Contact Information: Contact: Karen Smith 617-523-6020 Alternate: 617-413-0611 E-mail: Email Contact URL: http://www.releasechimps.org
Chicago Event Spotlights Chimpanzee Research and Rescue
Presentation Features Gloria Grow, of PBS' "Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History"
| Source: NEAVS
BOSTON, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 1, 2007 -- Ewire -- Project R&R: Release and Restitution
for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories, a national campaign of one of the
nation's oldest animal protection organizations, has chosen Chicago,
Illinois as its Midwest stop for its educational tour: In Their Own Words -
Stories of Chimpanzees from Research to Sanctuary.
This one night only program will present unique and inspiring stories of
chimpanzees rescued from research and brought to sanctuary. Project R&R, a
campaign to end the use of chimpanzees in research, will be hosting the
program at Chicago's Cultural Center on March 22nd, 2007 at 7:30 pm.
Gloria Grow, founder and director of the Fauna Foundation and Project R&R
Honorary Co-Chair, will present along with former laboratory worker Nancy
Megna. Ms. Grow was recently featured on a PBS Nature documentary,
"Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History."
Theodora Capaldo, Ed.D, executive director of Project R&R, notes, "We are
eager to bring this program to Chicago -- a cultural center on the cutting
edge of environmental and animal issues that is also home to several major
universities, including the nation's largest medical school. We hope to
inspire students, faculty, legislators, community leaders and the public to
question long-held assumptions regarding the use of chimpanzees in
biomedical research and testing."
Project R&R aims to mobilize public support to release an estimated 1,300
chimpanzees into permanent sanctuaries. Most chimpanzees currently in U.S.
labs have been there for decades. Some of the oldest were captured as
infants in Africa.
A recent survey showed that most Americans are concerned about chimpanzees
in research. More than 70% believe that chimpanzees used for more than 10
years should be retired. The U.S. is the only large remaining user of
chimpanzees for research. England, Sweden, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Japan, and Austria have banned or limited their use.
This special event is free and open to the public. For more information:
1-877-2CHIMPS (224-4677) or releasechimps@neavs.org.