The times they are a-changing
At the beginning of last year, Animal Aid was at
the centre of the long campaign against Cambridge University's proposed
new primate research laboratory, where monkeys would have been used
to study human diseases.
On January 27 - and after a public inquiry during
which the University failed to provide evidence to a government
inspector that the proposed research was of 'national importance'
or would benefit human health - the project was abandoned.
Thousands of monkeys would now be spared from horrific suffering,
and the inspector's findings dealt a major blow to the vivisection
industry. Doctors, scientists and researchers are speaking out against
animal experiments in increasing numbers because their unreliability
can no longer be hidden. (For more details see the Cambridge
campaign index.)
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This article by Claudia Tarry is reproduced from the Spring 2005
issue of Outrage, the Animal
Aid journal for action.
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| The summer brought with it more good
news. Oxford University had hatched
plans of its own to develop a new animal research laboratory. Building
had commenced in March, but in July construction ground to a halt
when the building firm pulled out. As we go to print six months
later, work at the site has yet to resume.
Winter cheer
In November, we heard the wonderful news that the
UK's largest bird fair - the annual Cage & Aviary Birds Exhibition
at which around 100,000 birds (many wild-caught) would have been
on sale - had been cancelled.
The organisers - publishing giants IPC Media - buckled under relentless
pressure from Animal Aid, supported by other animal protection groups
and dedicated local campaigners (see the Ban
the Bird Market index).
And to end the year, hunting with dogs
looks finally to have been outlawed after more than 80 years of
campaigning. It has been a long, hard, and at times incredibly frustrating
journey with more legal battles still ahead, but at last this barbaric
'sport' is in its death throes.
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From strength to strength
Animal Aid is going from strength to strength. We
are featured regularly in the national press, give countless radio
interviews, and almost daily our name pops up in the local media.
Our message is reaching millions of people and is being received
loud and clear.
More and more people are taking steps to make their lives more
compassionate. In 2004, we sent out almost 20,000 Go
Veggie packs, plus thousands of information leaflets covering
our other key campaigns.
Record numbers visited our Christmas
Without Cruelty Fayre, and merchandise orders are reaching unprecedented
levels (see the online
shop).
Thank you for your continued support and we hope you will be with
us all the way for what we hope will be yet another 12 months of
progress.
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Join Animal Aid in the campaign against all animal abuse - click
here for membership details. |
