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:
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.
The Coalition for Medical Progress has launched the 'People's Petition', an opportunity for the tens of millions of people who support the use of animals in research designed to benefit human beings to speak out in favour of scientists and their work. The petition was launched yesterday at the Science Media Centre in London, and Pro-Test representatives were there to support the CMP. You can sign the petition here. The BBC have also launched a web poll, here.
Pro-Test members in the media: Prof Tipu Aziz (Oxford Mail) on the importance of signing the People's Petition, and Jim Panton (Kirkaldy News) on why it's crucial to stand up for science.
Pro-Test's first march on 25 February 2006 drew enormous media attention, with coverage in over 80 print media outlets in the UK, Europe and North America. Our members have also been interviewed by local, national and international radio and television - even including an appearance on Richard and Judy. Here is a brief selection of recent profiles of Pro-Test, ranging from light-hearted coverage to more serious engagement with the issues we are trying to advance.
Last Friday, Pro-Test delivered an assortment of doughnuts, cakes and other treats to the construction workers building Oxford's new research laboratory on South Parks Road to thank them for their hard work.
The previous construction company, Montpellier, was forced off the job in July 2004 by animal rights extremists. Builders were followed when they left the sites and harassed at their homes and Montpellier's shareholders were scared into selling stock. This was a re-run of the campaign that forced Huntingdon Life Sciences off the stock exchange earlier that year. Cambridge University's attempt to build a similar research centre was also shelved in 2004 as the costs of providing security for the construction against the protestors spiralled: when costs had inflated from the original £24m to £32m, the scheme was abandoned, and animal rights extremism had won. Construction on Oxford's lab did not recommence until November 2005. The new contractors work under very unpleasant conditions: their site is effectively fortified and policed by a large force of security guards and they must travel in unmarked vans to disguise their identity. Many of them also wear balaclavas to avoid being photographed and identified by anti-lab protestors, who assemble most weeks to demonstrate loudly against the construction.
Pro-Test believes these conditions are intolerable, and wanted to show its support for and solidarity with the workers of the new construction company. We brought several trays of treats to the fortified entrance to the site, where a security guard, via a senior university official, accepted them on the builders' behalf. The Director of Construction later sent us a message of thanks for the support, expressing the builders' regret that they were unable to be photographed alongside us.
This is blog is where you can find out information about the activities of the pro-animal testing campaign group, Pro-Test, and links to media coverage.
Subscribe
Enter your email and click the button to have entries to this blog emailed to you when they are posted.
