Dates for your diary & what goes on behind the scenes …

The days are shortening but there is always a hive of activity here at EIA HQ as winter sets in.

Campaigners are always coming and going from investigations or conferences across continents and this month has been no different. But if you look a little harder, you will notice the other parts of the EIA team that are always at HQ. Less glamorous perhaps but crucial to keeping the cogs of EIA turning; the finance team do a fantastic job and the comms team relentlessly spread the work of EIA, out to the press and you folks. I work in the fundraising department in EIA, I don’t to go as far as Bali or Bangkok, more like Brighton and Birmingham! But we’re all beavering away too.

Janet with little Phoebe

Janet with little Phoebe

So what have we been up to? Well behind the scenes, it’s an endless cycle of ensuring funding is secured to see the longevity of the organisation, year after year. Janet, our Head of Fundraising, has just got back from maternity leave and has been thrown straight back in the deep end!

Our elephant appeal has just been sent out, thank you to all those who have donated so far, it’s great to see all the cheques coming in. The generosity shown by our members and supporters all over the world not only goes into funding the important work we do but endorses our faith and passion to bring about environmental justice. With your support, we hope to be able to carry out investigations that map out the scale of poaching and demand for ivory, early in the new year. The ele’s team will keep you updated with developments.

Asia HouseMeanwhile, closer to home, the tiger is receiving a great deal of attention as a season of tiger events gets underway next week. Asia House are hosting an exhibition entitled The Tiger in Asian Art, showcasing a collection of Asian paintings, sculptures, textiles, photographs and other works of art. These pieces have been drawn from the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum and private collections, many of which are unseen. Complementary documentaries and trailers are also being shown, including one from EIA. Based on the full documentary you can see our trailer here. The exhibition opens to the public on the 5th November at Asia House, London, W1G 7LP. Admission is free.

ROAR Imagine a TigerThe ROAR collective, a group of artists who support EIA, are hosting a fundraising extravaganzaImagine a Tiger, starring poet/musician John Hegley and acclaimed cartoonist Tony Husband, creator of Private Eye’s Yobs. The event also features poet and DJ Charlie Dark, spoken word poet Polarbear, poet and comedienne Liz Bentley, Israeli singer/guitarist Hadar Manor, singer/songwriter Sean Taylor, poet Daniel Cockrill and the band Howls. This event will take place will take place at Islington’s Screen on the Green cinema, London N1, on Monday, 29th November, 2010. To buy a ticket, make a £15 donation here. All proceeds go to EIA’s Tiger Campaign.

Following the International Tiger Forum, held in St Petersburg in November, Asia House are hosting Save the Tiger Forum, putting words into actions. A panel of internationally renowned conservationists and speakers will be providing a platform for raising issues and debating possible solutions to save the tiger from extinction. Our own Debbie Banks will be on the panel and proceeds from the evening are split between, Wild Aid, Born Free and EIA. This event will take place on the 7th December at the Royal Geographical Society, London SW7 2AR. Tickets are from £10.

You can find out more about all the Asia House Events on their website.

So, whilst we’re busy raising funds here, perhaps your calendar will be busy too, attending some of these fantastic events!