Bill to Help Adidas Kill Kangaroos

They are at it again! Help DEFEAT AB734

http://www.vivausa.org/urgentactions/ab734.html

It seems that Assemblywoman Nicole Parra (Representing Fresno, Kern,
Kings, and Tulare Counties) has taken on the charge to help Adidas
continue killing kangaroos so they can use their skins for soccer cleats!

Over the past 2 years 3-4 bills have been introduced to remove this
protection for these unique creatures. Adidas was at the hearing last
session, working hard to get support for these bills so that they could
continue funding the killing.

The bill removes the current ban on the importation and sale of any part
or product of all species of kangaroos except those listed as endangered.

Points to consider:
Laws already exist to protect endangered species. This wasteful use of tax
payer money is being introduced to help a foreign corporate interest --
not the kangaroos.
As the bill states, there are indeed some kangaroos who are endangered.
Kangaroos are wild and are shot at night by hunters. They are not always
able to distinguish between those who are 'approved' to be killed and
others who are endangered.
In Queensland, Australia, the Western Grey Kangaroo is not allowed to be
killed, but it can be mistaken for the Eastern Grey who is allowed to be
hunted. It states that on the Queensland Parks and Wildlife's website:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/native_animals/permits_and_licences/western_grey_kangaroo/
The law that they are trying to change was made to protect certain
"look-alike"species so that Californians do not unwittingly contribute to
the extinction of a species.
California and Federal laws prohibit the sale of seal products from Canada
because of the cruel killing not because they are endangered.
If the kangaroo is a mother and she has a baby in her pouch, the baby is
taken out and killed by a heavy blow to the head (according to the
Australian Code of Practice). Killing the adults for their skins and
killing the babies in the pouches is just asking for a decline in their
populations. This is commonsense.

Right now we are asking you to send letters of OPPOSITION to AB734:

1. To your Assembly Member. To find out who yours is go to:

2. To the author of the bill:
Assembly Member Nicole Parra
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0030
Fax: (916) 319-2130
Email: Assemblymember.Parra [at] assembly.ca.gov

Viva!USA would appreciate receiving copies of your letters (via e-mail to
roos [at] vivausa.org) and if you receive your Assembly Member's position.

Don't forget to include your names and full mailing address.

Once we find out where the bill is headed we will have the full list of
committee members who need to be contacted.

If you would like regular e-mail updates on this bill, please sign up at
AB734 [at] vivausa.org or keep an eye on our Urgent Alerts button on our
website.

If you do not know who your Assembly Member is, go to
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html. Enter your zip code and press “search”
and you will be given the name and contact information of your Assembly
Member (in the lower half of the page). Or you can call the Government
Information Hotline at 916-322-9900 and give the operator your address ­
the operator will tell you who your Assemblymember is and/or you can leave
your message for him/her through the operator.

Thank you and we hope we can count on you to help stop this bill - yet again!