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Primate Vivisectors Fretting
"We find it galling that these researchers would call us terrorists when they are the ones inducing terror in animals in the name of science," said Dr. Jerry Vlasak.
Article published Apr 10, 2008, Washington (DC) Times
Scientists rip animal protection activists
April 10, 2008
By Jennifer Harper - Scientists and physicians concerned about their own safety challenged animal protection activists yesterday, calling them "terrorists" and condemning their repeated attacks on researchers who use live animals in experiments.
"We felt it was important to respond publicly to the attacks that have been directed at scientists, their families, and their neighbors because to be silent in the face of the attacks is to condone them," said Dr. John Krystal, a Yale University psychiatrist who authored a joint statement signed by 87 researchers from Yale, the University of California, Stanford University, the University of Pennsylvania and other institutions.
"We condemn these misguided attacks," Dr. Krystal said.
At particular issue were two incidents at the home of Dr. Edythe London, a UCLA psychiatrist who uses monkeys in drug and tobacco addiction studies. In October, her Beverly Hills home was vandalized and flooded and in February it was hit by a firebomb. The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) — an underground group with worldwide membership — took credit for both acts in an anonymous press release.
The FBI classified the events as "domestic terrorism" and is still investigating.
"We find it galling that these researchers would call us terrorists when they are the ones inducing terror in animals in the name of science," said Dr. Jerry Vlasak, a Los Angeles-based trauma surgeon who acts as spokesman for ALF, specifying that he is not an active member of the group, but sympathizes with their cause.
"The vast majority of animal research doesn't produce anything useful for human beings. Even if it was useful, it isn't justified. It is still immoral," he added.
To protect UCLA researchers, the Los Angeles County Superior Court has since issued a restraining order against ALF and two other groups; UCLA condemned the attacks, though officials acknowledged some of Dr. London's research was funded by Philip Morris.
Activists, meanwhile, are reflecting on the situation. Dr. Vlasak will serve on a three-man panel April 26 at "Confronting Cruelty," an animal rights conference in Salt Lake City, addressing the "strategic and moral implications of breaking the law to achieve social change," according to the event Web site.
Dr. Krystal and his cohorts consider their proclamation — published in the academic journal Biological Psychiatry — "an urgent public statement," warning that "terrorist acts affiliated with ALF and other groups" are increasing and citing other attacks on researchers in California, Oregon and Utah.
The District-based Society for Neuroscience issued an advisory for its 38,000 members on Feb. 6, clearly outlining security precautions, plus tips on handling media inquiries, local law enforcement and civic affairs.
"It is deeply disturbing to see scientists under attack simply for pursuing research questions whose answers will ultimately benefit human and animal health. Although polls show Americans overwhelmingly support medical research and reject the use of terrorism, there has been surprisingly little outrage over the tactics of these extreme animal rights activists," said Robert Palazzo, president of the Maryland-based Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.
"Humane use of animal models has led to all of our greatest advances in medicine," he added.
More information at: http://primateresearch.blogspot.com/2008/04/primate-vivisectors-are-fretting.html
Animal Liberation Press Office
6320 Canoga Avenue #1500
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
For more information:
http://www.animalliberationpressoffice.org
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One clear example of failed animal testing that showed disasterous results in humans is the product Thalidomide. Following several tests on a wide variety of animal subjects, including other primates, Thalidomide was put on the market and resulted in multiple deformities of human children (born with flibbers instead of limbs), though no adverse effects were shown in animal test subjects. Thalidomide results may be the most extreme form of animal testing failure, though there are many other products quietly removed from the shelf after adverse effects are reported by consumers.
Another factor ignored by the psuedo-science of animal research is that when primates are caged and removed from their natural rainforest habitat they'll decompensate their mental health conditions and develop forms of depression, anxiety, etc.. that can skew test results as inaccurate. The lab cage is not their natural setting and thus any tests performed will result in testing an already unhealthy primate, outside of their natural condition. Of course there is a perverse form of cruelty practiced by the vivisectors who are unwilling to acknowledge the suffering of innocent, sentient beings that needs love, sunlight and freedom, not bars and cages and cold-hearted researchers..
Removal of primates from the rainforest for purposes of testing in labs is also ecologically destructive as the rainforest ecosystem depends on primates to disperse seeds of plants and trees. without as many primates to disperse these seeds through digestion and migration, the biodiversity of the rainforest can be compromised. Many rainforest plants and trees are also potential medicines for humans, though would be inaccessible if there was an extinction of primates needed to disperse seeds..