No subject

Fukushima officials started on Thursday to cull animals within the 20-km=20
danger zone for public health reasons. The operations focused on the Minami=
soma
=E2=80=99s Odaka district, home to 887 _cows_=20
(http://www.globalanimal.org/tag/cows/) , 80 _horses_ (http://www.globalani=
mal.org/tag/horses/) , 6,200 pigs and=20
260,000 chickens as of October 2010. =20
The district was damaged badly by the tsunami triggered by the magnitude 9=
=20
earthquake on March 11. Officials said they will kill only the animals near=
=20
death, but will still try to get the owners=E2=80=99 permission, if possibl=
e.=20
The evacuation zone remains officially closed to rescue groups. Animals=20
within the 20 kilometer radius are clearly suffering and their guardians ar=
e=20
asking for help to save their beloved pets. The video below, which was=20
released yesterday by Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue & Support (JEARS), ill=
ustrates=20
the critical need for large-scale rescue and aid for the animals left to=20
perish in the evacuation zone. There is not a lot of time left.=20
Please raise your voice by being included in the _letter to Japan=E2=80=99s=
 Prime=20
Minister,_ (https://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/forms/comment_ssl.html)  askin=
g=20
him to allow the remaining animals in the exclusion zone to be rescued.=20
Donations made through _Global Animal Foundation_=20
(http://www.globalanimal.org/donate-to-global-animal-foundation/)  will go =
to animal organizations=20
involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of pets and farm animals in the r=
adiation=20
zone. So far, _Global Animal readers have donated more than $27,000 _=20
(http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/03/28/global-animals-donate-27000-so-far-=
to-japa
n-animal-rescue/33925/) to Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue & Support to help=
=20
the nation=E2=80=99s lost, injured, and _abandoned animals_=20
(http://www.globalanimal.org/tag/abandoned-animals/) .=20
The tears since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami have been shared tears;=
=20
every rescue =E2=80=93 and there have been many =E2=80=93 have been shared =
victories. More=20
of each are sure to follow. It is a collective hope of animal lovers=20
worldwide that the upcoming days and government decisions will usher in bol=
d and=20
compassionate animal aid on the mass scale that=E2=80=99s urgently needed. =
=E2=80=93 Leah=20
Lessard Jeon, Global Animal