We Are Back…The Fight is On

Our Wisconsin, Our Wildlife

Welcome.

After thinking that our cause could get a wider reach exclusively with Facebook posts only we have decided to return with a a dual reach format with Facebook and our blog here. Our wildlife is under threat more than ever before and when political and climate factors intersect we could be looking at a mass extinction caused by our own hand and the greed of man. Wildlife was once pushed to the brink in the name of “market hunting,’ misguided hatreds and fears, and all around human greed. Despite what the killing cartels and state killing agencies tell you “market hunting” never went away. It is now re-branded as outfitting, game farms, “sustainable harvests,” and a myriad of other fluffy terms that equate to wholesale killing for profit, recreation, or misguided fear and hatred. Some wildlife advocates refer to this new form of “market hunting” as the “Recreational Industrial…

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When “Energy” Drinks Actually Contained Radioactive Energy

Mining Awareness +

From “The Conversation”:
“When ‘energy’ drinks actually contained radioactive energy
By Timothy J. Jorgensen, Georgetown University

Modern life have you feeling frazzled? Flagging a bit as you rush through your day? Maybe you’re one of the millions of consumers who lean on energy drinks to put a little extra pep in your step.

Though emblematic of our time, energy drinks aren’t an invention of the new millennium. People have relied on them to combat fatigue for at least a century. Today, their “energy” typically derives from some type of neurological stimulant that makes people feel more energetic, or sometimes just sugar.

But there was a time when energy drinks actually contained real energy. The active ingredient in these drinks was radium, a radioactive element that releases a packet of radiant energy with every atomic decay. While the connection between consuming a radioactive element and reaping a…

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At Chernobyl and Fukushima, Radioactivity Has Seriously Harmed Wildlife

Mining Awareness +

From “The Conversation”: “At Chernobyl and Fukushima, radioactivity has seriously harmed wildlife By Timothy A. Mousseau, University of South Carolina

The largest nuclear disaster in history occurred 30 years ago at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in what was then the Soviet Union. The meltdown, explosions and nuclear fire that burned for 10 days injected enormous quantities of radioactivity into the atmosphere and contaminated vast areas of Europe and Eurasia. The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates that Chernobyl released 400 times more radioactivity into the atmosphere than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.

Radioactive cesium from Chernobyl can still be detected in some food products today. And in parts of central, eastern and northern Europe many animals, plants and mushrooms still contain so much radioactivity that they are unsafe for human consumption.

The first atomic bomb exploded at Alamogordo, New Mexico more than 70 years ago…

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Not to Be Outdone By Putin, Trump Signs Order Opening Arctic for Oil Drilling

Mining Awareness +

Protesting Russian State owned Gazprom; Albertina Museum in Vienna

Deepwater Horizon, BP oil spill, Gulf of Mexico
From the VOA:
“Trump Signs Order Opening Arctic for Oil Drilling
April 28, 2017 3:23 PM, Steve Baragona
WASHINGTON — 
President Donald Trump is re-opening for oil exploration areas that President Barack Obama had closed, a move that environmental groups have promised to fight.

In an executive order Friday, the president reversed the Obama administration’s decision to prohibit oil and gas drilling in the Arctic waters off Alaska.

The order also instructs the Interior Department to review current restrictions on energy development in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. In addition, it bars the creation or expansion of marine sanctuaries and orders a review of all areas protected within the last 10 years.
[…]
The action is the latest from the Trump administration aimed at boosting domestic energy production and loosening…

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Petition update · We won!! VICTORY update! · Change.org

https://www.change.org/p/subway-stop-supporting-cruelty-to-chickens/u/20137982?utm_medium=email&utm_source=64582&utm_campaign=petition_update&sfmc_tk=ucdJC2y63RYGxDoVsWgijr%2bAE87OBE9Ybyihv0AZdD2Xk1HaWgoZ5lSa0jTxJHRG

Victory! No 2017 – 2018 Trophy Black Bear Trophy Hunt · Petition Update Change.org

https://www.change.org/p/brian-yablonski-stop-the-2017-florida-black-bear-hunt/u/20141609?utm_medium=email&utm_source=64771&utm_campaign=petition_update&sfmc_tk=ucdJC2y63RYGxDoVsWgijk5N5Ez%2bvzRdxFUzqNl%2bXhkNVqG%2bE%2faRhMA4P8QBiCKv

Four Men Charged with Illegal Trafficking of Threatened Alligator Snapping Turtles

Department of Justice

 Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Four Men Charged With the Illegal Trafficking of Threatened Alligator Snapping Turtles

The Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that four men have been charged for their involvement in the illegal trafficking of alligator snapping turtles.

Alligator snapping turtles are the largest freshwater turtles in the world and can grow to weigh more than 200 pounds with a lifespan of more than 100 years. The turtles are designated as threatened with statewide extinction under Texas state law which strictly prohibits anyone from taking, capturing, transporting, or selling these turtles, or attempting to do so.

In one indictment, Travis Leger and Rickey Simon, both of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Jason Leckelt of Wilburton, Oklahoma, are charged with conspiracy and Lacey Act violations for illegally taking about 66 alligator snapping turtles in Texas and then transporting them back to their property in Sulphur, Louisiana, for sale in the Spring and Summer of 2016. In July 2016, federal agents seized 30 large alligator snapping turtles from ponds located at the defendants’ property in Sulphur, Louisiana, pursuant to a federal search warrant. The indictment also charges Leger with making a false statement to federal agents and charges Rickey Simon with destroying evidence during the execution of the federal warrant. In a separate indictment, Montaro Williams of Elton, Louisiana, is charged with a Lacey Act violation for illegally taking two alligator snapping turtles in Texas and then attempting to transport them to Louisiana for sale on Aug. 12, 2013.

Leger was arrested today in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and made his initial appearance in federal court there. Simon, Leckelt, and Williams were arrested earlier this month.

An indictment is an allegation based upon a finding of probable cause by a federal grand jury, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the conspiracy, Lacey Act, and false statement charges and up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the destruction of evidence charge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Batte of the Eastern District of Texas and Senior Trial Attorney David P. Kehoe of the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case. The case is being investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.



Petition: Texas: Protect the Ocelot and Create More Under-road Wildlife Crossings

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/213/891/252/?z00m=29011120&redirectID=2390281176

Petition: Please Urge Charleston Carriage Works to Allow Big John to Retire at Rancho Relaxo

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/758/182/540/

Petition: Justice for Simon: Tell United Airlines to Update Its Pet Travel Policies!

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/807/494/677/justice-for-simon-tell-united-airlines-to-update-its-pet-travel-policies/?TAP=1732

Wildlife on the Brink, Where Do We Go From Here?

Our Wisconsin, Our Wildlife

This is what Wisconsin considers “managment” of wildlife. Legal dog fighitng is not only condoned but encouraged by the State of Wisconsin. Upon delisitng this form of legal dog fighting will be allowed against wolves….if it isn’t occurring already. Photo used under Fair Use for Educational Purposes. 

Once again it seems that the gray wolf population in Great Lakes will handed over to states full of individuals and groups wishing to see them wiped off the face of the earth. Hostile state agencies, along with their contracted federal goon squads known as “Wildlife Services” are primed and ready to immediately begin the killing once federal “protections” are removed. As most wildlife advocates know those “protections” were in name only as poaching and 24/7/365 harassment by Wisconsin hounders have kept the wolf population under constant threat. With a looming delisting this harassment is only going to get worse and be more…

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Protect Bangladesh from Climate Change – ForceChange

https://forcechange.com/221288/protect-bangladesh-from-climate-change/

Stop Large Companies From Stealing Images on Instagram – ForceChange

https://forcechange.com/226319/stop-large-companies-from-stealing-images-on-instagram/

Clean Up One of America’s Most Polluted Lakes – ForceChange

https://forcechange.com/221237/clean-up-one-of-americas-most-polluted-lakes/

Protect Wildlife From Deadly Corporate Pesticide – ForceChange

https://forcechange.com/223437/protect-endangered-species-from-deadly-pesticide/

BREAKING: Los Angeles Bans Use of Wild Animals for Entertainment! | One Green Planet

Kate Good
April 25, 2017

We have some fantastic news to share with you! A recent press release from Performing Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) announced that the city council of Los Angeles voted today to ban the use of wild animals in entertainment! The motion, by Councilmember David Ryu, affects circuses, other wild animal exhibitions, and rentals for house parties. An official ordinance is being drafted and will soon be returned to the Council for final approval.

While other cities in the U.S. have taken similar action to prohibit the use of wild animals in entertainment, L.A. is by far the largest city to do so – and the fact that this municipality is known for its entertainers is certainly not lost on us.

It seems that after years and years of campaigns by animal activists, lawmakers and businesses are finally waking up to the harsh reality that animals do not exist for our entertainment.

The majority of animals, who are either taken from the wild or raised captivity, that appear in circuses and other attractions exhibit signs of deep mental and physical distress. A study by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) found that approximately two-thirds of captive elephants exhibit stereotypic behaviors such as head bobbing, weaving, and swaying. These mindless, repetitive behaviors are thought to be outward expressions of anxiety and stress in captive animals. Sadly, bobbing and swaying are the better manifestations of this illness, aptly dubbed zoochosis, other animals have been known to over-groom themselves to the point of harm, throw or each their feces, or regurgitate their meals. Not exactly signs of happy animals.

In addition, the methods used to train wild animals to perform are nothing short of cruel. Many entertainers deprive animals of food to get them to perform on perfect cue, in addition, they use painful tools such as bullhooks (which incidentally L.A. had already banned) and whips to teach animals through fear and pain. Circuses and animal shows might be fun for us, but they are certainly not for the animals.

Luckily, it seems as if the tide against this cruel form of entertainment is turning. Thanks to the work of organizations like PAWS and the countless activists who have offered their voices to suffering animals, we’re seeing more and more progress towards emptying the cages for good. Ringling Bros. is scheduled to have their last show next month and we can only hope that this, coupled with the news that L.A. has voted to end animals in entertainment, will encourage more cities and businesses to do the same.

Worm That Likes to Eat Plastic May Help Save Marine Species From Ocean Pollution | One Green Planet

Aleksandra Pajda
April 25, 2017

Now that we are facing the immense problem of plastic waste overflowing our planet, we almost wish something would just magically take care of all the dangerous trash finding its way onto streets and ocean waters. Well, while this solution may not yet exist – scientists have discovered that waxworms have a peculiar taste for plastic! But there is no magic whatsoever to the marvel of those little caterpillars – only the wonders of biology.

Scientists have reported that waxworms (Galleria mellonella) consume plastic at “uniquely high speed” and are able to break down even the toughest of them. During research, these worms proved perfectly able to eat through the infamously hard to break down polyethylene and did it 1,400 times faster than other organisms! According to scientists, the worm’s talent for breaking down such difficult materials lies in the potent enzymes in its saliva or gut – enzymes the worm uses to break down beeswax, which is similar to plastic in its chemical bonds.

What makes the news even more interesting, is it was discovered purely by accident. A biologist and amateur beekeeper, Federica Bertocchini, placed the worms temporarily in a plastic bag while cleaning out her hives and quickly noticed the holes that were appearing in the bag. During the following tests at Cambridge, 100 waxworms were released onto a plastic bag and holes began to appear after just 40 minutes!

Researchers claim that this discovery could be turned into a solution to the plastic problem on an industrial scale through a reproduction in large quantities of the specific enzyme that is responsible for breaking down the plastic. As reported by Independent.ie, Paolo Bombelli from Cambridge University believes that the newly discovered enzymes could be used to adapt recycling plants to biodegrade mass quantities of plastic and one day the enzymes could even be sprayed directly onto landfill sites or sea plants.

This thrilling discovery makes us hopeful for a breakthrough in the issue of plastic waste and the future of dealing with unrecycled trash. But let us not forget that, however uncannily great at eating plastic these waxworms are, they will not simply end our plastic problem. We currently dump around 8.8 million tons of plastic in the oceans every year – and around 700 marine species are threatened with extinction as a result. While these waxworms could lend these animals a hand, the responsibility to make conscious choices and take care of the world around us is still ours.

The Acre of Diamonds

My Good Time Stories

Photo Credit: Zach Dischner via CC Flickr

The following story was told by Dr. Russell H. Conwell to raise millions of dollars to help fund the formation of Temple University in Philadelphia. He used the story to fire the imagination of his listeners during more than 6,000 fund-raising lectures. The story gives us a tremendous illustration of a way that a person can find true happiness in their own “Acres of Happiness.”

Many, many years ago, a young American was traveling down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in the Middle East and was accompanied by an old Arab guide that he had hired in Bagdad.

During the trip, the guide told him a story about an ancient Persian Ali Hafed. Hafed owned a very large farm, orchards, grain fields, gardens, and money coming in from loans that he made. He was a wealthy and contented man.

One day Hafed was…

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Thousands Sue Merck Over Dangerous Shingles Vaccine

Nwo Report

Thousands of victims are suing shingles vaccine manufacturer Merck for giving them the very virus the vaccination was supposed to protect them against. 

According to massive lawsuit, the shingles vaccine Zostavax attacks a persons central nervous system causing a painful rash, which can then lead to encephalitis, vision loss and postherpetic neuralgia.

Attorney Troy Bouk was recently interviewed to discuss the dangers of the shingles vaccine and the reason why thousands of its recipients are seeking to hold big pharma accountable for the damage it has done.

Thefreethoughtproject.com reports:

In the interview with Cousins, Bouk explained that Zostavax is made with a live strain of the shingles virus and described the complications that are associated with shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the same virus that causes chicken pox. The varicella-zoster virus lies dormant in people who have had chicken pox, but sometimes the virus reawakens and produces shingles.

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After 20 Years in a South Korean Marine Park, 2 Dolphins are Going Back to the Wild! | One Green Planet

Michelle Neff

April 24, 2017

We have some very exciting news to share! After a staggering 20 years living at the Seoul Grand Park aquarium, Geumdeung, and Daepo, two bottlenose dolphins will be sent back to the oceans in July. The two dolphins were captured by a fishery net near Jeju Island in 1997 and 1998, respectively, with their names coming from the villages where they were first found. Geumdeung and Daepo were bounced between various dolphin performance theaters around Jeju Island until they were transported to Seoul Grand Park in 1999 and 2002. The pair have been there ever since.

According to the Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending marine animal captivity, the decision to move Geumdeung and Daepo came from Mayor Park Won-soon. The ground-breaking movie “The Cove” greatly influenced the mayor’s decision to rehabilitate and release the two dolphins, even going as far as to pay for the entire project.
After being taken from the wild and then forced to perform meaningless tricks for people, Geumdeung and Daepo are now finally going back home. Wonderful news!

The decision to move the dolphins back into their home is a solution to increase the wild dolphin population near the Jeju shores. Geumdeung and Daepo are around 23 to 26 years old and are still diagnosed as healthy enough to procreate, the average Indo-Pacific Bottlenose dolphin living up to 30-25 years old.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries plans to carry out training sessions for Geumdeung and Daepo so they will adapt back into the wild. Once they become used to their local surroundings and are able to catch prey, the two dolphins will be transported back to the Jeju island in May and then will return to the ocean around July. With dolphins having complex communication skills, advanced mental capacity, and genuine self-awareness, we are thrilled to learn that Geumdeung and Daepo will soon return to where they belong: the wild.

No animal should have to suffer for the sake of our entertainment. Please never visit or otherwise support a marine park like SeaWorld or Marineland. Instead, support organizations like Ric O’Barry’s Dolphin Project and Sea Shepherd’s Cove Guardians both of which are dedicated to stopping marine animal captivity. 🐬

Petition: Demand Penny-Pinching Trump Adminstration Keep Their Dirty Hands Off Energy Star Program

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/638/802/845/?z00m=29065178&redirectID=2387920412

Tell Chrysler, State Farm, Wells Fargo, and Others to Stop Sponsoring Cruel, Deadly Iditarod

More than 150 dogs have died, but these companies continue to sponsor the cruel race. Please join PETA in urging them to end their sponsorship.

Source: Tell Chrysler, State Farm, Wells Fargo, and Others to Stop Sponsoring Cruel, Deadly Iditarod

Don’t Let The Legislature Block Plastic Bag Bans!

Just days after Earth Day — the Pennsylvania House could take up a bill that would block local efforts to pass a ban or fee on plastic bags at the point of sale.

Source: Don’t Let The Legislature Block Plastic Bag Bans!

Petition · Janet Woodcock, M.D.: Pressure the FDA to approve two effective ALS drugs today! · Change.org

https://www.change.org/p/janet-woodcock-m-d-pressure-the-fda-to-approve-two-effective-als-drugs-today/sign?utm_source=action_alert_sign&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=740084&alert_id=KVPLOATogI_8%2BQkRgIOWZ1XSuEIaoMH%2Bt%2BiXpDisLamSWkKE2vbyqZGD3qP%2Bcia%2BBRsiXMGozFo

3 Actions to Take on World Day for Animals in Laboratories | PETA UK

http://www.peta.org.uk/blog/3-actions-world-day-animals-laboratories/?utm_campaign=VIV%20animals%20in%20labs%20day%20email&utm_source=Action%20Email&utm_medium=Promo

Speak out for Chile’s Humboldt penguins! – Rainforest Rescue

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1085/speak-out-for-chile-s-humboldt-penguins?mtu=236178249&t=3125

Get carcinogenic refined palm oil out of our food! – Rainforest Rescue

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1056/get-carcinogenic-refined-palm-oil-out-of-our-food

We need our land, not oil palms! – Rainforest Rescue

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1089/we-need-our-land-not-oil-palms

Eni: stop trashing the rainforest for “green” fuel! – Rainforest Rescue

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1041/eni-stop-trashing-the-rainforest-for-green-fuel

Gorillas in danger: save Kafuga Forest Reserve! – Rainforest Rescue

https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/petitions/1034/gorillas-in-danger-save-kafuga-forest-reserve