The stories from Myanmar are endless and the voices never cease. But if you multiply that by all those in other countries who have a personal narrative to tell about elephants – whether from seeing them in a timber camp, in the wild in Africa or Asia, on the streets in Bangkok, in tourist camps or know of their plight through their government or private sector experience or from learning of them from the news, documentaries or social media – the number of stories is simply incalculable. Every story, and every experience is a critical piece in solving the puzzle to finally ending the struggle facing these animals - but only if those stories become voices.
BURMA AND THE ROAD TO HUMANITY
Every year on August 12th we celebrate World Elephant Day. It is a date on which we should all pause and reflect on how we define our humanity. Though there are differences around the world that divide us, one thing that should unite us is our love, care and compassion for all animals and especially elephants – a majestic keystone species on the brink of extinction....On this important day, we should take solace in the fact that despite the immense challenges of protecting elephants globally from extinction, there is hope that the bulwark is growing stronger as evidenced by what is unfolding in Myanmar.