Over 100 organisations stand up for science on 'World Lab Animals Day'
As animal rights protests converge on Oxford for another rally (which we can only hope does not turn violent, like the last one), over 100 organisations have stood up for science by posting on their websites a statement drafted by the Research Defence Society to support the work of scientists conducting life-saving research using animals. The organisations include universities, medical research charities, academic societies and trusts, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and a host of others, ranging from established scientific bodies like the Royal Society to Pro-Test itself. Before Oxford University's plans to build a new testing facility were targeted by animal rights campaigners in 2004, not a single university had such a public statement.
A separate RDS Declaration launched in summer 2005 in favour of animal testing has now attracted over 1,000 signatures from scientists, doctors and veterinarians, including Nobel Laureates.
Today's 'World Lab Animal Day' marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Animal Liberation Front. But there is little to celebrate for the animal rights protesters. Public support for animal testing is growing, seen in the increasing support for RDS's declarations, the huge turn-out for Pro-Test's first march in February, and opinion polls that regularly put public support for research using animals at over 75 per cent. As Radio 4's Today programme put it this morning in their report on Speak's planned demonstration:
A separate RDS Declaration launched in summer 2005 in favour of animal testing has now attracted over 1,000 signatures from scientists, doctors and veterinarians, including Nobel Laureates.
Today's 'World Lab Animal Day' marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Animal Liberation Front. But there is little to celebrate for the animal rights protesters. Public support for animal testing is growing, seen in the increasing support for RDS's declarations, the huge turn-out for Pro-Test's first march in February, and opinion polls that regularly put public support for research using animals at over 75 per cent. As Radio 4's Today programme put it this morning in their report on Speak's planned demonstration:
However many there are, it will be a pale imitation of the mass demonstrations that brought central London to a standstill in the '80s and '90s. By far the biggest protest in recent years was a demonstration in favour of the continued use of animals in medical experiments - the Pro-Test march in Oxford earlier this year. Clearly, something has changed.
posted by Lee at 10:18 AM
