New Petitions to Sign This Week: Tell Lawmakers to Ban Octopus Farming, Support France in Standing Up to Fast Fashion, Demand Justice for Homophobically-Motivated Hate Crime, and More!

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, 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 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 six petitions you should sign this week, including Tell Lawmakers to Ban Octopus Farming, Support France in Standing Up to Fast Fashion, and Demand Justice for Homophobically-Motivated Hate Crime.

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

1. Tell Lawmakers in California and Hawaii to Ban Octopus Farming

Washington state just took a major step forward to protect the intelligent, sensitive, wonderful creatures that are octopuses. Its legislators passed the world’s first-ever law to ban Octopus farming, which is fraught with cruelty and environmental hazards.

As the bill’s sponsor, state representative Strom Peterson, said: “Octopus farming leads to suffering and sickness for one of the more intelligent and feeling animals in our oceans. [It] is harmful to the animals and the environment and is unnecessary. It’s time to move on.”

Please sign this petition to demand lawmakers in California and Hawaii follow Washington’s incredible lead and ban octopus farming, too!

2. Support France in Standing Up to Fast Fashion

The fast fashion industry has sneakily made overconsumption and lightning-fast fashion trends seem normal. For example, fast fashion giant Shein publishes over 7,000 new products on its website daily, rarely for more than $10 apiece. This encourages overconsumption and drives prices into a place where smaller, sustainable brands simply cannot compete and have to fold. The last thing we need is for fast fashion brands, that have horrific emissions rates and despicable working conditions, to have a total monopoly of the fashion industry.

Luckily, France is setting an incredible precedent for how to deal with this growing issue. The country’s lower house of parliament has voted to limit fast fashion’s power — namely by banning advertising on extremely cheap textiles and applying an environmental charge on low-cost items that will go to subsidies for more sustainable companies.

This is amazing — but these measures still need to pass the Senate, so we can’t let the pressure up just yet!

Among the measures is also a mandate forcing companies to divulge to consumers exactly what the environmental impact of their production is.

Please sign this petition to urge France’s Senate to vote YES on these measures that would slow the uncontrolled burn of fast fashion.

3. Demand Investigation into Los Angeles Shelters Potentially Going Against No-Kill Policy

A recent, shocking email has surged across the internet, sparking urgent concern among animal lovers everywhere. The email allegedly written by a Los Angeles Animal Services employee, claims the city’s shelters are on the brink of a crisis. The message revealed a terrifying possibility: up to 800 dogs might face euthanasia within the next month due to severe overcrowding. This starkly contradicts Los Angeles’ cherished no-kill policy and must be investigated.

Please sign this petition to demand a thorough investigation into this email’s validity and any potential for shelters to go against the no-kill policy.

4. Demand Justice for Homophobically-Motivated Hate Crime

In February 2024, John Walter Lay went to enjoy the outdoors at a local dog park in Florida. Everything should have been simple: he should have enjoyed a nice walk, had a good day, and gone home peacefully.

Instead, someone took his life as part of a homophobically-motivated hate crime.

Please sign this petition to demand the Florida state legislature reverse its “stand your ground” law now!

5. Help Hold Dog Grooming Business Accountable for Rampant Abuse

An animal caretaker in Las Vegas recently brought her Maltese-Yorkshire terrier mix, Tuffy, to a dog grooming salon. When she went to pick her up, she said her dog was paralyzed.

When she brought her dog to a veterinarian, they informed her that Tuffy’s back had a ruptured disk that would require a $10,000 surgery to address. But most pet parents can’t afford a price like that, and neither could Tuffy’s mom. Heartbroken, she realized she would have to euthanize her beloved companion.

Tuffy isn’t the only dog to face mistreatment and injury at this Las Vegas pet grooming boutique. Since this case came to light, other pet parents have come forward to share their own harrowing experiences. One said her pup, Turbina, was returned to her injured – her lower jaw had been fractured.

Please sign this petition to demand that Las Vegas authorities investigate this pet grooming studio to prevent more maimings and deaths!

6. Tell Congress to Support Biden’s Plan to Tax the Rich

For many people around the globe right now, it feels as though life is more expensive than it’s ever been. We’ve been experiencing an onslaught of inflation’s effects, from groceries to housing to energy prices, and it seems like there’s no end in sight. And yet, the extremely rich continue to get richer — and avoid paying taxes on that wealth.

That’s why it’s so exciting that in Joe Biden’s recently released 2025 budget proposal, there’s an encouraging inclusion — the president wants to finally make billionaires and billion-dollar companies pay their fair share in taxes!

Please sign this petition to demand Congress get on board with taxing billionaires in 2025!

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade repeatedly.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and essential stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in typical household and personal care products!