Chaos for a good cause
In possibly the most chaotic and hyperactive awareness attempt to ever reach Roodepoort, the Caxton Joburg West branch attempted to raise awareness for the most trafficked animal in the world.
15 February is marked worldwide as World Pangolin Day. The awareness campaign and fundraising initiative is held to try to get as many people involved in saving the pangolins as possible.
Many people hear the name and ask, “What is a pangolin?” Well, these adorable (and sadly endangered) creatures are the most poached animals in the world. They are targeted even more than elephants and rhinos.
Native to Africa and Asia, these animals are trafficked, poached and heinously killed for their scales, which are used for traditional medicines, high-end fashion, and fancy cuisines.
As part of the awareness campaign, the #Running4Pangolins challenge was created. The easy challenge just asks you to take a walk or a run to raise awareness. The Pangolin Africa website supplies logos and educational pamphlets to help you teach people about the animal on your walk/run.
WATCH HERE:
https://www.facebook.com/roodepoortrecord/videos/597792860776823/
For Valentine’s Day, the Caxton Joburg West branch wanted to do our part in showing how much we love pangolins. Journalists, editors, digital members and layout members from the four West Rand Newspapers made colourful posters and walked around Witpoortjie to show that Caxton Cares.
We walked a day early to make sure everyone was available to take part, unfortunately, a couple of journalists weren’t able to attend because of previous engagements, but that didn’t stop those who could from walking and trying to get cars to hoot or pedestrians to ask questions.
We held our posters high as we did our part in raising awareness. It’s not much, and it was a little messy and hyperactive, but even if only a couple of people ask questions and research the cause, it might help with the initiative. A few members of the editorial team have taken it one step further and will also be wearing their pangolin awareness banners at the various parkruns on 15 February.
Will you be #Running4Pangolins? It doesn’t take much to wear a sign with a smile on your face, let’s all get involved and try to help these innocent creatures who can’t help themselves. You can get your awareness kits (with the posters and leaflets) from https://www.pangolin.africa/running-4-pangolins.
