Animal protection
Annually in Britain, over 3 million animals are used in experiments. They are poisoned, scalded, infected with diseases, crippled, blinded, starved and brain damaged, all for scientific purposes. Every year, there are 850 million animals slaughtered for food. Most of these animals are farmed intensively, never breathing fresh air or seeing daylight. They are highly susceptible to disease and antibiotics are used routinely to suppress infection and promote growth. Their needs are ignored in the pursuit of profit.
Animals are capable of feeling physical pain and mental distress: they deserve to be treated with respect, and protected from cruelty. However, today in Britian, their habitats are increasingly under threat, they are still used for ‘entertainment' in circuses and zoos, and they are hunted for ‘sport'.
The Green Party believes that animals have the right to live in safety, without fear or pain caused by human exploitation. We seek a more peaceful world, where all life is respected and all cruelty challenged.
The Green Party would:
• End all animal experiments, replacing them with more reliable non-animal alternatives.
• End factory farming, stop promoting factory farming abroad and encourage a reduction in meat consumption. We would also ban live exports, and the genetic treatment of animals.
• Protect habitats, ban bloodsports and end badger culling. We would ban the use of animals in circuses.
Don't we need animal experiments to develop new cures and medicines?
Experiments on animals are unreliable as a guide to human biology. Different species react differently to drugs and toxic substances. Many drugs that cause damaging side-effects in people have passed animal tests. There are viable alternatives to animal testing including epidemiology, the use of cell cultures, human tissue and computer simulation. The Green Party would redirect research funding to such alternatives.
We are not associated with groups using violence to promote animal rights. We campaign for a fairer world, where everyone is treated with respect. We are opposed to the use of violence or intimidation for any cause. We support non-violent direct action, and work with those groups using peaceful methods to publicise animal cruelty.
