Oommen Chandy - Chief Minister of Kerala - India
The Pamela Anderson Foundation
The Honourable Oommen Chandy Chief Minister of Kerala
Dear Mr, Minister,
My friends at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India know that the well- being of elephants is close to my heart, so they've let me know that the Animal Welfare Board of India has advised Kerala officials that real elephants cannot be used for the upcoming Thrissur Pooram on April 29 since they're not registered with the board. I support this decision with every fibre of my being, and I'd like to offer my support for what is a wonderful opportunity to make a stunning, humane spectacle that everyone would talk about and that would garner international praise.
To respect both the spirit of the festival and elephants who are held captive for human use—a practice that started long ago, before we knew of their intelligence and complex social nature—I would like to contribute the cost of providing 30 elephants made of bamboo, wood and/or papier- mâché to replace the live elephants who would have been paraded at an estimated cost of 10,000 INR per elephant. As you may know, when the Confederation of Tamilnadu Malayalee Associations wanted to celebrate Thrissur Pooram, it used such delightful faux elephants when it was denied permission to use real ones and aroused everyone's admiration, joy, amusement, and delight. It would be exciting to celebrate Thrissur Pooram that way again.
Since Kerala is a major tourist destination that I plan to visit one day, I'm sure you know that both Indian and international public opinion is turning solidly against the use of elephants in captivity. Seeing elephants in chains and forced to walk on hot pavement under the threat of an ankush or other weapon makes people sad and can ruin their holiday. I hope you agree that— given that there have been more than 500 human deaths in the last 15 years in Kerala alone from elephants who retaliated against this abuse—it's time for a change.
I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely yours,
Pamela Anderson
Arizona prison to go Vegan
Jails across the country should follow the lead of Phoenix and go vegan; it boosts inmates health, cuts budgets and saves animals. Jails are full of people wanting to change; learning healthier habits and embracing compassion and empathy are a great way to do that. Eliminating meat saves Phoenix taxpayers over $200,000 a year, and provides healthier meals. Last week the federal panel that makes dietary guidelines recommended a vegan diet for the first time. Vegetarians are less prone to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.You can get all the protein and calcium you need from a vegan diet, without artery-clogging animal fat.
Pamela Anderson was in town Wednesday to serve inmates their lunches - to help promote Sheriff Joe Arpaio's all-vegetarian meal program at Maricopa County Jail. She hopes the meal initiative stands as a model for prisons and jails across the country.
Water
Animal agriculture is draining water supplies across the country, and almost 50% of California’s water goes toward the production of meat and dairy. Governor Brown’s plan to combat the drought in California doesn’t address the biggest culprit: animal agriculture. His order to cut water use by 25% in cities should apply to meat and dairy farms which guzzle up California’s water. Rivers are siphoned not just for the animals but for crops like alfalfa grown for animals on factory farms. By going vegan, you save 219,000 gallons of water a year [Source: National Geographic: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/water-conservation-tips/]. Eating one pound of beef uses as much water as about six months worth of showers.
Going vegetarian can reduce your water footprint by almost 60 percent.
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan - President of the United Arab Emirates
The Pamela Anderson Foundation
April 6, 2015
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan - President of the United Arab Emirates
Ministry of Presidential Affairs - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Your Excellency,
As a mother, I have been deeply upset by the heartbreaking news about the 80 or so baby elephants who were torn away from their families, many even witnessing their own family's gruesome slaughter. These terrified babies are reportedly being held captive while awaiting sale to China and the United Arab Emirates, far from their homelands, where they will never see their families again and never have any semblance of a normal or happy life. I'm sure that you've heard the international outcry and the pleas that these elephants be released back to their herds. I am writing to you to urge you to do everything in your power to assist in the effort to stop such profiteering at the expense of wildlife.
At least one baby has already died following this traumatic capture. In the wild, female elephants stay with their mothers for their entire lives, while males stay with their matriarchal herds well past 10 years of age. Disrupting these complex relationships is detrimental to the species, further endangering a declining population. And kidnapping ruins the life of each individual.
You have the unique opportunity to intervene in this horror story. France recently cancelled its plans to buy and import up to 20 elephants who were heartlessly captured in Zimbabwe last November. Please prioritize the welfare of these helpless baby elephants by banning their importation into your country and ask the Zimbabwean government to join the 21st century by reuniting them with their families. Every compassionate soul around the globe will appreciate your kind-hearted decision.
Yours respectfully,
Pamela Anderson
Xi Jinping - President of the People's Republic of China
The Pamela Anderson Foundation
April 6, 2015
His Excellency Xi Jinping - President of the People's Republic of China
West Chang'an Avenue - Xicheng, Beijing, China
Your Excellency,
As a mother, I have been deeply upset by the heartbreaking news about the 80 or so baby elephants who were torn away from their families, many even witnessing their own family's gruesome slaughter. These terrified babies are reportedly being held captive while awaiting sale to China and the United Arab Emirates, far from their homelands, where they will never see their families again and never have any semblance of a normal or happy life. I'm sure that you've heard the international outcry and the pleas that these elephants be released back to their herds. I am writing to you to urge you to do everything in your power to assist in the effort to stop such profiteering at the expense of wildlife.
At least one baby has already died following this traumatic capture. In the wild, female elephants stay with their mothers for their entire lives, while males stay with their matriarchal herds well past 10 years of age. Disrupting these complex relationships is detrimental to the species, further endangering a declining population. And kidnapping ruins the life of each individual.
You have the unique opportunity to intervene in this horror story. France recently cancelled its plans to buy and import up to 20 elephants who were heartlessly captured in Zimbabwe last November. Please prioritize the welfare of these helpless baby elephants by banning their importation into your country and ask the Zimbabwean government to join the 21st century by reuniting them with their families. Every compassionate soul around the globe will appreciate your kind-hearted decision.
Sincerely yours,
Pamela Anderson
Saviour Kasukuwere - Minister of Environment, Water and Climate - Zimbabwe
The Pamela Anderson Foundation
April 6, 2015
The Honorable Saviour Kasukuwere
Minister of Environment, Water and Climate
Zimbabwe, Government Administration
Kaguvi Building, 11th floor
Central Avenue
Harare, Zimbabwe
Respected Minister,
As a mother, I have been deeply upset by the heartbreaking news about the 80 or so baby
elephants who were torn away from their families, many even witnessing their own family's
gruesome slaughter. These terrified babies are reportedly being held captive while awaiting sale to China and the United Arab Emirates, far from their homelands, where they will never see their families again and never have any semblance of a normal or happy life. I'm sure that you've heard the international outcry and the pleas that these elephants be released back to their herds.I am writing to you to urge you to do everything in your power to assist in the effort to stop such profiteering at the expense of wildlife.
At least one baby has already died following this traumatic capture.
In the wild, female elephants stay with their mothers for their entire lives, while males stay with their matriarchal herds well past 10 years of age. Disrupting these complex relationships is detrimental to the species, further endangering a declining population. And kidnapping ruins the life of each individual.
You have the unique opportunity to intervene in this horror story.
Please prioritize the welfare of these helpless baby elephants by banning their sale and exportation and urge your government comrades to join the 21st century by reuniting
these elephants with their families.
Every compassionate soul around the globe will appreciate your kind-hearted decision.
Sincerely yours,
Pamela Anderson