About Me
I'm a vegan, straight edge, feminist animal rights activist. I plan on living my life fighting against all forms of oppression. I can't stress enough how much I hate animal testing. The main basis that people use to justify animal testing is that "it's the only way". Well, not quite. Many scientifically reliable research methods exist which are superior to using animals to learn about human disease or predict the safety of new drugs:
Microdosing – a new method of obtaining human metabolism data, which enables potential new drugs to be tested safely in humans at an earlier stage. Microdosing relies on the ultrasensitivity of Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS), one of the most sensitive measuring devices ever invented. Using AMS it is possible to conduct a full human metabolism study after administration of as little as 0.1 milligram of drug substance, measuring drug concentrations in biological fluids up to 1000 times less than the levels one would observe in a classical Phase I clinical study. This should be part of ‘Phase 0’ pre-clinical trials for every drug, instead of animal testing. Currently, preclinical studies take up to 18 months and cost €2.3-3.8m. Microdosing could reduce the time to four to six months and the cost to €0.26m per new molecule. Its accuracy at predicting human metabolism is unsurpassed. EU and US regulators have endorsed the use of microdosing to speed and improve the safety of drug development. See www.xceleron.co.uk, www.microdosing.co.uk
DNA chips – enable the study of pharmacogenetics, which, in turn, enables the practice of personalised medicine. This is the concept that since each person is genetically unique, medicines should be designed for individuals, rather than our current ‘one drug fits all’ approach. DNA chips are computer wafers with tiny wells where human genes can be exposed to a new drug, for instance. The computer then reads which genes are turned on or off (or up or down) by the experimental drug. See, for example, www.simugen.co.uk
Microfluidics chips – again just 2cm wide, have etched into them a series of tiny chambers, each containing a sample of tissue from different parts of the body. The compartments are linked by microchannels through which a blood substitute flows. The test drug is added to the blood substitute and circulates around the device; thus mimicking what goes on in the body on a micro scale. Sensors in the chip feed back information for computer analysis. Hurel (Human relevant) are pioneering this field: see www.hurelcorp.com
Human tissue – all that we know about HIV/AIDS has come from studying humans and human tissue; particularly blood. Similarly, everything we know about Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases has been learned by studying patients and their tissues. According to Dr. John Xuereb, Director of the Cambridge Brain Bank and Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre; “Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases occur in humans and it is in human tissue that we will find the answers to these diseases.†New drugs can be tested in human tissues, ethically obtained with fully informed consent, before they are given to volunteers in microdose studies. Companies such as Asterand work exclusively with human tissue because it is more appropriate than animal tissue: see www.asterand.com, www.biopta.com
Computer modelling – virtual human organs and virtual metabolism programmes can now predict drug effects in humans far more accurately than animals can. Computers can be used to design the molecular structure of drugs to target specific receptors. For example, the protease inhibitors for patients with HIV were designed by computer and tested in human tissue cultures and computer models, bypassing animal tests because of the urgent need. In 1997, Roche Pharmaceuticals had a new heart drug approved on the strength of data from a virtual heart because the animal data was inconclusive. Research teams around the world are working on a 'virtual human', which is designed to predict drug metabolism and metabolite interaction with any given organ - information that animal models will never be able to provide. Scientists can simulate experiments in silico (in computer) that could take months or years to do in the lab or clinic. See www.entelos.com, www.physiome.org
Autopsies – though neglected of late for a number of reasons, post mortem studies remain the best method of studying the effects of a disease on the whole body.
Epidemiology – studies lifestyle factors in populations to find commonalities that might be significant. Epidemiology linked smoking to cancer and high cholesterol to heart disease, folic acid deficiency in pregnancy to spina bifida and many more associations. See www.ukbiobank.ac.uk
Stem cell research – offers potential promise of treatment for a wide variety of diseases. Human stem cells have already been used successfully to treat some leukaemias, as well as improving outcomes for heart attack patients and for some patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
New imaging technologies – such as Magnetoencephalography (MEG), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional MRI (fMRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), positron emission tomography (PET), single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), event-related optical signals (EROS), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and others are offering a view of the human body – in particular, the brain – that cannot be gained by studying animals.
Post-Marketing Drug Surveillance – if enforced, would ensure that unexpected side effects of new drugs would be identified much sooner; thus reducing the burden of adverse drug reactions: currently our 4th leading cause of death.
Clinical research – has been and will remain the sine qua non of medical practice. Many medical treatments have never been studied for efficacy. Large clinical studies are needed to establish whether current practice is actually the best, evidence-based option.
The EPISKIN - test with artificial, human skin makes it possible to assess how the skin reacts to corrosive effects and chemicals on the skin. This examination is normally carried out on rabbits or guinea pigs. Adding carcinogenical substances to normal cells leads an unnormal growth of these cells. This is how substances that can cause cancer can be detected in the transformation test. Monoclonal antibodies are substances of the immune system which are used in many fields of research and diagnostic. Instead of the extremely cruel production in the peritoneal cavity of mice, biological reactors (like the glass mouse or tecno mouse) can be used for production. With the PyroCheck test fever triggering substances (pyrogenes) can be tracked down in serums and infusion solutions by using human white blood cells. So far, the test was carried out on rabbits. The human cornea with all its layers can be copied three-dimensional in the test tube e.g. to test ointments (artificial cornea). With nerve cell cultures you can examine the release of neuro-transmitters (carrier substances) as well as their pharmacological effect. By this, drugs in the field of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and pain research can be tested. Cell cultures of arteries which occur as debris in operations can be used in the arteriosclerosis research. This way, causes and treatment of vascular diseases can be examined. Cultured heart muscle cells keep their contraction ability, even in a test-tube. With their help, physiological interrelations and the effect of heart drugs can be tested.
Lower organism - With the Ames test using Salmonella bacteria, researchers can detect genetically harmful features of chemicals.
Human based research - A lot of medical disciplines do not use animals and give - contrary to animal research - really relevant results for human beings, including: Epidemiology, preventive treatment or precautionary medicine, clinical and rehabilitation research, psychotherapy, occupational and social medicine as well as natural healing. In toxicology (poison tests) it is more sensible, too, to use data of human poisoning cases instead of poisoning animals. Only documentation and analysis of real poisoning cases of human beings must be used for risk assessment. For example, symptoms like headache, dizziness or impaired concentration can be caused by substances, symptoms which can never be assessed in animal experiments.
Prevention – is always more effective than cure. It is estimated that 80% of all cancers and heart disease – our two biggest killers – could be prevented. Funding further research into establishing preventive factors would be money well spent.
http://www.curedisease.net/superior_methods.shtml
Even if animal testing was the only form of research that would cure cancer, aids, etc I'd still be against it.
"Ask the experimenters why they experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are like us'. Ask the experimenters why it is morally OK to experiment on animals, and the answer is: 'Because the animals are not like us'. Animal experimentation rests on a logical contradiction." -Professor Charles R. Magel.
The government shouldn't facilitate something that isn't consistent with other laws, although, they have a tendecy of doing that, right? Even if you're not into animal rights, if you support the government's inconsistency towards animals then you're supporting it's inconsistency in general, which effects ALL of us.
Being straight edge is very important to me. I saw from an early age the adults around me who did drugs as teenagers ALL did drugs as adults. Every single one was unhappy and merely a slave to their addiction. I think the worst thing was that their moods were dictated by how high they were that day. Your brain becomes so dependent on the drug to release endorphins and other hormones that make you happy that you won't be able to feel happy naturally. Although, this a progression, but it still fucks with your brain. It's really sad the amount of people I've known who seem completely different nowadays.
Other then that, supporting the drug, alcohol and tobacco industry is bad. I don't want to financially support people who corrupt communities, families and make their money off of poisoning people. This includes the medical industry. I don't take any medication or aspirin of any kind. I haven't for 2 years and I feel the best I've ever felt. The medical establishment makes money off of selling drugs that not only are the lead killer of people in the US (The total number of deaths caused by conventional medicine is an astounding 783,936 per year. By contrast, the number of deaths attributable to heart disease in 2001 was 699,697, while the number of deaths attributable to cancer was 553,251), but are also tested on animals and African children (see Pfizer). I find natural remedies work the best for me. If you want to know some, just ask.
I'm big into feminism. When people ask me why I'm a feminist it's like asking me if I'm a womyn and yes, I spell it W-O-M-Y-N because I'm not a lower subsection of the male gender. I first realized I was a feminist when I, believe it or not, picked up a dictionary and realized feminism was about equality, not womyn supremacy as I'd been told by the media, my friends and the other people around me. I'm against all forms of womyn exploitation, especially pornography. I can't describe the disgust I feel for the people who somehow think they're better than the womyn in porn and continue to support it and exploit their bodies for their pleasure. I'm tired of our bodies being used to sell every product out there yet the profits go to men. I'm tired of seeing the question, "are we ready for a woman president?" like there is actually something to debate. I'm tired of our sexuality being submissive to men. I'm tired of the lower wages, the suppression of the religions dominated by womyn deities and even the separation of men and womyn sports teams.
Ask me any question you like. I'm not self righteous and serious all the time. I'm always up to hear what other people have to say.^ And this is the cleaned up version for television. If you eat eggs or chicken you are financially supporting the cruelty in the video above.
