BRIEFING REVIEW
The Briefing produced by Uncaged Campaigns is essential reading
for those individuals concerned about the British Government's contemptible
response to the exposure of Imutran and Huntingdon Life Sciences
in the 'Diaries of Despair' report and its shameful policy on animal
experiments in general.
The Briefing provides further evidence of the absolute disregard
by certain companies and the British Government for those regulations
which are supposed to provide some protection to animals in laboratories
in the UK.
The Briefing therefore shows the obvious need for an independent
judicial inquiry to investigate Imutran's xenotransplantation research'
at Huntingdon Life Sciences and the Government's failure to ensure
the application of relevant and appropriate legislation. It also
shows that, in contrast to the various promises made by the present
Government to regulate vivisection, the vivisection industry has
received its active encouragement and support.
The value of the 'Diaries of Despair' report, through its exposure
of Imutran and Huntingdon Life Sciences and the treatment of their
animal victims, cannot be underestimated as it wholly nullifies
the stock arguments offered by pro-vivisectionists. Moreover, together
with those events which followed its publication, the report provides
indisputable evidence of the Home Office's blatant maladministration
which has indulged those companies responsible for subjecting animals
to extreme suffering.
The Briefing provides a valuable summary of the subject, dealing
with:
- the suffering which occurs in transportation,
- the regulation of experimental procedures on animals,
- the potentially illegal severe suffering,
- the cost/benefit assessment,
- the role of Huntingdon Life Sciences,
- the conduct of the Home Office Animals (Scientific Procedures)
Inspectorate (ASPI),
- the Chief Inspector's Report into Imutran, and
- the Home Office response to breaches and public concerns
In sum, the Uncaged Campaigns Briefing confirms the availability
of evidence that provides the stimulus for a successful campaign:
a campaign with the potential to successfully compel the Government
to establish an independent judicial inquiry into the most horrific
programme of vivisection in recent British history, and to put right
the Government's brutal sacrifice of animals and the rule of law
for the sake of profit-driven corporate interests.
David Mitchell (Dr)
B.A.(Hons), MPhil, PhD.
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