A big man with a big heart and a profound understanding of how any living being suffers behind bars. In the 1980s Terry Waite CBE made several trips to Lebanon to free hostages, before being taken captive himself from 20th January 1987 in Beirut. A hostage for 1,763 days, Terry was in total solitary confinement for four long years before finally being released on 18th November 1991.
A big thank you to directors, staff, volunteers, supporters and friends across the globe, for the past 12 years of so tirelessly and passionately helping dull and hopeless eyes shine brightly once more. Dedicated to you and the animals we rescue, and to those who rescue us - every single one - a beautiful piece written by Janine Allen for animals across the world.
What a night it was – over 100 major supporters, celebrities and the media in Hong Kong to celebrate the launch of our new 20-minute film, “Moon Bear Rescue: A decade on…”, and the launch of celebrity Karen Mok’s new public service announcement, “Stain”.
Recently I posted some beautiful poems written in honour of the bears, but it not just poets who are inspired by our bears. Today I'd like to share some beautiful artworks that reflect so perfectly their creators' connection with the moon bears through their truly immeasurable talent and passion.
Meanwhile in Vietnam, our gorgeous juveniles Olly, Mausi and Mara - first rescued as cubs in 2007 - are now cozying up with the big boys and girls and experiencing life as "proper" adult bears! Their pictures, now on the website, are utterly beautiful and show, once again, how these truly remarkable animals can put trauma and pain behind and enjoy their new lives.
During recent Roadshow presentations in Australia and New Zealand. I showed two of Bear Manager Charlie's pics, which demonstrate Banjo's mischievousness and superior skills! Taking the lead perhaps in tree-party destruction, now that beautiful Somerset has said goodbye?
Some time back in the space of a week, two beautiful poems arrived by email from the UK. The first by Lorraine Thomas who is coordinator of our Cheshire & Wirral Support Group and the second by Richard Bonfield, Poet in Residence for Born Free whose Founder Virginia McKenna is of course our UK Patron.
After all the excitement of the Roadshow, reality awaited on return to Hong Kong in terms of the highs and lows of caring for over 230 bears in China and Vietnam. Two calls in quick succession from a clearly devastated vet Jen, in Chengdu, saw us sharing tears for two of our beautiful bears, so much loved............ and now gone.
The Roadshow this year was all about returning to see old friends and meeting new supporters and couldn't have been more warm and embracing throughout.
I’m really looking forward to starting our Roadshow in Australia later this week, seeing old friends, meeting new supporters and catching everyone up with the news. Despite my excitement, there has been one small downside to the explosion of good news – knowing that I was going back to let everyone know that we still hadn’t secured the release of any of the 24 bears held illegally on farms in Vietnam.
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