I wonder how many of these folks really understand how many different groups the ARA fanatics are threatening and hating for being involved in animal use from farms to fur industry to circuses to biolabs???


Chicago Tribune
Keep scientists safe
Universities must address violence that threatens biomedical research
By Jeffrey Kordower
March 25, 2008
http://www.chicagotribune.com:80/news/opinion/chi-oped0325kordowermar25,0,5858293.story

Black-masked attackers disrupting a child's birthday party. A firebomb
left on a doorstep. In the last six months, biomedical researchers
have faced these terrifying attacks and more, with shadowy animal
rights groups proudly claiming responsibility.

Despite being highly regulated, peer-reviewed, crucial to public
health and legal, vital research is increasingly under violent attack
by activists using illegal means. It is time for the science, academic
and health communities to say "enough" and do something about it. No
researcher should experience the trauma of this kind of attack alone,
or shoulder the responsibility of trying to address it without
support.

Overall, members of the Society for Neuroscience, whose Committee on
Animals in Research that I chair, reported more incidents involving
harassment or violence in the first six months of 2007 than from 1999
through 2003. Not only have these attacks become more frequent, they
have become more violent. The painting of glass-eating acid onto a
researcher's home, home bombings, attempted home invasion, attempted
car bombings and the flooding of a researcher's home have caused
thousands of dollars in damage.

This trend will continue unabated unless research institutions,
governments, national funding agencies, such as the National
Institutes of Health, and the science community unite to defend
responsible biomedical research and implement policies to address
these threats. With reasonable legal discourse descending to illegal
violence and threat, universities can no longer afford to ignore
actions that impose danger to their faculty. By taking steps to
prepare, pre-empt and respond effectively to anti-research activists,
they can support the progress of scientific research, as well as the
health and economic well-being of the nation.

Funding agencies, like the National Institutes of Health, are making
important statements, but they should be encouraged to take an even
stronger role in expecting universities to protect NIH-funded
researchers.

Unfortunately, these incidents do not just scare their targets.

One of our members was forced to give up his research out of fear for
the safety of his family. Not only did we lose a talented and
dedicated scientist in the neuroscience field, but also the potential
breakthroughs his research could have brought to people seeking better
treatments for vision loss. As someone who conducts research,
including using animal models, I and legions of researchers empathized
deeply with the personally and professionally demoralizing choice this
researcher was forced to make—it is far too understandable for those
of us who seek to balance our passion for research, our commitment to
identify possible treatments and our obligations to the safety and
well-being of our families and colleagues.

The responsible use of animals in research has been vital for progress
and insights that are improving life and offering real hope to
millions of people worldwide suffering from neurological and
psychiatric disorders. These include Alzheimer's and Parkinson's
diseases; traumatic brain injury; vision or hearing loss;
developmental disability; depression and addiction; and numerous
others. With more than $20 billion in NIH-funded research at more than
3,400 institutions nationwide, the United States faces substantial
economic consequences due to lost research, and more significantly,
faces a loss in critical health advances. Without a safe and secure
environment to perform this research, we risk missing out on these
discoveries.

Once all researchers feel safe in pursuing their research, then we all
truly do win.

Jeffrey Kordower is a neurological sciences professor at Rush
University and chair of the Committee on Animals in Research of the
Society of Neuroscience.

When they catch these terrorists what are the odds they get the jail time they deserve???



Wimbledon Guardian (UK)
Animal activist faces extremism charge
By Court Reporter
http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/news/...mism_charge.php

A Sunbury woman was among seven people who appeared in court accused
of animal rights activism involving the controversial Huntingdon Life
Sciences laboratory.

Janet Lawrence, 53, of Bowater Gardens, was charged with animal rights
extremism after an operation involving five police forces.

The three men and four women faced charges of conspiracy to blackmail
Huntingdon Life Sciences.

advertisement Aldershot Magistrates' Court heard the defendants were
all allegedly involved with the protest group Shack, which is said to
campaign for the closure of the experimental laboratory.

Prosecutor Alastair Nisbet said that 10 other defendants had already
appeared before the courts on similar charges.

District Judge Philip Gilliband ordered the transfer of the cases to
Winchester Crown Court, where a preliminary hearing is expected to be
held on Friday, April 4.

They were all released on bail on condition that they surrendered
their passports, did not to have any involvement with any
organisations protesting against animal rights, did not to attend any
protest or demonstration, did not to have any contact with employees
of Huntingdon Life Sciences and did not to have any contact with their
co-accused.