UARC News and Events >> 26 February 06

Sun Feb 26 13:32:43 MST 2006

Hi Everyone,

Here is some news of the goings on in the Utah Animal Rights Coalition. In This E-Mail:

  * Calendar of Events
  * Legislature
  * In the News

I hope you were able to make it out to hear Dr. Steve Best speak at one of the his three presentations last week.  If not, visit http://www.uarc.com/steve_best/ for video and audio recordings of the events.  It's worth a viewing!

To be removed from this mailing list, follow the instructions at the bottom.

### CALENDAR OF EVENTS ###
  ( UARC lists other groups' events in our calendar as a service to the community, for solidarity with others fighting for animal liberation.  PETA, VFS, ARM and Ching Farm are not affiliated with UARC. )

Monday, 27th (tomorrow)
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- 7:00 PM - UARC Steering meeting at The Bridge (512 W. 200 S.).  All are welcome.

Wednesday, 1st
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- 1:30 PM - High school leafletting.  Meet at The Bridge to carpool to a to-be-decided High School where you will help pass out animal rights leaflets and/or CDs.  Contact Jason (jasonh at uarc.com) for more details.

Saturday, 4th
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- 12:00 Noon - VFS fur demo at L'Ours Blanc furs

Sunday, 5th
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- 5:00 PM - SOAR weekly meeting
- 6:00 PM - Monthly Vegan Potluck w/ The Oscars;  to be held at Ben and Leici's home at 1585 S. 900 E.  Bring a vegan potluck dish to serve 12 (small portions).  RSVP to Eric (560-8238, ewaters at uarc.com) if you'll be coming.  We'll have on Jon Stewart hosting the Oscars if you're interested in watching.

### LEGISLATURE ###

Here's an update on the bills we're watching this session:

* HB 61 - Criminal Penalty for Animal Cruelty - Wyatt, S. - SUPPORT
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0061.htm
* HB 95 - Individual Income Tax Contribution for Community Spay and Neuter Programs - Noel, M. - SUPPORT
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0095.htm
* HB 328 - Eliminating the Age Requirement for Hunting Small Game - Oda, C. - OPPOSE
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0328.htm
* HB 329 - Age Amendments for Hunting Big Game - Oda, C. - OPPOSE
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0329.htm

It's nearing the end of the 2006 General Session of the Utah State Legislature.  These four bills are all waiting for prioritization in the Senate Rules Committee.  It's possible that they will be heard in the remaining three days of the session, but for the most part our job is done.  Thanks for everyone who wrote or called their representatives about these bills.  I'll let you know the final result in next weeks email.

### IN THE NEWS ###

Monday
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* Animal diseases threaten to overrun humans
  http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3527671
ST. LOUIS - Humans risk being overrun by diseases from the animal world, according to researchers who have documented 38 illnesses that have made that jump over the past 25 years. ...

Tuesday
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* Respect, appreciate animals, expert says
  http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635186116,00.html
An animal behavior expert encouraged his audience to have an appreciation and understanding for animals, people and the environment in a talk given Friday as part of a "Roots and Shoots" evening at Westminster College.
  " 'Roots and Shoots' is about treating animals with respect and to honor their emotions," said Marc Bekoff, a professor of biology at the University of Colorado and a fellow of the Animal Behavior Society.
  "We can't keep abusing animals the way we've been doing. We can't pretend that animals don't feel." ...

Thursday
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* SLC to weigh new rules for dogs, cats
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3537398
When Cara and Robert Lingstuyl got engaged, the photo they sent to friends and family included their three dogs: Drizzit the Great Dane; Tori Bean, a pit bull/Dalmatian mix, and a mutt they rescued from the shelter.
  So when the couple bought their home in Salt Lake City and moved in, there was no question the three dogs would live there, too - even though it's against the law.
  Utah's capital allows residents to care for two dogs and two cats. And while the city soon may relax the rules on the number of cats - though it may start licensing them - the new pet proposal keeps the two-pooch limit. ...
  ..."Don't harass people because they have a certain number of pets. If you're going to harass people, [do] it because they're not caring for their pets," she said. "I sit on a city board, I'm a trustee of my community council. And I'm a lawbreaker." 

* Monkey business pays off
  Hogle Zoo's fur-wearing staff gets mom to accept her baby
  http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635186814,00.html
It's been more than nine months of baby steps for orangutan Eve.
  But after long, tiring shifts for a 32-member zoo staff, the effort to train Eve so she'll embrace her offspring, Acara, has reached a huge milestone. The two orangutans now spend all their time together, baby girl mimicking mom. ...

Friday
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* Mother and daughter finally bonding at zoo
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3541190
Call it the Head Start program for orangutans.
  Months of training - including learn-to-crawl classes - from Hogle Zoo staff have paid off as 9-month-old Acara is finally back together with her mother Eve. ...

* Hunters stalk Nevada poison
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3541173
  They call on Utah's governor to weigh in on mercury emissions
Utah duck hunters are pushing Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to weigh in on new mercury controls planned for Nevada gold mines, which are suspected of poisoning the Great Salt Lake and the state's fish and waterfowl. ...

Sunday
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* Ice fishing clinic is a hollering good time for women
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3548940
JORDANELLE RESERVOIR - When it comes to ice fishing, what's the difference between men and women?
  The hollering, for starters. ...

* Iditarod gets mushing to drive up its fan base
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3548946
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The world's longest sled-dog race thrives on the mystique of mushers and their canine companions braving the vicious cold of faraway Alaska.
  But the brutal conditions that fascinate fans of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have slowed efforts to popularize the contest outside the state. That's because only rarely can anyone see firsthand what's happening along the trail. ...

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That's it for this week.  Thanks for reading!