Update from Voice for Ethical Research at Oxford
Welcome to our latest update in this World Week for Laboratory Animals - a good time to reflect, perhaps, on some recent positive developments on the animal replacement front. One major sign of progress was the announcement of a 5-year plan by US government laboratories to develop non-animal alternatives for toxicity testing. This move should resonate around the world, and hopefully impact on the EU's controversial REACH programme. Meanwhile, other countries are taking steps in preparation for the EU ban on animal-tested cosmetics due to come into force next spring. University departments in various countries have agreed to end dissection in favour of modern technology. The BUAV has struck another blow for transparency by proving the government guilty of unlawfully withholding details of the animal experiments it licenses in the UK. And now none other than Colin Blakemore, the new chairman of the pro-vivisection Research Defence Society, is calling for a more "sophisticated" debate, recognising that the benefits of animal testing are uncertain and encouraging a critical assessment of the value of animal models and the scope for alternatives.
We couldn't agree more, Professor Blakemore!
Review of Hilary Term 2008
VERO, too, has been busy with another series of wide-ranging and thought-provoking talks. Andre Menache, Scientific Consultant of Antidote Europe, highlighted the hopeless inadequacy of current animal-based methods to test the approx. 30,000 chemicals proposed by the EU REACH directive (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals), arguing instead for the modern, fast, species-specific and cost-effective technique of toxicogenomics. Katherine Morris, founding VERO member and fellow in philosophy at Mansfield College, posed the question "Do we really need all those medicines?", arguing that adverse drug reactions are not merely the result of animal testing, but a symptom of the general medicalisation of our society, where over-reliance on drugs distracts us from the real causes of illness and destroys our ability to deal with it in an autonomous way. Nick Jukes, Coordinator of InterNICHE, the International Network for Humane Education, stressed the importance of "ethical and emotional literacy" in life science education, and gave a fascinating demonstration of some of the alternative tools his organisation is helping to disseminate throughout the world. Finally, founding VERO member Matthew Simpson showed how some of the leading figures of the University had fought a passionate campaign against the introduction of vivisection at Oxford in the 1880s, thereby teaching a whole Oxford generation a lesson in tomorrow's ethics. The lesson, as we know, continues.
Trinity Term 2008
PETA Exhibition
This term, we will be hosting the "Animal Liberation Project", a powerful exhibition by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which compels us to question our treatment of animals and consider the parallels between human and animal oppression.
"What is the common link between atrocities in our society's past? Shameful chapters of history - such as the African slave trade - the oppression of women and forced child labour - are all examples of abuse of power... these cruel practices ended only because forward-thinking people called for justice and change... future generations will no doubt look back in disbelief at the horrors inflicted on animals today"
The exhibition will be held on Thursday 8 May at the Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall Street from 10 am - 7 pm, with a talk by PETA's Alistair Currie at 5.30 pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be available. For more information on the exhibition, see http://www.peta.org.uk/animalliberation/introduction.asp.
Seminar on Animal Replacement
We are also pleased to announce that, as a result of VERO's continuing dialogue with the University's Committee on Animal Care and Ethical Review, the Committee has undertaken to hold a seminar on animal replacement for members of the University engaged in animal research. The seminar will examine recent developments in imaging techniques and their potential for avoiding animal use, and the speakers will be Dr Matthew Rushworth, University Research Lecturer and Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology and Dr Gill Langley, Science Director of the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research and former member of the government's advisory Animal Procedures Committee.
New VERO Newsletter
In our last update, we announced our plan to produce an occasional printed newsletter with further news, background and comment - particularly for those who are unable to attend our meetings but would like to keep abreast of events in Oxford. If you would like a copy of our imminent first issue, please drop us a line with your postal address.
Our best wishes and thanks as always for your kind support.