Our Compass

Wikimedia Commons

1. Please click HERE to sign to protect sea turtles
2. Please click HERE to sign to save caribou
3. Please click HERE to discontinue chimpanzee experimentation
4. Please click HERE to stop University of Southern Mississippi from testing on animals
5. Please click HERE to protect wolves from pointless trophy hunting
6. Please click HERE to protect Sea Turtles, Whales, and Seabirds

1. Background | Source
National Wildlife Federation Action Fund

Along our Atlantic coast, rising summer temperatures fueled by climate change are causing fewer eggs of endangered loggerhead sea turtles to produce males–so much so that whole populations of sea turtles along our southern coast could become entirely female.

Sea turtles are depending on us now to help curb climate change and one solution is just waiting for us off the coast of the Atlantic Ocean–clean energy from offshore wind.

The fossil fuel industry is funding efforts to prevent the growth of clean energy, but together, we can make sure offshore wind along the Atlantic coast plays a major role in America’s energy future.

Help sea turtles by editing and sending a message to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, urging them to speed efforts to develop offshore wind energy off the Atlantic coast.

2. Background | Source National Wildlife Federation Action Fund

Right now in Alberta, Canada, booming tar sands operations will push already threatened local caribou herds towards extinction as more and more of their dwindling boreal forest habitat is destroyed.

In order for Big Oil to continue expanding this destructive effort, they need President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline–which would pump up to 830,000 barrels per day of toxic tar sands oil from Canada through the United States.

President Obama is expected to make a final decision on Keystone XL in early 2013.

Speak up for caribou today! Edit and send the message HERE, urging President Obama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline now.

3. Background | Source In Defense of Animals

In January, 2013, a National Institutes of Health (NIH)-appointed panel of experts unanimously recommended steps that would lead to the retirement of most government-held chimpanzees from laboratories to sanctuaries. While not a complete ban on chimpanzee research, it is an enormous step forward and represents a stunningly positive shift in philosophy for the NIH.

We’ve never been this close to getting chimpanzees out of labs and we can’t ease up now. But we want them ALL retired. No Chimp Left Behind!

The “Report from Council of Councils Working Group on Use of Chimpanzees in NIH-Supported Research” recommended that almost all of the 451 chimpanzees “owned” or supported by the NIH who are now at research facilities should be permanently retired from research and moved to sanctuaries. This is great news!

However, the panel called for holding on to 50 chimpanzees – denying them the freedom the experts admit is ethically required – just to keep them available for experiments in the future. This is not acceptable, and goes against the growing scientific consensus that chimpanzee research simply is not necessary. And the panel failed to advocate for freeing the estimated 350 chimpanzees who are imprisoned and tortured in privately-operated laboratories.

What you can do: Send an email to the Director of the NIH, Dr. Francis Collins. Tell him that while the Working Group recommendations are mostly positive, he needs to go further and retire all federally “owned” chimpanzees to a sanctuary. Then he needs to work with the U.S. Congress to free ALL chimpanzees from laboratories, not just those who are federally “owned.”

Personalize and submit the form HERE to email your comments to: Dr. Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH)

4. Background | Source Force Change

A research facility at the University of Southern Mississippi has been allowing ticks to feast on rabbits and hamsters. This torture leads to a massive deterioration of health for the animals, and many have to be euthanized because of their injuries. The tick feedings become so extreme that many of the animals are effectively eaten alive.

The hamsters and rabbits suffer from rectal bleeding, ear discoloration, and holes in their ears. It has also been found that this treatment causes the animals to later suffer from anorexia and significant weight loss. The extreme discomfort that the animals suffer through is eventually put to an end when many of them are euthanized.

This type of behavior from a university is unacceptable. The level of abuse that these animals endure is cruel and unnecessary. The workers at the facility should know better than to let innocent animals suffer like this. The fact that the workers can sit back and watch this torture take place without doing anything about it is disgusting. Sign the petition HERE to demand that the university puts an end to this severe animal abuse.

5. Background | Source Humane Society Legislative Fund

With fewer than 700 wolves left in the state, Michigan’s wolf population is only now starting to recover from the brink of extinction. Wolves have been on the protected list in Michigan for nearly 50 years. But sadly, Michigan state politicians just signed a bill allowing wolves to be hunted, putting the fragile wolf population in danger once more.

It’s not right to spend decades bringing the wolf back from the brink of extinction only to turn around and allow them to be killed for sport.

Keep Michigan Wolves Protected is seeking to collect more than 225,000 signatures of Michigan voters to place a referendum on the ballot in 2014 that would allow voters to choose whether or not to enact the legislature’s wolf hunting law.

TAKE ACTION: Please sign the pledge today to show your support for protecting Michigan’s wolves and receive alerts from Keep Michigan Wolves Protected.

6. Background | Source Sea Turtle Restoration Project

We have a chance to expand the protective boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries thanks to the support of thousands of activists like you and the tireless work of Northern California’s Congressional representatives. If approved, the expansion would block all future offshore oil and gas activity from an additional 2,700 square miles of California’s ocean. Please take action today!

Protect Sea Turtles, Whales, and Seabirds

The new Sanctuary boundaries would expand north to include the Sonoma and Mendocino Coasts, and a critical upwelling zone that supports one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world. Pacific leatherback sea turtles, white sharks, blue whales, seabirds and coho salmon are just a few of the endangered and charismatic creatures that rely on this marine habitat for their continued existence.

Oil and Gas Developments Banned Forever

All oil, gas, and mineral developments are prohibited within the National Marine Sanctuaries. Ocean activists and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (now retired) fought for decades to keep Northern California’s coast free from oil drilling. A Marine Sanctuary expansion would mean a historic victory that broadens the protections gained through their years of work.

Take action now:

Click here to add your name in support of expanding California’s National Marine Sanctuaries.

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Wikimedia Commons

BACKGROUND

Montana is a big and beautiful state in the Northern Rocky Mountains of the United States. But… during the past two years this big and beautiful state has allowed a small number of its citizens, and others from outside the state, to persecute and kill over 300 innocent and ecologically vital wolves that lived within the state. In 2011, Montana’s own Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimated the total wolf population there to be about 550 wolves.

When will the persecution and killing of these vital, innocent and beautiful wolves end? When will the humane American majority, including the many voices of humane, respectful and wildlife-loving Montanans, be heard above the brutal and heartless voices of cattlemen, animal abusers and sport killers?

There is a glimmer of hope, of positive change for wolves in Montana, and for all of us who respect and admire wolves and want them protected. Montana has a new Governor, Steve Bullock, who campaigned with reason and decency. He did not pander to the wolf haters and kept an open door to the many wolf defenders who met him.

Now, Governor Bullock quickly has the opportunity to demonstrate that he is indeed a man and a leader who respects ecology, healthy ecosystems and the importance of natural predators, including wolves.

The Montana House of Representatives just passed House Bill 73, that is intended to accelerate the torture and massacre of the remaining wolves in Montana. This wicked legislation would allow each sport killer to kill more wolves, reduce the cost of out of state licenses to kill wolves, allow sport killers to use electronic calls of wolf pups in distress, allow killing of wolves on the perimeter of Yellowstone National Park with no buffer zone and on and on.

The facts speak for themselves:

There are approximately 2,500,000 cattle in Montana. In 2011, just 74 cattle were confirmed to be taken by wolves. 74 out of 2,500,000. That tiny tiny number is statistically zero. But, pathetic cattlemen continue to spread hysterical lies about wolves killing their non-native cattle in numbers too numerous to count. These same cattlemen rely on the ignorance and apathy of the general public, so they can continue their demonization and slaughter of America’s native wolves and grizzlies and mountain lions and bison and wild horses and prairie dogs and anything else that moves.

As for elk, the principle prey of wolves in the Rockies, Montana had 90,000 elk before wolves returned to their native homeland in Montana. Today with wolves back on the land, the state of Montana estimates the current elk population at 140,000. More wolves equals more elk and the elk are much healthier now that wolves are keeping them on their toes, just as nature intended.

Wolves are vital, innocent, highly social, intelligent and family-oriented beings. It is humans that are the mass killers of wolves and every other animal they can shoot, trap, poison and destroy. It is ignorant and violent humans who must be managed and restrained, and who must finally learn to live on this Earth respectfully and with compassion for non-human beings who have as much right as humans to live and prosper across the planet we share.

This week’s WOLF DEFENDER ACTION is to contact Montana’s new Governor, Steve Bullock. Please be respectful and polite. Gov. Bullock is brand new to his position and has taken no action to hurt wolves.

Ask Governor Bullock to put an end to the persecution and massacre of wolves in Montana. Ask him to veto Montana House Bill 73. Ask the governor to be the first governor in the Rocky Mountains to show compassion, decency and respect for living wolves, in Montana and throughout the Rockies. Ask Gov. Bullock to acknowledge the indispensable and positive role, wolves and every other natural predator performs in every healthy ecosystem. Ask him to protect America’s wolves.


WHOM TO CONTACT

Here are three ways to contact Governor Steve Bullock (please be polite and respectful and consider doing all three – I was told he reads letters that are mailed to him directly):

1. By Phone: 1-406-444-3111

2. By EMail: governor@mt.gov

3. By US Mail:
Governor Steve Bullock
Office of the Governor
PO Box 200801
Helena, Montana 59620


SAMPLE LETTER

Dear Governor Bullock,

I am writing today with grave concerns regarding the rapidly declining wolf population in Montana, and the approval of hunting them; it is my understanding that as the result of the delisting of wolves as endangered species, the government has issued a directive permitting the slaughter of wolves. As such, I am requesting that an immediate moratorium be enacted to prohibit wolf hunting and for you to also veto Montana House Bill 73.

It is important to recognize the potential environmental ramifications of such a species decline: the ecology is a delicate entity whereby all elements work with and amongst each other in symbiotic manners; any one imbalance will cause negative influence throughout all species, plant and animal. It is therefore ecologically necessary that we acknowledge the vital role that wolves contribute.

Although some may not consider the wolves as having essential worth, they value their own lives, and the blatant disregard of them not only has broad consequences outside borders but within as well, environmentally and socially. The hunting and killing of this vulnerable group of beings is unacceptable; the foundation upon which these savage hunts is built is unquestionably one of self-serving indulgence, including greed and power.

Please act with compassion and integrity and demonstrate that you are indeed a leader who respects ecology, healthy ecosystems, and the importance of natural predators, including wolves.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent appeal.

NAME

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PETA

BACKGROUND | SOURCE: PETA

According to news reports,  dozens of pigeons were netted and taken from a Ward 46 neighborhood in Chicago this week by two Indiana “farmers.” The men allegedly claimed that they would be transporting the animals to Indiana for “release” and that their activities were sanctioned by a local city commissioner. Sadly, when pigeons are transported out of areas where they are unwanted, they are typically given to hunters as live bait for dog training, used in notoriously cruel pigeon shoots, or sold for vivisection! While Ward 46 Commissioner James Cappleman denies hiring these men, his office has not refuted knowingly allowing them to trap and transport Chicago’s pigeons to Indiana, in violation of Indiana law. Alarmingly, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources advised PETA that Cappleman won’t identify the men, so they cannot yet be held accountable. Your voice is needed!

Please implore Ward 46 Commissioner James Cappleman to cooperate with law enforcement in order to ensure that any cruel and illegal pigeon control activity is immediately halted, and please forward this message widely!

WHOM TO CONTACT

Polite comments can be directed to:

Alderman James Cappleman
46th Ward
City of Chicago
info@james46.org

SAMPLE COMMENT

Dear Alderman Cappleman,

According to news reports,  dozens of pigeons were netted and taken from Ward 46 in Chicago this week by two Indiana “farmers.” The men allegedly claimed that they would be transporting the animals to Indiana for “release” and that their activities were sanctioned. Sadly, when pigeons are transported out of areas where they are unwanted, they are typically given to hunters as live bait for dog training, used in notoriously cruel pigeon shoots, or sold for vivisection. While you deny hiring these men, your office has not refuted knowingly allowing them to trap and transport Chicago’s pigeons to Indiana, in violation of Indiana law.

Animals are sentient creatures, capable of love, fear, and pain.  We are obligated to ensure these emotions, so like humans, are addressed in any activities that include them.  We must guarantee that animals are protected from brutality so that actions do not escalate to include greater numbers of animals, or humans.  Indeed, the sad fact that many humans do not appreciate this commonality that humans and animals share does not negate that animals are as protective of and needful for their lives.

As such, please cooperate with law enforcement in order to ensure that any cruel and illegal pigeon control activity is immediately halted.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent appeal.

NAME

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