World Week for Animals in Laboratories

[Guest guest]

Courtesy of IDA.

 

Dear IDA:

 

Please join IDA to make this year's World Week for Animals in

Laboratories (WWAIL), April 20 - 26, the most compelling and effective

year yet in speaking out against the abhorrent use of animals in

testing and research.

 

Although millions of animals still continue to suffer and die in

laboratories, there is cause to be hopeful that real change is on the

horizon.

 

A Landmark Agreement

In February, 2008, three U.S. government agencies, the Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), the National Toxicology Program (NTP), and

the National Institutes of Health (NIH), signed a five-year agreement

to create innovative and animal-free methods to evaluate the safety of

drugs and chemicals with the goal of phasing out animal tests entirely.

 

The NRC's Groundbreaking Report

In July, 2007, the prestigious National Research Council (NRC) issued

a report, " Toxicology for the 21st Century, " which outlines a new

approach that would rely less on animal studies and focus instead upon

in vitro methods. According to the report, " Over time, the need for

traditional animal testing could be greatly reduced, and possibly even

eliminated someday. "

 

Broad and sweeping changes are slowly being realized for animals in

labs. Yet millions still remain captive in cages, subject to

intolerable cruelty. They will not live to see the day that these

changes come about, which is why we urgently need you to join forces

with IDA and other animal-protection organizations to vigorously work

for such a transformation to happen as soon as possible. While there

is reason to celebrate, there are still far too many scientists who

adhere to obsolete, imprecise, and heartless animal experiments.

 

Never-Ending Nicotine Experiments

It may be unfathomable, but in 2008, many animals still die in cruel,

archaic, and useless nicotine experiments to tests tobacco's

deleterious effects on the body. That's why IDA has developed our Up

in Smoke campaign, which targets experiments that force pregnant and

newborn animals to be pumped full of nicotine. This is just one

example of the kind of horrendous animal experiments that we need to

stop. Sadly, there are many such vile experiments occurring daily in

laboratories.

 

Please, make a commitment today to take action for animals in

laboratories between April 20th and 26th—the week of WWAIL. It could

be as simple as making a phone call or writing a letter.

 

Imagine how powerful we could be if everyone reading this would just

take a few minutes to engage in even one action for animals in labs.

 

Here are just a few ways to help animals during WWAIL:

 

- Take part in IDA's Call-In Days to National Institutes of Health

(NIH) during WWAIL to ask them to put an end to the use of animals in

nicotine experiments. Contact Caroline here to participate.

- Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. Click herefor

sample letters.

- Organize an event in your area such as a demonstration or

educational table. Visit our Web site at www.WWAIL.org to learn about

the many different ways that you can participate in 2008.

- Volunteer to set up a " Memorial Field " display for WWAIL that will

solemnly commemorate the millions of animals who die in the name of

science. It's simple, yet powerful, and IDA can help you with setting

up this poignant display. Contact Caroline for more info!

- New for 2008: Adopt an Activist! Click to see how you can help make

our demos successful without ever leaving your computer!

 

Your actions are vital to help bring about the day that no animal has

to suffer in a laboratory. The important steps that the U.S.

government is taking to phase out animal tests have great potential to

profoundly impact the use of animals in experiments. There's never

been a better time to advocate for change.

 

Sincerely,

 

Barbara Stagno

WWAIL 2008 Coordinator