INVENIRE

Vicious or vital? Although animal testing is not at the forefront of political debate, it is still a polarising issue. According to Pew Research, 47% of people support experimentation on animals, whereas 50% are opposed to it. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) states that 100 million animals are used in animal testing per year in the USA alone. Data released by the Home Office, animal experimentation in the UK reached its peak in the 1970s before tailing off; however, it made a resurgence in the early 200s. Animal testing is often used by researchers and scientists to produce drugs and medicines. The results of this research are often applauded by the medical community. Jon Klingborg, president of the California Veterinary Medical Association said, "Their contribution to life-saving advancements in medicine and science for both pets and humans is enormous. Thanks to the last century of animal research, we have achieved life-saving treatments for people and a...

Before beginning, I must note that the title is by all means misleading. The British constitution is not entirely unwritten; medieval documents such as the Magna Carta and the Provisions of Oxford still contain statutes that are applicable today. For example, the phrase, "No freeman shall be imprisoned except by a jury of peers" is derived from the Magna Carta (1215). However, unlike many other sovereign states, the United Kingdom does not have one document widely considered to be the Constitution. As the late PM Margaret Thatcher put it, "Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy." European countries that do have codified constitutions have often adopted them in the last 70 years, far after the foundation date of the country. The UK's Constitution is a set of conventions, rather than a written document. This is namely due to the United Kingdom consisting of four independent nations until 1707. Unlike the United States, the UK does not h...