Free the Monkeys
34 monkeys await their fate; you have the power to determine it.
For 17 years the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center has
been conducting the affects of maternal separation and deprivation on
monkeys. Most recently, Dr. Mark Laudenslager has been conducting the
affects of maternal deprivation on 34 macaque monkeys. He received the
grant to study how maternal deprivation affects the immune system of
monkeys and its affect on Simian Immune Virus (SIV), the monkey
equivalent of Aids.
Dr. Laudenslager is writing up his last report on his findings. The
monkeys have completed their duty to Americans. Now what. Colorado
University does not want to give them up in the case they are needed for
future research. Rita Anderson, Regional Coordinator for In Defense of
Animals has found a home for them at a sanctuary in Oklahoma. CU is fine
with this plan, as long as Anderson can pay them between $10,000 and
$15,000 per monkey. This is what it would cost if they had to replace
them in the future.
For the past six years, this experiment was funded with $2.5 million
from the National Institute of Health. That $2.5 million was funded with
your hard-earned federal tax dollars.
Many people would argue that maternal deprivation studies on animals
have been over done. Some may argue that scientists need to find ways to
receive grant money in order to keep their jobs. Others would even argue
that Universities need to keep research animals around in order to
attract graduate students and the like. And I may argue that these same
studies could have been conducted in numerous actual scenarios with
human beings.
Animal research is debated frequently throughout the world. It is
natural to want to defend our own species. “This research could have
saved a human life” many would say. Without even needing to become
philosophical, it takes only common sense to determine whether an animal
experiment does in fact save a person’s life. I ask you to not make
such a generalization as “This
experiment could save a persons life.” Instead take a look at each
experiment on a case-by- case basis, consider whether American tax
dollars could better be spent elsewhere, and whether there is an
alternative research scenario. And, in the case that you do find
yourself wanting to explore the philosophical viewpoint, whether the end
justifies the means.
Whether you support animal research or not is irrelevant to the 34
macaque monkeys who are currently not needed by the scientists at the
University of Colorado. These 34 monkeys have paid their dues to
“saving human lives.” They now have the chance to leave the research
facility and see the outside for the first time in their lives.
Rita Anderson is not asking for $10,000 from you, but instead, three
simple things.
What you can do:
1.
Go to www.freethecu34.org
and sign the online petition
2.
Print off the flyer off the web site and distribute it to
everyone you know
3.
Email or write to President Hoffman at the University of Colorado
and be clever and charming in encouraging her to free the monkeys. elizabeth.hoffman@cu.edu
or 303.492.6201
You can help make it happen.
Vicki Fragasso
Animal Rights Writer
