Act for Animals

Kids Make a Real Difference for Animals during IFAW's Animal Action Week!

IFAW's Animal Action Week (AAW) is now in its 16th year! Organized in 16 countries around the world, AAW now reaches many more countries than that, thanks to the internet. There are activities for everyone, but the focus is mainly on you!

Becoming involved in Animal Action Week is your chance to play a part in saving animals around the globe by taking action. It could be by getting your teacher to involve your class in our educational program, nominating someone for our IFAW Animal Action Awards, or taking part in our Pick Up Plastic! Campaign by organizing your own clean up operation in your local community.

Every year AAW focuses on a different IFAW area of interest. This year the week's focus is on protecting marine wildlife. Beneath the Waves explores how the oceans and our lives are closely linked, the many threats facing our oceans, and the positive choices we can make in our lives to protect marine wildlife.

IFAW’s Work Beneath the Waves
Oceans are home to an incredible collection of plants and animals, from the microscopic plankton to the world's largest creature -- the blue whale! And don't forget the 14,000 species of fish. IFAW works to protect these living oceans beneath the waves.

DID YOU KNOW? The blue whale feeds almost exclusively on krill (small shrimp-like animals) and probably consumes around 6 tons a day. That’s about 1.5 million calories and about 40 million krill! The blue whale can grow to 30 metres in length and weigh up to 200 tons. Now that’s big!

IFAW's Cape Cod Stranding Network helps whales and dolphins that run aground on beaches or in shallow water. IFAW scientists are busy traveling the world on the Song of the Whale research boat, providing a unique platform for marine research and education. One of the threats facing ocean life is noise pollution in the seas -- noise from ships, drilling, military activities, oil and gas exploration and coastal construction. This noise can cause great distress to whales and dolphins and can disrupt their activity and even cause injury or death.

While IFAW is busy with research, conservation and education, you can also do your part -- this is what Animal Action Week 2008 is all about.

More than Just a Week
IFAW Animal Action Week launches activities that continue throughout the whole year. Although attention is focused around the actual week, activities are far from limited to just those seven days. Many people get involved long before and continue with their efforts well after the official week. For example,

	the education pack and DVD can be used by your teachers whenever it suits them during the school year
	the Animal Action Awards take many months to organize (from nominations to the presentation), and
	you can take part in our Pick Up Plastic! Campaign by organizing your own clean up operation in your local community anytime!

Have you joined yet? Click here for AAW activities that are available all year round. Join in now and help save animals whenever it suits you!