A Modern Day Farce

The launch today of a study into the use of primates in medical research would appear to be welcome news - 'appear' being the operative word. Closer scrutiny of the study suggests this is an attempt by the vivisection industry to gain the higher ground. Having depleted the resources of their arguments and not found satisfactory results in 'pigeon-holing' anti-vivisectionists as terrorists, the pro-vivisection lobby have now adopted different tactics; presumably they hope that the so-called scientific study will successfully convince an increasingly sceptical public that vivisection IS necessary for the 'greater good'. The study will also have to convincingly counter the arguments of experts who have made a lifelong study of primates and found any pro-vivisection arguments sadly wanting.

The study - conducted by a group of scientists that will look into whether the use of primates in medical experiments has any merit - is to be sponsored by The Academy of Medical Sciences, The Royal Society, The Medical Research Council and the Wellcome Trust. Not a lot of bias there, then, given that all four have vested interests in the continuation of primate experiments and who heavily fund those that undertake research on primates.

A closer look at those controlling these organisations is still more telling as to the real agenda:

• Sir Keith Peters is the President of the Academy of Medical Science and a Professor of Cambridge University and head of their medical school. He spoke out in favour of building the largest primate research centre in Europe at the Cambridge primate lab inquiry in 2002/03.
• The President of The Royal Society is Lord (Robert) May of Oxford, a Professor in the Dept of Zoology where some of the most horrific experiments ever conducted on primates have taken place.
• No introductions are necessary regarding the chief executive of The Medical Research Council, the celebrity scientist Colin Blakemore whose notoriety for sewing up kittens eyelids precedes him and who has constantly stipulated in media interviews and articles the need to continue experimenting on primates.

The word disingenuous might spring to mind when considering the intentions of the main organisations behind the study. A look at who is chairing the study should send alarm bells ringing still louder. Professor Sir David Weatherall, although not an animal researcher himself, is a professor of medicine at Oxford University, the university that is currently under considerable pressure to justify its attempts to build a new laboratory that will - among other sentient creatures - hold large numbers of primates, a fact, which they have been at pains to deny.

Cynics might very well be right in suggesting that the study is merely a PR exercise. To put the very public announcement of this study into its proper context: it can surely be no coincidence that it comes at a time when the vivisection industry are on the retreat in this country after Cambridge University pulled the plug on its proposals to build a massive primate research centre, and with the building project in Oxford way behind schedule after construction workers downed tools 8 months ago. The study is to be funded by 4 organisations heavily involved in the vivisection of primates - organisations which are run by those with close connections to both Cambridge and Oxford University(and lets not forget a certain chairman whom also happens to be a practising professor at Oxford!).

Only the most naïve among us would be duped into believing that this study will be unbiased. The vivisection industry are continually attempting to manipulate the public into believing that vivisection is a necessary evil. The SPEAK campaign along with a number of animal rights organisation have long called for an open and public debate into the effectiveness of vivisection. The opposition have remained silent.

An Early Day Motion, EDM 385, has been launched by MP Mike Hancock which "calls upon the Government to facilitate an independent and transparent scientific evaluation of the use of animals as surrogate humans in drug safety testing and medical research." Please can we get away from the publicity stunts orchestrated by exponents of vivisection and lets undertake a REAL study and not one that seeks to extol the virtues of vivisecting living, sentient beings and protecting the privileged positions of a minority.