THE CLUB MED PAGE
by Joan Conley and Melanie Stopyra
Data Entry by Shane G. Sutliff
Updated on Sunday, December 13, 1998
Joan Conley, co-founder of Cindy's Web Page, and SACNYAACHS staff member and Melanie Stopyra, a SACNYAACHS staff member, tell us about an atrocious situation with felines in Tahiti, and how through these animal lovers and their correspondences that follow below, this situation will have a happy ending.
***WebMaster's Note : New Data Added On Sun, 12/13/98. Information
Is Chronological From Top To Bottom.***
CLUB MED TAHITIAN CAT ABUSE
submitted By Joan Conley and Melanie Stopyra
SACNYAACHS Contributing Writers And Consultants
It seems that a Club Med in Tahiti
is in the habit of transporting stray cats to an island where there is no
fresh water and very little to eat. We're working on a letter campaign
and I have some addresses and such that will follow at the end of the
story.
This information came to me from a woman names Mary Hackshaw in New
Zealand.
This needs to be a MAJOR letter campaign so that these people know
that they cannot simply destroy the cats (evidence). Since this a major
resort which counts on tourists from the US and other first world
countries it ought not to be too hard to make them save those kitties.
Here Is Mary Hackshaw's post :
Hi folks I'm back from my short vacation at Club Med in Moorea
(Tahiti).It was my second time there and as usual was very pleasant. Until.....
On my second to last day I was sitting next to a pleasant American who
said it was his 8th visit to this particular Club Med. We were talking
about all the stray cats which hang around the open-air restaurant and
scrounge food. (I am one of their best donors of "scraps")
I commented that I didn't recognise any of the kitties from my stay in
May last year. This guy told me that last year the Club Med people did a
round-up of the stray kitties and took them all across to a little island
in the lagoon just off from the resort. The kitties were all just dumped
there on a tiny coral island with some bush and a few tin shelters that
picnickers have used, but nothing else. The island is mainly sand and
coral.
I stewed over this all that afternoon and evening, and so I decided to
go across in the morning and check this out. There is a water ferry which
leaves every 20 minutes, so I jumped on and went over. Yes, sure enough,
I found the kitties. It was without a doubt the most horrific sight I
have ever laid eyes on. Some of these kitties were so starved they swayed
and wobbled as they walked. They were in APPALLING condition. There were
2 pregnant females - one heavily pregnant. The rest - as far as I could
see were toms.
As I sat on the beach waiting to leave I was fighting back the tears.
It was just without a doubt the saddest sight I have ever seen. A little
ginger tom saw the boat come across and he walked down to the beach to the
boat as if he wanted to go in it. Would you believe, a fat Italian woman
picked up a coconut shell and threw it at him. He took off into the
trees, terrified.
I went back on the last boat before the lunch break, feeling ill. My
bus for the airport was leaving at 3.45 so I had very little time.
Straight after lunch I went to a supermarket, which as luck would have it,
was shut for siesta until 2.30. I sat and waited until it reopened, then
I bought tins of cat food and raced back to the village. I got the boat
back across (3 pm now) and went to where the cats were. As soon as the
tin was opened and they caught a whiff of the smell, cats appeared from
everywhere. I found coconut shells and fed the kitties in those. It was
surely the first proper meal these kitties had EVER had. It was just
gut-wrenching.
This place has got no food - maybe just a few skinks and gekkos. No
fresh water. Some American friends I made on the vacation had also been
over and they said that they saw the kitties trying to eat the flesh out
of coconuts which had fallen and split open. I saw one kitty trying to eat
a bit of stale bread dropped from someone's sandwich into the sand.
Unfortunately my time ran out and I had to get the boat back. I
arrived back at Club Med 15 minutes before my bus left for the airport.
I did take some photos of these poor darlings. None of them was truly
feral and they all came around me and let me stroke them as they ate.
Before I left I stole from my room a book called "Club Med Cares". in
it is listed all the wonderfully environmentally friendly things Club Med
does at its resorts, including living in harmony with and respecting the
wildlife (yes, those are the exact words).
This is a second, follow-up letter in answer to some questions posed
to Mary by others:
I think that the way to combat this sort of inhumane thing is to let
them know that we know and we will spread the word far and wide. I know
that the French generally treat their animals appallingly but they need to
know that the rest of the developed world won't tolerate it. I certainly
won't return to Club Med until I am satisfied that they have got the
message and smartened up their act with regards treatment of animals.
(They were actually a bit "down" in the other areas as well and many
people were complaining). Most of the guests at Tahiti are Americans and I
think it would really hurt Club Med if it got bad press in the USA.
I would like to see Club Med go further and actually intervene
positively, ie. get the present population speyed and neutered. Whilst
they are charging $US 150 per night to their guests I don't see that a
couple of thousand dollars to spey and neuter the stray cat population
would hurt.On this visit the resort was full - 700 people. That amounts to
$735,000 per week that the place is making. I can assure you that their
wages bill is minimal. The workers are mainly local Polynesians. The GO's
work there mainly for the lifestyle and I have been told that their wages
are a pittance as well.
I would also say that while the kitties on the island were in terrible
shape, the ones at the resort were not much better. They did get to eat
reasonably well but they were likely infested with worms and not actually
getting much nutrition from what they eat.
I did live in Samoa where animals are treated very badly (and even
eaten) and when I went there I was quite shocked at the condition of the
cats and dogs. However the island kitties were a far worse sight. There
was a kind of desperation about them which really hurt.
Thanks for all the support.
These are the addresses I have so far. Anyone with any other ideas
should write to me at pijo@loclanet.com. Also, anyone who has contacts
with rescue organisations, whether real time or e-mail lists, please pass
this on.
World Society for the Protection of Animals
P.O. Box 190
Boston, MA 02130
Phone: 617-522-7000
Fax: 617-522-7077
Email: wspa@world.std.com
Web: http://way.net/wspa
International Fund for Animal Welfare
411 Main Street
Yarmouth Port, MA 02675
Phone: 800-932-IFAW
Fax: 508-362-1283
Web:http://www.ifaw.org
Club Med
PO Box 1010
Moorea- French Polynesia.
There is also a comment form on the general Club Med
web site at http://www.clubmed.com/ID-NgFw7tFDAckAAEiIJMY/InfoResa/
I would suggest sending a tactful letter to the attention of the
manager, pointing out that there is no need to exile the cats to the
inhumane island. (from the person who provided this information)
More Information :
The Dalton Foundation is getting together a fundraiser so we can set
up low cost spay neuter clinic on the big island. It is cost prohibitive
for the locals to do this, plus they need to be educated on the problem.
We need to get humane traps, vaccinate, tag and set them free to live out
their natural lives. We also want to set up a feeding center for them.
Our fund raiser in Los Angeles will probably take place next year. Keep
your paws crossed.
If you would like further information, see our website :
http://207.158.226.68/Dalton_Foundation.html
The Dalton Foundation - A Foundation Under Construction.
Also visit :
Isabel, Cat Behaviorist
http://www.catshrink.com
Come visit us and sign up for the free monthly consultation contest!
They have no choice, they have no voice, they only have us!
ON ANOTHER NOTE........
PUBLISHERS PONDER ANIMAL RIGHTS BOOK PROPOSAL
ETERNAL TREBLINKA
The Exploitation and Slaughter of Animals--
and How to Stop It
>by Charles Patterson
The working title of the book is from The Letter Writer, a story by
Isaac Bashevis Singer, Yiddish writer and Nobel Laureate in Literature:
"In his thoughts", Herman spoke "a eulogy for the
mouse who had shared a portion of her life with him and who, because of
him, had left this earth. What do they know--all these scholars, all these
philosophers, all the leaders of the world--about such as you? They have
convinced themselves that man, the worst transgressor of all the species,
is the crown of creation. All other creatures were created merely to
provide him with food, pelts, to be tormented, exterminated. In relation
to them, all people are Nazis; for the animals it is an eternal
Treblinka".
The author has asked Jane Goodall to write the Foreword and Elie
Wiesel to write the Introduction, and they have both agreed to read the
completed manuscript.
The author's agent recently submitted his 90-page book proposal (which
includes a detailed chapter outline, sample chapter called "Killing
Centers", and a 23-page "promotion plan") to major New York
Citypublishing houses, so the ball is now in their court.
Since many animal advocates have already expressed support for the
concept of the book, its prospects for publication have been greatly
enhanced. Early Once the contract is signed, a New York City public
relations firm is ready to spearhead a national book promotion campaign
(the author and his agent have already met with the president and
publicity manager of the firm).
It is hoped that as word about the book spreads growing numbers of
concerned and compassionate people will support it and help promote its
message.
If you and/or your group are willing to support the concept of the
book and have your name added to the list, please contact author Charles
Patterson
at : cpatter221@aol.com
MORE ON CLUB MED IN TAHITI :
by Melanie Stopyra, SACNYAACHS Contributing Writer And Consultant
Below is a Fax address for Club Med. They are wanting to hear from
anyone and everyone who is concerned about this. We are winning!!!!!!
To everyone who is concerned and desperately trying to help the cats
in Tahiti, here is some information that we HAVE to act QUICKLY on. I am a
freelance travel agent, and my agency owner called the Club Med corporate
offices to file a formal complaint. They said they had no idea this was
going on and are very upset - not only about their name being mud right
now, but for the plight of the cats and kittens banished on that desert
island to starve to death. God only knows how many have died to date, and
now, but for the plight of the cats and kittens banished on that
desert island to starve to death. God only knows how many have died to
date, and how long Club Med employees have been doing this.
Club Med would dearly like to hear from people about this. Please fax
letters to:
Club Med Corporate Offices, attention:
Melissa, @ 602/596-2828 immediately. They especially want to hear from
Mary Hackshaw in New Zealand.
My travel agency owner (who is a cat lover and rescuer) told her that
if he is not satisfied that they investigate this immediately, he will
file a formal complaint with ASTA who books 70% of their reservations and
will
ensure that Club Med is black-balled in the industry. (He told me that
ASTA works VERY quickly, and will not take this complaint lightly). He
also told Melissa at Club Med that we are very concerned that the Club Med
people will "kill the evidence" and that better not happen.
(Luckily Mary took photographs for proof).
So please fax a letter off to them immediately.
On a brighter note, a good friend of mine has researched the web
to find out that the Dalton Foundation on the West Coast is planning to
set up a low cost spay/neuter program on Tahiti as well as educate the
residents
and set up a feeding center for stray cats. Their web site is:
http://207.158.226.68/Dalton_Foundation.html
They are going to have a fund raiser to do this early next year in Los
Angeles.
Please forward this to anyone interested in helping the Tahitian cats -
but QUICKLY!!!!! They're starving and dying as I write this.
FOLLOWING IS EMAIL CORRESPONDENCES AS TO THE EVENTUAL RESOLUTION OF
THIS ABUSE
http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Villa/9757/Documents/Club_Med_Cats
html
THE HAPPY RESOLUTION :
We appreciate your concern.
Return To SACNYAACHS.
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 12:17:28 -0400
From: Melanie Stopyra
Mime-Version: 1.0
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 11:33:12 -0400
To: "JC Dawson"
Thanks Joyce. I am still waiting for Mary Hackshaw to answer my
email-she is the woman who witnessed this atrocity. Everyone I know says they
have had bad dreams about this. I also keep picturing them in my mind in the
hot sun starving to death. I can't stand it. My travel agency owner sent
quite a letter to Club Med. This is what he said:
"I am enclosing a fax received from the concerned party regarding
the unacceptable actions at the Club Med Moorea, French Polynesia.
As we discussed, ASTA is quite concerned regarding this matter and
hope Club Med realizes the consequences if those animals are destroyed to
cover any evidence.
Several parties are planning visits as we speak to investigate any
steps taken to rescue the cats and kittens and will report to ASTA what their
findings are before any further actions are taken by the concerned
parties.
I hope your office will take swift action to bring the parties
responsible in line with values we can accept when dealing with God's creatures we
share this earth with.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and I look
forward to hearing from you soon."
Let me know if you hear from BB, etc.
What stadium was the cat rescued from??? No eyes! My God, what is
going on?? Do you have any more information about this? My friend has an
animal abuse web page. They will put it on it. They get emails as far away as
Africa.
Thanks,
Mel
*********************
Mel, I forwarded two msgs to BB who's addy is...
f-b-bardot@calva.net I forwarded to Austrailia and NZ group who support ALF, I tried
everyone I could think of, the more involved the greater the pressure. I didnt
sleep well thinking about all this, I saw them on the island waiting
for someone to come with food... Then I read a post on Cat talk board
where this lady rescued this kitten at the stadium it was walking in circls
and it had no eyes, she's going to vet today poor little guy ate
and held on to her for dear life. This stuff is getting worse every day...
Any news? Some people from CF Board sent faxes also. Joyce
From mastopyr@summon.syr.edu Tue Sep 22 11:52:22 1998
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Message-Id:
Well, as I told PETA,if they are threatened with their "bottom line"
then they will take this seriously, which they seem to be doing. Let me
know if you hear from Bridget Bardot. Do they have a web address?
PETA suggested I also forward information to: http://www.alleycat.org
which I will do.
mel
Mel, I was pretty disgusted. I told them we were telling the world
of their atrocity at Moorea. Any have they heard of SPAY/NEUTER in the
course of their education that we were not natives living in the
their atrocity at Moorea. Any have they heard of SPAY/NEUTER in
the course of their education that we were not natives living in the
jungle and I suggested that they get their boat out and resuce those
animals ASAP and video documentary to that effect would be the only
acceptable recourse. Boy if I had money I'd be on my way to the rescue in my
jet loaded with carriers and food....I forwarded to Brigette Bardot
foundation also..... Your great....Joyce
From mastopyr@summon.syr.edu Tue Sep 22 11:15:12 1998
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[128.230.82.242])
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for
I agree with you. As my husband said, we can't help those that have
died already, but they have got to get them off that island right away.
What a disgrace. Be angry in your letter.
Mel
*************
The more the merrier, I'm getting ready to jot out my letter ASAP,
its not going to be nice......do I have to exercise control??? I
think we ought to tell them the only acceptable conclusion to this is a
video documentry where ClubMed gets in their darn boats and haul derriere
over there NOW to retrieve the cats....
From mastopyr@summon.syr.edu Tue Sep 22 09:29:05 1998
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Thanks, I figured that out after I sent you the message. Sorry!
-Mel
Mel, she answered the post on the Cat Fancy, she wants to help,
I'm forwarding msg.
From ltyson@kslmedia.com Tue Sep 22 06:55:03 1998
Received: by SOHO with Internet Mail Service (5.5.1960.3)
id
From: Laura Tyson
Dear Joyce - This really bothers me as well, so far I thought
of a letter/phone campaign against Club Med, plus writing all of the
travel magazines and ccing club med to let them know we mean business.
I think getting PETA involved also. Am trying to find out what international
humane associations might help as well. Since your friend
witnessed it first hand, a detailed account with dates and vivid
descriptions would lend authenticity to any letters/protests. Am trying to stir
up CFBB as well.
Let's coordinate between all of us. What do you think? I'd
like to turn our anger into something practical for these animals. They're
so far away - it's very frustrating! I can call you from work - we
call all over the US - we buy media and therefore deal all over the
country. But if you don't want to give out phone number I understand. 0
----Original Message-----
From: JC Dawson [mailto:catacles@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, September 21, 1998 7:12 PM
To: ltyson@kslmedia.com
Cc: mastopyr@summon.syr.edu
Subject: ClubMedMoorea
Laura, thanks for caring. I got a message at work for my
friend Melanie (Syracuse U)about a woman Mary Hackshaw in New Zealand. They
got to talking to someone (american)at ClubMed about the strays and
she commented she didnt see any of the strays from her May visit.
She was told ClubMed rounded up the strays and dumped them offshore on
a little island 20 minutes by ferry. She took the hop over to check out
the situation and said it was the most horrible sight. Pregnant
cats,Toms, starving cats, barely able to walt, the poor ones that could
tried
to come to boat and someone threw a coconut at them from boart.
She had to leave by air that day but was upset with what she found and is
trying to get some coverage for this atrocity... I jsut cant get it out
of my mind, those poor guys starving with no food or fresh water......it
haunts me.....Please visit my site.
http://www.geocities.com/
Heartland/Park/9857
Joyce
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 23:12:20 -0400
From: Joan
Subject: Tahiti cats and Mary Hackshaw
I just discovered tonight that Mary Hakshaw's Chronic Renal Failure
kitty went into a downward spiral on Friday and that Fluffy did die today.
So, I doubt very seriously (knowing my own experience with losing a cat to
this disease) that Mary is going to be approachable for a week or two. I'm
hoping to get the message out via you all that we need to leave her
alone for a bit. I know how important the Tahiti cats are but one grows very
close to a CRF kitty due to the care it takes to keep them comfortable.
So, please let as many people as you can know that Mary is not simply
ignoring us, she has been spending lots of time with her dying cat.
Take good care,
Joan
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 21:21:44 -0400
From: Joan
Here is a website where a wonderful person put up some of the Mooria
cat's pictures taken by Mary Hackshaw.
Date: Sun, 04 Oct 1998 21:23:16 -0400
From: Joan
Subject: Club Meds response to Mary Hackshaw
This is outrageous!!!!
Joan
Attached is an email I have received. I assume that the sender is
someone from CM. I'm quite concerned at this development. CM seem to want
to wash their hands of this matter. Have a think about this folks - I'll get back online later this
morning.
Mary
--Original Message-----
From: Edwina Arnold
Dear Mrs. Hackshaw:
We wanted to reply to your e-mail as soon as we had completed a
thorough investigation of the cat situation you described.
We have investigated extensively the following statement: "the
Club Med people did a round-up of the stray kitties and took them all across to
a little island in the lagoon just off from the resort. The kitties
were all just dumped there."
This is not and never has been a Club Med practice at Moorea or
anywhere else. Please be advised that the island (motu) where the cats live is
privately owned. Club Med pays a fee to the owners to use a part of
the island for its weekly picnic.
The director of our Tahiti office has formally contacted the Minister
of Health in Papeete, Tahiti, Mr. Patrick Howell, and detailed the
Worldwide concern for these animals, requesting that he take all necessary steps
with the owners of the island to protect the cats.
We appreciate your interest and concern.
Sincerely, Edwina Arnold, Director of Public Relations
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 14:40:49 -0400
From: Joan
Subject: Re: Response to Your Recent Inquiry About the Cats in Moorea
This is Mary's response to Club Med. Don't know who is contacting who,
but I suggest that no one is going to be unhappy if we take off the velvet
gloves. Club Med's behavior is objectionable in the extreme.
Joan
From: "Mary Hackshaw"
Thanks for your response.
The island in question is quite tiny and is uninhabited. There are no
facilities or permanent buildings for human habitation. The island is
several hundred metres across the water from Club Med. The cats cannot
have got to the island by themselves. I cannot imagine why the owners would
have put cats on the island when they clearly do not and have never lived on
the island.
It stretches the imagination to believe that the cats could have got
to the island any other way than having been put there by a person or persons
who wanted to dispose of them.
The cats are not feral. They were ALL clearly used to people and
allowed themselves to be petted and stroked, in the same way that the cats
presently at Club Med allow. Cats which have been bred in the wild generally do
not accept humans the way these cats do. One cat even walked down to the
boat when I was there - I got the impression that he knew what the boat was
all about and wanted to go back on the boat.
I was informed by a totally impartial observer staying at the resort
that he had been informed by Club Med staff that the cats had been placed on
the island by them because guests had been complaining about the number of
cats hanging around the restaurant.
I had no reason to doubt the sincerity of this person or the source
of his information. He told me that he had been to the resort 8 times and it
is reasonable to assume that he has gotten to know some of the staff
during those visits. It is unfortunate that I spoke to this person on my
second to last day and I spent most of my last day doing two trips to the island
and buying food for the cats (I arrived back from my second trip 15 minutes
before my bus left for the airport). I did not have the opportunity to
speak to the person again or obtain his name and address. I do know
that he is a landscape designer from LA.
Even if Club Med had nothing to do with placing the cats on the island
(which I do not find remotely credible) - why can Club Med not do
something to assist these animals? After all - "Club Med Cares"
-according to your book.
Mary Hackshaw
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 10:40:38 -0400
From: Joan
Subject: Web sites to pos. contact
Here's some info from another CRF member.
In the fervent hope that many of you are interested in
participating in the campaign to rescue the Tahiti Club Med cats & prevent this kind of
cruelty from occurring again, the following web site will prove useful
http://arrs.envirolink.org
This is the Animal Rights Resource Site. When you get there, click on
Animal Organizations to get a comprehensive list of animal rights
groups in the U.S. Or you can go to Animal Rights Around the World & then to the
World Animal Net Directory which can be accessed by category (e.g. cat
protection) or region. For instance, when you select cat protection,
you get an alphabetical list of countries with listed organizations. Some
of these organizations have web sites, some just fax & telephone.
We would really like to see every single relevant organization on the
ARRS list get fax or email from us. A suggestion: don't everyone start
with A or the ones way back in the alphabet won't get contacted.
SOME start with A, others start anywhere at random. But the idea is to
get everyone covered.
Thank you & remember, time is important!
Pam & Ambrose +9
Date: Mon, 05 Oct 1998 17:46:11 -0400
From: Joan
Subject: Re: Fw: Response to Your Recent Inquiry About the Cats in
Moorea
Reading this response from Club Med again begs a question for
me--there are also many cats who actually DO live on the Moorea and who DO depend upon
the guests at Club Med for their food (they hang out at the restaurants
and beg from the tourists)--so even IF (and I emphasize the IF)they can make
a case that they are not responsible for the cats on Motu, they still ARE
responsible for the colony on Moorea. Somebody needs to teach these
people responsible treatment of ferals!!!! I wonder if they even begin to
realize what kind of cat problem they are going to have if they choose to rid
themselves of their present colony completely? Laura, perhaps your
contact at the Veterinarian's group could enlighten them?
Joan
Date: Thu, 08 Oct 1998 17:21:34 -0400
From: Joan
To: linpar@juno.com, mastopyr@summon.syr.edu,
sgsutlif@mailbox.syr.edu, ssutliff@a-znet.com
Subject: Official word regarding Club Med Kitties (WE WON!!!!!)
-----Original Message-----
From: Edwina Arnold [mailto:earnold@interport.net]
Sent: Thursday, October 08, 1998 12:44 PM
To: sharon@gmpcpa.com
Subject: Club Med is Working with WSPA to Assist Cats in Moorea
Importance: High
Dear Ms. Forsyth:
Please be advised that the actions outline below are currently in
place.
Sincerely,
Edwina Arnold
Public Relations Director
Club Med
Official Club Med Statement Re Moorea Cats For e-mail and Fax
October 8, l998
Club Med, in conjunction with The World Society for the Protection of
Animals (WSPA), is leading and financing the effort to remove all cats
from a small, deserted island off the beach of the Club Med resort in Moorea,
Tahiti. WSPA is a worldwide animal protection organization based in
London with 10 offices around the world.
This project is being undertaken with the assistance of local
veterinarians in Tahiti. The plans call for the spaying/neutering of all cats on the
deserted island and at the Club Med resort. In the meantime, Club Med
has organized food and water stations on the island to care for the cats
until local veterinarians arrange their removal. Photographs of this
operation will be available within a few days.
WSPA was selected by Club Med to undertake this project because of its
more than 42 years of experience in conducting humane programs for animals in
foreign countries. They have worked on similar cat projects in Antigua,
Greece and Cyprus.
Club Med also will be enlisting the support of "Fenua Animalia," a
local animal protection group in Papeete, other hotels and the Tahitian
government.
Any organization interested in participating should work through
WSPA.
Sincerely yours,
Edwina Arnold
Public Relations Director