On Seals, Veal and Vivisection

pattrice jones is having a Carnival Against Vivisection and has asked us all to write about vivisection, particularly if we tend to focus on other issues as a rule.

I came to animal rights because of three issues: seals, veal and vivisection. I don't recall the actual timing, as this was all about 25 years ago. What I do recall is one campaign I donated to to stop the clubbing of seals, and a different campaign against veal. At one point I plastered the walls in the kitchen of my childhood home with photos of calves in veal crates. (I also wrote "Elvis is God" on our family chalkboard, as I believed the idea of a god was absurd, and I was in an Elvis Costello phase that still hasn't ended, but that's another story.)

Again, sorry for the memory issue, but I recall getting photo after photo in the mail showing animals in laboratories. I had a kitty, Brady, so of course the kitty with the electrodes cemented to her brain left an indelible impression. There were photos of rabbit after rabbit, lined up in some sterile white room, stuck in horrible contraptions that made it impossible for them to attempt to relieve themselves when toxic substances were dropped into their eyes (the Draize Test), and a rabbit in a cage whose fur was shaved and who had a huge bloody sore from the chemicals "administered" to her skin (something about skin irritancy testing). Not finally, but another powerful image that stands out in my memory is of the tiny monkeys of the Harlow experiments that I learned about in school. You know, the ones where they tear the baby away from her mother and I believe give her a choice of a wire monkey-mother and one with cloth on it, and the baby clings to the one with the cloth. Desperately.

These images from 25 years ago, and scores of others I've amassed since, haven't left me.

The new Scripps biomedical research facility is being constructed under three miles from my house. We joke that the only good thing about that is that when the scientists from La Jolla come here they'll be thrilled to discover they can buy a home for only $1,000,000, or even under $1,000,000. So at least we'll be able to sell our house when they all arrive in a couple of years without taking a huge loss.

When I drive past the windowless facility--and in fact most "research" facilities, I can't help but hear screams, imagine the terror, and experience a bit of the loneliness and hopelessness of creatures who were either taken from their families or bred for the sole purpose of vivisection (and for all I know I'm experiencing this as I drive by an empty facility). I feel shame that my kind still does something that is so counterintuitive (not to mention unethical, in my mind) and for which there are alternatives.

I think everyone interested in the welfare in animals--not to mention the progress of science--should read Sacred Cows and Golden Geese, by Drs. Ray and Jean Swingle Greek (and their other books). I find it profoundly frustrating to hear, time-after-time, that (for example), experimentation on nonhuman primates is our only answer to a cure for AIDS. And I find it morally bankrupt when we test drugs that we've already tested. But most of all, I feel disgusted that the reality of the web of industries that make vivisection possible are really just businesses capitalizing on human fears and misconceptions. They take advantage of the fact that most people actually believe we need to test on animals, and that it's "for the greater good." It's intellectual laziness; they believe what they're told and don't think critically because it's not their cat with electrodes on her brain, "they're only mice," and they think that "if it helps just one person it was worth it."

If the same people knew the how expensive, ineffective and inhumane vivisection continues to be, and if they knew that there were efficient, effective alternatives that were less expensive (often over time), maybe they'd change their tune. If they realized they are participating in vivisection via their tax dollars, maybe they'd change their tune.

In the 25 years since my mind was infiltrated by the harrowing images of seals being clubbed, calves in veal crates, a kitty with electrodes on her brain, rabbits being tortured and infant monkeys clinging to cloth, not much has changed. Though crates may be on their way out, like in the UK, I'm sure a newer, more "compassionate" veal will become popular (and it already is at Wolfgang Puck's restaurants). Seals, however, are still being clubbed, rabbits are still being tortured and nonhuman primates and millions of other animals (some not even counted, such as millions of rats and mice) are the subjects (objects) of often-brutal experiments. And much of this "science" isn't in the name of "progress," but in the name of business.

The good news is that, regardless of what you think about it, capitalism (/corporate socialism) in the US isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And the research, development, marketing and distribution of more alternatives to using animals (and that includes stem cell research) is its own industry that I think we should be endorsing and funding every chance we get.

In my experience, people don't change their behavior or their thoughts unless they have something to change to that gives them more or better than what they started with. We have that more and better now, and we have to do a better job of telling everyone about it so they'll shift their charitable dollars to organizations that don't test on animals and to organizations that are developing and distributing alternatives to vivisection.

Comments

[John Carbonaro]

Mary wrote :

"...regardless of what you think about it, capitalism (/corporate socialism) in the US isn't going anywhere anytime soon. And the research, development, marketing and distribution of more alternatives to using animals (and that includes stem cell research) is its own industry that I think we should be endorsing and funding every chance we get".

I would certainly like to know more about how alternative industries like those get started, funded & otherwise financially supported. Is it generally due to a free enterprise system? Is it driven by ethics...does it get undermined by the forces of the corporate state? Any references would be most appreciated.

[Mary Martin]

Wow, that's a whole post. Great idea, John. There are companies that saw a need and a potential for profit, and were driven by their ethics, such as Simulab (http://www.simulab.com/), creator of Trauma Man (http://www.traumaman.com/), which is one of my favorite products. I think that sometimes, for PR reasons, it could be difficult to determine whether ethics drive an initiative, as it's more broadly acceptable if you say you're creating something that'll be more effective and efficient and less expensive. As for the corporate state undermining anyone, I'm not sure what you mean. The companies doing stem cell research are all privately funded and will continue their work regardless of what the administration's stance is, if that's what you mean. In 2009, there will be at least one new book by Ray Greek, and of course you can support AFMA (and the new site is up at http://www.curedisease.com/support.html) for info on animals and experimentation regarding human drug and disease response. PCRM has a lot of info about the actual technologies for various kinds of research (e.g., in vitro, computer and toxicity) at: http://www.pcrm.org/resch/anexp/without_animals.html. Dissection alternative companies are at: http://www.pcrm.org/resch/anexp/dissection_alternatives.html
They are probably all private companies, but perhaps some are public and you can purchase their stock, if you believe in that, to support them. Maybe some are nonprofits and you can support them through donations. I'm a believer in supply and demand, and my hope is that people will vote with their dollars to support alternatives. I hope that's helpful. If I'm not answering your question, I apologize and please try to re-phrase.