Introduction

We have talked about the ecological label – cruelty free, which is related to anti animal testing, in the last blog. In this blog, we are going to further expand the topic of anti animal testing to animal right and business ethics. As this topic is so broad that we can’t analyze all the voice of animal right from both advocates and defenders, we are going to use Mars, one of the most successful global brands from US, as an example to get a deeper insight.

What is Ethical Dilemma?

A dilemma is a problem offering at least two solutions or possibilities, of which none are practically acceptable; one in this position has been traditionally described as "being on the horns of a dilemma", neither horn being comfortable; or "being between a rock and a hard place", since both objects or metaphorical choices being rough. (Wikipedia)

Doug Wallace, Twin Cities-based consultant, explains that one knows when they have a significant ethical conflict when there is a presence of

(a) Significant value conflicts among different interests,

(b) Real alternatives that are equally justifiable,

(c) Significant consequences on “stakeholders” in the situation. (1)

Simply put, ethics involves learning what is right or wrong, and then doing the right thing – but “the right thing” is not nearly as straightforward as conveyed in a great deal of business ethics literature. (2)

What is the Dilemma of Animal Right?

l From the advocates of animal right:

Animals should have their own right since they are valuable life as we are. They can feel painful as we do. They should not be killed or treated cruelly for human’s own benefits without their consent.

l From the defenders of animals right:

Human is the “superanimal”. We can have the control over the other living things. Defenders of animal rights believe that fixed ethical rules place limits on our treatment of animals: there are some things that we are not permitted to do to an animal whatever the circumstances.

Here are some figures that show us how popular of using animals.

Distribution of the purposes for animal use

Distribution of vertebrate animal species used for research, testing and education

Development of animal use in the 20th century

Reference: http://www.nature.com/gt/journal/v11/n1s/full/3302371a.html

Is it ethical for business to use animals to make profits? The Mars case may help us to think!!!

What did Mars do to Animal?

Mars, Incorporated is one of the largest food manufacturers in the world and operates in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience.

We believe that many people in the world, even in Hong Kong, have tried at least one of its products. It is famous and popular in the world. However, animal right advocates are claiming that Mars is using animals, mainly rats and rabbits, as the testers of its products’ ingredients.

The most recent claim was -- Mars funded a deadly experiment on rats to determine the effects of chocolate ingredients on their blood vessels. Experimenters force-fed the rats by shoving plastic tubes down their throats and then cut open the rats' legs to expose an artery, which was clamped shut to block blood flow. After the experiment, the animals were killed. Mars has also funded cruel experiments in which mice were fed a candy ingredient and forced to swim in a pool of a water mixed with white paint. The mice had to find a hidden platform to avoid drowning, only to be killed and dissected later on. In yet another experiment supported by Mars, rats were fed cocoa and anesthetized with carbon dioxide so that their blood could be collected by injecting a needle directly into their hearts, which can lead to internal bleeding and other deadly complications.

We may know more the animal experiments of Mars here:

http://www.marscandykills.com/experiments.asp

Mars= Unethical or ethical?

Ethics is a human invention, designed for our needs and purposes. In the animal world such a notion does not exist. Since we are much advanced than the animals do, we are able to control them without asking for their willingness?

According to the United Nations, people can’t be killed, exploited, cruelly treated, intimidated, or imprisoned without good reason. That is, people should have their right to live in peace.

Also, the United Nations has clearly stated that basic rights apply to everyone. It is because we should all be able to experience our own life regardless of our differences. Our value as individuals arises from this capacity to experience life, not because of any intelligence or usefulness to others. Every person has an inherent value, and deserves to be treated with respect in order to make the most of their unique life experience.

There is no doubt that animals experience a life. Like us, animals can feel pain and fear, but also excitement and satisfaction. Close contact with animals shows that they look forward to some events, and can clearly get a lot of enjoyment from their lives, like eating favourite food, or interacting with others.

It is no doubt that animals don't have the same abilities as us. They can't talk, write or drive. But can we say that humans who can’t do these things have no value and no rights? Of course not!!! It is because those people still experience a life. We don't ask how intelligent a person is before we decide whether to eat them or experiment on them. It is exactly the same as the ways we treat animals. We are different, but we are both experiencing our life.

If human should be respected, animals should be respected as well. It is because both of us have inherent value. So not only people can’t be killed, exploited, cruelly treated, intimidated, or imprisoned without good reason, but also the animals can’t be treated like that.

Since people think that animals have their right to live as human do, there are many people say that Mars is unethical to do these kinds of cruel experiments. They love chocolate but hate buying from a murderer. They believe better tests can be made, even not so harmful to animals. They will stop buying from Mars until it gives up using animals in its product tests.

There is an anti-Mars video:

However, on the other hand, people who are against animal right claim that human is the “superanimal” who can control everything as human can “think” but animals can’t. We can decide what can benefit to the world but what can’t.

Some of the ethical issues about animals are whether we should eat them, should we kill them to use their fur, or should we use them as subjects for experiments? The defenders think that it is impossible to stop using animals, especially in the poor and developing countries. People in poor countries have to kill or use animals to survive, for example, animals can be their food, can help farming or animal skin can be used to make clothes. In poor countries, animal is the basic of survival. If people there treat animal right same as the human right, all people there die.

What about in the more developed countries? There are groups who worry about protecting the rights of animals only in the rich countries as they are able to produce substitutes to replace using animals. However, even the people there can find substitutes of animals, they can avoid using animals in all situation, such as people still need to kill animals for food. It is nothing wrong to eat something that is under human’s level in the food chain. It is ok for human to eat animals which just like it is ok for a tiger to eat the other weaker animals.

Also, there are many benefits of using animals to do science research, like,

1. Medical research using animals has prolonged the lives of millions of people.

2. Improving the health and welfare of entertainment, recreational, sport, and service animals, and of animals used to provide therapeutic support.

3. Improving the health, welfare and productivity of farm animals and other production animals.

4. Finding better ways to preserve, protect and manage a range of animal species to maintain a balance that is ecologically stable and well adapted to the environment.

5. Developing more humane and effective pest control methods to protect endangered animals and plants from the species that threatens them and to prevent damage to the environment.

6. Broadening the foundations of biological science, including our knowledge and understanding of life processes in all animal species.

(http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/humane/benefit.html)

So people think that Mars is ethical since it uses animals in research or in other fields because they just make decision by using the utilitarian approach. (A utilitarian approach is making ethical decision focuses on taking the action that will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people.) (3) We want to ensure the well-being of the “superanimals” and keep the world developing. If human is the first priority in the world, then animals, which are in the lower priority, should be scarified.

Assumption on human nature

So is Mars ethical or not? Do we need to maintain animal right in order to be ethical? We may make the assumption on human nature before giving out our own opinion of the dilemma.

Thousand years ago, there was a famous educator in China—Mencius (孟子) claimed that moral is the main difference between human and animals. Human, are born to be moral. Here, we assume that human are born to be basically moral, whereas basically moral, but not completely moral, means people are moral in general situation, but we will become less moral or even immoral when necessary.

If you are interested in the views of Mencius in details, you may click:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/mencius/#3

http://www.iep.utm.edu/mencius/#H5

What is the position of United Nations take?

Since we assume human are basically moral, so we assume human perform ethically in many kinds of situation. But, in order to survive, we are flexible to change when we need. That is, we will treat animals fairly and kindly, we will let them have the basic right as we do; but we will give up being moral if our well-being and life are going to be negatively affected.

Whether we are from the developed or developing country, we know that animals are experiencing their valuable life as human do. If we can find possible alternatives to replaces using animal right, we are willing to protect the right of animals. For example, if there is farming machine for a farmer in a poor country, he would rather use the machine rather than a cow. (It is an alternative but not a possible alternative, since the poor farmer may not be able to buy an expensive machine.)

So what about Mars? Base on our assumption, Mars is also basically moral. There are five principles that Mars use as the fundamental of the business. They are

1. Quality

2. Responsibility

3. Mutuality

4. Efficiency

5. Freedom

(http://www.mars.com/global/who-we-are/the-five-principles.aspx)

The mutuality means is about how to create shared benefit to both Mars and the other stakeholders. So we can see that Mars is not immoral. It does not only care of it own benefit, but also care about the society.

Moreover, there are many ethical programmes which are held by Mars. The programmes focus on the sustainable development of different aspects, like natural environment, developing countries, children, and of course, animals. We may know the details of its ethical programmes here:

http://www.mars.com/global/commitments.aspx.

If Mars is unethical and immoral, will it does so many ethical programmes for the world? Some may say what Mars does is only one of the ways to market itself and to promote its ethical image. It is because “a company’s reputation today goes beyond products, services and financial performance.” “Organizations face increasingly higher expectations from the general public across the different aspects of their business.” (4) Ok, let’s assume Mars put so much effort on the ethical programmes because it is part of its marketing strategies. Then there is a question that why does it use animals for testing? This will absolutely destroy the effort and resources it spent on the ethical marketing strategies. Mars can be a global company as it has global business sense in this extremely competitive world food industry. Will it do something so stupid that can totally damage its healthy image if there are other possible alternatives but not using animals?

Let’s back to our dilemma of animal right. We, United Nations, do agree that we should try to protect the animals and we should treat animals with humanity. But our question is to what extent we should take care of the animal right. We can’t all to be vegetarians because we don’t want to kill animals. We can use animals within a clear and universal set of ethical guidelines. Using animals need not be inhumane if we avoid cruelty. Therefore, we would advocate animal welfare instead of animal right.

Animal welfare is to ensure the humane treatment of animals like a local humane animal shelter; whereas, animal rights is to seek equal rights for animals with humans to prevent people from using or owning animals in any way. For example, Mars can use animals for testing if it can provide the proper care and management for all animals involved and follow the code of ethic.

To be honest, it is impossible for us to treat animals as equal as we do to human. For example, we can imprison a person who kills the other person; but we can’t imprison a cat which kills the other cat. We do think that what we should try our best to take care of the animals’ well being and respect their life, but not treat them as human.

Approaches to Ethical Decision Making

On the customers’ aspect, there is increasing number of people assert that businesses are making profit from using their countries’ and the world’s resources these businesses owe their countries and world to work to improve society. (5)

On the business’ aspect, executives rank reputation as a top driver behind their commitment to corporate citizenship. (4)

As the importance of reputation and business ethic is increasing, we are now discuss four methods of making ethical decision which are from the Frank’s reference article (3). None of them are suitable for everyone, you just need to choose your most preferred one. We hope you can make a decision that is right for you by considering these four approaches. Here, we may also use Mars as example to see how Mars can be more ethical under different approaches.

1. Utilitarian

The utilitarian approach to ethical decision making focuses on taking the action that will result in the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

Apply to Mars’ Case: Whether Mars adopts using animal or other scientific methods in its researches and tests depends on the number of people can be benefited. If using animal is the best way that can ensure the health of greatest number of its customers; if using animals is so benefit that is good for most of its stakeholders, then Mars will use it.

2. Moral rights

The moral rights approach concerns itself with moral principles, regardless of the consequences. Under this view, some actions are simply considered to be right or wrong.

Apply to Mars’ Case: If using animal is immoral, all the other reasons that tell Mars should use animals are not enough to persuade Mars to adopt to use animals for business purpose.

3. Universalism

The universalism approach to ethical decision making is similar to the Golden Rule. This approach has two steps.

1. You determine whether a particular action should apply to all people under all circumstances.
2. You determine whether you would be willing to have someone else apply the rules to you.

Apply to Mars’ Case: Mars would think if using animals is right for Mars and everyone. Will someone be justified if he or she use animals, while Mars stands form the point of view of the group that support animal right. Under this approach, Mars won’t use animals since this issue is not right to everyone.

4. Cost-benefit

Under cost-benefit approach, you balance the costs and benefits of taking versus not taking a particular action. If the cost is greater of not taking, you will take it.

Apply to Mars’ Case: Under this approach, Mars will make decision after calculating the cost and benefits of both practices. Mars will choose the one that provides more benefits. In this case, Mars may think about how much profit will lose because of the reduction in the number of customers due to keeps on using animals. And compare this loss with the benefits it get from animals testing.

Influence on Hong Kong and Chinese Culture

Mars is one of the successful global brands from US. Executive VP Humane Society of the United States; Past President, Fund for Animals; Board member Institute for Animals and Society: "..your everyday meat-eaters and cosmetics users; they are not vivisectors, they are not slaughterhouse operators, and they have basic feelings of compassion. But they are accustomed to eating, wearing, and using animal products, and they need to be convinced to give them up. They can be won over lowly but surely they are being won over?"

In the development of their snackfood and human food and drink products, as well as their products for dogs, cats, birds and horses, they do not undertake, support or sponsor research that harms animals. The action of Mars brings influence to other global brands.

As we know, the main industry and income source of China is agriculture. People use animals to help them farming and animals are the main dishes of their meal. No one have the ideas of animal are valuable life as human. But some developed countries such as United States are value the concept of animals right. Since China is now being a developing country, so they become aware of the concept of animals right. For example, in Hong Kong, there are some organizations that protect animal rights. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was first formed by a group of volunteers. Animals are living creatures which like humans, are able to feel pain, hunger and thirst. We should not inflict any suffering upon our fellow creatures just because they can't speak. Their aims are "to promote kindness and to prevent or suppress cruelty to animals. Our mission through the millennium is "To promote kindness to animals, to protect their health and welfare, to prevent cruelty and through education, to inspire in the community a deep respect for life so that all living creatures may live together in harmony."

Also, there is a Hong Kong Animal Adoption Centre which formed by a group of animal lovers. In the past, they have saved animals and have arranged to have them staying in different warm and loving foster homes, giving the abused and abandoned animals a chance to get proper treatment, have them desexed before putting their pictures up in different pet websites for the purpose of having them adopted.

Also, for the part of identity, some people may think that human beings are super animals because we can think and do lots of things that animals can’t do. So we are superior to animals and able to control them. They are not supporting to the ideas of animal rights. But in the western countries, people think that all people are equal and should enjoy same rights such as Male and Female. Also, they think that animal should deserve rights as human because we are all valuable life. This idea begins to affect us because Hong Kong is an international city that integrated with western culture.

Moreover, “some research shows that the general public tends to rate makers of consumer products, computers and beverages higher along social dimensions. Industries that fall below the global average include banking, finance, oil and gas, utilities and telecommunications. Reputation Institute, which measures corporate reputation in more than 25 countries annually, notes that the U.S. public put a higher premium on ethics and governance practices.”(4) It showed that the general public also aware of the ethical issues. Undeniably, protecting animal right in products is part of the marketing strategies. For example, Mars’s products also emphasis on protect the animals. It can help the company to build a position reputation. This business culture also brings influence to companies in China and Hong Kong. “In China, the government and consumers are the only two external stakeholders seriously influencing corporate responsibility efforts.” (6) Since consumers are one of the stakeholders in China, the products of company will change according to the preference of consumers. For example, Haier is a famous brand in China and they become aware of ethical issues that help their company to build positive image. It showed that this business culture of western countries also brings influence to China and Hong Kong.

Besides, there is an International Animal Rights Day (IARD)-10th December. The goal of this historic campaign is to build on the recognition of human rights, and persuade humanity that kindness and respect is due to all sentient creatures. The Universal Declaration of Animal Rights - that animals have a right to life free from deliberately inflicted pain, suffering, exploitation and death - has been signed by large and small organizations representing hundreds of thousands of people in: the UK, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the USA. The concept of animal rights has permeated into culture of different countries. It can facilities the intercultural communication.

Suggestion

We got some suggestions for all parties to improve the dilemma of animal right. All suggestions base on the assumption that people are basically moral.

Government

People are moral when they have possible alternatives of being moral. So government can

1. Educate public that there are many others choices to avoid using animals. Also, educate public that what is ethical and unethical. Since human are basically moral, we will avoid doing something that we know that it is unethical.

2. Set up clear guidelines and law for public and businesses, so that everyone is clear what can do and what can’t do. Law and guideline can limit human’s behaviors, our choice of being unethical is limited, on the other hand, our choice of being ethical is relatively more. So there is a greater chance for human to act morally.

3. Should treat animal cruelty to be a more serious crime with heavier punishment and penalty in order to let every one of us to know that it is not correct to abuse animal.

4. Hold more activities about protection of animal. It is hoped that by educating the students at their tender age would prevent them from abusing animal in the future. For example, government sponsors partial transportation or entrance fee for secondary and primary schools to organize some field trips for visiting Hong Kong animals. I can suggest three places that are worth a visit. First one is Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens which is located on the northern slope of Victoria Peak. Second is Reptile House in Tuen Mun Park. Third is Wetland Park in Tin Shui Wai. It can provide a trip for students from Hong Kong Island to News Territories. Entering to Wetland Park need to pay entrance fee, but it is exactly worth paying that. It is because different species of birds of passage regularly stay at the Wetland Park sometimes. Students go there can recognize more about animals’ living. I realize that students would raise concern if they gain their own experience by themselves and recognize further information of animals. It can be lesser harm animals, but love them.

Organization

1. Provide training to the staff. The ethics programme is essentially useless unless all staff members are trained about what it is, how it works and their roles in it. (7)

2. Set up code of conduct to the employees.

3. Private companies can raise the popularity by sponsoring these activities.

Customers

1. People should let the businesses know what they think, express what they need and what they want to the businesses. Since businesses are willing to follow and fulfill customers’ desire. They may write letter, send E-mail, or even group together when most of them do not satisfy about the company’s policy.

Reference from Frank

(1) Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers – Ethics Tools: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas

(2) Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers – What is Business Ethics?

(3) Articles: Business Ethics: Approach to Ethical Decision Making

(4) Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

(5) Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers –Business Ethics is Now a Management Discipline

(6) Article from BSR

(7) Complete Guide to Ethics Management: An Ethics Toolkit for Managers – Ethics Tools:Training

Other Reference

(1) http://www-hsc.usc.edu/~mbernste/ethics.treatmentofanimals.html

(2)http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/413276/the_use_of_animals_for_medical_research.html?cat=53

(3) http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ANZCCART/humane/benefit.html

(4) http://www.swaebr.org/Essay/1997/Phx97-win.htm#The%20Benefits%20of%20Using%20Animals%20In%20Medical%20Research

(5) http://www.cfact.org/a/370/Crucial-difference-in-animal-welfare-and-rights

Thanks for you guys comment on blog 3

Firstly, I am appreciated all visitors provided useful opinions on our blog.

After I read the comments, so many visitors start to concern animal rights and consider the value of animals in the world. I am so glad that you guys have an new insight on animal testing and this is what we want to do indeed. It takes a considerably long period of time to inculcate more knowledge of animal testing into our minds. Even though we are human being, we no need to concern other lives around the world. However, some visitors said it is an unethical issue. We need to keep and save animals although those animals that use on testing are minority of animals. Your opinions encourage us to have further thinking that as human being, we have responsibility of saving the lives in the world.

Secondly, I want to say that our blog is really educated. Thanks Gaargi give this comment. From your point of view, you said our blog is boring ... may be it is really boring for you. We will create a more funny blog next time.

Finally, we are also appreciated visitors have so many positive comments on our video. It is really encourage us to do better.

Hope to see all guys keeping commenting on our blog.

Cruelty Free

Background:

According to Mitch Baranowski, founding partner of BBMG, ‘‘trustmarks help ensure companies follow best practices by setting clear and transparent standards. They serve as important proof points for overall brand messages and stories. And they can provide an objective, third-party stamp of approval that demonstrates how companies are following through on their social and environmental claims.”
(reference reading: http://greenercomputing.com/print/27787print/27787)

Actually, the ecology label acts as signals that transitted the promotion messages to the consumers. For example, the label of ‘recyclable’ promote the message of eco-awareness. Also, it acts as the clear stardand for the company to follow, like the label of ‘Cruelty free’, the products of the companies that having this label cannot use animals testing.

Nowadays, many people are unaware of the ideas of animals testing. They are unaware that hundreds of thousands of animals across the world still endure painful experiments to test cosmetics, toiletries, household products and their ingredients. This label – Go Cruelty Free aims to drive animal testing out of the cosmetics and household products industries altogether.



Social cause:

In fact, many companies such as Loreal and Max Factor use animal laboratory testing to test their porducts. The purpose of the testing is to test the safety of the ingredients of the products to human beings. But the testing cause pain or even death to the animals. Animal testing includes mices, rabbits, monkeys, dogs, etc. The procedures of animal testing are painful and cruel but they did it without any anesthesia. For instance, they would drop chemical corrosive substances to the eye of rabbits. This may cause bleeding and even blindness to the rabbits. Animals are innocent but they have no chance to resist.

From the findings, it showed that the Lethal Dosages tests are fatal to the animals. In these test, animals are forced to consume poisonous substances through inhalers, injection, or stomach tubes until 50% of them die. Other reactions to the tests include vomiting, skin eruptions, convulsions, paralysis, and bleeding from the eyes, nose, or mouth. The amount of substance will kill most of the animals. It is really unethical and inhumane to the animals.



Actually, there are many other testing methods that are more reliable and less expensive. For example, we can use computer and mathematical methods on human genes or Neutral Red Uptake Test. Also, the manufacturers can use the ingredients that have been use for a long time, and likely to be safe. The European Union has already gone cruelty-free since March 11, 2009 by banning animal testing for cosmetics and the sale of cosmetics that used animal testing. It is because many companies realized that the European abhor the idea of animals testing. So the company would present their product consistent to the intention of consumers.

How it works?

“Cruelty free” is promoting the message of anti-animal testing. This logo appears on the comestic and household products that the ingredients are not animal testing. The use of this label can ensure the consumers to easily identify the products as cruelty free. The Co-operative Group is working in partnership with the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) to drive animal testing out of the household products industry. There are schemes which called the Humane Cosmetics Standard (HCS) and the Humane Household Products Standard (HHPS) to prove that the companies are no longer conducts animals testing for their cosmetics and toiletries products. It sets a clear standard for the companies to follow.

Impacts:

The “Go Cruelty Free” label can promote the message of anti-animals testing. Animals are valuable life same as human beings. They should have the right to live. The promotion of anti-animals testing can develop the right value that treating animals with respect deserve our attention. ‘Animals should be treated humanely because they are living breathing just as we are,’ by Carl Riseley from Australian Idol. It can draw the attention from people that all over the world to concern this issue. Besides, it can persuade the consumers to buy cruelty free products such as naturally produced organic skincare products. We can help the animals and save their lives simply by doing this. So we take action without hesitation.

Video message

Here is the link of our video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3dfa17hGSY

Choosing non-animal testing or organic products
There are many products in market without animal testing, such as those from The Body Shop, Decleor, H2O plus and so on. These products normally use organic and natural materials as ingredients. However, it is only a part of the rest of products around the world that so many companies and brand names still use animals to test their products. Our Video shows that how animals are ill-treated by human being. In order to help animals not to be tested, first step we have to do which is to stop choosing products with animal testing. No matter how effective it is or how successful of changing the decision of unethical companies, we basically take a little step forward that is better than none. Actually, Hong Kong people have awareness of using and buying organic products, but the reason behind using this kind of organic products is the consideration on whether it is healthy or not. I confidently say that almost all of the Hong Kong people have no idea of cruelty-free label and even non-animal testing products. It is time to waken Hong Kong people that animals suffer and get hurt seriously.
Choosing organic products as substitution of animal testing products have so many benefits. More importantly, we save million of thousands of animals’ life. As we mentioned in the video, both human being and animals’ life are valuable. We need to cherish any movable organism in the earth.

Why are organic alternatives more expensive?

1. To believe organic product is conducive to good health

Organic food is better for you and your family. It contains more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and taste than intensively farmed produce. It is also free from enzymes and taste than intensively farmed produce. It is also free from insecticides, pesticides, flavorings, colorings, fertilizers and so on. Because of the need of consumers, retailers charge a higher price on organic product.

2. Non-mass production

Another reason why organic food is expensive to buy than intensively farmed food is that chemical ingredients, such as pesticides and fertilizers are designed to make food cheaper to produce. The chemical designers’ remit was to make mass production of food cheaper.

3. Maintain livelihood of farmers

Because of less chemical ingredients, farmers have to pay much more money on eliminate pests and time on growing a field of crop without fertilizers. As intensively farmed produce with fertilizers use lesser time than organic produce, the longer growing season of organic produce cause lesser harvest. Therefore, farmers have to raise price to maintain cost of daily lives. Otherwise, lowering prices could threaten the livelihood of the farmers.

4. True costs on organic foods

It has an ethical responsibility to sell organic foods for their true costs. The real cost of organic production which is generally smaller scale and more labor intensive, sometimes with smaller crop yields. Farmers also have to convert their land to organic production over a period of time, and as organic farming relies on crop rotation, almost 25 percent of land probably is left to lie fallow at any one time to increase natural soil fertility.

Concerning animal rights and increase awareness of cruelty-free
Video shows that animals are controlled by human beings. They have no choice when they are caught and selected. In Hong Kong, society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA) has been established. In fact, this organization concerns animal and help save animals, such as animals rescue, veterinary clinics, animals training, desexing animals and so on. Even though SPCA mentions about cruelty at animals in official website, but the animals that SPCA concerns are ill-treated by their owners, it is not related to animal testing. The animals are caught to be tested by strangers are not concerned by SPCA. Therefore, it is obviously not enough and unrelated to animal testing. In Japan, there is an organization specially concerns on anti-animal testing, like JAVA. Unfortunately, we can’t find any organization or activities that are related to anti-animal testing. As a Hong Kong people, I suggest that SPCA create similar department to encourage people not to use products with animal testing. Our video hope to provide an insight on increasing awareness of cruelty-free in the mind of Hong Kong people.

The attitude of a animal lover towards animals is in start contrast with that of a non-animal lover in Hong Kong. Some treat their animal as beloved, like a new-born baby or affiliate. They bring their pets outside everyday, even some crazier animal lovers put their beloved pets in pram. It is absolutely true!!! It is common that Hong Kong people own pets instead of having babies nowadays and put pets in pram like a baby. Oh my god !!! I must realize they are crazy and abnormal but as the view of an animal lovers, they realize that it is an expression of love. Some only treat animals are less valuable than human being, like me. There is no other animals other human being which can supersedes the position of human being because we possess wiseness, culture and thinking.

Emphasizing on inner beauty
Basically, it is impossible to require Hong Kong girls to give up using cosmetic products as almost all of the girls rely on cosmetic when they work, go to school and shopping. Our video suggests female no need to give up any cosmetic products, on the contrary, they should be vigilant when choosing cosmetics. Actually, both females and all human beings need to take responsibility for choosing non-animal testing products. It is because household products use animals to test their products as well, such as shampoo. Therefore, our video mainly focuses not only on raising the concern of female but also people coming from all walks of life. I want to say that inner beauty is the most important.

Rhetorical strategies
In order to rise awareness of cruelty-free in Hong Kong, we have to do promotion to let people have further ideas of what cruelty free is. When we start to do this project, we and other students actually have no idea about the use of animal testing before cosmetic and even household products are on sale. Therefore, minority of residents in Hong Kong know the label of cruelty-free. We have some ideas of promoting cruelty-free that focus on consumers, teenagers and students.

Focus on consumers
To hold an activity of making DIY soap in supermarkets regularly, such as wellcome and ParkNshop that attracts attention of consumers. When they want to buy cosmetic and household products, they would consider whether choosing organic products or not. Making DIY soap by using organic materials is an example of using non-animal testing product. Teaching consumers how to make their own soap can prevent them from buying animal testing products. Moreover, it is able to raise awareness of consumers that to stick a small notification near to goods shelves providing information as reference to consumers for selecting cosmetic products.

Focus on teenagers
Also, to hold a drama in Mong Kok which is a crowd shopping places in Hong Kong every day. Peoples play a role of animals that are treated brutally. Pictures and actions are more easily to raise awareness rather than using millions of articles as they transmit message directly. Also, it is because there are so many different Hong Kong people, especially teenagers go to Mong Kok in a day. Message of awareness of cruelty-free can be transmitted faster. Besides, we can cooperate with non-profit organization, such as YMCA of Hong Kong and BGCA of Hong Kong. Both the above non-profit organizations are famous in Hong Kong that specially provides service for teenagers. To cooperate with popular local non-profit organization, we can provide further information of animal rights for children and teach them how to protect and cherish animals through mini-game and visitation. For example, showing both normal and lovely animal pictures and animals who suffer from animal testing photos to them and organize a field trip to visit society for the prevention of cruelty to animals (SPCA). All we need to do is to provide a concept to children and teenagers to let them know household and cosmetic products around them are tested by ill-treating animals in the world.

Focus on students
In university, we can cooperate with student union of eight universities, such as HKU, CUHK and so on to transmit message of cruelty-free toward students. We can organize an exhibition to show pictures or videos of animal testing and provide a list of companies or brand name using animals to test their products in universities. Through showing pictures, majority of students understand that what cosmetic and household is still using animals testing. In secondary schools, we can provide a seminar of introducing cruelty-free or the concept of animal testing to students. I think it surely can be accepted by the principal as it is a good topic of Liberal Studies. As the education system of secondary school is changed soon, Liberal Studies is a obligatory subject in the future. Moreover, as Hong Kong children will enjoy free-education for twelve years instead of previous nine years of free education, it is a good chance for transmitting awareness of cruelty-free to students. We should grab this golden opportunity to promote cruelty-free to students. Regardless of universities or secondary students, both are potential consumers in the future. Therefore, we have to provide information to students when they are still young.

Altruism is…
1. Loving others as oneself.
2. Behaviour that promotes the survival chances of others at a cost to ones own.
3. Self- sacrifice of the benefit of others.
(Refer to the article that from Dr. Kuo Frank Yu: What is Altruism?)

Motivation is…
The activation or energization of goal-oriented behavior. Motivation may be internal or external. (Wikipedia)

Are you willing to be the Altruist? It is not an easy question to answer as you may think how much you have to scarify if you say yes. We know that you will give help if you are motivated. We know because we are human as well. It is not selfish; it is part of human being. After watching our video and reading our blog, we believe you want to give some help to the animals, but the problem is how much you have to give and are you able to give. To be honest, you may loss a few but the animal will have much a better life. Trust us, everyone is able to protect the animals with a little of scarified.

Alternative to animals testing
Besides using animals for testing, there are many alternatives so that we can still enjoy the safe products but without harming the animals. It is a win-win situation, we can protect the animals but scarcity less.

1. Alternative irritancy tests

Many different in vitro (test tube) systems have been suggested as alternatives to animal irritancy tests. The following are only a few examples.

Eytex™
1. This test for eye irritancy uses a vegetable valign="top" protein extracted from jack beans.

2. In the Eytex test, the degree of cloudiness ("damage") can be measured by a machine, a spectrophotometer, which is much more reliable.

Reconstructed human epidermis
1. This is a multi-layered human skin grown in the laboratory, which can be used to test skin irritancy.

2. There are various ways of measuring damage when an irritating product is applied to this test skin. For example, cells can be examined under the microscope.

3. Whatever method is used, the result can be measured accurately, unlike in animal studies where observers estimate the degree of swelling or redness.

Corneal cell lines
1. The SIRC is a continuous cell line of rabbit corneal cells. These are cells that are now grown in the laboratory, and no further rabbits are killed.

2. One problem with using cells from human corneas has been that these cells don't live for very long. Now researchers have found a way of not only increasing the number of these cells, but also extending their life span so that they can be studied in more detail.

3. Researchers used human corneas from an eye bank to grow the cells. This cell culture can be used not only to study eye irritation, but also wound healing, parasite infection, and radiation damage in the eye.

Neutral Red Uptake Test
1. Normal cells in culture readily absorb and hold this neutral red dye.

2. When the cell membrane, or the lysosomes inside the cell are damaged by an irritating chemical, dye will be lost through the leaky membranes.

3. Less dye will remain in the cell. A spectrophotometer is used to accurately measure how much has been lost.

Agarose Diffusion Test
1. In the Agarose Diffusion Test a small amount of agarose (a seaweed extract) is added to form a gel layer.

2. The substance diffuses through the agarose into the cell culture below.The irritancy of the substance is assessed by measuring the area, in millimetres, of dead cells under the filter paper, that is, cells that have lost their neutral red dye.

Microphysiometer
1. An irritating product will produce changes in the functioning of cells.

2. The microphysiometer is an instrument that detects very small changes in cell metabolism by measuring changes in the pH value of the cell culture nutrient fluid (changes in lactate, CO2 production).

Computer modelling
1. Expert computer systems can be used to predict the irritancy of new substances on the basis of what is already known about the irritancy of substances with a similar chemical structure.

Human studies
1. Some cosmetics companies already use human volunteers to test new formulations.

2. This is the most reliable test of all.

2. Alternative toxicity

For details about alternative toxicity, you may visit this website:
http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/alternatives.html

Human cell cultures have several advantages in predicting toxicity:

1. They are human and so species differences are avoided;

2. They can be taken from the tissue that a particular test chemical is most likely to affect, for example the skin, or the liver;

3. They allow researchers to study how a substance causes damage to the cells, that is, why it is toxic;

4. They avoid causing pain and death to animals.

Reference: http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/alternatives.html

Besides the alternatives of animals testing, there are some other kinds of alternatives.

1. Use organic product. Organic product doesn’t have any chemical ingredients, it won’t have any harmful effect to human.

2. Buy from the brands that against animals testing. The price of these brands are similar to the others. For example, Bobbie Brown Vs Clinique.
Here is a PDF file that show us a full list of the “Good and Bad” companies:

http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf

And one more reference:

http://www.caringconsumer.com/pdfs/companiesDontTest.pdf

“All individuals in society receive a lower payoff if all defected rather than cooperate.”--- According to the article “Motivational complexity of green consumerism”

If you keep on taking destructive actions, you will receive a lower pay off. Actually, we are not really benefited from the animal-testing.

1. Testing on animals only benefits big business
For details, you may click: http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/articles.html

2. Animal testing is not really safe.
There are many drugs that are tested by animals, but they still have many side effects to people. Here are some examples: Amrinone, Birth control pills, Chloramphenicol, and Clioquinol, etc.
For details, you may click: http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/articles.html

In fact, we know that it is difficult to change your habit of using the products that you have used for a long time. As human, we know that it is difficult to ask you to help others at a cost of your own. It is difficult to be an altruist. We understand and we will never blame on it. We only want you to know that you will loss nothing if you are willing to take the first step. Later, the “bad” companies may become a “good” one if you don’t buy from them. Then you can choose them again, right? We want to motivate you by our strategies and we hope that through our strategies, video and our blog, you will know that we are responsible for taking care of the animals. More importantly, you can do that only do a little. You won’t even be affected. Also, you may benefit from this.

1. More safety product. As we said, there are some unsafe products even they pass the animal testing. The alternative methods above are much more reliable actually.
2. Cruelty-Free Products are More Environmentally Friendly. Animal-tested products create unnecessary and harmful environmental waste and pollution.
3. Price is similar to the products that using animal testing

For more details: http://www.livingcrueltyfree.com/benefits-nonanimaltesting
For the price comparison: http://www.healthpricer.com/buy_health_products/buy_cruelty%20free_online/cruelty%20free.html

Let’s to be cruelty free!!!

There are more recommended links:
http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/eternity.html
http://www.animalfreezone.co.uk/understanding-cruelty-free-labelling.html
http://search.caringconsumer.com/
http://www.gocrueltyfree.org/index.php
http://greenercomputing.com/print/27787%20(reference%20reading)
http://misskyou.blogspot.com/2009/09/join-me-in-cruelty-free-shopping.html
http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/index.html

There are 2 related blogs:
http://misskyou.blogspot.com/2009/09/join-me-in-cruelty-free-shopping.html
http://www.blogher.com/animal-testing-whats-your-cabinets