I'm so sorry to hear that your husband died from a brain tumour. However, that is not an argument against animal rights or for the exploitation and oppression of other animals. We all want the best for our loved ones and would put them before all others, human or non-human, but that is our personal bias. I could talk about all the beloved family members who have lost their lives because of the medical advances held back by misleading animal research, rather than proper science, but you can research that for yourself - this is a discussion about ethics, not science. We cannot properly consider issues of rights, justice and equality unless we put aside our personal bias and consider with compassion and equanimity the individuals being exploited, oppressed and killed for us. To consider the interests of ALL in this way is, I believe, what being 'stewards of creation' is all about.

Also, let's face it, 99.99% of human exploitation and oppression of other species has nothing to do with life-or-death situations - it's about having someone killed for a sandwich or a glass of milk when there are perfectly good alternatives abundantly available.

Finally, I believe the damage you're talking about to the University of Minnesota was claimed by the Animal Liberation Front, not PETA who are a legal campaigning group.