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 get inside, their actions seem both commendable and brave. It’s understandable enough that they not only want to rescue the animals but want to film what they see and show it. But people don’t like to look, they don’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 being altruistically determined 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 going to be tortured and sacrificed in the process. That’s where good intention steps over into madness. The scientist is dishonest too, when they talk about their ‘work with animals’, as if they have some sort of cooperation, where 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 animal rescuers and praise the vivisectors. By giving them the go ahead to use anything (including animals) to fight disease, vivisectors can satisfy their insatiable need, that people with clever minds have, to win good reputation for their work, whilst hiding details of what that work involves. Details of experiments are not published. Animal laboratories are closed to public scrutiny. And these days the public are not allowed entry into intensive farms or abattoirs. 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.