WORLD WEEK FOR ANIMALS IN LABORATORIES 17-24 APRIL
In Cape Town, instead of a demonstration with a handful of people to create public awareness around the abuse of lab animals, that ultimately reach a few hundred people, this year saw a change.
Several libraries had a week long display around this issue, the posters and pamphlets taken from our website by volunteers.
A letter and an article on vivisection was published in two major newspapers, respectively, with a readership totaling almost 780 000. The film 'Bad Medicine' was screened on Cape Town TV, a community television station with a viewership of several hundred thousand.
There was also leafleting at robots during peak traffic in various areas in Greenpoint, Milnerton and Durbanville, in the Cape.
On Saturday 24th April, BWC was invited to give an Animal Rights / Women's Rights presentation to some 300 women in Athlone, Cape Town. The event was a fundraising High Tea. The presentation subject was Vivisection and Women's Health (or Women's Right to Health)
> The Letter in The Argus
> The Letter in The Independant
> View More Photo's
Heather Howe handing a pamphlet to a library member
Luan Webber (right) and friend putting pamphlets into letterboxes
Toni Brockhoven talks on Vivisection and Women's Health
THE INSANITY
135 years after the first organization was formed to fight the use of animals in experiments, the same campaign continues. A little more than a third of highly cited animal research is reproduced later in human trials, and although about 500 treatments have been reported as effective in animal models of stroke, only aspirin and early thrombolysis with tissue plasminogen activator work in humans. (Hackam, D. G. & Redelmeier, D. A. J. Am. Med. Assoc. 296, 1731-1732 (2006).)
It is said that these findings add to the evidence that animal models are not particularly useful in predicting whether a treatment is effective in humans.
A study by Dr Malcolm Macleod, a neurologist at the University of Edinburgh, analysed animal studies in stroke medicine. Of 1,300 experiments in 525 papers, it was estimated that one in six animal research studies is never published and analysis suggested that this total did not include another 200 unpublished trials, which failed to show that a new treatment had any beneficial effect. This may explain why a remarkably high number – 99 % in the case of drugs for stroke – perform poorly when given to humans instead of animals. Four per cent of the papers didn't mention how many animals were used in an experiment, and not one of the 48 studies that were examined more closely explained why researchers had chosen that particular number of animals, which is important to demonstrate that a study has sufficient statistical power.
NEW UNIT TO FIGHT POACHING
A reaction unit is to be created to tackle environmental crimes said Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica during a media briefing following her Budget Vote speech on Friday, focusing on Rhino poaching.
So far this year 55 rhinos had been killed for their horns estimates indicate a total of 163 Rhino would die for their horns this year. The National Wildlife Reaction Unit would complement the work the Green Scorpions, were doing to curbing smuggling.
Poachers continue to target the Kruger National Park and reserves and national parks in KwaZulu-Natal but poachers are also hitting parks in the North West and the Eastern Cape.
MANGO GROOVY
Claire Johnston, our own Special Star of Mango Groove, and husband, John Leyden, are what she calls 'mindful eaters' – at home they eat vegan. They fully support the No Foie Gras SA campaign and have kindly supplied a couple of their favourite recipes for the Living Without Cruelty cookbook.
Toni Brockhoven and claire Johnston
Since its first iconic multi-platinum release in 1989, the band, together with charismatic lead singer Claire Johnston, has gone on to become a household name in South Africa. www.mangogroove.co.za
ANIMALS IN ENTERTAINMENT
I confess to going a little crazy when I see wild animals used in advertisements and they tend to have the reverse effect on me – I won't use the brand as a matter of principle. I have changed my brand of cider, for example, and would rather walk than use the services of a certain car hire company.
Quite simply, wild animals are not here to entertain us! Chimps always perform under duress, regardless of so-called 'positive re-enforcement' training. The dogs and cats are domesticated, and while in principle they should not be used either, they are part of our lives, are used to human interaction over thousands of years and often just do what dogs and cats do.
When you see wild animals in advertisements feel free to drop a polite line to the company itself asking them not to use animals and send a copy to the ASA (advertising standards authority)
Email them on complaint@asasa.org.za
BALKANOLOGY SHOW WILL NO LONGER USE ANIMALS
The annual Balkanology show, which incorporates gypsy music, illusion and a host of fabulous entertainment have confirmed in a letter to Beauty Without Cruelty that animals will no longer form part of their show.
We are delighted with their stance in this regard and for being open to compassionate change.
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29 April 2010
Hi Toni
Thank you for your honest feedback. I understand where you are comingfrom and agree with most of it.
In previous parties we had plenty of animals who were very happy at the party due to the fact that they were outdoors. This time round we had one piglet (Veronica) and two goats. Veronica was very happy and treated with much respect. She loves being handled and people. The goats however were not happy so we took them back to the farm at 23:30 together with Veronica.
We have decided not to use animals in our future parties due to the complaints. Saying this I can guarantee that we have never abused, trained for show or maltreated any animals in any of our parties.
Thanks again,
Best,
Ma'or
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Balkanology TM
c_+27722115563
p_+27216857793
f_+27216857793
www.balkanology.co.za
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EARTH DAY
Earth Day has come and gone. What lasting changes have you committed to? Beauty Without Cruelty's Living Without Cruelty campaign certainly includes concepts like Meat Free Mondays and Earth day; what you consume is the largest determining factor of your ecological footprint. It's easy and affordable to make significant changes in your personal global footprint without buying a hybrid or smaller car, installing solar panels, planting trees, or by cleaning up rivers, pledging not to use plastic bags or walk rather than driving, although every effort is commendable and important.
Simply eliminating or reducing animal products at mealtimes is the most powerful manner in which you can reduce your personal impact on the environment, while improving your health and reducing animal suffering.
Producing animal products uses enormous amounts of energy and fossil fuels, and emits greenhouse gasses in the process and is causing the devastating destruction of the rainforests.
A vegan can leave their shower running 24/7 for a year and STILL use less water than a meat eater! A plant based diet is easy, especially using the Living Without Cruelty cookbook as starting point!
COLLATERAL DAMAGE – CHAMELEONS
There has been speculation that due to automated grape harvesting, Chameleons ultimately end up in wine. Jordan Wines provided access to allow for a study done by the South African National Biodiversity Institute on the impact of automation on the Cape Dwarf Chameleon.
Firstly, vineyards appear not to be prime habitat for chameleons: it seems that chameleons would be at higher densities in surrounding vegetation when compared to vineyards.
Furthermore, in the event a chameleon was present on a vine on the one day in the year where the automated harvester passes, the harvester removes berries from the vines by passing a Teflon bar through the mid point of the vines. The grapes are dislodged by the shaking the bar, and they then fall and are recovered at the bottom of the machine. A Chameleon would have to withstand the movement of the Teflon bars across the middle section of the vine. Chameleon feet have fused toes and long nails and their prehensile tails help them stay put. The grapes require roughly 0.40 Newtons of force to be removed. Given that an adult Cape Dwarf Chameleon requires more than 2.0 Newtons of force to be removed from a perch, it is unlikely that the automated harvester would dislodge a chameleon. Furthermore, even sleeping chameleons tend to grip with all four feet plus their tail.
The evidence would suggest that while the survey results cannot provide an estimate of true chameleon density in vines, it is apparent that vines are not optimal habitat and are generally avoided by the Cape Dwarf Chameleon. In the unlikely event that a chameleon was on vines targeted by the automated harvester (1 day annually) the harvester does not produce enough force to remove a chameleon under ordinary conditions.
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DID YOU KNOW
Not all nuts were created equal almonds and/or walnuts balance blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation.
Almonds and walnuts are high in mono-unsaturated fats and walnuts also have polyunsaturated fats which help reduce cholesterol. Almonds contain significant amounts of the anti-oxidant vitamin E and walnuts have the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
Both vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and several studies are ongoing that suggest these two nuts may play a part in reducing the risk of several other conditions including cancer and stroke.
Walnuts and almonds are a great source of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals.
RECIPES
 The latest from a Living Without Cruely Cookbook fan...
So far I've tried the Whiskey fudge it was very good, (a little too sweet for my liking, will use slightly less sugar next time), the fishless fishcakes (YUM!! - my husband LOVED them, will def become a regular) and the "chicken" pies - also delicious!
I have spent a lot of time reading recipes and am not really someone to follow rules hence rarely follow recipes to the T, but have found lots of inspiration for our kitchen :-) I also bought my first Nutritional Yeast as a result of seeing the brand available in SA in the book and then finding it at Gardens Centre -- loving it!!! Jodi
This Carrot Loaf is as easy as pie (!) to make, and goes really well with the Battered Zucchini and Pear Relish.
> VIEW RECIPES
For dessert, perhaps a Jam Roly Poly or a Swiss Roll?
> VIEW RECIPES
NAMBITI PLAINS GAME LODGE CATERS FOR VEG/VEGANS!
www.nambitiplains.com
One unique feature of Nambiti Plains is that the chefs also specialise in creating stunning, healthy meat alternative recipes. Nambiti Plains not only offers you the BIG 5, but also boasts incredible biodiversity including savannah, grasslands, thornveld and tall acacia trees. It is home to several rare bird species and an array of plains game, and of course, the entertaining hippopotamus.
SEAL HUNT
It would seem a combination of poor ice and lack of demand for seal pelts are keeping the number of seals harvested off the coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador low this year.
57,000 seals, or 20 % of the 2010 quota, have been slaughtered since the hunt began in early April. Several years ago the sealers earned up to $100 per seal pelt, while this year sees prices as low as $15 per pelt.
CONTACT US
BERYL SCOTT
chairperson@bwcsa.co.za
HEAD OFFICE
021 438 2282
MEDIA LIAISON / MARKETING
TONI BROCKHOVEN
toni@bwcsa.co.za
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
THROUGH THEIR EYES
Horses can be ridden, they are harnessed, raced and driven
And dogs are our friends, or so we say.
But gentle cows and sheep are only good for meat
And chickens kept alive for eggs they lay.
Cats in our collection give solace and affection,
Their social graces mystify and charm.
On the farm you will find creatures of a different kind,
Their living deaths endured in darkened barn.
If piglets had their druthers they would not leave their mothers,
Nor goats forsake their kids and walk away.
Ostriches and emus would rather not be on the menu
And buffalo would roam the plains today.
It is rather a conundrum why these facts are seen as humdrum
While animals are raised in pain and fear.
They're not recognized as pets so we'll have no regrets
As they forfeit precious lives that none revere.
Cows may be labeled cattle as though they're goods and chattel
And hogs are really piggies in disguise.
Change their names, forget their faces, wipe away the traces
But remember the betrayal in their eyes.
Ann Wilson
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Clearer Conscience is a Cape Town based business
that has grown out of a need to do something today,
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