I was never a huge fan of science in school. The lab always smelled funny and those goggles and aprons were never as flattering as our science teacher made them out to be. But as torturous as that all was, I actually had it pretty easy...
Can you imagine having to spend your entire life in a science laboratory?
That's the reality for millions of rabbits, mice, cats, dogs and other animals. But there's no safety equipment for these little guys. To test consumer products such as hairspray, toilet cleaner and cosmetics, lab animals have nasty chemicals dripped directly into their eyes, and are given chemical burns to their skin. Others are forced to ingest harmful substances that cause painful poisoning and worse - death.
Sadly this isn't science fiction - it's a real-life horror story. But with your help we can give the animals a happy ending...
Not many people know that some of the most well-known companies like Colgate/Palmolive, Procter & Gamble (who own Braun, CoverGirl, Gillette, Pantene,Wella, Herbal Essences, Vidal Sassoon, Duracell and more) and Unilever (who own Dove, Rexona, Lynx, SunSilk, Impulse, Lux, Vaseline, Domestos and more) still fund deadly tests on animals overseas before sending their products down under for us to buy. If you have any of their products at home, you have a great opportunity to help end animal testing by calling their customer feedback number (usually on the pack), and politely letting them know that you won't buy their products again after learning that their company funds animal tests.
Now, we know that your lips might get a little chapped if you have to make a few calls, so to show our thanks, and to celebrate how amazing cruelty-free cosmetics are, we're giving away FREE Vanilla Bean Lip Balm from Perfect Potion to five courageous callers!
To be in the draw simply comment below and tell us who you called, and how it went :-)
UPDATE: Thank you so much to everyone who phoned, emailed or sent letters to companies telling them to leave the animals alone! Unleashed certainly has some outspoken members who should be very proud of themselves! In the end the lip-smacking winners of the Vanilla Bean Lip-Balm are brookeb, angelaartsstudent, AlanaRama, Tracy and Katie2. Thanks again and well done to all of you who entered, and don't forget to always speak up for animals!
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I always call companyies about animal testing and animal products, but this time I emailed Unilever about their animal testing statement on their webiste. NECESSARY! WHAT A JOKE! Not all companies test on animals! It's not that hard, just make more natual safer products so there is no need for animal testing at all and go tell the overseas people to do JUMP!
"How we Act:
At Unilever, using non-animal approaches is the norm and animal testing is the exception. Before any animal testing is carried out, Unilever's internal control procedures require senior management to certify that there is no other way of proceeding. Unilever does not undertake animal testing, or commission others to do testing on its behalf, unless it is necessary to meet its health, safety and environmental obligations or it is demanded by government regulators or other official bodies. We do not test finished products on animals unless demanded by the regulatory authorities in the few countries where this is the law. In such cases, we try to convince the local authorities to change the law."
There are of course people out there who need our help too, so if you can, do give blood too!
Why on earth would they need to test on animals. >
I have printed out Cruelty Free's list of safe companies to buy from and I will be taking this with me when I go shopping.
I will also post this information to my facebook to spread the word.
Feel like Im fighting a losing battle but every little decision we all make & every purchase that we make can help towards a big change.
contacted Colgate/Pamolive head office on - 1800 802 307. The customer service rep that I spoke to advised me that the company does not particpate or fund animal testing and will post me out some information on their policy on animal testing. Found this interesting and will await their response in the post.
Regards
I will not be buying there products anymore and I will be ringing up all of them telling them why,.
Thank you for letting us know about what products to use and what not too.
and
"The involvement of both the Australian Red Cross and CSL in the blood sector grew
out of war. CSL was originally the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, established
in 1916 as a public sector entity to ensure Australia a supply of biological products
and reagents (such as vaccines). Since 1994, CSL has been a public company, CSL Limited.
Full document
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/usafta/subs/SUB187.pdf
Statement from CSL's current website "Like all pharmaceutical companies, we are required by law to conduct animal research before testing new medicines in people, and to assure efficacy and quality of therapies in production. In this way animals play a vital role in saving lives and advancing human health." http://corporateresponsibility.csl.com.au/?page_id=547
There is the Ausralian Red Cross and an example of their complicated arrangement with animal testing
Tomorrow we're calling Colgate and saying the same
The thing that annoys me is that some company's that don't test on animals still have animal ingredients in them, such as glycerin.
I try to stick to all vegan products, but it can be so hard as there aren't many company's that are completely vegan!
I donate blood when i can, but this is horrid..
I will post any replies i get
Like all pharmaceutical companies, we are required by law to conduct animal research before testing new medicines in people, and to assure efficacy and quality of therapies in production. In this way animals play a vital role in saving lives and advancing human health.
I had several questions for the Aust Red Cross and PCL and have emailed my concerns and questions. Awaiting a reply.
I also carry a list of companies that DO animal testing, so that I buy only cruelty free products. I have boycotted Colgate/Palmolive, Garnier, Unilever, Rexona, Dove etc......and their subsidiary companies, for many years. Excellant quality brands like Maybelliine, Covergirl, L'Oreal, Planet Ark, Earth Choice, Nature's Organics, Palmer's, Method and Natura (Woolworths only) to name a few are available at Woolworths, Coles and IGA supermarkets so ...why buy animal cruelty products???? There is no need to support these barbaric companies. If we ALL stop buying their cheap, nasty and crappy products because of their archaic and cruel testing methods, then we can bring them to their knees and force them to adopts humane computer simulated testing.
It makes sense and could work! DO it.
and not tested on animals.
They have:-
- Cleaning products
- shower gels
- shampoos and conditioners
- facial cleansers
- make-up
- nail polishes and others.
They have so much ...
The lady that i was talking too said ' i can assure you that CoverGirl has great quality and as for the accusations of mistreatment to animals, that will have to be discussed with my manager.'
Then she said she'd put me through, so i got put on hold then the call got "cut off" >
http://www.thepetitionsite.com /1/stop-using-chimpanzees-in-a nimal-experimentationtests
So i dropped them an email stating how consumers these days do not appreciate animal testing for their products and that I will not be buying their products anymore.
I haven't received a reply yet, however even without a reply I will know not to support brands that do not look after our animals.
I received a reply to my email telling me that - "we don't test on animals" but "we do use products that have been tested on animals"
So from the looks of it they thinks it's ok because they don't actually do the testing themselves...sick. Boycott PPS!
They need to stop buying ingredients tested on animals and stop lying to consumers!!!!!!
I will comment their replies. If i get any!
Hi Alexandra,
Thank you for contacting Procter & Gamble.
We always welcome feedback from our consumers as means of assessing attitudes toward our products and service.
We take your concern very seriously and would like to share some facts about this important issue.
Please visit the following website that shares the P&G policy, practise and approach to animal testing and alternatives http://www.pg.com/en_US/sustainability/point_of_view/animal_welfare.shtml.
I hope you find this information helpful. Your reference number for this e-mail is 09112990.
Should you have future questions regarding our products you may e-mail or call us on our toll-free number 1800 641 820.
Kind regards,
Emma
Consumer Relations Representative
Procter & Gamble