UARC News and Events >> 29 January 06

news-events at uarc.com news-events at uarc.com
Sun Jan 29 14:52:22 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
  * Ching Farm Day
  * Legislature
  * In the News

Thanks to everyone who helped out with the Sundance fur demos!

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, 30th (tomorrow)
------------
- 8:30 AM - Hearing on HB 95 - Individual Income Tax Contribution for Community Spay and Neuter Programs (see below)
! 9:30 AM ! University of Utah leafletting postponed as John F. is out of town until later in the day.
- 7:00 PM - UARC Steering meeting at The Bridge (512 W. 200 S.).  All are welcome; paying members have voting privileges.


Tuesday, 31st
-------------
- 9:30 AM until 11:00 AM - Vegan Outreach leafleting at the Salt Lake Community College.  Contact Eric Waters (ewaters at uarc.com, 560-8238) if you're interested in helping out.


Wednesday, 1st
--------------
- 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
-------------
- 10:00 AM   - Meet at The Bridge to carpool down to the Ching Farm Sanctuary for UARC volunteer day! (see below)
- 12:00 Noon - VFS fur demo at L'Ours Blanc furs
-  6:30 PM   - Ching Sanctuary benefit concert with Medicine Circus, Schwa Grotto, Lake Area Playaz, and Throwing Randy.  At 7711 South, 700 West., Midvale, UT 84047, cost $7.00 - all procedes go to Ching Sanctuary.


Sunday, 5th
-----------
- 5:00 PM - SOAR weekly meeting


### CHING FARM DAY ###

UARC will be volunteering at the Ching Farm Animal Sanctuary (www.chingsanctuary.org) on Saturday.  Please consider joining us!  The more the merrier.

If you haven't yet been to the farm, it's a great opportunity to see first hand the animals lives which are being saved through the hard of your fellow animal liberationists.  Come to remember why we are vegan, and how these animals are affected by compassion and caring.

We will be meeting at Coffee Under the Bridge at 10:00 am to carpool down to the farm.  Please don't be late.  Contact Eric for more details (ewaters at uarc.com, 560-8238).


### LEGISLATURE ###

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

* HB 61 - Criminal Penalty for Animal Cruelty - Wyatt, S.
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0061.htm

   Current Location:  House Third Reading Calendar
  Closeness to Pass:  35%
         Next Heard:  Monday or Tuesday most likely

This bill will modify the Criminal Code to make torturing an animal a felony. It requires that the convicted undergo psychological evaluation with the understanding that people who start torturing animals rarely stop there, and pose a hazard to the safety of our community (the judge can opt to not require this evaluation, but must state exactly why she is doing so).

We'd like to encourage you to write to your Representative today and encourage them to support this bill.  It will be voted on in the House early this upcoming week.


* HB 95 - Individual Income Tax Contribution for Community Spay and Neuter Programs - Noel, M.
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0095.htm

   Current Location:  House Revenue and Taxation Committee 
  Closeness to Pass:  10%
         Next Heard:  Monday, 30-Jan at 8:30 am in Rm W135

This bill would create a Cat and Dog Community Spay and Neuter Program revenue account that would allow for money to be funneled to 501(c)(3) groups that operate mobile spay and neuter clinics for cats and dogs.  Please consider attending the committee meeting tomorrow.


* HB 328 - Eliminating the Age Requirement for Hunting Small Game - Oda, C.
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0328.htm

   Current Location:  House Rules Committee
  Closeness to Pass:  5%
         Next Heard:  Unknown

Removes any age requirement for hunting small game.


* HB 329 - Age Amendments for Hunting Big Game - Oda, C.
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/~2006/htmdoc/hbillhtm/HB0329.htm

   Current Location:  House Rules Committee
  Closeness to Pass:  5%
         Next Heard:  Unknown

Changes the age requirement for hunting big game (deer and the like) from 14 to 12.

In both cases, children under 14 need be accompanied by an parent or guardian, or designated responsible person at least 21 years old.  However, if you're between 14 and 16, you won't need your parents permission (unless it's big game).

An opinion editorial in the Standard Examiner against the bills:
  http://www.standard.net/xx.php/opinion/editorial/73139/?printable=story

Both of these bills are awaiting assignment to a committee, which will most definately be the House Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment Committee:
  http://www.le.state.ut.us/asp/billsintro/committeebills.asp?com=HSTNAE

We'll keep you informed about ways you can oppose these bills.

Some other bills that pertain to animals:

 H.B. 211  	Ure, David  		Brand Inspection Amendments
 H.B. 69  	Johnson, Bradley T.  	Utah Dairy Act Amendments
 H.B. 287  	Buttars, Craig W.  	Wildlife Damage Compensation Act Amendments


 ## Representatives ##

One of the more important parts of getting involved in the Utah Legislature is knowing who your representatives are.  To find these out, visit http://www.clerk.slco.org/elections/index.cfm and enter your street address.  Look for "STATE SENATE" and "STATE REPRESENTATIVE" - these are the people who are making decisions on your behalf in this legislative session, and they need to hear your opinion about the bills which they will be voting on.


 ## Citizens' Day at the Legislature ##

Each year, Utah Issues (utahissues.org) sponsors a citizens' day at the legislature.  UARC would like to encourage you to attend this event, as it will teach you about the legislative process and give you the opportunity to meet directly with your legislators over lunch.  It is a free event.

  When:  February 17th from 8am until 1:30pm
 Where:  Radisson Hotel, 215 W. South Temple
 RSVP

To attend, you'll need to register at http://www.altrue.net/site/poverty/section.php?id=12841 and indicate a vegetarian meal.  Please followup the registration with an email to Utah Issues indicating that you want a vegan meal instead of a vegetarian.  You may be able to do that at http://www.altrue.net/site/poverty/contactus.php.


### IN THE NEWS ###
  For more, visit http://news.yahoo.com/fc/World/Animal_Rights/

Monday
------
* What killed whale visiting London?
  In Thames: Necropsy is conducted on northern bottlenose that died during a rescue attempt
  http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3428908
LONDON - A marine mammal expert conducted a necropsy Sunday on a whale that wandered into the River Thames, hoping to determine what caused the 20-foot-long animal to veer off course and splash through central London before dying during Saturday's rescue attempt.
  The Zoological Society of London said it hoped preliminary results on what killed the northern bottlenose whale would be available Wednesday. ...


Tuesday
-------
* A Day Spa for Dogs
  When the latest fashion accessory for a star is a dog, where better to relax after a big day at Sundance than a pet spa?
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3431570
PARK CITY - For years now, swanky spas headquartered in New York or Los Angeles have opened satellite operations in Park City during the Sundance Film Festival, giving their celebrity clients massages, manicures and hairstyles during the 10-day event. But human celebrities aren't the only ones getting the spa treatment this year. ...

* Cockfighting seems fairly widespread
  Animal cruelty: Recently raided event was well- organized; participants were from a wide area
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3431577
Call it Cockfight Madness.
  "This is conducted kind of like the NCAA tournament," said Pleasant Grove police Capt. Cody Cullimore. "There is bracketing and you fight until you can't go on." ...

* 19 arrested at cockfight
  25 roosters likely will be killed after they were seized in Lindon
  http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635178664,00.html
PLEASANT GROVE \u2014 The fate of 25 gamecocks seized by police who raided a cockfight Sunday in Lindon is still up in the air, but early indications are the birds will be killed. ...

* U.S. beef industry suffers setback in Japan
  Mad cow scare: Spinal bones in a veal shipment broke a rule set by Tokyo and left Americans apologizing
  http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_3431098
TOKYO - The first shipments of U.S. beef in two years had barely cleared customs last month when American officials were already cooking up their next project - loosening remaining restrictions on imports and winning back wary Japanese palates. ...

* Mixed response to Canadian mad cow case
  http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_3431089
BILLINGS, Mont. - Confirmation of a new case of mad cow disease in Canada on Monday prompted calls by some U.S. cattle industry groups to halt cattle and beef trade, until how the cow became infected is better understood. The U.S. secretary of agriculture said suspension of trade is unlikely.
   The case, however, could affect whether the government proposes expanding such trade with Canada. ...


Wednesday
---------
* Review of studies: Fish oil unlikely to cut cancer risk
  Tentative: Experts say it's not the final word, and still recommend eating fish to fight heart disease
  http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3435149
CHICAGO - Fish oil, seen as beneficial for reducing heart disease risks, probably doesn't help prevent cancer, according to a review of studies involving more than 700,000 patients. ...

* Animal-abuse proposal advances
  http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635179023,00.html
In what one lawmaker said is a step toward a society "free of abuse," a legislative committee Tuesday endorsed a bill that would create penalties for people torturing animals, especially with vicious intent.
Image
  Torture of an animal, in fact, could result in a third-degree felony charge under HB61, which passed the House Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Committee. Rep. Scott Wyatt, R-Logan, said the intent of the bill is to address the worst kinds of animal abuse. ...


Thursday
--------
* Kanab sets two-dog limit per house, plus two more under amnesty provision
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3438597
KANAB - Pet peeves abound - even in the hometown of Best Friends Animal Society.
  Dogs run loose. They make messes. They bark and howl.
  So say residents who helped persuade Kanab's City Council to toughen its animal-control ordinance. Starting Feb. 1, residents can own up to four dogs if they are willing to pay $200 for two of them. ...


Friday
------
* High mercury levels found in canned tuna
  http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_3442574
  FDA tests: The agency's research also raised alarm over Chilean sea bass and ahi tuna used in sushi
CHICAGO - Newly released government data provide the best evidence to date that some cans of light tuna - one of America's favorite seafoods - contain high levels of mercury. ...

* Hunting-age amendments
  http://www.standard.net/xx.php/opinion/editorial/73139/?printable=story
Hunting is a sport that offers its practitioners a wide variety of emotions and experiences. The reason we love it has more to do with family and relationships, probably, than the actual taking of wild game -- though that's exciting, too, and tests our skills as hunters.
  But hunting, like so many other sports and pastimes and hobbies, poses certain risks. We are handling weapons, after all, and that's why we take such care with them -- so we won't be one of the handful of hunters each year who are injured or killed through carelessness. ...


Saturday
--------
* Rangeland infections put strain on vets
  Growing problem: Wet weather has caused insect swarms that spread diseases to grow
  http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_3446287
State veterinarians can barely keep up with treating perineal rangeland infections in cattle, sheep and horses, while also looking out for terrorist releases of deadly toxins. ...

* Judge says Colorado River fish plan inadequate
  http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3449321
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - A federal judge has ruled that a recovery plan for an endangered Colorado River fish isn't good enough. ...

* The penalty for barbarity
  Beware the human being who tortures animals. Their depraved acts will soon extend to family and others.
  https://www.standard.net/xx/opinion/73217/
That's what the experts say, and it makes sense to us. Torturing animals -- Humane Society officials say they've seen cases of dogs and cats being set on fire, torturing and mutilating of horses, and more -- is a manifestation of mental illness. ...


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

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