Late last week, the Christie administration said it will back off its plan to commercialize Liberty State Park!
This is fantastic news, but our state parks are still at risk. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced the state would move forward with its plan to privatize the other 38 state parks to make up for massive budget shortfalls.
We saved Liberty State Park because our allies, including Friends of Liberty State Park, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, and thousands of New Jersey LCV supporters raised their voices. If we keep up the pressure, we can protect our other state parks from getting developed.
Send a message to the DEP now. Tell Commissioner Martin you support the decision not to privatize Liberty State Park, but that he should not use our parks to solve the budget crisis.
The Christie administration calls this scheme the “Sustainable Parks” initiative. But that's an incredibly deceptive name. The goal of the program is to get parks to generate revenue because the administration has been reckless with our state budget.1
If the DEP puts this plan into place, entire sections of parks would be leased to private developers. We'd see more concession stands and trash in sensitive environments. And entrance fees could go up, making state parks even less accessible to low-income families.
Our state parks are a place where children can swim and families can get away from traffic and pavement. We could lose the tranquility our state parks offer if there's more development and fewer areas kept wild.
The DEP is keeping its hands off Liberty State Park because "everybody piled on."2 If we raise our voices again, we can keep our other 38 parks from getting leased to private developers.
Tell the DEP you oppose any attempt to commercialize our state parks.
Thanks for all that you do to protect our water, air, and open spaces.
Success: Greyhound Racing Ends in Arizona.
1 - "Christie administration unveils ideas for hotel, theater, amusements at Liberty State Park," NorthJersey.com, November 24, 2015.
2 - "Liberty State Park advocates cheer DEP decision to abandon development," Politico New Jersey, May 12, 2016.
This is fantastic news, but our state parks are still at risk. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Bob Martin announced the state would move forward with its plan to privatize the other 38 state parks to make up for massive budget shortfalls.
We saved Liberty State Park because our allies, including Friends of Liberty State Park, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, and thousands of New Jersey LCV supporters raised their voices. If we keep up the pressure, we can protect our other state parks from getting developed.
Send a message to the DEP now. Tell Commissioner Martin you support the decision not to privatize Liberty State Park, but that he should not use our parks to solve the budget crisis.
The Christie administration calls this scheme the “Sustainable Parks” initiative. But that's an incredibly deceptive name. The goal of the program is to get parks to generate revenue because the administration has been reckless with our state budget.1
If the DEP puts this plan into place, entire sections of parks would be leased to private developers. We'd see more concession stands and trash in sensitive environments. And entrance fees could go up, making state parks even less accessible to low-income families.
Our state parks are a place where children can swim and families can get away from traffic and pavement. We could lose the tranquility our state parks offer if there's more development and fewer areas kept wild.
The DEP is keeping its hands off Liberty State Park because "everybody piled on."2 If we raise our voices again, we can keep our other 38 parks from getting leased to private developers.
Tell the DEP you oppose any attempt to commercialize our state parks.
Thanks for all that you do to protect our water, air, and open spaces.
Success: Greyhound Racing Ends in Arizona.
Target: Chris Ackerly, Arizona State Representative
Goal: Praise Arizona for ending the cruel practice of greyhound racing.
There will be no more greyhound races in Arizona by the end of this year, thanks to a bill passed by the state legislature. This law came about because of petitions on ForceChange and work by activists in the state of Arizona. According to KJZZ radio, Tuscan Greyhound Park is Arizona’s only remaining dog race track, and it makes all its revenue by simulcasting and offering betting for other races in different locations. The Tuscan track has continued to run Greyhound races only because Arizona law mandated that they offer live racing in order to offer simulcasting and off-track betting. But thanks to this new law, the Tuscan track will end its live races.
Greyhound racing is a cruel practice that often causes serious injury—like broken bones and even paralysis—to the animals. The dogs are kept in cramped cages for up to 20 hours a day with little social contact, and because they are constantly muzzled, they develop mouth sores. The Tuscan race track has one of the worst records in the country for dog injuries, and in the past, trainers have tested positive for hard drugs.
Thanks to this bill, the Tuscan track will no longer be running live races, and Arizona will become the 39th state to end greyhound racing. Sign the petition below to thank Tuscan’s state representative for crafting the bill that will end this cruel practice in Arizona.
Dear Representative Ackerly,
I want to thank you for crafting the bill that will end greyhound racing in Arizona. Greyhound racing is a cruel practice that often results in serious injury to the animals. The dogs live sad lives in abhorrent conditions; they are constantly muzzled and confined to cramped cages—arrangements that can easily spread diseases. Thanks to your bill, dogs will no longer suffer under these conditions in Arizona.
Your work on this legislation, reaching a compromise between the Tuscan Greyhound Park and the advocates for the end of greyhound racing, is commendable. You will end the suffering of hundreds of animals despite the business interests that favor exploiting them. Your work on this bill provides hope that more future compromises can be reached despite a political environment that is so often polarized. I hope you will continue to work on legislation that benefits animal welfare in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Bergadder
We're so excited that Staten Island is choosing to use non-lethal methods to address deer overpopulation. A comprehensive plan will be put into place to protect natural spaces, address traffic dangers, and keep deer population growth in check by implementing male birth control methods. We want to thank the leaders who made it happen!
Thank the deer friends making humane choices in Staten Island:
Will you email these elected officials and thank them for supporting humane policies?Staten Island Borough President James Oddo - Click here to email!
City Council Member Debi Rose - Click here to email!
City Council Member Steven Matteo - Click here to email!
City Council Member Joe Borelli - Click here to email!
Staten Island has a spiking deer population. That's dangerous in any environment but especially so in a city like New York, where it was becoming a staggering problem. But rather than responding with backwards policies like hunting the deer, the city Parks Department bucked the pressure from hunters and listened to our voices. They're adopting humane policies and using non-lethal methods instead. Not only is this progress for deer but this new policy shows that we don't need to choose between people and animals: we can protect both!
The Parks Department will provide birth control to the male stags as a way to reduce the overwhelming deer population on the island. The city will also employ other non-lethal approaches like increasing public education on sharing an urban space with deer, putting better traffic measures in place, and using fencing, tree guards, and deer-resistant planting to protect natural spaces from the deer.
Not only are non-lethal approaches more humane than hunting, they're more effective. The comprehensive plan will keep people and natural spaces safe while controlling the deer population. Creating a non-lethal plan is what we've all been striving for - let's thank Staten Island elected officials for making the humane choice!
We're excited to see New York City continue to make animal welfare a priority and choose non-lethal humane options!
Wild Horses Will Be Protected In Arizona.
Target: Kelly Townsend, Representative in Arizona State Legislature
Goal: Praise new policy which protects Salt River wild horses in Arizona.
Salt River wild horses will now be protected under Arizona law, thanks to a bill which recently passed both the Arizona Senate and House of Representatives. In the past, the U.S. Forest Service has removed Salt River wild horses from their home in Tonto National Forest, on the basis that they are stray livestock which could pose harm to humans. Thanks to pressure from wild horse advocates and petitions like this one on ForceChange, Arizona has passed a law which clarifies that Salt River wild horses are not stray livestock, and criminalizes killing or harassing them.
The state of Arizona will still have to come to an agreement with federal agencies about how the wild horses will be humanely managed, but this bill, which the governor is expected to sign, is a huge victory. The population of Salt River wild horses in Arizona has declined dramatically over the past four decades—less than 500 remain in the wild—and one of the major reasons for the decline is forced displacement. The Salt River wild horses have lived in Arizona for generations and they have never caused harm to humans. There is no reason to believe these horses are pests or safety threats.
This bill will ensure that the wild horses are protected and are allowed to live in the forest where they belong. Sign the petition below to thank the bill’s sponsor for standing up for wild horses in Arizona.
Dear Representative Townsend,
I want to thank you for sponsoring the bill which will protect the Salt River wild horses in Arizona. The Salt River wild horses have lived in Arizona for generations. Their numbers have dramatically declined, partly because the federal government has treated them like stray livestock and potentially dangerous pests. Thanks to this bill, these horses will be recognized as wild animals and will be allowed to live freely in their natural habitat.
Worldwide, animal species are disappearing at an alarming rate, because of the rampant environmental destruction that humans are causing. Your bill is a way of forming a partnership with nature, rather than exploiting it. The wild horses in Arizona’s Tonto National Forest bring delight to the humans who see them. Such interactions provide hope that we can live in harmony with the animals who share our home.
Thank you for taking a stand for the wild horses of Arizona. I hope you continue to work on animal friendly legislation in the future.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: John Harwood
| Stables for working horses in Petra |
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Victory for Vieques! In a major win for wildlife and public lands, the damaging provision to give away thousands of acres of a national wildlife refuge has been dropped.
In a victory for wildlife and public lands everywhere, Congress has rejected the massive public lands giveaway of thousands of acres of the incredible Vieques National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico. This blatant public lands attack was tucked into must-pass legislation addressing the Puerto Rican financial crisis. Thankfully, after a huge outcry of support for public lands as well as broad and growing opposition to the specific provision, a new version of the bill was released last evening, and the assault on the Vieques refuge lands has been removed!
If it had succeeded, this public lands giveaway would have put endangered sea turtles, incredible bird life and amazing manatees at risk. It would have hurt the local economy. It would also have fueled the fringe groups attempting to move a radical anti-public lands agenda across America.
This victory for Vieques is truly a victory for public lands everywhere. It shows what we can accomplish when we take a stand and make it clear to Congress that the American people love wildlife and our public lands! Let’s keep up the effort as we continue to confront attacks like this on our wildlife refuges, other public lands, and the Endangered Species Act itself. Working together as the voice for wildlife, we can make a real difference.
Thank Shelter for Saving Over 5,000 Kittens.
Target: Gregory Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society
Goal: Thank animal welfare organization for saving over 5,000 kittens.
The Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles has saved over 5,000 kittens. This shelter had a kitten nursery built specifically for young kittens who need 24/7 care. The shelter has even received kittens with the placenta still attached.
Volunteers rub the kittens’ bellies to stimulate their bladders and bowels, bottle feed the babies and provide socialization. Constant care is critical for these kittens.
Kittens are a high risk population for euthanasia because there are so many and because they require constant care. The opening of the nursery has helped save thousands of lives. Sign the petition and thank the shelter’s dedication to helping these animals.
Dear Mr. Castle,
Due to the overpopulation of stray cats in the Los Angeles area, kittens face a high risk for euthanasia due to the sheer number of them and their need for constant care. In response, the Best Friends Animal Society in Los Angeles opened a kitten nursery made specifically for young kittens who need 24/7 care.
Thanks to this nursery and the dedicated volunteers, over 5,000 kittens have been saved. Thank you for going to such lengths to save this high risk population. I hope more shelters are inspired by your actions and build kitten nurseries of their own.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Jessica Peralta
2 - "Liberty State Park advocates cheer DEP decision to abandon development," Politico New Jersey, May 12, 2016.
