---

---

Interview With a Tree-Sitter, Protesting Scripps Biotech Center




Article from the Broward New Times by Lisa Rab

Rachel Kijewski has spent the last four days camped out 30 feet above ground, in the branches of a cluster of pine trees off I-95 in Palm Beach Gardens.

She and other members of the environmental group Everglades Earth First are protesting a plan to build a Scripps Research Institute biotech center, offices, and houses on 680 acres of vacant land. The group says it wants to preserve one of the last large tracts of forest in the area, and protect threatened species such as wild pine, royal fern, and ground lichens.

The Palm Beach Gardens City Commission approved the Scripps plan last spring, but Kijewski,25, and other activists are willing to go to great lengths to stop the bulldozers. They derailed a similar Scripps proposal in western Palm Beach County five years ago, and Scripps eventually opened a center in Jupiter instead. The Gardens project would be the second phase of the center’s development.

Kijewski and fellow protester Russel McSpadden have been camped out in the trees since Monday. The Juice asked Kijewksi how she’s faring.

What’s it been like up there?
It’s absolutely beautiful gazing into the forest.

Have you slept? Eaten?
Sleeping, eating, pooping — you name it, we’re doing it in the trees. We have hammocks for sleeping, we have a good food supply [fruits, dried goods, canned goods]. We have sort of a tree-sitters port-a-potty in regards to the important daily needs.

Have you gotten any positive response from cars or people passing by?
A good amount of honks, even at night.

Why did you volunteer for this?
I’m absolutely in love with slash pines and this particular type of forest.I enjoy climbing trees. This is one of the most direct ways I can put my skills to use.

How long will you be up there?
Not sure exactly. I’d like to stay up here until we get this forest actually saved. That’s my goal, but we’ll see what happens.

 

---

 

 

---

Scripps Biotech Labs Open

The Scripps Research Institute, which was fought off of the western Palm Beach County Mecca Farm site, opened up this February 26 in Jupiter and became the largest animal research center in Florida. Future plans for the facility include the demolition of an 800 acre pine flatwoods ecosystem just south of Donald Ross road east and west of I-95 in order to make room for an entire Biotech City. We have created a flyer and are beginning to mount our campaign. A comprehensive guide to the permitting status of Scripps on the Briger tract is available from the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.

---

Scripps Florida Update: Macaque Primates and Vivisection on FAU Jupiter Campus?

 

 

 

 

 

Click Here for a PDF file of a vivisection research project using Macaques underwritten by Scripps Florida

Watch a video about macaques and vivisection here

Did you know that macaque social structure is considered non-hierarchial or democratic. See for yourself here

---

Where Might Scripps Florida Get Its Reseach Primates?

Primate Products, Inc with an area headquarters in Miami offers several living and sentient animal "products" including Macaque primates for vivisection facilities across the country. They also sell the restraining devices for their"non-human primates." Here are some of their top models, the Tallboy Macaque Chair and the Enhanced Environment Housing System. Primate Products is known to have sold primates to Huntington Life Sciences and Harlan Sprague Dawley, Inc.

Click here for a pdf. version of Primate Products macabre catalogue, or just check out their website.

For more information contact Primate Products, Inc directly at:

Live Animal Division
7780 NW 53rd Street
Miami, FL 33166
305-471-9557
305-471-8983

lad@primateproducts.com

PTLC & Equipment Div.
PO Box 1588
Immokalee, FL 34142
239-867-2020
239-867-2030

ptlcequip@primateproducts.com

Corporate Headquarters
PO Box 620415
Woodside, CA 94062
650-529-0419
650-851-176

corporate@primateproducts.com

or, if you can't spare the dime, call toll free 1 866 881 5444

(Primate Products, Inc Primate Farm and Training Center, Immokalee, FL)

---

 

View Scripps in a larger map