MILLIONS OF RUSSIANS WITNESSED
THE CRUELTIES OF FUR PRODUCTION

Read animal rights news from Russia in

The newsletter of the Russian Animal Rights Centre VITA
2, 2005 (April-August)


Welcome! In this issue:

- Shocking footage on fur production on the Russian national TV
- Developments in the Design Against Fur competition
- Ukraine sets limits on hunting. And Russia?
- More animal friendly scholars and professors
- Developments in the conflict between professors of the Moscow State University and an animal friendly student
- New animal rights video
- Yes to stray sterilisation! No to murder!
- New vet prosecutions for the use of medical drugs
- Another vegan baby born
- Other news


SHOCKING FOOTAGE ON FUR PRODUCTION
ON RUSSIAN NATIONAL TV

April 19, 2005, St. Petersburg: PETA and VITA held a press conference "Shocking unmasking of furriers as St. Petersburg fur auction begins." The event anticipated the St.Petersburg fur auction.

During the press conference PETA and VITA showed sensational footage of the cruelties towards animals filmed with a hidden camera on Chinese fur farms. Chinese furs overflow the markets all over the world.

After witnessing the footage of the animals skinned alive even those journalists who were planning to defend furriers changed their mind. VITA and PETA supplied the present journalists with copies of the video.

As a result four leading TV channels showed the footage at popular times. Two radio channels, written media and info agencies gave pro-animal rights coverage of the problem.

VITA PROTESTS AGAINST CANADIAN SEAL HUNT:
ANTI-FUR FOOTAGE ON NATIONAL TV AS RESULT

On April 11 VITA sent an open letter to the prime-minister of Canada and the minister of fishery urging them to ban the seal hunt in the country. VITA widely informed the media in Russia of the atrocious hunt.

As a result one of the leading Russian TV channels REN TV gave excellent pro-animal rights coverage of the seal hunt, and the problem of fur wearing and production in general.

At popular weekend times REN TV showed heartbreaking footage of animals being killed for furs, and interviews with famous animal advocates.

With the described campaigns VITA purports to educate Russians on the truth behind the fur production. Millions of Russians have seen the anti-fur footage that we brought on TV. If even a fraction of them have decided to stop wearing furs after witnessing these cruelties, uncountable animal lives will be saved.

GEORGIAN STUDENT SHARES THE THIRD PRIZE
IN THE INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AGAINST FUR COMPETITION

Graphic design student from the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia Natalia Lazarshvili shared the third prize in the European region of this year's Design Against Fur (DAF) competition. The jury commended or highly commended the submissions of five Russian students and schoolchildren. Our cordial congratulations!

International Fur Free Alliance (FFA) registered over 2000 students from all over the world for the 2005 DAF contest. VITA is the FFA affiliate in Russia. This year VITA registered 239 students and schoolchildren from Russia, and 23 participants from Georgia, Belorussia, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Latvia for the competition. 155 of the registered participants submitted posters for the contest. VITA staff are very impressed by the quality of this year's submissions.

We wish Natalia Lazarshvili a great time during the reward ceremony in Rome in November. Other participants from Russia and the mentioned ex-Soviet republics will be rewarded with small souvenirs in autumn this year. FFA will name one international winner in November. More information about the competition, and its winners on www.infurmation.com


"NO TO HUNT! UKRAINE SETS LIMITS
TO THE BARBARIC TRADITION. AND RUSSIA…?"


- this was the slogan of VITA's anti-hunt press-conference of April 27. VITA informed the media of the decision of the president and the High Council of the Ukraine to ban the spring hunt.

During the press conference VITA appealed to the Russian authorities to also introduce improvements to the country's imperfect hunting regulations. VITA explained to the public why hunting is not a sport, but an atrocity. The media widely covered the problem. In the press-conference participated: VITA, Vladimir Boreyko of the Kiev Ecological and Cultural Centre (the Ukraine), writer Irina Ozyornaya, celebrity music critic Artemiy Troitskiy.

PRO-ANIMAL WELFARE IDEAS GAIN MORE POPULARITY
AMONG RUSSIAN SCHOLARS, PROFESSORS AND VETS

Several years ago it would be impossible to approach most scholars, professors of life sciences and vets with animal rights issues. However at this year's Moscow International Vets congress VITA staff could clearly observe that alternatives to animal experiments steadily gain more attention.

On April 23 VITA president Irina Novozhilova opened the 3 day long congress with a speech. She appealed to its 3000 participants to resort to humane alternatives instead of carrying out animal experiments.

In his speech the president of the Association of Practicing Veterinarians and the organizer of the congress Sergey Sereda supported the ideas of humane education. Sereda openly criticized two other speakers who employed painful animal experiments in their work.

VITA and InterNICHE Russia held a large stand at the congress site with various materials on humane education. During the congress several professors of life sciences decided to resort to our offer to lend alternatives from the InterNICHE alternatives loan system in Russia.

During the congress VITA staff collected 322 signatures of vets from 70 Russian cities and towns under a petition to the Russian prime-minister Fradkov. In the petition the signatories appealed to Mr. Fradkov to urgently resolve the crisis around the use of the medical drug Ketamine in the veterinary medicine.


VITA REWARDED WITH AN HONOURABLE DIPLOMA

This year the congress organizers introduced the nomination "For the important contribution to the promotion of animal rights". VITA staff is very happy to be nominated and receive an honourable diploma.

PETITION TO MOSCOW STATE UNIVERSITY
TO INTRODUCE ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS

On May 12-15 VITA director Elena Maroueva who is also the InterNICHE national contact in Russia took part in the 2d InterNICHE conference in Oslo. (InterNICHE - the International Network for Humane Education, www.interniche.org). Elena made a talk "Change and inertia in Russian life science education."

During the conference Elena collected signatures under a petition to the Moscow State University (MSU) to introduce humane alternatives to animal experiments. 60 professors, students and scholars signed the petition, including such world wide known scholars as Tom Regan, Marc Bekoff and Jonathan Balcombe.

VITA sent the petition to MSU, and informed the media. As a result on June 15 famous radio channel "Svoboda" broadcast a program devoted to the problem of experimenting on animals.

As our readers already know, MSU has been very inert in introducing alternatives. Biology student and conscienscious objector to animal experiments Roman Belousov has repeatedly applied to the administration of the university to provide him with humane alternatives. VITA and InterNICHE offered MSU help with introducing alternatives.

The university refuses to cooperate, and is for many months threatening to expel the student. The reason is that Roman refuses to take part in the practical classes with the painful use of animals. However so far MSU remains only by the threats, and doesn't expel the student yet. If it does, Belousov might sue the university.

VITA AND CELEBRITY SINGER A.MARTYNOV
CREATED ANIMAL RIGHTS VIDEO

In July VITA and Alexej Martynov, the singer of the band "Stsenakardiya" created a sensational animal rights video to one of Alexey's songs. The video reveals the cruelties behind intensive farming, including animal transport and slaughter, trapping animals for fur, animal experiments, ecological catastrophes, etc.

Later in July A.Martynov became a celebrity singer in Russia after winning the TV competition "5 Stars". For weeks the public and the jury were one by one dismissing the participants of the competition while following them in their daily lives on TV. Alexey became the winner.

Martynov is a vegan and a raw-fooddist. The singer is determined to use his sudden popularity to promote animal rights issues.


"YES TO STERILISATION! NO TO MURDER!"

- called the 6 meter long placard at the VITA action to support the Moscow stray sterilisation program. VITA held the action on the central Moscow Slavyanskaya square on April 10.

Tens of activists and several dogs formed a half-circle. Activists were holding national flags of the countries that introduced stray sterilisation programs, thus symbolising these countries.

In the middle of the half-circle a muzhik (Russian peasant) was symbolising Russia. He was wearing valenki (old-time felt boots) and an archaic padded jacket. Muzhik was carrying a prehistoric club, a boy's catapult and a gun. With this weaponry he aimed at people and dogs. One of the dogs was wearing a piece of fabric symbolising a target.

The misbehaving and scolding muzhik had the text "Accept me to WTO!" on the back of his jacket. But can Russia - a country that still shoots its strays in many cities and towns - come anywhere close to the notion "a highly developed country"? - wonders VITA.

With this action VITA purported to back the stray sterilisation program introduced in Moscow in 1999. Now the city authority Mosgorduma is considering the possibility to switch back to stray shootings. The reason is that the sterilisation program "proves not to function as it should", as some people's deputes claim.

VITA explained to the present media that the program has never been implemented properly in the first place. Local responsible officials let only a tiny fraction of strays be sterilised, instead of the required minimum - 80 per cent of females. City authorities also build no shelters for those sterilised animals that are weakened and need temporary care.

VITA believes that instead of resorting to stray shootings - a totally ineffective and inhumane approach - authorities should make sure the sterilisation program is implemented correctly.

VITA sent seven appeals to the city authorities, and to the chairman of the Federal Council of Russia to save and better control the Moscow stray sterilisation program.

DONKEY ON A HIGHWAY -
ATTRACTION TO A RESTARURANT

In June VITA received five complaints about the restaurant "Loza" that kept a donkey on a highway to attract visitors. The totally frightened donkey Zita spent long days in a tiny cage on a polluted highway. Complaints of local residents and passers-by didn't impress the restaurant director.

There is still no animal welfare law in Russia according to which Zita could be confiscated. Thus after receiving VITA's complaint the Department of Nature Use of the Moscow government refused to interfere. VITA launched a further complaint at Gosduma, and the general prosecutor's office.

VITA also informed the media, and showed the site to the journalists from the TV channels Ren-TV and VKT. Scared by the presence of the video cameras, the restaurant director moved Zita to the backyard of the restaurant. It was with great pleasure and relief that the donkey ate the fresh grass and walked around freely.

LACK OF ANIMAL RIGHTS - RUSSIA'S SHAME!

- ran a huge placard on the Moscow Pushkin square on April 16 where VITA and the Party for Nature Protection held an action to support the federal animal welfare law in Russia.

The country still doesn't have a law that would seriously protect animals from maltreatment. This leads to numerous cases of cruelties towards animals.

The media extensively covered the action.

NEW VET PERSECUTIONS
FOR THE USE OF MEDICAL DRUGS

After a year and a half of mostly failed vet prosecutions for the use of the medical drug Ketamine (see previous VITA newsletters on www.vita.org.ru) Russian Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) started new prosecutions. This time vets "crime" is the use of the officially allowed (!) anabolic steroid Lauroboline. The drug is essential in the veterinary medicine. DEA is now prosecuting four vets from the towns of Yaroslavl and Rybinsk.

After her effective campaign to protect vets in the Ketamine crisis VITA is now dealing with this new problem. On June 9 VITA held a press-conference to widely inform the public of the Lauroboline crisis, and start extensive discussions in the media. VITA held another press-conference in Yaroslavl together with the local vets and lawyer Chernousov on June 16. On July 19 during the first court hearing VITA held an action in front of the the Yaroslavl court building.

VITA also informed the media that the organisation would be appealing to president Putin to relocate 30 000 out of 40 000 DEA employees to the southern borders of the country. There they could really do their job fighting drug smuggling, instead of persecuting innocent vets across the country.

Shall we soon be imprisoned for the use of gauze bandage?!!!

- wondered VITA on one of her numerous placards during the Moscow action of July 16. With the action VITA supported the vets, called to DEA to stop its ridiculous prosecutions, and appealed to the authorities to better control the agency's activities. The action was widely covered in the media.

During the press-conference on the Ketamine problem of April 21 VITA publicised her open appeal to the prime-minister Fradkov and the human rights representative Lukin. VITA urged them to further the utterly slow process of legalising the use of the medical drug in the veterinary medicine. VITA had collected hundreds of signatures of vets from 70 Russian cities and towns under the appeal. Media showed considerable interest for the discussed issue.

ANOTHER VEGAN BABY BORN

VITA's public relations officer Tanya Maroueva lives in Switzerland. On June 11 Tanya gave birth to their son Alex. Tanya ate vegan throughout her pregnancy.

Tanya relates: "I ate no animal products during this first pregnancy of mine, and felt very good. I kept working at VITA and at a local school, and led an active lifestyle.

Despite the fears of doctors and acquaintances, the baby developed very well. However I was haunted by the medical personnel who ranked me as a "risk case" only because I am vegan. The fact that I was going to give birth at home, not at a hospital, added to their fears.

In the long run I had enough of their continuous distressing warnings. I simply stopped visiting doctors. An understanding midwife Sandra Egli inspected me on a regular basis, and was there during the birth of Alex.

I felt very strong throughout my pregnancy, and during the 10 hour long birth. I ate grains, nuts, fruit, raw and cooked vegetables, seeds, oils, soy products.

Alex was born healthy, and he still is. His length was 50 cm, and he was 3450 g. heavy. Alex is now almost two months old. I am still eating vegan, and breastfeed Alex. He is developing very well.

I am very grateful to my husband Eric, mother Valentina, and Sandra Egli for their fantastic help. Well and vegan pregnancy is a real fun."

A GORGEOUS BOUQUET OF IRISES FOR VITA PRESIDENT

as well as some pretty souvenirs - this was a reward for Irina Novozhilova after she was nominated as the best 2005 participant of the international school-seminar "Ecological ethics and its applied aspects". The seminar took place in Kiev, the Ukraine, on May 24-26. VITA president gave a talk "Spreading the ideas of bioethics through the media", and led the discussions "Animals in entertainment" and "The tactics of the anti-hunt movement". Irina also prepared and showed animal rights videos during the discussions.

The organizers of the seminar were the Kiev Ecological Cultural Centre, and the coalition "For the wild nature" (the Ukraine). Over 40 environment and animal rights activists from Belorussia, Russia and the Ukraine took part in the seminar.

VITA TELLS PEOPLE THE TRUTH ABOUT ANIMAL ABUSE
AND PROMOTES COMPASSIONATE LIFESTYLE

Throughout the last four months VITA continued her extensive work with the media. VITA purports to educate people on what many humans are doing to animals inadvertently, or on purpose, and the way each of us can do better. VITA staff gave interviews, organised TV- and radio-programs or wrote articles on the following topics:

- animal experiments for various purposes, humane alternatives
- Ketamine and Lauraboline problem
- Fur trade and production
- Atrocious entertainments with the use of animals
- Animal markets
- Stray animals, possibilities for individuals to help strays and city birds
- Necessity to have an animal welfare law in Russia
- Hunting
- Atrocious production of bear gull in China
- Necessity of introducing the subject of bioethics into the curriculum of schools (articles by VITA activist Anna Kyuregyan)

OTHER NEWS

- VITA explained to the Ukrainian public why farm animals matter, and why intensive farming is morally unacceptable. VITA appealed to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture to review its plans to introduce intensive farms in the country. VITA also informed the Ukrainian media of the problem. As a result several newspapers covered the problem of intensive farming. Both pro- and anti-animal rights articles were spotted.

- On July 15 VITA handed over an open letter to the South Korean embassy in Moscow. In her appeal VITA urged the country's authorities to stop the torture of dogs and cats that are killed for food. July 15 is the international day of protest against the dog and cat maltreatment in South Korea.

- Shelter owner acquitted: On May 5 Perovskiy court of justice in Moscow acquitted an owner of a mini shelter for stray animals Olga Danilina. As VITA informed her readers in the newsletter 1/2005, local municipalities often create problems for volunteer enthusiasts who shelter strays in their apartments. This was also the case with Danilina. The judge decided in favour of the animals. On July 7 another mini shelter owner Galina Rasnyuk was also acquitted.


Dear animal friends,

Thank you for reading this newsletter. As you could read above I have a baby now. Thus I am temporarily working only part-time for VITA. This is why in 2005 you will receive only three issues of the newsletter: the January-March, April-July, and August-December editions. Next year VITA will as usually release four newsletters. Thank you for your understanding.

My colleagues and I would cordially appreciate any financial or other help. Please consider making a donation to VITA to help us carry on with our activities to save maltreated animals in Russia. Thank you very much.

I would also be most happy to learn what you think about VITA's activities throughout the last four months, and about this newsletter. Your opinion is very welcome.

If you are not on VITA's mailing list yet, but you would like to receive our free electronic quarterly newsletter, please send your e-mail address to:
maroueva-reijngoudt.vita@bluewin.ch. To unsubscribe please write to the same address.

Sincerely yours,

Tanya Maroueva,
The author of this newsletter,
Public relations,
Animal Rights Centre VITA

VITA's bank details:

INTERMEDIARY: CITIBANK N.A, NEW YORK ,
SWIFT: CITIUS33XXX

ACCOUNT OF BENEFICIARY'S BANK: 10961534

BANK OF BENEFICIARY: OST-WEST HANDELSBANK AG,
FRANKFURT/MAIN
SWIFT: OWHBDEFF

ACCOUNT OF BENEFICIARY: 0104162433

BENEFICIARY: RESTAVRATSIYASTROYBANK
MOSCOW, IN FAVOR OF
Center for the protection of animal rights "VITA"
ACC. 40703978400090001768


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For additional information please contact VITA at:

e-mail: maroueva-reijngoudt.vita@bluewin.ch
or: vita-russia@yandex.ru
tel: 007 (0)95 954 92 79
postal address:
VITA,
Russia 115191
Moscow
Mytnaya str 62-93

THANK YOU