testing testing 1 2 3

Tony Blair, within a week of animal rights activists being gaoled for 12 years for conspiracy, has signed a petition demanding the continuation of scientific testing on animals.  Putting aside the facts that 1) Blair has signed a petition addressed to himself, and 2) these animal rights people have not been found guilty of harming anyone or anything and yet have received a longer sentence than the man who raped a months old baby, this issue has raised a lot of opinion comment from the movers and shakers in the media. 

 

All thus far have endorsed the testing of medicines on animals.  Thalidomide was tested on animals.  6 young men in the UK were very recently brought to the point of death during the human testing of drugs which had formerly been tested on animals.  Nevertheless regardless of our sympathies with research animals and our doubts about the efficacy of animal tests were we or one of our loved ones suffering from a dread disease or likely to have children with a vile genetic illness then we would donate our own kittens and puppies to laboratories if we thought it would help.  I know I would.

 

The opinion pundits however appear to be united in one ethical objection to the use of animals, and that is for the testing of cosmetics.  Cosmetics apparently are a matter of vanity only and there is no moral justification to cause animal suffering solely to save people from the results of their own egotistical and vain foolishness in using cosmetics.  Actually this is pious self-righteous unthinking hypocrisy.

 

Women in every culture are under pressure to 'make-over' their natural appearance.  The thinner we become the more we are congratulated.  Endless TV programmes push the advantages not only of cosmetics and hair dyes but also of sugical 'enhancements' and chemical prostheses.  Adolescents, prospective brides, mothers to be and women in their middle age are bombarded with advice and commercials implying that in order to be happy they must conform to an idealised thin, waxed, glossy haired, wrinkle and spot free image of women at their stage of life. 

Women in public life are often judged on their physical attributes; the wives of politicians are sneered at for having large mouths, too fat, old fashioned hairstyles and generally  being less than 'perfect'.  Beautiful film stars are ridiculed for having a little underarm hair.  Women are powdered, painted, shaved, styled, deodorised and perfumed until little of the natural woman remains.  Many women live their whole lives letting no-one but their mothers and sisters know what they really look like.

Men appear to be going down the same primrose path to self-denial with their scents and face creams, gels and exfoliants, tooth bleaching, hair dyes and cosmetic surgeries.  The commercial propaganda which is intended to make people feel uncomfortable and inadequate in their own bodies isn't going to slow down, rather as each year goes by it picks up speed and I expect that before long will extend down the age range to draw in prepubertal children.  Already there are endless body creams for infants - and no age group has a more perfect blemish free skin than infants and tiny tots.

 

Is it then okay for skin creams to be untested? If the styptic pencils or scented aftershave that young lads use are carcinogenic is that okay too?  Does it not matter if 13 year olds lose their sight when experimenting with eyeliner or mascara?  If a woman chooses to have breast implants does she deserve all the illness she gets from leakages?

 

If the substances we choose to put on our skin should not be tested on animals then what about the stuff we choose to put inside our bodies?  If the constituents of bioactive yoghurt, sports drinks, tandoori pastes and bottled water are tested on animals, why should infant shampoos, cosmetic creams for adolescent acne and deodorants not be tested?

 

If anyone wants to discuss this with me and point out where I'm way off target then I'd be glad of feedback.

 

PS. Cats have 9 lives....................................  which makes them ideal for medical experiments.  ;O)