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My introduction to animal experiments was through school science. Like Huntingdon Life Sciences it had nothing to do with life. The animals were already dead and I was asked to cut them up. To my shame I did not refuse outright and dissected a rat and a dogfish all in the name of educational advancement and qualifications.

At the time I still ate meat and had never given much consideration to the animal world, it being largely outside the realm of my direct experience. Nevertheless I knew at the time that I was doing something wrong and wholly unnecessary. I vowed to myself that I would never do it again.

Later at university I was exposed to animal experimentation at a new level. As a psychology student at University College London I was taught about the use of live animals in experiments and encouraged to take part myself. The history of psychology and vivisection go hand in hand and many of the theoretical models of human behaviour are based on statistical analysis of animal experiments. Inevitably almost all of the millons of animals used by psychologists have endured suffering and ultimately death. As well as physical harm phychologists also inflict deliberate mental torture on their subjects.

It was at university that I was introduced to establishment figures who have built their reputations on the backs of animal suffering. People like Colin Blakemore and his cruel visual development experiments on kittens. Experiments like his are just the tip of the iceberg and although I refused to take part in practical experimentation on animals it is impossible to obtain a degree without repeated reference to worthless, pointless, cruel and misleading experiments. As a scientist I found this illogical and unscientific. Science was to me about investigating cause and effect using clear and unambiguous procedures – criteria never met by animal experiments. I graduated from university with a good degree but by then was disillusioned with psychology and my exposure to these pointless procedures had contributed to me becoming vegan.

I don’t object the existence of HLS on just these grounds. I stand against all animal testing whatsoever. For any reason. Ever. Large numbers of people still need persuading that animal experiments are worthless and unscientific and that there are ethical, humane, and more logical ways that could be pursued for the benefit of all animals, including humans. The people most strongly advocating the use of animal testing are those with a vested interest in the industry, be they scientists, business people or politicians. They are physical embodiment of this establishment fraud.

Their business has nothing to do with life or science and if we can help close them down it will be a mortal blow against this sick industry, a wake up call to the population and one step forward towards a saner world.

Wesley Burrage, Psychology BSc Hons