animal rights activism heading for illegality

November 1, 2006

BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS A LAW TO DECLARE

ANY ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS / ACTIVISTS AS TERRORISTS

If the Bush Administration plans to protect the industries that exploit, torture

and kill animais are approved, under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA),

legal and constitutional activities such as peaceful protests, consumer

boycotts,

media campaigns, legislative proposals, or even telling the public what happens

in puppy mills, factory farms, or canned hunting facilities, could be classified

as acts of terrorism.

THIS IS AN ILLEGAL AND ANTI-DEMOCRATIC LAW SONLY DESIGNED TO PROTECT CRUEL

INDUSTRIES

THAT EXPLOIT AND DESTROY NATURE, TORTURING AND KILLING ANIMALS

HELP STOP THIS - TAKE ACTION NOW:

http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M721107147435993136908765

http://capwiz.com/bigcatrescue/issues/alert/?alertid=9014956 & type=CO

http://www.stopaeta.org

WHAT MORE CAN YOU DO?

- CALL AND WRITE your U.S. Representatives now! (not State Reps but US Reps)

202-224-3121

to urge them to oppose HR 4239.

- Contact your Senators and express your anger concerning their unanimaous

decision

to AETA in the Senate 202-224-3121.

- Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121.

- Forward this webpage url to your Congresspersons so they may quickly see that

they will lose votes if they vote yes on AETA. They are here to serve you and

it's

you're job to let them know what you want.

- Forward this message to all your friends,the ACLU & social advocacy groups

everywhere.

- Write letters to the editor to your local area newspapers.

- Try to get radio interview time to make the public aware of the issue.

- Take out paid ads in papers, magazines and other publications For just a few

dollars

you may make a world of difference.

- For the very few who can afford to, rent a billboard and we will provide the

art

work for it.(It's the most efficient form of advertisting there is).

- Educate yourself on the issue as much as you can so you can better defend your

position.

- Send a message to Congress NOW! click here

--

Urge your representative to oppose the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act

International Fund for Animal Welfare October 30, 2006

Are you a terrorist if you act for animals???

Let your Representative know you oppose the

Animal

Enterprise Terrorism Act.

I need your help with two critical animal welfare issues now

under

consideration by the US federal government.

Your First Amendment rights to speak out to protect animals

are

under attack. When the House of Representatives returns to Washington in two

weeks

they will be debating an extremely dangerous bill that will give jail time and

fines

for any action that can be linked to a loss of profit to any company classified

as an " animal enterprise " . This includes anyone who produces or distributes

animals or products from animals, animal entertainment (including rodeos,

circuses,

zoos or aquariums), research facilities, pet stores and even animal fighting.

Under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), legal

activities

such as peaceful protests, consumer boycotts, media campaigns, legislative

proposals,

or even telling the public what happens in puppy mills, factory farms, or canned

hunting facilities, could be classified as acts of terrorism.

The AETA is in all likelihood not constitutional and needs to

be stopped now before it becomes law. The AETA could severely intimidate animal

activists like yourself who wish to legally protest cruelty to animals.

Sufficient

laws are already on the books to accommodate any and all illegal activist

activities.

Please urge your representative to oppose AETA.

( http://www.kintera.org/TR.asp?ID=M721107147435993136908765

)

Thanks for all you do for animals,

Fred O'Regan

President and CEO

P.S. Visit IFAW's Action Center to protect the rights of

animal

activists and push for better care for captive elephants.

All gifts to IFAW represent a contribution to IFAW's entire

mission. Donations will be used where they are most needed to help animals.

Worried about Donating online?

I used to be too ... so I made sure our online system is safe,

secure, and state-of-the-art. It also eliminates check-processing costs, so more

money goes directly to saving animals. But if you prefer to donate by phone or

mail,

simply click here for address information.

NOTE: To make sure you continue to receive further emails from

IFAW, please add fred to your email Address Book. If you use a spam

filter

program, please assign this address a status of " safe " or " trusted. "

If you have an AOL, Hotmail, MSN or email address, this is particularly

important

as we receive many " bounce backs " from these email addresses.

PO Box 193 . 411 Main Street Yarmouth Port, MA 02675

www.ifaw.org

--

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IMPORTANT NEWS

National Coalition Formed To Defeat AETA

The Equal Justice Alliance was formed recently in Washington D.C. to

defeat

AETA. This is a national alliance of social advocay organizations.

(www.noaeta.org)

Supporters Spreading The Word

We are getting about 2,000 visitors pers day. People are interested in

this

issue. It's basically Corporate America vs. Grassroots America. Don't let

them win! The more people that call the U.S. House of Representatives, the

better

our chance of stopping AETA in its tracks.

--------

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ROCKNEY SHEPHEARD

ROCKY

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PLEASE EMAIL US WITH

CONTENT SUGGESTIONS

ROCKY

LAST UPDATE OCT 30, 2006

" There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe,

nor political, nor popular, but must take it because his conscience tells him

that

it is right. " Now is one of those times. -MLK

GET REAL PLAYER

GET ACROBAT

email a friend

--------

VEGA RADIO INTERVIEW

WITH ROCKY SHEPHEARD

OCT 12, 2006

AETA REFERENCE

(AEPA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE PROTECTION ACT OF 1992 - Public Law 102-346

(Public Law 102-346) UNITED STATES CODE TITLE 18 - Crimes and Criminal

Procedures

- Part I -- Crimes - Chapter 3--Animals, Birds, Fish, and Plants

(AETA) Download H.R. 4239

(AETA) Download S. 3800

Statement of John E. Lewis, Deputy Assitant Director Counterterrorism

Division

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Before the Senate Judiciary Committee

May 18, 2004

Rutger's Univeristy School of Law - Animal Rights Law Project - An

academic

project of Professor Gary Fancioen And Adjunct Porfessor Anna E. Charlon

(Demonstrating

and Civil Disobedience: A Legal Guide for Activists)

The American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC) attack on civil

liberties:

A critical analysis of the " Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act " and

" Environmental Corruption Organizations - Preventative Legislation and

Neutralization

Act " January 2004

Congress.org

Public Citizen - Congress Watch

ARTICLES

Mathew Scully Washington Post Interview with Matthew Scully, Aug. 25, 2004

GENERAL

HerbWeb.com Excellent online reference list

WHAT IS (AETA) THE ANIMAL ENTERPRISE TERRORISM ACT?

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA) is a bill which seeks to amend

the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act (AEPA - PL 102-346), a section under

Title

18 of the criminal code which protects animal enterprises from illegal acts

comitted

by animal activists.

The AETA bill (S 3880) recently passed in the Senate on Sept. 30th, 2006,

was introduced by Mr. Inhofe (R-OK), Mrs. Feinstein (D-CA), Mr. Thune (R-SD),

and

Mr. Isakson (R-GA).

Its counter-part is currently pending in the House (H.R. 4239) and will be

voted on sometime in November after congress reconvenes from recess on November

9th.

WHY AETA IS NOT GOOD FOR US

. AETA risks having a chilling effect on First Amendment protected speech

for everyone including law abiding citizens, who risk being tarnished a

terrorist

even if wrongfully charged. On the chance that a law-abiding citizen wins

his/her

case, the damage to their reputation will already be done. Appeals often take

years.

. Anyone engaging in non-violent civil

disobedience causing at least $10,000 profit loss, will be considered a

terrorist.

If this were law at the turn of the 20th century, the suffragettes, notably

Susan

B. Anthony, as well as, civil rights leaders including Rosa Parks and Martin

Luther

King, and Mahatma Ghandi, may have been labelled terrorists.

. AETA risks punishing content based speech.

. AETA would foster a slippery slope and a precedent by which to target

other

content-based speech as terrorism or target any unfavorable group as terrorists.

. AETA risks singling out animal advocates for

penalties that are harsher than for other felonies.

. Laws penalizing tort, harassment, etc. already exist and the bills'

additional penalties are unnecessary.

. The bills' exemptions would not be an adequate defense against being

wrongfully arrested or charged, and do not resolve ambiguities in the bills or

the

chilling effect on protected free speech.

. AETA risks further frustrating protected free speech rights that calls

attention

to the government's failure to enforce the Animal Welfare Act. There are no

similarly harsh penalties against animal enterprises that are in gross violation

of the AWA, or that act with depraved indifference or with intent to do harm.

SUMMARY

We believe that the true purpose of AETA , is to severely chill AR

activism

by intimidating those who would legally protest, and as such attempts to prevent

the loss of profit to corporations and businesses -special interest groups (who

see the ever swelling tsunami of Animal Rights and Animal Welfare consciousness)

heading right their way.

We further believe that there are sufficient laws already on the books to

accomodate any and all illegal activist activities. As an example, Surely, we do

not advocate threat, vandalism, and bodily injury, but why should any sector of

society receive special treatment and consideration under the law from threat,

vandalism

and bodily harm moreso than any other sector?

The justice system has already successfully prosecuted cases using

existing

law and we maintain that AETA isnot only uneccessary but will have a stigmatic

and

chilling effect on our first amendment rights to free speech, preventing

individuals

from exercising their right to protest, under the constitution, for fear of

being

unjustly labeled and prosecuted as a terrorist.

The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act is in all likelihood not

constitutional

and needs to be stopped now before it becomes law. The Senate passed S 3880 in

the

'wee hours' of 09/30/06 and the House is next in line to vote sometime after

November 9th.

Don't sell out your rights to corporate America! Let your voice be heard!

Send a message to Congress

NOW! click here

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ANALYSES

Award winning journalist Will Potter's in-depth analyses of the The Animal

Enterprise Protection Act of 1992, The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act currently

in the House, and the passing of S 3880.

A more apt definition of domestic terrorism. Read about 30 plus years of

violence

and harrasment at U.S. abortion clinics, and ask yourself why there is no

Abortion

Enterprise Terrorism Act?

The American Jurist Free speech: a domestic terrorism casualty? rmust

register

first (fast registration)

My beef with animal-rights analysis.

The New Standard Villified as 'Terrorists.'Eco-Activists Face New

Offensive by Business

THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME LEFT!

WHAT CAN I DO?

CALL AND WRITE your U.S. Representatives now!

(not State Reps but US Reps)

202-224-3121 to urge them to oppose HR 4239.

Contact your Senators and express your anger concerning their

unanimaous

decision to AETA in the Senate 202-224-3121.

Contact co-sponsors Senators Inhof & Feinstein at 202-224-3121.

Forward this webpage url to your Congresspersons so they may quickly

see that they will lose votes if they vote yes on AETA. They are here to serve

you

and it's you're job to let them know what you want.

Forward this message to all your friends,the ACLU & social advocacy

groups everywhere.

Write letters to the editor to your local area newspapers.

Try to get radio interview time to make the public aware of the

issue.

Take out paid ads in papers, magazines and other publications For

just

a few dollars you may make a world of difference.

For the very few who can afford to, rent a billboard and we will

provide

the art work for it.(It's the most efficient form of advertisting there is).

Educate yourself on the issue as much as you can so you can better

defend

your position.

Send a message to Congress NOW! click here

SPEAK UP!

Send us emails expressing your opinions on the question of the week

and I'll post them on this site. rocky

After reading H.R. 4239, what activities currently deemed legal for

AR activists (by the big loophole), will suddenly be prohibited if AETA becomes

law?

HANG THIS FREE POSTER!

ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE!

CLICK TO OPEN / RIGHT CLICK TO SAVE

8.5 " X 11 " (250 DPI)

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ORGANIZATIONS ADVOCATING AETA

(You may be shocked!)

The Fur Commission

Feline Conservation Society

Collie Club of America

Mosslerdogs

Sportsmen and Animal Owners

Feinstein and Inhoffe

National Animal Interest Alliance

American Physiological Society

University of California President

Rodeo Attitude News

Nature Neuroscience

Society of Toxicology

AAAS

pet age.com

Wisconson Farm Bureau Federation

ORGANIZATIONS OPPOSING AETA

Equal Justice Alliance is a national coalition of social advocacy

organizations

preserving free speech and equal treatment under the law.

ACLU Letter to Congress Urging Opposition to the Animal Enterprise Act, S.

1926 and H.R. 4239 (3/6/2006).

HSUS (The Humane Society of the United States) Statement in Opposition to

the Animal Enterprise Act, S. 1926 and H.R. 4239 (10/8/2006).

ASPCA Legislation Alert

(contact congresspersons)

League of Humane Voters Legislation Alert

PETA Tell Congress That Exposing Animal Abuse Is Not Illegal!

Compassion Over Killing action alert

The SHAC 7

PETFINDER.COM Adopt a homless pet (action alert)

In Defense of Animals Urge Your Representative to Oppose the Animal

Enterprise

Terrorism Act!

(contact congresspersons)

Farm Sanctuary Oppose attempts to criminalize animal rights protests

FARM Statement on AETA

Friends of Animals Statement on AETA

Big Cat Rescue Graciously lent us CapWiz for form submissions! Thank you.

Defenders of Wildlife The American Legislative Exchange Council's attack

on civil liberties:

Kinship Circle action alert

Animal Legal Defense Fund action alert

National Anti-vivisection Society NAVS Don't Let the Federal Government

Brand " Advocacy " as " Terrorism "

The Animals Voice good resources

AnimalConcerns www.animalconcerns.org

Jewish Vegetarians of North America item 15

Best Friends Animal Society

Best Friends Network

/ Animal Law Coalition

K9 Magazine The UK's Leading Lifestyle Magazine for Dog Lovers

The Kitty Liberation Front The Guardians of Nature

Primate Freedom Project Education Advocacy Support

Animal Person Deconstructing the ethics, economics, and language of our

relationship

with nonhuman animals.

Last Chance for Animals Justice for Animals

Break the Chains blog is a news and discussion forum for supporters of

political

prisoners, prisoners of war, politicized social prisoners, and victims of police

and state intimidation.

NYC Indymedia Justice for Animals (free media for free people)

Green Bloggers The Global Source for the Green Movement

Alliance for Animals Millwaukee The Global Source for the Green Movement

New York Companion Bird Club Message board

Dogster's For the love of dog blog

Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut

Action For Animals - Austin

Action For Animals - Oakland

Alley Cat Allies

American Anti-Vivisection Society

American Vegan Society

Animal Acres

Animal Legal Defense Fund

Animal Place

Animal Protection Institute

Animal Rights Coalition, MN

Animal Rights Hawaii

Animal Rights International

Animal Sanctuary Foundation

Animal Switchboard

Animal Welfare Advocacy

Animal Welfare Institute

American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Arizona State University

Animal Welfare Association

The Association of Sanctuaries

Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights

Avian Welfare Coalition

AZVegan.com

Bay Area Vegetarians

Best Friends Animal Society

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

CARE (Coalition for Animal Rights Education)

Compassionate Consumers

Compassionate Cooks

DawnWatch

Dogs Deserve Better

East Bay Animal Advocates

Eastern Shore Sanctuary and Education Center

Equal Justice Alliance

FATE (Friends of Animals and Their Environment)

Faunavision

Feathers Foundation

Florida Voices for Animals

Herbivore Magazine

In Defense of Animals International Fund for Animal Welfare

L.A. Lawyers for Animals

League of Humane Voters

League of Humane Voters - CA

League of Humane Voters - NY

Maryland Animal Advocates

Mercy For Animals

Midwest Avian Adoption &

Rescue Services (MAARS)

National Anti-Vivisection Society

New England Anti-Vivisection Society (NEAVS)

Oasis Sanctuary

Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Puppy Mill Awareness Day

RabbitWise

Rational Animals

San Diego Animal Advocates

Satya Magazine

SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness)

Sonoma People for Animal Rights

StopAETA.org

SuperVegan.com

Students for Education and Animal Liberation

United Animal Nations

United Poultry Concerns

Valley Vegan Society (Northampton, MA)

VeganFreak.com

Veganica

Vegan Outreach

Vegan Radio

Vegetarian Advocates

Vegetarian Society of El Paso

The VegNews Network

VegNews Magazine

Viva!USA

Voice for a Viable Future

Woodstock Animal Rights

Movement

Woodstock Farm Animal

Sanctuary

World Orchard Project

PRIVACY STATEMENT . READ THE BILL . CONTACT . NEWS . EMAIL

A FRIEND . FIND YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS . STOPAETA HOME

As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances,

there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in

such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest

we become unwitting victims of the darkness.

William O. Douglas

November 1, 2006

Hi Fraggle

>BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS A LAW TO DECLARE

>ANY ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS / ACTIVISTS AS TERRORISTS

So, 'scuse my ignorance... but isn't there something about freedom of speech in the constitution? Surely that out-ranks any other laws?

I mean, I know there's all sorts of abuses of the constitution anyway, but surely this would be so blatant that no court would be able to deny it?

BB

Peter

November 1, 2006

constitution, as the president so aptly put it, is just a gawd damn piece of paper

our rights are basically meaningless nowadays..they can (and will) find ways to circumvent our entire constituitional rights and protections

we have freedom of speech..but what do they do?

shove people in fenced off "free speech zones"

all they need do is lable something with "the war on terror" and its golden.....

Peter Kebbell Nov 1, 2006 8:34 AM Re: animal rights activism heading for illegality

Hi Fraggle

>BUSH ADMINISTRATION WANTS A LAW TO DECLARE

>ANY ANIMAL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS / ACTIVISTS AS TERRORISTS

So, 'scuse my ignorance... but isn't there something about freedom of speech in the constitution? Surely that out-ranks any other laws?

I mean, I know there's all sorts of abuses of the constitution anyway, but surely this would be so blatant that no court would be able to deny it?

BB

Peter

As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression. In both instances, there's a twilight where everything remains seemingly unchanged, and it is in such twilight that we must be aware of change in the air, however slight, lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness. William O. Douglas