*ACTIVITIES CURRENTLY ON THE CALENDAR*
*Design A Logo*
*23rd April until 27th April 2009
*Every campaign needs a logo, and so does the save the frog campaign. We
need all the talent we've got to come up with interesting logos for the
campaign. So far we have three entries by Shrinivas Narayan, Alisha
Colaco and Datta and I've attached copies of what they look like.
Perhaps we can have a vote and decide the logo that wins? Please post
your logos to WildGoa directly. Keep in mind that you send low res
logos. You can mail the original hi res or corel draw files to me at
[email protected]
*
Friday Balcao: Save the Frogs
**FRIDAY 24th April 2009 (TODAY)** Between 4pm. to 6pm*
Wildlife Enthusiast, Clinton Vaz shall speak about the Save the Frog
Campaign, and the need for consumer support at Goa Desc Resource Centre,
No.11, Liberty Apartments, Feira Alta, Mapusa Goa. We invite you to
express your viewpoint by attending the Friday Balcao event but if you
cannot attend, then please send your views and action plan suggestions
by post to FRIDAY BALCAO Post Box 78, Mapusa 403 507 or by email to
[email protected] <mailto:goadesc%40bsnl.in>
*Slide Presentation on Frog Diversity
FRIDAY 24th April 2009 (TODAY) Between 2.30pm. to 3.30pm*
Earthworm has arranged a slide presentation on Frog Diversity of Goa at
the Goa Science Center at 2.30pm on the 24th of April as part of the
Save our Frogs Campaign. All are welcome.
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Hi!
This is Clinton Vaz and you are recieving this mail because you have
shown some interest in the Save the Frog Campaign in the past. I don't
want to spam you, so in case you would like to receive such updates
through this 2 month campaign, please let me know, and I'll continue to
send you such updates.
A week ago a group of concerned citizens came together to bounce off
some ideas into the collective pond of thoughts towards the save the
frog campaign for 2009 at the lawns of Kala Academy, Panjim, the capital
of Goa. This was the third consecutive year where we've come together
for the same cause, and though we saw a lot of familiar faces, there
were new faces too. Getting onto the meeting, it was interesting to have
members on both sides of the debate, do frogs need to be saved. These
discussions let to a lot of productive suggestions and facts that
eventually led everybody to agree that frogs do need urgent attention,
and thefore the need of such a campaign. The following suggestions were
made by those that were there. Thanks to everybody that did come and
provided their inputs for a lot of interesting suggestions:
01-Expand on Reducing Chemical Pesticides:
Expand the current campaign to educate people about reducing the amount
of chemical fertilizers and pesticides used in current farming
procedures. A huge number of frogs is estimated to be killed on this
account. Organic Food or Farmer associations such as those in Chorao
could possibly work together with this campaign on this issue.
02-Testimonials from Former Frog Eaters
Getting sound bytes or a short quote from people that formerly ate
frogs, but don't anymore could possibly add a realistic and human angle
to the campaign. There are already quite a few examples of people in Goa
that liked eating frogs but lost their appetite once they learnt that
the species was threatened / against the law / meat contained pesticide
residues.
03-Meet & Speak to Restaurant Owners
Catch the bull by the horns, they say! We've already got a list of 15
restaurants from last year that we compiled with members help. Why not
meet up with these owners and other offending restaurants too and speak
to them about why we want frogs off the menu and in the fields and
forests. Perhaps they might be supportive and volunteer on their own to
be frog meat free this season onwards. Besides the the ethical aspect,
getting caught serving the meat has a stiff sentence of upto three years
in prison!
04-Picketing outside restaurants
Black Flags, Plackards, Banners et al! If they won't listen, lets shame
them and maybe supporting customers would prefer to eat at other
restaurants once they know that these restaurants are violating forest
laws. This suggestion is a bit provocative, and depends entirely on
voluntary participation. Not more than 4 people at the meeting
volunteered for such an action.
05-Save the Frog Bumper Stickers
Recall the 'Save Goa' bumper stickers? They are still around, and remind
you about the cause instantly. Bumper stickers are cheap to make and an
effective tool in spreading a simple message around. Perhaps a campaign
logo with a catchphrase would get people's attention.
06-Educate School Students
Students are a great target audience for such a campaign. Involving the
students however, means we would have to get their attention once school
begins, in the first 2 weeks of June. We could organize contests, quiz
competitions, screen short educative films and give away some
merchandise that we could create during this campaign.
07-Street Theater
The Kala Academy theater group has displayed quite simple and effective
street theater. At two occasions, once in Margao at a waste management
awareness, and the second in Panjim during the last election campaign, I
witnessed how they simply walked upon a busy street corner and instantly
got a crowd to watch them as they sang simple made up songs, and acted
out a message that went out to the masses. Anybody with connections to
these guys or a similar group such as the mustard seed art company could
help tie loose ends...
08-Screen a related Konkani animation film
Released in early January this year, 'Saimakaden Samvad' by Rajshree
Bandodkar Karapurkar is Goa's first animated konkani film shows three
children and their informative dialogue with various elements of nature
and wildlife including the need to save frogs. In the end of a 20-
minute dialogue, a frog and a cow finally manage to convince the
children about the ravages inflicted by humans on nature. Arati Das has
promised to get in touch with Mrs Karapurkar regarding the permissions
for screening this film. Any suggestions on places to air this film is
most welcome..
09-Concrete proof of Pesticides in Frog Meat
People react srongly when they lean that their food might be poisoned or
contaminated. The Goa Forest Department has sent out notices stating
that frogs had high levels of pesticides in their body. Aaron Lobo
informed us that a Dr. Shayla, who was a PhD student of Dr. Desai from
the Department of Zoology (Goa University) might have done some research
in this regard and if so, we would actually have some science to back up
the claims of the Forest Department.…. which is great and possibly a
good way of curbing consumers. Can anybody confirm this via contacts at
the Goa Uni?
10-Blare out with Speakers on a Van
In Goan villages, I recall as a village bumpkin myself the tiatr van
going out into the village announcing a new theatre play, or a circus or
a political candidate pleading for some votes. Why not campaign for the
frog? Spread the message in a way that's familiar. Maybe stop along the
way and give out posters or information handouts to those who might be
interested or curious to follow. Also a great way to inform people of
the legal implications of breaking the law.
11-Identify Hunting Hots pots
Identifying hot spots of hunting sites would help the forest and police
department officials to concentrate on areas that were previously left
unattended. A list of these sites could be submitted to the officials.
Send in the suggested hot spots and we will compile the list.
12-Sponsors and Event Associates
Such a campaign would need some resources. And while we plan to maximize
efforts to go low on cost, we would definatly be interested in anybody
that would like to pay for part of the expenses or associate with the
campaign. The Goa Forest Department has already expressed its
inclination to both Associate as well as sponsor some of the expenses.
Minguel Braganza has offered to ask WWF for similar support. Any others
such as the department of science and technology? private organizations?
13-Involve the campaign in mainstream Events
Getting an audience with minimal resources can be quite difficult. Why
not piggyback on some of the events that are already scheduled to take
place in Goa anyway. That way, we already have a location and audience,
and only have to concentrate on the message. Let's compile a list of
local events in the next 2 months and see where we could fit in.
14-Talk to Church, Panchayats and Consumer Forums
As it could be assumed that most of the frog catching and eating is
largely done by Christians, spreading the message through the church
would be quite effective. Sending out information that could be placed
into the agenda of all village Gram Sabhas would also be effective.
Consumer Forums are an an effective way of sending out a message. Roland
Martins could help spread the message to all the consumer forums that
have an effective network of disseminating information to the
grassroots. On the 24th of April, between 4 to 6pm, I shall speak with
Roland Martins at the GoaDesc's Friday Balcao session.
15-Associate with the Media
We have been associated with the Press and Radio stations last year.
This year, we should try to get all the major media and radio stations
involved. This means we need to speak to the Editors, and Station
Managers about what this campaign is about. We need space for articles,
as well as advertisements. On the radio, we need people to speak. Luis
Dias has already promised to do his bit on All India Radio. Ethel Da
Costa has promised that Radio Mirchi is on, with Full Support. Arati Das
says that Gomantak Times is in, and so does Times of India and Herald.
Cable TV tickers cost Rs. 200 a day or 500 a week. Perhaps we could get
it for free or at reduced rates?
16-Design T-Shirts, Posters, Fliers and Info Material
We need designers from everywhere to come together and help create
attractive info material. We already have a lot of info in text form,
and need it to get out. Posters of 18x16 or A3 size would be perfect.
Contact me for info that has to be put out.
17-Conduct an Origami Frog Workshop
Here's an activity that youngsters would like. A frog making origami
workshop would only need green paper of various shades. Shivram Narayan
from Vasco could possibly teach participants to make frogs of different
sizes. The net has a lot of resources too, such as this video that
Alisha Colaco sent in that shows you how to make a simple origami frog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOUgrJo2kIg
Do let us know what you think of the suggestions made above, and suggest
some more if you can think of more. As we said, these are suggestions,
so feel free to vote for your favourites and non-faves too.
Clinton Vaz
+91 9890936828
Benaulim/Goa
