NationStates Jolt Archive


Sure it's for self defence...

Mt-Tau
23-05-2006, 08:13
From:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060520/wl_uk_afp/britainanimalsrights_060520101528

LONDON (AFP) - British animal rights activists are planning to use a training camp to export their violent tactics to other parts of the world.
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The AR2006 camp will be held on the weekend of June 23 at an undisclosed location and will feature classes in potentially lethal physical techniques described as "self-defence", the broadsheet said on its front page.

The focus of the camp would be on attracting foreign activists to carry the message of violence around the globe, the The Daily Telegraph newspaper said Saturday.

The camp is advertised on animal activist Internet sites and though police are aware of the event, they said there was little they could do to stop a private meeting of individuals, the newspaper reported.

"The UK is the centre for this kind of activism," a spokesman for the pressure group Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) was quoted as saying.

"Everyone around the world looks to us for inspiration."

The SHAC spokesman said the group would pay to fly people in from Russia and eastern Europe to learn techniques that could be used against huntsmen and security staff at pharmaceutical companies. Up to 500 people are expected to attend.

At previous camps, activists were taught how to damage optic nerves by poking their fingers in peoples' eyes and deliver punches to key areas of the body, the newspaper said.

Brian Cass, the managing director of Huntingdon Life Sciences, the animal testing group targeted by SHAC, said activism was growing across the world.

"It is disturbing that one of out significant exports at the moment seems to be animal rights activism," he said.

"It is important for there to be international co-operation on this issue."

Richard Ley, the spokesman for the Association for the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said: "Although these classes are being billed as self-defence, we are worried they will be used to terrorise and intimidate people connected with the pharmaceutical industry."

Extreme animal rights activism has been a simmering topic in Britain which has come to the boil in recent weeks.

Prime Minister
Tony Blair has pledged to sign the People's Petition against extremism, established by the Coalition for Medical Progress.

Earlier this month, three animal rights activists were jailed for 12 years each and a fourth imprisoned for four years for a terror campaign against a guinea pig farm that culminated in a grave-robbing.

And the prestigious University of Oxford has applied to the High Court for an injunction against animal rights protesters campaigning against its biomedical research centre.
Mt-Tau
23-05-2006, 08:14
I think my title clearly states what my thoughts on the topic are.
Non Aligned States
23-05-2006, 08:26
Sometimes you have to wonder at existing anti-terror laws and just how effective they aren't...
Egg and chips
23-05-2006, 08:32
It's bloody scary that I might have to contend wth these wackos one day...
Wiztopia
23-05-2006, 08:37
They should be allowed to shut it down. I hate extremists.
Neo-Mechanus
23-05-2006, 08:44
I believe in animal rights but I don't agree with extremists, I don't believe this camp is for "self-defense" as much as it is for training animal rights terrorists. Yes, "terrorist" is a strong word but that's what a small minority of them are.
Demented Hamsters
23-05-2006, 09:02
This was extreme:
Earlier this month, three animal rights activists were jailed for 12 years each and a fourth imprisoned for four years for a terror campaign against a guinea pig farm that culminated in a grave-robbing.

More info here:
grave robbing (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/4762481.stm)

Four jailed in grave-theft case
Four animal rights activists have been jailed for waging a campaign of terror against a family which included digging up a grandmother's grave.
...
Bricks were thrown through windows, death threats made to farm workers, pyrotechnics set off outside their homes and hundreds of malicious letters sent.
Great way to get the public support behind you - dig up an old woman's remains and use it to hold the family to ransom. \
Real caring...
Xandabia
23-05-2006, 10:57
Well I hope the police will help them in their training by providing a squad dresssed in riot gear with tear gas, batons and water cannon.
Szanth
23-05-2006, 11:05
PETA itself has been known to employ people for the specific purpose of having them commit acts of terrorism against anyone they disagree with.
Xandabia
23-05-2006, 11:18
PETA itself has been known to employ people for the specific purpose of having them commit acts of terrorism against anyone they disagree with.

Although some of their terrorist activities have included nearly nude supermodels - not very effective but certainly attention grabbing
Szanth
23-05-2006, 11:18
Although some of their terrorist activities have included nearly nude supermodels - not very effective but certainly attention grabbing

That, and paying guys to firebomb laboratories. Little things like that.