Public Policy & NGOs
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Public Policy & NGOs
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WSB: Lures Don't Draw Ocelots Into Box Traps
BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 27 (TNSjou) -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news:
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WSB: Lures don't draw ocelots into box traps
Researchers are fine-tuning trapping efforts to catch rare cats on South Texas ranch
October 26, 2026
Under the warming South Texas sun, I walked sandy-bottom trails through scrubby, thorn-ridden vegetation early in the morning just to learn that while there may be more than one way to catch a cat, a lure doesn't work.
The more than 27,000 acres of land that make up the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch are about the ... Show Full Article BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 27 (TNSjou) -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news: * * * WSB: Lures don't draw ocelots into box traps Researchers are fine-tuning trapping efforts to catch rare cats on South Texas ranch October 26, 2026 Under the warming South Texas sun, I walked sandy-bottom trails through scrubby, thorn-ridden vegetation early in the morning just to learn that while there may be more than one way to catch a cat, a lure doesn't work. The more than 27,000 acres of land that make up the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch are about theonly foothold that ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) have in the U.S. There are around 20 ocelots on this ranch and likely less than 120 in all of Texas, but to keep a good count of this small population, researchers like TWS member Lindsay Martinez, a research program coordinator at the East Foundation, and field technicians Haylee Pearce and Meghan Murphy must develop good strategies to capture the elusive cats in this Tamaulipan thornscrub ecosystem.
For years, East Foundation, in partnership with Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, has attempted to trap ocelots for research on their health, behavior, population status and more. The team makes the rounds through the mesquite every morning at the crack of dawn and again in the afternoon, checking a series of traps set out on the landscape. One day in early March, they took me into the field to check ocelot traps and talk about their survey work. Unadvisedly, I'd worn shorts--the thornscrub scratched up my legs as we walked through the bush.
The crew just shows up at the beginning and end of the shift--the real workers are out in the landscape all day and night. The team places live pigeons (Columba livia) in the back compartment of the traps as bait in an effort to draw ocelots in for an easy meal. The team makes sure the birds are fed and left with plenty of water, hay and a perch. The ocelots can't actually get to the pigeons, which are locked in the back compartment of the cage, but they can see and hear them. "We make sure that [the pigeons] are looking OK," Murphy said. "If any aren't eating or are pacing or seem stressed, we'll replace them with another pigeon."
The researchers continued the pigeon bait method but also added on lures to some traps for a study (https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.70025) published recently in Wildlife Society Bulletin to determine how well the extra lures attracted cats. While all traps tried to bait carnivores with pigeons, the team added ocelot urine, civet musk, shiny ribbons or a hanging CD in an effort to boost trap success.
The verdict? None of these elements worked well. The traps without such lures had just as much success in trapping ocelots, bobcats (Lynx rufus) or coyotes (Canis latrans) and didn't exclude nontarget species like raccoons (Procyon lotor) at a higher rate. "We've had a couple fun interactions," Murphy said. "A couple of them would kind of bat at the visual lures." But overall, they didn't really do their job well.
Then again, not trapping ocelots is a daily occurrence for ocelot trappers. The team only catches a cat about once every two weeks, on average. And when they do, the animals can sometimes get feisty. "I love them, but they are so hard to sedate sometimes," Pearce said. "We had one male last year that we should have named him Peter Parker--he was hanging off the ceiling."
The team is now looking at studying capture-related stress in ocelots as part of an effort to inform field techniques and the upcoming ocelot conservation breeding program. They hope that this ongoing work can bring more attention to smaller cats--big species like lions or tigers get all the conservation attention. "You see a lot of efforts to conserve the charismatic large cat species, which is absolutely a 100% necessary and wonderful work, but there's not a lot of attention on small cat conservation efforts," Murphy said.
The work they are doing, discussed recently at length in an episode of "Our Wild Lives," the podcast of The Wildlife Society, can hopefully draw more attention to this remarkable species. "We've seen a boom in interest in ocelots," Pearce said. "People are pretty excited about it."
* * *
TWS journals are a benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Wildlife Society Bulletin, which is our only open access journal, is published four times annually. It is one of the world's leading scientific journals covering wildlife science, management and conservation, focusing on aspects of wildlife that can assist management and conservation.
Join today for access to TWS' journals and all the other great benefits of TWS membership.
Article by Joshua Rapp Learn, Associate Editor
* * *
Original text here: https://wildlife.org/wsb-lures-dont-draw-ocelots-into-box-traps/
[Category: Environment]
* * *
WSB: Lures don't draw ocelots into box traps
Researchers are fine-tuning trapping efforts to catch rare cats on South Texas ranch
October 26, 2026
Under the warming South Texas sun, I walked sandy-bottom trails through scrubby, thorn-ridden vegetation early in the morning just to learn that while there may be more than one way to catch a cat, a lure doesn't work.
The more than 27,000 acres of land that make up the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch are about the ... Show Full Article BETHESDA, Maryland, Oct. 27 (TNSjou) -- The Wildlife Society, a wildlife conservation organization, posted the following news: * * * WSB: Lures don't draw ocelots into box traps Researchers are fine-tuning trapping efforts to catch rare cats on South Texas ranch October 26, 2026 Under the warming South Texas sun, I walked sandy-bottom trails through scrubby, thorn-ridden vegetation early in the morning just to learn that while there may be more than one way to catch a cat, a lure doesn't work. The more than 27,000 acres of land that make up the East Foundation's El Sauz Ranch are about theonly foothold that ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) have in the U.S. There are around 20 ocelots on this ranch and likely less than 120 in all of Texas, but to keep a good count of this small population, researchers like TWS member Lindsay Martinez, a research program coordinator at the East Foundation, and field technicians Haylee Pearce and Meghan Murphy must develop good strategies to capture the elusive cats in this Tamaulipan thornscrub ecosystem.
For years, East Foundation, in partnership with Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, has attempted to trap ocelots for research on their health, behavior, population status and more. The team makes the rounds through the mesquite every morning at the crack of dawn and again in the afternoon, checking a series of traps set out on the landscape. One day in early March, they took me into the field to check ocelot traps and talk about their survey work. Unadvisedly, I'd worn shorts--the thornscrub scratched up my legs as we walked through the bush.
The crew just shows up at the beginning and end of the shift--the real workers are out in the landscape all day and night. The team places live pigeons (Columba livia) in the back compartment of the traps as bait in an effort to draw ocelots in for an easy meal. The team makes sure the birds are fed and left with plenty of water, hay and a perch. The ocelots can't actually get to the pigeons, which are locked in the back compartment of the cage, but they can see and hear them. "We make sure that [the pigeons] are looking OK," Murphy said. "If any aren't eating or are pacing or seem stressed, we'll replace them with another pigeon."
The researchers continued the pigeon bait method but also added on lures to some traps for a study (https://wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/wsb.70025) published recently in Wildlife Society Bulletin to determine how well the extra lures attracted cats. While all traps tried to bait carnivores with pigeons, the team added ocelot urine, civet musk, shiny ribbons or a hanging CD in an effort to boost trap success.
The verdict? None of these elements worked well. The traps without such lures had just as much success in trapping ocelots, bobcats (Lynx rufus) or coyotes (Canis latrans) and didn't exclude nontarget species like raccoons (Procyon lotor) at a higher rate. "We've had a couple fun interactions," Murphy said. "A couple of them would kind of bat at the visual lures." But overall, they didn't really do their job well.
Then again, not trapping ocelots is a daily occurrence for ocelot trappers. The team only catches a cat about once every two weeks, on average. And when they do, the animals can sometimes get feisty. "I love them, but they are so hard to sedate sometimes," Pearce said. "We had one male last year that we should have named him Peter Parker--he was hanging off the ceiling."
The team is now looking at studying capture-related stress in ocelots as part of an effort to inform field techniques and the upcoming ocelot conservation breeding program. They hope that this ongoing work can bring more attention to smaller cats--big species like lions or tigers get all the conservation attention. "You see a lot of efforts to conserve the charismatic large cat species, which is absolutely a 100% necessary and wonderful work, but there's not a lot of attention on small cat conservation efforts," Murphy said.
The work they are doing, discussed recently at length in an episode of "Our Wild Lives," the podcast of The Wildlife Society, can hopefully draw more attention to this remarkable species. "We've seen a boom in interest in ocelots," Pearce said. "People are pretty excited about it."
* * *
TWS journals are a benefit of membership in The Wildlife Society. Wildlife Society Bulletin, which is our only open access journal, is published four times annually. It is one of the world's leading scientific journals covering wildlife science, management and conservation, focusing on aspects of wildlife that can assist management and conservation.
Join today for access to TWS' journals and all the other great benefits of TWS membership.
Article by Joshua Rapp Learn, Associate Editor
* * *
Original text here: https://wildlife.org/wsb-lures-dont-draw-ocelots-into-box-traps/
[Category: Environment]
PETA Statement: Warhound's Plan for Bioengineered Military Dogs Is Outdated and Out of Touch
NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 27 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release:
* * *
PETA Statement: Warhound's Plan for Bioengineered Military Dogs Is Outdated and Out of Touch
October 26, 2026
Norfolk, Va. - Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien regarding billionaire Palmer Luckey's new startup Warhound, which plans to clone and genetically engineer dogs for military work:
It's a pity that some people with enormous amounts of money have very little common sense. Genetically engineering dogs for dangerous military work ... Show Full Article NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 27 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release: * * * PETA Statement: Warhound's Plan for Bioengineered Military Dogs Is Outdated and Out of Touch October 26, 2026 Norfolk, Va. - Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien regarding billionaire Palmer Luckey's new startup Warhound, which plans to clone and genetically engineer dogs for military work: It's a pity that some people with enormous amounts of money have very little common sense. Genetically engineering dogs for dangerous military workis a stunningly old-fashioned idea at a time when other agencies are phasing out the use of dogs in favor of robotics, AI, and other state-of-the-art technology that can be used without putting dogs in harm's way.
PETA notes that robot dogs have already been deployed in active combat zones and can perform many of the same duties as traditional military working dogs and police K-9s--while sparing real dogs from being shot, blown up, strangled, or suffering slow, agonizing deaths from heatstroke.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if there's any further information that I can provide.
* * *
PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/peta-statement-warhounds-plan-for-bioengineered-military-dogs-is-outdated-and-out-of-touch/
[Category: Animals]
* * *
PETA Statement: Warhound's Plan for Bioengineered Military Dogs Is Outdated and Out of Touch
October 26, 2026
Norfolk, Va. - Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien regarding billionaire Palmer Luckey's new startup Warhound, which plans to clone and genetically engineer dogs for military work:
It's a pity that some people with enormous amounts of money have very little common sense. Genetically engineering dogs for dangerous military work ... Show Full Article NORFOLK, Virginia, Oct. 27 -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued the following news release: * * * PETA Statement: Warhound's Plan for Bioengineered Military Dogs Is Outdated and Out of Touch October 26, 2026 Norfolk, Va. - Below, please find a statement from PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O'Brien regarding billionaire Palmer Luckey's new startup Warhound, which plans to clone and genetically engineer dogs for military work: It's a pity that some people with enormous amounts of money have very little common sense. Genetically engineering dogs for dangerous military workis a stunningly old-fashioned idea at a time when other agencies are phasing out the use of dogs in favor of robotics, AI, and other state-of-the-art technology that can be used without putting dogs in harm's way.
PETA notes that robot dogs have already been deployed in active combat zones and can perform many of the same duties as traditional military working dogs and police K-9s--while sparing real dogs from being shot, blown up, strangled, or suffering slow, agonizing deaths from heatstroke.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if there's any further information that I can provide.
* * *
PETA--whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way"--points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.
* * *
Original text here: https://www.peta.org/media/news-releases/peta-statement-warhounds-plan-for-bioengineered-military-dogs-is-outdated-and-out-of-touch/
[Category: Animals]
Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis: Market-aligned Petrochemical Strategy Can Strengthen IOCL's Returns, Climate Goals, and India's Energy Security
LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 27 -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release:
* * *
A market-aligned petrochemical strategy can strengthen IOCL's returns, climate goals, and India's energy security
Petrochemicals make up 3% of IOCL's revenue but attract a growing share of its capital, making the right market choices key to future returns.
Key Takeaways:
* IOCL's petrochemical expansion would benefit from closer consideration of market signals and evolving demand dynamics. The company is adding capacity while global markets face oversupply, slowing ... Show Full Article LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 27 -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release: * * * A market-aligned petrochemical strategy can strengthen IOCL's returns, climate goals, and India's energy security Petrochemicals make up 3% of IOCL's revenue but attract a growing share of its capital, making the right market choices key to future returns. Key Takeaways: * IOCL's petrochemical expansion would benefit from closer consideration of market signals and evolving demand dynamics. The company is adding capacity while global markets face oversupply, slowingdemand, and weak margins. IOCL's profitability depends on growth in domestic consumption, which could be constrained by sustainability regulations.
* The petrochemical segment accounts for only around 3% of IOCL's revenue, while receiving a larger share of the company's capital investments.
* IOCL's profitability is increasingly exposed to structural pressures in global markets. Oversupply from the US, China, and West Asia, weak downstream demand, and high crude and naphtha prices have narrowed the gap between feedstock costs and polymer selling prices. IOCL is producing more, but higher volumes have not translated into stronger earnings, raising questions about the segment's returns in the near term.
* Decarbonisation strategy of the IOCL focuses primarily on energy-related emissions rather than the core emissions challenges arising from continued fossil fuel and petrochemical expansion. Around 96% of its operational emissions are classified as Scope 1. However, its net-zero strategy relies heavily on renewable energy, green hydrogen, biofuels, and efficiency improvements. These target energy/combustion emissions, not process/feedstock emissions, and cannot offset expansion-driven growth. Scope 3 remains undisclosed.
* India imports 88% of its crude oil, so the case for making petrochemical expansion a national priority warrants scrutiny. Directing growing quantities of crude into petrochemical production, particularly non-essential plastics, may run counter to the country's energy security goals.
-
27 October 2026 (IEEFA): Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) -- the second-largest petrochemical producer in the country, third largest in Asia, and sixth largest in the world -- plans to triple its petrochemical capacity by 2030, even as global markets grapple with surplus supply, softening demand, and thin margins. A new report by IEEFA finds that IOCL's growth plans could benefit from paying closer attention to market signals and shifting demand trends.
IOCL aims to raise its petrochemical capacity from 4.3 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 13.2MMTPA by 2030 and lift its petrochemical intensity index (PII), the share of crude oil a refinery converts into chemical feedstocks, from 6.1% to 15%. The company is expanding across base petrochemicals, intermediates, and polymers to deepen integration and reduce its reliance on transportation fuels. These plans support the central government's goal of lifting India's PII from 5% to 15-20% and expanding national capacity from 29.62MMTPA to 46MMTPA by 2030.
Petrochemicals currently make up just 3% of IOCL's revenue, yet the segment draws a far bigger slice of its capital spending -- about 24% of the company's INR1.04 lakh crore (USD10.86 billion) committed to major ongoing projects. At the same time, the report finds that global market conditions are putting growing pressure on the segment's earnings. Oversupply from the US, China, and West Asia, weak downstream demand, and elevated crude and naphtha prices have squeezed the margin between what IOCL pays for feedstock and what it earns from selling polymers.
In financial year (FY) 2024-2025, petrochemical revenue climbed to nearly INR28,000 crore (USD2.92 billion), even as profitability deteriorated sharply. This weakness was evident early in the year with segment profit falling by 86.5% year-on-year to INR11.93 crore (USD1.24 million) in the April to June quarter.
"The market that IOCL is expanding into has changed significantly," says Swathi Seshadri, Research Lead, Global Petrochemicals, IEEFA, and author of the report. "With global oversupply squeezing margins, a more measured expansion that focusses on chemicals for essential uses over commodity polymers could help the company generate more dependable returns."
With India importing 88% of its crude oil and relying on crude for around 93% of its petrochemical output, the report argues that treating petrochemical expansion as a national priority deserves closer examination. Channelling more crude into petrochemicals, especially for non-essential plastics, could work against the country's energy security objectives.
"Import substitution will not secure India's energy needs if the feedstock used to make the petrochemicals is still imported," adds Swathi Seshadri. "Rationalising demand for non-essential plastics and investing in renewable energy would better serve India's long-term interests."
On climate, the report notes that IOCL's decarbonisation strategy focuses primarily on energy-related emissions. Around 96% of its operational emissions are Scope 1, yet its net-zero strategy relies largely on renewable energy, green hydrogen, biofuels, and efficiency improvements. These target energy or combustion emissions, not process or feedstock emissions, and cannot offset expansion-driven growth. Scope 3 emissions remain undisclosed.
The report recommends that IOCL review the scale of its petrochemical expansion, shift its focus towards chemicals for essential uses, address its Scope 1 emissions, and consider diversifying into alternative and renewable energy sources.
Read the report: Indian Oil's petrochemical push: Weighing the financial, climate, and energy security risks (https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2026-10/Indian%20Oil%27s%20petrochemical%20push.pdf)
* * *
About IEEFA: The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) examines issues related to energy markets, trends, and policies. The Institute's mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy. (ieefa.org)
* * *
Original text here: https://ieefa.org/articles/market-aligned-petrochemical-strategy-can-strengthen-iocls-returns-climate-goals-and
[Category: Energy]
* * *
A market-aligned petrochemical strategy can strengthen IOCL's returns, climate goals, and India's energy security
Petrochemicals make up 3% of IOCL's revenue but attract a growing share of its capital, making the right market choices key to future returns.
Key Takeaways:
* IOCL's petrochemical expansion would benefit from closer consideration of market signals and evolving demand dynamics. The company is adding capacity while global markets face oversupply, slowing ... Show Full Article LAKEWOOD, Ohio, Oct. 27 -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release: * * * A market-aligned petrochemical strategy can strengthen IOCL's returns, climate goals, and India's energy security Petrochemicals make up 3% of IOCL's revenue but attract a growing share of its capital, making the right market choices key to future returns. Key Takeaways: * IOCL's petrochemical expansion would benefit from closer consideration of market signals and evolving demand dynamics. The company is adding capacity while global markets face oversupply, slowingdemand, and weak margins. IOCL's profitability depends on growth in domestic consumption, which could be constrained by sustainability regulations.
* The petrochemical segment accounts for only around 3% of IOCL's revenue, while receiving a larger share of the company's capital investments.
* IOCL's profitability is increasingly exposed to structural pressures in global markets. Oversupply from the US, China, and West Asia, weak downstream demand, and high crude and naphtha prices have narrowed the gap between feedstock costs and polymer selling prices. IOCL is producing more, but higher volumes have not translated into stronger earnings, raising questions about the segment's returns in the near term.
* Decarbonisation strategy of the IOCL focuses primarily on energy-related emissions rather than the core emissions challenges arising from continued fossil fuel and petrochemical expansion. Around 96% of its operational emissions are classified as Scope 1. However, its net-zero strategy relies heavily on renewable energy, green hydrogen, biofuels, and efficiency improvements. These target energy/combustion emissions, not process/feedstock emissions, and cannot offset expansion-driven growth. Scope 3 remains undisclosed.
* India imports 88% of its crude oil, so the case for making petrochemical expansion a national priority warrants scrutiny. Directing growing quantities of crude into petrochemical production, particularly non-essential plastics, may run counter to the country's energy security goals.
-
27 October 2026 (IEEFA): Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) -- the second-largest petrochemical producer in the country, third largest in Asia, and sixth largest in the world -- plans to triple its petrochemical capacity by 2030, even as global markets grapple with surplus supply, softening demand, and thin margins. A new report by IEEFA finds that IOCL's growth plans could benefit from paying closer attention to market signals and shifting demand trends.
IOCL aims to raise its petrochemical capacity from 4.3 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) to 13.2MMTPA by 2030 and lift its petrochemical intensity index (PII), the share of crude oil a refinery converts into chemical feedstocks, from 6.1% to 15%. The company is expanding across base petrochemicals, intermediates, and polymers to deepen integration and reduce its reliance on transportation fuels. These plans support the central government's goal of lifting India's PII from 5% to 15-20% and expanding national capacity from 29.62MMTPA to 46MMTPA by 2030.
Petrochemicals currently make up just 3% of IOCL's revenue, yet the segment draws a far bigger slice of its capital spending -- about 24% of the company's INR1.04 lakh crore (USD10.86 billion) committed to major ongoing projects. At the same time, the report finds that global market conditions are putting growing pressure on the segment's earnings. Oversupply from the US, China, and West Asia, weak downstream demand, and elevated crude and naphtha prices have squeezed the margin between what IOCL pays for feedstock and what it earns from selling polymers.
In financial year (FY) 2024-2025, petrochemical revenue climbed to nearly INR28,000 crore (USD2.92 billion), even as profitability deteriorated sharply. This weakness was evident early in the year with segment profit falling by 86.5% year-on-year to INR11.93 crore (USD1.24 million) in the April to June quarter.
"The market that IOCL is expanding into has changed significantly," says Swathi Seshadri, Research Lead, Global Petrochemicals, IEEFA, and author of the report. "With global oversupply squeezing margins, a more measured expansion that focusses on chemicals for essential uses over commodity polymers could help the company generate more dependable returns."
With India importing 88% of its crude oil and relying on crude for around 93% of its petrochemical output, the report argues that treating petrochemical expansion as a national priority deserves closer examination. Channelling more crude into petrochemicals, especially for non-essential plastics, could work against the country's energy security objectives.
"Import substitution will not secure India's energy needs if the feedstock used to make the petrochemicals is still imported," adds Swathi Seshadri. "Rationalising demand for non-essential plastics and investing in renewable energy would better serve India's long-term interests."
On climate, the report notes that IOCL's decarbonisation strategy focuses primarily on energy-related emissions. Around 96% of its operational emissions are Scope 1, yet its net-zero strategy relies largely on renewable energy, green hydrogen, biofuels, and efficiency improvements. These target energy or combustion emissions, not process or feedstock emissions, and cannot offset expansion-driven growth. Scope 3 emissions remain undisclosed.
The report recommends that IOCL review the scale of its petrochemical expansion, shift its focus towards chemicals for essential uses, address its Scope 1 emissions, and consider diversifying into alternative and renewable energy sources.
Read the report: Indian Oil's petrochemical push: Weighing the financial, climate, and energy security risks (https://ieefa.org/sites/default/files/2026-10/Indian%20Oil%27s%20petrochemical%20push.pdf)
* * *
About IEEFA: The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) examines issues related to energy markets, trends, and policies. The Institute's mission is to accelerate the transition to a diverse, sustainable and profitable energy economy. (ieefa.org)
* * *
Original text here: https://ieefa.org/articles/market-aligned-petrochemical-strategy-can-strengthen-iocls-returns-climate-goals-and
[Category: Energy]
Environmental Defense Fund: Behind Closed Doors, Trump EPA Worked With White House to Help Polluters Avoid Enforcement
NEW YORK, Oct. 27 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release:
* * *
Behind closed doors, Trump EPA worked with White House to help polluters avoid enforcement
Emails obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show close collaboration between EPA political officials and the White House in facilitating requests for Clean Air Act exemptions
October 26, 2026
* The Trump administration has continued to hand out illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial facilities to ignore vital clean air protections
* Records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Oct. 27 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release: * * * Behind closed doors, Trump EPA worked with White House to help polluters avoid enforcement Emails obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show close collaboration between EPA political officials and the White House in facilitating requests for Clean Air Act exemptions October 26, 2026 * The Trump administration has continued to hand out illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial facilities to ignore vital clean air protections * Records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund showa close degree of collaboration between EPA political appointees and the White House in facilitating companies' exemption requests
* President Trump has also continued to grant exemptions to companies that asked for them after EPA's deadline
-
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has continued to hand out expansive, illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial sources to ignore vital limits to protect public health from hazardous air pollutants, including mercury and cancer-causing ethylene oxide, according to records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund.
The records, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, show that political officials in the Trump EPA with previous ties to regulated industries asked the agency's enforcement office not to enforce certain Clean Air Act standards for highly potent cancer-causing ethylene oxide pollution. President Trump has also continued to grant exemptions to companies that asked for them after EPA's deadline.
While EPA has insisted it played no role in the process, the records show a close degree of collaboration between EPA political appointees and the White House in facilitating companies' exemption requests. A former White House official, when asked about the exemptions, offered a political official within EPA as "the best person to talk to," according to this weekend's New York Times investigation into how the Trump administration has abused these exemptions to give a free pass to some of the country's worst polluters.
"The Trump administration is continuing to operate behind closed doors to help large industrial emitters evade vital limits on the most toxic pollution," said Erin Murphy, Lead Counsel and Director, Clean Air and Energy Markets at Environmental Defense Fund. "Giving companies a pass to delay long-needed, commonsense pollution controls puts more Americans in harm's way. We will continue to shine a bright light on how this administration is working behind the scenes to tear down lifesaving limits on toxic pollution."
Key findings from the latest set of records include:
* Companies have continued to submit requests for exemptions long after EPA's deadline: Industry had advance knowledge of upcoming new rounds of presidential exemptions and assumed their exemptions would ultimately be granted, despite missing the application deadline.
* In addition to the presidential exemptions, the Trump EPA has also explored other ways to help companies evade pollution limits: Former EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo, a political appointee and former lobbyist for the energy and sterilizer industries, requested a nationwide non-enforcement guarantee for some key air pollution standards for sterilization facilities while EPA pursued a rollback of the relevant pollution limits. It is not clear whether the enforcement office acted on this request, which only became public as a result of EDF's request for agency records.
* EPA has undersold its involvement in the exemptions process: EPA political appointees regularly assert that the White House is handling any presidential exemption requests. However, EPA continues to be extensively involved in processing the exemption applications and in interfacing with exemption applicants.
* The National Energy Dominance Council has taken the lead on Clean Air Act exemptions for the White House, alongside EPA: EPA staff indicated that the National Energy Dominance Council led the presidential exemption process within the White House, specifically directing industry to John Reiten, NEDC Deputy Executive Director, as the "best contact."
* Industry representatives continued to meet with political appointees at EPA: At least 14 meetings occurred between industry representatives and Trump EPA political officials about the presidential exemptions or the underlying pollution regulations since March 2025.
A detailed explanation of the records is available in this fact sheet. The full set of records is available here.
Note that Environmental Defense Fund has redacted, in blue, the names and identifying information of EPA career staffers from the records obtained via FOIA. Civil servants are under unprecedented attack by the Trump Administration.
Background:
President Trump has made expansive use of an obscure Clean Air Act provision that allows the president to temporarily exempt sources of pollution from air quality standards in narrow circumstances carefully delineated by the plain terms of the law: when the technology to implement a standard is not available and when doing so would protect national security interests. But in a series of presidential proclamations, President Trump has repeatedly invoked this authority - which no previous president had ever used - to grant roughly 200 industrial facilities sweeping waivers from Clean Air Act protections against highly toxic pollutants.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Defense Fund has obtained over 5,000 pages of records related to the Trump EPA's actions to provide industry with presidential exemptions. Records previously released by Environmental Defense Fund show how Trump EPA political appointees with ties to industry scrambled to set up the exemption application process in March of 2025 and that the administration ultimately granted pollution exemptions for coal-fired power plants that were even more sweeping than what the companies had requested.
Environmental Defense Fund tracks these harmful exemptions from compliance with vital clean air standards through its Trump EPA Pollution Pass Map. The map has been updated to reflect the latest records. EDF is also challenging in court the Trump administration's presidential exemptions from toxic air pollution limits for chemical manufacturing plants.
* * *
With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
* * *
Original text here: https://www.edf.org/media/behind-closed-doors-trump-epa-worked-white-house-help-polluters-avoid-enforcement
[Category: Environment]
* * *
Behind closed doors, Trump EPA worked with White House to help polluters avoid enforcement
Emails obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show close collaboration between EPA political officials and the White House in facilitating requests for Clean Air Act exemptions
October 26, 2026
* The Trump administration has continued to hand out illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial facilities to ignore vital clean air protections
* Records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show ... Show Full Article NEW YORK, Oct. 27 -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following news release: * * * Behind closed doors, Trump EPA worked with White House to help polluters avoid enforcement Emails obtained by Environmental Defense Fund show close collaboration between EPA political officials and the White House in facilitating requests for Clean Air Act exemptions October 26, 2026 * The Trump administration has continued to hand out illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial facilities to ignore vital clean air protections * Records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund showa close degree of collaboration between EPA political appointees and the White House in facilitating companies' exemption requests
* President Trump has also continued to grant exemptions to companies that asked for them after EPA's deadline
-
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration has continued to hand out expansive, illegal Clean Air Act exemptions allowing industrial sources to ignore vital limits to protect public health from hazardous air pollutants, including mercury and cancer-causing ethylene oxide, according to records recently obtained by Environmental Defense Fund.
The records, obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, show that political officials in the Trump EPA with previous ties to regulated industries asked the agency's enforcement office not to enforce certain Clean Air Act standards for highly potent cancer-causing ethylene oxide pollution. President Trump has also continued to grant exemptions to companies that asked for them after EPA's deadline.
While EPA has insisted it played no role in the process, the records show a close degree of collaboration between EPA political appointees and the White House in facilitating companies' exemption requests. A former White House official, when asked about the exemptions, offered a political official within EPA as "the best person to talk to," according to this weekend's New York Times investigation into how the Trump administration has abused these exemptions to give a free pass to some of the country's worst polluters.
"The Trump administration is continuing to operate behind closed doors to help large industrial emitters evade vital limits on the most toxic pollution," said Erin Murphy, Lead Counsel and Director, Clean Air and Energy Markets at Environmental Defense Fund. "Giving companies a pass to delay long-needed, commonsense pollution controls puts more Americans in harm's way. We will continue to shine a bright light on how this administration is working behind the scenes to tear down lifesaving limits on toxic pollution."
Key findings from the latest set of records include:
* Companies have continued to submit requests for exemptions long after EPA's deadline: Industry had advance knowledge of upcoming new rounds of presidential exemptions and assumed their exemptions would ultimately be granted, despite missing the application deadline.
* In addition to the presidential exemptions, the Trump EPA has also explored other ways to help companies evade pollution limits: Former EPA Assistant Administrator Aaron Szabo, a political appointee and former lobbyist for the energy and sterilizer industries, requested a nationwide non-enforcement guarantee for some key air pollution standards for sterilization facilities while EPA pursued a rollback of the relevant pollution limits. It is not clear whether the enforcement office acted on this request, which only became public as a result of EDF's request for agency records.
* EPA has undersold its involvement in the exemptions process: EPA political appointees regularly assert that the White House is handling any presidential exemption requests. However, EPA continues to be extensively involved in processing the exemption applications and in interfacing with exemption applicants.
* The National Energy Dominance Council has taken the lead on Clean Air Act exemptions for the White House, alongside EPA: EPA staff indicated that the National Energy Dominance Council led the presidential exemption process within the White House, specifically directing industry to John Reiten, NEDC Deputy Executive Director, as the "best contact."
* Industry representatives continued to meet with political appointees at EPA: At least 14 meetings occurred between industry representatives and Trump EPA political officials about the presidential exemptions or the underlying pollution regulations since March 2025.
A detailed explanation of the records is available in this fact sheet. The full set of records is available here.
Note that Environmental Defense Fund has redacted, in blue, the names and identifying information of EPA career staffers from the records obtained via FOIA. Civil servants are under unprecedented attack by the Trump Administration.
Background:
President Trump has made expansive use of an obscure Clean Air Act provision that allows the president to temporarily exempt sources of pollution from air quality standards in narrow circumstances carefully delineated by the plain terms of the law: when the technology to implement a standard is not available and when doing so would protect national security interests. But in a series of presidential proclamations, President Trump has repeatedly invoked this authority - which no previous president had ever used - to grant roughly 200 industrial facilities sweeping waivers from Clean Air Act protections against highly toxic pollutants.
Through the Freedom of Information Act, Environmental Defense Fund has obtained over 5,000 pages of records related to the Trump EPA's actions to provide industry with presidential exemptions. Records previously released by Environmental Defense Fund show how Trump EPA political appointees with ties to industry scrambled to set up the exemption application process in March of 2025 and that the administration ultimately granted pollution exemptions for coal-fired power plants that were even more sweeping than what the companies had requested.
Environmental Defense Fund tracks these harmful exemptions from compliance with vital clean air standards through its Trump EPA Pollution Pass Map. The map has been updated to reflect the latest records. EDF is also challenging in court the Trump administration's presidential exemptions from toxic air pollution limits for chemical manufacturing plants.
* * *
With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
* * *
Original text here: https://www.edf.org/media/behind-closed-doors-trump-epa-worked-white-house-help-polluters-avoid-enforcement
[Category: Environment]
Court rules Fed must re-write debit interchange fee cap
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
* * *
Court rules Fed must re-write debit interchange fee cap
*
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Monday that the Federal Reserve improperly factored certain fixed bank costs into calculations for its Regulation II proposal setting debit card interchange caps under the Durbin Amendment. The decision is not favorable for credit unions, as it vacates the regulation and remands it for the Fed to rewrite the rule. Ultimately, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news: * * * Court rules Fed must re-write debit interchange fee cap * The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Monday that the Federal Reserve improperly factored certain fixed bank costs into calculations for its Regulation II proposal setting debit card interchange caps under the Durbin Amendment. The decision is not favorable for credit unions, as it vacates the regulation and remands it for the Fed to rewrite the rule. Ultimately,it could drastically lower interchange fee caps.
The court wrote in its opinion that the Fed, "at a minimum ... must sort the costs into those that are transaction-specific and those that are not."
"Today's ruling is deeply disappointing and threatens to destabilize a reliable, secure payments ecosystem that millions of everyday consumers and small businesses depend on," said America's Credit Unions Vice President, Policy Engagement and Credit Union Operations Ann Petros. "Vacating the Federal Reserve's established fee framework ignores the real operational and fraud prevention costs required to run a safe debit network. While big box retailers celebrate this decision as a windfall for their bottom lines, economic history shows these savings are never passed along to consumers at the register.
"Even with statutory exemptions on paper, community-based financial institutions inevitably absorb the marketplace fallout when interchange is artificially driven down. Forcing the Federal Reserve to recalculate these rates under an overly narrow standard could create an administratively unworkable framework that risks fraud security and threatens low-cost debit access for working families," she added. ""America's Credit Unions will actively engage through the courts and with policymakers as this rule is reconsidered to protect the safety and integrity of the payments system and ensure consumers do not bear the cost of merchant profit padding."
America's Credit Unions and other financial services trade organizations also issued a joint statement: "We are deeply disappointed that the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision in the Corner Post case. The Durbin Amendment's government price controls have harmed consumers from the start by making it harder for banks to offer affordable banking services and valuable benefits. Today's decision threatens to compound that harm by preventing regulated interchange fees from reflecting the real costs banks incur to process transactions, prevent fraud and protect customer data.
"For more than a decade, corporate megastores have pocketed billions from the Durbin Amendment while ignoring promises to lower prices for consumers. Now, they want to pay even less for the very payment system they rely on every day, leaving banks, credit unions and consumers to shoulder the costs.
"It's important to remember that this decision is not the last word on these issues. Another federal appellate court is considering similar questions in the Linney's Pizza case, where the district court upheld the Federal Reserve's rule. We will continue advocating for an approach that protects consumers and preserves the safe and efficient debit card system they depend on."
America's Credit Unions filed an amicus brief in January in the Corner Post case, arguing the retailer argument (and lower court decision) does not align with the text, structure, and purpose of the statute, and would force the Federal Reserve to impose interchange fee caps far below the actual costs incurred by debit card issuers.
A similar challenge to the Fed's Regulation II rule in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Linney's Pizza v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, had oral arguments last week. America's Credit Unions also filed a brief in Linney's Pizza, noting that merchant interpretation of the Durbin Amendment would give merchants a financial windfall while harming card issuers and consumers, also running contrary to statutory text, structure, purpose, as well as well-established constitutional and statutory interpretation principles.
Unlike Corner Post, the district court hearing the Linney's Pizza case decided in favor of the Fed's Regulation II. The outcome of these two cases could set up a circuit split, setting the stage for a U.S. Supreme Court appeal.
***
Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/court-rules-fed-must-re-write-debit-interchange-fee-cap
* * *
Court rules Fed must re-write debit interchange fee cap
*
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Monday that the Federal Reserve improperly factored certain fixed bank costs into calculations for its Regulation II proposal setting debit card interchange caps under the Durbin Amendment. The decision is not favorable for credit unions, as it vacates the regulation and remands it for the Fed to rewrite the rule. Ultimately, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news: * * * Court rules Fed must re-write debit interchange fee cap * The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Monday that the Federal Reserve improperly factored certain fixed bank costs into calculations for its Regulation II proposal setting debit card interchange caps under the Durbin Amendment. The decision is not favorable for credit unions, as it vacates the regulation and remands it for the Fed to rewrite the rule. Ultimately,it could drastically lower interchange fee caps.
The court wrote in its opinion that the Fed, "at a minimum ... must sort the costs into those that are transaction-specific and those that are not."
"Today's ruling is deeply disappointing and threatens to destabilize a reliable, secure payments ecosystem that millions of everyday consumers and small businesses depend on," said America's Credit Unions Vice President, Policy Engagement and Credit Union Operations Ann Petros. "Vacating the Federal Reserve's established fee framework ignores the real operational and fraud prevention costs required to run a safe debit network. While big box retailers celebrate this decision as a windfall for their bottom lines, economic history shows these savings are never passed along to consumers at the register.
"Even with statutory exemptions on paper, community-based financial institutions inevitably absorb the marketplace fallout when interchange is artificially driven down. Forcing the Federal Reserve to recalculate these rates under an overly narrow standard could create an administratively unworkable framework that risks fraud security and threatens low-cost debit access for working families," she added. ""America's Credit Unions will actively engage through the courts and with policymakers as this rule is reconsidered to protect the safety and integrity of the payments system and ensure consumers do not bear the cost of merchant profit padding."
America's Credit Unions and other financial services trade organizations also issued a joint statement: "We are deeply disappointed that the Eighth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision in the Corner Post case. The Durbin Amendment's government price controls have harmed consumers from the start by making it harder for banks to offer affordable banking services and valuable benefits. Today's decision threatens to compound that harm by preventing regulated interchange fees from reflecting the real costs banks incur to process transactions, prevent fraud and protect customer data.
"For more than a decade, corporate megastores have pocketed billions from the Durbin Amendment while ignoring promises to lower prices for consumers. Now, they want to pay even less for the very payment system they rely on every day, leaving banks, credit unions and consumers to shoulder the costs.
"It's important to remember that this decision is not the last word on these issues. Another federal appellate court is considering similar questions in the Linney's Pizza case, where the district court upheld the Federal Reserve's rule. We will continue advocating for an approach that protects consumers and preserves the safe and efficient debit card system they depend on."
America's Credit Unions filed an amicus brief in January in the Corner Post case, arguing the retailer argument (and lower court decision) does not align with the text, structure, and purpose of the statute, and would force the Federal Reserve to impose interchange fee caps far below the actual costs incurred by debit card issuers.
A similar challenge to the Fed's Regulation II rule in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, Linney's Pizza v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve, had oral arguments last week. America's Credit Unions also filed a brief in Linney's Pizza, noting that merchant interpretation of the Durbin Amendment would give merchants a financial windfall while harming card issuers and consumers, also running contrary to statutory text, structure, purpose, as well as well-established constitutional and statutory interpretation principles.
Unlike Corner Post, the district court hearing the Linney's Pizza case decided in favor of the Fed's Regulation II. The outcome of these two cases could set up a circuit split, setting the stage for a U.S. Supreme Court appeal.
***
Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/court-rules-fed-must-re-write-debit-interchange-fee-cap
Children's Health Defense Issues Commentary: Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds
FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, Oct. 27 -- Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it restores and protects the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, issued the following commentary by Jill Erzen, associate editor for The Defender:
* * *
Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds
West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the HPV vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month. The effort is part of a national push by St. Jude ... Show Full Article FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, Oct. 27 -- Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it restores and protects the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, issued the following commentary by Jill Erzen, associate editor for The Defender: * * * Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the HPV vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month. The effort is part of a national push by St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Cancer Society to increase HPV vaccination rates and encourage vaccination starting at age 9.
October 26, 2026
West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month.
The effort is part of a national push by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Cancer Society to increase HPV vaccination rates and encourage vaccination starting at age 9.
Both the AAP and the American Cancer Society receive funding from Merck.
The campaign comes amid questions about the vaccine's safety and claims that it prevents cancer. Merck, the maker of Gardasil, recently agreed to pay $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits alleging vaccine-related injuries, including autoimmune disorders and reproductive problems.
Although Merck markets Gardasil as a vaccine that protects against certain cancers, clinical trials did not test whether the vaccine prevented cancer -- only whether it blocked certain strains of HPV.
Merck's Gardasil is the only HPV vaccine available in the U.S.
HPV is a common, sexually transmitted virus that most people will encounter during their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some types can cause cancers, such as cervical or oropharyngeal, which affects the back of the throat.
The CDC recommends the shot for children beginning at ages 11-12.
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the HPV vaccine to protect against oropharyngeal cancer -- despite no clinical evidence to support the claim.
National campaign promotes vaccine-related birthday cards for 9-year-olds
The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition is preparing legislation that would allow qualified dental professionals to administer the HPV vaccine. The legislative session begins in January.
Similar laws have passed in Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey and Oregon.
St. Jude's HPV Cancer Prevention Program is working with West Virginia organizations to promote HPV vaccination through dental offices.
St. Jude's April and June reports cited the "unique challenges" to vaccination in West Virginia's rural areas, including the spread of "vaccine misinformation" and the "increased value of personal choice" in medical decisions.
To encourage earlier vaccination, the American Cancer Society's National HPV Vaccination Roundtable developed a toolkit to help rural dental providers promote the shot.
One proposed strategy is sending children birthday cards on their 9th birthdays to encourage parents to discuss HPV vaccination.
Merck is also studying whether to extend vaccination to even younger children. The company is funding and conducting clinical trials of Gardasil on children ages 4-8.
Lucija Tomljenovic, Ph.D., a scientist who has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed papers on HPV vaccination, called the trial "reckless." She said it "assumes safety in an age group in which the vaccine has never been tested."
Hygienist said she avoided discussing HPV's sexual transmission
The push to expand vaccination through dental offices raises questions not only about safety but also about informed consent -- particularly what parents are told about HPV and the vaccine.
West Virginia Watch reported that the state conducted a pilot project earlier this year, enlisting dental hygienist Lauren French to discuss HPV vaccination with patients at a rural dental clinic. French said the conversations fit naturally into routine dental visits, which already include oral cancer examinations.
However, earlier studies found that dental health providers remain generally reluctant to recommend or administer the vaccine.
French acknowledged that her conversations with parents often did not address HPV's sexual transmission.
"The way that I go about it is I don't have to bring up sex at all," French told West Virginia Watch. "It's just, 'This is a virus that most people come into contact with.' We want them to get vaccinated before they come into contact with this virus. That's why we suggest age 9 to 16."
For parents deciding whether to vaccinate their children, understanding how HPV spreads is part of understanding the purpose and timing of the intervention. Parents also need information about the vaccine's potential risks and the evidence supporting its claimed benefits.
Tomljenovic has questioned whether Gardasil offers any meaningful protection against cancer, arguing that its risks "clearly outweigh" its benefits. She has also cited research suggesting HPV vaccination may increase cervical cancer risk among women who use oral contraceptives long-term.
Other research has raised questions about how vaccination affects HPV types not targeted by the vaccine.
A 2023 study in Cell Host & Microbe found the HPV vaccine may actually increase the prevalence and distribution of some HPV virus strains not targeted by the vaccine -- including some strains that are linked to cancer.
Meanwhile, the CDC convened a workgroup in January 2026 to reexamine HPV vaccination, including its effectiveness, dosing, safety and long-term impact.
The FDA's prescribing information for Gardasil lists injection-site pain, swelling and redness, headache, fever, nausea and dizziness among reported adverse reactions. It also warns about fainting and severe allergic reactions.
Tomljenovic has raised concerns about reports of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis and gynecological problems, including menstrual disorders and infertility.
Screenings -- which dentists already do -- protect against HPV-related cancers
A central question in the HPV vaccine debate is how strongly the available evidence supports claims that vaccination prevents cancer.
Earlier this year, scientists concluded that two Cochrane reviews -- widely cited by health authorities and the media to support the claim that the vaccine reduces cervical cancer incidence by up to 80% -- are flawed.
The majority of epidemiological studies cited to show the vaccine's effects -- including its ability to stop invasive cervical cancer -- had serious or critical risk of bias, Tomljenovic told The Defender in March, calling the review "garbage."
Tomljenovic also argued that while Gardasil doesn't prevent HPV-related cancer, routine screenings are essential to reducing deaths from the disease. She pointed to the U.S. cervical cancer death rate of approximately two per 100,000 women as evidence of the importance of screening.
The AAP notes on its HealthyChildren.org site that "unlike cervical cancer, there is no test to screen for oral cancer or any other HPV-associated cancer."
Even so, dentists already examine patients for signs of oral cancer during routine visits.
The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describe oral cancer examinations as part of routine dental care. Dentists look for suspicious lumps, sores, red or white patches and other abnormalities. They may refer patients for further evaluation or biopsy when they find something concerning.
"During every routine cleaning, there's an exam. ... And we're telling the patient, 'We're doing an oral cancer screening just to make sure there's no lumps, bumps, or anything that's suspicious in your mouth,'" French told West Virginia Watch.
Related article in The Defender
* 'The Whole Propaganda Just Stinks': HPV Vaccine Doesn't Prevent Cancer, Scientist Says (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/hpv-vaccine-merck-gardasil-does-not-prevent-cancer-scientist-propaganda/)
* After Years of Pushing HPV Vaccine as 'Safe and Effective,' CDC Now Taking a Closer Look (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/after-years-pushing-hpv-vaccine-safe-effective-cdc-now-taking-closer-look/)
* HPV Vaccine Increases Risk of Autonomic Dysfunction and Menstrual Irregularities in Young Women (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/hpv-vaccine-risk-autonomic-dysfunction-menstrual-irregularities-young-women/)
* Consultants Push HPV Vaccines for Infants, as Merck Tests Gardasil in Kids as Young as 4 (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/merck-tests-gardasil-in-kids-as-young-as-4-gates-foundation-hpv-vaccine/)
* 'Completely Misleading': Scientists Accuse Cochrane Reviews of Using Biased Studies to Claim HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/scientists-accuse-cochrane-reviews-biased-studies-hpv-vaccine-prevents-cancer/)
* * *
Jill Erzen is associate editor for The Defender. She earned her B.A. in journalism and English at the University of Iowa. She has 25 years of experience as a copy editor, copy desk chief and multimedia web editor for newspapers and online news publications. Jill lives in Iowa with her husband and four daughters. She joined The Defender in June 2025.
* * *
Original text here: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/west-virginia-proposal-dental-hygienists-give-hpv-vaccine-9-year-olds-aap/
[Category: Health Care]
* * *
Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds
West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the HPV vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month. The effort is part of a national push by St. Jude ... Show Full Article FRANKLIN LAKES, New Jersey, Oct. 27 -- Children's Health Defense, an organization that says it restores and protects the health of children by eliminating exposures to environmental toxins, issued the following commentary by Jill Erzen, associate editor for The Defender: * * * Backed by AAP, West Virginia Proposal Would Allow Dental Hygienists to Give HPV Vaccine to 9-Year-Olds West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the HPV vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month. The effort is part of a national push by St. JudeChildren's Research Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Cancer Society to increase HPV vaccination rates and encourage vaccination starting at age 9.
October 26, 2026
West Virginia health groups are pushing legislation to let dentists and dental hygienists administer the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, West Virginia Watch reported earlier this month.
The effort is part of a national push by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Cancer Society to increase HPV vaccination rates and encourage vaccination starting at age 9.
Both the AAP and the American Cancer Society receive funding from Merck.
The campaign comes amid questions about the vaccine's safety and claims that it prevents cancer. Merck, the maker of Gardasil, recently agreed to pay $50 million to settle more than 200 lawsuits alleging vaccine-related injuries, including autoimmune disorders and reproductive problems.
Although Merck markets Gardasil as a vaccine that protects against certain cancers, clinical trials did not test whether the vaccine prevented cancer -- only whether it blocked certain strains of HPV.
Merck's Gardasil is the only HPV vaccine available in the U.S.
HPV is a common, sexually transmitted virus that most people will encounter during their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some types can cause cancers, such as cervical or oropharyngeal, which affects the back of the throat.
The CDC recommends the shot for children beginning at ages 11-12.
In 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the HPV vaccine to protect against oropharyngeal cancer -- despite no clinical evidence to support the claim.
National campaign promotes vaccine-related birthday cards for 9-year-olds
The West Virginia Oral Health Coalition is preparing legislation that would allow qualified dental professionals to administer the HPV vaccine. The legislative session begins in January.
Similar laws have passed in Kentucky, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey and Oregon.
St. Jude's HPV Cancer Prevention Program is working with West Virginia organizations to promote HPV vaccination through dental offices.
St. Jude's April and June reports cited the "unique challenges" to vaccination in West Virginia's rural areas, including the spread of "vaccine misinformation" and the "increased value of personal choice" in medical decisions.
To encourage earlier vaccination, the American Cancer Society's National HPV Vaccination Roundtable developed a toolkit to help rural dental providers promote the shot.
One proposed strategy is sending children birthday cards on their 9th birthdays to encourage parents to discuss HPV vaccination.
Merck is also studying whether to extend vaccination to even younger children. The company is funding and conducting clinical trials of Gardasil on children ages 4-8.
Lucija Tomljenovic, Ph.D., a scientist who has published more than a dozen peer-reviewed papers on HPV vaccination, called the trial "reckless." She said it "assumes safety in an age group in which the vaccine has never been tested."
Hygienist said she avoided discussing HPV's sexual transmission
The push to expand vaccination through dental offices raises questions not only about safety but also about informed consent -- particularly what parents are told about HPV and the vaccine.
West Virginia Watch reported that the state conducted a pilot project earlier this year, enlisting dental hygienist Lauren French to discuss HPV vaccination with patients at a rural dental clinic. French said the conversations fit naturally into routine dental visits, which already include oral cancer examinations.
However, earlier studies found that dental health providers remain generally reluctant to recommend or administer the vaccine.
French acknowledged that her conversations with parents often did not address HPV's sexual transmission.
"The way that I go about it is I don't have to bring up sex at all," French told West Virginia Watch. "It's just, 'This is a virus that most people come into contact with.' We want them to get vaccinated before they come into contact with this virus. That's why we suggest age 9 to 16."
For parents deciding whether to vaccinate their children, understanding how HPV spreads is part of understanding the purpose and timing of the intervention. Parents also need information about the vaccine's potential risks and the evidence supporting its claimed benefits.
Tomljenovic has questioned whether Gardasil offers any meaningful protection against cancer, arguing that its risks "clearly outweigh" its benefits. She has also cited research suggesting HPV vaccination may increase cervical cancer risk among women who use oral contraceptives long-term.
Other research has raised questions about how vaccination affects HPV types not targeted by the vaccine.
A 2023 study in Cell Host & Microbe found the HPV vaccine may actually increase the prevalence and distribution of some HPV virus strains not targeted by the vaccine -- including some strains that are linked to cancer.
Meanwhile, the CDC convened a workgroup in January 2026 to reexamine HPV vaccination, including its effectiveness, dosing, safety and long-term impact.
The FDA's prescribing information for Gardasil lists injection-site pain, swelling and redness, headache, fever, nausea and dizziness among reported adverse reactions. It also warns about fainting and severe allergic reactions.
Tomljenovic has raised concerns about reports of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), chronic fatigue syndrome and autoimmune disorders, multiple sclerosis and gynecological problems, including menstrual disorders and infertility.
Screenings -- which dentists already do -- protect against HPV-related cancers
A central question in the HPV vaccine debate is how strongly the available evidence supports claims that vaccination prevents cancer.
Earlier this year, scientists concluded that two Cochrane reviews -- widely cited by health authorities and the media to support the claim that the vaccine reduces cervical cancer incidence by up to 80% -- are flawed.
The majority of epidemiological studies cited to show the vaccine's effects -- including its ability to stop invasive cervical cancer -- had serious or critical risk of bias, Tomljenovic told The Defender in March, calling the review "garbage."
Tomljenovic also argued that while Gardasil doesn't prevent HPV-related cancer, routine screenings are essential to reducing deaths from the disease. She pointed to the U.S. cervical cancer death rate of approximately two per 100,000 women as evidence of the importance of screening.
The AAP notes on its HealthyChildren.org site that "unlike cervical cancer, there is no test to screen for oral cancer or any other HPV-associated cancer."
Even so, dentists already examine patients for signs of oral cancer during routine visits.
The Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic describe oral cancer examinations as part of routine dental care. Dentists look for suspicious lumps, sores, red or white patches and other abnormalities. They may refer patients for further evaluation or biopsy when they find something concerning.
"During every routine cleaning, there's an exam. ... And we're telling the patient, 'We're doing an oral cancer screening just to make sure there's no lumps, bumps, or anything that's suspicious in your mouth,'" French told West Virginia Watch.
Related article in The Defender
* 'The Whole Propaganda Just Stinks': HPV Vaccine Doesn't Prevent Cancer, Scientist Says (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/hpv-vaccine-merck-gardasil-does-not-prevent-cancer-scientist-propaganda/)
* After Years of Pushing HPV Vaccine as 'Safe and Effective,' CDC Now Taking a Closer Look (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/after-years-pushing-hpv-vaccine-safe-effective-cdc-now-taking-closer-look/)
* HPV Vaccine Increases Risk of Autonomic Dysfunction and Menstrual Irregularities in Young Women (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/hpv-vaccine-risk-autonomic-dysfunction-menstrual-irregularities-young-women/)
* Consultants Push HPV Vaccines for Infants, as Merck Tests Gardasil in Kids as Young as 4 (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/merck-tests-gardasil-in-kids-as-young-as-4-gates-foundation-hpv-vaccine/)
* 'Completely Misleading': Scientists Accuse Cochrane Reviews of Using Biased Studies to Claim HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer (https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/scientists-accuse-cochrane-reviews-biased-studies-hpv-vaccine-prevents-cancer/)
* * *
Jill Erzen is associate editor for The Defender. She earned her B.A. in journalism and English at the University of Iowa. She has 25 years of experience as a copy editor, copy desk chief and multimedia web editor for newspapers and online news publications. Jill lives in Iowa with her husband and four daughters. She joined The Defender in June 2025.
* * *
Original text here: https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/west-virginia-proposal-dental-hygienists-give-hpv-vaccine-9-year-olds-aap/
[Category: Health Care]
Center for a Humane Economy: 29 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Join Animal Protection Groups in Petition to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release:
* * *
29 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Join Animal Protection Groups in Petition to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots
October 26, 2026
Coalition of 58 organizations and legislators calls on Pennsylvania Game Commission to end organized live-bird shooting contests without restricting lawful hunting
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HARRISBURG, Pa. -- After decades of unsuccessful legislative efforts to stop the organized slaughter of pigeons for sport, Animal Wellness Action, Humane Action Pennsylvania, and a coalition of 27 other animal protection, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release: * * * 29 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Join Animal Protection Groups in Petition to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots October 26, 2026 Coalition of 58 organizations and legislators calls on Pennsylvania Game Commission to end organized live-bird shooting contests without restricting lawful hunting - HARRISBURG, Pa. -- After decades of unsuccessful legislative efforts to stop the organized slaughter of pigeons for sport, Animal Wellness Action, Humane Action Pennsylvania, and a coalition of 27 other animal protection,conservation, and advocacy organizations, joined by 29 Pennsylvania lawmakers, are petitioning the Pennsylvania Game Commission to use its regulatory authority to ban live pigeon shoots throughout the Commonwealth.
The formal petition for rulemaking asks the commission to prohibit organized shooting contests in which live pigeons or other birds are released from traps and shot at close range for entertainment, competition, or cash prizes. The proposed regulation would leave lawful hunting untouched.
At these events, birds are captured or bred, confined in crates, and released into the line of gunfire. Many are not killed outright, instead suffering shattered wings, broken bones, internal injuries, and prolonged deaths. Wounded birds may escape the shooting grounds only to die hours or days later from their injuries.
"Pennsylvania has a long tradition of hunting and responsible sportsmanship, but using live pigeons as targets in organized shooting contests is neither hunting nor sport," said state representative Mike Jones (R-York), 93rd Legislative District. "As a strong supporter of hunters, I also know that the vast majority of them will tell you it gives hunting a bad name. As a co-sponsor of legislation to end live pigeon shoots, I believe we have a responsibility to close this longstanding loophole in our animal cruelty laws. Protecting animals from needless suffering is an issue that transcends party lines and political ideologies."
Pennsylvania remains one of the few states where organized live pigeon shoots continue. Animal protection organizations have documented events involving thousands of birds, including a two-day shoot near Dalmatia in Northumberland County. The Philadelphia Gun Club and other venues have also hosted pigeon shoots, with events sometimes taking place away from public scrutiny.
"For decades, animal advocates, lawmakers, and concerned Pennsylvanians have worked to end the cruel practice of live pigeon shoots, yet these events continue to take place in our Commonwealth," said Natalie Ahwesh, executive director of Humane Action Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania state director of Animal Wellness Action.
"Birds are captured, confined, and released only to be shot for entertainment, often suffering prolonged and painful deaths. This is not hunting, and it is not a tradition worth preserving. After years of legislative inaction, we are calling on the Pennsylvania Game Commission to exercise its authority to address this cruelty. Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly recognize that live pigeon shoots have no place in a humane society, and it is long past time for our state's policies to reflect those values," Ahwesh said.
The petition argues that Pennsylvania's Game and Wildlife Code, Title 34, gives the Game Commission broad authority to regulate wildlife and the methods by which birds may be taken. The coalition contends that this authority extends to rock doves, commonly known as pigeons, and that the commission can prohibit their use as live targets without waiting for the General Assembly to enact new legislation.
Specifically, the petition asks the commission to adopt a regulation prohibiting any person from conducting, sponsoring, organizing, participating in, or knowingly permitting an organized shooting event using live birds as targets. The proposed language expressly exempts lawful hunting conducted under Pennsylvania law.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, a co-petitioner and sponsor of legislation to prohibit live pigeon shoots, said regulatory action is long overdue.
"Pigeon shoots are a cruel and outdated practice that have no place in Pennsylvania. There is nothing sporting about using live birds as targets when humane alternatives are readily available. I am proud to sponsor legislation to end these events, and I strongly support this petition calling on the Pennsylvania Game Commission to take action. We should not allow this unnecessary cruelty to continue while we wait for the legislature to act."
Boscola is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1159, introduced in February, which would establish a criminal offense for conducting or knowingly permitting certain live pigeon shooting contests. Companion legislation, House Bill 1097, has advanced through the legislative process, but neither measure will become law this legislative session.
Beyond the suffering inflicted on birds, the rulemaking petition identifies several additional reasons for prohibiting the contests:
* No conservation or wildlife management benefit. Unlike lawful hunting, pigeon shoots do not serve wildlife population management, habitat conservation, food procurement, or other recognized wildlife stewardship purposes. Birds are used as disposable targets, and their carcasses are routinely discarded.
* Environmental contamination. Thousands of rounds of ammunition fired in concentrated areas can deposit lead shot in soil and surrounding waterways, potentially poisoning wildlife and creating long-term environmental hazards.
* Public health and safety risks. Dead and wounded birds, blood, feathers, and other biological waste can create sanitation concerns, while retrieving wounded birds from active shooting fields presents additional safety hazards.
* Readily available humane alternatives. Clay targets are already standard in Olympic shooting events, trap shooting, skeet, and other competitive shooting disciplines, offering comparable tests of marksmanship without using live animals.
The petition also argues that pigeon shoots undermine the principles of fair chase and wildlife stewardship associated with Pennsylvania's hunting traditions. Its authors emphasize that the proposed rule would apply only to organized events using live birds as targets and would not restrict otherwise lawful hunting.
The 58 signatories include 24 Pennsylvania state representatives, five state senators, and 29 organizations. Among the participating organizations are the Lycoming Audubon Society, Presque Isle Audubon Society, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), and the Center for a Humane Economy, along with animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries from across the Commonwealth.
The petition asks the Game Commission to initiate formal rulemaking to close what the coalition describes as a regulatory gap that has allowed commercial live-bird shooting contests to continue despite longstanding concerns about animal cruelty, environmental contamination, and public safety.
"Modern clay targets provide an effective, widely accepted, humane, and commercially successful alternative that has rendered live-animal shooting contests unnecessary," the petition states.
The coalition maintains that the commission need not wait for another legislative session to address a practice that has drawn opposition from animal protection organizations and lawmakers for decades.
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Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter
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Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @AWAction_News
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URL: Animal Wellness Action
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Original text here: https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/29-pennsylvania-lawmakers-join-petition-to-ban-live-pigeon-shoots/
[Category: Animals]
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29 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Join Animal Protection Groups in Petition to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots
October 26, 2026
Coalition of 58 organizations and legislators calls on Pennsylvania Game Commission to end organized live-bird shooting contests without restricting lawful hunting
-
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- After decades of unsuccessful legislative efforts to stop the organized slaughter of pigeons for sport, Animal Wellness Action, Humane Action Pennsylvania, and a coalition of 27 other animal protection, ... Show Full Article WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 -- The Center for a Humane Economy posted the following news release: * * * 29 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Join Animal Protection Groups in Petition to Ban Live Pigeon Shoots October 26, 2026 Coalition of 58 organizations and legislators calls on Pennsylvania Game Commission to end organized live-bird shooting contests without restricting lawful hunting - HARRISBURG, Pa. -- After decades of unsuccessful legislative efforts to stop the organized slaughter of pigeons for sport, Animal Wellness Action, Humane Action Pennsylvania, and a coalition of 27 other animal protection,conservation, and advocacy organizations, joined by 29 Pennsylvania lawmakers, are petitioning the Pennsylvania Game Commission to use its regulatory authority to ban live pigeon shoots throughout the Commonwealth.
The formal petition for rulemaking asks the commission to prohibit organized shooting contests in which live pigeons or other birds are released from traps and shot at close range for entertainment, competition, or cash prizes. The proposed regulation would leave lawful hunting untouched.
At these events, birds are captured or bred, confined in crates, and released into the line of gunfire. Many are not killed outright, instead suffering shattered wings, broken bones, internal injuries, and prolonged deaths. Wounded birds may escape the shooting grounds only to die hours or days later from their injuries.
"Pennsylvania has a long tradition of hunting and responsible sportsmanship, but using live pigeons as targets in organized shooting contests is neither hunting nor sport," said state representative Mike Jones (R-York), 93rd Legislative District. "As a strong supporter of hunters, I also know that the vast majority of them will tell you it gives hunting a bad name. As a co-sponsor of legislation to end live pigeon shoots, I believe we have a responsibility to close this longstanding loophole in our animal cruelty laws. Protecting animals from needless suffering is an issue that transcends party lines and political ideologies."
Pennsylvania remains one of the few states where organized live pigeon shoots continue. Animal protection organizations have documented events involving thousands of birds, including a two-day shoot near Dalmatia in Northumberland County. The Philadelphia Gun Club and other venues have also hosted pigeon shoots, with events sometimes taking place away from public scrutiny.
"For decades, animal advocates, lawmakers, and concerned Pennsylvanians have worked to end the cruel practice of live pigeon shoots, yet these events continue to take place in our Commonwealth," said Natalie Ahwesh, executive director of Humane Action Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania state director of Animal Wellness Action.
"Birds are captured, confined, and released only to be shot for entertainment, often suffering prolonged and painful deaths. This is not hunting, and it is not a tradition worth preserving. After years of legislative inaction, we are calling on the Pennsylvania Game Commission to exercise its authority to address this cruelty. Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly recognize that live pigeon shoots have no place in a humane society, and it is long past time for our state's policies to reflect those values," Ahwesh said.
The petition argues that Pennsylvania's Game and Wildlife Code, Title 34, gives the Game Commission broad authority to regulate wildlife and the methods by which birds may be taken. The coalition contends that this authority extends to rock doves, commonly known as pigeons, and that the commission can prohibit their use as live targets without waiting for the General Assembly to enact new legislation.
Specifically, the petition asks the commission to adopt a regulation prohibiting any person from conducting, sponsoring, organizing, participating in, or knowingly permitting an organized shooting event using live birds as targets. The proposed language expressly exempts lawful hunting conducted under Pennsylvania law.
State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, a co-petitioner and sponsor of legislation to prohibit live pigeon shoots, said regulatory action is long overdue.
"Pigeon shoots are a cruel and outdated practice that have no place in Pennsylvania. There is nothing sporting about using live birds as targets when humane alternatives are readily available. I am proud to sponsor legislation to end these events, and I strongly support this petition calling on the Pennsylvania Game Commission to take action. We should not allow this unnecessary cruelty to continue while we wait for the legislature to act."
Boscola is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 1159, introduced in February, which would establish a criminal offense for conducting or knowingly permitting certain live pigeon shooting contests. Companion legislation, House Bill 1097, has advanced through the legislative process, but neither measure will become law this legislative session.
Beyond the suffering inflicted on birds, the rulemaking petition identifies several additional reasons for prohibiting the contests:
* No conservation or wildlife management benefit. Unlike lawful hunting, pigeon shoots do not serve wildlife population management, habitat conservation, food procurement, or other recognized wildlife stewardship purposes. Birds are used as disposable targets, and their carcasses are routinely discarded.
* Environmental contamination. Thousands of rounds of ammunition fired in concentrated areas can deposit lead shot in soil and surrounding waterways, potentially poisoning wildlife and creating long-term environmental hazards.
* Public health and safety risks. Dead and wounded birds, blood, feathers, and other biological waste can create sanitation concerns, while retrieving wounded birds from active shooting fields presents additional safety hazards.
* Readily available humane alternatives. Clay targets are already standard in Olympic shooting events, trap shooting, skeet, and other competitive shooting disciplines, offering comparable tests of marksmanship without using live animals.
The petition also argues that pigeon shoots undermine the principles of fair chase and wildlife stewardship associated with Pennsylvania's hunting traditions. Its authors emphasize that the proposed rule would apply only to organized events using live birds as targets and would not restrict otherwise lawful hunting.
The 58 signatories include 24 Pennsylvania state representatives, five state senators, and 29 organizations. Among the participating organizations are the Lycoming Audubon Society, Presque Isle Audubon Society, Lancaster Farm Sanctuary, Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society, SHARK (Showing Animals Respect and Kindness), and the Center for a Humane Economy, along with animal rescue organizations and sanctuaries from across the Commonwealth.
The petition asks the Game Commission to initiate formal rulemaking to close what the coalition describes as a regulatory gap that has allowed commercial live-bird shooting contests to continue despite longstanding concerns about animal cruelty, environmental contamination, and public safety.
"Modern clay targets provide an effective, widely accepted, humane, and commercially successful alternative that has rendered live-animal shooting contests unnecessary," the petition states.
The coalition maintains that the commission need not wait for another legislative session to address a practice that has drawn opposition from animal protection organizations and lawmakers for decades.
* * *
Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order. The first organization of its kind in the animal protection movement, the Center encourages businesses to honor their social responsibilities in a culture where consumers, investors, and other key stakeholders abhor cruelty and the degradation of the environment and embrace innovation as a means of eliminating both. The Center believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @TheHumaneCenter
* * *
Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws. Animal Wellness Action believes helping animals helps us all. Twitter: @AWAction_News
* * *
URL: Animal Wellness Action
* * *
Original text here: https://centerforahumaneeconomy.org/29-pennsylvania-lawmakers-join-petition-to-ban-live-pigeon-shoots/
[Category: Animals]