Time to end animal testing suffering
FOR a long time I have been concerned about the use of animals in scientific experiments. I am not an extremist. I'm just an ordinary person who believes that animals feel pain and have the right to be free of suffering just like any sentient being.
I am delighted that for the first time in more than 20 years, discussions are going on in the European Union to update the laws on animal testing.
At long last there is an opportunity to ban the use of monkeys caught in the wild and tests on our closest cousins, the great apes.
Limits on the levels of suffering are also being proposed.
I would like to see more, including the eventual wiping out of animal experiments altogether, but this is a good start.
After having passed before the European Parliament, the new directive now goes before the Council of Ministers so that the UK will have its own say in the process.
I have written to my MP accordingly asking that my Government defends the Commission's original text and I would urge readers to do the same. Please contact Animal Defenders International at www.ad-international-org to join the campaign against animal suffering.
Frances Wicks
Alphington Road
Exeter
(by post)
Comments
by FWK, Crediton
Tuesday, June 23 2009, 2:14PM
“Most of us would agree that animal experimentation that causes significant suffering to animals should not be allowed, but it would be wrong to ban all animal experimentation on this basis. We use animals for food, which involves killing them after a period of rearing, and if you are a meat eater or consumer of other animal products you tacitly agree that this level of exploitation is acceptable. Logically then, one should not disapprove of any animal experimentation that involves no more suffering than normal animal rearing and slaughter entails. I would guess that most forms of laboratory experimentation on animals would meet this criterion, and if it doesn't then there are grounds for tightening up the regulations - but not necessarily a blanket ban.”