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THE URSA FREEDOM PROJECT TO FREE 9000 BEARS FROM BILE FARMING IN CHINA AND VIETNAM

The Vision

Ursa Freedom Project begins on March 20 (Vernal Equinox) when, in the evening sky, the constellation Ursa Major rises up from the NorthEastern horizon (Northern Hemisphere*).

The campaign builds through a series of monthly posters and activities that catapult the whole world into action on June 21 (Summer Solstice).

When the rays of the longest day have faded into night, Ursa Major is prominently visible overhead. This celestial event will set the time for the joining of hearts and minds all over the globe, to come together unified in an invocation for freedom for the Moon Bear.

This moment in time will move as a wave that sweeps the planet. Together with every star-gazer around the planet who visualizes liberation for the Moon Bear, groups of caring people will gather in the spirit of freedom. To the Great Bear in the sky, we will lift the intention for freedom high overhead. And in our hearts, we know the time for the release of 9000 Moon Bears is now.

*also known as the Big Dipper, the Starry Plough or the Great Bear

The Ursa Freedom Project commits to liberate 9,000 bears from bile farms in China/Viet Nam and to end a practice that is commercially unnecessary. We who gather for the sake of the Moon Bear affirm liberty and deplore the torture of any living being. This endangered species is subjected to the unconscionable practice of bile extraction for use by industries which can use higher quality synthetic replacements to bear bile. The products are largely non-essential, including wine, furniture polish and certain types of medicine for preventable diseases. And the Chinese government has turned a deaf ear to the pleas of those who have worked for decades to help these animals.

Return to Freedom
The Ursa Freedom Project commits to liberate farmed Moon Bears from the wretched crush cages and abject torture they experience daily – until they die. The abominable practice of bear bile farming should have never begun and must stop now. These beautiful creatures must be returned to freedom, to live in the state Nature intended for them – a life of up to 30 years to roam in their natural habitat and to eat mostly berries and foliage.

This is no small task, it will take the belief and coming together of a great many to support those who work toward the liberation of farmed bears, to their rehabilitation and release into the wild. The Ursa Freedom Project invites you to join with your loved ones, neighbors and local organisations to share in a unique and uplifting campaign.

We aim to dismantle the bile farm industry. Please explore our website to learn how many small steps can bring these bears to freedom. We thank you for joining us.

Together, we can make a world of change.


URSA’S INTENTION

The Ursa Freedom Project seeks to engage people from all walks of life in an imaginative social action, to bring about a task that has only been attempted by a few.

To move the hearts of the Chinese people for the sake of humane treatment of an endangered species has never been more possible. We believe a global response to this endeavor can bring about the necessary change.

Our Approach
We propose a uniquely uplifting approach as it sets out a goal that we can all be for- a living, growing community of change artists working to nourish life on our planet– rather than being against or fighting something. Through local activities/ events and a positive spirit, we aim to awaken global awareness for the plight of the Moon Bear.

The Ursa Freedom Project is motivated to inspire engagement through fun, education, art and community involvement. Beyond what we want for the bears, the possibilities are endless for what additional benefits can result for humanity. This project is conceived with the hope for a positive experience for all. One that will engender new connections and new possibilities for social action, where all newcomers and seasoned change agents can envision a greater future for all living beings. A future that we can all bring about together.


Campaign Strategy

The Street Team is a collective of busy bees and the backbone of the Ursa Freedom Project. The team keeps things humming and buzzing to create energy and continuous excitement for the campaign. Members of the team pollinate across networks and keep going in search of more nectar to bring into the hive -- a favorite spot of all bears. Welcome to the team. We're glad you're here!

Here's the strategy:

Poster On the 20th of each month grab the new poster for UFP and upload it ...
A. onto websites
B. onto all of your profile pages
C. into your friends' in boxes

Badge
Upload it to the same places as the poster.

Blog
Go to the Resources Tab and copy the media blog, and then:
A. Paste it into email boxes of newspaper editors and radio and television station managers.
B. Send it to bloggers that you know and ask them to post it on their site.
C. Send it to network creators you know and ask them to post it as a blog on their network.
D. Post it yourself as a blog on your profile page in all of the networks that you have joined.
E. Send it to friends and ask them to post it as a blog on their networks.
F. Use the information in the blog to start discussions in forums.

Money Bomb
Get the money bomb banner and badge and go viral with it. This is a 24-hour money bomb, so the banner and badge need to be uploaded on sites either the night before or early in the morning on these two dates to maximize the 24-hour period for fundraising. Drop money bombs on: March 20 June 21

Twitter
You know what to do.

RSS Feed
Put the UFP RSS feed on your profile pages and social networks. Grab it from the top in the middle column.

Network
Keep networking and make new connections each month so you can find more places for the poster, banner, badge, media blog and money bomb.

Your Personal Touch
Please bring your own unique style to the Ursa Freedom Project through videos, music, artwork, blogs, discussions ... and more! Share what you've got going on with the rest of us on the Action Network so we can be inspired and motivated by what you're doing on behalf of the wondrous bears.

Jill’s Blog
Jill Robinson, founder of Animals Asia Foundation, keeps a blog of activity regarding bear rescue from bile farms. Her blog is an excellent resource for information to share with others and as a feed to put on your profile pages on networks you belong to.

To bring the feed into a profile page, go to the left column on your page and scroll until you see the box that says RSS. Click on the edit tab or +Add RSS tab and then drop in this code: http://www.animalsasia.org/blog/rss.php


Meet Rescued Bears
http://www.animalsasia.org/10thAnniversary/


Traditional Chinese Medicine – Learn about the evidence
http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=fawl5adymww8



Events

Money Bomb Drop
A money bomb is a specific time (a 24 hour period) to donate money to a specific cause. Dropping a money bomb allows people across the globe to make small contributions, which, when combined in the time period as a group, turns into a large sum. The most famous money bomb was dropped into the Ron Paul campaign in the U.S. on December 16, 2007, which raised $6.03 million in just 24 hours. We can do the same thing for the bears.

Let's set a new world record for money bombs through the Ursa Freedom Project! Nickels and dimes amount to hundreds of thousands, and millions of dollars. Every person counts, and every donation amount matters!

We will have a special money bomb badge and banner ready for you when the day draws near. Money bomb drops: March 20 & June 21,
with all of the funds going to Animals Asia Foundation for rehabilitation and renewal of the liberated bears.

The Ursa Freedom Project begins on March 20 as a poster campaign, and ends June 21 as a community action day worldwide. June 21 is the day we celebrate freedom through creative community events that raise awareness and money, because the rescued bears need food, veterinary care and rehabilitation.

Look to Ursa Major for inspiration and you'll see that the sky is the limit when it comes to planning fun events. Join a group on the Action Network and meet up with others in your area to create a community event. Or be bold and start something on your own. Whatever you do, enjoy it!
Community Action Day suggestions:

1. Benefit for the Bears concerts
2. Art sales and auctions
3. Fashion shows
4. Sailing regattas
5. Wine and cheese parties
6. Beer making workshops
7. Walks, races and motorcycle runs
8. Astrology and tarot readings
9. Theater performances
10. Dance competitions
11. Photography exhibitions
12. Raffles
13. Bingo


Links - Information
http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/
http://ursafreedomproject.blogspot.com/
http://endbearbilefarming.blogspot.com/
http://www.animalsasia.org/


Resources
HTML Code: http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/notes/html_codes
Bear Photos: http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/photo?page=1
Videos: http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/video
Additional Resources
http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/page/important-resources

+ Press Release (downloadable pdf from website)


CONTACT THE CAMPAIGNERS
http://ursafreedomproject.ning.com/page/contact-us-1