The Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots Program Awards Bears for Cares Children’s Books and Toys as July’s ‘Project of the Month’

August 13, 2021 by Leave a Comment

books for kids

A youth service program for young people of all ages, Roots & Shoots, an initiative of the non-profit Jane Goodall Institute, awarded their Project of the Month for July to Bears for Cares children’s books and plush toys, designed for little readers to learn about the beauty of nature, the endangered state of wildlife,  treating animals kindly and creating a more compassionate world.

In making the announcement, Adrienne Bermingham, Roots & Shoots USA National Program Director said, “This award goes to Bears for Cares for making a difference for people, other animals and the environment we share with your world-changing project!”

Authored by youth writer Lotus Kay, who is passionate about animals, the environment, and endangered species, and illustrated by Chey Diehl, the four books in the Bears for Cares series are “More Beautiful than Heaven,” “Billie the Octopus,” “A Thanksgiving for the Turkeys,” and “Jenny the Chimpanzee.” The books are told in rhyme and inspire children to care for and protect the earth, our environment, and our fellow wildlife inhabitants. Companion plush toys are available for each book.

Bears for Cares  and the books will be featured in The Jane Goodall Institute’s “Good for All News” blog on the  Roots & Shoots website, along with being promoted through the non-profit’s social media outlets, with a particular focus on “Jenny the Chimpanzee” in conjunction with World Chimpanzee Day, July 14, 2021.

A bonus to “Jenny the Chimpanzee” are inspirational quotes from world-renowned ethologist and environmentalist Dr. Jane Goodall, considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees and founder of the The Jane Goodall Institute.

Upon receiving the books and toys, Dr. Goodall sent the following note to Lotus: “Dear Lotus, It is fantastic that you are writing these books – thank you so much for sending me some copies, including, of course, Jenny. And it is such a good idea to have soft toys with them. Children’s books are really important – and even more so because of the pandemic. Congratulations.”

Books are 26 pages, printed on recycled acid-free paper and are available as hardback ($14.95) and paperback ($9.95). Published by Eifrig Publishing, Bears for Cares books are recommended for ages 4-9. The books are also available with a companion plush toy from each story and retail for $49.95 each. To order the sets, visit Hugg-A-Planet.

The Bears for Cares campaign was founded by Lotus and her sister Jazmin Kay on Endangered Species Day.  A portion of the proceeds from the sale of all books and toys will be donated to the Roots & Shoots program.

Filed Under: animals Tagged With: , ,

Breakthrough Study Shows No-take Marine Reserves Benefit Overfished Reefs

May 4, 2021 by Leave a Comment

A powerful, long-term study from WCS adds scientific backing for global calls for conserving 30 percent of the world’s ocean. The studied no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) increased the growth of fish populations by 42 percent when fishing was unsustainable in surrounding areas, achieving the benefits of stable and high production of fish populations for fishers, while protecting threatened ecosystems.

  Findings support global “30 by 30” goal of protecting 30 percent of the ocean by 2030

·       Study published in the journal Marine Policy shows a no-take marine protected area (MPA) in Kenya was able to compensate for overfishing by increasing and maintaining the growth rate of fish populations by 42% over 24 years 

·       Study compared two common fisheries management approaches – protected area closures and fishing gear restrictions

·       Gear restrictions provided short-term benefits to fisheries, while no-take MPAs delivered and maintained better long-term fisheries production and yields

·       This study is further evidence of the value of no-take MPAs to achieve benefits for fish, fishers, communities, and ecosystems

·       WCS advocates for all-ocean management to achieve sustainable fisheries, and supports the global call to protect and conserve at least 30 percent of the global ocean by 2030: wcs.org/cbd

The study recorded fish catches for 24-years across a dozen fish landing sites within two counties in Kenya, which allowed scientists to evaluate the long-term impacts of two different fisheries management methods. While one county utilized a no-take MPA covering 30 percent of the fishery, the other focused on gear restrictions and prohibited the use of small-mesh nets.

The differences in outcomes for the fishers and the ecosystems were stark. Per-person daily catches rose 25 times faster near the no-take MPA than in fished areas with gear restrictions, showing that no-take MPAs were far more effective at sustaining stocks of fish than restricting destructive gear.

The study’s lead author Dr. Tim McClanahan, Senior Coral Reef Scientist for WCS said “The no-take area in Mombasa occupied 30 percent of the studied fishing grounds. Fortuitously, this  is the target for protection being proposed for the oceans, which is rarely tested and based on the results of simulation models. The empirical support for the models and the conservation proposal is reassuring along with the unexpected results of  increased production of fish populations that compensated for the lost fishing area. This adds to the evidence that no-take protected areas of sufficient coverage may compensate for the lost fishing grounds, particularly when fisheries are not sustainably fished.”

This new study from WCS represents the longest-ever continuous detailed fish catch record for coral reefs, and reveals patterns that took nearly 20 years to unfold due to the small annual increments of change. The time and resources it takes to complete these empirical studies has long been an impediment to testing the effectiveness of no-take MPAs on fisheries, and is also why simulation models were commonly used. Until this publication, most existing empirical studies were short-term and focused on the catch per fisher rather than the catch per area, which is a critical metric of sustainable yield estimates. Consequently, there is a compelling need to expand long-term studies to better calibrate and test fisheries production models.

This study shows that MPAs where no-take rules are followed can compensate for lost fishing grounds and stocks and therefore help people highly dependent on fish for income and nutritional security that is lost when catches are unsustainable. While gear restrictions did have positive benefits for short periods of time, they did not maximize fisheries production over the long-term. Some combination of closure and gear restrictions are therefore likely needed to achieve the full benefits to both fishers and ecosystems.

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Five Reasons to Not Buy Turtles or Tortoises As Gifts

December 5, 2019 by Leave a Comment

American Tortoise Rescue, the international nonprofit for turtle and tortoise protection, is asking consumers to not buy live animals, especially turtles and tortoises as gifts this holiday season. Adopt don’t shop.

According to Susan Tellem, co-founder of the sanctuary, while these wonderful reptiles have outlived the dinosaurs, wide spread illegal smuggling and the commercial pet trade in turtles and tortoises has devastated wild populations worldwide. Many once thriving species are now threatened or endangered. Worse, some are now extinct.

“The pet industry thrives on small, adorable exotic animals with a big price tag,” Tellem says. “What we are recommending is to avoid impulse buys. We understand the appeal of an adorable two inch baby turtle!” Tellem adds, “But most animal rescues have many turtles and tortoises ready for adoption to good homes.”

Tellem gives five reasons why people shouldn’t buy a turtle or tortoise.

  1. Reptiles are boring. Parents shouldn’t expect their kids to find everlasting enjoyment in an animal that basically sits still most of the day sunning itself. Many kids tire of a turtle in a tank and don’t want to clean the habitat and change the water daily. Turtles and tortoises poop, Tellem reminds everyone.
  2. Most turtles and many tortoises hibernate during fall and winter. It’s unnatural for them to be awake and available for sale when they should be sleeping from about October through April. It’s cruel to sell wild animals that need to hibernate to stay healthy.
  3. Turtles and tortoises confined in tanks are miserable. It’s like a human spending their entire life in a bathtub Tellem says. The only proper habitat for these reptiles is outside. Natural sun exposure helps maintain a healthy shell and is necessary for the animal to grow and thrive. During hibernation, most reptiles can stay outside in shelters that are dry and predator proof.
  4. Adoption is the ideal option, Tellem says. During the spring and summer, when the animals are awake, rescues help place them in good “forever homes” with proper habitats. In many cases, there is no charge to adopt, only the promise that the animal will be given exceptional care for the rest of its life.
  5. Turtles can easily live 25 years or more and tortoises can top 100 years. An impulse buy without a thought to the future is not in the best interest of the animal, Tellem says. Plans need to be made in wills and with family members since the animals can outlive their owners. Most people don’t think about that when they buy an animal.

Tellem, who founded the nonprofit 27 years ago with her husband, Marshall Thompson, says, “Many owners assume that when the tortoise becomes a problem, zoos will take them. This is simply not true. Zoos are not interested in cast-off pets.”

She adds that a domesticated pet cannot be put back into the wild. It will die or introduce disease into an already precarious wild ecosystem. In many states, it is also illegal.

Tellem says that the option of placing the animal with a rescue is not always the answer, as her rescue is full as are most others. The best solution is to find a compassionate adopter who is willing to give a proper “forever home” to the pet. There are many national rescue organizations listed on www.tortoise.com which can facilitate adoptions if people are interested in getting an animal.

One way to enjoy a turtle or tortoise without harming them is to make a donation to a nonprofit like American Tortoise Rescue. “This allows us to educate people and care for the ones that are ill in our sanctuary. If a donor makes a $100 donation or more, we send them an adoption certificate featuring one of our permanent residents, and it’s good for one year. People enjoy that because they can care for the animal vicariously,” Tellem says.

American Tortoise Rescue, Malibu, Calif., is a nonprofit founded in 1990 to provide for the protection of all species of tortoise and turtle.  For more information, contact:  American Tortoise Rescue at www.tortoise.com ; or email info@tortoise.com . Follow on Twitter @tortoiserescue and on Facebook. Tellem started World Turtle Day® 17 years ago which is now celebrated globally (and is trademarked). Find out more at www.worldturtleday.org and on Facebook and twitter. Here’s a list of rescues in the U.S and elsewhere http://www.tortoise.com/need-a-rescue.html.

Filed Under: animals, charity/notforprofit Tagged With: ,

TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS Announces “You Make Today Better” Campaign in Honor of World Suicide Prevention Day

August 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment
Nonprofit To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) just launched its 8th annual campaign to honor World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10) and National Suicide Prevention Week (September 8 – September 14). This year’s campaign centers around the message of: “You Make Today Better.“
According to the World Health Organization, 800,000 people die by suicide globally each year. That’s one person every 40 seconds. Additionally, the CDC recently reported that as of 2016, the suicide rate in the United States has risen 25% over the last 20 years.
TWLOHA Founder Jamie Tworkoswki shared: “World Suicide Prevention Day has become the most important day of the year for us. We love that this campaign gives people a way not only to support TWLOHA but also to have honest conversations about mental health. Above all, the goal is people getting help and lives being saved.“
People can participate in this year’s campaign by purchasing the organization’s World Suicide Prevention Day pack, joining the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook using #YouMakeTodayBetter, #WSPD19, and by becoming a fundraiser or donating to the campaign. TWLOHA has set a goal to raise $150,000 to sponsor 3,000 counseling sessions, provide scholarships for higher levels of care, and to connect thousands of people to reduced-cost local mental health resources.
Since its start in 2006, TWLOHA has donated over $2.4 million directly into treatment, has responded to over 210,000 messagesfrom over 100 countries, and traveled more than 3.4 million miles to meet people face-to-face at nearly 3,000 events. Each month, they connect with 5 million people online through social media and their FIND HELP Tool fields 5,000 searches made by people seeking affordable, local mental health resources.
In addition to this year’s WSPD campaign, TWLOHA recently announced that they will be holding their annual HEAVY AND LIGHTevent on September 21st, 2019 at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL. The organization invites everyone to attend the show for what promises to be an inspiring evening of songs, conversation and hope, with performances from Jon Foreman of Switchfoot, Anthony Raneri of Bayside, Dessa, SWIMM, spoken word poet Anis Mojgani, singer/songwriter Morgan Harper Nichols, and singer/songwriter Jamie Grace.
Tickets for HEAVY AND LIGHT are on sale now and available at https://livemu.sc/2ZcpptG. Bundles for the event, which include a ticket and an exclusive shirt, can also be purchased at http://bit.ly/2Y7aeFG.
Filed Under: health Tagged With: , , ,

TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS CELEBRATES 13 YEARS OF HOPE AND HELP

May 8, 2019 by Leave a Comment
To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) celebrates its 13th birthday on Saturday, March 30th. Since 2006, the nonprofit has been dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with mental illness. In their 13-year history, TWLOHA has donated over $2.3 million directly into treatment, traveled more than 3.4 million miles to meet people face-to-face at nearly 3,000 events, and has responded to over 210,000 messages from over 100 countries. Each month, they connect with 5 million people online through social media and their FIND HELP Tool fields 5,000 searches made by people seeking affordable, local mental health resources.
To celebrate, the organization is asking supporters to wear TWLOHA merch on March 30th and to post a picture on social media using the hashtag #WearTWLOHA. From the very beginning, the organization has designed and sold T-shirts as a way to fund their efforts. The merchandise they sell, however, serves a bigger purpose. It acts as a conversation starter and a way to introduce people to TWLOHA and their mission of spreading hope and help.
“It’s amazing to think that March 30 means 13 years have passed since our friend Jon Foreman wore the first TWLOHA shirt on stage at a Switchfoot concert in South Florida. We never could have imagined all that’s happened since that time-the people we’ve been able to reach, the stories that so many have shared with us,” says TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski. “We get to hear from folks all over the world who are getting help and even choosing to stay alive. We are beyond thankful for the last 13 years. We’re truly hopeful and excited when we think about the future.“
They will also be hosting a Two-Day Birthday Warehouse Sale on Friday, March 29th and Saturday, March 30th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their headquarters in downtown Melbourne, Florida. The sale is open to the public and will include brand new designs, exclusive deals on merch, and Run For It 5k registration. For more details, visit https://twloha.com/events/spring-warehouse-sale/.
This past September TWLOHA wrapped their 7th Annual World Suicide Prevention Day campaign for World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) and National Suicide Prevention Week (NSPW). With the help of supporters from around the world, the organization was able to raise over $200k for treatment and recovery, more than doubling their initial goal of $100k. Over 3600 people donated to the “Tomorrow Needs You” campaign, in addition to the sale of 4655 World Suicide Prevention Day packs. The money raised will help sponsor nearly 4000 counseling sessions and connect 55,000 people to local mental health resources.
As part of the campaign, TWLOHA shared an inspiring video featuring actors Chris Sullivan (from This Is Us) and Jaina Lee Ortiz (from Station 19), country music star Hunter Hayes, who raised $25,000, writer/artist Morgan Harper Nichols, and singer/songwriter Matt Wertz, along with a number of clips submitted by TWLOHA supporters from around the world. To watch the video, please visit: youtu.be/aEzUMnBHHK0.
For more information on To Write Love On Her Arms, please visit https://twloha.com/.
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St. Jude’s global childhood cancer initiative aims to cure 60 percent of the world’s children by 2030

January 31, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Over the past year, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has announced it’s expanding its international reach with St.Jude Global, a more than $100 million investment toward accelerating efforts to improve childhood cancer survival rates worldwide. In addition, as part of this renewed effort to prioritize the global approach to childhood cancer, St. Jude and World Health Organization announced a five-year collaboration – a multi-faceted, coordinated effort to cure 60 percent of children with six of the most common types of cancer by 2030.

 

In the United States, pediatric cancer survival rates top 80 percent, and most children have access to quality care, regardless of where they live. Around the world, however, the statistics are bleak. More than 80 percent of children with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries, and the overwhelming majority will die from their diseases.

 

Video – Global Disparities in Childhood Cancer

 

“During this year’s World Cancer Day, we continue to make great strides in achieving St. Jude founder Danny Thomas’ dream of a world where ‘no child should die in the dawn of life,’” said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and chief executive officer. “Global childhood cancer rates are on the rise as more children worldwide survive infancy. Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of those new cases are happening in places where they lack access to adequate diagnosis and treatment.”

 

Young Syrian refugees living in Lebanese camps is one place where St. Jude Global has already made a difference that will be featured during the upcoming American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) Annual Meeting – the world’s largest gathering of multi-disciplinary sciences – on Sunday, Feb. 17 in Washington, D.C.

 

A collaboration between St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Children’s Cancer Center of Lebanon at the American University of Beirut Medical Center has led to almost 600 non-Lebanese children receiving cancer-related evaluations, treatment, consultations and referrals. By sharing resources, best practices, insights and infrastructure, more refugees were treated who would have otherwise died because they happened to have cancer at a time when their family was displaced by war.

 

“During this year’s World Cancer Day, our work in Lebanon is a reminder that it is possible to save the lives of children who would have otherwise died simply because they happen to have cancer when their families were displaced,” said Sima Jeha, M.D., director of St. Jude Global’s East and Mediterranean Region.“Our experience in this region shows that effective pediatric cancer treatment is possible even in crisis situations.”

 

Jeha will lead a presentation, “Treating Pediatric Cancer in Crisis: Lessons for Delivering Care,” outlining lessons learned from this collaboration across borders and institutions and offering a blueprint to address the needs of children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries, even under the worst of circumstances. During the presentation, a panel of global medical experts will discuss lessons learned from the experience in Lebanon and how institutions and countries can work together to improve outcomes for non-communicable diseases in peace and in crisis.

 

Additional detail about St. Jude Global’s work to effectively treat young Syrian refugees can be found in St. Jude’s Promise Magazine, here.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, health Tagged With: , ,

2018 World Health Run – Run With Us or Follow Along on Social! #GlobalHealth #Running #HealthForAll #PeaceCorps @WorldHealthRun

April 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Follow us on social media tomorrow as we participate in the very first World Health Run!

In order to raise awareness of health equity, health as a human right, the many challenges some people face in seeking health care, and the challenges that health systems face in trying to provide comprehensive care, we are gathering stories and reflections from individuals around the world. We will highlight responses to questions on social media in the hopes of encouraging an open conversation that represents everyone.

Please go to www.RealVoices.World to participate!

We are very proud that this event offers the opportunity for individuals and groups to support some pretty terrific organizations and their high-quality work.

We are all proud, of course, to be a part of the Consortium of Universities for Global Health. The 2018 conference was inspiring and we were thrilled to be a part of it. In addition, the Rotary Club of Chicago, National Peace Corps Association, and Peace Care are collaborators in this effort. Take a look at their websites to see what kind of work they do. We’ll be telling you more about them through social media, as well.

In addition, this run supports many local organizations and the communities with whom they partner around the world. We will distribute a report several weeks after the run to let you know about these groups, and we will distribute a follow-up report later in the year to let you know about the impact of our collective effort.

Our principal goal is to raise awareness about health equity in the U.S. and Globally. If you are keen to learn a bit about the topic, the World HealthOrganization is a great place to start.

Did you know that:

  • In the U.S., “Native Americans and Alaska Natives have an infant mortality rate that is 60 percent higher than the rate for their white counterparts. 1 In 2013, infants born to African American mothers experienced the highest rates of infant mortality (11.11 infant deaths per 1,000 births), and infants born to Asian or Pacific Islander mothers experienced the lowest rates (3.90 infant deaths per 1,000 births).2” 3
  • Globally, every day, about 800 women die due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Maternal mortality is a health indicator that shows very wide gaps between rich and poor, both between countries and within them.4

(these are quoted directly from Baciu 2017 – referenced below)

We believe that by bringing broader communities together to advocate for better health.

Check out our 2018 World Health Run Music Mix!

We are thrilled that this event is gaining traction as being a premier opportunity for committed individuals and organizations around the world to come together to raise awareness about health equity.

Virtual World Health Run

Date: April 7, 2018

For World Health Day 2018, as stated during registration, there isn’t a physical run near you. Therefore, you will be participating in the VIRTUAL RUN. (We are working diligently to organize a physical run near you year. We’ve made a lot of connections this year and we are already making some terrific plans for moving forward).

DIRECTIONS:
As a VIRTUAL runner, you have a terrific opportunity to plan out a terrific route and raise awareness. We encourage you to get a group together if possible.  If you need some help planning a route, www.plotaroute.com is a terrific resource. Not only can you plan your own route, but you can locate previously planned routes near you.  Please let us know if you find a route that would be a great location for a physical run for next year!

We recommend that you go for your run on April 7, World Health Day, so that we can unite around the world on that day. With that being said, the virtual run does afford a degree of flexibility that can be convenient for those that are traveling or experiencing other challenges with their schedule.

We would love for you to engage with us on social media when you do run. Help us show the world that we care about health equity.

Above all, go have a great time, wear your shirt with pride, and feel good about this event. We are making an impact together.

Listen along to the Official World Health Run Music Mix! Let us know what we should add.

Filed Under: charity/notforprofit, fitness, health Tagged With: , , , ,

Join the Movement and #ShopWithYourHeart With the ASPCA

July 29, 2016 by Leave a Comment

The ASPCA has launched an exciting new initiative to improve the lives of farm animals called Shop With Your Heart.

aspca

As you may already know, most of the nearly 9 billion animals raised for meat, milk and eggs in the US are suffering in inhumane factory farms. And animals are not the only affected, as factory farms impact human health—they can be breeding grounds for dangerous pathogens and the antibiotics used to prevent disease create the potential for dangerous, drug-resistant bacteria to develop. To fully harness the power of our collective purchases and demand better lives for farm animals, the Shop With Your Heart initiative gives consumers the resources to recognize, locate and demand meaningfully welfare-certified meat, eggs and dairy products as well as plant-based alternatives.

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Here are a few ways you can get involved:

  •  Use the Shop With Your Heart Grocery List, including welfare-certified and widely available plant-based brands.
  • Post a photo of yourself on your social media channels making the “heart hands” to show solidarity with the movement with sample language like:  “Join the movement with me and pledge to #ShopWithYourHeart! aspca.org/ShopWithYourHeart @ASPCA.”

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Filed Under: animals, charity/notforprofit Tagged With: , ,