Just How Successful Was The Oklahoma Rally?

One Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words..........

Courtesy DualyGirly

Should You Get Used To A National Special Interest Group Using Tax Free Funds And Working To Take Away Your Rights?
...........the U.S. Humane Society were in town this week.........

Cockfighting to Remain Legal in Caddo Parish

Cockfighting is still legal in Caddo parish.
Caddo District Judge Charles Scott ruled today that parish law does not supercede state law.
A court battle got underway yesterday after the parish tried to ban the gambling backed sport.
Louisiana is one of two states in the U.S. that still allows the fighting.
Judge Scott says the opponents should seek relief from the state legislature, not parish government.
Representatives from the U.S. Humane Society were in town this week to back the parish in an effort to ban the events.

Source http://www.newschannel6.tv/news/default.asp?mode=shownews&id=5383

Counting Down to the Eighteenth Genesis Awards

The HSUS Hollywood Office Adds Up the 'Ten Things You Can Do To Help Animals In 2004'

HOLLYWOOD, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/04/2004 -- As the awards season gets underway and the countdown begins for the Eighteenth Annual Genesis Awards on Saturday, March 20, The Humane Society Of The United States (HSUS) Hollywood Office, presenter of the Genesis Awards which honors the news and entertainment media for spotlighting animal issues, has compiled a list of 'Ten Things You Can Do To Help Animals In 2004' to encourage practical and effective steps for improving the welfare of animals.

Reflecting the consciousness-raising spirit of the Annual Genesis Awards, whose bottom line message is to respect and be kind to our fellow creatures, 'Ten Things You Can Do To Help Animals' shows how we can all play a role in protecting those who cannot defend themselves, a role just as deserving of the red carpet treatment and a special award.

"Personally, I don't have any difficulty living by these guidelines," declares Daryl Hannah, one of this year's celebrity Genesis presenters. "But for those who might find it challenging to live up to all ten, I suggest taking them one step at a time."

THE 10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP ANIMALS IN 2004

1) Make a real fashion statement by keeping your closet a fur-free zone. Countless animals, who would otherwise lose their skins for the sake of adorning yours, will thank you for it!

2) Say no to exotic animals as pets. Not only do they belong in the wild but they don't make good houseguests. As exotic pet ownership increases, so does the number of deadly attacks and risk of disease.

3) Enjoy nature without taking up arms against a defenseless animal. The only way to shoot animals is with a camera -- say no to sport hunting!

4) Save lives. Don't add to the pet overpopulation problem. Spay/neuter your dog or cat. With an estimated 4 million unwanted companion animals euthanized annually in America's shelters, it's obviously the responsible thing to do.

5) When the circus comes to town -- pass. There is nothing natural about elephants, lions and tigers performing on command, to say nothing of the lifestyle they endure traveling in boxcars, and being chained and caged.

6) Adopt a dog or cat from your local shelter or rescue organization and give your love to a homeless animal, who'll give you so much more in return.

7) Be sure that your beauty regime doesn't come at the price of inflicting pain and suffering -- use only cosmetics and personal care products which are not tested on innocent animals. Always check the label.

8) If you choose to eat meat, buy products that are Certified Humane. At least you'll know the animal has not suffered a miserable and unhealthy existence in a factory farm.

9) Does your local zoo pass muster? Look beyond the window dressing and consider the quality of life for animals held captive for display. Zoo life for many is stressful or boring. If you have concerns, write to the zoo director.

10) Whether it's the circus, cockfighting, bullfighting, or the rodeo, make a vow to avoid any event that exploits, torments or harms animals in the name of entertainment or so-called "sport."

Adds Gretchen Wyler, VP of The HSUS Hollywood Office and Genesis event Chairperson, "Our list covers the fundamentals. In other words, it's animal welfare 101, and if people would only realize that their individual actions really do make a difference to the bigger picture, the lives of all animals would improve immeasurably."

Celebrating the news and entertainment media for a broad range of works from 2003, which offered either groundbreaking coverage of emerging issues, or a fresh perspective on ongoing injustices to animals, the Eighteenth Annual Genesis Awards will once again prove that "Cruelty Can't Stand The Spotlight."

The Genesis Awards is taped and edited to become a 2-hour television special, airing on Animal Planet April 25 and May 1, produced by Paul Flattery and executive producers Gretchen Wyler and Robert Halmi, Sr. Sponsors include MBNA America Bank, N.A. and MassMutual Financial Group.

The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection organization with over seven million members and constituents. The HSUS Hollywood Office is devoted to raising public awareness of animal issues through the major media. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, wildlife, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable agriculture. For 50 years, The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation, litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across the country. For more information, visit The HSUS Web site at www.hsus.org.

The Eighteenth Annual Genesis Awards Ticket Prices: General Seating $250; Special Seating $350. Tables from $2,500.

For more information, contact:

Lisa Elia
Lisa Elia Public Relations
310-393-9547

Sue Blackmore
HSUS Hollywood Office
818-501-2275.
Source http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=62623

Evidently Some People Think Oppression Should Be Accepted And Not Questioned?

TWO DAYS ago, Gov. Brad Henry spelled out his agenda for the 2004 legislative session, one that included everything from improved health care for the uninsured to pay raises for teachers and from tax relief for older Oklahomans to tort reform.

Courtesy OGBA News

The Charleston Gazette Charleston West Virginia.........

Birch River raid nabs 21 for alleged cockfighting

BIRCH RIVER - A raid of an illegal cockfight along W.Va. 82 near Birch River ended in citations for 21 alleged participants and the seizure of 17 fighting roosters.

Several dead roosters and assortment of cockfighting equipment, including one set of fighting spurs, also turned up in the raid, conducted on Sunday by Division of Natural Resources conservation officers and Nicholas County Sheriff's deputies.

The surviving roosters were taken to the Nicholas County Animal Shelter, where they will remain until the investigation is concluded.

According to a DNR spokesman, 10 of those cited in the raid were apprehended in a wooded area where they attempted to flee from approaching officers. One man was attempting to remove a pair of orange overalls when Deputy W.K. Shafer approached him, prompting him to leave his shoes behind and run. That suspect spent nearly three hours barefoot in the snow before being taken into custody, police said.

Those cited were Ricky L. Butcher, Karen Butcher and Carl F. Butcher, all of Dille; Tony A. Adkins, Jason S. Coulter, Hayden C. Cutlip, Lorenza Dancy, Jonathan M. Davis, Melissa D. Hiner, Nicole K. Hiner, Ray Hiner, Gary W. Spinks, Earl T. Williams, James A. Williams and Junior O. Williams, all of Birch River; Donal L. Simmons Jr. of Sutton; Tommie L. Lawson of Summersville; Clayton A. Ahart and Kevin R. Gilles, both of Craigsville; David. E. Cutlip of Mount Lookout, and an unnamed juvenile from Little Birch.

Source http://wvgazette.com/section/News/OtherNews/2004020318

Cockfight brings tickets, destruction of 60 birds

Stanislaus County authorities destroyed about 60 fighting roosters after sheriff's deputies busted a cockfighting operation, authorities said Tuesday. Sheriff's spokesman Kelly Huston said the department received a report Sunday of several people walking out of a house on West Whitmore Avenue carrying dead or bleeding chickens. The site is southwest of Modesto. Deputies found a group of people behind the home, Huston said, spurs used in a fighting ring, and some dead and injured birds. Most of the spectators ran, Huston said, but seven were detained and cited for attending a cockfight. Animal Control officers destroyed dozens of roosters at the home. "The roosters are bred for fighting, so they're really aggressive," Huston said, making them unsuitable for adoption. In addition, they could present disease threats to domesticated birds.

Source http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8085673p-8943978c.html

Asia tallies cost of bird flu battle
13th death comes amid new outbreaks

Tourists cancelling, stock prices down

MARTIN REGG COHN
ASIA BUREAU

HONG KONG-Asians began counting the costs of their battle against bird flu yesterday, as one more person died, groups cancelled package tours, and customers sent back shipments of frozen poultry.

The latest death in Thailand brought the bird flu toll to four in that country. Nine people have died in neighbouring Vietnam, for a total of 13 confirmed dead. But several more deaths are suspected of being bird flu cases, and undergoing analysis.

Doctors in Germany said yesterday a tourist who'd returned from Thailand with flu symptoms did not have avian influenza, sparing Europe its first case. The news came as health experts began closed-door emergency meetings, convened by the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, that will run until Friday.

China, the world's second-biggest poultry producer, reported seven more outbreaks yesterday, as stock market prices were driven down across the region.

And Indonesia confirmed for the first time that its poultry are dying from the lethal H5N1 strain of bird flu that's devastated Thailand and most of its Southeast Asian neighbours. Government officials in Jakarta announced belatedly they'd compensate farmers for destroying their flocks, reversing an earlier refusal because of the estimated $1.2 billion in losses.

The FAO said yesterday it would give $2 million in initial emergency payments to Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Pakistan to help them combat bird flu. Ten countries across Asia, from South Korea to Pakistan, have been affected so far and roughly 50 million birds have died or been slaughtered in a desperate effort to contain the virus at the farm gate.

Vietnam was reeling from cancellations by more than 1,000 Japanese tourists who were afraid of catching bird flu. Japan has already reported a small outbreak of its own, but the virus is no longer spreading there.

"We would like to send a message to Japanese tourists that there's no evidence of human-to-human transmission in Vietnam," said Vietnam's vice-minister of tourism, Pham Tu.

But Hanoi has now banned poultry sales in the capital, with all its 2.5 million chickens and ducks destined for slaughter.

The WHO announced this week the first human-to-human transmission of avian flu may have taken place in Vietnam, killing two sisters who possibly caught the virus from their late brother. But the organization is trying to calm fears that a human pandemic is under way, saying human-to-human transmission is still not an efficient way for the virus to spread.

"This is not the beginning of something big," said Peter Cordingley, the WHO's regional spokesman in Manila.

The WHO also repeated yesterday that it's safe to eat properly cooked poultry and eggs, after a Vietnamese hospital claimed Monday a man who ate an infected chicken had died.

India deployed troops yesterday along its eastern border with Burma in a desperate attempt to avoid becoming the 11th country to be hit by the virus, which is being blamed on migrating birds and the booming poultry trade. India has already banned all poultry imports, but fears smugglers may bring in tainted chickens.

Australian quarantine officers patrolled international airports warning of a "zero tolerance" policy against poultry products and eggs.

Thailand, home to the world's fourth-largest poultry industry, is preparing for the return of shipments of frozen birds to its ports after a European Union ban on all imports was extended until August. Officials also banned cockfighting, fearing top fighters transported across the country from infected zones may be spreading the virus. Hong Kong has also closed its borders to live-poultry imports from most of the region, and from neighbouring Guangdong province in southern China. Crisis centres are reporting new outbreaks daily across one-third of the country, from east-coast Shanghai to Xinjiang on the northwest frontier.

Shanghai officials banned bird watching in the city's nature reserves, and Hong Kong closed aviaries in public parks. A wild zoo in Shenzhen, directly across the border from Hong Kong, reported black swans had died mysteriously, prompting an investigation.

Suspected bird flu in Guangdong province was confirmed yesterday by Chinese authorities, who also reported seven new outbreaks, including the central city of Xian. But WHO officials said it was unclear whether this signalled bird flu was spreading, or merely previous outbreaks that had escaped detection until now.

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Counting Down to the Eighteenth Genesis Awards

The HSUS Hollywood Office Adds Up the 'Ten Things You Can Do To Help Animals In 2004'

Still squawking