Weird is a mild word to describe the initiation of seven indictments against colombian scientist Manuel Elkin Patarroyo by Dr. Angela Maldonado and her group, in four of which have already been acquitted, while the others continue their predictable legal tender with probably similar results. The claims are due, according to Maldonado, for trafficking and misuse of primate species for biomedical research.
It looks like she don’t know or she does not want to know that Patarroyo have licenses issued by Corpoamazonia, the authority about, licenses which are overseen by a committee of environmental authorities, veterinary professionals and community members who are present during the capture, vaccine testing, treatment and release phases of the Aotus monkeys.
To sue seven times for the same reason, to organize symposia attended by just 15 people and fill the seats of the auditorium with school students, to invite a large group, more than 25, of Amazonian curacas to a meeting which was attended only by three of them, to publish aggressive articles in American and Colombian newspapers in which Patarroyo are accused of commit severe environmental irregularities, actually sufficiently analyzed and rejected by the colombian authorities, requires some thoughts about the true spirit behind these people and their acts. Do they think that to mention Patarroyo´s name becomes a profitable business for them? Do they generate "rating"? or Money? It would be good to know.
Welcome biological heritage defense, if that's really their idea, but without losing of sight the humanitarian tragedy that represent 500 million cases and more than three million people, mostly children, killed by malaria each year, which cannot be seen as less important that monkeys that they say to protect nor like just a huge market to take advantage of the poor people needs.
You need to look carefully the fuss around the legal hunting, which cannot have purpose other than stop Patarroyo´s research based on Aotus monkeys, they are essential because of their high degree of similarity with humans.
Without Patarroyo and his idea of designing and producing low-cost vaccines, would be cleared the way for those, with very few exceptions, interested in production and marketing of vaccines and medicines, which are for them just a lucrative business, with no place for altruism or compassion for the most poorest people of the world, who are urgently needing solutions and a chance to live.
To impede an investigation, whatever, that seeks for ways to save lives, is a criminal act that must be stopped right now.
C. Fernando Márquez M.
Former head of FIDIC systems Dept.
http://www.mrmcmed.org/Critical_Look.pdf
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