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Anti-Semitism injected into Puerto Rican environmental battle
NEW YORK (Press Release)– Anti-Semitism has been injected into a public debate over a proposed monkey-breeding facility in Puerto Rico, with some opponents accusing “Jewish economic interests” of attempting to destroy the island’s environment.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Thursday expressed solidarity with the Jewish community of Puerto Rico, which has faced boycott and protest threats since the false allegations first surfaced in local newspapers earlier this week.
“Regardless of whether one supports or opposes plans for the primate facility in Guayama, it is simply inexcusable to attempt to use the Jewish community in Puerto Rico as a scapegoat,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “We know these views do not represent those of the vast majority of Puerto Ricans. When an entire Jewish community is blamed for something that is not of their making nor of their control, that is anti-Semitism.”
On November 30 an activist opposed to the monkey-breeding facility was prominently quoted in a local newspaper suggesting that an “Israeli company” was developing the facility as part of a campaign of “ethnic discrimination” and “genocide” aimed at the island population. The activist, Robert Brito, called on Puerto Ricans to boycott locally owned Jewish businesses and synagogues, both on the island territory and in the U.S., in an effort to stop the facility from opening. To date, no actual protests against the Jewish community have been reported.
In published articles in Primera Hora and the Daily Sun, Brito blamed “Jewish economic interests” for past environmental incidents, including a fire at a petroleum plant. “This is a concerted action by Jewish economic interests,” he said of the proposed primate facility. “This invention of bringing a facility for wild monkeys from Israel to Guayama constitutes ethnic discrimination against Puerto Ricans who live in Guayama.”
Bioculture Ltd., with facilities at 19 sites around the world, has secured construction permits and hopes to begin operating the breeding facility next summer in Guayama. According to published reports, the company is based in the African island nation of Mauritius.
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Preceding provided by Anti-Defamation Leaague
sdjewishworld 
I am writing to express my concern over recent reports that there are plans to build a primate breeding and supply facility in Guayama City. I understand that the project is being led by a company called Bioculture from Mauritius and that the monkeys, long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), will be imported from Mauritius. These monkeys and/or their offspring will be shipped overseas to be used in research.
Such a proposal is a major step backwards at a time when the ethical and scientific use of nonhuman primates in research is being challenged internationally by scientists as well as others.
Primates are highly intelligent, social animals with complex behavioral and psychological needs. Their use in research raises serious ethical and scientific questions. Perhaps you are unaware of the common fate of primates in the research industry. These animals are likely to be subjected to pain and suffering, sometimes extreme, in the research laboratories to which they are shipped. For example, many of them will be used in toxicity testing which involves the forced ingestion, inhalation or injection of poisonous chemicals. After sometimes years of this type of abuse, the animals are then killed. Although there is controversy about this, many scientists agree that this type of testing and killing of these primates is unnecessary scientifically and is morally unacceptable.
At a time when the ethics regarding the use of primates in research is being raised internationally, it is disheartening to learn that Puerto Rico is planning to allow itself to become a major player in the supply of primates for research. Such a move will not only result in the suffering of thousands of monkeys, it will also have a negative and detrimental impact on Puerto Rico’s image abroad.
This has nothing to do with Anti-Semitism, this issue has to deal with humane treatment of primates. Jewish values should promote outrage among all Jewish people against this project and all projects of Bioculture. If Bioculture is owned by Jewish people, then I say shame on these people for their hypocrisy.