Today is our blog’s first birthday!!

Today our blog celebrates its first birthday!!

A year ago this very day I wrote the very first, very humble, blog post.

The birth of the blog owes much of its final impetus to Michael Ambjorn and ultimately Ogilvy & Mather’s Idea Shop. It seems like a long time ago now but the enthusiasm from this team of marketing professionals, from our 45 minutes session in East London, was insatiable. We had good content and we needed to share it.

Since then, it’s been a steep learning curve and I’m working out what works and what doesn’t. Yes, there’s been the odd 303 redirects, a few typos and some broken links but overall, 12 months on, it has grown into something that the whole organisation is really proud of.

Every EIA campaigner has now contributed to the blog, from each of our campaigns. So you, as the reader, can now get first-hand information on what it’s like at EIA, what it’s like out in the field, gather expert opinions as well as tap into more personal reflections on the topics EIA works on (as well as interesting tangents!)

We’ve also encouraged those more behind the scenes to step up to their e-literary debut; Charlotte Davies, our intelligence analyst has taken a particular shine to our blog and written some fantastic posts. Our comms and fundraising team had have time in the e-limelight as well as our volunteers, who donate their time so enthusiastically thoroughly deserving airtime.

And thus, we have religiously published our weekly blog for the last 52 weeks (perhaps a few exceptions for national holidays) on a whole host of topics; from tigers to rhinos, from our community projects in Tanzania to whaling in the Faroe Islands and gala dinners to pangolins! An unexpected bonus is that the blog content fuels our monthly emails which have, in turn, dramatically improved internal communication and encouraged more cross-campaign dialogue.

More than that, the expert opinion of campaigners is being picked up by other groups and organizations, such as REDD monitor and Global Tiger Initiative on blogs and Computer Aid, Client Earth and others on Twitter; so our outreach exponentially increases.

But it’s not just about churning content out; it’s about building a dialogue as well. We are keen to hear your feedback and have made every attempt to respond to comments written by you. We are only human however, and apologise if some have slipped through the net. Please keep your comments coming; what would you like to see improved? Do you have a favourite blog post? What would you like to hear more of?

What are the stats?

• 68 blog posts

• 154 comments

• 15,482 visits

Technical Paragraph – for the geek within

Sticky Content generously donated places on their course for many of our campaigners, a huge thank you to them. They highlighted the important differences between writing for print and the web; tough lessons including “don’t expect people to read all your content” and “write your copy, halve it and then halve it again”.

Michael Ambjorn at Eurocomm

Following a communications conference in Italy, there have been some subtle differences to the blog; improved Search Engine Optimisation, shameless promotion, more links and pingbacks, using alt.text and keywords, all of which has helped build a strategy to use the blog more effectively and to help make sure we are findable on Google. We’re not there yet but have made some great improvements. A huge thank you to Steve Seager and Michael Gaasterland on Twitter

The next 12 months

With all going well, we will have the new EIA website up and running soon (I don’t want to jinx the date!) and this will see the blog fully integrated into the website. It’s an exciting time for EIA comms as we finally make that leap into Web 2.0. The blog and our other social media platforms will become an integral part of the website and we will continue to produce fantastic content as our campaigners get more into the swing of blogging.

Conclusion

Watch this space.

Afterword

A few days ago I bumped into Ruth Jamieson from Ogilvy at the latest Ideas Shop at Marketing Week Live and I see Michael Ambjorn at IABC events; it’s great to keep in touch with the people that took the time to dispense small pearls of wisdom to us. Those pearls, 12 months on, have had such a huge impact on how we communicate here at EIA, so thank you to all those who have made it possible.

Sophia Cheng

Fundraising & Communications Officer

Read Full Post »

EIA Volunteer Lex, from across the pond, shares her fundraising experience.

There’s no romantic back-story for how I first became aware of EIA.  Back in March, I literally stumbled past them on a walk. After noticing the sign for EIA’s offices wedged between a few storefronts, I decided to search for the organization on Google. I liked what I saw and requested a volunteer application. Three months later, here I am, a proud EIA fundraising volunteer who can’t believe, firstly, that such a fantastic organization exists and, secondly, my own dumb luck that it had a volunteer position available when I applied.

By the time I found EIA, I had been looking for volunteer positions for months. I am very dedicated to the cause of animal protection and, back at home in the USA, I have donated my time to all manner of animal organizations. From cleaning kennels at the local dog shelter to spending a summer at a farm animal sanctuary writing promotional material, my heart belongs to animals and so does most of my time. When I first moved to London, I was optimistic that I would be able to find something to involve myself in, but while I found plenty of short-term opportunities, the longer term ones seemed to be absent or they weren’t the right fit for my postgraduate schedule. I was disappointed.

However, EIA was the missing puzzle piece. Animals are a huge part of what they do – from conducting undercover investigations on the tragic international trade in tiger and elephant parts to protecting cetaceans from whalers out for a quick buck to taking part in conservation efforts on behalf of orangutans and their habitats – but that’s not all. While their work in that arena definitely pulled me in, I was also eager to expand my knowledge beyond my normal focus, to learn more about the illegal timber trade and deforestation as well as ozone layer and climate protection. Sitting in an office surrounded by enthusiastic campaigners and staff, I can’t help but be fascinated by all that they do, animal-related or not – their passion is contagious.

Downtime at EIA HQ

As you could probably tell by my gushing, I adore being at EIA. There is never a dull day at the office as all my tasks are interesting in some way or another. Currently, I’m assisting the fundraising team in researching and designing a fresh set of merchandise for the upcoming website and online store redesign, to be launched mid-summer (I hope you’ll love it). Before that, I was drafting our most recent appeal for assistance in releasing a report on the whaling of endangered fin whales in Iceland. Some of the smaller, more everyday tasks I’m asked to do include database manipulation and letter editing. Don’t tell anyone, but I even get a kick out of playing around with the database. I know… I’m a huge nerd.

Without a doubt, volunteering for EIA has been one of the most rewarding experiences of this past year. In few of the many places I’ve volunteered have I felt so at home while still learning so much. I’m honored to be a meager part of the great work that EIA does and hope that even once my volunteering tenure is up, I can continue to be involved in the work of this small, but incredibly tenacious and much-needed organization.

Have you got what it take to be a volunteer at EIA? We’re currently recruiting a finance volunteer, find out more here.

Lex Berko

Fundraising Volunteer

Read Full Post »

Weekly Blog: Guest Simon Clinton shares why he’s so passionate about saving the wild tiger

We asked Simon Clinton, the driving force behind the Save Wild Tigers gala held back in March of this year, what makes him so passionate about saving the wild tiger and find out just how ambitious his plans are.

View of a tiger in the wild, India. Image courtesy of Robin Hamilton. Watch the video

Watch the sensational tiger video The Clinton Partnership put together for the project.

“The inaugural Save Wild Tigers black tie dinner in March, at the Mandarin Oriental was without doubt a great success. Why? Firstly we all came together to fight the cause under a single umbrella, EIA, Born Free & WildAid. Secondly, we managed to galvanise support for our 6 month awareness programme – an art exhibition on tigers, a forum at the RGS and finally the gala dinner, which raised close to £100,000. A great achievement by all.

“Back in the 70`s as a kid being brought up in Malaysia I first became aware of Tigers, and indeed my Fathers support then for Tiger conservation work in Malaysia with the WWF. However only in recent years did I really understand how dire the situation was, frightening numbers – 3,200 left, $10,000 for a Tiger skin, 10 years to extinction, these numbers hit hard.

Save Wild Tigers - London 2011

As a marketing guy, the power of this iconic symbol over the years for brands and indeed upon varying cultures is incalculable, think Tony the Tiger from Kellogg’s, think Esso/Exxon Mobile “a Tiger in the Tank”, think enjoying a Tiger beer on a relaxing beach in Malaysia, or a indeed a kids story around Tigers, it’s time we gave something back to them – before it’s too late.

For me, the journey actually begins now, for others like Debbie it began many years ago. Personally, I can’t think of many other causes that have had such a impact on our culture and lives for thousands of years, yet could all be over in 10 short years, indeed we are already 6 months into our 10 years, the clock really is ticking!

“Let’s really pick up the pace, there’s so much we can all do. If you need inspiration, watch the video on www.savewildtigers.org or the EIA site and help us before it’s too late.”

Simon Clinton (left) with Virginia McKenna and artist Gary Hodges at the Tiger Gala

Simon Clinton

The Clinton Partnership

www.theclintonpartnership.com/

Read Full Post »

IABC’s Eurocomm 2011 – from an NGO perspective

I have returned back to the office after 5 days in Italy, yes it’s sunny here but Islington Green has nothing on Via Roma or Parco del Valentino, Costa below us doesn’t quite cut it anymore and Pizza Express over the road has lost its appeal. Suffice to say, things have changed post- Turin and that’s not to mention the real reason why I was there.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Eurocomm, hosted by the International Association of Business Communicators, the Middle East and Europe division, is a communications conference held every two years with speakers from the very top of their field.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, business communicators, small NGO?! Where’s the link? Surely you’re not spending all my donations on trips to Turin. Well no. Thanks to the board of IABC, I managed to secure a scholarship to help me get there and Ryanair did the rest of the job (actually, quite painlessly).

So I arrived with my metaphorical socks pulled up high, pen and paper (and smartphone) poised and ready to learn, or perhaps absorb is a better word, all that I could from the world of communications and see how it could be best applied to EIA.

Ashraf Amin, Journalist shares with us the role of communications during the Egyptian revolution.

Two days were spent in a stunning location overlooking the city  learning about the latest in comms, with interesting and dynamic people, all fuelled by the best espresso.

In short, I have taken away so much from the conference and could go on at length about the importance of communications but in this information overload world we now inhabit, instead I will summarise some of the key lessons in less than 140 characters. In other words, a tweet!

• Stephane Dujarric, Director of News & Media at the UN: “Issue comes before the logo”, always tell a compelling human story
• Silvia Cambie working with the European Training Foundation: “Networks are replacing individuals as base of communications”
• Aureli Valtat – Eurocontrol and Tweeting through the ash cloud: “Twitter is not just a push channel – interactivity is key”
• Mark Comerford on Social Media & Journalism: “Everything is changing…and survival relies on being responsive to change”
• Are you ready for the digital revolution?
• Steve Seager on SEO: “Shameless blog promotion is ok!”
• Suzanne Salvo of Salvo Photo on the accidental photographer: “show results, not the product”

Approaching things from a new angle - Mole Antonelliana - the landmark of Turin.

So for EIA, we are in the middle of updating our website (in fact this conference could not have come at a better time) and there is much we can implement right away. From optimizing content, integrating more of our media (analogue & digital) and selecting powerful imagery that crosses the language barrier. Embracing the perception shift may take a little longer. But watch this space.

I will finish with the words of Mark Comerfor:

“if you want to reach me, you will have to reach my network”

Join EIA’s network on Twitter, on Facebook, LinkedIn and Vimeo.

I would like to add a personal thanks to board members of the IABC, especially Michael Ambjorn.

Sophia Cheng

EIA

“NGO comms newbie”

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Weekly Blog: Reflecting on the Tiger Gala, a personal account

Will Travers & Joanna Lumley

Last Thursday saw the culmination of months of work, events invariably incur high levels of stress in the lead up; Will everyone turn up? How will the auction go? And the big question, will we raise enough money to have made all the effort worthwhile?

It was indeed a labour of love and I am immensely proud to say, yes it was worth every moment spent in preparation, the mild hysteria during the day and the pain of putting my feet in heels for an extended period of time, we raised over £100,000 and we’re still totting up the figures!!! Once costs are accounted for the total will be split between the 3 NGO’s.

What made the evening such a success? I believe it was the collaborative dedication of all the people involved. I recall sitting in a small meeting room months ago with what was at the time just a group of like-minded people (and all strangers to me), Simon Clinton had a vision and his enthusiasm was infectious, he threw time, energy and brilliant people on board to move the project forward. The complementary nature of the three NGO’s involved led to a natural partnership and everyone got stuck in! Sourcing auction prizes, guests, venue, entertainment, wine and champers not to mention celebrities, all at minimal expense possible, is no easy task with the 3^rd of March ever looming!

Then of course, there’s the food, I must confess, attending the tasting at the Mandarin Oriental stands out as a particular highlight. It was a tricky business deciding which of the exquisite five courses should be served to our 200 guests but I take pride in my thoroughness and ensured the final menu was a culinary delight.

All the goody bags!

Another task delegated to EIA was the humble goody bag. Guests paying a hefty £300 expect a certain caliber within the tiger themed bag; clients of The Clinton Partnership generously contributed but where was the rest to come from? Two words. Cold calling. I have a deep-rooted fear of cold calling, is it just me? Perhaps it’s because I fear rejection, well no one likes to be dumped over the phone. Thankfully, after much personal procrastination the wonderful Café Direct and Lush jumped on the idea and generously donated 200 fabulous goodies, old EIA friends Iain Green and Laura Barwick did the same and my ego remained intact.

The Thai Music Circle

And then the day itself, filling up the goody bags was executed with military position and table plans finalised. As soon as it hit 5.30 an army of people were on board to transform the room into an Asian paradise, whilst simultaneously transforming ourselves from shabby NGO staff to glamorous and elegant folk. The Thai Music Circle began to play, photographers from Hello and Ok were poised and the champagne was poured as the firsts guest arrived.

Show time.

My Asian roots led to me playing a role front of house, inspired by the idea to represent as many tiger range countries as humanly possible, it was a very novel honour to lead Buddhist monks from the Buddhapadipa temple through the tables of expecting guests to the stage to bless the tiger.

Virginia McKenna, Donal MacIntyre & Joanna Lumley

The celebrities had turned out, Donal MacIntyre did a fantastic job of hosting throughout the evening, alas Mr. Bailey did not make it but Joanna Lumley’s impromptu but powerful speech reminded everyone why they were there. I am in awe of the wonderful Nicholas Parsons, how he personally commanded the room full of, by this time, rather saturated guests. Extravagant auction prizes went to the highest bidder amidst plenty of cajoling from Mr. Parsons. The Malaysian drummers took people’s attention away from the food and to the stage, the fabulous Made Pujawati, captivated us with her Balinese tiger dance. Gauri’s dancers performed an exquisite Kathak dance, culminating in all artists sharing the stage, with a Chinese lion dance finale. It worked seamlessly, a shame it’s not mirrored politically.

By midnight my ratio of strictly working vs. wine consumption tipped heavily towards the latter and I rested my sore feet satisfied that is was a job well done.

See The Londonist review of the night.

Something I am still in awe of is the generosity of individuals and companies despite the current age of austerity. Here are my hearty thanks to the following companies who contributed to our fantastic evening, Pangkor Laut Resort, Air Asia, Arsenal, Jacob’s Creek, Laurent-Perrier, Easter & Oriental Express, The Ritz-Carlton, Cowdray Park Polo Club, YTL Hotels, Land Rover, Twining, encounters asia, Raymond Blanc Cookery School, Thyme at Southdrop, Samara, Vintage Roots, Texture, Tiger Beer, Real Digital International, Café Direct, Tiger J’s Chocolate, theWildGarlic, Kit Digital, Chewton Glen.

Liz Bonnin & other tiger friends.

To individuals I would like to thank, Betty Yao, Zehan Verden, Ralph Dixon, Jimmy Choo, Ching-He Huang, Bill Oddie, Simon Lycett, Ronni Ancona, Alistair McGowan, Gary Hodges, Iain Green, Laura Barwick, Frances Jarvis, Joanna Lumley, Donal MacIntyre, Nicholas Parsons, Christy Symington, Laura Lian, Chris Wright, Steve Cawston, Liz Bonnin, Virginia McKenna, Rob Murray.

To our entertainers, Gauri Sharma Tripathi and her dancers, Made Pujawati, Thai Music Circle, Lim’s Martial Arts and a special thank you to the monks from the Buddhapadipa Temple, London.

Sophia Cheng

Membership & Fundraising Officer

Read Full Post »

The Night of the Year, The Cause of a Lifetime

The Night of the Year, The Cause of a Lifetime

In celebration of the Year of the Tiger, EIA have teamed up with Born Free & WildAid, for what promises to be the fundraising event of the year, at the Mandarin Oriental on 3 March. Celebrity guests confirmed include Ronni Ancona and Alastair McGowan, Virginia McKenna, Joanna Lumley, Bill Oddie, Liz Bonnin, Ching he Huang, Steve Backshall with Donal McIntyre to MC the evening. We have just found out today Jimmy Choo is also attending.

Enthralling entertainment will be performed throughout the evening. In keeping with our Asian theme, world class artists and musicians from tiger range countries have all kindly donated their time and will be performing traditional displays. The champagne reception will be complemented with music by an authentic Thai orchestra in the superb Carlyle Suite. Before being served an exquisite Asian three course dinner in The Ballroom, Tibetan monks will give a blessing and set the tone for a truly unique evening. When our stomachs are full an exceptional Balinese traditional tiger dance will be featured, especially choreographed for the night. Followed by Gauri Sharma Tripathi, who is a world famous  Kathak dancer, a classical Southern Indian dance form and known for adding her own contemporary twist. She is also a resident artist at the Southbank centre and will be leading what promises to be an extraordinary performance. There will be the opportunity to bid for magnificent art pieces in aid of the wild tiger before our evening climaxes with a breathtaking Chinese dragon display.

Our auction prize list, is nothing short of spectacular and offer fantastic experiences to suit every taste. If food is your passion, you have a chance to bid for dinner for two at Michelin star restaurant Texture, or foraging with Master Chef Winner Matt Follas followed by dinner at his award-winning restaurant in Dorset or learn to cook at the fantastic food school, Thyme at Southdrop. If escaping for some sun sounds more appealing, Air Asia have donated two premium class tickets, return to Malaysia, Orient Express are providing a unique travelling trip or bid for a chance to seek out the wild tiger in its natural habitat in India.  Fantastic pieces of art will be up for auction in keeping with our wildlife theme, Gary Hodges, Rosie Corcoran, Laura Lian as well as many other artists have kindly donated pieces to raise funds for the wild tiger. And for sporting fans, be in with the chance to take a VIP tour of Arsenal football club, conducted by one of their past great players.

You can find out more here and at www.savewildtigers.org

We have a few tables left for corporate at £300 per head (10 to a table) or an individual rate of £250.

An alternative is a raffle draw with the prize being 2 tickets to the evening, you can purchase them here.

To speak to someone directly email sophiacheng@eia-international.org

Read Full Post »

Weekly Blog: Philip Godfrey helps to keeps the cogs of EIA turning.

Do any of you  remembers EIA’s awarding winning TV series “Animal Detectives” which was first shown on the UK  ITV network way back in 1995 and subsequently repeated on numerous cable channels since?  Well I started at EIA as a part time volunteer in 1994.  Needless to say our very cramped office in Pear Tree Court was a hive of activity.

EIA started back in 1984

Over the intervening years much of my time has been spent logging our income from our members and supporters.  Although EIA is a small charity keeping this information on filing cards has never been an option whilst I have been at EIA.  Keeping mailing addresses up to date is mundane but vitally important so we can communicate what we are doing and we know who is supporting this work.  Without the latter we would not have the funds for our ongoing investigations!  Our computer database has grown in complexity as time has gone by to try to ensure efficient use of time and resource eg the Gift Aid scheme that was introduced back in 1990 and greatly expanded in 2000.  Rather than having to calculate how much money we can claim back from HM Treasury our database records and automatically generates the figures we need with a few taps of the keyboard.

Can you help me?  Well yes in two ways:

Firstly, moving house is very stressful but please try to tell us your new address.  It might help you to look at your statements’ (bank and or credit card) or your cheque stubs to try to ensure you have not over looked us or any other charity.  Whenever we send information out I always receive a pile back with ‘gone away’ on it.

Secondly, if you want us to communicate with you differently, more, less or differently then please do get in touch eg you would like everything sent to by email or you would like us to stop using email and return to a paper format.

I know 2011 will be another very busy year for EIA.  So please check back from time to time to see what we have done  If you are a paying member of EIA I am sure the Spring edition of the Investigator magazine will be jam packed with investigations that you have helped to fund – thank you.

Philip Godfrey

Supporter Services

Read Full Post »

Weekly Blog; A post dedicated to you.

Thank you to you!

None of our work would be possible without support from people like you. EIA is a small organisation but a lean one, for every £1 that is donated, 79p goes directly towards our frontline, investigation and campaign work.

Many of you have been fundraising for EIA this year in all shapes and forms; some of our top fundraisers include,

Sue Spicer who had an EIA stall at the Dive Show twice this year, raised £1500. Andy Rouse, who has donated over £1000, from the proceeds of his book. The Wignall family raised over £450 from a sponsored 50 mile walk in Somerset. Thank you to Nicola Shepherd, Sue Harris who gave over £900 in celebration from a wedding and a party respectively!

Dan Cockril, Tony Husband and friends organised a fantastic event a few weeks ago, Roar, Imagine a Tiger, a collection of poets and artists performed including John Hegley, Polar Bear, Charlie Dark and Sean Taylor. Despite tube strikes and adverse weather they raised a smashing £600! It was a wonderful evening; glass of wine in hand and seated in the comfort of Screen on the Green, away from the cold and the snow, the audience were entertained with a wonderful variety of performances in aid of our tiger campaign, in this, the Year of the Tiger.

Last week, we jointly held the UK tiger forum, in conjunction with Born Free and Wild Aid, hosted by Asia House, it was a fantastic evening and you can see highlights here. Donal McIntyre hosted the evening, Bill Oddie was a guest speaker, Virginia McKenna, Liz Bonnin attended and even Brian May was there (for a short time), 300 of you turned up to find out how the tiger fares following the International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg. All the money raised will be split between the three organisations.

Thank you to all our funders, from larger trusts and companies, down to each individual member. Thank you to all those who gave their time, our volunteers; Tomo, Debbie, Cara, Ilaria, Alessandro and Alex and others who shared their expertise, Michael Ambjorn, Julia Hailes and Ogilvy Ideas Shop, amongst others. We really appreciate all your support.

Looking ahead, Jason Cheng (yes, ahem, you might note a similarity in the surname, he is my brother!) will be running the 2011 marathon for EIA.

He are a few words from him;

“I’m supporting The E.I.A for this year’s London marathon as I am an avid supporter of the work and research they undertake and I am all for increasing the awareness of endangered species around the world. As a typical university first year student studying in Bangor, north Wales; marathon training will provide a good structure to disperse between zoology lectures and the pub, which will be sorely missed over the coming months. This Christmas, it would be great iif you would find a few extra quid to donate to this worthy cause; http://www.justgiving.com/jasoncheng”

So all that leaves to me to say is Merry Christmas and

thank you for all your support over the last 12 months.

From the EIA team.

Sophia Cheng

Read Full Post »

Weekly Blog; EIA Volunteer, Cara Clancy, lets you in on what it’s like to help at EIA HQ.

I first heard about the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) this summer whilst researching my thesis: examining the scope of environmentalism as a philosophical enterprise.

For as long as I remember, I’ve been captivated by wildlife and have wanted to probe the reasons behind the wanton destruction of the natural world. In the midst of writing – battling it out with Kant and Hegel – I had a bit of crisis, a need to put down the books and do something hands-on. It’s one thing theorizing about change and another thing making it happen. I know that I want to save the tiger; I want to save the forest; I want the natural world to be valued so much more when it is living and growing – not hanging up on a wall or strewn across the floor as home-décor.

So, exhausting as it was (repeatedly banging one’s head against the Critique of Pure Reason can leave you a bit dizzy), my work meant that I came across EIA and I feel pretty lucky for that. EIA is a small, independent organisation and so it took a few hits in Google for it to appear; but it was the word ‘investigation’ that grabbed my attention. Investigation is ultimately what I was doing with my thesis– enquiring into the social and political structures that make a movement like environmentalism possible, stripping information back to its core like peeling away layers to reach the juicy bits in the middle. Exposing this takes courage – there are a lot of environmental crime syndicates who would do anything to keep their name out of the limelight. I think it is incredible that EIA throw their weight behind achieving meaningful goals – goals which require patience and planning but ultimately uncover the real culprits of wildlife crime. Transforming information into evidence – that is what I like about EIA.

Roar, Imagine a tiger. A fundraising event I helped out with this week. Credit Sue Foll

Work at EIA never stops. As fundraising volunteer, I’m working on a variety of projects across the fundraising spectrum; helping with events and communicating information for members, maintaining the database and making sure the post gets out when it needs to!

It is my first experience at an NGO and the job of fundraising is a lot broader than I anticipated. The fundraising and membership team need to have a good understanding of the latest issues and developments. Recently, I’ve been designing some membership material and it’s been a real pleasure. As a fundraiser, you have the creative freedom to send a heartfelt message to your members and rally their support for a much needed response.

Taking photos at the opening of the Asia House exhibition. Copyright EIA

EIA’s HQ is an immensely cosy one – I remember my first day being greeted by a cup of tea and a very excitable office dog! While the campaigners are quietly plugging away (except for the occasional passionate outburst), there is always excitable chatter from the fundraising and comms team about new fans on Facebook, new followers on Twitter and how best to inform supporters of the latest findings. There’s a lot of information out there and a lot still to find, so I really admire everyone here at EIA. It’s a real pleasure to be volunteering for them.

Cara Clancy

Fundraising Volunteer

If you would like to find out more about volunteering at EIA, email Bill at ukinfo@eia-international.org.

Read Full Post »

Asia House, Save Wild Tigers Forum – London – 7th December 2010

Asia House Save Wild Tigers Forum – Turning Words into Action

In partnership with Born Free, Environmental Investigation Agency and WildAid. Tickets available.

Throughout the Year of the Tiger there have been considerable international efforts to save this highly endangered species.  As part of a global drive to highlight the tiger’s plight Asia House will host a key London event, the Asia House Save Wild Tigers Forum on 7 December 2010, bringing together internationally renowned conservationists and speakers.

The Forum is part of a season of events with which Asia House aims to galvanise public support and raise funds to save the tiger. Other key events include The Tiger in Asian Art (4^th December- 12^thFebruary) a major exhibition of art spanning the last three thousand years.

Providing a platform to raise issues and debate possible solutions to save the tiger from extinction, Asia House Save Wild Tigers Forum, will work towards ensuring that the next Year of the Tiger provides a real reason to celebrate. Speakers at the Asia House Save Wild Tigers Forum include Debbie Banks, Senior Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency, Steve Trent, Co-Founder and President of WildAid and Will Travers, CEO of Born Free.

The Forum builds on the International Tiger Forum held in Saint Petersburg on 21- 24 November, hosted by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, where leaders from tiger range countries aim to work out an ambitious tiger conservation strategy. The forum presented a historic opportunity to reignite political will to save the worlds remaining tigers. But what now? The Asia House Forum will give members of the general public a chance to hear about the practical steps needed to save the tiger.

THREATS TO THE TIGER

Once extended across Asia, tigers now survive only in scattered populations. Long term threats include deforestation, human population growth, agriculture and development projects impacting on the tigers’ habitat and the illegal trade in tiger parts and products.

SOLUTIONS

The forum will focus on possible solutions to save the tiger including tightening wildlife law enforcement through crime prevention and detection, protecting and managing tiger habitats, expanding consumer and public awareness in order to reduce demand, and supporting community incentives.

AT THE FRONTLINE OF TIGER CONSERVATION

Asia House has selected three NGOs who actively play different roles in saving tigers to partner this event.

• Born Free is working on the ground and has a sanctuary for rescued tigers in Bannerghatta National Park in Southern India. Here, in three acre jungle enclosures with large pools, the tigers can live out their lives in peace and dignity and a degree of freedom enjoying larger and more natural conditions.

• Environmental Investigation Agency uses undercover investigations to shed light on the criminal networks and consumer markets that drive the trade in tiger parts, and works to secure and support more targeted enforcement efforts to combat illegal trade in skins, bones and derivatives. They also campaign to phase out tiger farms, which undermine efforts to save wild tigers by stimulating demand for tiger parts.

• WildAid works to reduce the demand for endangered species parts and products and to put an end to the illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade. WildAid use high-impact, culturally sensitive, customised multimedia campaigns to encourage a shift in consumer behaviour under the slogan ‘when the buying stops, the killing can too’. WildAid messages reach up to 1 billion people every week and are supported by over 80 high-profile wildlife ambassadors including Jackie Chan, Yao Ming, Ang Lee and Harrison Ford.

WHY IS SAVING THE TIGER IMPORTANT?

The tiger has existed for over two million years across Asia. Now one of the most threatened species in the world, the tiger is a potent reminder of the vital need to preserve wildlife and protect natural environments. Saving the wild tiger is not just about saving a charismatic species. It is about securing a long-term future for tigers, the forests they live in and the people who depend on those forests for their survival. The wild tiger is a symbol of our global efforts to secure a stable environment for our future. Their survival reflects a political commitment to good governance and the fight against corruption.

Net proceeds from this event will be donated to Born Free, Environmental Investigation Agency and WildAid.

Get your tickets here.

Read Full Post »