Sir, Dr James Robinson says (letter, August 25): “Our society is perfectly capable of conducting the ethical debate (about animal experiments) in a fair and objective manner.” And so it should. The problem is that the animal research community, aided by the Government, does everything to stifle that debate by opposing the release of meaningful information about what is done to animals in laboratories, or why it is being done to them — very often for reasons not to do with medical research.

The Home Office fiercely resists applications from responsible organisations for information under the Freedom of Information Act. It will publish only brief summaries of licences, written by the researchers themselves. These summaries conceal more than they reveal, and play down the suffering involved.

It is evident from their secretive approach that it is animal researchers who fear an open debate, not the many people opposed to animal experiments.

ADOLFO SANSOLINI
Highbury, London

From the General Secretary of the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research

Sir, With millions of animal experiments routinely conducted each year, it is not surprising that 500 scientists are prepared to sign a declaration supporting them (reports, August 25).

The Dr Hadwen Trust doesn’t think that animal experiments are really the best that science can do. The trust is a registered charity that promotes work to replace animal experiments in medical research and supports scientists from around the globe gathered this week in Berlin to discuss the latest advances in replacing animal experiments at the 5th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences.

TERRY HUXTABLE
Hitchin, Hertfordshire
info@drhadwentrust.org.uk

From Mr Robert Dewar

Sir, It seems to me that the cold, callous application of systematised torment to animals over a lengthy period is intrinsically immoral. However, I am equally opposed to the more outrageous and vicious forms of protest undertaken by animal rights extremists. Sustained campaigns of violent intimidation and criminal damage are inappropriate to a just cause.

ROBERT DEWAR
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire

Explore Letters

• Feedback