Purrs 4 Peace Week 34: ANIMAL TESTING IS AN ANTIQUE WE DON'T WANT TO BUY

“I am not interested to know whether vivisection produces results that are profitable to the human race. The pain which it inflicts upon unconsenting animals is the basis of my enmity toward it, and it is to me sufficient justification of the enmity without looking further.” – Mark Twain

According to the statistics that I have been able to discover online, the vast majority of the cruelest animal testing is conducted to satisfy requirements mandated by governments around the world, primarily in the United States and Europe. While these requirements, at one point in time, were probably well-meaning in that they were intended to make sure that products are safe for human use, these requirements make us, the citizens of these countries, unwilling accomplices to unspeakable torture. These regulations are antiquated. As I posted on September 27, 2009, much of the testing is repetitive and unnecessary. There are alternatives to animal testing and worse, these tests are not reliable due to the anatomical and psychological differences between animals and humans. Therefore, these tests do not in fact serve their stated purpose...they do not give us accurate data on the effects on human beings.

If we cut up beasts simply because they cannot prevent us and because we are backing our own side in the struggle for existence, it is only logical to cut up imbeciles, criminals, enemies, or capitalists for the same reasons. ~C.S. Lewis

Fortunately, for most consumer products we can vote with our currency...we can boycott companies that utilize animal testing. However, since we are required to pay taxes we do not have that option with these NASA backed experiments on Squirrel Monkeys. I am appalled that as taxpayers my family is forced to fund the kind of cruel and inhumane treatment that is against the very core of our beliefs. And where exactly are all the politicians who are crying out so loudly about the deficit when discussing the health care reform issues. Why are they not screaming as loudly about this unnecessary and cruel use of public funds.

Let your representatives know that you will be talking this issue into account the next time you are in the voting booth. Write a letter to the editor of your newspaper. E-mail the white house....

................and Purrrrrrrrrrrr.

2:59 p.m. Get ready to Purrrrrrrr.

SET.

3:00 p.m.

Confucius Cat say: GO!

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr,

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr... See the love, compassion, empathy and peace inside you

grow.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, Purring.... See that love and compassion touching each and every suffering animal, soothing their pain, comforting their fears.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrr. See that compassion and empathy invading the hearts and minds of politicians, scientists and other decision makers. See them turning away from cruelty and turning toward humane treatment of animals.

Purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr,

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. See the NASA revoking it’s grant and abandoning testing on squirrel monkeys and other animals.

Purrrrrr.purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr...Imagine the headline: Scientific community declares animal testing obsolete. Government bans antiquated practice.

Purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, purrrr, purrrrr, purrrr, ........... purr compassion, purr protection, purr safety, purr love, purr empathy, purr understanding, purr peace.

Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.......

I would like to add an extra minute of purring for our beloved friend Fluffy Stanley- a valued participant in the purrs4peace project- who was suddenly taken over the Rainbow Bridge at only 13 months. A sweet precious kitty gone too soon from this world. Please send purrs love to comfort his family that we may in some small measure try to ease their pain at his loss.

3:04 p.m. You may stop purring now.

Purrs 4 Peace Week 34 Announcement: Experiments Aren't Monkey Business

Photo credit: www.Copyright-free-photos.org.uk

Last October NASA announced a grant of $1.75 million in public funds for a research project in with 18-28 squirrel monkeys would be blasted with a massive dose of radiation. This “experiment” is mean to simulate the radiation a human would be subjected to during three years in space. The monkeys would then spend the rest of their lives trapped in cages, their brains and bodies studied for the damage such radiation would cause. It is generally believed that this type of radiation exposure will cause fatal cancer and brain tumors in the monkeys. However, like all animal experiments the applicability to humans is questionable due to psychological and anatomical differences between humans and squirrel monkeys. But we can be certain that these sensitive and intelligent animals will suffer…all paid for by the U.S. taxpayer.

A number of high profile organizations and individuals have publically called for a stop to this project. Indeed, Scientific American has reported that The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), based in Washington, D.C. has sent an appeal to NASA’s administrator urging that this project be suspended.

I urge everyone to write to their elected representatives urging that action be taken to stop the spending of public funds on the torture of these animals in this cruel experiment. Any kind of animal experimentation is abhorrent to me. My human and I take pains to avoid purchasing products from companies that use animal testing. It sickens me that my human is being forced to fund animal torture. She has already contacted her representatives to protest.

And in addition to written protest, this week we will purrrrrrrrrr.

Week 34 of Purrs 4 Peace details are as follows:

• Week thirty-four’s appointed time is Sunday, January 31, 2010.• Participants should purr for three minutes commencing at 3 p.m. EST (U.S.) which is 8:00 p.m. (20:00 hrs.) BST in the U.K.

• The cat’s human staff should assist their cats with the project by stroking and nuzzling the cat at the appointed time.

• Please post your cat name and the country you purr in at http://www.confuciuscat.blogspot.com/ as a COMMENT if you are participating in this historic project. (posting a link to your own website-if you have one-is encouraged.) Or let me know by message on twitter or facebook.

• Posting purrs on facebook ( Acolytes of Confucius Cat or as friend to Alley Mason) and twitter (@ConfuciusCat) is encouraged, since it inspires purring in others, but not required. On twitter please use #purrs4peace in your tweets.

Peace * Paix * Frieden * Vrede * Pace * Paz * Shalom * Fred * Salaam * Om Shanti * Heddwch * Síochán * 和平