploitation.
More than thirty years of fighting animal abuse and exploitation have given API tools that work. Whether it's the courts, the legislatures, the ballot box ... our nationwide team of grassroots activists at the community level ... working closely with individual advocates ... forming coalitions with other national or state animal advocacy groups ... using our position as a major media resource to focus national attention on the abuse of animals anywhere and everywhere ... API gets the job done.
Animal Welfare Institute
http://www.awionline.org/
The Brigitte Bardot Foundation
http://www.fondationbrigittebardot.fr/uk/
An animal is important not only as a member of a species, whether threatened or not, but also because it is a sentient being. Animals have rights and man has duties when it comes to animals. In their sad state of affairs, animals deserve respect as well as compassion. This notion is fundamentally valid regardless of the species under consideration, whether it be mouse, dog, ostrich or dolphin.
EarthTrust
http://leahi.kcc.hawaii.edu/~et/ EarthTrust; saving whales, dolphins, and other wildlife
AnimalConcerns.org
http://animalconcerns.netforchange.com/
The online community for people concerned about the welfare and rights of animals
Lots of articles about the horrors of animal testing, racing, fishing, hunting, eating meat etc
The Animal Defense League
The Animal Defense League is a nationally active, grassroots, animal liberation and defense organization. The ADL differs from many mainstream, national groups in that we work to inform the public about animal abuse issues on a local level. Understanding that we are involved in a system that rewards animal abusers while attempting to cover up the abuse itself, the ADL takes the animal rights movement very seriously, and encourages a more direct level of activism by individuals involved in the movement.
Animal Cruelty.com
http://www.animalcruelty.com/ Intense and impressive website against the use of animals in research
Threatened Animals of the World
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/data/database/rl_anml_combo.html
Jackie Chan's Wildlife page about endangered species
http://www.wildaid.org
Tigers, bears, rhinos and countless other wild animals and plants are being pushed into extinction by the multi-billion dollar illegal trade in wildlife.
This trade is driven by consumer demand for animals and plants used as luxury foods, medicines, trophies and tourist souvenirs.
ACAP is dedicated to protecting endangered species by changing consumer attitudes and reducing the demand for wildlife.
ACAP believes that through education and information we can encourage people all over the world to take action in support of our natural environment and end consumer demand for endangered species products.
By building creative partnerships with the media, local groups, schools, corporations and celebrities ACAP is reaching out to all sections of society, winning support for endangered wildlife.
Wildlife Action Group
http://www.wag.co.za/
USA - WildAid
http://www.wildaid.org
WildAid is an international organisation that provides immediate and long-term protection for wild species and their habitat. WildAid creates and supports effective front-line, community-based wildlife protection programs.
About The Barbara Delano Foundation
http://www.bdfoundation.org
The Barbara Delano Foundation (BDF) is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) foundation devoted to the protection of wildlife, its habitats and improving humankind's treatment of animals.
In 1985 Barbara Delano Gauntlett, granddaughter of Dr. William E. Upjohn, founder of the Upjohn Company, created the Barbara Delano Foundation as an expression of her lifelong commitment to conservation and the survival of local people and communities. Her daughter, Suwanna Gauntlett, now presides over the Barbara Delano Foundation.
Initially concentrating on environmental safeguards in international development programs, energy efficiency in Eastern Europe and building environmental standards, BDF has more recently changed its focus to wildlife habitat and species protection. BDF has current assets of approximately US$40 million and annually distributes over US$1.5 million in grants ranging from US$1,000 to US$250,000. Occasionally capital grants are given for land purchases and endowments.
BDF funding is dedicated to international programs primarily in developing countries. Funds support anti-poaching efforts and small hands-on organizations with low overheads and cutting-edge conservation programs. These programs are dedicated to protecting some of the world's most important flagship species and their habitats and ecosystems.
The Born Free Foundation
<http://www.bornfree.co.uk>Born Free aims to stop cruelty, especially to captive wild animals; to conserve wild animals in their natural habitat and to ensure the long-term survival of species while recognising the needs of people.
The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
<http://www.wdcs.org>The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) is the world's most active charity dedicated to the conservation and welfare of all whales, dolphins and porpoises (also known as cetaceans).
Asian Animal Protection Network
<http://www.aapn.org>
AAPN aims to develop intra-regional co-operation and provide an entry point for enquiries from other regions. An information exchange network. Issues include but are not limited to: animal welfare, animal rights, vegetarian/vegan concerns, humane education, wildlife habitat conservation, traditional medicine, zoos, safari parks, circuses, the fur trade, elephants, bears, tigers, wolves, dogs, cats, etc.
Current emphasis is on China, Japan and Korea but looking to expand remit to cover issues in all parts of East Asia and then the whole of Asia.
Animals Asia Foundation
<http://www.animalsasia.org>
A Hong Kong based charity rescuing 500 caged and cathetered Moon Bears from the worst bear farms in Sichuan Province, China
BeyondZoo.
http://www.beyondzoo.org/home.html
For many years now, zoos have joined together with university researchers, scientists, farmers, teachers, ranchers, environmentalists, in efforts to prevent the loss of animals and their habitats.
To provide a unique, intimate, educational and "immersive" experience, which teaches users about conservation and highlights the role of zoos within the global conservation effort.
Goals:
Teach people more about animals and their environments.
Highlight zoo conservation efforts by explaining how zoos in North America help to protect animal populations around the world.
Encourage people to think more about how human actions affect animals and their environments and stimulate the public to become more active in local conservation efforts.
Develop national and global partnerships to help with the conservation effort.
Circus Watch website:
http://arc.enviroweb.org/circus/rspca_ci.html
The circus world and its supporters claim that the independent report, commissioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and compiled by Dr. M. Kiley-Worthington, favours the use of performing animals in circuses. The facts, however, indicate a very different story. The RSPCA's opposition to the use of animals in circuses is reinforced by the evidence in the report which highlights the following facts.
Circuses.com
http://www.circuses.com/
In contrast to the glitter associated with circuses, performing animals' lives are pretty miserable. Because animals do not naturally ride bicycles, stand on their heads, or jump through rings of fire, whips, electric prods, and other tools are often used to force them to perform.
Rodeos: Cruelty for a buck...
http://www.arc-usa.org/rodeos.htm
The Global Hunger Alliance
http://www.globalhunger.net/
The Global Hunger Alliance promotes effective and equitable solutions to world hunger.
We reject corporate livestock operations and other forms of agricultural colonization as inefficient, unfair, and potentially dangerous "solutions" to the global hunger emergency.
We call upon the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to make the upcoming World Food Summit a democratic event at which the true costs and benefits of proposed actions are honestly discussed.
We call upon World Food Summit participants to rise above national interests and profit motives and to agree upon a set of genuine solutions that will feed the world while preserving the planet.
FARM.
http://www.farmusa.org/
FARM (Farm Animal Reform Movement) is a national, tax-exempt, educational organization advocating a plant-based diet and humane treatment of farmed animals through eight grassroots programs. It operates from the nation's capital with a staff of eight, through a grass-roots network of more than one thousand activists in all 50 states and several Canadian provinces. We invite you to explore the rest of our web site and consider getting actively involved with FARM.
