Ban on Cruel Products in the European Union

In 2009 the European Union is banning the sale of all products tested on animals. Is that fantastic or what? This ban does not just restrict animal testing from being conducted in the European Union, but means that companies cannot sell products that were tested on animals anywhere in the world in the participating countries.

Being a resident of United States of America, it really upsets me that we are not jumping on this bandwagon. Argh! Banning animal testing would not compromise our capitalist system of government. Companies would still be free to compete, experiment, and work in their own best interests. Banning animal testing would just be a protection for those who can't speak for themselves, it would protect the innocent in much the same way that child labor laws, or the implementation of minimum wage helped workers. I wonder what it is that we are waiting for here in the states?

On a happier note though, the ban on animal testing in the European Union is likely to encourage European countries to cease and desist their animal testing, and will most likely mean that products made by European countries and sold here in the states would be cruelty-free as well. Unless of course companies wish to continue animal testing, for some unknown reason, simply to sell to nations that are not a part of the European Union. Hopefully this will not prove to be the case.

Revlon Super Lusterous Lipstick

I have been using Revlon lipstick since... Well since I first started wearing lipstick. I'm pretty sure my first tube was looted from my mom's drawer (sorry mom). Anyway, when I decided not to continue to buy products that were tested on animals, I pretty much figured I would be seeing the last of this lipstick, and I must say I was sad to be saying goodbye.





However, I am happy to say that I discovered that Revlon does not, in fact, test on animals. You may already have known this, but I am happy to be adding this drug store staple back on to my list of products that I can buy with a clear conciense.

Fast Food Destroying the Rainforest

Hi all,

A little food for thought here,

"Area of tropical rainforest destroyed for the production of each fast-food hamburger made from rainforest beef: 55 square feet." (Denslow, Julie, and Padoch, Christine, People of the Tropical Rainforest, University of California Press, 1988, pg 169)
"Life forms destroyed in the production of each fast-food hamburger made from rainforest beef: Members of 20 to 30 different plant species,100 different insect spcies, and dozens of bird, mammal and reptile species." (Denslow, Julie, and Padoch, Christine, People of the Tropical Rainforest, University of California Press, 1988, pg 169)
info found at vegetarian living http://www.squidoo.com/vegelife

This is pretty mind boggling if you ask me. Not only are the methods used to keep, and butcher animals for food production inhumane, but it is also highly damaging to the environment. The preservation of the rainforest is vital both for the production of oxygen, and because of the wealth of species diversity that it contains. Yeah for vegetarians, helping animals and saving the planet!

Make Your Voice Heard

Hi All,

I just found this website, its called Care2 petitions. This site has petitions for all different types of issues, animal testing, human rights, getting fast food restaurants to offer more vegetarian options (and wouldn't we all like to see that). Any-hoo, if you are interested in being a precipitating factor for change, and you would like to do it from the comfort of your own home, you might find this sight interesting. Check it out @ http://www.thepetitionsite.com/browse-petitions

Options

Good Morning,

Animal testing is no longer the easiest, most effective, or even the most economical method for testing new product. So why do so many companies still use it?

"scientists have developed sophisticated product tests that are faster, cheaper, and far more accurate than blinding and poisoning tests, which were developed in the 1920s. Human cell cultures and tissue studies (in vitro tests) and artificial human “skin” and “eyes” mimic the body’s natural properties, and a number of computer virtual organs serve as accurate models of human body parts."
Originally posted @ http://www.caringconsumer.com/info_consumers.asp

Burt's Bees Pomegranate Night Cream

As you may already know, Burt’s Bees does not test their products on animals, hurray! Unfortunately, their parent company does engage in animal testing. I bought their pomegranate night cream a few months ago (sadly it is one of the few products that I currently have that was not tested on animals). I didn’t use it much for a while because it is very sticky and doesn’t seem to absorb well.

However since it is not tested on animals, I thought I would make a greater effort to use it consistently to see how I liked it after long term use. I have been using it every night for about three weeks, and I have to say I am not a big fan of this cream. It is very sticky as I mentioned before. On first application, it is sticky to the touch. I mean sticky! In the morning, I don’t notice it, but I have a feeling it is just getting rubbed off onto my pillow, and not into my skin.

Also I think it may be causing some mild skin irritation. Pomegranate is reputed to have regenerative benefits for your skin, however I have not personally noticed any improvement from this product. Additionally, it has an odd smell, kind of sweet and pungent, of which I am not a fan. Anyway, to make a long story short, I will be looking for an different, cruelty free, night cream.

Do you have a favorite cruelty free night cream? I am looking for something fairly moisturizing, but not greasy. Let me know what products you love!

Making an Effort

Hi All,

I have just started moving into the wide world of cruelty free living, in large part motivated by my lovely and passionate friend K. I love animals, and I am rather ashamed to admit that I have gone all these years without really being conscious of the hideous way that animals are treated to make that products that we use everyday. The animal testing industry as well as factory farming leave animals in misery and are completely unnecessary.

I think that I have buried my head in the sand about this issue partly because it seems so overwhelming, but it is important for each of us to do what we can. Apathy is a dangerous emotion. Also I feel that it is important, at least for me, to take this one step at a time. As a starving student, I am financially unable to throw away all of my cruel products and start from scratch, which is what I would really like to do right now. So I am biding my time, doing research, and looking for places where I can pinch a few pennies as well as support ethical treatment of animals.

As this is my very first post I don't have to much information to share here, but I hope that this can be a forum for trying products/companies that treat animals humanly, as well as sharing tips, recipes, and any other efforts that make the lives of animals just a little bit better. If any of you have any ideas I welcome any input.

Thanks for reading!