AR-News: NATURE EDITORIAL 2..activists ignore public and media opinion towards animal experiments

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From:primfocus at waste.org

Nature editorial
(part 2)

Nature says, "The activists also ignore public and media opinion towards
animal experiments, which is more positive than they dare acknowledge."
And, "Opinion polls suggest broad support among the public for strictly
regulated animal research."

Why does Nature choose "animal" rather than the much more germane
"primate" in its appeal?

Could it be because the April 2003 NOP opinion poll commissioned by
Animal Aid revealed that 52% of respondents regarded primate experiments
as morally unacceptable (only 40% acceptable, remainder don't know/
refused), or that the 1999 MORI Poll commissioned by the journal New
Scientist [see: < http://www.mori.com/polls/1999/ns990308.shtml> found
that:

"65 per cent of people are prepared for mice to suffer pain, illness or
surgery in experiments to develop a drug to cure childhood leukaemia; 52
per cent would let monkeys be used in the same experiments.

"56 per cent are prepared for mice to suffer in experiments to develop
an AIDS vaccine, but only 44 per cent back the use of monkeys in these
experiments.

"Just 47 per cent are prepared for mice to suffer pain in experiments to
develop a new painkilling drug; the figure for monkeys falls to 35 per
cent.

"61 per cent oppose the use of mice in experiments to study the sense of
hearing, if the animals suffer in any way. This increases to 75 per cent
for monkeys.

"68 per cent think mice should not be used in harmful tests on the
toxicity of a garden insecticide.

"One in 20 people are prepared to let monkeys die to test cosmetics."



the wild, cruel beast is not behind the bars of the cage. he is in front of it - axel munthe

"Never doubt that a small group of dedicated citizens can change the world. 
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."      Margaret Mead
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