RMB Newsletter Vol 2:4 Keeping The Veterinary Record Straight December 2002
Dear Reader,
How was Christmas? Good I trust. And I hope you are looking forward to
the New Year too.
Several RMB developments have come to a rapid conclusion in the run up to
Christmas. One development deserves an early place on the public record,
hence this last RMB Newsletter of 2002.
The British Veterinary Association publishes a weekly journal, The
Veterinary Record, for its more than ten thousand members. Editor, Martin
Alder, ignored letters asking him to consider Raw Meaty Bones for a
review in The Veterinary Record. But in March 2002 I was able to contact
him and he suggested that a copy of the book be sent to him for
consideration.
Nine months later, after unanswered letters and unresolved telephone
calls, Mr Alder has settled on the excuse for NOT reviewing the book.
Over the nine months we have heard several excuses -- ‘no time to look at
it’, ‘can’t find anyone to review the book’, ‘more important things to
do’ and the final choice ‘not enough room in the journal’.
There are many reasons why the book SHOULD be reviewed in The Veterinary
Record. First, it represents a (somewhat underhand) opportunity for
critics of the book to have their say. Mr Alder pointed out that British
law takes a more relaxed attitude to defamatory material published in a
book review on the grounds that the ‘book’s author invited it’.
Second there are many positive reasons for reviewing the book (See
Reviews and Veterinarians Say at www.rawmeatybones.com) Perhaps Dr
Douglas Bryden sums it up with his recommendation ‘every graduate and
undergraduate veterinarian should read the book’.
The legitimacy of any institution or profession depends on its
contribution to society. Veterinary institutions must meet a hierarchy of
criteria. Decisions and actions should:
i) meet the needs of animals
ii) meet the needs of animal owners
iii) meet the needs of veterinarians
iv) meet the needs of the institution, in this case The British
Veterinary Association.
It seems that Mr Alder’s decision fails on all four counts. History will
judge if this apparent failure is an unfortunate mistake or whether it
constitutes part of an ongoing attempt by the veterinary authorities to
silence criticism and ban discussion of essential information.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the body responsible for
regulating British vets, has been kept informed and thus far has failed
to act. But action will surely come against those who would ban
discussion of essential information. Whether in a court room or
commission of enquiry I rather doubt Mr Alder’s reasoning and defence of
his employer, the British Veterinary Association, will withstand
scrutiny. Criterion iv) above, under such circumstances, will be shown to
fail abysmally.
Correspondence below helps to keep the British veterinary record
straight.
The book review situation in the Australian veterinary journals is
similarly bad and should be placed on the veterinary record. I’m
hoping ‘space will allow’ for a fuller description in forthcoming issues
of the RMB Newsletter.
Wishing you a splendid New Year,
Best wishes,
Tom Lonsdale and the Raw Meaty Bones crew
________________________________________________________
Date: Thu, 26 Dec 2002 11:45:39 -0500
To: Martin Alder
From: Tom Lonsdale
Subject: Keeping The Veterinary Record Straight
Cc: AB, Alison Tyler, Bill Miller, Breck, Irene work, Jane@rcvs.org.uk,
registrar@rcvs.org.uk, bvahq@bva.co.uk
Dear Martin,
Thank you for your formal confirmation of your refusal to review Raw
Meaty Bones in your weekly publication The Veterinary Record, journal of
the British Veterinary Association.
Dr Tom Hungerford OBE, grandfather of the Australian veterinary
profession, urged me:
'Tell the people who won't review their views that: "The foolish and the
dead never change their opinions." Maybe that is an overstatement - as
the "brain-dead" may also refuse to revise. (Full text at:
www.rawmeatybones.com )
In the interests of British pets, pet owners and veterinarians I urge you
and the British Veterinary Association to revise your decision.
We must endeavour to keep faith with the community and keep the
veterinary record straight. Accordingly, I shall post this letter and the
correspondence below on the Internet.
Wishing you compliments of the Season,
Tom Lonsdale
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15 July 2002
Mr Martin Alder
Editor
The Veterinary Record
7 Mansfield Street
London WIG 9NQ
UK
Dear Mr Alder,
Review of Raw Meaty Bones: Promote Health
Further to previous correspondence on this issue I telephoned you today.
You stated that you were busy and unable to discuss the matter since you
were preparing to go away for two weeks. I said that I would therefore
write to you.
You did say that: ‘I was interested to see your line in The Sunday Times
article the same line that you have taken in the book.'
On 28 June we discussed the issues at length. On that occasion you
said: ‘If we give you a good review you’ll use it; if we give you a bad
review you’ll use it; I don’t like being used.'
On 28 June you indicated that you would discuss the proposed review of
the book with others at the British Veterinary Association.
It appears that rather than meet moral and ethical obligations to the
membership and the wider community The Veterinary Record and the British
Veterinary Association are pursuing other agendas.
Please advise at the earliest if you will or will not review Raw Meaty
Bones within the pages of The Veterinary Record. Please indicate the time
frame for such a review or alternatively return the book and accompanying
video.
Failure to resolve this issue, in my opinion, renders a considerable
disservice to veterinary surgeons, pet owners and the wider community.
Please give this matter top priority.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Lonsdale
Cc. Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 08 Dec 2002 14:27:31 -0500
To: alder@bva-edit.co.uk
From: Tom Lonsdale
Subject: The Historical Record
Cc: AB, Alison Tyler, Bill Miller, Breck, Irene work, Jane Hern,
press@bva.co.uk, bvahq@bva.co.uk
Bcc: ƒFiling systemRCVS+Vet Rec,ƒFiling systemHall of shame
Dear Martin,
Please find attached copies of letters which remain unanswered.
Alison Tyler, my US Agent, informs me that on each occasion she has
telephoned you that you have been evasive as to whether or not The
Veterinary Record intends to publish a review of Raw Meaty Bones.
Your refusal to respond to the simplest questions has already secured you
a place in the historical record.
The British Veterinary Association has an unenviable reputation as a
promoter and supporter of artificial pet foods.
Raw Meaty Bones details the scandal where veterinarians promote and sell
artificial pet foods and thus collude in the mass poisoning of domestic
pets.
Unless British veterinary surgeons can be adequately informed they are
destined to continue their cruel and inhumane conduct.
Now through The Veterinary Record the BVA refuses to publish a review of
Raw Meaty Bones, which Dr Douglas Bryden AM said should be read by 'every
graduate and undergraduate veterinarian'.
Please advise the names of the board of the BVA so that they may take
their rightful place in the historical record.
Meanwhile it is incumbent on me to ensure that the contemporary record is
maintained. Accordingly I may publish your responses, or lack of
responses, and those of other officers of the BVA, on the Internet and
other places as required.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Lonsdale
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
X-From_: alder@bva-edit.co.uk Mon Dec 23 22:00:11 2002
Delivered-To: lonsdale@summit.net.au
User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022
Date: Mon, 23 Dec 2002 11:15:03 +0000
Subject: Veterinary Record
From: Martin Alder
To:
Dear Tom,
You and your agents have been pressing us to let you know whether we will
be accepting your invitation review your book 'Raw meaty bones'. As I
have tried to explain, other priorities mean that room for book reviews is
limited, and we cannot review all the books we receive. This is to let
you know that we will not be reviewing the book in The Veterinary Record,
although we will be listing it as a 'Book Received'. As I have made clear
to you and your agents, this is an editorial matter and not one in which
the BVA has been involved.
Yours sincerely,
Martin Alder
Editor
The Veterinary Record
___________________________________________________________
We welcome copies of correspondence/emails/faxes for possible inclusion
in
future RMB Newsletters.
Please circulate, distribute or reproduce this newsletter as you wish.
___________________________________________________________
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Australia
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