Purrs 4 Peace Week 34 Announcement: Experiments Aren't Monkey Business

Photo credit: www.Copyright-free-photos.org.uk

Last October NASA announced a grant of $1.75 million in public funds for a research project in with 18-28 squirrel monkeys would be blasted with a massive dose of radiation. This “experiment” is mean to simulate the radiation a human would be subjected to during three years in space. The monkeys would then spend the rest of their lives trapped in cages, their brains and bodies studied for the damage such radiation would cause. It is generally believed that this type of radiation exposure will cause fatal cancer and brain tumors in the monkeys. However, like all animal experiments the applicability to humans is questionable due to psychological and anatomical differences between humans and squirrel monkeys. But we can be certain that these sensitive and intelligent animals will suffer…all paid for by the U.S. taxpayer.

A number of high profile organizations and individuals have publically called for a stop to this project. Indeed, Scientific American has reported that The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), based in Washington, D.C. has sent an appeal to NASA’s administrator urging that this project be suspended.

I urge everyone to write to their elected representatives urging that action be taken to stop the spending of public funds on the torture of these animals in this cruel experiment. Any kind of animal experimentation is abhorrent to me. My human and I take pains to avoid purchasing products from companies that use animal testing. It sickens me that my human is being forced to fund animal torture. She has already contacted her representatives to protest.

And in addition to written protest, this week we will purrrrrrrrrr.

Week 34 of Purrs 4 Peace details are as follows:

• Week thirty-four’s appointed time is Sunday, January 31, 2010.• Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 3 p.m. EST (U.S.) which is 8:00 p.m. (20:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.

• The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.

• Please post your cat name and the country you purr in at http://www.confuciuscat.blogspot.com/ as a COMMENT if you are participating in this historic project. (posting a link to your own website-if you have one-is encouraged.) Or let me know by message on twitter or facebook.

• Posting purrs on facebook ( Acolytes of Confucius Cat or as friend to Alley Mason) and twitter (@ConfuciusCat) is encouraged, since it inspires purring in others, but not required. On twitter please use #purrs4peace in your tweets.

Peace * Paix * Frieden * Vrede * Pace * Paz * Shalom * Fred * Salaam * Om Shanti * Heddwch * Síochán * 和平