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Tonya Wilson, Memphis, TN
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Cynthia Chen, San Francisco, CA.
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Dianne Upton, Bellevue, Washington
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Dorothy Brousseau, Auburn, NH
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Stacey, California
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HW, Maine
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Audrey Mealiff, Republic of Ireland
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Dayna Kent, Edmonton Alberta (formerly from BC)
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Nancy, Edmonds, WA
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Sheila, West Midlands. UK
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J. E. Sumner, Pennsylvania
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b, WA
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Anne, Albuquerque
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Sharron Rush, Rancho Cordova CA
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Lana Grimm, Colorado
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Loretta, Pt. Charlotte, Fl.
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Lisa McDowell, New Market, AL
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Denise Aranda, El Paso Texas
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DMK, USA
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Cathy, Haddon Heights, NJ
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Kelly Spencer, South Plainfield, NJ
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Errol, Galveston, TX
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Bunny, Columbus, Ohio
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Gail Bartlett, Hernando, Mississippi
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D. J. Green, Dallas, TX
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Shirley Green, Painesville, Ohio
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deborah lore, pevely missouri
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Linda, New York
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rosemarie sarra, Wilmington, DE
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Mickey, Victoria, B.C. Canada
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Lynn, San Diego, California
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Ann T., Louisville
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Barbara, Virginia
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Shirley Johns, Baltimore, MD
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Bev Saul, Livingston, NJ
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Mary Jo, Evansville, Indiana
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Jan, Oklahoma
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Gail, Las Cruces, NM
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TLC, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
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Val, Canada
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name withheld, KY
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Laura Cotter, NJ
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Ann Smith, Arcadia,La.
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Julian, Sydney, Australia
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Mickey, Victoria, B.C. Canada
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Sue, Texas
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Cathy, Tulsa, OK
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Dana, Defuniak Springs Florida
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Brenda Morris, Louisiana
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Sylvie, Canada
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Rose K., Phila Pa.
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Barbara, Virginia
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Kay, FL
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Lesley, Vancouver, BC
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Edna Bowman, Baxter, Tennessee
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Noni, Brooklyn, NY
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Robert Ostermann, Tempe AZ
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Kaye, Alexandria, VA
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Kathy, Florida
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Jenifer Bender, Madison, Wisconsin
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Jenifer,
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Jenny, Rochester, NY
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Martha, USA
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Barbara , Memphis, TN
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Carrie, Chicago
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Linda G, Philadelphia, PA
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Sandi, Chelmsford, MA
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Wanda Lott, Vicksburg, MS
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Beverly, South Carolina
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Sharon, Athens, AL
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Linda M. Weber, Sheridan, Wyoming
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Rachel, Connecticut
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Angie, California
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Cora Moore, Decatur, GA
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Chriss, BC. Canada
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Merilee, California
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Candace, Milwaukee, WI
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Colleen Perrin, Toronto, Canada
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Louise, San Francisco, California
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Jennifer, New York
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name withheld, usa
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Anitacanuck, Canada
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Pam Heckman, Rochester New Hampshire
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Jane Stanley, Toronto, Canada
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sharon, florida
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Carl, Georgia
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Annie, VT
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Ginny (Lolo), La Quinta, CA
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sharon, FL
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Sandra, Wyoming
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Ginger, West Monroe, La
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Carol, Windham, NH
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Marsha, Old Hickry TN
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Jenifer Bender, Madison, Wisconsin
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Karen Jones, Venice, CA
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Ginny, La Quinta, CA
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Kim, USA
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Barbara, Virginia
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shirley walter, ocala, fl
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Leslie Caspersen, Florida
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Leslie Caspersen, Florida
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Nancy Lewis, Seattle WA
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Chris Bailey, Austin, Texas
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Janet, Cambridge MA
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clara's friend, st. louis
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Barbara, Virginia
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Betty, Raleigh, NC
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Ellies Rule!, Cincinnati, OH
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Marley, Maine
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Susan, B.C., Canada
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Susan, British Columbia, Canada
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Mary Wilson, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada
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Nancy Shaw, Vancouver, WA
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Ricki Hart, Wylie, TX
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Michael and Sheila Medlar, Norfolk, England
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Nancy, Seattle
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shirley walter, Ocala, Florida
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Dannee, TN
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Marianne Bessey, Philadelphia PA
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Dannee, Tennessee
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Shirley Green, Painesville, Ohio (Go OSU)
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Kim, California
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Fay Morris, Victoria, B.C.
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Barbara, Virginia
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Lorraine, Pennsylvania
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Nancy Lewis, Seattle WA
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Thomas, Vermont
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Candace, California
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Candace Kubczak, Milwaukee, WI
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Christine Kaess, Takoma Park, Maryland
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Ann, Germantown, TN
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Juanita Eisinger, Livonia, Michigan
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name withheld, atlanta GA
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Barbara Chamberlain, Seatte
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Carolyn, Brentwood, TN
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Educate people on the cruelty of animals taken from their natural habitat or killed for thier tusks. If everyone would stop buying products and attending circuses that are results of this "business", the animals could live in peace in their natural habitats. That's all they really want. We should leave them alone.
Tanya Jordan, Cleveland, TN
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The exponitial factor of human population is frightening. Martin Luther King Jr. said it best:
Unlike plagues of the dark ages or comtemporary diseases we do not understand the modern plague of over population is soluble by means we have discovered and with resources we possess.
What is lacking is sufficient knowledge of the gravity of the problem and education of the BILLIONS who are its victims.
So the first wish would be that we would have zero population growth on a global scale.
Secondly, since I have serious doubts that that will happen due to the greed, selfish and ignorant characteristics of this race I belong to, I pledge to lend my support to places such as TES.
Do you ever wonder what they think of us?
We are the only creatures on this earth that can destroy our planet. I pray we wake up before it's too late.
Susan Thielen Dunn, FT. Myers Fl.
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"Kiss them all on the trunks!!!!" Then pray to God to protect them from the evil doings of MANKIND...
Darcy, Denver/NC
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Take all the elephants out of the circus, or either have more restrictions and better supervision and laws protecting them and all the other animals in the circus and carnivals.
Gary Kassel, Newburgh Indiana
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Continue to educate the public about the plight of the elephants. Get elephants (and all animals for that matter) into santuaries and out of zoos. Create new and enforce animal creulty laws world-wide.
Beth Bailey, Champaign, IL USA
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If I could do one thing for elephants (and all living creatures), I would change the perception that they are just "dumb animals." Two years ago I saw Maggie in the Alaska Zoo rocking back and forth in a very small area. The man who brought us to the zoo said, "People from the 'lower 48' should just mind their own business and stop trying to take her away. She's fine. She doesn't know any better." I was stunned and very upset that such ignorance still exists.
Janet Renee Mackey, Hatfield, Pa
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Change the laws of the world. No wild animals of any kind shall be in capativity. And then enforce the laws.
Tami Klossing, Joliet, IL
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The elephants and your mission are the most amazing thing in my life. Ever since I read the article in National Geographic about an elephant intentionally blinded for being pregnant and not willing to work, I have devoured this website and the work that you do! I someday hope to be able to participate in the same level of service to the elephants!
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Stop the circus from getting them. Living close to an elephant sanctuary so I could volunteer my time helping them. Loving them! Watching them play! Thank you so much for sending the New Years Eve slide show. I think every one of the elephants were smiling- it sure looked like it anyways. And it brightened my day that's for sure! I wish I had lots of cash to help with these projects, maybe someday I will. Right now I am working as a stay at home mom, with two daughters (8 & 6). My youngest has bi-lateral cochlear implants. I have lots of work to do with the girls. I also have my two four legged kids. (Rottweilers). Also co-lead the brownie trooop, and volunteer at local elementry schools. I stop in and spoil the horses they use for teaching at Virginia Tech as much as I can. We are strong animal lovers and really love getting info from you. Thanks for the love and care these beautiful animals deserve, it brings such joy to us too! Thanks again,Deb Novak and family
Deb Novak, Blacksburg, Virginia
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Permanently remove all elephant exhibits from zoos. Elephants do not belong in zoos - ever.
Joan, Oakland, CA
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... have each and every person who is an animal lover, or a lover of our planet, to write a letter to their MP (Canada) or Senator (USA) requesting that legislation be passed to prevent elephants from performing in circuses or other attractions, and from being housed in zoos. Let's work together to get all the current elephants living in these sad conditions down to The Elephant Sanctuary where they will be loved and well cared for for their remaining years.
Pam Ratcliff, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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I would start out this, my 2nd year of knowing of The Sanctuary, by ordering elepant.com license plate holders for easy publicity;
and 2) launch an effort up here in the Albany, N.Y. area to get an ATV donated by HONDA;
and also 3) I will continue to have Trunklines in my acupuncture waiting room, and email Sanctuary info to friends...
Gratefully,
Donna Reynolds, Albany, NY area
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I have something special I do. I tend to really want anything elephant-related whenever I see something like that at a store, whether it's 1.00 or 1,000.00. So I came up with a way to NOT spend my money. I promised never to ever buy another elephant-related item until all proceeds from the sale of every elephant-related item go to THE ELEPHANT SANCTUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the long-term aspect, I'd probably:
1. Close down the Hawthorn Corporation, I wrote but did not send a hate letter to the owner, John Cuneo. It was fun, even though I didn't send it.
2. Allow all Elephants to come to TES:)!!!!!
Zoe, Age 9, Wisconsin
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My biggest wish would be to convince our world leaders to take immediate action to control human population growth, which, in my opinion, is the root cause of every sociological, economical and ecological problem that exists today, but I would probably need a magic wand to accomplish that. In reality, I would increase wildlife habitat and wildlife corridors in order to help preserve the diversity and integrity of the species.
Lisa Wallace, Winston-Salem, NC
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Encourage TES to adopt Nicholas. If they made a special
place for the African elephants, why not for Nicholas?
Stop habitat destruction in India!
Ellen Lamb, Washington
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make everyone aware that Eric Steel, "The Bridge" filmaker's next project, is to go to Africa to film the elephants and tell their story of post-traumatic stress disorder. I would make the film available to all schools worldwide, so that the next generation will be more enlightened.
Jill Picard, Victoria, B.C.
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Please post this..............
I wrote to 60 minutes about the Elephant Sanctuary, if we all write, maybe they will help us get the message out!!
Write to 60m@cbsnews.com.
It can only help if we all write, think about before you all knew about the Elephant Sanctuary and please write to them!!!!
J.Phillips, Ohio
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In honor of all elephants worldwide, both in the wild and captive, I will show up to protest on the majority of days that Ringling Bros. is in town. (In 2006, I protested on three afternoons with numerous friends.) Even though many circus-goers are too embarrassed to accept our PETA and API flyers about elephant abuse at the gate entrance, they DO read our proliferation of signs and can't help but hear the facts we broadcast via megaphone. Plus, they DO have to think twice when they see the elephants perform, when they get questions from their kids, and when they decide whether to attend next time.
Also, if someone can organize a campaign to contact 60 Minutes, please have E-Trunklines send all of us details on how we can help. Being on that well-watched program might be the deal-maker for Gypsy.
Olivia, Houston, TX
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...encourage sanctuaries and accredited zoos to work *cooperatively* towards the well-being of all elephants. Both organizations ultimately want to give elephants the best lives possible, but have different ideas of the best ways to go about doing so. Both organizations need to put their egos aside, recognize their shortcomings, and learn from the strengths of other programs. Only when this is done will either side truly meet their goals of providing the best care possible to their elephants.
Amanda, Illinois
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Okay everybody. Let's put good thoughts into action. What can we as a group do to get a story on 60 Minutes? We can't solve every problem, but maybe, as a team, we can focus on getting the Elephant Sanctuary on this national US news broadcast. Imagine millions of people hearing about TES and the plight of Gypsy and the remaining Hawthorne elephants, and elephants in circuses and zoos everywhere? Does anyone know how to go about getting the attention of CBS?
Anne Lawing, Dover, New Hampshire
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After reading the beautiful thoughts of other supporters, I feel nearly unable to say anything, but I sure surely would like to see Gypsy brought to the Sanctuary, and for Nick to find a really great place as well. I remember the elephants and humans who care for them each time I pray my beads, and Gypsy, Nick and the soul of Joanna on her new journey are always included in special mention, as well as my current passion to get Dulary there as soon as possible!!
May love and Divine blessing ever surround this place, the elephants and the care-givers.
Dawn Killen-Courtney, St. Louis Park, MN
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We are committed to do all that we were to last year and even more this year. And we will continue to lobby for humane teaching to be one of the core features of California teaching. If our children are required to learn computer skills starting in Kindergarten, they can learn to be humane in all aspects of their lives - we need only make it the expectation, the norm, not some CrAzY California idea we are so well known for! God bless.
The Rush Family, Rancho Cordova California
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I would take all the elephants and send them to the TES to live out the rest of their life in peace. I would love to be on the board that checks abuse of the elephants!!! I don't like the red tape to remove animals. If you don't act right a way, the animal may be dead. If an animal is being abused, immediate removal would be required. God bless all of you for taking care of the elephants!!! Please continue your work!
Janet L. Bevins, Mea, AZ
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In Africa and Asia I would want to secure more land from development to maintain enough space for wild elephants to live. I would implement more incentives to prevent poaching of wild elephants. In more developed countries I would make it illegal for elephants to be kept in zoos and circuses.
susan antonius, california
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After I won the billion dollar lottery, I would donate all the money to the sanctuary so that they could help needy elephants for many years to come. It would be nice if they could one day also open up a section for male elephants to come and live. They need homes too.
Jeremy Killian, Garysburg, North Carolina
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Clone Carol and Scott, many times.
Starling, Long Beach, Ca
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The word 'captive' is being redefined to mean something positive. The elephants at TES are still "captive" but they are living healthy lives in a space that provides all the necessary ingredients elephants require according to nature's original design: hundreds of acres of environmentally friendly-to-elephant space, a green approach to the use of that space, nutritious food that is provided both by humans and by nature, and a philosophy that ensures naturally evolving herd dynamics. TES has successfully built a habitat elephants can feel and be free in. This is still a captive environment, but does this matter to the elephants there? Not a bit. TES elephants are living much as they woeries and vet care where ever they are.
uld in the wild - with the added bonus of heated barns, grocery delivThe word "captive" doesn't alarm me as much as it used to because of what TES and other sanctuaries are achieving. The antiquated zoo model - animals in small confined spaces designed for maximum public entertainment (now they call it education) - made "captivity" a very bad word indeed.
As we try to repair the damage we must make every effort to ensure the captive environments built to "protect species" (the new language of the zoo industry) are modeled on nature. The debt must be paid. Animals for entertainment is not moral, not viable, and no human can reasonably justify it.
I would love to see a day when sanctuaries dominate the landscape and human visitation comes in the form of volunteerism only, not buying a ticket and touring a gallery of cages.
People who want to look at animals without having to do anything for them can just as easily rent videos. They'd learn more anyway. I know I did.
Lesley, Vancouver
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How about two things? First I would build the TES kind of fencing around all the parks in Africa that have elephants so that the people there could learn to appreciate their wonderful neighbors not fear them. Then I would do the same thing in Asia so the elephants there had a place that was safe and the "working" elephants had a place to retire to. I would like to help zoos around the US build exhibits about elephants so that children could explore and learn about these magnificent creatures without any live elephants being displayed. I'll bet those Imagineers at Disney could build an elephant that looked felt, sounded and even smelled like the real thing! The educational benefit would be there and then they could watch our girls on the Elecam and understand the glorious joy of seeing them free.
rose sarra, Wilmington, DE
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release all of the circus elephants thru out the United States from their bondage and set them free with Scott and Carol.
Lindsey Jones, Illinois
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That they would all be free in either their wild space or the Sanctuary. To watch these magnificent beings thrive and learn to trust after so much pain and abuse...as a human, my spirit never could have withstood the years these beautiful creatures have endured and still had the strength to heal. God bless you and what you do each day!
Sandi Bard, Chelmsford, MA
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Lobby to bring Gypsy home!
Linda Hall, Redwood City, California
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Okay, I just HAD to do one more comment. If I could do three things, not just one, to help elephants worldwide, I would completely outlaw poaching and circus animals, elephant hook and bullhook usage and I would send all remaining captive elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary! I might also use the one million dollars I would win from Deal or No Deal to expand The Elephant Santuary to the whole area of Hohenwald, Tennessee.
Also, I sponsored Tange and am working on doing five more before the year is out. I would just love to become an elephant rights activist when I grow up!
Zoe, Waukesha, Wisconsin
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Quit my job, and move to The Elephant Sanctuary and help the elephants for the rest of my life. Joanna touched me so much when I volunteered in the spring. If I had all of the money in the world, I would donate it to you, Scott and Carol to keep fighting for all of the girls all over the world. It would be the greatest day, if I had no responsibility, I could help these elephants that humans have hurt in so many ways. However, I will continue to watch them on the elecam and donate when I can.
Thank you to everyone that works at the Sanctuary, you are amazing individuals. Hopefully, I can volunteer again it was such a blessing.
Trunk touches and Happy New Year!
J. Phillips, Ohio
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It's hard to pick only one... But I'd like to see the perimeter fence in Tsavo completed. Then, the success that they've seen so far could motivate other areas of Africa, and hopefully areas of Asian elephant habitat, to follow their example. I hate fences. But this has been the only compromise which has seem to help both the elphants and the people. Any solution will have to benefit the people, or else they will obviously poach and snare. I know this does nothing for captive elephants. But my hope for the future is that there will be no captive elephants. Therefore, while so many people -including myself- work on ending elephant captivity, I'd like to see the wild populations prosper with no human interaction.
Kelly, Sevierville, TN
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I would... wish that the entire world could give each other as much love as these elephants show.
I would wish that man kind could be as forgiving and understanding as these elephants have been...
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU AT THE SANCTUARY.. MAY THE DAYS AHEAD BE FULL OF JOY.......
Bonnie Caarol, Wasilla Alaska
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.... that's not an easy decision about only ONE thing.... but I plan to continue to address the public about circuses and zoos. It's my hope that our voices will be heard and we will be successful to achieve quality changes and improvements for elephants everywhere.
Of course, I will continue to offer support to TES and my many friends on Care2.com in the Elephant Lovers Group and the Boycott Circuses Group.
Thank you to Carol, Scott, and the entire staff for the opportunity to celebrate New Years Eve with the Elephants. A really wonderful experience last night. .... Regards to all.
DJ Heywood, St L Mo
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I would make sure all elephants would be taken out of all the circuses. I saw first hand how humiliating these events are to the elephants. I wish it would all stop and leave these beautiful creatures to live their lives out on peace and tranqulity. God Bless Carol and Scott and to the entire sanctuary staff for all you do. You are truly angels to all the girls.
Susan Dunn, Nashville, Tennessee
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My first thought was of course an end to cruelty, to beatings and stabbings and isolated confinement on hard ground, but then I realized the greater emergency made clear in the New York Times story is the erosion of elephant culture through the obliteration of their family structure. We cannot protect the species without also conserving their way of life. May God bless everyone at Hohenwald and at PAWS in California, and all those around the world who are working so hard to fight the abuses, and may these efforts be rewarded in 2007 with meaningful progress.
Phyllis Elliott, Los Angeles
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Get LOTS of money to...do a major public education campaign on eles and how inadequate their lives are in most zoos and all circuses...also to encourage people to go only to animal-free circuses...lobby lobby lobby for ele-friendly legislation...Try to get as many members of Congress interested in the lives of captive eles and to investigate the USDA...Do a major advertising campaign to encourage people to support real conservation in the range states and to develop solutions to human-elephant conflicts...Launch efforts to ban the sale of ivory worldwide and strengthen patrols to stop poaching...Give LOTS of money to all ele advocacy groups and sanctuaries...
Who can choose just one??!
Amy Mayers, Washington, DC
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If I COULD do anything, I would ask for the fulfillment of a prayer that all human beings instantly develop into what Buddhists call bodhisatvas, i.e., people dedicated to the welfare of all beings, bound and determined to alleviate the suffering in the world of all creatures. Through this sudden awakening, peo |
