With the threat of PETA's ad campaign set to launch next week, Unilever - owner of Lipton Tea has pledged to immediately halt all animal testing with their products.(and before we go thinking I wish someone would test some tea on me- these animals are given diseases and then fed tea as a "cure" and even autopsied while still alive)
I am not always a fan of PETA
(not sure that turning half the population into objects is necessary toward getting people to treat animals ethnically)
but I am happy they convinced Lipton to join the growing number of cruelty-free companies.
Probably not all animal testing in medical research can be ended but as for the necessity of animals in cancer research (for example), Dr. Richard Klausner, former director of the National Cancer Institute, stated that -
"The history of cancer research has been a history of curing cancer ... in the mouse.
We have cured mice of cancer for decades - and it simply didn't work in humans."
That - added to the fact that only 3 medical schools in the U.S. (out of 150 plus) still use animals to teach surgery because there are better teaching methods available now says alot to me about the modern alternatives that can be used to alleviate much of this testing (about 200 animals are killed every minute in U.S. labs).
So, maybe have a nice cup of tea this weekend to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit knowing less rabbits are being tortured in the name of research - but maybe make it a Stash Tea, Luzianne Tea, Twinings or Honest - they have all been cruelty free without the threat of a PETA ad campaign.
xo
To see if a company you are giving your money to is cruelty-free, check PETA's database here
2 comments
I am not always a big fan of PETA either, but I am glad to see that these cruelties are brought to light and something positive is done about them. I have been anti-vivisection for decades. I see no need for it either. thanks for a great post.
Great post! I am an animal rights activist (I haven't done leafletting in a couple years, but did do a walk this year and raised over $100!). I'm always afraid to touch on this subject on my blog because I don't want it to get political.I always encourage my readers to go organic and recycle though, mention cage-free eggs (which still aren't curelty-free), and have lots of veggie recipes.
Veggie or not, it's so important to know where your food comes from and what it went through to come to your table.
Thanks again!
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