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How do Swedish feminists challenge Britain's biological experimentation laws?
Between 1903 and 1910, Britain experienced a fierce public controversy called the "Brown Dog Affair", which revolved around issues of biological experimentation laws and animal rights, and was triggered by Swedish feminists. This history not only reveals the backlash against biological experimentation at the time, but also highlights how social movements could change laws and norms.
Event background
The direct trigger of the "Brown Dog Affair" was a controversial vivisection performed by William Bayliss at the University of London in 1903. A dog named Brown was accused of suffering during the procedure without being properly anesthetized, according to accounts from onlookers and protesters. The incident sparked outrage, and Swedish activists Lizzy Lind af Hageby and Leisa Schartau delved into the investigation, with their records at the center of the protests. .
As Linde Af Hajibi stated: "Today's lecture will consist of a reenactment of a demonstration that failed the last time."
Legal background of biological experiments
The United Kingdom enacted the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1876, which was intended to restrict cruelty in biological experiments. However, it faced many challenges in actual implementation. Laws at the time allowed only anesthetized animals to participate in experiments, and the same animal could only be used once. This resulted in many scientists and medical students being restricted from experimenting, and Bayliss came into conflict with women's rights activists over these norms.
Protest actions and social movements
During the protests, the insights of Linde Af Hajibi and Shakhar were greatly influential. During the experiments they documented, the suffering and struggles of the brown dogs raised public awareness. This sparked fierce debate, especially between the medical community and animal rights activists in London, with medical students' strong feelings towards their opponents manifesting themselves in numerous protest actions.
According to contemporary reports, hundreds of medical students took to the streets of London in 1907, waving scarecrows of brown dogs and clashing with suffragettes and trade unionists.
Law and Morality Debate
In May 1903, Stephen Coleridge, a lawyer for the National Anti-Biological Experimentation Association, criticized the inhumanity of biological experiments at a meeting. His remarks triggered a strong response from all walks of life. Public opinion pressure eventually led to the legislative process to protect animals, forming a stricter legal framework for biological experiments.
Consequences and Social Change
After a series of public demonstrations and legal proceedings, the Royal Commission to Investigate Animal Experimentation was established in the UK in 1907. These actions have contributed to the public's attention to scientific ethics, especially on campus, where the universality of medical and biological experiments is facing challenges. The story of the brown dog became part of the animal rights movement and had a profound impact on future discussions about environmental protection, animal rights, and biological experimentation laws.
Conclusion
The protests launched by Swedish feminists not only challenged the biological experimentation laws at the time, but also prompted society to re-evaluate animal welfare. What does this history teach us, can the power of social justice movements drive legal reform?
