Hey. You know how laws against queer people never really mask off say that they’re for queer persecution? You know how they always have to wrap it in a layer of “saving the children” or “protecting women”, when the goal is actually the destruction of queer groups without actually any improvements to the lives of children or women? You know how the cherry pick examples without context of queer people committing horrible Acts, most of the times in completely false ways, try and make their point?
A bill to destroy biomedical research as we know it just got introduced to Congress with a similar tactic.
The SPARE act would ban all use of vertebrate animals for biomedical research in the United states. It’s dressed in language of animal welfare, into aims to tap into the Publix lack of knowledge about how animal research is used and why is necessary. Not easier, necessary.
I can go into great detail about why this is, but I’m going to put this as simply as possible. There is an inherent paradox to not using animals for biomedical research. If you know enough about a factor or disease or whatever, that you are studying, replicated in a model system and no, for a fact that this model system reflects the reality of how that factor operates in a complete organism, then you know enough about that factor by definition to none use an animal. And therefore, no research is even necessary. If something is being researched, somewhere in the thread of that research, there will be an animal study involved. Maybe not in that particular paper, maybe not in that particular research group, but something that group cites, some continuation of that research, some thing that is necessary to actually provide a meaningful understanding about human or animal biology, must involve a research animal at some point in the process.
Anyone who has done animal research understands this is the case. Anyone who has done animal research also understands that there are great standards put in place by University IACUCs to maintain ethical standards. Are there lapses? Of course. And you’re about to hear about *all* of them, without context, without the thousands of examples of lives that have been saved by disease research. And of course, we already *have* systems of accountability.
Animal testing is a delicate topic across the political spectrum. And for good reason. However, I don’t think very many people outside of the field truly understand how necessary it is to gain literally any understanding about biological systems, nor the systems of accountability that already exist to ensure it’s done ethically and meaningfully.
The goal is destruction of research science in this country. If this bill passes I’m genuinely doubtful that I will ever be able to be employed in this country again.
Please, PLEASE urge your representatives to do something about this.
Urge Congress to Oppose the SPARE Act
Oh and by the way- if you needed any indication that this law is bullshit and they don’t care about animal welfare, any testing on military and police animals is a specifically allowed exception.
And remember:
You are not immune to propaganda.
They’re going to talk about the cutest and fluffiest puppies and kittens you can imagine, and portray scientists and butchers.
They’re going to ignore any and all existing scientific practices and ethical standards, and hit you right in your basal emotional reactions.
👆 if you needed any indication that this law is bullshit and they don’t care about animal welfare, any testing on military and police animals is a specifically allowed exception 👆
amhrancas 