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Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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Acts of Cruelty
October 30, 2007 10:28 PM
Edythe
London is a professor of psychiatry at UCLA, specializing in what
happens in the brains of drug addicts. "Dr. London's research has
advanced the study of substance abuse and the development of new
approaches and probes for studies of brain function," says her university web page.
Some of the work in her lab involves experiments on vervet monkeys, which brought objections from a group called the Animal Liberation Front. On Oct. 20 her Los Angeles home was flooded out with a garden hose. The damage was reported by the university to be $20-40,000. The FBI and the LAPD are on the case. They've labeled it an act of domestic terrorism.
Now the ALF's press office has posted a statement--whose source it would not identify--from people claiming credit. The text below is verbatim, and the full copy is HERE.
"Edythe London, your job as administrator of the UCLA center that addicts primates to methamphetamines is dispicable. You appear to make all of the sick perverted vivisectors who addict primates to meth possible. Have you ever even witnessed the innocent monkeys that your mad scientists have addicted to methamphetamines as they convulse throughtout excrutiating withdrawl symptoms?"
Gene Block, the chancellor of UCLA, replied, "I condemn in the strongest possible terms this deplorable and illegal act of extreme vandalism, which resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in damage, and I reiterate the university’s steadfast commitment to the legal use of animals in research to benefit society."
The press office of the Animal Liberation Front includes this disclaimer at the bottom of its web page:
"The Animal Liberation Press Officers do not engage in illegal activities, nor do they know any individuals who do. Rather, the Press Office receives and posts communiques from anonymous parties and provides comment to the media."
The communique they posted ended this way:
"One more thing Edythe, water was our second choice, fire was our first. We compromised because we in the ALF don't risk harming animals human and non human and we don't risk starting brush fires.It would have been just as easy to burn your house down Edythe. As you slosh around your flooded house consider yourself fortunate this time.
"We will not stop until UCLA discontinues its primate vivisection programe.
"We are the ALF."
October 30, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (13)
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If you really want to prove your dedication to your cause, you should attack bikers for wearing leather. I guess harassing scientists for experimentation and little old ladies for wearing fur is a lot safer jacking with a Hell’s Angel.
Posted by: Royce | Oct 30, 2007 11:09:40 PM
Hey
Royce - excellent comment! I'd also like to see these try to remove the
leather boots of any blue-collar working man or a cross-country
trucker. The animal rights activists are nothing more than cowards with
a phony cause.
Posted by: Alan | Oct 30, 2007 11:15:19 PM
wow... while i don't condemn violence of any kind (and flooding a person's house is violent), i certainly do not support the use of these innocent creatures for these types of experiments... people are falsly led into believing that society will benefit... believe me, any benefit is short term... what is truly needed is to support young people from birth on so as they turn into adults they don't choose to numb their pain with drugs of any kind... of course, that is too 'radical' an idea (transforming society into a healing based community), so instead, vivisectors make millions on this industry that takes these innocent, intelligent, and wild creatures and enslaves them physically and mentally... how detached we have become from nature and our fellow beings on this planet
Posted by: earthnotflat | Oct 30, 2007 11:17:05 PM
The "press person" who posts these vicious boasts of troubled terrorists is an LA physician. I wonder how he would feel if his name, address, and workplace was posted online and those who find his actions reprehensible gave him a taste of his own sick medicine.
Posted by: LAguy | Oct 30, 2007 11:18:03 PM
come on royce and allen, think a little deeper than "my biker buddies would knock the crap out those pussys" to make an argument... you sound more primative than the monkeys being abused
Posted by: earthnotflat | Oct 30, 2007 11:19:54 PM
So, how many innocent field mice, anole lizards, and who knows what other small furries or reptillians did the ALF dolts drown in this ill-conceived prank? Probably the act of a twelve-year-old neighbor recruited by PETA.
Posted by: Billy | Oct 30, 2007 11:23:00 PM
another violent response LAguy?... no wonder these groups use violence... they think like you do... again, i don't condone the act, but i understand the frustration .... so, i challenge this vivisector to post their 'advances' to the study of drug abuse... it's pretty commonly know that people take drugs to numb emotional pain and because what at first seems recreational is often highly addictive... do they have to addict innocent intelligent creatures to do re-learn that?...
Posted by: earthnotflat | Oct 30, 2007 11:23:59 PM
These extreme activists are similar to anti-abortionists.... who kill doctors. Aren't they against killing. These extreme animal rights activists are torturing these professors. Well people are animals too? Where do they draw the line?
(only partially joking)
Posted by: Tnette | Oct 30, 2007 11:51:13 PM
It's disgusting that terrorists such as these (and make no mistake - they are terrorists) believe that they can intimidate everyone to agree with their naive and shallow "moral" views by committing wanton acts of destruction. What's even more repellent is those who apologize for or strive to empathize with these juvenile thugs. The welfare of animals in scientific research is a very important value which must be considered at every stage of experimental design. I hold a degree in neurophysiology and have worked in a primate research facility. While I hold the animals in great affection this does not blind me to the realities of life. There are circumstances in which animal testing is a must. Uneducated, violent radicals cannot be permitted to overrule rational and well-informed scientific debate concerning experimental protocols.
Posted by: Mike | Oct 31, 2007 1:53:48 AM
I
won't comment on the use of primates in drug studies. I will, however,
address the use of leather for boots, etc. Those animals were killed
for food, not their hides. The hides are being used in a "recycle"
manner, and there's nothing wrong in that. The use of other kinds of
leather, i.e., ostrich, etc., can be safely condemned, because their
use is strictly for the sake of vanity.
Posted by: Andy | Oct 31, 2007 8:45:48 AM
Mike and Sam - very good points. I totally agree with both. This research is necessary and although I don't like it either (use of animals), it could ultimately save the life of my loved ones or myself.
Posted by: Mel | Oct 31, 2007 10:22:47 AM
I wonder what or who is "financing" these "studies". Look, I don't think there is any valid excuse for "physical retaliation" on the professor, but I certainally do NOT agree with this type of "research". Hogwash. I believe that the American Indian had the right idea. RESPECT animals, use only what is absolutely necessary (as in how they used the Buffalo) It was only when the "white" man decided it was great "sport" to hunt Buffalo that things went to crap. Nobody "needs" $500.00 ostrach "boots" and this so called "research" is NOT the only way to study the affects of drugs on the human brain. Cruelty is Cruelty. It doesn't matter HOW you "rationalize" what you are doing to another creature in the name of "humanity" or "research". Garbage! There should be laws passed against this type of stuff but people should not try to "retaliate" because then they become no better than the "offender".
Posted by: LetsKeepItReal | Oct 31, 2007 11:02:01 AM
Royce ur right...if ur gonna attack someone for wearing fur or experimenting with animals then attack everyone else too no matter who they are.
Posted by: Joe | Oct 31, 2007 8:52:44 PM
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