Residents of the South-East of this Sceptered Isle awoke to the smell of something unpleasant emanating from continental Europe.

Happily, we're just out of range, here but it apparently smells as if the Dutch farmers have emptied their slurry lagoons in one unhealthy swoop, at the end of their winter spreading ban, kindly sending South East England a smelly greeting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/19/weather

This article even commiserates with HM the Queen : Even the Queen wasn't safe barracked away in Windsor castle. A spokesman at Windsor's tourist office said: "When I left home this morning the smell was virtually unbearable. I think the Queen is in. I hope she has her windows closed."

Judging from the smell that has been a regular greeting for M4 travellers past Windsor, she's no stranger to pongs of that sort!

The full meteorological explanation is disclosed in the above article and the Met Office bravely reassures us that there is no health hazard.

At least, it serves as a reminder of the fact that we're all in this together and pollution in one part of our planet affects others.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

As midges start to fly, in mornings and evenings, so a great many poor ponies will start to suffer distressing signs and symptoms. Native pony breeds are particularly susceptible. Severe itchiness (pruritus), damage to the coat and skin sores (esp. mane, withers, rump and tail) are common signs. Happily, much can be done for a good proportion of these.

For advice and information:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#sweetitch

Spring is classically the time for headshakers to start suffering their seasonal problems. For information on this distressing condition:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#head_shaking

http://www.alternativevet.org/Headshaking%20WS064-07.pdf

The season for grass-induced laminitis is delayed by the cold weather. The grass is simply not growing much, at present. However, the seasonal grass laminitis risk can only be just around the corner. Prevention must be our main objective.

Native pony breeds are particularly susceptible but any equine can suffer the condition, esp. if grazing ground is fertilised with artificial nitrogen fertilisers. Stressed grass in over-grazed paddocks and fields may also represent a special risk.

Information and advice on prevention, management and treatment:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#laminitis

http://www.alternativevet.org/WS130-07.pdf

http://www.alternativevet.org/Laminitis%20WS059-07.pdf

The recently released 'scientific paper' from Copenhagen University, Denmark, on the potential harm of vitamin supplementation (antioxidants or anti-oxidants) was very badly reported in the media (links listed below). It was made out to demonstrate that taking vitamins was a sure way to an earlier death (premature death). This was a very unscientific and headline-grabbing conclusion to draw from the paper. The main findings of the paper were that overdoses of vitamin A can do damage.

In some cases, vitamin supplementation can indeed be dangerous. It has been known for DECADES that overdosing of Vitamin A can be dangerous, so no big revelation there. Tell us something new.

Vitamins can form part of a holistic medical programme, for humans and animals. My experience, of course, is in the veterinary field.

It has to be sensible to practise moderation in diet and taking ANYTHING to excess is unwise. Vitamin supplementation, as part of a properly designed regime, can be vital to health. However, no better nutrition exists than a good and varied diet, eating fresh wholesome species-suitable food, preferably organic, with plenty of variety and moderation. If the diet has been unbalanced, over a period, supplementation (with NATURAL-source vitamins) is ESSENTIAL.

Manufactured vitamins may not be all they're cracked up to be. The manufacturing process may also involve the inclusion of species-unsuitable material (e.g. gelatin for horses). It is sad that the study apparently made no attempt to distinguish between naturally-sourced vitamins and their manufactured analogues.

If only science were presented in a scientific way and if only it could cover a subject completely, instead of taking parts in isolation. If only eye-catching and potentially seriously misleading headlines were not a feature of the handling of such issues by our media. Simple truth, integrity and objectivity are not common commodities.

The massive vitamin supplement market (about £150 million in the UK) is viewed with envious eyes by the pharmaceutical industry.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2008-04/17/content_6623153.htm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/04/16/scivita116.xml

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

A detailed and objective report of the study can be found at:

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article3614642.ece

It comes up with very low-key conclusions. In most cases, results only just reached statistical significance and it was mainly Vitamin A or similar compounds that were singled out - a far cry from the scary headlines. It's conclusions are:

"People take supplements for a wide range of reasons from believing they may be of benefit to treat a certain condition or just to supplement the diet as part of a healthy lifestyle approach. Although this review does provide some evidence of potential harm from taking certain supplements at the doses tested, there may be benefits of lower doses of supplements in certain selected groups."

The best nutrition advice I can offer is what I have long advocated - feed a good, fresh and varied species-suitable diet and don't buy manufactured vitamins. Be suspicious of glossy and vigorous marketing of any 'health' product. If a diet has been unsatisfactory or if there appear to be health indications for vitamin supplementation, seek holistic veterinary advice on the way forward for supplementation with natural-source vitamins.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24051247/

This is very interesting stuff and well thought through, by a one-time associate of James Lovelock (Gaia Hypothesis). I never fail to be impressed by such towering figures in the intellect stakes. The beauty of it is that such folk are so far ahead of the rest of us that we cannot argue the issue. Nonetheless, he appears to have a way of making his thinking very accessible to lesser minds. His predictions appear to be entirely logical.

He predicts the end of life as a sustainable entity, on a planet heated to intolerable levels by a brightening sun. "Within at most 1 billion years, this will raise Earth's average temperature to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), rendering the planet uninhabitable."

If only. Does anyone see us allowing ourselves, as a species, to survive to see such a thing?

I just wanted to draw attention to a very interesting and fascinating scientific prediction (albeit of very little practical value to us).

Now let's jump to a not-unrelated topic. We Earthlings are very pre-occupied with space exploration, space exploitation etc. as a potential answer to our self-made ills.

http://www.tandra.com/Pages/edispace.html

Shouldn't we be putting a bit more energy and ingenuity into seeking ways of protecting and sustaining what we have? Surely, 'counting our chickens' by relying upon expansion into space, is folly. If it doesn't come in time, we're finished, by our own hands, if we don't reset our sights and aspirations here on Planet Earth. Let's look after what we have now, before expanding elsewhere.

What plans are people hatching for 'civilisation'? Are we soon to be looking at 'space-fill' sites, cluttered with our rubbish heaps (when we have nowhere here to dump the stuff) propelled into space by rockets, punching and tearing holes in the ozone layer as they go? Are we going to have space minerals, mined in far-off galaxies and shipped to earth to fuel our cravings for material things? Or are we thinking of cutting and running to find a new habitable planet to wreck?

I don't think we have much to fear from Professor Watson's intelligent predictions, we'll be seeing ourselves off long before that. Extinction beckons - a terrible indictment on a so-called intelligent species that has the power to influence its own behaviour and the consequences.

Is there intelligent life out in space? That's an excellent question. I certainly hope there is, as it's a pretty rare item down here.

Meanwhile, have fun with the wonderful bbc.co.uk website, that always appears to have something for everyone:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/life/looking/

I know being vegetarian makes me feel odd (to say the least) about barbecues and the cooking of meat. However, this one story seems more gross than all other experiences or tales of barbecues.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080414/tod-uk-uruguay-barbecue-063ac92.html

http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=51547&sectionid=3510212

In Uruguay, 12 metric tonnes of beef have been cooked in a display barbecue, built by the army, stretching for 1.5 kilometres! This is a self-confessed marketing gimmick, awarded a Guinness World Record. About 1,250 people did the cooking and about 20,000 watched.

Yuk! Imagine the smell of burnt meat. I just hope that all that beef has gone to a good cause, rather than being wasted. If my calculations are correct, the spectators and cooks could not have consumed that much themselves.

It must represent of the order of 100 animals, at a rough estimate, slaughtered, butchered and grilled for a "gimmick".

This seems like a slaughter frenzy. Putting this in context, however, we in the UK killed and burned 10 million cattle and sheep in the 1991 Foot and Mouth (FMD) disaster so I think the Uruguayans still have some catching up to do. Our excuse then was 'to protect' the beef export trade. The Uruguayan motivation was to raise publicity for the Uruguayan beef export trade, currently worth over £400 million to them.

Not to mention a reported 6 tonnes of charcoal and all those carbon emissions. Oh well ......

I cannot and do not expect everyone to share my vegetarian sensitivities but I do feel that respect for our environment and respect for life are precious commodities. I hope that, in amongst the general merriment, the animals were remembered and respected.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

What Doctors Don't Tell You - 14th November 2007 carried a very comprehensive item, taking the lid off dishwashing liquids:

"Dishing the Dirt on Dishwashing Liquids"

http://www.wddty.com/07521651368122450487/dishing-the-dirt-on-dishwashing-liquids.html

I'd always thought that buying 'eco' was sufficient to avoid the evils of the petro-chemical products but, guess what, it isn't. Apparently, harmful surfactants can be found even in some respected 'eco' products.

If this article is to be believed, the only product that looks to be OK is:

'Dishmate Washing-Up Liquid". (http://www.ecos.com/ and http://www.greenbrands.co.uk/)

I mention the name, despite being very 'anti' the promotion of products, simply for information for the reader.

Apparently, the 'offender' in other products (even some 'eco' brands) is SLES (Sodium Laureth Sulphate), a potentially dangerous surfactant.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

There's an interesting item on Channel 4 News:

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/experts+unravel+arsenic+mystery/2005747

If they're not careful, they'll go on to invent homeopathy (homoeopathy) next!

This 'paradox' about Arsenic is nothing of the sort - we have known for 200 years (since Hahnemann) that what a substance can cause, it can cure. Arsenic is well-known as a homeopathic medicine with a strong beneficial action on certain cancer patients. In homeopathic preparations, it is rendered safe. When will the 'conventional' and 'scientific' world realise this?

Another warning about litter on beaches and the threat it poses to wildlife.

http://environment.uk.msn.com/photos/gallery.aspx?cp-documentid=8025423

Take your litter home or dispose of it properly, preferably recycling it. Don't throw litter overboard, when on board a boat or ferry at sea. Don't drop litter in or by rivers.

I have a page on this at: http://www.alternativevet.org/litter.htm

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

I have only just learned of the very distressing heart disease problem (fibrosing cardiomyopathy), suffered by captive Lowland Gorillas and reported very well at:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23971635/

I have written to the National Zoo, Washington D.C., to see if there's anything I can offer by way of help. There has to be a simple explanation somewhere (although it may not be simple to find). The more minds on this, the better and the Alternative Medicine approach may shed different light on the topic.

 [Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

This excerpt turned up in an article I was reading, about a serious heart problem in captive Lowland Gorillas.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23971635/

". . . . . . research in the wild has paid off before. Not long ago, for example, it was learned that lowland gorillas, which are primarily herbivores, wade into swampy lake areas and eat vegetation growing underwater.

"There was no way of knowing that sort of thing was happening until somebody went out there to Africa and noticed what the gorillas were doing," says primatologist Joseph Erwin of the Foundation for Comparative and Conservation Biology in Needmore, Pa.

Ellen Dierenfeld, a gorilla nutritionist at the St. Louis Zoo, says that a member of the ginger family, Aframomum melegueta, is a staple food of western lowland gorillas in their native environments.

Some scientists say Aframomum is a powerful antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory "natural drug," which may serve as a preventive medicine for the gorillas. But this and other native African plants are often not part of zoo gorillas' daily diets."

Why do arguments still go on about the ability of animals to self-medicate (zoopharmacognosy)? It is such a fundamental necessity of wildlife that I am surprised it was ever a source of argument.

Previous blog:

http://chris-day.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2008/3

Herbs and Herbal medicine:

http://www.alternativevet.org/herbs.htm

Good old Professor Jim Stevenson. It appears that he has finally persuaded the FSA (Food Standards Agency) to 'toughen up' on the issue of the food additives, identified in his research that was published last September. He is clearly a scientist of principles. The health and welfare of our children (and animals) is a bigger concern than the commercial ambitions of food manufacturers.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/food-additives-could-be-as-damaging-as-lead-in-petrol-804890.html

"Apparently stung by the failure to act, Professor Jim Stevenson, who led the Southampton study, wrote to the FSA demanding immediate action."

"His letter dated 20 March is included in the bundle of documents forwarded to the board, which were published yesterday."

You may remember the original blog on this:

The many colours of our food

by Chris Day on Thu 06 Sep 2007 07:24 BST  

and here are some of the original reports:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/sep/06/lifeandhealth.health

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/06/nfood106.xml

Men of principle seem to be regrettably thin on the ground, these days, especially where academic and scientific careers may be at stake. I take my hat off to Prof. Stevenson for speaking out and for being so single-minded.

The implications of his work are there for animals, too and those responsible for feeding animals should be aware of the risks. All manner of colourings and other additives abound in pet foods, supplements and treats and the dangers should not be underestimated. This applies mostly to horses, dogs and cats. We even had a lovely Border Collie patient who was nearly put down, on account of developing unreliability with children, a behavioural change entirely abolished when colourants were removed from her diet.

http://www.alternativevet.org/nutrition.htm

From Sunday, 6th April, Local Authorities will have sole responsibility for dealing with stray dogs. The Police will now have no direct responsibility, which they hitherto shared with Local Authorities.

I don't know how much impact this will have on dog welfare or on the service provided, which was never sparkling in our region. We have always had to look after any stray dogs ourselves, if they came our way, to ensure their best possible chance of survival, 'repatriation' or re-homing.

Euthanasia has been one way of dealing with strays for Local Authorities and the RSPCA.

The Telegraph, The Times and the BBC have reported this issue in a balanced manner, with a variety of views and anxieties clearly expressed:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/04/04/eadogs104.xml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7329807.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7330173.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7320000/newsid_7329900/7329901.stm

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3671195.ece

The Direct Gov website has a page on the subject of Stray Dogs, Dog Wardens etc., but is yet to be updated with details of the new arrangement, at the time of writing:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/AnimalsAndPets/DG_10026135

Is it a coincidence that the first website to come up on one particular Google search I did was that of the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham?

http://www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk/6-living/public-health/hcs-animal-stray-main.html

Joking apart, this site starkly lays out the obligations and powers of the Local Authority under the 'Environmental Protection (Stray Dogs) Regulations':

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1992/Uksi_19920288_en_1.htm

Legislation affecting dog ownership in the UK:

http://www.alternativevet.org/Laws%20for%20Dogs%20WS034-07.pdf

Other links:

Dogs Trust: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/

Blue Cross: http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/home/home.asp

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

This website came to my notice, yesterday: astorwilliam.tripod.com.

It contains reports of fascinating observations on finches, who appear to be able to self-medicate. Why not?

Zoopharmacognosy is the term coined to cover instinctive self-selection of medically-active substances by animals. I have long believed it to be an accepted phenomenon but came across surprisingly stubborn refusal to accept it in a court of law, about 18 months ago. It appears that the writer of this website has also encountered rooted disbelief.

Why anyone would disbelieve it is beyond me. It seems so much more likley to be the case than the alternative, that medicinal properties of herbs are found out by random coincidence.

One only has to look at the interesting observations of chimpanzees in Africa, whose 'medicinal practices' are followed by tribal peoples:

http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/pae/botany/botany_map/articles/article_04.html

http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/8_1%20Chimpanzee%20Medicine%20Chest.htm

I once had a dog patient who used to pick at Pellitory-of-the-Wall, on regular visits to my clinic, but only on hot days. This is a 'cooling herb'!

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

So there is to be a compromise on the Human-Animal Hybrid issue, when the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill comes to the Commons. Ministers and MPs whose consciences move them to oppose the Bill are to be allowed to melt away from the House, when it's time to vote. Some concession!

It appears that those who have voiced concern are men and women of conscience and this is unlikely to impress them. Pontius Pilate 'washed his hands' and hoped, thereby, to absolve himself of complicity. It didn't work and these men and women of conscience will be acutely aware of that, at this Eastertide.

I take my hat off to the Roman Catholic leaders of this country for speaking out, knowing the storm of protest and criticism that would follow. They have been led by their consciences.

Party Politics and Religion are not matters for my blog and I intend it to stay that way. Why has this issue been made a matter of party politics and the three-line whip? There's surely more to it than meets the eye.

I came across this item, this morning:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/03/09/do0907.xml

It argues that scientists have no wish to create hybrid monsters, in their research. I am sure that the scientists who split the atom (nuclear fission) likewise had no intention of annihilating Nagasaki and Hiroshima or of making nuclear war part of reality.

Pandora's Box* has been mentioned before, in my blogs. Here's another classic example. When scientists play with the substance of life and create part-human or mostly-human creatures, simply to perform experiments on them, they are unleashing forces they do not understand.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article3602832.ece

Sweeping generalisation, I know, but scientists appear to have a poor record when it comes to matters of conscience, decency, ethics and morality. They appear to consider themselves above such things, their 'scientific' motivation absolving them of any need to practice care or restraint. Pursuit of career and kudos are high on their agenda.

My motivation in writing this blog is fear of the forces that will be unleashed and distaste for governmental heavy tactics on issues that are not of political importance, yet are likely to affect us all, like it or not. Government is notoriously ignorant of true science.

*According to Ancient Greek mythology, Pandora opened a jar ('pithos', which has been later referred to as 'Pandora's Box'), releasing all the evils of mankind, leaving only hope inside once she had closed it again.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

I have 'blogged' on this before (http://chris-day.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2007/9) - the subject really fires me up.

Now Cardinal Keith O'Brien has waded in:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article3597851.ece

He will speak strongly against The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill in his sermon on Easter Sunday, in St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.

Good on him, I say. While I believe religion should never be a rallying point for warlike activities, I do think it should be used to flag up matters of conscience. It is a form of 'checks and balances', much needed in today's materialistic world. Anyway, he is entitled to his opinion and to air it publicly. He also has a duty of leadership.

Since when was science granted the right to ignore issues of conscience, respect, decency, morality and ethics? Those who support the Bill on 'scientific' grounds may not have been given the true scientific picture.

His intervention has really angered the government, who would of course like to see the prestige and financial rewards come to the UK.

There is a real danger that this very deep matter will be rushed through parliament in an unseemly fashion. A three-line whip has been used on previous hearings.

To quote page 2 of the above link:

"Normally, three-line whips are used only on key issues, such as when the Government faces a vote of no-confidence or a vital loss of tax revenue if a Bill is overturned. A free vote is traditionally allowed on issues of conscience.

There will also be attempts in the House of Commons – where the Bill will arrive any time after Monday - to use the legislation to liberalise the abortion law. The bill will provide the first opportunity for amendments to the 1967 Abortion Act in 18 years."

Other links on this topic:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7309191.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/06/nembryo106.xml

http://www.nysun.com/

http://www.reuters.com/article/wtMostRead/idUSL2159767320080321

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iVCm1IKRz1TW5WM5XgEjwro6NRZA

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/science/health-minister-backs-controversial-embryo-research-bill-$1214647.htm

http://www.secularism.org.uk/92534.html

http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idarticle=14787

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

As the grass starts to grow, non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) and non-protein nitrogen (NPN) compounds increase, especially in grass fertilised with artificial nitrogen. The risk to ponies and, more rarely, larger horses, is about to increase, particularly if we experience some warm weather.

Advice and help is offered at:

http://www.alternativevet.org/horse_diseases.htm#laminitis

http://www.alternativevet.org/WS130-07.pdf

http://www.alternativevet.org/Laminitis%20WS059-07.pdf

The season is almost upon us, again, when 'hunters' go out onto the ice to 'cull' young harp seals and to do so in a questionable manner. The arguments on both sides rage. Welfare groups lobby that the 'hunt' is cruel and inhumane and certainly the gruesome videos they show appear to support this. They also lobby that it is unsustainable and unjustifiable. The Canadian Government and vested-interest groups claim that it is 'for the most part' humane and certainly sustainable. New rules (which will, of course, be difficult to enforce) attempt to tighten up the welfare issues but the whole business still appears very grisly, when reports are read and videos are viewed. The conditions themselves make true humane killing a pretty remote prospect.

It is claimed that the local communities need the trade to support themselves but others argue that it is not justifiable in terms of what it brings in. It is even claimed that the Canadian Government actually subsidises the activity.

I am unable to go to the ice floes to see for myself (I deeply respect those who do) and I'm not sure I could stand the spectacle, anyway.  However it's dressed up, it looks horrendous and I certainly couldn't describe it as 'hunting'.

Sites with information are listed below. WARNINGS: the fourth item is PETA's video, which is most definitely not for the fainthearted. The fifth link reports eye-witness 'confessions' and makes extremely gruesome reading.

It certainly pays to try to be informed, as a potential trade war between Canada and Europe is looming, involving the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Holland, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy have declared their opposition to the trade. The EU itself may soon legislate against trade in Canadian seal goods. Canada is likley to react. Like it or not, the ramifications of this issue are likely to spread well beyond the Arctic Circle.

Personally, I have to come down against the 'hunt' on the basis of the information I have to hand and knowing how difficult it is to be humane, even under so-say 'perfect' conditions. The conditions out there in perilous waters and on the ice are clearly far from perfect.

However, I do think it's time welfare groups dropped the emotive use of 'white' baby seals ('whitecoats') in their campaigns, to 'sell' their appeals, as the killing of such young babies is now illegal (and was banned in 1987).

Nonetheless, baby seals are still considered 'fair game' at the tender age of two weeks, after the white coat is shed. Coat colour is a distraction from the main issue. We should not be influenced by how cute a seal looks but by the facts, as well as we can determine them.

Mankind is not always remarkable for the respect he shows to animals. Respect, decency and humanity should be by-words of civilised society.

If you wish to add your voice to protests, there is an on-line petition to sign in the third link below.

1. http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/sealhunt/

2. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/canada/story.html?id=364221

3. http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/seal_08_dev?rk=m1djqL9qjUSkE (on-line petition)

4. http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/video.asp?video=seal07

5. http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=84960

6. http://www.hsus.org/protect_seals.html

7. http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=21446

8. http://www.ifaw.org/ifaw/general/default.aspx?oid=82078

9. http://www.stopthesealhunt.ca/site/c.jhKSIZPzEmE/b.2607991/k.B25F/Stop_the_Seal_Hunt__300000_Actions_for_300000_Seals.htm

10. http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/seal-phoque/myth_e.htm

11. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4392217.stm

12. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/03/0324_060324_seal_hunt.html?fs=www3.nationalgeographic.com&fs=plasma.nationalgeographic.com

Methods of killing include rifles and the 'hakapik'.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

How hard it is for the man-in-the-street to get his mind around the biofuels issue. Sadly, it's not helped by people like the U.S. President backing biofuels (with lashings of GM, high-energy processing, agrochemicals etc.) without giving the whole picture.

Richard Branson's achievement today (flying a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 to Amsterdam from London on biofuels fed to one engine) has shown that the oils will perform at 30,000 feet, which was not known before (or at least a 20% mixture will).

"Virgin said the fuel to be used for Sunday's flight -- a 20 percent biofuel mix of coconut and babassu oil in one of the plane's four main fuel tanks -- was of a type that wouldn't compete with food and fresh water resources amid mounting concerns among green campaigners about the environmental impact of biofuels."

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS/02/24/flight.biofuels/

In the first place, it is only 20% non-fossil fuel. In the second place, it is unfortunate that Branson's biofuel oil came from the tropical rainforest, thus heralding massive deforestation if we don't look for other sources. There is then the threat of food acreage being used, leading to starvation in some areas of the world. The requirement of the aviation industry is massive beyond belief.

It is high time we were all given the truth and a full explanation by all concerned, in order to help us to see all the issues. Joined-up thinking is required if we are to break out of the mess into which we've dug ourselves.

Clearly, however, cutting down transport is a very good way to make a start. Sadly, rather than this, we are increasing at a massive and exponential rate.

Until we are given all the facts, things are not clear but, in my current state of understanding, I don't think Mr Branson's airshow is the breakthrough we require. We have to stop salving our consciences with 'easy' solutions, be truthful with ourselves over the issues and start to cut our suit according to our cloth.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

For those who buy into the whole manufactured food thing, it may be nice to know that recent Hill's(TM) publicity announces: "New Improved Hill's(TM) Prescription(TM) Canine r/d(TM) and w/d(TM)". This may seem like good news for dogs.

However, for those more worldly-wise and who like to read further into such announcements, to see what they really mean, this will confirm that the whole concept of 'complete diets' or 'perfectly balanced diets' is seriously flawed.

This is a common publicity stunt in this field, used by other petfood manufacturers, too. The word 'improved' says it all. These diets were supposed to be perfect before. How can you improve what's already touted as scientifically-formulated and providing all you need for your dog? If you can improve it, it wasn't ideal before (yet it was supposed to be your dog's only food). If you can improve it now, how many more improvements will be deemed necessary and be used as an advertising ploy in the future, when really they should show up the whole thing for what it is?

These two diets have even been "changed to a lighter brown colour"! That's nice.

The pet food trade is big business. Marketing follows rules of its own.

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An item in today's news has highlighted an important long-term issue with a pressing immediate matter.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3412666.ece

Also visit:

http://www.buglife.org.uk/News/newsarchive/thurrockmarshes.htm

We may find it more comfortable to consider the issue of a few rare bugs or insects to be relatively unimportant but it really isn't. Biodiversity reflects ecological and environmental health and each loss of biodiversity is a step nearer the brink.

Just as in tennis, in which game it is no good simply fighting the last point (you have to fight EVERY point to win), so it is with biodiversity. Each rung of the biodiversity ladder that disappears takes us a step nearer defeat. Leave it to the last point and it is too late to retrieve the match.

Taken from the above site:

For further information call Jamie Roberts on 01733 201 210 or
07747 715 820.

Buglife-The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is the first organisation in Europe devoted to the conservation of all invertebrates, and is actively engaged in saving Britain's rarest bugs, butterflies, snails, bees, wasps, ants, spiders, beetles and many more fascinating creatures. Set up in 2000, the charity now has eight members of staff working of diverse projects including a national bumblebee survey and riverfly conservation www.buglife.org.uk

Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation:

http://www.thurrock.gov.uk/a2z/content.php?page=service&ID=349

Of course, jobs and infrastructure are important to society but, at some point, they become irrelevant, as society will have no place to live. I wish Buglife well in its High Court fight to save West Thurrock Marshes on behalf of all of us.

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I have to apologise to the SSPCA. I had wrongly identifed them as the 'Scottish RSPCA' - they are in fact the 'Scottish SPCA' (SSPCA). Apparently, they lose valuable donations owing to this type of error.

- SSPCA -

see: http://www.alternativevet.org/rspca.htm

POSTSCRIPT

I received on 18th February a charming e-mail, in response to my corrections on the website and the publication of this blog article:

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

I used to be quite a fan of yours. Your practical, down-to-earth approach to food has been a beacon to many. Your books and your name are a huge success (deservedly).

However, I cannot support your latest outburst (assuming you have been correctly reported):

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=514633&in_page_id=1770

We cannot exploit animals, for personal gratification. This has nothing to do with feeding the poor or pensioners. Please don't go for the sympathy vote. Some of the healthiest and happiest people on the planet are vegetarian, for goodness sake!

If you were after the limelight, you've succeeded.

If you were after the support of logical folk, you've blown it.

Chickens cannot continue to be kept in awful factory-farming conditions and never should have been. It is a stain on society. I hope your apron is stain-proof.

Organic food is only more expensive because it doesn't reap the subsidies that other food enjoys. The real price of much of our 'chemical food' is hidden in water-purifying costs, for starters. These are passed on to the consumer in another guise than food price.

In the chef wars, you've just scored 'nul point'!

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

References:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/16/easuper116.xml

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7247384.stm

Report entitled: Green, Healthy and Fair

Professor Tim Lang, Commissioner at the SDC, said:

"Government cannot resolve the problems of obesity, waste or climate change alone. Given the enormous influence wielded by supermarkets, working with them effectively is essential.

"There are many areas where the government and retailers are already working together, but government needs to be more ambitious. With public scrutiny of retailers' behaviour increasing, many supermarkets are keen to work with government to develop a green, healthy and fair food system.

"In fact, our research with supermarkets has shown that in areas such as climate change or recycling policy, they are often frustrated by the lack of clarity or long-term strategy on which they can plan for the future."

Ah those lovely supermarkets! Poor misunderstood chaps that they are.

Why is it that government has to do the work? Why cannot morals, ethics, common sense, public conscience and other such standards guide the behaviour of the commercial giants? Why cannot families take some responsibility?

Dream on!

Role Players:

Sustainable Development Commission (SDC): www.sd-commission.org.uk

British Retail Consortium: http://www.brc.org.uk

Competition Commission: http://www.competition-commission.org.uk

Food Climate Research Network: http://www.fcrn.org.uk

Office of Fair Trading: http://www.oft.gov.uk

Issues:

Environment

Carbon Footprint

Greenhouse Emissions (Greenhouse Gases)

Transport

Packaging

Obesity

Health

Advertising

Waste

Climate Change

Global Warming

Supermarkets

Agricultural Methods (Farming)

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Reference:

http://news.uk.msn.com/Article.aspx?cp-documentid=7553251

The march of GM and the commercial hold that biotechnology has on officialdom are legitimate concerns.

There are serious questions raised by such possible moves:

Many do not want GM, on their back doorstep or elsewhere. What happened to liberty?

Does the Freedom of Information Act not cover this? DEFRA is, after all, a government body.

There is no way to pull back, if GM field research causes a disaster. Once the damage is done, it's done.

Of course, 'legitimate research' should enjoy the freedom of a democratic state but is this 'legitimate research', in view of the uncertainty and the potential (and unknown) dangers?

It may prejudice a neighbouring farm's 'Organic' status, with loss of livelihood.

European law demands disclosure of sites.

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http://the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm (RSPCA v Annette Nally)

There are many aspects of this legal case that are of importance to a fair-minded society.

Inter alia, this report states that the RSPCA failed to disclose material that was helpful to the defence, asserting that it was a private body, inexperienced in prosecutions. Mmmmmm.

Here is a selection of pages from the SHG website.

http://the-shg.org/download%20index.htm

http://the-shg.org/Statutes.htm

http://the-shg.org/Many%20people%20have%20thought.htm

http://the-shg.org/SHGPressReleases.htm

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have suffered as tornadoes ripped through five U.S. States (Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Arkansas).

At least 55 people have been killed and hundreds more have been injured in what was the deadliest barrage of tornadoes for almost 23 years. The terror, suffering and destruction can only be imagined.

Nature is our origin and our succour. Nature's forces can also be terrible in their power, ferocity and inexorability.

Qui me alit, me extinguit (Shakespeare sums up the paradox: Pericles - Prince of Tyre).

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

News has broken today of ten human embryos having been ‘created’ by researchers at Newcastle, containing material from three 'parents'.

The claim for this ‘breakthrough is that medicine will be able to ‘engineer’ mitochondrial defects out of human offspring and generations, in the future.

Many ‘inherited’ metabolic and other diseases are the result of faulty mitochondrial DNA, which is only inherited via the mother. Examples include some inherited forms of diabetes, deafness, blindness and epilepsy. The stakes are high.

Mitochondrial DNA is in the cell but not in its nucleus. It resides in organelles within the cytoplasm, called mitochondria. Therefore, workers have transferred the nucleus from a fertilised embryo within a ‘faulty’ human egg (i.e. formed from the gametes of the two natural parents) into an enucleated ‘healthy’ human egg (ovum) from a female third party.

Moral and ethical arguments are, of course, already being voiced both 'for' and 'against'.

We shall see but it would seem to me, thinking logically, that one possibility with this work is that we could thereby be ‘creating’ embryos that are analogous to running software in a computer with a mismatched operating system. It may run OK for a while, until it hits an incompatibility snag.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/02/05/sciparent205.xml

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/05/sciparent105.xml

As a corollary to this item, our observation that it takes three generations for vaccine-related faults to be eliminated from a colony could be down to this mitochondrial DNA being altered by vaccination and taking time (generations) to work its way out or to be ‘repaired’ out of the system.

 [Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

Is that Britney Spears person really strangling a chicken on her new hit single "Piece of Me"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89oS4SN4mNg

Maybe someone should tell Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall!

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

There has been an outcry in the press about the delays in dealing with the animal welfare situation in Hyde Heath near Amersham (horses, ponies and donkeys).

The Buckinghamshire/Beaconsfield Advertiser and Buckinghamshire/Amersham Examiner have published, on their 'Newsdesk' page, an item by Sarika Sharma (17th January 2008):

Tim Was, a regional superintendent at the RSPCA, said: "We did not have the power to remove animals earlier"

But ......

Is the RSPCA only concerned with 'powers' and with 'removal of animals'. Is there a danger of preoccupation with prosecution?

Could nothing have been done in situ? If all the media coverage is to be believed (and I'm sure that arguments will be put up to the contrary and there will almost certainly be a court case to establish the rights and wrongs), a great deal of suffering could have been avoided by more timely intervention and help for the animals. Anyway, we are told that tests confirm that the dead horses died of emaciation (i.e. starvation). Such a death is not a rapid process. Should animal welfare not be the proper emphasis and the ultimate aim?

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

At a time when homeopathy is being edged out of the medical establishment in the NHS, owing to lack of 'scientific proof', it is amazing to find the establishment lauding a different anecdotal discovery. The Independent today carries this item:

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Wednesday, 30 January 2008

This is exciting stuff indeed but it shows:

a) yet another 'accidental' medical breakthrough - I constantly maintain that all important medical discoveries have been accidental and serendipitous (www.alternativevet.org/animal_experiemnts.htm) - we should be doing away with the scandalous waste of animal experimentation that is costing us a fortune, achieving nothing but animal suffering and is, in fact, holding back medical advance.

b) that the medical establishment can accept anecdote, when it is convenient to do so - here they responded to a single anecdote - what is wrong with looking at the massive weight of anecdotal evidence supporting the enormous value of homeopathy?

Homeopathy is fast disappearing from the NHS map, as a result of a co-ordinated and energetic campaign. If you don't defend it, you'll lose it! Your freedom of choice is being eroded. Write to your MP.

By James.LeFanu, Sunday Telegraph 27.07.07

'Homeopathy is to medicine what astrology is to astronomy," observes Emeritus professor of surgery Michael Baum. "It is witchcraft, totally barmy, totally refuted."

Professor Baum is particularly incensed at its availability on the NHS, and together with several other distinguished professors is campaigning, with considerable success, to close down the Royal Homeopathic Hospital by encouraging primary care trusts to "review" their arrangements for funding treatments "unsupported by evidence".

So far eight trusts in London have stopped or severely restricted referrals to the Royal Homeopathic and no doubt this number will rise after a further open letter, last week, from Professor Baum to senior health service administrators. - - - - - -

- - - - - There is in all this a strong feel of biblical "motes and beams". Professor Baum might be more usefully occupied campaigning to curtail the massive over-prescription, "unsupported by evidence", of unnecessary medicines whose devastating consequences on people's lives have recently featured in this column.

AND:

A study found only 37 per cent of 132 primary care trusts still had contracts for homeopathic services. More than a quarter had stopped or reduced funding for the therapies over the past two years. Telegraph 30.01.08

Only 18% of modern medical intervention is evidence based! What is their problem with homeopathy? They bleat about funding when homeopathy is more cost-effective. One cannot help feeling that there's vested interest rather than science and dogma rather than patient welfare behind this campaign.

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

Sign seen in flooded Upton on Severn, on 23rd January:

What a load of old killjoys these councillors must be!

Other pics of flooded Upton:

Rugby would be interesting, too!

Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?

The horse, pony and donkey welfare disaster in Hyde Heath, Buckinghamshire, during last week, seems to have been a tragedy of massive proportions. That animals could suffer in this way and be exploited, as is alleged, is a terrible indictment of our human disrespect for animals. One assumes the full truth will emerge during legal proceedings. Meanwhile, we can only look on from the outside.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=507061&in_page_id=1770

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7179105.stm

While we all struggle to come to terms with the apparent enormity of it and while the horses, ponies and donkeys that have survived are brought back to health and are hopefully given some reason to respect humankind, there are some questions that should be asked.

Without in any way wishing to take away highly-deserved credit from those heroes and heroines in the field, who are now fighting for these unfortunate animals and who have laboured hard for hours and days to bring the situation under control, we have to ask how the central RSPCA machine is so willing to whip up this media circus and claim credit for a job well done, without also airing the other side of the story.

Why is it that good folk in the tiny village of Hyde Heath had to report suspected problems over several years, before the RSPCA finally acted? Local frustration and anger is running high and clients of the AVMC have given us unsolicited clear accounts of inactivity by the RSPCA, in response to numerous local pleas for help, over the years. This is confirmed in media reports. Accounts of dead horses left lying in fields and horses in very poor condition are recurring themes.

Why is it that the RSPCA can bask in glory, revel in the news coverage and attract a massive, emotionally-driven funding boost, without admitting or explaining their inactivity on many previous occasions? This ‘economy with the truth’ sits very uncomfortably with the image that the RSPCA would like to project. If reports are to be believed, how much obscene suffering could have been prevented, had the Society acted on the first report? One cannot help but feel that the 31 dead animals found there and the rescued animals may have represented but the tip of a ghastly iceberg.

The RSPCA is an extraordinarily wealthy charity, with powers that sometimes exceed those of the police. It has the right to take a statement under oath. It has the right to read people their rights and the right to prosecute. Its staff can be given police-type ranks and wear police-type uniforms. It has new powers vested in it, in the wake of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/welfare/act/index.htm).

Despite all these powers and privileges, it may come as a surprise to learn that there appear to be no controls in place, to oversee the activities of this massive and powerful organisation. It appears that no one puts vital checks and balances in place, to ensure constitutional propriety in the Society’s activities. It appears that the Freedom of Information Act does not apply to the Society’s transactions, as the RSPCA is not listed in Schedule 1 of that Act (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts2000/ukpga_20000036_en_10).

It is not apparent that anyone has the power to ensure proportionality in the way the Society operates. Furthermore, there appears to be no one to ensure that the Society properly takes up animal welfare challenges that are brought to its notice (as in this latest seemingly terrible case).

While rejoicing in the fact that this alleged animal atrocity has been brought to an end, let us resolve to ask what is being done to bring this Society under more normal and constitutionally-sound controls.