Coursing listed in Eagle Star calendar 26 April 2007 A sports calendar sponsored by Eagle Star has included hare coursing in its events listings. ICABS has called on the company to clarify its views on the blood sport and to exclude activities involving animal cruelty from future calendars. The "Irish Examiner 2007 Sports Calendar Sponsored by Eagle Star" presents listings for genuine sports such as snooker, basketball and rugby. On the February page, however, two "blood sports" events are listed. Under the heading "Coursing", the national meeting in Clonmel and the Irish Cup in Limerick are included along with the respective dates. In a letter to the insurance company's head office, the Irish Council Against Blood Sports expressed our concern about the inclusion of an activity involving animal cruelty. Through a series of photos showing hares being hit and mauled by greyhounds, we highlighted to the company that coursing results in horrendous suffering to the Irish Hare. "Most companies would not in any way wish to be associated with this cruelty and we hope that Eagle Star can assure us that your company does not condone coursing," we stated. We also asked for Eagle Star to confirm that, if it decides to sponsor a similar calendar in the future, references to coursing will be strictly excluded. We are currently awaiting a full response after being told that the matter is being discussed with the Irish Examiner. ACTION ALERT 1 Contact Eagle Star and enquire about their policy on hare coursing. Ask them to give a firm commitment that future editions of the calendar will exclude references to coursing. Sample Letter (Please compose your own personal letter if possible. If you do not have time to do this, please send the short sample letter below. Be assertive, but polite, in all correspondence. Thank you.) Helen McIver Corporate Communications Manager Eagle Star Life Assurance Company of Ireland Limited Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Tel: +353 (0)1 2092117 Fax: +353 (0)1 2092265 Email: helen.mciver@eaglestarlife.ie Dear Helen, I was disappointed to learn that a listing for hare coursing appears in a calendar sponsored by Eagle Star. I would like to point out that coursing is NOT a sport but rather a form of animal cruelty which as many as eight in ten Irish adults want outlawed (It is already illegal in England, Scotland, Wales). I hope that your company can urgently clarify its stance on this issue and assure the public that coursing will be excluded from any future editions of the calendar that you sponsor. Thank you very much. I look forward to your reply. Yours sincerely, Name/Location A hare being mauled into the ground by a greyhound during a coursing meeting. This is one of the disturbing photos sent by ICABS to Eagle Star. ACTION ALERT 2 Please also contact your local TDs/Senators and urge them to put pressure on the government to ban hare coursing in Ireland as has been done in the UK. Write to your TD at: Dail Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 337 889. Write to your Senator at: Seanad Eireann, Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel: 01-618 3000 or 1890 732 623. For the names and contact details of politicians, please visit the Irish Government Website at: www.oireachtas.ie/members-hist/. For the views of current TDs and Senators and for contact details of political parties, please visit our Politicians Page News Menu | Join | Top | Home