We’re midway through World Week for Animals in Labs (WWAIL) so I thought I’d put together a little post about a few things that are going on.

WWAIL is a week when activists join forces to be a loud voice for the voiceless. There are millions of animals languishing in laboratories all over the world: rats, mice, cats, dogs, rabbits, primates, and others. Anytime is a good time for activism, but this week is a time when we can stand up together and say “no more.”

It’s a good time to remember to donate only to charities that don’t test on animals and buy household cleaners and cosmetics from companies that don’t test on animals either.

Victories

Just today, Harvard Medical School issued a statement announcing that the New England Primate Research Center will be closing within 24 months! The center has been embroiled in controversy following the negligent deaths of at least four primates. The facility is currently under investigation by the USDA and faces a potentially major federal fine for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act. This news couldn’t come soon enough! The animals deserve a chance to live out the rest of their lives at sanctuaries. Read the details at the Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) website.

Last month the entire European Union–that’s 27 countries and half a billion people–banned the sale of new cosmetic products containing ingredients tested on animals. The ban goes into effect immediately, and will prevent testing on countless animals. Real progress comes from non-animal research such as genomic tests, human cell cultures, medical imaging and clinical trials. Read more about why animal testing is a bad idea.

Action

Look for WWAIL events in your area and join the growing number of people who say no to cruelty.

If you’re in the Seattle area, you can join the Northwest Animal Rights Network (NARN) at a demo this Saturday, April 27th from noon to 2 pm in front of the University of Washington Primate Experimentation facility at 3000 Western Avenue in Seattle, WA.

Hidden inside this dark, unmarked building, 700 primates live and die in the name of research. They are subjected to painful surgeries and traumatic procedures until their usefulness is over. The building is the main facility for the UW National Primate Research Center, the largest of eight across the country.

NARN wants to educate passers-by about what goes on behind the walls of the “blue building” and hold researchers accountable. They need to know that what they are doing to animals is not going unnoticed and that it will be challenged until it stops.