Proctor and Gamble is the largest household products company in the world. They retail in markets as diverse as foods, beverages, personal care, laundry and cleaning. In 1995 they reported a net income of $US2.6 billion, yet despite being the retail giant that they are, Proctor and Gamble refuse to stop testing their products on animals.
Over the past few months the P&G campaign has progressed dramatically. When we first began many people did not know who Procter & Gamble were and probably didn’t understand why we had chosen them to target. Now the community is slowly becoming aware that popular brands such as Napisan, Covergirl, Clearasil, Max Factor and others are all part of this corporate giant who put profits before ethics and inflict countless atrocities on thousands of innocent animals.
In March this year we had three significant actions. Firstly, thanks to 3CR radio station we broadcasted an interview which outlined P&G’s refusal to stop animal testing. The following day P&G were recruiting graduates from Melbourne University. Half way through their presentation approximately ten protesters walked into the theatre and stood solemnly in the aisles displaying placards for the remainder of the session. To say that P&G representatives were taken by surprise would be an understatement. They were unable to respond to our questions concerning animal testing or environmental damage and we certainly believe that our message was taken back to their head office. Our third event on the same week was our stall in Bourke Street. While attendance from our members was disappointing our three lab bunnies and loudspeaker announcements attracted many passers by with queues of people at times lining up to sign our pledge letters. Overall the entire week was a huge success with other events happening simultaneously in NSW, Queensland and South Australia as well as all over the US, UK, Canada, India and Brazil.
The message is spreading worldwide. Until it stops its animal cruelty, the letters P&G will stand for nothing but Pain & Greed!
P&G claims that animal tests are necessary for consumer protection. Physicians who are responsible for our health disagree:
As an emergency room physician who has treated countless cases of accidental poisoning and exposures to dangerous products I disagree with the contention that animal tests are necessary to determine the safety of cosmetics and household products...Animal tests to not protect consumers from unsafe products. - Daniel Hart, M.D., F.A.C.E.P.
In reality, P&G relies on archaic animal tests strictly for its own protection from liability lawsuits. The truth is that P&G could stop animal tests today without hindering anyone’s safety.
In 1989, In Defence of Animals launched its campaign against them. Their goal: "to stop the companies blinding, burning, maiming and killing of thousands of animals each year in product tests that are cruel, outdated and not required by law". When the campaign first began, Proctor and Gamble was still using dogs in product tests. They now continue on rabbits, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs, mice and rats. While they claim to have reduced the number of animals used by 90%, they refuse to release information regarding actual numbers and species of animals used.
In 1987, Proctor and Gamble fought a shareholders resolution that would have eliminated product testing on animals for consumer and household products.
In 1989, Procter and Gamble tried to launch a $17.5 million program to convince legislators, school children and the public that their cruel animal tests are absolutely necessary and humane. Due to opposition by animal advocates, this program never got off the ground.
In 1990, Proctor and Gamble lobbied against legislation to ban the Draize test in California.
If we can stop Procter and Gamble from conducting their product testing on animals, we believe that it will be much easier to convince smaller companies to follow suit.
Or simply print our form letter, sign and send.
Contact the Animal Liberation office on (03) 9419 5188 and leave your name, address and phone number for any future action.
"Procter & Gamble seeks to portray itself as a friend of animals. Nothing could be further from the truth...the company continues to kill thousands of innocent animals in unnecessary testing"
- Kenneth Stoller, M.D., Paediatrician
Last updated 10 August 1997
Email: alib_vic@paradigm4.com.au
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