WORLD DAY FOR LABORATORY ANIMALS - APRIL 24th 2021

WDLA has been held annually since 1979. Forca Vegan talks to long term AR activist Mel Broughton about WDLA and AR activism in general.

WDLA IS ON THE HORIZON – HOW SIGNIFICANT IS THIS DAY FOR YOU, AND FOR THE MOVEMENT?

World Day for Laboratory Animals Is hugely significant for me because the issue of animal experimentation was the gateway to my involvement in the animal rights movement. Concern about the use of animals as experimental subjects existed before we had an animal rights movement. And indeed I personally feel it was this issue that spurred concern into activism. World Day for Laboratory Animals became a rallying point for the emerging animal rights movement as activists came together to mount very large scale protests at labs to mark the day. In 1993 23,000 people marched in London on World Day for Lab Animals a massive mobilisation of animal rights activists who had become inspired to join a grass roots movement for animals. There’s no doubting that much of the inspiration for that was the effective use of direct action and the willingness of national organisations at the time to give the grass roots a platform. I also think that there is something fundamentally disturbing about using animals as research tools. The calculated intention to use a ‘weaker’ species to satisfy your own ends (whatever they may be) speaks to the very heart of injustice.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO GET INVOLVED?

This year World Day for Animals in Laboratories is asking people to adopt their local lab. The aim is to have people outside as many facilities as possible to highlight where animals suffer in research. Almost all universities now have an animal research facility, contract testing labs likewise exist up and down the UK. Animals in labs suffer unseen and unheard the research centres themselves look anonymous the only giveaway being the signs of high security. If we can encourage people as a first step to highlight where animals are being used and to share that then perhaps we can begin to once again build an effective grass roots movement on behalf of laboratory animals. I think this World Day for Lab Animals has to mark a change. The secrecy and silence surrounding animal research has to be broken. We all have a vested interest in this whether it’s as activists or as those interested in the future of relevant medical research or as both. I would urge people to get involved in World Day for Laboratory Animals because without your active involvement these animals will remain unseen. More information about this year’s plans are available at: info@wdail.uk

HOW CAN PEOPLE REMAIN ACTIVE MOVING FORWARD?

I think people will remain active only if they build their own local groups. WDAIL is a one off annual event to mark the suffering of animals in research when we as a movement come together to mark it. However without the initiative of grass roots activists adopting their own campaigns it can only be a commemorative act. We have to energise and encourage far more autonomy in local activism if we are going to be successful in creating campaigns beyond World Day itself. You cannot just rely on other people to keep grass roots activism going. Everyone has a responsibility to get themselves involved and put the work in. If we could reach a point where campaigns were springing up around the country highlighting the plight of lab animals then we could begin again to put the pressure back on. And it’s worth remembering that the scientific case against using animals as test subjects is only getting stronger and as such developing new grass roots campaigns help in a significant way in promoting that.

There are individuals who stand out for their contribution to WDAIL since its inception in 1979. It’s also true that many anonymous grass roots activists and actions stand out for the contribution they made. It’s perhaps unfair to single individuals out but rather more important to recall their collective efforts. Anyone who was around the animal rights movement from the 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2,000’s will remember the often audacious raids to free lab animals, the daylight invasions of research centres like the ‘Royal College of Surgeons, Wickham contract testing labs and Unilever. Many of these actions led to headline national T.V. coverage where pictures of masked raiders were also accompanied by pictures of dogs, cats, mice and primates being seen in every home. Many individuals paid the price for their involvement, some gained evidence which subsequently led to the first ever prosecution of an animal research establishment for causing suffering to an animal. There is also the selfless actions of those who went undercover in laboratories as workers to secretly record what was happening to animals behind the security fences. It was once again the actions of these individuals that bought the hidden suffering to the public’s attention. I don’t think it would be right for me to single out any one individual as being the most inspirational. What is fair to say is that some remarkable people demonstrated incredible strength of character and intelligence to penetrate this secretive world and shine a light into its darkest corners.

A LOT OF ACTIVISTS SEEM RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT THIS AREA OF ANIMAL ACTIVISM – OR AT LEAST GET INVOLVED, DISCUSS AND SHOW SOLIDARITY. WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS?

There has been and continues to be a reluctance for activists to get involved in campaigns against animal research. Let’s be blunt about this it’s probably the most difficult issue to fight. Many in the contemporary movement have opted to push for veganism as the rallying point. There is of course nothing wrong in promoting veganism it’s an essential element of animal rights thinking and of course more animals are killed in animal agriculture than are in animal research. However I think this is entirely the wrong way to think. In terms of individual suffering laboratory animals often suffer far greater mental/physical trauma. There is also the question of visibility. In a social media age it’s much easier for activists to post or live stream images of animals in cattle trucks going to slaughter to highlight their suffering. Farms are also relatively low security meaning it is still possible to gain footage of animals inside such places. Laboratories and laboratory animal breeders are by contrast surrounded by high tech security there is little or no opportunity now to gain any evidence of the lives and suffering of lab animals. This has meant these animals have literally slipped into the shadows and the number of activists willing to campaign for them has also dwindled. I think many activists are also daunted by the prospect of having to debate/argue with anyone on the street over an issue which can require some specialised knowledge. It is much simpler to tell someone why they should be vegan than to argue why a genetically modified mouse shouldn’t be used in cancer research.

AND HOW CAN WE ADDRESS THAT?

Activists must be prepared to do some research and ground themselves in same basic understanding about the arguments against using animals as models for human disease research. It’s not about gaining a biological sciences degree before you go out but taking time to read some relevant material. The moral argument stands on its own but it’s useful to be able to talk about non-animal research technologies at least on a basic level. I also think that if groups can build up a campaign against their local animal research centre then other interested parties do begin to offer useful infor- mation. You can also use Freedom of Information (F.O.I’s) to help you learn more. As a movement we have to address the reluctance to take on animal research. It surely can’t be right to leave laboratory animals out simply because it’s deemed too ‘controversial’.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FROM THE OLD SCHOOL AR ACTIVISTS FROM THE 80’S & 90’S?

There are plenty around – but it was a different movement pre internet. I think the most important thing I would like to see from the ‘old school’ activists from the 80’s and 90’s is their engagement with the movement now. Much has changed the biggest probably being the internet and social media. But there has also been a move away from local grass roots animal rights groups to social media ‘talking heads’. I really believe that the activists from previous decades have a huge amount to offer. Their experiences of what worked and what didn’t are invaluable. They can also offer much insight into how effective campaigns are run and most importantly the role of ‘activism’ to the movement. One big difference that social media has made has been to redefine what activism is. And here it’s the ‘old school’ that are best versed in organising yourselves at a grass roots level. I would like to see the older generation of animal rights activists imparting what they learnt through their experiences to younger activists so that once again the grass roots can thrive and organise.

AR ACTIVISM CAN BE A LONELY PLACE SOMETIMES. IT’S ALWAYS EASIER DURING THE GOOD TIMES – BUT AT YOUR LOWEST, WHAT KEEPS YOU FOCUSED?

What keeps me focused? If I reach a low point (and I do sometimes) what keeps me going is same thing that always did, injustice. I will never lose that sense of rage at the fundamental wrong of treating one species as a ‘thing’ to be used and abused. All the philosophical and ethical mental constructs we use to further our cause are of course important in making others understand but on a fundamental level you should be offended by the denial of a beings right to life and autonomy to follow that life. And until that offence is remedied or rectified then the focus on trying to stop it will not go away.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HELPING WDLA:

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

worlddayforlaboratoryanimals.org/how-you-can-help

TAKE ACTION THIS LAB ANIMAL WEEK (APRIL 20-26):

1:

Sign our new petition, ‘Cut Animal Tests To Tackle COVID-19’ here:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/283/408/116/cut-animal-tests-to-tackle-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR34ioox8P9YGOr_-koBPE3s7F2ACCPXlAsZuWk1DL_bLEwG0QNED9eKBl0

Share on your social media, and with friends, family and colleagues. Find out more here:

https://worlddayforlaboratoryanimals.org/category/news

2:

Ask your MP to call on the government to progress the adoption of advanced non-animal research methods and phase out animal tests through thematic review. Contact them here:

https://www.theyworkforyou.com

3:

In the US, ask your Representatives to support measures accelerating the move away from animal models towards more human-relevant research.

https://www.ad-international.org/take_action/go.php?id=4037

4:

Make a donation to support our work to help animals in laboratories:

https://www.ad-international.org/take_action/donate.php

5:

Get involved in, and share, our social media campaigns:

https://www.facebook.com/AnimalDefenders

6:

Spread the word: Write to your local newspaper; blog about it; share on social media.

7:

Start a Facebook fundraiser or crowdfunding campaign to support non-animal scientific research projects funded through the ADI Foundation's Lord Dowding Fund.

8:

Pledge to use cruelty-free cosmetics and household products - and persuade a friend or family member to do so too.

9:

Write to a company that tests on animals. Let them know you will not use their products while they continue to carry out such tests, and that you'll tell others to do the same.

10:

Academics, scientists, institutions, companies and organisations also invited to sign up to the Declaration for Advanced Science, an initiative launched by ADI, which supports measures to accelerate a “move away from animal models towards more human-relevant research methods”.

For details, email ADI:

research@ad-international.org

worlddayforlaboratoryanimals.org