Received anonymously:<\/p>\n
Sabotage, Switzerland In August 2019 we visited a dermatological
\npractice in Baselland, switzerland, and poured out a smelly liquid inside the
\nbuilding, which left a lasting damage behind. This practice carries out Botox
\ncosmetic therapies. Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin (more precisely
\nbotulinum toxin A), a collective term for neurotoxic proteins. Botulinum toxin
\nis the deadliest known toxin, a nerve toxin that leads to paralysis. In recent
\ndecades Botox has evolved from a drug to a lifestyle product (the use of Botox
\nfor medical purposes is not discussed here). Approved in 2002, Botox is today
\nthe most widely used anti-wrinkle drug for the treatment of wrinkles caused by
\nmovement. No other treatment in beauty medicine is as common as Botox
\ninjections. This trend is yielding fantastic profits for both Botox producers
\nand doctors.<\/p>\n
The global market for botulinum toxin products is expected to have
\nreached 2.9 billion US dollars by 2018, with cosmetic applications accounting
\nfor the largest share. Nowhere in the world are there more Botox wrinkle
\ntreatments per capita than in Switzerland. In a Botox wrinkle treatment, the
\npoison is injected locally, the facial muscles are paralyzed and the wrinkles
\nare smoothed slightly. The treatment takes half an hour and costs between 300
\nand 1000 CHF. The smoothing effect of the injection lasts for approx. 3-6
\nmonths. After that, another injection is due. Those who get injected once almost
\nalways come back; the demand for botulinum toxin wrinkle treatments has
\nincreased significantly in recent years. Since Botox is such a powerful nerve
\npoison that it can easily be fatally overdosed, the Botox content in each
\nproduction unit must be checked. This is done by injecting at least 100 mice of
\nBotox into their abdominal cavity and determining the dose required until 50% of
\nthe animals are dead (the so-called ‘LD50 test’, ‘Lethal Dose 50 test’).
\nHowever, these animals do not simply die, but suffer a painful death from nerve
\nparalysis (including muscle paralysis, impaired vision and shortness of breath)
\nuntil they suffocate from respiratory paralysis. This can take several days.
\nAfter 3 to 4 days, the LD50 value is determined by the number of animals killed.<\/p>\n
This means that for every Botox treatment (= at least one production unit) to
\nsmooth out a few wrinkles, a few hundred mice have to die in agony. Worldwide,
\naround 600,000 mice are used every year for Botox tests (Wikipedia). The real
\nnumber may be much higher, but the production companies do not publish the
\nstatistics. The ban on animal testing for cosmetics does not apply, as botulinum
\ntoxin products are approved as medicines and are injected for use rather than
\nsimply applied. Animal testing has increased enormously worldwide due to the
\nincreased cosmetic use of Botox. For people undergoing Botox poison treatment,
\nthe risks include unintentional paralysis of muscles and serious nerve damage
\nwithout medical necessity for the procedure. Botox also makes our feelings
\natrophy. From Wikipedia: ‘If botulinum toxin paralyses the emotional facial
\nexpressions, then emotion-processing brain regions – such as the left amygdala – also restrict their activity.<\/p>\n
This prevents mimic replay and thus understanding
\nof emotions (’embodied emotion’).’ The beauty industry (including social media)
\ndictates an unreal, completely unattainable and impossible body ideal. People
\nare under a lot of pressure to achieve this, and many can’t withstand the
\npressure. The beauty industry kills! It is mainly women who have their wrinkles
\ninjected away with Botox. We do not condemn the individuals who are forced by
\nour society to adapt their appearance to strict gender norms and conceptions,
\nbecause their ‘value’ otherwise decreases or they are threatened with violence.
\nIn particular, we do not condemn, for example, trans women for whom a good
\n‘passing’ is eminent, in order to be less harassed, threatened and attacked on
\nthe street, in order to keep the job or apartment, etc. This is not superficial
\nfun, but an existential question. The expensive Botox treatment is unaffordable
\nfor most people anyway, which sets the bar very high for ‘good looks’ and
\npassing.<\/p>\n
We join together and defend ourselves against this industry, which
\nmakes money with the death of living beings and the destruction of the
\nself-confidence of (mostly) femininities. Let us attack the industry and this
\nsociety, let’s destroy what destroys us (and other living beings)! In solidarity
\nwith all the animals exploited and killed in the beauty industry – In solidarity
\nwith all those who suffer from the beauty industry and social norms – For
\nliberation from all that chains us – For anarchy We use the communiqu\u00e9 to call
\nfor resistance against the ‘march for life’ of the christian fundamentalists on
\n14 September 2019, Zurich. Against Christian fundamentalism, which wants to
\ncontrol and regiment the bodies and reproduction of Inter, Trans*, non-binary
\nand female persons and to dispose of them! We ourselves decide about our bodies and throw your deadly norms and your repressive morals overboard!
\nhttps:\/\/barrikade.info\/article\/2526<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Received anonymously: Sabotage, Switzerland In August 2019 we visited a dermatological practice in Baselland, switzerland, and poured out a smelly liquid inside the building, which left a lasting damage behind. This practice carries out Botox cosmetic therapies. Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin (more precisely botulinum toxin A), a collective term for neurotoxic … <\/p>\n