to not want to support this particular charity...

[kinkytoes]

I'm not averse to posting a selfie with no make up on and I've now been nominated.

Whilst I admire the campaign which is obviously proving successful, and I acknowledge that the work of this charity is important, I personally choose not to donate to or ask for donations for certain research charities as I am against animal testing.

I toyed with the idea of asking people to donate to another charity instead but to be honest it's not a subject I particularly want to discuss on my Facebook wall.

Shall I just pretend these nominations never happened?

I hate Facebook!

Oh yes, and posting symptoms to raise specific awareness is very effective at raising awareness. It's not just about fundraising, raising awareness saves lives too.

Trouble with animal testing is that animals don't react like people, so what's good for one, may not be any use for another. This is an interesting site - I've not linked to the animal ad, BUAV, as they are obviously going to be against, but thought this was a good site - aerzte-gegen-tierversuche.de/en/component/content/article/55-resources/244-why-animal-experiments-are-not-necessary

Just ignore it, I am. I receive funding from cancer charities so I don't donate to them, I give my money to other causes.

Op, all new drugs have to tested on animals before they can be licensed for use in the uk. So every medicine you could ever take for anything has to be tested on animals. They can do the testing at an early stage, or research without using animals, but then they will have to go back and test on animals to be allowed to use them in this country.

Fox, so glad to find someone else who doesn't donate to cancer charities because you are funded by them. It feels like putting money in your own pocket! I prefer to donate to unpopular, unglamorous things like mental health charities. So glad I left Facebook so I was unaware of make up free selfies until I read about it here. I'm spending more time on MN instead now, not sure if that's a good thing

I have to say I am completely with you so YANBU in my book. If they want my support start testing on human volunteers instead of subjecting animals to a life of torture, pain and misery.

Mary I know that. It's just a box-ticking exercise and it needs stopping NOW. There is no comparison. For example simple paracetamol and ibuprofen are considered poisonous to pets. Even chocolate can be fatal.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions on alternatives, all very good ones which I'll be acting on.

baby exactly!

Presumably Kinkytoes, you don't take any prescription medication? In order to receive FDA approval, all prescription meds must undergo animal testing. BTW I am generally against animal testing but accept that there is little alternative in drug research currently.

Sympathise with you about not being nominated though.

Can I ask how people feel about surgical techniques being practised on animals as they are being developed? Do you feel the same about that?

(Not judging, am genuinely interested)

I've not been nominated, is this a stealth boast thread?

(Yes I know it's not, it's a joke :o)

Thanks for posting that link Greydog it makes for interesting reading. I hope some others on the thread take the time to read it too.

clarinsgirl read the thread.

Have read the thread, hence my comment. It is not unreasonable to take a stand against animal testing. YABU to take a stand against cancer research when you take prescription medication though.

i did the makeup free selfie, and posted a link to donate to Macmillan

clarinsgirl no one is taking a stand against any charity. People are just choosing not to donate, as everyone else does, every day, with all the thousands of charities they don't happen to give money to.

Here is more info about Cancer Research UK and a list of alternative cancer charities that don't test on animals:
www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152285028603769&set=a.10150345905043769.366365.101225828768&type=1&theater

The Dr Hadwen Trust are the UK's leading non-animal medical research charity. Being against animal testing does not mean you are against research. Simply text HADW01£ and the amount you wish to give to 70070 to make a donation to the DHT.

I am Vegan and opposed to the use of animals, in any way, unless there are no other options, we have to live in the World that we have created, iyswim.

I read through the amendment on Animal Testing in Drug Reasearch in the UK. This was published on March 14th.

It is an ongoing dilemma.

Although we do need Animal Testing for drugs that benefit animals, as well. I have a real problem with drug testing for conditions that are lifestyle related.

Many Cancers are lifestyle related, although research does link in together, so one body of research will benefit another area.

Many other conditions are also lifestyle related, that even applies to the lifestyles that are inflicted upon animals in captivity and Pets.

The Vegan and Vegaterian societies have ongoing debates on this subject.

It is a question that you have to answer for yourself.

I totally agree (obviously) with us not needing any more testing of household products or cosmetics on animals, but I'm unsure about medical testing.

I do think that we shouldn't be prolonging life or buying some people time, which isn't popular.

I include my Mother, who has been given radiation treatment for lung Cancer dispite still smoking, so it isn't an "wait till it's one of your relatives" POV.

It is never popular when you point out that we know why some people get Cancer and how it could of been prevented, so therefor, we don't need some cures, for some types of Cancer, we need to prevent them.

But people don't want to take lifestyle on board as a real reason why illness occurs, especially well advertised "normalised behaviour" as a reason why Adults need drug treatments.

People jump on the "let's find a cure" instead of "let's prevent" bandwagon, much more easily.

Why are people getting so annoyed about such a stupidly minor thing? If you hate Facebook, get off it! Seriously, there are more important issues in life.

TheHandbagOfGlory yes I personally feel the same way about that.

missymarmite it may seem trivial as it's 'only Facebook' but when you factor in friends, cancer research and a certain amount of pressure to follow the crowd, it becomes a little more complicated. Which is why I asked the question.

Good link Greydog. A very interesting read, especially the alternatives to animal testing...

"...Testing methods without the use of animals, using human cells and tissues combined with special computer programs, deliver exact and conclusive results, as opposed to animal experiments.

Sophisticated computer models are capable of delivering information on structure, effect and toxicity of substances, such as new drugs or chemicals. Microchips combine computer and in-vitro methods..."

What's face book ?

It's that easy to live without it .