Formation | 1993 |
---|---|
Headquarters | California |
Key people | Michael Tobias, President and CEO, Jane Morrison, Executive VP |
Website | www |
The Dancing Star Foundation is a U.S.-based non-profit organization [1] [2] [3] engaged in environmental, cultural and animal welfare activities, including environmental education, global biodiversity conservation, and animal rights. [4] It was founded in 1993. [5]
Via print and film, Dancing Star Foundation seeks to increase awareness of environmental issues ranging from biodiversity and extinction to non-violence and over-population. [5] Examples are No Vacancy, a book and documentary film combination which addresses the volatile issue of population stabilization in the U.S., China, and eight other countries; the book Sanctuary, "a 338-page compendium of full color photography showcasing twenty-four animal sanctuaries located throughout twenty different countries"; [6] and the documentary film Mad Cowboy, the story of cattle rancher-turned-vegan and animal rights activist Howard Lyman. [7]
The foundation operates an animal sanctuary in Central California for rescued animals. [8] The mission of the facilities is to provide sanctuary "for the benefit, solace, peace and quiet of the resident species". [8]
The foundation is involved in efforts to promote biodiversity conservation—mostly through "documentation in book and film form of research being carried out by governments, other NGOs and individual ecologists"—in various countries. [9]
Dancing Star Foundation created and funded an alternative oncology program, the Sue Stiles Program in Integrative Oncology at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2001. [10] The program is under the direction of oncologist Richard J. Pietras. [10]
In early 2009, a small number of former employees alleged that the Cayucos animal sanctuary was euthanizing animals for economic reasons. [11] [12] A maintenance supervisor who made similar allegations claims he was dismissed due to speaking out, although the sanctuary says he was terminated for other reasons. [13] Dancing Star denied the animal-care allegations, saying that they are "contrary to our most deeply held beliefs" and that the Foundation is "unwavering in our commitment to compassion". [12] San Luis Obispo County Animal Services determined that the euthanized animals were "either beyond treatment or had conditions for which euthanasia would be at least one of the considerations that could be responsibly made". [11] The general counsel of the Farm Sanctuary in New York State, who examined the Cayucos sanctuary following the allegations, said he was unable to confirm the process for selecting those who had been euthanized. [11] But he noted, "It's the best-funded place in the country for animals, and the staff appears to be caring." [11]
Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress and poker player. A sex symbol and teen idol of the 1990s and 2000s, Elizabeth is best known for her roles in the films American Pie, American Pie 2, Tomcats, Scary Movie, and Love Actually. She also starred in the films Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons, played a recurring role in the sitcom That '70s Show and was a series regular in Cuts.
Nature conservation is the moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. A range of values underlie conservation, which can be guided by biocentrism, anthropocentrism, ecocentrism, and sentientism, environmental ideologies that inform ecocultural practices and identities. There has recently been a movement towards evidence-based conservation which calls for greater use of scientific evidence to improve the effectiveness of conservation efforts. As of 2018 15% of land and 7.3% of the oceans were protected. Many environmentalists set a target of protecting 30% of land and marine territory by 2030. In 2021, 16.64% of land and 7.9% of the oceans were protected. The 2022 IPCC report on climate impacts and adaptation, underlines the need to conserve 30% to 50% of the Earth's land, freshwater and ocean areas – echoing the 30% goal of the U.N.'s Convention on Biodiversity.
Marine conservation, also known as ocean conservation, is the protection and preservation of ecosystems in oceans and seas through planned management in order to prevent the over-exploitation of these marine resources. Marine conservation is informed by the study of marine plants and animal resources and ecosystem functions and is driven by response to the manifested negative effects seen in the environment such as species loss, habitat degradation and changes in ecosystem functions and focuses on limiting human-caused damage to marine ecosystems, restoring damaged marine ecosystems, and preserving vulnerable species and ecosystems of the marine life. Marine conservation is a relatively new discipline which has developed as a response to biological issues such as extinction and marine habitats change.
WildAid is an environmental organization based in San Francisco, California, United States.
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation, research, education, and animal care. The center is located on about 200 acres (81 ha) at the head of Turnagain Arm and the entrance to Portage Valley, Milepost 79 of the Seward Highway, about 11 mi southeast of Girdwood. The center is in the Municipality of Anchorage on the approximant border of the Kenai Peninsula and the Kenai Mountains to the south and the Chugach Mountains to the north.
Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a Bolivian non-governmental organization dedicated to environmental education and the care of sick, mistreated and abandoned wildlife. It is the country's largest destination for confiscated wildlife and currently cares for around 500 animals, most of them rescued from the illegal wildlife trade.
Conservation International (CI) is an American nonprofit environmental organization headquartered in Crystal City, Virginia in Arlington County, Virginia.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the "umbrella" organization for the world zoo and aquarium community. Its mission is to provide leadership and support for zoos, aquariums, and partner organizations of the world in animal care and welfare, conservation of biodiversity, environmental education and global sustainability.
Best Friends Animal Society, (BFAS) founded in its present form in 1993, is an American nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization based in Kanab, Utah with satellite offices in Atlanta, Georgia, Bentonville, Arkansas, Houston, Texas, Los Angeles, California, New York City, and Salt Lake City, Utah. It also has a partnership network with shelters, rescue groups and members in all 50 states and Washington, DC, to promote pet adoption, no-kill animal rescue, and spay-and-neuter practices. Best Friends has a 3-star 'Give With Confidence' rating from Charity Navigator.
Michael Charles Tobias is an American author, environmentalist, mountaineer, and filmmaker. In 1991, Tobias produced a ten-hour dramatic television series, Voice of the Planet, for Turner Broadcasting; the series starred William Shatner. Tobias has written numerous books, most notably World War III: Population and the Biosphere at the End of the Millennium.
Leslie Iwerks is an American producer, director, and writer. She is daughter of Disney Legend Don Iwerks and granddaughter of Disney Legend Ub Iwerks, the animator and co-creator of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. She has directed films including Recycled Life which was nominated for an Academy Award and The Pixar Story which was nominated for an Emmy for best nonfiction special.
Bittu Sahgal is an environmental activist, writer, and the founder of Sanctuary Nature Foundation, an Indian nonprofit conservation organization that works on environmental policy, advocacy, science, on-ground support and habitat management. He is also the founding editor of Sanctuary Asia, a wildlife and ecology magazine.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States. WWF is the world's largest conservation organization, with over five million supporters worldwide, working in more than 100 countries and supporting around 3,000 conservation and environmental projects. They have invested over $1 billion in more than 12,000 conservation initiatives since 1995. WWF is a foundation with 65% of funding from individuals and bequests, 17% from government sources and 8% from corporations in 2020.
Conservation photography is the active use of the photographic process and its products, within the parameters of photojournalism, to advocate for conservation outcomes.
The Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) is an international conservation organization founded in 1858 with headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. FZS focuses on maintaining biodiversity and conserving wildlife and ecosystems in protected areas and outstanding wild places. FZS leads and supports about 30 projects in 18 countries. Bernhard Grzimek, renowned German zoo director, zoologist, book author, editor, and animal conservationist in postwar West-Germany, served as president of the Frankfurt Zoological Society for over forty years.
Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret is a 2014 American documentary film produced and directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn. The film explores the impact of animal agriculture on the environment—examining such environmental concerns as climate change, water use, deforestation, and ocean dead zones—and investigates the policies of several environmental organizations on the issue.
The Lilongwe Wildlife Centre is a wildlife sanctuary in Lilongwe, Malawi and part of Lilongwe National Park. It was founded in 2007 by the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) and the Born Free Foundation. The Centre is a member of the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS). The centre is known for its animal rescue work.
Gunjan Menon is an Indian wildlife film director, camerawoman, and National Geographic Explorer.
Kip Andersen is an American filmmaker, producer, writer, entrepreneur, and the founder of Animals United Movement (A.U.M.) Films and Media, a 501(c)(3) organization which focuses on promoting awareness and equality for all life. He is known for his documentary films such as Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret, What the Health, and Seaspiracy.