60 advocacy groups sign letter calling on UBC to disclose records on animal experimentation
A Vancouver animal rights group is calling on the University of British Columbia to unleash information about its extensive animal research program. In a Thanksgiving Day letter to the school’s president, 60 advocacy groups led by Stop UBC Animal Research have asked for disclosure on experimentation.
The groups are hoping to learn the numbers and species of animals used over the last 10 years, get research protocols, find out who’s providing funding and to see photo and video documentation. Spokesman Brian Vincent says the information will allow members of the public to decide how they feel about the issue, although his group does ultimately hope to end testing.
The public appeal comes after the volunteer group says they’ve been repeatedly denied Freedom of Information requests and meetings with UBC officials. The group formed in February after a UBC student publication reported the university is one of the largest bio-medical campuses in Canada, using cats, pigs, rats and rabbits for research.
The Canadian Press