Charities Blog

Giving Something Back

Plastics and their impact on Wildlife

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Whalenet.jpgSharkNet.jpgTurtlenet.jpgPlastic Tax.jpgPlastics have been around for quite sometime and they are one of the most destructive man-made products that have impacted wildlife in the seas and on land. These plastics are mostly petroleum-based and are quite durable which is why animals find it hard to deal with. Sea turtles die from strangulation and internal injuries due to ingestion and getting caught them. Dogs and cats end up having them in their guts killing them as they slowly starve to death. Even animals which are considered to be wild have been found with these man-made plastics in their stomachs. The threat they pose on nature has even resulted in outrageous ideas such as taxing their use which has been successful by as much as 90% as the Irish law has. The British government has also been in discussion with regards to similar tax measures in efforts to lessen the polluting effects of these tough plastic bags.

There have been developments such as biodegradable plastic bags which degrade with exposure to light, the ground or moisture but they are proving to be more costly than standard plastic bags. The use of paper bags which was encouraged in the US resulted in mixed successes, lessening the use of plastics but increasing the demand for trees in order to make paper bags. The problem is that plastics are cheap and durable which is also their main problem for nature which does not have the mechanism to break them down. Plastic nets which have been the mainstay of the fishing industry is so tough even the biggest of animals cannot get rid of them when they ingest or get caught in them. Sharks, turtles and whales have died from getting entangled in these nets, some of which are left indiscriminately by fishermen when they get caught on the bottom of the seas, opting to cut them loose rather than to get somebody down there to release them.

Taiwan is set to ban the use of free plastic bags to preserve the county’s ecology which has seas all around. Many nations have also been working on similar actions to reduce the environmental impacts these containers pose on the earth and her animal inhabitants. So re-use your bags and bring the ones you already have when you shop. Each and every small endeavor becomes a worldwide effort if we just do our own little parts. You could also support the many charitable organizations who are promoting better understanding of our seas and the impact we place on them like the Ocean Alliance, UnWorks, The Sea Shepard.org and the many more international and local conservation groups who are hard at work in helping and protecting nature for better tomorrow.

Originally posted on February 29, 2008 @ 6:59 am

Whales –Secretive Creatures

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Whale3.jpgWhale2.jpgWhale1.jpgWhales are considered to be the least studied marine mammals on earth due to their secretive lifestyle while they roam the world’s oceans. From birth till maturity, their lives are still quite murky for the studies only go on seasonal observations by scientists. Their long lifespan and large size prevents them from being captured and raised in captivity where scientists have learned so much about the world’s many marine animals. Breeding, diets, and many other aspects of their daily lives still elude our scientists and new innovative developments like the whale cam, which is a camera that attached to the back of whales allowing scientists to see what they do when they go miles under the sea to feed or do whatever whales do.

Protecting the oceans is still the first step and education is the key. Efforts have been quite successful but their numbers still dwindle on the brink of extinction. Some species are even thought to be almost wiped out due to few sightings. Plastic pollution in the seas is also becoming a greater threat for these artificial wrappers do not degrade and are often blamed for the deaths of many marine animals which die from ingesting or getting caught in them. There is need for protection for these giants who have a right to live as we do for they have long been in the seas long before man has ever been on earth and man who is considered to be the only being on this planet who has the power to save or wipe out a species should do everything in it’s power to do so. Save our Seas and save the Whales, we might just end up saving ourselves.

Originally posted on February 25, 2008 @ 6:39 am

Wildlife Charities

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Nature.jpgThere are currently several local and international charities that have been formed by environmentally conscious groups in most countries due to the threat to wildlife man had effected due to changes to the environment. This has always been a case such as with endangered species, some of which have been brought back from the brink with captive breeding programs such as the American Bison which was almost wiped out of it’s home range but has now returned to better numbers enough to take it off the endangered list. Many such efforts have been successful when conducted in developed countries but conservation for a developing or third world country is a totally different matter. They may either not have the political might to reserve money for such programs or that there is no promise of financial gain that businesses rarely engage in the said activities.

Tis’ true that big businesses sponsor and donate regularly but that may not even be enough for a proper environmental preservation/conservation program. Environmentalists have long accepted the fact that they way is to convince the people who live within the area itself where these creatures reside in and into which their habitats have been encroached on to become the best approach for it to succeed. Conservation efforts in Malaysia for example have the Orangutan considered to be protected but poachers who just happen to be locals still continue to hunt and trade them illegally on the world market. Zoos have been forced to take alternative steps in their acquisition of animals for their exhibits for they were once determined to be the primary reasons for the extinction of some species in the first place.

The world needs to accept that we are the only creatures on this earth that has the capacity to destroy and rebuild what nature has taken millions upon millions of years to create and awareness is the key along with the promotion of a better understanding of the implications of a species being wiped out off the face of the earth. We should all pitch in our own little ways to help natural environments remain as they are without impacting the animals and plant life that resided within. The Amazon which is the largest untouched natural area on this earth is disappearing at the rate which would have it wiped out in as little time as it takes for the next generation to become aware of its existence.

Originally posted on February 9, 2008 @ 8:55 am

SOS – Save our Seas

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Dolphin.jpgSave.jpgWhales.jpgThis might be one of the most important endeavour people should engage in for the seas that surround our continents are there to stay along with the many species of marine mammals, fishes and plants that are unique to each and every marine environment. Many species of animals are in the endangered species list and people have to take notice and action even within the household which has far reaching effects on our plant’s ecology. The recent uproar on Japan’s Whale hunting and dolphin slaughter activities has attracted much attention to the amount of abuse and indignity our fellow living beings suffer on this planet. Australia has voiced disgust on the actions of the government for condoning such activities which should be stopped and prevented from happening. The country has ordered whale hunting, well for humpbacks that is, to halt due to increasing international pressure and through requests by the International Whaling Commission. The Japanese people are just following their traditions which include these activities as part of who they are and their culture. They argue that this is the way they have lived for hundreds of years and that they should be allowed to continue on doing to continue that tradition. Japanese fishermen have been reported to act with disgust to the action of Westerners for they argue that they are interfering with tradition and their way of life. In one incident, a Western Wildlife Activist who was taking video for his expose had his camera smashed as he exchanged heated words with Japanese Fishermen. GreenPeace has long been battling these whalers and have had some success but sometimes placing their lives at risk. Some are arrested and some have their boats smashed when the captain of whaling ships order them rammed.

Originally posted on February 22, 2008 @ 6:28 am

Economics and Charities for Wildlife (part 2)

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Australia’s marsupials have long suffered from these introduced species that Bandicoots other indigenous animal life have almost been wiped out of their previous territories. Australia isolated a portion of its territory, fencing it and killing all non-native species that come in or near it to preserve and allow them to recover. In New Zealand, Kiwis(the flightless bird not the fruit) which has long been part of their cultural heritage have long been extinct in developed areas, thriving only in isolated islands where non-native species have been able to reach. In the Philippines, Sea turtles have long been used for food and commerce that the WWF through local groups and the government, have been working to establish sanctuaries to safeguard the beaches which they use for nesting from predators (dogs, cats and humans) patrolled by volunteers till the eggs hatch. The said volunteers aid the hatchling to the sea lessening the deaths that occur due to natural predation from sea birds.

The great elephants of Thailand are now beginning to receive protection with neglected ones being cared fro and rehabilitated for release into wildlife preserves. Orangutans in the Malaysian isles have been protected fro sometime with some headway in terms of breeding and the establishment of large enough rainforest to allow them to thrive and breed naturally.

All these species have been threatened and continue to be threatened by our activities, so much that some are already in the endangered species list. Many still suffer from poaching due to the huge demand for traditional medicine and cure-alls that efforts are making a small impact on the demand. The small steps we take towards a ecologically diverse and stable wildlife community should also include habitat that should be protected by their governments in order to prevent illegal activities. The West and their citizens have long promoted protection for animals and their habitat sometimes when they themselves experience them as tourists to these foreign lands. Locals too have been touched by the plight of these animals that they have banded with volunteers from other nations in the quest to preserve and protect our native species. To end it, all of us can do our share in the drive for the preservation and protection of animal species through donations and volunteer work. Check out your local wildlife centers for any needs and please donate to help them.

Originally posted on February 16, 2008 @ 2:44 am

Economics and Charities for Wildlife (part 1)

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endangered.jpgAs we all know, awareness about nature is the sort of humane actions that has been helping wildlife all over the world for sometime now. The charities like the; World Wildlife Fund (WWF), The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), The UK’s Blue Cross and many others are all founded and based mainly in developed countries who have the financial might that allow their constituents to provide their time, expertise and have ample resources for funding that allow them to exist and continue working thought the hardest of times.

Many Asian countries boast some of the most diverse and untouched natural habitats the world over mainly due to the undeveloped nature of these countries. Less development means less pressure on nature in terms of habitat disruption/destruction and trade in wildlife/derivatives. Many animals have suffered due to the demand for animals that was first used for traditional Asian medicine that is now slowly being curbed by environmentalists who aim to educate the locals on how the loss of these native species would impact their environment.

The very slow development that has protected and allowed these animals (tigers, orangutans, birds, turtles and many other species) to thrive in peace has been shattered but rapid expansion and development of pristine areas for tourism and other commercial uses that habitat destruction is the most common result. Sea Turtles for example have a very low survival rate from the time they hatch to the time that they are sexually mature to reproduce that only about 2 in thousands will make the return trip to their nesting grounds (if they are still there that is). Those species that have been heavily studied and bred with the help of science are making a comeback but species like the fabled Blue fin Tuna which has eluded artificial propagation are still quite on the downhill in terms of numbers but research continues. The development of formerly pristine areas has also brought feral or introduced species such as cats, dogs, goats and pigs that destroy the habitat of native species even wiping them out totally from some areas.

More on the next post……..

Originally posted on February 13, 2008 @ 2:07 am

Helping Pets This Holiday Season

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If you love animals, consider giving to a pet or animal charity this holiday season. In your community alone, there are various organizations who need your help. If you live in the UK, a good place to start looking is at Pet Charities website. This comprehensive site has listings of most animal charities in the UK, with contact details.

Here are some ideas that will give brighten up a pet’s life:

1. Animal Rescues and Shelters

These places are always in need of food, blankets, medicine, toys and other supplies. Visit or call your local one and ask what necessities they need most. Also consider putting your time to volunteer, act as a foster home, or better yet, adopt a pet yourself.

2. Animal Welfare Groups

Large organizations like the RSPCA (Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), The American Humane Society or the ASPCA are great places to start off finding ways you can help. Their websites are incredibly comprehensive and organized, and have a lot of facts and information and well as the latest news, programs and interesting stories.

You can even get your children involved by taking them to these sites and asing them how they would like to help. If finding a new family pet is in the picture, take your child to the American Humane Society’s website where they’ll find Clifford The Big Red Dog‘s Adopt a Dog Month.

Older kids can also give part of their allowance each month, or raise funds through selling their old toys, clothes or even having an old fashioned lemonade stand in the yard.
Through their sites, you can create direct debit accounts to give monthly donations, or even shop in their store for some great products which go to a worthy cause.

In the RSPCA shop site for instance, the Holiday Collection is out and worth a look. Here’ll you’ll find a wonderful one-stop-shop for a lot of your holiday needs. Fantastic Christmas cards with adorable illustrations of animals, wrapping paper, card holders, advent calendars, Christmas crackers, chocolate, even decorations for the home and much, much more.

There is also a massive selection of toys and personalised gifts for everyone in the family including pets of course!), as well as many other lovely home, garden and leisure items.

[tags]pets,animal cruelty,christmas,holidays,animal welfare,aspca,rspca[/tags]

Originally posted on November 9, 2006 @ 5:24 am

Animal Charities Cheer New Laws On Commercial Pet Fairs

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In the UK, animal rights charities such as the RSPCA and the Pet Care Trust have long been fighting the legality of animals sold during Commercial Pet Fairs. There was great concern that the welfare of animals bought and sold at such temporary events were compromised.

However, a new bill that has just been passed not only bans the sale of animals, but also allows animal lovers to run and participate in these pet fairs without the need for a license.

David Bowles, Head of External Affairs at the RSPCA commented:

“We are delighted that the Government is going to follow the judicial review on pet fairs that concluded that such events are currently illegal under existing legislation and to ensure that new legislation maintains the position that it is illegal to sell animals at temporary commercial events, under the Animal Welfare Bill.

“The RSPCA has attended many commercial pet fairs and has had long standing concerns about the welfare of the animals which are bought and sold in such circumstances.”

“Today’s announcement heralds an important decision on welfare grounds to continue to ban commercial pet fairs in England, and that is very good news for the welfare of the diverse variety of animals now kept in captivity. We would urge the Assembly of Wales to do the same.

“The consultation announced today will also provide the opportunity to clarify what is meant by permitted fairs where animals are not sold in the course of a business. All animals that are bought and sold at temporary fairs are subject to the same welfare needs, and the RSPCA will be seeking to ensure that those needs are recognised in law.”

[tags]charities,animals,rspca,pets,animal welfare,animal protection,laws[/tags]

Originally posted on October 10, 2006 @ 5:18 am

ThoughtsFurPaws

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thoughtsfurpaws2
The blog is a collection of pet charities and concerned individuals, which combines posts from pet lovers from all over who are tasked into improving the lives of neglected and abandoned pets. The many charities that deal with pets have been wrecked by intrigue and drama that you don’t know which is which. The pages contain warming stories straight from the people who do the rescue work themselves as well as pet lovers who are passionate about our furry friends.
Not just for furry but all types of animals and pets are subject with many links to several blogs that also aim to raise awareness regarding the plight of dogs, cats, birds and even farm animals that are being raised for the pet trade. Hear the warming stories of adopted animals as far as Baghdad that have been brought home to the States, helping their adopted owners deal with the turmoil that is war.

Originally posted on October 21, 2010 @ 9:38 am