Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders

Homerbcool · 05-09-2006, 07:09 AM

This is from CNN Website this morning:

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Shareholders in GlaxoSmithKline have received menacing letters from an animal rights group demanding they sell their shares in the company or face having their names made public within the next 14 days.

Europe's biggest pharmaceuticals manufacturer said on Monday it had called in the police over the letter campaign, which targets the firm's continued use of animal research laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS).

The letters arrived, unsigned, on the doorsteps of many shareholders on Monday morning.

Glaxo said the police were treating the matter seriously and had started an investigation.

The mailing follows a prolonged -- and sometimes violent -- campaign by British animal rights groups who demand drug companies end all animal research.

The industry argues that using animals remains a vital part of the research and development of new medicines and vaccines.

The letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, tells shareholders to divest their shares and confirm the sale via an email, or face the consequences.

"Should you choose not to sell your shares within the next 14 days your details will be publicized and within weeks a Web site will be hosted with all remaining shareholders listed," the letter states.

The unidentified group said it had decided to target Glaxo's "financial vulnerability" to force it to stop using HLS and predicted shares in Glaxo would plummet, as all shareholders received the letter.

Glaxo said shareholders wishing to protect their privacy could transfer their shares, free of charge, into a corporate nominee account.

Britain carried out a total of 2.85 million scientific experiments on animals in 2004, according to government figures, with about 85 percent of tests involving mice, rats and other rodents.

Industry experiments on animals have actually declined, reflecting investment in alternative procedures -- but also a decision by some British-based drug makers to carry out animal research abroad, according to industry executives.

HLS has been the target for the most vociferous campaigning and intimidation by animal rights activists over the years, eventually leading the company to quit the London stock market.

Glaxo's continued involvement with HLS is regularly condemned by protesters at the company's annual general meeting, which will be held this year on May 17.

Glaxo said allegations of animal cruelty at HLS were unfounded and it would continue to work with HLS as long as the laboratory maintained its current "high standards" of animal care.

squirrel · 05-09-2006, 10:37 AM

GSK dont even care about humans so the animals have no chance!!!

Homerbcool · 05-09-2006, 10:58 AM

no they don't...but I am curious as to the affect of the campaign against the shareholders.....

izzy88 · 05-11-2006, 05:51 AM

Wednesday May 10, 09:38 AM
GlaxoSmithKline wins injunction to silence animal extremists

LONDON (AFP) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said it has won a court injunction to stop animal rights extremists from sending letters to its shareholders ordering them to sell their stake in the British drug giant.

The action also makes it illegal for campaigners to carry out a threat to publish the personal details of the shareholders if they refuse to comply.

Animal rights activists oppose GSK's use of medical research group Huntingdon Life Sciences, which tests new medicines and vaccines on animals.

A group, claiming to have been set up "to hold Huntingdon Life Sciences accountable for its acts of animal cruelty", sent out letters on May 1 to scores of GSK shareholders, urging them to sell shares in the pharmaceutical company or face their personal details being posted on a website.

GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK.L - news) condemned the move and applied for the injunction at the High Court in London.

The legal order "prohibits anyone acting, in connection with the letter sent out on 1st May, from engaging in further harassment against GSK shareholders, including publicising their details on a website," GSK said in a statement.

"Any person found in breach of the injunction could face prosecution for contempt of court which is an imprisonable offence," it said.

The firm also said a police investigation into the matter was underway.

Addressing the concerns about medical research on animals, GSK said it met Britain's high legal standards of animal welfare.

At the same time, the company noted that tests on animals was a vital element in developing cures and treatments for disease.

Huntingdon Life Sciences, based in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, has long been targeted by hard-core activists who want it shut down because it is involved in animal testing.

They also focus on companies or individuals with links to the research firm.

Homerbcool · 05-12-2006, 09:36 AM

begs teh question who is more powerful...BIG PHARMA, ORGANIZED CRIME, THE CHURCH..or THE PEOPLE...wifey and i had this cnversation last night, tough queston she said but went with church...me, well, the romantic answer is the people, but me thnks Big Pharma is the singe most powerful organization out there

05-09-2006, 07:09 AM	#1
Homerbcool "colors outside the lines" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,949	Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders This is from CNN Website this morning: LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Shareholders in GlaxoSmithKline have received menacing letters from an animal rights group demanding they sell their shares in the company or face having their names made public within the next 14 days. Europe's biggest pharmaceuticals manufacturer said on Monday it had called in the police over the letter campaign, which targets the firm's continued use of animal research laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). The letters arrived, unsigned, on the doorsteps of many shareholders on Monday morning. Glaxo said the police were treating the matter seriously and had started an investigation. The mailing follows a prolonged -- and sometimes violent -- campaign by British animal rights groups who demand drug companies end all animal research. The industry argues that using animals remains a vital part of the research and development of new medicines and vaccines. The letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, tells shareholders to divest their shares and confirm the sale via an email, or face the consequences. "Should you choose not to sell your shares within the next 14 days your details will be publicized and within weeks a Web site will be hosted with all remaining shareholders listed," the letter states. The unidentified group said it had decided to target Glaxo's "financial vulnerability" to force it to stop using HLS and predicted shares in Glaxo would plummet, as all shareholders received the letter. Glaxo said shareholders wishing to protect their privacy could transfer their shares, free of charge, into a corporate nominee account. Britain carried out a total of 2.85 million scientific experiments on animals in 2004, according to government figures, with about 85 percent of tests involving mice, rats and other rodents. Industry experiments on animals have actually declined, reflecting investment in alternative procedures -- but also a decision by some British-based drug makers to carry out animal research abroad, according to industry executives. HLS has been the target for the most vociferous campaigning and intimidation by animal rights activists over the years, eventually leading the company to quit the London stock market. Glaxo's continued involvement with HLS is regularly condemned by protesters at the company's annual general meeting, which will be held this year on May 17. Glaxo said allegations of animal cruelty at HLS were unfounded and it would continue to work with HLS as long as the laboratory maintained its current "high standards" of animal care.

05-09-2006, 10:37 AM	#2
squirrel Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: merseyside uk Posts: 743	Re: Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders GSK dont even care about humans so the animals have no chance!!!

05-09-2006, 10:58 AM	#3
Homerbcool "colors outside the lines" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,949	Re: Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders no they don't...but I am curious as to the affect of the campaign against the shareholders.....

05-11-2006, 05:51 AM	#4
izzy88 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: West Yorkshire, UK Posts: 176	Re: Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders Wednesday May 10, 09:38 AM GlaxoSmithKline wins injunction to silence animal extremists LONDON (AFP) - GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said it has won a court injunction to stop animal rights extremists from sending letters to its shareholders ordering them to sell their stake in the British drug giant. The action also makes it illegal for campaigners to carry out a threat to publish the personal details of the shareholders if they refuse to comply. Animal rights activists oppose GSK's use of medical research group Huntingdon Life Sciences, which tests new medicines and vaccines on animals. A group, claiming to have been set up "to hold Huntingdon Life Sciences accountable for its acts of animal cruelty", sent out letters on May 1 to scores of GSK shareholders, urging them to sell shares in the pharmaceutical company or face their personal details being posted on a website. GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK.L - news) condemned the move and applied for the injunction at the High Court in London. The legal order "prohibits anyone acting, in connection with the letter sent out on 1st May, from engaging in further harassment against GSK shareholders, including publicising their details on a website," GSK said in a statement. "Any person found in breach of the injunction could face prosecution for contempt of court which is an imprisonable offence," it said. The firm also said a police investigation into the matter was underway. Addressing the concerns about medical research on animals, GSK said it met Britain's high legal standards of animal welfare. At the same time, the company noted that tests on animals was a vital element in developing cures and treatments for disease. Huntingdon Life Sciences, based in Cambridgeshire, eastern England, has long been targeted by hard-core activists who want it shut down because it is involved in animal testing. They also focus on companies or individuals with links to the research firm. __________________ izzy xx 4 years Paxil 20mg for OCD Paxil free (CT) since Nov 17, 2005

05-12-2006, 09:36 AM	#5
Homerbcool "colors outside the lines" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 15,949	Re: Animal Activist target Glaxo Shareholders begs teh question who is more powerful...BIG PHARMA, ORGANIZED CRIME, THE CHURCH..or THE PEOPLE...wifey and i had this cnversation last night, tough queston she said but went with church...me, well, the romantic answer is the people, but me thnks Big Pharma is the singe most powerful organization out there

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