Animal lab supporters go on march (Scientists do a good street protest)

BBC ^ | 2-25-06 | (uncredited)

[VOA]

Hundreds of people marched in support of animal testing at Oxford University's
new £18m biomedical research centre on Saturday. Students, academic staff
and members of the public gathered near the lab site, being built
under strict security.

Anti-vivisection activists, who believe animal testing "belongs in the
past", want to stop the centre opening.
(snip)
Laurie Pycroft, the 16-year-old founder of the student movement Pro-Test,
which sparked the campaign in favour of the new laboratory, said:
"I felt that it was about time to speak out in support of scientific research."

At one point, the two rival groups stood just a few hundred metres
apart across a "no-go zone" controlled by mounted police.

[VOA]

I don't know if anyone saw the FOX News Channel segment (2-3 mins?) on
this yesterday.
It was interesting to see the scientists and their supporters take
to the streets and get vocal (which they did well).

One aged animal-rights activist was asked by the reporter "Do you support
the violent threats that animal-rights activists have made against
animal researchers?"
The lady activist replied "No comment".
The reported asked again and got a very tight-lipped "No Comment".

I got the feeling she really, really wanted to say "Yes I do...
I'm a radical animal rights advocate, aren't I?"

[VOA]

Here's a link to a previous thread about the 16-year-old that got the
pro-experimentation group "Pro-Test" off the ground:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1579746/posts

[VOA]

pardon the ping...thought this might be of interest as you've posted
"animaltesting" threads...

[VOA]

pardon the ping...as you've posted threads on "animaltesting",
I thought this might be of interest.

[brooklin]

Not pets really, but I thought that you might be interested.

[VOA]

pardon the ping...I thought this might be of interest

[aculeus]

... pardon the ping...as you've posted threads on "animaltesting", I thought this might be of interest.

Many thanks for the ping.

I'll start believing these frauds when they swear that they -- and their children -- will not receive medical treatment of any sort that involved animal testing.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

Kudos and applause for these youth and scientists!

[Gadsdenman]

Can it be that there is still some hope for England?

[VOA]

Can it be that there is still some hope for England?

From what I saw on FOX, the shouting between the two factions
was loud and emotional, but it was at least civil.
Although I worked in the plant sciences, all the folks I knew in
the medical/animal end of biochemistry didn't take any joy in using
animals for experimentation. If anything that was the "last resort",
even for the ones that avoided animal work for pragmatic reasons
of expense and bureaucratic challenges.

I was a bit taken back by the "SPEAK" lady that would only give
a "No Comment" response to whether she approved of threats on the scientists.
She looked like she was just making sure she said nothing actionable...
in case she would participate in acts of violence.
(and get caught).
I know it's close to mindreading...
but her face read "totally p-ssed-off" against the scientists.