Monkey Business
"The more I see of men, the more I like dogs"
said Madame de Stael,
...........and ace reporter Carrie-Anne Perkins of "Sorted Magazine" agrees.
Many people believe that animal experiments are very inaccurate. The body of a guinea-pig or a mouse is extremely different to that of a human, and will react in different ways. "UNLOCK THE LABS" day was on April 24th 1999, and with it came a whole bunch of raging arguments and contradictions. There are a growing number of drugs being withdrawn after causing fatal illnesses in humans having first being declared safe through animal experimentation.
Doctor Gordon Lickey (at the university of Oregon in America) had the eye muscles of seventeen kittens cut with scissors over 11 years ago. The results of that test have never been referred to in human eye treatments or research How many other animals have been tortured and maltreated for no other reason than our own lazy, ghoulish curiosity?
"Research of vision on monkeys at the University of Oregon is of very doubtful scientific value. Visual conditions are better treated by doing something with the problem eyes and this kind of research won't lead to any improvements there."
-Doctor Ned Buyukmichi
(University of California, America).
In 1985 net sales of leading shaving products manufacturer amounted to $2.4 billion, giving them a profit of $380 million. Out of the $64.4 million that the company spent on research that year, only one thousand dollars went to non-animal experiments. Bugs Bunny's only crime is being born an animal. Most companies choose the economic path rather than the ethical one. Why seek out alternatives when rabbits are cheap and docile.
"In the UK almost twice as many people die from drug side effects as in car accidents."
-Melville and Johnson's CURED TO DEATH.
In 1997 (the most recent year for which figures are available) 2,146,448 rats and mice were experimented upon in the U.K. It is estimated that at least twice that number of animals, over 4 million, are gassed or decapitated because of the routine over breeding of animals. Currently, the Government refuses to publicise these statistics.
Picture courtesy of "Uncaged World"
I asked Derek Brown, an animal rights protester, if "UNLOCK the
LABS DAY" will get us nearer to a ban on the systematic cruelty to animals.
"Special days and events dedicated to banning animal tests will help. If the public knew what went on, it would be stopped, but these experiments go on behind closed doors and are carried out in secret. No, we aren't very close to a ban. There's still a long way to go."
Picture courtesy of BUAV & the campaign to end animal experiments.
''Research of vision on monkeys at the university of Oregon is of very doubtful scientific value. Visual conditions are better treated by doing something with the problem eyes and this kind of research won't lead to any improvements there.''
- Doctor Ned Buyukmicho
(University of California, America)
''Whatever people say, 'we musn't be sentimental' you can take it they're about to do something cruel. If they add 'we must be realistic' they mean they are going to make money out of it.''
Animal research is not pretty, and there are many cases to suggest that it is less effective and less necessary than previously believed, but the laws of commerce and international outlaw organisations make the continuation of animal abuse almost certain until enough reasons are given to the multinational conglomerates which enact and encourage others to act in this disgusting and inhumane manner.
By
Carrie Ann Perkins.
with additional contributions from "Uncaged World"
and Attitudes Ethermag™
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