While the same atrocities go on day after day in animal testing labs, this year World Week for Animals in Laboratories, April 18-26, seems just a little less bleak. Why?

• The Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program and the National Institutes of Health have agreed to implement new technologies that will allow for the phasing out of animal testing.
• President Obama’s reversal of the Bush administration’s stance on embryonic stem cell use is another step on the path toward the end of animal testing.
• In response to Obama’s pledge to scrutinize federal spending on a line-by-line basis, In Defense of Animals is calling the government’s attention to “wasteful and inhumane experiments.”
• IDA is also asking Obama to award stimulus funding to the NIH for nonanimal testing only.
• The Great Ape Protection Act, which is currently in the House, seeks to “prohibit the conducting of invasive research on great apes.”
• And as of March, “the EU has banned all animal tests for cosmetic ingredients, formulations and final products. In addition, the sale of cosmetics and ingredients that have been tested on animals, regardless of where the testing occurred, is also prohibited, with the exception of three test areas… The final three test areas will be banned in March 2013.”

Of course, implementing any of these changes will take time, so they don’t mean much to the animals suffering in labs right now. If risking a prison sentence isn’t your bag, you can attend demonstrations through groups like Win Animal Rights, during WWAIL as well as the rest of the year.

If you’d rather use your wallet to take a stand, buy only cruelty-free products from companies that don’t test on animals. (If you’re not sure about a company or a product, you can find out here.) You can also donate only to charities that conduct nonanimal research. In addition to advocating for the creation and use of alternatives to animal testing, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine awards the Humane Charity Seal of Approval to organizations that don’t test on animals.

And never underestimate the power of knowledge. As with factory farming, a lot of people just don’t know what goes on in laboratories, so educate yourself and those around you. Organizations like the National Anti-Vivisection Society, the American Anti-Vivisection Society, PETA and others provide plenty of information as well as letter-writing campaigns and other ways to get involved.

3 Comments

1. 
   Comment by

   kerstycakes

   on April 21, 2009 at 1:34 pm #

   I know you guys were pointing out the seriousness of vivisection in this post, but I just had to tell you how much I hate the cover girl spoof with the dog.

   Even when obviously against animal testing, Disney version depictions of animals “trying out” make-up and other people products seriously detracts from the real face of animal experimentation which we all know if horrific beyond words.

   I’ve actually met people who thought at one point that animal testing entailed exactly that: Washing rabbits’ fur with new shampoo, etc. so my worry is definitely not unfounded…

2. 
   Comment by

   Roseann Marulli

   on April 21, 2009 at 2:41 pm #

   Thanks, kerstycakes. I chose the image because it embodies the absurdity of the fact that Ellen has become CG’s spokesmodel, and it’s so obviously PhotoShopped that it’s ridiculous. It’s also a lot easier to digest than most of the images we associate with animal testing. And since I’m preaching to the converted here, I wasn’t worried about giving people the wrong idea.

   That said, I had exactly the same sentiments when I saw Banksy’s Pet Store and Charcoal Grill–the cute bunny wearing makeup and checking herself out in the mirror most likely didn’t get the message across to those not in the know. So I appreciate your weighing in. My intention was not to make light of vivisection in any way, rest assured.

3. 
   Comment by

   beanmail

   on April 22, 2009 at 11:46 am #

   Yet another reason SV rules: you’re not afraid to point out inconsistencies in celebrity behavior. Maybe fellow cover girl & former veg Drew Barrymore is trying to pull Ellen back over to the dark side. What was the reason Drew cited for not wanting to be veg anymore? I seem to recall something about it being too exhausting to have to read content labels on shoes & handbags. I can see how that would make me want to rethink the entire basis of my morals and ethics.