The Voice of Reason

SPEAK have stated on a number of occasions the importance of the fight against the proposals by Oxford University to build a new animal research laboratory, however the voice of SPEAK is no longer a lone voice in highlighting the importance of the campaign to stop Oxford University expanding their vivisection capablities. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that this is a fight we must win, not just for the animals but for the future of progressive and enlightened scientific practices and a science that is looking to the future not the past.

Andre Menache BSc(Hons) BVSc MRCVS FRSH - Scientific Consultant to Animal Aid

On Saturday the 29th of January, a peaceful demonstration was held at Oxford University. But this was no ordinary event. Local and international TV crews and media were there to witness the demonstration. World attention was focussed on an unfinished animal research building which was still under construction. Why was this demonstration so significant? Because Oxford symbolically represents the heart of animal experimentation in the UK and probably in the EU as well. It is no secret that the UK performs more animal experiments than any other EU member state - 2.8million in 2003. Of particular concern to the public is the number of non-human primates used in medical research - over 3,500 - marmosets and macaques in 2003. While marmosets are mainly bred in-house within academic institutions in the UK, the macaques are largely imported from China.

The UK research establishment dare not lose this battle. It already lost the battle at Cambridge last year - Cambridge University announced that it was withdrawing its plans to build a new animal research centre, because of its financial situation (and not because of animal rights actions, which is what the sensation-hungry media and UK government claimed). It is quite possible, however, that the negative publicity given to Cambridge University by a critical planning inquiry and by peaceful demonstrations helped to convince it not to go ahead with its building plans.

In addition to Cambridge, Oxford University is also facing a serious financial crisis. Recent newspaper headlines have expressed the desire of Oxford to cut back on UK student quotas in favour of overseas students, who will pay much higher tuition fees. What a pity that Oxford does not simply close down its animal section in the department of experimental psychology, which is where most of the non-human primate research is carried out. It could save the University millions of pounds. It is truly ironic that so much money is still being spent on experimentally induced brain diseases in monkeys at one end of Oxford, while doctors at the Radcliffe Infirmary at the other end of Oxford are crying out for more funds for stroke research in humans (as reported in: 'Underfunding of stroke research: a Europe-wide problem: Stroke 2004; 35(10):2368-71).

The UK government has already indicated that it is willing to use taxpayers' money to pay for increased security measures at Oxford, to allow building of the new animal research centre to continue. This is another indication of how important this building has become. The biggest fear of government and animal research scientists, is to lose the battle at Oxford. If the building is stopped and animal research does not go ahead as planned, it could signal a 'domino effect'. First Cambridge, then Oxford, and then the rest of Europe.

Disclaimer: The information on this website is for the purpose of legal protest and information only. It should not be used to commit any criminal acts or harassment.