For Immediate Release

Christchurch Conference to be targeted by animal rights activists

Radical animal rights activists have threatened to attack and disrupt a large conference to be held in Christchurch in August. Activists say the World Congress of the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS), featuring some of the worlds most notorious vivisectors on the speaking list, will be held in Christchurch this August.

Animal rights activists from around the country are planning protests at the event and one activist group is already threatening to break the law. The Animal Liberation Front released a statement promising to attack the property of any businesses and sponsors associated with the conference.

A Wellington anti vivisection activist who is helping plan the lawful protests (seperate from the ALF) says many of the speakers at the IUPS Congress have built their careers on torturing animals in useless experiments. Mark Eden says he expects some activists will go to extreme lengths to disrupt the conference.

"One of the featured speakers at the IUPS congress is a Michael Stryker from the University of San Fransisco. Stryker sews kittens eyes shut and places electrodes into their brains. Then he puts an electric current throught their brains in sleep deprivation experiments. It is absolutely disgusting that people like him are being invited to speak in Christchurch".

"Most of the protestors coming to Christchurch will, like me, be protesting within the limits of the law, but we all understand why some people feel the need to break the law. We are concerned that the organisers are allowing scumbags like Michael Stryker and others to speak as honoured guests and that is sending a message to future scientists that vivisection is OK. We will be there to send a strong message that torturing animals in useless experiments is not science".

The Animal Liberation Front said in an anonymous statement released to other animal rights activists that conference sponsors including motels, travel agents and rental car companies supporting the IUPS congress will suffer property damage if they do not withdraw their support. They also threatened to disrupt another vivisection conference in Hamilton in June.

Mark Eden said, although he is not involved in the ALF, he supports their aims. "I think non violent property damage is quite a restrained and sensible reaction to what some of these vivisectors are doing. I think most Christchurch people will agree that the real criminals are the kitten torturers and other vivisectors that are speaking at this conference. Anyone involved in this conference would be seen as a legitimate target for economic sabotage by the ALF. Any of the sponsors of this vivisectors gathering who want to avoid having noisy protests, embarrassing negative publicity and possibly expensive window repairs can simply pull out of the conference." said Mr Eden.

The Animal Liberation Front runs campaigns of sabotage and property damage against businesses it sees as responsible for animal abuse. In 1995 and 1996 tens of thousands of dollars of damage was caused by ALF attacks against Christchurch butchers and fast food outlets. Mr Eden was one of only two people arrested on minor charges. On July 1st 1996, Mr Eden admitted in Chch District Court to damaging a hunting shop. He is no longer involved in the ALF but still supports their aims by legal means.

details of Michael Strykers experiments

http://www.vivisectioninfo.org/vivcampaigns/stryker.html

Christchurch IUPS Congress Official Website

http://www.iups2001.org.nz/

Contact number for Mark Eden and Wellington Animal Action

021 158 6554

Office (04) 385 6728

The Animal Liberation Front is an international underground movement of people who choose to take direct action against animal abuse industries. These actions include liberating animals from places of abuse, and economic sabotage through property destruction. The ALF adhere to strict guidelines of conduct which state that no injury or death must come to any animal or human in the course of the action.

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