Charity

“Who will now care for the animals, for they cannot look after themselves? Are there young men and women who are willing to take on this charge? Who will raise their voices, when mine is carried away on the wind, to plead their case?”
George Adamson
1906-1989

Having been born in Africa has created in me a special admiration for Nature and all type of Animals since I was very young.

I made a commitment 20 years ago to become vegetarian and reduce my carbon footprint as much as possible. Cleaning up rubbish from every natural area I visited with my camper van had become a normal daily practise, as I considered them all to be my home.

I think as a Global family we all have a duty to contribute in any way possible to preserve our beautiful Nature, starting from the land up to the Oceans.

But now I am so happy and grateful that through my Art I can also make a difference by donating a percentage of the sale of my original paintings and the royalties I receive from the sales of my designs on products at Zazzle and Red Bubble, that I reserve only for charity so that the earnings I receive will be fully given towards my charity goals as listed below.

Just a note to remember, the earnings from the Print on Demand companies like Zazzle and Red bubble that we receive are a percentage between 10-20% of the price you pay, so it can take awhile before I can reach the minimum amount for a donation.

These are the Associations that I deeply care about as they make me feel that they are truly making a difference.

BORN FREE FOUNDATION
https://www.bornfree.org.uk/

“We work tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs. 
As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild. 
We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of threatened species in the wild and protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. 
We seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.”

You can read more in this Blog post “One Dream Realized” why I am so fond of them and their work.

This is my first big achievement thanks to all the beautiful people that have been buying in my shop at Zazzle. With just 3£ a month I was able to adopt a Lion and help a little bit for his care, my goal is to adopt all of them!

You can do the same at https://www.bornfree.org.uk/adopt and adopt one of the animals they have. “Not only will you be providing invaluable care, you will also receive a great gift pack, soft toy and our Adopt magazine twice a year. “

“A Born Free wild animal adoption provides money directly to support the care of individual wild animals or their families. Any extra funds go towards our projects to protect the species and its habitat. The adoption lasts a whole year, keeps you personally in touch with your adopted animal and, believe me, makes a real difference. I regularly buy Born Free wild animal adoptions as gifts for loved ones, who I know love animals.” Virginia McKenna OBE

You can also take action by signing one of the petitions that Born free is working on like the horrible Lion Farming and Canned Hunting and many more at this link https://www.bornfree.org.uk/take-action

The World Wildlife Fund is known throughout the world and has been a major organization to help wildlife and nature in general worldwide.

AUSTRALIA
https://www.wwf.org.au/#gs.vgc0j2
Because of the sad incredible Bush fires in Australia that have killed so many animals and habitat, it is my major goal now to at least achieve 15$ every month to adopt a Koala that is risking extinction and protect them as well as Kangaroos from this terrible tragedy, as well as making donations for the urgency they are facing now.

WWF Australia is involved in helping local rescue centers as well as the planting of 2 billion trees and fight for reducing deforestation.

I am also donating to these following Centers that have been rescuing Koalas who have been burnt and needed medical attention as well as food and water. They have been mostly affected because they do not move from the trees and only eat eucalyptus leaves which have been burnt in the fires.
you can check the work they do on Instagram or YouTube.
@adelaidekoalarescue
https://www.akr.org.au/
A view of the center and their work https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_FicNzI_jk

@hsiaustralia (Human Society International Australia) who are doing an amazing work in Kangaroo Island
https://hsi.org.au/blog/hsi-australia-bushfire-disaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ5TQXWCYmQ

I have created a painting of a Koala especially to raise fund for Australia you can look at the products both on Zazzle and Red Bubble in the following links.

ZAZZLE SHOP COLLECTION

WWF ITALY
https://www.wwf.it/

As I live in Italy I am personally very fond of all the work they are doing here, from creating more than 100 special reserves for endangered species protection, to put pressure on a political level for stopping pesticides, as well as participating to global problems like the fires burning in Amazon and Australia and Climate Change.

My first Goal is to raise 125€ to help preserve 3 species that are endangered and need protection here in Italy which is the Wolf (300 are killed every year), The Bear (there are only 50 left) and the Royal Eagle (there are just 500).

I already have one design of a Wolf painting which is both on Zazzle and Red Bubble and is dedicated all for this purpose. And thanks to some beautiful buyers I am getting nearer to my goal for the minimum treshold for a donation.

I am planning to make the Eagle and the Bear to complete the three.

THE OCEAN CLEAN UP
https://theoceancleanup.com/

“Every year, millions of tons of plastic enter the oceans primarily from rivers. The plastic afloat across the oceans – legacy plastic – isn’t going away by itself. Therefore, solving ocean plastic pollution requires a combination of stemming the inflow and cleaning up what has already accumulated.
The Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization, is developing advanced technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.”

They have already started to clean up the Pacific Ocean Plastic Batch in this first phase, but like with everything to be able to enlarge the program it needs funding and being International waters, they are planning to create products with the recycled plastic that people can buy to support the next phase.

I do not really mind about the products but feel we should all support them, you can donate any amount at this link. https://theoceancleanup.com/donate/

You can visit this link to buy the first product made entirely from the Great Plastic Batch and see the explanatory video here https://products-eu.theoceancleanup.com/

They have also researched and found that 80% of the plastic in the Oceans come from 1000 rivers across the world. So they have created a boat that especially cleans the rivers and is already functional in many cities around the World like Malasya, Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam. Watch this amazing video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyZArQMFhQ4

CARE FOR WILD
https://www.careforwild.co.za/donate

Rhinos are slowly disappearing as they are being killed for their horns. Although many efforts are made to protect them it still not enough. many organization are helping like also WWF.
Care for Wild take care of the babies that have been left without a mother and protect them in their Sanctuary , rehabilitating them to live back in the wild, as well as healing the adults that are found in poor conditions.

You can read more about their mission here https://www.careforwild.co.za/about

Watch this beautiful National Geographic video of the ones that are protecting rhinos in North Africa from YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uul3KOb0g0o

I had made this Rhino Drawing for World Rhino Day which is on the 22nd September. You can check it out at Red Bubble in the link below.