2021 – THE YEAR OF HOPE
There is little doubt that in the history of the world no countdown to a new year has been so highly anticipated as the countdown to 2021. 2020, by almost all accounts, was a year of crisis, turmoil, despair, and uncertainty for billions of people around the world. 2020 will be given its own chapter in history books, and will likely be the subject of endless research, second-guessing, and finger pointing. We will live this year over and over, countless times through books and movies as well as through the memories of those we lost to a pandemic that altered the political, social, economic, and moral landscape of humanity.
But as that last second ticks away and 2020 becomes the past and 2021 becomes the present, the challenges of the previous year will not magically disappear. However, that last second bridging the past to the present resets the psychological clock, clearing the brain to think of what lies ahead and the endless possibilities of a New Year. It will also bring one of the most powerful emotions to each and every one of us – hope. The selfish hope that our individual lives get better and the selfless hope that all of humanity heals as the New Year begins. It is that selfless hope that is critical to helping those that even in the best of years are defenseless in the never-ending conflict with humans – the animals with whom we share this magical planet.
Of course, not every animal needs the help and support of humans – but those who do, like elephants, count on humans in many ways for their survival. 2020 was a tough year for them as well. So many individuals who have dedicated their lives to protecting these magnificent animals were unable to act given the pandemic-related restrictions on operations, and the substantially reduced resources at their disposal because of limited donations and governmental support. No doubt 2021 will present its own challenges – but there is hope. As the world begins to reap the benefits of the vaccine and economies slowly start to recover, the opportunities to continue protecting the animals we love will grow each and every second of the New Year.
There will hopefully be many bright spots for animals in 2021, but one that is certain is the planned relocation of North America’s largest elephant herd from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey to White Oak Conservation in Yulee, Florida. Though we would all love to see these animals back in the wild, the reality is that this simply is not possible. The move to White Oak – which is constructing a state of the art 2,500 acre refuge for the elephant herd – represents an environment that is as close to being in the wild as possible. Through the selfless support of philanthropists Mark and Kimbra Walker, who own White Oak, these elephants will have a new beginning – one of hope and limitless possibilities.
2021 is also the year The Elephant Project will increase its educational efforts through the digital release of its documentary The Linesman. We will begin the production of other films and develop other educational platforms that document the intersection of humans, elephants, and the environment which have been the root cause of human-elephant conflict around the world.
Another area of hope is that the importance of addressing the impact of climate change on the lives of humans, animals, and the planet as a whole will once again be a focus of the United States. The nation’s return to the world stage on this issue will hopefully lead to restoring the momentum to finding a solution to its devastating and likely catastrophic impact on the planet – and of course, by extension, on humans and animals.
There are so many other projects planned for 2021 by many amazing animal protection organizations around the world. Hopefully 2021 will be a year in which their incredible work – that in many cases had to be put on hold in 2020 – will be able to continue and thrive.
Like at the beginning of every new year, unless you are Nostradamus, what lies ahead is unknown. 2021 will undoubtedly be filled with unknowns. But here at The Elephant Project, we believe that this New Year brings with it hope that has not been seen since World Wars consumed our planet – hope that the destruction and devastation will end, and that renewal and rebuilding will follow. Hope that the worst is behind us.
Let us begin 2021 by calling it the year of Hope. For only with hope can the world begin the journey back to health and prosperity, and only with hope can our animals once again get the support they need.
So welcome 2021.