THOMAS Bromley of SIMR, (Citizen, August 10) is quite wrong when he accuses anti-vivisection campaigners of being 'remarkably quiet' about alternatives to animal experiments.
As professional campaigners, we at the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) are happy to explain how and why we should stop using animals in medical experiments.
Modern science is a good deal more sophisticated these days than Mr Bromley appears to be aware and there are, in fact, a whole range of valid non-animal alternatives already being used and developed for research into human diseases and conditions.
Subjecting animals to painful medical experiments is not only ethically corrupt but also a costly and misleading process.
Mr Bromley talks about giving hope to people with serious illnesses as if animal experiments hold the key to all cures.
The truth is that this is a cynical exploitation of the fears of our sick and elderly, perpetuated by the medical research industry and those who campaign on its behalf.
Animal campaigners are supportive of medical progress, but progress based on sound, cutting-edge, biologically relevant research techniques, not the antiquated assumption that results from one species can be usefully extrapolated to have relevance to humans.
If Citizen readers want to know more about the ethical and scientific objections to animal experiments call the BUAV on 0207 700 4888.
Wendy Higgins, BUAV campaigns director.
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