Top 5 PETA Victories for Animals in 2019
It’s been a landmark year for PETA. Watch this video to see some of the action we’ve taken to end speciesism right here in the UK and around the globe in 2019:
And here’s just a selection of the many victories for animals we achieved throughout the year (in no particular order, as they’re all so tremendous):
- Pfizer Bans Forced Swim Test
Campaigns led by PETA and our international affiliates persuaded Pfizer to join other pharmaceutical giants – including Johnson & Johnson, Roche, AbbVie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Sage Therapeutics, AstraZeneca, and Novo Nordisk A/S – that have banned the forced swim test.This exciting progress for animals means no more small animals will be terrified in near-drowning experiments in Pfizer laboratories! - Greggs Launches Vegan Sausage RollIn January, the world experienced full-blown #VeganSausageRoll mania. The hashtag dominated the Twittersphere, “Trying the NEW Greggs Vegan Sausage Roll” videos became a staple on YouTube, daytime-TV presenters dedicated segments to the pastry, and everyone everywhere was desperate to get their hands on one – the rolls were selling out nationwide for weeks.PETA first approached Greggs about offering a vegan sausage roll in 2015, and more than 20,000 supporters signed our petition asking the chain to offer the pastry in 2018 – and it happened. The most buzzed-about launch of 2019 means the skyrocketing number of vegans, vegetarians, and flexitarians around the UK are always close to a quick and delicious plant-based snack.
- Wild-Animal Circuses Are Banned in EnglandCelebrations were in full swing at PETA in July after Parliament finally passed a bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses across England.Following years of campaigning, from 19 January 2020, circus operators across England will no longer be able to exploit wild animals in the name of human entertainment.Then environment secretary Michael Gove introduced the bill in May, stating, “Travelling circuses are no place for wild animals in the 21st century and I am pleased that this legislation will put an end to this practice for good.”
- Ireland Bans Fur FarmingIn June, Ireland’s cabinet agreed to phase out fur farming in the Republic. The country’s minister for agriculture, Michael Creed, explained the decision:There has been considerable international and societal debate about fur farming. … [I]t is clear that there has been a shift in societal expectations in relation to the sector and recent veterinary evidence suggests that the farming of mink is counter to good animal welfare.PETA and other animal protection groups have long campaigned against this abusive industry, which confines animals who long for their freedom to wire cages for their entire miserable lives before killing them by filling their lungs with poison gas.
- Major Travel Companies Ditch SeaWorldThis year was major for animals trapped in SeaWorld’s watery prisons – influential travel providers the world over cut ties with the abusement parks after hearing from PETA and its international affiliates.UK travel providers British Airways and Virgin Holidays both said “No, thanks” to keeping marine mammals in tanks, and Airbnb, TripAdvisor, and Booking.com quickly followed suit. Their decisions make a huge difference to the lives of all the animals languishing in SeaWorld’s parks, getting them one step closer to freedom.
Thank You!
Every one of these victories occurred because caring, determined people refused to look away, give up, or stay silent while animals suffered. Until every cage is empty, every chain is broken, and every animal is treated with respect, PETA will not stop. Will you join us?
Sign up for e-mail updates and we’ll send you urgent petitions and other actions that will help secure even more victories for animals in 2019.
