http://www.primatefreedom.com/Ican'tsleep.html
By Rick Bogle
I turn over in bed in the middle of the night and hear
the soft jingle of my Primate Freedom Tag sliding along the chain around
my neck; at times it seems more the plaintive cry of a monkey than the
sound of stainless steel against chain.
When I talk to people about the primate labs and the
horror the victims experience, they are often overcome with a sense of
helplessness and futility. After all, almost 60,000 monkeys are attacked
by U.S. scientists each year. Who could be expected to feel much hope or
power?
But when people can connect with one victim, one
particular monkey prisoner, they see that they might be able to make a
difference, and the problem becomes more manageable. Now, as they write
to a Primate Center or call them on the phone, the things they can ask
are more personal. No longer do they have to discuss the entire subject
of animal experimentation or try to become scientifically sophisticated;
now they can call and ask what is happening to a particular monkey.
And this has always been the real point. This is the
question the Primate Centers dread. They can always argue from the
global perspective, but when someone asks them about a certain monkey,
who was born on a certain date, and has a certain number tattooed on his
or her chest, they can't answer globally. Now the researchers are forced
to explain why hurting or killing one particular monkey is necessary and
not an immoral and criminal act.
I hate my tag. I hate hearing it in the still of the
night as I turn over, but more, I am sickened by what it represents. One
day it will be impossible to print any more Primate Freedom Tags because
the labs will be closed; maybe then I will get a good night's rest.
Go on to WWAIL 2002
Return to 17 March 2002 Issue
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