Russian university agrees to stop all animal experiments in education
ly...@gn.apc.org
animal experiments
VITA Animal Rights Center (Russia)
InterNICHE - International Network for Humane Education (Russian department)
www.vita.org.ru, www.interniche.org/ru
vita-...@yandex.ru, internic...@yandex.ru
Moscow
04.02.2010
Press release
On February 4, 2010 a formal agreement between Perm State Pharmaceutical
Academy and the International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE)
was signed.
Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy now becomes the tenth Russian higher
education institution to sign a contract with InterNICHE concerning the
introduction of alternatives to animal labs.
According to the contract terms, InterNICHE grants the academy computer
programs for use in the classroom as an alternative to dissection and
animal experimentation, while the Academy guarantees to stop all animal
labs for students and commits to alternatives.
Active promotion of alternatives made by VITA and InterNICHE campaigners
in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus has resulted in the introduction of
alternatives in dozens of universities of CIS countries and the
replacement of the annual use of thousands of animals. The progress of
this curricular change is described in the new Russian film �Humane
Education in the CIS countries� made by VITA and InterNICHE with the
support of DAAE (Doctors Against Animal Experiments Germany,
www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en).
The first higher education institution to abolish animal labs in Russia
was St Petersburg State Academy of Veterinary Medicine. It signed a
historic agreement with InterNICHE on the cancellation of experiments in
the departments of pharmacology and toxicology on October 24, 2005. The
second institution was Velikie Luki State Agricultural Academy, which
signed an agreement in 2006 that covers the whole Faculty of Animal
Science. In both institutions there has been significant further progress
since. The contract with Perm State Pharmaceutical Academy provides for an
immediate cessation of all animal labs for students across all
departments.
The ground for introducing alternatives in Perm was prepared by
campaigners of the Perm organisations �ZZZ� and �Snow Leopard�. In May
2009 they worked closely with Alexey Skrobanskiy, InterNICHE Russia
alternatives adviser and co-ordinator of the Arkhangelsk chapter of VITA,
to hold a series of talks and presentations of alternatives at
universities in Perm. The report of the trip can be read below.
Alexey Skrobanskiy said today, �The governing body of Perm Pharmaceutical
Academy expressed great interest in the issues of humane education, and
after some negotiations made a decision to sign a contract on abolishing
animal labs. Now pharmacology and other disciplines will be based on
modern alternative technologies. This will significantly enhance the
quality of teaching, save the lives of dozens of animals, and serve the
future promotion of alternatives in Russia.�
InterNICHE and VITA Introduce Humane Alternatives in Perm, Russia
On May 4-12, 2009, Alexey Skrobanskiy, InterNICHE Russia alternatives
adviser and co-ordinator of the Arkhangelsk chapter of VITA, traveled to
the Perm Krai in the Urals. The main objective of the trip was to visit
higher education institutions in Perm and to promote the ideas of humane
education. Several years ago a similar trip was undertaken by Olga
Kononchuk, co-ordinator of InterNICHE Siberia, which paved the way for the
second InterNICHE outreach trip to the area. Preparation of the trip,
contacts with the mass media and other arrangements were undertaken by the
local animal protection organisation �ZZZ�, whose representatives
participated in the InterNICHE Regional Meeting in Kharkov, Ukraine, in
2008.
During the time in Perm, meetings with the faculty of four higher
education institutions with an interest in humane education were held. The
Normal Physiology Department of Perm State Agricultural Academy had
already implemented the Physiology Simulators freeware program, produced
through the InterNICHE Humane Education Award and translated into Russian
by InterNICHE Russia and VITA. This had been shared by their Moscow
colleagues, thus demonstrating the wide recognition of the program in the
country. At all four institutions the teachers of various departments and
the top management could appreciate the alternatives presented, including
computer programs, plastic models and the Critical Care Jerry dog mannekin
from the InterNICHE Russian Alternatives Loan System.
On May 6, �ZZZ� arranged for a press conference at the offices of
InterFAX-Povolzhye news agency which was devoted to the arrival of
InterNICHE and VITA to Perm Krai and which addressed alternatives to
harmful animal use. At the press conference, attended by representatives
of three higher education institutions, Alexey Skrobanskiy presented to
journalists the various replacement alternatives - from non-animal
learning tools to the benefits of clinical practice as an alternative to
animal experiments.
In this humane alternative approach, students assist veterinary doctors in
the treatment, surgery and nursing of animals at clinics, rather than
inflicting injuries on healthy animals and then treating them. The false
perception that computer programs, models and mannekins are the only
replacement methods was overcome at the press conference. This perception
had long prevailed, and now at each presentation of alternatives the role
of clinical practice in humane education and training is clearly
explained.
Elena Maroueva, co-ordinator of InterNICHE Russia, and Director of VITA,
said at the time, "The trip and the press conference has been a great
success. We plan to donate a range of alternatives, and the administration
of one of the universities is now considering entering into an agreement
with InterNICHE on full or partial replacement of animal experiments".
Alexey Skrobanskiy also visited a number of the Perm Krai animal shelters
to share experience and to gather information required to help implement a
homeless pet sterilisation program in Arkhangelsk. He also had a meeting
with the Chief of the Environment and Wildlife Management Department of
the Administration of Berezniki town, which has an official sterilisation
program. Properly supervised, such programs can benefit the animals and
provide students with valuable clinical skills and surgery experience.
InterNICHE and VITA thank DAAE (Doctors Against Animal Experiments
Germany, www.aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en) for helping to sponsor this
trip.
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Nick Jukes
InterNICHE Co-ordinator
98 Clarendon Park Road
Leicester LE2 3AE
England
tel: +44 116 210 9652
mobile: +44 7552 972 770
e-mail: coord...@interniche.org
www.interniche.org
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