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SATURDAY December 6, 2003 - Subscribe - Contact Us Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 4, 2003 Congress is quite transparent on forest motives I am shocked by recent developments concerning forest policy. Congress recently passed "Healthy Forest" legislation that opens up old-growth and roadless forests to logging while doing little to protect the thousands of homes and communities that are at risk from fire. While "healthy forest" rhetoric flies around Washington, our own Ron Wyden claims that he is helping to protect forests while supporting this backwards legislation. Meanwhile, the largest timber sale in modern times has been proposed in southwest Oregon. If Congress is so committed to "healthy forests," why don't they oppose the Biscuit salvage project that proposes to remove large trees and convert native forests to highly flammable tree plantations? Tom Hinz Ashland Pet food maker engages in gross animal cruelty A lab worker tosses a beagle, missing a chunk of flesh from its leg, onto a pile of other beagles who have just undergone the same operation. Sounds like something from a horror flick, unfortunately it isn't. This is the reality for dogs and cats in Iams' nutritional laboratories. A ten month undercover investigation at an Iams' contracted nutritional lab revealed countless other instances of cruelty. Animals with their legs broken from being caught between the steel slats of a cage, a live kitten put down a garbage disposal, dark dungeon-like kennels that freeze in the winter and boil in the summer, and much more. A complete list along with video and photo documentation can be seen at www.iamscruelty.com. Iams did close down the one lab that was exposed in the undercover operation, but refuses to let outside sources tour its other facilities. If Iams truly had nothing to hide, they would allow outside inspection by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Even if the labs were perfect havens for the animals, one must still consider the necessity of nutritional experimentation on dogs and cats. Aren't the results of the experiments just a marketing ploy for Iams to charge more by slapping a label on the food claiming cures for ailments? Iams is owned by Procter & Gamble, a company with a long history of animal cruelty, and I refuse to fund their cruelty to animals. Hopefully our community will take the same stance and boycott Iams. Amy Miller Bunk Ashland Citizens need not give Smith thank-you call I recently observed a request in a television ad by Sen. Smith to call his office and thank him for passing the new Medicare Prescription Drug "Benefit" Bill. The facts are as follows: 1. The citizens of the United States pay higher prices than those of and other industrialized nation for their prescription drugs. 2. The price of prescription drugs in Canada in significantly less because the Canadian government has negotiated with drug companies for significant price reductions. 3. The new Medicare bill specifically bans the Medicare organization from negotiating with multinational pharmaceutical companies for a price reduction, although the Veterans Administration has successfully negotiated with the same pharmaceutical companies for a significant price reduction for veterans' prescriptions. 4. Less-expensive drugs from Canada will no longer be available due to the fact that the secretary of health has now banned reimportation of drugs from Canada. Rather than consumers thanking Sen. Smith, perhaps the drug companies should make the phone call. Ronald K. Cue Ashland Yes, Siskiyou is a real pain for many people Thank you for your "Our View" statement (Nov. 26) in the Tidings. As a driver and walker, your remarks expressed my exact feelings. I will continue to be among the "whining" ones. This is only because of my unwillingness to be flexible and realistic. It is not reasonable for me to expect a project involving so many factors to go completely as planned. Time, however, is on my side, and when the project is completed, I will soon forget my present feelings ever existed. In the meanwhile, thank you for "verbalizing" my animosities. W.A. Smith Ashland DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Road Cams