Achievements
Social change always takes much longer than we would like, and having so many vested interests against us, it sometimes seems as though we are making very little progress in the fight against animal experiments. We have therefore compiled a list of HRA’s major accomplishments over the past few years. The list is of course not exhaustive, and does not include the submissions written, media releases, letters to newspapers, expos attended and presentations given (all part of our day to day work), but it does give some indication of our achievements to date.
2005
Humane Charities List
After relocating from Sydney to Melbourne, and under the stewardship of a new staff and Management Committee, HRA (then called Australian Association for Humane Research) took over administration of the Humane Charities List – an online resource to help donors identify which health and medical research charities do NOT conduct nor fund animal-based research. The list continues to grow each year and is approaching 100 ‘humane’ charities.
2006
Andre Menache tour
In May 2006, Humane Research Australia funded and organised a visit to Australia by Dr Andre Menache – a veterinary surgeon and leading international opponent of animal experimentation.
HRA arranged for meetings with several key bodies including the Principal Medical Advisor of the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) and the Animal Research Review Panel NSW; conducted several media interviews; and presented to audiences at CSIRO, St Vincent Hospital Cardiology, Victor Chan Institute, Melbourne and Monash Universities as well as public seminars.
Alternatives to fetal calf serum (FCS)
Our meeting and presentation to the CSIRO (part of the above tour) identified a concern of many researchers about the use of fetal calf serum - commonly used in cell and tissue cultures as a source of nutrients, hormones and growth factors. Concerns were raised (by the researchers) about the cruel sourcing of the product (cardiac puncture of calf fetuses found in pregnant cows at the abattoir) as well as the high risk of viral contamination to biological samples.
HRA undertook to locate sources of synthetic alternatives which eliminated both the ethical and scientific concerns about fetal calf serum use. The information was passed on to universities and other research institutions around Australia and the feedback we received from several researchers was very positive indicating a move away from FCS use.
Production of ‘Beyond the Cage’
Many consider animal experimentation to be a complex issue and therefore even those who strongly oppose the practice avoid discussion of the topic. HRA therefore worked closely with a production company to create an educational DVD titled “Beyond the Cage” which is aimed at outlining the main arguments against animal-based research in simple and understandable terms. As part of this project we interviewed Dr Andre Menache and Australian veterinarian Dr Andrew Knight. We were also able to acquire the assistance of popular television personality Susie Wilks to introduce the program.
The resulting 15 minute DVD has been made available to schools around Australia and is also available online at Wasabi TV.
2007
Publication of ‘Animal Experimentation – a necessary evil?’
Education is an area that we feel is of huge importance. Many members support our work simply because it is cruel and unethical to conduct invasive research on animals. While this reason alone should be sufficient, it is simply not enough if we are to engage in debate. It is so important that we are aware of the scientific arguments against animal research, understand how the system works and are able to challenge the justifications of the pro-animal research advocates. For this reason we produced the booklet “Animal Experimentation – a necessary evil?” It provides an overview of the types of research conducted in Australia, statistics, legislation and protection, species differences, examples of where animal research has caused delays and disasters, why it continues and the alternatives. The booklet is not an in-depth study but provides an overview of the issue so that members, supporters, students etc are provided with a basic understanding. The booklet is freely available to schools and libraries and can also be downloaded from our website.
Launch of our Case Studies
There is a public misconception that animals used in experiments are protected through the presence of ethics committees, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Code of Practice. There is also the view that it is “only” rats and mice that are used. Of course we know that neither of these is true. There are still horrific procedures that are still carried out on all types of animals – procedures that the general public are largely unaware of. We are attempting to address that by reporting on what really does occur in Australia.
The case studies listed on our website demonstrate that the experiments that occur behind lab doors are not some exaggerated claims from yesteryear. They are happening right here and now.
Jonathan Balcombe presentation
Taking advantage of his visit to Australia, HRA hosted an evening with Dr Jonathan Balcombe, an author and animal behaviourist who has written many papers on humane education and opposing animal experimentation. The evening was to assist Dr Balcombe launch his book Pleasurable Kingdom and also so educate and inspire our members and supporters.
2008
Green Ribbon campaign
HRA initiated Green Ribbon Week in 2008, to highlight the existence of research methods that avoid the use of animals and to promote these alternatives as the most effective and humane strategy to eliminate human diseases and provide safer medicines. Green Ribbon Week is celebrated in April each year, to commemorate World Week for Animals in Laboratories and has been gaining momentum since its inception.
The campaign was inspired by the need for a platform which empowered individuals and communities to voice their opposition to animal testing in a positive, non-threatening manner. In 2011, we were fortunate enough to obtain the support of Lush Cosmetics whose staff wore our green ribbons and displayed our posters in each of their stores.
Public opinion poll
In late 2008 HRA engaged market research firm, Nexus Research to measure Australian public perceptions on the issue of animal experimentation.
We undertook the work because as we plan our campaigns, in order to ensure we are focused on the areas where we can be most effective, we needed to understand:
- the current level of awareness of the experiments carried out in Australia;
- the level of public support or opposition to animal experimentation; and
- what segments of our community supports or opposes animal experimentation.
In addition, this barometer of public opinion enables us to measure how effective our efforts are at bringing about positive change, by comparing public opinion in another poll in the future. Some of the findings are outlined below.
- Only 62% of respondents were aware that animals are used in experimental research in Australia.
- Only 14% of respondents believe it is safe to transfer results of animal experiments to apply to humans
- Only 23% believe that humans have the moral right to experiment on animals
- In terms of the numbers of animals used in experiments each year (approximately 7 million) nearly 90% believe that this number should be reduced
- 79% believe medical research grants should be used at least in part to find alternatives to animal experiments.
- 47% of respondents indicated that they would not donate to a medical research or charity if they knew that it would be funding animal experiments
2009
Art and Poetry competition
Our Art and poetry competition was a strategy to get secondary school age students to consider animal experiments. The entries received from across Australia confirmed to us that there is very little knowledge about animal research in this age group but it is heartening to see that it is an issue that these students, once aware, have become very passionate about. Some very positive feedback was received including one comment from a teacher in Whyalla who said “The kids have been enjoying the project and it’s an eye opener too!”
The competition was generously sponsored by Kodak and Pure Geisha toiletries which each provided prizes.
Production of television advert
A pivotal role of HRA is to raise public awareness of animal experimentation so that future policy can be influenced by public support for alternative non-animal methodologies in research. We were fortunate enough, by way of a small bequest, to produce three 15 second television and radio commercials. These commercials are non-confrontational but relay three key facts:
- The number of animals used for research in Australia is over 7 million every year.
- Testing drugs on animals has never guaranteed they will work in humans
- It’s impossible to predict through animal testing how 9 out of 10 drugs will behave in humans.
2010
Kitty McSporran Saves the Animals – with the help of her magic cape
‘Kitty McSporran Saves the Animals’ was written by one of our members and HRA covered the cost of publication. This colourful story book is aimed at a much younger audience and addresses this taboo subject in a non-confronting way. Readers share in Kitty’s discovery that by not accepting the status quo, we can show compassion to other animals AND further medical research.
It is freely available to schools and libraries.
‘Broken’ video
One of our very talented supporters, singer and songwriter Kerryn Vaughan allowed us to use her heart-wrenching song ‘Broken’ to use on a video about animal experimentation. The video is shown at all expos we attend and has been circulated widely through international animal groups and social media providing factual information and raising awareness of this important issue.
Provision of pound dogs to Queensland University
HRA has campaigned against the use of pound dogs in veterinary teaching since 2006. Together with our members and supporters we have engaged in ongoing correspondence with the councils involved, the Minister for Primary Industries (Tim Mulherin) and the University of Queensland Veterinary School. We have collected petitions which have been tabled in Parliament and we have personally presented a detailed submission - backed by international experts - to the Minister's Animal Welfare Advisory Committee which, at the request of the Minister, had undertaken a thorough review of the issue.
Upon completion of the review AWAC's recommendations were made to the Minister. They advised that the use of pound dogs for veterinary teaching should be phased out as soon as possible.
Leo – rescued from a laboratory
Leo first came to our attention in August 2010 when he was released from a testing facility. He was extremely lucky as most animals are killed after experiments are complete. Leo had been part of a study aimed at improving surgical techniques for vision correction in humans. His nictitating membranes (third eyelids) had been surgically removed, but unlike several other cats, he was not implanted with contact lenses as he was part of a control group. Prior to this, he had been used in vaccination studies at another facility.
With the help of local and Sydney-based rescue groups, HRA arranged for Leo to be relocated to Melbourne and rehabilitated with a foster carer. Leo is now in a safe and loving home and has assisted our work by putting a face to the huge statistics we present on animal experiments.
2011
Interview on The Kerri Anne Show
HRA was given the rare opportunity to be interviewed live on The Kerri Anne show to discuss controversial chimpanzee experiments in the United States. Whilst we were very limited by the questions asked and the time allocated, this was a unique opportunity to raise the issue of animal experimentation to a far reaching audience on prime time television which our advertising budget could never allow. The interview can be viewed online.
New Internationalist debate with Laurie Pycroft of Pro-Test
HRA was also invited to participate in a debate with Laurie Pycroft from Oxford University group 'Pro-Test' about the necessity of animal testing in medical research.
The debate is available online.
This publication reaches an international audience so it was a wonderful opportunity to get the truth out there - that animal experiments are both unethical AND scientifically flawed – and also to raise the profile of HRA
Importation of primates for research purposes
Our current primary campaign is to stop the importation of primates for research purposes.
Australia is currently home to three government-funded primate breeding facilities - the National Marmoset and Macaque Facilities at Churchill, Victoria and the National Baboon Facility in Sydney, all of which breed animals specifically for the purpose of being used in research.
Despite this "ready supply", macaque monkeys continue to be imported from Indonesia. More detailed information on this campaign can be obtained from our most recent bulletin ‘Monkey Madness’.
Together with our supporters, we are collecting petitions to present to the House of Representatives seeking a ban. We are also distributing postcards for people to send to the Minister for Health and Ageing and the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population & Communities.
HRA considers this to be an opportune time to implement a ban as the code of practice for the use of non-human primates for scientific purposes – a document which currently allows for the use of imported primates – is under review and due for public consultation.
