On September 12th 2005 The California Bat Conservation Fund held The Day of the Bat at the Louden Nelson Center an informational event disspelling the myths of Earth's most unusual benifical mammal.

Each year, the California Bat Conservation Fund visits hundreds of schools, libraries, museums, and community centers to teach approximately 40,000 children, and their teachers and care givers, the truth about bats and their benefits to the human population. The Presentation consisted of a short lecture, accompanied by a slide show. Best of all, the Fund's educators are accompanied by a variety of live bats that can be seen and enjoyed up close. The four hour event was a hit with kids and adults alike opening the eyes and minds creating respect and educating people about this trully incredible and most needed animal.

I spoke with Melinda Alvarado of the San Luis Obisbo CBCF as she showed a Mexican Free tail Bat named Robert.

Audio: Download the mp3 (9:52 minutes / 9.1 MB)

[ Native Animal Rescue of Santa Cruz County || California Bat Conservation Fund || Bat Conservation International ]

There were about a dozen people at the demonstration on Mission St. in Santa Cruz on October 2, World Farm Animals Day, to protest KFC. Mission St. is also Highway 1 and there were a lot of people that honked in support of the demonstration. Informational flyers were passed out to passing motorists, as well as customers who were both entering and leaving KFC. This particular demonstration lasted about an hour, and by the time we left, there were only two customers in the restaurant.

At one point, I was standing on the sidewalk and looking inside the KFC when an employee flipped me the bird - you know, gave me the middle finger. I was quite amused by this so I walked up to her and asked her if she wanted to do that again for the camera. She declined and told me she was going to sue me.

But I have to say, the KFC employee of the day award goes to the manager for running after me and kicking me in the upper thigh. It is too bad that Amy, a film student at Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, had stopped filming just seconds prior to him kicking me. However, for what it's worth, she recorded a statement saying that she witnessed the manager kick me.

Audio (mp3): Corporations in Santa Cruz || Ryan - health, veganism, the campaign to reform KFC... || Amy

[ The Progressive Animal Rights Alliance of Santa Cruz || KentuckyFriedCruelty.com || World Farm Animals Day ]

see also: World Farm Animals Day in Israel

It may be the oddest tale to emerge from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Armed dolphins, trained by the US military to shoot terrorists and pinpoint spies underwater, may be missing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Power Structure activists who have studied the US navy's cetacean training exercises claim the 36 mammals could be carrying 'toxic dart' guns. Divers and surfers risk attack, they claim, from a species considered to be among the planet's smartest. The US navy admits it has been training dolphins for military purposes at the Defense Intelligence Institute of Monterey, but has refused to confirm that any are missing.

Dolphins have been trained in attack-and-kill missions since the Cold War. The US Pacific bottlenose dolphins have apparently been taught to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels. Their coastal compound was breached during the storm, sweeping them out to sea. But those who have studied the controversial use of dolphins in the US defence program claim it is vital they are caught quickly.

Local land developer, Barry Swenson, is a controlling stakeholder in the organization that regularly drains this Modoc County river which is habitat to endangered and threatened species.

Modoc County, CA - Under Federal Energy Regulation Commission Application P-12053, Nicholas Josten of Idaho filed an application to construct a hydroelectric plant upon the South Fork of the Pit River, located in rural Modoc County. This project proposes to generate electrical power for a maximum of 2,200 households.

As partners, the South Fork Irrigation District of Likely, California and Barry Swenson of Alturas Ranches who is financing the studies and arranging for the financing of the million plus dollar project, propose to divert 100 cubic feet from a river that hardly runs 45 cubic per second during average years along a three mile stretch of scenic roadway that runs alongside Jess Valley Road. The river is home to the endangered red band trout and the project site is proposed to sit on a 31 acre piece of BLM property, situated between two private residences and in the midst of a small residential area.

Swenson, a multimillionaire Silicon Valley Builder and Land Developer, dba Green Valley Corporation, and a sixty percent stakeholder in the South Fork Irrigation District, owns much property in Santa Clara, Monterey, Marin, Alameda, Fresno, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Yuba, Sutter, Sonoma and Modoc Counties and builds major hotels and commercial buildings. He started acquiring property in Modoc County in 1997. Read More

Two fiery and heated scoping sessions were held Wednesday, June 15th in Likely, California, with FERC officials and representatives of the National Forest Service and BLM on a proposed small hydropower project on the South Fork of the Pit River in Modoc County. Swenson's representative threatened landowners and opponents, "You people will find yourselves living in a community that hates you if you continue this!" (meaning opposing the project)

[ What's the Price of This River? || Endangered River || Stop the West Valley Power Project || Photos: South Fork Pit River ]

Call for Solidarity with Animal Advocates and Others Subpoenaed

Ten Bay Area residents, who include animal advocates, alternative media members, prisoner rights activists, and members of the greater Bay Area progressive community, have been subpoenaed to a Federal Grand Jury in San Francisco. The first hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22nd. Supporters of the Bay Area residents, as well as all those who seek to defend and keep free speech rights, have been invited to attend on a show of solidarity with those subpoenaed. The hearing will take place at 9am in the Federal Courthouse at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, San Francisco. The date is subject to change, so people who plan to attend are encouraged to check FBIwitchHunt.com for updates. Animal Liberation supporters believe that the grand jury is an effort to intimidate them. Read More

In addition, as of 6/20, at least eight activists in San Diego have received grand jury subpoenas, and the Activist San Diego house in City Heights was visited by three federal agents. Read More || Audio

Listen to Grand Jury Teach-in Audio | Fault Lines story

Read More on Indybay's Animal Liberation News Page

EU AGREED TO CIA PRISON FLIGHTS -- With these words: "Both sides [EU-US] agreed on ... increased use of European transit facilities to support the
return of criminal/inadmissible aliens...."

Friends,

Jeff has recently written two Dispatches, pasted below, about the recent arrests and the death of William Rodgers. Please feel free to forward and post these writings elsewhere.

Thanks to everyone for their ongoing support of Jeff and all political prisoners. Happy 2006,
-Friends of Jeff Free Luers

WASHINGTON (January 6, 2005) - The Humane Society of the United States and its international arm Humane Society International/Canada today congratulated the Greenland government for choosing to eliminate all purchases of Canadian sealskins through its sealskin trader and tannery, Great Greenland. The decision, announced today to the Greenland and Danish media, will be a significant move forward in the campaign to end Canada’s cruel commercial seal hunt.

Ask your favorite restaurant to boycott Canadian seafood to save 300,000 defenseless seal pups! Go to Harpseals.org to find out more and help!

The FBI and Homeland Security agents have stepped up their campaign against anarchists and animal rights and environmental activists. Raids in Arizona, NYC, arrests in NYC, AZ, grand jury subpeonas in OR.