· Medical tests on great apes should not be banned, says research chief
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posted by
davidt
on Sunday June 04 2006, @10:00AM
Belligerent Ghoul sends the link / excerpt:
Medical tests on great apes should not be banned, says research chief - The Telegraph ...Prof Blakemore said that if, for example, the country were threatened with a deadly infectious disease and that the only way to prevent thousands of deaths was to carry out research involving great apes then most people would support their use. He also criticised pop stars whose influence on the debate on animal experimentation was out of proportion with their expertise and challenged Morrissey, the singer and anti-vivisectionist, to a public debate on the issue. ...Last week Morrissey told a concert audience that Oxford University was "the shame of England" for allowing the building of a £20 million animal research centre. He made clear his support for animal right extremists when he said: "Make no mistake, for anyone working in the labs, we are going to get you. If you agree with vivisection, go and be vivisected upon yourself." Prof Blakemore added: "I think Morrissey is not representative of current opinion and it would be very nice to sit down and have a real conversation with him rather than listening to the unilateral trumpeting of his opinion."
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Medical researcher challenges Morrissey to public debate on animal testing
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Great apes... (Score:1, Funny)
Splendid! So the research chief himself volunteers for being tested on.
Ps. Sorry, great apes, comparing him to you was a tremenduos insult. My apologies. Ds.
"the unilateral trumpeting of his opinion." (Score:2, Funny)
As for the remark about Morrissey's not being "a representative of current opinion" - I side with Morrissey to give voice on behalf of our animal friends. Save "current opinion" for describing the ignorant masses.
(User #724 Info)
He should do that (Score:0)
And he knows that. And that's why he will never agree to do this.
What is to debate? (Score:1)
(User #16457 Info)
He would never do it (Score:0)
black- more is cruel (Score:0)
Humans have different (Score:0)
Test people NOT ANIMALS. They most likely have different reactions to certain chemicals.
Everybody's "clever" nowadays (Score:0)
Why does this all sound like it was yanked from Morrissey interviews? Think for yourselves, people. Just because someone makes good music doesn't mean they're right on every single issue and topic in the world, especially one so esoteric and complex as medical research.
Spot on: (Score:2, Insightful)
Indeed, also in addition to being fans of Oscar's too!
(User #724 Info)
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Re:Spot on: (Score:2, Insightful)
Maybe that is why he is both fascinating and tormenting at the same time. After all these years, and despite all the differences, we are still seeing some kind of reflection of ourselves. It is comforting and dismaying, all at once.
That outburst at Oxford was not politically wise, but it was heartfelt and anguished. Poor fellow, he will be pilloried again.
(User #14203 Info)
Parent
Current opinion (Score:2, Informative)
An extensive nationwide (USA) values survey was recently conducted revealing less ethical diversity amongst a whole range of people than previously presumed (published in a book called "A New America") Amongst other things, the results found that 80% Americans agree that the earth is a whole living system; 91% want to become more involved in creating a better world for all beings; 96% are committed to spiritual growth... This was surprising, suggesting that what is really lacking is sound leadership, as 'ordinary' people are overwhelmingly positive in their willingness to minimise harm wherever possible. Negative discourses, such as entrenched business medics like Dr Blakemore, and Richard & Judy, that promote the conservative idea that improvement is not possible without inflicting undue suffering, are regrettable, and in fact, not representative.
(User #12673 Info)
Does Morrissey use medicines? (Score:1)
(User #16887 Info)
The ball's in your court, Morrissey (Score:0)
Fools! (Score:1)
(User #15320 Info)
Compassion (Score:1)
Loss, death and suffering are all part of human existence and we csn learn to accept and deal with them with dignity, grace, support and love.
I think that abusing animals is immoral.
Could a pro-vivisectionist explain their position to me regarding how they came to the decision that we have a right to inflict suffering on animals.
(User #12542 Info)
Get a life (Score:0)
Has he never seen 28 Days Later? (Score:1)
I honestly can't say what my position is on the rest of the industry though, because as much as I despise animal testing for cosmetic purposes and their slaughter for food, if my family, friends or myself were taken ill, I'd use all medical science had to offer to make us well again. True altruism doesn't exist and this is why, as much as we desire to be humane, we will always exploit what this Earth has to offer in order to stay alive; it's instinctive for humantiy to destroy and to be selfish. It's also instinctive for us to be anthropomorphic and thus, both sides of the debate that have a vested interest in their position are buggered really.
Then again, all I see in science is money generated for the researcher's bank accounts and shadowy business dealings in the boardroom of Glaxo Smith Kline. Their position is holding medical science back from developing realistic alternatives to the suffering of animals and, indeed, the suffering of people who can't afford to pay for life saving drugs. Furthermore, the position of Western governments on the Christian Fundamentalist Right are preventing the use of stem cell research, which might show us more about medicine than has been discovered in the last few centuries. The real enemies here are the conservatives (of which Tony Blair is one). They place the life of a human cell above a creature which has as much intelligence as a two year old child. The world is a backward place, and conservative sensibilites have dragged science and industry back into the dark ages.
Morrissey won't publicly debate this issue, just as he won't go head to head on issues of politics with government ministers or even on music with other musicians. As he said recently, he is an island
And I have a question for Mr Blakemore; if you believe it's ethical to test on monkeys, then what's to stop you testing on human beings in a vegetative state? They have less intelligence, and, like the great apes, they also have a language centre of the brain sans high functioning vocal chords. What's the difference, biologically, just because something has a human face?
And more importantly, what happens if we ever do cure all disease? Darwin's theory of evolution, to which most of the sane world subscribe, depends upon disease in order to work. If human beings stop dying through causes other than old age then we'll surely wipe ourselves out via population explosion. This issue is extremely loaded, but I admire the stance of those, like Morrissey, who are so sure about their ethical position (that excludes Blakemore, as he's only sure of his financial position).
(User #14229 Info)
He doesn't know he's being ironic (Score:1)
(User #15736 Info)
animal testing (Score:0)
But if I want to convince others this is right I need to be informed, to know the true position of the opposing points of view in order to argue my own points effectivly.
I intend therefore to go research the subject fully. I don't expect to have my mind changed but at least by presenting a knowledgeable arguement I may be able to influence others, who at present are able to dismiss criticsm of animal experiments as emotional and uninformed.
Anyone who is able to provoke debate and challenge people to think for themselves on this and other important matters has my vote of confidence, regardless of whether I ultimately agree with them or not.
great apes my arse!!! (Score:1)
(User #10056 Info | http://www.myspace.com/mozzapheliac)
Re:My new resolution (Score:1)
I'm happy to help you on the way to your heart attack! Anyone else want to help?
(User #12046 Info)
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Re:Dissolution (Score:1)
Try to get your mind back in your body first. You do have one, a flesh-and-blood body, don't you?
(User #12673 Info)
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