Report Card Grades » Friends of the Earth » Grade: D

PETA wrote to the Friends of the Earth on March 9th, 2001 asking for its position on animal-testing, and the organization has yet to respond to PETA’s letter or endorse our statement:

• calling on EPA to increase its funding and use of non-animal test methods; and
• endorsing the use of only those new test methods that have been rigorously assessed by the Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Validation of Alternative Methods and found to be scientifically valid.

PETA wrote to Friends of the Earth to commend the organization for the progressive stance on animal-testing issues adopted by its European branch. Unfortunately, not only has Friends of the Earth-U.S. failed to respond to our letter, PETA has recently learned that FOE has openly advocated the testing of genetically modified crops on animals. Comments submitted to the EPA by Friends of the Earth stated that "for a higher degree of certainty [in the assessment of genetically modified foods], more extensive analysis is required—for instance, serum screening and tests with animal models."

What You Can Do
Please send polite letters urging Friends of the Earth to withdraw its support for animal-testing and asking that the organization adopt the same progressive stance as its European branch. Click here for points you can include in your letter. Send letters to:

Brent Blackwelder, President
Friends of the Earth
1717 Massachusetts Avenue, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20036
202-783-0444 (fax)
bblackwelder@foe.org