New Laws Against Animal Rights Activists - Political Discussion

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rogue_pixie
faerydae

Registered: 07/28/04
Posts: 3,977
Loc: UK

New Laws Against Animal Rights Activists

#2944680 - 07/30/04 12:39 PM (19 years, 8 months ago)

Blunkett told: treat animal rights extremists as terrorists

One of Britain's leading research scientists yesterday urged David Blunkett to treat extremist animal rights protesters "like the terrorists they are".

Speaking before the Home Secretary announces legislation today to protect scientists from militant activists Tipu Aziz, a neurosurgeon at Oxford University, said it would be a national disaster if a laboratory for scientific research there was not built because of demonstrations.

"This is a statement of the faith of British people and the British Government in the scientific community," he said. "If it doesn't get built it will be proof that an extremist handful of people can disrupt everything."

Since the proposed primate research laboratory in Cambridge was shelved due to activist threats, the Oxford site has become the rallying point for sustained anti-vivisection marches and demonstrators. Work on the laboratory, which is due to be finished in 2005, has ground to a halt because of the protests.

Yesterday the cranes stood idle at the half-finished building after the Montpellier Group pulled out of the ?18 million project last week.

Directors of the building contractor had been targeted and threatened, while shareholders were told to sell their stock in the group or face exposure on the internet. Subsequently, RMC, the concrete supplier to the site, also pulled out after vehicles' brakes were sabotaged and equipment destroyed.

The only signs of activity yesterday were 20 protesters standing outside the building, watched by two policemen. They held banners urging passers-by to help "stop the Oxford animal lab now". Several passing cars sounded their horns in support.

Carol Hart, one of the activists, said she often took time off work to protest outside the laboratory. "It's something I feel very strongly about. I care about animals, but I care about people too."

She said she was not worried by the new laws that Mr Blunkett was due to announce. "The Government is just trying to attract attention away from the real issue," she said. "They aren't really worried about medical research, they are worried about lack of investment. We're not terrorists. The Government is just worried that the public will support us. It doesn't want a public debate on the matter."

Mr Aziz divides his time between operating on patients with Parkinson's disease and conducting research with primates into new cures for neurodegenerative disorders.

He said: "I can understand people being against animal testing, but most people do not resort to violence. I would have the Government label extremists as the terrorists they are. I don't see any difference between them and political terrorists. They should deal with them in the same way as the IRA or al-Qa'eda."

A researcher into animal welfare, who did not want to be named, said it was difficult to see how new legislation would help. "Tightening it up is great, but when you're dealing with terrorists they will still go ahead and then if they are arrested they will become martyrs to the cause."

She said that the answer to the problem lay in educating the public about the research that went into the drugs they took for granted. She suggested that drug companies wrote 'this product was tested on animals' on pill boxes to ram the point home.

David Holmes, the registrar of Oxford University, said yesterday that it was determined that the laboratory would be built, despite the set-backs. "We fully intend to complete on schedule," he said. "Though we respect the rights of individuals to engage in peaceful protest we cannot condone any unlawful acts such as intimidation, harassment or violence."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Personally, I'm fuming about this. Blunkett is a twat.

What are your views on animals testing?

A necessary evil or pointless brutality?

--------------------
"Whatever you do, you need to keep moving. Because when you stop moving you die (physically and emotionally).

Good luck and blessings of happiness and fortune." ~ RandalFlagg RIP

Edited by rogue_pixie (07/30/04 12:39 PM)

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