It’s horrible to hear about animal abuse cases or read the ways humans are endangering many species. Fortunately, there are things we can do to speak for them. One of the ways we can help and lend our voices to good causes is by signing petitions. Such petitions are sent to people in powerful positions that can make a change, especially when they see just how many people stand behind the cause. We can demand change, justice, and stop tragedies by speaking up and doing our part.

There are horrifying things happening around the world every week like the hunting, animal cruelty, exploitation, and more. If you are looking for a way to help animals, here are 10 petitions you should sign this week!

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

1. Urge EU to Protect Endangered Giraffes From Trophy Hunters

Giraffes are not protected under CITES, which leaves them vulnerable to unrestricted hunting. Three sub species are listed as “endangered” and two subspecies are listed as “critically endangered” on the IUCN red list. Giraffe populations have gone down 40% in the last 30 years and there are only about 97,500 giraffes in all of Africa. COP18 Proposal 5 would protect giraffes under CITES, sign this petition to ask EU to pass this bill!

2. Support Bill to Ban Wild Animals in Circuses in UK

Michael Gove, UK Environment Secretary introduced a bill to ban the use of wild animals in circuses. Wild animals simply do not belong in captivity. In circuses, they are trained using cruel methods to perform unnatural tricks and their physical and mental health are damaged. If you agree that wild animals should not be held captive in circuses, sign this petition asking the UK’s parliament to pass the ban!

3. Save the Elephants’ Ears! Pledge Not to Go to Oregon Zoo Concerts

Elephants have very sensitive hearing. They can hear for miles and even hear infrasonic sound through their feet. Oregon Zoo, infamous for being cruel and abusive to elephants, hosts concerts every weekend during the summerright nextto the elephant enclosure. Elephants in captivity are already suffering physical and mental ailments. It’s cruel to also force them to deal with concerts right next to their sensitive ears. Sign this petition to not only pledge never to attend one of these cruel concerts, but to also let Oregon Zoo you stand against this cruelty and to encourage artists not to agree to perform there!

4. This Florida Lawyer Pushed a Raccoon into the Sea and Watched It Drown

A lawyer from Clearwater, Florida was out at sea when he noticed there was a raccoon on his boat. Apparently the boat had hidden in the boat to sleep. When the raccoon woke up and came out, they already set sail. The lawyer and his friends shooed at it and pushed it off the boat. They thought it was funny, so they recorded as they told the raccoon “so long, sucker!” Sign this petition to demand that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission punish him!

5. Stand With Us to Protect the Galapagos Islands’ Giant Tortoises!

Recently, researchers from Galapagos Conservancy and Galapagos National Park discovered a living female giant tortoise on Fernandina Island. It was the first tortoise sighting on that island in 112 years. The Galapagos Conservancy wants to continue to do research and explore Fernandina Island extensively. To show support for the Galapagos Conservancy to protect these rare tortoises, sign this petition!

6. Cruel Men Tore the Wings of a Live Pheasant

A hidden camera was set up in Burnham, Buckinghamshire to catch ‘illegal dumpers,’ but the camera actually caught a disturbing act of animal cruelty. Three boys were filmed filming themselvescruelly cutting a pheasant with a knife and using a slingshot on it. The video has their faces and car license plates, so they should be brought to justice. Sign this petition to ask the Buckingham Police to find them and bring them to justice!

7. This Sweet Endangered Finless Porpoise Cried as It Was Sold for Meat

The finless porpoise is on the red list of threatened species. Catching and selling them is banned and illegal in China, yet someone captured a finless porpoise and it was crying loudly with tears as it was being auctioned off for parts. Thankfully, animal activists purchased the porpoise to release it back into the wild. But sign this petition to ask Chinese authorities to find whoever captured the porpoise so they can punish them and discourage others from doing the same.

8. Stop the Construction of the Koukoutamba Dam That Will Devastate Chimp Habitat!

The Koukoutamba dam in Guinea, West Africa would severely disrupt chimps’ social, behavioral, cultural, economic, and political lives. The chimps depend on the Bafing river, and moving them away will be damaging to their community. This is one of the last remaining protected areas for the western chimpanzee. Please sign this petition to demand that the dam not be constructed for the sake of the chimps!

9. People Are Using Live Animals in the “Claw” Arcade Game and It’s So Inhumane

Claw machines are meant for children to spend coins and have fun attempting to grab a stuffed teddy bear, but a claw machine in China is going viral for having live puppies in the machine. Like stuffed animals, they are repeatedly poked, dropped, and banged. This is inhumane and cruel. Puppies also aren’t the only living creatures being treated this way. This is also done with lobsters, turtles, crabs, and cats. Sign this petition asking the Chinese government to investigate the video that went viral and put an end to this!

10. Demand an End to Swim-With-The-Dolphins Facilities

Dolphins deserve to swim free in the ocean. They do not belong in captivity in small pools, and they should not be exploited for profit and people’s entertainment. They are social creatures with strong family bonds who are also very intelligent. Sign this petition which will go to plenty of companies like Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Holidays, and more if you stand against facilities that have swim-with-the-dolphin activities.

This article was first published by OneGreenPlanet on 22 May 2019.