"EARTH WARRIORS AWARD" GOES TO!
The nominations came in and choices have been made to receive such a gratious award for such compassionate individuals!
Earth Warriors Award was created by Bob Timmons, "Artist for the Ocean" because he has seen such great actions from people, businesses, and grassroots organizations that he feels need to receive an honour of recognition. This recognition can get their story out past the walls in their area and hopefully create more opportunities as people learn about the journey they are on and how they may be able to help and/or support. This month has 4 "Earth Warriors Awards" being sent out to very much deserving individuals for their incredible work for life on this planet.We created different categories to Award a Celebrity Activist, Business, Personal Activist, and a Charitable Organization for this month of February. This gives everyone more stories to read and learn about and also more ways to help.
The categories are:
1. Celebrity Activist: This category is for an activist that is world reknowned for their years of effort and accomplishments. This does not mean they make millions doing movies for entertainment purposes however may have completed some documentaries that have helped the journey they are on to educate the public. This category's "Earth Warriors Award" goes to RIC O'BARRY!
Ric O'Barry has done some amazing action for the Dolphin Species and the ocean itself. He has been traveling the world to help any dolphin in distress ever since his co-host "Cathy" from the show "Flipper" died and made him realize they did not belong in captivity. At this point Ric opened his eyes and mind to shut the marine animal exploitation industry down. Ric is involved with Earth Island Institute and Ric O'Barry's The Dolphin Project.
In 2009, the oscar winning documentary "The Cove" hit the theatres showcasing Ric and his efforts in the small village of Japan named Taiji. In Taiji they have a "Drive - Fishery" action where they go out miles into the ocean and find dolphins in a feeding area and drive them back using an imaginary wall of sound. Here is when the action of picking desirable dolphins and the rest of the "Family Pod" are killed for food. This is something not only Ric wants to see an end to but the entire activist world.
We are honoured to give Ric O'Barry an "Earth Warriors Award" for his past, present, and future efforts for the Dolphins and the Ocean.
Follow Ric O'Barry and Share this Award with him on his Twitter Accounts: Ric O'Barry, The Dolphin Project, and Earth Island Institute!
2. Personal Activist: This category is for an activist that may not be well-known but has done great efforts that have been noticeable. This category's "Earth Warriors Award" goes to PHIL DEMERS!
Phil Demers was the first whistle blower of the infamous "Marineland Canada" in Niagara Falls. He had worked at this establishment for over a decade and witnessed some odd events but it wasn't until 2012 that he witnessed cruelty beyond belief. It was off season time when Phil witnessed skin peeling off dolphins and the eyes of many of the marine animals were bad and/or become blind. This horrific situation was enough to push Phil to quit his position as a marine animal trainer and that is when he told his story to the Toronto Star.
The Toronto Star created an amazing buzz globally and especially locally to Ontario regarding animal abuse that was happening behind the walls of Marineland Canada. Phil's actions started the ball rolling and more employees were quitting and coming forward to explain their experiences and witnessing of cruelty that they felt needed to be exposed and stopped to protect the animals.
This situation is still going on and Marineland is starting to sue many people they believe have participated in the exposure including Phil Demers. Phil is being sued for 1.5 million dollars and has set up an Indiegogo fundraiser to help with lawyer costs to fight this corporation called "Marineland Canada" that has been mistreating and hiding animal abuse for decades.
We are honoured to give Phil Demers an "Earth Warriors Award" for his past, present, and future efforts for the exposure and possibly shutdown of Marineland Canada and awakening minds about Captivity.
Follow and Share this article with Phil Demers on his Twiiter account!
3. Charitable Organization: This category is for an low-key organization that does great things! Its an organization that only gets donations to keep running. This category's "Earth Warriors Award" goes to Rose Gergely founder of Refuge RR for Horses!
Rose Gergely started Refuge RR for Horses a couple decades ago with only horses and in Quebec, Canada. Within the first couple years Rose moved the Refuge to Alexandria, Ontario where she not only takes in abused and neglected horses but she has increased her animal residency to 480 animals ranging from mice, hamsters, cats, dogs, goats, ducks, cows, chickens, pigs, all the way to 80 horses.
Rose is a powerful lady with energy to save save save animals in distress. She has extremely limited space now but continues to utilize her network to place animals in adoption and/or foster homes. She cannot turn away an animal that is in need of medical help since all the animals in the refuge have come from abusive natured situations. Rose single-handed feeds these animals on a daily basis while her small dedicated team of volunteers create ideas to continue raising money to help feed all these animals.
Recently the refuge completed a 2 year challenge they had regarding no water. Not one animal felt the stress of no water available on the property since Rose and her team continued to work hard to pay for truckloads of water on a weekly basis that could cost up to $1200 a week in a hot summer. This challenge was completed in December 2012 when a drilling company struck water on the property and set up a slow trickle system to allow the well to last forever!
Rose does not get a break, a vacation, or time alone with 480 animals however today we are honoured to give Rose Gergely the "Earth Warriors Award" for her past, present, and future actions to give a safe haven to abused animals of all types and sizes!
Follow Refuge RR for Horses on Facebook and share this article.
4. Non-Profit Organization: This category is similar to the Charitable Organization. This category's "Earth Warriors Award" goes to PROMAR & Volunteers!
PROMAR is from Spain and stands for "PROGRAMA EN DEFENSEA DE LA MARINA". This non-profit has been noticed recently for their efforts with a baby dolphin named Marcos that was found abandoned, alone, and in need of help last August 2012 near Roquetas de Mar on the Southern part of Spain. This dolphin was of the Black Stripe dolphin species a palegic animal that never sees land.
PROMAR and their volunteers worked around the clock to do what they can to help make Marcos stay as comfortable, loving, and safe as they possibly could. Ric O'Barry was involved at the beginning of the rescue helping the volunteers set up Marcos seapen. The efforts went on for months and sadly earlier this month Marcos passed away.
We are honoured to give PROMAR & Volunteers an "Earth Warriors Award" for his past, present, and future efforts for their help not only with Marcos the Striped Dolphin but with other marine life rehab & release programs.
You can read an article in more details about Marcos' Story here: MARCOS
----
All of these amazing Earth Warriors will receive their award in the next week or so! Please share the word and get involved for the month of March nominations soon to be launched at the Facebook page "ARTIST for the OCEAN".
 |
| Honouring these 4 Earth Warriors with their amazing efforts: Ric O'Barry, Phil Demers, Rose Gergely of Refuge RR for Horses, & PROMAR and Volunteers. |
