An important part of what we do is educating the public. The Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF) has many programs already in place to do just that. We have provided the links below as a way for you to easily access our different educational resources and projects.
Butchered tigers, leopards seized on Thai-Lao border
WILDLIFE FUND THAILAND / PRESIDENT URGED TO QUIT
Wildlife smuggled orangutan
Award for short film about conservationist
Rare leatherback turtle nest on Thailand beach
Animal rescue centers join to save Indonesian wildlife
Wildlife spies to hit JJ market
The Sold Out Campaign
Bangkok, Thailand: Civil servants will be given five days leave a year to do volunteer work starting today, says Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Wattanasiritham. The announcement was made after Thai government declared that giving and volunteering was placed in the national agenda.
The policy was initiated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security to promote the spirit of giving and volunteering.
"I believe this is possible because giving is in the minds of most Thais," said Mr Paiboon.
A survey last year had found that more than two million people in the public service did volunteer work and more than seven million in the private sector, in addition to the large number of volunteers from the tens of thousands of civic organisations.
"After the tsunami in 2004, the business sector became more active in showing responsibility toward society. We have donations of 3.4 billion baht from the general public, and more involvement by aging and middle-aged people in volunteer work," said Mr Paiboon.
The government also launched a volunteer project which targets "eight million givings, 8,000 projects and 8,000 leave days" from government agencies and the general public to mark the 80th birthday of His Majesty the King this year.
Deputy Social Development and Human Security Minister Poldej Pinprateep said the ministry was working with the Finance Ministry to develop a system that supports volunteer work, such as tax exemptions for charity or volunteer organisations.
"At present there are about 400 charity organisations that are given tax reductions. We expect the number to increase to 1,000-2,000 organisations this year," he said.
The ministry also plans to push for a ''civil society promotion for development bill'', which would legally uphold the practices of giving, volunteering and other means to strengthen the civil sector.
Those who want to participate can download the application form at the website www.konjaidee.com or ask for more details at the National Centre for Giving and Volunteering (NCGV).
© Bangkok Post
WILDLIFE FUND THAILAND / PRESIDENT URGED TO QUIT
Activist network threatens boycott
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN BKK Post 23rd May 2007
A network of environmental conservation groups yesterday threatened to boycott Wildlife Fund Thailand (WFT) unless its president Pisit na Phattalung steps down amid high-profile rifts in the organisation. Previously, Mr Pisit issued a lightning order to remove Surapol Duangkhae, WFT secretary-general, and Hannarong Yaowaloes, his deputy, to inactive posts. He also faced strong criticism for running a restaurant which offers wild animal meat.
Sasin Chelermlarp, deputy secretary-general of the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, said the network, comprising 10 environmental groups, found it difficult to work with WFT if Mr Pisit, whom he alleged is not able to clear the conflict of interest problem, is still the president.
''We are working to protect and preserve the environment and wildlife. How can we provide cooperation for the WFT president who has a wildlife trade business?'' he asked.
The network, led by the Sueb Nakhasathien Foundation, yesterday handed over an open letter to the WFT board.
In the letter, the network raised questions over Mr Pisit's Peuan Deratchan restaurant as well as his role as adviser to Siam Ocean World at Siam Paragon and as a partner of Asian Wildlife Consultancy, a company which exported eight elephants to Australia.
The network said while it understood the transfer of the two environmentalists was WFT's internal affair, the move put the organisation in a negative light for Mr Surapol and Mr Hannarong are well-respected environmentalists.
''It is agreed that Mr Pisit has no right to be the president of WFT because he is going to tarnish the organisation's image,'' the letter read.
Soraida Salwala, secretary-general of Friends of the Asian Elephant, said the network would ask the Interior Ministry to investigate the case if the WFT's board failed to step in.
Mr Pisit previously defended his decision to remove Mr Surapol, saying it was due to his failure to improve the organisation's financial status.
Rare leatherback turtle nest on Thailand beach |
26 Feb 2007 |
