|
|
|
Programme of Events For Trinity Term 2008 PETA EXHIBITION In 3rd week, we will be hosting the “Animal Liberation Project”, a powerful exhibition by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) which compels us to question our treatment of animals and consider the parallels between human and animal oppression. “What is the common link between atrocities in our society’s past? Shameful chapters of history – such as the African slave trade … the oppression of women and forced child labour – are all examples of abuse of power… these cruel practices ended only because forward-thinking people called for justice and change.…. future generations will no doubt look back in disbelief at the horrors inflicted on animals today” The exhibition will be held on Thursday 8 May at the Wesley Memorial Church, New Inn Hall Street from 10 am – 7 pm, with a talk by PETA’s Alistair Currie at 5.30 pm. Admission is free and refreshments will be available. For more information on the exhibition, see: www.peta.org.uk/animalliberation/introduction.asp OTHER DEVELOPMENTS AND EVENTS We are also pleased to announce that, as a result of VERO’s continuing dialogue with the University’s Committee on Animal Care and Ethical Review, the Committee has undertaken to hold a seminar on animal replacement for members of the University engaged in animal research. The seminar will examine recent developments in imaging techniques and their potential for avoiding animal use, and the speakers will be Dr Matthew Rushworth, University Research Lecturer and Reader in Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Experimental Psychology and Dr Gill Langley, Science Director of the Hadwen Trust for Humane Research and former member of the government’s advisory Animal Procedures Committee. Previous Events Hilary Term 2008 Once again, a series of wide-ranging and thought-provoking talks was organised at Mansfield College, and people were encouraged by the friendly atmosphere and refreshments to linger and discuss the matters at issue.
Michaelmas Term 2007
Freshers' Fair 2007
VERO's stall at Freshers' Fair 2007 provided a great opportunity to
publicise our peaceful campaign and attracted a lot of interest among the
new student intake, with many commenting on how glad they were to see a
University-based group bringing some balance to the animal research debate.
Our display focused on humane thought at Oxford through the ages - a
tradition we are determined to continue.
Animal Experimentation - A Discussion with Peter Singer
Gulbenkian Lecture Theatre, Oxford University
Seminar Programme Hilary Term 2007 Animal experimentation for medical research: issues and perspectives
The seminars were very successful, drawing substantial numbers of people to
discuss the various aspects of animal experimentation for medical research
Week 1 (16/1/07): 'Aspects of a history of the anti-vivisection movement'
Week 2 (23/1/07): 'The future of animal law'
Week 3 (30/1/07): 'Speciesism'
Week 4 (6/2/07): 'Do animals have rights?'
Week 5 (13/2/07):
Week 6 (20/2/07): 'A medical researcher's perspective on animal testing'
Week 7 (27/2/07): 'Animal minds and human morals'
Week 8 (6/3/07): 'Replacing animal experiments'
Public meeting held on November 28th 2006
|
In 3rd week, Andre Menache, Scientific Consultant of Antidote Europe, highlighted the hopeless inadequacy of current animal-based methods to test the approx. 30,000 chemicals proposed by the EU REACH directive (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals). Such methods would require 12.8 million animals, cost billions and take 2,000 years to complete! The real way forward, Andre argued, was to use the modern, human-based technique of toxicogenomics, which is species-specific, fast, cost-effective and able to cope with the “cocktail effect”.
In 5th week, Katherine Morris, founding VERO member and fellow in philosophy at Mansfield College, posed the question “Do we really need all those medicines?”, arguing that adverse drug reactions are not merely the result of animal testing, but a symptom of the general medicalisation of our society, where over-reliance on drugs distracts us from the real causes of illness and destroys our ability to deal with it in an autonomous way.
In 7th week, Nick Jukes, Coordinator of InterNICHE, the International Network for Humane Education, stressed the importance of “ethical and emotional literacy” in life science education, and gave a fascinating demonstration of some of the alternative tools his organisation is helping to disseminate throughout the world, including multimedia computer simulations and a state-of-the-art dog model enabling veterinary students to hone their skills far more effectively and humanely.
In 8th week, founding VERO member Matthew Simpson gave a talk entitled 'How Physiology came to Oxford: the New Lab and its Adversaries in the 1880s'. He showed that some of the leading figures of the University had fought a passionate campaign against the introduction of vivisection at Oxford. At their head was the newly appointed Bodley's Librarian, E.W.B.Nicholson. There were unprecedented scenes in the Sheldonian Theatre when the matter was finally debated, and although the votes went against Nicholson's party, a whole Oxford generation had been taught a lesson in tomorrow's ethics. The lesson, as we know, continues.
The first VERO event of the term was an introductory evening at
Mansfield College (the venue for all this term's meetings) on October 15th,
when our speaker was PETER TATCHELL, the human and animal rights
campaigner, VERO supporter, and prospective Green Party candidate for Oxford
East. Peter spoke about the huge sums of money spent on conventional
animal-based research into AIDS treatment over two decades, and of its
negligible and even misleading results. What we really know now, and what we
can learn in the future, said Peter, is and will be derived from human-based
studies, but at present this sort of work, which many scientists would be
able and willing to do, is systematically underfunded. This was necessarily
a sombre account, but Peter believes that vivisection is out of date and
will in time disprove itself: our business is to hurry forward that time.
After the talk and discussion there was vegan food and drink (notably fresh
fruit juice made on the spot by VERO member Paul Freestone). This was a
feature of all the term's events, which we hope made them more friendly and
productive.
Our next speaker on November 1st was MARK GOLD, the author and
animal rights campaigner, former Director of Animal Aid, and still the
editor of its magazine Outrage. His title was 'Extending the Circle of
Compassion', and he gave a moving account of the prophets and proponents
of humane living, from classical times to the 20th century. Among those whom
Mark was introducing for the first time to many in his audience were Henry
Salt (1851-1939) and J.Howard Moore (1862-1916). Henry Salt's career
illustrated how naturally a concern for animal rights belongs to a wider
desire for justice in society. From J.Howard Moore, Mark read a passage
which memorably expresses that admiration for all life upon which the animal
rights movement is founded. As an experienced leader, Mark gave wise and
authoritative advice on the most fruitful attitudes and conduct in animal
advocacy.
On November 15th, DR MARGARET CLOTWORTHY, Scientific Consultant to
Europeans for Medical Progress, presented the new EMP film Safer
Medicines. This film provides a fascinating survey of advanced
techniques in medical research, including for instance the work of Asterand's
Dr Bob Coleman on the use of human tissue in drug-development, and the
"virtual heart" which Professor Denis Noble has been developing for many
years at Oxford itself. These are not merely alternatives to animal-based
research, but far more accurate and reliable technologies, of just the sort
which Peter Tatchell had been speaking about earlier in the term. Dr
Clotworthy is a cell biologist with extensive experience in non-animal
medical research, and after the film she gave lucid, informative answers to
questions. EMP makes its film available free to schools and other
institutions, and it will surely have a strong influence for good in the
vivisection debate.
VERO's last event of the term, on November 29th, was a talk by our own
PAUL FREESTONE called 'The Future of Food'. This connected our
theme of animal-exploitation and medicine to a more general tragedy: the
story of how commercial interests, government subsidies, and our own loss of
food sense, have corrupted this most basic of human relations with the
physical world. Paul showed the results in drug dependency, ruined
environments, and squandered resources. It was a brilliant talk, illustrated
with many astonishing statistics (the world's livestock produces 18% of
greenhouse gases - more even than transport; 30% of food produced is thrown
away uneaten; 88 varieties of crisps at Asda), and also with the foods
spread out in front of him as he spoke (including a visibly greasy Starbuck's
muffin, worth 571 calories, and a commercially prepared leek and potato soup
comprising 17 ingredients). By 2050, at the present rate of recklessness, we
will be needing five more planets to keep us fed. Paul's own cooking, plus
samples of commercially produced vegan fare, showed the right way ahead and
provided a delightful end to the evening.
purposes, ranging through historical, legal, ethical, psychological,
theological and medical aspects, and including one talk by a medical
researcher who himself engaged in animal experimentation (and who expressed
himself pleasantly surprised at the civilised reception he had from audience
members). All of the lectures provided a lively focus for discussion which
continued in the University Club afterwards over refreshments.
We hope this will feed into the positive dialogue which VERO is attempting
to build up within the University, and encourage a process of information
sharing between institutions and disciplines.
Organised by VERO to debate the subject
Humane Alternatives to Animal Research: the Way Forward for 21st Century Medicine. Read
the report