Awareness Raised That Is Exploited; The Sad World Of Animal Suffering

       A wildlife photographer gave a vigorous defense of animal, conservation and wildlife organizations. The photographer is paid well by these organizations. It was too much to expect that the wildlife and animals that are the real source of his fortune (but that are incapable of paying out even a penny) would be his first loyalty. These organizations raise awareness, the photographer insisted, and that is what matters.
       Animal and wildlife organizations raise awareness that they channel into contributions and support for themselves. It often does not translate into conservation success. It often does not translate into a reduction of animal cruelty. It often translates into nothing more than contributions and support for these organizations.
       If there is ignorance, there is at least hope that if there is awareness, suffering and harm will diminish because a positive direction will result from the raising of awareness. But too often ignorance is turned into awareness that becomes nothing more than the means for an organization to grow and enrich itself.
       Failure in the nonprofit world is about more than the dismal failure to hold many organizations accountable as to their efficacy. While wildlife populations continue to collapse, while animal cruelty continues as awful as ever, while oceans and other life sustaining habitats continue to be destroyed, it is long past the time to pay homage to self serving organizations. Their failures, although often hidden, are massive. Just because an organization claims to be concerned about such things as animal cruelty, conservation, wildlife, bats, birds, chimpanzees, elephants, dogs, cats and so forth does not mean it is not exploitative.