Protestors Converge In Christchurch - International Vivisectors' Conference In Christchurch Next Week

Anti-vivisection campaigners are planning a series of protests against a major animal research conference in Christchurch starting this weekend. The international meeting of animal researchers starts this Sunday and large numbers of animal rights activists from around the country are arriving in Christchurch to protest. Protests will be many and varied.

The International Union of Physiological Sciences are having their World Congress in Christchurch from August 26th to 31st. Coalition Against Vivisection spokesperson Mark Eden says many of the speakers are involved in pointless and cruel animal experiments.

'One of the main speakers, Michael Stryker from the University of San Francisco, sews kittens eyes shut and drills holes in their skulls and inserts electrodes into their brains in sleep deprivation experiments. Other topics to be discussed at the conference include experimenting on the brains of cats and dogs, experimenting with electric shocks on erect rats penises, and studying the brains of genetically modified mice' said Mr. Eden.

'We are appalled that the New Zealand scientific community is hosting a conference that features some of the world's most notorious vivisectors. Animal experiments are cruel and unnecessary. Inviting vivisectors to speak in Christchurch is a step backwards for science in this country.'

Anti vivisection campaigners from many different groups around the country will be in Christchurch for protests against the conference with the first of many protests timed for Sunday afternoon. All public protests will be non-violent. Other events during the week of the conference are also planned, however details of these may not be made public.

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