After a relentless pursuit by PETA and other animal protection organisations, the Wild Animals in Circus Bill comes into effect, which prevents circus operators across England from exploiting wild animals in the name of human entertainment.
The Wild Animals in Circus Bill passed by the British Parliament in July 2019, was put in to effect last week.
According to the bill, no travelling circuses in England can now employ wild animals for human entertainment.
The move to ban wild-animal circuses came after animal welfare groups such as Animal Defenders International (ADI) released horrific undercover footage collected from 1993 that exposed the inhumane conditions prevalent in the then-thriving circus industry.
PETA efforts
In the following 20 years, PETA members contacted their MPs, appealed in parliamentary meetings through protests, mobilized petitions urging ministers to introduce a ban and released powerful ads to strengthen their case.
“Our petition urging Michael Gove and environment ministers before him to introduce a ban garnered tens of thousands of signatures – a testament to the shift in perspective on animal rights and the growing calls for the government to take action against animal exploitation,” wrote PETA in a statement.
Groups including the RSPCA, Animal Justice Project, the Born Free Foundation, Animal Defenders International, Viva!, Animal Aid, and the Captive Animals’ Protection Society also joined PETA in sending a letter in 2016, to remind the ruling government ‘to work on introducing a ban.’
The bill was passed after 20 years of collective protests, ad campaigns, and pressure from animal protection groups, celebrities, and the public.
Global ban
Over 40 countries have already passed such bans including both Ireland and Scotland, which implemented bans in 2018.
New Jersey became the first state in the United States followed by Hawaii to implement a similar ban in December 2018.
Last year, Wales also proposed a similar law banning wild-animal circuses, which has been approved across parties.
What else should governments do to protect animals from barbaric commercial activities? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
First-ever plant-based training programme to launch in the UK
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 22nd January 2021
“We hope to inspire and empower the next generation of chefs through the HIT course by highlighting just how easy it is to add creative meat-free dishes to menus.” HIT Training has launched a new plant-based culinary school in the UK. The chef academy has teamed up with meat-free pioneer, Quorn to present an eight-month …
Michelin star awarded to a vegan restaurant in France for the first time
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 19th January 2021
Vegan eatery ONA has also been awarded Michelin’s green star – in recognition of its strong ethical practices. A vegan French restaurant has won a Michelin Guide star, the first for an establishment serving only meat-free products in France. Claire Vallee runs the ONA restaurant in the city of Ares, near Bordeaux, in south-west France. …
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …