The Animal Rights Conference 2010 commenced this year in the United States of America's capitol city – Washington D.C., Virginia. The conference went from July 15th to July 19th and brought in a record attendance of just over 1000 people. Many work shops and speakers talking to interested parties of their own experience of animal activism from education to investigations. The conference had its own amazing ambiance however there was a separate unorganized group of activists that came together to push a 10 year campaign to shutdown Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). Huntingdon Life Sciences is a corporation that test on animals for all sorts of products that the average consumer ignorantly supports. Animals are subjected to these products on a daily basis for useless tests that do nothing but kill hundreds of animals everyday. The choice animals are ones that are more docile than others like beagle dogs, cats, rabbits, monkeys, mice and rats. The testing consists of many factors depending on the product and almost all of the testing is done with no anesthetic! These animals truly suffer and the testing goes until 50 percent die – LD50 is what this test is called. The remaining living animals that were subjected to the same test that did not perish are then killed so new untested animals can be brought into the lab. The animal rights activists that took it upon themselves to continue this 10-year Campaign to shut down HLS and any affiliate investors that want to support this horrific industry. They hopped onto the shuttle and made their way to the Washington Metro where they grew in strength through numbers of compassionate individuals. These individuals made their way to different areas of Washington D.C. to confront these investors and shareholders at their homes. The police come on scene quite fast and are presumably already warned by undercover agents that hang out in the AR Conference atmosphere. However the police do not speak one word to the activists, they do not touch any activists, they only follow them and keep the peace at any and all destinations. The 40 to 50 animal activists made their way to 3 homes on the first day – 2 homes on the second day – and on the third day being a Monday it was time for the businesses to be subjected to the horror. Always starting with the same speech of asking the investor to nicely “Cut their ties to HLS” and the protest against them will end. These investors had a deadline that passed just hours before arriving at their homes to show that the demands were real. Now that the campaign against them has started they will be subjected to any individual globally that wants to fight for the animals that are being tested and killed from their investment. The activists could go to churches, banks, celebrations, work, office, and Christmas parties to name a few to subject them to the “Blood Money” they are profiting from by the murder of animals. The activists really accomplished what they set out to do and that was exposing the investor to his/her neighbors by expressing the information of HLS. They used powerful chants – Signs – and numbers to show they were not backing down from saving animals being abused and killed. All activists involved yelled the chants and it never skipped a beat making it sound like an American football game. These brought out many neighbors curious about the protest occurring and were educated on the specific investor/shareholder's life. Some neighbors became irate and engaged in yelling at some protesting individuals however the police would intervene and remove the neighbor allowing the activists to continue their action. Being amongst this group of activists I have to say it was very powerful in many ways! First the police keep their distance – their words to themselves; second being surrounded by experienced activists from around the world speaking for the voiceless gave me goosebumps of energy! When 40 to 50 people chant together for animals you cannot help but to feel change and positive thoughts for the future children and animals to come! Its time to put the Garden of Eden back on top of the list of things to do! ** Bob Timmons is a Canada-based animal activist and proponent of animal rights throughout the world. BM
