Thora Birch Calls for an End to Animal Cosmetics Testing

I love when Cruelty Free International (and any anti-animal testing group) gets mainstream news media coverage. That usually happens when celebrities come out in support of the group. Recently, The Huffington Post Impact blog featured a story about actress Thora Birch (of American Beauty fame) supporting the work of Cruelty Free International and calling for the end of cosmetics testing on animals. Here’s an excerpt of what she says:

It is a shame that in the United States animals can still be subjected to agonizing tests for cosmetics despite the availability of modern non-animal tests. Testing cosmetics on animals is an outdated and unnecessary practice. It’s also cruel. Our nation’s largest trading partner, the European Union, has banned the sale of animal tested cosmetics and proven it is possible to produce safe cosmetics without harming animals.

For over a decade California has required that modern non-animal tests be used to ensure product safety before resorting to cruel outdated animal tests. Now the California legislature has passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution calling for an end to cruel cosmetics tests nationwide. I’m proud to join Cruelty Free International and the state of California in calling for a US ban on animal testing for cosmetics.

 

California Urges U.S. Congress to End Cosmetic Testing on Animals

Last week, the California Legislature passed the Cruelty Free Cosmetics Resolution, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. This resolution

… urges Congress to enact legislation that would establish reasonable deadlines for the nationwide prohibition of animal testing and urges the federal government to mandate testing alternatives which appear to be readily available and effectively utilized.

Check out the article on Huffington Post for more information. I hope that this functions as a tremendous display of support for the Humane Cosmetics Act (House Resolution 4148) that was introduced in March of this year. You can show your support for this bill by going here to sign the petition and going here to ask your representatives to co-sponsor the bill.

Peter Dinklage Supports Cruelty-Free Campaign!

You may not know this, but Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) is Cruelty-Free International’s international ambassador? From its website:

I am so pleased to support Cruelty Free International and be part of the global campaign to end cosmetics tests on animals. It is unacceptable that animals continue to suffer around the world, including the United States of America, for the sake of beauty. I appeal to the USA to follow the European Union’s lead and end animal testing for cosmetics.

He’s also a vegetarian. From IMDb:

I like animals, all animals. I wouldn’t hurt a cat or a dog – or a chicken or a cow. And I wouldn’t ask someone else to hurt them for me. That’s why I’m a vegetarian.

I’ve long admired this guy’s acting chops, but now I respect him on a different level!

Refinery29 Article on What “Cruelty-Free” Means

Check out this concise article about animal testing and the importance of shopping cruelty free. The author shares her personal experience with and feelings about animal testing.

For those of us who are veterans at cruelty-free consumerism, the article may seem perfunctory, but think of it this way: Refinery29 is a wildly popular fashion/entertainment/shopping site. This article is introducing the topic of animal testing to a wide audience and opening the door to cruelty-free living. Thanks, Ashlee Piper, for getting the word out!

Animal Testing Infographic

Check out this infographic illustrating statistics about animal testing of cosmetics (and other non-medical products) around the globe. It was created by The Humane Society International for their Be Cruelty Free campaign.

Join Mayim Bialik to End Animal Testing!

Actress Mayim Bialik has joined Cruelty Free International‘s campaign to end animal testing in the United States. Read more here and sign the petition asking legislators to co-sponsor the Humane Cosmetics Act Bill (introduced March 5 as H.R. 4148).

It is very important to me to speak out on behalf of animals who cannot protest their suffering and ask the compassionate people of the United States to join me, and Cruelty Free International, to call on the U.S Government to end the outdated use of animals for cosmetics testing once and for all. It doesn’t take a genius to know that using animals for these cruel and unnecessary tests is unjustifiable.

Mayim Bialik

Support Legislation to End Cosmetics Testing on Animals

This is the big one, folks. The Humane Cosmetics Act, which would prohibit animal-tested cosmetics from being manufactured and sold in the U.S., was just introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Urge your Representative to support this groundbreaking legislation! Click on this link to send an e-mail, and click here to find the phone number of your representatives to give them a quick call.

Can you imagine if we didn’t need blogs like mine? If we didn’t have to check the back of every bottle or package? If we didn’t have to scour drugstores, grocery stores, and the web for products we trust? Think of all the flippin’ free time we’d have! My novel would practically write itself!

‘Oppose the Safe Cosmetics and Personal Care Act’

This act may require animal testing in the Unites States, which is a huge step backwards when many countries are banning animal tests! Please check this out and sign the petition. Thanks!

Funding Animal-Free Testing

I just found out about this great foundation that offers grants for scientific research and development that uses alternatives to animal testing. The Alternatives Research & Development Foundation just announced its 2014 Alternatives Research Grant Program to fund projects “for scientists who have interest and expertise in alternatives research.” Learn more on its site, and check out its mission:

The mission of Alternatives Research & Development Foundation is to fund and promote the development, validation and adoption of non-animal methods in biomedical research, product testing and education.

 

Proposal for Non-Animal Testing Strategy

Courtesy of HSUS

A proposal by the FDA, the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, and the Cardiac Safety Research Consortium proposes the use of two non-animal approaches to testing for drugs that are toxic to the heart: computer modeling and human cell-based assays. The goal is to have the tests ready for use in two years to completely replace animal testing in this area.

“This is a truly exciting initiative, which confirms that the extensive international work by The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International and other organizations in moving away from animal testing in chemical safety evaluation will lead to more effective human health outcomes,” said Catherine Willett, PhD, director of regulatory toxicology for The HSUS.