Kids from around the country debate the use of animals for research in the brand-new Nick News with Linda Ellerbee special, "Animal Rights... Or Wrongs?" premiering Tuesday, July 1, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The special explores the pros and cons of animal testing.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires medical products be tested on animals prior to being tried by human beings. An estimated 25 million animals are used in experiments every year in the United States. Some animals don't survive, but many drugs that save human lives were first tested on animals.
"It's wrong. It's heartless," says Queenie, 12, of Denver, Colo.
"Most animals have the ability to feel pain, and I think we can all say without a doubt that animals wouldn't want to be tested on and cut open," says Ben, 12, of Hartford, Conn.
People in favor of using animals for research purposes will tell you that almost all medical advances have been directly related to animal-based research. But Lilia, a 16-year-old intern at the Animal Rights Coalition in Minneapolis says using animals for experimentation shows human culture is inconsiderate and selfish. "The thing that upsets me most about animals in labs is that they're helpless," says Lilia. "There's nothing they can do to get themselves out of there."
Luke, 17, who goes to a special high school in Walpole, Mass., where he studies animal research in hopes of doing research himself one day, thinks most people value human lives over animal lives, even if they don't like to admit it.
Liviya, 9, of Raleigh, N.C., whose life was saved by treatments first tested on animals, reminds everyone that a lot of modern medicine wouldn't exist without the help of research animals. "I needed treatment so my bone marrow could start working again," she says. "I found out that my treatment had been tested on animals and I feel very thankful for the animals. Without animal testing they wouldn't know if the treatment would work."
Kat, 11, of Pasadena, Calif., is one of a group trying to help retired lab beagles get a second chance at life outside of the lab. "We think that after everything these dogs have done for us, they deserve a happy life afterwards," she says.
"You may come away from this show knowing exactly where you stand regarding testing human products and procedures on animals," says Ellerbee. "But when you think about the issues of animal testing, keep in mind the possibility that sometimes there is more than one answer to a question."
Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 23rd year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won its tenth Emmy Award for Forgotten But Not Gone: Kids, HIV & AIDS in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children's programming include: Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics (2011); (The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In addition, in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War - the first-ever kids' television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years.
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