Re: [Leica] something something and now animals

[John Collier <jbcollier@shaw.ca>]

I am not a PETA member myself but those I know do a remarkable job of 
not living off the avails of animal cruelty. I admire their dogged 
persistence and concern about how they live might affect others. I 
agree that some animal testing is necessary but certainly not to the 
extent that it is practiced now. I welcome the pressure PETA and others 
have put on the scientific and cosmetic industries to improve their 
practices. I also agree that, as with all radicals, PETA and others 
often go to far.

It is an opening into the broader debate of what consciousness and 
intelligence are. Should other "lesser" organisms be sacrificed to 
marginally improve our life span* (and looks)? Are we the only holders 
of these attributes we like to call human? The fact that once you 
acknowledge that other organisms may also be sentient makes it 
difficult to draw a definite line in the sand does not mean we should 
ignore the issue outright.

John Collier

*The most significant factors in our increased longevity are remarkably 
simple: ready access to potable water, ready access to food, improved 
sanitation and general cleanliness. The rest has had very little 
effect. It may make great headlines but not much more than that.

On Thursday, October 30, 2003, at 09:48 AM, B. D. Colen wrote:

> My suggestion is that anyone who take a public position against the use
> of animals in medical - not cosmetic, etc., but medical - research, or
> who donates to PETA, should be barred from ever receiving any 
> medication
> or medical treatment whose development involved the use of non-human
> animals. No antibiotics - no polio vaccine for the kids - no advance
> surgical help - no chemo- nada. Let them put their lives and those of
> their children and grandchildren where their love of animals resides.
> [NO smiley. Not even a glimmer.]

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