A Time for the Animals

Time For The Animals Even as a cloud of savagery, evidenced by the misfortunes of war, hangs over our world, humanity has lately begun to demonstrate an astonishing degreee of civility in at least one very important respect, that being the manner in which we treat our animals - specifically, the animals we raise for food. In just the last few months, unprecedented strides have been taken in this country to improve the welfare of pigs, cattle, chickens, and ducks who've been forced for many years to endure miserable and agonizing lives Time For The Animals. Granted, the bulk of these efforts still lies ahead of us, but first steps have, unequivocally, been taken - steps which only a short time ago wouldn't have been thought to be so quickly achieved. A Time for the Animals I guess it all began in August of last year when the foie gras ban was enacted in Chicago Time For The Animals. Who'd have thought, huh? While California's 2004 ban on production wouldn't actually go into effect until 2012, the Chicago law was designed to take effect almost immediately. Of course, it was ballyhooed, scoffed at, derided. Even the city's mayor called it the "silliest" law the city council had ever passed, but detractors notwithstanding, the statute was on the books. And in March of this year, we were shown that even a silly law could be enforced when the first citation was handed down, a guilty plea entered, and the fine paid. Like I said, who'd have thought? Then came Arizona's Proposition 204, designed to do away with caged imprisonment of pigs and veal calves and approved overwhelmingly by the state's voters. Though Florida had passed a similar law in 2002, it was the Arizona bill which grabbed our nation's attention, prompting forecasts of even more initiatives forthcoming in a number of other states - possibly as soon as 2008 Time For The Animals. The biggest and most recent gains, however, have come from the corporate community. Following in the footsteps of grocery retailers like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joe's, as well as Internet icons AOL and Google, ice cream manufacturer Ben and Jerry's announced in September of 2006 its intention to adopt a cage free policy for its entire product line. Then, in January of 2007, Burgerville, with a chain of popular restaurants in the Northwest, also officially turned its back on battery cage eggs. In late January, Smithfield, the nation's largest producer of pork, began [...]

Alberto Zoppé’s induction to Sarasota’s Circus Ring of Fame

I’m happy to report that the patriarch of the Alberto Zoppes Family, Alberto Zoppé, will be inducted in Sarasota’s Circus Ring of Fame at St. Armands Circle Park on January 21, 2007. Although I’m highly biased, I believe the honor is well deserved county fair. Alberto, born in 1922, was raised in Italy with his family’s “Circo Zoppé.” Like most circus kids, he was schooled in all the circus arts. However, the skill at which he excelled and loved the most was bareback horse riding. Eventually, Alberto developed a large riding act that included many unique features such as a double back-somersault from one horse to another. Alberto Zoppes induction to Sarasota’s Circus Ring of Fame In 1940, Alberto took over the management of Circo Zoppé and later in the decade worked with other family members to design the first 4-pole cupola-style tent. Alberto, along with his sister and adopted cousin Cucciolo, immigrated from Italy in 1948 to be the featured bareback riding act on John Ringling North’s “Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.” While there, Alberto and Cucciolo appeared by name in Cecil B. DeMille’s movie “The Greatest Show On Earth.” After leaving Ringling, Alberto and his riding act were featured at one time or another by virtually every major American circus, although from the late 1950s on, a serious injury curtailed the more athletic portions of the act. During the 1970s, Alberto Zoppes operated “Circus Italia,” which played small venues such as shopping centers. In the 1980s and 1990s, Alberto turned his focus to the Shrine Circus market and operated under the name “Zoppé Circus Europa.” Also during this period, Alberto produced “Circo Zoppé Europa,” a stage show that featured the circus arts, including those with animals. In recent years, Alberto has been touring with “Zoppé. An Italian Alberto Zoppes Family Circus,” a show run by a new generation of Zoppé family members. Alberto was twice married, first to Jenny Wallenda and currently to Sandra Taylor, and the resulting sons and daughters are among today’s brightest circus stars. Please join us on January 21 in Sarasota for Alberto’s induction. For more detailed information about the ceremony, please call me at 773-255-6788. Giovanni Zoppé