Pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, detergents, food colouring agents and shampoos are some of the products which are tested on animals. Some of the ‘victim’ animals include dogs, cats, rabbits, pigeons, monkeys, mice & squirrels. Vivisection means ‘dissection or other painful treatment (burning, scalding, crashing, suffocating, drowning, electric shocks, beating, poking, forcing intake of strong drugs, deliberate irritants applied on the skin or dropped into the eyes).

Whatever the arguments for carrying out animal experimentation on such a large scale, the researchers need to answer two very important questions: either that the animals are not like us, in which case there is no reason for performing the experiment; or else the animal is like us, in which case we ought not to perform an experiment on the animal which would be considered outrageous if performed on one of us. It should not be thought that medical research would grind to a halt if animal experiments are stopped, or that a flood of untested products would come into the market.

For testing products, as well as for research, alternative methods not requiring animals can be, and in some cases have been already, found. These alternatives would develop more rapidly if the energy and resources now applied to experimenting on animals were redirected into the search for alternatives. At present scientists do not look for alternatives simply because they do not care enough about the animals they are using. Those arguing for animal experiments sometimes use the excuse that obtaining animals for experimenting is cheaper than alternatives. It seems, in such cases, that economic considerations are more important than the suffering of animals.

MEDICINES

Modern medicine only keeps symptoms at bay, often at the cost of unpleasant or dangerous side effects, and always at the cost of thousands of animal lives. We do not have the right to experiment on animals; they suffer pain, distress, fear and deprivation in the same way as we do. Much research on animal is not medical at all and generally, humans are always the final guinea pigs for any new product or drug that enters the market! All Allopathic medicines are tested on animals and many contain animal substances. Some Homeopathic medicines contain animal products, so do Unani, Siddha and Ayurvedic ones.

ALTERNATIVES

Many companies now manufacture safe, gentle, effective products that are tested, not on animals, but through in vitro (test tube) studies, with sophisticated computer models, and on human skin (cloned or attached to volunteers!) Many companies are committed to using known-safe ingredients (there are now more than 600), rather than experiment with new chemical combinations.

Computer programs explaining nature, diagnosis and treatment of diseases.

Films, models and charts replacing dissection.

Tissue and Cell culture.

Spectrometry and Chromatography.

Alternate Medicine: Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Magnet, Music, Crystal and Gems, Aroma, Flower, Water Therapies, Reiki, Pranic and Tai Chi healing methods etc.

Healthy diet and clean habitat.

Cosmetics made from the best flower, herb and plant extracts or from chemicals that have not used animals as their base. Herbal and Natural products are safe and harmless.
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