25/12/09

Dear all!

Merry Christmas to you all and I wish you a Happy new year full of happiness, love and success!!

Spare a thought for all those people out there who are in worse conditions, with no food, or clean water, no family to love them, no presents to open, those people who are extremely ill and might not live to see another day ... we are all so blessed and lucky to have our families, our friends, our health and our jobs and education that we don't need more than that really. Christmas should be a time to think especially about all the people who are less fortunate than us, that they may find peace and happiness in the little that they have.

Also I'd like to remind you all of the Beach Clean up at Ghajn Tuffieha on Sunday (27th) at 2pm!! Hope to see you all there!! Have a great day all =)

Peace and Love!!

Xx Steffi xX

1/12/2009

Message from the spokesperson for the Circus Animal Rights Coalition
_______________________________________________________

The symbolic protest walk is going to be held on the first day of the circus show on the 10th of December. We will be meeting at 6.00pm City Gate Valletta and walk to Blata l-Bajda in front of the circus.

A sort of alternative circus is envisaged to be held, so if you know of anyone who would be interested to participate through acting, juggling etc, please let us know. Some people are also going to be wearing animal costumes, so if you have a costume and want to join, it will have greater impact!

Between the 1st and 10th December, we will be holding awareness activities in Valletta, between 5.00 and 7.00pm to distribute flyers to the public. If anyone of you can make it on any particular date, please let us know.

This walk will be announced on Tuesday 1st December at a Coalition press conference at 5pm during which we will also present the petitions. Please keep signing! http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/animalslavery/

Please rsvp to the event here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186107088411&ref=mf

thanks!
Annalise

14/10/09

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all doing well

I just wanted to let you know that I am trying to get Be the Change involved with Greenhouse Malta. We are thinking of clearing out and 'doing up' L-Ahrax tal-Mellieha. It is a beautiful place and it deserves to look a lot better! If anyone has any feedback or ideas that we could discuss and maybe implement regarding this do let me know! Please note that this has NOT BEEN CONFIRMED yet!

Also I urge you to take a look at the THAT'S RUBBISH website and see their new blog about the last clean up that took place. There was the greatest turn out there ever was to date! Congratulations to them!

www.thatsrubbishmalta.com

I'm also pleased to announce that the carboot sale / lunch BBQ at the Funny Farm went very well too! If I am not mistaken they should be holding a bonfire night in the near future, so look out for that.

I would also like to bring to your attention something that was in the news today; the animal circus coming to Malta in December. I encourage you all to take a look at this group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152447782391&ref=ts

The Circus Animal Rights Coalition are trying to stop this circus from coming over. Read up and make your own decision. They also have a petition that needs to be signed to ban the circus from coming here.

"Animals including tigers, a yak, crocodiles, horses and ponies, lama, snakes, an ostrich, sheep dwarves, ian guana, anaconda and zebra will feature in a circus which will come to Malta over the Christmas holidays."

Do you really think that animals like these should be in a circus? Trained, whipped and kept in cages to entertain us? It's all up to you.

Peace and Love
Xx Steffi xX

10/10/09

Hello all!

Good news! For all those out there who have been waiting for a new event to pop up so you can get off your butts and make a difference, there are 2 new events coming up on the 18th October!

One of them is at the Funny Farm, it is a car boot sale and BBQ lunch and it starts at 10am!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147033706255&ref=mf
Check it out. Remember if you want to sell stuff, you need to book a place! check the event page for more info.

The other one is at 3pm at Ghajn Tuffieha! Yes! Another beach clean up! They've finally got going again!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150669826505&ref=ts
Check that out too!

I will do my best to attend both of them! It would be great to see some familiar faces! Hope you all can make it!

Till then,
Peace and Love!

Xx Steffi xX

21/09/09

Hey guys!

Hope you're doing okay!

I'd like to apologise for the lack of activities these past few weeks. However, I would like to inform you all about a couple of things that are going on right now.

Birdlife Malta have been kicking hunter ***! Volunteers of Raptor Camp have been doing a superb job at stopping illegal hunting activities! Go on the event page and their website to hear about the latest news in that regard.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104604401895&ref=ts

On another note, an Animal Circus is coming to Malta in a few months. We all know the torture that animals endure preparing for such an event. No animal should be put through such pain and suffering simply to entertain people.

Join this group and sign the petition if you agree that the Animal Circus should be banned from the country. Show your support! Spread the word, educate yourselves on Animal Circuses and do not condone the using of animals for human entertainment!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152447782391&ref=ts

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

04/09/09

Hi Guys,

A friend of mine, Giliane Fenech is helping to organise a proper clean up team on the 12th and 13th of Sept. We will be heading to Bormla and helping in an overall cleanup of certain areas within the little town.

It will be a nice little weekend out so if you'd like to join in, don't come alone, bring your friends and their friends and have a grand spanking time while doing some good for the little community.

Details;

12th and 13th Sept.

Meeting in front of Bormla Church at 7.30 am

All tools and equipment will be provided, so just bring some water/snacks. We can all go for breaks at the local bars to have a bevy or two as well.

If you can make it on Sat 12th please contact me. If you can only make it on Sun 13th please contact Giliane as I will not be able to attend that day.

Contact Details;

Mark Gladwish - gladwish.mark@gmail.com or on Facebook.

Giliane Fenech - giliane2001@msn.com (email her for her number if interested)

Hope to hear from you soon my friends!

Mark Gladwish

30/08/09

Yesterday's dog walk went very well as usual. We had 3 new faces and 4 old ones. (No, it wasn't a very big group). We have not been getting as many volunteers up as we used to, so I urge everyone to please spread the word and devote a little of your time during the weekend to these needy animals.

Next week the dog walk will be held on Saturday (5th), yet again because it is more convenient for the Arnett family, and also because in the evening there will be a Fundraiser BBQ. So all the volunteers attending the dog walk can choose to stay over for the BBQ.

Here is the link to the BBQ event:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=122393403594&ref=ts

It will start at 7.30, so the Dog walk will start at 5pm to be in time for the BBQ preparations.

Spread the word of the group, the dog walks and the fundraiser BBQ! Hope you can make it!

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

25/08/09

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all doing well.

I would first like to start off by apologising for not holding a dog walk last weekend. I was very busy moving house and so I decided to leave it for that week. That being said, there is going to be a dog walk this Saturday (29th). Here is the link to the event page:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133943488254

Also, I have written an article on a publication website which hopes to turn into an actual magazine distributed at the University of Malta. Here is the link to the article:
http://www.winkonline.org/funnyfarm.html

Show your support!

Hope to see you all on Saturday!

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

19/08/09

Hello everyone!

I've been working on the website again. And a new logo! The website is still being done, with the help of David Gladwish (Thanks Dave!). However, the logo, so far, is finished!

Check it out on my Wall Photos and leave a comment there, or simply comment on this blog and let me know what you think. So far I've got a lot of good feedback! Keep it coming people! This is your group too!

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

16/08/09

Aloha!

The dog walk today went well! There was a slight delay towards the beginning but that didn't stop anyone.

Lots of new faces! I hope the group will keep growing and growing! The more awareness the better.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to wash the dogs because they had recently been treated with Frontline. So we can focus more on that next week. But it was a very good day on the whole!

Please leave your feedback on the group page or website. If anybody has some comments they'd like to make, message me personally or leave a comment on the group page. Also, if you have not voted on the poll on the website, please do so.

Peace and Love!

Xx Steffi xX

15/08/09

**WEBSITE UPDATE**

Check it out!

Please also vote for the day you would rather have the dog walks on. The poll can be found on the right hand side of the page aqnd expires in 7 days.

Spread the word!


Peace and Love


Xx Steffi xX

12/08/09

Hello all.

I'm messaging you today, not about a clean up or a dog walk, but about the hunting and trapping of exotic birds illegally in Malta.

Every year, more than once, migrating birds are shot down by hunters illegally.

"Birdlife Malta strives to conserve wild birds and their habitats. The organisation monitors activity that threatens wild birds, such as illegal hunting and trapping and urban development in conservation areas on the Maltese Islands."

Now, Birdlife Malta host an annual bird migration observation camp to monitor raptor migration and to carry out surveillance of illegal hunting and trapping activities in Malta and Gozo. They are in need of local volunteers to help them carry out their mission.

The event can be found on their group page, a link to which is found on the right hand side of the page.

Please help spread the word to you friends and help to protect these beautiful birds. I assure you that some of the species of birds that you will see on this campaign are the most beautiful animals you could ever lay eyes on. It is not something to be missed and most definitely won't ever be forgotten!

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

9/08/09

Hey!

Was a VERY tiring day at the Funny Farm today! We got a LOT done though! =) Swept places, painted doors, re-built walls, and put up some green mesh camopies for the horses to have some shade. A couple of people took the dogs out for a walk too. A lot got done and it was a good day for the Funny Farm.

Some scouts also came along for a horse ride, so the horses were prepped and ready for that too. And all the kids seemed to enjoy it!

Unfortunately, we weren't a very big group, but we still got so much done! Hopefully, next time we will be more people. We need to get a lot of awareness around, so could you all please invite your friends to the group and let them know of the work that is being done and the help that is needed.

Hope you've all had a good weekend. Pics are up on the group page and the event page!


Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

2/08/09

Greetings fellow animal lovers!


Yesterday evening there were 2 events: The Dog walk and the Fundraiser!

I'm very proud to say that both went absolutely fantastically!

The group who came to the dog walk was bigger than ever! And I'm very happy that more people are showing an interest! Hope it keeps growing! This time, the group was big enough to be seperated into two groups: some people walking the dogs, and some people cleaning out their pens! So when the dogs came back from their exercise, they found clean pens with clean water and a fresh bowl of food.

After that there was the Fundraiser which went extremely well also! The turnout was great! The food was great! The atmosphere was great! The amount of money raised was AWESOME! Thanks to Sue and Mich for having us there and doing the amazing work that they do for the animals! No matter what the papers say! We will stand behind you through thick and thin. =)

Thanks to everyone who attended the Fundraiser and the Dog walk! The world needs more people like who to care! You're all stars!




Peace and Love to all!

Xx Steffi xX

9/7/09

Just a short message to let you all know that the group is growing! Finally exceeded the 100 member mark! It would be great if everyone could invite their friends to join. We need more awareness!!

Since Mich is going to be abroad till the 24th, the Monthly Clean Up is going to be postponed until after she gets back. So it will either be that same week, or sometime in the beginning of August. I will let you know when dates are confirmed.

Again, I hope you'll all share this group with you friends. The Funny Farm needs awareness and this group is mainly dedicated to them. Hopefully, as the group grows, I'd like to expand to different sanctuaries. All in due time though =)

Thank you to all of you for being a part of this group and showing your support!

Peace and Love!

Xx Steffi xX

04/07/09

The Dog walk went very well! Unfortunately we weren't that many people to split up into 2 groups so we didn't have enough time to clean the dog pens out too well. On the whole, the dogs were very happy to get out again and the ones who were a little wary to go out the last time, got the hang of it and seemed very calm and relaxed to be out of the farm with the other dogs and their walkers. So I'm very happy that these dog walks are doing them a LOT of good!!



Next week there wont be a dog walk, but the Funny Farm will be at the Kidstart Summer Club open day, as they have decided to give their annual animal donation to the Funny Farm! There will also be a BBQ at the Funny Farm in the evening. So I hope you'll come and show your support and eat some yummy food ^.^

Thanks to Yannick, Joe, Mark, Dave, Fran, Hannah, Elaine, Macs and Claire for being there and helping out with the dogs =)

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

28/06/09

Hi all!

Hope you're all doing well.

Just wanted to let you all know, that there will be weekly dog walks organised every Friday evening at the Funny Farm in Bidnija!

The idea is to have 2 groups of people: one group walking the dogs, while the other group cleans out the dog pens. This will alternate every week.

I hope that many of you will be able to make it. We can try to stick to 5pm in the evening so that it won't be too hot.

I'll create an event and post it on Facebook as soon as possible!

Peace and Love!

Xx Steffi xX

15/06/09

Yet another Success! =D We got the entrance bit cleared out nicely ^^ Still got looooads more work to do. Unfortunately, the days are getting hotter, so time in the sun has to get shorter. Therefore, less gets done.

The Funny Farm are in need of as many volunteers as possible! The horses and dogs need to be cleaned out regularly! And the amount of people they have volunteering already, just doesn't seem to be enough! So please, anyone wanting to volunteer, contact Mich Cachia Arnett or her mum Sue Arnett.

BIG THANKS to Dave, Mark, Yan, Nigel, Glorianne, Jess, Lorin, Neil, Steffe, and Malcolm for being the 10, out of the 44 who said they would attend the event, who actually came! You're all stars ^.^ Thank you so much!

Best thing now is to get a bit more organised, plan what is going to be done next month, buy what needs to be bought, etc, etc. So will message you again when we know what's happening!

Till then - Peace and Love!

Xx Steffi xX

09/06/09

The beach clean-up on Sunday went really well! Good turn out! And lots of kids who were soaking up the sun decided to grab some bags and help out too, which was great! The sea was very refreshing! And the yoga session was extremely relaxing! Thanks to Mich! =D


So, I think we might need to change the time of the clean up to an hour later (i.e. 5pm) simply because of the scorching hot sun! Not that you're gonna burn or anything (even though you might), but it will still be REALLY hot! So the clean up is now at 5pm.

Another thing, I think it would be wise to organise transport back home seeing as it will be quite late for busses at 8-9pm. So all those in need, message me personally, and I'll put you down for transport BACK home.

16/05/09

Another Funny Farm clean up event has been arranged for the 14th June at 4pm. Check it out NOW and RSVP! We need as many hands as we can get so please come along!

There's also a beach clean up at Ghajn Tuffieha the week before (on the 7th June at 4pm). Check that out too. I've posted a link to that event on the bottom of this page!

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

04/05/09

The Funny Farm Clean up that was scheduled for 3rd May 2009 was a success!
Got loooooads done! Hoping to make it a monthly thing now, so much more opportunities for those who couldnt come this time to come again next month! Thanks to:
Steffe, Abi, Jess, Niki, Mark, Dave, Jolen, Malcolm and Raquel. And of course Mich and Sue Arnett for allowing this all to happen! Couldn't have done it without you all! (Hope I didn't leave anyone out!)
KUDOS TO EVERYONE!



Not to mention thanks to RED BULL for surprising us with ... red bull ... and giving us the little lift we needed to get going =D Thank you!!

I posted a link to the event page where there are all the photos. Do take a look see.

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX

About the Group

This group is dedicated to gathering a group of people who are willing to make a change. The group is there to promote awareness regarding animal welfare, human rights and the environment. Those who would like to be involved should simply join the group and if anyone has any questions please let me know - steffi.thake@gmail.com

You are not obliged to come to the events and volunteer. The group is there to spread awareness - pressuring people into doing work is not the way to go about making a change. Change comes from the heart, people should want to be involved.

This group is working in collaboration with That's Rubbish, Greenhouse Malta, Funny Farm Horse Rescue Association, and Birdlife Malta. I'm pretty sure that the more helping hands we have, the more we can accomplish; and there is no feeling like accomplishment! So joining forces seems to be the best decision right now.

"Be the change you wish to see in the world "

-- Gandhi

Peace and Love

Xx Steffi xX