Sabah government refutes Zoo Negara claim

Good to know that some governments have common sense. Well done Sabah.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that it would be irresponsible to relocate the state’s iconic wildlife such as the proboscis monkeys, Borneo pygmy elephants and orang utan.

“Moving them elsewhere will compromise the animals’ survival chances outside their home (natural habitat),” he said in response to plans by the Malaysian Zoological Association for the animals to be relocated to Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

Read more at  The Star.

Polar Bear Overseer: Few Tools to Stop Melting Ice

Polar bear policy in America can be summed up succinctly: The iconic bears are threatened with extinction, and so far nothing much is being done.

Two years after they were listed under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has taken no major action in response to their principal threat, the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change.

Read more at ABC News.

Jane Gooddall Youth Summit (June 5 – 7)

Jane Goodall Youth Summit

June 5, 2009   to    June 7, 2009

Jane Goodall established Roots & Shoots with the belief that young people, when informed and empowered, can indeed change the world.

Singapore is holding its first ever Jane Goodall Youth Summit (The EYE Summit). This will provide an opportunity for 250, 14 – 20 yr olds to come and meet other Roots and Shoots Groups. Work together to create a vision that will truly make a difference.

Meet Jane Goodall herself!

Come and be part of the Summit!

Come and be inspired by renowned international keynote speakers, take part in break-out sessions where distinguished experts will give you an insight into their field of work. These break-out sessions will stimulate discussion that will enable students to develop global partnerships and to work on the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of their choice.

There is an opportunity for student led presentations and simulations.

The Summit hopes, at the end of the three days, to empower youth to develop individual action plans that will improve their communities, wherever they may live. The participating youth will also develop strategies for communicating these concerns to a broader, international audience.

We have fun activities planned for the evenings- a Talent Concert at the Botanic Gardens, a Night Safari adventure, among others.

Please do not hesitate to contact us – Conference Chair Dr. Roopa Dewan at summit@janegoodall.org.sg or JGIS president Richard Hartung at president@janegoodall.org.sg – if we can provide more information. Visit: www.janegoodall.org.sg.

We really believe that together you can provide the necessary motivation and stimulate other youth groups toward transformative action.