I have been opposed to animal testing for some years although I don't really know why !

My views are in part driven by simple emotion, I don't want to see animals being hurt. This may well not be the most scientific way of approaching the subject but it works for me however when debating this issue recently with a friend he asked a question I was unable to answer.

"If all the testing done on animals doesn't work as the anti-vivisection community maintain and if this testing could be duplicated more efficiently with computer simulation and if this is combined with the cost and bad PR associated with the work I have to ask why would a commercial organisation carry out work that:

i) doesn't work
ii) could be done better by other means
iii) is expensive
iv) gives a bad public image

I was unable to answer him.

If the debate about animal testing is going to influence mainstream thinking there must be others who will raise this issue.