On 17th August 2014, AIA board member and AVC’s Scientific Consultant Dr Andre Menache BSc (Hons) BVSC MRCVS – delivered a brilliant talk around the link between curiosity-driven research, Universities and public funding.
The general public continues to tolerate animal experiments, thinking that they are life saving. However, based on Home Office statistics, nearly three quarters of all animals used in 2013 were for ‘basic research’ (also known as ‘curiosity driven research’).
Basic research is experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts, WITHOUT ANY PARTICULAR APPLICATION OR USE IN VIEW.
Researchers are quick to suggest that their basic research on animals may one day provide a cure for this or that human disease. However, the weight of scientific evidence clearly shows that the chances of this happening are almost zero, so all this money spent on basic research using animals would be better spent elsewhere on REAL science.
When the public is asked for its opinion on basic research using animals, the response is a resounding NO. In the largest survey of its kind, the European Commission found that 70 per cent of EU citizens are opposed to basic research using animals. And here’s the crazy part: we are funding it through our taxes even though most of us consider it to be cruel and useless.
AVC website: StopVivisection.org.uk Facebook: Facebook.com/AntiVivisectionCoalition Dr Menache is contactable via info@StopVivisection.org.uk Read more about Dr Menache’s work: AnimalConsultants.org/andre-menache.html
See the video of Andre’s talk here: – http://vimeo.com/104386197
Animal Interfaith Alliance 