Last week I travelled to Coleshill to see John White, who is protesting outside the offices of Willmott Dixon, a construction company involved in the development of a new vivisection laboratory for Leicester University.

John is on hunger strike for the duration of his protest. My attention was brought to this action by one of our long-standing members and veteran campaigners for the animal rights movement from whom John had obtained advice, this being his first hunger strike. Speaking to John I was appalled by the level of investment by Leicester University into such projects and after looking at the "Stop the Leicester Animal Lab" website, my eyes were opened to the extent to which animals are routinely being used.

As a Pureland Buddhist such willful neglect of the suffering of fellow sentient beings touches me deeply and I am writing to give voice to my support for John in his campaign and in the hope that the Mercury will help in some way to bring people's attention to this issue.

I am heartened by the commitment and courage of John. After meeting him and some other protesters from the West Midlands Animal Rights group I am also now conscious that there are not an insignificant number of young adults like him who are acting from a similar position of compassion for the benefit of other living beings.

It is my view that such a willingness to put oneself into often risky and challenging situations for such a worthy cause should at least be given some attention, if not recognised in ways that support the important issues pertaining to the welfare of animals that it highlights.

Simon Williams, Amida Trust, Pureland Buddhist Community, Narborough.