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?]