Leading Animal Campaigner Jan Creamer Awarded For Advocacy Work
6 years ago 
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Animal Defenders International (ADI) President Jan Creamer is to be honored at TheWIFTS International Visionary Awards 2017 in recognition of ADI’s life-saving work for animals under her leadership. At an exclusive event in Los Angeles on December 10th, Jan will be presented with The Otilia Animal Advocacy award inaugurated by Tippi Hedren in 2014.
Jan Creamer, ADI President said “It is an honor to be chosen for this special award. As a species, we are having a devastating effect on the lives of animals and our shared environment, they need our help. Humanity can be a force for good, protecting our planet and the other species who call it home.”
Celebrating its 10th year, The Women’s International Film & Television Showcase and TheWIFTS Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness of ‘singular women as individuals’. TheWIFTS Foundation selected Angela Merkel as TheWIFTS Woman of The Decade (Society) & Gal Gadot Woman of The Decade (Film). Often unrecognized for their passion and integrity in their chosen field, fellow honorees include actress Elaine Partnow; Cassini Project Lead Scientist Linda J Spilker; documentary filmmakers Gina Abatemarco and Taira Akbar; Mayes C. Rubeo Costume Designer for Thor: Ragnarok, currently in cinemas worldwide.
A short film showcasing ADI’s work for animals led by Jan will be screened at the awards ceremony, and feature the organization’s latest rescue mission, the epic Operation Spirit of Freedom in which more than 100 animals from circuses and the illegal wildlife trade were saved. As ADI assisted the government of Peru with enforcement of a ban on wild animal acts, over 30 lions were flown home to Africa and more than 50 indigenous wild animals, including six different species of monkey and bears, homed in ADI sanctuary facilities in the Amazon.
Jan co-founded ADI in 1990 with her husband and Vice President Tim Philips, and leads from the front, going toe to toe with circus owners refusing to hand over animals; writing reports; filming in animal laboratories, factory farms, animal dealers, slaughterhouses and circuses; spearheading prosecutions, or addressing national legislators and governments.
ADI’s highly committed team gathers evidence on industries such as circuses, performing animal trainers, animal laboratories and fur farms. Sustained awareness campaigns have been the catalyst for legislation protecting animals, including ending circus acts in over 40 countries, animal cruelty convictions, the EU ban on use of wild caught primates or their offspring in experiments, bans on cosmetics tests on animals in the UK and Europe and restrictions in over 180 countries on cross-border movements of endangered species in traveling exhibitions.
A major element of this work is the production of short and feature documentaries, television work and online productions. Film and television has a major impact on public understanding of animal and environmental issues and ADI has ensured that the animals are represented in film, television and online productions. The ADI’s large-scale rescue work is showcased in the multi award-winning feature documentary, Lion Ark, produced by Jan Creamer, directed by Tim Phillips. The film tells the story of the rescue of 25 lions from Bolivian circuses, in a joint ADI-Bolivian Government law enforcement operation.
Jan is one of 100 visionaries nominated by the Albert Einstein Foundation to mark 100 years of Einstein’s theory of relativity. The “world’s greatest minds” are presenting their visions of the future in the world’s first 3D-printed book Genius. The Genius: 100 Visions of the Future, include director Sir Ridley Scott, former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Barbara Streisand, former commander of the international space station Colonel Chris Hadfield, author Salman Rushdie, Nobel laureates, billionaire entrepreneurs and spiritual leaders. The global project honors the life and legacy of Albert Einstein, recognizes living visionaries, and seeks to “inspire the next generation of brilliant minds on the planet.”
Jan and Tim are also recipients of The Drury University Forum on Animal Rights ‘Bob Barker Award for Extraordinary Achievement for Animal Rights’, Legendary TV presenter and philanthropist, Bob Barker, a funder of ADI’s work, said, "I am proud to be on ADI's list of donors! In my opinion Animal Defenders International is one of the world's most productive animal protection organizations."
To support Animal Defenders International’s life-saving work www.ad-international.org/donate
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