In Defense of Animals: Despite a leg-hold and body-gripping trap ban enacted in 1998, wild animals throughout California continue to be killed by unimaginably cruel trap-and-kill methods in the name of vanity. Every year, hundreds of fur-bearing animals including coyotes, mink, foxes, beavers, raccoons, badgers, and various other species are trapped in California so that their skins can be sold to countries around the world including Russia and China. Trappers viciously kill animals and strip them of their pelts in large quantities within small areas, threatening the survival of the populations and negatively interfering with their habitats. Now, Californians finally have a chance to prohibit all fur trapping in the Golden State. California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez has introduced Assembly Bill 273 to prohibit the issuance of fur trapping licenses in the state.
>>If you live in California, urge the California State Assembly to support a statewide fur trapping ban. If you live outside California, sign this petition.
Change.org: Porpoises, dolphins and whales are being driven from feeding grounds and can be deafened by acoustic deterrent devices (ADDs) used by salmon farms. These mammals echolocate to find food, and if deafened will starve. Most Scottish salmon farms use cheap single nets in which dead fish accumulate, tempting seals to bite through the nets. 121 of 172 farms use ADDs (outputting over 179 decibels) to deter seals, but because ADDs are not very effective, farmers using ADDs also shoot seals. There are alternatives: Marine Harvest use ADDs and shoot seals in Scotland, however in British Columbia, where ADDs and seal shooting are banned, the company uses double-skinned anti-predator nets, which also solve the problem of escapes.
>>>Urge Scottish Cabinet Secretary for the Environment Roseanna Cunningham to protect cetaceans by banning ADDs.
Dog Meat Free Indonesia: Live animal markets—locally known as “traditional markets”—in North Sulawesi and throughout Indonesia are places of extreme cruelty. Every week, tens of thousands of animals are traded and slaughtered, including many thousands of dogs and cats. Thousands of live dogs and cats are put through hell every week—terrified and trembling, they wait their turn. Children watch as dogs are repeatedly bludgeoned over the head and blow-torched alive. Not only is this trade cruel, it also poses a threat to public health and safety, and is largely illegal—encouraging dog theft, illegal wildlife trade and enabling the transmission of deadly diseases such as rabies by accepting dogs of unknown disease-status from outside the province.
>>>Urge Indonesian President Joko Widodo to close down these markets of extreme cruelty.
Peter Hannam, Sydney Morning Herald: Individuals everywhere must make different choices if humanity—and many of the world’s other species—are to avoid a “bleak” future, leading environmental campaigner Jane Goodall says. Dr. Goodall, who is heading to Australia in May for a series of talks dubbed Rewind the Future, said “the consumer must take responsibility,” adding “the accumulation of millions of ethical choices will certainly make a difference—and it’s beginning to happen.” Dr. Goodall blamed an “unholy alliance” between governments and big fossil fuel companies for slowing the advance of renewable energy that could have seen many more people get off the power grid by now.
>>>8 habits to become a more ethical consumer (Carina Kolodny, Huffington Post)
Cause for concern…
- Trump seeks big science cuts—again (Heidi Ledford, Sara Reardon, Emiliano Rodríguez Mega, Jeff Tollefson & Alexandra Witze, Nature)
- Trump administration trying to confirm extreme judges to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals who value corporate polluters over people (League of Conservation Voters)
- Whales are dying along East Coast—and scientists are racing to understand why (Jason Nark, National Geographic)
- For many farm justice leaders, the Green New Deal fails to address structural issues (Eric Holt-Giménez and Heidi Kleiner, Food First)
- Eating three to four eggs per week linked to higher risk of cardiovascular disease (Ashley Welch, CBS News)
Round of applause…
- Young environmental activists across the world skip school in a call to action (Harmeet Kaur and Madison Park, CNN)
- Diets can do more than help you lose weight—they could also save the planet (Adrienne Rose Bitar, The Conversation)
- NYC’s schools are going meatless on Mondays for the 2019-2020 school year (Lisa L. Colangelo, AM New York)
- Trader Joe’s will phase out single-use plastics nationwide following customer petition (Madison Dapcevich, EcoWatch)
- Good Catch touts tuna that’s better for the oceans, safe for the office (Janet Forgrieve, Forbes)
Parting thought…
“Being a vegetarian or vegan is not an end in itself, but a means towards reducing both human and animal suffering and leaving a habitable planet to future generations.” —Peter Singer