<font size="4"><i>Dear all friends and supporters,</i></font><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Animals Asia deeply appreciate what you have helped, and make the issue of saving Animals Asia's bear sanctuary far and wide. And as we continuously received your support, Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre is allowed to stay and develop by the Prime Minister.</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Now we know that a Sun Bear Education Centre in East Kalimantan, Indonesia also faced a similar problem: the Sun bear centre has been operating for 8 years, and housed 6 sun bears in an enclosure, now under threat of relocation.</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Please visit�<b><a href="http://en.beruangmadu.org/">http://en.beruangmadu.org/</a></b> to help like what you have supported Animals Asia. Your support could help a miracle came true again, and the good things are saved.</font></div>
<div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><font size="4">Please read the file attached, and the email from Gabriella�forwarded�here:</font></div><div><font size="4"><br></font></div><div><div class="gmail_quote"><div><div class="gmail_quote">
From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Gabriella F</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gabriella.fredriksson@gmail.com" target="_blank">gabriella.fredriksson@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Sat, Jan 19, 2013 at 8:15 AM<br>Subject: sun bear education center in East Kalimantan needs your help!<br>To: Gabriella F <<a href="mailto:gabriella.fredriksson@gmail.com" target="_blank">gabriella.fredriksson@gmail.com</a>><br>
<br><br>
<div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
Dear friends, colleagues and supporters,<br>
<br>
I rarely send out mass e-mails, but this time I need to ask for your
wider support.<br>
<br>
Over the last 8 years we have been helping the local government in
Balikpapan (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) to develop a world class
environmental education center, which has a large natural enclosure
that houses 6 sun bears as its centerpiece.
Increasing numbers of visitors (close to 70,000 in 2012), mostly
local schoolchildren, community groups and families, come to see the
bears in a natural environment and to learn about environmental
issues in our education exhibits.<br>
<br>
To date the site developments have largely been funded through
donations, while the basic running costs have been funded by the
city government. The site currently employs 41 staff, 80% of whom
are from local communities.<br>
<br>
Perversely, at the end of 2012, the head of City legislature (Mr.
Andi Burhanuddin Solong) refused to approve the 2013 operating costs
(about US$160,000) for the center in the budget proposed by the City
Government. He has requested the bears to be moved and wants to turn
the education center into a camping ground.� <small><small><small><small><span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:Calibri"><br>
<br>
</span></span></small></small></small></small><span style="font-family:Calibri"><u></u>We consider this plan to be
both a waste of public and donor money, and contrary to the
interests of the people of Balikpapan, who will be deprived of
an important public facility. We call on all concerned persons
and organizations to express their opposition to this plan and
request the Government of Balikpapan to continue to support the
KWPLH in its current function and form. Your support is
essential if we are to save this unique facility for the people
of Balikpapan and Indonesia.<u></u></span><br>
<br>
Please visit our website:<br>
<br>
<a href="http://www.beruangmadu.org" target="_blank">www.beruangmadu.org</a><br>
<br>
to express your support either through faxing a letter (examples
provided), or sending them via e-mail or post, and by signing our
on-line petition. Please also forward this information to others who
could help further our cause. <br>
<br>
Attached please find a short press release as well as example
letters.<br>
<br>
Thanking you all in advance for your support,<br>
<br>
Gabriella Fredriksson <br>
& KWPLH team<br>
<br><br></div></div></div></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><span style="color:rgb(80,0,80)"><font color="#888888"><pre style="white-space:pre-wrap" cols="72"><font face="courier new, monospace">Trinh Thuy. Phan M.A.
Communications Officer Vietnam
Animals Asia Foundation
Tel: (+84-4) 392 89264
Mob: (+84) 914502998
<a href="http://www.animalsasia.org/" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" target="_blank">www.animalsasia.org</a></font></pre></font></span><br>
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