IDA News: 4-06-05

Would you like to be a hero to all the dogs, cats and other companion animals in your hometown? Would you like to work with others in your community to make a real difference for animals? Most importantly, would you like to be part of a vast paradigm shift that's sweeping the nation? If all of this sounds interesting - and even exciting - then IDA wants YOU to be a Guardian Angel!

Guardian Angels throughout the country are busy changing the way people think about companion animals by asking those who use the word "owner" to use "guardian" instead. For example, if a Guardian Angel sees the word "owner" used in an article, he or she contacts the writer to encourage the use of "guardian" in future writings. Guardian Angels also form alliances with people in their community who do animal rescue and enlist their support for the language change. Together, they present their city council members with the concept of changing their animal-related ordinances to reflect more compassionate language, thus making their city a "Guardian City."

As Coordinator of IDA's Guardian Campaign, I'm asking you to join me in the effort to have at least one Guardian City in every state in the country by the end of this year. So far, twelve cities - Boulder, Colo.; Amherst, Mass.; San Francisco, West Hollywood, Sebastopol, Albany, and Berkeley, Calif.; Menomonee Falls, Wis.; Sherwood, Ark.; St. Louis, Mo; Woodstock, N.Y.; Wanaque, N.J.; a county (Marin County which encompasses 11 cities); a Canadian province (Windsor in Ontario); and the entire State of Rhode Island - have included the term "guardian" in their animal-related ordinances. If you live in one of these cities, you can thank your elected officials and help them to implement the language change. If not, please contact me at Max [at] idausa.org or (415) 388-9641, ext. 222, and I will personally walk you through the process of getting YOUR city on board. It will be fun, exhilarating and an honor to work with you on this very worthy goal.

Thank you for your kind attention, your interest and all that you do for the animals. I look forward to meeting you soon.

Max Green
Coordinator, Guardian Campaign


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Table of Contents:
1. Last Chance to Stop Extermination of Deer in Point Reyes
2. Team IDA Pedals Compassion at California Bicycle Classic
3. World Week for Animals In Laboratories is Around the Corner
4. Make a Difference on Animal Guardian Day
5. Help Animals on Earth Day
6. Ron Reagan Speaks Out Against Foie Gras



1. Last Chance to Stop Extermination of Deer in Point Reyes

Urge the Superintendent of Point Reyes to champion contraception as the only humane alternative to the National Park Service's plans to kill many of the exotic deer population in California's Point Reyes National Seashore. The plan devised by the National Park Service proposes a combination of lethal and non-lethal control methods to manage the deer. You can read the park's Environmental Impact Statement online at http://www.nps.gov/pore/home_mngmntdocs_exoticdeer_deis.htm .

What You Can Do:

The National Park Service is accepting public comments on their proposal between now and April 8, 2005. Please contact the Superintendent of Point Reyes Ann Nelson to let her know that if the park's exotic deer population needs to be controlled to maintain an ecological balance, this can be done effectively without killing them. Urge her to champion the contraception option as the most humane method of bringing the exotic deer population under control.

Click here (http://ga0.org/campaign/reyesdeer_help) to send a prewritten letter online, which you can modify as you like.



2. Team IDA Pedals Compassion at California Bicycle Classic

Come out to support the spring kick-off of Team IDA! Join Team IDA and Organic Athlete at the 2005 Sea Otter Classic bicycle event in Monterey, Calif. from April 14 - 17. The Sea Otter Classic draws over 50,000 spectators from around the world as well as over 10,000 bicycle racers, and will include events for all types of bike enthusiasts, from professional and amateur racing to bike tours of the area for the whole family. Team IDA and Organic Athlete will have a booth in the Marketplace area to hand out information about the benefits of training on a plant-based diet. IDA Spokesperson and professional cyclo-cross champion Christine Vardaros will be competing in races and tabling with us as her schedule permits. We'll also provide cool vegan refreshment from Organic Athletes' bicycle-powered smoothie cart! We hope you'll stop by our table to hang out and meet other Teammates...and remember to wear your Team IDA t-shirt.

We'll also be offering a special membership deal to encourage people who are not yet Team IDA members to join. For a limited time, we'll be offering a dual membership in both Team IDA and Organic Athlete for only $20 - that's two memberships at a savings of $15. For more information about Team IDA, visit our website at http://www.teamida.org/index.html , or e-mail teamida [at] idausa.org. For information about Organic Athlete, check out http://www.organicathlete.org . To learn more about the Sea Otter Classic, visit http://www.seaotterclassic.com .



3. World Week for Animals In Laboratories is Around the Corner

We are very grateful for the caring efforts of IDA members on behalf of the tens of millions of animals who have the misfortune of becoming vivisection's victims every year. In last week's e-newsletter, we asked our readers to tell the University of Colorado Board of Regents to release the CU 34 monkeys to a waiting sanctuary, and they certainly came through! CU 34 Campaign Coordinator Rita Anderson reports during a conversation with a CU Regent recently, he mentioned receiving over 200 emails within a 24-hour period asking for the monkeys' immediate release. IDA would like to thank each and every person who responded to our call for action: your voices are important.

World Week for Animals In Laboratories (WWAIL) is another opportunity for people to stand up for the rabbits, mice, dogs, cats and primates that are victims of medical research. During the week of April 23 - 30, IDA wants you to get active on their behalf. Let us know what you would like to do, and we will help you coordinate your event. A series of nationwide events to spotlight the cruelty that takes place behind the heavily guarded compounds of the animal experimentation establishment is being planned now. Please help us educate the public about the routine abuse of animals in laboratories that has been exposed by investigators and documented by whistleblowers time and time again.

What You Can Do

Speak out against animal experimentation by joining others in a WWAIL event, or organize an event in your city. WWAIL events are already being planned in San Francisco, Boulder, Orlando, Atlanta, Boston and Grand Rapids. Visit http://www.wwail.org/index.cgi?page=list_events to find out what events are planned in your area. If you would like to organize an event in your community, IDA would be happy to assist you. Contact Kristie [at] idausa.org for more information and to receive free materials.



4. Make a Difference on Animal Guardian Day

IDA started Animal Guardian Day to honor and recognize the strong emotional bonds shared by humans and companion animals. We also wanted to provide an opportunity for people to share their "guardian pride" by celebrating the spirit of this important relationship with other likeminded animal lovers. Last year's Animal Guardian Day events in New York City and St. Louis drew crowds of people and companion animals as well as official recognition from elected representatives. This year, we are encouraging everyone who cares about animals to volunteer for an animal-related cause on Saturday, June 11 as a way of giving back to the animals who give so much unconditional love to us each day.

What You Can Do

Choose a volunteer project that interests you. For example, you could walk an elderly or sick neighbor's dog, organize a fundraiser for a local shelter, present a humane education program to children or hold a pro-animal film screening. Register your event at http://www.guardiancampaign.org/guardian_day.htm and IDA will mail you the Animal Guardian Day 2005 poster pictured above, which was designed by award-winning artist Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic strip "Mutts." Also be sure to list your event on IDA's Action Calendar and in your local event calendars. Contact valerie [at] idausa.org for more information or for assistance planning your event.



5. Help Animals on Earth Day

On Friday, April 22nd, millions of people all over the world will celebrate the 35th annual Earth Day with activities and events designed to help people live in greater ecological harmony with our planetary home. Many cities will hold Earth Day festivals with information booths, Earth-friendly wares and live music. Check out the Programs & Events link at http://www.earthday.net/default.aspx to find out how your community is celebrating Earth Day.

Earth Day is also a wonderful opportunity to remind people to have respect and love for all the living creatures who share this beautiful planet with us. Perhaps the most abused animals on our planet are the cows, pigs, chickens and other "farmed" animals that most people only think of as breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can help change this sad state of affairs by hosting a screening of "Peaceable Kingdom" on Earth Day in your city or town. "Peaceable Kingdom" is a documentary that shows the strong emotional bonds that can develop between humans and animals that are raised for meat, dairy and eggs. It has the power to transform viewers' perceptions and open the compassion lying dormant in their hearts. Visit http://www.tribeofheart.org to learn more about the film or to purchase a copy on DVD or VHS, and contact Kristie [at] idausa.org for help organizing a screening of this life-changing documentary.



6. Ron Reagan Speaks Out Against Foie Gras

People from across the political spectrum may have different opinions on the issues of the day, but there's one subject that more and more people are starting to agree on: force-feeding ducks to produce foie gras is cruel and inhumane. Ron Reagan, the son of former President Ronald Reagan, has joined the chorus of voices speaking out against the "delicacy," noting that some restaurants are so intimidated by activists that they've taken foie gras off their menus but still "secretly" serve it to patrons upon request. Click here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7276110/) to read Reagan's critical commentary on MSNBC.


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IDA's Car Donation Program

Did you know that your car can save a life?

Do you have an old car, truck, boat, RV or motorcycle that's taking up space in your driveway or garage?

It could be used to help us save the lives of animals!

How?

By donating your old vehicle to IDA through our Car Program.

It's simple to do. Just visit our web site at http://www.idausa.org/supportf.html and follow the link under the heading "Donate Your Used Vehicle" which will direct you to a form that you can fill out and submit to us electronically.

Or just give us a call at (415) 388-9641, ext. 218 and our helpful Member Services Assistant, Sage, will assist you.

Help us stop animal cruelty by donating your unwanted vehicle to IDA today, and make a difference in the lives of animals.



Help Someone Kick the Meat Habit with FARM's Meatout Monday Newsletter

If you know someone who says they'd like to cut meat out of their diet but thinks it's too hard, then tell them about Meatout Mondays, a free weekly e-newsletter designed to help those who don't want to quit "cold turkey" kick the meat habit one day at a time - starting with Mondays! Easy and fun to read, Meatout Mondays encourages individuals to make changes at a pace that is comfortable for them, and is an excellent tool for introducing vegetarianism to anyone.

Every week, Meatout Mondays includes tasty vegan recipes, new product and book reviews, important health information, and inspirational stories of people who have changed their lives for the better by cutting animal products from their diets. This week's Meatout Mondays reports on a recent study that found people who ate a diet high in saturated fats (present in meat and dairy products) were 80% more likely to get Alzheimer's disease than those who ate a diet high in unsaturated fats (plentiful in vegetables and some oils). Click here (http://www.meatoutmondays.org/05-04-04.htm) to read the latest issue.

Please visit http://www.meatoutmondays.org to review past issues and to subscribe your friends and family members. Meatout Mondays is a free e-newsletter, and individuals can easily unsubscribe at any time.



The Cat Therapist Shares Her Wisdom

Got cats? Then you could probably use some advice from the Cat Therapist. Click here (http://www.idausa.org/cat_therapist/index.html) to read her latest column.


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Team IDA encourages teammates to take part in local athletic events to raise awareness of animal issues and much-needed funds to rescue and protect animals from cruelty and abuse. You don't have to be an avid runner or a serious athlete to sign up. Just by cheering and wearing your Team IDA apparel you can show your pro-animal attitude.

Wear your Team IDA t-shirt whenever you are running, biking, walking, or just hanging around your neighborhood to help promote a cruelty-free world. If you have a Team IDA t-shirt and have received comments about it, we want to hear from you! If you do not already have a Team IDA t-shirt, please call (415) 388-9641 to inquire. Also, if you have participated in any events in your area on behalf of Team IDA, or would like your picture and bio posted on our website, please let us know!

You can also make Team IDA even more successful by spreading the word: a great way to do this is by distributing Team IDA brochures at races and placing them in athletic stores and clubs. Team IDA brochures are always available free of charge by (415) 388-9641.

We are always interested in learning more about your experiences and hearing your ideas regarding Team IDA. Please send an email to teamida [at] idausa.org and tell us your story. Visit http://www.teamida.org for more information. Join Team IDA today!

http://ga0.org/join-forward.html?domain=indefenseofanimals

You can sign up for In Defense of Animals Action Center at:

http://ga0.org/indefenseofanimals/join.html