The Ethics of Animal Testing: an Argument Against Its Practice

In this essay, I will echo the cry of the majority of residents of this county. Animal experimentation. It is time to take a stand against animal testing, this pernicious, brutal and uncouth practice.

What I find appalling is how these pitiable animals die crudely every day in our laboratories while we seek our own medical advancements. Some of these animals die caged up in deplorable conditions. Does believing that we are the supreme life form on earth warrant us to commodify these animals? They are living creatures that have rights just like we do. In fact, some of us have already realized that hence the global increase in the number of vegetarians. We can join them, not only in showing solidarity to their cause but also in seeing that these animals are much more than soulless creatures lacking the capacity to experience emotion.

Do you know that over 50 million animals die worldwide each year in laboratories due to experiments that are supposed to benefit the human population? What is even more desponding, however, is that most of these animals are used to test cosmetics life lipsticks and perfumes. Go to any local cosmetic store today and you will see the logo that is supposed to guarantee your wellbeing – a sketch of a rabbit or a cat indicating that the product has been tested on an animal. Absolutely sickening. Yet, in countries like the UK, some cosmetic stores have embraced non-animal tested products. ‘The Body Shop’ is one among the many. We too, can do so much better than this. We can rise above the norm.

In a similar way, most individuals are staunch supporters of animal rights organizations like the RSPCA and Animal Aid. These organizations are so fervent about animal rights that in 1995, a woman was killed in the UK during a protest opposing the terrible transportation conditions of calves. Consequently, sir, if you do not adhere to these voices of deprecation, public protests will be inevitable and your reputation will be put to question. Surely you would not like all the work you have put in for this county to go down the drain.

In conclusion to this paper, I would like you to contemplate on the words of Pete Singer - Philosopher and Professor of Bioethics; ‘If possessing a higher intelligence does not entitle one human to use another human for his own ends how can it entitle humans to exploit non-humans for the same purpose?’ Therefore I encourage everyone to join us in standing against animal testing. Take a stand, make a difference, one animal at a time.