Attention all animal rights activists, environmentalists, and anyone else who simply cares: be sure to take action on the following issues this week!

Save Sea Turtles

Right now, the military is planning on expanding their base at Okinawa, which begs several questions for sure; but one in particular is regarding sea turtles. The expansion would call for the destruction of some very sensitive coral reefs—reefs which green sea turtles and endangered hawksbill call home. Every time I hear news like this, I feel so indignant—who are we to say which species survive and which species live? Every time we mess with life on Earth, we tip the fragile ecological balance and we don’t stop to think of the consequences. Overall, 1,000 species would be affected by this single project. If you oppose the expansion, please click here and tell President Obama and his staff to reconsider.

Protect Arizona Rabbits

Many people are already boycotting Arizona University due to the state’s new discriminatory anti-immigration laws, but there is another ethical concern with the university itself—animal testing. Rabbits, frogs, pregnant rats and other animals are currently cut open while alive so that students can witness their hearts beating. These sentient beings feel every bit of pain inflected on them in this cruel manner. Please write to Michael Crow, president of ASU, and ask him to incorporate new humane research methods into the curriculum instead of these current means.

Tell the USDA Happy Mother’s Day

One of the most horrifying exhibits I witnessed last time I went to the zoo was the elephant exhibit. With so little room, no contact with a herd like they would normally have in the wild, and separated from most of the other elephants due to room limitations, the elephants bobbed their heads in distress and looked every bit as miserable as you’d think they’d be in a zoo. By clicking here, you can print out a Mother’s Day card featuring elephants and send it to the USDA, letting them know that baby elephants stolen from their mothers and used in circuses aren’t something that we want in a conscionable, ethical world.

Don’t Buy from PetCo or PetSmart

I always try to get friends to remember not to purchase goods—and especially pets—from these stores, which not only have records of mistreating animals themselves, but also get their animals from unfit suppliers. If you need more evidence to support boycotting these stores, please click here to see how their animals are treated. Remember, spending or refusing to spend our dollars is just as effective—if not moreso—as voting or sending a letter for a cause.