April 20, 2010 - This year, April 22 will mark the 40th anniversary of the first Earth Day. The Humane Society of the United States is celebrating Earth Day with a rally for whale protection and encouraging consumers to make greener choices on their plates and in their backyards.
Rally for Whales in Washington
Humane Society International, The HSUS and partner organizations are rallying to protect whales on April 22, in honor of Earth Day. The event will be held on the National Mall and will urge President Barack Obama to oppose an International Whaling Commission deal that, if approved, would suspend the commercial whaling moratorium for 10 years and would allow whaling nations to hunt whales for commercial purposes, even in designated sanctuaries. Link: http://www.hsus.org/hsi/oceans/whales/take_action_to_save_whales/earth_day/rally_for_whales_041210.html
Chefs for Seals in Miami:
The HSUS, world-renowned photographer Nigel Barker and Chefs for Seals will host a party on Earth Day in Miami's design district to bring attention to the largest slaughter of marine mammals on the planet. Chefs for Seals is an informal group of chefs that hosts events to raise public awareness about the plight of the harp seals killed in Canada's annual commercial seal hunt. These chefs are among the many thousands of chefs and restaurant owners across the country who have chosen to reduce or eliminate their sales of Canadian seafood until the seal hunt ends for good. This Miami event is a celebration both of seals and of the compassionate chefs who are working together to save them.
Giving Back to Wildlife
Buffalo Exchange, a resale clothing company with 39 stores in 14 states, is celebrating Earth Day by holding a special Dollar Day sale on Saturday, April 24 (April 25 at the Costa Mesa, Calif. location). All sale items offered for $1 each will benefit the Don’t Trash Wildlife program of The HSUS, as well as HSUS’ three wildlife centers that rescue and rehabilitate wild animals. Link: http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/wild_neighbors/dont_trash_wildlife.pdf
Customers can bring animal fur items, including all fur apparel, fur trims and fur accessories, to any Buffalo Exchange store and let the staff know it is a Coats for Cubs donation.
Eat Green
There is no doubt that animal agriculture is one of the most significant contributors to global, human-induced greenhouse gas emissions. Intensive factory farming also harms the environment by polluting the air and water.
You can help improve the health of the planet by choosing a more humane diet. The HSUS offers information about the Three Rs of humane eating—to encourage the refinement of the most abusive industry practices, the reduction of animal consumption, and the replacement of animal products with healthy vegetarian alternatives—and offers easy and delicious recipes: http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/eating/recipes/recipes.html
Help Wildlife in Your Backyard
Choices you make in your own backyard have a direct effect on animals and the environment. Here’s how to make your backyard greener and more welcoming to wildlife.
* Restore natural habitat and spare yourself some mowing by removing some of your lawn to add habitat “islands” and border gardens.
* Choose native plants, grasses and flowers, which need little or no watering and are resistant to native pests. This will eliminate your need for pesticides and attract birds and butterflies as well.
* Eliminate the need for fertilizers, which harms aquatic life when it washes into streams and ponds, by planting hearty grasses meant for your region and leaving clippings on the lawn after mowing. Instead of using chemical herbicides to kill weeds, mulch around plantings with shredded leaves and twigs from your yard.
* Avoid cutting down dead trees in springtime whenever possible. Old, decaying trees provide important habitat for wild animals, who nest in them during spring.
* Use tree trimmings to create a brush pile, which will provide shelter for birds, rabbits and other small animals.
* Use humane methods to solve conflicts with wild animals, who are likely to have young at this time of year. Learn about alternatives to trapping at humanesociety.org/wildneighbors.
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