WORLD'S FIRST ANIMAL ETHICS CONSORTIUM LAUNCHED IN OXFORD

[Guest guest]

The last quote makes a lot of sense. I can never forget in my life the

intellectual stimulation and warmth that I received at Oxford. I owe Oxford

a very great deal for shaping my thinking: the university, the students, the

fields, the cricket matches, the ringing church bells, the swans, the

punters, the river Isis, the Lewis Carroll bookshop, and the Bodleian

Library. It is very apt that this debate is taking place in Oxford since it

is the greatest academic and intellectual centre in the world. The Oxford

Students' Union debates are among the best in the world. Mrs Maneka Gandhi

was the first Indian to be invited to address the Oxford University

Students' Union. Oxford has shaped some of the greatest Asian intellectuals

and humanitarians. This debate is part of an intellectual tradition that I

hope remains immortal.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/animalrights/story/0,,1958283,00.html

Thinktank launched to debate animal ethics

 

 

*Alexandra Smith and agencies

Monday November 27, 2006

EducationGuardian.co.uk <http://www.educationguardian.co.uk/>*

 

A thinktank claiming to be the world's first dedicated to animal ethics is

to launch today, with the aim of fostering debate on controversial issues,

such as animal testing.

 

The new animal ethics centre, launching

<http://www.oxfordanimalethics.com/>online today, aims to " put animals

on the intellectual agenda " . The centre's

director, the Rev Professor Andrew Linzey, an Anglican priest, writer and

University of Oxford theologian, is well known for his opposition to animal

testing.

 

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His new project is expected to bring a more reasoned approach to the animal

rights debate, including the controversial building of Oxford's animal

testing laboratory.

 

The thinktank, which is to open its own centre in Oxford, opposes violence

and illegal acts and distances itself from militant animal rights activists

who advocate campaigns of violence and intimidation. One of the first issues

of debate on its agenda is " the relationship between animal abuse and

violence to human beings " .

 

The new centre is not related to the University of Oxford.

 

More than 100 academics from 10 countries have been recruited as advisers to

the centre, which has the full title Ferrater Mora Oxford Centre for Animal

Ethics, after the Spanish philosopher, Jose Ferrater Mora, who spoke out

against bullfighting in Spain.

 

Projects already underway include the introduction of a course in animal

ethics and the publication of a Journal of Animal Ethics.

 

The construction of the £20m animal research laboratory at Oxford has been

dogged with controversy.

 

In July 2004, the construction firm Montpellier pulled out after threatening

letters were sent to its shareholders and its share price dropped. Work on

the lab was suspended because of continuing threats of violence.

 

In the same month, the Animal Liberation Fund (ALF) admitted to an arson

attack on the Hertford College boathouse and joined another animal rights

group, Speak, in a campaign to target any organisations linked to the

university.

 

Work started again on the lab in December last year, prompting Speak to

begin demonstrations outside the building site, and in January a posting on

the ALF website threatened violence against all staff and students at the

university.

 

Since then staff and students have retaliated by forming their own group,

Pro-Test, which has marched in support of the testing.

 

Prof Linzey said: " We must strive to ensure animal issues are highlighted

and rationally discussed throughout society - we cannot change the world for

animals without changing our ideas about them.

 

" The centre will promote ethical attitudes and contribute to informed public

debate. "

 

Pro-Test, the Oxford-based group that backs animal testing, welcomed Prof

Linzey's centre.

 

A spokesman for Pro-Test said: " We understand that there are disagreements

surrounding the area of animal rights, but we believe they should be solved

through debate and discussion rather than through violence and intimidation,

 

 

" Further debate on whether animal research is justified is always going to

be a good thing. "