The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is the world's largest alliance of humane societies and animal protection organizations, representing almost 900 member societies in 150 countries. Through direct field work, campaigning, legislative work, education and training programs, WSPA strives to create a world where animal welfare matters and animal cruelty ends. We currently focus on six campaigns in the US: whaling, dolphin captivity, bear bile farming in Asia, general farm animal welfare, long distance transport of farm animals and the campaign to obtain a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations.  
 
WSPA has 15 offices and hundreds of thousands of supporters worldwide.  The majority of WSPA's work takes place in developing nations, many where the words “animal welfare” are seldom heard and where the greatest need for resources, funding, support, and education lies.  We work with member societies around the world to help animals, often in places where other animal welfare organizations do not go. By supporting WSPA, you are given a unique chance to help animals around the world.  Many of our US members want to support animals outside of their own community, and find that our programs allow them to do this is a very effective manner.  Animals in developing countries are in great need; many countries do not have any legal protection for animals and others have low standards of enforcement. 

 
WSPA's member society network is also unique. Much of our work is carried out by our valued member societies, with support of WSPA expertise and funding. We believe that by empowering animal welfare groups in developing countries we will help bring lasting change to these areas.  We hold ourselves to the highest standards of conduct when working with our supporters, with other animal welfare organizations, and with governments.   WSPA is the only animal welfare group to hold consultative status with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. 

The United States Congress and President recognize the rights of indigenous people to continue to live their way of life by prohibiting development in the calving and post-calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd;

Oil and gas activity has caused serious damage on many of the national wildlife refuges where it has occurred, according to a new report from the General Accounting Office ("National Wildlife Refuges: Opportunities to Improve the Management and Oversight of Oil and Gas Activities on Federal Lands").

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge must be made a designated Wilderness area to protect the natural inhabitants and indigenous peoples of this area.

Effects of Global Warming on Polar Bears:
Global warming is melting the polar ice caps, robbing polar bears of the ice floes they need to hunt prey. As the annual sea ice melts, polar bears are forced ashore to spend their summers fasting. If the Arctic ice cap continues to melt sooner and form later, polar bears will become too thin to reproduce and they will become extinct by the end of this century.
The polar bear's home – the Arctic – is experiencing the effects of global warming more than any other place. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at almost twice the rate of that of the rest of the world, and this is threatening to place the entire Arctic ecosystem in jeopardy.
Arctic sea ice is shrinking by up to 5% every ten years – sea ice that not only provides hunting ground for polar bears, but shelter and transportation for seals, walrus, arctic foxes, and the Inuit people. The underside provides a surface for algae that support cod, char, beluga, and narwhal. The white sea ice also has a cooling effect on climate by reflecting light away from Earth's surface. As it melts, the global warming advances even more quickly.