Renowned Teen Activist Teams Up with Born Free

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ACT! A Million Kids to Oppose the Ivory Trade

Juliette West, teenage producer and star of the documentary "How I Became an Elephant," is teaming up with Born Free USA as our youth elephant ambassador. She is gathering 1 million signatures of children across the globe who oppose the deadly ivory trade, and we'd like you to round up as many young people as you can to help Juliette reach her goal. The petition will be presented at the March 2013 meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Bangkok — perhaps by Juliette herself! The ivory trade is brutal: Elephants are cruelly massacred, populations are decimated, and wildlife rangers are put at risk for their lives against well-armed and well-funded poachers. Please help us save elephants — and people — by gathering signatures for Juliette's petition.

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NEWS: Court Rules in L.A. Zoo Elephant Case

On July 23, the Superior Court of California for the county of Los Angeles ruled on the important case involving elephants at the L.A. Zoo. The court ruling prohibits the zoo from using cruel bullhooks and electric shocks on elephants, orders at least two hours a day of exercise for the elephants, and mandates regular tilling of the soil in the exhibit so that the elephants will have a soft surface to walk on. This is an important step for elephants, but far from the much-needed conclusion that elephants do not belong in small zoo enclosures. For more perspective, read Will Travers' blog.

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CELEBRATE: Elephant Awareness Day!

Thanks in large part to the efforts of our Youth Elephant Ambassador Juliette West (see first item above), the Los Angeles City Council officially declared that tomorrow (Aug. 3) is Elephant Awareness Day. The resolution's author, Councilman Tony Cardenas, said, "I believe it is my duty to speak for animals who cannot speak for themselves and there is no animal more deserving of recognition then the elephant, so often subjected to horrible abuses and neglect. The passage of this resolution helps Los Angeles maintain its reputation as a leader in animal welfare, compassionate and respectful of all animals." Help spread the good word beyond Los Angeles by checking out Born Free USA's Elephants webpage, which includes six simple actions you can take to help this magnificent species.

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SUPPORT: Our Elephant Defense Fund

Born Free USA is committed to working toward a day when wild and exotic animals are no longer exploited. By donating to our Elephant Defense Fund, you are taking a stand and making a crucial difference in this effort. (You'll also receive a free download of a pro-elephant song, "Circus Is in Town," composed and performed by Born Free USA supporter David McAdams.) Money raised for this fund will allow us to help elephants in captivity and in the wild, where elephants are decimated to satisfy the ivory trade and otherwise exploited. Please make a generous donation today.

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