Kim Selfies in Thailand, April 2014 How can a group of activists dedicated to saving the elephant from extinction compete for attention when Kim and Kanye’s wedding photos are captivating the nation? It's an uphill battle, but it does not stop them from trying. Margaret Mead’s famous assertion ~Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.~ comes to mind for two reasons: how right she was about the first part and sadly, how the second part is simply not true.
Small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to create positive change in the world, but how did climate change come about? That is the result of an overpopulated planet and many small groups of corporate executives, operating behind closed doors, who are committed to profits over planet. Trending topics on twitter? Often the result of massive amounts of shallow thinking. A recent example: “#YouWereCuteUntil you ate my food.” Posted by Alfie @PointlessBlog. 7K favorites and 4K retweets. You were cute until you ate my food? Never doubt that large groups of people can collectively share a lot of crap on social media.
Small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to create positive change in the world, but how did climate change come about? That is the result of an overpopulated planet and many small groups of corporate executives, operating behind closed doors, who are committed to profits over planet. Trending topics on twitter? Often the result of massive amounts of shallow thinking. A recent example: “#YouWereCuteUntil you ate my food.” Posted by Alfie @PointlessBlog. 7K favorites and 4K retweets. You were cute until you ate my food? Never doubt that large groups of people can collectively share a lot of crap on social media.
| Back to elephants. Why will elephants be extinct in the wild in ten years if the current rate of poaching continues? One major factor is demand for ivory in the U.S. You read that right. Yes, China and other Asian countries are huge consumers, but before we blame and shame other countries, the shame and blame belongs squarely on the strong shoulders of the United States of Consumption. Writing for Yale Environment 360, Adam Welz states: “Ivory in the U.S. is largely unmonitored, and the laws regulating it are antiquated, confusing, and shot through with loopholes. In addition, the agencies tasked with enforcing these laws are underfunded and chronically short-staffed.” | Want to see more from Animal Mama? Join Us! 
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The good news is that we can demand that the Obama administration unequivocally ban all ivory commerce in the U.S. That is exactly what our friends at Elephants DC are trying to do. They and their supporters are a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens who are doing everything they can to ensure that kids grow up in a world where elephants roam free. In other words, a world that is still full of magic and beauty. A world that is worth the fight.
The challenge? The petition stands at just under 11,000 signatures and in order to elicit an official response from the White House, 100,000 are needed by…this Friday, May 30. The petition takes a minute more than the usual petition because you must create an account in order to sign it. Why haven’t more people signed? Is it laziness or dozens of things competing for their attention that are much more immediate? More *important* than elephants disappearing in the next ten years because of human greed and ignorance? Or they just don’t know about it yet, despite valiant attempts by small groups and a few celebrities to spread the word? Yes to all and many more reasons, but maybe we can turn the tide a bit.
Without further ado, click below and sign for elephants and for all that is magical in the world! And never doubt that this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to fight for true beauty, no matter what happens in the hollow land of the Kardashians.
The challenge? The petition stands at just under 11,000 signatures and in order to elicit an official response from the White House, 100,000 are needed by…this Friday, May 30. The petition takes a minute more than the usual petition because you must create an account in order to sign it. Why haven’t more people signed? Is it laziness or dozens of things competing for their attention that are much more immediate? More *important* than elephants disappearing in the next ten years because of human greed and ignorance? Or they just don’t know about it yet, despite valiant attempts by small groups and a few celebrities to spread the word? Yes to all and many more reasons, but maybe we can turn the tide a bit.
Without further ado, click below and sign for elephants and for all that is magical in the world! And never doubt that this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens will continue to fight for true beauty, no matter what happens in the hollow land of the Kardashians.
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