A NeverEnding Story...

Flan introduced herself shyly to the rest of the group. Like the others, it was her first time helping out with ACRES. Although no one quite knew what had to be done, everyone knew that they had to set up the booth as soon as possible. They pulled what needed to be pulled, stacked what had to be stacked and pasted what needed to be pasted...

The team was small but very passionate. Everyone only had one goal on their minds - to raise as much money as possible for the animals, and to tell as many people as possible about the plight of these animals. A little unsure as to how to proceed, Flan stood next to L, listening intently to his explanations. "The bears are kept in cages exactly like these. Such bear farms are common in China. They pierce through their gall bladder and let the bile drip into the basins at the bottom of the cage. Bile is used in traditional medicine and it is illegal to sell such medicine in Singapore. What people do not know is that there are herbal alternatives, and bile medicine is not necessary at all. These bears remain in such conditions for the next 15 years until they eventually die..."

Like the other listeners, Flan felt a strong urge to scream and kill all the perpetrators of such crime. She stepped forward, absorbing everything that he was saying. She was going to tell as many people as possible about it. She believed that humans are fundamentally kind; if they are not, they wouldn't donate so readily and generously after hearing and seeing how wildlife animals are tortured by men.

L was very patient when he explained to Flan how people tried, very inhumanely, to import and export exotic wildlife animals into the countries. Six baby orang utans were stuffed into wooden crates the size of shoe boxes and were suffocated to death...the list of casualties went on. Flan listened and repeated the same facts to whoever cared to listen.

Flan spoke to the bears silently - Help is on the way guys. There are people fighting for you. So, hang in there! "...so if you know of anyone selling bear bile in Singapore, please contact the ACRES. Without the demand for this, there wouldn't be a supply! And please tell all your friends about this!" She spoke to about 300 people that day; it matters not if they donate a cent. What matters more is that they listened.

Go to: http://www.acres.org.sg/