After The March
Global Lion March – Saturday March 15, 2014
After The March – We were all in “busy” mode – counting down the last few days until we raised our voices – in a common and thunderous ROAR for the lions and against the canned lion industry. So the hours have ticked by to March 15, 2014 – and now please remember that we still need you on March 16th and beyond!
Now the drums are silent – the banners are down – petitions are signed and photos are posted. After The March – some of us may experience a bit of a let down. All the planning has been done – friendships have been cemented across time and continents – our one day goal has been achieved – our messages have been seen and delivered in 62 cities around the world.
But this is NOT the time to rest – for the propaganda of the hunting lobby will continue unabated – as it always does. But the canned lions are still waiting to die and the wild lions continue to be threatened. See below from Chris Mercer:
Canned hunting propaganda says that tame lion hunts “take the pressure off wild lion populations” and that if canned lion hunting were banned there would be an increase in wild lions being killed.
Actually the opposite holds true. Lion farming causes an increase in the poaching of wild lions.
Whistleblowers have come forward in Bostwana to relate how they have chased down wild lion prides to the point of exhaustion with 4×4 vehicles, shot the pride adult lions, and captured the cubs for sale to unscrupulous South African lion farmers. The captured cubs are smuggled across South Africa’s porous borders.
We know from ancecdotal evidence that the same thing happens in other neighbouring countries. Lion farmers need a constant supply of wild lions to prevent in-breeding and captivity depression in their lion stocks.
There is the looming threat to wild lion populations from the booming lion bone trade between Asia and South African lion farmers. The users of lion body parts believe that the body of a wild lion will deliever a more potent remedy – thus the wild lion is preferred over a canned lion.
So After The March – Please Do The Following Things In Your City:
1) Stay connected to your March Organizers in your city or anywhere else where you have made friends because of the Global Lion March.
2) Continue to lobby the Governments in your city and your home country to stop the importation of all lion trophies and body parts.
3) Continue to create awareness and to educate people about the true nature of Lion tourism – cub petting – lion walks – volunteer lion work.
4) Stay in touch with www.cannedlion.org – sign up for their informative newsletters.
5) Understand that this is just the beginning. Your voice and your energy are still needed. This will NOT be an easy fight.
But above all else – know that you have been an integral part of an historic event. This amazing day when people all around the earth – stood together and declared that the lions belong to the world – and they must be protected and saved. Lions must continue to roam the plains in prides – their lion families – free from hunting – no longer afraid – no longer confined – no longer slaughtered for sport.
This is their time and this is OUR time. We will NOT Lose The Lion. Not now – Not Ever. So stay involved – stay connected – keep up your incredible efforts and together we will win this fight.
A profound thank you to Christine Jordann – Chris Mercer and Bev Pervan – every March Organizer – every city – every marcher – every volunteer – every person who gave of themselves to make this incredible day happen. Never – for one second – doubt what determined people working together can accomplish! I personally believe that 2014 is going to be a watershed year for animal activism. As is so often said – “This Is An Idea Whose Time Has Come”. The exploitation of animals for human greed is not part of a civilized society and we will no longer tolerate it.
This march represented the amazing power of people – we are strong together. It’s important to remember that it isn’t necessarily easy to be an animal rights advocate – and in some countries – people who do so are incredibly courageous. Think about Hong Kong and Romania. I protested easily in Toronto where I stood with every other person at our Candle Light Vigil for the lions. A grateful thank you to the committed and hard-working Toronto Organizers who did the work to make March 15, 2014 possible in Toronto. We were united with Vancouver – Calgary and Ottawa to fight for the lions. Canadians care and people in 58 other cities around the world do as well. We made our voices heard. Together – we will make change happen!
