Showing posts with label New. Show all posts
Showing posts with label New. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Animal Planet Exposes Horrific Billion Dollar Industry in New Special PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED

25 Mar 2009 16:10 Africa/Lagos

Animal Planet Exposes Horrific Billion Dollar Industry in New Special PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED

- Special Presentation of ANIMAL COPS: PHILADELPHIA Takes Viewers Inside Puppy Mills in Pennsylvania and Beyond-

SILVER SPRING, Md., March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Boney legs poke out from between harsh metal wires. Food and water dishes remain empty for days. Ailments go untreated as puppies bide their time among the dying and the dead. These are the squalid conditions of puppy mills, where it's estimated more than two million dogs are mass-produced for profit each year. Hundreds of these animals never survive, and the ones who do are permanently scarred, emotionally and physically. No matter how inhumane, over 10,000 puppy mills continue to do business across the country -- many of them legally -- as neglect runs rampant and countless lives are ruined. While respectable breeders cherish their animals by providing safe, clean environments; plenty of food and water; and space for exercise and socialization, puppy mills are run for profit alone, without considering the quality of life of the animals that are born within their confines.


Starting in Pennsylvania, a state which some organizations have dubbed "the puppy mill capital of the east," Animal Planet follows the committed law enforcement officers of the Pennsylvania SPCA (PSPCA) to take viewers inside the world of puppy mills in PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED. Premiering Monday, April 27, at 10 PM (ET/PT), this special episode of ANIMAL COPS: PHILADELPHIA utilizes photographic and video evidence and the firsthand accounts of investigators and employees who brought down some of the largest puppy mill operations in the country. PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED illuminates the horrifying conditions of puppy mills while forcing viewers to ask how this inexcusable business continues to flourish on American soil.


In Pennsylvania, PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED explores the case of Limestone Kennels -- one of the highest profile puppy mill cases the state has ever seen. On July 17, 2008, just outside of Philadelphia in Chester County, investigators rescued more than 80 dogs from Limestone and brought owner John Blank to justice. Unfortunately, victory was bittersweet because what the officers saw inside the puppy mill was astonishing -- multiple dogs packed into cramped cages, food dishes contaminated with feces and animals with multiple birth defects, including dogs with missing eyes. The worst part was the kennel had passed inspections on multiple occasions, calling into question the enforcement of state laws surrounding the welfare of animals in Pennsylvania. Humane Law Enforcement Officer Ashley Mutch followed the lead that led to the warrant and raid of Limestone Kennels.


"We rescued all of the dogs from the appalling environment and conditions they were subjected to, which was the most important thing," say Mutch. "But for the dogs that came before them, we were too late. Whether they survived or not, all of those dogs were victims of a puppy mill and will be forever damaged."


"Puppy mills are a blemish on a country that loves and respects its dogs," says Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet. "PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED tells the truth about these operations -- no matter how disturbing -- in order to incite emotions and action in everyone who watches."


Traveling across the country, PUPPY MILLS: EXPOSED explores similar stories as they unfold in Tennessee and Florida. With the help of a puppy mill employee, who was disgusted by what she saw at work, the authorities in Hickman County, Tennessee, closed Pine Bluff Kennels. The animals were tortured with starvation, kept in disgusting cages covered in inches of feces and left to survive among the corpses of dead puppies. The adult dogs did not fare much better: after being used for breeding, they were no longer considered valuable and were allegedly shot.


Later, viewers travel to Miami where the other side of this horrific reality is exposed. Viewers meet a woman who bought her puppy, Nugget, from a pet store. Shortly thereafter, Nugget became sick. Like most people, the owner had no idea that virtually all pet store puppies come from large commercial breeding facilities -- many of which can be considered puppy mills. The conditions of these facilities would be truly shocking to pet owners, but unfortunately they buy their pets, unaware of their origins.


ANIMAL COPS: PHILADELPHIA is a Granada Anglia production. For Granada Anglia, Marie Thomas is executive producer. Dawn Sinsel is the executive producer for Animal Planet.


Animal Planet Media (APM), a multi-media business unit of Discovery Communications, is the world's only entertainment brand that immerses viewers in the full range of life in the animal kingdom with rich, deep content via multiple platforms and offers animal lovers and pet owners access to a centralized online, television and mobile community for immersive, engaging, high-quality entertainment, information and enrichment. APM consists of the Animal Planet television network, available in more than 95 million homes in the US; online assets www.animalplanet.com, the ultimate online destination for all things animal; the 24/7 broadband channel, Animal Planet Beyond; Petfinder.com, the #1 pet-related Web property globally that facilitates pet adoption; and other media platforms including a robust Video-on-Demand (VOD) service; mobile content; and merchandising extensions.


The Pennsylvania SPCA is dedicated to rescuing animals from abuse and neglect, providing lifesaving care and treatment, guaranteeing a home for every adoptable animal, and reducing pet-overpopulation through low-cost spay-and-neuter clinics and public awareness initiatives. Through these efforts, we prevent cruelty towards animals and promote respect for their welfare, thus enhancing the lives of people and their companion animals throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Headquartered in Philadelphia, PSPCA has satellite shelters in Wellsboro, Centre Hall, Danville, and Montrose. The Philadelphia branch houses a full-service animal hospital, obedience training academy, adoption facility and the PSPCA Law Enforcement Department, which is responsible for enforcing Philadelphia and Pennsylvania animal cruelty laws. For more information, call 215-426-6300 or visit www.pspca.org.


Source: Animal Planet

CONTACT: Erin Pryor for Animal Planet, +1-240-662-6781,
Erin_Pryor@discovery.com


Web Site: Animal Planet
http://www.pspca.org/


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

OBAMA: The Historic Journey, a New Groundbreaking Book Covering Barack Obama's Life from Childhood Through His Inauguration

22 Dec 2008 20:23 Africa/Lagos

OBAMA: The Historic Journey, a New Groundbreaking Book Covering Barack Obama's Life from Childhood Through His Inauguration as the 44th President of the United States, to be Published by Callaway Arts & Entertainment and The New York Times in Collaboration with Riverhead Books on Presidents' Day 2009

Introduction by Pulitzer Prize Winner Bill Keller, Executive Editor of The New York Times, with Principal Text by Jill Abramson, Managing Editor; Commentaries and Essays from Op-Ed Columnists Paul Krugman, Frank Rich, Thomas L. Friedman, Gail Collins, Bob Herbert, Maureen Dowd and David Brooks; Hundreds of Images by Photographers Doug Mills, Damon Winter, Steve Crowley and others

A Special Young Readers Edition of OBAMA: The Historic Journey to be Released Simultaneously by Callaway and The New York Times in Collaboration with Penguin Group (USA)'s Viking Children's Books

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- OBAMA: The Historic Journey, a new groundbreaking, beautifully written and illustrated book covering Barack Obama's life, from his childhood through his inauguration as the 44th president of the United States, will be published in hardcover on Presidents' Day, Feb. 16, 2009, by Callaway Arts & Entertainment and The New York Times and distributed by Riverhead Books, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA), it was announced today by Riverhead Books Vice President and Publisher Geoffrey Kloske and Nicholas Callaway, founder and publisher of Callaway Arts & Entertainment. North American rights were acquired from Scott Moyers of The Wylie Agency.


The election of Barack Obama marked an unprecedented step forward in American history, shattering racial barriers and forever altering the political landscape. The New York Times, winner of 96 Pulitzer Prizes, has chronicled the exceptional moments of Mr. Obama's life, from when he was first elected president of the Harvard Law Review in 1990, to his memorable speech at the 2004 Democratic Convention, his campaign for the presidency and his jubilant victory.


This 240-page hardcover book, a collector's item, includes:

-- Introduction by Executive Editor Bill Keller
-- Managing Editor Jill Abramson's insightful essay on Mr. Obama's life,
rise to power, and election
-- Profiles of important figures in Mr. Obama's life, including Michelle
Obama, his daughters, grandmother, mother and father, as well as some
of the campaign's controversial figures, including Rev. Jeremiah
Wright
-- Reporting by prominent Times journalists such as Janny Scott, Jodi
Kantor and Adam Nagourney among others
-- Original commentary by Times columnists Frank Rich, Thomas L.
Friedman, Roger Cohen and Bob Herbert
-- Selected essays by Times columnists Paul Krugman, Maureen Dowd, David
Brooks and Gail Collins
-- Excerpts from Mr. Obama's most important speeches, including the full
text of his Inaugural Address
-- More than 200 full-color photographs by New York Times photographers
-- Maps, charts, and graphics from The Times


This landmark publication is being released on a condensed schedule. On Inauguration Day, photographers and journalists from The Times will be working side by side with the Callaway editorial team, gathering in real time images and words from this historic moment in American history. OBAMA: The Historic Journey, which will go on sale nationally just three weeks after Inauguration Day, will be the most comprehensive and current chronicle of Obama's life in words and pictures. The final chapter will include the full Inaugural Address and a 32-page photo essay by a team of 12 New York Times staff photographers specially assigned to cover the events of the day as they unfold.


"Given The Times's extraordinary coverage, in both words and pictures, of the presidential campaign, and Callaway's superb track record of beautifully designed books, we see this as both a natural fit editorially and a remarkable opportunity to seize a significant moment in history," Scott H. Heekin-Canedy, the president and general manager of The New York Times, said. "All of us here are extremely excited about it."


Geoffrey Kloske, Vice President and Publisher, Riverhead Books, said, "We have the highest regard for Callaway's top-tier team and The New York Times' prize-winning editors, writers and photographers. To be part of such an incredible team and a landmark publishing event is extremely exciting to everyone at Riverhead."


Nicholas Callaway, Founder and Publisher of Callaway Arts & Entertainment, said, "It is an honor to work with the extraordinary editors and photographers of The New York Times on a book that commemorates this singular chapter in American history. We are delighted to have Riverhead and Penguin Group (USA) as our partner in releasing this book on a schedule of unprecedented speed."


The adult trade edition of OBAMA: The Historic Journey will be first published in a large-format (10 x 11 7/8 inches) jacketed hardcover volume. It will include 240 pages, with more than 200 full-color photographs and approximately 35,000 words of text ($40.00 suggested retail price).


The young readers hardcover edition of OBAMA: The Historic Journey will be specifically written and designed to appeal to and inspire the 8-12 age group, with age-appropriate text and a different selection of photographs and illustrations. It will be published in a slightly smaller format (9 x 10 7/8 inches) and include 96 pages, with 200 full-color photographs ($24.95 suggested retail price).


NOTE TO THE PRESS


Callaway Arts & Entertainment is a leading creator and producer of branded entertainment and literary properties across all media, including book publishing, computer animation, and family lifestyle products. Founded by Nicholas Callaway in 1980, the book division has published some of the most highly acclaimed illustrated books of our time, including Madonna's The English Roses, Georgia O'Keeffe's One Hundred Flowers, Irving Penn's Passage, and David Kirk's Miss Spider series.


The New York Times: The New York Times Company (NYSE:NYT) , a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.


Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the US. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group., one of the world's largest English-language trade book publishers, with established divisions and key market positions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, China, South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland. Penguin Group (USA)'s roster of award-winning, internationally bestselling authors includes Patricia Cornwell, Khaled Hosseini, Elizabeth Gilbert, Tom Clancy, Nora Roberts, Sue Grafton, Eckhart Tolle, Junot Diaz, Zadie Smith, Sue Monk Kidd, Kim Edwards, Greg Mortenson, Ken Follett, Jan Karon, Clive Cussler, Daniel Silva, Geraldine Brooks, J. M. Coetzee, Thomas Pynchon, A. Scott Berg, Alan Greenspan, Al Gore, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, Steve Coll, Kathleen Norris, James McBride, Michael Pollan, Ron Chernow, the Dalai Lama, Toni Morrison, Nick Hornby, Terry McMillan, Tyler Perry, Harlan Coben, Robin Cook, Catherine Coulter, Eric Jerome Dickey, Robert B. Parker, John Sandford, Helen Fielding, W. E. B. Griffin, Spencer Johnson, Arthur Miller, Joyce Carol Oates, Carol Shields, John Steinbeck, Kurt Vonnegut, and Stuart Woods. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.


Riverhead Books is a distinguished and critically acclaimed imprint of Penguin Group (USA). It is home to many New York Times-bestselling and award-winning authors, including Khaled Hosseini, Junot Diaz, Kathleen Norris, James McBride, Daniel Pink, Nick Hornby, Sarah Vowell, Shalom Auslander, Dinaw Mengestu and Aleksander Hemon, among others.


Viking Children's Books, established in 1933, is a hardcover division publishing approximately 65 books a year. It is known for its classic backlist which includes Madeline, Make Way for Ducklings, and Pippi Longstocking, bestselling authors Sarah Dessen, Jon Scieszka, and Anna Dewdney, its many award-winners including Simms Taback's Joseph Had a Little Overcoat and Elizabeth Partridge's John Lennon, as well as for publishing such groundbreaking titles as The Outsiders and The Stinky Cheese Man.


Source: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

CONTACT: Marilyn Ducksworth, +1-212-366-2564, or
marilyn.ducksworth@us.penguingroup.com; or Dave Zimmer, +1-212-366-2687, or
david.zimmer@us.penguingroup.com, both of the Penguin Group (USA); or Jennifer
Caffrey of Callaway Arts & Entertainment, +1-212-798-3175, or
Jennifer_Caffrey@callaway.com


Web Site: http://boston.com/
http://nytimes.com/
http://www.about.com/


Wednesday, August 20, 2008

New Zogby Poll Results Bad News for McCain, Obama


New book by Joseph Farah calls on Americans to vote 'None of the Above' in 2008. (PRNewsFoto/WND Books) WASHINGTON, DC UNITED STATES 08/13/2008

20 Aug 2008 17:17 Africa/Lagos


New Zogby Poll Results Bad News for McCain, Obama

Nearly 2 in 3 voters want someone else: 62.4% of Americans say they would like to see better choices of candidates, parties in future

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new Zogby poll commissioned by Joseph Farah, WorldNetDaily founder and author of the new book: "None of the Above: Why 2008 is the Year to Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote" indicates a large percentage are ready to throw in the towel rather than vote for either of the two candidates in Nov. 2008.


(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080813/DC30373 )


Unlike any other scientific poll conducted in 2008, this survey asked randomly selected respondents about their level of enthusiasm for presidential candidates and offered the actual alternatives to the major party candidates that will appear on most ballots across the country - as well as the option of simply not voting.


"I think what we see here confirms my observation that there is widespread disenchantment with the two major-party nominees, something that has simply not been adequately measured before this poll," Farah says. "There is a leaderless, grass-roots movement out there to boycott both McCain and Obama in 2008 - to make a statement, to demand better candidates in the future from better parties. This could be a historic election for non-participation in a year with no high-profile third-party alternatives."


Barack Obama came in first with just 38.1 percent of the vote to John McCain's 33.6 percent.


A whopping 21.3 percent said they were still undecided - a remarkably high figure for this late in the campaign that ends Nov. 4. But another 7.3 percent indicated they would not be voting at all.


Only 21.7 percent of respondents described themselves as very excited about the choice of candidates for president this year. A similar number, 21.5 percent, said they were "not at all" excited about the options.


Younger voters say they want more competition in the political marketplace. Some 83 percent of voters 18-24 express that opinion, while 73 percent of those between 25-34 do. In addition, 76.4 percent of those who describe themselves as "very conservative" say they want more viable candidate and party choices in the future.


It also appears the enthusiasm gap hits McCain harder than Obama, with 22.3 percent of Republicans expressing no excitement at all over the election vs. 11.9 percent of Democrats. On the other hand, 35.3 percent of Democrats say they are "very much" excited about the choice vs. 14.4 percent of Republicans.


Joseph Farah is founder and CEO of WorldNetDaily.com, the world's leading independent Internet news source. Farah writes a daily column for WND and a weekly newspaper column for Creators Syndicate. He is also founder and co-publisher of WND Books, a publishing venture that has produced several New York Times bestsellers in the last five years.


Contact: Maria Sliwa, M. Sliwa Public Relations, 973-272-2861 / 212-202-4453, media@msliwa.com


Websites: http://wnd.com and http://wndbooks.com

WND/Zogby Poll: http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=72455


Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link:


Joseph Farah


https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=80102


Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080813/DC30373
Source: Joseph Farah for WorldNetDaily

CONTACT: Maria Sliwa, +1-973-272-2861, +1-212-202-4453,
media@msliwa.com, for Joseph Farah for WorldNetDaily


Web Site: http://wnd.com/
http://wndbooks.wnd.com/