Disney to Celebrate Earth Day

Helping earth and animals;
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From the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
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I want to tell you about a remarkable new movie that our friends at Disney are releasing on Earth Day, April 22nd.

It's called "EARTH," and it follows the fascinating story of three different animal families and their amazing journeys across this planet we call home.

Narrated by James Earl Jones, "EARTH" is the first in a series from Disney's new film label Disneynature. And to celebrate the premiere, Disney will plant a tree in honor of every moviegoer who sees the film in its opening week. The trees will help replenish the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, considered the most endangered rain forest in the world.

Tickets for this incredible movie are now on sale for the opening week through the film's website at www.disney.com/earth, or by calling 1-888-DISNEY6.

A Shared Commitment to Helping Animals

IFAW and Disney first joined together to help animals during a South African oil spill in 2000. Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund helped fund IFAW's emergency rescue efforts and provided volunteers to help with the cleaning and caring of thousands of endangered African penguins.

The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund also supported IFAW's emergency responses to Hurricane Katrina, the Asian tsunami, the earthquake in China, the recent Australian bushfires, as well as IFAW's conservation work with tigers, elephants, porpoises, and other animals. I am incredibly thankful for Disney's ongoing support for IFAW's efforts to save animals and their habitats.

Not only does Disney share our commitment to helping animals, but IFAW has a special interest in the stories and species featured in "EARTH," since they're all animals that we work tirelessly to protect:

Whales: The films shows a whale family traveling thousands of miles, from the birthing waters of the warm tropics to Antarctic feeding grounds. IFAW is leading the fight to end commercial whaling and protect endangered whales for future generations.
Elephants: The dry sands of the Kalahari Desert are the scene of thousands of elephants traveling to Okavango, an inland delta where lifegiving waters will soon flow. IFAW works to protect elephants from ivory poachers, close down markets for ivory, and expand protected habitats for elephants.
Polar bears: Polar bear mothers and their young cubs emerge from their winter dens and set out across the snowscape to find food on the arctic ice before it melts and breaks up. IFAW supports conservation policies and scientific research that protect polar bears and other ice-dependent animals.
See the Movie, Plant a Tree

I know you're as committed to helping animals as I am, so I hope you'll enjoy "EARTH." Don't forget - if you go during the first week, Disney will plant a tree in your honor.

See you at the movies!

Fred O'Regan
IFAW President