Devil and Animal...right...?
When???
A huge animal rights victory has just been won in São Paulo, Brazil. Governor Geraldo Alckmin recently signed a bill that bans cosmetics testing on animals in the state. The ban covers both finished products and ingredients. Those caught breaking this new law will be subject to a $435,000 fine per animal. The fine will double for repeat offenders and the establishment can be closed temporarily or permanently.
You may wonder why it would be so significant for just one part of the country of Brazil to enact such a ban. The answer comes when we take a closer look at São Paulo’s biggest resident industry. According to a press release from Humane Society International, the State of São Paulo hosts more than 700 of the 2,300 cosmetics companies in the country, more than any other state in Brazil. “Brazil itself is a major player in the global cosmetics market, the third largest in the world and the biggest cosmetics market in Latin America with a 58 per cent share,” reports the Huffington Post.
The victory is attributed to the hard work of local activists, and comes after a large protest outside the Royal Institute in the São Paulo city of São Roque led to a raid on the lab, resulting in the liberation of 178 beagles. According to Governor Alckmin such direct actions had less impact on his final decision than the advice he received when meeting with animal rights activists, scientists, veterinarians and members of the cosmetics and perfumes industries.
As Care2′s Abigail Greer wrote on the topic recently, ”more and more scientists are taking a hard look at the relevance of animal experiments for human diseases and improving our lives. The evidence is showing that we can actually get much better answers about human health and develop much more effective therapies if we use human based tests instead.”
“Our causing animal pain and suffering to test cosmetics is unacceptable and it must stop. Be Cruelty-Free Brazil campaign for a complete ban has received huge public support and we applaud the groups in São Paulo who have fought hard for this victory for animals,” explained Helder Constantino, HSI’s Be Cruelty-Free Brazil campaigns manager, in a press release. ”The ethical stance of the Brazilian public is very clear — Let this be the first step towards the whole of Brazil being cruelty-free.”
São Paulo’s animal testing ban follows in the footsteps of the EU, India and Israel who have already imposed similar restrictions. Activists hope that countries such as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea who are currently considering animal testing bans, will follow suit.
If you‘d like to see the entire nation of Brazil adopt São Paulo‘s animal testing ban, please add your name to the petition below.
http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-rights-activists-win-a-huge-victory-in-sao-paulo.html
Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld Entertainment are ending their 25-year-old marketing partnership, officials with both companies said Thursday, as the airline has been urged by animal rights activists to terminate the relationship.
The partnership won’t be renewed at the end of the year when the current contract expires. As part of the partnership, three Southwest airplanes had various SeaWorld animals painted on their bodies. Those planes will be returned to Southwest’s traditional livery.
SeaWorld officials said the decision was mutual. SeaWorld wants to concentrate on growing markets in Latin America and Asia, the marine park company said in a statement.
“Southwest and SeaWorld have enjoyed their long relationship, and wish each other continued success,” the statement said.
SeaWorld has parks in Orlando, Florida; San Antonio and San Diego.
Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis said it was a business decision as the airline intends to focus on international service.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/31/southwest-seaworld-end-partnership
Art or Animal Abuse? Tortoises Carry iPads for Controversial New Exhibition in Aspen
by Beverley Mitchell, 08/08/14
The Aspen Art Museum (AAM) hasn’t even officially opened its doors to the public yet, but one of its exhibitions is already causing massive controversy. Cai Guo-Qiang’s installation Moving Ghost Town features three African Sulcata tortoises roaming around a rooftop enclosure, each with two iPads affixed to its shell. The gadgets display video footage of local ghost towns. The AAM claims the artwork is “cultivating a site-specific approach to culture and history,” but animal rights activists have slammed it as outright animal abuse. What do you think?
The museum’s webpage for the project is short on exhibition motivation and long on describing what has been done to ensure the tortoises’ welfare. The purpose of the exhibition is summarized as such: “The tortoises feature video footage of three local ghost towns, which were filmed by the creatures themselves. Forgotten stories of the once prosperous ghost towns are retold from thetortoises’ perspective.”
The exhibition officially runs from 9 August to 5 October, 2014, a two-month period during which the three adult tortoises will each carry around their two iPads. The devices will be affixed to their shellsusing a technique usually used to mount tracking equipment for scientific study of wild turtles and tortoises and that leaves no trace on the shells after removal. The three tortoises were all rescued from a breeder who had kept them in an over-crowded enclosure. And after the exhibition, the AAM says they “will find new homes in conservation and educational facilities selected in collaboration with the Turtle Conservancy.”
However, it’s from about this point in the story that views begin to diverge wildly. On Tuesday 5 August, Aspen native Lisabeth Oden began an online petition addressed to the AAM that begins quite simply with the words: “We, the undersigned, request you end this animal abuse.” The petition highlights the sensitivity of the animals’ carapaces, which would make carrying around the devices for two months distressing for the creatures. At time of writing the petition had received over 3,400 signatures. The AAM counters this request by stating that the animals are under veterinary supervision and that a vet and the Turtle Conservancy were consulted during the exhibition’s development.
The Turtle Conservancy were quickly at pains to point out that they “did not approve or endorse the installation at the Aspen Art Museum. We were merely asked to give them advice on the captive care of African Spurred Tortoises.” In a further and measured statement a spokesperson for the Turtle Conservancy confirmed the scientific precedent of the method used to affix the iPads to the tortoises without apparent harm, noted that during mating female tortoises bear the load of a 250+ pound male tortoise on their backs, and wrote “I honestly believe that these animals do not evennotice the extra weight on their shells after living with the accoutrements for 24 hours.”
But in a personal statement the spokesperson added that tortoise mating does not go on nonstop for two months. He noted: “Attaching for scientific purposes is one thing. There is a positive gain for research. This is merely for human entertainment.” And that’s the sticking point. Even if the tortoises’ welfare is guaranteed, it doesn’t automatically follow that the installation is a good idea. As one angry commentator out of many on the AAM’s Facebook page noted: “This isn’t art, this is a way of gaining publicity. I don’t think you realized how bad the publicity would be.”
Creators vs. Corporations: Writer Gary Friedrich, who created a new version of Ghost Rider in the early 70s, lost a lawsuit against Marvel in which he claimed rights to “non-comic derivative versions” of his work. The judge in the case ruled that Friedrich signed away those rights in 1978, which means that Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (pictured above), starringNicolas Cage, is free to ride into theaters in February. (The Hollywood Reporter)
Who’s to Blame?: Filmmaker Andrew Rossi contends that a negative review by Michael Kinsley, published in The New York Times, “probably cut ... box office in half, at least” for Rossi’s documentary Page One: Inside The New York Times. Kinsley, who is not a film critic and does not work for the newspaper, was asked to write a guest review as an outsider observer; the film grossed $1.06 million for the year. (JimRomenesko.com)
Mystery of the Long-Lived Chimpanzee: As our own Mike Bracken recently reported, Tarzan’s sidekick Cheetah, aged 80, passed away last weekend. But was that really Cheetah? Amidst skepticism that a chimpanzee could live that long, the Florida animal sanctuary that announced the animal’s death is standing by its claim that Johnny Weismuller’s co-star from the 1930s is indeed the one that died. (New York Times)
Who’s to Blame?: Filmmaker Andrew Rossi contends that a negative review by Michael Kinsley, published in The New York Times, “probably cut ... box office in half, at least” for Rossi’s documentary Page One: Inside The New York Times. Kinsley, who is not a film critic and does not work for the newspaper, was asked to write a guest review as an outsider observer; the film grossed $1.06 million for the year. (JimRomenesko.com)
Mystery of the Long-Lived Chimpanzee: As our own Mike Bracken recently reported, Tarzan’s sidekick Cheetah, aged 80, passed away last weekend. But was that really Cheetah? Amidst skepticism that a chimpanzee could live that long, the Florida animal sanctuary that announced the animal’s death is standing by its claim that Johnny Weismuller’s co-star from the 1930s is indeed the one that died. (New York Times)
It’s another full week of pilots, premieres, and finales, giving us plenty of TV to discuss on the pilot. We kick things off with a little reality chat before moving on to the comedies, including the premieres of Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Key & Peele, as well as the finale of Garfunkel and Oates. Then we move on to the genre offerings, including the premieres of Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD and Person of Interest, as well as the Outlandermidseason finale. Last up are the dramas, including quick looks at the NCIS: New Orleans pilot and the Scandaland Parenthood premieres, and a lengthier chat about the season two finale of Masters of Sex. Afterward, the DVD Shelf is back, with Mike Worby, Games Editor of SoS, joining us to discuss Six Feet Under.
Our Week in Reality and Comedy (12:18-26:23): The Amazing Race premiere, Top Chef Duels, Blackishpilot, Gravity Falls, The League, Brooklyn Nine-Nine premiere, Key & Peele premiere, Garfunkel and Oatesfinale
Our Week in Genre (27:32-48:23): Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD premiere, Doctor Who, Sleepy Hollow, Person of Interest premiere, Outlander mid-season finale
Our Week in Drama (48:56-1:22:02): NCIS: New Orleans pilot, Scandal premiere, Boardwalk Empire,Parenthood premiere, The Knick, The Good Wife, Masters of Sex finale
DVD Shelf (1:23:55-end): Six Feet Under with Mike Worby
This is a digital commission featuring a bunch of people who's business it is to look down on the less fortunate.
The original line art measures 7.5 x 14 inches and was drawn on Bristol art board in pencil. The final artwork was colored in Photoshop CS4 using a Wacom Cintiq 21UX.
You can watch a recording of me coloring (most of) this piece on my Ustream channel here: [link]
Go here to learn more about commissioning original or digital artwork from me: [link]
-Otis
The original line art measures 7.5 x 14 inches and was drawn on Bristol art board in pencil. The final artwork was colored in Photoshop CS4 using a Wacom Cintiq 21UX.
You can watch a recording of me coloring (most of) this piece on my Ustream channel here: [link]
Go here to learn more about commissioning original or digital artwork from me: [link]
-Otis
http://otisframpton.deviantart.com/art/Six-Feet-Under-196819342
Read more: Art or Animal Abuse? Aspen Art Museum's Controversial New Exhibition FeaturesTortoises Carrying iPads | Inhabitat - Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building
http://inhabitat.com/art-or-animal-abuse-tortoises-carry-ipads-for-controversial-new-exhibition-in-aspen/
