An Argumentive About Using Animals for Testing Cosmitics - Research Paper Example

of submitted An argumentative paper on the use of animals for testing cosmetics Animals have been around humanity for as humanity has existed and their relationship is one of both love and hate. In both the theory of evolution and the biblical story of creation, animals were created first, and paved the way for human existence, and since then they have become our hunters, our prey, our companions, our workforce, protection, and tools. However, in recent times, this relationship we have with animals has taken a different turn. There have been cases of animals being used as test subjects for cosmetic products and although this may not sound dangerous at first, think of why they need to test the cosmetics on animals before sending these cosmetics out to market. One of the possible reasons is that incase these is an adverse effect, it would show on the animals and cosmetic companies could tweek and change the chemistry on the cosmetics so that humans would not get affected by these issues. The sad part about this is that the animals that do get hurt from these tests do not have a voice of their own. Some people may not know this, and some might even deny this but animals have feelings and sensations as well as we do and although they are unable to vocalize it, they also feel pain and suffering. This is the reason why there are animal rights movements, because animals cannot fight for themselves, and that they do need someone to defend them as they cannot do it themselves. This paper’s aim is to argue on the negative effects of animal testing using current literature, as well as to react on these current literature and articles and provide insight as to why animal testing in cosmetics is negative and provide alternatives to animal testing in order to still provide a channel for cosmetic companies to test their products before sending them out to market and avoid any adverse effects to humans. These points of discussion will be tackled as such: Evidences of cosmetic animal testing Negative effects of animal testing Reactions of cosmetic companies to animal testing Actions that have been taken regarding animal testing Alternatives to animal testing Conclusion Evidences of cosmetic animal testing As with any statement that one wants to prove as fact, there must be evidence that is presented along with it to be used as supporting evidence. The statement being made is that animal testing in cosmetics is a fact and that it has a negative effect. The first article we can look at is one by idausa.org. It states certain details and information regarding animal testing in cosmetics. It states certain details such as death of animals involved in animal testing with cosmetics, cruel and inhumane testing as well as the inaccurate nature of these tests. This gives us a good jump-off point for our argument regarding the negativity and cruelty behind animal testing. The article also provides us information on some affordable and more effective methods of testing, which will be discussed later in the paper. Another paper we can look at is one by mercyforanimals.org. It provides us with a graphic account of certain tests that are done by some companies and what effects they have on animals such as rabbits, rats, and others. These tests result in discomfort, suffering and even death for the animals involved. The article states that although there are no laws that specifically require animal testing for cosmetic products, some companies still opt to do them despite the pain, suffering and death on th part of the animal. Lastly, one article by humanesociety.org discusses the kind of tests that are done to animals, provides us some reasons as to why it is done, but at the same time recognizes that these tests are wrong, and that there are alternatives that are not cruel, and are to an extent, more effective than animal testing. Negative effects of animal testing As this paper's main goal is to argue that animal testing is negative practice, it must first discuss its negative effects. In order to prove that animal testing is both negative and unnecessary, we must first prove that it has negative effects. The next articles will discuss the negative effects of animal testing on certain areas of society. An article by all-creatures.org tries to present some effects that animal testing has to the animals themselves. It uses both physical evidence seen in photos and bible verses in order to convince its reader that animal testing should be abandoned as a practice. Some effects on animals that were either stated or implied here are pain, death, sadness and suffering. Another thing that is stated in the paper points to the product of animal testing. Some tests are done in order to find cures for certain illnesses but according to the paper “treating people and animals with the same medications for the some of the same diseases frequently cause adverse affects, to the point of death, for both people and animals.” It then proceeds to list some alternatives to this cruel practice, which will be discusses further later. Another paper regarding some of the negative effects of animal testing is by aboutmyplanet.com. This paper lists some of the facts regarding animal testing. The negative effect that jumps out of the information is regarding the inaccuracy of animal testing. The paper provides certain statistics that indicate that animal testing is both inaccurate and dangerous, both for the animal being tested, as well as for the human that will be using the products tested on the animal. One example is this: “88% of stillbirths are due to drugs posed to be safe in animal testing”. This is why many countries are already phasing out this practice for more practical, humane and more accurate methods of testing. The last paper that will be looked at in this portion of the paper is one by peta.org. This particular paper looks at some of the reasons or justifications for animal testing and then provides counter arguments on these justifications. One of the negative impacts that comes to mind when reading this article is that the act of animal testing, along with the justifications for animal testing place wrong ideas in the minds of society and therefore in time, creates a society that, like animal testing, is willing to sacrifice one person, or thing, in order to gain another. This should not be the case since all life has value. One other negative effect that we can observe from this article is that the cost that animal testing has racked up is too large to ignore. As previously mentioned, there are more practical, economical and accurate tests and methods available. Actions that have been taken regarding animal testing As we have now provided arguments regarding animal testing as a negative practice, the next step is for this paper to look at some of the things that have been done in order to stop, control or prevent animal testing. This section of the paper will focus in articles that discuss this information and provide feedback, One article to look as is utilitarian.org. This particular article lists some of the moves that have been done against animal testing. The article notes down that in the history of the fight against animal testing and cruelty, there have been laws that were moves and passed, companies that declined to use animals in testing, and even going to the extremes and illegal acts such as vandalism in order to get the point across. There are also some goals that are noted on the article. These goals outline what they intend their movement to be. This also gives them a baseline of comparison between now and in the near future. Another article to look at is by aboutanimaltesting.co.uk. This paper discusses the story of animal protests and how they have come to be, have grown and have evolved into what they are today. This shows us that it has been a long time of fighting for these animal rights groups and that protests and demonstrations have been done in order to influence people to support the cause of not killing and hurting animals. There have even been extreme cases of demonstration that either shock you or leave you thinking about how you can help. Alternatives to animal testing As previously mentioned in earlier parts of the paper, there are many alternatives to animal testing that can be more economical, accurate and less cruel. This portion of the paper is aimed to discuss and list some of the alternatives one can make use of instead of animal testing. The all-creatures.org article above presented some alternatives to animal testing which can be just as accurate or even more so. Some of the listed options are; “Chorioallantoic Membrane, Computer and Mathematical Modeling” and others. These options provide companies that need test methods options in order to safely, humanely and practically test their products without the risk of endangering users or animals in testing process. The idausa.org article also disuses some alternative methods that are humane. Some of the discussed alternatives are cell cultures. These cell cultures provide the experimenter a means of testing and observing some results without the risk of hurting or killing anyone. Conclusion In a final statement, this paper firmly believes that the practice of animal testing is both cruel and unnecessary. Based on the information and evidences provided about, we can definitely see that animal testing causes harm, no just to animals, but to society, and even humans as well and also see that there are safe, humane and practical alternatives to animal testing that are also potentially more accurate. Resources Animal Testing (2011) aboutmyplanet.com retrieved Nov 4, 2011 http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/science-technology/animal-testing/ Animal Testing Is Bad Science: Point/Counterpoint(2011) peta.org retrieved Nov 4, 2011 http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-experimentation/animal-testing-bad-science.aspx Murnaghan, I, (Nov 14, 2010) History of Protests Against Animal Tests aboutanimaltesting.co.uk, retrieved Nov 4, 2011 http://www.aboutanimaltesting.co.uk/history-protests-against-animal-tests.html Argument Against Animal Testing, (Aug 20, 2003) all-creatures.org retrieved Nov 4, 2011http://www.all-creatures.org/clct/art-antest.html Cosmetic testing facts. idausa.org retrieved Nov 4, 2011 http://www.idausa.org/facts/costesting.html Cosmetic testing mercyforanimals.org retrieved Nov 4, 2011. http://www.mercyforanimals.org/cosmetic_testing.asp The Humane Society of the United States, (2011) Cosmetic and product testing. humanesociety.org retrieved Nov 4, 2011. http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/cosmetic_testing/ Read More