Packed Union chamber backs testing
Members of the Oxford Union voted emphatically in support of animal testing at a record-breaking debate last Thursday. In the biggest turn out for a Trinity debate for six years, the chamber filled to its full 450 capacity and voted by 85 per cent against the motion “This House Would Not Test on Animals”. Founder of Pro-Test Laurie Pycroft was met with applause as he rose to speak first for the opposition.
Pycroft, 16, is the youngest person ever to participate as a guest speaker in a formal debate. In addition, the opposition gathered together formidable science brains Lord Robert Winston and Professor Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive of the British Medical Research Council and Professor of Physiology at Oxford. Amongst the proposition speakers were spoon-bender Uri Geller, as well as British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection Campaign Director Alistair Curry.
President of the Oxford Union David Powell said, “It proved to be a discussion about the principles and morals of animal testing, presenting a much needed fresh perspective on a debate which has become increasingly obfuscated by the actions of certain animal rights protestors. “The result of the debate does show a greater sense of student support for the research centre, and should give the university authorities more confidence in pushing ahead with the labs.
“The debate needs to be had, and the Union is the best place in Oxford for it to happen; it’s a space independent of the university, and has no stance on the topics it presents for discussion.” Pro-Test spokesman Iain Simpson said, “The Oxford Union is obviously a very high profile institution. The fact that 85 per cent of the house supported animal testing confirms the strength of support for the lab.
It’s also great that such a high profile speaker as Robert Winston supported our side in the debate.” SPEAK spokesman Mel Broughton was invited to the event, but declined as he felt he was invited with insufficient notice. He claimed that the debate was only arranged when a previous event was cancelled. “On the admission of the President we were a gap-filler.” Powell, however, stated, “Speakers for the opposition and proposition were both invited at such short notice.
When questioned about the result of the vote, Broughton said, “If you look at the types of people invited to speak on our side, Uri Gellar for example, it was clearly a set-up.” A film crew from Channel 4 Learning attended the debate, recording Laurie Pycroft for a series on youth activism, which will be broadcast in June. Pycroft said, “It was a very interesting debate and an opportunity to exchange ideas.
Apart from a few minor slip-ups in preparation I was pleased with how I did • it was great to know people were listening to what I had to say, and I think I changed a few minds. I very much look up to Lord Winston and the others on the team, and I was treated as an equal even amongst the opposition speakers”. The Union paid for extra security staff to be employed, heightening the security presence as people entered the chamber.
Gam Cooray, a second year Exeter medic who attended the debate, summarized some of its arguments for The Oxford Student, “The proposition speeches encompassed aliens in Hampstead dissecting Robert Winston, Australians saving Piglet from the bacon slicer, and the statement that each of the Oxford Union officers costs two and a half rats. Despite this the debate made me question the morality of animal testing, at least for a time.”
4th May 2006