Ursa Freedom Project

Saving bear species from extinction through story and art

ACTION NETWORK

Ursa Freedom Project supports existing organizations and individuals that are conserving the world’s eight bear species and their habitats.
Sun bear
Asiatic black bear (moon bear)
Sloth bear
Andean bear
Brown bear
American black bear
Polar bear
Giant panda

Members

  • Chris_BearLover
  • LINDA  B-A
  • allthingsbarbara
  • Madeleine Marquerite
  • Gretchen
  • Rainbow Hawk
  • laura dixon
  • Venezia
  • Joseph
  • Douglas Boucher
  • linda redmond
  • Amina Abaza

Music

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UFP CHANGE AGENTS

Thanks to everyone who contributed to sending UFP member Siew Te Wong to the Bear Care Conference next month to present the plight of sun bears. The world conservation organization (IUCN) has identified the sun bear as the second most critical bear species in need of conserving to prevent extinction, just after the giant panda.

Stop local and internet wildlife crimes involving Vietnam wildlife. Report anything suspect to ENV so they can take action. Here are some of ENV's recent Hotline successes:

On August 25th, 2009 a bear bile advertisement on a popular website was removed after discussions with the website administrators. More importantly, the administrators agreed to ban any future wildlife advertising on their websites.

A traditional medicine shop in Hanoi has stopped selling bear bile and medicinal products made from bear and macaque bones and other wildlife after ENV monitors worked with Hanoi rangers to encourage the owner to obey laws.

A Hanoi resident has removed a sign in front of his home advertising bear bile after being advised by the ENV Wildlife Crime Unit that selling bear bile was illegal.

On August 21, an Asiatic black bear being kept at a tourism site illegally was confiscated and transferred to a rescue center. The bear was discovered by authorities as they were following up on another case involving macaques.

The Dutch moonbear team in the Netherlands has a good time while raising money for AAF.

Margaret O'Hare coordinates activities for the AAF Support Group in Cambridge, UK.

Madeleine Truax has formed a new support group for Animals Asia in New York City.

Jan Beeton heads up the Animals Asia support group in South Africa.

THE VISION

Artwork by Sandrine

Ursa Freedom Project joins hearts and minds all over the globe, to come together unified in an invocation for freedom for the Moon Bear. In our hearts, we know the time for the release of 9000 Moon Bears is now.

OUR INTENTION

To set them free ... SET THEM FREE!

Simple joys restored – freedom to be natural.


"Sometimes we receive a message in life which is hard to ignore. For me, that message came in 1993 when I walked onto a bear farm in China for the very first time. Nothing prepared me for that moment and it was with utter disbelief that I witnessed a scene which would subsequently change my life and start the dream of the China Bear Rescue." ~ Jill Robinson, Founder and Director, Animals Asia Foundation

Click for Related Links

UFP artists are making creative expressions to help save a moonbear's life. Visit the group Save Miracle the Bear to see how you can help. Artwork by Lupe Fiacre

Photos

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Notes

UFP MySpace

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 16, 2009 at 10:46am. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 16.

Invite Friends

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15, 2009 at 8:44pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 16.

Care2

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 14, 2009 at 11:31pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

facebook Events

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 14, 2009 at 11:25pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

facebook Cause

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 14, 2009 at 11:23pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

Follow Us

Created by Jeanette McDermott Aug 14, 2009 at 5:54pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

JOIN A GROUP

Artwork by Ann Ranlett

Created by Jeanette McDermott Apr 19, 2009 at 5:06pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

Notes Home

Many of the tabs have drop menus that you access by rolling over the tab name, and not clicking on it. Be sure to rollover the tab names before clicking on them to see what options emerge in the drop menus.

Created by Jeanette McDermott Feb 12, 2009 at 10:42pm. Last updated by Jeanette McDermott Aug 15.

Forum

Jeanette McDermott

Miracle Bear

Miracle, the moon bear that courageously, and miraculously (hence his name), escaped from a bile farm in Korea, is still roaming in the wild. The bear that Korean authorities recently captured, and...

Tagged: ufp, ursafreedomproject, tcm, traditionalchinesemedicine, aaf

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Ursa Freedom Project Aug 6.

Jeanette McDermott

Ambassadors

Be an Ambassador for Your Country Ambassadors represent their country while implementing the vision of Ursa Freedom Project to eco-create a new future for moon bears and ourselves. If you would lik...

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Ursa Freedom Project Mar 19.

Jeanette McDermott

Tips for Writing an Urgent Action Letter

You can do a lot to help free moon bears from crush cages by writing letters.

Tagged: TCM, medicine, law, Asia, bear

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Ursa Freedom Project Mar 19.

Jeanette McDermott

Sponsorship Form

Feel free to print this form and use it to collect sponsors for your fundraising pledge drives.

Tagged: Animals, moon, medicine, Chinese, TCM

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Ursa Freedom Project Mar 19.

Jeanette McDermott

Sample Donation Letter

This is a sample letter, to give you an idea of how to create a donation letter using the Ursa Freedom Project banner, logo and information. Please tailor the letter to meet your needs.

Tagged: Animals, moon, medicine, Chinese, TCM

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Ursa Freedom Project Mar 19.

Jeanette McDermott

Press Release for Media and Bloggers

Please send the press release to bloggers and television, radio, newspaper and magazine media representatives. You can also use the press releases and other material found on the Ursa Freedom Proj...

Tagged: project, animals, asia, freedom, ursa

Started by Jeanette McDermott in Member Actions to Save the Moonbears Mar 12.

maryse

Ursa Freedom Project cause on Facebook 11 Replies

hi there, I f any of you are on facebook or have friends on facebook, you are a welcome to take a look and join the cause Ursa Freedom Project. we hope to link this sites goals and interest with a...

Tagged: environment, earth, eco, ecopaparazzi, moon

Started by maryse in Member Actions to Save the Moonbears. Last reply by Leslie May 26.

BethBot

Ursa Freedom Project Post on 5MinutesforGoingGreen.com 1 Reply

Hello Team! Been raising awareness about the UFP on 5minutesforGoingGreen.com!! Check it out, comment and share the post w/ friends...this site gets pretty good traffic, so it should be interestin...

Tagged: eco, project, freedom, earth, environment

Started by BethBot in Member Actions to Save the Moonbears. Last reply by Jeanette McDermott Mar 11.

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Latest Activity

Walentin Georiy VAlehnf and DANIEL CAÑUETO joined Ursa Freedom Project
November 1
Peter Pan is now a member of Ursa Freedom Project
October 29
Blue Jay Freedom for the Bears
October 28
October 28
October 27
2 videos by Siew Te Wong were featured
October 27
Country Kimberly The love of animals and thanks to Jay
October 26
Country Kimberly is now a member of Ursa Freedom Project
October 26
Now you may subscribe to current bear-related news via bearnecessitykorea.com http://bearnecessitykorea.com/feed/ Warmly, Kelly
October 23
This group plans music concerts to raise funds for bear liberation.
October 23
A group for people to talk about ideas and strategies for the campaign.
October 23
October 23
 

State of affairs with bears


URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT ~ URGENT !!!!!!
Please, please help Animals Asia release the bears in Vietnam from their pain. While bear farming has been illegal in Vietnam since 1992, the practice is still widespread and around 4,000 bears remain trapped on bile farms. Join the global letter-writing appeal and urge the Vietnamese government to do the right thing. It’s just a few minutes of your time – but for the bears, it’s the rest of their lives. Appeal for Vietnam's bears this instant. AAF Photo

A moon bear is raised in a cage at a bear farm run by Koreans in Ha Long in Quang Ninh Province in Vietnam. The managers of such farms allegedly extract bile from living bears and sell it to Korean tourists. Read more. Photo by ENV

ENV staff infiltrated a bear farm and documented on film a bear bile extraction as Korean customers watched. ENV is a Vietnam wildlife watchdog group that is trying to get this place shut down. Read more.



The poster is from a children's education program at ENV (Environment Nature Vietnam)

Events

October 26

Monday

November 17

Tuesday

October 4

Monday

  • World Animal Day

    October 4, 2010 all day – World

    World Animal Day was started in 1931 at a convention of ecologists in Florence as a way of highlighting the plight of endangered species. Since then it has grown to encompass all kinds of animal li...

    Organized by Rebecca | Type: celebration

Set Them Free Set Them Free Set Them Free Set Them Free Set Them Free

The symposium plays a critical role in bringing researchers and conservationists together to figure out how to save the moonbear from extinction.

Asiatic black bears face many threats, including habitat loss and degradation, poaching, and commercial trade in live bears and bear parts. Little is known about the species due to a lack of financial and technical support, qualitative data, and low administrative and public commitment.

In addition, trained personnel who are concerned with or engaged in research and conservation are not in the species' geographic range. Trying to ensure the long-term persistence of such a focal species represents one of the most difficult challenges in Asian wildlife conservation today.

Blog Posts

Blue Jay

Song Lyrics: WORLD FREEDOM SONG ("Together We Are One") c/p 2009 Jay Jourden, Bullseye/Blue Jay Music BMI

WORLD FREEDOM SONG (Together We Are One)
c/p 2009 Jay Jourden


v1

.....A Mystic Journey....with skies forever Blue.....

The Sunsets last forever....everything is True....

.....No lies, no hate, no fear.......ahh the road and path are clear......

With Love and Light I know we'll find a way....


v2

.....A Mystic Journey....clean water and clean air.....

The Children have enough to eat....and Love from those who care....

.....The Sun and Moon and Stars they shine the same for all today....… Continue

Posted by Blue Jay on October 10, 2009 at 12:14pm

Ashley Wetzel

Korea's National Creation Myth - of Bears and Tigers

I recently came across this myth. It is said that Korea is the only country where the tiger is at the center of it's culture. Sadly, the Koreans lost their last tiger over 50 years ago. This was of interest to me, as I am a conservation student with focus in large cats. What I did not expect to see is the inclusion of the bear in this myth. This is why I'm sharing it with you.

According to the myth, a tiger and a bear living in a cave prayed to the God of the Sky, Hwanin, to become human. Hwani… Continue

Posted by Ashley Wetzel on September 26, 2009 at 7:30pm

Jeanette McDermott

Pleasure of your company


Moonbears.org requests the pleasure of your company at the charitable debut of its featured children's book, 'Ura's World'.

Ura’s World, by John Walker – Charity event - Saturday 3rd October 2009

Bookazine will host a charity story reading with John Walker, author of the beautiful… Continue

Posted by Jeanette McDermott on September 24, 2009 at 12:00am

Ashley Wetzel

Set Them Free - a Bear Benefit

I'm currently organizing a charity event on campus (Wilson College, Chambersburg PA, USA). Here are the details below! If you're interested in volunteering or helping, please contact me at awetzel@wilson.edu.

Set Them Free - a Bear Benefit
Proceeds to:
The Ursa Freedom Project
and
The Animals Asia Foundation


In Vietnam, Korea, and China, there has been a very well kept secret for hundreds of years. This secret is Bear Bile Farming. Many of you may have never heard of it, but while we sit in c… Continue

Posted by Ashley Wetzel on September 23, 2009 at 9:34pm — 1 Comment

Ashley Wetzel

Bear Bile Farming - A Day In The Life

After working on my last blog "Human Crimes Against Wildlife (Inhumanity)" (bigcatconservationstudent.blogspot.com) and doing research on Bear Bile Farming, I've decided that this form of animal overexploitation deserves a little more focus and it's own personal blog.

I find this example of animal cruelty to be absolutely and horribly foul. In my ranking of the worse crimes against animals, it is among the tops. As a carnivorous mammal lover, I take this crime very, very seriously.

The first t… Continue

Posted by Ashley Wetzel on September 20, 2009 at 3:10pm

Letter from Jill

 
 

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EXPLORE

Ursa Freedom Project welcomes you to a unique and uplifting campaign aimed at raising awareness and money for bear conservation and welfare through story and art. UFP is an independent project driven by an online network of passionate people. Please explore our website and learn how you can help make a difference.

URSA FAMILY NEWSLETTER

UFP RULES & GUIDELINES

GET HTML CODES

UFP ARCHIVES

MEET JASPER, our Mascot

FREEDOM MOON
Buy this book and be inspired by rescue stories of bears Animals Asia has saved from bile farms. You will love seeing how the bears now live in peace at AAF's bear sanctuary in China. Your purchase supports AAF's rescue and rehabilitation efforts.

"The longer we wait, the more expensive it will be to prevent future extinctions," says Dr Jane Smart, Head of IUCN's Species Programme. "We now know what species are threatened, what the threats are and where we have no more excuses to watch from the sidelines."

SAVE THE SPECIES

With both acknowledged and possible calamities as compelling and urgent
catalysts, Raincoast Conservation is advocating for British Columbia's first fully protected salmon runs. The move is an effort to save the grizzly bear species.

This bold and ambitious proposal runs contrary to the historical underpinnings of salmon management, as fisheries managers have always assumed that salmon exist exclusively for human consumption.

According to Raincoast, it is a matter of competition, and the odds are stacked against carnivores in these coastal salmon forests.

The use of animal parts in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is decimating wild animal populations, including seven of the eight species of bears for bile products.

Unless urgent reforms are introduced quickly, many species face an irreversible fate: extinction. There are over 50 herbal alternatives to bear bile for use in TCM. Animals Asia's Healing Without Harm program can save millions of animals’ lives each year by educating people about cruelty-free herbal alternatives to consumers and practitioners of traditional medicine. Learn about AAF's Healing Without Harm Program. Download the WSPA pamphlet Herbal Alternatives to Bear Bile.

 

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