This month seems to be dedicated to Gorillas, the whole world is absorbed with them at the moment. Today the National Geographic screen Gorilla Murders in Washington DC. Everyone is talking about it. I”ll try to watch reactions to it on the news. I was sent these links to more of Ben Stirtons photos and stories which are just adding to the hype. Let us know what you hear!
I am still in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda where internet access is amazingly good. It’s one of those mornings – I know the chaos will hit me (it has been a frantic trip so far) so in these moments of calm I’ve been able to check out the latest online news. I had a wonderful surprise this morning when I read that in USA a man has walked from Seattle to Portland to support the Mountain Gorillas Veterinary Project which is run by Lucy Spelman.
Drew Nichols, a mortgage loan officer did a 10 day, 228-mile walk and raised more than $30,000 in donations and pledges. He is an amazing example of a volunteer who is making a massive contribution. Our own Robert Williams of Ending Charcoal blog is one of our own heros helping gorillas in Congo. In addition we have two other virtual volunteers working with us on specific blogs. It is hugely valuable and we all really appreciate their contribution which is making such a massive difference for us. We encourage any of you to volunteer just sign up here to help, and tell your friends! http://baraza.wildlifedirect.org/virtual-volunteering-for-wildlifedirect/
Some other gorilla news today made me even happier… in Uganda a 38-year-old veterinarian, Dr Gladys Kalema, has just won the prestigious San Diego Zoological Society conservation medal – The 2008 Conservation-In-Action Award. She is recognized for her outstanding conservation work in Uganda, at her organization the Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), a private non-profit organisation, that promotes conservation and public health by improving people and animal primary healthcare in and around protected areas in Africa.
We fly back to Nairobi this morning – it has been absolutely amazing as you will read and hear in coming posts.
Donations made here are
Feb 28th Liza H USD 11.00
8 Comments
Thanks for this Lisa I’ll work on that right away!
Hey, Jean Claude in the Tshiaberimu blog just posted that they need $11,200 to fund their program to help save those few remaining gorillas in the area. How can we raise that money the way we raised $20,000-plus last year for firewood for IDPs?
s.
I got back from the screening at NatGeo about 50 minutes ago. It was awesome! The special is moving and heartbreaking. I wonder if I’ll ever see the murdered Rugendo family without crying? It’s so well done that I’m sure everyone will be impressed and emotional. The part about Laurent Nkunda is madness. That man is beyond ego mania, he’s a raving loony. I’m sure he thinks all his posturing and posing make him look like a great guy, but he made himself look like a complete madman and big, fat liar.
Honore Mashagiro is plain creepy. CREEPY. I hope they lock him up and throw away the key.
And we get to see Paulin and hear him speak and learn what really happened to him after his arrest last summer. Unreal. He will always be one of my heroes.
At the very end, we see new footage of Ndeze and Ndakasi. They’ve really grown and they’re just gorgeous and their keepers are awesome. Take a close look at the gorilla being tucked into bed at the end of that sequence …
It’s a really honest report about the evil behind the murders and the charcoal mafia’s involvement. We have a lot of work to do in Congo.
After the screening there was a question and answer period with Brent Stirton, Emmanuel, and Godefroid. There were some good questions about alternative fuel sources and conflict resolution and everyone gave excellent answers. The theater was packed and there were people standing near the back. I was almost one of them because DC traffic and NatGeo’s invisible parking garage were giving me fits.
Then I bolted for the stage because I saw Dr. Lucy and then I met Emmanuel and Godefroid. THAT WAS TOO COOL, kids. Dr. Lucy and I chatted for a bit about her book – http://www.drlucyspelman.com/the-rhino-with-glue-on-shoes – and her plans for a new one and it was nice to really talk to her this time. She’s quite awesome. Emmanuel and Godefroid are very sweet and made me feel like we’ve all known each other for a while. It was a real pleasure to meet everyone, including chatting again with Lisa from the DC office (whom I met when Paula was in DC earlier).
DO NOT MISS the NatGeo special on July 1 at 10 p.m. EDT in the U.S. I hope it’s online at some point for everyone else to see.
It was REALLY COOL to meet Dr. Lucy, Emmanuel and Godefroid tonight. Just wonderful.
s.
Wonderful to hear this Sheryl, thank you so much for this.
Yer welcome.
I left out an important part. During the panel discussion, Brent Stirton made a really good point. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has a very good relationship with Laurent Nkunda. I don’t think it’s any secret that Rwanda supports Nkunda. Brent pointed out that the U.S. government has very good relations with Rwanda and that pressure from the U.S. on President Kagame to end his relationship with Nkunda could be very effective.
So, I think we should all contact our Congressional leaders and urge them to put such pressure on the Rwandan government. If Nkunda has no funding then he’ll lose his army and his influence. We can help make that happen. Don’t write just one letter, contact your Congressional members often so that we can get this lunatic out of the gorilla sector.
s.
I will do some writing next week. Thanks Sheryl. Sounds like the Nat Geo screening was a great evening. I wish I could have been there. Can’t wait to see the Nat Geo special Tuesday night. Lisa
Sheryl …. what an awesome opportunity you had … I wish I’d been there to meet our heroes! … I am happy, too, that Paulin is finally see for the brave hero he is! … Lets sharpen our pencils and write Nkunda out of Virunga … personally I think the business end of a 12-gauge is too good for Nkunda!
Yes, I have something far more “explosive” in mind for Mr. Nkunda. Heh.
BTW Jim, you mentioned that you write a blog. Care to share the URL?
s.