Cancel Bison Cull, Classify Animals as “Sentient Beings”, and Investigate Zoo After Kangaroo Died: 10 Petitions to Sign this Week to Help People, Animals and the Planet!

Unfortunately, the world is not a very peaceful or safe place for many individuals. From conflict to abuse to exploitation, there is so much cruelty inflicted on both humans and animals. While this can get disheartening and difficult to hear about, petitions are a great way to use your voice for good. Just by signing one, you are a part of helping those who are not treated fairly. You can even share them with your friends and acquaintances to increase your impact.

Through petitions, we can reach those in power and demand justice for others. They are valuable tools for making positive changes in the world. If you are looking for a way to help animals and humans, here are 10 petitions you should sign this week, including Cancel Bison Cull, Classify Animals as “Sentient Beings” in the EU, and Investigate Zoo After Kangaroo Escaped and Died.

We want to thank you for being the change you wish to see in the world and giving a voice to the voiceless.

1. Take Animals Away From Animal Abuser

Source: Clock Is Ticking/Shutterstock

For almost 25 years, a woman in Gainesville, Florida has reportedly been openly, cruelly abusing dogs in and outside of her home. An investigation was opened in 1997, after neighbors documented her hitting, choking, beating, and pulling the dogs so hard that a vet called their poor paws “raw.” Her neighbors also described hearing the dogs “crying and howling” in pain and despair. A police officer and animal control officer both agree that she should not own animals and could kill them, but their superiors at the Gainesville Police Department and Alachua County Animal Services continue to sit idly by and allow this abuse to continue. Sign this petition to demand that Loren Cava’s dogs are removed from her home and that she be banned from owning animals ever again!

2. Stop Suing People for Medical Debt During the Pandemic

Source: Democracy Now!/YouTube

Healthcare in the United States is a mess, with over 30 million people uninsured. Even people with insurance often don’t see enough of their expenses covered. A hospital room or ambulance ride can end up costing a single individual thousands of dollars. Fortunately, most hospitals don’t go after people with medical debt as they’re able to operate and be profitable without doing so. However, during the pandemic, Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS) has sued over 19,000 patients for medical debts. These debts can be tens of thousands of dollars – more than many people make in a year – and the pandemic has put a financial strain on most people. CHS, on the other hand, made a huge profit during the pandemic and got funding from the CARES Act. Yet, they still decided to go after struggling people and families. Sign this petition to demand that Community Health Systems Inc. immediately suspend all legal action related to medical debt, and use the millions and millions of dollars they made during the pandemic for debt relief!

3. Save Vultures

Source: Newsy/YouTube

Vultures are vital for our ecosystems. By turning dead animals into dinner, they clean up the ecosystem and help turn the cycle of natural death into the cycle of life. In doing so, they also prevent diseases from spreading into other animals, which could infect entire species and ecosystems. Sadly, human activity is sending them towards extinction. We need to protect these important animals. Sign this petition to demand that Eastern European governments work together to implement Conservation plans and save these vultures!

4. Cancel Bison Cull

Source: O.S. Fisher/Shutterstock

In the 1800s, Bison almost went extinct at the hands of settler colonialists; however, Conservation work by tribal leaders and their allies kept the bison population from dying out completely. Sadly, while there aren’t many bison left, hundreds of bison are killed every year – either shot in the wild or brought to slaughterhouses. This is mostly due to cattle ranchers’ fear that the bison could spread disease to their cattle. However, there are other non-lethal management methods, such as allowing tribes to grow or establish Conservation herds. In order to do so, the bison need to go through multiple quarantines, but the facilities aren’t currently big enough to accommodate all of the bison. If these quarantine pens were expanded, no bison would need to be slaughtered, and the U.S. could stop the cycle of wiping out these lands’ natural wildlife and an animal that Indigenous people have cherished, utilized, and respected for centuries. Sign this petition to demand the yearly bison cull is canceled! If they expand the bison quarantine pens at Yellowstone National Park, there would be no need for this cruel “cull.”

5. Free Mental Healthcare in the US

Source: AJ+/YouTube

1 in 5 Americans will experience mental illness during their lifetimes. Every year, nearly 50,000 Americans die of suicide, which is the second leading cause of death for young adults. The pandemic has made these numbers even greater. Mental illnesses can severely impact a person’s life as well as the lives of those around them. We need accessible, quality mental healthcare for all. People deserve to have mental illness treated just as a physical one would be. Sign this petition to tell Congress that good mental health is a right, not a privilege – pass legislation for free mental healthcare for all!

6. Stop Sloth Exploitation

Source: National Geographic/YouTube

Barn Hill Preserve’s sloth wine tasting and “afterschool slime with sloths” events are the latest cruel and exploitative “encounter experiences” being disguised as “enrichment,” “education,” and “Conservation.” These hands-on encounters normalize human-wildlife contact and increase demand for baby sloths. As a result, more sloths are stolen from the wild to be exploited for human entertainment. Furthermore, sloths get extremely stressed when touched or handled by humans. They should be in the wild with their mothers, not at some venue for human entertainment. Sign this petition to demand an end to sloth wine tasting events!

7.  Abolish Medical Co-Pays for People in Prison

Source: AJ+/YouTube

Until 2019, every single state in the entire U.S. charged incarcerated individuals to see a doctor or dentist. Whether the visit was fully priced or had a lower co-pay, these visits are a huge financial burden considering many incarcerated people are low-income and the labor they are forced to do in prison is only compensated with $0.08 – $0.63 per hour. In 2019, California became the first step to abolish all fees for medical care in prisons, with 10 states and Washington DC following in its footsteps. During the pandemic, 27 states also temporarily suspended fees just for those specific individuals who exhibit COVID-like symptoms. However, it’s time to abolish these fees for good. The conglomerates that own these prisons and healthcare companies have enough money to not charge incarcerated individuals. Plus, when people are forced to avoid preventative care or early medical interventions because of cost, their health only gets worse — which translates into needing more expensive care later on down the road as well as the potential to spread more illnesses. This exploitative and heinous system of forcing non-free, barely-paid, already ill-treated inmates to pay for badly-needed medical care must end throughout the whole country. Sign this petition to demand that all states abolish medical co-pays for doctor and dental visits in prison!

8. Classify Animals as “Sentient Beings” With Legal Protection in the EU

Source: The Independent/YouTube

Recently, the British government has officially recognized animals as “sentient beings” under the law, which means that animals are no longer considered “property” and “objects.” Instead, they have legal protections, which UK lawmakers are currently working on expanding. Sadly, this type of “sentient being” law is rare in Europe. Animals and their rights need to be protected. Sign this petition to tell the European Union to pass laws declaring that all animals are “sentient beings” with rights to legal protection!

9. Investigate Zoo After Kangaroo Escaped and Died

Recently a kangaroo named Willow escaped from a roadside zoo in Canada called Papanack Park Zoo, only to wind up dead shortly after. Sadly, this wasn’t a one-time mistake. In 2016, a lion named Zeus was shot and killed after escaping from the zoo. Beyond that, there have been multiple accusations of animal neglect and cruelty in the zoo. Because the zoo is not a member of the Canada Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), there is almost no oversight for the zoo. Sign this petition to demand Papanack Park Zoo is investigated immediately to make sure another animal never suffers the same fate as this kangaroo!

10. Hold YouTuber Accountable For Driving on Protected Beach During Sea Turtle Nesting Season

YouTube stars, Jake and Logan Paul, are known for behaving badly for more views, but this time it came at the expense of innocent animals and their babies. In early May, YouTuber Jake Paul posted a video of him and his friends supposedly driving on a protected Puerto Rican beach during turtle nesting season. Not only would this be illegal, but it would also be incredibly dangerous for the animals on the beach.  Many locals have already spoken out and Rafael Machargo, the Environment Secretary in Puerto Rico, released a statement, announcing that he has launched an investigation into the incident. Given the YouTuber’s internet popularity, it’s especially important he is held accountable for this action. If he is not, many of his fans will get the same idea and mimic his total disregard for endangered species. Sign this petition to tell Puerto Rico to charge him for this crime as soon as possible to discourage any more harmful actions!

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