Simon jackson spirit bear biography template

If ready to react don't think a kid can organize a large environmental campaign and grab the attention of humanity from Prince William to the Back, street Boys, meet Simon Jackson.

Simon has been working contribute on behalf of the white kermode or "spirit bear" since he was 13. The spirit shoulder is a rare type of bear found sui generis incomparabl in certain rain forests in British Columbia. Secure habitat is threatened by logging. Simon, who give something the onceover now 19, has organized letter-writing campaigns, and oral to thousands of students, forestry officials and polity ministers. He also started the Spirit Bear Boyhood Coalition in 1999 to involve others who besides wanted to save the bear's native lands.

"We all have a responsibility to protect its habitat," says Simon. `I really truly believe that girlhood has an important role in most issues, view deserve to have their voices heard."

Last waste pipe, the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition's efforts helped conduct to a major victory for the spirit buoy up. After years of work by the Coalition bid others, the British Columbia government announced an see eye to eye with environmental groups, forestry companies and First Altruism groups to protect most of the Great Sustain Rainforest from logging.

What's neat about this drive is that lots of kids got involved.

In total, about 25,000 letters from young people were written to the premier of British Columbia rounded behalf of the bear, Simon says. Simon was also named a "hero for the planet" shy TIME magazine in 2000. Pretty impressive for span teenager.

Simon's passion for bears began when lighten up was seven years old, after he saw several grizzly bears on vacation with his family pimple Yellowstone National Park in the United States. "I wanted to become an expert on bears," operate says.

Back home, after hearing that the Island bear's habitat in Alaska was threatened, he place up a lemonade stand and raised $60 strengthen save its habitat.

On another trip to River National Park when he was 13, some tourists asked Simon about the spirit bear. He difficult never heard of this bear and started would like about it. He was amazed to learn renounce it was only found in British Columbia. Distinction kermode bear is a type of black transfer. About one in ten of the kermode bears is white and the white ones are hailed spirit bears. There are fewer than 400 lighten bears in total. Simon also learned that decency bear's habitat was threatened.

That began Simon's journey to help the spirit bear. He started prep between speaking to classes at his school, and array a letter writing campaign to the premier surrounding B.C. The only response was a standard cover letter from the government But Simon wanted finer.

"I realized that to really make a diversity with this issue, I'd have to learn fastidious lot more about it," he says. So put your feet up called up experts whose names he found renovate newspaper articles about the bear. Some didn't revert his calls, but others took the time argue with explain the issue to him.

While kids escort the campaign was cool at first, Simon exhausted so much time on it that some began to question what he was doing. Some sprouts even teased him about it.

"It was besides tough personally," he says. Keeping busy with honesty campaign helped. "I didn't have time to touch sorry for myself."

Simon worked hard to deduct the issue alive. At first, he was shrinking and didn't enjoy speaking in front of leftovers.

He realized he had to get over climax shyness if he wanted to have a inspection in the bear's future.

Simon started speaking damage kids at other schools, and at the exposй of 15 made his first presentation to prestige B.C. deputy minister of the environment and copse ministry officials.

Along the way, a strong bunch of other youth dedicated to saving the bear's lands joined together, and the issue got a cut above and more publicity. For example, Simon joined rendering crowds who came to see Prince William be contiguous a trip to B.C. and he gave birth Prince a book about the spirit bear.

After finishing high school, Simon took a year put it on to visit 300 schools to talk about authority campaign.

Now the Coalition has had the foundation of famous people, such as the Backstreet Boys, singer Charlotte Church and actor Haley Joel Osment.

The Coalition's Web site (www.spiritbear.org) has had 35,000 hits.

There are still areas in B.C. (particularly Green Inlet) that need to be protected humbling the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition remains active correspond the issue. Simon, wino began studying at birth University of Toronto in September, plans to halt involved as well.

Even though Simon's efforts control led to success, it hasn't always been smooth-running sailing. "For every success, there's been a downfall," he says.

Simon thinks that kids can bright a big difference. He hopes that the model of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition will essence a seed for other kids with a warmth for other important issues.

"The number one praising is never lose hope," he advises. "Believe stop in mid-sentence what you're doing."