Wise Young
08-13-2001, 06:18 AM
August 8 2001 Volume: XXII Number: 18
AGROTERRORISM ACT OF 2001
Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), along with Representatives Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA), introduced a bill aimed at protecting U.S. researchers and farmers from terrorists. The new measure HR 2795, the "AgroTerrorism Act of 2001," a revised version of Rep. Nethercutt's HR 2060, the "Agro-Terrorism Prevention Act of 2001" (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 14), would increase protections currently extended to animal research facilities to include plant research and other facilities. In addition, the bill would give the FBI new tools to pursue criminal conspiracies against animal and plant terrorism, increase penalties for animal terrorism and establish the National Animal Terrorism and Ecoterrorism Clearinghouse at the FBI. "It is my hope that Congress will take steps to protect the farmers which feed America's children and the researchers who may someday cure cancer, AIDS or any thousands of diseases. We must protect them from the terrorists who, through their extremists agenda, would deny America the fruits of the future," Rep. Cunningham said. "Our legislation will deter the threats, intimidation and even firebombings that threaten to derail the improved quality of life that biomedicine and advanced agriculture promise for the people of the world," Rep. Nethercutt added. A complete analysis of this important bill and recommendations for action will appear in an upcoming NABR ALERT
IDA SUES RESEARCHER
In Defense of Animals (IDA), together with animal rights activist Patricia Haight, has filed a lawsuit against Michael Berens, a staff scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. alleging that Berens made false statements to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to obtain grant money. Jane Wilson, spokesperson for the defendants, which includes St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Catholic Healthcare West, told the Phoenix New Times: "Haight has employed many tactics in her effort to stop Dr. Michael Berens' important research on the most deadly form of brain tumors. We have invited all appropriate agencies into our facility and they have all been satisfied that we conduct our research in accordance with scientific protocols and the law." IDA is suing Berens under the Federal False Claims Act in an apparent attempt to halt his research with animals. After reviewing the allegations, the U.S. government declined to become involved in this lawsuit.
ELF VIDEO PROMOTES ECOTERRORISM
The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), sister organization of the Animal Liberation Front released a video at the end of last month encouraging people to "do what needs to be done to protect all life on this planet." The 20-minute video, "Igniting the Revolution: An Introduction to the Earth Liberation Front," shows burning buildings, oil spills, hillsides stripped of trees, anti-capitalist rhetoric and logos of corporations the group opposes. It was unveiled at a gathering of about 90 people on a sidewalk outside of Portland Community College (PCC) in Oregon on July 27. Rosebraugh arranged for the sidewalk gathering after the college banned the ELF from showing the video inside the school. The purpose of the video, according to spokesman Craig Rosebraugh, is to recruit potential ELF members. "The goal of showing the video is to try to help members of the general public understand why ELF members commit illegal activities to protect lives on the planet," Rosebraugh told The Associated Press. ELF Members Suspected in Arsons-Investigators are focusing on at least three members of the ELF in connection with five environmentally linked arson fires that have caused $7.4 million in damage. The fires, which include two set in May at the University of Washington's Urban Horticulture Center and Oregon tree company Jefferson Poplar Farms (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 12), are linked by similar firebombs according to The Associated Press. Captain Thad Buchanan of the Eugene, Oregon police department told the news service that while investigators won't identify the suspects or say where they live, they are certain that they have the right group of people and that they are linked to the ELF.
SHAC CONTINUES ITS ATTACKS
Last week the animal rights group Pirates for Animal Liberation (PAL) claimed it had sunk the yacht of a president of the Bank of New York, the latest in a series of attacks aimed at closing UK animal testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). PAL, along with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) are targeting the Bank of New York because the bank holds shares in HLS (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 17). According to Newsday, a Nassau County public information officer said that the damage to the yacht wasn't as much as the animal rights groups claimed. "This is a made-up story," he said. "They drilled a few holes into a 21-foot boat, and severed the gas line," he said. Furthermore, "they drilled the holes above the water line - and the boat didn't sink." USDA OFFERS ELECTRONIC REPORTING
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is offering electronic filing of APHIS form 7023, Annual Report of Research Facility, for fiscal year (FY) 2001 animal use. This reporting is required under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Instructions on how to complete electronic filing will be mailed out by the APHIS Animal Care program by September 17, 2001.
Reports must be filed with Animal Care no later than December 1. "Electronic reporting will save facilities from worrying about duplicate copies and relying on regular mailing to get their information to us," W. Ron DeHaven, DVM, APHIS' Deputy Administrator for Animal Care said in a press release. "Because data submitted electronically will go directly to our database, information will be more accurate and we will be able to save time and money by not using resources to input the data." For questions about reporting information or access to inspection data, contact your Animal Care regional office or send an e-mail to ace@aphis.usda.gov <mailto:ace@aphis.usda.gov>.
RESEARCH AND FACILITY PROTECTION IN OHIO
SB147, recently introduced in the Ohio State Legislature would make it a third-degree misdemeanor if a person is found guilty of damaging or destroying crops, livestock, or equipment used for testing or research purposes. The bill would also order the court to require the offender to pay restitution in an amount equal to twice the value of what was destroyed or damaged. Already this year, six states, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Utah and Virginia, have approved new laws expanding protections and increasing penalties for crimes against agricultural facilities and/or products of agricultural technology. Legislation was postponed indefinitely in Maine and died upon adjournment in Mississippi. Additional legislation is pending in three other states.
The Summary of State Legislation by type for August 2001 is available on-line in the Member's Only section of the NABR Web site (www.nabr.org <http://www.nabr.org> ). For more information on state legislation, please contact Kelli Mills in the NABR office.
AGROTERRORISM ACT OF 2001
Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA), along with Representatives Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA), introduced a bill aimed at protecting U.S. researchers and farmers from terrorists. The new measure HR 2795, the "AgroTerrorism Act of 2001," a revised version of Rep. Nethercutt's HR 2060, the "Agro-Terrorism Prevention Act of 2001" (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 14), would increase protections currently extended to animal research facilities to include plant research and other facilities. In addition, the bill would give the FBI new tools to pursue criminal conspiracies against animal and plant terrorism, increase penalties for animal terrorism and establish the National Animal Terrorism and Ecoterrorism Clearinghouse at the FBI. "It is my hope that Congress will take steps to protect the farmers which feed America's children and the researchers who may someday cure cancer, AIDS or any thousands of diseases. We must protect them from the terrorists who, through their extremists agenda, would deny America the fruits of the future," Rep. Cunningham said. "Our legislation will deter the threats, intimidation and even firebombings that threaten to derail the improved quality of life that biomedicine and advanced agriculture promise for the people of the world," Rep. Nethercutt added. A complete analysis of this important bill and recommendations for action will appear in an upcoming NABR ALERT
IDA SUES RESEARCHER
In Defense of Animals (IDA), together with animal rights activist Patricia Haight, has filed a lawsuit against Michael Berens, a staff scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Ariz. alleging that Berens made false statements to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to obtain grant money. Jane Wilson, spokesperson for the defendants, which includes St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and Catholic Healthcare West, told the Phoenix New Times: "Haight has employed many tactics in her effort to stop Dr. Michael Berens' important research on the most deadly form of brain tumors. We have invited all appropriate agencies into our facility and they have all been satisfied that we conduct our research in accordance with scientific protocols and the law." IDA is suing Berens under the Federal False Claims Act in an apparent attempt to halt his research with animals. After reviewing the allegations, the U.S. government declined to become involved in this lawsuit.
ELF VIDEO PROMOTES ECOTERRORISM
The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), sister organization of the Animal Liberation Front released a video at the end of last month encouraging people to "do what needs to be done to protect all life on this planet." The 20-minute video, "Igniting the Revolution: An Introduction to the Earth Liberation Front," shows burning buildings, oil spills, hillsides stripped of trees, anti-capitalist rhetoric and logos of corporations the group opposes. It was unveiled at a gathering of about 90 people on a sidewalk outside of Portland Community College (PCC) in Oregon on July 27. Rosebraugh arranged for the sidewalk gathering after the college banned the ELF from showing the video inside the school. The purpose of the video, according to spokesman Craig Rosebraugh, is to recruit potential ELF members. "The goal of showing the video is to try to help members of the general public understand why ELF members commit illegal activities to protect lives on the planet," Rosebraugh told The Associated Press. ELF Members Suspected in Arsons-Investigators are focusing on at least three members of the ELF in connection with five environmentally linked arson fires that have caused $7.4 million in damage. The fires, which include two set in May at the University of Washington's Urban Horticulture Center and Oregon tree company Jefferson Poplar Farms (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 12), are linked by similar firebombs according to The Associated Press. Captain Thad Buchanan of the Eugene, Oregon police department told the news service that while investigators won't identify the suspects or say where they live, they are certain that they have the right group of people and that they are linked to the ELF.
SHAC CONTINUES ITS ATTACKS
Last week the animal rights group Pirates for Animal Liberation (PAL) claimed it had sunk the yacht of a president of the Bank of New York, the latest in a series of attacks aimed at closing UK animal testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). PAL, along with Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) are targeting the Bank of New York because the bank holds shares in HLS (NABR UPDATE Vol. XXII, No. 17). According to Newsday, a Nassau County public information officer said that the damage to the yacht wasn't as much as the animal rights groups claimed. "This is a made-up story," he said. "They drilled a few holes into a 21-foot boat, and severed the gas line," he said. Furthermore, "they drilled the holes above the water line - and the boat didn't sink." USDA OFFERS ELECTRONIC REPORTING
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is offering electronic filing of APHIS form 7023, Annual Report of Research Facility, for fiscal year (FY) 2001 animal use. This reporting is required under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Instructions on how to complete electronic filing will be mailed out by the APHIS Animal Care program by September 17, 2001.
Reports must be filed with Animal Care no later than December 1. "Electronic reporting will save facilities from worrying about duplicate copies and relying on regular mailing to get their information to us," W. Ron DeHaven, DVM, APHIS' Deputy Administrator for Animal Care said in a press release. "Because data submitted electronically will go directly to our database, information will be more accurate and we will be able to save time and money by not using resources to input the data." For questions about reporting information or access to inspection data, contact your Animal Care regional office or send an e-mail to ace@aphis.usda.gov <mailto:ace@aphis.usda.gov>.
RESEARCH AND FACILITY PROTECTION IN OHIO
SB147, recently introduced in the Ohio State Legislature would make it a third-degree misdemeanor if a person is found guilty of damaging or destroying crops, livestock, or equipment used for testing or research purposes. The bill would also order the court to require the offender to pay restitution in an amount equal to twice the value of what was destroyed or damaged. Already this year, six states, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Utah and Virginia, have approved new laws expanding protections and increasing penalties for crimes against agricultural facilities and/or products of agricultural technology. Legislation was postponed indefinitely in Maine and died upon adjournment in Mississippi. Additional legislation is pending in three other states.
The Summary of State Legislation by type for August 2001 is available on-line in the Member's Only section of the NABR Web site (www.nabr.org <http://www.nabr.org> ). For more information on state legislation, please contact Kelli Mills in the NABR office.