On the one hand, feel-good puppy and baby-zoo animal stories are common. On the other, investigative reports about animal industries that impact both animals AND humans are mostly unchartered territory. Media outlets won’t touch stories about animals slaughtered for food…or animals used in experimentation.

he film is not about a particular animal topic, but rather, how certain animal issues are the last TABOO in media. As an example, most people have no idea that animal research is riddled with scientific inaccuracies which can actually threaten human health. Misleading data generated from animal experiments gets drugs on market quickly. But nearly half of those drugs — according to Journal of the American Medical Association — are recalled due to "adverse drug events" harming humans. Every single one of these drugs tested "safe" in animals.

Journalism students expressed no knowledge of animal-free research alternatives, or the millions of taxpayer dollars used for animal experimentation each year. Some said they were unaware that animals still undergo invasive experiments at all.

They were asked to compare deception and fraud inherent in the animal research industry with media-exposed deception and fraud in the tobacco industry. Where is similar outrage? Where is the mainstream action and interest, as seen with tobacco companies?

The video’s graphic images also prompt aspiring journalists to question whether they can emotionally separate themselves from "gross and sad" subject matter, in order to document it. An analogy was made to reporters at 9/11 Ground Zero. Most said they were there as journalists first — that their eyes were present for others, as a window to what happened. This role buffered their own feelings of horror and allowed them to record the scene at hand.

Finally, students were asked to choose any scene from the film and imagine it occurred before their eyes. Present as journalists, with notepads in hand, would they:

• Sugarcoat the story?


• Shy away from it entirely due to advertising/lobby interests such as Big Pharma and Big Animal Agriculture?


• Worry about colleague or public perception of them as "radical and extremist?"


• Honestly report what they witnessed and how it does or does not exemplify that particular animal industry.

I WANT TO KNOW does not intend to finger-point at media, but instead, asks why animal industries exist in the shadows. With vast financial, human health/safety, and animal welfare issues at stake — WHY don’t we know more? Please share this video far and wide. Even if you cannot watch it, someone else can. That person may want to know more…enough to experience a change in perception.

**Created for educational purposes by Kinship Circle, a 501c3 nonprofit animal advocacy and disaster rescue organization serving the international community.

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•  FACTS: Downed Animals