Animal & Primate Experimentation - Cruelty or "Science"?
 The
use of animals, including primates, in medical research is an
horrific, cruel practice, condemning the animal to a life of
terror and frequently excruciating pain, yet this practice of
animal experimentation, particularly primate experimentation,
is considered acceptable by humans. Why do we as humans place
so little value on the lives of animals, showing such disregard
for animal rights?
Animal Torture ... In The Name of Science?
Every year globally over 115 milllion animals, including
primates, are subjected to experiments and despite the fact
that we believe they are necessary for medical research, studies
confirm that nearly two thirds of these experiments have
absolutely nothing to do with advancing human medicine or curing
human diseases.
These experiments are animal torture, driven purely
by human curiosity.
Scientists are unfortunately often recognised for the amount
of papers published as opposed to the quality of finds and the
contribution the study makes to the advancement of medicine
or science. Frequently, even animal and primate experimentation
that is carried out for ‘medical purposes’ does
not in fact have any relevance to human health.
A PETA (People For The Ethical Treatment of Animals) investigation
revealed a study at Columbia University where monkeys were forced
to endure surgical procedures in which metal pipes were implanted
into their skulls for the sole purpose of inducing stress to
study the connection between stress and women’s menstrual
cycles.
Animal testing for human diseases has debatable benefits
Animal biology differs significantly between species and so
being able to determine an accurate result on humans via animal
experimentation is unlikely to occur. The results of animal
testing can be manipulated by the scientist, casting doubt on
the validity of the findings.
A scientific review of 10 randomly chosen “animal models”
of human disease found that they made little, if any, contribution
toward the treatment of human patients.(1)
Source: (1)Christopher Anderegg,
M.D., et al., “A Critical Look at Animal Experimentation,”
Medical Research Modernization Committee, 2002
Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals,
and the answer is: "Because the animals are like
us."
Ask the experimenters why it is morally okay to
experiment on animals, and the answer is:
"Because the animals are not like us."
Animal experimentation rests
on a logical contradiction.
~ Professor Charles R. Magel |
Non-Animal Testing Alternatives
There are newer non-animal reseacrh methods that are not only more accurate and less time consuming and expensive than animal experiemnts but are more humane, but unfortuantely many are unwillling to switch to these superior methods.
To date, several non-animal test methods have been formally
validated and accepted by some countries as replacements for
an existing animal test:
Embryonic
stem cell test, using mouse-derived cells to assess
potential toxicity to developing embryos, has been validated
as a partial replacement for birth-defect testing in rats
and rabbits.
3T3 Neutral Red Uptake Phototoxicity Test, which
uses cells grown in culture to assess the potential for
sunlight-induced (“photo”) irritation to the
skin.
Human skin model tests such as the validated EpiDerm™
test, which has been accepted almost universally as a total
replacement for skin corrosion studies in rabbits.
Use of human skin leftover from surgical procedures
or donated cadavers can be used to measure the rate at which
a chemical is able to penetrate the skin.
Use of a clinical patch test in human volunteers,
which can confirm that a chemical will not cause irritation
or allergic skin reactions.
Source: PETA Media Center |
Visit the PETA website to read their article, Alternatives:
Animal Testing Without Torture, for more information.
Things You Can Do
- Sign some petitions to help end primate experimentation
and animal experimentation:
- Pledge
Against Animal Testing
- Petition
to End Primate Experiments
- Become a vegetarian.
Save acres of land, conserve water (animal agriculture
accounts for over half of the water used in the US);
help save animals’ lives (27 billion animals are
killed yearly for food);
reduce air & water pollution (farmed animals produce
130 times more excrement than humans, fouling waterways);
get healthy (meat eaters have higher rates of obesity,
cancer, strokes & heart disease ).
- Buy Cruelty-Free Products.
Caring
Consumer offers coupons and special offers from cruelty-free
companies, and also provide lists of which companies &
health charities use animal experimentation and which don't.
By becoming informed this way, you have a choice in what products
you buy, which makes a statement to manufacturers.
- Visit the PETA
(People Against Animal Testing) website.
PETA is an organisation committed to helping local animal
activists around the world organize to protect animal rights.
Here you can become an activist, sign up for rss feeds with
action alerts, subscribe to a newsletter for tips, or donate
money to help their work.
"I
had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland.
They lived next to each other in separate cages for several
months
before I used one as a [heart] donor.
When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the
operation,
he chattered and cried incessantly.
We attached no significance to this,
but it must have made a great impression on his companion,
for when we removed the body to the operating room,
the other chimp wept bitterly and was inconsolable for days.
The incident made a deep impression on me.
I vowed never again to experiment with such sensitive creatures."
~ Christian Barnard, Surgeon ~
Save The Primates
is dedicated to supporting quality of life for chimps, apes,
gorillas and other primates.
We are currently supporting The
Chimfunshi Wildlife Sanctuary Project
Help Us help the chimps...
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