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UK government agrees to stop the use of animals in scientific research

10 December 2007 19,122 views 24 Comments

The government has promised to double funding to reduce and replace the use of animals in scientific research, revealed today. Funding will grow more than 5 000 000 £ during 2010-11.

Rats
Use of animals in medical research has contributed immensely in almost every major medical breakthroughs. An estimated 50 to 100 million animals are used annually for research purposes around the world in various research organizations, including universities, medical schools, pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology companies, the defense and commercial institutions that provide test animals.

The money is for the National Center for the replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research (NC3Rs). The center, founded in 2004, a British priority for the promotion and development of alternatives to animal testing and will receive slightly more than 2 million pounds per year by the government.

Cat
Tests on animals is experimenting on animals with certain substances to determine possible effects on humans. Animal testing began in the 17th century, and animal testing in cosmetics began in 1933. In 1969, the Fund for the replacement of animals in medical experimentation (FRAME) was established in the UK for the protection of animals against animal experimentation.

The government said the additional funding, announced last week, would lead to more discoveries, as a breakthrough made by Tissue Engineering. With this technique, the researchers are now able to grow throughout the embryonic kidney cells by individual, rather than harvest them from mice, the research into growing human kidney is simpler and faster. “Animal research plays an important role in medical research and has helped millions of lives. Nevertheless, we should always alternatives and the government is committed to the exchange, refinement and reduction of animals in research. It in an area in which we are leading the world”, said the science minister Ian Pearson.

Rabbit
It is bold or it is crazy? Here is an Oxford-based neurosurgeon who is publicly calling for PETA kills rabbits and more animal experimentation. It is even advocating the use of animal testing for cosmetics! This happened in a speech to a rally organized by Pro-Test, a group that supports the use of animals for research.

“We have a proud history of animal welfare and protection in that country and the work of the NC3Rs builds on this tradition. This increase in funding is secured, the center can not only research fund, but also their impact”, Pearson added. Dr. Vicky Robinson, Chief Executive of the NC3Rs, said: “We are pleased to receive these additional funds between now and 2011. As a young and growing organization, received strong support from the government helps to emphasize the importance of our efforts to to replace, refine and reduce the use of animals in research and science are for the United Kingdom”.

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24 Comments »

  • Mobbespel » Save the Animals said:

    [...] there have been movement to stop such act. I learned recently that the UK Government is acting to stop this animal cruelty and save the animals. They are increasing the funds for research that will replace animal use by [...]

  • Chantel said:

    There is only one thing to say… animal testing is wrong and anyone that contirbutes to it should be tested one themsleves!

  • dickinsona said:

    please stop animal testing think of the poor animals that are being tested on think if that was a human very ill and near death please stop animal testing

  • DAVIESJO said:

    I THINK THAT ANIMAL TESTING IS NOT GOOD AND I’LL LIKE IT STOPPED YOU WOULD NOT LIKE IT IF I DID THAT TO YOU SO PLEASE STOP IT OTHER WISE I WILL DO IT TO YOU. FROM JODI

  • poopie said:

    It immoral to use animals which have done nothing to you.

  • Dani said:

    This is sooooo wrong cause some of them are soooo gross.

    STOP ANIMAL TESTING AND YES FUR COATS IS COSITERED ANIMAL TESTING.

  • Sophie said:

    I hate the idea of animal testing. I mean imagine being kept in a cage and people cutting you open and sticking tubes up you your whole life. Its disgusting and wrong. All the stories I have heard about animal testing have really effected me and now I don’t beleive in eating meat! I hope it all stops and that there will be another way to find vaccines and drugs to cure people, but testing them on animals is just not right!

  • C**** J**** said:

    At least when they cut animals up for meat they dont suffer for there whole life… Animal testing is wrong and should be banned across the whole world.

  • suzi said:

    think about it. without testing on animals, most of us wouldnt be alive now. unless you refuse every single medicine, vaccine and drug on the planet for every single disease, you will never avoid anything that hasnt been animal tested. yes its a shame when it extends to cosmetics, and needless products that we slap on our faces everyday, but you should be thanking these animals for saving us all. dont be so pathetic. if it isnt them its you. if its not a fluffy bunny its your newborn baby. if its not a specially bred rat its your mum or dad. medicinal testing: yes. cosmetic testing: no. humans are used to test these products just as much and they suffer too. but how else would anyone get better or live a better quality of life??? and also think of the other animals that benefit from it. its a lesser of two evils. for all you good christian people, read up on utilitarianism. the usefulness of an action. the greater good of the majority.

  • God (author) said:

    suzi, you don’t see all details, but your point of view is interesting, thank you

  • Scott Kadwell said:

    the fact of the matter is Suzi there are MANY alternatives to animal testing, which are more effective than animal testing as well, for instance HUMAN TISSUE testing which is where they can create tissue from cells, causing no pain to human or animals AT ALL. Animals do not have the same genetic structure as humans therefore the products and medication tested on animals usually STILL does not work for humans, the reason they use animals is because it is CHEAPER, they do not care about anything other then making as much money as they can. So get your facts right, or just do not even bother making a statement.

  • Scott Kadwell said:

    and Mobbespel, you are right the government are making changes to REDUCE animal testing but not to COMPLETELY STOP IT. The fact is the government will make money from regulations, imposing fines to companies who use animals, people act as if the government are doing things we wanted them to 20 years ago now, but the fact is they only do it to benefit themselves.

  • Caitlyn said:

    I have seen many types of animal cruilty but none like this. We should rescue these animals and test on the people.the people who test on animals shouldnt be allowed to leave. lock them up like they do the animals! I want to put a computer chip in one of their heads and see how they react to it!!

  • jack said:

    this is just crule and now the snickers company is doing random testing with animals so now i have to look for a new favorite candy bar

  • Grace said:

    I’m tending to agree with Suzi here. I’m doing a project on animal experimentation myself, and there are a lot more things that bother me and not when it comes to this whole topic. It’s true that I can’t stomach the horror of the fact that yes, tests are conducted on various animal (many of them cute and adorable and ones we’d all possibly keep as pets and love)… but Suzi has come to the same conclusion that I have.

    For now, it’s a necessary evil. It’s very saddening to know that the rest of us, humans and animals (in pain), benefit for the better from all the testing done to the laboratory animals. It doesn’t make it any easier. But maybe we should all actually think/help to come up with REAL methods and ideas for helping the animals, than just blurting out, “How would you like it if I did that to you?” Of course, no one’s going to response well to a question like that. If you are all willing to give up the benefits of modern medicine and treatments, even something as common as a cream for an itch, or an aspirin for a headache… then we’ll have come to a better solution than the one we have now.

    Please, keep in mind that I’m not saying that anyone is wrong here. It’s just a reminder to all of us to be a little bit more critical about the situation instead of so emotional. Emotional responses can mislead our rational and critical thoughts and obstruct better ideas from coming up.

  • JC said:

    I don’t understand what gives these scientists the right to put other animals’ lives above our own. Why should they inflict pain and short live spans on innocent animals just to prolong our own? Maybe, without medication etc the human life span wouldn’t drip on for years and most of us would appreciate the years we have. Its not fair for a person in a white coat to think he’s God. Its not on and something HAS to change.

  • astonished said:

    this is horrible. the tears are running down my face as i type.how can we stop this horrible sin that is hurting the poor innocent cats?! we must come up with an idea to murder all humans and make all cosmetics dissapear. i am serious. this is sick sad and WRONG

  • TOBI said:

    I think that some humans want to see the pain in an animals eyes for pure enjoyment, others do it because it seems right. If i were to take someone’s child and put it into a restraining chair and give in numerous shots that from a lot of peoples point of view is ‘Harmless’ that person would sue me. If an ape actually had a say in the matter of taking her child or not she would most defiantly say NO!!! Primates are our ancestors, for crying out loud!! Its like taking your great great grandmother and testing her with many different chemicals!!! More than half the animals in facilities die of either the chemicals or of cannibalism.

  • Aneesha Kumar said:

    This is soooooooo wrong because animals are soooo cute

  • Chloe said:

    hi i agree wiv suzi and grace here but then i agree with you athor loot its mean and crule but can cure the animals and help us

  • holly_x said:

    i believe animal testing is wrong. even if the results are of benefit to humans, what benefit is it to the animals that suffer? people disagree with animal cruelty to animals in zoos and in our homes, but in what way are they different to the creatures that suffer pain for scientific curiouosity? if we can’t stop it, we should stop and think. Do people really need cosmetics such as lipstick and eyeshadow? animal testing is abuse. ANIMALS ARE EQUAL TO HUMANS. WE ARE ALL ANIMALS.

    like to know your views. mosswhisker@hotmail.co.uk , open to debate.

  • duck tape said:

    suzi:
    why are you clumping with no basis?
    why did you have to use the term “CHRISTIAN?”

    does everyone who supports animal rights have a little sticker on their foreheads that labels their religion?

    i agree and understand your points to a certain degree, yet who’s to say whether i’m a Christian or not?

    it’s true that we could never have gotten this far without the use of testing out crucial vaccines and cell-process researching. >>i mean, better a human than a sewer rat, right?<< and it’s true as well that it’s a shame that the once ‘noble’ cause it deemed to have has degraded to the point where people are testing mascara on them. however, there are other disagreements for those who believe that they have their own rights as creatures of the same earth. (i’m sure you’re very well-knowledg`ed on this matter as well:D )

    i just don’t see why you had to dig yourself into the faux pas of insulting those who hold themselves as Christians.

  • duck tape said:

    props to grace

  • Amanda said:

    all of the animal testing that people are doing is wrong and it makes me sad that people would do that and i am glad that some people are or fell the same way and well help to try to stop it.

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