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Media Coverage Anti-Vivisection Activists Had A Busy Month
Anti-vivisection activists in Massachusetts have recently been
participating in "World Week for Animals in Laboratories" and "World
Laboratory Animal Liberation Week." April 30, 2005 On Saturday, April 16 and Saturday, April 30 members of animal rights
groups such as The Animal Defense League of Boston (ADL), The
Massachusetts Animal Rights Coalition (MARC) and Stop Animal
Exploitation Now! (SAEN) marched, rallied, chanted and otherwise
expressed their disdain for the animal experimentation that happens with
help from their tax dollars in their own home state. viv·i·sec·tion - n. -The act or practice of cutting into or otherwise
injuring living animals, especially for the purpose of scientific
research. [from dictionary.com] Harvard Medical School's "New England Regional Primate Research
Center" or NERPRC was the focus of these protests although many
universities and private companies in Massachusetts experiment on
animals, including M.I.T., Tufts University, and Charles River
Laboratories.
The NERPRC is located in Southborough, Massachusetts in a wooded area
on a secluded road far away from traveled roads and the general public.
Click on image or link for a
larger version
It is surrounded by much land and many trees decorated with "No
Trespassing" signs. Security cameras, gates and yellow lines on the
ground marking the property keep unwelcome guests from approaching the
building where primates are experimented on.
Click on image or link for a larger
version This was the location of the protest on Saturday, April 30 where
protestors brought attention to the fact that there are primates being
tested on nearby. When a member of The Animal Defense League of Boston
shouted to a passing jogger, "Did you know they test on primates in
there?" he responded "Yeah, it's creepy." When a woman driving by
spotted the activists' signs she stopped abruptly and backed up to ask
questions because she and her children had heard rumors of animal
research happening up the hill, but had trouble finding out information
to confirm that it was true. She showed concern and accepted brochures
from the activists stating that she was going to look into the issue and
communicate with her friends and neighbors who she mentioned were also
concerned.
On Saturday, April 16, a group of thirty anti-vivisection activists
from ADL and MARC gathered at M.I.T.'s Rogers Building at 77
Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. Click on image or link for a
larger version
They marched up Massachusetts Avenue, accompanied by seven Cambridge
police escorts on bicycles. Holding banners and signs and chanting
slogans like "Vivisection is a lie, how many animals have to die?" and
"One Struggle, One Fight, Human Freedom, Animal Rights!" the long line
of people was witnessed by hundreds of Cambridge residents and others
passing by. Click on image or
link for a larger version
They marched through Central Square, past Cambridge City Hall and
then 40-50 activists rallied for hours at Johnson Gate in front of
Harvard University, across from the Harvard Square subway station, a
short distance from William James Hall where animal research takes
place. Click on image
or link for a larger version A recent article in the online version of The Harvard Crimson,
Harvard University's daily newspaper, quotes Harvard College Professor
Marc D. Hauser (who's laboratory is in William James Hall) as stating,
"We are very open about what we do in the lab, which is non-invasive
behavioral work. Our website makes clear what we do and where we are and
so there are no secrets."
http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=507449 Helen Rayshick of MARC wrote by email, "We know that researchers at
the William James Halls labs are using animals in invasive experiments.
For example, recently Dr. Ken Nakayama implanted coils in the eyes of
macaque monkeys and implanted headposts into their brains. He then
restricted fluids and used the animals' need for water to get them to
comply and perform. Nakayama also used primate chairs for these
experiments, and the animals' heads were fixed in place. He also
performed craniotomies, penetrated through the dura mater with
electrodes, and affixed recording chambers to the animals' skulls. Mrs. Rayshick adds "We consider this to be egregiously cruel,
especially when done to our closest genetic relatives, the primates."
Boston Indymedia spoke with Stephanie of the ADL. "We are here to let
Harvard know that there are many people who are concerned with their
treatment of animals in labs, paid for by our taxes! Tests are being
done over and over again, non-human primates are addicted to heroin and
cocaine, the mortality rate of infant primates is 55% because of forced
abortions and diseases. It's gone on far too long, and Harvard needs to
shut their vivisection labs down, and lead us in medical advancements
without the use of animals." Steve Rayshick of MARC stated, "We feel the benefits of animal
experimentation are greatly exaggerated by the multi-billion dollar
industry that profits from it. The actual use of animals is increasing
even though there are multiple alternatives to replace animal research.
It is brutal, and often times pointless. Dr. Leo Pine, a microbiologist
at The National Institutes of Health and Center for Disease Control,
started his career as a vivisector, quit, and is responsible for a
number of key developments in science, such as ways to culture bacteria.
Charles Mayo, founder of the Mayo Clinic is also opposed to animal
research."
Another protester, Robyn Flynn, who is confined to a wheelchair after
a car accident stated emotionally, "If someone told me that by testing
on animals I would walk again, I would tell them not to bother."
Click on image or link for a larger
version April was a busy month for Massachusetts animal rights activists, in
addition to fighting for animals in laboratories they fought for animals
in circuses as well as ducks and geese who are force-fed to produce foie
gras. On Saturday, April 30, MARC members were providing leaflets at
Boston's Harch Shell event "Earthfest" to educate environmentalists
about the connection between meat-eating and the devastation of the
earth. On Sunday, May 1, ADL members will be pointing out the connection
between the worker's rights movement and the animal rights movement at
the May Day Rally in Copley Square, Boston. Working in a slaughterhouse
is considered an extremely dangerous job, possibly the most dangerous in
America, and a majority of slaughterhouse workers are undocumented
immigrants who are severely exploited in these jobs. "All social change agendas are rooted with the parallel goal of
liberation and equality, and it's amazing to see these struggles tied
together right here in Boston," said Stephanie of the ADL, "The only way
to progress is to join forces with your local allies, keep the pressure
on, and get involved."
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