New Petitions to Sign This Week: Tell Hawaii to Take Action on Plastic Waste, Urge Grocery Stores to Shift to Plant-Based Products, Tell California to Recognize the Rights of Non-Human Animals, 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 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 Tell Hawaii to Take Action on Plastic Waste, Urge Grocery Stores to Shift to Plant-Based Products, and Tell California to Recognize the Rights of Non-Human Animals.

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 Congress to Reject Act That Would Endanger Animal Welfare in Agriculture

There are currently no federal laws protecting farmed animals from abuse or cruelty. The only protections these sentient creatures have depend on state-level legislation.

Source: The Humane League/YouTube

Now, a new proposed bill — the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act — would be a massive blow to hundreds of state laws that protect animal welfare. And, to make matters worse, this could indirectly harm humans, too. The bill would make it harder to protect humans from transmission of zoonotic diseases in animal agriculture, endangering human and animal lives.

Please sign this petition to tell Congress to protect animal safety and reject this old-fashioned, terrifying act!

2. Tell Chicago to Protect Birds by Requiring Buildings to Turn Off Their Lights at Night

The midwest United States experiences some of the most spectacular fall migration, making it a treat for birders, who get to see beautiful non-native species passing through. But birds that are migrating face one giant obstacle: Chicago. The Windy City is a death sentence for an estimated tens of thousands of migratory birds yearly.

This year has been particularly gruesome. In one day, volunteers found over 1,000 birds dead outside of one building – the giant McCormick Place, the largest convention center in America.

The most frustrating part is that there is a very simple solution to this problem: require all buildings to turn off their lights at night. Light confuses migrating birds, given that they typically use the stars as a guide to get to their destination.

Please sign this petition to urge the Chicago City Council to protect migratory birds and require all buildings to turn off their lights at night!

3. Urge Authorities to Investigate Disappearance of Beloved Snapping Turtles on State Island

Shnappy the huge snapping turtle is beloved in Staten Island, New York. Weighing around 50 pounds, officials estimate he’s been alive for around 50 to 75 years. His lover and mate is another large snapping turtle, a female named Jeffrey. The two giant turtles like to hang out in the Cloves Lake Park and have become local fixtures.

But now, both animals are missing. And locals are extremely concerned they may have been poached – and turned into soup.

Please sign this petition to demand Staten Island authorities find Shnappy and hold responsible anyone who may have hurt him or Jeffrey!

4. Pressure Libya’s Governments to Manage Flood Crisis

In the eastern Libyan city of Derna, a catastrophic flood has claimed at least 3,900 lives, with thousands more still missing. The flood was made worse by the failure of two poorly maintained dams, leading to protests and widespread public outrage against negligent officials. This is not just a natural disaster; it’s a catastrophic failure of governance.

Source: BBC News/YouTube

Since 2014, Libya has been divided between two rival governments in the east and west. Both governments have pledged to help with rescue efforts in the flood-affected areas, but they have never successfully collaborated before.

Please sign this petition to urge the rival Libyan governments to set aside their differences and cooperate to effectively manage the Derna flood crisis!

5. Urge Authorities to Investigate the Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment

Shein and Forever 21 – two major names in the wildly unsustainable and unethical fast fashion industry – are about to team up in a new business deal that could wreak further havoc on the planet.

Source: TED/YouTube

Shein could move from being an exclusive e-commerce brand to selling clothes at Forever 21 stores, too. Forever 21 already produces cheap clothing unsustainably – and far too fast. And now, Shein is going to help the company produce clothes even faster.

Before this deal goes through, scientists must study what kind of impact this deal will have on the environment, especially our already unstable climate.

Please sign this petition to urge the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate change (IPCC) to investigate the impact of this deal on the environment!

6. Tell Hawaii to Take Action on Plastic Waste

House Bill 85, proposed by Hawaii State Representative Nicole Lowen, would be a game-changer for sustainability in the Aloha State. The bill would ban the wasteful, small plastic bottles that are found in hotels across the state.

Source: The Ocean Cleanup/YouTube

Given how riddled our oceans and landfills are with plastic, this would be an amazing victory for the planet and the billions of animals that call it home.

Unfortunately, the bill has been deferred, wasting away in Senate committees for months while our oceans fill up with plastic waste. Let’s urge those committee chairs to get this bill moving once again!

Please sign this petition to tell Hawaii Senate Committee chairs Mike Gabbard and Lynn DeCoite to take action on plastic waste!

7. Justice for Couple Who Fostered Dogs and Let Them Slowly Suffer and Die

A couple in Evesham, New Jersey has been charged with animal cruelty in a truly horrific case of abuse. An animal rescue in North Carolina had been sending the couple dogs to foster, along with money to keep them fed and healthy — instead, the couple was pocketing the money, and letting the dogs suffer and slowly die.

Source: 6abc Philadelphia/YouTube

When authorities were tipped off about potentially sick and malnourished dogs at the property, they went to investigate. But no one could have expected the horrors they found in the house: the remains of thirty dead dogs. They suspect dozens more dogs died in this house since a burial spot out back held many more decaying bodies.

Please sign this petition to tell Evesham authorities to give this couple a lifetime ban on having or fostering animals!

8. Demand Investigation into the Cats Who Were Abandoned in the Arabian Desert

Over 100 cats were found abandoned in the Arabian Desert left to die, and no one knows why. Tragically 50 of the cats were already dead when they were found. Mysteriously, a majority of the cats had been microchipped and neutered, meaning they weren’t strays.

Source: Lovin Dubai/YouTube

It is time local authorities conduct a full investigation into what led to this disturbing scene. What could have possibly led to so many former pets being cast away to die like this?

Please sign this petition to tell Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport to conduct a fair and thorough investigation into this crisis!

9. Urge Major Grocery Stores to Shift to Mostly Plant-Based Products

Over the next 8 years, a major grocery store chain in the Netherlands called Albert Heijn will overhaul its product line — to ensure that the majority of the proteins it sells are plant-based. This is huge good news for animals and the planet! Now other big-name supermarket chains must follow in Albert Heijn’s lead.

Please sign this petition to demand that Safeway, Giant, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s also go majority vegan!

10. Tell California to Formally Recognize the Rights of Non-Human Animals

Victory! The Southern California city of Ojai just became the first city in the nation to formally recognize the rights of an animal! The City Council voted to protect elephants from being imprisoned against their will within city limits. This sets a potentially amazing precedent for so many other animals held in captivity, like Happy the Elephant. Now, we must encourage the whole state of California to follow in Ojai’s footsteps!

Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles/YouTube

Please sign this petition to tell the entire state of California to follow suit!

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!