6 reasons to sign petitions to help animals

Petitions - are they worth it?

Some people dispute whether they do actually contribute towards making a change, but I would argue that surely it's better to sign something and follow its progress, sharing the word about it and raising people's knowledge of it, rather than to sit back and do nothing.

And there are a number of petition websites giving people all over the world a chance to get involved and make a difference by signing a petition which can be very local to you.

I often find myself having a browse around one petition website and discovering more and more petitions I care about and want to sign, and then share.

And that thought got me to thinking....there are reasons to sign and share, rather than not.

6 reasons to sign petitions...

1.   You can be a voice for those who have no voice

You can represent those who are powerless and relying on you to be their voice, to do something for their plight.   They are outside any system which gives them a voice.  But you can be their voice instead.  Act for them.

2.   You can go on a journey of discovery

Petitions and petition websites can be amazingly educational.  

You can find out more about an issue.  Sometimes you may not even know about it.   Rainforest Rescue has a petition at the moment to the management of Nestle, Nespresso and other coffee producers.   It says, "The production of coffee pods wastes thousands of tons of aluminium.   Take them off the market now."  You can read about the impact these pods are having on the Brazilian rainforest here.  It's a chance to explore the issues and challenges.

3.   You can spread the word

You can then raise awareness of the issue - the more people who now about it, the better.  Petitions need numbers.  And at least then people will be aware of it, even if they choose not to sign.

4.   Stop, look and think about what you're doing

Petitions give you a chance to stop, take a look at your own habit and behaviours, and to think, well, what am I doing that doesn't help wildlife, domestic animals, working animals, marine life?  The immediate example that springs to mind is the Yulin Dog Festival in China.   It may make you very angry that people are eating dogs and particularly for treating and killing them in such a cruel way - but how often do the meat eaters among us consider how the animals we eat are killed?   What can we do to reduce or exclude meat from our diets?

5.   Petitions can be very effective

The purpose of any petition is to make a change happen.   And if it's successful, a change will result.  The petition will achieve the change it's after.   Lots of petitions do have an impact and are successful.  At worst, you may have done the four things above.   Sign, and you can often be updated by a petition's progress by its organisers.

6.   Signing can strengthen your resolve

Signing a petition may strengthen your determination to make the world a better place for animals.  Taking one action is better than doing none at all.   One step can lead to another.  And signing a petition and seeing what others are doing may inspire you to start a petition of your own.  Lots of petition websites give you the facility to do just that, and also provide lots of helpful guidance and tips along the way.

So please, sign petitions and keep signing.  Here are some petition websites you can take a look at which have a range of petitions to take a look at.

Here's to making the world a better place.   There's no time like now for starting!