Amy Doolittle's June 9th piece, "PETA foes campaign medical research," does a huge disservice to your readers, coming off more like a press release from the self-proclaimed Center for Consumer Freedom than true journalism.
PETA doesn't even get a chance to respond in the article, but it shouldn't really matter. If Ms. Doolittle would have bothered to inform readers exactly what CCF is, a response wouldn't have been necessary.
So, here's my response: CCF is a front group for the restaurant, meat, alcohol and tobacco industries. They have also run media campaigns against the efforts of scientists (and Mr. David Martosko seemed so concerned about science!), doctors, health advocates, and environmentalists. Their job, as mandated by all their major contributors, is to obfuscate the truth and confuse the public so they can continue to peddle their wares.
Since animal agriculture is losing on its most vulnerable front, it is attempting through the guise of a non-profit to attack PETA on its most publicly unpopular front.
But let's get one thing straight: PETA is funded by individuals concerned for the rights and/or welfare of animals, including those in labs -- a true non-profit serving the interests of the public. CCF, on the other hand, represents the interests of major multinational corporations bent on maintaining the status quo and selling as much of their product as possible in order to achieve ever-increasing profits. Consider that, and guess which organization is most sincere in its altruistic motives.
Tags: animal experimentation | animal research | animal testing | center for consumer freedom | ccf | peta
