10.10.10

Greenpeace International has teamed up with 350.org, 10:10 and other worthwhile organisations to host a Global Work Party on 10/10/10. It’s an international initiative, and already has many events organised in every continent. The thrust of the day is basically to bring individuals within a community together for “the biggest single day of action against climate change the world has ever seen.” Anyone can organise an event in any area, all you have to do is advertise it on the Greenpeace website and get planning! Current activities range from; swap shops, a vegan banquet, unplugged gigs, fitting solar panels, workshops, and film screenings. There’s sure to be something near you, but if not, why not try your hand at planning your own? It doesn’t have to be a big event, or raise money, just awareness. Sunday October 10th 2010 is going to be a fantastic opportunity to  for everyone who thinks we should be doing something about climate change to have fun whilst getting involved in the cause, and maybe even learning something new!

I look forward to seeing some of you locals at events in London. And whatever you do, enjoy yourself!

Follow the cause on Facebook

‘Green’ Palm Oil Goes Into The Red

After it became popular knowledge that Palm Oil production was linked to massive deforestation, people were calling for the companies to find greener ways to produce the Palm Oil – and prove it.  Therefore the Malaysian companies hired auditors to certify that they were not felling protected rainforest, and keeping their supply chain clean. However, it seems all-important European consumers have forgone the extra cost this has accumulated in associated products in favour of not-so-“green” cheaper price tags. The recession has been blamed for this, however the Palm Oil companies feel they have been persuaded to spend what seems to them to be unnecessary money by their western market, only to hit a brick wall when trying to sell to the very same consumers! The Chief Executive of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council said “We have been led down the path of false hope in selling environmentally-certified palm oil and now the buyers are not keen on paying for the premium”. This could be a massive dent in the global fight to wipe out illegal deforestation by Palm Oil companies, as if they have no financial incentive to change their ways, there may be no persuading them from now on.

Read more: Consumers shun ‘green’ palm oil

Julia Quick: Thesis Trip to South Africa

Ever since I decided to enrol on the Animal Behaviour and Welfare MSc at QUB, I have had my heart set on going abroad to study Primates in the field for my thesis research. I have been lucky enough to be offered a place at the University research centre in Loskop Dam Nature Reserve in South Africa by Peter Henzi, currently working on the De Hoop Baboon Project.

I will be researching vigilance and social dominance in Vervet Monkeys, and cannot wait to see these beautiful creatures behaving naturally in the wild. I will be spending two months over there, however must the fund the trip myself. Therefore, if anyone knows of any funding avenues, I would be very grateful if you could contact me julesq82@googlemail.com. Many thanks all, I will be supplying regular updates on my progress including pictures, so stay online!

FONG Illustrations for Prime Concern

Prime Concern would like to thank Graphic Designer Peter Fong for his design for the Prime Concern blog header.

Fong, 25 graduated from Bowling Green State University and is now working as a designer at an advertising agency in downtown Cleveland. His animal and primate illustrations are just wonderful. Thanks Peter.

Prime Concern Joins Design21

Prime Concern is pleased to announce it now has it’s own profile on Social Design Network Design21.

Prime Concern founders, Julia and Kate, are present and active amongst the community of Socially Conscious Designers and Social Organisations, so take a look and join the Prime Concern Design21 group for more information.

BEAR to Orangutans Aid

Francine Neago, a French Animal Behaviourist and Orangutan expert living in Bali, has secured funding and land from Italy’s Veterinary Association for an Animal Rescue Centre in Bali. It will not be open to the public, but is a research centre open to scientists and students completing their doctorates on endangered species.

It will be overseen by the government organization BEAR (Bali Endangered Animal Rescue), who will choose an island where an open range, private habitat can be established, away from the encroachment and threats from humans and cities. By removing the species from their most immediate and destructive hazards, a real attempt can hopefully be made for rehabilitation. She is still awaiting final approval from the Indonesian government, but remains positive.

+ The Jakarta Post

An Inconvenient Truth: City by City

For anyone who has not come across Al Gore’s 2006 Film, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, then do take a look at the following information. The 2006 film is a beautifully captured documentary, following Gore on his quest to spread the word about Global Warming, city by city.

Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world’s scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced.

“If that sounds like a recipe for serious gloom and doom – think again.

PrimeConcern Gets Noticed

I would like to say a quick thank you, for all the positive responses I have had, regarding PrimeConcern’s launch this week.

Special thanks to IFAW’s Jennifer Miller, who writes for the Animal Rescue Blog and Kelly at WWF. It’s very reassuring to know people are as excited as us about the work myself and Kate are trying to promote with PrimeConcern, and we always encourage open feedback. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any suggestions or are interested in Prime Concern on any level. Email: julesq82@gmail.com.

Calling all Facebookers to Change The Present!

I received an email from Robert Tolmach at WellGood LLC, regarding a new application called ChangingThePresent being used on Facebook, that could help everyone make a difference.

Facebookers reportedly spend millions a year sending £1 or $1 gifts to their friends – e.g. a picture of a birthday cake or a balloon etc. This non-profit organisation has been set up to allow you to actually make a donation to a good cause whilst sending these tokens! ChangingThePresent offers more than a thousand inspiring gifts cover hundreds of leading non-profits, allowing you many options, including preserving an acre of rainforest, providing a child with her first book or funding an hour of cancer research.

It’s such a great way to make your own little contribution whilst in the routine of your every day life. Please search for ChangingThePresent on Facebook, it’s easy to download and works exactly like a normal application.

Facebook: Changing The Present

Prime Concern: Events Listing

In the process of developing Prime Concern as a useful web resource for all, we have added a new section, entitled Prime Events.

You can find this section in the top tabs of this Weblog. The page intends to document and list relevant events from across the globe, and provide linking resources for further information. If you have an event you would like us to know about, please do drop us an email and we will be happy to schedule it into the Prime Events Diary.

Prime Concern: Day One

Prime Concern hit out to 60 people yesterday, in only it’s first day of being live. Thank you to all who have supported our campaign and initiative to date. We hope this blog will become a powerful resource for all interested in Primate Species across the world.

In addition to joining Change.org, we also have a small supporting group on Social Network Facebook. If you are a “Facebooker”, please do join us there. For anyone looking to advertise on the Prime Concern blog, do contact Kate.

Prime Concern joins the Blog Action Day Initiative

What would happen if all bloggers, from all four corners of our planet posted an article about the environment, all on the same day? The question will be answered this month, with the forthcoming Blog Action Day.

An international initiative of bloggers known as Blog Action Day launched earlier this year, with the aim of uniting thousands of blogging voices, talking about one issue for one day. This year the non-profit initiative, which is slated for Oct. 15, 2007, bloggers will be discussing the environment. This will hopefully display the potential and the power of the blogging community, which is a disparate community but one with an amazing size, breadth and diversity.

Our Prime Concern

Prime Concern is dedicated to raising awareness of Endangered Primate Species. This blog has been set up to profile the founding and project development of awareness campaign and research initiative PrimeConcern. We hope to gather a collective interest from a global audience of scientists, animal behavioural experts, zoologists, researchers and social designers. Prime Concern will primarily act to raise awareness and secondly encourage feedback, participation and collaboration.

Founded in 2007, by MSc and PGD Student Julia Quick, currently studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare at Belfast’s Queen’s University and Socially Conscious Communications Designer Kate Andrews. The diverse collaboration between scientist and designer gives PrimeConcern two platforms of expertise and experience: a body of knowledge focused toward the endangerment of Primate Species, and understanding of how Communication Design can assist and embellish the awareness of global, environmental and social issues.

2007. Julia Quick & Kate Andrews.