Kudos to co-authors Assemblymembers Paul Fong (D-Cupertino, himself of Chinese descent), and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), for putting ocean protection and animal welfare ahead of a brutal and unsustainable cultural practice.
As noted, AB 376 will be heard before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, August 25, and support letters & calls are needed NOW.
Senator Christine Kehoe, chair (D-San Diego), 916/651-4039 Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills), 651-4033 Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), 651-4013 Senator Bill Emmerson (R-Riverside), 651-4037 Senator Ted Lieu (D-Redondo Beach), 651-4028 Senator Fran Pavley (D-Sta Monica), 651-4023 Senator Curren Price (D-L.A.), 651-4026 Senator Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster), 651-4017 Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), 651-4006
Note that Senator Lieu (above) is attempting to amend the bill so as likely to cause its demise. URGE THAT AB 376 BE VOTED UP OR DOWN AS IS, WITH NO FURTHER AMENDMENTS.
Kudos to Assemblymember Fong for putting environmental protection and animal welfare ahead of his own "tradition" and "culture." Would that all of his colleagues in Sacramento were as progressive.
It's very gratifying to see the outpouring of support for the sharks. I only wish there were equal concern for the frogs and turtles in the Chinatown live food markets. California annually imports TWO MILLION American bullfrogs (commercially-raised in Taiwan), and an estimated 300,000-400,000 freshwater turtles (all taken from the wild, depleting local populations). None of these animals are native to California, all are diseased and parasitized (though it's illegal to sell such products for human consumption), and they cause major problems for our native wildlife when released into the wild (a common, though illegal practice. The exotics prey upon and displace the native wildlife.) A recent study documented that, of the market frogs necropsied, 62% tested positive for the chytrid fungus, which has caused the extinction of nearly 200 amphibian species worldwide in recent years. So where's the Health Dept., pray? Not to mention the Dept. of Fish and Game.
Ironically, Assemblyman Fong and Senator Leland Yee, along with four other Asian-American legislators (Assemblymembers Fiona Ma, Ted Lieu, Warren Furutani and Mike Eng) sent a May 4 letter to the State Fish & Game Commission last year, demanding that the 5:0 vote to ban the importation of frogs and turtles for the markets be overturned. Unforgivably, the Commission caved, when their mandate is to protect the state's natural resources. The Commission received nearly 4,000 letters in support of the ban, including letters from United Anglers of California, CalTrout, the Sierra Club, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, etc. Former Resources Secretary Huey Johnson wrote twice, all to no avail. Politics, anyone? Does it take a ballot initiative? A lawsuit? What, pray?
ALL LEGISLATORS MAY BE WRITTEN C/O THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814.
Sincerely, Eric Mills, coordinator ACTION FOR ANIMALS Oakland email - afa@mcn.org
62° Overcast
Calif. Shark Finning Bill Creates Cultural Divide
Kudos to co-authors Assemblymembers Paul Fong (D-Cupertino, himself of Chinese descent), and Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), for putting ocean protection and animal welfare ahead of a brutal and unsustainable cultural practice.
As noted, AB 376 will be heard before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, August 25, and support letters & calls are needed NOW.
Senator Christine Kehoe, chair (D-San Diego), 916/651-4039
Senator Mimi Walters (R-Laguna Hills), 651-4033
Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose), 651-4013
Senator Bill Emmerson (R-Riverside), 651-4037
Senator Ted Lieu (D-Redondo Beach), 651-4028
Senator Fran Pavley (D-Sta Monica), 651-4023
Senator Curren Price (D-L.A.), 651-4026
Senator Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster), 651-4017
Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), 651-4006
Note that Senator Lieu (above) is attempting to amend the bill so as likely to cause its demise. URGE THAT AB 376 BE VOTED UP OR DOWN AS IS, WITH NO FURTHER AMENDMENTS.
Email pattern for all Senators: senator.kehoe@senate.ca.gov
Assemblymembers Fong and Huffman may be written at:
assemblymember.fong@assembly.ca.gov
assemblymember.huffman@assembly.ca.gov
Save the sharks. And maybe save the oceans and ourselves in the process.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
afa@mcn.org
August 22, 2011 at 5:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Legislation To Ban Sale, Possession of Shark Fins In California
Kudos to Assemblymember Fong for putting environmental protection and animal welfare ahead of his own "tradition" and "culture." Would that all of his colleagues in Sacramento were as progressive.
It's very gratifying to see the outpouring of support for the sharks. I only wish there were equal concern for the frogs and turtles in the Chinatown live food markets. California annually imports TWO MILLION American bullfrogs (commercially-raised in Taiwan), and an estimated 300,000-400,000 freshwater turtles (all taken from the wild, depleting local populations). None of these animals are native to California, all are diseased and parasitized (though it's illegal to sell such products for human consumption), and they cause major problems for our native wildlife when released into the wild (a common, though illegal practice. The exotics prey upon and displace the native wildlife.) A recent study documented that, of the market frogs necropsied, 62% tested positive for the chytrid fungus, which has caused the extinction of nearly 200 amphibian species worldwide in recent years. So where's the Health Dept., pray? Not to mention the Dept. of Fish and Game.
Ironically, Assemblyman Fong and Senator Leland Yee, along with four other Asian-American legislators (Assemblymembers Fiona Ma, Ted Lieu, Warren Furutani and Mike Eng) sent a May 4 letter to the State Fish & Game Commission last year, demanding that the 5:0 vote to ban the importation of frogs and turtles for the markets be overturned. Unforgivably, the Commission caved, when their mandate is to protect the state's natural resources. The Commission received nearly 4,000 letters in support of the ban, including letters from United Anglers of California, CalTrout, the Sierra Club, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Association, etc. Former Resources Secretary Huey Johnson wrote twice, all to no avail. Politics, anyone? Does it take a ballot initiative? A lawsuit? What, pray?
ALL LEGISLATORS MAY BE WRITTEN C/O THE STATE CAPITOL, SACRAMENTO, CA 95814.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
email - afa@mcn.org
February 22, 2011 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )