This article is courtesy of Project AWARE.
In March 2013, world leaders will meet in Bangkok, Thailand to determine the fate of some of the world’s most critically endangered species. On the table: 11 shark and rays species including hammerheads, mantas and the oceanic whitetip.
Project AWARE will be on the ground at CITES: March 2013 to make sure the dive community’s voice is heard loud and clear. We’ve been busy for over 2 years pushing forward proposals for sharks and rays, and navigating the complex world of high level politics. For the first time ever, divers are represented on this international stage. Project AWARE is your voice.
From now until March we’ll be calling on your help to move our actions one step further in our battle to protect sharks and rays.
Social Media: We’ll be maximising social media with Donate your Status appeals, Twibbons, and downloadable cover photos to help spread the word through the global dive community as we fight to secure protection for sharks and rays.
Direct Petition and E-Letters: Over 120,000 of you have signed the petition to give sharks a fighting chance. Encourage your new divers and customers to sign on. www.projectaware.org/sharkpetition
Also look out for our e-letter sending a message direct to Ministers and CITES Representatives. Your letter will be delivered straight to their inbox.
Drive action locally: As a dive professional your support is critical, now more than ever. Lead efforts locally to inspire your community to share a message to CITES leaders. You can also teach the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course to inspire your divers into action.
The opportunity to make significant and powerful changes to save hundreds of thousands of sharks each year has never been so great.
It’s time we sent governments and CITES Representatives a clear message: The dive community demands better protection for sharks and rays.
Stay tuned by visiting www.projectaware.org or checking out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ProjectAWAREFoundation
Thank you to all PADI Members and Dive Centres who support Project AWARE. Please look out for more alerts from Project AWARE on how you can get involved.
