On June 14, 2014, Pro-Test Italia will hold a second rally in Milan to support the use of animals in medical research. See our event on Facebook.

Everyday, Italy continues down a psuedoscientific path. Stamina method, vaccines-causing-autism and exotic diet cures against cancer, are all promoted by national media and TV programmes like “Le lene”. This anti-scientific agenda has resulted in stringent rules placed on animal research by the Government.

What is at stake is the safety of a country that allows people to use dangerous and non-scientific methods in our hospitals, with our money. What is at stake is the future of research because more and more young people, who specialise in biomedicine will be forced to emmigrate if they wish to further their career. What is at stake is also the economy of a country, because research produces patents and jobs.Italy has to decide if it wants to compete with Germany, United Kingdom and USA on the field of innovation, or to compete with less developed countries for low quality products, adapting itself to their work standard.

We risk losing an important parts of Italian economy like the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors, that possess a high level of innovation, if politicians persist in writing a long term scientific strategy based on the whims of small groups of fanatics.

Pro-Test Italia organized this rally to demand that the Italian government listen to the scientific community when creating laws that will affect heir research. We demand they reconsider restrictions added by Italy to the EU legislation 2010/63; restrictions that the EU itself says are illegal and will result in massive fines. We demand the government increase funding for research, because only by investing in our future can we save Italy from its dire economic crisis. We demand better protection from the growing threat posed by animal rights extremism.

Students, researchers and veterinaries should being their white coat, there will be stands for fund raising and for distributing informative leaflets.

For more information, please contact by e-mail: info@pro-test.it

If you’re concerned about research in Italy, please join us on 14 June at 15.30 in via Mercanti, in Milan.

Animal Research saves millions of lifes every year, including of those who would see such scientific endeavours end.

Marco Delli Zotti