Using animals as Test subjects - Save Ralph!

​PETA: “Lobsters are known to live more than 145 years in the ocean and can travel more than 100 miles per year. Lobsters have sophisticated nervous systems and experience pain and suffering. In their natural ocean homes, they have been observed walking claw-in-claw, the old leading the young.”

PETA: “Lobsters are known to live more than 145 years in the ocean and can

travel more than 100 miles per year. Lobsters have sophisticated nervous

systems and experience pain and suffering. In their natural ocean homes, they

have been observed walking claw-in-claw, the old leading the young.”
PETA = People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals)

Some facts...

Invertebrates, such as lobsters and snails (which are also delicious), conveniently (for those of us who love to eat lobsters and snails also feel sympathy for animals) have simple nervous systems made up of chain ganglia—groups of neurons connected by nerve fibers. According to Professor Craig W. Stevens of Oklahoma State University in Tulsa, the chain ganglia network is so simple it doesn’t require a brain.”

Some facts...

Let’s assume the ability to experience pain could, and should, be used in determining the way we treat animals. Where should we draw the line?

Consider the following list of animals and organise them in your books

Chimpanzee, clam, elephant, octopus, mouse, dog, your pet, goldfish, cow, corals, fly, dolphin, canary, shark, horse, rat, spider.

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Compare your assumptions with a partner.

What criteria, principles, or assumptions determined your decision
(e g. animals’ behaviour indicates pain, assumptions about nervous system, intuition, degree of similarity to humans, etc.)?

Research activity

Can your selected company stop animal testing?
If so, what alternative should they do?
If not, why is it so important they keep testing on animals?