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World Week for Animals in Laboratories

Please join In Defense of Animals during World Week for Animals in Laboratories (WWAIL) to speak out against the abhorrent use of animals in testing and research.

Every day, more scientific and technological advances are being made that could help end animal experimentation. In fact, in response to the $10 billion budget increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) included in the Recovery Act, IDA compiled a report on promising but under-funded non-animal methods of research and sent it to the advisory council of every NIH institute. Even government reports, agencies and scientists have begun to acknowledge the need to move away from animal research.

Yet, every day, more animals are "sacrificed" to the inaccurate and unethical enterprise of vivisection than the day before. Apparently, the new administration's supposed scrutiny of the federal budget "line by line" to eliminate wasteful spending has overlooked ludricrous animal experiments. Last year, IDA began to highlight ridiculous research with a letter to Senate leaders and a letter to President Obama. This year, we intensified this attention with the launch of our Ridiculous Research campaign and our list of the Top 10 Reasons Why Animal Research is a Cruel Joke.

Here are some examples of the studies on the Top 10 List:

• Female rats might enjoy vaginal stimulation (Dartmouth);
• Baby chimpanzees need nurturing (Emory University/Yerkes National Primate Center);
• Trapped rats freak out (San Diego State U., Colorado State U., U. of Arizona);
• Lizards forced to fight get stressed and then decapitated (Harvard and Univ. of South Dakota);
• Castrated monkeys are less dominant (NIH’s internal intramural labs in Bethesda, Maryland).

Why do experiments like these still exist at the expense of innovative scientific methods? Because the status quo will not change until we change it - and many educators, legislators, and activists will have to rally their forces before the archaic, bureaucratic machinery of vivisection gives way to the science of the future.

• Organize an event in your area, such as a demonstration or educational table. Click here to read about the many different ways that you can get involved in 2010. Email us at wwail@idausa.org to let us know if you will be planning an event, if you would like us to find examples of absurd experiments at a research institution near you, or if you just need more information.
• Send a letter to the editor or your local newspaper. Click here for sample letters and guidelines.
• Write to President Obama and urge him to stand by his promise to end wasteful government programs. Contact the Office of Public Liaison ("the front door to the White House through which everyone can participate and inform the work of the President").
• Visit our online action page to lend your voice to our various vivisection campaigns.

Your actions are urgently needed to help end the suffering of animals in laboratories. There's never been a better time to advocate for change.