Crystal: Regenerative farming techniques help to build up the soil’s ability to retain water sequester carbon, prevent erosion, and grow nutrient dense foods. Interested in trying delicious options from one of these farms, nutrition for longevity is offering forces for nature listeners, a 15% off discount for first time orders.

Check it out. Do the link in the show notes. I’m crystal Ozzie Macelli and welcome to the forces for nature show.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed with all the doom and gloom you hear of these days? Do you feel like you it’s just one person can’t really make a difference forces for nature cuts through that negativity. In each episode, I interview somebody who’s doing great things for animals and the environment we talked through, the problem they’re addressing the solution they have found.

What keeps them going, and we’ll leave you with practical action tips so that you too can become a force for nature. These guests is a Viva Vetter. She’s the campaign manager for the humane society. International’s newest global campaign that seeks to end cosmetics testing on animals. Now, cosmetics aren’t just lipsticks and mascaras.

They include soaps, shampoos, deodorants, et cetera, et cetera. Many of which are sitting in your cabinets as we speak. This new campaign centers around Ralph HSIs, animated spokes, funny, and just testing from his point of view. However, the real bottom line is how you and I can easily change his situation.

Let’s learn how

Eva. Thank you so much for joining me on forces for nature. It’s so great to have you. Thank you so much, crystal. It’s great to be here. So let’s dive right into it. How prevalent still is animal testing in the cosmetics industry?

Aviva: So although banned in 40 countries, animal testing of cosmetics is still legal in about four out of five countries, which translates to basically untold numbers of animals suffering by having cosmetic chemicals forced down their throat, drift into their eyes.

Uh, or smear it onto their skin, leaving them to suffer for days or even weeks without any pain relief, but HSI safe. Ralph campaign is determined to change that save Ralph is a wake-up call to the public and a reminder to lawmakers that we need robust animal testing guns in place. And the thing is that many people assume that companies are the problem.

But the truth is, is that they’re a vital part of the solution. It’s laws that need to be changed. And industry leaders like lush, Unilever, P and G, and Avon are working with us to secure, meaningful animal testing bands in many of the world’s most influential beginning markets. And

Crystal: what kinds of tests are conducted.

Aviva: So most people are often price to hear that I will testing is actually still legal, but with the help of the safe Ralph campaign, we aim to consign it to the history books once. And for all animal tests like the eye and skin test perform on Ralph were first developed in the 1940s. And science has advanced since then in some parts of the world, even rabbits, like Ralph are locked into neck restraints, as you may have seen in the video and have.

Uh, cosmetic products and ingredients dripped into their eye and onto shave skin and on their back, Guinea, pigs and mice have the chemical spread on their shift skin or on their ears. And none of these animals are given pain relief and all of them will be killed at the end. That’s the sad reality.

Crystal: Oh, that just, it breaks my heart to hear about that.

I mean, how, how necessary is it? I mean, I know people want to be safe, but how necessary is it?

Aviva: Yeah, well, that’s a very good question. So last centuries animal tests are increasingly being replaced by state-of-the-art quicker, cheaper, and more human relevant non-animal methods, which is a win-win for everyone.

Right? And save Ralph highlights. The fact that animals are still suffering for cosmetics and it’s time for it to stop today. We have an abundance of reliable animal free approaches for product safety assurance. So there’s no excuse, really for making animals like Ralph suffer to test cosmetics or their ingredients.

Crystal: You just said human relevant. Yeah. Guinea pig is different than a human being, a bunny rabbits than a human being. So I imagine their results could potentially be very different than what we would experience.

Aviva: Exactly. And we have a growing list of alternative methods validated internationally that solve these problems and help with take the assessment.

Crystal: Now, tell me a little bit more about the humane societies. Save Ralph campaign.

Aviva: Sure. If it comprises of a film, the film features HSIs campaign spokes, bunny, Ralph, uh, voiced by Taika Waititi being interviewed as he goes through his daily routine as a tester. In a toxicology lab, the HSI save Ralph campaign tackles that disturbing issue of animal testing in an original and unexpected way.

Something we’ve never done before. And Ralph is helping to shine a light on the countless rabbits and other animals suffering and laboratories around the world. By allowing viewers to hear directly from the animal’s point of view and empathize with him, which is something again we’ve never done before.

So we’ve partnered with Hollywood filmmakers to produce. A powerful stop motion, animated, short film to end cosmetic animal testing on animals. Internationally renowned movie stars have joined such as Tricia, Helfer and Tyco, a TT, Denny dove, and God El Malai for the French version writer and director Spencer Susser and producer.

Jeff BestBuy teamed up with arch model studio, puppet Baker, Supreme, and to get on the production to bring Ralph to life.

Crystal: And they were the ones that did. The movies. What was it? Yeah,

Aviva: her assessor is known for the greatest showman and Jeff BestBuy is known for horses. A Parkland. Andy again is known for a fantastic Mr.

Fox. That’s

Crystal: the one. Yeah, that’s what I was thinking of. Okay. And this is a global campaign. This is not just one country, right?

Aviva: We’re in 17 countries. So we are working to and cosmetic animal testing in the world’s most influential beauty markets by the end of 2023. And those 17 countries include the ASEAN region.

So Southeast Asia, which comprises about 10 countries, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Chile, South Africa, and the United States.

Crystal: And this film is not just in English.

Aviva: No, actually the characters are being voiceover in five languages, including English. So English, Spanish, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and

Crystal: French. Excellent.

It’s quite the endeavor and where, where can somebody see this film?

Aviva: And so it will be released globally on all of our HSI channels on April 6th, our social media channels, but you can also go to our website, which is to get more information as what let’s watch the video again, hsi.org forward slash Ralph

Crystal: and what’s being done.

Alongside the film in order. I mean, you have a pretty big goal ahead of you. What else are you doing besides just the film? Yeah,

Aviva: so, I mean, we are operating in those 17 countries that I had mentioned earlier. We have legislative campaigns and advocacy campaign in all of those countries. But in addition to pursuing those legislative bands, we are working, we do partners, we’re collaborating to develop a training program in animal free safety assessment to support smaller companies and government authorities.

To help them transition from animal testing to state-of-the-art non-animal methods, which of course are readily available and better at assuring human safety than the animal tests they replace. So we’ve got the sort of the one side of the coin is the, is the legislative advocacy work and then the other, the policy work.

And then the other side of the coin is the education and training component to help governments and companies move forward and implement those changes.

Crystal: And you had said, I believe it was 40 countries already have 40. Yeah.

Aviva: 40 countries have already been cosmetic animal testing. Yeah.

Crystal: And they’re going strong.

They still they’re

Aviva: doing well. Yeah. They’re going strong. Yeah. And

Crystal: they show that it could be done. Exactly. And so after the hype of the film release, what needs to be done to succeed at the stated goals? I guess, no,

Aviva: that’s no, that’s a very good, no, no, no. That’s a great question. Well, I think that it’s important for listeners to continue to advocate for animals like Ralph, who continue to suffer by talking to their loved ones about this important issue, sharing the video, signing petitions.

And then on the other side, HSI, along with. Our partners, we will continue to work with governments around the world to ensure that we have water type bands in the world’s most influential beauty markets, so that we get those bands in place by the end of 2023.

Crystal: And how can someone. Learn, whether the products that they’re using are tested on animals.

I know that’s a

Aviva: very good question. So, um, there’s no single global shopping guide that exists yet. That covers everything, but HSI recommends or recognizes a few different resources like leaping bunny.org or beauty without bunnies. Logical harmony. For example, the great thing is, is that more than 2000 cruelty-free beauty brands are available worldwide, including lush garden, EA dove, herbal essences, and H and M.

These companies produce safe products by using ingredients with a history of safe use together with modern animal free safety assessment tools we spoke of earlier. So it’s a learning curve in terms of learning, what kind of labels this exists out there and not every single shopping guide as mentioned covers.

Everything. So it’s important to learn and do some research. Really.

Crystal: That reminds me of my own personal experience I’ve had in, in pursuing the use of products that are not tested on animals. I used to use. I’m not sure if I should shout them out or not. I used to use origins, which I was proud of. I thought that they didn’t test on animals and everything was great along those lines.

But then I found out, I learned that. Even if a company doesn’t test on animals in most countries, if they want to sell in China, they’re required to test on animals there. And so that I think is something for people to keep in mind because I, and, and you can find that stuff out on these websites as well, depending on how stringent you want to be in your practices.

If you want a brand that doesn’t test at all, you have to make sure that they’re not. Being sold in China because right now they require it. Right. Right. Well,

Aviva: although that’s true. We’ve been seeing progress in China over the last several years, which is really wonderful and change yes. And changes on the horizon soon.

So we should actually see some more changes to the regulations in place in the coming months. Yeah. So, yeah, that will be less of an issue in the future. Oh,

Crystal: good. Okay. That makes me happy to hear. Um, so you mentioned some products, some companies, can you mention again, what are, what are some products or the

Aviva: pro well, I can mention, yeah, so I can mention yes, of course.

So the shopping guide, I’ll just mention again, yeah. The shopping guides or leaping bunny, uh, beauty without bunny and logical harmony. Those are really useful resources. And then some of the companies, for example, like the beauty brands. Uh, that are available worldwide lash, Garnier, dove, herbal essences, H and M among a few.

I mean, among many, there are obviously many, but yes.

Crystal: Okay, good. And hopefully there’ll be even more, very soon.

Aviva: Yes. And I mean the end result or not the end result, the ultimate goal rather is that we want these water type bands in place so that we don’t have to worry about checking wrinkles. That’s the ultimate goal.

Crystal: Right. So you were saying that a lot of the change is going to come from a change in policy, but what can the listener do to help further that along? But that’s a

Aviva: very good question. So I would say the best thing you can do as a listener is sign the [email protected] for slash save Ralph and advocate for all animals.

Like Ralph still being used in pro cosmetic testing, by sharing the film, talking to your family and friends. Uh, about the important issue and to get more information you can visit hsi.org for, uh, slash Ralph and again, visit those cruelty-free shopping guides to get more information and, and visit our website.

Yeah,

Crystal: this has been great. Thank you so much for all that. This is a very important subject for me, so I’m really happy to get the word out of Eva. Thank you so much for all that you do. Thanks. Thank you very much,

Aviva: crystal. Thank you for having me.

Crystal: In many of the countries where this campaign is taking place, legislation has already been introduced to stop this archaic practice.

We just now need to create public momentum to demand that they get past. You can be a part of this groundswell by watching this film and signing HSIs petition who’s links are in the show notes also. I personally have been shopping for cruelty feed products for decades and have never once felt disappointed by the quality or quantity of options available.

Those guides of Eva mentioned are great resources for finding the right products. No animal should have to suffer and die in the name of beauty and you as the consumer. Has so much power to make sure that they don’t have to. Don’t forget to go to forces for nature.com and sign up to receive emailed show notes, action tips, and a free guide to help you start taking practical actions today.

Do you know someone else who would enjoy this episode? I would be so grateful if you would share it with them. Hit me up on Instagram and Facebook. And let me know what actions you have been taking. Adopting. Just one habit can be a game changer because imagine if a million people also adopted that, what difference for the world are you going to make today? .