Cheers
...to Hip Hop mogul Russell Simmons, for putting the brakes on widely publicized rumors that he would be working with McDonalds to design new “street wear” ensemble uniforms for their employees. Simmons was in Vancouver when the story broke, and he quickly issued a statement in the Canadian press: “Not only is it not true, I am not in talks with them, I'm a vegan! It goes against my principles.” The National Post referred to Simmons as an astute businessperson who will not sell out the environment or abuse animals in the process.
...to Las Vegas Review Journal columnist John L. Smith, for his July 6 column, “Let's face facts in the case of Roy Horn: Mauling is what tigers do.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently concluded its investigation into the attack of a Bengal tiger during the October 2003 performance of Siegfried and Roy. Smith’s column stated: “For years we have been repeatedly told how happy the large carnivores are in captivity. Yeah, right. And animals are hopping the fence to break into the zoo.”
...to Zac Rich, a student in Bollington, England, for helping Annie, a 52-year-old elephant and the last one performing in England, to be freed from the Bobby Roberts Super Circus. Rich circulated a petition and collected more than 200 signatures from the pupils and teachers at Mottram St. Andrew Primary School. The petition, calling for Annie to be moved to a sanctuary, has been delivered to Ben Bradshaw, the animal health and welfare minister at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Rich was concerned that Annie has been mistreated — charges the circus denies; but more fundamentally, the ten-year-old also noted that “it is wrong to take an elephant from its natural habitat and herd.” And no one with a molecule of morals can deny that.
...to the residents and commissioners in Douglas County in northeastern Kansas, who supported a ban on shows that travel with tigers, bears, lions, elephants and other exotic animals. Unfortunately, this initiative stopped short of banning circuses that use horses and dogs.
...to Selfridges department store, for its decision to stop selling fur garments. According to the Independent, the company issued a statement in May: "Selfridges has reviewed its policy on fur and will no longer be selling any fur products. This will come into force with immediate effect. The policy revision was made after customer feedback and a decline in demand for fur-related products."
Jeers
...to Craig’s List, the online bulletin board, for allowing the sale of live animals. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the East Bay SPCA has been monitoring the list and documented 183 advertisements for non-neutered pit bulls during the month of February alone. The Chronicle reports that 2 dozen shelters and rescue organizations have asked Craig’s List to ban the sale of certain animals. Please e-mail Craig’s List and call for a ban which includes the sale of all animals.
Jim Buckmaster
Chief Executive Officer
help@craigslist.org
...to Exxon Chair and CEO Lee Raymond, for arguing with self-serving impudence that areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge should be opened to oil drilling, and that green solutions will never meet the planet’s energy needs.
At the same time that G8 leaders were pressuring President Bush to do more to relieve global warming, Raymond wrote in Exxon’s publication The Lamp: “There are many alternative forms of energy that people talk about that may be interesting. But they are not consequential on the scale that will be needed and they may never have a significant impact on the energy balance.”
Contact:
Lee Raymond
Chief Executive Officer
Exxon Mobil Corporation
5959 Las Colinas Boulevard
Irving, Texas 75039-2298
...to the Bravo Network’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” for their July broadcast in which two lobsters were killed. This particularly offensive edition of the show included a chef’s demonstration on how to use a knife to “humanely” kill a lobster. Later, the scene was repeated as the “straight guy” repeatedly stabbed and then dismembered a lobster.
Contact:
Bravo Viewer Relations
c/o NBC Entertainment
3000 W. Alameda Ave.
Burbank, CA 91523
...to Sears, for carrying the Cabela Big Game Hunter 2005. The promotional materials for this Playstation game proudly proclaims “36 big game animals to hunt” and an “opportunity to bag record-breaking trophies.” For those who prefer their simulated killing up-close and personal, the game features a “bullet cam” so players can follow each shot to its destination.
Contact:
Alan J. Lacy
Chief Executive Officer
Sears Holding Corporation
3333 Beverly Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60179
1.847.286.2500
