Earthlings --- Animal Lovers --- Make a Change

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Comment by Alexa on November 1, 2009 at 7:55pm

OK, so I just left a lengthy comment on Paul's page re this film. This whale film rocks, Paul... and so do you! And that song with the footage, "just breathe". It's just like a whale. Thanks so much for sharing this.
xoxo

Comment by PaulWestmerland on November 1, 2009 at 12:03pm

Bryant Austin and his Amazing Photography ...

Short Film: In the Eye of the Whale from MMCTA on Vimeo.

Comment by PaulWestmerland on October 27, 2009 at 2:14am

Bear Hugs ALL Round!

Comment by Alexa on October 26, 2009 at 3:45pm

For All You Do, This Hug's For You!

Great job, my fellow defenders.

Have a Totally Great Day

Comment by Alexa on October 26, 2009 at 3:28pm

Victory Today, and still More to be done through 2010

BREAKING NEWS!

Dear Friend of BioGems,
I have some very exciting news to share with you.

Yielding to pressure from conservationists, including more than 50,000 NRDC Members and online activists, the Obama Administration has just announced that it will support an upgrade in international protection for polar bears.

This is extremely important, because if the world agrees to increase the polar bear's protection under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it would help end trophy hunting and stop the global trade in polar bear body parts.

Please take a moment to celebrate this announcement with me, because it would never have happened without the activism of NRDC supporters like you!

And let's give credit where credit is due: I encourage you to send a message right now to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar -- to thank him for doing the right thing for the sake of polar bear survival. (you can do this via the NRDC site below)

But please don't think this battle is over.

Between now and March 2010, when the next CITES treaty talks take place, we will have to expand our campaign to make sure that other key nations line up with America's pro-polar-bear position.

So much is at stake: hundreds of polar bears are still being hunted as trophies, and their body parts traded, each year. Canada, which is home to two-thirds of the world's polar bears and includes some of the world's most important polar bear habitat, still allows both trophy hunting and commercial trade.

If the polar bear is to survive, we must end these destructive practices by upgrading polar bear protection under CITES.

Around the world, NRDC has been taking a leading role on this issue. Our team recently traveled to Geneva to discuss polar bear conservation with the CITES Standing Committee, and also reached out to allies in Norway, Russia and the European Union as we build international momentum for increasing protection.

Over the next few months I'll be writing to you again with news and updates -- and asking you to take action to help protect polar bears from trophy hunting and trafficking.

But make no mistake: the Obama Administration's endorsement of tougher polar bear protection was absolutely critical, and I don't believe it would have happened without more than 50,000 NRDC Members and online activists making your voices heard -- loud and clear.

So give yourself credit, and send a note of thanks to Ken Salazar, too, for standing up for polar bears. Tomorrow, the fight continues, but for today you and I have something to celebrate!

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

Sign Up now at:
www.nrdc.org
www.savebiogems.org

Comment by Alexa on October 26, 2009 at 3:15pm

A Good Day for Polar Bears

You spoke, and finally, the U.S. government listened. Over 6,000 Care2 members joined with activists throughout the country to send public comments to the Department of the Interior supporting a proposal to end the international polar bear trade. The comment deadline was September 11th, and late last week, DOI announced it agreed with all of you.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has submitted this proposal to be considered during the upcoming meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The U.S. proposes to "uplist" the polar bear from CITES Appendix II to Appendix I, which prohibits all international trade in the listed species, "due to current and anticipated future habitat loss due to climate change."

In non-wonky terms, the U.S. is putting a proposal on the international table to stop polar bear trophy hunting and trade in polar bear body parts. Since we can’t yet seem to get our elected representatives to join the world in trying to end global warming and stop polar bears' homes from melting, at least we can try to get the global community to agree to stop people from killing polar bears to make rugs, aphrodisiacs and wall trophies.

"By strengthening protections for polar bears under CITES, we can give the polar bear some relief while we take the necessary steps to combat global warming," said Defenders of Wildlife President Rodger Schlickeisen.

Every year as many as 100 polar bears are killed in Canada by sport hunters, according to Andrew Wetzler of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Wetzler has documented the number of polar bears affected by the international polar bear trade and why we need to stop it.

Canadian Care2 members, your voices will be key in the coming months. As Wetzler explains, Canada is the only country that allows both trophy hunting and commercial trade in polar bears, and Canada is home to two-thirds of the polar bears on the planet. And the Canadian polar bear populations are some of the most stable, making strengthening the protection of these bears all the more important to the species' survival.

So stay tuned for more news as we get closer to the March CITES Convention, and in the meantime, thank you again for speaking out for polar bears!

Comment by PaulWestmerland on October 17, 2009 at 6:24am

GET READY FOR WORLD GO VEGAN WEEKOct 25th-31st

The purpose of this campaign is to get people to take time to reconsider the effects of industrialized farming on humans, animals and the environment by educating people about vegan lifestyles.

From In Defense of Animals:

World GO VEGAN Week is also about celebrating what it means to be vegan. Veganism enables people to live in balance with all of Earth's creatures and promote freedom from exploitation for animals as part of their everyday lives. Modern animal agriculture is cruel and violent toward the chickens, cows, pigs and other creatures used to make meat, milk and eggs. During World GO VEGAN Week, we encourage people to become conscious of what - and who - they are eating, the effect it has on the world, and that a non-violent alternative exists.

Check out World GO VEGAN Week for a list of ways to get involved from recipes to community activities.

http://www.worldgoveganweek.org/

“I chose to be vegan initially as an energetic pursuit, as meat and dairy slowed me down, but have since become convinced that it is not only the most healthy way to live, but also the most compassionate and ecologically responsible way.”
-Woody Harrelson, World Go Vegan Week Supporter

Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends.
~ George Bernard Shaw (Nobel Prize-winning playwright, 1856 - 1950)

Universal Love Peace and Harmony

Comment by PaulWestmerland on September 23, 2009 at 11:59am

A huge public-led campaign in Catalonia, one of the largest regions of Spain, has called for an end to the bloody cruelty of bullfighting.

The Prou (‘enough’) campaign has found huge local support. It builds on a groundswell of anti-cruelty opinion that has been expressed in independent opinion polls and in 69 Catalonian towns’ decision to declaring themselves anti-bullfighting.

Will you join the call for an end to cruelty? The sheer number of campaign supporters has already forced the regional parliament to schedule a vote on banning the region’s most infamous blood sport. By taking a simple online action today you can tell Catalonian MPs that you support their citizens’ wishes and encourage them to be bold in outlawing this archaic and inhumane activity.

http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=24&ea.campaign.id=3861

Thank you for acting to save bulls from an agonising death.

Your willingness to speak out for these animals adds to the mounting pressure for Catalonian animal protection law to cover bullfights – effectively creating a region-wide ban.
We need as many people as possible from around the world to encourage action from the Catalonian parliament. Please forward this action on to your friends

Comment by PaulWestmerland on September 22, 2009 at 8:52am

Thank=YOU Angel

The World is Blessed by your Presence

Universal Love Peace and Harmony

Comment by Alexa on September 22, 2009 at 7:00am

I spent the morning signing action alerts to protect the Arctic Refuge, and also for health care reform. It feels good, and I feel ready for a peaceful, grounded day.

We have one life to do what we can to save our animals and Earth. The time we have here is so very very precious. It is an honor to be able to help our earth and animals. And such a joy to do it.

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