The Humane Society team has arrived in Goyang. South Korea today. They want to shut down the seventh dog meat farm and rescue 55 dogs. They need our help to do it. Please if you can give any amount, help by donating here: HELP US FIGHT THE DOG MEAT TRADE

"In South Korea, as many as 2 million dogs a year are slaughtered and eaten. They suffer on a daily basis in deplorable conditions on dog meat factory farms. This lifesaving work is only possible thanks to the generosity of caring people like you. Please join our fight to shut down this brutal industry for good. Your donation will help dog meat farmers transition to humane livelihoods, support our local Chinese partners in intercepting dog meat traders’ trucks, fund care for confiscated animals, enable us to lobby for better laws, and so much more. You can help stop this cruelty. Please give today."

More about what is happening there: Animal rescuers thought they’d seen it all; then entered a dog meat farm in South Korea where 55 dogs were kept in near darkness waiting to be eaten

Follow the official Facebook page of  Humane Society International for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/hsiglobal/

"This indiscriminate war that the state of Alaska has on bears is just wiping the populations out and that's gonna end up putting the entire balance of nature out of whack." - Jim Stratton, National Park Conservation Association. 

The H.J. Resolution 69 ( ans now it's companion resolution, S.J.Res.18), which was authored by Alaska’s Representative Don Young, was voted in Congress on the 17th February, and it was in favor 225 to 193. A federal rule was overturned, that was years in the works, crafted by professional wildlife managers at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with the goal to stop some of the most appalling practices ever imagined in the contemporary era of wildlife management. Denning of wolf pups, killing hibernating bears, spotting grizzly bears from aircraft and then shooting them after landing, and trapping grizzly bears and black bears with steel-jawed leghold traps and snares.

The full article can be found here: U.S. House sanctions killing hibernating bears, wolf pups in their dens on federal refuges in Alaska

"Rep. Don Young of Alaska, a former board member of the NRA and a licensed trapper – who conceded on the floor that he used to kill wolf pups in their dens for a bounty paid by the federal government — initiated this action and led the charge for his terrible resolution. An identical resolution, introduced by Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska as S.J. Res. 18, may be taken up in the Senate next week or soon thereafter."

Full article here: Congressional effort to allow killing hibernating bears and wolf pups in their dens moves to U.S. Senate
"The sheer savagery of what would become lawful if the Senate falls prey to its companion resolution (S.J. Res. 18) should give pause to anyone with a heartbeat. Hunters could scout grizzlies from the air and then be deposited on the ground to kill them. (Aerial shooting is still forbidden.) They could hunt wolves during denning season, either shooting a mother wolf, thus dooming her babies, or entering the den and killing all, frequently with gas. Hunters could also bait, trap or snare, causing an agonizing death usually exacerbated by freezing temperatures. The traps are steel-jawed. A snare is a wire that wraps around an animal’s neck, then tightens as it tries to pull away."

Full article here: Congress considers a grizzly betrayal in Alaska wildlife refuges

There is still time to help! Tell your Senators to stop this horrible resolution from being implemented. Below is a list of all of the Senators and their contact info. You can call or send an email:



Don Young has an official Facebook page. You can voice your opinion there also.


"This is gonna go through. I wanna tell you that right now, it's got the votes necessary unless people speak up!" - Cory Booker, U.S. Senator  

Famine has hit East Africa, with four countries: Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and northeast Nigeria
at risk of starvation.

The UN chief Stephen O'Brien has said that the world is already facing the largest humanitarian crisis since the end of the Second World War, with almost 130 million people in 33 countries in need of life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection.

'In north-eastern Nigeria, over 5 million people are severely food insecure and 450,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. In the worst-affected and least accessible areas of Borno and Yobe states, 55,000 people face famine-like conditions. 

In South Sudan, 100,000 people are already facing famine, with another 1 million on the brink. 

In Somalia, largely due to consecutive and severe droughts, there are worrying similarities to the famine of 2011, when more than a quarter million people died - half of them before the famine was officially declared. Food prices are rising, animals are dying, and close to 3 million people cannot meet their daily food needs.

Yemen is facing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world with a third of the country - almost 19 million people - requiring humanitarian and protection assistance. More than 7 million people need urgent food assistance. With health facilities destroyed and damaged, diseases are sweeping through the country. Some 462,000 children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and a child dies every 10 minutes of preventable causes.'

O'Brien said that humanitarian partners urgently need $4.4 billion in order to avert famine and save thousands of lives. The money will be used for malnutrition treatment programmes for children and adults, emergency food aid deliveries, livestock support, health interventions, clean water, sanitation and hygiene support, and cash transfers for millions of the most vulnerable people. By 15th March, they have received $429 million of this amount.

'It is possible to address and avert these famines, and to prevent human catastrophe on a massive scale but we must act quickly and not wait until it is too late. Allowing famine to unfold is a choice; we must make the choice to stop it. To fail to do so would be a stain on our collective moral conscience. We have no time to lose.'

You can read the whole article here: East Africa: Act Now to Address and Prevent Famine in Four Countries

What can we do to help?

There are many organizations you can make a donation to in order to help. Here are some I have found:

1. World Food Programme: http://www1.wfp.org/donate-now

'Some 20 million people face catastrophe in South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria and Yemen with famine already declared in South Sudan. People are already dying from starvation and in South Sudan alone 1 million children are estimated to be acutely malnourished. If we don’t reach people with urgent food aid soon, many of them will die. WFP is on the ground in some of the hardest hit areas, but we need your help to reach more people. Please make a donation to our emergency fund today. Help save a life.'


2. International Rescue Committee: https://help.rescue.org/donate/email-famine-relief#webform-component-donation

'A famine has gripped South Sudan and a hunger crisis is ravaging Somalia and parts of East Africa. Make a tax-deductible donation today to help IRC provide emergency health care, nutrition support and other critical services to families in South Sudan, Somalia and across East Africa. Your support will help us save as many lives as possible.'

3.. UNICEF (NZ): https://www.unicef.org.nz/famine

UNICEF is the world largest supplier of therapeutic food.

'Just $38 can buy enough therapeutic food to save the life of a malnourished child. At 60 cents a packet for therapeutic food, this is a low-cost, fast acting way to treat malnutrition. Each packet is bursting with energy, protein and all the goodness needed to bring a child back from the ravages of hunger. Each packet is an easily absorbed meal and just 3 packets a day for 3-4 weeks is enough to save the life of a malnourished child.'

4. Disasters Emergency Committee (UK): https://donation.dec.org.uk/eastafrica#/

The UK Government will match pound for pound the first £5 million donated by the public to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal.

5. SCIAF (UK): https://secure.sciaf.org.uk/east_africa

'When disaster strikes, SCIAF works with Caritas Internationalis (the global network of Catholic aid and development agencies) to get help to those who need it - fast. As well as providing immediate shelter, food, water and medicine, we give communities the support they need to help them recover, rebuild and get back on their feet in the long term.'

6. CAFOD (UK): https://cafod.org.uk/donations/one-off?_Amount=&_Appeal=7011A000001E5QOQA0

'We support local organizations who can act fast, providing food, water and shelter for people who have lost everything. And we’re there in the months and years that follow too, helping people rebuild their lives and prepare for whatever the future holds.'

As I said, there are probably many more organizations which have organized an action call to help the people in East Africa. Donating to any of them (which are secure and reliable) will help.

There are some good news regarding the homeless dogs in Dubrovnik. :)

Lionsgate, the company that is making the movie "Robin Hood" has contacted Network for Animals and told them that they didn't know about the situation with the dogs. They have promised to donate 20,000 Kuna ($2,800) to help the dogs, who are currently huddled in open shelters in the freezing cold at the Zarcovica Animal Shelter, just outside the city.

Also, the previous Mayor who wanted the dogs to be killed has lost his job after it was found that he didn't build dog shelters and that the money that was supposed to be used for it was gone. Now, the leading candidates to replace him have promised that if they are elected they will immediately create a new shelter for the dogs.

'Mato Frankovic, who is leading in the opinion polls, says if he is elected in June, the dogs will have a new home by Christmas. Maro Krystic, a member of the national parliament with strong concern for the environment, made a similar promise.'
These are all good news, but until the new Mayor is elected, the dogs will not get any help from the government. They said it is not possible until the election in June. If you can donate any amount to Network for Animals, please do so. The dogs need food, veterinary care and shelter. There are more than 300 dogs currently at the shelter.

You can see the newest update and there is also the option for donating here:

Incredible developments from Leonardo DiCaprio’s dogged Croatian drama


'I can only do this with your support. Please, please help the dogs of Dubrovnik by donating to Network for Animals right now, because in Dubrovnik you and I must become Robin Hoods and give to dogs in desperate need.' - Brian Davies, Founder of Network for Animals

In Dubrovnik, a city in Croatia, all of the stray dogs have been transported in a shelter on the mountainside of the city. The streets have been cleared so the movie "Robin Hood" directed by Leonardo DiCaprio can be shot.

"More than 300 Dubrovnik street dogs are huddled on a windswept mountainside, shunned by the city and cared for by a few brave volunteers at the Zarcovica Animal Shelter"

The government is not helping to take care of these dogs, not a single cent has been given and if it weren't for Network for Animals and the volunteers they would be dead by now. And now the city wants to kill them! Charges have been made against the people caring for the dogs because they vaccinated some of the them a bit later than the law allows.


"Leonardo DiCaprio, Robin Hood’s producer, probably had no idea what’s going on until he learned about it from us. We are now waiting for a response from his film company. I hope he is horrified – no, I am certain he is, now that the truth is out there." - Brian Davies, founder of Network for Animals.
Another way to help is to send an email to the government of Dubrovnik. It is high time they take responsibility for the homeless dogs in their city. They need to take care of their dogs! It is their responsibility and killing them is not an option. It is wrong. You can send an email to this address: prijedlozi@dubrovnik.hr. As far as I understood, this is a way to contact the mayor, but since it seems they don't have one elected, not until May, I recommend sending the same email to this address too: pipsic@dubrovnik.hr. This email is from Petar Ipšić, the Information Officer of the City of Dubrovnik.

Here is an email sample you can use. You can of course edit it or write your own version.

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Respected/Dear Mr. Petar,

It is very saddening to have found out that the government of Dubrovnik is refusing to help, in any way, the homeless dogs in your city. More than 300 stray dogs were taken to a temporary shelter on a mountain near the city where just a handful of volunteers are helping take care of them. The streets of your city have been cleared of the rest of the dogs, so the new movie "Robin Hood" can be shot. No help was given to the volunteers, not even financial that would ensure better living conditions for these dogs. The government promised to build a shelter for stray dogs even before, but that did not happen. And now the volunteers are being sued for having the dogs vaccinated later than they should have been? And there is threat of euthanasia?

It is shameful that a city which is a tourist destination and Croatia as a country which is a member of the EU is treating their animals so cruelly. The carelessness with which the competent authorities treat the abandoned dogs is unacceptable! As a developed, cultural and a tourist city, I think it is time to take responsibility and appropriate procedures to protect these dogs. It is your responsibility as a government to do so! Euthanasia is not a solution, but building a good shelter, raising awareness, spaying and neutering, promoting dogs for adoption is the right way for a developed and cultural city to treat its animals.

I hope you will help the dogs and make the right decision. Please do everything possible to help these dogs in a humane and commendable way.

Sincerely,

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Ecosia is a social business that was founded by Christian Kroll, Ecosia's CEO. Christian studied business administration in Nuremberg and decided to travel the world for some inspiration on a business model with a positive social impact. While staying in Argentina he learned a lot about reforestation projects in the Atlantic Rainforest in Argentina and Brazil and also read Thomas L. Friedman’s book “Hot, Flat and Crowded”. That has taught him about the connection between globalization and climate change and how planting new trees could actually neutralize CO2 emissions. That is how he came up with the idea of a search engine that helped finance planting and restoration projects. Ecosia.org was born in 2009 and the search engine that helps plant trees has launched in December of that year.

"We want to create a world where the environment no longer needs protecting."


"We invest in efforts that will pay off, grow and self­sustain in the long­term – both in the company, and in the world. We want to play a part in humanity’s ability to happily coexist with the earth, and we consider this in everything we do."

So, what can we do to help?

1. Set Ecosia as your default search engine.

2. Spread the word about this search engine to family, friends and colleagues.

3. You can visit this page or contact them directly if you are interested in using offline informational materials.

Here is one PDF file you can use: http://documents.ecosia.org/369423/8948583

4. Also, you can present it at your school, university, work place, choir, environmental group, gym etc and ask if people might be interested in setting it up as the company's or organization's default search engine.

"Let's say you search with Ecosia three times a day for a year. That would mean 1095 search requests a year. Since we plant a new tree for every 56 searches on average, you alone could finance 19.5 real trees every year. Now imagine that you persuade 500 people, for example in your office, to start using Ecosia and contributing to the tree planting effort. That would mean we could plant 9750 actual trees in a year. What if you could convince an organization of 5000 members to install Ecosia as their default search engine? That would be 97,500 trees planted in a year. All totally financed by searches. And now imagine a university with 15,000 students. If they were to all the switch to Ecosia you could finance the planting of 292,500 trees in just one year!"

Ecosia releases financial reports every month and tree planting receipts. You can check it out here:

Financial Reports & Tree Planting Receipts

What about CO2 emission?

By planting trees with its revenue from search ads, Ecosia automatically neutralizes its CO2 emissions. The industry standard for search engines is estimated to be about 0.2 grams of CO2 emission per search. One grown acacia planted in Burkina Faso can take up to 50 kilograms of CO2 out of the atmosphere in a lifetime. Ecosia earns an average of 0.5 cents per search at the moment. The average cost of planting a new tree is 28 cents, so roughly 56 searches plant a new tree.

Besides that, they offset their emissions with a Gold-Standard project in Madagascar run by their partner myclimate.