Target: Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region
Goal: Praise the imminent end of animal testing that harms primates, cats, dogs, and other vulnerable animals.
One of the greatest foes of animal welfare—animal testing—continues to fall around the world. This ForceChange petition detailing horrific government-funded abuses against primates and this petition detailing a death caused by university-approved testing represent a few of the many efforts that have brought needed awareness to this critical global issue. Now, thanks to such motivated initiatives, at least one country is taking these calls for reform to heart.
The thriving Brussels region of Belgium recently approved a promising measure that will once and for all abolish all primate, dog, and cat testing within the next two years. Better yet, within seven years, a region-wide ban will commence on almost all safety or education tests that exploit or kill any animal. Before the ban takes full effect, the region’s government has set another important goal: reduce the overall number of laboratory animals by 20 percent. If this ambition is met, at least 20,000 animals will have been liberated from a cruel life filled with likely torture and abuse.
Sign this petition to commend the strides made in ending animal testing thus far and to encourage continued action on one of the world’s remaining injustices.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Minister-President Vervoort,
Thank you for listening—listening to passionate individuals who have long lobbied for animal welfare and, more importantly, listening to the silenced cries of those animals already victims or survivors of inhumane testing practices. The Brussels pledge to ban many forms of animal testing within the next few years will better and save so many lives: an estimated 20,000 within seven years and countless more beyond.
While this is a monumental first step, as some of the most staunch advocates of this move have reminded, more work needs to be done. Investing in alternative technologies that can supplant and even surpass animal testing could represent another significant next step forward.
Please continue being a progressive, positive example on this issue who can inspire the rest of Belgium and the rest of the world.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Linda Bartlett
VERY GOOD NEWS!
Now only if we could end ALL animal testing and replace them with humane, ethical methods: https://www.neavs.org/alternatives/in-testing. No animal deserves to suffer.
boycott animal testing!
Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region
While I am thankful for the imminent end of animal testing that harms primates, cats, dogs, and other vulnerable animals within the next two years, I ask why the thriving Brussels region of Belgium that recently approved that promising measure isn’t abolishing those experimental atrocities immediately? I will try to be understanding that a lot of politics are involved but the animals being tortured in the meantime are not distant from my thoughts and concerns, nor are those who allow that torture. Some quotes to think about: “I know of no achievement through vivisection, no scientific discovery that could not have been obtained without such barbarism and cruelty”.
Charles W. Mayo, MD
“Atrocities are no less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called research.” George Bernard Shaw
“Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character.” George Bernard Shaw
“What I think about vivisection is that if people admit that they have the right to take or endanger the life of living beings for the benefit of many, there will be no limit to their cruelty.” Leo Tolstoy
“Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight.” Albert Schweitzer
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” Mahatma Gandhi
“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals.” Albert Einstein
“Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character; and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.” Authur Schopenhauer
“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” St. Francis of Assisi
Please end all animal testing as soon as possible, its cruel and in most cases unnecessary …
“Atrocities are no less atrocities when they occur in laboratories and are called research.” George Bernard Shaw