MoD considers ditching ‘agonising’ live goat experiments
The Ministry of Defence is considering abandoning deep-diving experiments which induce agonising decompression sickness in live goats after complaints from animal rights groups.
Live testing was suspended in March and a review committee of six experts is now examining alternatives such as computer-modelling techniques to duplicate the effects of "the bends" - the often lethal effect of nitrogen bubbles in the bloodstream.
The tests, previously carried out by defence research company QinetiQ at a facility in Gosport, involve subjecting goats to various pressures in a hyperbaric chamber.
The results are used to help improve escape drills and equipment for Royal Navy personnel in case a submarine is stranded on the seabed.
The effects of decompression sickness, brought on by rising too quickly to the surface from the intense pressure encountered at depth, include joint pain, visual disturbances, loss of balance, breathing difficulties, paralysis and death. The animals which survived initial tests at Gosport were often used in a series of painful experiments for up to five years before being culled and undergoing post-mortem examination of their spinal cords and brain tissue.
Goats were used because their respiratory physiology closely resembles that of humans.
Hyperbaric tests with goats have been conducted since 1905. Critics say that the data collected from thousands of experiments over more than a century should be more than sufficient to justify ending live testing and provide a base for computer simulations.
The French navy has already abandoned its own live-test programme in favour of more humane methods.
An MoD spokesman confirmed: "A number of studies reviewing the need for further use of goats in this research programme are currently being undertaken.
"These studies take into account the MoD's duty of care to sustain the health and welfare of submarine crews and to provide them with the ability to operate safely and effectively.
"The teams are investigating a range of options for submarine escape and rescue, and life support, including and excluding animal experimentation. Any plans for further experiments using goats are subject to the findings of this review."
A spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front said: "We call on QinetiQ to halt these experiments and hand all surviving animals over to suitable animal protection groups."
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Posted by: Brennan Borwne on 12:17am Mon 15 Oct 07
The concept of 'animal rights' values the simple premise that ALL living creatures have a "right" to be allowed to live their lives as originally intended; without victimization--free from brutality. It is a right that EVERY being strives for.
~Brennan Browne~
The concept of 'animal rights' values the simple premise that ALL living creatures have a "right" to be allowed to live their lives as originally intended; without victimization--free from brutality. It is a right that EVERY being strives for.
~Brennan Browne~
Posted by: BM, Glasgow on 12:19am Mon 15 Oct 07
It is not surprising that the MOD,a government department with the sole purpose of inflicting cruelty, suffering an death on innocent people , should be equally cruel to animals.
It is not surprising that the MOD,a government department with the sole purpose of inflicting cruelty, suffering an death on innocent people , should be equally cruel to animals.
Posted by: Guga, Rockall on 3:33am Mon 15 Oct 07
They've been conducting these experiments with goats since 1905, and they still haven't figured it all out. They must be totally incompetent as well as cruel. In any event, don't they share their research work in this area with scientists all over the world? I presume they do, and they should have known that they were probably the only ones continuing to conduct such barbaric experiments.
I would suggest that, in future, they use Ron Browne for their experiments.
They've been conducting these experiments with goats since 1905, and they still haven't figured it all out. They must be totally incompetent as well as cruel. In any event, don't they share their research work in this area with scientists all over the world? I presume they do, and they should have known that they were probably the only ones continuing to conduct such barbaric experiments.
I would suggest that, in future, they use Ron Browne for their experiments.
Posted by: Guga, Rockall on 3:37am Mon 15 Oct 07
Sorry, that should have been Des Browne. All these Broons in the New Labour Numpty Party are a bit confusing.
Sorry, that should have been Des Browne. All these Broons in the New Labour Numpty Party are a bit confusing.
Posted by: Willie on 6:37am Mon 15 Oct 07
To Guga
Why stop at Des Browne?
I can think of a few more but they probably don't have any blood in their veins!
Yes good idea, a very good idea. Environmentally sound too as it would clean things up a bit.
To Guga
Why stop at Des Browne?
I can think of a few more but they probably don't have any blood in their veins!
Yes good idea, a very good idea. Environmentally sound too as it would clean things up a bit.
Posted by: Animal Rights, Oban on 7:13am Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote]What a world eh???
Its full of BAASTAARDS.
Why not try it yourself you MURDERING SCUMBAGS????
SAVE THE EARTH FROM MORONS.[/quote]
[quote]quote[/quote]
Well said.
What a world eh???
Its full of BAASTAARDS.
Why not try it yourself you MURDERING SCUMBAGS????
SAVE THE EARTH FROM MORONS.
quote
Well said.
Posted by: Suzanne Cass, Tasmania on 8:15am Mon 15 Oct 07
It is just beyond comprehension what possible rationale can support this appalling cruelty. How could the results on goats be remotely relevant to humans? But that, of course, is the case with animal experiments. It just keeps a whole lot of cruel and incompetent people in jobs carrying out shocking experiments on all types of animals which are all worthless. Remember thalidomide, vioxx and more. Stop these monstrous and obscene tests immediately. This makes one really hope for a "judgment day" when all these people are judged and forever damned by the animals they spend their lives torturing.
It is just beyond comprehension what possible rationale can support this appalling cruelty. How could the results on goats be remotely relevant to humans? But that, of course, is the case with animal experiments. It just keeps a whole lot of cruel and incompetent people in jobs carrying out shocking experiments on all types of animals which are all worthless. Remember thalidomide, vioxx and more. Stop these monstrous and obscene tests immediately. This makes one really hope for a "judgment day" when all these people are judged and forever damned by the animals they spend their lives torturing.
Posted by: Loca, glasgow on 10:02am Mon 15 Oct 07
Regardless of what benefit it may bring, right or wrong, when it coumes to animal testing I must question what kind of person it takes to subject an animal to what is basically torture and how on earth they can live with themselves?
Regardless of what benefit it may bring, right or wrong, when it coumes to animal testing I must question what kind of person it takes to subject an animal to what is basically torture and how on earth they can live with themselves?
Posted by: Rab The Man, Was My Uncle on 12:15pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Shocking story..but why are we surprised.
These MOD b****rds aren't interested in OUR SOLDIERS far less these poor goats.
No civilised person should tolerate this kind of research which seems to have been going on for (really) ONE HUNDRED YEARS......I mean, if they ain't sorted out the research etc by now.....what IS the point of all of this anyhow?? A national disgrace....what kind of people ARE we??
Shocking story..but why are we surprised.
These MOD b****rds aren't interested in OUR SOLDIERS far less these poor goats.
No civilised person should tolerate this kind of research which seems to have been going on for (really) ONE HUNDRED YEARS......I mean, if they ain't sorted out the research etc by now.....what IS the point of all of this anyhow?? A national disgrace....what kind of people ARE we??
Posted by: Thomas Payne, Glasgow on 12:40pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Given that the MOD and the British Government, with Gordon Brown at the heart of it, conjoined with the US Empire and it's civilian contractors, to murder thousands of completely innocent men, women, children and babies in Iraq, inflicting horrifying injuries, and succeeded in bombing the modern infrastructure back to the Stone Age, one would hardly expect that they would have any care for any life, goat or otherwise.
Given that the MOD and the British Government, with Gordon Brown at the heart of it, conjoined with the US Empire and it's civilian contractors, to murder thousands of completely innocent men, women, children and babies in Iraq, inflicting horrifying injuries, and succeeded in bombing the modern infrastructure back to the Stone Age, one would hardly expect that they would have any care for any life, goat or otherwise.
Posted by: Thomas Payne, Glasgow on 12:51pm Mon 15 Oct 07
The MOD, and the Labour Party and Blair/Brown Government, conjoined with the US Empire, and their civilian contractors, to kill countless thousands of innocent men, women, and children, some only babies, in Iraq. Gordon Brown was at the heart of it at the beginning, and remains there. Many others have died and continue to die in Afghanistan. The murderous occupation continues. The infrastructure has been bombed back to the stone age.
They are unlikely to have care for any form of life, goat or otherwise.
The MOD, and the Labour Party and Blair/Brown Government, conjoined with the US Empire, and their civilian contractors, to kill countless thousands of innocent men, women, and children, some only babies, in Iraq. Gordon Brown was at the heart of it at the beginning, and remains there. Many others have died and continue to die in Afghanistan. The murderous occupation continues. The infrastructure has been bombed back to the stone age.
They are unlikely to have care for any form of life, goat or otherwise.
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