The Student Committee for Animal Welfare (SCAW) would like to take the opportunity to clarify numerous misconceptions about our organization and Greenpeace.

On Friday, Jan. 29, The Northern Star misquoted SCAW co-president, Michelle Drewes, as saying that testing on humans is different than testing on animals. What she said is that not all testing on animals is applicable to humans.

On Tuesday, Feb. 2, The Northern Star printed many incorrect statements regarding the Feb. 1 lecture given by Greenpeace member, Joe Kintigh. First, it was Greenpeace that was founded in 1972 at a protest at the San Andreas fault, NOT SCAW.

Second, source reduction is Greenpeace’s favored policy on toxic waste, not on nuclear testing. Third, the article stated that Greenpeace is opposed to landfills and incinerators. Although it is not their preferred form of disposal, they recognize the need for such disposal methods at this time, but prefer above-ground storage.

Fourth, the article implied that the only reason for the kangaroo slaughter is to make gym shoes with their skins. The only time that Kintigh mentioned gym shoes was in reference to Adidas Company, who manufactures several lines of kangaroo skin gym shoes. The article stated that there are only four species of kangaroos. Kintigh said that the four major species that are targeted for the hunt are on the United States Threatened List.

Fifth, according to the article, baby harp seals are being killed for their fur. The fact is, the commercial hunt has been halted and only wildlife management and subsistence hunting remains.

Greenpeace’s philosophy is to make people take notice of environmental and wildlife issues. The main objective for the Student Committee for Animal Welfare is to increase the awareness of the world-wide plight of animals in laboratories, on farms, in the wild and in sports.

Student Committee for

Animal Welfare