 BALMY IN PALMY FOR ANIMALS!
The recent Walk for the Animals in Palmerston North, organised by SAFE and Save the Beagles Campaign to protest against animal testing, was a huge success. Despite pouring rain almost 100 people marched around the central city holding placards, banners and wearing animal costumes to voice their opposition to the local animal testing laboratory. SAFE campaign officer Sacha Dowell says, "After learning why we were protesting some of the bystanders joined the march. Most people were horrified to learn there was testing of beagles and other companion animals happening in their region." The march continued on to a nearby hall to listen to scientist Michael Morris, Green Party candidate Lawrence O'Halloran and long-time anti-vivisection campaigner Mark Eden from Save the Beagles Campaign. Well done to the Manawatu SAFE volunteers for organising such a successful event!
A four-month investigation launched by SAFE last year revealed that beagles and other companion animals are destined for a new wave of New Zealand animal research carried out on behalf of international organisations. Current affairs programme 60 Minutes interviewed the man at the centre of SAFE's campaign, Alan Goldenthal, who made a convincing attempt to justify the use of animals for research. SAFE felt the 60 Minutes programme was disappointing journalism. It was a weak, passive and largely unbalanced look at animal research in New Zealand. The reporter made factually incorrect statements and let the researcher go unchallenged. Watch 60 Minutes VARC is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere to use beagles for research. Aside from beagles SAFE understands VARC plans to breed cats, horses and rabbits, also for research. While it appears no terminal experiments are taking place right now, the facility is still new. It is likely animals will eventually undergo invasive experiments and be killed. The head of VARC says his animals are necessary research tools in the quest to save human life. The "higher goal" as he describes it.  A total of 318,489 living animals were used for animal research (vivisection) in New Zealand last year. The most recent national figures available reveal 757 cats and 682 dogs were used in 2006. The use of cats and dogs for research in New Zealand has doubled since 2001. Most laboratory animals will suffer. Many will die. None will be loved. If they are lucky, their death will be quick and painless, but most won't be so lucky.
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