The People's Petition

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The People's Petition was an

online campaign to express support for medical experimentation using animals in the United Kingdom. Within a year of launch the number of signatures exceeded 21,850 and included Tony Blair, the then-serving Prime Minister
.

Purpose

Launched on 20 April 2006 by the

pharmaceutical companies and research agencies, the petition was proposed by a member of the public to represent the "silent majority who accept the need for animal studies".[1] David Taylor stated that, as neither a scientist nor doctor, he wanted a way "to show people who carry out medical research that I value and support their work."[2]

The petition offered the opportunity for individuals of any age or place of residence to express support for three assertions:

  • Medical research is essential for developing safe and effective medical and veterinary treatments, requiring some studies using animals.
  • Where there is no alternative available, medical research using animals should continue in the UK.
  • People involved in medical research using animals have a right to work and live without fear of intimidation or attack.

Response

By 13 May, the petition had recorded 13,000 signatures. The following day, in the wake of publicity around a number of acts of intimidation by

extremists threatening medical research and advances in [the UK]."[3]

Animal rights groups criticised Blair's actions; the

British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection praised Blair's stance in tackling extremists, but expressed concern that he was "blindly backing the animal experimenters" practising "outmoded science."[4]

Blair's announcement also drew praise, however.

Medical Research Council, thanked Blair "on behalf of medical researchers, who live in fear of such intimidation."[5]

Other notable signatories include

. As of the end of 2006, the number of signatures exceeded 21,850.

See also

References

  1. ^ Animal research petition launched, BBC News, 19 April, 2006.
  2. ^ "thepeoplespetition.org.uk".
  3. ^ Tony Blair: Time to act against animal rights protesters, Sunday Telegraph, 14 May, 2006.[dead link]
  4. ^ Blair 'blindly backing experiments', The Guardian, May 14, 2006.
  5. ^ PM criticised over animal testing, BBC News, May 14, 2006.

External links