There have been close to no cures found despite millions of animals being sacrificed to experimentation each and every day. In Britain scientists use between 3 and 4 million animals per year, American scientists use around 17 to 22 million animals a year and this only for medical research. The cosmetic industry also use around another million or so animals. World wide the number of animals used in experimentation is probably in the region of 250 million. As there is no point to these animal experiments why are they continued.
Millions of pounds are spent each year by scientists who perform outdated and inaccurate tests. These tests are proven to be of no benefit to man or animals. This money would be better spent on our health service i.e. hospitals or education or even on the world crisis such as the tsunami relief or world famine.
It is a proven fact that humans and animals react differently, for example chimpanzees despite having 99% of the same genetic make up as we do are not susceptible to many human diseases an example being aids, nor do they have the same reaction to drugs and procedures as you or I. Again I ask, why do these pointless experiments and the endless torture continue? What is the purpose?
There are alternatives, and what are these alternatives? Why is animal testing still used when there are so many alternatives available? The main reason non- animal methods are not being used in industries is the failure to validate them. Validation is through examination, testing of methods leading to official acceptance by the scientific community and government agencies. If only non- animal testing methods were validated manufactures would use them more widely as an alternative to animal testing.
What are the alternatives? Instead of painful tests on animals manufacturers could Firstly expose their product on a complex mixture of chemicals, based on chemical reaction scientists can predict whether or not the product will be irritating or dangerous to human beings. Eyetex, skintex, and corrositex are some of the better know tests of this type.
Secondly human cells be grown in culture and products tested on them. This type of testing has shown great promise. Computer technology has expanded the ability to predict the toxicity of chemicals using structural analysis. TOPKAT is one of the computer programs with vast data on chemical activity and is able to predict reactions based upon their structure.
Difficulty in relating data gained from animal experiments to human beings has caused enormous suffering over the years. Through false assumptions on incorrect results on animal studies have caused people to die through their diseases left untreated. One very important example being animal exposure to cigarette smoke. This led researchers to believe smoking did not cause cancer, and because of this warning labels on cigarettes packets were delayed for years. Cigarette manufacturers continue to use animal data to deny the harmful affects of their products.
Animal experimentation must be stopped..
The tragic death and suffering of millions of animals must be stopped. We live in the 21 st century and as a society we need to think how we can put a stop to the cruelty towards animals. What of morals? Is it not morally wrong to continue to kill and torture defenceless animals. Were we brought up to believe that experiments such as strapping an animal in machinery to receive high impact blows to the head causing severe head injury right and just?. Were we brought up to believe restraining pigs so that they cannot escape, then burned alive so that examination of severe burns be carried out be right and just?
Please spare a thought, take a few minutes to think of these poor, pathetic victims for that is what they are. Forced to live in conditions alien to their natural habitat and environment. Starved of fresh air, wind, rain on their skins, no grass beneath their feet. Their only form of light an electric bulb. Kept in solitary confinement. Starved of the company of their own kind. Starved of the love and affection that is their god given right. Starved of their freedom, starved of the choice. Prisoners, yet where was their crime?
It is our duty as human beings to bring animal torture in the form of experimentation to an end. Do we have blocks of ice where our hearts should be? Let your heart melt, please join me.
END THIS MADNESS!