One Wounded Warrior Project's Supporter Recently Wrote A Song To Raise Support & Awareness For It

Wounded Warrior Project's supporter, Kendall Clausen, wrote a song for WWP

Generous donors from all walks of life and of all ages allow Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) to provide free, life-changing programs and services to injured veterans, their caregivers, and family members. Recently, a talented young singer named Kendall Clausen used her skills to support WWP through a performance with her school choir.

"For a school project, we had the option to do whatever we loved doing to support Wounded Warrior Project," Kendall said. "I chose to write a song. I sat down and came up with the idea to write about a soldier going off to war. The song focused on how in the end, the soldier is not going to give up no matter what happens. The song is called 'Warrior,' and I want to donate half of whatever money it raises to support Wounded Warrior Project."

"I'm pretty amazed," said Karl Clausen, her father. "She's sung other people's music in the past, but this is the first time she sat down and wrote an entire piece."

Kendall explained the decision to support WWP was collaborative among her fellow choir members – and a meaningful cause for many of them.

"A lot of my classmates have family who have served, or who were served by Wounded Warrior Project," Kendall said. "That personal connection really brought the idea to life."

At the school concert, Kendall and her classmates performed and set up an area where concert attendees could donate to WWP.

"I think the concert really inspired people because we raised a good amount of money for Wounded Warrior Project," Kendall said. "There are people who are willing to fight and die for my country – all my freedoms and privileges are here because of what others have fought for. The courage of our nation's veterans is unbelievable, and I'm so thankful for that."

"Warrior" is for sale on iTunes, Amazon, and other digital retailers, and can be seen on Kendall's YouTube page. Students of all ages can support warriors served by WWP by starting a Student Ambassadors fundraising campaign.

About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) connects, serves, and empowers wounded warriors. Read more at newsroom.woundedwarriorproject.org/about-us.

SOURCE: Wounded Warrior Project

The Video:

Dazzling Star Will Showcase Animation Series "Beijing Opera Cats" At the 2017 Las Vegas Licensing Expo

Beijing Opera Cats four main characters

As a leading Chinese animation production company, Dazzling Star is delighted to attend 2017 Las Vegas Licensing Expo with its award-winning animation work "Beijing Opera Cats", from 23rd to 25th May in Las Vegas.

"Beijing Opera Cats" is a hit animation in China. It is the first series combining Kung Fu and Beijing Opera elements, targeting audiences aged 6-12 years old. Since the debut of the first season in 2015, it has rewritten the record books in terms of reaching 18.02% of Chinese market share and accumulating over 700 million views on the mainstream platform. 

Dazzling Star also brings stores and characters to life through developing games, consumer products and theme parks across the world.  

The story takes place in a world called Purpetua, which used to be a paradise for cats, but after being taken over by evil forces, it has turned into a chaotic place with monsters everywhere. Only "Beijing Opera Cats" and their "harmony power" can lead the residents in the fight to take back Purpetua. 

The action is a mixture of Kung Fu, magic and comedic moments that also work to break up the fight sequences nicely. "Beijing Opera Cats" aims to encourage audiences everywhere to develop into kind people with curious minds, compassionate hearts, and courage so they can grow into their authentic selves and find their place in the world.

Combining Kung Fu and Beijing Opera elements, Dazzling Star aims to create a worldwide animation success.

Dazzling Star took 6 years to create "Beijing Opera Cats", which is the first original cartoon series combining Kung Fu and Beijing Opera elements. Cats, as the heroes, help convey a positive energy in the exciting plot. "Beijing Opera Cats" has been shown with several famous children channels and mainstream platforms. 

With its attractive legendary stories and delicate pictures, it received tons of positive feedback and attracted a legion of loyal fans.

Dazzling Star is committed to creating and distributing original animation work

"In the Chinese animation industry, there is an increasing number of production teams that tend to learn and copy from overseas teams. They lost themselves, I think."

YangGang Du, CEO of Dazzling Star

Dazzling Star Culture Development Co., Ltd. was founded in 2009. Providing a guidance of positive value for audiences was mission of the company. Meanwhile, combining Chinese Kung Fu and advanced technology are the key to success. 

Mr. YangGang Du, the founder of Dazzling Star, was mentioned in his interview, "Dazzling Star is a company that provides a high quality Asian cultural animation series on the world stage." Under this great dream and passion, Mr. Du leads the team and produced "Beijing Opera Cats". The excellent visual experience of Chinese animation is the goal of moving forward.

SOURCE: Dazzling Star Culture Development Co., Ltd.

The Trailer:

Seated Ballerina By Jeff Koons On View May 12 - June 2, 2017 at Rockefeller Center

Seated Ballerina, 2017 © Jeff Koons / Photo: Tom Powel Imaging

Kiehl's Since 1851 and Art Production Fund are pleased to present Jeff Koons's Seated Ballerina, a large-scale public art installation, hosted by Tishman Speyer at Rockefeller Center from May 12 – June 2, 2017. The inflatable nylon sculpture stands 45 feet high and depicts a seated ballerina from the artist's iconic Antiquity series.

Often referencing historical imagery and found objects, Koons based Seated Ballerina on a small porcelain figurine. The sculpture acts as a contemporary iteration of the goddess Venus, and symbolizes notions of beauty and connectivity. Its reflective surface mirrors its immediate environment and engages with each viewer.  The work aims to bring awareness to National Missing Children's Month this May, in an effort to support organizations like the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) that work tirelessly to create a safer world for children.

"It's a pleasure to work with Kiehl's and Art Production Fund on this charitable project. This partnership will increase awareness and help the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children make the world a safer place for children," said Jeff Koons. "I hope the installation of Seated Ballerina at Rockefeller Center offers a sense of affirmation and excitement to the viewer to reach their potential. The aspect of reflectivity emulates life's energy; it's about contemplation and what it means to be a human being. It's a very hopeful piece."

"We have enjoyed a great relationship with Jeff Koons, starting with Puppy and recently with Split-Rocker, which were both a tremendous success," said Tishman Speyer President and CEO Rob Speyer. "It's an honor to work with the Art Production Fund and Kiehl's and bring Jeff's art back to Rockefeller Center. Seated Ballerina promises to offer one of those unforgettable New York experiences that will be remembered for years to come."

"We are honored to work with Jeff Koons, Kiehl's and Tishman Speyer to present Seated Ballerina at Rockefeller Center," said Casey Fremont, Executive Director of Art Production Fund. "We believe in the power of collaboration, and we are thrilled to present a public art project that raises awareness of the urgent need to protect children worldwide."

In honor of National Missing Children's Month, Koons has also created a limited edition Seated Ballerina tin for the Midnight Recovery Collection. Throughout May, Kiehl's will donate 100% of its net profits from the collection, up to $100,000, to directly benefit ICMEC. A fervent advocate for protecting children, Koons worked with ICMEC to co-found The Koons Family Institute on International Law & Policy in 2007 to combat child abduction and exploitation. 

He also serves on ICMEC's Board of Directors. The installation highlights the longstanding relationship Kiehl's has forged with Jeff Koons and ICMEC since 2011. Art Production Fund has also worked on a number of projects with Koons since 2009, donating a portion of sales from its Works on Whatever Collection to ICMEC.

"We're thrilled to continue what's become a Kiehl's tradition of partnering with Jeff Koons," says Chris Salgardo, President, Kiehl's USA."With more than 465,000 reports of missing children last year in the United States alone, it's gratifying to know that via this fourth partnership with Koons and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, we are able to make a difference in the lives of our children."

"ICMEC is proud and honored to partner with our long-term friend and Board member – the great American artist Jeff Koons – and with the iconic Kiehl's Since 1851, in a campaign that raises awareness and supports our efforts to make the world a safer place for all children," says Maura Harty, President & CEO ICMEC.

About Jeff Koons: 
Jeff Koons was born in York, Pennsylvania and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Maryland Institute College of Art; the latter from where he received his BFA. He currently lives and works in New York City. One of the foremost internationally recognized contemporary artists of our time, Jeff Koons earned renown for his iconic sculptures such as Rabbit (1986), Michael Jackson and Bubbles (1988) and his public sculptures, such as the monumental floral sculptures Puppy (1992) and Split-Rocker (2000), both of which were previously installed at Rockefeller Center.

About the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children: 
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children is a private 501(c)(3) non-governmental, nonprofit organization. For almost 20 years, ICMEC has been a leader in identifying gaps in the global community's ability to protect children from abduction, sexual abuse and exploitation, and expertly assembling the people, resources and tools needed to fill those gaps. ICMEC focuses on programs that have an impact on addressing the issues surrounding missing children, child abduction, child sexual abuse and exploitation. 

Through The Koons Family Institute on International Law & Policy, ICMEC conducts and commissions original research into the status of child protection legislation around the world to help make children safer.

SOURCE: Tishman Speyer; Kiehl’s

Stela Mobile Comics Honored with "Best Webcomic" Nominations for the 2017 Eisner Awards

Jaeger by Ibrahim Moustafa (co-creator of High Crimes)

Stela LLC, providers of premium graphic novels and illustrated books native to mobile, today announced that two of its series, Jaeger and Deja Brew have been nominated for the 2017 Eisner Awards in the Best Webcomic Category.

For nearly three decades, The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards has recognized the creativity, talent, and excellence of creators in the comics and graphic novels industry. Nominees represent a diverse range of groundbreaking work that have achieved critical and popular acclaim. This year, for the first time in its history the Eisner Award is recognizing Best Web Comics as its own individual category. All works nominated in this category were originally created for digital consumption rather than print, recognizing a new tide of digital works that have brought the industry more than $100M in yearly revenue.

Stela is leading this new wave of innovation in the digital medium, with an entire library of content created specifically for mobile consumption. Its flagship app, Stela Unlimited, allows readers to engross themselves in fantastic worlds and complex characters, focusing on comics that showcase a diverse range of viewpoints and subjects.

Taking a more innovative approach than traditional comic publishers, Stela delivers comics, graphic novels, and visual books in the medium where today's consumers spend most of their time – mobile. Unlike print comics that are simply adapted for mobile viewing, Stela offers a rich storytelling experience uninterrupted by constant paneling, swiping, pinching or zooming. Readers simply need to scroll down and get lost in the worlds created by curated by editors from the heart of modern comics, and created by some of the most talented emerging and established names in the industry.

"We are honored that the Eisner Awards has recognized the work of Stela's artist, validating our belief that works created for the mobile platform can be just as engrossing, inspiring, and enjoyable as traditional print comics," said Jason Juan, CEO of Stela. "Just as Netflix disrupted the television and movie industry with high quality original content, Stela is looking to do the same for mobile. Creating content for mobile devices serves millions of readers and empowers them to discover and follow stories in the medium they most frequently engage with."

Excellence in Webcomics

Two Stela titles are represented in the Best Webcomics category.

Jaeger by Ibrahim Moustafa (High Crimes) tells the story of French-Algerian spy Idris Morel. Haunted by the torture he endured in a Nazi POW camp during World War II, Morel, hell-bent on exacting revenge against his captors, embarks on a one-man espionage mission to ensure that Nazi escapees are brought to justice. In his quest for revenge, Morel must find redemption, or risk becoming the very monster he hunts.

Deja Brew by Taneka Stotts and Sara DuVall begins innocuously at Bijou, where expelled witch academy student Tobias works. When Ki, a frightened girl filled with someone else's memories, shows up at Bijou, it will put Tobias through the toughest magical test he's ever faced.

Jaeger and Deja Brew were selected out of over 2,500 entrants sourced and solicited by the Eisner nomination committee. Winners will be chosen by a highly-lauded panel of blue-ribbon judges as well as by votes from leading industry professionals. The winners will be announced during an annual event at San Diego Comic-Con in July.

Deja Brew by Taneka Stotts and Sara DuVall

About Stela

Stela, LLC's flagship mobile visual content app, Stela Unlimited, is the first and only app to offer graphic novels and illustrated stories created specifically created for the mobile reader. With a library of unique and exclusive content by award-winning creators, Stela delivers the ultimate binge reading experience. Read to your hearts content and interact with a community of content creators and visual content enthusiasts with Stela Unlimited. 

For more information, visit stela.com.  

SOURCE: Stela LLC

New Book Helps People-Pleasers Take Back Their Power to Live More Authentically

Self-described former congeniality addict Cat Dols hopes to spark a 21st century "good girl" revolt with her new book, Get Your Goddess On: Own Your Power. Love Your Life! Published by Blue Bookshelf and launching May 11, the book features the former Ford model decked out in a sparkly ball gown on its cover. Despite that, the book's premise is down to earth. It is the Milwaukee resident's road map for helping women to take back the power they may have given away in a futile attempt to please other people.

Get Your Goddess On uses a mixture of stories, examples and self-guided exercises to teach women—and men who have the problem as well—how to stop living their lives according to other people's expectations so they can take charge of their own happiness. "I want people to know that they matter and they are good enough as is … even though they may have been taught they weren't in the past," Dols says. That was a message Dols needed to hear herself after growing up with a verbally abusive father and a subservient mother who only escaped his shadow after he died. For years, Dols' own worldview was colored by the negative messages and feelings of low self-worth he passed on that led her to failed relationships of her own; she has learned to overcome them and to empower others to recognize the signs and make new choices.

She can talk about:

• Why winning a Miss Congeniality Award is a losing proposition.
• The importance of becoming aware of people-pleasing tendencies and knowing what you have given away in exchange for trying to be liked.
• Finding the silver lining in life's hard lessons and what it takes to let go of mistakes you made and to forgive yourself.
• Her non-traditional definition of a goddess: a peaceful state of being that is the opposite of ego—where your authentic power resides.

Cat Dols

About Cat Dols

Cat Dols is an author, life coach, home stager, decorator, master gardener and art class teacher. Get Your Goddess On: Own Your Power. Love Your Life! is her first book. 

She has been a guest on a number of radio talk shows and been featured in Milwaukee-area newspapers. She has also authored articles for New Living magazine.

SOURCE: Cat Dols

Famed WDC Rock Venue and Local Musicians Organize Benefit Concert for The Joe Strummer Foundation

Concert Poster

Washington DC's Black Cat has hosted no shortage of iconic bands over the years including Radiohead, Beck, the Foo Fighters, and the Kings of Leon. On May 25, 2017, the renowned music venue has partnered with DC rock band Stone Driver to organize a benefit concert to support The Joe Strummer Foundation, a charity created in honor of the Clash's co-founder and one of the biggest icons in punk and rock music history, which raises money to provide opportunities to musicians and support to projects around the world that create empowerment through music.

"As a musician and huge fan of Joe Strummer's work, I was humbled to learn about the foundation that was created to help others. When our band was brainstorming ideas of how we could contribute, we spoke with Lindsay from the Black Cat who suggested holding a benefit concert. The Black Cat team is going above and beyond to assist the Joe Strummer Foundation and the communities they assist, and are hosting an outrageously good rock concert to make it all happen," - Chad Lesch, member of "Stone Driver" musical group.

Stone Driver is a critically acclaimed DC rock band that recently completed their sophomore full length album "Rocks" with famed London producer Sefi Carmel (David Bowie, Phil Collins, Bruno Mars), and will be joined on stage with the exceptionally talented power pop quartet Classified Frequency, and high energy rocker and DC music veteran Derek Evry.

Stone Driver press photo

The Joe Strummer Foundation was established in 2002 shortly after the rock icon's passing. The non-profit organization is committed to the prevention or relief of poverty, particularly of young people, anywhere in the world by providing grants, items and services to individuals in need and/or charities, or other organizations working to prevent or relieve poverty.

The Joe Strummer Foundation Benefit Concert will take place on May 25th, 2017 at the Black Cat in DC.  Doors open at 7:30PM, and the benefit concert will begin at 8:00PM and end by 11:30PM.  Tickets are available in advance on Ticketfly for $12, and the Black Cat is located at 1811 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009.

• To purchase tickets in advance on Ticketfly, please go to www.ticketfly.com/event/1434040-stone-driver-washington/
• For more information about Stone Driver, please go to facebook.com/StoneDriverBand and/or www.StoneDriver.com
• For more information about the Joe Strummer Foundation, please contact them at +44 (0) 208 133 9101 or email at info@joestrummerfoundation.org.

SOURCE: Stone Driver

375th Anniversary Of Montreal - Unveiling Of A Spectacular Totem Pole Created By Charles Joseph

Charles Joseph (born in 1959), Residential School Totem Pole, 2014-2016, red cedar, acrylic paint, H. 1,524; W. 762; Diam. 152.4 cm. Collection Jim Balsillie Photo Greg McKee 2016. (CNW Group/Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal)

Artist Charles Joseph (1959) of the Kwakiutl Nation of the West Coast of Canada will unveil his work Residential School Totem Pole to be raised in the ancestral territory of Kanien'keha:ka, the nation to which it pays homage, in the context of an official opening ceremony for the work. This totem pole, displayed for the first time, will form part of La Balade pour la Paix – An Open-Air Museum, an exhibition of public art, designed and organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with the support of McGill University as part of the official programme celebrating Montreal's 375th anniversary

This monumental piece (21.45 metres high) will open the exhibition route along Sherbrooke Street West in front of the MMFA's Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion. The totem pole is a tribute to the First Nations children, of whom the artist Charles Joseph was one, who were taken away from their families and sent to the residential schools of religious communities. On May 29, 2015 the Canadian government acknowledged that these children had been, between 1820 and 1996, the victims of a cultural genocide.

Charles Joseph states: "Presenting this pole is for all Canadians, not just residential school survivors. This is my reconciliation, and my story is on the pole. The story is not just about Charles Joseph, it's about everyone who went through it. I need to tell the story in this form, but it is about survivors from across Canada."

According to Nathalie Bondil, the Museum's Director General and Chief Curator, "We are deeply moved today to unveil this new totem pole by Charles Joseph in the context of the celebrations. Only six of the First Nations of the West Coast ever carved these works… and there are even fewer today because the technical and artistic skills required to make them are so demanding. Traditionally the gigantic witnesses to their history perpetuated the story of important events for the Native Peoples. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada estimates that 150,000 children were torn from their families during the past century, complying with the government's assimilation policy. Telling the story of this tragedy through the powerful artistry of one of our leading creators is essential in the perspective of our new century."

"We are very honoured to be a part of this totem raising ceremony here on Kanien'keha:ka territory," says Christine Zachary Deom, Chief of the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake. "Our territory has always been a place of gathering and exchange and we are very pleased to see these bridges being built with Montreal, the Kwakiutl Nation, and our community. Our people have been eager to have their presence and history acknowledged, and this is a great initiative towards reconciliation" she added.

"We salute the involvement of our First Nations artists in making Canadians aware of our history, even of its darkest side, as in the case of the residential schools. I thank Charles Joseph for this work, and above all for its positive consciousness-raising effect. This is a contribution that will help to bring about the reconciliation of our peoples that is so vital", stated Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Quebec-Labrador Assembly of First Nations.

"The Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary is happy to emphasize the close links that bind together the First Nations peoples and our City. With its over 30,000 Native citizens, Montreal constitutes the largest indigenous community in Quebec. La Balade pour la paix, the flagship project of the official programme for the celebrations of the 375th anniversary, is an ideal expression of the wealth of links between our peoples. The work of the artist Charles Joseph of the Kwakiutl Nation, raised on the ancestral territory of Kanien'keha:ka, is a prime example of the cultural richness of the First Nations and of the ties that bind us", said Alain Gignac, Director General of the the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375th Anniversary.

"The City is firmly committed to reconciliation, and our pledge takes on new meaning as we stand before this totem pole and remember the thousands of Aboriginal people who passed through the residential school system. This totem pole reminds us of our present duty, and we are humbled by history. I would like to commend Charles Joseph for creating this work of art and thank all the partners who made its presentation in Montreal possible. As we celebrate Montreal's 375th anniversary, understanding and reconciliation with Aboriginal peoples are of vital importance," said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal.

The totem pole is a symbol of reconciliation and commemoration. It embodies a strong sense of the identity and pride of the Kwakiutl Nation of the West Coast of Canada. Joseph's Residential School Totem Pole depicts, from the bottom to the top: the members of the family of the sponsor of the Totem; the cedar ring symbolizing safety; the wild woman responsible for the traditional culture; the killer whale, the guardian of memory; the crow representing the alliance of Church and State; the bear for its strength and wisdom; the Arctic fox, the witness of the past; the Kulus, the great black ravens that according to the legend created the islands of the West Coast of Canada by dropping pebbles into the ocean; and at the top the two-headed snake with its wings unfurled in the shape of a cross.

The sculptor Charles Joseph also works as a fisherman and in the forest to provide for his family. As a child he spoke only his mother tongue, kwak'wala, before he learned English. He is deeply committed to preserving his culture. The revitalization and dissemination of the Kwakiutl traditions is the legacy he hopes to pass on to future generations. His works breathe new life into a culture, his own, which might have been decimated by the policies and practices of the colonizing powers. These creations are part of the process of reappropriating the Kwakiutl identity and the preservation of the way of life of the ancestors.

La Balade pour la Paix –An Open-Air MuseumOn Sherbrooke Street West between the sections the MMFA/Concordia University – the McCord Museum/McGill UniversityJune 5 to October 29, 2017

La Balade pour la Paix – An Open-Air Museum is part of the official programme for the 375th anniversary of Montreal. A truly open-air museum, the route will display works by Canadian and international artists, and fly the flags with the colours of the Confederation of Canada and of some 200 other countries. Commemorating two other important events, the 50th anniversary of Expo 67 and the 150th anniversary of the Confederation, the Balade reminds us that Expo 67, visited by 50 million people, was a window on to the world, a memorable event for Quebec and for Canada.

The ambassador for this exhibition is no other than Louise Arbour, who has battled throughout her career for the rights of man. She is currently the UN Special Representative for International Migration.

The exhibition has been designed and organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts with the support of McGill University. Thanks to the support of the City of Montreal, La Balade pour la Paix runs for a kilometre along Sherbrooke Street between the MMFA and Concordia University and the McCord Museum and McGill University. The curators are Nathalie Bondil, Director General and Chief Curator of the MMFA, Sylvie Lacerte, art historian and consultant for public art and Diane Charbonneau, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Decorative Arts, Design and Photography at the MMFA. The design for the installation was conceived by Claude Cormier, landscape architect, in collaboration with designer Michel Dallaire.

To learn more about the contribution of the Québec government to Montréal's 375th Anniversary celebrations, click here.

SOURCE: Société des célébrations du 375e anniversaire de Montréal

Nalgene Outdoor Unveils New Marvel Universe-Inspired Bottles for the Guardians of the Galaxy

Nalgene Outdoor introduces a new universe of its popular reusable bottles inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy characters.

As part of its recent collaboration with Marvel, Nalgene Outdoor introduces a new universe of its popular reusable bottles inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy characters. The Guardians of the Galaxy bottles add to Nalgene's newly-launched Avengers bottle collection.

"We'll leave the fate of the universe in the Guardians' capable hands, but when it comes to defeating thirst, our bottles are known to hydrate even the toughest of Super Heroes," says Eric Hansen, product director, Nalgene Outdoor Products. "Nalgene's durable bottles together with the beloved characters from Guardians of the Galaxy bring this collaboration to life in another creative way we believe our users will enjoy."

For Marvel enthusiasts with big thirsts, Nalgene Outdoor selected its iconic, Made-in-USA 32-ounce Wide Mouth bottle for the Guardians collaboration. The new Guardians of the Galaxy bottles will include seven different designs featuring Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Groot and Rocket Raccoon. 

These bottles will join the popular Marvel Avengers collection featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Hulk, Black Widow, and Marvel Avengers group.

"Marvel, a brand whose celebrated Super Heroes inspire people to achieve their potential, has been a great collaboration for Nalgene," adds Hansen. "We're looking forward to introducing the Guardians' Nalgene bottles and expanding the collection with other anticipated Marvel properties later this year."

All of Nalgene Outdoor's products are BPA- and BPS-free, dishwasher safe and carry a lifetime guarantee.

Samples and product or lifestyle photos are available upon request. For more information, visit www.nalgene.com.

Nalgene’s Marvel-inspired Guardians of the Galaxy bottles are now available in the iconic 32-ounce Wide Mouth style in seven different designs

About Marvel Entertainment 
Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy-five years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing.  

For more information visit marvel.com. ©2017 MARVEL

SOURCE: Nalgene Outdoor

Over 60 Wildlife Species At Risk In Canada's Changing North

Atlantic Walrus © J. Higdon (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

Atlantic Walrus and Eastern Migratory Caribou are at risk of extinction. So concluded the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which met in Whitehorse, April 23-28. The number of Canadian northern wildlife species considered to be at risk now stands at 62.

Canada has already lost one of its three populations of Atlantic Walrus. Once abundant in ocean waters of Atlantic Canada, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the animals were hunted to extinction by 1850. The two surviving populations rely on Canadian Arctic marine habitat and have coexisted with Indigenous peoples for millennia. 

Over the past few decades, the areas inhabited by the few thousand High Arctic walruses and the more numerous Central and Low Arctic population have shrunk and continue to do so. As the climate warms and sea ice recedes, interaction with industry and tourism is increasing. These threats, layered upon ongoing harvesting, led the committee to recommend a status of Special Concern for both populations. 

According to marine mammal expert and COSEWIC member Hal Whitehead, "The walrus is a most unusual and distinctive mammal of the northern seas. Walruses have been very important to the Inuit, both as food and in their culture, and they remain so today. Walruses are particularly sensitive to disturbance, and certainly deserve special attention."

Many caribou populations have previously been assessed by COSEWIC, but the committee considered the Eastern Migratory Caribou for the first time. The famous George River herd in Québec and Labrador numbered over 800,000 in 1993, but the numbers have now fallen to an unprecedented low of a few thousand animals. A second major herd is also in serious decline. The committee therefore recommended Endangered status. 

Graham Forbes, co-chair of COSEWIC's Terrestrial Mammals Subcommittee, stressed the sensitivity of caribou to human activity, a condition complicated by rapid northern climate change: "Shrubs increasingly cover landscapes that were once dominated by lichen, caribou's major winter food source, and overharvest continues. We are worried that these factors may make it very hard for herds to recover."

Parts of Canada's North are warming faster than anywhere else in the world, and the number of northern species at risk is rising. Over half of these at-risk species are currently assessed as being of Special Concern, meaning measures to address climate change and good management of hunting, disturbance, and development are needed to prevent their status from deteriorating to Threatened. 

Yukon Fish and Wildlife Management Board Chair, Frank Thomas, highlighted the need to coordinate efforts toward this goal: "Local communities, through the work of management boards, play an important role in the conservation of Canada's northern biodiversity. We all need to work together."

Eric Taylor, Chair of COSEWIC, echoed Mr. Thomas' call to action: "Canada's biodiversity is at risk from coast to coast to coast, and timely action on many fronts is required, from dealing with habitat disturbance and overharvesting to concerted efforts to combat the effects of climate change."

At the meeting, a number of other wildlife species were found to be at risk. Examples include:

Endangered

• Ord's Kangaroo Rat (neither a kangaroo nor a rat), a rare Prairie dune specialist
• Some populations of Lake Sturgeon, a large, very long-lived species affected by historical overfishing
• Butternut, a tree in eastern provinces devastated by a fungal disease.

Special Concern

• Harris's Sparrow, a northern songbird breeding only in Canada and showing ongoing declines largely due to pressures on their wintering grounds in the US
• Shortfin Mako, an open-ocean shark found seasonally in Atlantic Canadian waters and showing signs of recovery from overfishing.

>> Further details on all wildlife species assessed at this meeting can be found on the COSEWIC website <<

Harris’s Sparrow © G. Romanchuk (CNW Group/Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada)

Next meeting

COSEWIC's next scheduled wildlife species assessment meeting will be held in November 2017.

About COSEWIC

COSEWIC assesses the status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, or other important units of biological diversity, considered to be at risk in Canada. To do so, COSEWIC uses scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge provided by experts from governments, academia and other organizations. Summaries of assessments are currently available to the public on the COSEWIC website (www.cosewic.gc.ca) and will be submitted to the Federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change in fall 2017 for listing consideration under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). At this time, the status reports and status appraisal summaries will be publicly available on the Species at Risk Public Registry (www.sararegistry.gc.ca).

At its most recent meeting, COSEWIC assessed 33 wildlife species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 9 Endangered, 3 Threatened, and 13 Special Concern. In addition to these wildlife species that are in COSEWIC risk categories, COSEWIC assessed 1 wildlife species as Extinct and 5 as Not at Risk. An additional 2 were found to be Data Deficient.

COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal entities (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Nature), three Non-government Science Members, and the Co-chairs of the Species Specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees.

Definition of COSEWIC terms and status categories:

• Wildlife Species: A species, subspecies, variety, or geographically or genetically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism, other than a bacterium or virus, that is wild by nature and is either native to Canada or has extended its range into Canada without human intervention and has been present in Canada for at least 50 years.
• Extinct (X): A wildlife species that no longer exists.
• Extirpated (XT): A wildlife species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but exists elsewhere.
• Endangered (E): A wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.
• Threatened (T): A wildlife species that is likely to become Endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction. 
• Special Concern (SC): A wildlife species that may become Threatened or Endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats.
• Not at Risk (NAR): A wildlife species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances. 
• Data Deficient (DD): A category that applies when the available information is insufficient (a) to resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment or (b) to permit an assessment of the wildlife species' risk of extinction.
• Species at Risk: A wildlife species that has been assessed as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern.

SOURCE: Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada