www.sharkonline.org/
www.facebook.com/pages/Geneva-IL/SHARK-SHowing-Animals-Respect-and-Kindness/8171776830
www.animalconcerns.org/resource.html?itemid=200403162122520.52642&catid=5
www.cingularsponsorscruelty.com/
www.greenpeople.org/listing/SHARK_Showing_Animal_235.cfm
- Taylor Swift - Does She Have a Heart?
Date: Thu, July 16, 09
July 13, 2009: In This Issue
Latest Cheyenne Camera Policy
Taylor Swift
Rob Sherman's Great Blog
SHARK at CFD
Coke Cruelty.com
RodeoCruelty. com
BullfightBloodbath. com
PigeonShoots. com
CorporateThugs. com
SHARK's My Space
Read Past E-Newsletters
Latest News! Cheyenne Changes Camera Policy - Again!!!
Rodeo Fears SHARK's Investigative Documentation
LATEST NEWS - Changing their camera policy of late more often then many
rodeo people change their underwear, Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo
organizers have yet another new camera policy:
Can I bring my camera to the rodeo or Frontier Nights events?
You may use photographs, videotape or digital images obtained from
Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo solely for private or personal,
non-commercial purposes only. Any other use, including for any commercial,
issue advocacy or fundraising purposes, is strictly prohibited without our
express prior written consent. Systematic retrieval of images from the
rodeo, whether to create or compile, directly or indirectly, a collection
or compilation is prohibited absent our express prior written consent.
You can read the entire policy here.
The new policy demonstrates just how deathly afraid the rodeo mafia is of
SHARK's video documentation. The truth hurts animal abusers, and never has
that been clearer than in the case of the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo.
If you want to help rodeo animals and support the First Amendment, please
boycott rodeo sponsors like Coke. In fact, this be a great time to call
Coke at their toll free number (800) 438-2653 (GET-COKE) or email them
and complain to them about their support of the cruel and un-American
Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo.
Taylor Swift - She has a Voice -- Does She Have a Heart?
In just a week, the 2009 Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) will begin in
Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Cheyenne Frontier Days includes perhaps the most
cruel and infamous rodeo in the world. The Cheyenne rodeo includes two of
the most violent and indefensible events in rodeo -- steer busting and the
misnamed "wild horse race."
Well-known country music star Taylor Swift is scheduled to perform during
the 2009 CFD celebration. On July 1, 2009, I sent a letter to Taylor
Swift's company, Taylor Swift Entertainment. The letter, which is
included in this update, informed Ms. Swift of the cruelty of Cheyenne,
and identified a number of entertainers who have said "No!" to the cruelty
of rodeos, including Carrie Underwood, the band Matchbox Twenty and Rikki
Rockett of the rock group Poison.
So far, Ms. Swift has not responded.
I hope you will write Taylor Swift a letter and/or quick email to her
surrogates to encourage her to speak out about the cruelty of rodeo. No
caring performer should make money at the expense of animal being
brutalized, maimed and killed. Here is her contact information:
Ms. Taylor Swift
c/o Taylor Swift Entertainment
242 West Main St.
P.M.B 412
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Via Email:
Nikki.Burns@ bigmachinemail. com;
scott.borchetta@ bigmachinemail. com;
Jack.purcell@ bigmachinemail. com
VERY IMPORTANT -- Please let us know of any response you may receive!
Thank you all for caring and for fighting for our nonhuman friends!
July 1, 2009
Ms. Taylor Swift
c/o Taylor Swift Entertainment
242 West Main St.
P.M.B 412
Hendersonville, TN 37075
Via Certified Mail
Via Email:
Nikki.Burns@ bigmachinemail. com,
scott.borchetta@ bigmachinemail. com;
Jack.purcell@ bigmachinemail. com
Re: Animal Cruelty and Deaths at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo
Taylor Swift's Upcoming Cheyenne Performance (July 23, 2009)
Ms. Taylor Swift:
Showing Animals Respect and Kindness (SHARK) is an animal protection
organization with over 15 years experience in documenting rodeo animal
abuse. It has come to our attention that you intend to perform at the
Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo in July 2009. I am writing to provide you
with important information regarding the treatment of animals at this
venue. As you may know, Carrie Underwood and Matchbox 20 both canceled
their scheduled performances at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo with
Matchbox Twenty specifically stating it was due to the rodeo's treatment
of animals. We sent them the same information we are sending you about the
rodeo. In addition, last year Rikki Rockett from Poison issued a statement
condemning the animal cruelty at rodeos.
The public as a whole is unaware that rodeos are one of the worst forms of
animal abuse in the United States. The cruelty of the Cheyenne Frontier
Days Rodeo, where you are scheduled to perform, is particularly
egregious. I urge you to please review the following links.
Rodeos brutalize, maim and kill untold numbers of animals, so many that
the rodeo industry does not release animal injury and death reports.
Performing at any rodeo is supporting animal abusers, but performing at
the Cheyenne Frontier Days is something no one who cares about animals can
do with a clear conscience. SHARK has set up a separate website to expose
the cruelty at: www.ShameOnCheyenne .com.
Last year, Cheyenne banned the practice of electro-shocking animals to
make them perform as result of negative publicity from artists canceling
their performances. However, there is almost certainly still going to be
animals injured and killed at this year's rodeo due to several other
abusive events. And just a few weeks ago, the rodeo banned all video
cameras and even cell phone cameras that can take videotape. These are not
the actions of people who have nothing to hide and are proud of their
treatment of the animals. These are the actions of desperate people trying
to hide their cruel treatment of animals from the world.
The Cheyenne Rodeo has always been known as an especially brutal rodeo.
However, the shocking of animals at Cheyenne is only the tip of the
iceberg. The Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo is particularly egregious for a
number of reasons. The Cheyenne Rodeo includes steer busting, which is
the most deadly event in rodeo. Relatively few rodeos include steer
busting (aka: steer tripping / single-steer roping) because of the high
number of animal injuries and deaths. For much more information and to
see video documentation of every cruel event listed here, please visit our
YouTube account and click on the Playlist for Cheyenne which contains
almost two dozen videos exposing their treatment of animals at the
Cheyenne rodeo: Cheyenne Frontier Days Cruelty Exposed.
The Cheyenne Rodeo also includes the dangerous "Wild Horse Race." This
event does not involve actual wild horses, but rather, young horses that
are terrorized into acting wild. In 2005, I witnessed a young horse that
was killed in the "wild horse race" in Cheyenne. For more information,
click here.
The Cheyenne Rodeo is also well known for its appalling rough treatment of
3-4 month-old calves in calf roping. In just one performance two years
ago, SHARK investigators witnessed and video documented as four of these
innocent animals were so badly injured they had to be dragged out on a
sled. When another was being hauled out a few days later, the rodeo
announcer lied to the audience, claiming that it was the first animal to
be hauled out, see video here. Before the rodeo was over at least one
horse would be injured as well, see video here. Over a dozen animals
(calves and steers) and one horse were injured at the 2007 Cheyenne
Frontier Days Rodeo.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, or the PRCA sanctions the
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. The PRCA has a long and sordid history of
abusing animals, lying and covering up the abuse, injuries and deaths of
their victims, and attempting to stop animal protectors from videotaping
the abuses, often through attempted intimidation.
While rodeo supporters claim to care about animals, nothing could be
farther from the truth. Rodeo is extremely abusive, and rodeo events
bears little, and in some cases no resemblance whatsoever to actual ranch
work -- now or ever. How many animals are injured and killed in rodeos is
a closely guarded secret. Likewise, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys
Association (PRCA) and other rodeo associations refuse to identify
participants who are cited for violating humane rules. We believe this is
because most humane violations are not punished at all. One of the PRCA's
most highly touted "humane rules" is that a veterinarian must be in
attendance at all performances. However, our investigations have revealed
numerous instances where seriously injured animals were left without
veterinary treatment, even to the point of death. See www.PRCAfacts. com.
We recently learned that the insurance policy for most, if not the vast
majority of rodeos requires that any injured animal must be reported to
the insurance agency prior to being put down. The real kicker here is
that the agency in question is only open during business hours. Most
rodeos performances occur from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon, so
badly injured animals could linger for many hours or even days before
being put out of their suffering.
In 2006 we learned that Carrie Underwood was scheduled to perform. We
notified Ms. Underwood and sent her information about the rodeo, see
here. Ms. Underwood subsequently did not appear at the Cheyenne Frontier
Days Rodeo.
In 2007 we learned that Matchbox Twenty was scheduled to perform. We
notified Rob Thomas and the band and sent them information about the
rodeo, see here. Matchbox Twenty subsequently did not appear at the
Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo, specifically citing concerns about the
treatment of animals.
In 2008 we learned that Poison was scheduled to perform. Again we
contacted Poison and sent them information about the rodeo, see
here. Poison went on to perform at the rodeo, but drummer Rikki Rockett
was quoted as saying that this was Poison's last gig at a rodeo.
As widely successful as you are, I hope you won't want to be involved in
something as cruel and deadly as the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. You
have the opportunity to join the ranks of other great performers like the
Pretenders, Carrie Underwood, Matchbox Twenty, Rikki Rockett and the
legendary Sir Paul McCartney and stand for compassion.
I urge you to please view the videos on YouTube and the videos on
www.ShameOnCheyenne .com and www.TheCruelTruth. com. More information about
rodeo animal abuse may be found at www.RodeoCruelty. com. I look forward to
hearing from you on this important matter by the end of the month.
We are asking that at a minimum you speak out to the press about some of
the cruelty at this rodeo. Asking that Cheyenne Frontier Days drop their
cruelest events - steer roping and the wild horse race because as we
described above, so many animals are injured and even killed solely for
"entertainment" . Both of these events are 100% optional and not required
to be an "official" rodeo.
I will leave you with this quote:
"Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a
civilized society. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock
fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are all cut from the same defective
fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life
will we have learned to live well ourselves." - Cesar Chavez
Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi
President
SHARK
Email:
shindi@sharkonline. org
Phone: 630-557-0176
Cell: 630-640-1889
www.cowboycriminals.com
www.rodeocruelty.com
Chicago Tribune Journalist Rob Sherman's Excellent Blog
The Corrupt Economics of Rodeo
Chicago Tribune journalist Rob Sherman has another great entry in his blog
about rodeos and animal cruelty. While we thought the last entry one was
good, this one is even better! Check it out here. Be sure to leave
a comment and thank him!
SHARK is on its Way to the CFD Rodeo
Help Us Expose the Cruelty
SHARK is heading out for a grueling two-week trip to Cheyenne, WY to
document and expose the Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo. Documenting and
exposing rodeos is expensive. Although we travel economically, hotels,
fuel, vehicle expenses, and equipment costs add up. Please donate here to
support our work for the animals.
Kindest Regards,
Steve Hindi and Your SHARK Team
"Kindness and compassion towards all living beings is a mark of a
civilized society. Racism, economic deprival, dog fighting and cock
fighting, bullfighting and rodeos are all cut from the same defective
fabric: violence. Only when we have become nonviolent towards all life
will we have learned to live well ourselves." - Cesar Chavez, civil
rights and labor leader, founder of the United Farm Workers
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