News About Animals - October 14, 2011

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Click here to view this online at our website. October 14, 2011   Victory - California Shark Fin Ban Every year, tens of millions of sharks are killed for shark fin soup. This unnecessary dish has been a major contributor to the near collapse of many shark species worldwide. On October 7, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the state's Shark Protection Act. Starting July 2013, it will be illegal to possess, sell, trade or distribute shark fins in California. This effectively shuts down the shark fin trade in the pacific region of the U.S., as California joins Oregon, Washington and Hawaii in banning shark fining. The new law had bi-partisan support in both houses of the legislature. IDA thanks Governor Brown and all the legislators who voted for this ban. Special thanks to IDA's California members, who sent thousands of letters in response to our alerts! Your voice was heard. As the top predator in the marine food web, sharks maintain the natural balance in our oceans. Without them, other ocean species will disappear and ecosystems will collapse. Scientists warn that the massive decline of sharks is having a devastating effect on the marine ecosystem. They estimate that 34% of the world's sharks are near extinction, and almost all shark species are in decline. California is the 2nd largest consumer of shark fins in the world, but will now become a leader in the global effort to end shark fining. Scientific American Calls For Ban On Chimpanzee Experimentation Scientific American, perhaps the most prestigious general interest science magazine in the world, has called for a ban on chimpanzee experimentation. The magazine's editorial began with the heartbreaking story of Bobby, who was prominently featured in the McClatchy newspapers Special Report published in April-May 2011. Scientific American cited the McClatchy report in calling for a ban, saying the series "painted a grim picture of life in the lab, noting disturbing psychological responses in the chimps." The McClatchy series was based on thousands of pages of chimpanzee medical records obtained by In Defense of Animals (IDA) after our watershed legal victory over the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in a federal Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Click here to read more. Tell USDA, Maine: Stop Pseudo-sanctuary For Solitary Elephant Despite pleas from Maine citizens, experts from around the world, and actor Lily Tomlin, a veterinarian is moving forward with his plan to bring a lone elephant named Rosie to live in a backyard "sanctuary" that is a anything but a refuge for this elephant. But some hurdles remain that can stop this misguided plan. Please click here to read more, and send a letter to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack. Then, click here to send a letter to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Another Victory - Irvine, California Passes Progressive Humane Law Irvine, California's City Council passed an unprecedented bill this week banning rodeos and circuses with exotic animals, and the retail sale of dogs and cats. This huge victory for animals passed with a 4–1 vote after nearly 40 supporters, including IDA’s Elephant Campaign Director Catherine Doyle, spoke in favor of the ban. Most dogs sold in pet stores come from puppy mills where dogs are kept in filthy, cramped, inhumane conditions. Animals in circuses suffer terribly from cruel training, painful physical problems from living in semi-trailers and on chains, and sheer boredom. Animals in rodeos are not aggressive naturally - they are domesticated animals who are painfully coerced and injured for the sake of entertainment. IDA applauds the city of Irvine for their compassionate decision. Congratulations to the Irvine activists whose perseverance and hard work made this amazing victory possible. California just got a little safer for animals. Coming Soon, Fur Free Friday Fur Free Friday is the most widely-attended annual demonstration in the animal protection movement. Always occurring outside fur-selling retailers on the day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, Fur Free Friday has become an institution for animal advocacy. Don't miss your opportunity to join with thousands of other activists worldwide for this international day of action. Fur Free Friday 2011 comes on the heels of some good news for fur-bearing animals. Last month, West Hollywood, California became the first city in the U.S. to ban fur sales! This is a historic step. "O" Magazine also took an anti-fur stance and will not be displaying fur on their pages. Let's keep this positive momentum going and make this the best Fur Free Friday yet! Click here to see how you can get involved.        Help animals with every check you write. Order IDA Message Checks.     Need a tax deduction? Donate your car, truck, boat, or motorcycle to IDA. Click for more info.   "Go Vegan and no body gets hurt" shirt, men's and women's sizes.   You can help feral cats.     Support IDA with custom greeting cards from CardsDirect!  This message was sent to sweetygirl2002@uol.com.br In Defense of Animals, located in San Rafael, Calif., is an international animal protection organization with more than 100,000 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, Mumbai, India, 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. In Defense of Animals 3010 Kerner, San Rafael, CA 94901 Tel. (415) 448-0048 Fax (415) 454-1031 idainfo@idausa.org To unsubscribe, please click here.

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