TAKE ACTION: Help protect Nature and Animals.

Sábado, 2006-11-18 22:38 — [InfoNature.Org] - E

TAKE ACTION: Help protect Nature and Animals

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http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=4...

Beijing Executes Dogs in Mass Cull
Urge Chinese Ambassador to U.S. to stop the killing

On Tuesday, November 7th, the Beijing Municipal government started a massive canine killing campaign aimed at eradicating large-breed dogs, unregistered dogs and smaller dogs who exceed the one dog per family quota. At this time, it is not known how many dogs have been killed or will be killed in the coming days as the cull continues.

Beijing's brutal actions are reminiscent of a rabies cull conducted in August of this year in the southeastern county of Mouding in Yunnan Province. Officials there ordered the brutal execution of nearly 55,000 dogs -- 90% of the region's canines -- over a five-day period because of a rabies scare. Authorities bludgeoned most of these dogs to death right in front of their guardians, while poisoning, hanging or electrocuting others.

Now it seems likely that this atrocity is being repeated in a crude attempt to make Beijing "rabies free" in time for the 2008 Summer Olympics being held in the Chinese capital. The international community and public health organizations have strongly criticized China for their cruel and reactive dog culls and for failing to implement effective preventive methods of controlling rabies. If the city of Beijing is modern enough to host the Olympic Games, then they certainly have the ability to humanely manage communicable diseases through such measures as vaccinations and spaying/neutering of companion animals.

Instead, authorities are also enforcing other draconian laws to reduce the canine population. For example, they plan to round up and kill all stray dogs, all those over 35 centimeters (13.7 inches) tall, and all those who exceed the one dog per family quota. Many Chinese citizens regard their canine companions as members of the family, just as people in other cultures do. To arbitrarily take these animals' lives is an affront to the bond between people and the animals they so dearly love. It also brings shame upon China in the eyes of the world.

Call or fax the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. immediately and urge him to push his government to put a stop to the killing in Beijing and to initiate effective preventive measures against the spread of rabies.

His Excellency Zhou Wenzhong
Ambassador of the People's Republic of China
Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 328-2574
Fax: (202) 328-2582
E-mail: webmaster [at] mfa [dot] gov [dot] cn

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa.

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Give Thanks with the Right Food
November 2006
Read this issue of Greentips online

In the hubbub of planning and preparing a Thanksgiving feast for friends and family, it can be easy to forget the environmental impact of our food choices. Growing, harvesting, and transporting the ingredients for a typical Thanksgiving meal consumes a significant amount of water and energy and contributes to air and water pollution, habitat degradation, and global warming.

Fortunately, you can make a holiday meal that is not only delicious but also kinder to the environment and your family's health. Here's how:

a.. Look for food produced in your region. Food travels an average of 1,500 miles or more from the farm to the supermarket, consuming fossil fuels and emitting air pollutants and heat-trapping carbon dioxide. Regionally grown meat and produce not only travel a shorter distance to your table and arrive fresher, but may also come from smaller farms that often follow more environmentally friendly practices.

b.. Choose organic. Organic standards prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, toxic pesticides, and antibiotics (today's industrialized animal production relies heavily on antibiotics to accelerate growth and prevent diseases that stem from overcrowding). Overuse of these substances generates air and water pollution and makes it more difficult to treat human diseases and ward off agricultural pests. If organic turkey is not available in your supermarket, choose turkey that has been raised without antibiotics. Also look for organic apples, celery, potatoes, and green beans because these holiday favorites are among the fruits and vegetables that typically carry the highest pesticide residues.

c.. Support genetic diversity. Today's large-scale farms focus on only a select few varieties of livestock and crops; for example, of the more than 250 million turkeys sold in the United States each year, 99 percent are the Broad-Breasted White variety. And of the thousands of potato varieties available, a small number now account for the majority of commercial production. As our agriculture system becomes more homogeneous, so does the risk of catastrophic losses if a disease spreads rapidly throughout a plant or animal population upon which our food supply depends. Choosing heirloom (or "heritage") varieties such as American Bronze turkeys and fingerling potatoes helps support biodiversity and ensures a reliable food supply for future generations.

d.. Go meatless. Meat production can deplete environmental resources more than other food production, so consider a meatless main dish.
Related Links

Local Harvest-Why Buy Local?

Union of Concerned Scientists-Antibiotic Resistance

U.S. Department of Agriculture-Organic Production and Handling Standards

Environmental Working Group-Organic Produce Buying Guide

Heritage and Heirloom Foods

Want to have a bigger impact on environmental issues? Add your voice to more than 110,000 online activists.

Help us develop practical solutions to environmental problems by joining UCS or making a donation today.

Subscribe to this free monthly newsletter or read past issues in the Greentips section of the UCS website.

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In Canada, between 30 and 50 endangered North Atlantic right whales are on a crash course for disaster. Take action now to save them!

Right Whales Need
Your Help

Thirty to fifty of the world's few remaining North Atlantic right whales are on a crash course with disaster. Help save them - Urge Canadian officials to delay opening the Bay of Fundy to lobster fishermen until these rare whales leave the area.

These whales don't have much time. Help us send 50,000 messages by this Friday!

Please forward this message to others who care about protecting whales and saving endangered species.

There are only about 350 North Atlantic Right whales left on the planet, making them the most endangered of the great whales. Right now, 30 to 50 are facing death in the icy waters of Canada's Bay of Fundy.

Each year, the whales travel to these waters off the coast of New Brunswick to feed, but then typically leave the area as winter approaches.

But this year is different. For some reason, the whales have remained in the bay, putting them on a crash course with disaster once the lobster harvest begins in the area today.

Take action now to save these whales. Urge the Canadian Minister of Fisheries to delay opening the fishing grounds until the right whales have left the area.

Entanglement in fishing gear is the second leading cause of death for North Atlantic right whales, and lobster gear is one of the leading culprits.

Whales and other marine wildlife can get tangled in the vertical lines that connect lobster traps on the ocean floor to buoys at the surface. They can also become ensnared in the horizontal lines that connect the traps together, known as groundlines.

Once caught up in this gear, whales have little hope of freeing themselves and face a near certain death.

Help prevent a disaster! Urge the Canadian Minister of Fisheries to give right whales the time they need to leave the area, so they don't become ensnared and die.

With so few North Atlantic right whales left in the world, the loss of even one moves the entire species that much closer to total extinction.

Lobster season starts today. I urge you to take action right now to save these vanishing giants of the sea.

Sincerely,

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

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Beijing Executes Dogs in Mass Cull
Urge Chinese Ambassador to U.S. to stop the killing

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Having trouble viewing IDA eNews? View it online.

November 8th, 2006

IDA Action Alerts

Beijing Executes Dogs in Mass Cull
Urge Chinese Ambassador to U.S. to stop the killing
Virginia Prepares for Cruel Bear Hunt
Urge state officials to call off the killing
Help Get IDA's Anti Fur Announcement to TV Viewers
Donate to IDA's Commercial Campaign

Campaign News & Updates

Save the Date: Benefit for In Defense of Animals
Meet the stars at Paramount Studios on Saturday, February 17th, 2007
Alaskans Seek an End to Aerial Hunting
Over 57,000 signatures submitted to get initiative on 2008 ballot
Start Planning Your Gentle Thanksgiving
Make this holiday a turkey-free celebration "for the birds"

Features

Get an IDA-Africa Calendar

Support IDA-Africa by purchasing a calendar highlighting some of the special chimpanzees at the Sanaga-Yong Chimpanzee Rescue Center. Each month features a beautiful color photograph and a short biography for a different chimpanzee, as well as important U.S. and Cameroon dates and animal welfare observance days.

Each 17" x 11" calendar is only $15, including shipping and handling and proceeds from each purchase directly benefit the chimpanzees at the sanctuary. View the calendar online and order yours today!
"I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country...The Turkey is a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America."

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In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 85,000 members and supporters dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of animals by protecting their rights and welfare. IDA's efforts include educational events, cruelty investigations, boycotts, grassroots activism, and hands-on rescue through our sanctuaries in Mississippi and Cameroon, Africa.
In Defense of Animals is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. We welcome your feedback and appreciate your donations. Please join today! All donations to IDA are tax-deductible.

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Hello Friends of Free Range!

Fresh from the Free Range Studio, our latest creation:
BACKWARDS HAMBURGER! This one's posted up on YouTube.

Learn what's behind the fast food facade in this funky cartoon chronicling the life of a hamburger in reverse.

Free Range has teamed up with Participant Productions, makers of the upcoming film Fast Food Nation, to expose a nasty industry.

This one will take you back-- back to the drive thru, back to the slaughterhouse, back to the cow...

Get it while it's hot: YouTube

Enjoy,

The Free Range Team

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FEED - Food & Environment Electronic Digest - November 2006
Read FEED online

Contents

1.. Victory in jeopardy: FDA may ignore recommendation
2.. Fast Food Nation hits the silver screen
3.. Red, red wine: Engineered yeast removes one headache, causes another
4.. Which fruits and vegetables to buy organic
5.. Hogs on small farms don't carry as much Salmonella
1. Victory in jeopardy: FDA may ignore recommendation
Last month's FEED reported how the Union of Concerned Scientists presented evidence to a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory committee warning that approving fourth-generation cephalosporin antibiotics for use in animals would lead to increased antibiotic resistance in human patients. In Europe, where fourth-generation cephalosporins are used in animal agriculture, resistance to these antibiotics in human medicine is increasing, while in the United States, where the drugs are not yet approved for use in animals, resistance is still rare. The FDA advisory committee agreed that approval of the veterinary use of the antibiotics could threaten human health. But under pressure from industry, the FDA may take the unusual step of ignoring the advice of its advisory committee and approving the drug anyway. UCS joined with coalition partners to send a letter urging the FDA to follow the recommendations of its advisory committee. Read our letter (pdf).

2. Fast Food Nation hits the silver screen
Eric Schlosser's insightful exposé on the fast-food industry is coming to theaters nationwide November 17. Read more.

3. Red, red wine: Engineered yeast removes one headache, causes another
A Milwaukee company is marketing a new genetically engineered yeast to red wine vintners. The yeast was engineered to eliminate headache-causing chemicals produced by bacteria commonly used in making red wines. According to a Sacramento Bee article, wine produced using the new yeast is being sold in the United States this year. But using engineered organisms without labeling the bottles creates a different kind of headache for consumers who want to avoid bioengineered products. Moreover, following its typical approach, the FDA is allowing the yeast to be marketed based on the company's safety review-not an independent FDA assessment. Read the article (free reg. req'd).

4. Which fruits and vegetables to buy organic
Carry a wallet-sized Shoppers' Guide with you to see which fruits and vegetables are routinely doused with the most pesticides and which are generally pesticide-free. Read more.

5. Hogs on small farms don't carry as much Salmonella
A new study supports what sustainable agriculture advocates have been saying for years: small-scale livestock operations are healthier. Iowa State University researchers found that levels of Salmonella (bacteria that can cause foodborne illness) were low or non-existent on farms with 20-150 hogs. The researchers concluded that use of meal feed and straw bedding, low animal densities, rodent control, and avoidance of antibiotics helped limit Salmonella. Unfortunately these farms are the exception. Typical hog operations forgo most of these good practices, keep animals crowded together, and compensate for unsanitary conditions by routinely using antibiotics. Read more.

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October 27, 2006
JOIN OUR ACTIVIST NETWORK | SEND TO A FRIEND | DONATE NOW

More Horrors Revealed at Primarily Primates
The Texas attorney general filed a complaint alleging cruel conditions against Primarily Primates, and PETA has sent help to the scene. Every day, new horrors are found. At Primarily Primates, more than 1,000 animals-including monkeys who have lost toes and parts of their tails from frostbite in unheated winter enclosures and other animals who have been deprived of sunlight for years-are in desperate need of help.

Lost Star Dominic Monaghan Appears in New PETA Wildlife Ad
Check out Dominic Monaghan's new ad asking people to consider humane solutions to wildlife issues in their back yards and communities, and enter to win seasons one and two of Lost on DVD as well as a T-shirt signed by Dominic Monaghan.

Horror Film Queen: 'I Wouldn't Be Caught Dead in Fur'
Hollywood legend Karen Black takes on something even more terrifying than zombies and vampires: the fur industry.

Birds Should Fly Free
There is no such animal as a "cage bird." All caged birds were either captured or bred in captivity. In the wild, these beautiful beings are never alone-ever.

Monthly Action for Animals in Labs
Want to "write" the wrongs that are done to animals? Then use the power of the pen to let charities know how you feel about cruel and outdated animal tests.

50 Awesome Ways Kids Can Help Animals
'Only Monsters Test on Animals' T-Shirt
Other Ways to Support PETA in Your Everyday Life
Pangea Vegan Store: Everything You Need in One Store

MooShoes Offers Great Purse Selections for Fall/Winter!
MooShoes offers a very large variety of vegan bags and purses. Some of their coolest items this season are from the Matt & Nat line. Clutches, evening bags, everyday purses... anything you need to accessorize.

Native Foods: Add Creativity and Flair to Vegetarian Cuisine
Native Foods has combined its experiences in food service, travel, and healthy cooking to offer you an ethnic fusion of bright colors, rich flavors, and delicious textures in a quick-service, stylish, fresh, and fun way.

An Unprecedented Opportunity to Help Captive Elephants

Urge Prosecutor to File Charges Against Allegedly Abusive Dog Trainer

Elvira's Halloween Ad

Alison Goldfrapp is 'Number 1' With PETA
Alison Goldfrapp sat down with PETA to talk about fashion and shoes as well as why abusing animals is just as bad as other kinds of violence. Enter to win red glittered shoes like the ones famously worn by Alison on Goldfrapp's Black Cherry album.

Candied Apples
Chocolate 'Spiders'
Search Recipes

Espaço Aberto

4746 leituras

Quinta, 2007-01-04 18:10 — [InfoNature.Org] - E

URGENT - Take Action: Help protect Nature

Defenders of Wildlife
More news about Nature are presented bellow

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Help prevent the worst wolf massacre to occur in decades

Take action now!
http://action.defenders.org/site/R?i=C5MbdgHLDjS8Z4OdyGJcLA..

Watch video about the wolves:
http://action.defenders.org/site/PageServer?pagename=savewolves_video

Help Stop the
Next Wolf Massacre

Hundreds of wolves could die if a misguided "management" plan becomes a reality. Help stop the massacre -- Urge U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service head Dale Hall to protect wolves in the Northern Rockies.

Please forward this message to a friend...

Federal officials are about to make a big mistake -- one that could lead to the killing of hundreds of wolves in the Northern Rockies.

Help save these magnificent animals. Urge the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dale Hall, to maintain federal protections for gray wolves.

Sometime this month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to release a proposal to strip wolves of crucial Endangered Species Act protections across most of Wyoming and de-list wolves in Idaho, where the state is poised to kill up to 75% of the wolves living in the Lolo district of the Clearwater National Forest.

This proposal could allow the use of aerial gunning and other lethal control methods to kill as many as two-thirds of the wolves in Wyoming and as many as 54 of Idaho's 65 wolf packs!

Help us prevent the worst massacre of wolves to occur in the lower 48 states in decades. Take action now.

In the last century, America's wolves were nearly hunted, trapped, poisoned and harassed to extinction. Yet neither Wyoming nor Idaho has addressed the core issues that once brought these magnificent animals to the brink of extinction.

Until Wyoming and Idaho take decisive action to promote conservation, maintain adequate range for the wolves and reduce conflicts between ranchers and wolves, removing federal protections is a recipe for disaster.

Join our Campaign to Save America's Wolves. Take action now.

Since last week, more than $85,000 has been donated to support our work to save wolves in the Northern Rockies. We've already begun putting these resources to good use, preparing our legal challenge to the federal proposal and rushing new radio ads and other educational materials into production.

Now we need to ensure our voices our heard. Plenty of folks motivated by over-blown claims of livestock loss and elk hunting declines are urging federal officials to kill wolves. Will you be a voice for for America's wolves?

Send your message now, and urge Fish and Wildlife Service chief Dale Hall to protect wolves in the Northern Rockies.

The future of our wolves depends on you.

Best Regards,

Rodger Schlickeisen
President
Defenders of Wildlife

Defenders Home | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Donate Now

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The "Animals Matter" Petition needs your help
http://www.animalsmatterusa.org/

Be a monthly donor Donate Now Become a member Tell a friend

The "Animals Matter" Petition needs your help

Sign the Petition Today!

The "Animals Matter to Me" petition has over 358,000 signatures but we still need more! WSPA launched the petition to show the United Nations that animal welfare is an important issue for people the world over.

This petition is one part of a comprehensive campaign to urge the United Nations to adopt a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare. We are seeking a total of 10 million signatures, making it the most ambitious global initiative on animal welfare that has ever been attempted. This declaration would be similar to earlier initiatives on human rights and the environment.

Help us make a difference - Sign the "Animals Matter to Me" petition

The adoption of a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare would act as a catalyst for better animal welfare provisions.

Five UN member states - Costa Rica, Kenya, India, Czech Republic and the Philippines - have already formed a steering group committed to taking the initiative forward to the United Nations.

In principle, the Universal Declaration will call on the United Nations to recognize animals as sentient beings, capable of experiencing pain and suffering. The Declaration will also recognize that animal welfare is an issue of importance as part of the social development of nations worldwide.

Already signed the petition? You can help us spread the word!

Click here for an easy way to alert your friends and family and ask them to sign the Animals Matter to Me petition.
It only takes a few seconds and it could make a difference in the way animals are treated all around the world.

To make sure you're counted toward our goal of 10 million signatures worldwide - go to the Animals Matter to Me website and sign the petition today.

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DESPITE LACK OF SCIENCE AND STRONG PUBLIC CONCERN,
FDA EXPECTED TO OK FOOD FROM CLONED ANIMALS
Inadequate Safety Review Threatens U.S. Food Supply and Animal Welfare

(December 26, 2006) The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected later this week to release a preliminary safety assessment that clears the way for marketing of meat and dairy products from cloned animals for human consumption. The assessment and the agency's expected endorsement of cloned food comes despite widespread concern among scientists and food safety advocates over the safety of such products. The move to market cloned milk and meat also flies in the face of dairy and food industry concern and recent consumer opinion polls showing that most Americans do not want these experimental foods.

"Instead of doing its job, the Bush FDA has ignored the science and fast-tracked this decision for the benefit of a few cloning companies," said Joseph Mendelson, Legal Director for the Center for Food Safety (CFS). "This is a lose-lose situation for consumers and the dairy industry."

The FDA action follows the recent news that the agency has refused to investigate health problems in animal clones on a U.S. dairy farm. Greg Wiles, whose Williamsport Maryland "Futuraland 2020" dairy was the first farm in the nation to have cloned cows, told FDA that one of his two cow clones was suffering from unexplained health problems. Wiles told Food Chemical News that the clone "just stopped growing...she just looks terrible," but says that when he reported the problems to FDA and other federal officials, he was "paddled around like a tennis ball from agency to agency." CFS has asked the Agriculture Department to intervene in the case to stop any sale and prohibit the slaughter of clones and their progeny for food.

In October, CFS, joined by a coalition of consumer, environmental and animal welfare organizations, filed a legal petition with the FDA seeking a moratorium on foods produced from cloned animals and establishment of mandatory rules for pre-market food safety and environmental review of cloned foods (see the petition at http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/ ). The petition also requested that the Department of Health and Human Services establish a federal review committee to advise FDA on the ethical issues raised by animal cloning.

Recent opinion polls also show that Americans are overwhelmingly concerned about animal cloning for food production. A November 2006 food industry poll conducted by the International Food Information Council showed that 58% of Americans' surveyed would be unlikely to buy meat or milk from animal clones even if FDA found such products to be safe. In the same poll, only 16% of Americans had a favorable opinion of animal cloning. A December 2006 poll by the Pew Initiative found that 64% of those polled were uncomfortable with animal cloning, with 43% saying that cloned food is unsafe, while another 36% felt unsure about cloned food safety.

The FDA's action also follows growing opposition to the use of clones and their progeny for food products on Capitol Hill. In November, Senator Barbara Mikulski sent a letter to the FDA requesting a complete overview of how the agency came to its decision of using clones in food. In early December, a bi-partisan group of seven senators led by Senator Patrick Leahy asked FDA to reconsider its assessment of cloned animals. The International Dairy Foods Association, representing major dairies and food makers including Kraft, Nestle and others, also has opposed allowing products from cloned animals into the food supply at this time.

Cloning scientists have acknowledged that genetic abnormalities are common in clones, yet FDA failed to address how food safety and animal welfare concerns could be managed if cloning is widely adopted by the livestock industry. Some of the health and safety problems in animal cloning include:

a.. Surrogate mothers are treated with high doses of hormones; clones are often born with severely compromised immune systems and frequently receive massive doses of antibiotics. This opens an avenue for large amounts of veterinary pharmaceuticals to enter the human food supply;

b.. Imbalances in clones' hormone, protein, and/or fat levels could compromise the quality and safety of meat and milk;

c.. The National Academy of Sciences warned that commercialization of cloned livestock for food production could increase the incidence of food-borne illnesses, such as E. coli infections;

d.. Cloning commonly results in high failure rates and defects such as intestinal blockages; diabetes; shortened tendons; deformed feet; weakened immune systems; dysfunctional hearts, brains, livers, and kidneys; respiratory distress; and circulatory problems.
"There is widespread concern among Americans, and scientific concern that cloned food may not be safe and that cloning will increase animal cruelty," said Mendelson. "We intend to pursue our legal action to compel FDA to address the many unanswered questions around cloned food."

What can you do?
Though FDA has not made their official announcement (it is expected later this week), the story has already hit the press. Keep an eye out in your local papers for stories on FDA's approval. We will send you another email with an opportunity to send letters to the editors of your local media outlets. It is also expected that a public comment period will be opened once FDA makes a formal announcement, if so, we will have an opportunity to make our voices heard then as well.

For more background information, see http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org

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FDA Okays Food from Cloned Animals - Write a Letter to the Editor!

As expected, the FDA announced on Thursday December 28th preliminary approval of milk and meat from cloned animals and their offspring to enter the human food supply. Despite public outcry, FDA has not recommended these products be labeled if approved.

Stories about FDA's announcement ran in newspapers across the country. Write a letter to the editor of your local papers and add your voice!

** If you have problems with the links in this email, copy and paste the following URL directly into your browser's address bar to send your letter online http://ga3.org/campaign/cloning_lte

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A 90-day public comment period opened today, and we will follow up with an opportunity to send comments to FDA.

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Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this. Tell-a-friend!

If you received this message from a friend, you can sign up for Center for Food Safety.

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Movie Fans: Write to your Local Newspaper about Dirty Gold

Dear Paulo,

The recent Hollywood release, Blood Diamond starring Leonardo DiCaprio, may be on your holiday viewing list. The film has received widespread media attention because it highlights how the illegal diamond trade has helped to fuel and finance armed conflict in parts of Africa.

Natural resources, instead of bringing wealth, have fuelled conflict in the Dem. Republic of Congo. Credit: Richard Wainwright/CAFOD Unearth Justice
Gold mining, too, bears the scars of conflict, destruction, and human rights abuse. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), armed groups fighting for control of gold mines and trading routes have tortured and killed civilians and used gold sales to buy weapons. Rather than bringing prosperity to the nation, gold has been a cause of enormous human suffering in the DRC.

Please help us raise awareness that "dirty gold" is as great a threat as "blood diamonds" by writing a letter to your local newspaper. The letters section is widely read, and it offers a great opportunity to reach your entire community.

We have provided some helpful facts and figures that you can use to craft your letter. It is helpful to relate your letter to topics the newspaper has covered recently, so keep an eye out for articles relating to the movie "Blood Diamond".

Thank you, and best wishes for the holidays,
The No Dirty Gold Campaign team

P.S. Please share your letter with us by emailing it to info [at] nodirtygold [dot] org. Send us a link to your published letter and we will send you a No Dirty Gold t-shirt.

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Use these helpful facts and figures about "dirty gold" to write your letter to the editor. NOTE: Newspapers generally limit letters to between 100 and 200 words.

a.. Gold mining is one of the dirtiest industries in the world. The production of a single gold wedding ring generates 20 tons of mine waste.
b.. As with "blood diamonds," gold mining bears the scars of conflict, destruction, and human rights abuse. Gold mining fueled a war in the Democratic Republic of Congo that led to more civilian deaths than any war since World War II.
c.. In places as diverse as Guatemala, Ghana, Peru, and Indonesia, local communities and indigenous peoples have encountered intimidation, abuse, and even violent suppression when voicing opposition to mining projects.
d.. The majority of gold is used to make jewelry. Jewelers should ensure that they are not selling their customers gold that has been produced at the expense of communities and the environment.
e.. Jewelers can take an important step by endorsing the No Dirty Gold campaign's "Golden Rules" and supporting an independent certification system to weed out "dirty gold."
Here are some recent news articles about the Blood Diamond film:

a.. "Measuring a diamond's true price," The New York Times, 17 December 2006
b.. "Diamonds are for never?" The New York Times, 14 December 2006
c.. "All of the luster, none of the conflict," The Oregonian, 16 December 2006
d.. "Ice that draws fire," The Montreal Gazette, 20 December 2006
e.. "Ask before buying: Is that sparkler a blood diamond?" The Houston Chronicle, 13 December 2006
f.. "Blood diamond tells necessary story," The Baltimore Examiner, 14 December 2006

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Headlines Newsletter
December 14th, 2006
All stories, blogs, and video »

Suburbia: Running on Empty?
By James Howard Kunstler, Salgamundi
Robert Bruegmann argues in his new book that urban sprawl will continue because people like it, but reviewer James Howard Kunstler counters that the petro-dependent suburban era is just about finished. Read more »

Dear Friend,

In just a few weeks, 2006 will be over. But AlterNet's coverage on the crucial issues of 2007 is only just beginning.

The recent shift in Congress gives us hope! The election results prove that the American people desire change. Right now is the perfect opportunity to focus attention on the issues we care about -- our health and the environment; reproductive rights and social justice; corporate accountability and economic fairness.

But if we really want to see progress, we've got to push for it. If you believe that it's time to move our country in a new direction, then help support AlterNet's coverage on the most important issues of 2007.

Need another reason? Donate $45 or more, and we'll send you a copy of "The War Tapes," a compelling new Iraq documentary filmed by American soldiers themselves. Click here to make your contribution.

Warmly,

Don Hazen
Executive Editor, AlterNet

Why Withdrawal Is Unmentionable
By Michael Schwartz, Tomdispatch.com
Pulling out of Iraq would be an imperially momentous decision. It would mean the abandonment of more than two decades of American foreign policy in the Middle East.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The Right Wing's Right Hand in D.C.
By Matt Stoller, AlterNet
The Chamber of Commerce, run by corrupt lobbyist Tom Donahue, has turned into a pay-to-play vehicle for right-wing causes and corporate dishonesty.

E.P.A. Library Closures Could Threaten Public Health
By Leslie Burger, AlterNet
Congress needs to act now to reverse the E.P.A.'s closing of tax-payer funded libraries, which contain potentially life-saving information about our environment.

What She Wore: The Prevalence of Gender Bias in Reporting
By Lucinda Marshall, Feminist Peace Network
Not only is it possible to write about women in power without referencing their appearance, it should also be the standard.

Good News, Everybody: We've Got a New Iraq Slogan!
By Arianna Huffington, AlterNet
Bush's language has changed, but his idiocy hasn't.

Is the USA the Center of the World?
By Norman Solomon, AlterNet
Rumor has it our world domination is in jeopardy. Can politicians take the ego-beating?

McKinney's (And Any Other) Bush Impeachment Bill Is a Bad Idea
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, AlterNet
Why McKinney's bill is more about getting back at Democrats than nailing Bush.

PEEK and Video: The hottest buzz and videos on the web

Daily Show: Goodbye Rummy [VIDEO]
By Evan Derkacz
'Don with the wind'

Jim and Tammy Faye's son: The Punk Rock Preacher [VIDEO]
By Evan Derkacz
It begins tonight...

Dick Cheney's "final solution" for Iraq (also: Muqtada madness!)
By Joshua Holland
Why dim children shouldn't play with armies.

Quarta, 2009-11-25 07:25 — embroidery machine (não verificado)