Animals as entertainment
Project 1882 advocates against all forms of animal exploitation, including for entertainment purposes. Animals are used by humans in the entertainment industry in several different ways. Humans go to the zoo to look at exotic animals, laugh at their tricks at the circus, bet money on them in horse races, and use them in advertising.
Project 1882 advocates for animals in the entertainment industry by:
- Informing the public about why animals should not be seen as entertainment and what can be done about it.
- Putting pressure on politicians and authorities in questions regarding animals. For example, Project 1882 was a driving force in the efforts to ban the use of elephants and sea lions in Swedish circuses, and continues to advocate for limiting the amount of animal species in captivity by a positive list.
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Animals in zoos
In zoos, animals are held captive in confined spaces for the sole purpose of acting as ambassadors of their species, something that exposes wild animals to suffering. Project 1882 advocates for a positive list of which animals are allowed to be kept in zoos and ultimately for zoos to be phased out completely.
Zoos exist primarily because humans want to look at animals close up. Instead, their main purpose is claimed to be for the preservation of endangered species and for education. Protecting animals in their natural habitats and teaching children about empathy for animals in schools, would be better solutions than keeping wild animals in cages. The recurring scandals at zoos highlight this in a clear manner.
Animals in circuses
In circuses, animals are exploited to do tricks and in many cases they are forced to travel long distances in cramped spaces. Project 1882 advocates against all forms of animal exploitation and was a driving force when sea lions and elephants were banned in circuses in Sweden.
The business of a circus is built on the premise that it is perpetually on the move, as well as that the animals should perform unnatural tricks for the audience. The travelling and training can cause stress among the animals. Comprehensive legislation for protecting animals in circuses is still lacking.
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Project 1882 works for a world where animals are respected as sentient individuals with the right to their own lives. Do you agree with us?