1/16/10 - KINSHIP CIRCLE - NOW ONE LIST...ONE VOICE FOR ANIMALS
Puerto Rico - Halt Primates-For-Research Farm Permanently

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UPDATE SUMMARY: Thousands of monkeys will be spared from misery inside research labs. Though primate experiments have failed to yield tangible data for AIDS, Alzheimer's, stroke, cancer, and other diseases -- construction of
a huge monkey-breeding compound was planned for Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Bioculture, a primate supply firm, had intended to seize monkeys from the
wild in Mauritius for shipment to Puerto Rico.

GOOD NEWS FOR MONKEYS? Kinship Circle members shared in the outcry against this pointless breeding factory. A lawsuit filed by local citizens and PETA, in conjunction with worldwide pressure, has culminated in a Superior Court judge's ruling to terminate all construction of the Bioculture facility.

MAKE IT STICK! Unfortunately, Bioculture execs are trying to overturn the
judge's ruling. Let officials know that citizens worldwide support PERMANENT
termination of this and any future monkey-breeding compounds.

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COMPLETE CONTACT INFORMATION + EMAIL BLOCK

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Hon. Luis Fortuno, Governor of Puerto Rico
La Fortaleza, P.O. Box 9020082 / San Juan, PR 00902-0082
ph: 787-721-7000; fax: 787-721-5072
Tere Nolla, Aide to the Governor: TNolla@fortaleza.gobierno.pr
Evelyn Cruz, Personal Executive Admin Assistant: ECruz@fortaleza.gobierno.pr

Hon. Glorimari Jaime, Mayor of Guayama
Municipio Autonomo de Guayama
Oficina de Plan de Orden Territorial
P.O. Box 360 / Guayama, PR 00785-0360
email: municipiodeguayama@hotmail.com

Rep. Pedro Pierluisi, Representative (District 1)
1218 Longworth HOB / Washington, DC 20515
fax: 202-225-2154; email: PedroPierluisi@mail.house.gov
Laura Maristany, Public Affairs Liaison: laura.maristany@mail.house.gov
Rosemarie Vizcarrondo, District Office Director: rosemarie.vizcarrondo@mail.house.gov
Eduardo Hilera, Legislative Correspondent: eduardo.hilera@mail.house.gov

ALL EMAILS FROM ABOVE:
municipiodeguayama@hotmail.com, PedroPierluisi@mail.house.gov,
laura.maristany@mail.house.gov, rosemarie.vizcarrondo@mail.house.gov,
eduardo.hilera@mail.house.gov, TNolla@fortaleza.gobierno.pr,
ECruz@fortaleza.gobierno.pr

***KINSHIP CIRCLE CANNOT GUARANTEE ALL EMAILS WILL WORK***
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SAMPLE LETTER

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Honorable Puerto Rican Officials:

I am relieved to learn a Superior Court Judge ruled to halt construction of
a huge monkey-breeding compound planned for Guayama, Puerto Rico.
Bioculture, a primate supply firm, had intended to seize long-tailed
macaques from the wild in Mauritius for shipment to Puerto Rico.

Given the findings of Guayama's Superior Court and Puerto Rico's Senate, I
urge officials to back permanent termination of Bioculture's project. In
addition, please consider strong public opposition to the breeding of
monkeys for use in experimentation.

Though primate research has failed to yield tangible data for AIDS,
Alzheimer's, stroke, cancer, and other diseases -- companies such as
Bioculture persevere for profit. If completed, monkeys inside the Guayama
facility would have been separated from mothers and sold into a barren world
of concrete and metal. In labs, primates endure implanted brain electrodes,
induced seizures, poisoning, and more.

Ultimately, it does not serve human health to facilitate old-fashioned
animal research. As a case in point, researchers recognize primates do not
contract the human strain of AIDS or develop its clinical symptoms. Of 85
HIV/AIDS vaccines tested in animals, each one failed in 197 human trials.

U.S. deaths or injuries linked to drug therapies more than doubled from 1998
to 2005, according to findings in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Each
recalled drug had proven "safe" in animal tests.

In-vitro cell technology, 3D cellular systems, computer automation and other
innovations will eventually render animal research obsolete. I encourage
Puerto Rico's leadership to keep pace with evolving standards. Please do not
let Bioculture or any similar firm pointlessly "breed" animal suffering.

Thank you,

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SOURCE OF INFORMATION / REFERENCE LINKS

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PUERTO RICAN PRIMATE FACILITY - ACTION ALERT JANUARY 2010
http://www.buav.org/takeactionnow/puertoricanprimatefacility
VICTORY! Construction of Bioculture's Monkey Factory Halted
http://blog.peta.org/archives/2009/12/victory_bioculture.php