Say No to NHP Air Transport Ban

Campaign: Say No to Air Transport Ban of Non Human Primates destined for research

As a result of the Air Canada decision to ban non human primates destined for research, the Canadian Society for Neurosciences asks you to let Air Canada know you support research and the removal of the ban.
You should know that neuroscience researchers study to understand and find cures for important diseases such as schizophrenia or Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. This valuable research and the researches involved, as well as millions of patients waiting for cures, are affected by this decision. Alternative means of transport, by land or sea, are more stressful on animals and therefore less humane. Animal research is important to all of us and it is closely regulated in Canada.

Here's what you should do:

Posted below is a letter you could copy/paste and send to the President of Air Canada, Mr. Calin Rovinescu. You should consider personalizing your letter by indicating whether you are a researcher, a person who flies with Air Canada on a regular basis, a member of their rewards program, a person who benefits from medical research innovations, a physician who sees the benefits of research in your practice, or any other information you may find relevant. Make sure to sign your full name and to include complete contact information.

To: Mr. Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada
calin.rovinescu@aircanada.ca

Dear Mr. Rovinescu,

I was troubled to learn that Air Canada has recently decided to halt transport of non-human primates for use in biomedical research. I urge you to reconsider this position, as animal models, including non-human primates, are essential to advancing our understanding of diseases and disorders like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis that could lead to treatments and cures of these devastating conditions. Misinformation, spread by “animal rights” extremists, threatens to hinder research efforts, and must not be allowed to affect policy making in important Canadian companies such as yours.

The significant role that animal models play in lifesaving research is undeniable. Almost every major medical advance in the last century was made possible by carefully regulated, humane animal research. In Canada, the Canadian Council on Animal Care is responsible for setting and maintaining standards for the ethical use and care of animals in science in Canada, and institutions review all animal research to ensure the protection of the welfare of animals used for research purposes. Studies using animal models follows strict ethical guidelines. Airline transportation, provided by companies such as yours, ensures that laboratory animals are available for lifesaving biomedical research in universities, hospitals and research centers.
Highly vocal animal rights extremists are attempting to halt all research which involves animal models, and to sway public opinion in their direction. These people represent a very small number of individuals, much less than the millions who are dependent on the discoveries brought about by humane, well-regulated animal research – not to mention the tens of thousands of scientists who rely on air travel to attend scientific conferences and to conduct their research.

I hope that your personal commitment to advancing science, exemplified by your recent membership in the McGill University Health Research Center Board of Directors, will be reflected in policies at Air Canada that will allow important scientific research to move forward.
Sincerely,
Name (First and Last)
Contact information: Email, Full mailing address.
 

Likewise please contact United's CEO Jeff Smisek, to let him know your support to animal research and the need for continued Air services and uplift for Non Human Primates. Here's what you can say- please personalize your letter and add your contact details when sending. For an automated version follow this link.
If you are not a US resident: please email the CEO directly by copying and pasting the letter below into your email program and sending it to jeff.smisek@united.com. And don't forget to let advocacy@sfn.org know that you sent a letter.

Message Recipients:

Mr. Jeff Smisek, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Airlines

 

Subject: Please consider changing your animal transport policies

As a scientist, I was troubled to learn that United Continental has decided to halt shipment of non-human primates for use in biomedical research. If that is the case, I urge the airline to reconsider its position. Animal models, including non-human primates, are essential to advancing our understanding of and eventually finding cures for diseases and disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injury. If "animal rights" extremists continue to sway airlines in the direction that your company is taking, the effects will be devastating.

Airline transportation ensures that laboratory animals are available for lifesaving biomedical research. Universities, medical and veterinary schools, and research centers are all dependent on your airline to continue their groundbreaking research. A small but vocal group of animal rights extremists have been pushing this issue in their attempts to halt all research which involves animal models. Their numbers are dwarfed by the millions who are dependent on the discoveries brought about by humane, well-regulated animal research – not to mention the tens of thousands of scientists who rely on air travel to attend scientific conferences and to conduct their research.

The significant role that animal models play in lifesaving research is undeniable. Almost every major medical advance in the last century was made possible by carefully regulated, humane animal research. Animal research around the globe is heavily regulated, as it should be. In the U.S., federal, state, institutional, and community review protects the welfare of animals used in research. Scientists involved with animal research understand they must use animals appropriately and humanely, using as few animals and as many alternative techniques as possible to achieve reliable results.

In your position on the Board of Trustees at the Museum of Science and Industry, you have demonstrated a clear commitment to the value of scientific innovation. Progress in biomedical research requires the use of animal models – including non-human primates. We hope that your personal commitment to advancing science will be reflected in policies at United Continental that will allow important scientific research to move forward. 

 

Canadian Transport Agency supports ban on primates!

Shortly before the New Year, the Canadian Transport Agency issued its decision to support Air Canada’s ban on transportation of primates destined for research.  The agency recognized the ‘potential’ impact on Air Canada’s brand by the 47000 people that via email opposed such transportation. Some of the letters received by Air Canada threatened to cease using their services if this (transport) were to continue whilst others indicated it as a reason for not using Air Canada. As a carrier Air Canada transports thirty two (32) million passengers per year and it identifies itself primarily as a passenger carrier transporting cargo in its bellies.

Air Canada submits that non human primate transportation represents 0.01% of its total weight worldwide in 2010 whereas the numbers for 2011 represent 0.001% in 2011. It is therefore considered minimal in terms of commercial value and in comparison with total weight transported (a means of showing the minimal amount of shippers affected).  

 

Given these minimal numbers it is hard to understand why the agency let’s Canadian transportation policy be defined by such a minority of voices and of shipments.  Nevertheless as it has the task to decide upon the matter submitted, the agency considers the potential commercial impact on Air Canada to be serious enough to support a ban on shippers of laboratory destined primates because in effect that is what the Air Canada decision entails. Other means of transportation being available the agency has no problem supporting a solution whereby the animals for example are trucked into the country as is pointed out by the BUAV and HSIC.  

Coming from an aviation background the agency and its members should have noted that the most humane way of transporting animals is by air not by ground. Ironically BUAV and HSIC are now supporting longer and less humane means of transportation as opposed to supporting the animal’s best welfare interests! Click here to read their campaign against air canada and those that collaborated to this decision. 

The same animal being shipped from and to a zoo for example would benefit from Air Canada services whereas one identical animal destined to a laboratory would not. If this is not discriminatory to shippers and animals then I don’t know what is. The agency however does not consider the decision to be discriminatory. I call this denial of service.

The Transport Canada decision is, seeded with statements made by the BUAV a foreign based entity, almost reading as if the agency is required to provide its comments with equal weight or standing. A Canadian transport policy (the accessibility to available air services for shippers) is now heavily influenced if not shaped by foreign input whereas native comments or input is simply ignored.

The medical progress brought through primate research are numerous and clearly documented. The agency however fails to take this aspect into consideration and has made a decision around matters submitted to it by a number of interested parties –amongst whom the writer of this article, without looking beyond the issues or facts at hand. Medical progress benefits all Canadians and animals and the agency should have defended these interests as well as part of the due diligence expected from an official agency.   For Air Canada the decision is also short sighted for Pharmaceutical and related companies do transport their cold chain goods under their wings and their traveling employees in their business class seats.

A sad day for Canadians, animals and medical progress – please do not follow this unprecedented Canadian example.  As a service transportation must be available to all, always. As I have said before I did not vote for this! Did you?