To many of us, poaching is an unfamiliar term and practice. It happens on African savannahs and involves clandestine ivory sales.
Unfortunately, the face of poaching is a very real and ugly one in more places than we care to think about.
I recently joined a viral action network whose goal is to raise awareness and ignite action to stop a little known poaching practice that is occurring right now- bear bile farming. Posing as buyers and suppliers in the illegal wildlife trade, eco-warriors have taken hidden cameras where some of the most heinous crimes against nature are taking place: on bear bile farms in China.
As many as 10,000 Asiatic black bears in China are locked in cages the size of their own bodies, and their bile is drained through an excruciatingly painful procedure and sold for use in traditional medicine. So they can approach the bears without fear of injury, the farmers often mutilate the bears by breaking their teeth and pulling out their claws, sometimes brutally removing whole digits. Continue reading…
Jeanette McDermott, founder and president of Gubbio Studios, an independent digital media production company, which specializes in youth media and documentaries that promote Earth-Spirituality, has taken action to save these bears by creating the Ursa Freedom Project.
The Ursa Freedom Project commits to liberate 9,000 bears from bile farms in China/Viet Nam and to end 
a practice that is commercially unnecessary. Although you may not be able to travel to these countries to physically assist in freeing these captive animals, you can make a difference by supporting the Ursa Freedom Project. The project will begin its major campaign on March 20, 2009.
Meanwhile, you can help by spreading the word about this cause and about the Project through your viral networks: blog about it and install the UFP badge on your blog site, distribute and display the campaign’s pre-launch poster, organize your friends, neighbors and local conservation groups to hold benefit concerts, bake sales, car washes or other actions that can raise funds to support the bears.
Most importantly, become part of the UFP community by joining the group’s newly launched network to learn more and connect with others who are also concerned about this issue. Go here and click on the Ursa Bear image to learn more.
An original 5 Minutes for Going Green post. To read more of Beth’s sustainable scribblings, visit ecospheric.blogspot.com and gengreenlife.com.
Beth –
This is a vital issue of concern to all who care deeply about animals, justice and Mother Earth. If we are to free the bears and put an end to bile farming it will take every one of us taking a stand against this practice. The Ursa Freedom Project is a global Action Network that links people in this vital cause while building friendships and organizing awesome community celebrations for Earth Healing. Thanks for posting this blog and showing you care.