Archive for the Category » The Charity Supplement «
Welcome to the first ‘issue’ of The Charity Supplement. The previous post concluded with “the first charity to be featured in The Charity Supplement on this blog is…” so, without further hindering, allow me to introduce Born Free.
Born Free was introduced briefly in the previous article, but to add a little more, it’s motto is: Keep Wildlife In The Wild and it’s aim is to do exactly that – end captivity, where animals often suffer in unfriendly conditions which are damaging to their health. Born Free works with everything from lions to turtles, right the way from the UK – where they are currently working to complete a basking shark survey – to Asia – helping many, from bears who have been forced to dance, to the Orangutans and the conflict between them and humans in this area.
Celebrating their 25th Anniversary this year, it is fantastic to be able to feature them as the first charity in this ongoing blog project, and I would like to introduce them further with a personal viewpoint and story about why I believe their motto is so important.
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IN the summer of 2005 I visited the open savannah of Kenya and observed ‘The Lion King’ almost exactly, as its proceedings happened all around and above me, and I was enthused. My eyes wide, I watched nature in its most glorious and horrifying moments. I saw a falcon and knew that it meant death; I saw a zebra and an approaching lion, and I wanted to whisper: “run!” I saw elephants playing childishly and I laughed. I saw the now endangered flamingos as they painted the lake pink.
The other week I visited The London Zoo and I felt sorry for the tigers that saw little of life but a mesh and some gaping observers; I even felt for the spiders, trapped inside a tiny glass box, and I thought: “I sure do hope they’re not claustrophobic.” I watched the children, who were fascinated at the creatures before them and I asked myself why I wasn’t: I love nature; I love wildlife, but in this case why did I feel so bored? I began to lie to myself – to tell myself that I was enjoying it; after all, it is wildlife! And then I realised why I wasn’t enjoying it: because it’s not ‘wildlife;’ because I could barely see these creatures behind a mesh fence, or a glass frame; because I was so far from them, completely detached. It all felt fake, synthetic, like looking at plastic that wiggled and looked back. Yes, these animals were as real as anything else, but after seeing them, or most of them, in the wild, staring at them in this man-made playhouse of theirs just didn’t cut it. There was little exciting or interesting about it, and whilst I felt trapped behind that glass frame, I wondered if they felt trapped, and if so then how trapped. I wondered what they might be thinking of us humans that trap them like this but look after them and keep them alive and safe, with lots of food and playthings. What might they think about the wild should they ever return or go there? Would they not love it? I know I would, if I were an animal in a zoo, I know I would. I am heading to Borneo early next year – I am certain that this viewpoint will only become stronger. Surely they would love it, if they knew how to survive there?
In Kenya our driver pointed out the spot where ‘Born Free’ (the movie) was filmed. I had only recognised the name at the time, but I did not realise how much this charity and its work would stick in my head in the years following that summer. We humans always crave our freedom, well – do animals not crave their own? Born Free protects these animals and returns them to the wild where they have been exploited in circuses and zoos.
We all love to see animals closer to us, whatever the issues – and before watching these animals in the wild no doubt I thought this too. We all love to see what we can of the ‘wild’ at the cheapest price possible, and if they can come to us then that is even better. But perhaps we ought to question our wants. Yes, it is fantastic to watch animals if we cannot get to their wild habitats, and it is important to learn about them and their lives, but if we want all of this then perhaps we ought to look into more cheaper ways (and more environmentally friendly ways) of travelling to the wild to see these animals and to learn about them. We travel to meet friends and for business but we do not expect a friend to travel out of their way to see us, just as we don’t expect an office building to walk its way to our own home, therefore we shouldn’t expect animals to come to us either. Just because we have the power to bring them where we choose, does it mean that we should use it?
‘Keep Wildlife In The Wild’ – Born Free’s motto. Animals are happier there, and it is incredible to see them there.
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Look out for a more formal article about Born Free and its wonderful work in helping to keep wildlife in the wild, coming soon.
TODAY is the day that one of our ideas from the Benefits for Charities page on our site and the related article on this blog, is initiated. Which one? I hear you ask. Well, it is one that can benefit both potential supporters and charities; it is one that can occupy bored or fed up charity choosers, and it is one that can, for free, allow you to be more involved in your favourite cause. Which one? Today begins the first of what I would like to name: The Charity Supplement, what will hopefully be regular articles about a charity or charity-related link that is listed on our site.
You can read all about this in the Charities: We Want To Help You post, but to summarise, we would like to write about all the great things that charities or websites are doing. This includes successes, failures, new projects or a celebration, perhaps even an anniversary.
Speaking of anniversaries, the first charity to be written about in The Charity Supplement on this blog, is celebrating it’s 25th year. This impressive achievement is, as is to no doubt be expected, accompanied with many a celebratory event, including a concert at the Royal Albert Hall (for which I have my tickets booked!). For this charity, it all began way back in 1969 in a country sitting on the Equator, with a few certain roaring (or rather pawing and playing) animals – cubs, to be exact – accompanied by a certain George and Joy, played by actors Virginia and Bill, and it all began with the journey that this beginning ensued.
And the first charity to be featured in The Charity Supplement on this blog is …
Check back for the next article to find out.
