Friday, February 21st, 2003
PAWS
Actionline
A weekly opportunity
to make a difference
for animals
PAWS Campaign Against Circuses That Use Performing Animals
Important Links
PAWS Animal Cruelty Resources and Links
Legislative Links
Washington State- House of Representatives
- Senate
Federal
- House of Representatives
- Senator Maria Cantwell
- Senator Patty Murray
Vote Smart is an excellent resource for all sorts of legislation.
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Progressive Animal
Welfare Society
PO Box 1037
Lynnwood WA, 98046
Governor authorizes funds to protect Washington's orca population
The stalled petition to list the Puget Sound orca population on Washington State's endangered species list is finally moving forward. (PAWS was an original sponsor of this petition.) Governor Gary Locke has authorized $90,000 from the state's emergency fund to increase protection of Puget Sound orcas and develop an orca recovery plan. This will empower the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to initiate the listing process, and they will be able to participate more effectively in the recovery plan. The final determination of status for the orcas is scheduled for December 2003.
Please contact Governor Locke at www.governor.wa.gov/contact/govemail.htm or call the Governor's office at (360) 902-4111 (to contact relay operators for the deaf or hearing impaired, dial 7-1-1). Please thank Governor Locke for allocating these funds and to let him know the importance of listing these animals on Washington's endangered species list.
The EPA must protect endangered species from pesticides
Since the passage of the Endangered Species Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has failed to uphold its legal duty to protect salmon and other endangered species from the impacts of pesticides. In December 2002, the EPA finally proposed a program to protect endangered species from pesticides, but it is extremely weak and will do little to protect those species on the brink of extinction. The EPA must obey the Endangered Species Act and create a program that ensures that endangered species aren't harmed by pesticides.
One of the critical elements of the EPA's program is how it will impose use restrictions on pesticides to protect species, and how those restrictions will be communicated to farmers, consumers, and other pesticide users. The EPA is proposing that pesticide product labels only direct pesticide users to either a website or to pamphlets at their state agricultural agency offices. Thus, label instructions would not include the actual restrictions on use to protect endangered species.
Your voice is needed to convince the EPA to strengthen its program and ensure proper protection for endangered species. The EPA is taking comments on its proposed endangered species protection program until March 3, 2003.
Please email comments to the EPA at opp-docket@epa.gov and be sure to put Docket ID Number OPP-2002-0311 in the subject line of your email. Feel free to cut and paste the below comments into your email:
- The EPA has a responsibility to ensure endangered species are protected from pesticides. Legally, the EPA cannot let economic benefits outweigh the cost to fish and wildlife;
- Restrictions on pesticide use must be mandatory and appear on the pesticide product label, not in pamphlets or on a website. Labels must include the name of the species to be protected, what restrictions apply, and where they apply.
- The EPA must consider all the ways that pesticides harm endangered species. Currently, the EPA's assessment is based on how much of the pesticide it takes to kill an organism. The EPA must ask the experts at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service how to determine whether a pesticide harms an endangered species or its habitat.
Broeker receives sentencing in kitten drowning case
Donald Broeker of Puyallup, who pled guilty to one count of attempted animal cruelty in the first degree for attempting to drown a kitten in a garbage can full of water in October 2002, was sentenced to 365 days in jail (suspended for two years), a $610 fine, and 240 hours of community service, half of which must be spent helping animals. Before issuing Broeker's sentence, Judge Steiner, who presided over the case, talked about the cruel and inhumane nature of this act, pointed out that cats have feelings as humans do, and said, "this is not what we do in a civilized society." Judge Steiner also informed Broeker that he would personally review Broeker's probation reports and assured him that Broeker "would rather have diptheria than have him reviewing his reports!"
Please thank Judge Steiner for acknowledging the seriousness of this crime, and for his good sentencing. He can be reached at (253) 798-7572 or at 930 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402, Room 534.
