FACTS about animals and research

 

IFAR1191.TXT - iiFAR St. Louis Newsletter   Vol. 1   No. 1   1991

All information contained herein is all verifiable and accurate as we

are always striving to obtain the FACTS about animals and research.

Unfortunately our "Animal Rights" opponents do not hold themselves to

such standards.  The A/R movement is fraught with misinformation,

deceptions and outright lies.  To aid individuals who are new to this

movement I have decided to add commentary where deemed appropriate.

These additional comments will all be inclosed by square brackets [].

Information on where to send comments, becoming a member, etc. can be

found at the end of this document.

- From Kevin Brawley, Chairman, iiFAR St. Louis

                         iiFAR St. Louis Update

                  (incurably ill For Animal Research)

                         Vol 1, No 1, Fall 1991

                            Issued Quarterly

                          ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

December is the one-year anniversary of the St. Louis chapter of iiFAR

(incurably ill For Animal Research).  The chapter has been very active

in the past year, participating in the counter-demonstrations at St.

Louis University and Washington University in April, the St. Louis

University Health Fair in August, and the Juvenile Diabetes Walk-A-Thon

in October.  iiFAR had two information booths, one in Webster Groves in

July (4 days) and one at the Kirkwood Greentree Festival in September (2

days).  Public response to iiFAR's participation in these events has

been overwhelmingly positive.

A public relations firm has been working with the chapter; it is

expected that firm will be officially hired soon.  A lawyer [familiar

and experienced with these issues] has agreed to provide free

advice/services.  T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing an iiFAR St. Louis

logo and design will be ordered as soon as colors/design are decided.

Committees have been formed for membership recruitment, fund raising,

and public relations.  One iiFAR member initiated a letter writing

service, which encompasses all animal rights related issues.  An iiFAR

St. Louis newsletter will be published quarterly.  Steve Carroll,

Executive Director of National iiFAR, has visited the local chapter

several times during the past year.

Anyone interested in preserving the right to use animals humanely in

research may join iiFAR.  iiFAR's goal is to educate the public about

the benefits of animal research to man and animals, in direct opposition

to false information issued by animal rights activists.  Please consider

becoming an iiFAR member if you or someone you know: are alive due to

medical knowledge; are awaiting a cure; are affiliated with research

animals; want to assure a healthy future for you and your children.



[If you wonder whether or not you've been affected by animal research

answer the following:  Have you or any member of your family ever...

- Had blood transfusion?        - Had anesthesia?

- Used pain killers?            - Used antibiotics?

- Used insulin?                 - Used vaccines?

- Had chemotherapy?             - Had coronary bypass?

- Had reconstructive surgery?   - Had orthopedic surgery?

If you can answer yes to any of these (there are thousands more I could

drop here) then you have benefited from animal-based research.]

The animal rights movement in Europe is older and much more powerful and

violent than it is in the United States.  It's important to educate the

American public before the movement here mimics the ones in Europe.

                   THE WINNING:  COMMUNITY RELATIONS

On November 7, 1991, the Community Relations Department at St. Louis

University Medical Center received a first place award in the Media

Relations Activity category of the Muleshoe Awards for it's positive

educational efforts to increase awareness about the role of animal

research in the medical field.  This award, and two others, were

presented to Sandra A. Wallik, Director of Community Relations, at

Tan-Tar-A Resort in the Lake of the Ozarks during the Missouri Hospital

Association's annual convention.

                RIPPLE EFFECTS OF COUNTER DEMONSTRATIONS

To everyone who came out to St. Louis University and Washington

University to counter demonstrate against the animal rights activists

picketing during April, we'd like you to know how far-reaching that show

of support was.  The following is a list of the media/publications/

events that carried the story.  A big thank you to all who helped

support animal research during these history-making events.

KPLR-TV Channel 11      KMOX Radio 11.20 AM

KSDK-TV Channel 5       KWMU Radio 90.7 FM

KMOV-TV Channel 4

KTVI-TV Channel 2

Front Page - St. Louis University Medical Center - May 1991

The University News - St. Louis University - May 3, 1991

Parameters (2 editions: Vol 16, No 1, Spring 1991 and Vol 16, Nos 2 & 3,

            Fall, 1991.)

postgrad - St. Louis University Medical Center

           Summer 1991

Biomedical Research Awards Program - St. Louis University Medical Center

                                     May 31, 1991

Medical Record - Washington University Medical School

                 May 16, 1991, Vol 15, No 32



                         METRO ST. LOUIS BRANCH

        OF THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE

- The St. Louis Branch of AALAS held it's Annual Awards Banquet on

  November 8, 1991 at Lombardos.

- The Laboratory Animal Care Award, sponsored by Monsanto, for

  outstanding animal care employee in the St. Louis area was given to

  Sherry Garrett, Monsanto.

- The Animal Research Support Award, sponsored by Allentown Caging, for

  outstanding contributions in support of laboratory animal science by

  any individual was awarded to Sharon Hughes, SLU.

- The Laboratory Animal Care Professional Award, sponsored by Essential

  Products, for outstanding leadership and dedicated service by an

  animal care professional was earned by Richard E. Doyle, DVM, SLU.

- The Merit Award, sponsored by Lab Products, for outstanding service by

  an AALAS branch member was presented to W. Charles Thomas, SLU.

- The new President-Elect of the Metro St. Louis branch of AALAS was

  announced:  W. Charles Thomas, SLU.  He will officially take office on

  January 1, 1992.

                PETA CONTINUES TO TARGET GENERAL MOTORS

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called for a

boycott of General Motors products until the company agrees to stop

using animals in auto safety research studies.  [If you're questioning

the validity of this sort of testing please remember the alternative is

having people discover design flaws during potentially catastrophic

collisions.]  In addition to picketing GM dealerships around the

country, PETA has tried to pressure GM dealers into signing a letter to

GM condemning the safety studies.  PETA has also been targeting auto

shows.  On October 13, the Saginaw News reported that about 20 people

demonstrated at a show in Midland, Michigan where PETA member Sue

Brebner handcuffed herself to the steering wheel of a pickup truck and

was charge with unlawful trespassing.  Letters supporting General Motors

may be sent to :  Mr. Robert Stempel, Chairman of the Board, General

Motors Corporation, 3044 W. Grand Blvd., Detroit, MI 48202, FAX (313)

986-1637. - From NABR Update, November 7, 1991

                       ANIMAL RIGHTS 101 SEMINAR

On Saturday, November 2, 1991, more than 10 people who are not PETA

members or animal rights activists attended an all-day seminar sponsored

by PETA out of Washington, DC.  One of the speakers for the seminar was

Sue Brebner (see item above).  The fur issue was discussed at length,

and everyone was urged to never let anyone pass them in public wearing a

fur without confronting them.  PETA believes in "public individual

confrontation" to intimidate people into not wearing furs for fear they

will be confronted.  During the seminar, iiFAR members demonstrated

outside, wearing furs and carrying signs.  [Although iiFAR is devoted to

the advancement of medicine through animal-based bio-medical research we

stay informed about other animal related issues as the aforementioned

PETA is one of our main nemesis.]



               NORTHWEST AIRLINES SUSPENDS DOG SHIPMENTS

In response to pressure from animal rights extremists, Northwest

Airlines has temporarily suspended shipments of dogs bred for use in

laboratories while the company decides whether animal research is

humane, necessary and socially responsible.  In the keeping with it's

role as an advocate of the humane and responsible use of animal models

in the search to relieve suffering and save lives, the National

Association for Biomedical Research (NABR) has written to the President

of Northwest Airlines to urge him not to give in to animal rights

pressure.  [It is very important that Northwest Airlines hear directly

from all people who realize why animal models are essential to

biomedical research, education and testing.]  Address correspondence to:

Mr. John Dasburg, President, Northwest Airlines, Inc., 5101 Northwest

Drive, St. Paul, MN 55111. and tell him about your personal views and/or

experience with animal research.

- From NABR Update, November 27, 1991

       GOOD HOUSEKEEPING MAGAZINE TOUTING "CRUELTY-FREE" PRODUCTS

In the December 1991 edition of the popular Magazine Good Housekeeping,

a brief article entitle "Tested on Animals?  These Labels Say No"

suggests that readers write to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of

Animals) for a list of "animal-friendly companies."  The article states

in part that "Consumer pressure has convinced many companies to stop

using animals for testing - and now some of them are putting labels on

their products that say so."

The claim that "cruelty-free" products have not been tested on animals,

while not explicitly false, is still misleading.  Federal laws mandate

that the public be protected from hazardous commercial products.

Therefore, ensuring public safety involves testing the toxicity of

commercial products before people are exposed to unknown risks.  Products

labeled that they have not been tested on animals often contain

ingredients that have been animal-tested by raw material suppliers

rather than the manufacturer of the final product.  In other cases, the

safety of a product may already be well established based on a long

history of human exposure or previous animal tests.  As Dr. James Mason,

Assistant Secretary for Health at DHHS explains, "Whole animals are

essential in research and testing because they best reflect the dynamic

interaction between the various cells, tissues, and organs comprising

the human body."

If you wish to comment on this article, write to Mr. John Mack Carter,

Editor-in-Chief, Good Housekeeping, 959 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY

10019.

- From NABR Update, November 27, 1991



                ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA ARTICLE ON DOGS

The 1991 edition of The New Encyclopaedia Britannica contains the

following passage in the article entitled "Dogs":  "Another common use

of dogs, especially purpose-bred beagles, is in biomedical research.

Such use, which often entails much suffering, has been questioned for

its scientific validity and medical relevance to human health problems.

For example, beagles and other animals have been forced to inhale

tobacco smoke for days and have been used to test household chemicals

such as bleach and drain cleaner.  In addition, dogs have been used to

test the effects of various military weapons and radiation."  The entire

article is seven pages long, and the only other mention of dogs in

relation to biomedical research is as follows:  "...the more recent

history of the dog reveals a proliferation of other uses and the

emergence of a variety of breeds best suited to fulfill these various

roles, from lapdog and companion pet to guide for the visually impaired

and as test subject for the vivisection laboratory."

The article does not mention any of the biomedical advances in which dog

research has played a vital role, such as the development of insulin and

control of diabetes, the development of the cardiac pacemaker, open

heart surgery, coronary bypass, and heart transplant procedures, just to

name a few.  To comment on this article, write to Mr. Robert P. Gwinn,

Chairman, Board of Directors, Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc., Britannica

Centre, 310 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605.

- From NABR Update, November 27, 1991

       EXCERPTS FROM THE ST. LOUIS ANIMAL RIGHTS TEAM NEWSLETTER

The following are excerpts from the November 1991 edition of the St.

Louis Animal Rights Team (START) newsletter.  This is the group that

picketed St. Louis University and Washington University in April [Where

we outnumbered them (2x to 10x) during every protest they staged].

The president is Chris Cox, a lawyer.  If you think there is no local

threat, please read on.

                       MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

"...I would like to think that START has made a gradual transition from

having an animal welfare orientation to becoming an activist animal

liberation group, both feared and respected by vivisectionist, furriers

and animal exploiters.  If we weren't effective, would such an

opposition be suddenly mounting against us. ..."  [Claiming victory

because you are outnumbered is an interesting delusion]

"START has embraced a 'liberationist' orientation over the past two

years.  We have become much more vocal and visible in the community and

have published new position papers completely condemning the horrors of

biomedical research and the wearing of real and fake furs.  We also

released position papers supporting civil disobedience in the movement

and even supporting those activists who deem it necessary to take the

law into their own hands and rescue and liberate non-human animals from

their torture chambers. ... 'This includes the gradual or immediate

elimination of meat, dairy products, eggs, leather, fur, wool, silk and

any products which contain animal by-products or which perpetuate the

laboratory testing of animals.' ... It is impossible in today's world to

avoid all exploitation of animals, but what is important is that we keep

striving for that ideal, regardless of whether or not it seems

attainable." 

"Yes, there were some people who did not like the strong animal rights/

liberation attitude we adopted.  THis unfortunately caused conflict

within our local movement.  While it is always sad to lose members, we

must remember that START's stated purpose is the total elimination of

animal use, exploitation and abuse, whenever and however it occurs.  I

see no room for compromise in this position. ..."

[His apologies for a falling membership]

Elsewhere in the newsletter:

"...The upcoming years will be a testing ground for the young animal

liberation movement in general and START in particular.  Vivisectors,

furriers, hunters, factory farmers and all others who torture and

exploit animals have finally organized to fight the animal rights/

liberation movement.  It takes dedicated activists to fight back this

first big push from the opposition, but it also takes financial backing

to fight the anti-animal organizations who think nothing of spending

millions of dollars in an attempt to quash the movement."

[PETA is a $10 million organization.  Groups such as ours survive on

virtually nothing.  Seems to be another falsehood.]

"With the recent development of organized opposition locally it is easy

to feel frustrated.  But in this new opposition we must recognize that

the St. Louis Animal Rights Team has gained enough credibility to be

seen as a direct threat.  We are a worthy movement to be taken seriously

because we can and have caused change that threatens those in the

business of exploiting animals to such a degree that they feel they must

organize to fight us. ..."

[Earlier they claimed victory now they are frustrated?  We have found

that START is a wanna-be threat, but we have outwitted them at every

turn (in our first year no-less).]

                 PETA IS A THREE-MEMBER BUSINESS ENTITY

To begin with, Appellant PETA does not have 350,000 members:  it has

precisely three (3), and is more a partnership than a membership entity.

As Respondents have already documented before this Court ... PETA's

three (3) member board of directors in 1987 voted themselves the only

"members" of the organization.  The legal explanation for this move is

simple:  under Delaware law, "members" have a right to vote for the

board, remove directors for cause, and examine corporate books.  ...By

amending the Articles of Incorporation, the three-member board was able

to convert the erstwhile "members" into mere customer/contributors, and

the board into a self-perpetuating multi-million dollar partnership.



         PETA'S PRIMARY BUSINESS IS THE MARKETING OF ILLEGALITY

With regard to its avowals of purpose, it is vital to note the Appellant

PETA is an "animal rights" or "animal liberation" organization.  This

bears no relationship to "humane" organizations, with whom they

obviously desire to be confused.  Humane organizations take as their

goal the reduction of animal pain, and avoidance of unnecessary pain.

Animal rights groups, in contrast, believe that humaneness is

irrelevant.  All use of animals by human beings, no matter how humane or

necessary, is immoral and must be met with force.  Alex Pacheco, PETA's

chairman, made this clear when deposed.  To PETA, pet ownership is the

moral equivalent of slavery, unless the animal needed shelter to begin

with...All laboratory research using animals is to be opposed:  only

studies in the wild, where the animals "are free to leave", are

acceptable. ...PETA's National Director similarly has explained the need

to unconditionally oppose all animal use in medical experimentation,

even painless research essential to saving children's lives, all eating

of meat, drinking of milk, hunting and fishing.

Appellants have, of course, a right to their beliefs.  But they have no

intention of allowing others to act upon their beliefs.  In their eyes,

those who do not share their philosophy - animal trainers, hunters,

fishermen, cattlemen, grocers, and indeed all non-vegetarians - are the

moral equivalent of cannibals, slaveowners, and death-camp guards, and

must be dealt with accordingly.  Personal defamation is indeed a minor

retribution for such crimes.  PETA appears to serve as adjunct to more

radical groups which do not hesitate to use burglary, arson, and death

threats to achieve their ends.

The City Paper asked PETA's co-founder, Ingrid Newkirk, "Have you

collaborated with them at all in planning some of the raids in which

they destroy property?"  Her reply was "If we had we wouldn't say so.

We don't discuss anything to do with that.  We would never place them in

jeopardy."

(More excerpts from this brief will be published in future issues of the

iiFAR St. Louis newsletter.)

"Take sides.  Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.  Silence

encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." - Elie Wiesel, accepting

the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize

         NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE

             ISSUE POSITION PAPER ENDORSING ANIMAL RESEARCH

Why are animals used in research?  Are there alternatives to animal use?

What are the issues surrounding "animal rights"?  In a position paper

issued by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and the Institute of

Medicine (IOM), a committee of leading scientists answers these and

other questions.  In this position paper, one of the few ever issued by

the NAS and IOM, the institutions lend their support to the "many

scientific, medical, and patient groups (that ) have come out strongly

in favor of humanely conducted animal research."  The action reflects

the organizations' concern over the "broad anti-science message

implicit" in the positions of extreme elements of the animal rights

movement.



The paper notes that if studies conducted on animals had been banned 100

years ago, scientific advances leading to the control of whooping cough,

polio, and other life-threatening diseases would have been impeded.  The

result would have been needless death and disability.  The document

features vignettes about people whose lives have been saved or improved

by medical advances made possible by animal research.  It describes, for

example, how a relatively simple procedure called balloon angioplasty

repaired a potentially fatal narrowing of the arteries of a three year

old girl.  Such accounts help demonstrate that, behind volumes of

statistical evidence of the benefits of animal research, there are "real

stories of human triumph."

The paper is an effort to clarify the issues engendered by the often

emotional debate over animal research.  "By describing the history,

status, and potential of animal research," it says, "we hope to make it

possible for people to judge for themselves the necessity and merit of

continuing that research."  Although scientists continue to search for

means of reducing the number of animals used, the paper states that

animal studies remain essential for medical progress.  There are no

substitutes for animal research in the study of complex, debilitating

disorders, such as AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and traumatic

brain injuries.  Almost "half of the biomedical investigations carried

out in the United States would not have been possible without laboratory

animals."

The paper also disputes the assertion that animals have rights equal to

those of humans.  But it says that animal research does carry ethical

and social responsibilities.  Researchers "have an obligation to

minimize the pain and distress of laboratory animals."  They also are

obligated to use animals only to pursue "meaningful" goals.  Animal

research is an irreplaceable cornerstone of efforts to improve human

health, the paper concludes.  "As we decide the future of animal

research, we should keep in mind the future generations who will look

back at us and ask if we acted wisely."

The position paper, Science, Medicine, and Animals, is available from

the Commission on Life Sciences, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20418, phone (202) 334-2500.

                         LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT?

This past summer in Toronto, Canada, a man had to undergo 28 days of

shots, without knowing for sure if he had been infected by rabies,

thanks to the Toronto Humane Society (THS).  Doug Allen, 35, was bitten

by a raccoon while sitting in a movie theater.  The animal had

apparently been foraging in the theatre, forced out of the woods to

search for food because of the record furbearer overpopulation in the

area.  An unprecedented rabies epidemic has accompanied the

overpopulation, which was caused by the animal rights attacks on the fur

industry, causing pelt prices to plummet.

The theater was evacuated and the 35-pound raccoon was caught by animal

control officers, but the raccoon was cremated by the THS before it

could be observed for rabies.  It is believed that the animal was

destroyed to prevent health officials from dissecting it, even though

the raccoon's behavior strongly suggested rabies, and also to prevent

public knowledge that would weaken their anti-trapping campaign.



THS has become increasingly unpopular since its takeover in 1986 by the

extremist animal cult ARK II under Victoria Miller, who predicted that

in the 1980's we might see "a bystander killed in a bomb blast" by

animalists, or "a vivisector shot in the street."  She added, "we will

learn to live with it."

- From The People's Agenda, July 1991

       WHAT CAN SCIENTISTS DO TO STOP THE ANIMAL RIGHTS MOVEMENT?

The animal rights movement consists of three sub-groups.  The core is

made up of a small handful of people who know its purposes in detail.

There is no measure that you can take to affect the actions or beliefs

of these zealots of the movement.  The middle layer is made up of those

who have enough commitment to the movement to be willing to supply

information and to steal laboratory keys.  But these people would be

unwilling to take part in a crime where there is substantial risk of

apprehension and punishment.  The largest layer of the movement is the

outermost one.  These "foot soldiers" are the pet owners who send money

to support the cause or who write to their legislators when directed to

do so.  These people help the movement because they care for their pets,

not because they have a commitment to, or even knowledge of, the

philosophical underpinnings of the animal rights movement.  The

challenge to animal research supporters can be stated fairly simple:  It

is to reveal the core of the animal rights movement to those supporters

who are not at the core, who do not really know what they are

supporting, and to educate those who have not yet been touched by the

movement.

- David Johnson, Executive Director, Federation of Behavioral,

Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, Animal Rights and the Future of

Animal Research on University Campuses, from Coalition for Animals &

Animal Research Newsletter, Spring 1991, Vol 4, No 1.

                                MEETINGS

iiFAR St. Louis meetings are held at the St. Louis County Library, 1640

S. Lindbergh Blvd., of the first Thursday each month, usually.

Occasionally, due to scheduling conflicts at the library, the meetings

are held on other days.  The next 4 iiFAR meetings are:

Thursday, January 2, 1992               Monday, March 9, 1992

Thursday, February 20, 1992             Thursday, April 2, 1992

BOARD OF DIRECTORS                      BOARD OF ADVISORS

Kevin Brawley, President                Richard E. Doyle, DVM

Jan Hoffman                             Richard A. Galosy, Esq.

Sharon Hughes                           Jerald Olsen, DVM

Marian Pancoast                         Charles Spohn

Mary Pearlstein

Cindy Province



                               MEMBERSHIP

Membership monies are used to cover postage, supplies, equipment,

education and the other expenses associated with organizations of this

type.  If you would like to become an iiFAR member but cannot afford to

send money just let us know.  The recommended membership fee is $20.00

annually although donations of any size are welcome.

Newsletter Donations:         Local Membership:     National Membership:

iiFAR St. Louis Newsletter    iiFAR St. Louis       iiFAR (National)

Sharon Hughes                 Kevin Brawley         Steve Carroll

Comparative Medicine          P.O. Box 5216         P.O. Box 1873

St. Louis University          St. Louis, MO 63139   Bridgeview, IL 60455

1402 S. Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63104

Editor:        Sharon Hughes

Asst. Editor:  Marian Pancoast

Next Issue:    Winter 1991

- In a two-day period in New York City recently, a homeless man, a train

maintenance worker, and a dog were killed on the subway tracks.  Ninety

people telephoned the Transit Authority to express concern about the

dog, but only three called about the worker and no one about the

homeless man.