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Awareness and Outrage Are Simply Not Enough

Melissa Groo shared words of inspiration which inspire all of us in the year ahead.  She is graciously sharing for WU to inspire our supporters as well.

“Awareness and outrage are simply not enough. We must act, we must contribute, in whatever large or small way we can imagine. Let our “heart on fire” be our motivator. May 2018 be the year that each of us choose something that we care about and do what we can to support and protect.”

This will be a TAKE-ACTION year for WU, and we will need you to speak loud and strong on behalf of the furbearing speechless by triggering that notorious power of numbers.  Friends, relatives and colleagues of Wyoming Untrapped:  NOW is the time to Take Action!

Read on for inspiration like no other can share, with @MelissaGroo.

“What is a merciful heart? It is a heart on fire for the whole of creation, for humanity, for the birds, for the animals, for demons, and for every created thing. At the recollection and at the sight of them such a person’s eyes overflow with tears owing to the vehemence of the compassion which grips his heart; as a result of his deep mercy his heart shrinks and cannot bear to hear or look on any injury or the slightest suffering of anything in creation.”
~ St Isaac the Syrian, 7th c. Mesopotamian hermit

Social media is great for giving us the opportunity to express our emotions and to feel a part of a community of like-minded folks. Whether we’re just clicking “like” on something or leaving a comment that reveals exactly how we feel, it seems like we are speaking out in some way. But does this really do anything? Are we really changing anyone’s mind or having an effect on any of the conditions that cause us concern? Probably not.

Awareness and outrage are simply not enough. We must act, we must contribute, in whatever large or small way we can imagine. Let our “heart on fire” be our motivator. May 2018 be the year that each of us choose something that we care about and do what we can to support and protect.

Choose an animal that you are passionate about. It might be something facing extinction, or persecution, or obscurity because nobody knows about it. Don’t forget about those close to home as well as far away—yes, Cecil’s death was a tragedy, but what about the magnificent animals that live around us that are also killed simply for trophies—like mountain lions or bobcats—these are our wildlife, they are an essential part of our own landscapes. Find out who is working to conserve and protect the creature you care about, follow along with their work on social media, subscribe to their newsletters. If you don’t have money to contribute, do what you can to help spread their message. Volunteer your time. Give talks to schoolkids. If you care about piping plovers or sea turtles, be a beach volunteer and help protect their nest sites in the spring. Care about bobcats, foxes, and coyotes? Work to get predator kill contests outlawed and trapping laws reformed in your state. Care about owls? Educate people about the dangers of rodenticide bait. There are so very many ways we can each have an impact.

As Jane Goodall says, “’What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”

With warmest wishes to all for a happy and healthy new year!

Melissa Groo/All Rights Reserved.
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