16 May 2008

New Zealand Joins Global Protest Against Animal Testing Company

New Zealand campaigners against animal testing will take to the streets tomorrow urging shoppers to avoid cruelly produced cosmetics, toiletries and household products.

SAFE, New Zealand’s second largest animal advocacy organisation, will specifically target products made by Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the worlds largest companies still crudely testing products on animals.

The action is part of the 12th annual Global Boycott Procter & Gamble Day, led by British-based international animal protection group Uncaged, in partnership with animal protection groups around the world – including SAFE.

Christchurch, Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Whangarei, Nelson and the Hawkes Bay will be part of over 140 cities taking place across the world, from Sydney to Stockholm. The campaign is supported by stars such as Sir Paul McCartney, Pretenders lead singer Chrissie Hynde, poet and musician Benjamin Zephaniah, and singer Morrissey.

P&G admit conducting poisoning tests on animals to assess chemicals in their brands which include Olay, Pantene, Pringles, Vicks and Herbal Essences. Cruelty free campaigners argue that if hundreds of other companies can produce cosmetics and household products without animal testing, so can P&G.

Dr Dan Lyons, head of Uncaged Campaigns, adds: “Typically, each animal test involves force-feeding chemicals via a tube inserted down the throats of scores of animals. This can easily damage the throat and organs of the animals, as well as cause suffering due to the toxic effects of the chemical. Those animals that survive to the end of the test are then killed for tissue analysis.”

Hans Kriek, campaign director of SAFE explains:
“Tomorrow SAFE will alert the public to the suffering behind famous brands such as Olay, Head & Shoulders and even IAMS ‘pet’ food. It cannot be right to abuse animals for the sake of ‘whiter whites’ and ‘younger-looking skin’.”

“Once they are made aware we find ethically conscious consumers want nothing to do with animal cruelty and will change their buying habits. As more people join in on the boycott we will get closer to saving thousands of animals from P&G's painful and lethal tests. Each person can make a difference by avoiding P&G,” says Mr Kriek.

Tomorrow SAFE campaigners will lie together in piles under bloodied sheets to represent discarded laboratory animals on the streets of Christchurch, Auckland, Palmerston North, Dunedin, Whangarei, Nelson and the Hawkes Bay.

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