"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

LET'S MAKE VANCOUVER FIN FREE

The movement to protect sharks is growing across Canada and we want to build on the momentum of the shark fin ban in Toronto and launch Fin Free Campaigns in BC. Starting with Vancouver, we will sweep across the lower mainland and then, across Canada.

There are over 100 restaurants that serve shark fin in Metro Vancouver, making it the second largest Chinese restaurant industry in the continent. Through our Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest, many Chinese wedding couples and consumers have already joined the movement and pledged to not consume shark fin.

Now it's time to take this movement to the next level and ban the sale, possession and trade of shark fin in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Richmond.

We've been garnering support from Vancouver City Councillors and we'll be pushing for a motion to ban shark fin in Vancouver right after the elections and we can do it with your support.

OUR PLANS FOR A FIN FREE MOVEMENT IN BC

Vancouver ? Burnaby ? Richmond ? Canada

Vancouver is planning to be the Greenest City in the World by 2020 and starting here, we can launch a movement that would build a foundation for shark fin bans across neighbouring cities, like Burnaby and Richmond.

We are also working with a Member of Parliament who is introducing a bill for a national ban on shark fin imports. Having successful municipal bans will build the momentum we need for passing a national ban on imports.

Referral Contest

IndieGoGo automatically tracks the referrals of contributors, so we are offering a BONUS award to the person(s) with the most referral contributions! Once you contribute any amount - even the minimum of $10 - you could still win the contest by referring the most contributors.

1st place referral prize is everything included in the $1,000 Fin Free Warrior pledge package.

2nd place referral prize is everything included in the $500 Shark Knight pledge package.

It's not hard to win - make the minimum contribution then refer your friends!

Where Your Money is Going

Our goal is to fundraise $45,000-$80,000 in total for the 6-12 month campaign. With $18,000 pledged through IndieGoGo, it will contribute a huge portion to jumpstart this campaign.

• Campaign materials (design and production), website design & maintenance, web action tools
• Campaigner (Claudia) to lobby politicians, organizations, liaise with media to keep the issue on high profile
• Volunteer Coordinator to educate and engage constituents, mobilize supporters to take online and in person actions (like petitioning and showing up at committee hearings)
• Office and room rentals for volunteer meetings and make the magic happen!
• Travel costs to get to presentations and meetings

The rest of the campaign funds will be raised through grants and events fundraisers.

An Effective Campaign Takes Dedicated People

Lobbying City Councillors, educating organizations, convincing businesses, mobilizing citizens, organizing volunteers and interviewing with media in English, Cantonese and Mandarin – it takes dedicated people to run an effective and comprehensive campaign to ban the controversial sale of shark fin. Shark Truth is a lean and mean organization and with your support, we can make it happen!

Real Results: 10,000.
Shark Truth is the only group in Canada that directly engages the Chinese community on shark fin issues through our collaborative and effective campaigns. In just two years, we have convinced 65 couples to pledge to protect sharks and not serve shark fin at their wedding, diverting 10,000 bowls of shark fin from consumption (saving approximately 1,000 sharks). This shows politicians that there are Chinese consumers across the nation that support a Fin Free world. In Toronto, we collected & delivered 10,000 signatures for the shark fin ban motion that passed 38-4 and we've been featured on CBC The National, Globe & Mail and Fairchild Cantonese Radio speaking out for sharks. Let's repeat this success in Vancouver.

Other Ways You Can Help
Refer a Friend to make Fin Free Vancouver reality! 

Come join us to launch the campaign in Vancouver Thursday December 1st: http://finfreevan.eventbrite.com/
Sign the Petition for Fin Free Vancouver: http://chn.ge/finfreevancouver
Get Involved & Join the Team: http://bit.ly/joinsharktruth

Questions or Comments? Contact us!

BACKGROUNDER

Sharks & Oceans at Risk  | Every year, up to 73 million sharks are killed primarily for their fins, a practice that is not only ecologically destructive, but wasteful. Sharks are top predators and maintain the balance of our ocean ecosystem, something we all depend on. On average, fins make up less than 5% of a sharks total body weight. Due to the high value of their fins and low value for their meat, their fins are often the only thing taken and the rest of their body wasted and dumped overboard. Most popularly served at Chinese wedding banquets, shark fin consumption is threatening the stability and health of our ocean ecosystem.

Our Partners | We are working with United Conservationists in a strategic alliance to maximize our efforts. We'll be using their Fin Free branding and tools and we will be carrying out the grassroots organizing and lobbying to get municipal motions passed.

Shark Truth is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to promoting awareness, education and action for sharks around the wasteful and ecologically destructive consumption of shark fin soup. Learn more  at http://sharktruth.org or join us at http://facebook.com/sharktruth

Note: Contributions made with a non-US accounts will be subject to your bank's exchange rate into US dollars.