The 11th annual Global Day of Action Against Proctor & Gamble is a worldwide effort coordinated by the UK-based group Uncaged Campaigns to stop corporate cruelty towards other species taking place in the product testing laboratories of this global multi-billion dollar corporation. On Saturday, May 19th, there will be actions in towns and cities around the world to protest Procter & Gamble's (P&G's) cruel animal testing practices and raise awareness about cruelty-free shopping. It is the largest day of action of its kind in the world.

Each year, P&G conducts archaic and completely unnecessary tests of new cosmetics, household cleaners, and personal hygiene products on thousands of animals—rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets, and other species. They even test their "pet" food products (they own the Iams® and Eukanuba® brands) on cats and dogs. These animals, who have the same physical and emotional needs as our own cats and dogs, spend their lives alone in barren cages and are subjected against their will to painful invasive surgical procedures that are often lethal.

P&G continues to test on animals despite there being no legal requirements to do so and repeated demands from consumers and its own shareholders to end the practice. The truth is that the company relies on cruel animal testing strictly for its own protection from liability lawsuits, and could realistically stop animal testing today without endangering anyone's safety.

While P&G spends millions of dollars every year packaging itself as a responsible, caring company and claims to be a leader in the development of alternatives to the use of animals in product testing, the corporation has refused to put its money where its mouth is. Despite its repeated P.R. claims, P&G's priorities seem clear: in less than five days, the company spends more on advertising than it claims to have spent in 14 years on the development of alternatives to animal testing. If P&G truly wanted to eliminate animal suffering, they would not have lobbied to defeat a bill before the California legislature that would have banned the infamous Draize eye-irritancy test.

P&G is one of the largest companies in the world, and the largest of its type, selling its brands in 140 countries worldwide. Once P&G agrees to stop animal testing, other companies will come under inexorable pressure to also cease animal testing. Already more than 500 companies have pledged not to test on animals, so there is no reason P&G must continue.

IDA and other groups will continue to campaign for the boycott of all P&G products until the company permanently ceases harming and killing animals in products testing. Events this year will include demonstrations; leafleting at P&G facilities and supermarkets; and displays in libraries, colleges, and workplaces. In addition, writing letters to national and regional newspapers about the campaign is a great way to educate people about the cruelty perpetrated by P&G.

What You Can Do:

Visit www.uncaged.co.uk/pgday.htm to learn more about how P&G harms animals and how you can organize an activity for your area.