Orangutan Caring Week 2009

This marks the fifth year the Orang Utan Republik (Education Initiative and Foundation) has been promoting Orangutan Caring Week. A week of celebrating orangutans actually started in 1996 as Orangutan Awareness Week when as vice president of another organization, I began promoting a special week for the great red ape. Then in 2005, when the Orang Utan Republik Education Initiative was pushing for having the Awareness Week recognized officially in Indonesia, an Indonesian came up with the idea of calling the week "Pekan Pedulu Orangutan" rather than "Minggu Kesadaran Orangutan"- literally Orangutan Awareness Week. Pekan Peduli not only sounded better (much more aliterative), but it denoted a transformation from mere awareness to concern. The fact that this was an Indonesian invention made the change in the name much more powerful, particularly in Indonesia. It was also an opportunity for the western orangutan movement to adopt something from Indonesia (usually it is the other way around).

So in November 2005, the former minister of forestry officially proclaimed the week in a press conference at the Parliament building. The halls of the Parliament had an array of stands and booths of orangutan, primate and other wildlife and conservation NGOs. It was a great kickoff to the 1st Caring Week.

Since that first event, we have been enrolling people and organizations to participate in annual Orangutan Caring Week celebrations. Visit www.orangutancaringweek.org to see what we have been listing since 2007.

Orang Utan Republik Foundation's Fundraiser

The fundraiser held in Hollywood for the Orang Utan Republik Foundation on June 25th was attended by far fewer people that I had hoped for. Nevertheless, the work that went into it by the volunteers, the enthusiasm shared by all who did attend, and the funds that we raised made the event more than worthwhile.

We live in uncertain and difficult times for many people. Unemployment is rising, and the needs for our fellow human beings make the work we do in Indonesia for the orangutans seem to many, less compelling. So for us to have the event where everyone seemed to enjoy themselves was good enough for me. I was thrilled Ed Begley Jr. attended and said some very nice and inspiring words... this after a very long and trying day for him. I was also very happy to see Tim and Hannah Perry attend from Fairfax, Virginia. Tim and I were students together some 40 years ago and Hannah, his daughter, is planning to volunteer in Sumatra next year for OURF.

It was a day marked by the passing of Farrah Fawcet and Michael Jackson.....so much of the talk at the fundraiser was about these two celebrities. But we did have wonderful Indonesian food and drink, two delightful dances by Balinese dancer Nyoman, and an appearance by "orangutan Orly" who greeted the guests and inspired them to consider the fate of the endangered red ape.

In the end, we sold over $1,000 in silent auction items, received generous donations by attendees and others who couldn't attend, and raised approximately $4,000. My thanks to Susan Callery who chaired the event and to Rob and Peter for hosting it at their homes. So many volunteers helped out to keep the food and drinks coming. Their contribution in "sweat equity" was also very much appreciated.

It is important for people to realize it is difficult to raise funds for education programs so far away from Los Angeles. Every dollar helps. Yet the young people who implement the programs in the schools and villages very much appreciate the funds we do raise and provide. There is so much more for us to do, and we need to continue to find the funds to keep the momentum going.

No Time to Relax

While the Red Ape Retreat's name implies somewhere to take refuge and contemplate, perhaps in the sanctuary of a tall lush tree with a large bowl-shaped nest with an accompanying vegetative umbrella, sadly my current lifestyle does not allow it. It is my choice to be sure. I am putting a tremendous amount of responsibility on myself for my passion to save orangutans through the development and maintenance of organizations like the Orang Utan Republik Foundation, the Education Initiative, Caring Clubs, YES Orangutans... and the projects and programs that they implement: Scholarships, fellowships, outreach programs, documentaries, Roadshows, websites, newsletters. Then there is the matter of keeping the programs legal, funded, and accountable. The coordination, meetings, emails, developing proposals, report writing, keeping people interested. I could go on but why? It would sound like complaining which I am not. It is part of the duty and sacrifice of doing this type of work. I stay optimistic it will pay off.

My goal is to strike a balance between this passion, my paying job (working for the State), and my family. For too long they have suffered, but now with balance, I am pacing myself better and putting family first.

The cycle begins again tomorrow...there is no time to relax. But I keep thinking about the nest in the trees.