Make plans to get active during World Week for Animals in Labs: April 20 - 26

[Guest guest]

World Week for Animals in Laboratories Dear IDA Member: 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 AgreementIn 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 ReportIn 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 ExperimentsIt 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 here for 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.