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Wednesday, May 17, 2006

My Adventure Presenting Animal Rights Philosophy to the FBI

Posted by Eric @ 6:33 PM

Charlotte Laws has a story about her experience presenting to the FBI footage from inside labs that test on animals. It was also picked up by other outlets, like American Chronicle. Personally, I'm glad to see a voice getting inside the organization, though I have my skepticism as to how much they'll actually listen, as opposed to just getting inside AR heads.

I think the highlight is here:
My presentation began with undercover video footage inside a vivisection lab. It showed a man in a white coat pounding on a Beagle puppy and forcing tubes down several dogs’ throats; the animals were clearly in distress. I surmised cleaning liquids or pesticides would be poured down the tubes since they were routinely tested at this lab. In another clip, monkeys screamed while their penises were electrocuted by scientists.

Andy shouted from the back of the room, “The FBI will prosecute this sort of cruelty if videos like this are brought to our attention.”

I pointed out that obtaining undercover video is illegal in itself, even more so with the advent of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which states that a person can be prosecuted if he or she causes over $10,000 worth of economic damage to a corporation that uses animals. Showing undercover video could cause investors to sell their stocks, decimating profits. Those who unveil the video could face time in prison and fines.

In addition, I told the crowd that it was unlikely the barbarous treatment of dogs and monkeys in the footage was against the law. And even if it was, prosecution tends to result in nothing more than a slap on the wrist. Because animals are property, and the law generally finds it acceptable to use and kill animals for human gain, imposing prison terms and steep fines on large corporations—who have even larger lawyers--is rare.
There's more to the story than this, of course, what with the call she receives, the suspicion about the FBI's intentions, and so on, so you may want to check it out.

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