The magnificent tigers are rapidly nearing extinction in the wild. Action must be taken now by everyone who cares about them. Unfortunately tigers are being hunted mercilessly by poachers who then sell them to certain buyers in China, where the bones are then ground and used in the Chinese Traditional Medicine, and the penises are used in wines and soups as aphrodisiacs for rich businessmen in Taiwan. Horrific, isn't it? On top of that, there is no scientific proof that any of the cures and effects expected from the products made from tiger parts are true. In fact, small amounts of arsenic are added to the tiger penis wines and soups to cause a tingly feeling that might be interpreted as sexually stimulating. It is all documented in terrible detail in the Dec. 1997 issue of National Geographic. If you would like me to send you a copy of the article, please e-mail wendy@sanfranciscoandbeyond.com!.

" Spreading the word at the San Francisco Chinese Parade in the Year of the Tiger 1998"

Anyone can be creative and think of ways to get the message across. For example, a Chinese friend and I made big signs to carry in the Chinese Parade for the year of the Tiger 1998, saying "Save the Wild Tigers for Future Generations" and "Save Wild Tigers in the Jungle, Not in Wine Bottles, Soups and Pills!!!" in English on the front and Chinese on the back of the signs. We felt like we made an impression on the crowds and it was fun, except towards the end of the parade, a policeman made us get out of the parade or else! It was an experience! There are plenty of other creative ways to help put an end to the needless killing of tigers, and other magnificent animals that are also in grave danger of becoming extinct such as rhinos, gorillas and cheetahs. Supporting organizations such as The Siberian Tiger Project (sponsor a tiger!) c/o Hornocker Wildlife Institute at www.hwi.org (recommended by Peter Matthiessen, acclaimed author of "Tigers in the Snow"), World Wildlife Fund , specifying their tiger projects, at www.wwf.org , and the African Wildlife Fund at www.awf.org for the rhinos, gorillas and cheetahs, is key. Whatever you do, these magnificent animals are depending on us! Take action!

Other excellent organizations that need our support to protect Nature…

Natural Resources Defense Council www.nrdc.org
NRDC has been a big-time advocate for wildlife since the 60's, with their successful campaign against the use of DTT, helping to dramatically bring back the Peregrine Falcon from dangerously small numbers. Most recently, NRDC played a major role in the successful campaign against Mitsubishi Corporation's plans to build a salt factory in the pristine San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja, Mexico, where the Gray Whales go to give birth and frolic every year as they have for thousands of years. Having been down there myself and patted the friendly whales and their baby whales, I truly bonded with them and was ecstatic, along with many, many others, that the plans for the salt factory were cancelled. Besides sending some financial help via NRDC, I designed some postcards and had them printed, addressed to key executives at Mitsubishi and also the president of Mexico, and then gave them to everyone I came across to send with their name and signatures. I even set up a table outside of a Safeway, and gave out the cards and had posters with maps and urging a boycott against Mitsubishi products. It made an impression, because one of the top executives contacted me and we had an interesting conversation, and corresponded for several months. Later when the news broke that the plans for the factory had been cancelled, he was quoted as saying that he had come to appreciate the views of those who opposed the factory. I like to think I helped protect the whales in a big way. Anyone who cares can make a difference!
The latest threat that has come to light to the survival of all whales is from our own U.S. Navy! Their own studies have proven that using extremely loud "active" sonar has killed whales that beach themselves as they try to escape the tormenting sonar that government medical studies revealed actually caused severe hemorrhages in the whales' inner ears. Please lend your financial support to NRDC who are preparing to launch a showdown in federal court to block the Navy's continuing and expanding use of sonar, which marine biologists now believe pose the gravest threat to all whales species in history.
Please act now before it's too late.

Local San Francisco Organizations that you can help to make a difference!

Marine Mammal Center- San Francisco www.tmmc.org
You can help injured sea mammals in person if you want to at The Marine Mammal Center, which is open daily and just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in the beautiful Marin Headlands (Bus 76 Marin Headlands). The Marine Mammal Center is the largest marine facility in the world. Patients here include seals, sea lions, dolphins and sea otters. They have a gift store and interpretive center at Pier 39 in San Francisco. Check out their website to find out about more about volunteer opportunities and other ways you can help.

Earth Island Institute- San Francisco www.earthisland.org
Earth Island Institute develops and supports many, many excellent projects to promote conservation, preservation and restoration of Mother Earth. Some of the projects focus on protecting rainforests, marine mammals and their oceanic environment, and promoting organic and sustainable agriculture. Major milestones include the requirement for tuna that is dolphin-safe, and the return of of Keiko the Killer Whale of "Free Willy" fame to his native Icelandic waters, just to name a couple. Check out their website to find out more about their various projects and ways you can help.

The Cheetah Conservation Fund www.cheetah.orgThis organization, although based in Namibia, Africa, has local chapters around the Bay Area, and sponsors exciting, educational and inspiring events. I went to one such event that took place in Los Altos, where real, live cheetahs were presented after a lecture with slide show, and then these magnificently graceful creatures really showed their trump card (speed!) as they ran after a specially rigged "prey" across a soccer field. Amazing! At another event which I attended at a private residence, I enjoyed a slide show about the little known small wild cats of the world and saw cheetahs, an ocelot, and a baby snow leopard within just a couple feet from me! I even got to stroke the baby snow leopard and hold one of its paws!!! Please send your financial support to this hard-working, dedicated organization so that they can continue to make great progress in guaranteeing a future for the cheetahs of Africa. By the way, all the gorgeous wild cats that were presented at these two events were there courtesy of Rob and Barbara Dicely, owners of Leopards, Etc., an organization whose mission it is to increase public awareness of the plight of vanishing wildlife species on this planet. For more information about them and the opportunity to "hire" the cats for your special event, check out www.leopardsetc.com A portion of all proceeds goes to The Cheetah Conservation Fund and the International Snow Leopard Trust, and other worthy organizations.

Snow Leopard Conservancy www.snowleopardconservancy.org is dedicated to demonstrating innovative, grassroots measures that lead indigenous peoples to become stewards of the snow leopard and its habitat to ensure its future on earth.

WildAid has many excellent programs, including the Asian Conservation Awareness Program, with Jackie Chan as spokesman, which focuses on educating and persuading consumers to not to buy products made from endangered species, such as the products containing tiger bone used in traditional Chinese medicine, for example. Another campaign is aimed at saving sharks from continuing to be severely overfished mostly due to fishermen who kill them for their fins to use in shark fin soup. Check out their website for more info on these and other important programs at www.wildaid.org.

Get involved! The future of Nature's fantastic creatures is up to YOU.

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