"Rep. Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, is teaming up with Animal Defenders International (ADI) and other activists to ban “exotic animals” from traveling shows, citing what critics say is the inhumane treatment they suffer during life on the road."


Just in from PAWS:
Details are under wraps until the press conference tomorrow,
and will then be addressed by Bob Barker, Jorja Fox, Congressman Moran,
Ed Stewart of PAWS and Jan Creamer of ADI.
We guarantee this will be an event that anyone who cares about animals,
especially those suffering in circuses, will not want to miss.
You will be able to watch the entire event live online.
Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. EST.

http://www.stickam.com/animaldefenders

Ground-breaking law on animal circuses to be unveiled tomorrow, November 2, 2011!

Renowned celebrity animal protectionist, Bob Barker (philanthropist and TV host of "The Price Is Right"), Jorja Fox (CSI actress), and Congressman Jim Moran, with Animal Defenders International and the Performing Animal Welfare Society, are at Congress for the launch of a ground-breaking initiative that could spell the end to the use of wild animals in circuses.

Details are under wraps until the press conference tomorrow, and will then be addressed by Bob Barker, Jorja Fox, Congressman Moran, Ed Stewart of PAWS and Jan Creamer of ADI.

We guarantee this will be an event that anyone who cares about animals, especially those suffering in circuses, will not want to miss.

You will be able to watch the entire event live online.

Coverage will begin at 10 a.m. EST.

http://www.stickam.com/animaldefenders

PAWS and ADI will be issuing updates beginning tomorrow.
Forward email

PAWS | P.O. Box 849 | Galt | CA | 95632

Hmmm, when I click on the first link it says:

"That story has been removed from the site
Every so often we are forced to remove stories from our site. We’re sorry but you just happened to request one of them."



Thanks for the second link, I'll be able to watch that from work - should be interesting...

Ground-breaking law on animal circuses to be unveiled tomorrow, November 2, 2011!

Watch LIVE online here Nov 2nd, 10:30am EST/7:30am PST:
http://www.stickam.com/animaldefenders OR
http://www.ad-international.org/animals_in...?id=2259&ssi=10

http://animaldefendersinternational.cmail4...2432AF2E34A2A5F

Note to Ellie, crm, Mainegal and t&tt:

Thank you all for posting.

When I logged on this morning, I found your posts on 3 different topics. Therefore I have merged them all into this one topic on the Circus Forum.
Rest assured that, in merging the posts, no information has gone astray.

Since this news is a very important development, I have pinned the topic.

Yes, this is a important event, and I'll be watching.

PAWS just released this statement:

The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA) is a historic first for the U.S., and this Bill, which has attracted bipartisan support and been sponsored by Congressman Jim Moran (D-Va), aims to restrict the use of exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses, effectively bringing to an end the random cruelty and neglect associated with circuses of this nature. It is the first bill to comprehensively tackle the use of all wild animals in U.S. circuses ever to be launched in the United States.

[Link added by Space4Eles]
http://pawsweb.org/documents/FORIMMEDIATERELEASE1_000.pdf

Bob Barker and Rep. Moran launch bill to protect circus animals from abuse

"Moran, an animal lover himself helped to pass the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act requiring communities to develop plans to care for pets during emergencies. He voted for the Restore Our American Mustangs Act, and co-sponsored the Animal Fighting Prohibition Act, making it a felony to transport animals across state lines for fighting, co-sponsored the Great Cats and Rare Candids Act and is a sponsor of the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act....The Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act(TEAPA) will not affect zoos, aquariums, or rodeos."

http://www.examiner.com/pet-rescue-in-nati...mals-from-abuse

2 picture slideshow from article

Press release from Feld:

Moran Sponsors Discrimination Bill Against Circus to Censor American Institution

Tom Albert, Vice President of Government Relations for Feld Entertainment, Ringling Bros. parent company. "Indeed, this bill will do nothing to improve the care of any animal and represents an attempt to outlaw protected artistic expression of a centuries-old art form."

http://uspolitics.einnews.com/pr_news/6482...can-institution


So Feld Ent. is saying that animal abuse is OK since it keeps 750 full-time employees in jobs?

Re: above article:

Note their propaganda site at the end of the article:
http://www.ringlingbrostrialinfo.com/

Please see comments:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...ndpost&p=428842

VIDEO/Slides of TEAPA Press Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95knrqcWBl0

PAWS Call to Action
http://www.pawsweb.org/animals_in_traveling_shows.html

Find Your Lawmakers
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...indpost&p=80909

Thanks for posting, t&tt.
We were unable to view the press conference on the live feed, so your link is most useful.

Acknowledging a member of TEC Facebook for drawing attention to this short article.

Bob Barker Speaking Out Against the Circus

"This legislation is intended to target the most egregious situations involving exotic and wild animals in traveling circuses,” said Rep. Jim Moran at a press conference Wednesdsay. “Keeping elephants in chains, confining lions and tigers in small cages, forcing them to perform unnatural tricks for the sole purpose of human amusement is increasingly difficult to justify the more we learn about these intelligent, social creatures.”

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/politics...-133075133.html

Bob Barker Fighting For New Bill To Stop 'Heartbreaking' Treatment Of Circus Animals

"There is no way you can provide the physical, psychological, social well-being of any wild animal in a traveling situation. You cannot do it," Richardson said at the press conference.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/02/b...kusaolp00000009

The TEAPA bill - HR 3359(scroll down):

http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2011/11...nimal-moran-act

OR full screen here:
http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/263...tml#document/p1

Nice summary...

Dropping the Curtain on Traveling Circuses
"The recent collapse of a circus elephant, Sarah, and pressure brought by animal welfare organizations has forced the spotlight to shine on the non-public side of circus organizations. The bill is opposed by Feld Entertainment, the parent company of Ringling Brothers Circus, who maintains that the bill is focusing on a false premise that caring for and transporting circus animals is contradictory to sound animal husbandry."

http://technorati.com/lifestyle/article/dr...eling-circuses/

Thanks for posting all these valuable links, t&tt - and not just on this topic.
Your diligence and sharing are greatly appreciated.

This must be a first for Ringling, they have a sign up list so you can reject the TEAPA bill
http://www.ringling.com/Legislative/
They should be worried, in fact they should start hiring more human performers because their animal performers days are numbered.

Please copy and paste below and email to all your acquaintances. THIS NEEDS TO GO VIRAL! Letter source is PAWS.
----------------------------------------------------

Please take two minutes to send the letter below to your congressperson. And then forward to your friends. This needs to go viral to help the animals! Best to mail but email at the very least. Thank you!!!

Re: New (Nov 2nd) TEAPA, HR 3359 bill in congress to help elephants and circus animals. News article: http://tiny.cc/teapa1.

Find your zip code+4 - http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/
Find Your Representative (upper right corner) - http://www.house.gov/ & contact them via their webform/email.

Please copy, paste, add your rep's name, & sign:

Dear Representative ____,

I am writing as a constituent concerned about the welfare of wild animals forced to perform in traveling circuses in the United States. I am writing in favor of the Traveling Exotic Animal Protection Act (TEAPA).

Americans are becoming increasingly aware that circus animals suffer from severe confinement - unavoidable because of the constraints of a difficult life of constant travel on the road. Tigers, bears, elephants and other wild animals spend hours on end either chained, in small cages, or crowded onto trailers and train cars.

A circus animal's life of ongoing deprivation is punctuated by moments of physical violence. Investigations have documented a pattern of abusive training methods where pain, punishment and fear are employed to force these wild animals to do unnatural and demeaning tricks. The tools of the trade include bullhooks, whips, and electric prods which are used to hit, "hook", and shock animals.

Countries around the world, and cities across the country, have recognized the importance of banning non-domesticated animals in traveling circuses. I am respectfully calling on you to take a stand, with your compassionate constituents, against this abuse and work toward protecting circus animals in the United States.

Sincerely,

Along with my letter to my Representative, I am sending him a copy of the County's Animal Code. Check your local County's Animal Code, you might find like I did that they address wild animals, how they can be handled and treated. With all the evidences that has been submitted with the TEAPA bill and the wording in our County Animal Code my Representative has evidence enough to pass bill H.R.3359

"No person may sponsor, promote or train a wild animal to participate in, contribute to the involvement of a wild animal in, or attend as a spectator any activity or event in which any wild animal engages in unnatural behavior or is wrestled, fought, mentally or physically harassed, or displayed in such a way that the animal is abused or stressed mentally or physically. This prohibition applies to events and activities taking place in either public or private facilities or property, and applies regardless of the purpose of the event or activities, irrespective of whether or not a fee is charged to spectators and regardless of whether or not a permit to own, possess or have custody of a wild animal has been issued as provided in this chapter. "

Ellie, excellent point! I just found the cities/counties list that covers wild animals in local animal codes. ADI updated the list a/o Nov 2, 2011. Good to check and see if one's community is on this list.

See Animal-circus bans worldwide, Lists & updates - http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...ndpost&p=446197

Good website to spread the word.

http://teapa3359.webs.com/

From Marc Bekoff ...

Circuses: Wild Animals Do Not Belong in the Cruelest Show on Earth

Circuses do nothing for the animals themselves or for other members of their species despite claims to the contrary. Circuses make no contributions to conservation. They serve no purpose other than "entertainment" if you dare to call watching abused and terrorized animals performing stupid and unnatural tricks "entertainment". Elephants, for example, are highly social, intelligent, and emotional animals and don't get dressed up and perform ridiculous tricks in the wild. They suffer from all sorts of psychological conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and most likely not only suffer their own pains but those of others whose spirit and heart are also broken by the horrific abuse to which they're interminably subjected.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal...lest-show-earth

Co-Sponsors (There is one from FL)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d1...eData.php|

Updated link for HR 3359 / TEAPA activity in congress:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h3359:

Action idea...

I called my congressman's office and told them I was monitoring this bill's (HR 3359) support in congress on Thomas/LOC (they will know what that is…see link above) and have noted 9 cosponsors since its introduction on Nov. 3rd. I told them I wanted my Representative to support and cosponsor this bill as well. I mentioned Dr. Frank Ascione's federal grant of $1.5 mil to further his research on the connection between animal abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse (see this post) and that supporting this bill supports the positive direction away from abuse our society needs to be on.

Find your zip code+4 - http://zip4.usps.com/zip4/
Find Your Representative (upper right corner) - http://www.house.gov/

It’s okay to communicate more than once with your Rep. You can mail a letter, send an email, and telephone them as well. You can send an additional letter if there are additional points you forgot to make in your first correspondence.

"So far this year the company has spent $200,000 on their lobbying in Washington through their in-house government affairs office and outside firms.

Payne declined to talk about the lobbying efforts Feld would mount in response to the bill, but he did say that the company takes the bill “very, very seriously.”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/...l#ixzz1dEyqJF95

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67972.html

Another story...

Greatest Show on Earth? Not for the Stars of the Show. New Law to Protect the Well-Being of Circus Animals

This law comes at a time when the American public is finally beginning to realize that Circuses are not the happy, wholesome family show they appear to be. In a recent poll conducted in the UK, results showed that 72% of people believed that animals should be banned from performing in shows. Governments in other countries across the world such as Austria, Costa Rica, Israel, and China have all already instituted such bans....Experts believe that the bill will likely pass and will hopefully become a stepping stone to future legislation that will help to end all forms of animal cruelty exhibits and shows that masquerade as educational and lighthearted entertainment.

http://greenanswers.com/news/265671/greate...-circus-animals

Wow. The Florida Co-sponsor Bill Young is very powerful. That is serious horsepower. He is my Rep. Wrote thanking him, and asking what I can do to help.

For those who would like to thank Bill Young. this is his email address:
Bill.Young@mail.house.gov,

Good comments from article posted at:
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...p?showtopic=916


1. Write AND call your own representative. You can find your representative at www.house.gov and contact him/her through the site. If you call your representative after hours, just leave him/her a voice mail supporting HR 3359.



2. HR 3359 currently sits in the House Committee on Agriculture. Please contact the committee urging them to quickly pass HR 3359 out of committee.

House Committee on Agriculture

1301 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, DC 20515

Fax: 202-225-0917

Email: AgRepublicanPress@mail.house.gov



3. Contact the Chair of the House Committee on Agriculture directly.

Representative Frank Lucas
U.S. House of Representatives
2311 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-5565
Fax: 202-225-8698

If you wish to contact Representative Lucas by e-mail, the e-mail address for his Chief of Staff is Stacey.Glasscock@mail.house.gov.


4. Contact the House Leadership. Ask them for quick passage of the bill.

Representative Eric Cantor
Majority Leader
U.S. House of Representatives
303 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2815
Fax: 202-225-0011
http://www.majorityleader.gov/contact/contact.html

Representative Nancy Pelosi
Minority Leader
Office of the Democratic Leader
H-204, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-0100 or 202-225-4965
Fax: 202-225-4188
http://www.democraticleader.gov/contact or AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov

Colin C. Peterson is the House minority representative for the Agriculture Department.
agriculturedemocrats@mail.house.gov

Online TEAPA petition.
http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...ndpost&p=494175

Forward to friends and family. Spread the word.

"Mr. Stenholm serves as senior policy adviser for the lobbying firm that is working to stop the U.S. Department of Agriculture from conducting mandated inspections of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus."
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/n...ell-documented/

Cosponsors up to 12.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d112:h3359:

Pro-animal-circus propaganda

Celebrate the circus with these spectacular reads
http://www.sourcenewspapers.com/articles/2...iewmode=default

More sick propaganda. Calling Jim Moran a communist. Trying to rally supporters.

Communist congressman attacks Ringling Brothers circus

http://www.topix.com/forum/news/weird/TGDH6KA7B1J2QJPB5

Rep. Moran Pushes For Passage Of Exotic Animal Protection Bill

Call you congressman and ask he/she to support,

http://www.alexandrianews.org/2011/11/mora...rotection-bill/

Lobbyists Work Through Holidays To Block Humane Legislation

Lobbyist Charlie Stenholm has been working hard since before Thanksgiving. First, there was his Opinion piece in The Washington Times blasting proposed legislation protecting circus elephants, tigers and zebras from abuse—something that would hurt his client, Ringling Brothers.

On November 18, President Obama pardoned a Thanksgiving turkey and also signed the bill, opening the door for horse slaughter plants to reopen in the U.S. and breaking a campaign promise. The former was widely covered in the media; the latter was not.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/vickeryeckhoff...-legislation-2/