PETA’S ‘Alien Scientist’ Ad Turns Tables On Vivisection-Supporting Michael Howard

For Immediate Release:
23 February 2010

Contact:
Sam Glover 020 7357 9229, ext 229; [email protected] 

Folkestone, Kent – The recent release of Ministry of Defence documents revealing numerous reports of UFO sightings close to then-Home Secretary Michael Howard’s home in 1997 has prompted PETA to place a new ad in bus shelters in his constituency featuring an “alien scientist” seeking “specimens for medical experiments”. At the time of the sightings in Lympne, a UFO-monitoring group speculated that the aliens may have been specifically targeting Howard, as Home Secretary, Howard was legally responsible for authorising experiments on millions of animals during his time in office. Although it may never be known if “aliens” were targeting the minister, the ad makes the point that being experimented on by “superior” beings is of little comfort to research “subjects”.

Although the future of testing lies in sophisticated computer assays, cell cultures and ethical human research, millions of mice, rats, dogs, cats, rabbits, primates and other animals continue to be confined to barren laboratory cages, where they are denied everything that is natural and important to them. Experimenters force-feed chemicals to animals, conduct repeated surgeries on them, implant wires in animals’ brains, crush their spines, blind them and much more. In the UK, Freedom of Information does not apply to animal research, so while information about UFOs is freely available to the public, real suffering in laboratories remains shrouded in secrecy.

“Being abducted by aliens for experiments may be the stuff of sci-fi horror and our worst nightmares, but it is all too real for millions of animals in laboratories”, says PETA’s Alistair Currie. “We hope our ad will make people stop and think about how horrifying it must be to have your body left to science while you’re still in it.”

The bus shelter ad will be placed at Bouverie Square Bus Station, Folkestone CT20 1BA, for two weeks starting 15 March.

For more information about PETA, please visit PETA.org.uk.