The "rivalry" between those for and those against it exists, as much as for the abortion issue and other hot subjects.

But what one should wonder is "What can be reduced for now? In which way I may help?"

Even though arguable, animal testing has opened the path to discover treatment for many diseases and make new discoveries. (Read more)

However, animal models can't always be extrapolated to humans. There are many physiological differences between Man and other animals and even between different species. This is a major factor the ones against animal testing use to support their position. Even Fleming, the father of penicillin didn't use animals for testing, as many products used in animals may be totally ineffective in humans, and even have an opposite effect.

Some non-vital products companies should ban the use of animals in testing their products, like the cosmetics and household products industries, and many others. These experiments are considered useless and this blogger agrees with it, and also with reducing animal use in experiments in general. Even in schools and universities for teaching purposes (I always skipped classes in university where teachers were going to kill mice, rats, frogs and rabbits to prove something everybody knew. And hummmm, actually, after some experiences, some of the poor rabbits ended up in the cooking pot at the assistant's kitchen...)

What we may do to help is to choose products and brands which were not tested on animals over those which have used animals to certify their products.
In those animal-friendly products, the clear indication of that may be found in the packaging. You may find them widespread in the market now. Many animal friendly and also earth-friendly house and body products can be found in New Zealand Products Shops in Macau (another huge problem...chemicals in household and body products...for a future post!) .

Here you may find a list of animal-friendly brands, a shopping guide or here!

One of the dearest things for this blogger here is the respect for all the living creatures. To be ethical and responsible. To teach children how to behave and respect life and the planet.

Laboratory animals, from daphnias to monkeys, deserve our compassion and every effort should be taken to minimize their suffering or to ban their use.

There is a recently growing trend of scientists aiming to reduce the number of animals used in testings, as many are being substituted by computer models or by those so called lower sensibility animals, like invertebrates. Maybe someday a total ban will come, who knows?

What is the use of insisting on mother-offspring bond deprivation studies in baby monkeys, condemned to isolation since birth, when it is known that they will suffer like hell, become deeply depressed and irreversibly develop stereotypes? There are to many human clinical and real cases from whom scientists may learn and study and be able to help and improve the condition of other patients.

Reduction and regulation of animal testing in all countries should be the key to prevent indiscriminate testing and unnecessary use of animals.

And just a final thought....
Would you feel insecure if you bought a product that has not been tested on animals?
Would you rather buy one that has been tested?
How do you feel about it? Would you take a product with one of these symbols:





(Not-animal-tested (BUAV logo)
logo in Europe,
from here)

I left some tools for now... make your own judgement!