COMMENTARY
M archio , 2004
T he C lackamas P rint • 5
Creature comforts v. medical marvehT
How do you
feel about
animal
testing?
“1 am dead
set against
Charlene
Walton
I believe
animals have
rights too and
have feelings
just as much
as people
Janeah
Kelly
“It’s different
because they
are comparing
animals to
humans. 1
mean, do the
results even
really apply to
humans?”
Jeff
Har rison
“I understand
that animals
have feelings
but if it can
be used to
ease human
suffering, I
think it’s
good.
Jessica
Thompson
“1 feelit’s OK
to a certain
extent, but it
can be exces
sive. 1 agree
with testing on
animals if it is
used to work
on curing dis
eases.”
Peter
Gates
Alternatives to animal testing procedures Animal testing's benefits to human race
show practice to be archaic andvarbaric
vastly outweigh rights of less evolved critters
in the past few years,
In a few cases, animal
animal rights protesters
testing may be humane and
have destroyed test fields of
scientifically beneficial, but
genetically modified food,
it is too often carried out in
Shannon Armstead
harassed scientists, raided
a cruel and unnecessary
If T he C lackamas P kint
labs, and in one case set off
manner. Consumers should
a car bomb. These terrorist
■be aware of the inconsistent
acts performed by groups within the animal rights movement are
procedures that often occur in laboratory settings.
disgusting and hypocritical.
While companies have restricted animal testing in recent years,
■ To want to put a stop to advances in medical science is stupid.
many still use it, going through parent companies, contract testing
Recently in the news there have been stories about the plans for a
laboratories or ingredient suppliers to employ animal testing without
Parkinson’s disease research center being canceled due to the high
having to admit to it.
cost of security that would be needed. Those involved with the proj
Cosmetic and household product companies test their products
ect have been quoted as saying, “We can’t afford to build Fort
on animals in a variety of ways, including eye irritancy tests and
Knox.” What a victory for the animal rights movement.
acute toxicity tests.
What the animal rights people don’t want the public to realize is
In eye irritancy tests, a flake or granule of powdered substance is
that advances in science on which our society depends arose
dropped into the eyes of a rabbit. Laboratory tech
from animal experiments, such as antibiotics, water purifi
nicians record the damage to the eye tissue, with
cation and sewage treatment.
tests lasting seven to 18 days. Reactions include
The acceptance, if not encouragement, of animal
swollen eyelids, inflamed irises, ulceration, bleed
rights groups like the People for the Ethical Treatment of
ing, massive deterioration and blindness. During
Animals (PETA) seem to say that this behavior and atti
the tests, the rabbit’s eyelids are held open with
tude towards medical science is acceptable. Animal rights
clips. The results of eye irritancy tests are ques
activists talk as if the suffering of people with diseases like
tionable, as they vary with each laboratory—and
Parkinson’s doesn’t outweigh the happiness of a lab rat.
even with the subject.
The Red Cross, March of Dimes, the American
During an acute toxicity test, a substance is
& Cancer Society and Boys Town are some of the char-
forced by tube into the animals’ stomachs or
ity based research groups that have made PETA’s
holes cut in their throats. It may also be inject
“Don’t Donate” list. However, these organiza
ed under the skin, into a vein or into the lin
tions have contributed greatly in finding cures
ing of the abdomen. Experimenters observe
for diseases and easing human suffering with
the reactions, which can include convulsions,
new treatments.
labored breathing, diarrhea, constipation,
Some would draw con
emaciation, skin eruptions, abnormal pos
nections from animals to
ture and bleeding from the eyes, nose or
humans by pointing out these
mouth.
animals share certain qualities
I jke eye irritant tests, lethal dosage tests are unreliable.
with us like autonomy and self
“The scientific basis for animal tests is weak,” said Michael Ball, a
awareness, but animals are not little
doctor with the European Center for the Validation of.
¡^persons. The abilities they show are
Alternative Methods.
""but shadows of our own. . Animals
----------
However undependable, these tests can help companies put almost any
cannot even come close to us intellectually
product on the market and use the fact that their products were tested to^SKjjjJSSjl
and it is demeaning to both species to try to
escape possible lawsuits, even if test subjects were mistreated animals.
draw them into thé human family.
With reliability and humane treatment at stake, European lawmakers set
Animal rights activists would have all
a ban on animal testing for cosmetic companies to take place in 2009. The
animal research stop- today, knowing full well
time was allotted because industry officials claim that there are no alterna
that this would cause great human suffering
tives; however, alternatives are numerous and readily available.
from not only the many diseases that
According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),
plague us today but also from future epi
some cosmetic companies have taken advantage of these alternatives,
demics.
Including cell and tissue cultures, corneas from eye banks and sophisti
“It is completely unacceptable
cated computer and mathematical models. Companies can also for
for people to try and destroy legiti-
mulate products using ingredients already determined to be safe by
mate research on which these issues will ultimately be judged. It is
the FDA.
time to speak up for science,” said Prime Minister Tony Blair in an
While alternatives to animal testing are numerous and reliable, many
interview with the London Times.
companies still perform animal testing. They will continue to do so unless
It is time to speak up for science. It is a sad day in our society
we become aware of the dangers we face by allowing companies to use
when human suffering is deemed less worthy than extremist moral
cruel methods of animal testing to market products with inconclusive
ideas.
research.
Buffets: the feeding trough of the middle class
Cory Price
Co Edilor-in-Chiel
Excuse me, ma’am, please set
down that overflowing plate of
mashed potatoes and step away
from the buffet line; it’s for your
own good.
Sin City (a.k.a. Las Vegas) is
home to buffets of every type
known to man. Vegetarians and
carnivores alike unite for the
feeding frenzy. It is fun to see the
seasoned veterans of the buffet
line, stacking their plates high in
order to get as much food as pos
sible in one trip.
There are delicacies for every
one who wants to participate in
the gorge fest, though I recom
mend avoiding them. The first
step to properly getting your
money’s worth - is to forgo the
mashed potatoes. My conspiracy
theory about mashed potatoes is
that “the man” puts a chemical
substance in them so that it
makes Mr. Tummy feel too full
T he
C lackamas P rint
19600 S Molalla Ave.
Oregon City, OR 97045
(503) 657-6958 ext. 2309
The Clackamas Print is a weekly student
publication and is distributed every
Wednesday except during finals week.
too soon.
Why would a buffet permit
such corruption? Humans are
drawn to mashed potatoes like
flies to electric bug zappers. It’s
for the money, of course. Yet
they are charging a hefty sum of
money already for a low-quality
meal. For example, the average
buffet in Las Vegas is between
$10 and $20.
How .can a buffet charge so
much and still get customers? By
psychologically trapping people
into believing they can eat more
than they pay for. The buf
fet people have mastered
the art of screwing
everyone;
they’ve
boiled it down to a
science.
At regular restau
rants, you get a nice.
1:1 ratio of meat to
carbohydrates. At
buffets,' though, the
ratio jumps to 1:10.
There are 10 high-
carb dishes for every
meat item. Ever wonder
why?
Because buying
mountains of rice, potatoes and
bread is cheaper than buying slabs
of meat. Yet you’re paying for a
New York steak dinner.
Wake up and realize that buf
fets are a feeding trough of
death, the slow killing
cancer
of
the
restaurant
industry;
Despite their ever-growing popu-
larity, buffets are dragging down
.
the standard for a
A.
quality meal.
Co Editors-in-Chief:
Advertising Manager:
Production assistant:
Goals: The Clackamas Print aims to -
Cyndee Mady and Cory Price
Copy Editor: Katie Funk
News Editor: Karlin Johnson
Opinion Editor: Ben Maras
Feature Editor: Karen Hill
A&E Editor: Isaiah Creel
Sports Editor: Nie Delzell
Mark Falling, ext. 2578
Photo Editor: Jesse Lamond
Staff Writers: Shannon
Armstead, Sara Atkeson, Faye
Dodds, Frank Jordan, Jessica
LeClaire, Bethany Monroe, Jeff
Sorensen, Jadon Triplett
Michaele Cooper
report the news in an honest, unbiased,
professional manner. The opinions
expressed do not necessarily reflect those
of the student body, college administration,
its faculty or TAe Print. E-mai! comments
to chiefed@clackamas.edu.
Photographers: Truman
Anderson, Amy Cashman,
Angela Gerhart
Adviser: Linda Vogt
Department assistant:
Lauren Vuylsteke
The Clackamas Print © 2004