Simulposted with Voice of the Voiceless

Judge quadruples the recommended sentence for A.L.F. activist.

Calling him a “terrorist” and following through on his threat to more than quadruple the recommended sentence, judge Dee Benson Thursday sentenced William Viehl to two years in federal prison. It is the first sentence handed down under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Background

Viehl was charged last year under AETA for the release of 650 mink from the McMullin Fur Farm in South Jordan, Utah after cell phone records and a car key found at the scene were used to tie him to the raid. Graffiti found at the scene read “A.L.F.” and “We are watching”. Over one year later, mink are still being found living wild in the vicinity of the farm.

After an 11-month court battle, Viehl accepted a non-cooperating plea bargain in which the prosecution agreed to recommend a sentence of 6 months. In November the judge threw out the deal, stating the recommendation was “too low” and did “not match the severity of the crime”. The sentencing was held over for February, where Thursday he sentenced Viehl to 24 months in prison.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in the El Paso Times

University of Texas at El Paso philosophy professor and... (Photos by Mark Lambie / El Paso Times)

ANTHONY, N.M. — People have judged Steve Best many ways during his 30 years in academia.

Some have called him a troublemaker, a radical, and even a domestic and international terrorist because of his vocal and often confrontational stance on animal rights.

He said it is his tenured position that has kept him on the payroll as a philosophy professor at the University of Texas at El Paso.

But even Best knows he is gambling with his career when he protests against the school’s environmental policies with a bullhorn outside UTEP President Diana Natalicio’s office, or when he openly supports a movement that undertakes criminal activities to save animals from research laboratories and slaughterhouses.

“Hey, if Martin Luther King was not afraid to lose his life, I shouldn’t be afraid to lose my job,” Best said.

Best travels around the country and as far away as South Africa to speak about animal abuse. The United Kingdom in 2005 banned Best from its four countries for his views on the use of violence to defend animal rights.

In 2004 at the University of Iowa, Best defended the actions of the Animal Liberation Front. This was months after its members broke into the school’s psychology laboratories, removed about 400 animals and destroyed equipment.

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Forwarded to me from ADL-LA:

PLEASE POST AND CROSS-POST TO ALL SHELTERS, RESCUERS AND SHELTER VOLUNTEERS THROUGHOUT THE NATION!

Buy the book and read it today! http://www.amazon.com/Redemption-Myth-Overpopulation-Revolution-America/dp/0979074312/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265565816&sr=1-2

PLEASE SEND OUT THE MESSAGE TO THE CONTACTS LIST AT BOTTOM OF POST

No Kill Conference

July 31-August 1, 2010

Washington, D.C.

Registration is already at 50% capacity.  The first conference in 2009 sold out.

http://www.nokillconference.org/

Discounted room rate available.

Click on the above web site and go to the “speakers” list. THE FIRST SEVEN NAMES are some of the Nation Leaders in No Kill Sheltering Management who SHOULD be on the Jim Bickhart and Citygate’s “advisory committee”  to help recruit a progressive, humane, No-Kill General Manager for LAAS. But Citygate, Jim Bickhart and the Mayor don’t even KNOW who these leaders are since they are completely stuck in last Century’s “Catch-and-Kill” mentality. Well now they have a LIST of some of the LEADERS in NO KILL SHELTER MANAGEMENT whom they MUST contact IMMEDIATELY.

AGAIN YOUR task, YOUR ’spoke in the wheel’  this week is to contact : Steven A. Harman-Senior Associate at Citygate
sharman@citygateassociates.com 510-599-5294
and the contacts listed below, and say or e-mail the following:

“I demand you contact the No Kill shelter leaders listed as speakers at the No-Kill conference coming up in Washington D.C. in order to advise Citygate and the City of LA on the recruitment of a progressive, humane individual who is committed to implementing the programs, policies and advertising techniques being used in No-Kill Shelters and Humane Society’s across the Nation.

The Mayor and his staff have betrayed the animals time and time again. Without the involvement of those who love animals and are committed to No Kill, (whether it be the humane community in a public forum, or a transparent ‘advisory’ committee made up of progressive No Kill shelter leaders,) we’ll be letting the same people select the same kind of GM for LAAS. And we’ll get the same people doing the same kind of killing.   No more of the same! The recruitment of a progressive, humane No-Kill GM should NOT be a “closed process” left up to a head hunting firm that is known for being ‘Old School’ and some secret “advisors” hand picked by Jim Bickhart because they are his “friends” and he likes them. THE ADVISORS SHOULD ALL BE PROGRESSIVE LEADERS IN NO-KILL HUMANE SHELTERING MANAGEMENT. Because of Jim Bickhart and the Mayor, the poor animals are most likely going to get screwed again. I demand that this secret “advisory” committee Jim Bickhart has selected (one of whom HATES FERAL CATS and doesn’t believe in NO KILL)  be made public. I also demand PROOF that Citygate is working closely with National No-Kill Leaders to recruit a General Manager. I want the names of the No-Kill shelter Leaders Citygate is working with  be made public. I demand and am entitled to MUCH MORE transparency in this recruitment process that involves the life and death of innocent animals AND the spending of MY  tax dollars.       Furthermore, the date for applications to be filed with Mr. Harman should be set back to March in order for word to spread across the Country regarding this job opening. It’s taken NINE months for the city to come up with a “job description” and now they are allowing less then three weeks for the entire recruitment process? Something sounds very sordid and secretive about the way this recruitment process is being handled.    Lastly, I demand to know ALL the web sites, bulletin boards and magazines the job announcement has now been posted on.“ Your signature here

*****************************************

We only have a limited amount of time so let’s do this and do this NOW. Lu Parker-Mayor Villaraigosa’s current girlfriend
KTLA New Correspondent
Phone: 323 460-5500 ext. 4581
E-mail: FLParker@Tribune.com
Snail Mail: 5800 W. Sunset Blvd Los Angeles,CA 90028   mramsayer@gershla.com (Melanie is a new LAAS commissioner who was appointed by Villaraigosa because she is a friend of Lu Parker’s!)    Steve.Rivera@lacity.org
City Personnel Department
mayor@lacity.org (213) 978-0600   tariqkhero@gmail.com SecundaR@unitedtalent.com ninekitties@aol.com ireneponce@earthlink.net Jeff.Carr@lacity.org (213) 978-0600 and ask to be transferred to Carr’s office.   Jay.Carson@lacity.org- (213) 922-9752   Jimmy.Blackman@lacity.org – (213) 922-9748   Councilmember.reyes@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7001
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 410
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Zine@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7003
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 450
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Labonge@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7004
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 480
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Paul.Koretz@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7005
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 440
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Cardenas@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213) -473-7006
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 455
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Alarcon@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7007
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 425
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Parks@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7008
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 460
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Jan.Perry@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7009
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 420
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Wesson@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7010
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 430
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilman.Rosendahl@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7011
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 415
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Smith@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7012
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 405
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Garcetti@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7013
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 470
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Huizar@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7014
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 465
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Councilmember.Hahn@lacity.org
City Hall Office (213)-473-7015
200 N. Spring Street, Rm 435
Los Angeles, CA 90012 ********************************************************************
ADL-LA Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this publication is intended to encourage or incite illegal acts. Some of the information in the posts have been received anonymously and ADL-LA cannot make any guarantees for the accuracy of these reports. Any views or comments stated in this report are not necessarily the views of  ADL-LA.

A Thought  from the Editor:   Now you hurt our feelings… BANNING US?   That wasn’t very nice!!!   But I can still be professional about this…  Is there some schedule that you would prefer we use to publish “The Pro-Torture News” on NIO?  Maybe we can simulpost — NIO and Speaking of Research…  Isn’t that an excellent idea?  NO, wait — how about this?   every single time your news comes out we can send it to newspapers across the country… and I promise to ask every0ne to help us…  maybe find an inexperienced reporter that needs  a juicy story…  Let me know what you think… you have my email…

The Freakish Face of Vivisection: J. David Jentsch modeling the primate chair he wants for christmas

by Greg Kelly

There has been a lot of controversy out here over the Bruins for Animals/Pro-Test “discussion”.

The event is put on by both groups 50/50 and Bruins for Animals is desperate to put the event on.  At first certain activists were banned yet no one on there side has been.  BFA is taking the demands of Pro-shit just to have the event!

Then a week after that they banned all activists from going to the event and only UCLA “students” are now allowed to go.  They need valid current ID to get a ticket.  They also are telling activist not to have demos outside !

Since Pro-test will be in the audience and the professors are now able to get there students to go, the entire audience will be pro-vivisection or with maybe a couple students on the fence !

The media is never on our side because of money they use to advertise so in part we are also concerned that the media will now write a terrible story about this “discussion”.

We are use to that but this time making us look like we lost a fair 50/50 argument and no longer have a case !!

This event has the potential to be catastrophic and activists in LA are pissed right now they cant even go to make sure it’s “fair”.

I liked your idea about the demo days.

I have been trying to think up a catchy name but haven’t come up with anything yet.

**********

Greg Kelly is a longtime international animal rights activist, ecofeminist, and inspirational abolitionist speaker.    He is also known for his work as the co-founder of Win Animal Rights – NYC and is now an officer and co-founder of the newly formed Band Of Mercy in Los Angeles.

If the nonhumans could fight back, their tormentors would have expired long ago. We have an obligation to expose the abusers. It is the LEAST we can do! I welcome your emails & contributions.

If you have a Facebook account, join the extended Negotiation Is Over network.”.

To submit work to NIO for consideration and publication, please send an email to camille@negotationisover.com with the subject “submission”.

To receive NIO updates, please send an email to camille@negotiationisover.com with the subject “subscriptions”.

Posted on AR News

Moscow (February 4, 2010)

Press release

On February 4, 2010 a formal agreement between Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE) was signed.

Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy now becomes the tenth Russian higher education institution to sign a contract with InterNICHE concerning the introduction of alternatives to animal labs.

According to the contract terms, InterNICHE grants the academy computer programs for use in the classroom as an alternative to dissection and animal experimentation, while the Academy guarantees to stop all animal labs for students and commits to alternatives. Active promotion of alternatives made by VITA and InterNICHE campaigners in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus has resulted in the introduction of alternatives in dozens of universities of CIS countries and the replacement of the annual use of thousands of animals. The progress of this curricular change is described in the new Russian film Humane Education in the CIS countries made by VITA and InterNICHE with the support of DAAE (Doctors Against Animal Experiments Germany, www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en).

The first higher education institution to abolish animal labs in Russia was St Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine. It signed a historic agreement with InterNICHE on the cancellation of experiments in the departments of pharmacology and toxicology on October 24, 2005. The second institution was Velikie Luki State Agricultural Academy, which signed an agreement in 2006 that covers the whole Faculty of Animal Science. In both institutions there has been significant further progress since. The contract with Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy provides for an immediate cessation of all animal labs for students across all departments.

The ground for introducing alternatives in Perm was prepared by campaigners of the Perm organisations ZZZ and Snow Leopard . In May 2009 they worked closely with Alexey Skrobanskiy, InterNICHE Russia alternatives adviser and co-ordinator of the Arkhangelsk chapter of VITA,
to hold a series of talks and presentations of alternatives at universities in Perm. The report of the trip can be read below.

Alexey Skrobanskiy said today, The governing body of Perm Pharmaceutical Academy expressed great interest in the issues of humane education, and after some negotiations made a decision to sign a contract on abolishing animal labs. Now pharmacology and other disciplines will be based on modern alternative technologies. This will significantly enhance the quality of teaching, save the lives of dozens of animals, and serve the future promotion of alternatives in Russia.

InterNICHE and VITA Introduce Humane Alternatives in Perm, Russia

On May 4-12, 2009, Alexey Skrobanskiy, InterNICHE Russia alternatives adviser and co-ordinator of the Arkhangelsk chapter of VITA, traveled to the Perm Krai in the Urals. The main objective of the trip was to visit + higher education institutions in Perm and to promote the ideas of humane education. Several years ago a similar trip was undertaken by Olga Kononchuk, co-ordinator of InterNICHE Siberia, which paved the way for the second InterNICHE outreach trip to the area. Preparation of the trip, contacts with the mass media and other arrangements were undertaken by the local animal protection organisation ZZZ , whose representatives participated in the InterNICHE Regional Meeting in Kharkov, Ukraine, in 2008.

During the time in Perm, meetings with the faculty of four higher education institutions with an interest in humane education were held. The
Normal Physiology Department of Perm State Agricultural Academy had already implemented the Physiology Simulators freeware program, produced through the InterNICHE Humane Education Award and translated into Russian by InterNICHE Russia and VITA. This had been shared by their Moscow colleagues, thus demonstrating the wide recognition of the program in the country. At all four institutions the teachers of various departments and the top management could appreciate the alternatives presented, including computer programs, plastic models and the Critical Care Jerry dog mannekin from the InterNICHE Russian Alternatives Loan System.

On May 6, ZZZ arranged for a press conference at the offices of InterFAX-Povolzhye news agency which was devoted to the arrival of InterNICHE and VITA to Perm Krai and which addressed alternatives to harmful animal use. At the press conference, attended by representatives of three higher education institutions, Alexey Skrobanskiy presented to journalists the various replacement alternatives – from non-animal learning tools to the benefits of clinical practice as an alternative to animal experiments.

In this humane alternative approach, students assist veterinary doctors in the treatment, surgery and nursing of animals at clinics, rather than
inflicting injuries on healthy animals and then treating them. The false perception that computer programs, models and mannekins are the only
replacement methods was overcome at the press conference. This perception had long prevailed, and now at each presentation of alternatives the role of clinical practice in humane education and training is clearly explained.

Elena Maroueva, co-ordinator of InterNICHE Russia, and Director of VITA, said at the time, “The trip and the press conference has been a great
success. We plan to donate a range of alternatives, and the administration of one of the universities is now considering entering into an agreement with InterNICHE on full or partial replacement of animal experiments”.

Alexey Skrobanskiy also visited a number of the Perm Krai animal shelters to share experience and to gather information required to help implement a homeless pet sterilisation program in Arkhangelsk. He also had a meeting with the Chief of the Environment and Wildlife Management Department of the Administration of Berezniki town, which has an official sterilisation program. Properly supervised, such programs can benefit the animals and provide students with valuable clinical skills and surgery experience.

InterNICHE and VITA thank DAAE (Doctors Against Animal Experiments Germany, www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en) for helping to sponsor this trip.

*************************************************

Nick Jukes
InterNICHE Co-ordinator

98 Clarendon Park Road
Leicester  LE2 3AE
England

tel:  +44 116 210 9652
mobile: +44 7552 972 770
e-mail:   coordina…@interniche.org
www.interniche.org

*************************************************

If the nonhumans could fight back, their tormentors would have expired long ago. We have an obligation to expose the abusers. It is the LEAST we can do! I welcome your emails & contributions.

If you have a Facebook account, join the extended Negotiation Is Over network.”.

To submit work to NIO for consideration and publication, please send an email to camille@negotationisover.com with the subject “submission”.