In today’s Chronicle of Higher Education Mary Beth Sweetland – until recently VP and director of research and investigations for PETA and a close Newkirk associate – made a comment that is almost certainly not condoned by Newkirk and other animal rights bigwigs.

My years of experience with whistle-blowers have forced me to realize that I cannot label as monsters all who work in animal laboratories
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It’s a revelation that will come as no surprise to anyone that’s done animal research, or knows people who do.

However, this isn’t meant to be a gloat, and I hope Sweetland’s comment isn’t used against her by other activists.  It’s nice to see that some committed activists do appreciate the nuances of the debate.

All too often we only hear the views of people like Newkirk(1) who persist with the old, tired position of ‘anyone connected with animal research = sadistic torturer’.

Long may sense continue.

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(1) Described by Alex Pacheco, her PETA co-founder, as “a media whore” (USA Today, 19th Nov 2007), other mainstream activists such as Wayne Pacelle, Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Society, feel her ‘neither condemn nor condone’ attitude towards ALF actions is unhelpful – and morally wrong:

‘We’re demanding ethical consistency in the way people live their lives,’ Pacelle says. ‘Once you move into the domain of intimidation or illegal conduct beyond civil disobedience, you’re moving into a dangerous pile of quicksand.’
- PopMatters.com, 19th Nov 2007