Let’s smash this Kickstarter goal! Fund urgent reporting on animals

Yes, it’s me again sharing exciting news! You can now pledge to boost critical reporting on animals.

Over the past few months, I’ve had the privilege of chatting with many of you over email and social media, and I’ve learned that the National Observer community cares deeply about nature, about the risks and causes of climate change, and about the impacts that humans are having on the web of life that sustains us.

And after asking you which current issues matter most to you, one answer soared above the rest: the state of animals and their homes.

You told me that you want more investigations into how our human activities are affecting the wellbeing and survival of the species we share this precious planet with. Here are a few of these "activities" that, like me, you probably can't get off your mind:

• Oil pipelines crisscrossing the land and waterways
• Proposed fracked gas projects that will increase tanker traffic in the majestic Great Bear Rainforest
• The wolf cull: governments shooting wolves from helicopters to "manage" caribou populations
• The B.C. trophy hunt, where the province gives permits to (mostly) American hunters to kill grizzly bears, even though First Nations and 90 per cent of B.C. residents oppose it

I could go on, but you get it. Our decisions as a society can have profound, irreversible effects on animals. On salmon runs, bears, wolves and whales. And that's where you told me you want National Observer to focus.

So, I’m excited to announce that National Observer has decided to launch a reporting project to explore just that: the State of the Animal.

You know that major reporting projects depend on your help. So to fund this project, we’ve decided to run a Kickstarter campaign.

May I ask you, dear reader, to watch the video in this campaign, share it widely with your friends or anyone you know who cares about animals, and please pledge your support for the wild and wonderful creatures of this amazing planet?

Here's the link to State of the Animal to find out more about the campaign.

If the video moves you, please make a pledge today. It's an all or nothing campaign — your donation only gets processed if State of the Animal achieves its funding goal.

And yes, we’re giving away beautiful, specially designed t-shirts (like this one) as well as mugs, subscriptions, and more! Get 'em while they're hot.

- Jorge Amigo, Director of Engagement