The Forgotten Mothers

Remembering all the other mothers

On Mother’s Day, countless people will be gathering to celebrate their mothers. But there are millions of unloved and forgotten mothers out there who are abused, killed, tortured and have their children taken away from them every day.

They are mother sows, kept in tiny, filthy gestation crates while they give birth and feed their piglets. As PETA notes, "These intelligent social animals are deprived of natural sunlight and the feel of grass beneath their feet, until the day when they are shoved and prodded onto a truck bound for the slaughterhouse."

They are mother bears kidnapped and tortured to get extract their bile for traditional Chinese medicine, one of whom reportedly made the heartbreaking decision to mercy-kill their own child and then commit suicide to avoid years of torture on a bear bile farm.

They are mother cows, who cry for their calves when they are taken away, just hours after birth.

"Calves are taken from their mothers within 12-24 hours of birth. If nature was allowed to take its course—calves would suckle from their mother for several months, even up to a year," reports Animals Australia. "Mother cows, like most mammals have a strong maternal bond. One study found that this bond was formed in as little as five minutes. When calves are removed mother cows will frantically bellow for the offspring that they will never see again. Separated calves appear frightened and bewildered. Regardless of how this situation is handled this separation causes enormous stress for both the cow and calf."

There are so many animal moms who care about their children with the same intensity that human moms are capable of, but who never see their children and live lives of misery at the hands of their human captors. For them, Mother's Day is just another day of pain and sadness.

As millions of people gather for brunch or dinner to celebrate Mother's Day, how many will consider just how those eggs, that milk, that bacon, that burger, that chicken got to their plate as they sit and smile and toast their own mother?

Today, take a moment to think about all the forgotten animal mothers. Their sacrifice is much greater than most of us realize.

Want to do really do something for the forgotten mothers? You can save about 100 animals a year simply by switching to a vegetarian diet.

Considering the mounting scientific evidence about the health risks of eating meat, one of the animals you save might just be you. Click here to get your free vegetarian starter kit from PETA.

Paalam, Katala?

Having lost most of its natural habitat to mining, logging, agriculture and poaching for the pet industry, the critically endangered Philippine cockatoo is now facing a threat that could push it to extinction: a coal-fired power plant

Just thirty years ago, the Philippine cockatoo (Cacatua haematuropygia), locally known as "katala," lived on nearly all of the more than 7,000 islands in the Philippines. But today, this beautiful and distinctive bird is near the top of the IUCN Red List of threatened species, with only around a thousand still living in the wild. The largest remaining wild population—just around 250 individuals—lives on Rasa, a small coral island separated from the much larger island of Palawan by a strait only 500 meters wide.

And now this tiny and struggling population is facing a new and massive man-made threat: a coal-fired power plant that would block it's only route to its feeding grounds on Palawan.

“Policymakers are trying to give Palawan a green image and promote the island as the last ecological frontier of the Philippines," said Peter Widmann, vice president of the Katala Foundation, a non-profit active named after the Philippine cockatoo and active in protecting and conserving the nation's threatened endemic wildlife, based in Puerto Princesa City. "Yet approving a coal power plant in such a highly sensitive area and putting the survival of an entire species at risk is a crass contradiction of those efforts."

"The imposing birds have numerous enemies: logging, agriculture and mining are destroying their habitats, and the illegal animal trade poses a grave threat to their survival. Poachers plunder almost every unguarded nest in the wild and sell the young birds as decorative pets," according to Rainforest Rescue, which adds, "The decision by the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development ignores the submitted environmental studies and the will of the municipal government, and of the residents of Barangay Panacan."

Tell Governor Abraham Kahlil Mitra, the chairman of the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, to halt plans to build a coal-fired power plant that would block the birds' route to their feeding grounds on Palawan.

The Tagalog word for "farewell" is "paalam." Let's hope that we will not yet have to say a final one for the endangered katala.

Click here to add your name to this important campaign.

The Missing Link: Pope Francis and Animals

Pope Francis is named after the patron saint of animals, an important fact that hasn't received any media coverage

Michael Mountain, one of the founders of the Best Friends Animal Society, the largest sanctuary for companion animals, explores a glaring omission in the media frenzy surrounding Pope Francis and why he chose to align himself with St. Francis of Assisi. In an article written for Earth in Transition, Mountain notes that the media has barely touched on the importance of the fact that St. Francis is the patron saint of animals. He writes:

"With all the talk in the media about the new pope's adoption of the name Francis, after the patron saint of animals, the only mention I've heard of anything to do with animals (other than the human kind) was in a few humorous reports about how a seagull was seen perching on the "Holy Smokes" chimney that announced the election of the new pope.

Beyond that, nothing.

Nothing from the religious commentators; nothing from the news media. One of the most famous and popular saints in history, known primarily for his concern for the animals. And no mention of the animals at all. Nor any mention of St. Francis in relation to them.

Nothing.

We have a new pope, round-the-clock news coverage, reporters and commentators all over the world talking about St. Francis of Assisi, and not a word about whether this might relate to how we live our lives in relation to our fellow animals.

What does this complete silence say about us?

Very simply that we humans are entirely self-obsessed."

He concludes:

"If there is to be any redemption for humankind, it lies not in thinking about ourselves, our salvation, our place in heaven and our endless reflection on me, myself and I; but rather to consider what we can do to make peace, here on Earth, with our fellow animals and the world of nature; from which we work so hard and so helplessly to separate ourselves."

It remains to be seen if the respect for all animals that St. Francis had will also be a part of Pope Francis's reign.

I often return to Gandhi's oft-quoted line about animals: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated." This connection between the treatment of animals and the morality of men was also made by St. Francis, who said, "If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men."

Wouldn't it be nice if Pope Francis were to bring this message of compassion for all creatures to the 1.1 billion Catholics around the world?

In terms of Christianity, taking care of and showing compassion to all animals predates St. Francis. Indeed, this idea goes all the way back to the very beginning, as eating meat was not a part of Biblical creation, but rather part of the curse: Adam, Eve and all of God's animals were created to eat only vegetation (Genesis 1:29-30). In fact, nothing died prior to the spiritual fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:19 and 3:21).

image: This textile panel of St. Francis with animals was created by residents and members of St. Francis Church in Byrness, Northumberland, England, in October 2009. It features native birds and wildlife along with pets from the town. (source: VARC)

Tell UniverSoul Circus CEO Cedric Walker to Show Compassion to Suffering, Sick and Abused Elephant Nosey

Open Letter to UniverSoul Circus CEO Cedric Walker

(The following letter was sent via email to info@universoulcircus.com and hernest@universoulcircus.com. Feel free to copy/paste/modulate it to send your own email. Thank you for taking action.)

SUBJECT: "BREAKING: UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker Shows Compassion for Suffering Elephant Nosey"

February 25, 2013

Cedric Walker
CEO
UniverSoul Circus

Dear Mr. Walker: The subject line of this email could become a reality, but only if you show compassion for the long-suffering, sick and abused elephant Nosey and cancel her upcoming performances. As noted by PETA in their email below, there is "abundant indisputable evidence of Nosey's decades-long neglect at the hands of infamous exhibitor Hugo 'Tommy' Liebel."

For more information on the plight on Nosey: http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2013/02/20/save-suffering-elephant-from-universoul-misery.aspx

I am writing to urge you to immediately cancel Nosey's act and implement a policy prohibiting UniverSoul Circus from working with animal exhibitors who have had formal charges filed against them by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

The Liebel Family Circus (dba Florida State Family Entertainment, Florida State Family Circus, Liebling Bros. Circus, and Liebling Bros. Family Circus), was recently formally charged with almost three dozen violations of the AWA. The charges against Liebel include keeping the elephant named "Nosey" chained so tightly by two legs that she could not lie down and could barely move; repeatedly denying Nosey necessary veterinary care; potentially exposing Nosey to serious infections by allowing manure to accumulate in the overgrown soles of her feet, despite knowing that foot ailments are the leading cause of death in captive elephants; and repeatedly allowing unsupervised public contact with Nosey, who has hit a Liebel employee on the back of the head with her trunk in the past, sending him to the hospital. Other violations include leaving a chained monkey on a pony's back unattended for an hour.

These violations are particularly alarming considering that Liebel was previously fined $3,000 for failing to adhere to the minimum standards of the AWA. Furthermore, these charges involve behavior that would violate Florida cruelty-to-animals laws were it to occur at UniverSoul, including:

FLA. STAT. ANN. § 828.12 (2010). Cruelty to animals:

(1) A person who unnecessarily overloads, overdrives, torments, deprives of necessary sustenance or shelter...is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

(2) A person who intentionally commits an act to any animal which results in...excessive or repeated infliction of unnecessary pain or suffering, or causes the same to be done, is guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or both. 

Surely, you do not want to affiliate yourself with cruelty to animals or with such extensive AWA violations or to subject yourself to potential criminal liability for harboring a neglected animal or civil liability for allowing dangerous, unsupervised contact with an elephant. Will you please act in behalf of the animals used by Liebel and ensure public safety now by immediately implementing a policy that prohibits UniverSoul Circus from working with animal exhibitors who have had formal charges filed against them by the USDA for violations of the AWA, including Liebel?

Also, I assume you have read the letter that Russell Simmons sent to you regarding Nosey, but just in case you have not, you can read it here:

http://globalgrind.com/news/we-must-stop-universoul-circus-animal-abuse-russell-simmons-blog

It is in your power to help ensure that animals forced to perform at UniverSoul are not cruelly abused and to disallow any further opportunity to endanger members of the public.

If you do make the ethical choice, I look forward to reading the following headline:

"BREAKING: UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker Shows Compassion for Suffering Elephant Nosey" 

It's all up to you. Thank you for your consideration in this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Reynard Loki

 ---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: PETA
Date: Mon, Feb 25, 2013 at 12:40 PM 
Subject: Urgent: Suffering Elephant Nosey Still Needs Your Help! 

Dear Reynard,

As you are probably aware, UniverSoul Circus has been using the suffering elephant Nosey in its performances in Florida this month, despite abundant indisputable evidence of Nosey's decades-long neglect at the hands of infamous exhibitor Hugo "Tommy" Liebel. 

Click here to learn more about Liebel's unrelenting neglect of Nosey's health and well-being. Now more than ever, we need our compassionate members and supporters to join PETA in pressuring UniverSoul CEO Cedric Walker and North Florida Fairgrounds Manager Mark Harvey to immediately cancel Nosey's planned appearances in UniverSoul's upcoming Tallahassee shows. 

Please call Walker (404-588-1235) and Harvey (850-878-3247) and let them know that they must cancel Nosey's appearances now. Please also forward this urgent information to your family and friends.

Thank you for your compassion.

Sincerely, 

Delcianna Winders
Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement
PETA Foundation

Tell NMFS: Don't Delist Endangered Orcas from ESA

A corporate-backed group has petitioned the US government to take away Endangered Species Act protection from a group of endangered orcas living off the coast of southern Washington. Public comments on this ill-advised request are being accepted through January 28

The corporate-backed Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) has submitted a petition to the US National Marine Fisheries Service to remove a group of killer whales (orcas) from the protections afforded them by the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

But as Stephen Wells, the executive director of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), noted in a recent email, the petition—allegedly made on behalf of farmers seeking access to water from the Sacramento River—was started "not because [the orcas] are no longer threatened, but because their existence is inconvenient to financial profits."

Described by ALDF staff writer Jennifer Molidor as an "incredibly self-aware group of whales…[who] engage in family behaviors such as babysitting and food-sharing," this extended family is comprised of about 84 individuals, together known as Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). They make up the pod that the now-famous captive orca Lolita was taken from on August 8, 1970. (Almost four decades later, Lolita is still living in a tiny tank at Miami Seaquarium, where she is forced to perform for audiences. Animal activists have so far been unsuccessful in attempts to secure her release.)

The ESA is the primary US law that protects this group of orcas, which according to marine experts require as much official protection as possible. While the NMFS will consider the PLF's petition for one year, they are only accepting public comments until January 28. Now is the time to speak up for these orcas.

Please add your voice to help protect this distinct population of killer whales. Click here, enter the required fields, and copy/paste/edit the following text into the comment section:

I am greatly concerned about the situation of the extremely complex, sensitive and vulnerable group of whales (orcas) living off the coast of southern Washington, which is comprised of about 84 individuals. The group spends time each year in the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound. Like humans, they engage in family behaviors such as babysitting and food-sharing.

These southern orcas have been on the endangered species list since 2005. Marine experts have declared that these orcas truly need all the protection we can provide. The ESA is the most important, and often the only, law that protects wildlife. It is imperative that we protect orcas, and not allow profit-seeking groups to remove ESA protections, one case at a time.

The petition to delist southern resident killer whales (Document ID NOAA-NMFS-2012-0241-0001) could have catastrophic consequences for the orcas of southern Washington. Please do not remove the southern orcas from the protections of the Endangered Species Act.

"This dangerous petition could have dire consequences for the cherished orcas of southern Washington," writes Molidor. "Now is the public's chance to speak out."

NYU Left 10,000 Animals to Drown During Hurricane Sandy

The New York University School of Medicine left 10,000 animals to drown in their laboratories during Hurricane Sandy. Ask the USDA to investigate this crime immediately

"10,000 of Sandy’s victims clearly did not have to die. They were animals who were left to drown in New York University basement laboratories," writes Dr. Neal D. Barnard, president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), which has requested that the USDA investigate this matter.

"Many of the cruelties of animal laboratories are well-known. But what is less known is the vulnerability animals have to power failures, heat stroke, fire, and—yes—drowning. That is because they are often kept in basements or other cramped facilities with no means of escape when disasters strike. To the experimenters, they are little more than expendable equipment."

Please add your personal support to PCRM's request to the USDA by emailing the following letter to Elizabeth Goldentyer, the Eastern regional director of the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Her email address is: betty.j.goldentyer@aphis.usda.gov. Sending a letter via post would even be more effective.

Elizabeth Goldentyer, D.V.M.
Regional Director
USDA/APHIS/AC Eastern Region
920 Main Campus Dr., Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606

Re: Veterinary Care at New York University School of Medicine

Dear Dr. Goldentyer:

I was shocked to learn that thousands of animals at the New York University School of Medicine were left to drown during Hurricane Sandy in late October.

I join the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in requesting that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service immediately investigate theses unconscionable drowning deaths. According to news reports, as many as 10,000 animals drowned during a flood in the Smilow building at the NYU Langone Medical Center, which is affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine (NYUSOM). For more information, please visit: http://www.pcrm.org/media/blog/nov2012/hurricane-sandy-10000-animals-die-in-nyu-lab.

Under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), NYUSOM meets the definition of a “research facility” and therefore must comply with the AWA and its implementing regulations. However, based on news reports, it appears that NYUSOM, whose registration certificate number is 21-R-0092, may have failed to comply with AWA regulations regarding “adequate veterinary care.” Those regulations mandate that “[e]ach research facility shall establish and maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include . . . [t]he use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, diagnose, and treat diseases and injuries, and the availability of emergency, weekend, and holiday care[.]” 9 C.F.R. § 2.33(b)(2) (emphasis added).

Although the animals at NYUSOM may or may not have been included in the AWA’s coverage, the unintended deaths of thousands of NYUSOM’s research subjects strongly suggests that NYUSOM has not established an “adequate veterinary care” program—all the more so in light of the wide notice of Hurricane Sandy’s impending arrival.

Accordingly, PCRM requests that APHIS investigate this matter to 1) determine whether NYUSOM has established and maintains a program of adequate veterinary care that complies with the AWA and 2) impose, if appropriate, the maximum fines allowable under the law. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

[Note: For a suggested letter to NYU officials, please see the comments section at this Care2.com page: http://www.care2.com/news/member/269960834/3496745]

image: PETA

Screw Canada and Support Obama's Proposed Ban on the International Trade in Polar Bear Parts

Hundreds of polar bears are killed every year for their pelts, teeth, heads and paws. Take a minute to show your support for a United States proposal for a trade ban on this despicable Canadian-led industry

With the backing of Russia (where President Vladimir Putin is an outspoken animal lover), President Barack Obama has announced that the United States will propose a ban on the international trade in polar bear parts at the March 2013 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), an international treaty signed in 1973 to protect wildlife against overexploitation.

However, several nations in the European Union—whose votes will be critical in deciding the outcome of the proposed ban—remain indecisive on this important legislation.

Outside of the sheer cruelty—and idiocy—of killing hundreds of endangered polar bears every year to sell their teeth, paws, heads and fur to unethical consumers, this legislation is even more critical considering the fact that polar bears are also fighting for their daily survival as their habitat melts away—thanks to humans pumping tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, causing an unnatural increase in the global surface temperature. (From 1751 to 1900, about 12 gigatonnes of carbon were released to the atmosphere from burning of fossil fuels, according to data from the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center. From 1901 to 2008, 334 gigatonnes were released.)

Mark Drinkwater, mission scientist for the European Space Agency's CryoSat satellite and the agency's senior advisor on polar regions, said he and his colleagues have been shocked by the rapid rate of Arctic sea ice melt over the last five years. "If this rate of melting [in 2012] is sustained in 2013," he said, "we are staring down the barrel and looking at a summer Arctic which is potentially free of sea ice within this decade."

The National Resources Defense Council has started a petition urging United Kingdom prime minister David Cameron to rally the EU towards a YES vote on the proposed ban, which would end the commercial trade of polar bear parts and give these iconic animals one less thing to worry about as they continue their ongoing struggle to find food, raise their young and just plain survive.

At the last meeting of CITES in 2010, the UK deferred to Canada in regard to the polar bear. That ended up being a bad decision: Since then, the trade in Canadian pelts has soared, worsening the plight of the polar bear. Canada continues to allow more than 300 polar bears to be killed every year to supply the market for hunting trophies and body parts.

Let's call on David Cameron to not defer to Canada and instead make a strong stand this time around. Join other activists around the world to support this life-saving ban and sign this important petition today.

In addition, please consider boycotting goods and services from Canada, which also continues to kill baby seals every year in the world's largest slaughter of marine mammals. Until Canada stops killing polar bears and baby seals, I'll be buying my maple syrup from Vermont, which gets my support for being the first US state to ban hydrofracking.

Fire Jamie P. Olson, USDA Animal Abuser

The Sacramento Bee and the Missoula Independent recently published graphic images of Jamie P. Olson's dogs tormenting and mauling trapped wildlife including coyotes, bobcats and raccoons. The articles described the animal abuse and torture that was instigated by Olson, a USDA Wildlife Services employee based in Wyoming.

This cruel, sadistic individual posted horrific photographs of his animal abuse on his Facebook page and various hunting websites, several of which he noted were part of his work, indicating that the abuse occurred while on the job.

Should taxpayers be paying the salary of an animal abuser?

"With 'varmint' hunting and trapping in general, where many species have no legal protection whatsoever, the treatment of these animals is sometimes incomprehensibly cruel," writes San Francisco-based naturalist Ingrid Taylar.

"We need to apply our individual and collective pressure to insist this USDA agency be reformed...and to insist that the whole practice of predator and 'nuisance' animal control be restructured toward a more evolved and compassionate ethic with respect to wildlife."

"Let's put a spotlight on Wildlife Services," urges Wendy Keefover, the director of carnivore protection at WildEarth Guardians, a non-profit wildlife advocacy group, which describes the agency as "a costly, outdated, rogue agency that has no purpose in modern times."

"Demand that Congress thoroughly investigate every aspect of this agency and eliminate federal funding for killing coyotes, wolves and other native carnivores. Wildlife belong to all Americans; they must not be brutalized by the likes of federal agent Mr. Jamie P. Olson."

ACTION ALERTS

• Sign the Project Coyote petition to fire animal abuser Jamie P. Olson from his job at the USDA
• Sign the WildEarth Guardians petition demanding a Congressional investigation into the cruel practices of the USDA

What a Human Learned from a Hen

"I’ve never seen the life leave a body before," writes Robert Grillo, the founder and editor of FreeFromHarm.org, about the death of Sandye, one of his adopted hens.

"It filled me with awe and a sensation I will never forget. At that moment I realized that life is just some uncontrollable, precious, ephemeral and mysterious force. The body is merely a vessel through which the life force flows. It’s the same for all of us—humans and chickens alike. Sandye’s death made me keenly aware that not only is life itself a mystery to us, but her life before I adopted her was also a complete mystery. I’ll never know how old she was when she died. I’ll never know what shaped her unique and introverted personality."

Every day in the United States alone, around 23 million chickens are killed for human consumption. That’s a rate of approximately 269 deaths per second.

Representatives of Viva USA, a New York-based non-profit advocating the welfare of animals killed for food, wrote about their experience visiting a chicken factory farm:

Your first view is row after row of industrial sheds—there were 27 sheds at one facility we visited. Most people would never imagine that these innocuous, sometimes windowless buildings hold living beings, but the sad truth is that each one contains thousands of birds in crowded, filthy conditions. When we opened these sheds on a cold winter day, we were startled by the oppressive heat and smell inside. Only a few small lights broke the darkness, and a combination of dust and feathers filled the air. In some places, conditions were so bad it was hard to take photographs—or even see.

What we could see was horrific. Dead birds littered the floors of the sheds, some looking as if they had been trampled or crushed.

Little chicks without feathers had unnatural bulges growing out of their bodies and many appeared sick or injured as they stumbled around. In other sheds, many of the larger birds were unable to walk because they had succumbed to the weight of their bodies. Modern chickens have been bred to be unnaturally heavy. We saw many whose legs wouldn’t support their enormous body weight. Legs sprawled beneath them, they stared around with eyes full of confusion and fear. It’s a sight that has still not faded from our memory even now.

"Sandye’s passing made me think about my own mortality and the mortality of others too," writes Grillo. "My wise friend Pamela Ziemann posed a great question the other day:

'If Sandye did indeed die of natural causes and with little suffering, as I sincerely hope, and in the presence of the guardian who loved and cared for her, isn’t that what we hope for ourselves and for all of our loved ones? And should we not extend that wish to every animal, even those we will never see or know?'

"If so, then we are obligated to choose a humane path in life that does not impose violence on others—because we can."

You can save about 100 animals a year simply by switching to a vegetarian diet. Click here to get your free vegetarian starter kit from PETA.

The World's Largest Marine Sanctuary?

Iceberg, Southern Ocean, October 1, 2010 (credit: Lieutenant Elizabeth Crapo, NOAA Corps, Wikimedia Commons)

The Antarctic Ocean could become the world's largest marine sanctuary—if we act now

"Within days, governments could begin turning wide stretches of the Antarctic ocean into the world's largest marine sanctuary, saving the habitat of whales, penguins, and thousands of other polar species from industrial fishing fleets. But they won’t act unless we speak out now.

"
Most countries support the sanctuary, but Russia, South Korea and a few others are threatening to vote it down so they can plunder these seas now that others have been fished to death. This week, a small group of negotiators will meet behind closed doors to make a decision. A massive people-powered surge could break open the talks, isolate those attempting to block the sanctuary, and secure a deal to protect over 6 million square kilometers of the precious Antarctic ocean.

"The whales and penguins can't speak for themselves, so it's up to us to defend them. Let's change negotiators' minds with a massive wave of public pressure -- Avaaz will surround the meeting with hard-hitting ads, and together we'll deliver our message to delegates via a deafening cry on social networks. Sign and share this urgent petition."

-- Leonardo DiCaprio, with the Avaaz team

Drakes Estero: What Would President Theodore Roosevelt Do?

Western grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) at Drakes Estero, California
(credit: John Weiss, Creative Commons)

An Open Letter to US Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar

Dear Secretary Salazar:

The 1976 Point Reyes Wilderness Act is under attack by industry special interests that want to delay the creation of the West Coast's only marine wilderness area.

So I write to you today along with thousands of others across the country who are urging you to protect Drakes Estero, an expansive estuary and the ecological heart of Point Reyes National Seashore, a 71,000-acres park preserve located in Marin County, California.

The Drakes Bay Oyster Company lease expires on November 30, 2012, at which time the Park Service is required by the 1976 Point Reyes Wilderness Act to protect Drakes Estero as designated wilderness. The current owners of the oyster company knew this when they acquired the permit in 2005. But they are hoping to use their connections to powerful politicians to subvert the public's will.

First, they convinced Senator Dianne Feinstein to pass special interest legislation that waived the 1976 law's requirement that the oyster farm permit be terminated and the area become fully protected wilderness. Now, they are trying to convince you to extend the permit, thereby precluding wilderness status for Drakes Estero. It is simply unfair to the American people to rewrite the rules at the last minute for one person's private financial gain.

The decision to follow our nation's laws and protect wilderness within our national seashore is important not only to the people of California, but to the entire United States. The real issue at stake is the integrity of all of America's national parks and Wilderness.

Please follow the rule of law and give Drakes Estero the full wilderness protection it deserves under law, fulfilling the promise to the American people in 1976 with passage of the Point Reyes Wilderness Act. Drakes Estero is one of America's most special places and is too important to sacrifice to power politics and special interests.

President Theodore Roosevelt created five national parks, 18 national monuments, 150 national forests and was instrumental in conserving some 230 million acres of America's land. In his Square Deal of 1910, he stressed the importance of protecting the nation's wilderness from commercial exploitation and regulating corporate special interests.

In his seventh annual message on December 3, 1907, President Roosevelt said:

"To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed."

As you consider the fate of the Drakes Estero, please think about what President Roosevelt would do in this situation—and the legacy that you will help leave to future generations by protecting this national treasure from corporate interests.

Sincerely,


Reynard Loki
New York, NY

___

To send a letter to Secretary Salazar, copy the letter text above and email to: exsec@ios.doi.gov.

For more information, visit: http://www.savepointreyeswilderness.org.

Thanks to Wilderness Watch for their efforts in this campaign and letter copy.

Is the Universe a Computer Simulation?

Thought the notion that reality is an illusion has been a regular feature of much science fiction—Star Trek, Tron, The Matrix, Total Recall, Vanilla Sky, for example—it dates back to ancient times. In Western thought, the so-called "Simulation Hypothesis" can be traced back to Parmenides, Zeno of Elea and Plato. In Eastern thought, it appears in the Advaita Vedanta concept of Maya.

Its most recent form can be found in a paper by Nick Bostrom, published in Philosopher Quarterly in 2003. Bostrom, a professor of philosophy at Oxford University, posited that "a technologically mature 'posthuman' civilization would have enormous computing power," and that eventually, such a civilization would create a simulated universe.

Now, a team of researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany led by Silas Beane say that they have evidence that this may be true.

As Morpheus from The Matrix said, "If real is what you can feel, smell, taste and see, then 'real' is simply electrical signals interpreted by your brain."


image: This illustration shows abstracted "slices" of space at different points in time. It is simplified as it shows only two of three spatial dimensions, to allow for the time axis to be displayed conveniently. (credit: Fredrik, Wikimedia Commons)

Song of the Earth

Earth as photographed from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its first lunar landing mission (Wikimedia)

NASA's twin Radiation Belt Storm Probes have recorded audio-frequency radio emissions coming from Earth.

"It's called chorus," said Craig Kletzing of the University of Iowa, whose whose team built the EMFISIS (Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science) receiver used to pick up the signals. "This is one of the clearest examples we've ever heard."

"Some say the signals sound like whales," reports Spaceweather.com, "others liken them to the chirping of prairie dogs. What do you think?"

[audio][video][full story]

Edison: "We are still savages"

A rescued cow relaxes and enjoys a breath of fresh spring air in a field at Farm Sanctuary

October 2 is World Farm Animals Day, so today I am thinking about the 65 billion cows, pigs, sheep, chickens and other land animals raised for food who suffer and die every year.

I'm also thinking of the words of Thomas Edison, the man who gave light to the world:

"Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages."

• Learn more about World Farm Animals Day
• Ready to give a humane diet a try? Get your free vegetarian/vegan starter kit from PETA today
• Support Farm Sanctuary, which shelters, rehabilitates and provides lifelong care for hundreds of animals who have been rescued from stockyards, factory farms and slaughterhouses in the United States
• Sign the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare

image: Farm Sanctuary

World Vegetarian Day

"The time will come when men such as I will look upon the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men." -- Leonardo da Vinci

Today is World Vegetarian Day, established by the North American Vegetarian Society in 1977 and observed annually on October 1 "to promote the joy, compassion and life-enhancing possibilities of vegetarianism," raising awareness of how a vegetarian lifestyle has ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits.

According to a comprehensive study of American adults conducted by Research & Markets entitled "Vegetarian Consumer Trends: Vegetarian and Vegan Consumers":

"Vegetarians and vegans are more issue-driven than any other consumer group. They are first and foremost motivated by animal welfare issues and, to a lesser extent, environmental issues. Because these issues are a priority for vegetarians and vegans, they are more likely than the typical U.S. adult to contribute time or money to related causes, and they integrate these issues into their dietary decisions on a daily basis. Vegetarians and vegans are motivated by a number of different concerns, but, as a group, they cite animal welfare as the biggest primary motivator in choosing a vegetarian diet...Vegetarians and vegans have shown a willingness to make social sacrifices in support of their philosophies."

As Albert Einstein once said, "Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

The more than 65 billion cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens and other land animals who needlessly suffer and die every year in the world's farms and slaughterhouses would strongly agree.

ACTION ALERTS

• Ready to give a humane diet a try? Get your free vegetarian/vegan starter kit from PETA today
• Sign the Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare (UDAW)
• Follow 13.7 Billion Years on Twitter

image: PETA

Bionic Man | Nanotech Medical Sensors

Body-powered nanosenors could provide real-time data to patients about their health

[From the increasing use of pacemakers to keep heart beating on time to the rise of Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. "Blade Runner"), a double-amputee who uses two prosthetic lower legs called "blades," the merging of human and machine continues apace. In this month's series, "Bionic Man," 13.7 takes a broad look at the history, evolution, ethics and impact of prosthetic and bionic engineering, nanotechnology, cybernetics and technological singularity.]

Thanks to a $18.5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, North Caroline State University will be the home of the new NSF Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST).

Researchers at the center will be developing what is being hailed as potential breakthrough in the field of medicine: body-powered biomedical sensors using nanotechnology.

These devices, meant to monitor a patient's health and the effect of the environment, would be worn somewhere on the body, or even inside the mouth. And they would be powered by body heat or motion, eliminating the need for batteries.

"Currently there are many devices out there that monitor health in different ways," said Dr. Veena Misra, the center's director and professor of electrical and computer engineering at NC State. "What's unique about our technologies is the fact that they are powered by the human body, so they don’t require battery charging."

Bionic Man | Cyborg Binoculars

With new "bionic eyes," soldiers will be able to identify and neutralize threats more quickly

[From the increasing use of pacemakers to keep heart beating on time to the rise of Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. "Blade Runner"), a double-amputee who uses two prosthetic lower legs called "blades," the merging of human and machine continues apace. In this month's series, "Bionic Man," 13.7 takes a broad look at the history, evolution, ethics and impact of prosthetic and bionic engineering, nanotechnology, cybernetics and technological singularity.]

The U.S. Army and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the new technology wing of the Department of Defense, have finished field testing next-generation binoculars that actually read soldiers' brain signals. 

The Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System (CT2WS)—developed with Malibu, California-based HRL Laboratories—is described by DARPA as a "soldier-portable visual threat detection device" which not only surveys the area in a soldier's field of vision, but also scans his brainwaves, accessing the power of the subconscious mind in identifying danger.

Current technologies like standard binoculars and portable radars have a threat detection miss rate of 47 percent or more, leaving soldiers in harm's way. But the CY2WS has resulted in a threat detection success rate of over 90 percent. And by incorporating a radar system into the loop, target detection in field tests reached 100 percent.

"Because CT2WS uses the operator's 'brain-in-the-loop,' it detects threats that are context-specific and operator-specific, making it applicable and adaptable to a variety of conditions," said Dr. Deepak Khosla, senior scientist in HRL's Information System Sciences Laboratory and program manager for CT2WS.

According to DAPRA:

"CT2WS built on the concept that humans are inherently adept at detecting the unusual. Even though a person may not be consciously aware of movement or of unexpected appearance, the brain detects it and triggers the P-300 brainwave, a brain signal that is thought to be involved in stimulus evaluation or categorization. By improving the sensors that capture imagery and filtering results, a human user who is wearing an EEG cap can then rapidly view the filtered image set and let the brain’s natural threat-detection ability work."

Oh, and it also includes a 120 megapixel video camera with a 120-degree field of view to record what soldiers see.

As with so many technologies which are first developed by the military and then end up having some commercial use as well (e.g., the internet), the EEG-reading technology in the CT2WS could one day help civilians detect threats more easily, like when they are driving.

Bionic Man | Bionic Ear

Cochlear implants may one day be a thing of the past as bionic research addresses hearing loss

[From the increasing use of pacemakers to keep heart beating on time to the rise of Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. "Blade Runner"), a double-amputee who uses two prosthetic lower legs called "blades," the merging of human and machine continues apace. In this month's series, "Bionic Man," 13.7 takes a broad look at the history, evolution, ethics and impact of prosthetic and bionic engineering, nanotechnology, cybernetics and technological singularity.]

Hearing loss is a common ailment. In 2004, according to the World Health Organization, over 275 million people worldwide had "moderate-to-profound hearing impairment."

Cochlear implants have helped those fortunate enough to afford them. Still, many people with hearing loss who could afford such a device don't want to be seen wearing one, as it has external elements, such as a microphone. According to the Center for Hearing and Communication, around 15 million people in the United States with hearing loss avoid seeking help.

But recent developments have resulted in the advent of the bionic ear, which is totally implanted inside the ear and not visible externally.

Darrin J. Young, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Utah, devised a way to stimulate the auditory nerve from within the ear, according to Discovery News. 

Young's bionic ear features a tiny accelerometer, which picks up vibrations and sends the information to a computer chip which translates them into electrical signals. The signals are then transmitted via electrodes to the cochlea, which contains the sensory organ for hearing.

Though the researchers have only tested the device on cadavers, they know that it works. It will be a few years until tests can be done on living patients.

Could a bionic ear give humans superhuman hearing powers, like the Bionic Woman? Perhaps. But one thing's for certain: The bionic ear is just another piece of technological wizardry that is making the biological body—with all its ailments, limitations and eventual decrepitude—obsolete.

image: A tiny microphone is shown attached to a cadaver's umbo, where the eardrum (under left part of device) meets the hearing bones. The device measures about one-tenth inch by one-quarter inch. (Case Western Reserve University/University of Utah)

Bionic Man | Bionic Eye

The world's first bionic eye has given some sight to a blind woman

[From the increasing use of pacemakers to keep heart beating on time to the rise of Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. "Blade Runner"), a double-amputee who uses two prosthetic lower legs called "blades," the merging of human and machine continues apace. In this month's series, "Bionic Man," 13.7 takes a broad look at the history, evolution, ethics and impact of prosthetic and bionic engineering, nanotechnology, cybernetics and technological singularity.]

"All of a sudden I could see a little flash," said 54-year-old Dianne Ashworth, the first woman to be fitted with a real bionic eye, according to a recent article in The Telegraph. "It was amazing."

Developed by Australian researchers, the bionic eye, fitted into the retina, is equipped with 24 electrodes which send electrical impulses to nerve cells in the eye, stimulating the ability to see.

And while Ashworth can only see flashes of light and general shapes, this incredible development marks an important step towards giving blind people the ability to see.

"Much still needs to be done in using the current implant to 'build' images for Ms. Ashworth," said Professor David Penington from Bionic Vision Australia. "The next big step will be when we commence implants of the full devices."

Bionic Man | Eyeborg

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster." -- Oscar Goldman, The Six Million Dollar Man, 1974

[From the increasing use of pacemakers to keep heart beating on time to the rise of Olympian runner Oscar Pistorius (a.k.a. "Blade Runner"), a double-amputee who uses two prosthetic lower legs called "blades," the merging of human and machine continues apace. In this month's series, "Bionic Man," 13.7 takes a broad look at the history, evolution, ethics and impact of prosthetic and bionic engineering, nanotechnology, cybernetics and technological singularity.]

One of the bionic parts that they gave fictional astronaut Steve Austin (played by Lee Majors) was a bionic eye.

When Canadian filmmaker Rob Spence was a kid, he had a Six Million Dollar Man action figure, and peered through its bionic eye.

When Spence lost his right eye in a shooting accident, he decided to create his own bionic eye, one that contains a battery-powered wireless video camera. Now Spence, who calls himself Eyeborg, can record everything he sees.

"Unlike you humans, I can continue to upgrade," Spence said in an interview with Tim Hornyak's for IEEE Spectrum's robotics blog.

"Yes, I'm a cyborg. But I think that any technology—even clothing—makes people cyborgs."

VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/4276288#at=0

Eyeborg Phase II from eyeborg on Vimeo.