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Humane Society International Inc. ABN 63 510 927 032

PO Box 439 Avalon NSW 2107 Australia

www.hsi.org.au 2009

CRUELTY EXPOSED IN AUSTRALIAN PIGGERIES

Pigs are intelligent, affectionate and naturally social animals that are inquisitive and love to play. They have an instinctive ability to forage, protect themselves against the elements, build nests for birthing, and nurture their young.

Yet each year, over 5.6 million pigs are raised in cruel and inhumane intensive farming operations in Australia where they are denied the right to freely exhibit these natural behaviours and must endure unimaginable cruelty.

In most cases, this horror goes on behind closed doors, far away from the scrutiny of the public eye. Now however, two cases of

extreme neglect have surfaced following the release of graphic footage showing pigs in severe distress and barely surviving in putrid conditions at two of Australia’s intensive piggeries, Longerenong Livestock in Tasmania, and the Westpork facility at Gingin in Western Australia. This footage can be viewed at http://www.australianpigfarmers.com.au/archives.

Video footage of Longerenong Livestock showed live pigs riddled with maggots, many with wounds and enormous abscesses, lying in manure and entrapped in steel pens where they are physically unable to move. Police described the horror scene and

In early May we wrote to all our supporters about the astounding success of the dancing bears’ campaign in India. HSI has been working with local project partner, Wildlife SOS, to rescue India’s dancing bears from a miserable life of being beaten and starved to perform as street entertainment.

An incredible milestone was reached recently when Chiltra became the 500th dancing bear to be rescued from this life of misery. The amazing success of the campaign continues with the total number of bears rescued now at

525. That’s an additional 25 bears taken into care and given a chance for a new life.

The end is in sight for this barbaric form of street entertainment. As we stated in our recent letter to you, our goal is to rescue every LAST dancing bear from the streets of India by the end of next year. We’ve had an amazing response to our appeal for help. Thank you to all our supporters who’ve contributed to our campaign. We truly are going to be able to consign this horrific practice to the history books forever.

DANCING BEARS UPDATE:525 BEARS NOW RESCUED

NEWS

CONT. PAGE 2

Join HSI’s campaign against these pork producers by accessing our Action Alert against Woolworths at http://hsi.org.au/index.php?catID=489 and against Westpork at http://www.hsi.org.au/index.php?catID=496.

A national labelling scheme for animal-derived food products would enable consumers, through their buying power, to force intensive pork producers to change their practices. Write to Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, urging the development of a compulsory national labelling scheme of the method of production of all meat, eggs and dairy products. Send a copy of your letter to the Senate Inquiry into meat marketing by writing to the Committee Secretary, Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport, PO Box 6100, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.

Please send your replies to us.

TAKE ACTION

Cooling off on a hot day at the Sanctuary

It has been great news to hear that our colleagues at Wildlife SOS in India recently rescued their 500th bear, with the number increasing to 525 as we write to you today. This is absolutely marvelous news, and with the fantastic response from all HSI supporters to our recent “dancing bear” appeal, we have no doubt that it will not be too long before Wildlife SOS has taken all the bears off the streets of India.

More great news of course that the European Parliament has banned the import and sale of all seal products, dealing a devastating blow to the Canadian seal hunt! This is a major victory which will save the lives of hundreds of thousands of young seals. HSI has been campaigning vigorously for many years to end this extremely cruel industry, and the EU must be congratulated for its determined action.

We hope you will enjoy the pictorial report on one of our project partners in South Africa, SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary, that we recently had the pleasure of visiting. The article on pages 6 and 7 gives our supporters the option of visiting the sanctuary, but also asks for your help in defending the refuge from the threat of gold mining.

HSI has been mounting a major effort over the past few months, dealing with the welfare of pigs on farms across Australia, highlighted by recent and broad media coverage on cruelty to pigs on a farm in Tasmania that was supplying Woolworths. Our work to significantly improve the life of farm animals revolves around the need for accurate meat labelling and the introduction of HSI’s “Humane Choice” label. This campaign will continue to build momentum, and we are confident of future successes.

As we speak, HSI has representatives at the Bonn climate change negotiations in Germany where we seek to ensure that forests and biodiversity protection benefit from those negotiations, and we will subsequently attend this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission, as a member of the Australian Delegation. HSI’s global whale team will be present, and with luck, as they have always done before, will hold-off any Japanese attempts to restart commercial whaling. Fewer whales were killed by the Japanese in Antarctica in the 2008/2009 season.

You will also find inside these pages, a huge thank you to our many, many community ambassadors who tirelessly promote the work of HSI through the distribution of our various brochures. They play a vital role in highlighting the plight of animals and their environments around the world. We have also included messages in memory of two HSI stalwart supporters, Dorothy Porter and John Griffin, and commemorate the passing two years ago of HSI’s young friend David McGill, allocating monies in his memory to Wildlife SOS India for their work on rescuing leopards.

We would also encourage those of you who would like to travel to India for a cycling fundraiser for the “dancing bears”, and to visit a bear sanctuary, to turn to the back page and join in!

Finally, HSI’s EXTINCTION DENIED Art Show will be taking place again on September 14th in Sydney. You will find details on page 11 and we very much look forward to seeing you there.

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORS

neglect that resulted in the “serious disablement” of sows, the complete absence of veterinary treatment for injured pigs, and the unjustifiable suffering resulting from their neglect.

Longerenong Livestock supplies Woolworths with 20% of its Tasmanian pork.

Yet despite the supplier being charged with multiple counts of animal cruelty, Woolworths failed to act and sever its ties with Longerenong Livestock, instead providing the farm with a list of improvements which they claim have now been met.

Nonetheless, as a market leader in the retail sector, Woolworths has a responsibility, and a duty of care, to act decisively in the face of such damning evidence and cease all business with Longerenong Livestock. While business between Woolworths and the supplier now continues as usual, it is still unclear whether Woolworths will now commence inspecting the farm on a regular basis, and whether they have instigated procedures to ensure continued compliance with their conditions.

In 2007, a raid and investigation were initially carried out at Westpork, Western Australia’s largest piggery, following the

release of footage showing it was so full of waste and excrement that the pigs were struggling to walk. It has also been alleged that pigs were left to die lingering deaths once they had succumbed to illnesses, and that some pigs had eaten others that had died and were left in the pens.

The manager of the Westpork facility is Neil Ferguson, a member of the Board of the pork industry’s peak body.

Despite the animal cruelty charge against him, Mr Ferguson has maintained his position on the APL (Australia Pork Limited) Board. In fact, it is not the only executive position in the pork industry maintained by Mr Ferguson – he is also involved in the training of pork producers through his position on the Pork Industry Training Committee in WA, and is the Chair of the WA Agriculture Produce Commission’s Pork Committee.

The animal cruelty charge against Mr Ferguson is due to be heard in court in July, but in the meantime, a person charged with an animal cruelty offence should not be permitted to continue to hold a Board position with APL, nor should he be permitted a role in the training of pork producers.

CRUELTY EXPOSED IN AUSTRALIAN PIGGERIESFROM PAGE 1

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Write to The Hon. Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, calling for immediate and urgent action to establish a captive breeding program to ensure that the remaining population of Christmas Island Pipistrelles can be saved from extinction.

Please send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

The pure dingo is at serious risk of extinction in the wild. Extensive reductions in range and abundance have prompted The World Conservation Union (IUCN) to list the species as vulnerable, indicating that populations have declined by more than 30% over the last three generations. The population of dingoes on Queensland’s Fraser Island is indicative of this decline. Although it is believed they may be the purest strain of dingoes on the eastern Australian seaboard by the end of 21st century, the number of dingoes on Fraser Island is rapidly declining, with an estimated population of only 140 remaining.

Fraser Island is one of Australia’s 17 World Heritage sites and the world’s largest sand island. As such, Fraser Island is a major tourist attraction, and for many of these tourists, a highlight of their trip is seeing dingoes in the wild. As a key predator, the dingo plays a vitally important role in regulating the richness and abundance of animals and plants on Fraser Island. One of the main reasons for the dingo’s decline on Fraser Island is due to the management strategy employed by Queensland’s Parks and Wildlife staff, which is strongly focussed on humans rather than the dingoes themselves. The dingo has long been ingrained in the fabric of Australian society for historical and cultural reasons, and over this time they formed relationships with Aboriginal people, used for both companionship and hunting. This close relationship with humans causes dingoes to seek out human

company, a main factor in their current decline on Fraser Island. These natural, sometimes boisterous interactions are often viewed as offences, resulting in the killing of animals which are simply acting out their normal behaviour.

Sadly, 56 dingoes have been killed since 2001 as a result of the current management approach, with 7 of these deaths alone having occurred in the first four months of 2009. Given broader conservation concerns about the dingo’s decline, HSI is calling for killing to be replaced by better promotion of the understanding of dingo behaviour. By educating visitors on how best to interact with the dingoes it will result in a better experience for all, safety issues can be addressed, and killing replaced with the option of relocation only as a final resort.

The Christmas Island Pipistrelle, a tiny bat just 6 centimetres long found on Christmas Island off the north Western Australian coast, has gained unfortunate notoriety in recent months, with the sad news that this may be the first Australian mammal to become extinct in 53 years. HSI, along with other environmental groups, has been working hard to ensure that this does not happen however, and we need your help.

Over the past year the number of bats has dropped to critical levels, with recent surveys suggesting that the population has dropped from an estimated 20 to 40 six months ago, to as few as between 1 and 4

bats remaining in the wild. These six months of delay, whilst the Environment Minister and his expert advisors have sought further evidence, have resulted in an extremely desperate situation. Whilst the cause of this species’ rapid decline is still unproven, it is suspected that it is a result of invasive species. Whilst generally we support action based on sound scientific advice, on this occasion any further delay will result in the Rudd Government accepting the dubious honour of the first species extinction under their watch. As a result, HSI is urging the Government to take immediate action to rescue the remaining bats from the wild, taking them into captivity with the aim of

establishing a captive breeding program and ultimately re-introduction of the species to the wild.

HSI CALLS FOR A STOP TO THE CULLING OF FRASER ISLAND DINGOES

CHRISTMAS ISLAND PIPISTRELLE NEARING EXTINCTION

Write to The Hon Kate Jones MP, Queensland’s Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, urging her to stop the killing of dingoes on Fraser Island immediately. Ask her to ensure that the revised Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy focus on the dingoes and the maintenance of this important population.

Write to Federal Minister Peter Garrett, asking him to step in under his heritage powers and protect Fraser Island dingoes.

Please send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

Dingo on Fraser Island. © iStockphoto.com/Arnstein

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HSI’s Patti Forkan has addressed the International Whaling Commission at their meeting in Madeira, Portugal, in what was the first opportunity for NGOs (non-government organisations) to speak to the Commission since 1973. Having attended the meetings of the IWC each year since 1973, Patti spoke on behalf of the NGO community and their millions of supporters worldwide, on the current direction and future of the IWC.

The intervention warned against the risky compromise deal being considered by members of the Commission in the interests of reaching a consensus. This deal proposes establishing a new category of whaling that would effectively lift the moratorium on commercial whaling and give new rights to Japan. Under such a deal, there would be no safeguards in place to ensure compliance with international regulations, no mechanism to address commercial whaling in defiance of the moratorium by Norway and Iceland, nothing to prevent other nations from starting to whale under the new category, and nothing to stop the international trade that is continuing despite the ban on all commercial trade in whale products. This is being considered while whaling nations continue to ignore international pressure to end the slaughter and fail to make concessions to reduce their whaling programs.

In closing, the intervention urged the Commission not to waste any more time and resources on this compromise deal, unless there is a commitment from every nation to eliminate all whaling outside international control, and instead called on the IWC to become an effective organisation that is dedicated to the conservation and protection of cetaceans. HSI attended the meeting as an advisor to the Australian Government delegation.

HSI REPRESENTS NGO HSI AND SIGOURNEY WEAVER

HSI recently took up an invitation from Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, H.E. The Hon Robert Hill, to give a presentation on albatross conservation* (with the help of Bird Life International) at an event alongside film star Sigourney Weaver, The Natural Resources Defence Council and The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition.

The presentation was given to an audience of UN Ambassadors from 80 other countries at Australia’s Consulate in New York, to raise awareness that the world’s longline fishing fleets are risking the extinction of several species of albatross. HSI’s Alistair Graham gave the presentation and showed that technology is available to prevent albatrosses getting caught and drowned by the longlines, if only there was the political will to make it happen. Alistair beseeched the Ambassadors to take the message home to their fisheries’ ministers admonishing them to take the issue much more seriously.

HSI sincerely thanks Ambassador Hill for giving us such a prestigious platform for our albatross campaign and Sigourney Weaver for taking time out of her busy schedule to support this important issue.

* “The Protection of the Deep Sea and Conservation of Seabirds: What has to be done and what we need to do in September 2009”.

Thanks to Greg Grainger for producing video footage for the event.

FORESTS CRUCIAL FOR CLIMATENegotiations for a new global climate agreement moved to Bonn in June and HSI senior campaigners, Alistair Graham and Nicola Beynon, were there campaigning for the inclusion of forest protection in the agreement, which is set to be finalised in Copenhagen in December.

Forest destruction accounts for 18-25% of global greenhouse gas emissions and so stopping it is essential to avoid dangerous climate change. Valuing forests for their carbon content may also be the key to saving all the precious wildlife that call tropical rainforests home.

HSI advocacy has helped see the Australian Government include forest protection as one of its top 3 goals for the Copenhagen agreement.

STOP ILLEGAL LOGGING

Australians must play a role in stopping the destruction of tropical rainforests by refusing to buy timber logged illegally and unsustainably overseas. The Australian Government promised to help us with this endeavour by banning imports of illegally logged timbers. Rumours abound that the Federal Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry

Department may be backtracking on the promise.

Write to Tony Burke, Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and insist that the Government stick to its election commitment to ban the importation of illegally logged timber to Australia and to also ban imports from unsustainable logging operations.

Send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

HSI Consultant Alistair Graham, Australia’s UN Ambassador Robert Hill and Sigourney Weaver in New York.

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COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS HELP TO RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDS

Across Australia HSI is fortunate to have over 1000 individuals and businesses who distribute our brochures. This amazing effort by volunteers helps us spread the word on animal welfare and conservation, and raises much needed funds for essential animal protection projects.

One business that has been distributing our dancing bears brochures since early last year is Abundant Organics in Sydney. Every week Abundant Organics distributes around 200 boxes of organic vegetables and fruit to customers across Sydney and the Blue Mountains. As Richard from Abundant Organics explains “the dancing bear campaign involves such cruelty and inhumane treatment of these animals that we wanted to do something to help”.

Richard and the team pop one of the HSI dancing bears brochure into each box sent to their customers. “It’s a no brainer for us; easy with no cost. It would be remiss

of us not to support HSI in this way,” said Richard, talking about why they distribute the HSI brochures, “we love animals and wanted to get right behind this important campaign”.

By distributing brochures and raising awareness, our amazing supporters are helping HSI to meet its commitment to protect animals from cruelty, commercial exploitation and destruction of their homes and habitat.

Every three months we send our supporters distributing brochures a ‘counterpack’ containing the number of leaflets they’ve requested, and a re-order form. They then display them in their shops or offices. Many businesses, like Abundant Organics, support our work by distributing the brochure directly to their customers.

We’re keen to grow our counterpack volunteers even further. We’d love it

if you could support us in this way. For more information please email Virginia at virginia@hsi.org.au or phone freecall 1800 333 737 or (02) 9973 1728.

A GREAT VICTORY FOR SEAL PROTECTIONIn a win for the seals, HSI has helped make history. On the 5th May, the European Union dealt a severe blow to the largest slaughter of marine mammals on earth when it passed a regulation banning the import and trade of seal products within and into the EU. By standing its ground against intense pressure from the Canadian government, the EU has effectively shut down the primary export market for the hunt, saving millions of seals from a horrible fate.

HSI’s Protect Seals team has endured the harsh conditions on the ice year after year to document the hunt, and this footage was directly responsible for convincing the EU to agree to the ban. The team also took Sir Paul McCartney and Swedish Member of the European Parliament Carl Schlyter along to witness the horror first hand. Following the experience, both spoke out publicly against the hunt, and Schlyter drafted the first version of the EU regulation.

This ban is the death knell for Canada’s sealing industry. The closing markets have already caused the price of seal fur to plummet forcing many sealers to stay home, and as many as 250,000 seals may be spared in this year’s hunt.

Yet while the EU has rallied all of its member states to make this momentous decision, Australia still does not have a ban in place for the import of any seal products arising from commercial hunts. Omega-3 fatty acid capsules produced overseas may contain harp seal oil and are able to be imported freely into Australia. HSI is confident a ban could be achieved in Australia under the national environmental legislation.

Write to The Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600, asking that he introduce a ban on the import of seal products from commercial hunts, and a prohibition on the trade of seal products within Australia.

Send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

Many thanks to all our supporters who distribute HSI brochures! Your efforts make a huge difference by raising awareness and funds for animal protection and conservation.

Sir Paul McCartney © 2009 MPL Communications Ltd / Photographer Ruth Ward.

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A recent trip to SanWild, one of our South African project partners and Wildlife Land Trust member, demonstrated what the commitment of a handful of people can achieve. Many of our supporters will have already had an email about the work of this sanctuary (if you would like to receive email updates on our projects please contact admin@hsi.org.au to update your record) but for those of you who missed out I wanted to share the photos and the new life the animals of SanWild are experiencing.

Many of you gave generously to the Royal Pride, a magnificent family of lions abducted from Kruger National Park, the painted dogs rescued from a private zoo, the cheetah adults and their cubs taken for illegal hunting and the wild release of a group of rescued vervet monkeys.

All of these animals were in the most appalling condition when they came into the sanctuary but the love, care and dedication of the staff at SanWild has given them a wonderful new life. I will let the photos tell the story of their recovery. ENJOY!

A SANCTUARY FOR WILDLIFE

When the dogs were confiscated by SanWild they were in a shocking condition and many needed emergency surgery to survive. They are fully recovered, have formed a pack, nominated the alpha male and will live out their lives in harmony at SanWild.

Louise Joubert, Director of SanWild.Write to the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Susan Shabangu, email: via the personal assistant Zodwa Zitha zodwa.zitha@dme.gov.za, and President Jacob Zuma, E-mail: via the personal assistant, Abram Mothwa abram@po.gov.za, urging that they intervene to stop the damage that would be done to SanWild by the proposed gold mining operation. Postal addresses for both via Private Bag X313, Pretoria 0001 South Africa. Please copy in Louise Joubert at Louise@sanwild.org.

Please send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

Help protect SanWild from proposed gold mine!

Louise Joubert, the hard working Director of SanWild, has been fighting off the prospect of gold-mining on her refuge for many years now, with the courts still siding with the miners. SanWild and its fabulous wildlife would be seriously affected by any mining operation, and we must do all we can to help her in her fight.

STOP PRESS

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These vervet monkeys came from many different but equally horrid backgrounds but have now finally accepted each other and have formed a family unit. They will be released shortly into the main park where they will live as a wild population. This will be the first time vervet monkeys have been wild-released so it is very exciting, not only for us but for many other primate sanctuaries who will follow our protocols if successful.

The magnificent Royal Pride, the six lions that had been drugged by hunters and abducted from Kruger National Park, continue to thrive at SanWild. The cubs that were born shortly after their arrival have now grown to almost full size. They are all doing so well – living as a family unit in large free roaming areas.

SanWild now offers accommodation and if you are planning a holiday this is a sensational experience. Like many reserves in South Africa, you take the morning drives to view the wildlife – but at SanWild you know that every animal had a tough start in life so it makes it all the more special to see these magnificent animals healthy and roaming free. The lodge is very professionally run, the accommodation and food is first class, the price is very reasonable and all the proceeds go back into the reserve for the benefit of the animals. You can contact SanWild direct at reservations@sanwild.org or visit their website www.sanwild.org.

When these cheetahs were rescued the female was pregnant and gave birth almost immediately. This has been a long road

but the rescue is finally reaching its conclusion. It has taken an inordinate length of time for the South African Conservation Department to finalise the

paperwork to allow the cheetahs to be released into SanWild but it was finally completed and they are now on the way to their new home.

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WILDLIFE LAND TRUST NEWSHumane Society International’s Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) sanctuary network is continuing to expand throughout Australia and overseas. In Australia, there are now a total of 40 properties in the network including 14 in Queensland, 18 in NSW, 4 in Victoria, 2 in Western Australia, and 1 each in Tasmania and South Australia. Together, these sanctuaries protect over 13,950 acres of habitat across Australia. WLT/HSI Director Michael Kennedy was lucky enough to be able to visit one of our WLT properties at the “Jaloran Wildlife Refuge”, owned by Lisa and Jens Stephan, near Cooma (see picture).

The WLT has also recently welcomed to the network two refuges in Indonesia totalling 16.5 acres that form part of the Nusa Penida Bird Sanctuary, and the 14,846 acre SanWild Wildlife Trust sanctuary in South Africa which is home to a diversity of rescued and rehabilitated African wild animals.

Australia’s biodiversity is increasingly under threat from development, and with conservation on private lands even more important than ever, we are keen to expand the WLT network of sanctuaries. If you have a “bit of bush”, no matter how big or small, we would love to welcome you as a member of the WLT.

BECOME PART OF A NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE SANCTUARY NETWORK!

The WLT site at www.wlt.org provides details of the Trust’s international activities, while our own recently revamped site at www.hsi.org.au provides information on the Australian WLT program (click on Wildlife Land Trust on left of front page or in the Feature Campaigns box). If you would like to register your property with the WLT, you can access a downloadable PDF “expression of interest form” or a full “application form” on the website, which can then be sent directly to us in Sydney.

Joining the WLT starts with a non-binding ‘letter of agreement’ which spells out our joint commitment to protecting wildlife on your sanctuary, followed by a certificate of membership, regular newsletters and news items, signs for your property and further advice on stronger protection methods for your property if you require it.

We will endeavour to provide answers to questions and queries about managing your sanctuary for the benefit of all wildlife, and to facilitate communication between sanctuary owners and managers. Your sanctuary will also be featured on the members’ page of the WLT website and in the Australian WLT newsletters, enabling you to share with a like-minded network of worldwide sanctuary owners the important conservation work you are undertaking for wildlife and habitats in Australia.

Joining the WLT is entirely voluntary, with no legal obligations or costs involved.

It is designed to complement any existing or future agreements you might enter into to protect your land and we very much hope that this new initiative will be attractive to you.

If you would like to talk about this invitation directly, please call Michael Kennedy on 1800 333 737 or email him at michael@hsi.org.au.

HOW CAN I HELP ANIMALS EVEN WHEN I NO LONGER SHARE THEIR WORLD?

Yes, please send more information on leaving a bequest to HSI.

Name

Address

City State Postcode

PLEASE POST TO HSI, PO BOX 439, AVALON NSW 2107 OR PHONE FREECALL 1800 333 737

HOW TO JOIN THE WILDLIFE LAND TRUST

Image by Michael Bland.

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FEDERAL:

The Honourable Kevin Rudd, MP (Fax 02 6273 4100) http://www.pm.gov.au/contact/index.cfm

The Honourable Peter Garrett, AM MP (Fax 02 6273 6101) http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/memfeedback.asp?id=HV4

Senator The Honourable Penny Wong (Fax 02 6273 7330) http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/homepages/contact.asp?id=00AOU

The Honourable Tony Burke, MP (Fax 02 6273 4120) Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

VICTORIA:

The Honourable John Brumby, MLA (Fax 03 9651 5054) john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au

The Honourable Joe Helper, MLA (Fax 03 9658 4631) joe.helper@parliament.vic.gov.au

The Honourable Gavin Jennings, MLC (Fax 03 9096 8866) gavin.jennings@parliament.vic.gov.au

The Honourable Peter Batchelor, MLA (Fax 03 9658 4671) peter.batchelor@parliament.vic.gov.au

NEW SOUTH WALES:

The Honourable Nathan Rees, MP (Fax 02 9228 3934) thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au

The Honourable Ian MacDonald, MLC (Fax 02 9228 3452) macdonald.office@macdonald.minister.nsw.gov.au

The Honourable Carmel Mary Tebbutt, MP (Fax 02 9228 4855) dp.office@tebbutt.minister.nsw.gov.au

QUEENSLAND:

The Honourable Anna Bligh (Fax 07 3221 3631) premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au

The Honourable Timothy Mulherin (Fax 07 3229 8541) dpi@ministerial.qld.gov.au

The Honourable Kate Jones, MP (Fax 07 3227 6309) ccs@ministerial.qld.gov.au

The Honourable Stephen Robertson MP (Fax 07 3225 1828) naturalresources@ministerial.qld.gov.au

ACT

The Honourable Jon Stanhope (Fax 02 6205 0433) stanhope@act.gov.au

Mr Simon Corbell, MLA (Fax 02 6205 0535) corbell@act.gov.au

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

The Honourable Colin Barnett, MLA (Fax 08 9322 1213) Premier.Barnett@dpc.wa.gov.au

The Honourable Terry Redman, MLA (Fax 08 9213 6701) Minister.Redman@dpc.wa.gov.au

The Honourable Donna Faragher, MLC (Fax 08 9213 7255) Minister.Faragher@dpc.wa.gov.au

The Honourable Norman Moore, MLC (Fax 08 9422 3001) Minister.Moore@dpc.wa.gov.au

The Honourable John Castrilli, MLA (Fax 08 9213 6801) Minister.Castrilli@dpc.wa.gov.au

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Honourable Mike Rann (Fax 08 8463 3168) premier@saugov.sa.gov.au

The Honourable Paul Caica, MP (Fax 08 8226 8444) minetfe@saugov.sa.gov.au

The Honourable Jay Weatherill (Fax 08 8463 5681) minister.weatherill@saugov.sa.gov.au

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The Honourable Paul Henderson, MLA (Fax 08 8901 4099) paul.henderson@nt.gov.au

The Honourable Kon Vatskalis, MLA (Fax 08 8901 4119) kon.vatskalis@nt.gov.au

for Parks and Wildlife, The Honourable Alison Anderson, MLA (Fax 08 8901 4134) alison.anderson@nt.gov.au

The Honourable Rob Knight, MLA (Fax 08 8901 4094) rob.knight@nt.gov.au

TASMANIA

The Honourable David Bartlett, MP (Fax 03 6278 7743) david.bartlett@parliament.tas.gov.au

The Honourable Michelle O’Byrne, MP (Fax 03 6336 2767) michelle.o’byrne@parliament.tas.gov.au

The Honourable David Llewellyn, MP (Fax 03 6233 2272) david.llewellyn@parliament.tas.gov.au

All letters to Federal Ministers should be addressedC/- Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

All letters to State Ministers should be addressedC/- Parliament House, in your capital city

* Animal Welfare Minister

LIST OF CONSERVATION AND ANIMAL WELFARE MINISTERS

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IN MEMORYHSI is fortunate to have been supported by two generous and committed donors, Dorothy Porter and John Griffin, both of whom recently passed away. Their stories are told below by their loved ones.

KUSINI CAMP“A badger on my moment of life” Ted Hughes

I too saw a badger on my moment of lifebut not dead on an English road like Hughes’ fly-blown beautiful animal(why are Hughes’ poem creatures always dead, dying or dazzling dangerous?)

My badger was African.Nothing Wind in the Willows about him as he emerged suddenly from an inhospitable termite mound – as small mammals do in the late afternoon on the parched Serengeti.

Very much alive and on a wild animal’s hungry missionmy badger lumbered fluidlythrough a shimmering dusk world of presences I could only glimpseand now so hungrily remember.

“John Colahan Griffin was born in 1920 – very different times from now. He finished his days as he loved - living in the family home with his companion cats, many visiting birds and all manner of nocturnal creatures that he would leave food out for in the trees on a nightly basis.

From amongst his earliest recollections, he tells a story of seeing an animal get its throat cut. Like most children he is horrified and shocked beyond belief as the life ebbs out of a sheep which only a few minutes before was alive and well.

I’m sure his reaction was no different from what most small children feel when they first learn of the realities of life but John vowed to himself that his reaction to such cruelty he would never forget. And would defend the weak in all instances that presented themselves to him. In a flash, it taught him that people could be very cruel and indifferent to the suffering of those both different and more vulnerable than themselves.

John’s fiercest battles were with people who were cruel and unfeeling towards animals. He had empathy with ‘the furry and feathered creatures’ and our open plan house that he designed

in the early 1950s always had animals - all sorts, mostly strays that wandered in from the hot footpaths. The house had large windows that were mostly left open – so it was not unusual to find possums in the bathroom or wandering into the lounge.

In later life, John took on an activist stance in defence of animals. He became a vegetarian and supported organisations that helped animals and their causes. He wrote vigorous letters to those heads of states with inhumane practices towards animals, on occasion spelling out in no uncertain terms that he would very much like to do the same to the titled recipient. Definitely a pull no punches type of communicant!

He was passionate and expressed great sadness on the plight of the sloth bear. He would have been pleased to know of the comprehensive programme to change both the situation for the bears and their keepers, well understanding that for many the bear dancing is their only livelihood.

The Sanctuary of Hope is certainly that – not only for the bears but for us human beings to sensitise ourselves so that we may enjoy a real and humane rapport with the creatures whose territory we share.”

- Sally Griffin

JOHN GRIFFIN

Although our campaigners have many specific targets each year there is also a great need to plan long term strategies for many of the major environmental and animal welfare issues we face. By supporting us with a regular monthly pledge, you empower us to budget with confidence for these projects.

Become an HSI regular supporter and spread your donations evenly across the year!

Yes, please send more information on becoming a regular supporter of HSI.

DOROTHY PORTER

“The poet, Dorothy Porter, a long time supporter of Humane Society International, died on 10th December, 2008. She was 54. In both her life and her work, Dorothy’s connection with animals, birds and the natural world afforded her the greatest of pleasures. She regarded cruelty to animals as both

incomprehensible and intolerable, whether the bears of Asia, battery hens in Tasmania, or poaching in Africa. She believed that all life was equal and sacred. She wrote about magpies and vultures; she wrote about snakes and the giant octopus; she wrote about penguins and hippos. In the natural world Dorothy found life’s wonders.

In 2007 Dorothy and I travelled to Botswana and Tanzania. Kusini Camp is one of several poems she wrote after that trip. These poems will appear in a new collection of poetry, The Bee Hut, to be published by Black Inc in September, 2009.”

- Andrea Goldsmith

11

2009

STOP COAL MINING IN THE BIMBLEBOX NATURE REFUGE

The 8000 hectare Bimblebox Nature Refuge in Queensland was purchased privately with the express purpose of securing the protection of the habitat from land clearing. It was partly funded by the Commonwealth Natural Reserve System program in 2001, and a Nature Refuge Agreement was signed with the Queensland Government in 2003. Yet despite these initiatives, coal mining interests are compromising the integrity of the refuge, and there is no longer any evident protection now that coal has been discovered beneath the soil.

Bimblebox Nature Refuge is located

in one of the country’s few nationally recognised biodiversity hotspots, the Einasleigh and Desert Uplands, an area with a highly diverse assemblage of locally endemic species that are only rarely found elsewhere. HSI has recently undertaken an analysis of Australia’s landscapes to identify Natural Heritage priorities beyond the National Reserve System. As such, we have identified Einasleigh and the Desert Uplands as a priority area of outstanding biodiversity value that ought to be comprehensively assessed for listing as National Heritage under Federal law.

The Wildlife Land Trust and HSI are concerned for the exploratory drilling for coal that is underway on Bimblebox. If this open-cut mining proposal is allowed to proceed, it will lead to the certain large scale destruction of this already sensitive area’s faunal and floral biodiversity, and the serious disruption of the underground water tables in the district. Help us protect this very important wildlife refuge.

Join us at the

2009 Extinction Denied Art Exhibition

Write to The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts, Parliament House, Canberra ACT, 2601, urging that he do all in his power to ensure that Bimblebox, a part of the National Reserve System that the Commonwealth helped buy, is totally protected from coal mining.

Write to The Hon Anna Bligh, Premier, with copies to The Hon Craig Wallace Minister for Natural Resources and Water and the Hon Timothy Mulherin, Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, c/o Parliament House, Brisbane, 4000, QLD, urging them to intervene and honour the State Nature Refuge Agreement, which pledges to protect the Bimblebox Nature Refuge in perpetuity, by stopping the progression of mining activities within this sensitive ecosystem.

Send your replies to us.

ACTION REQUIRED

Our “Extinction Denied” art exhibition is on again this September so please mark your calendar and join us to help celebrate a future for all animals.

The opening night will be held on Monday 14th September, from 6pm to 8pm, at The Arthouse Hotel. Once again this fantastic venue, at 275 Pitt St in Sydney, has kindly donated time and space to hold this important fundraiser. The proceeds from the exhibition will go towards our animal protection campaigns.

The exhibition will remain at The Arthouse Hotel until 10th October so if you can’t make it to the opening night you are more than welcome to view the works anytime during the following month. The opening hours are 11am till late Monday to Friday – 5pm till late Saturday – closed Sunday.

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the fabulous, talented and dedicated artists that make this event possible.

TO RSVP – space is limited but entry is free – please call our office on (02) 9973 1728 or email justin@hsi.org.au.

We look forward to seeing you there.

OOur “E“Extinction Denied” art exhibition is on again this September so please

“Dangerous Rendezvous” by artist Robyn Collier.

Many thanks toBIO DISTRIBUTORS BIO-DYNAMIC &

ORGANIC WHOLESALERS OF TASMANIAwho sponsored the printing of this newsletter

PO Box 12, Sheffield, Tasmania 7306 Phone/Fax (03) 6491 1439 Email@biodistributors.com.au

www.biodistributors.com.au

Humane Society International would like to thank

DMC for their donated services.

T: 03 9427 7267 F: 03 9427 7370 E: bmc@directmail.com.au www.directmail.com.au

CYCLE OF HOPE:

TO REGISTER OR RECEIVE YOUR FREE INFO PACK CALL 02 9262 9880 or EMAIL tristanne@inspiredadventures.com.au

Stolen from their mothers at less than 4 weeks old, traumatized bear cubs spend the rest of their lives tethered to a short rope, beaten and starved to perform as ‘dancing bears’. HSI is working with Wildlife SOS to rescue these dancing bears from a life of misery. Our realistic target is to rescue the last bear in India by the end of 2010.We know we can do it. All that’s stopping us are the funds needed for the rescue and rehabilitation of these amazing animals. This is where you come in. We are giving you the chance to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of these beautiful creatures. Take on the challenge of cycling across India to raise $7,500 for the rescue of the LAST dancing bears still on the streets of India. This rewarding challenge will be the experience of a lifetime. You will cycle through Rajasthan the Land of Kings the quintessential Indian state, with its walled cities, forts and palaces onto our fi nal destination Agra, where we will visit the incomparable Taj Mahal. You’ll have the chance to spend a full day seeing the bears enjoy the freedom of their sanctuary.

It is going to be an incredible journey, will you be part of it?INDIA CHALLENGE Friday 12 March to Wednesday 24 March 2010

WWW.INSPIREDADVENTURES.COM.AU/HSI

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