PETA Video and what it promotes...

This video was made and put up on YouTube to promote and acknowledge animal testing in general and what these animals go through. The three individuals in the clip constantly repeat the fact that animals can't voice the pain they go through, the suffering they have to endure. Studies done on animals can differ from humans and results can be very dangerous in the production of the substance. For instance, rabbits and/or mice are entirely different from humans and the results can be devastatingly inaccurate when then given to humans.
"When it comes to pain, hunger and thirst and not wanting to die, we're all the same."
These animals don't deserve to die because humans need make-up and/or hairspray, its just immorally unjust and wrong. Not only do these animals get experimented on, in-between testing times they have to live in wire cages, sometimes being the size of a shoe box. Living conditions, on top of the experimentation's, can alter an animals intelligence (for example monkeys, cats and dogs). They get bored and lonely and can sometimes get vicious with other animals living in the same cage as them.



ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL TESTING


Bio-technology has been produced to genetically grow a human liver (for example) and test products and watch for reaction. In Vitro testing can be used as alternative options for the experimentation of new substances, products and drugs. 'In a landmark 2007 report, the National Academy of Sciences confirmed that scientific advances can "transform toxicity testing from a system based on whole-animal testing to one founded primarily on in vitro (non-animal) methods.'



THE THREE R'S

Replacement: The substitution of living animals to an extent - some projects can use animal tissue and/or cells, experiments are then conducted in vitro. (Evidence)

Reduction: The reduction of animals can be minimalized, where studies can not be done repeatedly and a minimum number of animals are used. (Evidence)

Refinement: If animals are used multiple times, the severity of the procedure must be decreased. (Evidence)


COMPANIES THAT ARE ANIMAL TESTING FREE

•  Abercrombie & Fitch
• Amina Cosmetics
• Mineral Fusion Cosmetics
• Carefree (Johnson & Johnson)
• Estee Lauder 
• Garnier

For other companies that do the right thing and don't test on animals click here


Furthermore, my opinion on cosmetic and household animal testing is wrong and should be banned globally. My opinion on animal testing for medical research would have to be researched well and given the right information and facts, I would then be able to voice my opinion. Although in consideration for cosmetic animal testing, I hate to see animals that have forcefully been given substances/products and then paralyzed or disfigured in some way when there are more appropriate ways to test these products.

If this blog has given you a new perspective on this socio-ethical issue and you want to join the fight against cosmetic animal testing, sign the petition now! (SAFE-shopper)

Animal Testing in New Zealand and the world - Cosmetic Industry

Currently in New Zealand there are no known companies testing their cosmetic brands on animals, though according to SAFE Shopper, they believe that in the future "if companies are able to 'prove' that there is a need to test their product on animals, the National Animal Ethica Committee can allow said testings to start. SAFE are now petitioning to prevent any further cruelty to animals in the testing of cosmetic and/or household products in New Zealand and internationally.

There are three main tests used on animals to generate new household and cosmetic concoctions.


CARCINOGENICITY

This test applies a certain substance to animals to discover whether or not cancer can develop in the usage of the product. Unwillingly, the animals are fed ingredients of the product to which scientists then watch over and see if any cancerous type symptoms occur/appear. After this happens, the animals is then 'put-down' and cut open to further inspect their organs for any more consequences from the ingredient.


THE LETHAL DOSE TEST

The Lethal Dose test begins with a particular group of animals (all the same) and given a substance, which can either be given orally, inhalation or through a tube into the stomach, then will slowly cause symptoms such as abdominal pains, vomiting, paralysis and convulsions before dying. This test is often performed on smaller animals such as, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits, I personally think this is senseless and immoral due to the fact that the amount of animals use in this experiment are in the hundreds and the amount of substance given to them is cruel.

(Evidence)


THE DRAIZE TEST

This test is mainly used on rabbits when a certain substance is applied to either their eyes, ears and/or mouths to determine whether or not the consequences result in swelling or ulceration. Rabbits are used because they cannot produce the same tears as humans can, (human tears can dilute certain substances when in the eye), this means that the substance can remain in the rabbit's eye rather than be cleaned out.

(Evidence)

These tests are carried out all over the globe on hundreds of thousands of animals. The tests mentioned above help assure the customers that this product is safe for human use, however the known product came to be sold. There are larger companies in the world who develop such cosmetic and household products with the use of animal testing, who then import their product into New Zealand which gets sold here.