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Fur gets the cold shoulder

 Brantnews February 12th, 2009

 

Animal rights activists gave fur the cold shoulder on Friday during an anti-fur protest in front of the Lynden Park Mall on Wayne Gretzky Parkway.

"We're here to expose the cruelty of fur," Compassion for Animals spokesperson Bob Timmons said.

The small group of protesters, mostly from Toronto, stripped down to their underwear at noon in -3 C weather, posing with hearts that read "have a heart don't buy fur."

The protest lasted about an hour.

Brantford resident Joyce Braun was among those who shed their clothes to send a message.

"What most people don't realize is that the majority of animals used for fur are used for fur trim, which is still widely available in this community," she said. "There are no labelling requirements for fur garments, so anyone could be wearing fur now and not know it."

Timmons said any garment with less than 25 per cent fur content does not need to be labelled.

Friday's action was one of 20 similar Compassion for Animals demonstrations across the county as part of national anti-fur day.

Protests were planned in cities including Halifax, Ottawa, Brockville, Guelph and Edmonton.

You can go here to see the above information : http://www.brantnews.com/news.cfm?page=news&section=read&articleId=6898&pagenumber=3#Convo

 

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 91.5 Beat Hit Music Radio - Adele's Blog

PAY IT FORWARD

Friday, February 05, 2010

Its your turn Oxford County to nominate a deserving family you believe has an unique story. A family that has inspired you! There is a special way to give back to them on Family Day 2010.

This special event includes a Professional Family Portrait Session with a make-up artist and hairstylist, escorted by Black Ty Limousine to BostonPizza for a fabulous dinner and so much more. The generosity of these local businesses is priceless! A Toronto Artist, Bob Timmons, Artist for the Oceans, is donating one of his favorite paintings too! To see his work visit www.bobtimmons.org

All of us at Swanson’s EyeImagine Photography and friends want to give back to our community! You can help us do this for Family Day 2010! This is what you do now!

Think of a family that you want to help make a difference in their life, a family who motivates you, a family who has overcome struggles and hardships, a family that makes you smile, warms your heart, a family who deserves a special day and then you write to us with their story at:

swansonseyeimagine@yahoo.com OR

PO Box 216, Innerkip, ONT N0J 1M0

we need to receive your nominations by

February 12, 2010. Please include your contact info that will be kept con

fidential.

The deserving family will be picked by members of this great community.

On FAMILY DAY, February 15, 2010 the family will be presented with

their basket of gifts.

This is 100% PAY IT FORWARD!

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

ONE FAMILY AT A TIME!!

Minuteman

You can go here to see the above information : http://www.915thebeat.com/home/FunStuff/BlogAdle/tabid/656/Default.aspx

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Animal Voices Interview

December 15th, 2009

I was interviewed on Animal Voices Radio - Toronto, between 11:15am to 12pm about my Art & Activism. The Show's website is http://www.animalvoices.ca and you can listen locally on the radio on CIUT 89.5FM every Tuesday Morning at 11am. My interview will be posted on this website as soon as I am able to download the Mp3 and you'll be able to listen to it or you can watch the video I recorded of me speaking synced with the Mp3. Internationally you can listen online at http://www.ciut.fm .

December 15, 2009

An Ocean of Energy: An Interview with Bob Timmons

Few activists can boast the energy and determination of Bob Timmons. Bursting onto the Toronto animal advocacy community just two short years ago, Bob has proven himself since to be a dedicated and tireless member of groups such as ARKII. He has written letters, facilitated networking among activists, and logged countless hours of in-the-streets activism. In addition to his on-the-ground work, Bob also continues to create stunning “awareness paintings” that call attention to the ever-tragic stories of marine animals around the world as he pushes his visual arts practice without concern for profit or fame.

Join us for this conversation where we learn about how Bob became passionate about animal issues, specifically marine conservation, and be a part of an exclusive announcement that Bob is now on the advisory board of Oceanic Defense! This is a portrait of an activist that you don't want to miss.

You can go here to link to the above information: http://www.animalvoices.ca/shows/bob_timmons

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Bob Timmons – Endangered Marine Animal Artist and Activist

A few months ago I was randomly surfing the Internet for animal conservation news and I came across the website of this really unique artist. His name is Bob Timmons and his originality lies stems from the specific area he has chosen to focus his talents. The marine world is one that has been silently suffering for hundreds of years. Even before the 16^th century huge trawlers have been sweeping our oceans and leaving behind ghost nets that will continue to needlessly kill marine life for centuries

Only recently have we made a serious effort to reverse or at least halt some of the damage we have done beneath the waves. Inspired by the 2007 film ‘Sharkwater’ which chronicles the struggle of many shark species for survival against the increasing demand for shark fin products, Bob Timmons decided to use his natural abilities and the public’s connection to art as a way to communicate  these atrocities that have gone unnoticed.

Bob is a self-taught artist who has been painting since childhood. Though he had drifted away from the art world for awhile, he began painting again and moved to Toronto in 2007 to immerse himself in a more artistic environment. Since his arrival in Toronto Bob has had some major successes with his development as an artist and activist. After a successful letter writing campaign which pressured the company Holista to stop selling shark capsules he was asked to join Ark II, an animal rights organization where he now works as the International Director of Campaigns.

His art which at times shows the horrific truth behind the slaughter of marine life for commercial purposes is often met with shock. According to Bob, most people have an interest in learning the story behind the work. His ‘awareness’ paintings which are used for educational purposes will be exhibited publicly for the first time this November 17^th-December 6^that the Hangman Gallery in Toronto.

LINK TO WEBSITE IF STILL POSTED : http://globalshift.org/2009/09/bob-timmons/#more-928

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 AUGUST 20TH, 2009

GREEN GUIDE NETWORK

Interview With Eco-Artist Bob Timmons

Posted By Jennifer Maclellan

Interivew with Eco-Artist Bob Timmons

Bob Timmons is an Endangered Marine Animal Artist and Activist.  In a few short years his art has not only added to public awareness of animal exploitation but has also allowed him to pursue his cause internationally as the Director of Campaigns for an animal rights organization, ARK II.  I spoke to Bob about the message and inspiration behind his passion.

GGN: Why don't you tell us a bit about your background as an artist?

Art comes naturally for me and I am self taught. I have been drawing since grade school and I have even won some awards for my art. During my college years, where I took Environmental Sciences, I had gotten away from art and didn't start painting again until 2004 when someone handed me a canvas and some oil paints. I absolutely loved it and decided to move into Toronto in 2007 to pursue my art hobby, hopefully turning it into a possible life-style. My apartment in Toronto was comfortably small with low ventilation so I switched from Oils to Acrylic paints and then had to learn how to use them since they dry so fast. I joined up with the Riverdale Artist Network that worked out of the Hangman Gallery and away I went to learn how to connect into the art world.

GGN: What drew you to painting endangered marine animals?

When I moved to Toronto in 2007 I watched a movie called "Sharkwater", a documentary by Robert Stewart about the decreasing shark population mainly due to the hunting of Sharks for fin soup.  This movie really opened my eyes to the outrageous human actions in the ocean. Scarborough Arts Council, a local gallery was having a Juried Gallery showing and "Environment" was the theme. I was inspired and became intensified with emotions. Sharks came to my mind and I started to paint. I felt I could fight for the sharks with my paint brush and I created my first "Awareness Painting" that told the story of WHY the sharks were being killed, a measly bowl of soup. I named it "One Shark Is Worth A Million Now". The art show was to be held during the Chinese New Year 2008 and for the first time it was being held in a Chinese Establishment. I felt this was a great opportunity and I submitted this painting to be juried. The painting which depicts a bowl of Shark Fin Soup was not selected to be part of the gallery showing. I wanted to get this message out. I looked to the internet and I found people interested in hearing about the painting.  I now wanted to use the painting as a way of getting this story told. I started to use my Myspace page and then started up a Facebook page to put out the story. I found that a lot of people were looking out for the ocean and I started to join their groups. A network was building and so was my research.

GGN: Some of your paintings portray the harsh reality that animals suffer everyday, how have these blunt images been received by the public?

My awareness paintings have not been shown together to the public but will be exhibited November 17th - December 6th at the Hangman Gallery in Toronto. I have been involved with some outdoor art shows where I have brought along one awareness painting. These paintings are 48" by 40" and really capture peoples attention.  Most people want to figure them out and want to know the story behind them. This allows me to tell people the message behind my work which is the horrific slaughter of marine life and how it affects them, the environment and contributes to the decline to the species itself. The response has been positive. Most people who enter my tent are children who know more about what is happening then their parents which makes me very happy. Children are the future and as we get older we tend to forget the little things and we become disassociated to our environment and that is when negative actions happen.  I am currently making a book about these paintings and each painting will have its own chapter telling the story for the marine animal. I'm pushing to have this book available in the fall of 2009.

GGN: Your website says 25% of profits from sales are donated to the Sea Shepherd's Conservation efforts. What appeals to you about their tough hands on approach to cease animal exploitation?

The 25% profit is from the sales of the Print Collection numbered 1 to 25 of "The Voyage Of My Soul" which is my positive response to the Sea Shepherd's Actions. My life has always been about standing your ground and making every moment work towards something better and the Sea Shepherd is just that. If you do not stand up to the actions of the corporate world then we'll have nothing left to love on our planet. Exploitation of animals is outrageous and has become second nature in our society.

GGN: How has your work affected you personally and professionally?

My artwork has affected me personally and professionally on many levels, mainly by helping me use my energy more wisely and efficiently. My network had informed me of a Holista product called '100% Shark Cartilage Capsules", a product advertised to help with osteoarthritis but scientifically had shown no positive results.  I wanted to take action against Holista and stop the production of these capsules.  I joined ARK II, (Animal Rights Kollective) who was willing to support my effort and offered me a job as Director for ARK II campaigns.  I was able to get in touch with Alex Earl of the Sea Shepherd's Conservation Society and he opened up dialogue with Holista.  I had everyone I could reach send letters to Holista and within weeks my first campaign was finished with a positive result.  Holista sent out a memo stating they would no longer be selling shark capsules.  My life took a 360 degree turn to a more compassionate and passionate lifestyle and my art is truly what I believe from within. I have become a Vegan, the International Director of Campaigns for Animal Rights Organization called ARK II and I am very active and supportive to a numerous amounts of Animal Rights Groups through Demonstrations and Marches. After one year of being active I had the opportunity to join forces with Juli Kaiss of Zoocheck Canada to bring Paul Watson to Toronto. June 17th we had a masquerade party of pirates and mermaids and raised over $5,000. I also had a fundraiser on Facebook and worldwide I raised $4,622 USD for the Sea Shepherd.

 I was just surviving before like 95% of the population, going to work and paying bills and now I'm actually living and putting out some meaningful works of art. Believe me when I say that the most amazing people I have met in my life have come to me in the last year because of my new artistic path for the animals.

 LINK TO WEBSITE IF STILL POSTED:

http://greenguidenetwork.com/interview-detail/Interivew-with-Eco-Artist-Bob-Timmons-21/ 

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 AUGUST 7TH, 2009

BRANTFORD EXPOSITOR NEWSPAPER

Artist draws attention to plight of sharks

Posted By SUSAN GAMBLE

A little boy from Brantford's Boomtown has won one for the shark team.

Bob Timmons, who grew up in the housing project at Stanley and Darling streets, has always lived in two worlds.

He went to both St. John's College and Pauline Johnson Collegiate, graduating from PJ. He got into environmentalism but went to work for an oil company. And he took a degree in environmental science but ended up as an artist.

Now the little boy who loved art has a new mission in his life: focusing on environmental art and saving animal lives.In fact, he is responsible for saving thousands of sharks over the next few years.

Now living in Toronto, Bob learned that about 100 million sharks die each year due to illegal "finning" --the nasty practice of catching the shark on long lines, cutting the fin off and throwing the animal back into the ocean.

Appalled, Bob joined a group called Animal Rights Kollective and became the group's director of international campaigns.

His first goal was to reduce the number of sharks that die to produce shark cartilage capsules.

With about 4,000 people following his Facebook page, Bob --partnered with other environmental groups --targeted Holista, the makers of shark cartilage pills which, Bob says, can be toxic and have been proven to have no effect.

"It's unethical and environmentally unsound to continue producing and selling 100% shark cartilage," he says.

And Holista finally agreed, sending a letter that they're dropping the capsules from their product line.

"This was my first campaign and it ended up being very successful."

That's a thrill for Bob but he's quickly turning his attention to his next project: shark fin soup.

"All the Asian markets in the big cities sell it and we want to stop shark fin soup in Canada."

LINK TO WEBSITE IF STILL POSTED : http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1689298

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HOLISTA'S FORMAL LETER

April 27, 2009
RE: Holista Shark Cartilage

Holista Health Inc. serves a loyal and ever-growing population of health-conscious individuals
who are looking for natural ways to maintain and enhance their lives.
At Holista, we are concerned with the health and well-being of our customers and our
environment. Over the last several years, we have been reviewing more closely the ecological
impact of using Shark Cartilage as a nutritional supplement. We have long been aware of the
poaching of sharks for their fins alone and continue to oppose this practice. Although the supply
of our Shark Cartilage products does not come from sharks harvested in this manner, we have
come to the conclusion that any harvesting of sharks creates a potential for ecological harm. In
addition, we have consulted with various conservation groups who have provided us with
valuable insight around this critical issue.

It is for this reason that Holista has ceased purchasing Shark Cartilage raw materials and will no
longer be producing Shark Cartilage products. It is our hope that this decision will contribute to
the necessary global moratorium required on the harvesting of sharks.
Cartilage supplements are used primarily by individuals suffering from the pain and debilitating
effects of osteoarthritis. We are confident that the scientific evidence¹ supports the use of
cartilage and chondroitin supplements in the maintenance of joint health and will continue to
provide our customers with natural, effective products from alternate sources.
Holista is dedicated to providing the best products to our customers. We look forward to your
continued support.

Product Information Services
Holista Health
Phone: 1-800-204-4372
info@holista.ca