Press release: 24/06/16

Title: Wildlife charity thanks corporate donor with quirky YouTube clip



​Source: SME Pals (http://smepals.com/strategy/how-use-csr-corporate-social-responsibility-marketing-strategy)
 
CACH (Campaign Against Canned Hunting), a wildlife non-profit organization dedicated to stamping out the practice of canned hunting in South Africa and around the world, was delighted when LUSH UK (a handmade cosmetics company), and their Australian counterparts LUSH Australia, offered to completely fund the purchase of an electric work vehicle for CACH’s headquarters (a wildlife rehab center and sanctuary).
 
According to SME Pals (http://smepals.com/strategy/how-use-csr-corporate-social-responsibility-marketing-strategy), Chris Mercer, the co-founder of CACH was so delighted with the generous support offered by Lush that “he decided to thank them in the most unusual way... by naming the vehicle the 'Lushmobile', and by making a YouTube clip to publicly thank Lush.”
 
‘CACH and the Lushmobile’ YouTube clip
 
The quirky, homemade video can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4a5Wpd6Rb0
 
In a heartwarming thank you message, Chris Mercer explains why an electric vehicle (otherwise prohibitively expensive for a non-profit organization that relies entirely on donations for funding) is so important for running an environmentally friendly wildlife rehab center - that simultaneously avoids carbon emissions and reduces stress on sick or injured wildlife.
 
 
About CACH
 
CACH's (http://www.cannedlion.org) main focus is to stamp out the terrible practice of canned lion hunting. The problem is that hunting industry is rich and powerful and not easy to fight. Death threats aren't uncommon in this line of work.
 
They also have a wildlife sanctuary (as their global headquarters, based in the Western Cape, South Africa) where injured and orphaned animals can be rehabbed and released back into the wild (if possible). The co-founders poured every cent they owned into starting the wildlife sanctuary and rely on donations to develop the infrastructure and keep it running.
 
Over the many years they have been fighting this battle they have (quite literally) faced off against the army, been to constitutional court (and various other courts), organized global marches, supported international rescue operations, helped fund other charities and non-profits, and won many awards.
 
The most recent being Gold at the World Responsible Tourism Awards in London for the Best Animal Welfare Initiative (http://www.responsibletravel.com/awards/categories/wildlife-and-habitats.htm).
 
 
Regards,
David
 
About SME Pals
 
SME Pals (http://smepals.com) is a preferred free entrepreneurial resource with many great universities like Duke, Cornell, Boston, Emory, and more, because it offers an innovative and creative approach to generating business ideas; along with guides and advice to turn those ideas into successful startups.
 
David Mercer
Founder
SME Pals
Smart Modern Entrepreneurs
http://smepals.com
​

Carte Blanche ran a strong expose last night on the sordid industry that is captive lion breeding and canned hunting. There are some facts that need to be laid out on the table:-

1. The hunt that was shown was a nine day one in which ten lions were slain. This was organised by Bob Vitro (True Life Taxidermy) who is a New York based agent.

2. Eight CAPTIVE BRED lionesses were released onto the farm “Wilzenau” which is owned by De Klerk Safaris. “Wilzenau” is situated in North West Province – a province that is commonly known as the Wild West due to the widespread corruption in conservation there. These 8 lionesses were all hunted over a period of four days.

3. Two CAPTIVE BRED male lions were released on the fourth day of the hunt and slain on days five and nine. This is totally illegal in terms of the province’s legislation governing release periods for captive bred hunts.

4. Stormberg Elangeni Safaris, a South African hunting outfitter, arranged for five professional hunters (PHs) to attend the slaughter. These PHs – James Quin, Harry Sparks, John Sparks,Paul Inman and David Birch – all knew that they were “hunting” captive bred lions.

5. Further adding to the unethical, immoral and illegal scenario, the American hunters were led to believe that they were hunting wild lion who roamed free in their own territory which they knew very well and thus were able to defend themselves and evade the hunters.

6. The truth? All the lions were CAPTIVE BRED and habituated to humans. They were drugged, completely confused and terrified. They climbed trees, hid in warthog burrows and under thick bush – trying whatever they could to hide from the bullets. Their terror is unimaginable. They were shot down where they hid. They stood absolutely no chance of escape.

Campaign Against Canned Hunting (CACH) calls upon:-

1. The Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) to ban these so-called professional hunters.

2. The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to thoroughly and openly investigate the hunters, outfitter and game farm owners for illegal hunting of lion.
​
This entire industry brings shame to South Africa and the rest of the world cannot understand how it has been allowed to proliferate and continue.
Here is the Carte Blanche link:
http://carteblanche.dstv.com/player/1067054/

CHRIS MERCER & LINDA PARK : DIRECTORS

THE WAY OF NATURE  
 
Kruger Park and the sun rises on another day in the African bush. A story waiting to unfold. A story of hardship, strength, resilience and adaptation.
 
Kruger has been hard hit. Not only by the rhino poaching war but also by a severe drought which has left dams and water holes dry. Rivers are so low in places that you can see the sand at the bottom.
 
Driving along the road the smell of death catches my nose.  I pray it is not a poached rhino but instead a predators dinner. It is neither. A hippo has succumbed to the drought. One of a number that are found over a few days.
 
As sad as these sightings are, they are nevertheless testament to how amazing nature is when left to its own devices.  There were too many hippo in Kruger. The drought came and nature carries out its own cull. Those that survive will be the strongest. And so a new era will begin.
 
Many areas have no grazing left.
Finding some grazers now browsing was fascinating. Again the animals know best. Those that adapt will survive. Those that are unable to adapt will suffer.
 
The scales of nature come down in favour of the predators at this time. Food is plentiful. This is a time for them to also become stronger and for youngsters to thrive.
 
Nature has an innate intelligence. This intelligence, the way of the wilderness if you will, was acknowledged and worked with in days gone by. As the human species became technologically advanced, that knowledge and understanding has largely been lost and in our arrogant way we interfere because we think we know better. In our advance we have become poorer in many ways.
 
A trip to the bush, if you are open to it, allows time for introspection. It gives you the opportunity to connect with that wilderness that is inside all of us. It touches your soul in ways nothing else can. .