Target: Steve Reed, Secretary of State for Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Goal: Enforce ban on advertising that promotes animal exploitation and cruelty in tourism.
When the man behind an elephant welfare advocacy group witnessed baby elephants being beaten and stabbed in the name of tourism, it inspired a dialogue with government leaders in the United Kingdom (UK) and stirred a public outcry. The troubling incident led to a law in the United Kingdom banning advertising of any tourism activities around the world that were underpinned by captivity, training brutality, drugging, and other forms of cruelty inflicted on animals. While this law passed in 2023 with much fanfare and broad support, critics allege it has devolved into little more than a ceremonial slip of paper.
Popular television actor and long-time animal welfare advocate Peter Egan recently called out all UK politicians for failing to ever enforce the law. For example, promotional material is still allowed from Spain that features bull fighting. This lack of accountability enables animal exploitation to continue turning a profit and enriching the people responsible for inhumane “entertainment.”
The government claims it is listening. Sign the petition below to let them know that their failure to follow through on their pledges is unacceptable.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Secretary Reed,
“It is extremely distressing and it is also what makes me more depressed, confused and angry that our government doesn’t act to end the excessive cruelty that is imposed on innocent animals for the entertainment of tourists.” Actor and animal activist Peter Egan speaks for the one million-plus people who signed a petition in favor of the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act as well as the countless other individuals who supported an effort that has ultimately born no fruit. Signing your name to a piece of legislation means nothing if those signatures do not carry with them the full power of enforcement.
Your department recently claimed, “This government was elected on a mandate to introduce the most ambitious plans to improve animal welfare in a generation. That is exactly what we will do.” Make good on this promise and do not render the declaration empty and meaningless.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Mateus Braganca de Carvalho
