The Summer Lunada Has Gone VIRTUAL! Northwest Mexico Conservation Science Symposium Call for film entries for the International Sea Turtle Symposium Take the B.C.S. Surf Valuation Survey! Pro Peninsula Wins in Humanity Calls Tournament

Pro Peninsula is hosting a "Virtual" Summer Lunada throughout the month of August dedicated to community conservation efforts throughout San Diego and the Baja California Peninsula. No black-tie...actually, No Attendance Required! How to “attend” the Virtual Lunada To participate in the Virtual Lunada, visit www.propeninsula.org/lunada throughout the month of August. Purchase your event ticket for just $60 and, while you’re online, check out some of the other interesting event features. Lunada sponsorships are also available starting at $250. For more sponsorship information please click here, or contact Giuliana Schroeder at gigi@propeninsula.org.

Kama Dean, the Pro Peninsula Program Officer, says, "We wanted to create a viable way for all of our supporters to participate in a fundraiser on their own terms without the expense of fancy attire, travel and time commitments. We feel that now is not the time to be extravagant! And this way, we’re hoping to engage many more people online."

In light of the recent oil spill catastrophes, Pro Peninsula finds it more important than ever to spread environmental awareness, as well as to involve local communities in supporting conservation work. After contributing to conservation and wildlife rehabilitation programs located in the Gulf of Mexico this summer, Pro Peninsula is committed to continuing and strengthening our conservation efforts close to home. Additionally, Pro Peninsula will donate 10% of funds raised during the Virtual Lunada to support conservation projects in the Gulf.

This unique virtual fundraiser features a luxury raffle including packages worth thousands, and Pro Peninsula's one-of-a-kind "Giving Cactus" program that allows you to give directly to the Pro Peninsula projects that you feel most passionate about! The luxury raffle includes three grand prizes: 1) San Diego Pampering Package, 2) Are we There Yet? Family Package; and 3) Espiritu Santi Catamaran Adventure Package for 8!

During last year’s Summer Lunada, Pro Peninsula was able to raise over $30,000! You can further our mission and support our environmental protection efforts by helping us reach this year’s Lunada fundraising goal. Purchase your "virtual" ticket today!

The Ocean Foundation, in collaboration with a diverse collection of research institutions, government agencies and non-governmental organizations, cordially invites you to save the date for a conservation science symposium discussing the application of science to the conservation and management of natural resources throughout Northwest Mexico, to be held May 25 to 27, 2011 in Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico. Through a series of oral and poster presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, we will explore marine and terrestrial issues, helping to define priorities for conservation throughout the region.

The topics of discussion will include some of today’s most pressing issues, such as:

• Climate change and its impacts on habitat and biodiversity,
• Freshwater quality, quantity, and alternative sources of water,
• Fisheries and coastal communities,
• Development, urbanization and the sustainable use of natural resources, and
• Natural protected areas, connectivity and biodiversity.

Do you have a film or documentary you would like to share at next year’s International Sea Turtle Symposium? The 31st International Sea Turtle Symposium (ISTS), which will be held in San Diego from April 12-15 2011, has partnered with Pro Peninsula to host the SYRCL Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival On-Tour. The Wild & Scenic Environmental Film Festival is the largest film festival of its kind in the United States. The Festival showcases a variety of inspirational films on conservation, community activism, adventure, responsible use of natural resources and more! The partnership of Wild & Scenic with the ISTS in 2011 will fuse together an inspiring, unique film festival with one of the world’s most outstanding scientific symposiums. The 2011 Film Festival will be “Wild & Scenic” with a strong blend of sea turtles!

We want ISTS guests to be inspired by the hard-hitting issues shown in your environmental films! This is an opportunity for conference participants to experience the passion and excitement of your discoveries in the field, as well as the challenges that researchers face while working to preserve one of the world’s most distinctive endangered animals – the sea turtle.

Next year’s Festival will feature about 100 minutes of film submitted by ISTS participants. Your audience will be a sophisticated and intelligent group of activists, adventurers, and film-fanatics who want to be inspired by your work! Pro Peninsula invites you to submit your documentary, short or full length film; we are foremost seeking pieces that demonstrate a passion for film as an art form, as well as a clear, potent and, above all, inspirational environmental message.

If your film is chosen for the 2011 ISTS, you will be invited as a VIP guest and receive special opportunities to network with other filmmakers, attend ISTS parties and events, and sell your film to the public. Admission to the Film Festival will be free to Symposium attendees as well as a ticketed public event—so films will be viewed by hundreds of other participants as well. This is your chance to share your passion for filmmaking!

Film Requirements:

• Environmental theme
• Length of 5-35 minutes
• DVD format (Ready-to-play DVD-R disc)
• Filmmakers will introduce film and speak to Festival audience
• Title of the film, a short description, your name, location, email address, and date the film was created.

If you are over the age of eighteen and have surfed in Baja California Sur in the last 365 days, please visit http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22ASL2N2J2R to take the surf valuation survey today! The B.C.S. Surf Valuation Survey is a unique study that will help gain a better understanding of the social, environmental, and economic contributions of the surfing community to the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Wide participation in this survey will help ensure that surfers are represented when proposed coastal development projects threaten marine and coastal ecosystems, and our favorite surf breaks. Additionally, this study will help to identify and propose to the Mexican state and federal governmental agencies a regional or national surfing reserve worthy of protection in B.C.S. This research is currently supported by a coalition of environmental organizations and educational institutions, including: Surfers Without Borders; WiLDCOAST; Pro Peninsula and The Ocean Foundation; The School for Field Studies’ Center for Coastal Studies; Ocean Revolution; and EcoEducadores Verde y Azul.

The results are in for the eBay Fundraising Tournament for the Environment, Humanity Calls. Thanks to all the votes and donations from YOU, Pro Peninsula received a total of 509 votes! Pro Peninsula ended up in 17th place out of a total of 145 participating nonprofits. Thanks to our supporters, Pro Peninsula received a portion of the $50,000 Tournament jackpot! We would like to thank everyone who voted for Pro Peninsula, as well as thank those who made donations directly to the Tournament. This was a great way for you to make a difference and support Pro Peninsula –we truly appreciate your generosity.