Weekly E-Newsletter
Northwest Animal Rights Network
- May 21st, 2008 -

1) Announcements & Action Items
2) This Week's Actions and Events
3) Up and Coming Events
4) Future Events to Keep in Mind
5) Community Events Worth Checking Out
6) News of Note

Thanks to everyone that helped out at the U-District Street Fair this past weekend. Thanks to mark, Maria, David, Shelly and Claudine, NARN was able to distribute over 2,000 Veg Leaflets. And what fabulous weather too! Due to Mark & Carrie's perseverance we were able to score a prime parking spot for the NARN video van on both Saturday and Sunday. We were able to expose many people to the horrors animals raised for food endure.

This week the main event is the Folklife Festival at the Seattle Center. This is yet another chance for us to reach to to hundreds of people and spread the veg message. If you can help, please contact the Board.

In happy news, we have a new website to announce - the Friend of the Woodland Park Zoo Elephants website (http://www.freewpzelephants.com) and the Animal Services Guide is going to the printer! Yay! It should be ready in a few weeks. Then we will be needing people to distribute the guide all over Puget Sound. If you can help with that (a fun a rewarding volunteer "job"), please contact rachelb@narn.org.

NARN needs you. Plug in and help all animals.

And please keep Goodsearching for NARN at www.goodsearch.com

For all animals,
The NARN Board,
(Mark, Shelly, Pete, Jenn, Andrew, David, Nancy & Rachel)
"board@narn.org."

The Northwest Animal Rights Network is run solely by volunteers.
Donate, and help keep NARN active http://www.narn.org/narncms/index.php?section=18

"It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

1. Announcements / Action Items

Victories for Animals!
Polar bears get protection
http://tinyurl.com/6rwpa4 (Boston Globe)

Ask PAWS to Support transfer of the Elephants at Woodland Park Zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary
Those of you who attended the "Elephants Among Us" talk (it did not turn out to be a discussion since the audience was unable to ask questions) last week heard Jennifer Convy, the Wildlife Director at PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society) state loud and clear that PAWS supported keeping the Elephants at Woodland Park Zoo. This is a big surprise to those of us that remember PAWS as a organization of outspoken and truly progressive animal advocates. It is a sad day indeed when an organization that was once at the forefront of animals advocacy in Seattle, comes out in favor of keeping elephants imprisoned in a zoo. None of the panelists at the "Elephants Among Us" talk have observed the Woodland Park Zoo elephants at length or ever been to the Elephant Sanctuary or had even followed the progress of elephants that have been taken to the Sanctuary.
It is time for PAWS to make a stand on behalf of the Elephants at the Woodland Park Zoo. Keeping 3 elephants confined within an acre is not humane. Elephants currently at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee are thriving.
Please contact PAWS and ask them to make an official statement in favor of releasing the elephants at the Woodland Park Zoo to the Elephant Sanctuary:
Email info@paws.org or call 425-787-2500 x257

Tell NOAA How you Feel About Whale Hunting
NOAA's Fisheries Service released a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) and requested comments on the Makah Indian Tribe's February 2005 request to resume limited hunting of eastern north Pacific gray whales in the coastal portion of the Tribe's usual and accustomed fishing grounds, off the coast of Washington State, for ceremonial and subsistence purposes.
The DEIS, prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), considers various alternatives to the tribe's proposed action. The alternatives include five different hunting scenarios, plus an option of not allowing a hunt. The agency is considering permitting the killing of up 20 whales over five years.
PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION:
* Read the draft proposal for a whale hunt: http://tinyurl.com/4km3rs

* Submit comments until June 8
--- by e-mail to MakahDEIS.nwr@noaa.gov, subject line Attn: 2008 Makah DEIS;
--- by mail to Steve Stone, NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region, 1201 N.E. Lloyd Blvd., Suite 1100, Portland, OR 97232; or by fax to 503-230-5441, Attn: 2008 Makah DEIS.

* Attend a public meeting 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., May 28, at the Vern Burton Memorial Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, or 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., June 2, at the Lake Union Park Armory-Great Hall, 860 Terry Ave. N., Seattle.

Submit your comments to the WDFW's Game Management Plan
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has has published a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS). Please take some time to review the DSEIS and provide your comments.
Changes are proposed to the 2003-09 Game Management Plan Final Environmental Impact Statement to update the plan for 2009-15.
New issues, objectives, and strategies are proposed based on public and staff comments gathered over the past several months.
We have until May 30 to comment on a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) recently issued for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's (WDFW) six-year game management plan.

This is YOUR chance to help wildlife in Washington State by letting the WDFW know that you care about animals.
Check out this link to (scroll to bottom) to read the Game Management Plan to and access the comment form:
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/management/2009-2015/

2) This Week's Actions and Events

CARE Meeting
When: Wednesday, May 21st @ 5:30pm
Where: HUB Room 304D - (middle of UW Campus)
http://www.washington.edu/home/maps/?HUB

The University of Washington Animal Rights group - CARE (Campus Animal Rights Educators) will be meeting this Wednesday to discuss plans for next year. Alisse and Katherine will be out of the country next year, so someone needs to step up and take a leadership position in the group.
If you have any questions, please contact careuw@u.washington.edu
If you want to help with Animal Advocacy on the UW campus, please contact careuw@u.washington.edu

Outreach at the Folklife Festival
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 24th & 25th @ 11am - 6pm
Where: 5th & Broad outside of Seattle Center(see map http://www.nwfolklife.org/P_F/Map.html)

Thousands of people attend this yearly music festival (see www.nwfolklife.org) at the Seattle Center.
Once again, NARN will set up a table on the corner of 5th Ave & Broad Street (near the EMP) to try & educate folks.

We need people to help staff the NARN table on Saturday & Sunday during the following shifts:
11am - 1:30pm
1:30pm - 4:30pm
4:30pm - 6:30pm
If you can help for a 2-3 hour shift, even if it doesn't fit within the above shifts, please contact board@narn.org.
We need people to sit at the NARN table was well as leaflet.

3) Up-and-Coming Events

KFC Protest (Seattle – Capitol Hill)
When: Tuesday, May 27th @ 11:30am - 1:00pm
Where: KFC (1001 East Pine Street, Seattle 98122)

Please join Claudine every Tuesday to protest KFC's treatment of chickens. Claudine has committed to protesting at the Capitol Hill KFC every Tuesday from 11:30am - 1:00pm. Show KFC how you feel about their abuse by showing up to protest.
KFC and its suppliers refuse to make even marginal improvements in the living and dying conditions of the 800 million animals the company kills every year!
This will be a peaceful protest; sign holding and leafleting.For more on the KFC campaign please see http://www.KFCcruelty.com
If You Have Not Already Please Write to KFC! http://www.kentuckyfriedcruelty.com/addresses.asp

May Vegan Meet-up
When: Sunday, June 1st @ noon
Where: Vegan Garden (1228 S Jackson)

Meet up with other local vegans and enjoy delicious vegan food at Vegan Garden.
Starting in June, the Vegan Meet-ups will occur twice a month
To RSVP and to see who else is coming, check out:
http://vegan.meetup.com/85/calendar/7866095/
To become a member of the vegan meet-up crew (free & fun!), go to: http://vegan.meetup.com/85/
Once you log on as a member, you can vote on future locations for events, comment in the forums & more. You do not have to be a member of the meet-up to attend events.

4) Future Events to Keep in Mind

Let Live NW Animal Rights Conference
When: June 27th-June 29th, 2008
Where: Portland State University

“Let Live” is a grassroots forum for people who want to help. Through an open, respectful, and friendly environment this conference will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn skills and strategies to become better advocates for the animals, no matter ones experience level in activism.
This conference is for first-timers, experienced activists, and anybody in between who hopes to make a real difference for animals and build a stronger, more effective community and animal liberation movement.
“Let Live” is taking place in Portland, Oregon, June 27th-29th, 2008. It will be held this year on the campus of Portland State University. It is being organized by Vegans for Animal Advocacy, with support from No Compromise, Herbivore Magazine, and Food Fight Grocery.
For more info, check out:
http://www.letliveconference.org/

If you are interested in going in and want to carpool, contact board@narn.org and we'll see what we can do.

5) Community Events Worth Checking Out

Raw Vegan Italian Dinner at Chaco Canyon
When: Saturday, May 31st @ 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Where: Chaco Canyon- (12th NE & NE 50th, U-District)

Chaco Canyon had such a great success with their Raw Thai Dinner night, that they decided to have another. This month it is Italian! They will be serving a 4 course meal with 2 dinner options for each course. They are now taking reservations, with seating available from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Reserve early, as they expect this to sell out.
To make a reservation, either call us at (206)522-6966, or email info@chacocanyoncafe.com with: Your name, party size, phone number, time you wish to attend, and any dietary restrictions or allergies.

6) News of Note

New ag rule closing downer cow slaughter exception
http://tinyurl.com/5hd2b8 (AP)
“Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer announced Tuesday a total ban on the slaughter at meat plants of cows too sick or weak to stand. The planned change comes in the wake of the nation's largest beef recall. It would shut down an exception — which critics call a loophole — that allows a small number of so-called "downer" cattle into the food supply if they pass veterinary inspection....Schafer said that no such violations have been found at other slaughterhouses. He said the rule change was not being done for public health reasons but should increase consumer confidence by eliminating confusion about the handling of downers."

Dallas Zoo's surviving elephant back on display
http://tinyurl.com/64fkfs (WFAA)
“The Dallas Zoo has reopened its elephant exhibit two days after Keke the elephant died. Despite concern about an intestinal ailment, an exam shows the elephant died from heart failure...Though the elephant enclosure at the zoo meets national standards, animal rights groups say the animals are held in cramped conditions. Activists have criticized the zoo for KeKe's persistent intestinal problems, the last bout coming right before her death."

Chicago repeals foie gras ban
http://tinyurl.com/3ho3m3 (Chicago Tribune)
"Ald. Thomas Tunney (44th), a restaurant owner and Daley loyalist, executed a rarely used parliamentary maneuver to force Wednesday's vote. Tunney quietly filed the paperwork to clear the way for the repeal earlier in the week. The decision sparked strong reaction far beyond City Hall, with animal-rights activists decrying the vote and some restaurateurs promising to celebrate with customers as soon as dinner time Wednesday."

Corn Prices Rise, Pitting Chickens Against Ethanol
http://tinyurl.com/4jjet3 (Washington Post)
“Taking corn from the mouths of chickens to put into the gas tanks of U.S. cars and trucks is causing feathers to fly in Washington. The $40 billion chicken industry, along with livestock producers, oil interests, grocers and some environmental and anti-hunger groups are hoping to put up a regulatory blockade to stop the diversion of corn stocks into the brewing of billions of gallons of ethanol for vehicles this year."

Proud Vegetarians, in Costume, Take to the Streets
http://tinyurl.com/4o5fhn (NY Times)
"There was a parade on Sunday that brought all manner of people who love flora and defend fauna to the city’s streets. It took place in downtown Manhattan and organizers called it Veggie Pride. The festivities began at noon in the meatpacking district — get it? — and drew about 600 people and at least one vegan dog — Simba, a tofu-fed black Labrador retriever. Some people dressed up as bananas, or heads of broccoli, or pigs or bloodied cows. A police officer, Jim Alberici, who was helping with crowd control, said he did not expect any violence. “Not unless someone shows up dressed as a meat processor,” he said."