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Pro-Test was a British group that promoted and supported animal testing in medical research. It was founded on 29 January 2006 to counter SPEAK, an animal-rights campaign opposing the construction by Oxford University of a biomedical and animal-research facility,〔(University of Oxford News Release: High Court Ruling ) (10 November 2004)〕 which SPEAK believes may include a primate-testing centre.〔(SPEAK website: The New Primate Laboratory ) (undated) 〕 Pro-Test held its first rally on 25 February 2006, attracting hundreds in support of the research facility and opposed by a smaller number of anti-lab demonstrators.〔(Marchers outnumber rights activists ) (''The Scotsman'', 24 February 2006)〕 The group was founded by Laurie Pycroft from Swindon when he was 16. After forming the group, British newspapers described Pycroft as a "sixth form drop-out," "bedroom blogger,"〔(Bedroom blogger, 16, takes on animal rights protesters ) (''The Guardian'', 25 February 2006)〕 and "campaigning hero."〔(Focus: A campaigning hero ) (''The Times'', 26 February 2006)〕 It is now run by a committee of ten: academics (Tipu Aziz, John Stein, and David Priestman), five Oxford graduate and undergraduate students, medical writer Alison Eden, and Pycroft.〔("The Pro-Test Committee" ), Pro-Test website, retrieved 11 December 2007〕 Pro-Test says that it stands for "science, reasoned debate and, above all, the welfare of mankind. … We support only non-violent protest and we condemn those using violence or intimidation to further their goals. We strongly support animal testing as crucially necessary to further medical science."〔(Pro-Test website ) (undated)〕 In February 2011, five years after its first rally, Pro-Test wound up its activities, saying it had "successfully met its goals of defending the construction of the Oxford Lab, increasing awareness of the importance of animal research, and bringing the public on-side in support of life-saving medical research." Its US-based spin-off, Speaking of Research, remained active in the UK and US. ==Background== The construction site of the Oxford research centre is located on South Parks Road behind a five-metre (15 ft) barrier. Construction work is carried out by workmen wearing balaclavas and using unmarked vehicles, after the first contractor, Walter Lilly, owned by Montpellier plc, pulled out in the face of threats.〔(Scientists to speak out for animal tests ) (''The Guardian'', 24 February 2006)〕 The facility is intended to become the "centre for all animal research at Oxford," according to Mark Matfield, former director of the Research Defence Society,〔(Activists halt Oxford lab ) (''The Scientist'' 20 July 2004)〕 resulting in "the closure of a number of existing animal facilities".〔(University of Oxford News Release: Biomedical research facility ) (19 July 2004)〕 The formation of Pro-Test coincided with threats made by the Animal Liberation Front, against Oxford staff and students, on the ''Bite Back'' website.〔(Communiqué from ALF activists ) (2 February 2006)〕 ALF spokesman, Robin Webb confirmed that "high-level student groups working against SPEAK protesters may be targeted."〔(Students will be the next target ) (''The Oxford Student'', 12 March 2006)〕 Pycroft describes in his blog, hosted at the LiveJournal website, how he set up Pro-Test after visiting his girlfriend in Oxford on 28 January 2006 and watching a SPEAK demonstration from the window of a coffee shop.〔(Science: 1 Ignorance: 0 ) (''LiveJournal'' entry, dated 28 January 2006)〕〔(Pro-Test website: Past Action ) (undated)〕 Pycroft, his girlfriend, and one other, staged a personal counter-demonstration. After writing about the experience on his blog, Pycroft has said he was receiving 300 hits an hour within days,〔(In praise of ... student protest ) (''The Guardian'', 2 February 2006)〕 and after attracting interest from the media, Oxford students, and the pro-animal-testing movement, he decided to schedule a second demonstration to coincide with a SPEAK protest on 25 February 2006. According to ''The Times'', "Pro-Test’s tactics mirror those of animal rights activists, with about 150 students using websites and chat forums to organise protests."〔(Students fight back for animal research ) (''The Times'' 1 February 2006)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pro-Test」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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