Thanks to viral videos by Blanka Alfaro Pola, the Latin
American communications coordinator at Mercy For Animals, a bill that would
have stripped hundreds of thousands of animals in Mexico from protections was stopped
in its tracks.
American communications coordinator at Mercy For Animals, a bill that would
have stripped hundreds of thousands of animals in Mexico from protections was stopped
in its tracks.
Blanka voiced her opposition to the bill, which had passed
the Nuevo Leon legislature unanimously, through videos uploaded to Facebook.
The first video, which soon went viral, mobilized thousands of citizens to express
their concerns through social media and an online petition.
the Nuevo Leon legislature unanimously, through videos uploaded to Facebook.
The first video, which soon went viral, mobilized thousands of citizens to express
their concerns through social media and an online petition.
The second video, which also went viral, detailed the
implications of the bill should it become law. Blanka invited people to use the
hashtag #BroncoVetoInteligente or #BroncoSmartVeto to encourage Governor Jaime
Rodríguez Calderón to veto the bill. (“Bronco is the governor’s nickname.)
implications of the bill should it become law. Blanka invited people to use the
hashtag #BroncoVetoInteligente or #BroncoSmartVeto to encourage Governor Jaime
Rodríguez Calderón to veto the bill. (“Bronco is the governor’s nickname.)
Governor Calderón responded with a declaration that he would
veto the “Animal Protection Act, which ironically would have taken protections
away from animals:
veto the “Animal Protection Act, which ironically would have taken protections
away from animals:
Congress passed a law that I think
lacked a bit of discussion. … If I veto it, it goes back to Congress and
Congress can re-propose it, but this time with a deeper discussion and taking
into account the opinion of those who do not agree with that Act.
Specifically, the law would have left pigs, cows, chickens,
goats, sheep, and turkeys completely unprotected. It would have made dogfighting
a lesser crime, permitted the sale of companion animals in street markets, and
stripped protections from wild animals as well.
goats, sheep, and turkeys completely unprotected. It would have made dogfighting
a lesser crime, permitted the sale of companion animals in street markets, and
stripped protections from wild animals as well.
Those of us who defend the defenseless are creating a kinder
world. As Margaret Mead said, “Never underestimate the power of a small group
of committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has.
world. As Margaret Mead said, “Never underestimate the power of a small group
of committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has.
You can help spare the lives of animals by switching to a
compassionate vegan diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn more.
compassionate vegan diet. Visit ChooseVeg.com to learn more.
