Animal Testing Is Unnecessary Practice. Diebold April 9, 2020

Animal Testing Is Unnecessary Practice.                  Diebold                                      April 9, 2020

There has been an on-going movement called #BeCrueltyFree to ban animal testing in Canada. According to the Animal Alliance of Canada, they have teamed up with The Humane Society International/ Canada. Not only is this campaigning for Canada to adopt animal testing free cosmetics, but it is also pushing for legal action against animal testing altogether. Animal testing is not a legal requirement in Canada as it is in other countries such as China- The cosmetic giant of the world. The ##BeCrueltyFree campaign intends to: Support modern science, educate consumers, to raise awareness about animal testing, to influence top companies, Politian's and celebrities (animalallincance.com). Animal testing is an unnecessary practice and needs to be illegal.

Bif Naked wrote to the Vancouver Sun and voiced her opinions on animal testing. Not only is she a significant icon, but she is just another animal lover and parent. Naked is a huge advocate for #BeCrueltyFree, here is why the world standard should be too.  As a powerful icon, Naked states, "As a proud Canadian, I can't sit still and allow the hideous reality of cosmetic animal testing to continue". Animal testing is an unnecessary practise worldwide. "About 900,000 animals in the United States are used annually for testing" (dailycal.org). Not only is there an environmental and economic cost, but there is also an ethical dilemma—animal rights. Animal rights are being ignored and violated by the continuation of animal-tested brands are sold worldwide. "But, in fact, it is still legal to blind, poison and kill innocent animals within our borders for face cream or soap, as well as sell cosmetics that have been animal-tested abroad" says Naked. Why test on animals if we do not have to? Why should Canada allow such a grotesque practice? The reward from the testing is not worth the sacrifice and torture of the animal, even to reap the benefits of testing. According to Lone Star College, "Animals and people are alike in many ways; they both feel, think, behave, and experience pain. Thus, animals should be treated with the same respect as humans" ('Save the Animals: Stop Animal Testing'). Animals are being subjected to months and even years of torturous testing, just as a scientific experiment. Animals have been subjected to torture for the human benefit for decades, and for what result? 

Studies have shown that dermatological testing is not only the most effective in a scientific standpoint but is also the most cost-effective. Dermatological also has the least environmental impact compared to animal-testing facilities. Not only do the facilities discard animals after being tested on, but the facilities also use enormous amounts of electricity. These facilities are also guilty of producing an astounding amount of greenhouse gases (dailycal.org). A letter to the editor from the New York Times says, "…the testing of cosmetics, would likely result in the poisoning deaths of countless animals. This will do nothing to protect public safety, as animal tests do not reliably predict human reactions to cosmetics". Technology has advanced so significantly, that a machine can take months or even years off of a test that performed on an innocent animal. Animal testing is not a viable source for testing cosmetics and products coming into contact with humans. Humans and animals have different reactions to chemicals, therefor the act of animal-testing is just an unnecessary practice of animal cruelty.

References:

https://www.animalalliance.ca/becrueltyfree/cosmetic-testing-canada/

https://www.dailycal.org/2019/04/26/people-must-stop-supporting-products-that-arent-cruelty-free/

http://www.lonestar.edu/stopanimaltesting.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/opinion/testing-cosmetics-on-animals.html

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Opinion+case+cruelty+free+cosmetics/11273972/story.html