Behind closed doors

Some activists break into vivisection laboratories to rescue the animals there. Judging by what they have to do to get in and what they find when they do get inside, their actions seem both commendable and brave. It’s understandable that they not only want to rescue the animals but want to film what they see there. But the general public doesn’t want to know. Our society gives tacit approval for what goes on in these places because, for selfish reasons, people have been led to believe scientists will discover cures for major diseases through animal research. The public like to think of vivisectors as being altruistically driven to rid the world of the scourge of disease, and some may be doing just that. But it can never be justified if innocent creatures are involved. If animals are going to be tortured and sacrificed in the process then any good intention morphs into madness. The scientist talks about their ‘work with animals’, as if they have some sort of cooperation from them, as if the animals are voluntarily putting themselves forward for testing, in their zeal to help the human race with their problems.
If the public are sold on the idea that pharmaceutical safety must involve animal testing, then it is no surprise that they condemn the activist’s direct action and condone what vivisectors do. By giving them the go ahead to use anything (including animals) to fight disease, vivisectors win public approval and lessen any moral constraint on what they do. Details of experiments are very difficult to get hold of. Animal laboratories are closed to the public. And these days the public are not allowed entry into intensive farms or abattoirs either. Obviously in these places there is so much to hide.
It’s not hard to see why animal rights activists get annoyed at the lack of support from the public. Whether it’s the cruelty of farmers or scientists, the need for the liberation of animals still hasn’t registered in most people’s minds. It is infuriating when people don’t respond to the stories they hear about animal treatment, whether in abattoirs or farms or in animal research centres. Their indifference makes them appear both hard hearted and selfish. And worse still, it makes them pretend that nothing bad is happening there.