| Vegan News Archive Stories from 1998 |
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We Join Hundreds of Activists on Fur Free Friday from December, 1998 Fur Industry Not All It's Hyped Up to Be from November, 1998 Circus Tiger Fights Back from November, 1998 Great Britain Bans Animal Testing on Cosmetics from November, 1998 Mixed Blessings for Animals in Nov. 3rd Elections from November, 1998 Vegan Street Sponsors Chicago Veg Conference from November, 1998 Animal Rights Bills On Many State's Election Ballots from November, 1998 EarthSave Launches Fall Campaign from October, 1998 Vegan Street Activist Arrested at Wisconsin Rodeo Protest from October, 1998 Valerie Vegiburger Wows the Crowd at Organic Day from October, 1998 |
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Chicago Celebrates Fur Free Friday With a Bang! It was a balmy 65 degrees as approximately 200 activists gathered in downtown Chicago for this year's Fur Free Friday, so the fur coat sightings were at a blessed minimum. Buoyed by the financial woes of the fur industry, the spirit this year was more celebratory and less angry than in years past. With a 6’1” fox at the helm, we had banners, a snazzy drum corps, and a wonderful crowd of people to wave good-bye to the furriers on the way out and let passers-by know the truth that the industry hides. In all, it was an afternoon full of positive energy, good spirit and hope. Nationally, Fur Free Friday demonstrations were held in over 100 cities, and 63 activists were arrested. Seven individuals in San Francisco were arrested on federal conspiracy charges while attempting to hang a 36’X26’ banner from a building in Union Square. See a photo gallery of Chicago's Fur Free Friday march Stage your own fur store going-away party
Killing Millions Isn't Paying Off Like It Once Did "Fur is Back!" the desperate headlines shriek. "Fur is glamorous!" antediluvian fashion doyennes like Anna Wintour insist. "...Store sales for the year will take a beating and will have declined at least 5%, and possibly more, below 1997." Excuse me? That last nugget was provided by none other than those unabashed shills for the fur industry, the folks at Fur World Magazine (March 9, 1998). But who can blame them for sounding more than a little pessimistic these days? They're being faced with the irrefutable truth that not only is their industry inherently cruel and gruesome, but, darn it, all that neck snapping and anal electrocution isn't paying off like it once did. Listen to this tired old dinosaur as it finally faces the truth: "Some retailers were at a loss over the month's sluggishness,
wondering if the talk earlier in the season about the comeback
of furs and the tremendous amount of fur press coverage made little
sales generating impact on the consumer. "Fur sales went into a tailspin the balance of that month (January)
and got even weaker in February." "Crisis of Confidence: the New York wholesale market is going
through its usual summer doldrums. Bookings were off from 1996
despite prices that are at least 40% lower than last year. What
vendors need desperately is a strong dose of confidence." Ummm...Fur's back? It's hard to bolster up a fur merchant's confidence when Evans, a leading supplier of tortured animal's hides, has had reported losses of $12 million just this year. When profits have been cut in half of those in the mid-eighties. When we can throw spectacular going away parties for those facing Chapter 11 at a moment's notice. Oh, the humanity! Let's go out this year and put this wretched industry out of its misery. Support Fur Free Friday rallies that are occurring closest to you (check out locations at www.furfreefriday.com). We need to be out there in huge numbers to show the fur industry and the rest of the world that we are strong, we are proud, and we are unified. We have to let them know that killing 40 million animals a year to satisfy human greed and vanity is ethically bankrupt, and something a compassionate person would not condone. We have to expose to the rest of the world the gassing, poisoning, electrocution and neck snapping that the fur industry obfuscates. We need to let them know that despite the millions of dollars they spend to make certain that fur appears in fashion magazines, most of the world ain't as shallow and impressionable as they would like us to believe. Let's end it once and for all. Call the department stores in your area that carry fur and let them know they won't get your business until they discontinue their sales of fur, fur-lined and fur-trimmed items. Carry educational brochures with you and give them to anyone who may not be aware of the cruelty of the industry. Wouldn't it be great if we made a commitment to treating every day like it's Fur Free Friday? In 1999, the headlines might read, "Fur's back - I swear, please believe me, okay it's not back really, but would you pretty please buy some fur???" It's really not so far-fetched. Stage your own fur store going-away party
Circus Tiger Fights Back In yet another example of a performing animal striking back, a Ringling Bros., Barnum and Bailey Circus employee, Geoffrey Pettigrew, has been hospitalized in serious condition after a Bengal tiger bolted from his cage and attacked the handler on Saturday, November 21 in Chicago. Pettigrew was bitten and clawed over much of his body after he accidentally left the tiger's cage open following a performance. Debbie Leahy of Illinois Animal Action said, ”This is normal behavior for a tiger and they shouldn't be in the circus. These animals have been brutally treated their whole lives and when they see an opportunity to fight back, they take it.” Illinois Animal Action is calling for a federal investigation of the surge in circus animal attacks. Performing animals often endure years of abusive treatment at the hands of circus trainers. In order to get wild animals to perform demeaning, dangerous stunts that go against their natural instincts, trainers routinely starve, whip, gouge and otherwise torment these animals to get the desired results. They are forced to suppress their social, emotional and physical instincts; the animals are moved from town to town, shackled, caged and denied anything resembling a normal existence. As Kay Sievers of the Chicago-based Animal Rights Mobilization has said, ”If you are keeping wild animals that don't belong in captivity and forcing them to do stupid tricks, you are bound to have problems.” With the increased incidence of performing animal attacks, communities may want to heed her words: letting a circus come to town is a recipe for disaster. The Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has a lot more info about circus animal abuse Animal Rights Mobilization is staging a protest against The Ringling Bros. circus in Chicago at the United Center on November 29.
Great Britain Bans Animal Testing For Cosmetics In a move that is destined to take the world one step closer to
a world-wide ban on cosmetics testing, the British government
announced on November 15 that it would no longer allow finished
cosmetic products or individual ingredients to be tested on animals.
Election Results Across the United States, there were fourteen state initiatives and referendums in eleven states affecting the livelihood of animals. In most states, it was a good day for the animals and those trying to protect them, with many voters in many states finally putting a stop to such barbaric practices as cockfighting (in Arizona and Missouri), leghold traps (in California), and the sale of horses for human consumption (also in California). There were also measures that will help regulate factory farms (in Colorado and South Dakota) and others preserving wilderness (in Massachusetts and New Jersey). The news was not all great, however. Since animal lovers have begun to see the value of the ballot box, the other side, particularly the powerful National Rifle Association and other hunting groups have mobilized the troops and trotted out initiatives designed to pre-empt any future protections for animals. Two states, Minnesota and Utah, had such initiatives on the ballot. These measures were wrapped up in jingoistic rhetoric with such words as "heritage", "preservation" and "freedom" that exploited voters' state pride. In Minnesota, a bill protecting the rights of hunters and trappers easily passed by voters who were apparently caught up in the same macho fervor that brought pro-wrestler Jesse "The Body" Ventura to the Governor's mansion. Utah passed a bill requiring a two-thirds majority to pass any new wildlife initiatives. Ohio voters failed to pass a bill banning dove hunting, and Alaskans voted overwhelmingly to stop a measure to ban wolf snaring. Finally, in New Jersey, citizens voted to support the horse racing industry. Here's a state-by-state breakdown: ALASKA - Proposition 3 sought to ban the practice of wolf snaring, a crude,
cruel and indiscriminate form of trapping that is used for predator
control and also by fur trappers. ARIZONA - Proposition 201 sought to ban the "sport" of cockfighting. CALIFORNIA - Proposition 4 sought to ban the cruel and indiscriminate use of
traps and poisons, particularly the barbaric steel leghold trap,
which is most commonly used on muskrats and coyotes. Also, in California, Proposition 6 would make it a felony to possess,
transfer or receive horses for slaughter for human consumption.
COLORADO - Voters here had the opportunity to vote on the same issue in two
different ways: Amendment 13 would provide constitutional protections for factory
farms. Amendment 14 would regulate factory hog farms. MASSACHUSETTS - Question 5 would preserve open space and habitat in Barnstable
County. MINNESOTA - Question II is a constitutional amendment that recognizes hunting
and trapping as a "valued part" of the state heritage "that shall
be forever preserved". This measure would effectively deny citizens
the right to challenge any cruel or abusive hunting or trapping
practices. It was proposed by extremist hunting groups trying
to prevent any future animal protection laws. MISSOURI - Proposition A would reinstate a ban on cockfighting that was
in place from 1873 to 1985. It also bans "baiting" which is evidently
some sort of horrible contest between a large tethered animal
and a pack of dogs as well as bear wrestling. NEW JERSEY - Public Question I would preserve open space and habitat. Public Question 2 would help support the horse racing industry. OHIO - States Issue I bans the hunting of doves, particularly mourning
doves. SOUTH DAKOTA - Amendment E would regulate factory hog farms. UTAH - Voters faced a constitutional amendment that would require a
two-thirds majority of voters to approve any wildlife protection
initiatives. As you can see, though many states passed positive bills, it was hardly a clear win for the animals. The ballots in Minnesota and Utah, in particular, offer a potentially dark future as hunters' groups and other animal abusers rally against the animal rights forces. Bringing new animal protections in these two states will be far more difficult with these new measures in place. We need to be even more vigilant and organize even more strongly if we are to prevent more states from shutting us out of the debate. If this disturbs you, get involved. The political process is set up for the people, and those who have learned to take advantage of it are the ones whose voices are heard. In the coming weeks, Vegan Street will offer a look into the political lobbying process, how animal rights activists have learned to use it, and how we can all help the animals through the political process. Stay tuned.
Vegan Street's Coming-Out! (Sort of...) On November 14, you are invited to join many other activists in attending Chicago's conference on vegetarianism, hosted by SPEAK (Supporting and Promoting Ethics for the Animal Kingdom.) The event, called "Lifestyles of the Healthy and Humane," offers such movers and shakers of the movement as Howard Lyman, Gene Bauston and Jim Mason as featured speakers, and is taking place from 8:30am until 5:30pm in the Congress Lounge of Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago. There will be many topics addressed, ranging from animal rights to world poverty, and a vegan lunch will be included for your $30.00 contribution. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, socialize and re-affirm your commitment to our very worthy cause. While there, peruse Vegan Street's selection of fine t-shirts for the discriminating and fashionable animal rights activist. Those attending this conference will be among the first to observe the Vegan Street Market's line of haute couture, which is destined to be featured on fashion runways from Milan to Minneapolis come Springtime! Or not. Anyway, stop by our table and say hello to your friendly Vegan Street representatives, John and Marla. For more information or to sign up, please call Jacquie Lewis at 773-925-1277 or contact her through the SPEAK website, www.speakingout.org.
Many Voters Will Get To Vote On Animal Issues This November 3rd, voters in seven different states will get the opportunity to vote on different issues affecting animals, including hunting, commercial trapping, cockfighting and the selling of horses for human consumption. Six of the referendums offer the chance of protections for animals, but the other two could turn out badly for animals and animal protectionists. Animal issues are a hot topic among voters lately, as more and more people become enlightened about the plight of animals and the pain caused by our inattention. In the 1996 elections, there were also eight voter initiatives across the country, six of which resulted in victories for the animals despite more than $4 million spent by the hunting lobby to stop them. Animal advocates have won 10 of the 13 initiatives presented to voters since 1990. Much of the momentum for the pro-animal measures can be directly attributed to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). HSUS, which is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than six million members and constituents, has either spearheaded or played a leading role in many of the initiatives. Here is a state-by-state rundown of the initiatives and referendums on animal protection: ALASKA - A measure called Proposition 3 seeks to ban the practice of wolf
snaring, a crude, cruel and indiscriminate form of trapping that
is used for predator control and also by fur trappers. ARIZONA - Proposition 201 bans the "sport" of cockfighting. Arizona is
one of five states where cockfighting is still legal (one of the
others, Missouri, also has a referendum banning cockfighting).
In a cockfight, a drugged rooster has sharp blades known as "gaffs"
or "slashers" attached to his ankles and is forced to fight to
the death with a similarly intoxicated and equipped rooster for
the amusement of gambling spectators. Currently, it is legal for
children to witness these events in all five states. CALIFORNIA - California has two different animal protection initiatives on
the ballot this year: Also, in California, Proposition 6 would make it a felony to possess,
transfer or receive horses for slaughter for human consumption.
This one seems like a no-brainer, particularly since California
doesn't have a single horse slaughterhouse. MINNESOTA - In one of the two anti-animal initiatives before voters this year,
this normally progressive state offers up Question II, a constitutional
amendment that recognizes hunting and trapping as a "valued part"
of the state heritage "that shall be forever preserved". This
measure would effectively deny citizens the right to challenge
any cruel or abusive hunting or trapping practices. It was proposed
by extremist hunting groups trying to prevent any future animal
protection laws. MISSOURI - Proposition A reinstates a ban on cockfighting that was in place
from 1873 to 1985 (see the entry for California for a description
of cockfighting). It also bans "baiting" which is evidently some
sort of horrible contest between a large tethered animal and a
pack of dogs (whatever it is, this reporter hopes it is banned
soon), as well as bear wrestling (ditto). OHIO - States Issue I bans the target shooting of doves, particularly
mourning doves. UTAH - Voters face a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds
majority of voters to approve any wildlife protection initiatives.
If this becomes law, it will be almost impossible for anyone to
protect wildlife even against the most heinous abuses. If you live in one of these seven states, get to the polls and vote! Better yet, get active and campaign for these important issues. If you don't live in one of these states, get on the phone and call everyone in the state that does. Everytime we get the opportunity to protect animals, we make the world a little bit better, and we bring out a little bit more of the compassion in the human race. With each of these initiates that comes out in favor of the animals, we will be a tiny bit closer to a world where no one suffers.
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Vegan Street Assists in EarthSave's Fall Campaign EarthSave, the Louisville, KY based vegetarian group founded by "Diet for a New America" author John Robbins, has launched its first multimedia campaign aimed at educating consumers about the health risks associated with eating meat. The ads, which were designed by Vegan Street's John Beske, feature graphic images of animal products juxtaposed with the names of diseases that are either caused or aggravated by meat consumption. A full-page ad is running in the October, 1998 issue of Vegetarian Times, and several other magazines have expressed an interest in carrying the ad as well. In addition to the ads, all of which have been donated to EarthSave by the magazines, the campaign features posters, postcards, brochures, ad slicks and other materials aimed at helping local chapters get the message out. |
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Vegan Street Activist Arrested at Rodeo Protest. Marla of Vegan Street was arrested at a protest of the Bristol Championship Rodeo and Wild West Show near Kenosha, WI by a certain Officer Klinkhammer(!). She was displaying the electric prod which is used to agitate bulls so that they'll buck when they leave the chutes. The cattle prod is commonly used by rodeos to shock bulls and steers with 5,000 volts of electricity. While Marla was holding it up to passing cars, Klinkhammer decided that she was committing some nebulous felony, possession of an electrical device "designed to immobilize or incapacitate persons." Ms. Rose spent the night in Kenosha County Jail and her trial is upcoming. Vegan Street is fighting this to the fullest of our capabilities. Stayed tuned for more details. Valerie Vegiburger Wows the Crowd at "Organic Day" Vegan Street's very own Valerie Vegiburger came to Chicago's kickoff event for "National Organic Month" at the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago on September 3rd. She passed out organic vegan chocolates and recipes for her own special vegiburgers as she strolled through the booths of organic produce, products and vegetarian restaurants. Hundreds of people showed up to sample the merchandise and hear special guest speaker Howard Lyman recount his adventures as the co-defendant in the Oprah Winfrey Mad Cow trial. He also delivered the message that the best way to personal and planetary health is an organic vegan diet. Valerie couldn't have said it better herself. |
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| Valerie strikes a pose for "Organic Day"... | ...and chats with festival-goers John Probes and Deb Unferth. |
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