(NZ) Time to lift veil of secrecy on animal experiments

[Guest guest]

Time to lift veil of secrecy on animal experiments

Monday,

7 October 2002,

8:42 am

Press Release:

Green Party (New Zealand)

Time to lift veil of secrecy on animal experiments

Green Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Kedgley said a culture of secrecy

surrounding

animal experiments was stifling public debate, contributing to public

disquiet about

animal experimentation, and keeping New Zealanders in the dark about the

nature and

extent of experimentation on live animals.

" Its time to lift the veil of secrecy surrounding animal experimentation in

New Zealand,

and develop a much more open, transparent and accountable system which

enables informed

debate about the experimentation on animals, " she said.

Sue Kedgley was the guest speaker at an Animal Rights Legal Advocacy Network

seminar

at Auckland University today.

" Animal experiments are hidden behind a wall of secrecy. Animal Ethics

Committees

which approve experiments are conducted in secret, the agendas and minutes

of their

meetings are kept secret, and it is almost impossible for members of the

public to

find out what experiments are taking place around New Zealand, and why. "

Ms Kedgley said that 75 per cent of animal experiments in New Zealand were

conducted

in publicly owned institutions such as government departments, Crown

Research Institutes

and universities, and were paid for by taxpayers.

" Surely, as taxpayers we are entitled to know whether our tax dollars have

been spent

wisely and ethically?

" Surely we are entitled to know what is going on in laboratories around New

Zealand,

why Animal Ethics Committee meetings are closed to the public and whether or

not all

the experiments on animals that are taking place are justified, " she said.

" If animal-based scientists are to retain public support for their

activities, there

needs to be a high level of acceptance that their use of animals is both

humane and

responsible. Such public acceptance depends on scientists conducting

themselves in

a manner that generates trust. "

Ms Kedgley said she was preparing a private members bill that would bring

openness

and transparency to the system of animal experimentation in New Zealand.

Speech available from www.greens.org.nz http://www.greens.org.nz

" Live in peace with the animals. Animals bring love to our hearts, and

warmth to our

souls. " Colleen Klaum

" He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We

can judge

the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. " Immanuel Kant