Update from Voice for Ethical Research at Oxford
Here is a brief update on our activities here in Oxford. More details can be found on our website www.vero.org.uk
Hilary Term 2007
A series of weekly seminars entitled "Animal experimentation for medical research - issues and perspectives" was held at Mansfield College, with speakers from a range of disciplines including history, law, philosophy, pyschology, theology and life sciences. These were highly successful in initating the kind of informed and serious discussion we are keen to promote within the University. We hope to organise a further series of seminars in Hilary Term 2008.
Trinity Term 2007
At the administrative level, we managed to obtain a meeting with members of the University's Committee on Animal Care and Ethical Review, following a period of correspondence with the Registrar. We were very grateful to Dr Gill Langley of the Dr Hadwen Trust for accompanying us on this occasion and giving us the benefit of her expertise on animal replacement. While the Committee was predictably reluctant to engage with this most important of the 3 Rs, it did agree to consider supporting an open day on alternatives which we were planning, and to invite us to speak at one its future seminars for researchers. Unfortunately it has since changed its mind about the open day, but we nevertheless feel that this was an important first step and we are determined to pursue this line of communication as far as possible.
In June, we took the opportunity to invite Peter Singer to speak on animal experimentation at the Gulbenkian lecture theatre during his visit to Oxford. This event took the form of a discussion rather than a formal lecture, with Peter answering questions from people on all sides of the debate. Despite media reports to the contrary, Peter made clear his unequivocal opposition to the institutional use of animals in experiments and to speciesism in general, while reasserting his essentially utilitarian world view.
Michaelmas Term 2007
The new academic year has got off to a good start for us with a highly successful stall at Freshers' Fair. It was extremely important for us to be present in order to counterbalance the literature being distributed at the Pro-Test stall, and we were able to sign up over 100 newcomers to our mailing list and hand out our programme of events for the new term (see below). We look forward to achieving growing student support this year, and will continue to work towards changing the culture at the University so that the replacement of animals in research comes to be regarded not as a distant ideal, but as an urgent priority to be actively pursued.
Many thanks to you all for your valued support.
Programme Of Events For Michaelmas Term 2007
All events to be held at Mansfield College, Seminar Room East
Week 2 (Monday 15th October, 7.30-9.30pm):
Introductory Meeting including a talk by Peter Tatchell, Green Party candidate for Oxford East and acclaimed human rights activist, on "Human And Animal Rights".Week 4 (Thursday 1st November, 5.00-6.30pm):
Talk by Mark Gold, former director of Animal Aid, campaigner and author of "Living Without Cruelty" and "Animal Century", on "Extending The Circle Of Compassion".Week 6 (Thursday 15th November, 5.00-6.30pm):
Film "Safer Medicines". Presented by Dr Margaret Clotworthy, Europeans For Medical Progress.This landmark short film showcases state-of-the-art alternatives to animal testing. "This important film shows that methods are available that promise to reduce the alarming toll of serious adverse drug reactions for the benefit of humanity." - Tony Benn
Week 8 (Thursday 29th November, 5.00-6.30pm):
Talk by founding VERO member Paul Freestone on "The Future of Food".To round off the term, Paul will broaden the discussion to the wider ethical and environmental implications of our use of animals, illustrating his talk with free food samples from his own kitchen (not to be missed!).