This week we look at how Save the Children UK and Amnesty International have pressed politicians to restart rescue missions in the Mediterranean, as well as how Support Adoption for Pets hopes to get everyone smiling.

Amnesty UK and Save the Children with #DontLetThemDown and #RestartTherescue

Amnesty and Save the Children are just two out of a number of charities pressuring European leaders to do something about African migrants drowning attempting to cross the Mediterranean, but confusingly using separate hashtags to do so: Save the Children campaigned using #RestartTheRescue while Amnesty used #DontLetThemDown.

Save the Children launched 2,500 balloons outside the Houses of Parliament to represent the 2,500 lives that could be saved if politicians scale up rescue efforts. The charity tweeted pictures during the launch (left) and filmed and shared online.

Almost 35,000 people signed Amnesty International UK’s petition. The charity delivered a box containing the signatures to Number 10 and used Vine to capture the event. Then it shared this with its followers on Twitter.

Why we love it: it’s great to see that charities have not been put off lobbying politicians during the election campaign.

Support Adoption for Pets’ Makes Me Smile fundraising appeal

Animal charity, Support Adoption for Pets, is hoping to raise £500,000 this spring by asking pet lovers to share pictures of their smiling pets using a cut-out smile stick created by the charity, and donate £1 to the charity.

As part of the campaign Facebook fans can vote for their favourite cute images of animals. Pet-owners who enter their animal, explaining why they make them smile, and could win a £15 Pets at Home vouchers.

Why we love it: we’re all for spending Friday afternoons scrolling through photos of cute pets.