LD50! (The poisoning of animals to death in toxicity tests).
What are the views of our Parliamentarians on this important international issue:

The following is the result of an NZAVS questionnaire which was hand-delivered with a 16-page booklet The Lethal Dose 50 Alibi (http://www.nzavs.org.nz/materials/ld50.html) to every member of Government and Opposition on World Animal Day 1984:

For those of us who have difficulty coping with the avalanche of forms which we are bombarded and harassed as part of our lives... take heart... as this exercise reveals that our elected leaders' skills when confronted with a taste of their own medicine...

is abysmal...

Whilst a slim minority had the courage to express an opinion - basically the results clearly indicate laxity and a dodging of moral responsibility.

NOTE:

• 53 politicians returned a reply to the Society
• 10 completed the questionnaire
• 16 have a policy of not completing questionnaires
• 7 claim they did not receive the questionnaire (which was hand delivered to Parliament)
• 1 was unsure what had become of it
• 12 acknowledged receipt but gave no reply or information
• 6 expressed comments in support of the anti-vivisection movement

The following information was received from the ten MPs who returned the questionnaire

Question: "Have you read the attached papers?"
9 yes  -  1 no

Question: "Do you believe the LD50 should be discontinued?"
5 yes  -  2 no reply  -  3 unsure  -  1 had not read all the evidence

Question: "Do you believe the LD50 test is valid or invalid?"
3 yes  -  1 yes in some circumstances  -  3 did not reply  -  3 unsure

Question: "Do you believe man has the right to use non-human animals in vivisection labs?"
5 yes  -  3 yes in some circumstances  -  4 did not reply  -  1 unsure

Question: "Are you sympathetic to the anti-vivisection movement?"
6 yes  -  4 no reply

Question: "Have you ever thought of the concept of non-human animals having 'rights'?"
4 yes  -  2 no  -  4 no reply

Question: "Do you believe that information obtained from animal experimentation can be extrapolated to the human circumstance?"
3 yes  -  1 in some circumstances  -  2 unsure  -  4 no reply

Question: "Are you a vegetarian/vegan?"
6 no  -  4 no reply

Question: "Would you like to see valid and humane methods of gaining scientific knowledge installed in New Zealand?"
1 yes where possible  -  5 yes  -  4 no reply

Question: "Are you prepared to assist the anti-vivisection movement?"
4 yes  -  4 no reply  -  1 wants more information

The following section asked for Parliamentarians comments/suggestions/questions

• 1 claims to be working towards the UN Charter of Animal Rights and acknowledged the increasing disquiet in New Zealand regarding experimentation on live animals.
• 1 is a member of the Lands and Agriculture Select Committee and said his comments could not conflict with that responsibility, and that he would consider the petition on the evidence presented.
• 1 said his comments agreed with those of the Minister of Health (who did not answer the questionnaire!)
• 1 has an open mind - but wants more information
• 1 is a member of SAFE

In answering the final summary question: "Should demands for the test be discontinued?"
10 yes 4 unsure 1 in certain circumstances 19 gave comments, without answering the question

(acknowledgements Pam Manson)