A series of articles in the Times Higher Educational Supplement has highlighted once again the debate about animal experiments at universities, and perceptions of secrecy surrounding the issue.
Last week, Michelle Thew, Director of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) accused universities of ‘stonewalling as part of a cynical attempt by some researchers to control the public debate about animal experiments’. She claimed that the problem of animal rights extremism has been grossly exaggerated by the media, and that safeguards are in place to protect the identity of researchers.
This is deeply disingenuous. The modern tactics of the animal rights extremists are to target institutions like universities based on the type of research going on there. It is well known that many of the extremists are completely obsessed with primate research. Individuals only become at risk after the extremists have decided on their next target. Michelle Thew, who recently claimed that there are only ‘one or two’ extremists, is completely out of touch. It is easy for her to criticise when it is not her getting bricks through windows at night.
A far more sensible approach was outlined in this week’s Times Higher, that universities should take cautious but proactive steps to be more open about animal research. It is, after all, an essential part of medical research to improve the health of the nation.
The government has made enormous progress in the past two years in tackling animal rights extremism. There are tough new laws to crack down on harassment and criminal damage, and a hugely improved police operation has succeeded in bringing many extremists to justice. As a result, it is time to take a fresh look at the benefits of communicating the important role of animal research. And many universities are already doing so.
RDS applauds those researchers and universities who have decided that the time has come to counter the misinformation and propaganda from the animal rights movement. We will give all the help we can to this vital endeavour.
