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Vigils are a success...As the year comes to an end....

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Dear Advocates for Animals: First of all, I want to thank all of you who have participated in the vigils over the past year. Though we cannot measure exactly the impact we are having by vigiling for the animals incarcerated and exploited in lab experiments at UCSF, there are a number of important aspects regarding our vigilance that I would like to note here. In subtle, and sometimes obvious, ways, we are having an impact - through our signs, distribution of literature, and our occasional conversations with neighbors, passersby, hospital visitors and patients, as well as UCSF personnel and associates. I believe it was the September vigil when a man, who was a maintenance inspector, apparently under contract with UCSF, approached

us, accepted one of our leaflets, then complained how he hated to work in or near the areas where animals are kept because he then would likely hear their cries and feel their suffering - and perhaps even see them on occasion. He recalled one incident when he saw and heard some little squealing piglets being unloaded from a UCSF van. He shared his regret to be assigned to those areas, but that was his job. Further, he conveyed to us that UCSF has recently spent huge sums of money (probably millions of dollars) in construction of newer and "better" labs to hide the sight, and the sounds of the cries, of the animals. Thus perhaps the student nurse, who once told us during a vigil-protest that she could hear the cries of cats down the hall during her nursing class, will not be so disturbed since the new construction will better muffle the cats' cries. And it was the

vigil in October when a UCSF administrator (with her identification badge turned toward her chest) requested to have some of the literature we were distributing. I gladly gave her several pieces of literature - and recognized her (from a previous demonstration that had attracted media attention) as the head of the university's public relations department. So, in little but important ways, we are having an impact. Thus I feel we must continue to vigil at UCSF - not just for the animals incarcerated and exploited there, but for the many persons who pass by as we demonstrate, who may not otherwise know what cruel acts are being committed behind the university's walls. And I might add that it is important for us to continue to vigil and distribute literature at UCSF in order to educate the vivisectors (or would-be vivisectors)

within the facility - and hope someday that they will change their minds and ways. By the way, the last vigil of the year happened in December, despite the rain - thanks to the brave participation of Serena, Deetje, Lurilla, Mark and myself - although we did call it quits early because of the precipitation (nobody likes soggy leaflets anyway). Yet our sole candle stayed lit through the poetry reading at the end. If I had thought about it, I would have used the candle for light while reading a poem. Then we would not have had to stand so close to the door - and then be accused by the UCSF police officer (only doing his job) of blocking the doorway. Oh well, hindsight is better than foresight. Again I thank all of you who participated in the vigils throughout the year and look forward

to seeing you at the vigils in 2007. And may we all have a happy new year - with all the rain and snow we need for water to drink, plants to grow, birds to chirp, frogs to croak, insects to buzz...and all in harmony! And lest you forget: The first vigil of the year will be January 18, 4:30 PM, at UCSF's Parnassus Campus, 513 Parnassus Avenue, San Francisco - I hope you can make it! Bob O'Brien

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