Vote for Gorillas!

[cheekyweelassie]

Is it alright to post this here?

I work for a gorilla conservation charity, and we're in a competition at the moment where people vote online for community projects, and the winner out of the twelve finalists gets $20 000. Our project would be safe for an entire year if it won.

If you're interested in helping mountain gorillas, and the people who live around the forests where they live, please take a few seconds to vote online here: http://www.theworldchallenge.co.uk/2009 ... ject04.php

Thanks so much.

[andrews]

I hope your charity is called Emission Control because that's the only one I saw that was in the UK. I have found out that we can only vote once.

[bevvy]

I don't think it is, I think the one she wanted you to vote for was JIKO RESCUE

Emission Control - the one that you voted for is about adding something to cattle feed to reduce the gases that they emit!!

Whilst I am all for that it does not really address the issue about the environmental impact of eating meat. The same amount of land could feed 10 times the number of people if it were used for crops that were eaten directly, rather than indirectly by feeding them to a cow.

[andrews]

Just voted for the right one with my other e-mail address. Thanks bevvy for pointing me in the right direction.

[cheekyweelassie]

Ooops, sorry. I should have been clear that I'm hoping Jiko Rescue will win. The Gorilla Organization is based in the UK, but all our projects are in Africa, and this one is in DR Congo (the pin in the map of Africa is a bit out, but that's just being pedantic!)
The ethos of the charity is that the most significant threat to the gorillas, and to the environment as a whole, is human pressure on the forests for resources. Of course local people want the timber to heat their homes and cook their food, but the (often illegal) charcoal industry is ravaging the forests where the gorillas (and so many other species of animals and birds) live.
The 'Jiko Stoves' project is quite simple really. It's a fuel-efficient stove that increases fuel efficiency by up to 75% so people have to use a lot less charcoal (about 1.5 sacks a month instead of 4 sacks a month). It also directs the smoke much better, which cooks the food in a safer way and doesn't cause health problems. The project teaches people how to make the stoves, then they go off into their own villages and teach other people how to do it.
The community involvement and support is essential to save the forests.

Thanks to everyone that has voted. Thanks a lot.

[bevvy]

It sounds a really worthwhile cause. Such a simple solution to try to address a massive problem. Even for people who might not particularly care about the fate of gorillas, the loss of their habitat would be an untold loss to mankind as a whole.
You are lucky to be working for such an organisation cheekyweelassie. Is it your full-time job or something that you do in your spare time?

[cheekyweelassie]

Hi bevvy, I work for the gorillas on a freelance part-time basis (the rest of the time I work for another charity). I've spent a lot of time in my life doing voluntary work with primates, so it's a real passion of mine. Sitting quietly and looking into the eyes of one of our closest cousins, engaging in a bit of mutual grooming, is such an amazing experience. It would be unforgiveable in my opinion if we allowed them to become extinct because of our own greedy actions.

Thanks for voting for the gorillas andrews! Sorry for the confusion, but thank you for persisting.

Did you happen to see pictures of the Great Gorilla Run in London last weekend? 600 people in gorilla costumes and fancy dress running around the streets of London. It was great fun! There is some video footage of it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4n4kB-szWQ The money goes to conservation projects in Africa like the fuel-efficient stoves, water cisterns, tree-planting, organic farming training projects and wildlife clubs for schools.

[Allsinging]

Sitting quietly and looking into the eyes of one of our closest cousins, engaging in a bit of mutual grooming, is such an amazing experience. It would be unforgiveable in my opinion if we allowed them to become extinct because of our own greedy actions.

Wow cheekyweelassie what an amazing job, so amazing its not what we would even call a job, to us its a dream, well done ..oh and i voted too

[MariaLionza]

me too!

[marjoreemarjora]

Hope your charity wins, just voted for this. Shame we can only vote once. Will ask some of my friends to vote too