Take Action: 7 Days that Can Change the World

	Action 1. Free Education Pack and Video Get your school or youth group to join in. We have a superb 15-minute film (DVD or video) all about life beneath the waves. This informative introduction is a great starting point for understanding more about the issues that marine animals face. The education pack is ideal for young people of all ages, but has been particularly designed to be appropriate for school classes for 10-15 year olds. The special 16-page classroom guide is in colour with pages that can be photocopied for students. View the video and download the packet. Visit www.myanimalisland.org to learn more about marine wildlife


	Action 2. Animal Action Awards Nominate someone for an Animal Action Award! IFAW's awards now run in countries all around the world. We are looking for special people who have done something outstanding for animals. Perhaps they have devoted their life to saving animals at a sanctuary or they campaign tirelessly for animal welfare. We want to recognise the work of these exceptional people, so tell us why you think they should receive this prestigious award by sending us an email.


	Action 3. Plastic Bag Pledge Help combat the threats to marine wildlife in your own home. Refuse, Reduce, Recycle and Reuse - don’t be part of the plastic plague that threatens oceans and the animals beneath the waves. Also take energy conservation action at home to help in the fight against global warming. Send us up to 150 words saying what you are doing to help at home and we will send you a free campaign cotton shopping bag. Plastic Bag Pledge - Involve family, friends and others in our Plastic Bag Pledge and earn yourself a free campaign cotton shopping bag by sending us your completed pledge form. Watch this video on plastics in the ocean. Get your friends and family to sign the pledge.


	Action 4. Say "Fantastic! Not Plastic!" and help clean up the river Thames On Wed 17th Sept, dozens of school children will be helping to clean up the bank of the river Thames by picking up rubbish to show their commitment to protecting the marine environment and to help save wildlife from the dangers of plastic. TV vet Emma Milne will be lending a hand at one of the most littered parts of the Thames, the Isle of Dogs. Join our big campaign to clean up plastic and other rubbish that threatens the future of the oceans and marine wildlife. Plastic accounts for nearly 90% of the waste in the oceans of the world. Get your school, group, family or friends to join our global Pick Up Plastic! Protect Marine Wildlife campaign by organizing a plastic rubbish collection of a beach, river, lake, park or other area. Remember much of the plastic rubbish on the streets reaches the sea. Send us your completed data collection form and a photo of your clean-up operation and we will send a free campaign cotton shopping bag for everyone who took part. See the Pick Up Plastic! Protect Marine Wildlife Guide for step by step advice on organising your clean up operation.


	Action 5. Join the Community - Spread the Word Take a photo of you or your group participating in the Pick Up Plastic! Protect Marine Wildlife campaign and then upload it to the IFAW website to share with others. Upload your photo now!


	Action 6. Design a Poster Help us create a poster about the need to protect our oceans and marine wildlife. We want you to paint a colourful picture of marine wildlife and write a slogan to go with it. The best entries will receive a limited edition animal print by famous artist Pollyanna Pickering. A selection of the winning entries will be used to create our Animal Action Week wall calendar. Download an entry form for the Design a Poster Competition.


	Action 7. Fundraising One of the best ways you can help IFAW help animals is to raise funds for our work. Perhaps you can do a sponsored event, such as a run, walk, swim or other fundraising activity and get support from your friends and family. Of course, you may have other great fundraising ideas of your own, which is terrific. Download a sponsorship form you can use to get started. Join IFAW Show that you care about animals and the environment we share with them. Sign up for action alerts.