Anti-vivisection speakers evening
8 December 2004
What is the value of animal experimentation?
On the 8th December MAP held
a speakers’ evening, with three guest spokespersons from
national and international organisations, who were invited to talk
about the pointlessness of animal experimentation and how it can
be detrimental to human health.
The event was held at the Friends’ Meeting House in central Manchester
and was well attended by members of the public who were invited to sample food
from a delicious vegan buffet, including dairy free pizzas, Indian snacks and
various savouries.
First to speak was Geoffrey Thomas from the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humanity in
Research, who spoke about the work of the Trust funding non-animal experiments.
His stand against vivisection is both ethical and personal; Geoffrey suffers
from a disease which causes blindness and he has been blind for thirty years.
He was appalled to learn that animal-based research was being carried out in
an attempt to conquer the disease from which he suffers. Doctors promised that
thanks to animal testing a cure was only around the corner. Not surprisingly,
no miracle cure has been found, and as Geoffrey points out, nor will one be
found as long as scientists rely on animal models in the battle to cure diseases,
when up to date methods (including DNA studies and computer modelling) are
currently available.
Next, Wendy Corson from Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible Medicine gave many
examples of drugs that have been passed as safe after animal tests, which have
gone on the market only to cause horrific side effects in humans and even death.
She also cited examples of medical procedures (such as by-pass surgery and
blood transfusions) delayed by years because of scientists’ reliance
on animal experiments.
Jarrod Bailey from Europeans for Medical Progress was the final speaker. As
a geneticist working without the use of animals, he has encountered prejudice
and aggression from the scientific community. He spoke of fellow researchers
who were afraid to speak out against animal tests for fear of being ostracised
and having their funding cut. As a scientist, Jarrod has first hand experience
of how animal testing is not only useless, but can and has delayed important
research by providing inaccurate and misleading results.
In the interest of fairness it was planned at this point to have a debate,
and members of the pro-vivisection lobby (including lecturers from the Manchester
Medical School) were invited to put across their argument; perhaps not surprisingly,
when faced with a panel of experts, they declined to take part.
The evening ended with questions from the floor, answered proficiently by all
three speakers.
Thanks to the three speakers for travelling from all over the country and being
so interesting and informative.
For more information:
Dr Hadwen Trust for Humanity
in Research
Dr Hadwen House, 84A Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, Herts. SG5 2DY.
www.drhadwentrust.org.uk
Doctors and Lawyers for Responsible
Medicine
Joy Palmer, P O Box 302 , LONDON , N8 9HD
Ph: 020 8340 9813 / Fax: 020 8342 9878
www.dlrm.org
Europeans for Medical Progress
PO Box 38604, London W13 0YR
www.curedisease.net
Thanks to everyone who helped on the evening and provided food, and thanks to the video crew.