IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END?
...of the use of animals in the use of tests to predict skin reactions to cosmetics and drugs?
It would seem that the technology allowing cosmetic makers to test for allergic reactions to their products without the use of animal trials could be in use by next year.
The technology uses laboratory-grown human skin cells to simulate the body's allergic response to foreign chemicals. While the preliminary experiments show promise, tests are still needed to determine the technology's accuracy.
The standard method for testing allergic reactions involves applying chemicals to the ears of mice, which are later killed and dissected for study.
The product apparently uses a glass chip with human skin cells and chemicals that simulate the body's immune system and when a foreign substance is dropped onto the chip, the cells and chemicals interact to mimic the human body's natural allergic response.
It is also hoped that the technology could be used to test household cleaners and pesticides.
It has been estimated that if successful, the method could eliminate the need for many thousands of laboratory animals annually.
SANLAM AND THE ELEPHANT
A Sanlam television advert in which a trained young elephant is seen with a foot hovering over a young woman has been removed from the air, following the successful request from BWC to refrain from airing this advert.
The exploitation of elephants was explained, including those who are used for elephant back safaris in Southern Africa. Elephants are never willing participants and the young are often those taken from the wild after being orphaned by humans. While Sanlam themselves had no part in the making of the film clip, the perpetuation of the exploitation of elephants is clear.
Our pachyderms are already under threat through human encroachment and poaching. We commend Sanlam for their immediate and positive action on this matter!
Seemingly innocent pastimes such as elephant back rides, photo opportunities and cuddling of wild feline cubs, shark cage diving and so on are exploiting the animals for the entertainment of humans, and never for the benefit of the animal. An elephant sanctuary offering elephant back rides makes no more sense than a wildlife conservation agency happily promoting hunting, although this oxymoron also exists!
Before supporting any venture that uses animals in any way whatsoever, please consider where the parents of that young animal are, what happens when they have outgrown the cute factor or become 'unproductive' or unwilling and how can a constant supply of entertaining animals be sustained?
We do our children a disservice by promoting exploitive industries as we teach them that we may use and abuse others for our fleeting pleasure. Remember that a brief moment of (unnatural) contact or entertainment for you means a lifetime of enslavement and misery for that animal!
IVORY KILLS
Asian demand for ivory is putting our elephants at risk and the slaughter by poachers is intensifying governments, including our own, want to increase legal sales.
Researchers have confirmed that there has been a massive surge in illegal ivory trading and that more than 14,000 products made from the tusks and other body parts of elephants were seized in 2009, which is an increase of more than 2,000 on their previous analysis in 2007.
The recent growth in the far east's appetite for ivory, which is a status symbol for the middle classes, has sent ivory prices soaring and scientists estimate that between 8% and 10% of Africa's elephants are now being killed each year to meet the demand. The majestic elephant is again threatened with widespread slaughter.
In 2008 a stockpile of tusks from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe was sold to dealers from China and Japan. Countries including Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo are to call for a ban of these stockpile sales at the upcoming Cites meeting. They say such trade increases demand for ivory goods and is responsible for triggering the recent rise in illegal trade and the killing of thousands of elephants across Africa.
Tanzania and its Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner, Zambia is seeking the transfer of the population of the African elephant, , from Appendix I to Appendix II.
Appendix I include species threatened with extinction. Trade in these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.
Appendix II, on the other hand, includes species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilisation incompatible with their survival.
FIREWORKS, OTHER ANIMAL ISSUES AND THE DA
Despite hand delivering the signatures of thousands of people against fireworks, with a covering letter which included the support of well known welfare agencies, a veterinary report from the university of Pretoria on the effects of fireworks on domestic and non domestic animals and information regarding the dangerous ingredients of fireworks, and the pollution and poisonous effects, to the Mayor's office, and copies of those letters and reports were e-mailed to various relevant persons, mid December 2009, regarding the New Year public fireworks displays and the allowing of individuals to use fireworks in designated areas, Beauty Without Cruelty has yet to receive acknowledgement or response, let alone any positive action.
The office of the premier replied 20th January to say "The issue that you raise is not of a national political nature, but is a matter for the City of Cape Town Administration. As such, please be advised that I have redirected your e-mail to the City of Cape Town." Actually, as it turns out this is very much a political issue.
That no one else has responded, bar the SAPS member who called in December to advise that his department is only part of the fireworks issue in the event of illegal fireworks, which was accepted, is bad manners and a profound lack of professionalism, to say the least.
It would seem that the DA run city's word is not its bond, and that 'This City works for you' is written in sand, as, despite the promise of serious attention to animal welfare (and in the case of fireworks, the environment and pollution) very little, if any, positive action has been seen.
In fact it has come to light that the DA has made it abundantly clear they would rather lose the 'animal lover's' vote than lose a councilor, one example here of course is Ms Wood, who remains in office despite her deliberate cruelty and breaking of the law, regarding Lady and her pups.
On page 31 of "In Trust For The Nation" issued by the DA, it states: "The DA believes that each living creature has intrinsic value and is a sentient being" Furthermore the DA signed the Universal Declaration of Animal Welfare. But in contrast to this, the City has allowed various species to be killed. These include rats, cats, rabbits, fish, guinea fowl, deer, baboons, tahrs and ducks.
Furthermore the City of Cape Town is allowing the shooting of four male baboons a month.
Members of the party have resigned and the DA seems unperturbed by the promise of those voters who confirmed that they will no longer vote for the DA in future elections.
SOCCER VIOLENCE
Beauty Without Cruelty naturally condemns the proposed slaughter of cows at our stadia 'to bless the game'.
With Bafana's sad track record, one must assume the ancestors don't care about soccer. Either way, the consideration of such violence toward another living being for any reason whatsoever is totally unacceptable to Beauty Without Cruelty and every reasonable South African, soccer fan or not, should voice their opposition to this potential action.
UK based animal group Viva! have called on international football governing body FIFA to bring an urgent halt to proposals to slaughter a cow at every 2010 World Cup venue, in a so-called 'blessing ritual'.
Europe's largest campaigning vegetarian organisation has labeled plans by The Makhonya Royal Trust, as a barbaric and abhorrent celebration of animal cruelty.
Viva! international founder & director, Juliet Gellatley, says: "It is beyond belief that in 2010 such acts of extreme animal cruelty and suffering are even being considered as part of such a major international sporting event.
"It is extraordinary that a game which has been bedeviled by violence should want to celebrate its crowning glory with the most extreme violence. Football plays no part in South Africa's traditional culture and this global multi-billion dollar industry needs no 'blessing'. It will continue to prosper without innocent animals having their throats cut open whilst fully conscious. FIFA must demand that the World Cup organisers in South Africa reject this barbarity as cruel and unacceptable."
We concur.
SCIENTIFIC INSANITY?
Animal rights groups in Vienna are pressing charges over an Austrian experiment in which 29 pigs were buried alive under deep snow to study human survival chances in avalanches.
The experiment was actually called off after only a few hours last Friday for fear of public protests although 10 of the 29 pigs died.
Animal rights groups condemned it as "bizarre" and "macabre".
The scientists, who had wanted to study the effect of air pockets that form under snow during avalanches on victims' survival chances, argued that the pigs were sedated and that the authorities had given their approval.
Apparently one in five people hit by an avalanche found themselves with an air pocket. The pig experiment could allow the development of new life-saving rescue techniques, scientists said.
However there has to be another way, including anecdotal evidence and scientists rushing to the scene of avalanche victims where they may observe the scene in situ.
COCKROACHES - KEEP THEM OUT THE NATURAL WAY
The mint spray that you already use to repel ants (you do, don't you?) can be used for cockroaches as well. Spray around the outside of your doorways and windows. You can also spray this on kitchen counter tops and inside cabinets.
Bay leaves (fresh!) will repel roaches. Place them all around your kitchen and in the cabinets. Just a side note if you place a bay leaf in your bag of flour, you won't get weevils. Or keep the flour in the fridge!
Roaches don't like the smell of cedar either. Get Cedar wood, peppermint or bay essential oils, mix a few drops with water in a spray bottle and go wild.
However, if you must, squirting the roach with rubbing alcohol will kill it almost instantly.
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Beauty Without Cruelty can only continue to fight animal exploitation, in all its forms, with your ongoing support.
Please consider placing a stop order on your account, from as little as R50 monthly.
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LIVING WITHOUT CRUELTY COOKBOOK OUT SOON!
World Day for the Abolition of Meat will be held on 30th January 2010. This day is intended as a means of promoting the abolition of the idea of treating/viewing/exploiting animals as food. Worldwide, six million sentient beings are killed for their meat every hour, and this figure does not include fish or other sea animals, who are, of course, included in the demand for the abolition of meat.
Meat consumption causes more suffering and death than any other human activity and is completely unnecessary. The inclusion of flesh foods is using up our water and land resources, polluting our planet and directly contributing to the starving of millions of people world wide as well as causing ill health through heart disease, cancer and more.
Around the world activists will be having vegan food stalls, leafleting and holding peaceful demonstrations.
Beauty Without Cruelty South Africa, now in their 35th year, are delighted to announce the launch of their Living Without Cruelty cookbook to coincide with this day.
The glossy book has over 85 easy and delicious recipes and also contains information on protein, calcium, super foods and more. Some recipes have been submitted by well known South Africans, including Patricia Glyn, Jo Day, SA's queen of rock and Claire Johnston.
Copies may be ordered from toni@bwcsa.co.za at a mere R75 a book, excl postage and packaging.
LAST CHANCE TO WIN
It's your last chance to win with Beauty Without Cruelty while supporting us.
Please remember to take an on-line raffle ticket
A ticket for a mere R30 stands you in line to win a night at the lion sanctuary near Paarl, Drakenstein Lion Park, who care for lions rescued from abuse and misery at the hands of man. Other prizes include a Woolworths body care hamper, a especially designed Compassion tea pot and BWC tee shirts.
Winners will be announced early March.
SALAD DAZE
Here are two really delicious salads and a divine cupcake recipe - you really don't have to have them only for Christmas!
FREE DOWNLOADS
The Beauty Without Cruelty August 2009 Approved List
We have strict criteria that includes the
subsidiaries and suppliers.
Humane Criteria
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
Song of Peace
George Bernard Shaw
We are the living graves of murdered beasts
Slaughtered to satisfy our appetites
We never pause to wonder at our feasts
If animals, like men, can possibly have rights
We pray on Sundays that we have a light
To guide our footsteps on the paths we tread
We're sick of war, we do not want to fight
The thought of it now fills our hearts with dread
Like carrion crows we live and feed on meat
regardless of the suffering and pain
we cause by doing so. If thus we treat
defenseless animals for sport or gain
How can we hope in this world to attain
The Peace we say we are so anxious for?
We pray for it, o'er hecatombs of slain,
To G-d, while outraging the moral law.
Thus cruelty begets its offspring - War.
FISH
Australian scientists have confirmed that the three second memory rule that fish supposedly have is 'absolute rubbish' and that they can actually recall information for up to five months.
Fish can remember prey types for several months and they learn to avoid predators after being attacked once. Furthermore, carp who have been caught by fishermen avoid hooks for at least a year, said author Kevin Warburton.
No only do fish remember, they can increase their food-catching skills, carry out acts of deception and have been noted to be 'on their best behaviour' in certain instances.
They are so much more than an accompaniment to chips!
CONTACT US
BERYL SCOTT
chairperson@bwcsa.co.za
HEAD OFFICE
021 438 2282
MEDIA LIAISON / MARKETING
TONI BROCKHOVEN
toni@bwcsa.co.za
SUPPORTERS
Clearer Conscience is a Cape Town based business that has grown out of a need to do something today, to help the planet. right now.
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