Fw: Our another campaign against new lab animal law (newsletter)

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Newsletter from Voice for Animals-Seoul, Korea

 

Against new lab animal law in Korea -- Another big challenge (July10)

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On the fifteenth of June, 2001, The Korean Association for Laboratory Animal

Science (KALAS) held a conference to introduce new regulation by Mr. Chae

Gaapyong from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The proposal is for

scientific care and ethical use of laboratory animals. The proposal was

made jointly by the ministry of Health and Welfare and KALAS. Voice for

Animals, Korean Alliance to Prevent Cruelty to Animals, KFEM, Korean

Vegetarian World Union and other volunteers protested against this proposal

at the conference hall.

 

Mr. Han Sangsup, the Chairperson of the KALAS, was trying to make it clear

that now is the time that Korea shall abide by international standards in

dealing with the animals. However, there is no doubt that scientists strong

lobbying groups will play their part for the convenience of researches. So

there are lots to observe for us, now.

 

We are working on the job to petition the government with our own plan about

lab animals. The major problems with the governmental plan include:

 

l Researches with animals are not subject to any kinds of inspection

granting the research itself. Any kinds of researches with animals are

allowed only with their registration of the research institute.

l Facilities seem to be the only measure to be inspected and regulated.

l Establishment and management of the Operating Committee for Research

Animals which is designed in the plan is recommended and not mandatory.

l Civic groups and animal protection groups are not invited to discuss and

these are not included as members to participate in the Commission.

 

There is a possibility that this law will make one more ineffective animal

protection law!!

We issued our joint statements for the rights/welfare of lab animals-titled

Against the Paradise of Research with Animals . The members of KALAS was

embarrassed. This was the first time in the Korea history, lab animal

scientists are ever challenged. Moreover, the title irritated some of the

scientists and they came to the group of people demonstrating outside the

meeting-room. One of the scientists was from the most well-known lab

institute in Korea and gently advised us to fight against dog-meat industry

instead. We made it very clear that there hasn't been any suitably

constituted systems regulating researches with animals and with this

governmental attempt to initiate the regulation, we should be considered to

be important counterparts that the government should invite to discuss.

This is going to be new challenge to animal groups in Korea. Donga-Ilbo,

major newspaper as of June 21 reported of this event and discussed the

issues around animal experiment in Korea.

The web site of KALAS found lots of criticism by the animal activists. One

animal activist suggested open discussion of animal welfare with scientists

and the group has not responded yet. This is going to be another new

challenge to animal groups in Korea in addition to challenge of welfare

issue around genetically modified animals which we have fought so far.

 

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Picture of animal groups protesting at the animal researhcr' conference:

http://www.voice4animals.org/pic/Jun19$21.jpg

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MH KIM moonykim75

Changkil Park parkc

Voice 4 Animals. org