Launched on 20 April 2006 by the Coalition for Medical Progress, a broad alliance that includes pharmaceutical companies and research agencies, the petition was proposed by a member of the public to represent the "silent majority who accept the need for animal studies".[1] David Taylor stated that, as neither a scientist nor doctor, he wanted a way "to show people who carry out medical research that I value and support their work."[2]
The petition offered the opportunity for individuals of any age or place of residence to express support for three assertions:
Medical research is essential for developing safe and effective medical and veterinary treatments, requiring some studies using animals.
Where there is no alternative available, medical research using animals should continue in the UK.
People involved in medical research using animals have a right to work and live without fear of intimidation or attack.
Responseedit
By 13 May, the petition had recorded 13,000 signatures. The following day, in the wake of publicity around a number of acts of intimidation by animal rights activists, then British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in the Sunday Telegraph, that he intended to add his name to the petition. As an unusual move for a serving politician, Blair described his intention as "a sign of just how important I believe it is that as many people as possible stand up against the tiny group of extremists threatening medical research and advances in [the UK]."[3]
Animal rights groups criticised Blair's actions; the National Anti-Vivisection Society calling it "hugely irresponsible". The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection praised Blair's stance in tackling extremists, but expressed concern that he was "blindly backing the animal experimenters" practising "outmoded science."[4]
Blair's announcement also drew praise, however. Jean-Pierre Garnier, chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline, stated he was encouraged by Blair's "personal commitment" and Colin Blakemore, chief executive of the Medical Research Council, thanked Blair "on behalf of medical researchers, who live in fear of such intimidation."[5]
Other notable signatories include Caroline Flint and Tom Brake, both MPs, and Polly Toynbee. As of the end of 2006, the number of signatures exceeded 21,850.
^Tony Blair: Time to act against animal rights protesters, Sunday Telegraph, 14 May, 2006.[dead link]
^Blair 'blindly backing experiments', The Guardian, May 14, 2006.
^PM criticised over animal testing, BBC News, May 14, 2006.
External linksedit
Official website
April 12, 2024
people, petition, online, campaign, express, support, medical, experimentation, using, animals, united, kingdom, within, year, launch, number, signatures, exceeded, included, tony, blair, then, serving, prime, minister, contents, purpose, response, also, refer. The People s Petition was an online campaign to express support for medical experimentation using animals in the United Kingdom Within a year of launch the number of signatures exceeded 21 850 and included Tony Blair the then serving Prime Minister Contents 1 Purpose 2 Response 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksPurpose editLaunched on 20 April 2006 by the Coalition for Medical Progress a broad alliance that includes pharmaceutical companies and research agencies the petition was proposed by a member of the public to represent the silent majority who accept the need for animal studies 1 David Taylor stated that as neither a scientist nor doctor he wanted a way to show people who carry out medical research that I value and support their work 2 The petition offered the opportunity for individuals of any age or place of residence to express support for three assertions Medical research is essential for developing safe and effective medical and veterinary treatments requiring some studies using animals Where there is no alternative available medical research using animals should continue in the UK People involved in medical research using animals have a right to work and live without fear of intimidation or attack Response editBy 13 May the petition had recorded 13 000 signatures The following day in the wake of publicity around a number of acts of intimidation by animal rights activists then British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced in the Sunday Telegraph that he intended to add his name to the petition As an unusual move for a serving politician Blair described his intention as a sign of just how important I believe it is that as many people as possible stand up against the tiny group of extremists threatening medical research and advances in the UK 3 Animal rights groups criticised Blair s actions the National Anti Vivisection Society calling it hugely irresponsible The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection praised Blair s stance in tackling extremists but expressed concern that he was blindly backing the animal experimenters practising outmoded science 4 Blair s announcement also drew praise however Jean Pierre Garnier chief executive of GlaxoSmithKline stated he was encouraged by Blair s personal commitment and Colin Blakemore chief executive of the Medical Research Council thanked Blair on behalf of medical researchers who live in fear of such intimidation 5 Other notable signatories include Caroline Flint and Tom Brake both MPs and Polly Toynbee As of the end of 2006 the number of signatures exceeded 21 850 See also editAnimal liberation movement Animal rights Animal testing Medical research Pro Test Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty VivisectionReferences edit Animal research petition launched BBC News 19 April 2006 thepeoplespetition org uk Tony Blair Time to act against animal rights protesters Sunday Telegraph 14 May 2006 dead link Blair blindly backing experiments The Guardian May 14 2006 PM criticised over animal testing BBC News May 14 2006 External links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The People 27s Petition amp oldid 1064543866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
