Anim l DEFENDER
Summer 2008
“Itʼs heavy, i t ʼs s h a r p an d it h u r ts . ”
L a b P ri m a te Ca m p a i g n K i c k An i m a l Testing Out of Your House!
C S I s ta r J or j a F ox s u p p o rt s t h e
STOP CIRCUS
SU FFERI NG
Cruelty-Free Shopping
ca mp aig n la un ch
Also Inside: rescues research without animals world news
Editorial
As we look forward to the campaigns to be pursued this autumn, including working for the adoption of our suggestions for changes to the European Directive on animal experiments (86/609), we can be pleased with this year’s campaigns on animal experiments and animals in entertainment.
ANIMAL DEFENDER
ISSN: 0961-9518 published by Animal Defenders International
incorporating
THE CAMPAIGNER
ISSN: 1356-5141 published by the National Anti-Vivisection Society UK
See page 16 for details of our manifesto for 86/609, news of the campaign so far, and importantly, how you can help. Undoubtedly the campaign in Europe for a ban on primate tests has been our biggest challenge for many years. The stakes are high; this could have ramifications across the world. Good news is that the cosmetics testing ban, which is steadily moving towards its ultimate goal, has paved the way for both the household product testing issue, and the primate ban.
UK: Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP, U.K. Tel: +44 20 7630 3340 Fax: +44 20 7828 2179 e-mail: info@ad-international.org web: www.ad-international.org
USA: 953 Mission Street, Suite 200 San Francisco, CA 94103, USA Tel: +1 415 543 2344 Toll free: 800 978 ADII (2344) (inside US) Fax: +1 415 543 2343 e-mail: usa@ad-international.org web: www.ad-international.org
Our work on animal circuses in South America this year has been hugely successful, with legislation being discussed already in Colombia, Bolivia and Peru.
Editors/Design: J.Creamer / T.Phillips / J.Blum Cartoons: Paul Taylor Conbtributors: Helder Constantino; Alexandra Cardenas; Juan Pablo Olmos; Jane Simpson; Christina Dodkin; Jessamy Korotoga; Jan Creamer; Tim Phillips; Jennifer Blum.
This summer saw the launch of our first US undercover investigation and report on the use of animals in US circuses, and we were honoured and delighted to be joined on the campaign trail by Hollywood actress Jorja Fox, together with Corey Feldman and his wife Susie.
©2008 ADI. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced for commercial purposes by any means whatsoever without the written permission of ADI/NAVS. ADI MISSION Founded 1990. To educate, create awareness, and promote the interest of humanity in the cause of justice, and the suppression of all forms of cruelty to animals; wherever possible, to alleviate suffering, and to conserve and protect animals and their environment.
The position of the UK Government on animals in circuses remains inexplicable. The bungling of the deliverance of such a simple commitment, which is fully supported by public opinion, as well as scientific and empirical evidence, is beyond understanding. There are few circuses left with animals in the UK, yet the Government appears to be frozen in the headlights.
NAVS MISSION Founded 1875; the world’s premier anti-vivisection group. Millions of animals suffer and die in cruel, unscientific, and futile experiments. The NAVS advocates the total prohibition of all animal experiments, and, pending the achievement of this aim, we may support partial measures which would provide steps towards reform..
LORD DOWDING FUND: Founded 1974; a department of the NAVS; sponsors non-animal scientific and medical research.
ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS: UNRELIABLE. UNETHICAL. UNNECESSARY
Where there’s a WILL there’s a WAY to help suffering animals. If you knew animals were being abused, could you rest in peace?
Sadly, throughout their lives, the last thing many animals experience is peace.
Toto the chimpanzee was imprisoned for 25 years and forced to perform tricks and smoke cigarettes for human entertainment. He was one of the lucky ones because he was rescued by ADI and returned home to Africa where he now lives with his own kind. Please help us to help other animals like Toto to live in peace by making a bequest today to: Animal Defenders International.
If you believe in reincarnation, there are some animals you wouldn’t want to be.
Imagine a life of imprisonment, being subjected to experimentation, then death. That’s the cruel and futile fate suffered by millions of laboratory animals in the name of research. The NAVS is working for an end to the suffering of animals in laboratories; lobbying governments; scientific reports, educational materials; investigating, exposing. Please help us to help laboratory animals by making a bequest today to the National Anti-Vivisection Society.
Help Finance An Evolution
Will you leave a lasting legacy of compassion and help scientific advancement? LDF finances scientific and medical research without the use of animals. We believe that cruel animal techniques have no place in 21st century science. Projects have included Parkinson’s, neuroscience, cancer and safety testing. Your legacy could help save the lives of animals and advance scientific research. Help finance an evolution and leave a lasting legacy, with a bequest today to the Lord Dowding Fund for Humane Research.
For a free guide to making a Will to help animals through ADI, NAVS, or LDF, call us today on 020 7630 3340 or visit www.ad-international.org, www.navs.org.uk, or www.ldf.org.uk
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Ki c k a n im a l te s t i n g ou t o f t h e ho u s e
Lab Animal Day (April 24th) saw the NAVS/ADI stepping up our campaign to end all testing related to the manufacture of household products – ingredients and finished products. This follows the successful campaign to end the testing of cosmetics and their ingredients on animals, where bans were secured first in the UK, followed by a phase-out in Europe which is still in progress. We believe that ending these tests is within our grasp and could set an important global precedent. We continue to lobby to ensure that the timetable to end all cosmetics testing on animals in Europe is met. In the most recent statistics 5,571 animals were used in cosmetics tests in Europe – 5,496 in France and 75 in Spain. This is a reminder of the need for vigilance, but also highlights the drop from circa 30,000 animals per year from just a few years ago. In the most recent UK statistics (2006), the number of household product tests in the UK has dropped to zero, for the first time ever. In Europe, the most recent figures (2004), show that 7,000 animals are used in
Kick Animal Testing Out of the House Manufacturers and Retailers
We are pressing companies for a commitment: ● Not to test or commission animal tests for their finished products. ● Not to test or commission tests for their ingredients. ● Not to purchase animal tested ingredients. ● To label their products ‘Not Tested on Animals’ when this is the case. household and cosmetics product testing, with the largest users being Spain, France, and Denmark. So some household products from these countries and the USA, on sale in the UK, will have been tested on animals. The UK Government has never been in a better position to ban household product tests once and for all, and to press Europe for action. Our household product campaign employs the same principles of reaching out at all levels to secure our goal: Manufacturers, retailers, national and European parliaments. This campaign has also being launched in the USA through our San Francisco office.
How Animal Test Policies Work
Oscar winner Julie Christie: “I support the call for an end to the use of animals for the testing of household and garden products, and for nonanimal replacement testing methods to be introduced with all speed. The EU has already led the way by banning animal testing of cosmetic products – letʼs now take the next step.”
Many years ago, the NAVS persuaded companies like the Body Shop to adopt the ‘Fixed Cut Off Date’, the most effective ingredient testing policy. It means that a company would not use ingredients in its products that had been tested after a fixed date (e.g. 1976). This replaced the ‘Rolling Five Years’ policy where companies described their products as ‘not tested on animals’ if the ingredients had not been tested in the
LAB ANIMAL DAY 2008
THANK YOU
Kick animal testing out of the house was the theme of Lab Animal Day (April 24) and a huge thank you to everyone who hit the streets distributing our leaflets. Thanks also to everyone who took part in our UK street collections, which raised over £2,000 and included Aylesbury, Cambridge, Folkestone, London, Southampton and West Berkshire. Congratulations to Thanet, who raised a fabulous £234.27! ADI & NAVS
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Kick Animal Testing Out of the House
TV Presenter Wendy Turner-Webster: “I can’t bear the thought of using a cleaning spray which has been approved due to the appalling tests carried out on rabbits and guinea pigs. It’s so easy to check the back of a packet, or tube and see whether it says ‘not tested on animals’. If it does then it’s straight in my shopping basket, but if not then I won’t be putting my pennies in the pockets of those companies.”
Products?
previous five years. NAVS pointed out that this policy was in fact allowing the continued use of animal tested ingredients, because the manufacturer simply had to wait five years before incorporating a new ingredient in their finished product. The ‘Fixed Cut Off Date’ policy helps manufacturers of finished products to avoid perpetuating animal testing by stating they will not buy ingredients tested after a certain date.
How Will This Work for Household
The situation for household products became more complicated recently, because of the new European chemical testing programme (REACH). As our regular readers will recall, this new legislation is forcing the re-testing of hundreds of chemicals that are already on the market. Although our campaigns against the REACH testing proposals
have managed to reduce the amount of animal testing dramatically, and ensured that REACH incorporated non-animal testing methods, there is still the possibility of animal testing of old ingredients, which have been around for many years. So in the case of household products, we need to work for a ban in two parts, on the finished products and then on the ingredients (some of which will be drawn under the REACH regulations). NAVS is developing a strategy to deal with any impact that compulsory testing under REACH (the EU chemicals Directive) will have on test policies in relation to chemicals used in household products.
How You Can Help
Only buy household products that have not been tested on animals. ● Tell local shops that you want non-animal tested products. ● Contact us for leaflets to distribute; get our list of ‘not tested’ products. ● Contact manufacturers with a ‘no animal testing’ policy to congratulate them – encouragement works! ●
A report leaked to NAVS from a UK laboratory revealed how rats were forced to inhale paint. Unable to move, with the air thick with paint steadily filling their noses, throats and lungs, within three hours half were dead and the others were close to death.
Ask manufacturers to label their products ‘not tested on animals’. ● Write and (politely) condemn companies who support animal testing. ● Send a donation to help the campaign. ● Write to your MP at: The House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. Ask them to call for an end to animal tests for household products in the UK, and for the Government to press for a EuropeActress Jenny Seagrove: wide ban. “Millions of animals die in ● Write to your MEPs laboratories around the world, so I fully support the (you have several) at: campaign for an end to the Altiero Spinelli Building, use of animal tests for European Parliament, household and garden 60 Rue Wiertz, B-1047 products. There are the means available to Brussels, Belgium. Ask implement non-animal them to support a replacement studies, and Europe-wide ban on this must be the way household products on forward.” animals. ●
We’ve teamed up with San Francisco’s Method products company so that you can kick animal testing straight out of the house. Method produce cutting edge, effective, animal and environment friendly household products. With slogans like “never tested on animals, because we think thatʼs mean”, Method show that they are in touch with their consumers whilst making a commitment to animals and the environment. For your chance to get your hands on some fantastic Method “detox your home” kits answer this very simple question: Q: What is the date of World Lab Animal Day? Send your answer, including full contact details (name, address, telephone number and email). By post: NAVS, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London, SW1P 4QP. Or, by email: info@navs.org.uk Entry deadline is 1st November 2008. Method have many UK outlets including the main supermarkets, check out their website, www.methodproducts.co.uk or call 020 7788 7904
SPECIAL OFFER
KICK ANIMAL TESTING OUT OF THE HOUSE
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Order our leaflet to distribute.
Order our list of ‘not tested household products.
Campaign News Escaped lab chimpanzee shot and killed
Astronaut backs our campaign to stop monkey space tests
Last April, the BBC reported that Russia is planning to send primates to Mars in order to prepare for human flights to the red planet. Boris Lapin, the director of the Sochi Institute of Medical Primatology where macaques will be selected for the trip, claims that this project will be useful to learn more about how humans might react to the Martian environment, radiation and prolonged weightlessness. It will take two years of Italian MEP and astronaut Umberto Guidonii experiments at Sochi to select 40 macaques. The unfortunate animals will then be sent to the Institute of opposes the primate experiments. Biomedical Problems in Moscow, where they will be submitted to further tests. It is expected to be at least another 10 years before the first flight to Mars takes place. Aside from being possibly the most ridiculously expensive experiments on animals ever, the project will provide very little information on how humans might react to Mars’ environment. There are many other reliable sources of information and research methods which can be used for the preparations for human space travel. Former astronaut and Italian MEP Umberto Guidoni, a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, wrote to the Russian Space Agency in July: “To improve our knowledge on how the human body behaves in space, a comprehensive research activity is planned on board the International Space Station (ISS). The European Space Agency (ESA) has started a program to monitor radiation levels on board ISS by using sophisticated sensors, such as those included in the Matroshka experiment facility”. Experiments on primates are therefore unnecessary. Umberto Guidoni’s prestigious career for the Italian Space Agency and the European Space Agency included two missions in orbit on board the Space Shuttle in 1996 and 2001, and the NASA medal for exceptional service in 2002. We hope that the Russian Space Agency will follow Umberto Guidoni’s distinguished advice on these experiments and abandon this ill-conceived project. The exploration of space is a source of immense pride and international prestige for the countries willing to risk the adventure. Sending macaques to Mars, however, is unlikely to glorify the nation responsible. The shameful and mistaken era of Laika, the dog sent to orbit the earth and die in space in 1957 is long gone, and the world’s public opinion is unlikely to glorify Russia for sending innocent creatures to die on Mars. Oleg Gazenko (1918 – 2007), the former director of the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow, who selected Laika, never recovered from sending her to her death. Expressing his regret in 1998 he said: “Work with animals is a source of suffering to all of us. We treat them like babies who cannot speak. The more time passes, the more Iʼm sorry about it. We shouldnʼt have done it. We did not learn enough from the mission to justify the death of the dog”. Laika who died in space. The man It can only be hoped that good sense and a more responsible later admitted: “We shouldnʼt have done it.”
ADI & NAVS
Tony, a 17 year old laboratory chimp at the Keeling Centre for Comparative Medicine and Research, University of Texas, was one of three animals to escape at the centre since November 2007. Tony jumped more than 15 feet to escape over a wall, before snatching and discarding a tranquilliser gun and flailing his arms. A police officer shouted twice that he was going to shoot before firing at the chimp, killing him. The centre said it would tighten security.
Gibraltar’s macaques under cull threat
The government of Gibraltar has approved the cull of a 25 strong group of Barbary macaques who have been “terrorising” tourists on the British colony. The monkeys will be caught by vets and killed by lethal injection. Two animals have already been killed. Plans for alternatives to culling were drawn up and presented to the Caruana Government a decade ago but have been ignored. ADI appeared in the media calling for a humane solution.
Navy may be to blame for mass dolphin stranding
Royal Navy sonar testing may have been the cause of the stranding of 26 dolphins in Cornwall. The Navy claim, after previously denying having any vessels in the area, that it is extremely unlikely that the operation could have affected the mammals. A British Divers Marine Life Rescue spokesperson commented “My personal conclusion is that there was some sort of disturbance that caused the animals to panic”.
Mass alligator slaughter Around 740 slaughtered alligators were discovered in a nature reserve, in the Amazon forest, Brazil. Eight tons of skinned and salted alligator corpses indicated a large-scale commercial operation, with the meat being sold for human consumption.
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Summer 2008
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intelli not re
Campaign News Pygmy Gorillas
It is generally assumed that the Home Office provides ministers with scientfically accurate information when it comes to animals in experiments. However, in March a puzzling Written Answer given by Meg Hillier MP to a question tabled by Mark Pritchard MP on primates in experiments seriously damaged the Home Office credibility. In her response, the minister quoted Jack Straw stating that “Great Apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, pygmy gorillas and orang-utans) have never been used under the 1986 act as laboratory animals”. Pygmy gorillas are in fact legendary animals, last researched in the Congo, unsuccessfully, in 1945. Colin P. Groves, a distinguished Australian anthropologist wrote in the academic journal Cryptozoology that the creation of this subspecies in 1847 was the result of “basic biological ignorance whose character and allpervasiveness is difficult to realise at this distance in time”. It is hoped the Home Office will concentrate on animals that actually exist.
Johnson & Johnson topical gel cancer risk
The product Regranex (diabetic ulcer treatment) produced by Johnson & Johnson, is suspected of increasing the risk of cancer-related deaths. Those who were prescribed Regranex three or more times showed an increase in cancer-related deaths.
Warnings for high cholesterol drug
Lipitor, the high cholesterol therapy, may have caused cases of serious adverse reactions, including one death. These include a decrease in white and other blood cell types.
Monkeys in robotic arm experiment
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania used primates to test a thought-controlled robotic arm. The monkeys were restrained and connected to the arm through electrodes implanted in their brains; they then used the arm to feed themselves.
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The Year of the Rat
2008 is the Chinese year of the Rat, a cause for celebration for humans born under this sign and a year for opportunities and new beginings. On Chinese New Year we highlighted the 400,000 rats used in UK labs and almost 2 million across Europe. No one knows how many die in US labs each year because, shamefully, these intelligent creatures are not even considered to be animals under the US Department of Agriculture Animal Welfare Act, and are excluded from animal testing statistics. The rat starts the Chinese astrological cycle, so people born under this sign enjoy being first – pioneers. They tend to lead busy lives, mentally and physically, and according to the Chinese, they make good, wise advisors. Best known for their charm and intelligence, they have a sharp wit, a good sense of humour and make stimulating and amusing company. They are protective of, and generous towards, their most loyal friends. Rats are a symbol of good luck and wealth in both China and Japan. Isn’t it time these sensitive, intelligent creatures got a little more consideration? References: Commission staff working document Annex to the Report from the commission to the council and the European Parliament. Fifth report on the statistics on the number of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes in the member states of the European Union; Home Office – Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals. Great Britain, 2006; www.chinese.astrology.com/rat.aspx; www.holymtn.com/astrology/rat.htm; www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm
Spanish Parliament vote for rights for Great Apes
The Environment Committee of the Spanish Congress adopted a resolution in June calling on the Government to recognise rights for apes and to promote the Great Ape Project internationally. Spain is among the first nations to recognise ape rights, with a similar motion having passed in New Zealand. The Spanish vote aims at giving apes some basic rights such as the right to life and freedom from torture. ADI/NAVS believe this is an important step towards the recognition of animals as sentient beings, and could open the door to rights for other species. The move sparked controversy in Spain, with Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo underlining the paradox of a resolution “trying to turn the country of bullfighting into the principal defenders of apes”.
US pet primates legislation
The Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2964) was passed in the House of Representatives in June by 302 votes to 96. This Act, welcomed by ADI and introduced by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Tex.) in July 2007, aims to prohibit the interstate or foreign commerce of non-human primates for pet trade purpose. Primates are not suitable species for domestic pets. They are highly intelligent, social and emotional animals with a rich social life in the wild. Pet monkeys are often isolated and kept in unsuitable conditions which cause poor welfare and therefore suffering. Although the Captive Primate Safety Act (H.R. 2964) does not ban the keeping of primates as pets, it is still an important step forward to curb this cruel business. It is also important for the safety of the public, since frustrated and emotionally deprived primates can become aggressive, bite people and many species carry viruses which can be transmitted to humans. The Act must be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before it can become law. Unfortunately, the UK appears to be moving in the opposite direction, deregulating this sector. Last year Defra delisted several species of monkeys from the Dangerous Wild Animal Act. As a result, any individual can acquire these monkeys without a licence or checks on what facilities are being provided for the animals – a retrograde step which has left these wild animals with comparable status to domestic pets. Shame on Defra, shame on the UK Government. Write to your MP and ask them to take action on this.
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NAVS & ADI
Rhanee moves to Poland ast year we reported on our efforts to obtain Rhanee and her companion Toto from Valwo Zoo in Spain when its imminent closure was announced, due to lack of funds. We endeavoured to negotiate a better future for the elephants, and presented detailed proposals. However despite our best efforts, both elephants were relocated to Wroclaw Zoo in Poland in October 2007. Valwo/Madrid Zoo appeared to be more concerned about protecting their image, not wishing to concede that elephants do not thrive in zoos, than they were about ensuring the welfare of these two elephants. Zoo officials expressed their desire to keep Rhanee in the European breeding programme. Thus, last October Rhanee and Toto were loaded onto trucks for the long drive from Spain to Poland. It is reported that both elephants made a smooth transition into their new home and have become firm friends with Wroclaw’s Birma, another Asian elephant who originated from a circus. An ADI Field Officer was despatched to check the new home. Unfortunately the facilities at Wroclaw are basic and no improvement on the enclosure in Spain. Like many city zoos the elephant enclosure is small, lacks enrichment and shelter, with a very small pool.
Campaign News Malaysia primates
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We remain convinced that Rhanee is too old (now in her forties) and spent too many of her formative years in the circus to consider her for breeding, even if the European breeding programme were more successful. Furthermore her physical condition makes her unsuitable for another role suggested; to be moved from one zoo to another, filling gaps when breeding females are removed. Thus, the zoo industry continues to display Rhanee and wring every possible penny out of her sad life. Nevertheless Rhanee and Toto appear to have formed a bond with Birma, who must be much happier now that she is no longer alone. Rhanee and Toto remain firm friends, never straying too far from each other and continue to be very tactile, greeting each other with a friendly touch of the trunk when they drift a few metres apart. Thus, despite our best efforts to get Rhanee to a sanctuary, she and her companion Toto are animals whose destiny for now, remains in Europe. We will continue to monitor their progress and should the opportunity arise, we will try again. It is now ten years since the world saw the cruel beatings that Rhanee, Tembo, Rosa and Opal suffered at the hands of Mary Chipperfield’s elephant trainer. These and other scenes from ADI’s groundbreaking investigation of the circus industry prompted MPs to call for action to protect these animals – including Ben Bradshaw, who subsequently as a minister at Defra, made the 2006 announcement of the Government’s intention to ban the use of wild animals in circuses in the UK. We are still waiting. ADI & NAVS
Last year, we opposed a disastrous decision by the Malaysian government to lift a ban on the export of macaques, which had been in place for 23 years. At the time a politician from the opposition party stated that the animals would “be destined for the cooking pot and be subjected to horrendous suffering in laboratories”. Fortunately in February this year, it was announced that the plans had been dropped. It had been discovered that the macaques were carrying diseases which made them unsuitable for human consumption, or for use in the laboratory. The environment minister stated “Only 20 percent are healthy but only half of that are marketable in terms of their size. They were supposed to fulfil the demand for exotic meat in a few countries in Asia and the West”.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/02/asia/ASGEN-Malaysia-Exporting-Monkeys http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/malaysia/2008/02
/03/141725/Malaysia-scraps.htm
Toto premiers in the UK
Following a US premier in Los Angeles, our ʻToto Goes Homeʼ video made its debut appearance on the big screen in London in December 2007, at the International Artivist Film Festival, held at the Genesis Cinema. The festival showcases activist work in human rights, children’s advocacy, environmental preservation and animal advocacy.
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Campaign News ADI Advert Ban reaches House of Lords on way to European Court of Human Rights
Jan Creamer and lawyer Tamsin Allen outside House of Lords.
ADI’s case challenging the Government’s ban on our advertising, which under the Communications Act of 2003 is categorised as ‘political’, moved to the House of Lords in December 2007. This blanket ban prevents advertising by animal, environmental and human rights organisations. Over two days of hearings our lawyers presented volumes of evidence and arguments supporting our case. However, the judgement received on 12 March 2008 was against us, leaving us looking to the European Court for our remedy. The case arose when a TV advertisement produced for ADI’s My Mate’s a Primate campaign in 2005 was banned by the BACC, not because of the content of the advertisement, but because NAVS and ADI are deemed to be ‘political’ groups under the Communications Act. ADI has challenged the decision on the basis that it violates our right to freedom of expression. The ban is too widely drafted, it includes organisations whose aim is to influence public opinion. It creates unfairness so that, for example, an oil company can broadcast a vanity advertisement claiming that it looks after the environment, but environmental organisations cannot respond in the same broadcast media. A boost to our case came in May 2007, when the report of the Advisory Group on Campaigning and the Voluntary Sector, chaired by top lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC, agreed that the Communications Act 2003 has a censoring effect on the voluntary sector. The report recommends: the ban on all advertising by ‘political’ organisations should be repealed; a new legislative framework should permit in principle non-political advertising by NGOs and charities; the definition of political in the Act should be amended so as to permit the broadcast of social advocacy advertisements on radio and television but restrict the broadcast of advertising for political parties; a new regulatory framework should allow ‘political’ (including party political) advertising by NGOs, but it should state that it contains political content/represents the opinion of the advertiser and state the source of funding; a moratorium on all political and social advocacy advertising in the broadcast media during local and national election periods. The case now moves to the European Court of Human Rights, where a previous ruling in a similar case is expected to provide us with a more sympathetic hearing.
UK Governmen u-turn on anima
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ore than two years ago, in the spring of 2006, we were delighted to announce the fantastic news to our supporters: the Government would finally ban wild animals in circuses. Ben Bradshaw, then minister for animal welfare at Defra, announced on 8 March 2006: “I sympathise with the view that performances by some wild animals in travelling circuses are not compatible with meeting their welfare needs. (…) To provide this clarity I intend to use a regulation under clause 10 of the Animal Welfare Bill to ban the use in travelling circuses of certain non-domesticated species whose welfare needs cannot be satisfactorily met in that environment.” This was a great collective victory for ADI and its supporters and we applauded the Government’s move. In fact we wanted Defra to go further and quicker and to insert the ban on the face of the Animal Welfare Act itself. However minister Lord Rooker insisted that regulation under the new Animal Welfare Act was the appropriate tool to
Prosecution of Marines in puppy-throwing incident
The US Marine Corps has reportedly expelled a Marine and disciplined another in relation to the video in which they threw a puppy from a cliff. The Marine Corps Base Hawaii said that “The actions seen in the internet video are contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine and will not be tolerated.” Lance Cpl. David Motari of Monroe received unspecified “non-judicial punishment” and “is being processed for separation” from the Marine Corps. The second marine, Sgt. Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion also received “non-judicial” punishment. The service would not, however, reveal what roles the two men played in the video or details about the disciplinary measures taken against them. In several ADI interviews in the media concerning the incident we contrasted the activities of the marines abusing the puppy with marine Lieutenant Jay Kopelman whose book ‘From Baghdad with Love’ tells how he rescued a puppy named Lava. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004471948_webmarine11m.html http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/BREAKING/80611043
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Stop Circus Suffering: UK
nt’s shameful als in circuses implement the Government’s promise, while he confirmed on repeated occasions that the ban would be implemented as the Bill passed through the House of Lords. On 1st November 2006 Lord Rooker declared: “…The Government have made it clear that we are committed to banning certain non-domesticated species currently used in circuses, with a regulation coming into force in 2008. That commitment is crystal clear.” In order to gather information for the new regulations, Defra set up the Circus Working Group (CWG) composed of industry representatives, animal welfare groups (ADI, the RSPCA and BFF) and an academic panel. From the outset, the animal protection groups were concerned about the flaws in the process and expressed this to minister Bradshaw, in particular how the process itself had been organised; its narrow scope excluding domesticated animals as well as training and performances; the impractical restrictions on evidence to be presented to the academic panel. Despite these concerns, we submitted a dossier of scientific evidence on the effects of captivity and transport in a range of species. In November 2007, Mike Radford, the Chairman of the CWG communicated its report to the Minister. It concluded that “…there appears to be little evidence to demonstrate that the welfare of animals kept in travelling circuses is any better or any worse than that of animals kept in other captive environments.” This was an extraordinary conclusion. Not least since any evidence that might ADI & NAVS
have made a comparison with other industries was excluded! Indeed, the Chairman’s report explained how the majority of the evidence submitted by animal welfare groups had been excluded by Defra; some was not even presented to the academic panel. That evidence which had got through was then disregarded due to a flawed process which concluded that the conditions of animal circuses were of such “particularity” that they could not be compared with animals in any other captivity or transport situation. This excluded all academic evidence on animal transport, captivity, and husbandry. Without consultation with the animal welfare legal experts, the report also ventured the legal opinion that the Government was now unable to ban animals circuses through regulation and that local authority bans might be illegal as well. ADI and other groups strongly protested to the Government and one of the members of the academic panel, Samantha Lindley BVSc MRCVS, even wrote to minister Lord Rooker to explain that the CWG process was dysfunctional. Defra officials have now confirmed that the methodology used for the circus regulations would not be used again. So, despite that this process has been a complete disaster which they don’t intend to repeat, the decisions arising from it are apparently, not be reviewed. What a mess. As for the report’s legal opinion, we asked independent parliamentary law firm Bircham Dyson Bell to comment. Their expert legal draftsmen concluded that the Chairman’s conclusions were “incorrect in law”. Last February, Mark Pritchard, MP for Wrekin tabled the following EDM, which has been signed by 181 MPs, thanks to the hundreds of letters sent by ADI’s supporters: “That this House notes with concern that the Circus Working Group disregarded substantial amounts of evidence on the welfare of animals in circuses as a result of the methodology imposed by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; believes that the report of the Chair of the Circus Working Group fails to provide reliable information on this subject; and urges the Government
to maintain its commitment to ban the use of wild species in travelling circuses and to restrict and limit the use of domesticated species under a strict, accountable and open licensing system.” EDM 965 reflects both the expectation that Defra was planning a ban and the House of Commons supports a ban. It is therefore with disappointment that ADI received a letter from Lord Rooker dated 11 March 2008, almost on the two-year anniversary of Defra’s announcement of the ban, which asserts: “I do not believe that there was ever a commitment to ban wild animal acts in circuses”. From “crystal clear” in 2006, the Government’s commitment to the Houses of Parliament and the British people suddenly vanished in 2008. It is not obvious to us why Defra would turn its back on a policy supported by 80% of UK public opinion. Our country has slipped from leading the world on this issue, to falling behind other countries in Europe and South America, where animals are being banned from circuses. What we know for sure is that we will continue our campaign despite Lord Rooker’s spectacular uturn. Write to your MP and urge them to sign EDM 965 if they haven’t yet signed, or write to Lord Rooker and tell him how disappointed you are to hear of such
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Main picture: Annie, currently, the UK’s only circus elephant continues to tour with Bobby Roberts’ Circus despite her arthritis.
Left: Ming the solitary bear with Jolly’s Circus has died – any Government action will now be too late for him.
Below: A full page advert we placed in a Parliamentary publication asks if the Animal Welfare Act will prove toothless.
Stop Circus Suffering: USA
Stop Circus Suffering launched across America In a week we crossed America launching Stop Circus Suffering USA in four states. We unveiled the findings of an exposé of the US circus industry and were joined on the campaign trail by CSI and West Wing actress Jorja Fox, hip hop artist Remo Conscious, model Susie and actor Corey Feldman (Lost Boys, Goonies, currently hosting their own show). Other celebrities including Alicia Silverstone and Kristy McNicholl (see over) are also backing the new campaign. Our new DVD and report incorporate undercover observations of nine US circuses. Violence caught on film included an elephant being beaten to the ground and kicked in the face, electric shocks being given to elephants and a tiger cub being hit in the face. SF Bay Area hip-hop artist Remo Conscious provided the narration for the DVD. We have also produced Spanish versions of leaflets and DVDs, to reach the US Latin communities as they are now a target audience for circuses. Our phenomenal success in South America convinces us that these communities represent a huge untapped reservoir of compassion for animals. The Spanish architecture of the Serrano Hotel, San Francisco provided the backdrop for the first dual language launch. Remo Conscious joined ADI USA President Jan Creamer, Campaign Director Tim Phillips, and Alexandra Cardenas our Animals in Entertainment Campaigner who addressed the Spanish speaking media. Our evidence was also delivered to San Francisco Mayor Newsom and California Governor Schwarzenegger. Next stop Las Vegas, for a launch at Caesar’s Palace with the theme that the torment of wild animals for entertainment began in the Roman ampitheatres and should now be consigned to history; Caesar, our rescued Portuguese circus lion, was our animal ambassador for the launch. Local campaigner Linda Faso spoke about the Las Vegas circus campaign and brought with her an actual bullhook (elephant hook), which made the violence we had filmed all the more
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The Animal Defender & Campaigner
chilling. Austin, State capital of Texas was next; a key city, as Trunks & Humps of Cut and Shoot, Texas, is the home base for Boo/Queenie and Chrissie, the elephants featured in the beatings caught on video (see over). The launch was boosted when we were helped by actress Jorja Fox, who spoke eloquently and movingly about the campaign. With a big media turn out, the scenes of violence were now being witnessed by a huge audience. Jorja then presented our evidence to Councillor Lee Leffingwell with a request that the City Council ban animal circuses. Then on to New York, where Jan appeared live on the national talk show ‘Geraldo’ accompanied by high profile supporters Corey and Susie Feldman. The hugely popular actor and model put a powerful case as ADI video footage was screened and Geraldo showed the viewers the elephant hook kindly donated by Linda Faso. Our tour wrapped up on the Monday with screenings of Stop Circus Suffering USA and Big Cat Rescue at Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Cinema in New York. This is just the start of a huge push on animal circuses in the USA. Leaflets, posters, DVDs and reports can all be ordered from us. You can also watch the Jorja Fox press conference and the Geraldo Show by visiting our website and following the USA links. www.adinternational.org
Tim, Jan, Remo; TV crews watc
Monday: San Franci
Jan interviewed for TV; Alexa
Tim &
It
Jorja Fox speaks at the press evidence to Austin City Counc
Corey and Susie Feldman (main
Spring & Summer 2008
Sunday: New York NAVS & ADI
ch the new DVD; Remo Conscious and DVD; Tim and Jan put the case.
isco
andra addresses Latin American media; Caesars Palace; Tim, Jan, Linda, Alex; Tim on air.
Wednesday: Las Vegas
& Jan on different TV shows; Linda Faso puts the case; Alex on Spanish TV; City Hall, Austin
Friday: Austin, Texas
t’s Wednesday. This must be Vegas....
s conference and presents ADI cillor, Lee Leffingwell.
n) join Jan on the Geraldo Show. ADI & NAVS
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Summer 2008
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Stop Circus Suffering: USA
Beaten and kicked in the face – the shocking reality of animals in US circuses
"I am opposed to using animals in circuses. Animals like lions, tigers, and elephants belong in the wild, not suffering in tiny cages and being abused in order to get them to do tricks for our entertainment. Humans in circuses are way cooler. That is real talent and beauty. ADI Rocks! I support the campaign!"
ADI Field Officers secured evidence inside nine US circuses, with one Field Officer working undercover with Bailey Brothers Circus as it toured through Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois and Missouri, witnessing particularly shocking violence. We found confinement and environmental deprivation in all the circuses observed. We filmed a female elephant being dragged to her knees and kicked in the face; electric shocks being given to elephants during training sessions and when they were walking to the ring to perform; an elephant hacked to the ground with a golf club; a young reptile’s mouth taped shut to allow him to be used for photographs; a tiger cub smashed in the face to make him “behave”. Other problems included: Elephants chained by the legs barely able to move; tigers living in small cages on the backs of trucks; monkeys isolated and/or living in tiny cages; an elephant continuing to perform with an open sore on her face; a pony with a bleeding leg giving rides to children. The US Department of Agriculture has launched an inquiry into the abuse of the circus elephants.
Alicia Silverstone – star of Miss Match, Clueless, Beauty Shop, Batman & Robin "Even as a kid, I was heartbroken to see animals so humiliated in front of cheering crowds. Iʼm glad people are finally starting to understand the suffering they endure. Welcome to the US ADI!"
Kristy McNichol – Emmy winner
"I fully support ADIʼs campaign. Given what we know about the emotions and intelligence of these animals, it is not acceptable to keep them confined in cages and force them to do ʻtricksʼ.
Anna Maria Horsford – Entourage, Greyʼs Anatomy, The Shield, The District.
“Ever since I was a child I was loathe to go to a circus that had animals performing tricks. I knew, even then the cruelty of the usage of these magnificent beings. Every living thing is sacred. Animals are our teachers, not our slaves. I fully support the ADI in their effort to stop this abuse of these animals. The cruelty must end..NOW"
Shelley Morrison – Will & Grace
"l grew up loving circuses and being charmed by the animals I saw there. As an adult, Iʼve become aware of both the ability of these animals to suffer under confinement, and their intense desire to live a free and natural life. I still enjoy the circus as an art form, but only when all of the performers are willing, human participants.”
Dan Piraro – ‘Bizarro’ cartoonist.
"This organisation provides solid, successful means for us to take action in stopping the mistreatment of animals – they employ dedicated, passionate individuals to uncover and stop what is going on ʻbehind the scenesʼ in circuses where the dressing rooms are less than ideal for our furry, four footed actors...They have no union to protect themselves weʼre lucky ADI does!"
Tana Frederick – Hollywood actress: Time, Rising Shores, Hollywood Dreams.
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Summer 2008
NAVS & ADI
Stop Circus Suffering
south america
Peru
Bill to ban animal circuses to be debated in Peruvian Congress Since the end of 2007 we have been working with Peruvian Congressmen Alejandro Rebaza and Jose Antonio Urquizo, who presented separate bills banning all animals in circuses. The bills are already before the Congress and they will be
ADI & NAVS
Peruvian Congressmen Alejandro Rebaza, Jose Antonio Urquizo and ADI’s Jan Creamer launch the two bills to ban animal circuses at the Congress. Left: Scenes from the campaign and from Peru’s performing animals industry.
debated in the commissions (committees) in September. It is expected that they will be debated in the Plenary in December. Therefore, this July will hopefully be the last touring season of circuses with animals in Peru. ADI has lobbied with congressmen of all parties to build cross-party support for the bills. As part of our strategy, we launched a version of the Science on Suffering Report in May, with a press conference in Lima chaired by Congressman Jose Antonio Urquizo. Lobbying efforts have included presentations, letter-writing, publications, mobilising local campaigns and presenting a draft proposal of the joint bill and a legal compilation of national and local bans throughout the world. ADI has also helped the Congressmen with reports and advice, in order to prepare their presentations for the debate. ADI has also been invited to make a presentation of the issues during some of the key debates. During August a new DVD is being launched in Peru in order to focus on the the circus season that takes place around the national holidays.
Stop Circus Suffering: South America
Bolivia
Government ban discussed and Las Vegas big cat show blocked
several municipalities have introduced animal circus bans. In May 2008, these bans faced a major test, when a Las Vegas based magic show featuring big cats, The Fercos Brothers, planned to appear. ADI and local animal protection groups worked together to uphold the bans on the use of animals in the cities of Cochabamba, El Alto, La Paz and Santa Cruz. We approached the organiser of the event, entrepreneur Marco Montenegro, and explained the bans and significance of the SCS campaign. As a result he decided to allow the show to proceed, but without animals. These moves in Bolivia set an important precedent for South America, demonstrating that measures to prevent animal suffering at national and local government levels can be effectively enforced. It has also shown that for
The Bolivian government is currently studying a Presidential Decree on biodiversity regulation after discussions with the Ministry of Environment, which includes a ban on wild animals in circuses. It is expected that the decree will shortly be signed by President Morales. A year after the launch of ADI´s Stop Circus Suffering campaign in Bolivia,
entertainment in Latin America the show can go on – without animals. We salute the joint efforts of the local organizations Focomade, Vida Silvestre, Biosfera, CODAC, Zooprama, Animalnaturalis Bolivia, Gaia Pacha, EBA-Bolivia y Animales SOS La Paz y Santa Cruz, who along with ADI did not rest until they made sure that the bans were upheld.
Colombia
Karla and Panchito rescue negotiations National and local Lobbies for animal circus ban ADI Colombia continues to negotiate with the Colombian Ministry of Environment for the release of ex-circus chimpanzees Karla and Panchito. Evidence we have presented includes their maltreatment in the Gasca-owned
Fight over baby elephant at Pereira Zoo An African elephant was born at Pereira Zoo in Colombia in 2007 and named Zimbabwe by local children. The elephant’s parents are Pirinolo, a male elephant once owned by late drug lord Pablo Escobar and Maggie donated to the zoo by the Gasca Brothers Circus in 2000. In June 2008, the Gasca Brothers Circus announced that the terms of the contract between the circus and the zoo for Maggie stipulated that in the event of “positive breeding results”, any offspring would belong to the circus. However, Gasca’s representatives assured the public that they did not intend to enforce the clause, but just wanted to make it clear that the circus owns the baby. The local environment authority of Pereira, CARDER, commented that the circus has yet to make any legal claim to the elephant. ADI and local animal protection organisations are pressing to ensure that Zimbabwe is not taken from her mother for a life with the circus. In a debate at the Pereira Municipal Council eight councillors expressed their solidarity with the animal protection groups and insisted that baby Zimbabwe should belong to the zoo and to their town. ADI´s Juan Pablo Olmos used the Stop circus Suffering DVD and our reports to present to the Council the reality behind the scenes in the travelling circus.
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The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Summer 2008
NAVS & ADI
Stop Circus Suffering: Global round-up
circuses, their legal status and the poor environment in the zoos currently holding them. The chimps had been quickly transferred to the zoos at Medellin and Pereira when allegations of abuse were submitted to the authorities. Furthermore, we have requested an official enquiry into the death of a 10 month old giraffe imported from a supplier in the USA; she was held for 4 days in a warehouse in the airport because immigration officers were not on duty. A week after she was finally delivered to the Circo Africa de Fieras, she died. The Ministry of Environment is investigating. ADI Colombia continues to press the case for Panchito and Karla with the local authorities at Pereira and Medellin, who are responsible for granting permits. In June, ADI was invited to participate in a special session of the Pereira Municipal Council opposite circus owner Raul Gasca. ADI´s campaign coordinator, Juan Pablo Olmos, presented the Stop Circus Suffering video and spoke about the evidence of animal cruelty in circuses associated or owned by the Gasca family. We also presented the Councilmen with a document detailing the animal protection legislation in Colombia and the evidence shown in the presentation. Many of the Councilmen spoke in favour of banning circuses in their town. The event was attended by over 400 people. The next day ADI was invited to present our evidence to the Risaralda Departmental Council. As a result, the Risaralda Departmental Council is currently studying the feasibility of a local ban on the use of animals in circuses. ADI has offered to provide a report on the legal feasibility of the proposed ban. On 19 June 2008, a bill amending the national animal protection law was successfully approved in its first debate before the Chamber of Representatives of the Colombian Congress. It has to succeed at three further debates in order to pass into law. ADI has supported the author of the Bill, Congressman David Luna and discussed with him the importance of including a ban on the use of animals in travelling circuses. We will continue to lobby at the Plenary sessions for the inclusion of a circus animal ban within this Bill. At the same time, we are also lobbying for a specific Bill banning wild animals in circuses, and this has the support of key Congressmen. ADI & NAVS
Greece:
Two years after the launch of Stop Circus Suffering Greece, legislation to ban all animal circuses is being considered by the Greek Government. Congratulations to the Evgenia Mataragka of the Greek Animal Welfare Fund and the coalition of Greek groups who have kept pushing the campaign forward.
Ireland & Northern Ireland: The Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) has continued to keep the campaign in the news with protests at animal circuses and lobbying at national and local government level. Working with other local campaigners, ARAN have secured milestone bans in Fingal and Cork and have been pressing for a ban in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. ADI will be working with ARAN to press for measures under the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill and we support the rally in Dublin on October 5th.
Democratic Unionist Party MLA Robin Newton recently spoke out against animal circuses calling on parents to seriously consider the welfare of animals before buying tickets to circuses with performing animals. He also hit out at the Republic`s Arts Council, saying it was depressing that a statutory agency in the Republic was providing grants to Tom Duffy`s animal circus.
Portugal: Portuguese group ANIMAL, partners in our launch of the Stop Circus Suffering Portugal campaign in 2006, were able to make good use of ADI undercover evidence for a demonstration in Lisbon. The protest was outside Circo Victor Hugo Cardinali Circus who ADI Field Officers filmed violently and repeatedly jabbing an elephant around the eyes (see picture). Suzanne Chipperfield was presenting her tiger act – the daughter of the convicted animal abuser Mary Chipperfield, who we exposed in Lisbon the previous year. Madeira – Help needed for a ban on animal circuses. We have also been supplying DVDs and printed resources to campaigners on the island of Madeira in an attempt to get animal circuses banned there. During the last festive season two animal circuses appeared, Circo Dallas and Circo Claudius. Please write to the Secretary for Transport and Tourism and urge them to ban circuses with animals: Dra. Conceicao A. Estudante, The Regional Secretary for Transport and Tourism, The Tourist Office, Avenida Arriaga Funchal, Madeira. The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Summer 2008
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Photos Left to Right:
ADI South America Campaigns Co-ordinator Juan Pablo Olmos puts the case for relocating Panchito at a Pereira Council meeting; Juan Pablo speaks at the Pereira meeting; Campaigners and the circus industry go head to head in Pereira; ADI Animals in Entertainment Campaigner Alexandra Cardenas in Pereira;
Colombian Congressman David Luna, who has an animal protection bill before Congress, with Jan Creamer; Tim Phillips is interviewed for a Colombian TV programme on animal circuses;
Juan Pablo Olmos, Tim Phillips at the at Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
Europe’s animal experimentation battleground Let’s go to work: Helder Constantino and Jan Creamer arrive at the European Commission for another round of discussions.
Inset: Our manifesto was published in five different languages and distributed to MEPs and officials.
Right: Our team meets to discuss the primate ban with EU Commissioner Dimas. Left to Right – ADI Senior Political Officer Helder Constantino, Mojca Drcar Murko MEP (Slovenia, Liberal Democrat), ADI Chief Executive Jan Creamer, EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, John Bowis MEP (UK, Conservative), Jens Holm MEP (Sweden, Nordic Green Left)
Directive 86/609:
The European Commission’s longpromised proposals for the revision of Directive 86/609/EEC on animals in experiments were due out in 2007, but by the summer of 2008, the Commission was still debating the final draft. Publication is now expected in September 2008. ADI and NAVS published our own proposals, which would save animals and push European research towards the use of non-animal techniques. Our ‘manifesto’ was launched in April 2008 in Brussels at a meeting chaired by Jens Holm MEP (Sweden, Nordic Green Left). Jens welcomed the proposals and hoped that they will be incorporated in the revised Directive. Robert Evans MEP (UK, Labour Party), and Mojca Drcar Murko MEP (Slovenia, Liberal Democrat) were also there to express their support for our policies, in particular the ban on primate experiments. Our manifesto was distributed to all MEPs. The revision of this Directive could be a major step forward, affecting millions of animals in Europe, especially in the Member States with the lowest animal welfare standards or lax controls over animal use. France is the largest user of animals in the EU, with 2.3 million animals used. The UK is the second largest user with 1.87 million animals, followed by Germany with 1.82 million. Directive 86/609/EEC, adopted more than 20 years ago, is out of date, provides little protection for animals and is well behind developments in science. It makes only one reference to nonanimal research methods. The number of animals used in the EU has increased rapidly in the last decade, illustrating the failure of Directive 86/609/EEC to encourage the replacement of animals in experiments. Our proposals include:
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The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Extending the scope of the Directive to
protect all animals used in research, e.g. invertebrates, foetal and embryonic animals, genetically modified and those killed for organs, or because they are surplus to requirements. A ban on the use of Great Apes and wild-caught primates, and a timetable for the phasing out of the use of all primates, to be replaced with advanced methods. Ban on duplication – 160,000 animals suffer in duplicated regulatory tests each year in the European Union. Bans on the use of animals for tobacco, alcohol and household products, psychological and behavioural research, military experiments and other areas. Transparency, accountability, freedom of information and data sharing. Strict licensing laws for projects and establishments. Harmonisation across Europe of standards for training of personnel. Ethical and scientific reviews of animal use, before and after projects. Incentives for the introduction and the dissemination of advanced non-animal scientific techniques. Regular reviews of the Directive to take into account the development of alternative methods. There should not be another 20 year wait for a major overhaul. These proposals would considerably improve the Directive, place emphasis on advanced scientific methods, and give the EU the highest global standards in laboratory animal protection. This moral leadership, apart from being of great value for Europe and its reputation worldwide would also boost the hightechnology sector, developing reliable
Summer 2008
non-animal methods and increase the EU’s competitiveness in biotechnologies. These benefits are acknowledged by Commissioner for Enterprise and Industry Günter Verheugen: “… research in the development of alternatives is not only beneficial for animal welfare but also encourages the development of new markets for these methods. (…) The development and validation of new methods and strategies will also increase competitiveness of European industry. The alternative method developed to replace the so-called rabbit pyrogen test for bacterial impurities in drugs has proved a major commercial success, and has a world-wide market volume of 200 million Euro.” We believe that the best way to stimulate the development of non-animal techniques is by creating legal obligations to phase out the use of animals, sectorby-sector or species-byspecies. This strategy has been successful for cosmetics testing and the European Parliament together with ADI, advocates a similar approach to end the use of primates in experiments. The question of targets for Member States to reduce the overall number of animals they use, on the model of targets to reduce CO2 emissions, should also be raised during the passage of the Directive in the
NAVS & ADI
My Mate’s a Primate
The adoption of Written Declaration 40 in September 2007, signed by 432 MEPs, was a huge step forward in our campaign to end all primate experiments in the 27 EU Members States. The Declaration urged “the Commission, the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament to use the revision process of Directive 86/609/EEC as an opportunity to: make ending the use of apes and wild-caught monkeys in scientific experiments an urgent priority; establish a timetable for replacing the use of all primates in scientific experiments with alternatives.
Commission to announce in April 2008 that it will propose a ban on the trade in the EU. The impact of Written Declaration 40 was felt within a few months of its adoption. In January 2008 Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, who is responsible for the review of Directive 86/609/EEC, received a delegation of ADI representatives and some of the leading parliamentarians who sponsored Written Declaration 40: MEPs Jens Holm (Sweden, Nordic Green Left), Mojca Drcar Murko (Slovenia, Liberal
animals in his proposals for the revision of Directive 86/609/EEC. This was a major achievement, and the direct result of months of campaigning by ADI and our dedicated supporters. The ban on wild-caught primates, if implemented properly, could drastically reduce the number of monkeys imported from Asian countries to European laboratories. Although no Great Apes have been used in experiments in Europe in the last decade, an EUwide ban on their use has great significance, as it would inaugurate species-specific bans in research on a continental scale. It will also encourage the USA, still allowing chimpanzees in experiments, to reconsider their legislation. As for the proposed timetable on all primate experiments contained in Written Declaration 40, Commissioner Dimas declared: “A timetable with a fixed deadline to phase out all use of non-human primates is not possible at present as the scientific development has not yet reached the
Although Written Declarations are not legally binding they are reliable barometers of European Parliament’s mood and an essential first step towards tangible political decisions. They inform the Commission of Parliament’s will. For instance, the Written Declaration on seal products, adopted in 2006, has led the
Democrat) and John Bowis (UK, Conservative). This meeting was an opportunity to discuss in detail how Written Declaration 40 could be implemented. The delegation pressed Commissioner Dimas to incorporate the ban on primates in his proposals for the review of Directive 86/609/EEC. The debate was constructive, and Mr Dimas thanked the delegation for the information produced by the campaign. In February 2008, during a Conference entitled ‘Progress Without Pain’, Mr Dimas officially announced that the Commission would incorporate a ban on Great Apes as well as on all wild-caught
stage that would make such a programming realistic. However, the revision of the Directive can incorporate strong incentives combined with a specific review clause to provide the appropriate and effective mechanism to move towards the ultimate goal of phasing out the use of non-human primates in experiments.” We are pleased that the Commission endorses the objective of ending all primate experiments. However we believe that a timetable and a deadline are necessary to achieve this goal. It is also realistic and would push European medical research towards advanced alternatives. Following Mr Dimas’ speech, Professor of Neuroimaging Paul
End primate tests in Europe
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Left: Jan Creamer addresses the Progress Without Pain conference at the European Parliament. Alongside (from left) are Jens Holm MEP Commissioner Dimas, Neil Parish MEP, and LDF grant holder Professor Paul Furlong.
Below scenes from the European Parliament campaign:
Jens Holm MEP and Jan Creamer launch our manifesto;
Robert Evans MEP; Thomas Hartung (then of) ECVAM on validation of alternatives;
Claude Reiss of Antidote on toxicogenomics;
Tim Phillips, ADI Campaigns Director;
the Pogress without Pain conference organised by Antidote.
Picture right, main: Monkey being used in an horrfic experiment filmed at the Weizmann Institute. Inset: LDF grant holder Prof. Paul Furlong gives a presentation at the European Parliament earlier this year outlining alternatives to similar experiments.
My Mate’s a Primate
Furlong of the University of Aston made a convincing presentation demonstrating how fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) can produce better results for human brain research than the use of non-human primates. The running cost of the Aston University fMRI unit is covered by the Lord Dowding Fund. These meetings were followed by a request from the Commission in April, for one of its committees to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of primates in experiments. We submitted our comments, but also expressed our deep concern that the body’s Working Mandate was biased beforehand, as it stated that primate experiments were still essential in biomedical research. This was a very unscientific and biased starting point and raises concerns as to the impartiality and scientific credibility of the process. We are also concerned that the process is not public. Whatever the outcome, the evidence that ADI, the NAVS and Lord Dowding Fund have presented is strong, and we will continue to campaign for an end to all primates in experiments during the revision process of Directive 86/609/EEC. As soon as the Commission presents its draft proposals to the MEPs, we will lobby to ensure that the aims of Written Declaration 40 are transposed into the new directive. Once the European Parliament has voted its amendments, the draft will then be forwarded to the Council of Ministers, which represents the Members States. Both the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers must agree before the text can be put into legislation. So we will still need your help to make the ban a reality. You can write to your MEPs and to the UK Government to ask them to respect the wishes expressed in Written Declaration 40 and resolve to end experiments on primates. Spread the word and get others
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Israeli monkey test update
In New Science, published by the Lord Dowding Fund we recently highlighted horrific monkey experiments exposed in Israel. Research at the Weizmann Institute involved macaque monkeys being restrained for up to 9 hours a day, deprived of water and trained to perform tasks. This project was about methods of monitoring activity in certain areas of the brain. Holes were cut in the monkeys’ skulls and clear plastic placed over the brain, so that the surface could be observed. One operation was performed to implant a head holder and two cranial windows and a second to remove the skull parts and expose the brain. Up to five times a week, whilst the animals were conscious but restrained, the chambers were opened and cleaned. Staining the brain for each session took 3-4 hours, then an hour to prepare the monkey for imaging and then data was collected for 3-4 hours - up to 9 hours of stressful handling. Let Animals Live, who undertook the investigation, have been working with NAVS to prepare a legal case. A complaint has been filed with the police against the Weizmann institute, Prof. Grinvald (the man in charge) and others involved in the experiment. The police are now investigating. Knesset (Israeli parliament) members were lobbied to take action and following
Summer 2008
several protests, the Education and Science Committees of the Knesset held a joint discussion on vivisection, and the Weizmann Institute case in particular. This concluded with the Knesset establishing a special committee of MPs to examine animal experimentation law and especially the Weizmann. Once expert opinion is received, the case will be taken to the Supreme Court. A lawsuit has been filed claiming “cruel treatment and torture of animals forced to participate, and therefore constitutes a crime”. Prof. Paul Furlong of Aston University has been advising on how the experiments could have been replaced with patient studies using scanning techniques. He notes: “VSDI is limited to a preselected narrow window of exposed cortex surface in the animal…inherently limited in the exploration and understanding of the interactions of distributed neuronal networks” He went on to state that “The limited spatial coverage of VSDI will fail to provide critically important data in the understanding of distributed neuronal networks” Thankfully, for a couple of the animals, the future looks good, although sadly not all of the animals were so fortunate; of the eight original macaques who were used in the research, one was euthanised, one died after the operation to remove its head cap and four still remain in the laboratory. Two of the animals, Shuki and Guydamak, have been released. Their rescuers say that they are both “doing great”. NAVS & ADI
My Mate’s a Primate
He l p s t o p experiments on w il d - c a u g h t o w l monkeys in Co l o m b i a Colombian animal researcher, Manuel Elkin Patarroyo, accused of involvement in illegal trafficking of his monkey victims.
Patarroyo (who apparently claims his work is worthy of a Nobel Prize) has been using wild-caught owl (night) monkeys for his malaria research for several years.
However, recently a Colombian news magazine, Cambio, has reported that the local environment authority, Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Sur de la Amazonía (Corpoamazonia), has initiated an inquiry based on complaints of irregularities at Patarroyo´s research centre, Colombian Immunology Foundation Institute FIDIC. Allegations include animals illegally transferred across borders and reports from a laboratory vet and local officials criticising conditions at the lab and the treatment of the animals, including capture methods. In 1994, when speaking of a malaria vaccine (SPf66) he had developed Patarroyo proclaimed “...the vaccine is already one of the most important milestones of the history of parasitology”1. Unfortunately, the vaccine did not prevent malaria. A report in medical journal The Lancet said “the SPf66 vaccine did not attenuate the clinical manifestations or severity of falciparum malaria and did not reduce the proportion of cases that were symptomatic”. It concluded “The overall estimates of SPf66 vaccine efficiency were not significantly different from zero”2. The manufacture of a vaccine with no significant effect cost the lives of countless owl monkeys, often captured illegally, from the rainforests.
One member of Patarroyo’s research team, vet Lina María Peláez reportedly resigned because of “the ecological damage caused by people who, without previous training, capture monkeys of the species Aotus nancymae in an indiscriminate way, and destroy primary forests….” She also claimed of Patarroyo’s “lack of permission to experiment with this species”, and that such actions could have a catastrophic affect on local owl monkey populations, especially since there has been no study of population dynamics nor a programme to reproduce the owl monkeys. Patarroyo’s use of young animals could leave the wild population without enough animals to sustain itself. Local government officials inspected the lab in 2007, reporting animals in appalling health, animals exceeding their stay, and that there was no rehabilitation plan for those released back into the forest. They reported “the majority of animals had been brought from Peru and Bolivia, without authorization”.
A Peruvian hunter who captures monkeys for the lab told a reporter, “The monkeys are elusive... in order to capture them we have to take down 30 metres of forest around the tree where they are located.. At dawn, we must take the animals, hidden, to Leticia, this way we can avoid the authorities ”. Cambio claims to have access to documents, such as internal records from FIDIC and Corpoamazonia’s findings for 2004-5, which demonstrate that they receive and use animals from neighbouring countries such as Peru and Brazil illegally, without the prior authorization of the respective governments .1
Marta Bueno, Professor of Biology at Colombia’s National University, was interviewed about Patarroyo’s work with owl monkeys: “… Doctor Patarroyo extracts their spleen and infects them with malaria, in order to determine if the vaccine is effective or not”. She continued “After the experiment, the majority of the animals are liberated in deplorable conditions. This causes later problems for wild populations”1.
The removal of an animal’s spleen and the subsequent release of the animals into the wild environment is wholly irresponsible, both scientifically and morally.
The spleen has an important role in “immune surveillance and response”3. Research in humans has shown that “humans with acute P.falciparum malaria, who had previously undergone splenectomy, had decreased clearance of pRBCs [parasitized red blood cells] from the circulation”4. Therefore the animals are not able to fight off diseased as un-splenectomised animals would. A 1999 article reported that Patarroyo had used “11,500 monkeys”5. Since then, thousands more monkeys lives have been destroyed and the environment put in jeopardy by this scientifically discredited research. 1. Cambio. Los Micos de Patarroyo. – No. 751 22-28/11/07 and Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Sur de la Amazonía Inquiry File No. 000102,
2. Nosten, F et al (1996) “Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial of SPf66 malaria vaccine in children in northwestern Thailand”, The Lancet, vol.348, pp.701-707 3. Maireb, E.N. (1992) “Human Anatomy & Physiology”, The Benjamin / Cummings Publishing Company Inc, California.
4. Engwerda, C.R. et al (2004) “The importance of the spleen in malaria”, TRENDS in parasitology, vol.21, no.2, Feb 2005 5. Brown, P (1999) “Scientist whose dream of beating disease came true” The Guardian, 24th July
ADI & NAVS
Main picture: Owl monkeys.
Above: Juan Pablo Olmos ADI South America Campaigner condemns the monkey tests on Colombian television.
Below: Tim Phillips, ADI Campaigns Director, addresses a packed house at Universidad Nacional de Colombia on why primate experiments must stop, and also appears in the Colombian media.
Above, Shere Khan and Mowgli as we first found them and left, as we will always remember them.
Shere Khan peeks out from behind the rocks.
Sarah watches intently whilst Caesar relaxes in the background. Watch their adventures in Big Cat Rescue.
Farewell dear old friends
We are saddened to report that our grumpy old lady tigers have both passed away within months of each other. Shere Khan (above right), died peacefully in her sleep in January. ADI Campaigns Director, Tim Phillips visited her in November last year and reported she was in good health – she was filmed at this time for our Big Cat Rescue DVD. She was always more reclusive than her companion Mowgli (above left), who passed away a few months earlier, but would still come bounding into view when the meat truck arrived. We first encountered Mowgli and Shere Khan in 1996 living in a disgusting cage with a circus in Mozambique. We rescued them along with all the other animals at the circus and their story led to ADI’s campaign that secured new rules for the cross border movements of endangered species with travelling circuses in over 170 countries. A remarkable legacy in itself. But above all else these tigers enjoyed 12 years of freedom in their own piece of bush beneath the African sky. Shere Khan and Mowgli were at least 18 when they died. So they spent twice as much of their lives in freedom as they had with the circus – we cannot put a price on that. We will miss their elegant faces emerging through the long African grass as they glided around their enclosure. Their legacy will live on through the commitment we have made to rescue animals in need. On behalf of Mowgli, Shere Khan and all our other rescued friends, thank you to everyone who has donated towards supporting them throughout their lives. You can remember these grand old ladies with our special Mowgli and Shere Khan In Loving Memory set for £110: The signed two photographs above framed separately in elegant dark frames (European grown wood, stained to look like African timber) exterior measurement is 43x53.5cm (17”x21”); our Big Cat Rescue DVD; and In Memoriam certificates. Funds raised will go towards our rescue work and care for our big cats.
Big Cat Rescue DVD
SCUE BIG CAT RE
Narrated by actress Carol Royal this wonderful story follows the lions and tigers saved by ADI – their dramatic rescues, their incredible journeys and their new lives of freedom in the African bush at the ADI Rescue Centre. Catch up with the animals, like Mowgli, Shere Khan, Blondie and Shorty, we rescued in Mozambique over a decade ago and to see how newcomers, Sarah, Caesar, and Tarzan from last year’s Portugal rescue are faring. Rescues like these are only made possible by the generosity of our supporters through donations and our rescued animal adoption scheme. If you would like to support Caesar, Sarah and Tarzan or any of our other rescued friends for as little as £4.00 or $8 a month contact our adoption line today on: 020 7630 3340 (UK) or 415 543 2344 (US) or toll-free US: 1 800 978 ADII (2344). Adopters receive a certificate, regular updates on your animal in ‘Toto News’ and the Big Cat Rescue or Toto Goes Home DVD! Your BIG support enables us to look after these beautiful animals for life, and CAT E U can help us rescue other animals in need. C RES the You can also buy Big Cat Rescue DVD at just £10.99/$20 call Saved from en circus and tak UK–020 7630 3340 or US–1 800 978 ADII (2344) to get your copy to freedom at e the ADI Rescu . ica today! Centre in Afr
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y ath
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Summer 2008
NAVS & ADI
Rescue News
Kodak on the move
We are delighted to report that Kodak, the capuchin monkey rescued from the pet trade has reached his new home in Cornwall where he will start his new life with companions of his own kind. Wild caught and exported from Guyana, South America to Greece at the age of one year Kodak’s life took a turn for the better when his owner handed him over to the AAP Exotic Animal Sanctuary in the Netherlands, for re-homing. With the sanctuary inundated with discarded primates a solution had to be found, fast. ADI agreed to fund and organise his travel to our friends at the Monkey Sanctuary Trust in Cornwall. A four-way operation was put together between ADI, AAP, MST and Guernsey animal welfare groups to move Kodak via quarantine in Guernsey to England. It is hoped that Kodak will integrate with other rescued capuchin monkeys who have a similar background, forming a new family group. So far, he is settling in well, and the sanctuary will work to improve the inevitable behavioural problems that arise from being isolated from other monkeys for all of his life. Whilst Kodak starts his new life amongst the trees and meeting new monkeys he will be central to our campaign to end the keeping of primates as pets. Kodak will be the Primate Ambassador representing all those pet primates less fortunate than himself and on International Primate Day will send a special message to the Prime Minister.
Karla and Panchito
From circus horror to zoo boredom – our efforts continue to help Colombian chimps
Panchito is a teenage male chimp previously owned by Gasca Circus, of Colombia, where his act included riding a motorbike. In May 2007, Panchito bit a worker and was badly beaten. However before the authorities could examine him, he was donated to the Matecaña Zoo of Pereira, Colombia, where he remains. In Pereira, Panchito lives in solitary confinement in a tiny enclosure with little environmental enrichment. Observers have reported that he appears bored and throws objects at visitors and others. Although Matecaña claims to be building a new enclosure for Panchito, the zoo has no expertise in dealing with an abused chimp. Unfortunately, it appears that the zoo has seen an opportunity try to breed with Panchito and wishes to transfer a
ADI & NAVS
female chimp, Chita, from the Medellin Zoo (where Karla was taken) to share his new enclosure. ADI has lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Environment on the grounds that Matecaña does not have the relevant experience to help Panchito, and the cruelty and injustice of taking Chita away from male chimp Bobby with whom she has lived for years prior to Karla’s arrival. In December 2006, Panchito escaped from Matecaña; he strolled down a main street and on to the local airport. ADI pointed out the zoo’s incompetence and poor security to the authorities. Last June, ADI presented our case for the rescue of Panchito to the local authority and we were surprised to hear that the authorities believed Panchito to be an elderly, sick animal. We continue
Kodak gets boxed up for the first leg of his journey from Holland to Guernsey.
our efforts to save Panchito. A year after the Gasca-owned Africa de Fieras Circus donated Karla to the Medellin Zoo following ADI’s exposure of her beating, Karla continues to share an enclosure with chimps Bobby and Chita. Although Karla seems physically well, she appears depressed and disinterested in her surroundings. Medellin Zoo is a failing operation which is being encouraged by local authorities to leave the city. ADI has requested custody of Karla and Panchito from the Ministry of Environment in order to relocate them to a sanctuary. Karla and Panchito were beaten in the circus, but for these highly intelligent, inquisitive and social animals life of boredom in a substandard zoo enclosure is another torture.
Photos Left to Right: Panchito alone in Matecaña Zoo; Karla, Bobby and Chita in Medellin Zoo.
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NAVS & ADI
Research without animals
Brain Tumour Research
Establishing an all human Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) model to study brain tumour metastasis.
Exciting research developing an allhuman, in vitro blood brain barrier (BBB) is being funded by Lord Dowding Fund. Professor Geoffrey Pilkington has devoted his career to brain tumour research, having started work on chemical carcinogenesis studies at the Middlesex Hospital Medical School in 1971. He currently works in the School of Pharmacy & Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth as Professor of Cellular & Molecular Neuro-oncology & Director of Research. Professor Pilkington’s work focuses on how the functions of the BBB affect the spread of brain tumours. However, a robust in vitro model of the human BBB also has the potential to show functions of the BBB that are crucial to drug delivery for many neurological conditions. The BBB helps to protect and keep the brain healthy. The primary components of the BBB are cerebral microvascular endothelial cells
ADI & NAVS
(CMECs) (cells that line blood vessels), which have specific features and complex tight junctions (TJs). These are designed to make the BBB a highly effective biological barrier. CMECs are in close contact with other cells such as nerve cells and supportive cells (astrocytes), and in close proximity to neurones. Using brain tumour biopsies and samples from the brains of patients who had undergone surgical resection for intractable epilepsy, Professor Pilkington and his team create multicellular clumps (spheroids) of brain tumour and brain tissue. These are placed side by side and invasion of tumour cells into the “target� brain spheroid can be studied using vital cell markers. This invasion is observed using either confocal microscopy or by live cell (real time) imaging over periods of up to 72 hours. Professor Pilkington and his team
therefore aim to establish a reproducible three-dimensional in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier using human brainderived endothelial cells and human astrocytes under human serumsupplemented conditions. They further aim to use the model to elucidate the cell-to-cell interactive behaviour mechanisms between various metastatic cancer cells and the cellular components of the blood-brain barrier by various imaging techniques. The facilities where the research is carried out include an impressive suite of laboratories with two tissue culture labs and state-of-the-art equipment including those to enable various assays. The team have also been able to establish a sophisticated microscope imaging suite which includes atomic force microscopy, microdissection and live cell microscopy with sophisticated software. This programme of research is entirely based upon the use of human cells cultured with human serum in threedimensional form. Many laboratories have used animals, (particularly rats and mice, but also many larger species) for this kind of work. Even where BBB modelling has been carried out in vitro, the source of the cells has invariably been non-human animal species or, at best (and very rarely) a combination of animal (often bovine) and human cells in combination. This team have a well-characterized human brain-derived endothelial cell line as well as two sources of human brain cells and, having established that these grow efficiently under human serumsupplemented conditions they are in a position to develop the first all human three-dimensional model of the BBB. In addition to studies of pharmaceutical agents crossing the BBB animals have been intensively used to study the metastasis of somatic cancers into the brain. It is envisaged that this new model could eliminate the use of animals in this field
The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Summer 2008
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Left: Tumour cells invading a human brain cell.
below: Human brain cells coloured with immunofluorescent
Research Without Animals
Picture:
Human brain cells grown in culture. In a significant breakthrough, Dr Coleman has successfully cultured the cells in serum free media. This means that the traditional foetal calf serum has not been used. The LDF is working to end the use of foetal calf serum.
Brain disease explored in cell culture
With LDF funding, Dr Michael Coleman of Aston University is developing neurotoxicity assays using human neurones. As people live longer, more are suffering from conditions affecting the central nervous system (CNS), and the brain, e.g. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Neurones and glial cells, fundamental components of the brain, can be damaged by internal and external sources and have little regenerative power, leading to permanent CNS impairment. This system is being developed to model toxic effects on brain cells. Cells, from a cancer, were differentiated into brain cells. Cell differentiation is complex, relying upon the movement of chemicals through “gap junctions” between cells, enabling cell-to-cell communication. The primary protein found in these junctions is connexin, of which there are different types. As some are only found when certain cells are present, the researchers monitored connexins to ensure different cell types were present and communicating with each other. The cells were grown in “clumps”, called neurospheres which, at 21 days, were composed predominantly of neurones. Connexins were present at all stages of differentiation; meaning that astrocytes and neurones were present throughout differentiation. Once profiles of different connexins were established, the effect of toxins was assessed. Tests have been conducted with chemicals that have a known effect on brain cells, including chloroquine and the toxin with good results. Further development of this system could lead to a model of human vulnerability to possible brain cell toxins.
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Summer 2008
of research in the future.
Aston University neuroimaging team
Aston’s brain research teams are using human subjects to study pain and brain activity; parental nurturing mechanisms; language; studies of vision and links between visual stimuli and brain activity. Professor Paul Furlong and his team have continued to publish a wide range of papers focusing on a variety of aspects of human neurology, using their suite of neuroimaging equipment. Published studies supported by LDF include pain in heartburn related nonerosive reflux disease, for which there was shown to be a correlation between the degree of acid exposure and oesophageal pain thresholds. A study on the neurological basis of parental behaviour provided evidence for the “innate releasing mechanisms” for affection and nurturing of young. The findings of this study are potentially applicable to postnatal depression and to the identification of families at risk. Research into brain patterns in expressive language tasks also reported on an epileptic patient’s language function before and after brain surgery. The study described methods, which may serve as a reliable marker for clinical assessment, pre-surgery. Other published papers concern electrical activity in the primary visual cortex in relation to colour contrast and luminance and a study which investigated the link between the properties of visual stimuli frequency properties in relation to temporal brain activity. NAVS & ADI
Research Without Animals
Another paper to be published next year focuses on how the relationship between reward and cognitive processing is facilitated. Many primates are used in neurological research and it is hoped that these new techniques, which produce information that is more relevant to humans, will replace animal based research.
Computer Aided Learning programmes in university teaching
Computer-aided learning (CAL) has been given a boost with the development of ReCAL, a project extending the lifespan of these resources. LDF has committed to extending the work led by Professor David Dewhurst into 2009. Computer-based alternatives provide viable and cost effective alternatives to animal models in teaching. However, many were created up to a decade ago and technological advances over that period mean many are now almost unusable. Re-writing computer programmes is expensive so the ReCAL approach has developed a creative solution to greatly extend their life span. In this project, existing programmes are broken down into their learning components and online tools provided, which teachers can reassemble and tailor to their own courses or curricula. These components, such as text, images and animations, are stored in an online repository which, to date, contains around 2000 learning objects. By making computer assisted science teaching programmes globally accessible and enabling multilanguage versions to be created more easily, life science and pharmacology teachers gain editorial control over the content of the programmes. Professor Dewhurst has established contacts in Eastern Europe
Microdosing/EUMAPP trial
From discovery of a molecule to regulatory approval, the development of a drug takes 10-12 years and now costs around $1.2 billion (around £600 million). As many as 40% of drugs fail to pass phase 1 human trials, which means that these preclinical studies, much of which involve animal testing, are failing in predictability1. Microdosing is a method of testing drugs, preclinically in human volunteers, in minute doses in order to asses the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) of the compound in the human body. The drug dose, small enough to cause no pharmacological effect, is analysed from a sample such as urine or blood, in an accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) machine2. AMS has the ability to detect a liquid compound even after one litre of it has been diluted in the world’s oceans1. A 30-month programme to demonstrate the value of microdosing in drug development was funded by the EU to a value of €2.1 million. A European Union Microdose AMS Partnership Programme (EUMAPP)3 workshop, which took place in June 2008, highlighted the current status and future perspectives of microdosing in drug development. The subject of one talk was comparisons of microdosing data to drug testing in animals for a set of seven compounds for which data was difficult to gain from the latter. For example, rat data for the compound phenobarbital (a sedative and anti convulsive) over-predicted the clearance of the drug in humans, and underpredicted the compound’s half-life (measure of drug metabolism). Microdosing data matched the true pattern of ADME, predicting the half-life much more accurately. Of the 25 compounds tested by Xceleron, a strategic consultancy that headed up the EUMAPP project, human microdosing has been 80% predictive of ADME4. 1. Rowland, M (2006) Microdosing and the 3Rs, NC3Rs #5 2. www.xceleron.com/metadot/index.pl?iid=2494
3. http://www.xceleron.com/metadot/index.pl?iid=2382&isa=Newsitem&op=show
4. http://www.xceleron.com/metadot/index.pl?id=2752&isa=DBRow&op=show&dbview_id=2596
Spread the word about research without animals
We have had a very encouraging response to our new Lord Dowding Fund magazine New Science and also to the new LDF leaflet. Giving to LDF supports progressive research at the cutting edge of medical knowledge with the reassurance that no animals have been harmed. If you would like free leaflets or copies of New Science to distribute, please contact us and help spread the message that everyone can support medical and scientific research without the suffering of animals. Please order from the website, or contact us on 020 7630 3340. ADI & NAVS
The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Summer 2008
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Graham Lapin of Xceleron presents a report in Bad Homburg, Germany, on the Europe-wide microdosing trial.
&
Animal Friendly Shopper
shopper consumer news animal-friendly
Unsure where to shop for ethical products? Then look no further as the latest edition of ‘Animal-Friendly Shopper’ showcases yet more delicious products from stores you can be sure are kind to the environment and our animal friends. Indulge yourself in some ethical retail therapy and be lucky in our fab competitions!
vegan, vegetarian or vintage. To be in to win a fabulous household gift, answer this: Which are the three countries using the highest number of animals in experiments in the EU? Please email your answer to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻThe Natural Store Competitionʼ. For more information visit: www.thenaturalstore.co.uk or call +44 (0)1273 746781.
Bourgeois Boheme
Bourgeois Boheme – an online boutique – brings you the very best in footwear, bags, wallets, belts, cosmetics and more. Every product is free from animal ingredients (suitable for vegans) just check out these faux croc shoes!
Georgette Shoes
Georgette shoes hail from the fashion district of Antwerp. Their compassionate creed equals fabulous footwear and their stylish, glamorous range of shoes and boots is eco-friendly and leather-free. Why not show others that animal skins are a fashion sin by entering the competition to win these gorgeous heels. Q. Name an LDF grant holder. Please email your answer and shoe size to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻGeorgette Shoes Competitionʼ. For more info visit www.georgette.be or call +32 (0)3 289 96 39 – Good luck!
The Natural Store The Natural Store is a revolutionary online department store where every item has been specially selected for its ethical integrity, for example fair trade, local, natural, organic, recycled, reclaimed,
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The Animal Defender & Campaigner
Renacer
Renacer offers a wide selection of cruelty free aromatherapy candles, bath salts, and oils whilst embracing the principle of protecting the sanctity of living creatures. These products are ideal for indulging yourself after a long day at work! For your chance to win a beautiful Renacer gift set answer this question: What was the name of the first earthling who was sent to space by the Soviet Union in 1957? Please email your answer to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻRenacer Competitionʼ. For details contact: www.renacer-fitness.com/about.htm
Vegan Lust
For your chance to snap up a free wallet/purse OR £20 voucher off any purchase over £20 answer this question: What countryʼs parliament recently voted a groundbreaking motion to give rights to Great Apes? Please email your answer to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻBourgeois Boheme Competitionʼ. What’s more, EVERY supporter can claim a special 10% discount on selected products by quoting Code: BoBoLovesADI. For details contact, www.bboheme.com or call +44 (0)20 88 788 388.
Spring & Summer 2008
With an array of delicious vegan cakes, cookies and tarts Vegan Lust caters for your sweet tooth. For your chance to indulge in a gift certificate for a dozen, vegan, gourmet cookies answer this question: Where was the ʻToto Goes Homeʼ screening held in London? Please email your answer to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻVegan Lust Competitionʼ.
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Animal Friendly Shopper Visit Vegan Lust at www.veganlust.com
obtained on our Written Declaration 40 campaign in the European Parliament? A. 433
Kobashi Competition
Miss K Kins, Colchester; Carol Mee, Cearrington; Carla Knight, Trecwn; Mrs Frances Thomas, Tregaron
Q. Which university has a neuro-imaging facility supported by the Lord Dowding Fund? A. Aston University
Booja Booja
The award winning Booja-Booja Company manufactures delicious organic chocolate truffles in Norfolk, UK. The chocolates come in a variety of sumptuous flavours including Ginger wine, Cognac flambéd banana and Champagne! For your chance to win a box of these heavenly chocolates answer this question: How many volunteers collected for Lab Animal Week 2008? Please email your answer to info@ad-international.org and mark it ʻBooja Booja Competitionʼ. For more info contact www.boojabooja.com or call +44 (0)1508 558888
All competition entries should include full contact details; your name, address, telephone number and email. Entry deadline for all competitions is 1st November 2008.
Last Competition Winners A very big ʻThank Youʼ to everyone who took part in our last ʻConsumer Newsʼ competition; we were inundated with entries, so congratulations to all the lucky winners. Enjoy your prizes!
Q.What was the total number of signatures
ADI & NAVS
Q. What are the deadlines for the ban on cosmetics testing in the EU? A. 11 March 2009
Kingdom of Birds
Robert
Mink Shoes Competition
♥
Sonya Nemec, Edinburgh
Q. Name at least two animals in need of support in our ADI Adoption scheme
A. Toto, Sarah, Caesar, Tarzan
Fair and Fabulous Competition
Carol Mee, Cearrington; Rachel Holliday, Diss; Eleanor Coombe, York; Mary Clarke, StratfordUpon-Avon
Q. Can you name one of the celebrities photographed in a primate cage for our International Primate Day 2007? A. Meg Matthews, Maria Daines and Julia Stephenson
Redwood Foods Competition
Helen Aesa, Newport
Q. Who is the spoon bending ADI supporter? A. Uri Geller
Raw Chocolate Competition
Elizabeth Smith, Sprowston; Mrs Bryan, Gillingham; Matthew Ricketts, Redditch
Q. Name one South American country which had a Stop Circus Suffering
campaign launch this year? A. Either: Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, or Bolivia
Planet Trash Competition
Joanne Lush, Portsmouth; Robert McKenzie, Thrapston; Barbara Dickinson, Bath
Helen Aesa, Newport
Balm Balm
Mrs Bryan, Gillingham; Louise Rignall, Manchester; Paula Mulholland, Ballymoney;
McKenzie, Thrapston; Frances Thomas, Tregaron; Louise Rignall,
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Spring & Summer 2008
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year we have.... so far this
Brought rescued Kodak closer to meeting his fellow monkeys Worked with governments on laws to ban animal circuses in Bolivia, Colombia and Peru
Pushed forward a ban on use of apes and wild-caught monkeys in experiments
Launched “Kick animal testing out of the house”
Got an astronaut involved in our campaign to halt space research on monkeys
Exposed horrific elephant abuse within U.S. circuses secured a government inquiry and launched Stop Circus Suffering USA
And an lot more, including looking after Sarah our lioness pictured here
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