End the Forced Swim Test Online Action Week

Today marks the beginning of our #EndTheForcedSwimTest Online Action Week and we urgently need you to add your voice so that together, we can have the strongest possible impact for animals!

So far over 16,000 people have sent a message to decision-makers at Victoria University of Wellington, urging them to ban this animal test.

Victoria University’s own Student Association President Tamatha Paul is calling on the University to free animals from this experiment. Despite this, Victoria University is still refusing to enact a ban.

Now, we’re putting even more pressure on! NZAVS, SAFE and PETA are joining forces for a week of online actions targeting Victoria University’s Animal Ethics Committee. The members of this committee have the power to decide whether or not the Forced Swim Test will be used at Victoria University.

Will you help demand change for animals by taking part in some easy but powerful online actions this week? We'll be updating this page daily with the next online action!

Day 1 (Tuesday 26^th November): Take action on Facebook

What to do: Go to the Victoria University Facebook page and leave a comment on their most recent post asking that the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee ban the use of the Forced Swim Test immediately!

Example comments (feel free to copy and paste one of the comments below):

The Forced Swim Test is a cruel and scientifically flawed animal test. I’m urging members of the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee to ban the Forced Swim Test immediately. A ban on this awful animal test is the only way to make up for using it in the past. Right your wrong and #Endtheforcedswimtest!

I’m adding my voice to the thousands of other people who are taking a stand against cruel animal tests. I’m urging members of the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee to ban the Forced Swim Test immediately.

We aim to get 200 people like you to add a comment on their most recent Facebook post. Will you add your voice?

Head over to their Facebook page and leave a comment on their most recent post now!

Extra action: To take this a step further, you can also write a post directly on their Facebook page, asking that they ban the Forced Swim Test immediately.

If you don’t have Facebook, then you can still take action by sending a message to Victoria University here (action now closed; other ways you can support us).

Day 2 (Wednesday 27th November): Take action on Google!

What to do: Go to google.com and write a google review of Victoria University of Wellington. In your review, you can highlight your disappointment with the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee for allowing the use of the Forced Swim Test. You can also encourage them to ban this awful animal test now!

Victoria University currently has 4.4 stars out of 5 on google reviews. Victoria University would likely take notice if this dropped down substantially!

Example reviews (feel free to copy one of the reviews below):

My last experience with Victoria University was disappointing due to their refusal to ban a cruel and outdated animal test. The Forced Swim Test is a cruel and scientifically flawed animal test and it was both disappointing and shocking to find out that this test has been used by Victoria University. I’m urging members of the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee to listen to public opinion and ban the Forced Swim Test immediately.

My last experience with Victoria University was disappointing due to their refusal to ban a cruel and outdated animal test. I’m extremely saddened to find out that Victoria University is refusing to ban the Forced Swim Test. Your institute is turning down a fantastic opportunity to keep up with international standards and make a positive change for animals, people and science. The use of this cruel and invalid test is an embarrassment to New Zealand. I’m urging members of the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee to ban the Forced Swim Test immediately.

Leave a google review for day two of our #EndTheForcedSwimTest Online Action Week!

Day 3 (Thursday 28th November): Take action on Twitter!

What to do: Go to either one of the ~~NZAVS~~ (we do not use Twitter anymore), SAFE or PETA Twitter pages and retweet our latest tweet and tag Victoria University (@VicUniWgtn).

We aim to get over 100 retweets, tagging @VicUniWgtn to make our message impossible to ignore!

If you don’t have Twitter, then you can still take action by sending a message to Victoria University here (action now closed; other ways you can support us) and encouraging friends and family to do the same.

Day 4 (Friday 29th November): Take action on Instagram!

What to do: Go to the Victoria University Instagram page (@wellington_uni) and leave a comment on their most recent post asking that the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee ban the use of the Forced Swim Test now!

Extra action: To take this a step further, you can also share the latest post on the NZAVS Instagram page (@endinganimaltestingnz) on your Instagram story and tag Victoria University.

Example comments (feel free to copy one of the comments below):

Victoria University’s refusal to ban the Forced Swim Test is incredibly disappointing and embarrassing for Aotearoa. This animal test is both cruel and scientifically flawed. I’m urging members of the Victoria University Animal Ethics Committee to make the progressive decision to ban the Forced Swim Test immediately.

If you don’t have Instagram, then you can still take action by sending a message to Victoria University here (action now closed; other ways you can support us).

Here’s a summary of the impact we had:

Day 1: Over 300 actions were taken on Facebook.
Day 2: Countless people took action on Google and at one point, the rating of Victoria University dropped from 4.4 stars to 3.6 stars! The University obviously noticed and were concerned with what the wider public would think as the reviews were removed by Google.
Day 3: Over 200 people took action on Twitter.
Day 4: Over 200 actions were taken on Instagram.

In total, Over 700 online actions were taken by caring people who want to see the Forced Swim Test banned at Victoria University!

How Victoria University has responded:

Victoria University’s reaction to our #EndTheForcedSwimTest Online Action Week appears to be embarrassment. Victoria University’s reaction has been to hide many of our comments from the wider public which is incredibly disappointing and shows a real lack of transparency.

Their response shows us that together we are having a real impact and that together, we are a force to be reckoned with!

Thank you for being a part of the #EndTheForcedSwimTest Online Action Week - together we stood up for animals being used in cruel and invalid animal experiments!

We also ended the week with a bang and held an epic public stunt with the support of LUSH. Read more here.