The fall coastal bear trophy hunt has begun and, with its start, the future of the spirit bear is once again in question.

However, unlike previous years, hope abounds that this might indeed be the final time the Kermode subspecies is threatened with a lack of meaningful sanctuary.

Coastal First Nations have declared that bear trophy hunting is no longer allowed on their traditional territories. Of course, this will be tough to enforce, but the critical issue is coming to a head.

Our conversations with the BC government and opposition parties are helping create consensus that BC must have a wildlife sanctuary and Coastal First Nations are underscoring the need to reach an urgent resolution.

Our plan respects that hunters deserve their space, but bears and all animals deserve their own areas as well. Moreover, it is a plan that won’t cost BC taxpayers money, as hunting licenses are being purchased by conservation groups (most recently by Raincoast Conservation Foundation).

Help us take the final three steps need to save this endangered subspecies by joining thousands from around the world in calling for decision makers to create meaningful and lasting sanctuary for the spirit bear.

FIVE WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE SPIRIT BEAR

1) Write a letter to urge BC Premier Christy Clark to save the spirit bear
2) Sign the petition to create sanctuary for the spirit bear
3) Voice your support for shifting the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline
4) Symbolically Adopt-a-Spirit Bear and champion this campaign in your community
5) Spread the word by forwarding this message to your social network

WHY YOU CAN SAVE THE SPIRIT BEAR

Today, while habitat loss, trophy hunting and the long term concern of an oil spill continues to imperil the future of this endangered subspecies, we are making considerable progress toward finding lasting solutions to augment the progress that has already been achieved, ensuring Canada will always have a healthy economy and a protected spirit bear.

It might only take the support of one more person or maybe it will take the support of one hundred thousand more people to put this issue over the top, but for each individual who makes their voice heard, the global call to protect this bear becomes stronger and impossible to ignore.

After all, decision makers can only represent us if they know how and it is up to us to show our representatives that the majority of global citizens stand behind leaders who seek innovative ideas to protect the spirit bear without burdening one people or one community.

HOW OUR DECISION MAKERS CAN SAVE THE SPIRIT BEAR

• Work with the Youth Coalition to identify the cost of protecting the final, unprotected third of the spirit bear’s last intact habitat and allow the Youth Coalition the opportunity to put our money where our mouth is in the form of the forthcoming Hollywood CGI animated movie, The Spirit Bear.
• Create a true sanctuary for the spirit bear by taking the first step of not re-allocating the bear trophy hunting licenses that have been purchased to protect this bear’s gene pool.
• Shift the route of the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline from Kitimat to Vancouver or Prince Rupert, ensuring oil tankers will not travel through the treacherous waters of the spirit bear’s habitat.

Each letter you, your friends and your family write is viewed as the opinion of 100 people in eyes of government.

Please choose to be heard: the spirit bear needs your voice.

HOW TO STAY INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE SPIRIT BEAR

1) Become a member
2) Join our Facebook group
3) Follow us on Twitter
4) Adopt-a-Spirit Bear
5) Sign-up for our education program

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 20th, 2012 at 11:52 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.