SAEN Leads Animal Experimentation Talks at AR2009
-- SAEN’s UCLA Protest Tops Off Conference
Every year the Animal Rights National Conference (AR2009) brings over
1000 activists together for seminars, training, and motivational
presentations on virtually every issue which faces the animal rights
movement. AR2009, held in Los Angeles this year, was another extremely
successful event which saw dozens of wonderful speakers educating
participants on numerous topics. SAEN was a major player in this
year’s event, handling seven presentations, tabling, and organizing a
major protest at UCLA as the climax of the conference.
Our Executive Director, Michael Budkie, either led or participated in
every AR2009 panel that dealt with animal experimentation. SAEN’s Office
Manager, Karen, and our Summer Intern, Elyse, staffed SAEN’s information
and merchandise table communicating with hundreds of attendees and
spreading the word about many of our major campaigns and recruiting
activists for the critical UCLA protest for Monday, July 20th.
According to participants, one of the best presentations of the
entire conference was the Abusing our Cousins panel
discussion, which revealed all aspects of the abuse which our society
heaps on non-human primates. This presentation was led by Dr. Shirley
McGreal, Chairperson of the International Primate Protection League, who
explored the international trade in primates and their sale to the U.S.
SAEN’s Michael Budkie presented an in-depth exposition of the use of
primates in U.S. research laboratories. Kari Bagnall, Director of the
Jungle Friends Primate Sanctuary in Florida, closed the session with a
thought provoking talk on the primate pet trade.
Other presentations given by SAEN’s staff included: Newcomer
Orientation II, Animal Abuse for Science,
Vivisection Campaigns, Effective Tactics for Vivisection,
and Research/Info Programs.
SAEN merchandise officially debuted at the AR2009 conference. SAEN
t-shirts, stainless steel water bottles, and posters are now being
sported by many conference attendees. Also unveiled at this event was
Michael Budkie’s new book, Tear at the Jacket -- a Grim Look into
America’s Primate Research Labs. All SAEN merchandise will soon
be available through our website.
On Monday, July, 20th, dozens of AR2009 attendees gathered in the
hotel lobby to board the chartered SAEN bus which would take them to the
campus of UCLA for a major protest.
Over 100 activists marched from the edge of the UCLA campus to the
chancellor’s office to present a demand that the primate experiments of
Joaquin Fuster be immediately ended. The rally was capped by an
inspiring speech given by Michael Budkie (which can be seen on YouTube
and Facebook).
The UCLA protest garnered major media coverage from the Los
Angeles Times, two local Los Angeles TV stations, and the
largest local radio news station.
