The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
The ethics of research involving animals - Nuffield Council on ...
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T h e e t h i c s o f r e s e a r c h i n v o l v i n g a n i m a l s<br />
15.48 It is tempting to dismiss animal rights extremism as being wholly unwarranted. Yet those<br />
who resort to violence maintain they have the moral high ground. This can be frustrating<br />
to those who campaign within strictly c<strong>on</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>al limits, and who fear that violent and<br />
abusive acti<strong>on</strong>s damage their legitimate cause. Those who promote violence and<br />
intimidati<strong>on</strong> to pursue their case against animal <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>ten attempt to justify their<br />
acti<strong>on</strong>s <strong>on</strong> the basis that they are liberating <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> in much the same way as the Allies<br />
liberated Europe from the Nazis. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y believe the democratic process is too slow, and<br />
moreover that the voting system is invalid, in that <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g> are disenfranchised. In the wake<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> their activities are others who would not themselves use violence but who are prepared<br />
to threaten it, persuading themselves that bullying is acceptable because it is aimed at<br />
people who are bullying <str<strong>on</strong>g>animals</str<strong>on</strong>g>.<br />
15.49 If some <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those engaged in the animal rights movement were able to force <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> abroad<br />
or prevent multinati<strong>on</strong>al companies from opting to c<strong>on</strong>duct work in the UK, by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
militant acti<strong>on</strong>s, they would claim such outcomes as a victory. 21 During our fact-finding<br />
meetings we heard different accounts <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the effects <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the acti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> groups involved. Some<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> those working in the pharmaceutical industry and the c<strong>on</strong>tract <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> sector said that<br />
the presence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> animal rights extremism was not a major factor in c<strong>on</strong>sidering whether or<br />
not to opt for a different <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> locati<strong>on</strong>. But there have also been reports to the opposite<br />
effect, and attenti<strong>on</strong> has been drawn to possible ec<strong>on</strong>omic and scientific setbacks for the<br />
UK, should protestors be able to c<strong>on</strong>tinue their activities. 22 In 2004, multinati<strong>on</strong>al companies<br />
repeatedly urged the UK Government to amend the legal framework applicable to animal<br />
rights-related extremism, emphasising that the status quo was unacceptable and might<br />
influence decisi<strong>on</strong>s about investment. In 2005 the UK Government resp<strong>on</strong>ded by making<br />
amendments to the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill. 23<br />
15.50 We c<strong>on</strong>clude that all approaches based <strong>on</strong> violence and intimidati<strong>on</strong> are morally wr<strong>on</strong>g:<br />
democracy is a precious achievement that allows c<strong>on</strong>flict to be resolved without recourse<br />
to violence. It cannot permit excepti<strong>on</strong>s where militant activities displace debate and<br />
c<strong>on</strong>sensus, otherwise any<strong>on</strong>e with any str<strong>on</strong>gly held view would be able to prevail over the<br />
majority. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> debate about animal experimentati<strong>on</strong> must be c<strong>on</strong>ducted in a reas<strong>on</strong>able and<br />
civilised manner. Seeking to force <str<strong>on</strong>g>research</str<strong>on</strong>g> out <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the country is not a soluti<strong>on</strong> to the<br />
complex issues it raises. We therefore fully c<strong>on</strong>cur <strong>on</strong> the issue <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> militant protest with <strong>on</strong>e<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the leading animal rights advocates, Pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>essor Peter Singer:<br />
21 See, for example the Initiative Gateway to Hell, available at: http://www.gatewaytohell.net. Accessed <strong>on</strong> April 21 2005.<br />
22 According to the ABPI, more than 65,000 people are directly employed by the pharmaceutical sector and a further 250,000 are<br />
dependent <strong>on</strong> it for their employment. In 2003, the industry c<strong>on</strong>tributed £2bn to the UK ec<strong>on</strong>omy and generated exports <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />
£7bn and a trade surplus <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> £2.3bn, the third highest after power generati<strong>on</strong> and oil products. Members <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ABPI spend a<br />
combined £30–70 milli<strong>on</strong> a year <strong>on</strong> security, see Hennock M (2004) Pharma firms take <strong>on</strong> the extremists BBC News <strong>on</strong>line,<br />
available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3933939.stm. Accessed <strong>on</strong> 21 April 2005; Evans M (2004) Extremist animal rights<br />
activists pose main threat to ec<strong>on</strong>omy <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Times <strong>on</strong>line, available at: http://www.times<strong>on</strong>line.co.uk/article/0,,2-1396891,00.html.<br />
Accessed <strong>on</strong> 21 April 2005.<br />
23 <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Bill received Royal assent <strong>on</strong> 11 April 2005 and thus became the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, available at:<br />
http://www.uk-legislati<strong>on</strong>.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts2005/20050015.htm. Accessed <strong>on</strong>: 5 May. Secti<strong>on</strong>s 145–149 make it a criminal<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence to cause ‘ec<strong>on</strong>omic damage’ by means <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> organised campaigns <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> intimidati<strong>on</strong>. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y are intended to improve the<br />
enforcement <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> legal sancti<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> attacks against businesses, company employees and their family members, charity shops and<br />
universities. In additi<strong>on</strong> to other measures in the Act, new <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fences are introduced to resp<strong>on</strong>d to typical forms <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protests.<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>se include a new <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> protesting outside some<strong>on</strong>e's home in such a way that causes harassment, alarm or distress to<br />
residents. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are additi<strong>on</strong>al powers for a c<strong>on</strong>stable to direct a protestor to leave the vicinity <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> a home and not return<br />
within such period as the c<strong>on</strong>stable may specify, up to three m<strong>on</strong>ths. Individuals guilty <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> an <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fence under secti<strong>on</strong> 142 or 143<br />
are liable, <strong>on</strong> summary c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong>, to impris<strong>on</strong>ment for a term not exceeding 12 m<strong>on</strong>ths or to a fine not exceeding the<br />
statutory maximum, or to both, <strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>victi<strong>on</strong> <strong>on</strong> indictment, to impris<strong>on</strong>ment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine,<br />
or to both. Since these provisi<strong>on</strong>s were agreed after the final meeting <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Working Party, we do not comment <strong>on</strong> the<br />
appropriateness <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the Act, although in principle we welcome regulati<strong>on</strong>s seeking to prevent harassment and intimidati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
272