Speech: Animal TestingIntroduction:Rows of rabbits wait in cages, their heads tightly locked in shackles to prevent movement. The lower eyelids of rabbits' eyes are pulled back. Technicians drip nail polish remover, mascara, shampoo and astringent into the eyes, where the chemicals stay for three to 21 days. The chemicals burn and often blind animals. Rabbits' sensitive corneas are good subjects for this procedure, called the Draize test, because they cannot cry to wash away the toxic chemicals. They have no tear ducts. I will first present the number of animals used in these tests and the tests for which they are used. Secondly I will describe what these tests are used to understand and how they are performed. Third, I will describe alternative tests that could ensure that animal testing is no longer necessary. Then I will show what these tests actually do, not only to the animals forced to endure them but also to the scientists who intentionally harm and kill hundreds of innocent animals every year. Finally I will explain what you can do to stop the continued death of these animals. Issue: The definition of animal cruelty is the willful or wanton infliction of pain, suffering, or death on an animal. The problem is that, as Newsweek magazine reports, every year the lives of 17-22 million animals are sacrificed in laboratory experiments. Many of these animals die in the noble search for cures for diseases that paralyze and kill millions of people every year. Those animals die for a purpose and I can't argue with their use. I sympathize with those people who say they would rather lose animal lives than human lives... middle of paper... companies that refuse to stop animal testing. The Cosmetics Consumer Information Coalition has made it easier to identify products that have not been tested on animals by placing this logo on all products that have been manufactured to the company's standard of animal compassion. Support those companies, like Avon and Revlon, that have stopped all animal testing and carry this logo by purchasing their products. Bottom line: Animals are living things, and sometimes, in our position at the top of the food chain, we forget that we're not. They are the only things on this planet that deserve respect and the right to life. We can choose to save lives instead of taking them. Simply by directing where our money goes we can decide whether to support life or support cruelty. Don't let York and Jersey and their millions of relatives die in vain.