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IWMC
World Conservation Trust |
The Editor
St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue S
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
8 January 2002
Sir / Madam,
The constant tormenting of the Ringling
Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus by animal rights groups is just one
element in a lucrative and self-sustaining fundraising merry-go-round. As a
conservation body devoted to the sustainable use of wildlife, we are
constantly pointing out that these campaigners spend none of the money they
receive on physically improving the welfare of any animal.
There are now a myriad of campaign groups
raising money from the public (particularly preying on children and young
adults) supposedly to "protect" animals and the environment. In
fact, groups like PETA are professional fundraising machines managing a
financial charade that compares to pyramid schemes. They dupe the public to
hand over cash in exchange for what is defended as "increasing public
awareness".
Most of the money donated pays for:
salaries, benefits, offices, mailers, advertising, publicity material,
lawyers, state of the art internet sites, media stunts and, of course,
endless fundraising appeals.
Eugene Lapointe
President
IWMC World Conservation Trust
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