RMB Newsletter Vol 4:4 ‘Sue the bastards’, lobby your MP October 2004

Dear Reader, How are things in your neck of the woods? Things here in Australia are excellent. Last week we thought summer had arrived with the hottest Sydney, October day on record: 38°C (100°F) Today, it’s 14°C. Regardless of weather fluctuations and in countries across the globe raw feeding continues to gain supporters. Since May, when I last wrote, I have been meeting with enthusiastic raw-feeders and, in Australia and the UK, doing battle with hostile veterinary authorities Here’s a diary of events, report from the UK Raw Meaty Bones Support & Action Group, a model organisation in the UK, and summer holiday ideas for January in Western Australia –- hope you can be there. Best wishes, Tom Lonsdale -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Australian Veterinary Association Kangaroo Court ‘a disgrace’. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When news of the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) kangaroo court action against me became public I received lots of messages of support. Many correspondents communicated their concerns to the AVA. Thank you to all concerned. Here’s a brief account of the expulsion that Paul Lynch, lawyer and Member of the NSW State Parliament labeled ‘a disgrace’. Five of the eight Principles of the Code of Professional Conduct for members of The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) convey a clear message that promoting and selling processed food for dogs and cats is morally and ethically wrong. ___________________________________________ Principles of Code of Professional Conduct for members of The Australian Veterinary Association Members of the Australian Veterinary Association are committed to using their skills and knowledge for the welfare of animals and society 1. Veterinarians shall always consider the welfare of the animal first in the provision of veterinary services. 2. Veterinarians should strive to improve the quality of veterinary services, and the health and the welfare of animals, at every opportunity. 3. Veterinarians should provide the best possible veterinary services to the animals under their care and to the community based on current scientific knowledge. 4. 5. 6. 7. Veterinarians should continue to develop their professional knowledge and skills and share their knowledge with colleagues and other relevant professionals as appropriate. 8. Veterinarians should uphold the integrity of the veterinary profession. ____________________________________________ Nonetheless a majority of AVA members promote and sell processed food. The governing body of the AVA operates in association with Mars, the world’s biggest producer of junk food, and some of its front organizations. As responsible longstanding members of the AVA Dr Breck Muir and I campaigned within the AVA for accountability and an end to the mass poisoning of the patients entrusted to the care of AVA members. We stood for AVA elections, usually obtaining around 10% of the vote, and tried many methods to raise awareness of the scandal. For our troubles we were vilified and our message suppressed. Several bogus disciplinary actions were brought against me before the Veterinary Surgeons Board of NSW. In July 2003, after a protracted battle with a veterinary magazine, I lodged a complaint with the Veterinary Surgeons Board of NSW alleging widespread consumer and scientific fraud. But rather than investigate and report on the allegations, the Veterinary Board, either wittingly or unwittingly, passed the complaint to the AVA. The AVA then, through its kangaroo court, expelled me for blowing the whistle on widespread serious misconduct. http://www.rawmeatybones.com/nsw_parliament.html Time Magazine and Channel 7 TV aired the story.www.rawmeatybones.com Clearly the NSW State and Australian Federal Governments need to investigate the activities of the AVA and its partner, the Mars Corporation. Members of Parliament need a better understanding of the pet food consumer and scientific scam. Please consider writing to MPs. Contact information for NSW Members of Parliament is: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/V3Home Federal Parliament Representatives: http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-elctr.asp Federal Parliament Senators: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/senators/index.htm#contact -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- In Britain veterinary involvement in the pet food scam runs in parallel with Australia. There are about 20,000 vets registered with the RCVS and are therefore permitted to practice in the UK. A majority of British veterinarians approve of, promote or sell junk food for pets. A silent minority, about 10% of vets, disapprove. In the 2004 elections for the Council of the RCVS I received 264 votes being about 9% of the votes cast. The RCVS say: _______________________________________________ ROLE OF THE RCVS This can be summarised by the Strapline: ‘Promoting and Sustaining Public Confidence in Veterinary Medicine’ and the Mission Statement: ‘To safeguard the health and welfare of animals committed to veterinary care through the regulation of the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the veterinary profession, thereby protecting the interests of those dependent on animals and assuring public health; To act as an impartial source of informed opinion on animal health and welfare issues and their interaction with human health.’ In effect the RCVS is made up of three distinct organisations: The College – as a statutory regulator: undertaking the statutory responsibilities set out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 – to maintain a register, regulate veterinary education and to regulate professional conduct. The College – acting as a ‘Royal College’: exercising powers under the Royal Charter to award Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and others and to act as informed and impartial source of opinion on veterinary matters. RCVS Trust – a separate charity: established to promote and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine – by providing the RCVS Library and Information Service and a range of grants largely to support educational and research activities. ____________________________________________ That 264 veterinary surgeons supported the allegations contained in the manifesto http://www.rawmeatybones.com/elections.html would, you might think, cause the RCVS to act promptly and diligently. But when veterinary colleague Roger Meacock and I met with the RCVS President, Professor Halliwell, on 17 June 2004, he informed us that: A hamster, if it should stand for election to the Council of the Royal College, would receive as many votes. Since the RCVS won’t investigate and act on the serious allegations of widespread cruelty, scientific and consumer fraud perpetrated by veterinarians, then, it seems to me, it’s time for the British Government to investigate the RCVS. Please consider writing to Members of Parliament and let them know how serious the situation has become and what needs to be done. MP’s contact details: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 Raw Meaty Bones lecture tour -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the third successive year I was fortunate to meet up with old friends on a lecture tour of England, Germany, Scotland and California. There were new faces too, and everyone was enthusiastic and welcoming. To the organizers of the venues I’m especially grateful for their hard work and warm hospitality. 19 June, Brighton. Jackie Marriott and Debs Wickham were the driving force, ably assisted by Debs’ daughter Emily and a large team of supporters. A home video was recorded and can be obtained from UKRMB Support and Action Group (see below). Seagulls calling outside the bedroom window completed a memorable experience. 25 – 27 June, Gesunde Hunde Treff, Saarbrucken, Germany. Christiane met me at Frankfurt airport and whisked me off to the wonderful forest conference centre for the third annual Healthy Dogs Meeting. Swanie and her team once again staged a memorable event, much of it caught on camera by a TV crew. Congratulations and thanks. 1 July, Essex. Chris Thorne collected me from London and delivered me to the scout hall at Harold Hill. This was the third successive year that Chris and Frances Thorne and Debbie Hill had participated in a Raw Meaty Bones seminar. The success of this year’s event was mostly due to the hard work and organisational flair of Debbie Hill. Thank you Debbie and helpers. 3 July, York. Christine Stansfield, assisted by daughter Rebecca, did terrific work to organize the York seminar. Linda and Chris provided kind hospitality in their old stone cottage. Thanks for a memorable trip to Yorkshire. 17-18 July, Forfar, Scotland. Catherine O’Driscoll and Rob Ellis invited me to present the diet and good health section on their inaugural Foundation in Canine Healthcare Course http://www.canine-health- concern.org.uk/ Catherine, arguably, is the foremost campaigner for responsible vaccine use in domestic pets. We had a most enjoyable weekend in manorial splendour, dining on sumptuous good food. And Rob plays a mean Zeppelin, Hendrix style guitar. Many thanks. 29 July, Dogtec, Richmond, California http://www.dogtec.org/index.php Thanks to Veronica for convening a panel discussion on the merits of raw feeding. The pro-junk food vets had their say and I had plenty of opportunity to put the case for raw food. Thank you Veronica. 31 July, Marin Humane Society, California. John Reese and Morgan Lance share the honours for making the presentation at MHS a success. Lots of effort combined with fine facilities enabled about 100 people to attend the presentation. A most enjoyable event. Thank you. Doubtless there are names I’ve missed. But one name springs to mind. Marina Epifani set aside much important work over several months to coordinate the California presentations. Her hospitality, assisted by Mark Ruch and their three cats, ensured that the last 10 days of my tour were relaxing and memorable. I learnt lots and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Thank you. 3 August, Quantas 747. Homeward-bound and somewhere high above the Pacific I turned on the in-flight entertainment. Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s 30 day voluntary experiment eating McDonalds’ meals came on the screen. ‘Sue the bastards’ said Spurlock, speaking about McDonalds. Sounds like good advice that should be targeted at the ghouls who encourage us to poison our pets with junk-food. After all pet owners know no different and pets have no choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK Raw Meaty Bones Support & Action Group www.ukrmb.co.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------- If one thing marks 2004 as a successful year, this is it. Please go to www.ukrmb.co.uk and check-out what Jackie Marriott, Debs Wickham and the crew are achieving. Their support for pet owners, vets and butchers is exemplary. Their lobbying of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, their lobbying of the British Parliament are model achievements that can be copied everywhere. In a front page article Veterinary Times, Britain’s leading veterinary magazine, announced the arrival of the UKRMB Group with the headline: VETERINARIANS ‘UNAWARE’ OF DANGERS OF PROCESSED DIETS TO CARNIVORES http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/articles_action.htm#vettimes The UK RMB Group need helpers and need funds. If you buy copies of Raw Meaty Bones or copies of the 2004 Brighton Seminar home video from the Group that helps their fund raising –- all profits go to the Group. But also please send them whatever money you can spare. Prices: Raw Meaty Bones book 389 pages: Ł16.00 (post and packing extra) Video (PAL) Brighton Seminar: Ł10.00 (includes post and packing within UK) Please contact: info@ukrmb.co.uk You can help the UKRMB Group by writing to Members of Parliament. Please aks your MP to support a full investigation of the pet food industry and its involvement with the veterinary establishment -- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, veterinary associations and veterinary schools. (Please include website details: www.ukrmb.co.uk) UK Members of Parliament: http://www.parliament.uk/directories/directories.cfm -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Youlia Anderson ceramic sculptures http://www.furrytaleceramics.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check this one out! Rarely, if ever, do I make commercial endorsements. But this is different. Youlia Anderson sent me an exquisite, delicate ceramic sculpture and I want everyone to see it. http://www.rawmeatybones.com/readers_pics/0007.jpg -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Raw Meaty Bones Seminars, University of Western Australia, Extension 20 and 22 January 2005 (Enrolment forms will be posted here: http://www.extension.uwa.edu.au/) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The first Raw Meaty Bones seminars were delivered at the UWA Extension in March 2002. It will be a great honour to pay a return visit. I hope to meet with lots of WA residents. If you live in another state of Australia, or even in the Northern Hemisphere what about combining business with pleasure? Why not book a WA holiday and come to the seminars too? Aside from the seminars I’m thinking of organizing an informal picnic/lunch on Friday 21 January where participants can get together for discussions. If you would like to be there and wish to discuss arrangements please email me at tom@rawmeatybones.com Western Australia at any time is a fabulous place to visit. January is the perfect time for a super summer holiday. http://www.perthwesternaustralia.net/ http://www.westernaustralia.com/en/InfoCentre/About+Us/About+Us.htm http://www.virtualtourist.com/vt/c49/ http://www.perthtouristcentre.com.au/ Hope to see you there. Best wishes, Tom Lonsdale ___________________________________________________________ We welcome copies of correspondence/emails/faxes for possible inclusion in future RMB Newsletters. Please circulate, distribute or reproduce this newsletter as you wish. ___________________________________________________________ The Raw Meaty Bones Newsletter is published by: Tom Lonsdale Rivetco P/L PO Box 6096 Windsor Delivery Centre NSW 2756 Australia Phone: +61 2 4574 0537 Fax: +61 2 4574 0538 Email: rivetco@rawmeatybones.com Web: http://www.rawmeatybones.com To subscribe or unsubscribe go to: http://secureshop.rawmeatybones.com/newsletter