It saddens me that despite our advances in society, we are still living in a world where animal testing still occurs. While some nations are ahead of the game and looking to alterviative non-cruelty measures, here in the UK unethical practices still occur.
Driven by his passion to make a difference, much loved British pop star, Olivier Award nominated actor and committed activist Will Young has sent out a call to action to our nation of animal lovers to sign his petition to bring an end to the atrocious animal testing on dogs.
It's a pleasure to be meeting you virtually. Firstly, congratulations on the momentum that the petition is taking. What has it been like seeing the public really getting behind it?
Yeah, it's great. I mean, it doesn't surprise me because according to stats about 14 million of us in the UK own dogs. I suppose it sort of reaffirms what I thought about the importance of letting people know that, and the extent of animal testing still in this country.
Also, I think about the fact they still test on monkeys, which takes place universities, makes you realize that so much goes on behind closed doors that we don’t know about. There's charities, like the British Heart Foundation, that sanction testing on animals,
So I think it's just important to sort of arm people with the correct information and information based on facts. I think people are genuinely shocked, because I think they people think, as I did, that animal testing doesn't happen anymore. I was shocked by the fact that, there's a puppy farm in Cambridgeshire, that breeds up to 2000 dogs a year to be sent out and tested on.
To be in 2023, and still having to have this discussion about it. How sad does that make you feel?
I suppose it can make me feel quite frustrated. If I think about it, I start to feel sad when I think of the fruitlessness of the testing. Even three months ago AstraZeneca and Pfizer stood up at a World Conference in Toronto and said, they don't want to test on dogs but they have to by law. So you know, even when that's happening, it means that all these dogs are being bled out and tortured.
It's not even that people can say, well, we're finding amazing results and discovering breakthroughs on how to cure diseases. The success rate is less than 10% where animal testing is involved. Whereas non animal testing methods, the new sciences, are so much better, so much more efficient, obviously cruelty free, and so much more focused. So I get probably more frustrated than anything else.
What do you think is standing in the way of people's ignorance where they think, oh, it's only animals, it's gonna cure humans?
I think it's probably just a lack of information. Also people don't like seeing or hearing about cruelty. It’s the same as when you get lots of images of war, you get lots of images of famine, people don't like, they don't have the bandwidth to take it on.
I can understand that, you know, I don't know what's going on in their own lives. So I think ignorance might be too strong a word. I think it's just more a lack of knowing the information and also maybe it's too triggering the idea of this happening to animals, so people just think, ‘Oh, well, they must be doing it for the right reason.’ . If there's anything we've learned though, you don't want to trust this government.
When you were starting to see everyone putting their names forward on to the petition what did it feel like? For example, that very first signature to the signature amount that we're up to now?
What is really exciting to see when it sort of jumps up. Maybe to my detriment, I'm very results driven. I'm already thinking, in my mind, I'm a year ahead already. I don't really celebrate things, so I won't celebrate until there's a ban on testing on dogs because that's one of the goals.
By the way, this company was shut down in America. So people think, ‘oh, America, you know, no human rights. They don't care about human rights or animal rights’. I showed photos from a whistleblower and some of the work to someone in government, and they've done nothing. The photos were awful, excrement all over the floor, puppy rants being killed - this is all fact and they still did nothing about it.
So I will stand outside and pop a bottle of champagne when that farm is shut down! What is outrageous, it's been there for so many decades and that it still exists in this country, it's blows my mind that it still happens.
A lot of people now have the assumption that these types of animal cruelty happen in the east somewhere far away. They don't really think about the West.
How obtuse is that? Also how prejudiced. You know, India's got an amazing record in non animal testing methods - the UK is way behind. Even Canada and New Zealand. America, way better in non animal testing methods. I I think we have rested on our laurels a bit. And sadly, I think under this government all rights have gone out the window.
Under this government, pick a group, migrants, people on the street, animals being tortured, it is almost like playing a game of Top Trumps where everything becomes subject to Suella Braverman’s prejudices. So it's no surprise that this hasn't been focused on. You already have Labor, saying a few weeks ago, they will stop the culling of badgers for TB, and they're looking at alternative ways, and hopefully more efficient ways of stopping TB for farmers. Labour have a much better record in animal welfare.
In your eyes, what is the key to really taking that captive of true accountability?
God! That's a big question. I like it.
I think what you're asking me is, how can you take true accountability, basically, and I presume you're saying that within politics
Within politics, and I guess other people level as well?
Okay, I think this can be both. True accountability is taking self inventory - externally and internally. So how am I acting towards others? How am I speaking towards others? How am I treating others? Then it's how I am treating myself, what are my thoughts in myself etc - that is truly holding yourself to account.
Part of that involves often making amends. We don't see that in politics. People don't like making amends. But it's one of the biggest lessons you teach to your children. When you're a child, there's nothing wrong with saying, sorry. We don't do that. We don't apologize and that's one of the major flaws in politics. Everyone makes mistakes, but in politics, you can't make mistakes. So literally, every politician, most of them set themselves up for a fool. I make mistakes every day.
It's only by recognising that mistake we can learn right?
Yeah, what are you teaching otherwise? The other problem with accountability, I'll specify this in politics, is I went to watch Prime Minister's question time, It was the biggest crock of shit I've ever seen in my life. I was horrified by it. The laughing, the jeering, people on their phones, texting, not even paying attention.
This is meant to be the bastion of democracy in this country. The bullying, the catcalling I was so ashamed to be in that chamber. I thought it was one of the most appalling things I've ever seen in my life. I mean, you could get six year old children behaving better. They should all be ashamed of themselves for that kind of carry on. It's not politics. It's just absolutely absurd. Total buffoonery.
I think it's a deflection from trying to address the real issue.
I mean, listen, you're seeing it in the COVID inquiry, the types of behavior, the toxic behavior is terrible.
So when people have signed a petition, that shouldn't just be the end of it, they should also encourage friends and families and colleagues to pass it on. And we have no excuse, especially in the age of digital, social media, where you can use it to your advantage..
Exactly. It's all about sharing. Look at the products you use not just beauty products but household products too, this matter effects us all.. But you're right in a digital age, you can just share it. I think the power of people knowing about this stuff is how things do get changed.
For anyone who hasn't signed it yet would your call to action be?
If you love animals and you care about humanity, finding proper cures with non animal testing methods then sign the petition.
Sending our admiration and respect to Will. To Read and sign Will’s petition now visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/645885
Article By Thushara Chandrasiri
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