Animal Experimentation...

[pixi]

Is it morally acceptable to experiment on non-human animals to develop products and medicines that benefit human beings?

For many centuries people have experimented on animals. There are two main reasons for doing this: first, to find out more about the animals themselves, and, secondly, to test substances and procedures to see if they are harmful (with a view to deciding whether or not they can be used on human beings). In the second category fall cosmetic products as well as medicines and surgical techniques. There is a growing consensus that it is not acceptable to test cosmetic products on animals. This debate is about whether we should experiment on animals for scientific and medical purposes. The debate about the pros and cons of animal experimentation (or 'vivisection') is one that elicits very strong emotions: animal rights activists have resorted to trespass, violence, death threats, and hunger strikes in their single-minded (and sometimes illegal) mission to end this practice.

[cam]

As much as I despise the thought of animals being harmed in any way I,along with most of the people on this planet are guilty of benefitting from such experiments.

Most women use cosmetics.We all take some form of medication.We smoke,we drink,we eat.....the list goes on.

I have to admit to having no real knowledge of what huge benefits animal testing has given us that could not be found by other means.

[hiddenscars]

I am totally 100% against any kind of animal testing.
And I fight for a good cause.

[cam]

How do we fight it?

Do we stop using shampoo,soap..ect ect.

[hiddenscars]

Well, I fight it in lots of ways.
But as far as anyone else is concerned, you will have to ask them.

I fight it, for a good reason, because it is a subject I feel very strongly for and I care enough to help.

First of all, I try to buy as many products as possible that have not been tested on animals.

I buy free range food pretty much all the time.

I don't wear make-up, or buy weird cosmetics.

I sign all the petitions and all that jazz.

And before you say, I know its not much and it will change hardly anything, but if everyone did this, or at least one thing on the above list, it would make a difference, slowly but surely.
I do it, because I want to, because I think it is the right thing to do, I do it because I care enough to do what I can.

And no we don't stop using things, we look for alternatives.

[cam]

Every little helps so anything we do is better than doing nothing.

[hiddenscars]

Well if everyone did what I did, or at least one or two things, then it would make a difference.

But people are lazy, indenial, or they agree with whats going on, or they don't care, or they don't realise.

[cam]

Nothing will stop them experimenting on animals if they want to continue.

I am not even sure that products marked not tested on animals means as its read.

They could be doing a crafty and saying the finished product is not tested but that does not mean the ingredients were not.

[hiddenscars]

Yes I know, but they are beginning to lessen animal testing, something to do with the animals they use and the kind of experiments and what for.

I know, that is sly when they do that, but if thats all there is its the best we can do.

There are a few products that have nothing tested on animals, ingredients nothing, but they are very, very few.

[cam]

I suppose the totally animal testing free products are also more expensive to buy.?

[hiddenscars]

Yep that is true.

I don't know why they do that, oh yes I do, cos it cost more not to experiment on animals, its more expensive to find alternatives. But it doesn't really help... they should be cheaper, so more people would buy them.

[Millie]

I don't agree with testing on animals at all. They don't volunteer to be messed about with like humans can.

[cam]

Exactly jay..they should be cheaper.

True millie but we all really contribute to them still being tested on as we have no choice but to use products that come from that.

[hiddenscars]

Yes, but cam, you just said it, we have no choice.

[cam]

I know..its a catch 22 situation.

[hiddenscars]

I still fight for the cause though, like they say, the animals can't speak, so we have to speak for them.