ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET: 5 Day Film Fundraiser

An Elephant Advocacy Film by Patricia Sim's Canazawest Productions 
Be a part of the love
(Donations until 11:59PM 28 March 2013)

AN INTRODUCTION BY PATRICIA SIMS 

Watch on YouTube: http://youtu.be/adL-uS5viKY

FUNDRAISING for 

ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET PRODUCTION

$35,000 required
(Update 27 March - $1400 raised since 23 March thank you please share this page on all your networks!)

If 1500 people gave just $23.50 ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET would have its funds… of course giving more is always welcome! 

Go HERE NOW to DONATE: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elephantsneverforget

See more at the ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET website 

ADVOCACY FILMS WORK 

A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS
All over both Asian and African range states life for elephants is getting ever more fragile, increasingly diminished wild-lands through deforestation, the very real threat of the ivory trade. Film is a beautiful way to shape and tell a story that social networking and online blogs cannot. Whole audiences of hundreds of people come, sit, watch are moved, shaken, stirred. They take the message out and discuss it over dinner “I saw an amazing film last week…”. A film can generate funds for an organisation, raise awareness, create a sense of ‘ownership’ by animal advocates and arts people having funded. A successful, well told story… like ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET (and its recent predecessor RETURN TO THE FOREST, see below) is doing its job in the world of commanding attention and changing the world for elephants.

ABOUT ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET FILM MAKERS

ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET is an independent, self-funded production, funded by Patricia Sim's company, Canazwest Pictures. Patricia is a Canadian documentary filmmaker who has won many awards for her international work in animal conversation, and in particular films about animal-human relations, the ethics and captivity issues.

You can read more about Patricia here at her website: Life as Human 

Patricia, and her long-time filmmaking colleague Michael Clark have been working on ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET in Thailand for over four years ago. Michael is also the editor on the internationally acclaimed "Sharkwater", which has been instrumental in bringing worldwide attention to shark-finning and changing policy in many countries. Further proof that advocacy films work!

Wok and the beautiful Nongmai

FOCUS OF ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET
The film focuses on human-elephant relations, the issues for Asian elephants in Thailand and elsewhere, and what the solutions can be. It is an advocacy film that ultimately promotes the need to protect elephants from the critical threats they face - in the wild and in captivity. Patricia has been deeply researching this subject and its complexities since 2008, she has written several articles about the elephant issues in Thailand, which you can read on her blog.

STILL NEED CONVINCING?
SEE PATRICIA’S PRIOR WORK - RETURN TO THE FOREST
A Recent Film by Patricia Sim
If you would like to see a film made by Particia’s production company Canazwest Pictures the excellent “RETURN TO THE FOREST” is available for viewing through until the end of March 2013. 

RETURN TO THE FOREST – WATCH HERE 

Watch on YouTube: http://youtu.be/DLR92iFTOns

Judge for yourself the story and production qualities of the filmmaking. Of note is the Thai people speaking to the very issues at heart for Thailand’s elephants – deforestation the illegal capture of babies  for the tourism market, illegal live capture of a baby by necessity means the killing of mothers and other adults. 





This film was just shown as a side event to at the recent CITES Conference of Parties (CoP16). Patricia Sim said "RETURN TO THE FOREST was received incredibly well at CITES.  It screened to a full house of international delegates and political agencies.  My colleague Michael Clark was there to present it."

They were invited to screen it by the Royal Forestry Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the IUCN.  PAtricia went on to say "It was a very important film to screen in light of everything going on in Thailand right now, because it is one positive example and success story underway in Thailand.  Despite the severity of problems and impacts that have developed there due to its domestic ivory trade, captive elephant trade,  I do have hope that Thailand will emerge with positive action for Asian - and African -  elephant conservation over time.   Hopefully it is in time.  We just have to keep letting people know about the issues - and the positive action that can mitigate these issues."

FUNDRAISING for 

ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET PRODUCTION

$35,000 required

If 1500 people gave just $23.50 ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET would have its funds… of course giving more is always welcome! 

Go HERE NOW to DONATE: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/elephantsneverforget

See more at the ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET website 

MORE ABOUT ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET 
THE STORY LINE
The issues in ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET are portrayed through the storyline which follows the lives of a young mahout and a young elephant and their very different fates.  By following the parallel lives of human and elephant, we learn about the issues.  The film promotes the protection of habitat for wild Asian elephants,  and  - when applicable - the return of  captive elephants to the wild.  The film also promotes  non-abusive, high quality treatment for captive elephants so that captive elephants are well-cared for with respect and dignity - and are no longer forced to perform tricks or live in sub-standard captive conditions.  

The story also focuses on the social conditions for the people whose livelihoods have been dependent on elephants, and what the alternative solutions can be for them too.  

The film does not support any abusive training techniques for captive elephants - and only supports human-elephant relationships that are founded in love and kindness. 

DONATIONS TO 

ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET 

ON INDIEGOGO 

UNTIL 28 MARCH 2013

To learn more about donating and the production visit the 

ELEPHANTS NEVER FORGET INDIEGOGO FUNDRAISING PAGE
and
Join the FaceBook page

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AN EARLIER ELEPHANT ADVOCACY FILM SUPPORTED 

BY ELEPHANT E-CTIVISM

WINDY BORMAN'S
THE EYES OF THAILAND
Winner of 9 prestigious awards is now available on DVD here: http://eyesofthailand.com/

See this earlier story about Soraida Salwala of Friends of the Asian Elephant, the elephants PoHaePo, Mosha and Motala and Windy Borman’s documentary THE EYES OF THAILAND on Elephant Ectivism
Hot Spot: Thailand and Myanmar Border

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MORE ON THAILAND ELEPHANT TOURISM

If you are travelling to Thailand – do not feed street begging elephant , do not buy sugar cane to feed to a street begging elephant, do not trek or take a ride on an elephant. Do not attend painting or performing shows. All of these forms of tourism are rife with pain and coercion, the howdah (saddles are heavy and add the weight of two or more western tourists the load on an elephants spine is damaging. If you must get up close and personal – do so at a reputable sanctuary – more can be found by way of Tourism Education on www.elemotion.org.

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URLS - In case the links above are broken

Life as Human: http://lifeasahuman.com/2013/feature/making-a-difference-patricia-sims-canazwest-pictures

Patricia's Blog:  http://elephantsneverforget.ca/blog/

Canzawest: http://www.canazwest.com/

Elephants Never Forget: http://elephantsneverforget.ca/

Return to the Forest: http://worldelephantday.org/

indiegogo fundraising page: www.indiegogo.com/projects/elephantsneverforget

Eyes of Thailand: http://eyesofthailand.com/

Hot Spot: Burma and Myanmar Border: http://www.elephantectivism.org/2011/09/hot-spot-thailand-and-myanmar-burma.html

Elemotion: http://www.elemotion.org

BLOOD IVORY: Pope Francis Papal Palace Ivory

Screenshot of ABC World News story. The remains of one dead elephant clearly visible in background  (at 1:53 minutes)


Watch on Youtube here: http://youtu.be/lgNYck8mqhQ

Bryan Christy the Investigative Journalist who did the expose Blood Ivory for National Geographic in September 2012 on the use of Ivory in the Buddhist and Catholic faiths has just exposed the Papal Apartment story aired by ABC World News which has ivory iconography and a set of tusks in plain view. Read Bryan's Story here: Papal Palace Video Exposes Ivory Use. (20 March 2013)

Nat Geo editor, Oliver Payne's "A Voice for Elephants" News Watch (blog) raised questions of the Vatican in January this year and started the ball rolling on an email campaign to Father Lombardi - the PR priest for the Vatican. 

Thousands of Catholics and others have written carefully, respectfully and thoughtfully to Father Lombardi since Oliver's call in January for advocates to speak to the Church about their involvement in the slaughter and the awful consequences for Africa's elephants. Fr. Lombardi has responded at length to Oliver and the advocates.

“We are absolutely convinced that the massacre of elephant is a very serious matter,” writes Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican press office, in a response today to our correspondence about the use of elephant ivory for devotional icons by some Catholic followers.

The article by Oliver Payne and the full text of Father Lombardi's response on behalf of the Church can be read here: Vatican responds to National Geographic's correspondence bout religous use of ivory 

Is this just so much SPIN?

Now we see that hidden in plain sight are the remains of dead elephants adorning the Papal chambers, living daily with the whole tusks of an elephant, sitting daily at a desk with carved ivory crucifix. 

Is it not hypocrisy to have responded with "care and concern" as Father Lombardi did on one hand while the Pope contemplates his next missive whilst in the presence of what remains of dead African Elephants?

How to Help

SIGN THESE PETITIONS

Pope Francis: Say NO to Using Ivory in Religious Art http://www.change.org/petitions/say-no-to-using-ivory-in-religious-art (by Elephantopia)

To the World's Spiritual Leaders: Direct their faithful not to purchase or sell any object of cult in Ivory (by Kuki Gallman)
www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/to-the-world-s-spiritual-leaders-direct-their-faithful-not-to-purchase-or-sell-any-object-of-cult-in-ivory

WRITE AN EMAIL TO FATHER LOMBARDI

Write to Farther Lombardi after reading his response  to the Oliver Payne campaign and ask the Vatican to immediately burn the ivory icons and tusks in their possession as an act of good faith and to send a strong message to the Catholic Faithful.The email address is Father Federico Lombardi at Lombardi@pressva.va, please also CC Ms. Cristina Ravenda at Ravenda@pressva.va

Further Reading at National Geographic

"Blood Ivory"  by Bryan Christy September 2012

and

Religious Ivory Demand Killing Elephants by Thousands, Report Says by Oliver Payne September 2012

DNA TESTING. We know where they are dying...

On 14 March 2013 the Online Nature, international weekly journal of science published an article titled "Wildlife trade meeting endorses DNA testing of seized ivory" by Daniel Cressey

Elephant E-ctivism has published a response on that page, however due to the community guidelines on this specific scientific page Nature which reads:

1. This is a website about science for scientists and researchers. There are lots of other websites you can use to discuss other topics. Please keep within the bounds of a topic as initiated. Do not sway the discussion towards your own pet topic or set off on a tangent. Be succinct.

Given this guideline, the comment may be removed - because a)I am not a scientist or researcher b) my response went outside the topic as initiated c) swayed the discussion towards a specific bias ie. No Trade and maybe because d) I was less than succinct. I republish it here to answer the obvious flaw for those of us who are concerned about the individual elephants who have been killed, their surviving families as well as the conservation of the species.  

RESPONSE to Wildlife Trade meeting endorses DNA testing of seized ivory

 by Jude Price, Elephant Ectivism

We already know where the 'poaching hotspots' are by the reports of on-the-ground organisations of what is occurring and where the most elephants are being slaughtered. CITES delegates 'celebrate' a move toward DNA testing to.... "determine where there are poaching hotspots". The elephants are already dead by then.

The continued legitimation of trade of the body parts of elephants by the discussions at CITES having the African Elephant on any Appendix other than Appendix I means that they can be discussed for trade. It is good that Tanzania took their proposal to sell part of their stockpile off the table, but the DNA testing celebration is a hollow victory - by default a tusk being tested for DNA analysis will be from a  slaughtered elephant - whether that is from Gabon, Benin, Congo, Chad, Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia or anywhere else for that matter - the forces and NGO's on the ground can tell you where, when and how the elephants are being slaughtered - they just need to be listened to. We know that the majority of the illegally procured ivory is ending up in China and Thailand. It is currently known where the hotspots are. We know the top end in many countries are rife with either corruption, incompetence or simply lack of resources, or lack of political will - we know what needs to be done.

Some points to consider for the Trade in Ivory to cease
Number 1. At CoP17 in South Africa... transfer all elephants in each range state to Appendix I. Annotate a moratorium on the sale of ivory; indefinitely. ie. Never to be sold.
Number 2. The International community urgently provide enough funds for effective law enforcement in "poaching hot spots" already identified whilst concurrently pursing the DNA test option.
Number 3. The Chinese Government acts decisively to shut down the trade, educate consumers and re-educate carvers into new trades - they could do it if they chose to do so.
Number 4. The Thailand Government closes the loophole on the use of 'domestic ivory' being used to illegally launder African ivory and bans the sale of all ivory within its National borders.
Number 5. Kenyan Ports Authorities - be provided with enough resources, sniffer dogs, and  internationally assisted parastatal force to properly secure the border and assistance transnationally to prosecute the traffickers.
Number 6. Kenyan Wildlife Authorities be provided with enough resources to mount effective anti-poaching patrols across the range of elephants.
Number 6. Burn ALL ivory stockpiles. That is all ivory in strongholds on the African continent, all ivory that has been seized by customs or police _anywhere in the world_, all ivory that is collected from the field from natural mortality.

The USA, Interpol, Traffic, Save the Elephants and others can tell us where the elephants are being slaughtered. IFAW and EiA can tell you where in China and Thailand the illegal ivory is being sold. What is needed is concerted effort by the international community, enough funds for anti-poaching patrols - an increased and vigilant law enforcement systems, effective legislation and judicial education and application of law so prosecution of poachers, traffickers, and the top end of traders is accomplished effectively.

If we are to save this magnificent species, and to stop the death of tens-of-thousands of elephants we MUST take them off the trade list once and for all - this is the 21st Century!  

We know through years of scientific research that elephants are long lived, sentient, social and family oriented animals - they are emotionally complex - and right now, as we speak - we have a crisis on the African continent in Elephant Range States - bought about because there is a trade in ivory. 

Since the late 1800's 9 MILLION¹ elephants have been killed. Many of the surviving <400 sup="">2 

elephants are showing all the hallmarks of Post Traumatic Stress, the little families being led by teenagers, because now the big tusked male Patriarchs are dead, and the older females and Matriarchs are being killed -  the young, imbued with elephant culture to keep their families safe are struggling to keep the remaining youngsters alive and well. In time as the trade continues unabated, these calves and teenagers too will be shot and their tusks hacked out of their faces and their tiny tusks will be sent off to China and Thailand for the making of trinkets, mobile phone covers and chop sticks.

DNA analysis alone cannot save the elephants - international effort, political will, enough funds and absolute determination by all parties - particularly the governments of the Range States and consumer societies, including those with vested illegal and corrupt interests, need to take themselves in hand and STOP THE TRADE or we will see the extinction of elephants in the next 10 to 13³
years. 

Sources
1) http://www.bornfree.org.uk/campaigns/elephants/elephants-under-threat/. Born Free Foundation
2) http://elephanttrust.org/node/618. Amboseli Trust for Elephants Kenya Elephant Forum Fact Sheet 2. The Ivory Trade and Elephant Poaching. Point 28.
3) Conservatively, 400,000 divided by 32,000 per year killed = 12.5 years to extinction.http://elephanttrust.org/node/618. Amboseli Trust for Elephants Kenya Elephant Forum Fact Sheet 2. The Ivory Trade and Elephant Poaching. Point 21.