Happy Monday 👋

Did you know that one animal is abused or mistreated every 60 seconds in the US alone? 

Unfortunately, animals around the world are subject to cruel practices at the hands of humans, from inhumane farming practices and laboratory experiments to the illegal wildlife trade and overflowing animal shelters…

So, today, I would like to share an event with you that fights to ensure that all animals are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve!

Here are the impactful insights that I have for you today:

• Raising awareness of animal rights 🐑 
• The world’s first indigenous-led ocean reserve 🏝️
• How elephants have inspired natural cooling tiles for buildings 🆒
• Discussion of the week: traditions that bring us together 💬
• And more… 💚

🐑 Event of the Week: Animal Rights Awareness Week

👉 Did you know that this week (June 16-22) is Animal Rights Awareness Week? During this week, animal advocates come together to raise awareness of the rights animals deserve as sentient beings. 

1️⃣ The big picture: Animal Rights Awareness Week was founded in 1991 by the activist group In Defense of Animals. The aim was to honor and remember the animals who have been subject to exploitation, abuse, and death at the hands of humans, as well as uplift the idea of animal rights. Since its founding, Animal Rights Awareness Week has grown into a global movement for animal rights. Every year, events, campaigns, and activities are promoted to highlight the importance of treating animals with respect. The movement advocates for the humane treatment of animals across all settings including wildlife, pets, and farm animals, as well as localized problems such as feral cat populations. 

2️⃣ Why is this important: In the US alone, an estimated 10 million animals die from abuse, 6.3 million cats and dogs enter animal shelters, and 110 million animals are killed in laboratories every year. In addition, over 78 billion animals are killed for food each year around the world after living in cramped, unhygienic conditions their entire lives. Unfortunately, animal cruelty is rife in all its forms, from animal hoarding to the illegal wildlife trade which is now worth over $20 billion annually. 

3️⃣ How can you get involved: You can get involved in Animal Rights Awareness Week by setting up an awareness or fundraising event in your own community to promote animal rights. You can also advocate for better legislation to protect animals or spread the word online using the #AnimalRightsAwarenessWeek hashtag. Furthermore, you can consider going vegan to take a stand against cruel animal farming practices or volunteering for a local animal shelter. 

Below are our favorite charities that are especially relevant for this awareness event:

• 20 Best Animal Charities to Donate to
• 18 Best Charities That Fight to End Animal Cruelty
• 9 Best Charities That Fight for Animal Protection
• 14 Best Charities That Help Abused Animals
• 9 Best Charities to Adopt a Pet Animal

If you are looking for additional inspiration, you can find a wide range of charitable causes to support in our charity support blog.

📢 Three Good News

🏝️ Pacific Islands launch groundbreaking indigenous-led ocean reserve:

• Pacific island nations are planning to create the world’s first Indigenous-led marine reserve. The governments of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu have announced their commitment to create the Melanesian Ocean Reserve, with ongoing conversations with Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. 
• The reserve will focus on sustainable economic activities that align with Indigenous values while addressing challenges like illegal fishing that currently plague these waters. 
• The reserve will safeguard one of Earth’s most biodiverse marine regions, protecting thousands of species, including 75% of known corals and over 3,000 reef fish species.

🆒 Fungi tiles, inspired by elephant skin, cool buildings naturally:

• Scientists at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University have developed innovative fungi tiles that mimic elephant skin to naturally cool buildings without electricity.
• This breakthrough will potentially reduce the construction industry’s massive carbon footprint which accounts for nearly 40% of all energy-related emissions worldwide.
• The elephant skin-inspired fungi tiles cool 25% faster than flat mycelium tiles and their cooling effect improves by an additional 70% in simulated rainy conditions.

🌲 New tools give hope for rainforest protection worldwide:

• Rainforest conservation efforts are making notable progress worldwide thanks to innovative technologies and stronger political commitments. 
• Tools like Global Forest Watch are transforming how we monitor forests, allowing for real-time tracking of deforestation and more targeted interventions.
• Although rainforests still face significant threats from agricultural expansion and illegal logging, the combination of technological innovation, Indigenous leadership, and international cooperation is creating new pathways for protecting these biodiversity hotspots.

💬 Discussion of the Week: Traditions That Bring Us Together

Welcome to our new section, where we spark meaningful discussions about everyday topics that can create a real positive impact in our lives!

This week’s discussion topic: What are some of your favorite traditions that bring people closer together?

• What community or family traditions have had the biggest positive impact on you?
• Why do you feel maintaining traditions can strengthen community bonds and personal connections?
• Could you suggest any meaningful or fun traditions others might consider adopting?

Let’s exchange traditions that have enriched your life and community spirit!

For our founding community members, keep the conversation going in our forum here.

Want to join our community when we reopen? Just reply to this email—I’d love to personally add you to our waitlist so you’ll be the first to know all about it 💚

🤝 Three More Important Awareness Events

🐢 June 16, World Sea Turtle Day:

• World Sea Turtle Day celebrates the amazing qualities of sea turtles and raises awareness of the threats they face in the wild. 
• Factors like ocean plastic and climate change are affecting sea turtle populations and so it is more important than ever to draw attention to their struggles. 

🌐 June 16, International Day of Family Remittances:

• International Day of Family Remittances is a UN-designated day which honors the impact of funds sent home from migrants. 
• These funds contribute to local economies and so it is important to recognize them. 

✏️ June 16-22, Learning Disability Week:

• Learning Disability Week highlights the strengths of people with learning disabilities and attempts to smash stigmas associated with these conditions. 
• The week encourages people to listen to the voices of people with learning disabilities and hear their stories. 

Related: You can discover all the 127 most important awareness events (for the month, days, weeks) in our awareness calendar for June 2025!

📜 These Days in History

🧑‍🚀 June 16, 1963: Soviet cosmonaut Valentina V. Tereshkova became the first woman to travel in space. She was launched into orbit aboard the spacecraft Vostok 6, which completed 48 orbits in 71 hours.

🚗 June 16, 1903: Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company alongside 11 other investors. This company revolutionized the automotive industry, mass producing affordable vehicles and introducing the moving assembly line.

🇮🇸 June 17, 1944: Iceland declared itself a republic. 

💭 Quote of the Day

“One cannot deny the great role women have played in the world community. My flight was yet another impetus to continue this female contribution.”

Valentina V. Tereshkova, Soviet cosmonaut

Share the news with your friends to make a bigger positive impact on the world and society together!

Stay impactful 💚