Animal rights: British medical research under threat as ferries bow to activists

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Animal rights: British medical research under threat as ferries bow to activists

March 14th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

By
Mario Ledwith

PUBLISHED:

21:43 EST, 13 March 2012

|

UPDATED:

10:50 EST, 14 March 2012

Britain’s medical research industry is being damaged because ferry companies and airlines are refusing to import animals for testing, it was claimed last night.

The firms that have bowed animal rights groups’ demands that they stop bringing the animals into the country because testing practices are unethical.

It has emerged that all of the ferry companies operating routes into the UK have now banned the import of mice, rats and rabbits, which are used to find potential cures for diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

De facto import ban: British shipping companies and airlines are refusing to bring in animals for lab testing after pressure from activists

British airlines have also endorsed a blanket ban on transporting the animals, meaning foreign airlines are the only way medical companies can import animals into the UK.

It is feared that the campaigners, who target travel companies in online campaigns and by mass letter-writing, could lead to foreign airlines also banning such imports.

This would leave the UK with no means of importing the animals and could paralyse the medical research industry, which is Britain’s largest research-based sector.

Former Science Minister, Lord Drayson,
has criticised the companies for capitulating. He said: ‘By giving in
to the protesters they are inadvertently choking off vital research into
some of the most debilitating diseases affecting our society.

‘Although
small in number, animals such as mice contribute significantly to the
development of new medicines to combat human and animal diseases.

PO Ferries banned the practice of transporting animals for testing last summer

'Medical research will wither': Lord Drayson, former science minister, criticised the companies for their move

‘Medical research will wither’: Lord Drayson, former science minister, criticised the companies for their move

‘If companies continue to withdraw from transporting these animals, the search for cures will shift to other countries, some of which do not have welfare regulations as stringent as those we rightly insist upon in the UK.

‘Medical research will wither in our universities, and as a result, more people will suffer and die.’

A spokesman for PO Ferries, which banned the practice last summer, said it had changed its policy after ‘significant pressure’ from anti-vivisectionist groups.

Pharmaceutical companies invest around £4 billion into the industry every year to combat conditions including motor neurone disease and muscular dystrophy.

Research animals are bred to model these diseases on.

David Willetts, the Minister for Universities and Science, said: ‘The Government is working with the life sciences industry and transport sector to tackle this problem. A cross-Whitehall group has been working since January to bring together the pharmaceutical and transport industries to broker a commercial solution.

‘We will continue to work to secure a way forward that ensures the highest standards in animal transportation and continuing success of research in the UK.’

Here’s what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts,
or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have not been moderated.

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Animals were necessary in the past but great strides have taken place in the last years that other methods of research are now available to researchers.
Why can’t long term prisoners be used in research; at least they could repay their debt to society in a useful manner.

– smokingetna, Sicily, 14/3/2012 21:05

if you are say diagnosed with cancer one day? You won’t want life saving medication for any members of your families? None of these things that you take for granted would be available without having been tested first in laboratory animals. Animal research is necessary. As long as the animals are cared for and treated well then I fully support it.
– Barney, UK, 14/3/2012 19:00
++++++++++++++++++ You do know, Barney, don’t you, that Chemotherapy is nothing other than Mustard Gas. Even Oncologists themselves have admitted, in this newspaper, that they would not use the treatment that they give to their patients on themselves.

– lees, london, 14/3/2012 20:42

I’m pleased this action brings back innto focus animal experimentation. Hiw can such sick and barbaric cruelty and molestation be allowed to continue.
I care that we research but never with the harm however little on animals.
I unlike your many have relatives who have been saved by drugs tested on animals but I in no way agree the the experimentation should continue.
It makes me sick to the core that such horrendous discomfort, pain and relentless suffering is inflicted on innocent life, how selfish and godless can we become.
End this unwanted abuse of life forever, I will not argue the benefits of animal experimentation as that is a mask to cover simple opposition to the simple truth that cruelty, pain and suffering inflicted on innocent life is as wrong as it is to us.

– Trevor H, Sutton in Ashflield, Britain, 14/3/2012 19:16

So I assume that all of those against any form of animal testing have never taken a pain killer, prescription drug, had an operation under anaesthetic etc, etc??? And I guess you gave no plans to in future? You won’t be seeking any form of treatment if you are say diagnosed with cancer one day? You won’t want life saving medication for any members of your families? None of these things that you take for granted would be available without having been tested first in laboratory animals. Animal research is necessary. As long as the animals are cared for and treated well then I fully support it.

– Barney, UK, 14/3/2012 19:00

Those who comment mentioning applying chemicals to the skin obviously havent read the article very well, these animals are being used to find out how diseases such as Alzheimers work , where proteins are incorrectly folded. Without this research, and a rapidly ageing population , by 2050 we will have severe problems within the UK. Not to mention other countries are researching these issues anyway, without the UK keeping up with current research and participating within it we will be left behind, and have to pay a premium when new drugs come to the market.

– BC, UK, 14/3/2012 18:44

Well done to the transport companies. Great news.

– Fiona, New Zealand, 14/3/2012 18:41

For those of you who support animal testing and animal vivisection to further good human health, you might want to read up on what todays Scientists and GP’s are saying. A lot of them admit that testing on animals is severely hampering efforts to find cures and better treatments. They’ll also admit that drug testing on animals provides a lot of ‘false positives’, most of which have gone on to have devastating consequences. To support animal testing is to support an expensive, antiquated science that is hindering medical advancement.

– anon, anon, 14/3/2012 18:32

Have a look at Dr Hadwen Trust and you will see there are plenty of more reliable and humane alternatives.

– Kjohn, Essex, 14/3/2012 18:28

Diddums- poor multinational pharmacutical companies- however will they cope? The sicko’s will have to use the alternative methods that don’t involve pointless and inneffective testing on defenceless creatures and the thickos who support it will have loads to complain about… (‘it’s political correctness gone mad’- ‘it’s all gone to the dogs’, because of ‘liberal lefties’ etc, etc, et al…yawn) I can’t wait… let the red arrows commence from the idle hands and apathetic minds of clarkson watching numpties ; )

– Jack, newcastle england, 14/3/2012 18:03

Those who oppose testing and these spineless companies will cost people their lives, how ethical is that. Currently there is no alternative to animal testing. – Gothmog, Alverstoke, England, 14/3/2012 – There is an alternative – it was proposed recently that they test drugs and other chemicals on skin that can be grown ETHICALLY and WITHOUT SUFFERING in a lab. It would provide better, more accurate results as well.
– Gemma, Kent , 14/3/2012 13:12
I assue this comment is being red arrowed by people have not done any reading into this subject matter at all and are swayed by the authors judgmental tone of writing. It is entirely feasible to do comprehensive drug testing without the use of animal experiments, how can anyone be against that? I am astounded!

– Jai, Birmingham, 14/3/2012 17:28

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