Actors, musicians, directors back Federal Bill to end the use of wild animals in circuses across the US
WASHINGTON, DC — The Traveling Exotic Animal and Public Safety Protection Act (TEAPSPA), a bipartisan bill from Representatives Ryan Costello (R-PA) and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) to end the use of wild and exotic animals in traveling shows in the US. Supported by Animal Defenders International (ADI) and over a dozen celebrities from the entertainment industry, the bill will be introduced to Congress on Tuesday March 28th.
A new short film ‘The Reluctant Entertainers’ features actors, musicians and directors explaining the reasons to end the suffering of wild animals in circuses and inviting Congress to “leave the entertaining to those of us who want to perform, we have the choice”.
CSI stars Jorja Fox (‘Sarah Sidle’) and Eric Szmanda (‘Greg Sanders’), are spearheading the ADI campaign and will speak in support of the bill along with Reps Costello and Grijalva, former Congressman Jim Moran and ADI President Jan Creamer.
When: PRESS CONFERENCE: Tuesday, March 28th at 1.30pm.
Where: 421 Cannon House Office Building
ADI President Jan Creamer, said “The evidence is clear – traveling circuses cannot meet the needs of wild animals. That’s why over 30 countries have already passed similar laws and the time is right for the US to do the same.”
TEAPSPA original cosponsors include: Gerald Connolly D-VA (11), Hank Johnson D-GA (4), James Langevin D-RI (2), Barbara Lee D-CA (13), Ted Lieu D-CA (33), Martha McSally R-AZ (2), Gregory Meeks D-NY (5), Mike Quigley D-IL (5), Janice Schakowsky D-IL (9).
Background – worldwide movement to end the use of wild animals in traveling shows. The evidence that the suffering caused to wild animals by the constant travel, severe restrictions on movement, and unnatural lifestyle has prompted authorities and governments around the world to end their use.
In the United States, 71 jurisdictions in 27 states have taken action to ban or restrict traveling wild animal acts. And around the world, hundreds of local ordinances are in place, including in the UK, Europe, and Latin America.
National restrictions on performing animals in travelling circuses, either wild or all animals, have been enacted in 34 countries – Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Israel, Latvia, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, and The Netherlands. Similar laws are under discussion in the UK, USA, Brazil and Chile.
Animal Defenders International (ADI): Los Angeles – London – Bogota
Ending the suffering of animals in captivity and protecting wild animals and their environments: animals in entertainment – film, television, advertising, circuses, and sport or leisure; animals used for food or fur; protection of wildlife and the environment; trade in animals, zoos, pets, entertainment and laboratories; and funding and promotion of advanced scientific methods to replace the use of animals in research. ADI investigates, produces evidence, reports on the scientific, legal, and economic issues for each case study, and recommends solutions, providing education and awareness to the public, media, and officials. Where ADI’s evidence has been a catalyst for change, ADI also collaborates with governments to conduct large-scale seizures of wild animals in captivity, and relocate them to forever homes – back to their natural habitat wherever possible.
http://www.ad-international.org/adi_home/
