By Lisa Myers and Diane Beasley
Rock Center
Rosie and Ken are 30-year-old chimpanzees who've never known a day of freedom. They were born in research labs and have spent almost their entire lives being experimented on by scientists in search of cures for human diseases.
These two chimpanzees have been infected with viruses, darted, and sedated more than 100 times, and put through dozens of sometimes painful procedures. For years, Rosie repeatedly was given a drug that caused her seizures.
Today, these aging chimps are living in large enclosures called primadomes at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute in San Antonio, available to be used for still more experiments. When Rosie and Ken and a dozen other chimps were shipped to the lab, in 2010, after a 10-year hiatus from invasive testing, it provoked a public outcry.
Chimpanzee 'Ken' in his enclosure.
We met Rosie and Ken not long ago, when, after months of negotiation, Texas Biomed gave NBC News unprecedented access to the highly secretive world of primate research.
Dr. Robert Lanford, who has experimented on chimps for 27 years, said he wants the public to see what it's like at his research lab today. "The American people has had the wrong opinion that these animals are in little bitty cages in a dark room with no windows," he said. "I want them to see who we are and how we take care of the animals and why we're doing it."
Dr. John VandeBerg, director of the primate research center, says chimpanzees here are treated "with the utmost of reverence," and have a "high quality of life."
But that quality of life is a matter of intense debate and part of the emotional argument over whether experimenting on chimps is morally and scientifically justified to save human lives. Also at issue: When is enough enough? When do chimps who've given much in the name of science get to retire to the relative freedom of a sanctuary?
One reason chimpanzee research is so controversial is that these amazing creatures share 98 percent of our DNA and have many human traits, including emotions ranging from joy to sadness and fear.
"Remember we're talking about our closest living relatives with brains so sophisticated that they can do a lot of problems on a computer with a touchpad, faster than secondary school students. That's how bright they are," said famed anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall in an interview with NBC News.
Dr. Goodall has worked tirelessly for decades to improve the lives of lab chimps and to persuade scientists and the government that this research should be banned.
"All invasive research is torture," Goodall says. "And it's not just the procedures. It's the imprisonment. It's being kept in a small space with no choice. You just are there. You're powerless."
Over the four days our team spent at Texas Biomed, our cameras were required to shoot from a "safe zone," since many of the chimps, like Ken and Rosie, are infected with viruses such as Hepatitis C and HIV. So to get close-ups of the chimps, we built special equipment to attach small cameras to the cages. At first, the chimps tried to remove them — and then, were fascinated by seeing their own reflections in the camera lens.
We saw three different types of housing where the chimps live, enrichment which involves activities to keep them engaged, and their interaction with behaviorists. We observed how the chimpanzees are trained to voluntarily present their own body parts to receive shots. We also were allowed to watch one of Lanford's experiments in which a chimp who'd been infected with the Hepatitis C virus was sedated and then bled. Lanford has been working to find a vaccine for over a decade.
Testing on chimps has saved lives in the past: it helped produce the Hepatitis B vaccine which is now given to children at birth.
But scientists disagree about whether chimps are needed to find a cure for Hepatitis C. Lanford says testing on chimps will save human lives. Chimps are crucial, he says, because they're the only animals that can be infected with the virus. Unlike humans, they don't develop liver disease.
Scientists here also argue that they provide a quality of life for chimpanzees which is just as good as a sanctuary, and that instead of being retired, chimps like Rosie and Ken should live out their days in the labs, in case they are needed for research in the future.
"I think of the chimpanzees in the same way that I think of a library. There are many books in the library that will never be used this year or next year," VandeBerg says. "Many of them might never be used again. But we don't know which ones will be needed tomorrow, next year or the year after."
Anthropologist and primatologist Jane Goodall.
Goodall says that's a terrible idea. "Most of them are just stockpiled. Most of them are not being used. They're just there in case maybe one day we might want to use them again," she said. "I definitely think at a certain point, they deserve to be freed from this kind of life of servitude."
Whether a chimp gets to retire is entirely up to the labs and the government. There is no ethical standard or uniform criteria.
According to Goodall, "the tragedy is that some of the chimps in the labs know nothing else. They have never tasted any kind of freedom in their lives. Freedom to choose, freedom to go where they want."
To see what life looks like for lab chimps lucky enough to be deemed no longer needed for research, we spent two days at the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Shreveport, Louisiana. It's aptly known as "Chimp Haven."
In the back woods of Louisiana, for the first time in most of their lives, the chimps can walk on grass, swing in the trees ... and forage in the forest.
Dr. Linda Brent founded Chimp Haven, after spending 16 years as a behaviorist at Texas Biomed. "Everything we do here, from the way the facility was built to the things we give to the chimpanzees and the way we manage the facility, every decision we make is for the welfare of the chimpanzees," she says.
Additional Resources: For more information on the National Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Chimp Haven, click here. For more information on the Texas Biomedical Research Institute, click here. For more information on Jane Goodall’s work and the Jane Goodall Institute, click here. To learn about a group of lab chimpanzees that Goodall helped get placed in the Fauna sanctuary outside of Montreal, Canada, click here. To learn more about the Great Ape Protection Act that Goodall is working to pass, click here.
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Bless Jane Goodall for lending her celebrity and her power to draw attention to issues, to try to do something for these animals. She is a saint and a hero to me.
as, so its so hard on the chimps. Tisk, tisk. Tell that to the many humans that are held hostage against their own will all over the world, not to mention the children that are forced into slavery and worse, forced to the sex trade. They are not treated well either. At least the chimps get fed and have a warm place to sleep.
The scientists themselves should be forced to live as these innocent creatures are--and tapped, progged and injected with foreign substances and diseases that effect humans for the rest of thier lives---let them be the Guinea Pigs for a change!
@gethimout-5064280
Life sucks for everybody - ugh, so screw it lets do nothing where we can. What an @!$%#..
Your dumb assed attitude is why things suck everywhere - what a goober
There are people being held hostage and not fed by chimps? Really? Why wasn't I told?
And the chimps are forcing the children in to slavery?
While I agree so much with your point that Humans are treated far worse than any chimpanzee, it doesn't negate the issue of animal care.
After reading two of Jane Goodall's books on topic of primates, I can say freely that chimpanzees do share some very basic common traits with Humans. They feel fear, loneliness, starvation, beatings, etc. But too, they seem to understand care, concern, make friends, solve problems, and make very simple tools (note that many animal species perform similar tasks); not chimp or Human-specific traits. They are also openly cannibalistic of other chimps, and have killed and eaten Human children in Africa--they are wild animals, so, not to be judged.
Point: They are not cute, furry playthings, or pets.
Note: Studies have provided cures and treatments that YOU might benefit from, too. So, please do not vilify other persons' professions on flimsy evidence.
There are fewer than 100,000 chimps of various troops living in Africa, and about 1500 living in care/caged/private ownership. Each day the number of wild-living chimps grows smaller--soon there shall be no more true wild chimpanzees (pan troglodyte, or pan paniscus).
Let's give them there space in the forest, protected, and completely free of Human contact (they often die of Human visitors' diseases). That's not a lot to ask.
Thank you.
Right after the interview, she went out and had a steak dinner.
Two wrongs don't make a right. I don't feel safer because something was tested on a chimp. How many things have we said, safe for humans, but, come to find out, it really wasn't...
I am not opposed to humanely using animals for study purposes, but I lately feel like science community is so out to make the next big selling drug/vaccine that they can sell everyone, whatever noble efforts they try to claim they are doing for, always ends up being greed and hurting not only the animals but the humans they claimed they were trying to help.
Since I'm not a scientist, I cannot say how valid chimp research, or any other animal research, is. Assuming there is no other way, the least we could do is make their lives as comfortable as possible and that means an enriched environment and no small cages. I feel sorry for any creature put in a cage to be tortured on a regular basis for some experiment that could be done in a more compassionate way. Although I'm on the fence about medical experiments, there is absolutely no reason for the cosmetics industry to experiment on animals. For them at least, animal research should be banned entirely.
The operative word there is emotional. There is no logic to the argument against using chimps for research. YES non-human primate research is morally and scientifically justified. It saves human lives and advances our understanding of the natural world, that is the justification. And that is enough.
me too! But I am one who believes that non-human primates are NOT less important than humans. Not at all.
I felt ill before I could even finish reading the article.
-People are hurt and tortured everyday- so let's condone doing the same to defenseless animals.-
As I am reading posted comments with this method of thinking and attempting to rationalize any type of inhumaine treatment, I'm finding it difficult to differentiate between intelligent human beings and uncivilized animals.
To those who think that we should experiment on humans instead, it's called clinical research. Look it up. Volunteer for it even (especially if you are a cancer patient). You could unofficially make a part time job out of it. I see nothing wrong with experimenting on humans or chimps as long as the methodology is justified and the results are true and untainted.
Man that story makes you wanna spank your monkey..!!??
Why is not not ok to experiment on human volunteers, yet fine to experiment on animals whose reactions to our drugs and testing might not even be the same as ours. And as someone else said above, so many drug companies are only looking for patents and inventing drugs we don't need, and their drugs cause horrible side effects.
I am with MnaFromNantucket. Even w/ animal testing, products & procedures still hit the market that have to be pulled because of dangerous side effects. Can you imagine how much worse this would be with out animal testing!? I for one would rather see the tests run on animals than humans.
And I agree gethimout- there should more concern about and exposure of the atrocities inflicted on humans (especially children) through slavery and human trafficking. I am an environmentalist who fights for endangered species & biodiversity but I am sick and tired of people who care more about pets and animal than they do about human suffering. In one town in the Congo, Shabunda, 70 percent of the women reported being sexually brutalized. It's equally commonplace in the Sudan. Child prostitution in the US is rampant. Some migrant workers in the US suffer under conditions as bad as the slaves in the South in the 1800's. Do you care as much about them as you do about these animals?
To b-895713: I care about my dog more than I care about you. Sorry to sound harsh but that is the truth and a lot of pet owners would agree. And to say we should be saving people in other countries and not helping the animals in our own country, really? Think globally, but act LOCALLY.
@ManFromNantucket
Shouldn't you also add that the experiments shouldn't be duplicated again and again, with no additional value? If we've put some toxic/caustic chemical in the eyes of 50 chimps over the years, do we really gain any understanding by doing it to yet another?
There should be some sort of central repository for these lab results to ensure that the experimentation isn't repeated unnecessarily.
Skeptical - I think globally and act locally. Btw, as much as I love my dog and my cat (and I love them a lot) I would save your life before I saved theirs. I care more about you (whom I don't know) than I do about my dog and my cat (my cat sleeps w/ me). I just value human life above animal life. And I believe in helping the humans in my community and country 1st. Too bad many people use this "why should I care about people in the India when people are homeless here" attitude as a cover up for doing nothing locally, in this country and abroad.
Here's the problem in a nutshell...
Of course, when one treats a living being as an inadament object.
I think the chimp looks a lot like Biden.
I'm glad to hear these people give some effort to not making life hell for these animals. In the past I don't think they would have bothered
I'm glad to hear these people give some effort to not making life hell for these animals. In the past I don't think they would have bothered
@gethimout: Just shut up!
.
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Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
Has anyone here considered that the Chimps in this article and the thousands of others out there before and since have contributed more to the development of mankind than anyone here could ever dream of? Im reminded of the sentiment expressed by various branches of the military that says that a soldier fought and died for you to enjoy the freedoms you take for granted. I feel the same way about lab animals. They have given life and limb in the interest of bettering the quality of life for not only humankind, but also advancements in veteranary medicine. Granted, the chimps didnt volunteer, but then again how many soldiers fought and died who didnt volunteer (as recently as Vietnam)? Animal rights is one thing, but when the good of the few is weighed against the good of the masses, ask yourself where the line should be drawn.
This is for all the folks who have above seemed a little indifferent to the suffering and seemed to be justifying suffering because others suffer... that's your only argument?
Plus it isn't that bad because they have a place that is warm to sleep?
I bet those in the sex trade you mentioned don't have it "that bad", as they have a place to sleep and they're providing pleasure to someone... RIGHT? Following the flawed logic listed in previous post, my just mentioned logic is sound. RIGHT?
There is no reason to compare the species, we have 7 BILLION PEOPLE. When you have 7 BILLION PEOPLE we aren't a special species. Let's save the chimps and maybe run through a few billion of our own. We're only bald apes and our #s could use a trim.
Free the chimps -- and allow EXTREMELY deadly diseases to be released into wild chimp populations. Don't worry, it isn't likely that any of those diseases will ever mutate enough to infect us humans.
Oh, right. HIV and Hepatitis-C already have infected us humans. Well, they aren't likely to mutate even more.........
It is difficult for me to know this still goes on even with today's technology. Over the years I have read anything I can get me hands on written by Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey. By far these are two of my heros. This is pure torture and I want it to end.
I am a scientist and experiment on mice. Although I don't work with chimps or other primates, I know a lot about the rules- which are VERY strict. The rules say that primates must be given entertainment options (toys, climbing equip., etc.), companionship, adequate space and light, among other things. It is forbidden to cause severe pain even to a mouse. Animals must be given pain relievers following any type of surgery. Injections do not constitute torture. Laboratory animals are NOT tortured; however, I'm sure the chimps would be happier at Chimp Haven. I do think that chimpanzee research should be phased out or more severely restricted (it already is restricted and VERY expensive). Rhesus macaques or lower mammals should be used instead. Animal experiments are absolutely essential for the development of new drugs, vaccines, and even surgical techniques. Animal experiments don't only help humans- they help pets, livestock, and wild animals as well. We must carefully balance the need for new medical treatments against the degree of emotional or physical discomfort caused to animals. Highly intelligent animals suffer more emotionally, and deserve special consideration.
Didn't I just read an article about that guy who killed a guy's wife and two daughters and was sentenced to death? Why isn't he in one of those cages getting shot up with HIV and Hep C?
Start putting prison inmates with life sentences in Biomed's tests. These chimps didn't even do anything!
@ ManFromNantucket: The problem with your "...it's clinical research..." comment is that the difference is that humans VOLUNTEER. Animals are not able to. Also, humans are treated more humanely with much stricter regulations, where as some people, such as some of the posters on this vine, treat animals like unfeeling objects. Anyone who has studied the behavior of various mammal species knows that they are not unfeeling. The debate on whether they experience love and compassion, etc. will be ongoing for an unimaginable amount of years, but there is no denying that they experience pain and fear. Those two experiences alone should justify stricter policies on animal testing, the type of testing, the amount of testing, etc. According to this article, these animals will be tested until they die with occasional intervals unless, by some miracle, they are simply discarded or forgotten. The scientist quoted in this article makes no bones about the fact that he views them as objects to be used as needed to gather information, like a book. This easily leads one to believe that he has no genuine regard for the well being of these animals. Which in turn leads one to believe that he would have no qualms hurting the animal in some form or fashion to get his grant renewed or whatever the case may be.
I do understand the need for animal testing to a point. However, I also believe that there always needs to be someone in attendance on the animals behalf to approve and supervise such tests to ensure the welfare of the animal and to prevent any unnecessary discomfort and/or harm. I do also believe that after 20 + years, these animals have been used up thoroughly by us and given more than most to ensure the survival of the human race and deserve to live out the rest of their HIV infected lives in peace.
Lastly, for all of you talking saying it's better to help people in the US, or abroad, or animals, blah blah blah. Why in the world does it have to be one or the other. Why can't you help and get involved in anyway possible to make ALL LIVES as comfortable and painless as possible? I really don't understand thisall or nothing mentality. The knowledge that ANY BEING starving, suffering, being tortured, etc. is intolerable and EVERYONE should do what ever they can when ever they can to help those in need, no matter the race, religion, region, or species.
Without meaning to detract from the noble campaign for the chimps, let it not be forgotten that thousands of other species, from various levels on the evolutionary scale, remain locked in small, dark cages.
Wasn't there a movie made about her descendents, starring Charleton Heston ?
Here in Tennessee, we have some people who have "De-volved". I submit a specimen for testing, you can locate him in the Capitol building in Nashville, he goes by the name of Governor Haslam.
A quick note, for those of you who have read about the hateful Rep. Campfield, I submit his kind for HIV testing, especially!
N-17 dead on! Quite frankly you can even offer an incentive - to inmates families. It could all be worked out.
Maybe they should allow the chimps to run for public office.
They couldn't do any worse than the monkeys that are running the show right now...and yes, I know a chimp is an ape, not a monkey.
Yes, that is true. However, humans are cognitively able to volunteer. Animals are not. If we wait for animals to volunteer to do research on them it will never be done. In this regard it is physically impossible to treat animals like people and to try to do so would be nothing short of lunacy.
As well they should. This is going to burst your bubble, but animals cannot, do not, and should not have the same rights as human beings. There are differences between us and them which do make other species "lesser".
Their capacity for emotion has not gone unnoticed by the scientific community for over 100 years. Though many people do treat nonhuman species as unfeeling objects, the scientific community is not ignorant of the similarities between us and other species which must be taken into account. In fact their capacity for emotion is part of the reason they are experimented on. Regulations are put in place to reflect this and reduce emotional stress.
The regulations regarding animal testing are already very strict. Do you even know what those regulations entail? Even if you are right why do you call for them to be more strict when you do not even know how strict they are already?
Once again I must burst your bubble, but that is par for the course with all laboratory research animals.
gethimout - it's not a competition. Why do people do that? Totally disregard one issue because there are other issues. Of course there are thousands of horrible things that go on in the world, but don't get pissy because one of those issues is highlighted and there are people trying to do the right thing about it. You choose your issue and try to improve it, and I'll choose mine. That's what makes the world go around.
p.s. The chimps would "get fed and have a warm place to sleep" in the wild too - where they belong.
Humans suck
That last scientist just described the chimpanzees as OBJECTS like books in a library. They're LIVING organisms, there's no question whether or not they share emotions like us. If these scientists were so devoted to their cause, they'd volunteer to be test subjects themselves.
that would spoil the test results, making it entirely pointless. they would be biased. go protest something you understand.
The only thing we see without a point here is bobalob. Of course, if you parted your hair differently, I'm sure we could see it.
Biased? How so? Most of the tests produce quantifiable physical results that couldn't be faked or covered up. Also, successful chimpanzee tests do not imply success on humans. Human testing with out a doubt would give the best results. Oh, but that would be immoral, right?
Kornfed - you are truly a low grade moron
best quote of the day - humans suck!
Doctor designs new drug to sell. Doctor tests drug on self. Says drug works great. You dont see a bias there?
Scientists are supposed to experiment on themselves? How are they going to be well enough to treat themselves if they just infected themselves w/ a potentially deadly virus? I realize I would be drawing from sci-fi but some of our favorite mad scientists are the villains because they experimented on themselves.
Jimbo,
Actually human testing is after chimp testing. A buddy of mine went into a controlled drug experiment for 2 weeks and made 5 grand. Of course, he has to stay there for the entire two weeks under watch and regimented diet, but one of the times he went he just got the placebo. They disclose whether or not you were in the control group after the tests are complete. So I definitely have nothing against voluntary human testing. Seems only logical, actually.
bobalob: and I'm sure the third eye occassionally comes in handy, right ?
I hope everyone that posts on here about how horrible animal testing is, has never taken an FDA approved drug or supplement. In order for a drug to make it to market, it takes years upon years of pre-clinical (animal) testing followed by exhaustive clinical testing. If you have ever taken anything as menial as an antibiotic for a sore throat, or taken a pain killer for a headache you're supporting exactly what you are saying you're opposed to. I am appreciative for each one of the animals that have helped in advancing science so that we may be able to one day save ourselves or our loved ones from a hellish deterioration such as alzheimer's or Parkinson's, for example.
Free all the Chimps!!!!!!!!
/runs wildly, unlocking all the cages!!
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=YouTube+Chimp+Attack&mid=A07E875DDBD1467C94F6A07E875DDBD1467C94F6&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1
The chimps are just waiting for the right time to take over.
...and they'll do it by ripping our faces off!
....throws feces at the scientists!!!!!
Let the chimps go; this is unnecessary, cruel, and torture. No amount of caged area is ever freedom - ask the current human inmates, they are not free.
Don't we have plenty of 'real' people on death row that we can experiment on? Why are the chimps treated so poorly when actual human beings would give much better test results and why do death row inmates have any rights at all? Use them for your experiments.
Our biggest test is how we treat others and the world around us - this is a failure.
AA - Yeah that makes total sense. Release an animal into the wild after it has spent its entire lifetime in the total care of human beings. Just release it so it will be free - to die because it does not know how to take care of itself. Where is your brain?
The problem with death row inmates is that they might break loose or try to kill the scientists. They aren't as obedient as chimps.
That being said, I think it's better to experiment on them instead. After all, they're biologically human but often worse than animals. Nothing immoral about experimenting on immoral creatures.
"Our biggest test is how we treat others and the world around us - this is a failure."
You say that^ then say we should force testing upon inmates?
Wow.
Verita....she never said in the wild. That was just your take. She just said to let them go. Letting them go could be and would be to an animal sanctuary. Where is your brain?
You are lucky that you can type, are not missing a limb - your mother probably didn't take Thalidomide 30-40 years ago.
Thalidomide was thought to be wonderful for mothers... it was researched MOSTLY, but not only on dogs.... the dogs gave birth to perfect puppies. What did the "scientists" forget, animal and humans share many of the same genetic characteristics, yet sharing many, does not mean that we share everything the same. Two humans - can't agree and don't respond the same to the SAME DRUG, so WHY would we torture another species - fame? Greed!?!
In this case, it came down to isomers - consider them molecules that mirror each other, one is labeled as "L" the other "D" (scientifically true).
The "D" isomers are found in many species, but not in humans. Thalidomide has both isomers but they can be separated - Thalidomide is now on the market, separated, with only the "L" isomer.
Yes, Chimps share 98% of our DNA, but do you see them at your job? Can you, if dropped in their natural habitat, swing through the forest and understand the subtle language that they convey in their familiar groups? NO, you would not as a human survive...
There is one given when one is born - that one will die. We hope that this comes at old age, our hopes do not always come true, but EVERY living thing eventually dies - vivisection is vile, it does not improve our lives as humans, it makes us killers.
Animal Angel I totally agree with you leave these animals ALONE. Get the creeps on death row and experiment on them. Why are we preserving their lives? For what or who? As for them not being as submissive as Chimps they have meds for that. This was not what God (or whoever you believe in) intended when creating animals.
if you want to free all of the chimps why not volunteer yourself to be a test subject these chimps are saving lives what r u doing homo
Living in a time of wastefulness, of course, there are those who will say that we are better than "animals," yet, they (other animals of which we are apart) live in more harmony than we do. Which religion (which has been rewritten many times) claims that God put animals here for man?
Not to get into a religious argument, but that "book" did NOT say animals were put here for man's "abuse."
Vivisection is wrong - if you don't believe in it, then let aborted babies cells be used for new drugs, they share 100% of our DNA and they are going in the trash, no matter what you think - why not let those help? Why pick on an animal that can have a nice life in its own habitat. I'm not even talking about abortions (since I don't want this derailed) - miscarriages happen every day - there is no difference in donating a miscarriage to science then to being an organ donor.
Personally, I don't care either way, my day will come, I'm not afraid - and no "animal" will die trying to save my life ( yes, it's in my living will).
Jonathan - since you can't make anything but a stupid remark, why don't you help out "mankind" and donate yourself?
Really? What a humanitarian you are. Wait, dont tell me, your a Catholic, right? Been raised believing that bad people burn in eternal torment? Oh, but wait, not just Catholics believe that. Your pathetic.
Experimenting on Death Row is not the solution - we don't have a criminal system that is 100% infallible and your average sociopath, already locked in a cage, will not help unless they really want too. Grow a a skin cell, scraped from anyone - experiment on that - we don't need to use other species or force those who are incarcerated. I am anti-vivisection, on any species... it has to include our own or we become more base than we already are.
I like that "use death row prisoners" idea. The best one yet! Sad that animals are used for such purposes. On the other side, I wonder if anyone who has posted such resentment has a loved one that is still alive due to medical research that was done on an animal. Just wondering...not necessarily condoning animal research.
I can only speak for myself - cancer, offered chemo and radiation (denied, I opted for surgery only). Woke up one day (years later) in cardiac IC, they didn't know what the problem was, still have no answer, now RA & Valley Fever, I'm offered a bevy of drugs, I'm threatened that if I do not agree to take them, I will not receive my normal course of pain relieving drugs (all approved during WWII, not on animals) - so yes, I have filed with all hospitals in my metro area and my doctor that I have a standing DNR at 39. I do not regret this, life is precious - but not only for humans. I will not take the life of a pig so that I can replace a heart valve they "feel" is under too much pressure.
This is what is right for me. I cannot speak for or condemn others, but I have been clinically dead and it was wonderful (no, I am not religious), so death is not something I fear, I appreciate the pain killers which come from opiates but do not take "synthetic" drugs.... If the dog god "calls" me today, I'm OK with that. I also know that the drugs I am on are so old - basically tested in the military field, that I am not hurting an animal for my sake.
This is NOT to say that I am some hero...not at all - I just honor what I say. If I were in a different position, I may think completely differently.
Many inmates DO volunteer for medical experiments. Not just death row convicts. A friend, serving 30 years for manslaughter (drunk driving), has volunteered for a couple of Hep C studies. He already had Hep C, and could be treated normally. Yet, he is given new experimental drugs. Yes, he might be cured, and I'm sure that might be part of his motivation. He could, also, have been given the standard interferon/ribovirin. However, he IS risking his life to find a better cure.
Many inmates DO volunteer for medical experiments. Not just death row convicts. A friend, serving 30 years for manslaughter (drunk driving), has volunteered for a couple of Hep C studies. He already had Hep C, and could be treated normally. Yet, he is given new experimental drugs. Yes, he might be cured, and I'm sure that might be part of his motivation. He could, also, have been given the standard interferon/ribovirin. However, he IS risking his life to find a better cure.
Many inmates DO volunteer for medical experiments. Not just death row convicts. A friend, serving 30 years for manslaughter (drunk driving), has volunteered for a couple of Hep C studies. He already had Hep C, and could be treated normally. Yet, he is given new experimental drugs. Yes, he might be cured, and I'm sure that might be part of his motivation. He could, also, have been given the standard interferon/ribovirin. However, he IS risking his life to find a better cure.
Good job, Newsvine! Repeat as needed, will ya?!?
Adding to above - I do have two close friends with MS. One has been on beta-Interferons for years, to no use - her MRI shows growing legions. She has decided to stop - not because of animals but because she just "felt" she was done with modern medicine - she has not given up the will to live in any way. She is an inspiration. My other friend will try ANYTHING, experimental or not... it's not for me to say who is right. I don't worry about the fact that they they will die because both love life, however, I see that the one that quit the drugs and opted for just pain and muscle relaxers is much happier now.
Adding to above - I do have two close friends with MS. One has been on beta-Interferons for years, to no use - her MRI shows growing legions. She has decided to stop - not because of animals but because she just "felt" she was done with modern medicine - she has not given up the will to live in any way. She is an inspiration. My other friend will try ANYTHING, experimental or not... it's not for me to say who is right. I don't worry about the fact that they they will die because both love life, however, I see that the one that quit the drugs and opted for just pain and muscle relaxers is much happier now.
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"Bubblegum"
I got "bubblegum" error, also!
Yeah, this article isn't biased at all <snark>.
The first opening paragraph frames exactly how a viewer (or reader) should react. Never mind balanced reporting or helping the general public understand the advance of science that have occurred because of research either with these two animals (ANIMALS) or other animals. Or the hundreds and hundreds of hours of review boards or inspections any lab environment has to go through.
Jeez, I expect this from other news channels but not one Brian Williams puts his mug behind.
You expected balanced reporting from a major "news" source? Get a clue.
And if you think that MSNBC is unbiased it's only becaue you agree with them.
Don't forget Kelly that you are an animal too - you may have to crack a science book and look at species, but, you are no better than any other animal.
kelly-
it's not about "inspections", its about the horrifically low standards. you can have thousands of inspections and pass, but what are the standards?
i called on a puppy mill once. they were "inspected" and met the standards. there were old dogs missing teeth and they were all dirty. dogs were crowded in cages where the floor was chicken wire. the cages were covered by tarps. b/c all of the dogs had food, water, and shelter, the puppy mill passed the "inspection".
this country has FAILED as a society when it comes to caring for it's animals. before you call me a bleeding heart liberal, i'm a solid conservative.
Kelly,
I am a bleeding heart liberal with serious reservations about using chimpanzees for invasive tests even if it meant we could save many lives but there are very high standards for animal care in research - much higher then in most other captive animal situations (of course, this doesn't include the harm by the experiments themselves). While I question putting them through experiments, as vital as they may be, I would be more worried about chimp enrichment in most zoos and certainly by private individuals then at modern research labs.
It has been proven that animal testing IS NOT necessary to "save lives". These research labs are reluctant to let this go because of the HUGE amounts of money they get in grants for such research. In essence, they MAKE MONEY.
Now thanks to the help of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, the credibility of these research facilities and whether this is really necessary is being disproven. There are actions in process to eliminate these research facilities and retire all the chimps. The Great Ape Protection and Cost Savings Act (H.R.1513/S.810)
And, I hope one day in my life time I can see this happen.
@Slinger-958418, how exactly has it been proved that animal testing is not necessary?? That statement is obnoxious and naive. Yes, animal testing is sad and unfortunate, but it is necessary. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against cosmetic testing and such, but have you ever had a family member diagnosed with cancer or some other life threatening disease? Have you had any immunizations? Or taken any kind of drug at all? Because if you're against all animal testing, then the answer should be no, otherwise, you're a hypocrite. It's an unfortunate reality, but yes, we do need animal testing. Unless you want to offer up yourself to be tested on... I didn't think so...
Um by the Doctors.......Don't call me naive, I am a two time cancer survivor, and yes the Physicians are the one's who are stating that animal testing is not necessary........ I put a link down below, you might want to read what THEY have to say.
Slinger, just ignore Joe. He's one of many selfish people that don't care what dies or suffers to keep his sorry buns alive. I'm with you. There are better and SMARTER ways to come up with cures. If he believes in testing so much, he can offer up himself if he wants. I for one would rather die then expect torture enslaved on any other creature, including humans. BTW...the book that turned my mind on animal testing years and years ago was Science on Trial. Although now somewhat outdated, it opened my eyes to the reality of animal testing. Since they now can grow human tissue in petrie dishes etc....this kind of testing is archaic and barbaric. Obnoxious and naive? Pfffttt....Joe, I think YOU need to look at yourself before you throw stones. BTW...I don't take immunizations and buy into all the crap the pharmaceutical industries dole out....they are just trying to make money on the truly naive. And researchers get great grant $$$$ to do their testing. Learn the truth behind why people really do what they do.
Joe is correct. I worked in a cancer research lab for many years and there really isn't a replacement for animal testing. You can use all the computer simulations, cell lines, tissue samples, and other methods as much as you want but you will never get the correct data and amount of data necessary to create a vaccine. There are many, many steps before you can even start using animals to begin with. You have to write reports on every method possible and in what ways it does not satisfy your experimental needs. You then have to go through screening processes and statisical analysis to see what is the least amount of animals needed to get the data needed. A lot of people get denied. And that is just for using subjects such as mice. To get permission to work on chimps or any higher life form then a mouse it takes years. These things are done carefully and with much time spent on them. A lot of people have a complete misconception of what goes on. I know I, and the people I worked with, treated every animal with respect and care. We understand what they go through and give them enrichment, love, and make everything as comfortable as possible. I'm going off, but it really is necessary. We can't be giving people medicines and treatments when we have no idea the long term effects they have, what our LIVING, changing, metabolic reactions have on them, or what effects our enviroment plays on these drugs. Otherwise, everyone who is on here who is against all this animal testing should stop taking whatever medication they are on and stop getting vaccinated.
Other physicians DISAGREE with you. And, the US IS the last developed country to continue this research. The US is way behind the rest of the World, isn't it time to catch up with every one else? If I ever got cancer again, I would NOT be treated in the US. Western Medicine, is strictly a FOR PROFIT corporation.......It has nothing to do with curing anything.
Thats great for them but I am telling you from experience and what I have learned over the years. I hope all those physicians you speak of, none that I know, aren't using any medication that was tested on animals. That would most likely leave them with herbal remedies. Try taking a courses in physics, biology, genetics, and then work in a research lab before making up your mind about that. And if you don't like then you should go move somewhere else and get your treatments there. Anyway, I have no idea what your talking about with catching up with everyone esle. We had doctors coming in from all over the world that used the SAME techniques that we did so your completely wrong about that. WE actually had more advanced techniques then the hundreds of researchers that came to our facility.
Slinger, every single one of the drug oversight governing bodies in the world requires drug product testing for tox to be assessed in appropriate models. Appropriate models are almost exclusively some animal model.
If you want an end to animal testing, the governing bodies for drug product testing are the start and end of what is required of drug companies for testing.
The doctors can be right or wrong all they want to be on their own, but until the FDA, the EU, the JP, the WHO and all the auxillary governing bodies of drug manufacture are convinced that animal testing is not required... animal testing will still be required.
The US is NOT the last developed country to do this... all of them do... all of them require it... otherwise the drug cannot be marked for sale in the countries that subscribe to and abide by the rules set by their drug regulatory agencies.
We have humans locked up in small prison cells on death row awaiting countless appeals using up millions of dollars of legal system time in hopes to overturn their conviction or death sentence. Why not give them a choice on doing something good for humanity before they check out...instead of giving no choice to some helpless animal that hasn't done anything wrong. We are so humane to humans who have been convicted of a crime which penalty is death, just so they can die at the end...give them a choice. We all hate to think that maybe someone was wrongfully committed nowadays with forensics science being the way it is...these wrongful convictions on hainous crimes that carry the death penalty are becoming truly rare, I'd hate to convict an innocent person of a crime that resulted in his/her demise, but like war...all is not fair.
We can talk to someone anywhere in the world with devices that fit in the palm of our hands, carry months work of music in our pockets and have cars that give us driving directions. Surely we can find a better way to solve the worlds medical problems than subjecting our closest living relatives to such horrors. Perhaps in the process we could find an answer as to why we lack reasonable compassion for anything but our species.
>> Perhaps in the process we could find an answer as to why we lack reasonable compassion for anything but our species.
Wow. A great post I read in a long time. Thank you!
I agree with you on the compassion for other species there really isn't another way to do it. Hopefully in the future we will be able to but we don't now. The human body is very complex and there is no way to predict what could possible happen when taking a certain medication or how a certain virus will work. Our metabolism changes, our cell structure changes, we evolve as well as the virus or bacteria being tested. The only way to do it is to watch it happen on another living thing and see the mechanics happen. Yes, cell lines are very handy but you are only dealing with a certain line at a certain time. There are so many factors and biological systems working that it is impossible to simulate what may or may not happen. There are many times your doing an experiment and you are sure it will go one way but it actually works in the complete opposite. Are willing to take a drug that may work on you because the computer said it should? I wouldn't.
Why don't we stop using chimps and instead use our prison population, it wouldn't be cruel or unusual punishment because it would benefit humans and also teach prisoners how to contribute to society, leave the damn chimps alone and use humans instead.
fabulous idea!
There was a guy sentenced to death in CT that would fit the bill.
Obviously you can't experiment on the whole prison population--many prisoners aren't actually evil--but there are plenty of inmates that should be experimented on. They did, and would do, horrible things that no animal would ever do.
are you sure about that? spartan, your name says it all. elitist. why not have prisoners fight to the death in arenas? at least they're not able to commit "evil" on the "innocent" population. if we aren't so different from chimps (and thus should not test drugs on them), we definitely arent so different from inmates (and thus should not test drugs on them). just because they committed some crime doesnt mean they lose their humanity. in case you were wondering, i have a perfectly clean criminal record.
side point: animals dont do horrible things? what do you mean by horrible? animals do things that animals do, its ridiculous to categorize them as horrible or not horrible. what if a chimp rips off the arms of a zookeeper? or zoo visitor? horrible is just not really applicable, even in horrifying (to us) situations.
Wow! Hitler's your hero or what- experiement on prisoners....experimenting on anyone that isn't willing is beyond immoral. And no chimps either
OH MY GOD!!! Seriously...... take some of these MONSTERS on Death Row and experiment with them, unlike these poor undeserving animals, the Monsters on Death Row did something horrible to be there and THEY deserve to be tested with the Hepatitis C and AIDS virus, NOT these poor innocent animals!!!!!! You Know in this instance, I think the Monkey's ARE smarter than the humans. COME ON PEOPLE....SERIOUSLY!
maybe we could harvest the blood of our prisoners to feed the hungry. that would make sense, right? if we dont have the right to test drugs on primates, why do we have the right to kill humans? "because our government said so" is not a strong argument by the way. "because they (point at some one in a cage) are evil monsters" is an even more flawed argument. i dont understand the relevance of death row inmates to chimp treatment.
I would not doubt that there are some inmates that already obtain Hepatitis C,B,A, HIV, and whatever else...soooo we can rule that out. Testing on animals isn't really good, but the human race would not be here enjoying all the iPods, MP3's, sex (a.ka. breeding) etc. without such testings. The moment an animal turns upon a human, our God complex steps in and immediatly the animal should be put down. Bad animal! Bad! Shame on it! Now on the other foot, low and behold, we or scientists do something bad to animals, they should be put down. If everyone expends soooo much energy on the internet expressing how they feel about such big No-no's, why isn't anyone converting this kinetic energy of the expressive fingertips, and actually bringing testing on animals to a hault? If you all really looked further down the chain of humanity, you will see something a bit more frightening. Cloning. Cloning humans in order to be tested on, and keep our "beloved" race going. Then we can say clones have feelings, free the clones. Long story short, this yay, or nay will never stop as long as humans exist. Or it may, when we change how highly we think of ourselves. By the way, how much have you donated to that food pantry so your brotherly man can eat another day? We are a species people, species kill to survive. Look out your own backdoor sometimes.
AH! Clones I did not think of. Most interesting post on this thread, grindsmygears! What if we only cloned organs then tested on those organs? We currently CAN clone organs... I think.
My last girlfriend was a clone, baaaaaaaa.
And Dolly was her name.
Meh,
Ive Heard better
Excuse me, but Chimpanzees are not relatives to human beings. Get over that crap. That being said, maybe animals used for testing should be retired after a certain amount of time. Maybe animals should not be used for testing at all. Personally, I think convicted felons who are spending a lifetime in prison or are facing the death penalty ought to be used for testing. What better way than that to try to repay part of your debt to society?
98.x% shared DNA and you still don't believe it? lol
They have 98% of human DNA.. so technately they are related to us 98%.
Um...you mean "technically" right? Pretty sure technately isn't a word.
Although I feel sad for the animals, these kinds of tests are neccesarry for the advancement of medicine. It's not like they are being tested on for frivolous reasons, the scientists are trying to cure diseases.
If a few hundred chimps have to be tested on to save hundreds of thousands of human life than so be it.
Please get educated! The US is the last developed country in the WORLD to do animal testing. All other Countries have deemed it NOT NECESSARY, and the US is still reluctant to give up on it because of $$. No other reason but $$. These research labs get Millions and Millions for their research that does nothing but cause great harm and distress to these animals, with NO viable outcomes for human kind.
Why not experiment on certain prisoners? Those who are truly evil deserve no pity, yet they're biologically human.
spartan. you appear truly evil, and i have so much pity for you.
OMG slinger please stop spreading lies. WE ARE NOT THE ONLY COUNTRY THAT USES ANIMAL TESTING. Go to a medical conference with scientists from all over the world and see what kinds of tests they run and how they get their information.
I bet China wouldn't mull over whether or not animals should be tested for very long haha
OMG guest34-4211651 please stop spreading lies. Actually Yes we are the last country in the developed world that continues to do animal testing. Stop spreading YOUR lies, guest.
I would have to agree with guest34-4211651. Research with animals occurs in countries other than the US. I am currently aware of ongoing research projects involving animals in Germany, France, the UK, and Japan. These projects are regulated by laws enacted by the individual host countries and are also subject to the US regulations when supported by NIH funds. The US is not the last country performing research with animals, but is one of many.
It's amazing that people will argue points that could be disproved by a simple Internet search.
"For a nation of animal-lovers, Britain conducts a lot of experiments on living beings—some 3.6m in 2009, of which 83% involved rodents."
http://www.economist.com/node/16693872
"Taken together, mice and rats constituted - both in Germany and in Europe as a whole - the largest group of laboratory animals (approx. 80%), followed in second place in Germany by fish (around 7%), with rabbits coming in third (roughly 5%)."
http://www.drze.de/in-focus/animal-experiments-in-research
chimpanzees are not library books.
this makes me sick! there are many people with HIV and or hep C that would be willing to do the testing to help find treatments or cures and they are already infected ,they could be paid for their services and this would as well help them to become more independent and to be able to afford better living treatment etc .... let the chimps go ! stop infecting them ,this is animal cruelty at it's best and is legalized ,the chimps have no choice!
minia, we do test possible cures on humans with Hep-C and HIV. all are volunteers and are paid to take the investigational product. it's not only chimps who get tested on, other types of primates, rats, mice and dogs are used all the time.
i wonder, do we really need all these cures? do we need to live longer? i do not wish cancer or HIV on anyone but we all die at some point from something. just because we can cure does not mean that we should.
30years of testing....come on give them a break, let them have some taste of freedom. I agree lets test prisoners on death row. Maybe it will cut down on crime.
Tax payers that are paying for 30 years of imprisonment to a human who has no conscience and no value of life for others much less their own! Sounds like a reasonalble request for them to "dedicate" their time as well as their life to science for the greater good. Certainly money better spent...might as well get something back from them.
that is so sad those poor babies. stop testing on animals! they feel, hurt, think just like us you really think they enjoy being tested on? just because they cant talk doesnt mean we should do whatever we please with them. why cant we just let animals be free why do humans have to ruin everything. i'm sure there are other ways of doing research
How cruel. Put the researchers in a cage. Let Chimps go free.
Freedom for the chimps is just as bad as what's happening to them. They were born in captivity...they have 0 skills to survive "free". They will forever depend on humans for survival. That said, I don't agree that they are cruelly treated and tested on. But, they'll always have to live with humans to take care of them. They were never able to develop the skills that wild animals do when living in the wild.
Why don't we start using death penalty convicts for experimental purposes instead.
Set them free. I hope for a day that all animal testing is abolished. They shouldn't sacrifice their lives for ours.
I don't understand what all of the fuss is about. We are trying to make progress in our lives. When your children contract Hep C, and there is no cure in the near future, all of you can sit together and say poor me.
*SIGH*
there is a cure for Hep-C. it's called Ribavirin and Interferon. not all who take it get cured but if you dont shoot up or have unproteced sex then you really dont have to worry about Hep-C or HIV.
We aren't even humane. Funny the word human comes from humane. The time for animal testing is over. There are other alternatives. These creature were not put on the planet for humans to exploit. If convicted felons wish to participate, with the concept of living through it and not suing the government, so be it. Whether you are an animal advocate or not, this is not ok. Pretty sure none of the animals used in testing voluntarily walked in the clinic. They were taken against their will or worse born in captivity in the lab. They have been gouged, probed, torn, restrained,tortured, injected with god knows what. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. LET THESES ANIMALS SUFFER THE REST OF THEIR LIFE IN PEACE..AND SUFFER THEY WILL, BUT AT LEAST MAN WON'T BE CONTINUING THE GAMES WE PLAY, AND THERE MIGHT BE SOLACE FOR WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH
Amen pattf! I couldn't agree more.
Let's "test" on humans and get much more accurate results. Humans who have robbed, raped, killed and exploited other humans. How many humans sit on death row right now? Give them the option to give something back.
And leave innocent animals alone.
I'd rather use you as a test subject - at least a random prisoner hasn't expressed their deep depravity specifically on this board.
I don't understand what all of the fuss is about. We are trying to go forward in our lives. When your children get Hep C and there is no cure because research stops, you can all sit in a group and hold each other and say "poor us". I will be saying told you so. Then I will be pissed off if my children get Hep C and there is no cure due to people like you saying "poor chimps".
Pleas educate yourself and READ the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. All this research isn't going anywhere in helping with Hep C. Here let me help you, this was written by Doctors about this type of research being unnecessary. Like I said educate yourself, so you know what you are pitching a fit about.
http://www.pcrm.org/media/blog/dec2011/iom-chimpanzees-biomedical-behavioral-research
Sounds like someone trying to save the animals have their panties in a wad. I love animals too.... I love the way they taste.
D from Texas you are as dumb as bricks. Why the heck should an animal be subjected to abuse because your kid gets hepatitis?
Pedophiles and murderers and rapists should be used instead. My "fuss" as you would put it is that my tax money goes to house morons and sickos, feeds their lazy buns and to boot gives them educational resources and gym facilities.
Whatever........Like I said.....Education is a terrible thing to waste.
I also enjoy the smell coming off the electric chair when one less tax burden is gone...tax free holiday!
and alot of the so-called diseases are all made up crap anyway, restless leg, adhd, the fat gene and so on and so on...
Fab2012: I am not against you. I feel we could spend money in different places. And using convicts is a great idea. I just also feel we should not abandon testing due to some heart-strings of some animal lovers.
Hell yes those diseases are fake. And there is a fat gene. I run a sports complex and a fitness facility. The fat gene stems from lazy parents and role models that let and feed there kids crap. Get outside and walk a mile or play a sport.
Another individual trying to make up for his other shortcomings by pretending he's a he man.
I was referring to D from TX in my reply.
Lol no... I am the guy that runs and organizes youth leagues. I have to tell your children that they are not the next Michael Jordan and to try another sport, even though mommy and daddy say they are.
Fat gene comes from some fat slob who can't stop sticking crap in their mouth. I would take these people bring them to a 3rd world country where people work all day and see where the restless leg is now. Come on they are suing McDonald's because they can't stop themselves from buying a cheeseburger??
The chimpanzee did not rape, steal, abuse children, why are they punished because they can't speak ? Sorry but the tax burdens of society -> the pedophile, the rapists, murderers, terrorists, and abusers of the welfare system need to repay society. After all they do receive medicaid don't they?
Fab2012 I agree 100% with you.
Yeah because people got into an uproar on waterboarding terrorists who killed 2,000+ people in NYC and kill our soldiers but don't think twice about torturing innocent animals..
Really D from TX. These animals have been tested on for 30 years. If they could have found a cure for Hep C they probably would have by now. Aren't you aware it's not good business practice to find a vaccine too early. Pharmaceutical companies don't make as much money when there are fewer people with the disease. I work in the medical industry (note I say industry) and I understand it isn't about treating people it's about the almighty dollar and getting your name published in medical journals. And has been pointed out to you in previous replies the United States is the LAST developed country that tests on animals. In case you haven't read anything much outside your own hometown paper. Europe and Asia have so many more treatments & drugs that work than are available to the US citizens. These treatments and drugs are not tested on animals and they work. The FDA doesn't make money for approving drugs, it makes money by denying approval. Denying a drug so a pharmaceutical company doesn't lose money is the priority. Also in case you haven't noticed the underlying theme here is people don't make money to help other people. Seems you have a lot in common with them.
oddyssy, that's a bunch of nonsense. In the first place, the U.S. is not the last developed nation to use animal testing. As I wrote earlier,
"For a nation of animal-lovers, Britain conducts a lot of experiments on living beings—some 3.6m in 2009, of which 83% involved rodents."
http://www.economist.com/node/16693872
"Taken together, mice and rats constituted - both in Germany and in Europe as a whole - the largest group of laboratory animals (approx. 80%), followed in second place in Germany by fish (around 7%), with rabbits coming in third (roughly 5%)."
http://www.drze.de/in-focus/animal-experiments-in-research
Technically, that Russian Mars probe that crashed a few weeks ago was conducting animal experiments, the Living Interplanetary Flight Experiment.
In the second place, the U.S. is the world leader in developing medicines.
Third, I guarantee that every product used by humans is animal tested, one way or another, either in the lab or in someone's home.
If chimp have 98 percent of our DNA characteristics, why in the world would we want to subject an animal who has the same feelings, expressions, and sadness, even enough love for a kitten, as we do to this kind of pain and agony!! You might as well use humans!
couldn't agree more!
Because they are not humans. They are anamals. They are not being subjected to pain and agony!! Don't get all of your information from a PETA flyer.
Because they are not humans. They are anamals. They are not being subjected to pain and agony!! Don't get all of your information from a PETA flyer.
Because they are not humans. They are anamals. They are not being subjected to pain and agony!! Don't get all of your information from a PETA flyer.
Because they are not humans. They are anamals. They are not being subjected to pain and agony!! Don't get all of your information from a PETA flyer.
Because they are not humans. They are anamals. They are not being subjected to pain and agony!! Don't get all of your information from a PETA flyer.
dean, you're a phuking moron
@Dean, you know this how?
Do not ask Dean he does not know and apparently he assumes a lot period as many people here agreeing to animal testing.
This animal testing is outdated, inhumane and just plain arrogant no matter how they "state" they treat the animals. Right, they care. Right. If they cared then they would campaign against it and find alternatives as other countries. OH I forgot MONEY. M O N E Y. It could be useful for trade but it has become just plain dangerous instead and we allow it to destroy the world because of numbers that are not "real" Wow. Can anyone say change? Dr. Steven Greer does.
Yes, I agree about Dean. He can't spell either.....
How do you know these creatures have "the same feelings, expressions, and sadness"? Are you a mind-reader? Have you ever been a chimpanzee?
Well for one, Chimpanzee's have been taught to communicate in sign language. Obviously this does indicate a higher intelligence, so in other words they can speak to us. Bring it a little more in perspective doesn't it? How do you fell about it now?
Hey Pooua, have you even spent any time with an animal?? It's very easy for me to tell when my dog is experiencing feelings so joy, sadness, boredom, pain, etc. Millions of hours have been spent studying chimps this century. If you read any recent data it's better obvious these creatures are extremely similiar to us. And for the rest of you idiots, humans ARE animals! My dog is part of the "Canine" family which includes wolves, foxes, etc. and "Homo sapiens" (human beings in English) are part of the "Primate" family which includes monkeys, gorillas, chimpanzees, lemurs, etc. There are some people commenting here that need to learn a word, it's called "compassion".
In addition, they have feelings of compassion, or jealousy and they can become depressed. Remember Toto the gorilla who adopted a kitten? Pooua, you either didn't watch or didn't comprehend the piece, and you need to catch up on all the nature shows as well. As the typecast evil doctor said, these are chimpanzees, not humans. Then why would you test on them? Look at all the deaths, disabilities, malformed/maimed babies, lawsuits-all caused by drugs which were tested on animals. In addition, there are approximately 250,000 hospital related deaths per year. Look at health care costs. We cannot afford morally or financially to pay people to torture animals for money. It is not for the greater good of humans in any way, shape or form. Humans don't deserve the right to be better than animals unless they are humane.