(SG) FW: [ACRES] Christmas message from ACRES!

[Guest guest]

Louis Ng (ACRES) [louis]

25 December, 2008 2:38 PM

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[ACRES] Christmas message from ACRES!

 

Dear ACRES Supporters,

 

On behalf of the animals, thank you so much for the support you have

given us this year.

 

It has not been an easy year for ACRES and I’m sitting in the office

now, reflecting back on the journey we have taken and sharing my thoughts

(quite a bit) with all of you.

 

I remember signing the tenancy agreement for the ACRES Wildlife

Rescue Centre (AWRC) with only $20,000 in our bank account and having to

borrow money to pay for the security deposit.

 

Many if not most people said we were crazy to start a million dollar

project with having hardly anywhere close to a million dollars. But at the

end of the day, we realize that if we did build this rescue centre, nobody

else would and the animals would continue to suffer.

 

I remember someone and I won’t name who, telling me that if we can

set this place up, pigs will fly and for that reason, we now have a flying

pig model at our reception. I truly believe that to help the animals, not is

impossible.

 

I would not lie to you, however, and say that this project has not

brought me down to tears. The lessons that we have learnt have been painful

but we never gave up and never will. It is unfortunate that we have to

commence legal action against ANA contractor Pte Ltd and I really wish

things did not have to turn out this way.

 

We look forward to the AWRC being a landmark facility for the

protection of animals. We will work tirelessly to rectify the problems that

have arisen and we will not give up. This setback has not dampened our

passion and determination to make a difference and we are pleased to at

least have a partial opening of the AWRC.

 

We have come a long way in the past 7 years, we have fought hard and

I am proud to say that what has started off as a one man mission to make a

positive difference for the community, has in 7 years, grown to an

organisation with 6 youths working full time and dedicated towards this

cause and over 16,000 Singaporeans in our supporter/volunteer database.

 

I founded ACRES, together with 8 friends with a simple belief that

we can make a difference. We realized that they were many important animal

welfare issues that were not being discussed in our society and there was an

urgent need to change this and to tackle these problems. Not just talking

about making changes but taking action.

 

In the past 7 years, to name a few:

 

* Our undercover investigations into the illegal wildlife

trade have resulted in countless animals being rescued and offenders being

brought to task.

* We have successfully campaign to improve our wildlife laws,

increasing the penalty for smuggling and possession of endangered species

from $5,000 per species to $50,000 per animal.

* More than 270 TCM shops have signed on to ACRES and STOC

Endangered Species Friendly Labelling Scheme, pledging not to sell products

made from endangered species.

* We have worked with the Singapore Zoo and successfully urged

them to phase out the keeping of polar bears, circus-style shows and cheetah

petting sessions.

* Through our awareness programmes, we have reached out to

more than 200,000 people, empowering them with the knowledge about animal

protection issues. We believe that change can and will only happen when

people are more aware of the issues.

* We have rescued more than 200 wild animals in Singapore.

* We have launched the Humane Education for All Life or HEAL

Education Programme which aims to instill a sense of compassion towards all

life in our youngest members of society. HEAL has already reached out 10,000

students this year and we hope to reach out to another 10,000 next year.

* Together with NUS Students’ Animal Welfare Group, People for

Animal Welfare (SMU) and NTU Animal Lovers’ Society, we have given out

Singapore’s first animal welfare grants and organised Singapore’s first

national Animal welfare Symposium.

 

All this would not have been possible without the support from you,

our donors and supporters and I would like to say a big thank you to all of

you. Please be assured that we are truly grateful for every single donation

and every cent raised really does make a difference. As Mother Theresa once

said, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.

But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.”

 

Let me end this email with a poem I wrote:

 

 

I have lived my life as best I could

 

For the animals all of whom I love

 

I sacrificed all I could

 

Naïve as it would seem to be

 

I believe I was making a difference

 

For the animals who had placed their trust in me

 

For all the animals in distress

 

I promise you we will do my best

 

For you are the voiceless beings

 

That live in this world we all live in

 

Rest assured the day will come

 

When your rights will be as equal as mine

 

I will not rest till that day comes

 

Ever hopeful that it will be before my time here is done

 

 

I look forward to your continued support and on behalf of the

animals, thank you and have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Louis Ng (MSc)

 

Executive Director

 

Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES)

 

www.acres.org.sg

 

 

91 Jalan Lekar

 

Singapore 698917

 

(O): +65 6892 9821

 

(F): +65 6892 9721

 

(HP): +65 9796 8592