| to: | Monique <[address removed]> | ||
| date: | Tue, Sep 25, 2012 at 2:07 PM | ||
| subject | Re: Attention: Dr. Awerkamp, Ph.D., J.D - 2012 American Lung Association Fight for Air Walk This is wonderful that he replied, but it is deeply disturbing to read that the board policy about animal testing is "to oppose all efforts to exclude the use of animals WHENEVER THEY ARE ESSENTIAL for research." Who decides what "essential for research" means? There's no mention in this policy of the organization's commitment to actively seek ways precluding the need for painful and inhumane animal testing procedures and finding alternative means in the organization's efforts to continue its development of and advocacy for tools and techniques to improve the lives of humans in their right to breathe. I'm thankful Dr. Awerkamp took the time to reply with such a thoughtful response. I would like to make a request that he facilitate an opportunity to make a (peaceful) presentation to the board, presenting a different perspective than the policy that is currently in place. Would you please forward this inquiry to Dr. Awerkamp? Thank you so much, |
Monique,
Thank you for your support in the fight for air and for contacting me regarding your concerns about the use of animals in that fight. I joined the American Lung Association (ALA) in that fight thirty years ago because I recognized that, if we can’t breathe, nothing else matters. Thank you also for advocating ethical behavior toward our fellow animals who also need to breathe and to have an environment in which they can thrive.
In most organizations where people join together to pursue some value they have in common, there are conflicting opinions regarding some other values. Sometimes those conflicts may be so great that it does not make sense to belong to the organization. Other times, the conflict may present a situation where one can pursue the secondary value and persuade others in the organization to modify the way the organization pursues its primary value. That persuasion is often a very long process. I infer from your email that you are working on that process and are promoting the interests of our fellow animals within the ALA instead of rejecting the ALA because it has not yet fully embraced your understanding of ethical treatment of our fellow animals.
The ALA is not insensitive to the ethical treatment of our fellow animals. The issue has been periodically discussed in committee and Board meetings. The ALA policy has evolved to a somewhat of a middle ground between those who view our fellow animals as simply tools or pieces of equipment with no restrictions on using them in experiments and those who would protect animals from all use in research. Here is the current policy of the ALA:
Animals in Medical Research
The American Lung Association recognizes the critical role animal research has played in making medical advances. The American Lung Association strongly supports full compliance with the existing rules and regulations that assure the humane and compassionate management of laboratory animals. We encourage all forms of biomedical research involving animals that have been carefully scrutinized and deemed worthy by qualified experts, and we oppose all efforts to exclude the use of animals whenever they are essential for research.
I will make sure that the ALA Board again reviews our Research Policy with your concerns in mind. Thank you for sharing them with me. I hope that you will continue your fight for air and for our fellow animals.
Sincerely,
Don
Don Awerkamp
Awerkamp & Bonilla, PLC
6891 North Oracle Road, Suite 155
Tucson, Arizona 85704
Phone: (520)[masked]
Fax: (520)[masked]
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From: Monique [mailto:[address removed]]
Sent: Monday, September 24,[masked]:56 PM
To: [address removed]
Cc: [address removed]; Vanessa Petersen
Subject: Attention: Dr. Awerkamp, Ph.D., J.D - 2012 American Lung Association Fight for Air Walk
Hi Dr. Awerkamp,
I am emailing you as I see you listed as the first one of the American Lung Association National Board of Directors. I also emailed the event coordinator of the walk, Vanessa Petersen, who is a just super person.
I am really excited to partake in the 2012 American Lung Association Fight for Air Walk in Santa Monica, CA on October 21st, especially as I have been an advocate for clean air for over a decade, and have even intertwined this topic in my artistic creations, as I am a performing artist. I created a smoke-free, dance song titled I Can Breathe <Smoke-Free>, which was given national club play in 2003 and 2004, and is still being played to this day on the net. www.Broadjam.com/Monique
Dr. Awerkamp, as I reach out to potential supporting donors of next month's walk, I have had many supporters saying they would gladly donate to my efforts with the American Lung Association if they were sure their donations would not go towards animal experimentation. I as well as they are adamant that in this day and age, not only is it cruel, but it's unnecessary.
In this email, I have copied and pasted responses from some of the people, who expressed their viewpoint's on the matter. Many would gladly give if they knew this current practice of testing on animals was headed for elimination in favor of a more progressive and compassionate research program, one which doesn't impose unbearable experimental practices upon sentient beings. Many of them wanted me to express their thoughts to the higher ups of the organization. I feel obligated to them and the animals, so I have chosen to reach out to you. I hope you will forward this along to others working within the American Lung Association, who can make this difference.
Thank you for your attention, Dr. Awerkamp. We hope we can find an advocate for change in you.
Monique Lukens
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lori
Date: Sun, Sep 23, 2012 at 9:49 PM
Subject: Re: [animalrights-177] Please sponsor Monique w/ $5 for the 2.55 mile 2012 American Lung Association Fight for Air Walk I'm registered for on the Santa Monica Promenade from 8am - Noon, Sun.10/21. Click the link in this email. Make a donation that wi
To: [address removed]You go for it, girl!
Monique, you are an amazing contribution to the planet.
Go for it and at the same time, hold the space energetically that as you walk, everyone wakes up.
And set your intention with the universe that the people who you are walking for get real, quality healing and information which will allow them to heal authentically, with ease and grace.
...and that the organization you are walking for be infiltrated with people of integrity who also have compassion and kindness towards animals.
...and that the animals also are set free and treated as the living, sentient beings they are.
On Sat, Sep 22, 2012 at 11:13 AM, Dave R wrote:
I think it is great if you go and talk about veganism. It is my perspective that it would be good to consider goingwithout actually raising any funds to contribute to animal experimentation.
sandra
to:
[address removed]
date:
Sat, Sep 22, 2012 at 10:05 PM
subject:
Re: [animalrights-177] Please sponsor Monique w/ $5 for the 2.55 mile 2012 American Lung Association Fight for Air Walk I'm registered for on the Santa Monica Promenade from 8am - Noon, Sun.10/21. Click the link in this email. Make a donation that will save lives!
...horrendous animal vivisection of all kinds imaginable. Attempting to artificially recreate mock symptoms of human disease in healthy animals is not dealing with the problem of human disease, which occurs spontaneously and is intimately related to the host body. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes, muscular dystrophy, etc, etc, etc. increase steadily over the decades because society is not addressing the root causes and taking the steps necessary to prevent and reverse these immune deficiencies and toxic conditions of most individuals and the planet.
COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK:
Thanks for your message, Monique. Just donated $5, as you requested and as I promised.
I typically don't support the large national/international "name" charities-- e.g., American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, etc. -- because they don't advocate anything about nutritional healing and because they endorse, support and approve of testing on live animals, perpetuating the pain, harm and atrocities committed on gentle, living creatures in the name of "advancements in medicine."
Where it asked for a "name" for the attribution of the donation, I filled that in with "Stop doing animal testing!" so I hope you won't be offended. If every person who donated $5 for you wrote the same thing, I think it would capture at least one person's attention-- and maybe more.
AND
http://pcrm.org/media/online/dec2011/humane-seal-new-charities-new-successes-new
·
o
I know how you feel. here's another link, the PCRM talk about some of this way down near the bottom of this page.
http://pcrm.org/factsheets/resources/downloadable-publications-and-fact-sheets·
o Yes, voicing your opinions to them should have some
impact. They know you care about their cause and you do something about it. If they lose people because of vivisection, it's more likely they'll avail themselves of other methods.
o probably not today thought, it's an uphill battle but worth the struggle
o thanks again for what you do, w/hugs