2011 was tough--when
people weren't bemoaning budget cuts, lining up outside job fairs or fretting
over the stagnant housing market, they were listening to worrisome news about
the war in Afghanistan, political shootings and natural disasters. But things
weren't all bad. There were signs of progress and reasons to be positive,
especially when it comes to issues that impact animals. As we head into the new year, let's reflect upon some of the things that
made 2011 memorable for animals.
Eight of the nation's largest financial institutions,
including MetLife, Goldman Sachs, PNC Financial and U.S. Bank, stopped using
glue traps after People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) explained that
animals who get stuck in them often suffocate and die slowly. The Social
Security Administration, Georgia Institute of Technology and Toronto District
School Board--the fourth-largest school district in North America--also agreed to
use more humane methods of rodent control.
In 2011, West
Hollywood became the first city in the U.S. to ban the sale of fur. City council
members in Toronto and Irvine, Calif., banned the sale of cats
and dogs in pet stores. Ro deos and circuses that feature exotic animals were
also prohibited in Irvine, and Fulton County--the
most populous municipality in Georgia--banned the use of bullhooks, sharp
steel-tipped devices that are commonly used to beat, jab or yank on elephants.
Also in 2011, eight top
advertising agencies pledged never again to feature great apes--who are often
torn away from their mothers shortly after birth and beaten in order to force
them to perform on cue--in their advertisements. Capital One pulled an ad
featuring a chimpanzee and pledged not to use nonhuman primates in its
advertisements again. The blockbuster film Rise
of the Planet of the Apes featured CGI animation to create
realistic-looking apes without exploiting and abusing animals.
Aspen, Colo.,
became the first city in the U.S. to launch a comprehensive Meatless Monday
campaign -- local
restaurants, schools, hospitals and businesses are now promoting plant-based
meals on Mondays. The board of commissioners in Durham County, N.C., also
signed a "Meatless Mondays" resolution, and several more celebrities,
including Russell Brand, Eliza Dushku and Ozzy Osbourne, went vegan in 2011. The
Rev. Al Sharpton also ditched meat from his diet.
Many
of these developments were brought about, at least in part, by PETA, but everyone
can bring about change simply by resolving to be kinder, greener and healthier
in the coming year. By taking simple steps such as buying cruelty-free
products, choosing meatless meals, wearing animal-friendly fashions and
enjoying animal-free entertainment, we can all help make 2012 even better than
2011.