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 Urge Mainstream Media to Cover Climate Protests, Stop Wildlife Trafficking on Facebook, and Demand Lucy the Elephant be Moved to an Animal Sanctuary.

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

1. Get Justice for Patrick Lyoya

Source: MLive/YouTube

Patrick Lyoya was shot in the back of the head by a police officer in Grand Rapids, Michigan after a traffic stop. Even though people have become more aware of the police killings in the last several years, there has been no drop-off. Grand Rapids has also had several incidents of police brutality in the past few years, including a young girl being held at gunpoint and an officer shooting a gas canister at a protestor’s face. Please sign this petition to hold this officer responsible for his crime.

2. Get Animal Abuser the Help He Needs

A man in North Carolina has allegedly dragged two dogs behind his vehicle for around three miles. A community member found the dead dogs lying on the road after the incident. The man accused of the crime may face up to five years in prison, but that’s not enough. This person needs serious mental health treatment and he should never be allowed to have animals again. Please sign this petition to urge Halifax County to get this man the help he needs! 

3. Urge Mainstream Media to Cover Climate Protests

Source: Guardian News/YouTube

Over the years, the fossil fuel industries have spent a lot of money to convince the public that climate change isn’t real or isn’t caused by humans. While this type of climate denialism is frustrating, it’s also understandable, because the industry wants to keep making money. However, recently, there have been many large coordinated protests around the world to bring awareness to the climate emergency, and yet it’s barely been covered at all by the mainstream media, which is not understandable or acceptable. Please sign this petition to urge The Washington Post and New York Times to put more of a priority on covering these protests and Climate change in general! 

4. Educate Animal Caretakers About Their Responsibilities

It’s a major responsibility having an animal, really not much different than having a kid. However, many people with pets don’t see it that way. One roommate was shocked to discover that the woman she was sharing her place with would only scoop out her cat’s litter boxes once every month or two. Not only is this incredible unhygienic, but it’s also extremely cruel to her cats, who understandably began doing their business on the floor instead. The concerned roommate tried speaking with her roommate and even an animal welfare organization but to no avail. She finally took to social media to voice her displeasure with the situation and saw her video go viral. Please sign this petition to urge animal adoption centers to educate pet caretakers about the responsibilities of taking care of animals! 

5. Call on the US Government to Invest More in Green Energy

Source: WTVR CBS 6/YouTube

Fossil fuels are wreaking havoc on our planet. They produce harmful emissions that warm the globe and cause people to become sick, and they aren’t renewable. Meanwhile, green energy uses natural resources and doesn’t contaminate our planet with harmful emissions. In March, wind energy outpaced both nuclear and coal in terms of producing energy. Please sign this petition to urge the U.S. government to continue to invest more money in green, renewable energy!

6. Stop Wildlife Trafficking on Facebook

Four years ago, Facebook announced that it would reduce wildlife trafficking on its site by 80% by 2020. However, a recent report has come out and discovered that it’s still a popular space for animal traffickers and their algorithm even benefits these criminals. Researchers even stated that it was “alarmingly easy” to find people who were selling or buying these animals. Wildlife trafficking is incredibly cruel, threatens animals with extinction, and can even lead to dangerous diseases being spread between animals to humans. Please sign this petition to demand Facebook change its algorithm and stop these animal abusers from doing business on their platform!  

7. Tell the Department of Justice to Reinstate the Mask Mandate

Source: CNN/YouTube

Recently, a judge struck down the mask mandate for people traveling on planes and public transportation. This decision is dangerous and puts people’s lives at risk. Being in confined spaces with other people has clearly been shown to raise the chances of being infected by Covid. Plus, the C.D.C. has stated that mask-wearing is still necessary. Please sign this petition and call on the U.S. Department of Justice to reinstate the mask mandate! 

8. Demand Lucy the Elephant Be Moved to an Animal Sanctuary

Source: LEAP Edmonton/YouTube

Lucy the Elephant was captured from Sri Lanka in the late 70s and sold to the Edmonton Valley Zoo in Canada. If she had spent her life in the wild, she would have lived her whole life in a herd, yet she has spent the entire time in the zoo by herself. She lives in an area that has frigid temperatures, so she has been housed in a barn for most of her life. She also has a plethora of health problems, all of which are likely due to her unnatural living environment. Please sign this petition to demand that the zoo give Lucy over to a sanctuary and let her live her last few years in peace and comfort! 

9. Urge Lawmakers to Send More Money to Animals Shelters

Source: The Dodo/YouTube

Recently, someone on Reddit shared photos of kittens who had been abandoned on the side of a street in a grocery bag that had been tied shut. Luckily someone saw movement in the bag and decided to stop and take a look. Unfortunately, this is the kind of thing that happens far too often and is likely to become more frequent during the spring, as it’s breeding season for cats. Shelters, however, don’t always have room to bring in all these abandoned animals. Please sign this petition to demand legislators send more funding to animal shelters to help give more abandoned animals like these kittens a place to stay! 

10. Tell Florida to Fund Research About Virus That’s Infecting Turtles 

Source: WMBB News 13/YouTube

In Florida, turtles are becoming infected with a serious virus that is making them too lethargic to even retreat from predators. Florida is a very biodiverse area and the environment and animals must be kept healthy there. Scientists must study this new virus to find out how to protect the turtles and the rest of the community. Please sign this petition to urge Florida to help fund this research and help educate its people about what they can do to protect their community! 

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