Close on 73 million sharks are murdered each year, and this is a conservative claim. If the wholesale slaughter of these magnificently adapted creatures is not stopped with immediate effect, sharks may well join the ranks of the dodo, the Tasmanian wolf and the quagga.

Conservation bodies are struggling to get the attention of world governments in an effort to regulate shark fisheries but the fact that sharks have a poor public image in conjunction with the low economic viability of these fisheries has made this task near to impossible.

7.8 million sharks killed off the Southern African coast alone

Recent literature published in the National Geographic suggests that 7.8 million sharks are killed off the Southern African coast alone each year, and largely by mistake. Hooks intended for other maritime creatures often find sharks instead and although recreational fishermen are slowly embracing a ?catch and release? method, many opt to remove the shark from the planet permanently.

The insatiable Asian appetite for shark fin soup and other mythical delicacies has elevated the status of at least 1/5 of all shark species to the seriously endangered list but it is not only the rampant killing that is so disturbing, it is the unconscionable cruelty that shows a total lack of respect for the species.

Unconscionable cruelty

The fin is generally removed with a hot metal blade but instead of putting the critically maimed creature out of its misery, it is simply tossed back into the water to die a slow and painful death. The immobile victim will either suffocate or fall prey to other ocean going predators.

It is not only the east that is responsible for the unprecedented depletion of shark stocks throughout the world

• In Australia, the main ingredient of fish and chips is shark, disguised as ?flake’.
• In India, baby sharks are considered a rare delicacy and are the main component of the popular dish ?sora puttu?.
• In Iceland, the national dish is ?hakarl? or fermented shark.

Late maturation increases vulnerability

What makes the shark particularly vulnerable to extinction is the fact that they mature later than other animals and consequently cannot breed rapidly enough to sustain their populations. It has been documented that some species have declined by over 90% in the past 30 years but an overall 70% decline would not be out of the ballpark.

The Great white shark, vilified in the cult movie ?Jaws?, has made it onto a rather unenviable list, that of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species or C.I.T.E.S Appendix II list of endangered species but fortunately the sheer majesty and brute power of these sharks has won them a few friends.

Shark cage diving leads to a better understanding

Shark cage diving off the coast of Cape Town, for instance, has had a positive impact on the future of these beasts. By observing them closely in their natural habitat, a lot has been learnt of these demonized creatures of the deep. Finally some of the myths that have led to the brutal killing of this magnificent creature have been laid to rest but the industry as a whole needs to be effectively regulated if we are to protect the dwindling number of sharks in our waters.

When it comes to fast, reliable weight loss supplements, Hoodia Gordonii is the media darling. This ungainly succulent was originally used by the Sans Bushmen of the Kalahari to suppress appetite during times of food scarcity. Because it grows in one of the harshest regions of the world, Hoodia Gordonii comes with an air of mystery as well as weight loss benefits. Although extracts from this succulent can effectively suppress appetite, it has been a challenge to make Hoodia Gordonii readily available.

Hoodia Gordonii is a succulent that grows primarily in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. This plant looks just like a cactus, complete with spines and stem clusters. Because of its large flowers, it is designated as a succulent. Hoodia Gordonii and its related species tend to grow in gravel and shale. They also require the intense desert heat to grow and flourish.

The rights to grow and export this succulent are zealously guarded by the Sans Bushmen, their lawyers, and the African nations in which the plant originates. As an example, Hoodia Gordonii is a protected species in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa. In many cases, wild harvesting is not allowed, and farming and export rights are severely limited. Currently, it is believed that all Hoodia Gordonii supplements are derived from wild plants.

Although there are no exact statistics on the amount of illegal trade, it is estimated to be very high. Because Hoodia Gordonii is a “dietary supplement” it is not regulated the way prescription and over the counter medication are. Therefore, there is very little that can be done to control purity issues.

Contrary to popular belief, this specific plant is not endangered. There are several other succulents and cactus plants that look just like it. These in turn, are on the verge of extinction. Unfortunately for these other species, the high demand for Hoodia Gordonii causes them to be collected by mistake. Thus, species that have Red List Endangered Species Protection are at more risk than ever before.

Because of the difficulties associated with obtaining licenses to collect and export Hoodia Gordonii, this succulent is a prime target for poachers and other unsavory characters. These criminals have been known to harvest the wrong plants and pass them off as Hoodia Gordonii. This affects endangered species as well as create the potential for plants entering the supplemental food chain that are useless for weight loss. In some cases, these plants may be poisonous to humans, and do much more harm than good.

All of these complexities make extracts from Hoodia Gordonii difficult to obtain. This problem is compounded by the length of time required to produce a mature plant. It takes about five years for Hoodia Gordonii to flower. Before that time, it is not suitable for harvesting. While there may be farms dedicated to commercial growth of Hoodia Gordonii, it may be a few years before they affect the market.

The entire plant is not required for appetite suppression. Rather, it is one single molecule, P57 that creates the desired effect. P57 is found in the flesh of the plant, but not within the roots, spines, or flowers. The rights to all products developed as a result of studying Hoodia Gordonii are also fully under the control of the Sans Bushmen. Unfortunately, P57 is very difficult to isolate from the plant extract. It is also purported to be difficult to synthesize this molecule. It is not likely a cheaper, synthetic product will be created in the near future.

In the area of commercial development, Phytopharm (royalties go to the Sans Bushmen and their lawyers) has held the patent on P57 since 1995. They, in turn, sub-licensed to Pfizer for further development. While Pfizer spent millions of dollars to obtain this sub-license, they soon aborted the efforts to refine Hoodia Gordonii extracts. They were able to reproduce the appetite suppressant qualities from Hoodia Gordonii extract. At the same time, they also found that isolation of P57 from other molecules that cause liver damage was extremely difficult.

There are several prescription drugs on the market (like anti-cholesterol medications) that cause damage to the liver. It is not clear at this stage how the liver damage from the Hoodia Gordonii trials compares to that of trials run on animal subjects during the development phases of many other drugs. After Pfizer aborted the project, Unilever Pharmaceuticals took up the task of developing this dietary supplement, and they are still working on it.

While Hoodia Gordonii is only available on a limited basis, there is no question that it is an effective appetite suppressant. Obesity is a major issue in almost every nation. As manufacturers establish reputable supplies, it is only a matter of time before reliable products become readily available. Until then, care needs to be taken in choosing a Hoodia Gordonii vendor.

Import and export laws are a combination of various international as well as national laws that are used to control cross border trade of products and services. Different countries impose different import and export laws and regulations that are designed to protect their economic situation and their environment as well as human health.

Considering international trade involves regulations imposed by so many different countries, it is far more challenging than any domestic or national business operation. Some of the complexities encountered in international trade include issues of legality, documentation, licensing, finance, property rights, governmental regulations and communication. As the emphasis on awareness of terrorism keeps increasing, it is equally important to keep up-to-date with ever-changing new laws as and when they are enacted.

A formal declaration is required for any trade that exceeds the stipulated limit, which is different in different countries. Wrongful declarations of true value and weight of the goods so as to attract a lower duty value is considered illegal and the trader’s international trading privileges could be revoked or suspended.

Contravention of import and export laws, whether knowingly or unknowingly is a serious offense and is likely to attract a penalty, which could include imprisonment in most countries. Serious transgressions include trading in drugs, endangered wild life species, toxic substances and hazardous materials.

Import and Export of Wildlife Species

Import and export of wildlife species are subject to stringent foreign wildlife laws and regulations all over the world. Almost all countries ban the trade of threatened and endangered species, marine mammals, migratory birds and any injurious or harmful species. All wildlife traders require a special permit, which should be valid. In the United States, wildlife export/import regulations are included in the federal laws that are designed to protect wildlife including the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Wild Bird Conservation Act and others.

It?s killing time; you know they?re going to leave us. It?s approaching the fall/winter season as I write this. The guys will go out in the woods with their guns dragged from back seats of trucks and head out for sport. That sport is killing.

That?s what they do in a small town called Natchitoches where I live now and in La Grande, Oregon where I grew up. It?s a celebrated annual event. The local grocery has big wooden racks to display the killed. You can even buy postcards to add your picture, with you and the dead deer beside. You don?t need den walls for display anymore, just props for the trucks on the road.

Now I was raised on deer meat, and I like it. It makes sense when you need to feed a family, as my folks did years ago. But sport? Like football for cheering?

Sarah Palin likes hunting wolves, which aren?t creatures we think of sympathetically. But in research on mass murder and war it has been found that people who enjoy killing animals don?t mind killing people some time. (True Crime) A smile from someone who talks about the sport of killing wolves (Detroit Free Press) that is then beamed on a political stage to celebrate the possible death of one?s son should make many of us worry. (KNVN 24) Because if someone likes killing animals from the air and finds that fun and smiles when a son goes to war, then will that same person protect or worry about our sons in a world where killing is a sport?

Certain types of creatures have been on the Palin hit list for some time. Still they have more in common than that; they help keep the rest of us safe. So we should probably think about protecting these characters, especially given all the other problems we have because they are directly involved in what?s going on. What happened to them might be the proverbial tip ofThe iceberg to what might happen to us.

Let?s talk about fish first. Let?s talk about salmon. I don?t know about you, but salmon is my favorite fish, anytime and any place. I was born and raised in Oregon, in salmon country. I grew up with salmon steak and went out with friends and family to catch a few now and then. So I love them and know them well enough to want to make sure they get the right treatment. By that I mean I want their waters to be clean enough to keep them healthy, and I want them to have an overall environment to breed, make babies and keep lots of us fed.

Sarah Palin doesn?t have the same opinions about salmon as I do. Oh, she likes to catch and eat them, that?s true. Protecting them is a whole other matter. Palin can look right out the door and see fish that are dying, even when the lake near her house is stocked as the fish continue to die. In order to get commercial interests into Wasilla Palin sacrificed the environment to do it. An example is right in her own backyard. Lake Lucille has been declared seriously impaired and really dead and has been since 1994 when Palin was Mayor of Wasilla. That was documented by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and remains like that today. (Talbot)

One Wasilla resident has said, as reported in Salon.com, “Sarah’s legacy as mayor was big-box stores and runaway growth,” said Patty Stoll, a retired Wasilla schoolteacher. Stoll, as reported, worked with Palin’s parents, Chuck and Sally Heath, at the same school. She continued, “The truth is, Wasilla is just plain ugly, it’s not a pleasant place to live. It’s not thought out. And that’s a shame.

“Sarah fouled her own nest, and I can’t understand why. I hate to think it was simply greed or ambition.”(Talbot)

But that?s not the only reason why salmon are grieving and leaving. If they want to die, they would likely want to do that proudly and not in polluted waters. One would think that watching a lake turn bad, and the fish flounder as a result, that some clean water regulation would be welcomed. However, Sarah Palin did the opposite: she spoke out against the Clean Water Act. Palin and her public want mineral mining more than food without tapeworms, which salmon from Alaska now have in abundance. (Summer Johnson) I wonder how many people who eat salmon grown in Alaska worry about how that affects them today. Palin, it appears, may not care.

If you thought it was only fish that should worry, you need to know about bears. Sarah Palin is against classifying polar bears as endangered species. Palin told the public that scientists had said that polar bears were not endangered at all. When questioned, secrecy measures immediately began, as anyone who asked for the emails from scientists were kept at bay with large sums of money asked for disclosing them. Rick Steiner, a University of Alaska professor, was someone who had asked for them and was told that this request would be costly, as in $468,784. After going through federal records, Steiner found out that the scientists had indeed said that polar bears are an endangered species and worthy of protection. (Steiner)

Despite Steiner?s findings and the available knowledge about polar bears, Palin filed suit to keep the polar bears off the endangered list. Palin?s reason: she was worried that environmentalists are using the Endangered Species Act to block the extraction of oil and gas according to an interview she had earlier this year with Glenn Beck.

Palin also said that the population of polar bears is growing, but not according to the experts. One of them, Ian Stirling, who is a scientist who has studied polar bears for 37 years, says “Polar bear populations have not been increasing for the past 37 years, and that’s a well-known fact,” Stirling has studied polar bears more than anyone. So the issue is to lie, no matter the consequence to polar bears these days. That makes some people sad, just to think of how soft and cuddly they look, but who would feel sad for the wolves we?ll talk about next? (Stirland)

Most people don?t feel a sense of wonder and joy when they think about wolves. Actually most people get scared, but these days the wolves are. It?s one thing to keep wolves out of areas where people live and work, especially when they can eat not only livestock but people too if they are hungry enough. It?s another thing to make that a sport, just to kill for the fun of it. I?ve touched on that before, but it warrants inclusion with the fish and the bears.

Palin put a bounty on the heads of wolves, to encourage average citizens to load up their guns and go kill them, from the air, from everywhere. (Benjamin) That bounty was eventually stopped through legal action. Palin, however, wanted the practice to continue despite the ethical issues involved. All over the Internet there are pictures of Palin smiling over wolf carcasses as part of her campaign, so the practice continues certainly. Palin claims that humans killing wolves helps thin out the populations of predators that kill moose and elk which subsistence farmers in Alaska need to survive.

In defense of those wolves, not my friends surely, there?s not much scientific support for Palin?s position. In fact in 2007, 172 scientists wrote to Palin with their concerns about the lack of real science supporting killing the population of wolves. ( Benjamin) They are concerned about the balance of nature related to global warming taking place in the wilds of Alaska. (O?Brien) That didn?t influence Palin to change. The shooting continues and is applauded as well. In the wilderness of the gun, this is one more place people can practice sharp shooting. So what?s next for the propaganda machine that supports candidates like Palin who really don?t care about the effects of what they do on the rest of the world?

How someone thinks about life in any form, including protected animals, in relationship to the acquisition of material gain tells us something about how an individual might relate to victims of acts over which they have little control. Let?s learn about how Sarah Palin looks at certain social issues to try to figure out how she might respond to legislation surrounding such issues as domestic violence, sex abuse, and the rights of people with disabilities since these get to the core of her beliefs about life and how we should treat the least among us.

?

Indrawati National Park

The renowned wildlife park of Chhatisgarh, Indravati National Park is located in Dantewada district. Indravati River flows across the park and forms its northern boundary. Indrawati became a national park in 1981 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1983 under the famous Project Tiger of India. The park houses a variety of wildlife and endangered species such as Wild Buffaloes and Hill Mynas. Indrawati is blessed with lush green vegetations and a diverse wildlife park. A varied wildlife is found here ranging from Barasinghas, tigers and Monkeys, porcupines of flying squirrels. The best time to visit the park is from 15th December and 15th June.

Periyar

Periyar National park is spread across 777 sq km in the Western Ghat mountain ranges in Idukki District. The park has a dam Mullaperiyar built on river Periyar which is now a large lake spread in 26 sq. km. area. Boating is carried out in the lake which is the best way to encounter wildlife from the closest. Trekking is also arranged for near the boat landing. The park comprises of 62 species of mammals and a variety of endangered species like the flying squirrel, wild dog, gaur, elephant, leopard, sambar, sloth bear, barking deer and wild boar. Best time to visit the park is either between April-June or July-August.

Kaziranga

Situated in the Golaghat District and Nagaon District of Assam, Kaziranga is the oldest national park of Assam. Spread across an area of 430 sq km, Brahmaputra flows across its north and Karbi Anglong hills surround the south.?This park is a world heritage site and is well known for the Great Indian one horned rhinoceros. The thick forests of Kaziranga the tall elephant grass and shallow water pools are parts of its landscape. Declared as a national park in 1974, it provides tourists with facilities like elephant rides or a cruise in a boat on the Brahmaputra River along the park. The best time to visit the park is from November to April.

Kalakad-Mundathurai

Situated in Agasthyamalai Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kalakad -Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (KMTR) was declared so in 1882. This park is known for its rare plants and endangered wildlife.? Spread across 665 sq km, it has dry forests in the foothills and wet forests on higher altitudes. The wildlife here comprises of Tiger, Elephant, Gaur, Mouse deer, Leopard, Rusty spotted cat, Brown palm civet, Leopard, Sambhar, Spotted deer, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri Langur, Bonnet Macaque, Slender Loris, Lion tailed Macaque, Sloth Bear, Brown mongoose, Nilgiri Martin, Indian pangolin. Best time to visit Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve is between the months of September and January.

Nameri National Park

Situated 35 km from Tezpur, in the foothills of Himalayas, Nameri National Park is spread across 200 sq. km. The river Jia Bhoroli flows through it the decisuous forests of the park. This park was declared as a sanctuary on 18th September 1985 and a National Park on 15th November 1998. Nameri has a wide variety of wildlife species which range from Tiger, Black bear, elephant, Leopard, deer, jackals to a varied species of birds such as the white winged wood duck, four species of Hornbill, butterflies and reptiles are also found here. The best time to visit the park is in the months of November and May.

Let’s go on a little flight of fancy. Let’s go car shopping. Now usually when you go car shopping you start with a budget in mind, don’t you? You go from dealer to dealer, trying to get the best deal that you can, but what really sells you in the end? Is it the value? Is it the price? Is it the features? Try as you might, emotions always come into play, you buy the car that looks the best, feels the best, and you look the best in it -don’t you? Put yourself in your clients’ shoes. What are they looking for, the cheapest price, unmatched packages, exceptional quality, or the photographer showing incomparable quality? Naturally, they will tell you, all of the above! But in reality, can they really tell the difference? We would like to think that we fit the bill in all of the above but do we? Can we? What happens, when in your clients’ eyes there are too many similarities to really tell. Then it boils down to the best salesperson, the best sales presentation, or what I call the best Why-Not! Your Why-Not! Defines the nature and purpose of your business. It is the one thing that compels people to buy from you instead of from your competitors. Often it is call a ?USP? (Unique Sales Point), or your Mission Statement. Your Why-Not! is much more than both of the others put together - yet simpler. It stands for Why Hire You - No Other Temptations You must answer the question for your clients - Why Hire You? Then you must make it so that there can be - No Other Temptations! The exciting part of it is that anyone reading it will get a clear picture of the personality of the company and what you stand for. Personality shows emotion and a human side. USP’s and Mission Statements are documents and documents are cold and impersonal. More importantly, it will tell the client what you will do for him or her. Too often a company fails because it doesn’t know whom it is trying to serve. Trying to be all things to all people is foolish. You have to come up with a specific Why-Not! - a unique and compelling claim or offer - that’s targeted like a laser to give you a direction. It answers the question “What is our reason for being?” Why would someone buy from us? And when they hear the answers that they are looking for they will exclaim, ?Why-Not!? But this is not to say that you can’t have two or three different Why-Notes for different product lines or services that you offer. There are many different kinds of Why-Notes and you must define this yourself because your entire marketing and operational success is built upon the Why-Not!. All studios need a clear sense of where they are trying to go and what they want to be in order for the diverse elements to pull in a uniform direction. What you are doing is providing your prospective clients is a clear cut picture of who you are , what you are going to do, and what you stand for. Why do you want to do this? Why-Not! Just teasing with you. One reason is that our society makes celebrities out of people who are unique or who have special abilities. Their qualities and attributes are polished to a bright shine and then professionally presented to the rest of us. We then strive to be like these individuals and yet the very nature of success demands authenticity. So what’s the secret? It’s simple really. We are ALL unique. We ALL have something special to give. Being authentic and true to ourselves is the only chance we have of being liked, being successful, and being truly happy. Improving yourself requires polishing what’s great about you and proudly presenting it to the world. My first year Philosophy Prof loved to ask, ?Why should you be moral?? Then he would quickly follow up with ?Why should you be immoral?? Then with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye he would say, ?The correct answer is Why Not!? Some companies position themselves as having the best selection or broadest array of buying options. Their Why-Not!. is obviously “broad choice.” Other companies may offer more limited selection, but their Why-Not! is “low price” or “low markup.” Another company may decide they don’t want to be known for just price or selection, so instead they offer the finest quality at a higher, but still reasonable price. “Quality” or “exclusivity” is its Why-Not!. Most Why-Not!s’ encompass three elements: 1. A purpose/role element A. In a nutshell, what is the purpose of the company? i. I am going to take nature photographs, specializing in species, which are on the endangered species list. B. What role are you going to play? ii. My goal is to raise awareness of these precious animals by writing books and articles about them, my experiences, and how the effects of man are playing out in these animals lives. 2. A boundaries element This element defines what you will and will not do. In the example above you might write something like. I will write books and articles to serious journals and magazines but I will not do greeting cards and postcards. My goal is to depict the plight of endangered speices but not demean them or make light of their existence. 3. A values-based/philosophical element Here are some more questions to ask yourself. What do you stand for? What do you want to be known for? What will be your legacy? And one last question: If you don’t stand for something, what do you settle for? The principal features are usually a broad definition of the basic business code of conduct and the scope of the organization. It is important to have a clear, concise overall goal for you and your company. This can be as long as 10 pages or as short as one sentence. Generally it is better to keep it as simple as possi?ble. Your Why-Not! is the road map which you and your employees can follow anytime there is a question that surfaces out of the ordinary. Any answer which does not fall in line with your Why-Not! Shouldn?t be used. Another example would be if you own a portrait studio and Mrs. Jones comes in and complains that she doesn’t like her photographs and you look at them and they are as good as they are going to get. Your Why-Not! states that you guarantee 100% satisfaction, but you are torn, as far as you are concerned, they are great shots. Without hesitation and with a smile - you give her money back or offer to retake them. This course of action will always work to your favour, maybe not immediately, but it is the right course. If you have employees, they would be empowered to do the same, immediately, without fear of repercussion. Basically your Why-Not! can stand alone as an advertisement that sells your company to you, your employees and your clients. As a matter of fact, it can be used as an ad and it should be used in all your ads. A few more points about Why-Not!s’ There are many different formats; there is no right or wrong type. It remains fairly stable over time. It may be expressed at different levels of abstraction; a balance must be struck between too wide and too narrow a definition. Some Why-Not!s’ include objective, strategic thrust, policies and guidelines. They describe your products in terms relevant to your customers. Differentiate - explain how your product is different than the competition’s, with different benefits. Whenever people buy, they are only concerned with ?What’s In It For Them.? Effectively choose pricing and positioning strategies. These strategies may be based on the fact that: 1. You are an expert in your field. 2. You have degrees or education in your specialty. 3. You may finish your products with better quality or more expensive finishes. 4. You may frame each print. 5. You may have an escalating hourly fee depending on the degree of difficulty, safety, distance, specialty, or uses of the photograph or in the photographing, Steps to develop your Why-Not: Keep in mind: - There is no right or wrong statement for your organization just as there is no best or most appropriate format. - Focus on the concept not on the words; the words can be fine-tuned later. - Most Why-Nots’ suffer, at least to some degree, from mother-hood-it is, it’s important that you stay away from platitudes. - The greatest flaw of most Why-Nots are that the implicit message is the “we” are smarter, will work harder, and will do a better job. In the competitive marketplace of goods, services and ideas, to assume that you are smarter, faster or meaner than the competition inevitably leads to surprises and the realization that you and your colleagues are just about on par with the quality of the people with whom you are competing. - Although it is difficult, try to build creativity into your work. This is a first attempt at development of a Why-Not so it is important to build in new ways of viewing things at the beginning. It will be refined and reworked later so try to open up and be creative now. To give you an idea as to how a Why-Not can look I’ll show you one of mine. Old Masters Portrait Studio Why-Not is: Old Masters Portraits Studio desire is to create an exciting and memorable image for each and every one of our customers. The image will be technically perfect and of excellent quality, using the finest materials that we can find. It is our goal to provide service to the customer that is unsurpassed in the industry so that all of our customers will want to come back year after year. It is imperative that we charge a price that provides value to the client and a good return on our efforts. We will be happy if our clients are happy and our clients will be happy if we are happy. Writing your Why-Not Start by answering the following questions. 1. What is the purpose of our organization? 2. What is our reason for being? 3. What are we going to photograph and why? After spending some time on the first three questions, begin to filter in the following questions. a. Who do we serve? b. What do we do best? c. What are some of our weaknesses? d. What kinds of programs and services do we provide or should we provide? e. What outcomes do we hope to achieve? f. What do we hope to accom?plish? g. What would happen if our organization did not exist? h. What is special about the way we operate? i. Where do we or should we provide our product or service?What do I or our shareholders want? j. From the previous exercise you can now put together a Unique Selling Proposition or Mission Statement that will give you a direction and major driving force for your company.

Let’s go on a little flight of fancy. Let’s go car shopping. Now usually when you go car shopping you start with a budget in mind, don’t you? You go from dealer to dealer, trying to get the best deal that you can, but what really sells you in the end? Is it the value? Is it the price? Is it the features?

Try as you might, emotions always come into play, you buy the car that looks the best, feels the best, and you look the best in it -don’t you?

Put yourself in your clients’ shoes. What are they looking for, the cheapest price, unmatched packages, exceptional quality, or the photographer showing incomparable quality? Naturally, they will tell you, all of the above!

But in reality, can they really tell the difference? We would like to think that we fit the bill in all of the above but do we? Can we?

What happens, when in your clients’ eyes there are too many similarities to really tell. Then it boils down to the best salesperson, the best sales presentation, or what I call the best Why-Not!

Your Why-Not! Defines the nature and purpose of your business. It is the one thing that compels people to buy from you instead of from your competitors. Often it is call a ?USP? (Unique Sales Point), or your Mission Statement.

Your Why-Not! is much more than both of the others put together - yet simpler.

It stands for

Why Hire You - No Other Temptations

You must answer the question for your clients - Why Hire You?

Then you must make it so that there can be - No Other Temptations!

The exciting part of it is that anyone reading it will get a clear picture of the personality of the company and what you stand for.

Personality shows emotion and a human side.

USP’s and Mission Statements are documents and documents are cold and impersonal.

More importantly, it will tell the client what you will do for him or her.

Too often a company fails because it doesn’t know whom it is trying to serve. Trying to be all things to all people is foolish. You have to come up with a specific Why-Not! - a unique and compelling claim or offer - that’s targeted like a laser to give you a direction.

It answers the question “What is our reason for being?” Why would someone buy from us? And when they hear the answers that they are looking for they will exclaim, ?Why-Not!?

But this is not to say that you can’t have two or three different Why-Notes for different product lines or services that you offer.

There are many different kinds of Why-Notes and you must define this yourself because your entire marketing and operational success is built upon the Why-Not!. All studios need a clear sense of where they are trying to go and what they want to be in order for the diverse elements to pull in a uniform direction.

What you are doing is providing your prospective clients is a clear cut picture of who you are , what you are going to do, and what you stand for.

Why do you want to do this?

Why-Not! Just teasing with you.

One reason is that our society makes celebrities out of people who are unique or who have special abilities. Their qualities and attributes are polished to a bright shine and then professionally presented to the rest of us. We then strive to be like these individuals and yet the very nature of success demands authenticity.

So what’s the secret?

It’s simple really. We are ALL unique. We ALL have something special to give. Being authentic and true to ourselves is the only chance we have of being liked, being successful, and being truly happy. Improving yourself requires polishing what’s great about you and proudly presenting it to the world.

My first year Philosophy Prof loved to ask, ?Why should you be moral?? Then he would quickly follow up with ?Why should you be immoral??

Then with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye he would say, ?The correct answer is Why Not!?

Some companies position themselves as having the best selection or broadest array of buying options. Their Why-Not!. is obviously “broad choice.”

Other companies may offer more limited selection, but their Why-Not! is “low price” or “low markup.”

Another company may decide they don’t want to be known for just price or selection, so instead they offer the finest quality at a higher, but still reasonable price. “Quality” or “exclusivity” is its Why-Not!.

Most Why-Not!s’ encompass three elements:

1. A purpose/role element

A. In a nutshell, what is the purpose of the company?

i. I am going to take nature photographs, specializing in species, which are on the endangered species list.

B. What role are you going to play?

ii. My goal is to raise awareness of these precious animals by writing books and articles about them, my experiences, and how the effects of man are playing out in these animals lives.

2. A boundaries element

This element defines what you will and will not do. In the example above you might write something like.

I will write books and articles to serious journals and magazines but I will not do greeting cards and postcards. My goal is to depict the plight of endangered speices but not demean them or make light of their existence.

3. A values-based/philosophical element

Here are some more questions to ask yourself. What do you stand for? What do you want to be known for? What will be your legacy? And one last question: If you don’t stand for something, what do you settle for?

The principal features are usually a broad definition of the basic business code of conduct and the scope of the organization. It is important to have a clear, concise overall goal for you and your company. This can be as long as 10 pages or as short as one sentence. Generally it is better to keep it as simple as possi?ble. Your Why-Not! is the road map which you and your employees can follow anytime there is a question that surfaces out of the ordinary. Any answer which does not fall in line with your Why-Not! Shouldn?t be used.

Another example would be if you own a portrait studio and Mrs. Jones comes in and complains that she doesn’t like her photographs and you look at them and they are as good as they are going to get. Your Why-Not! states that you guarantee 100% satisfaction, but you are torn, as far as you are concerned, they are great shots. Without hesitation and with a smile - you give her money back or offer to retake them. This course of action will always work to your favour, maybe not immediately, but it is the right course. If you have employees, they would be empowered to do the same, immediately, without fear of repercussion.

Basically your Why-Not! can stand alone as an advertisement that sells your company to you, your employees and your clients. As a matter of fact, it can be used as an ad and it should be used in all your ads.

A few more points about Why-Not!s’

There are many different formats; there is no right or wrong type.

It remains fairly stable over time.

It may be expressed at different levels of abstraction; a balance must be struck between too wide and too narrow a definition.

Some Why-Not!s’ include objective, strategic thrust, policies and guidelines.

They describe your products in terms relevant to your customers.

Differentiate - explain how your product is different than the competition’s, with different benefits. Whenever people buy, they are only concerned with ?What’s In It For Them.?

Effectively choose pricing and positioning strategies.

These strategies may be based on the fact that:

1. You are an expert in your field.

2. You have degrees or education in your specialty.

3. You may finish your products with better quality or more expensive finishes.

4. You may frame each print.

5. You may have an escalating hourly fee depending on the degree of difficulty, safety, distance, specialty, or uses of the photograph or in the photographing,

Steps to develop your Why-Not:

Keep in mind:

- There is no right or wrong statement for your organization just as there is no best or most appropriate format.

- Focus on the concept not on the words; the words can be fine-tuned later.

- Most Why-Nots’ suffer, at least to some degree, from mother-hood-it is, it’s important that you stay away from platitudes.

- The greatest flaw of most Why-Nots are that the implicit message is the “we” are smarter, will work harder, and will do a better job. In the competitive marketplace of goods, services and ideas, to assume that you are smarter, faster or meaner than the competition inevitably leads to surprises and the realization that you and your colleagues are just about on par with the quality of the people with whom you are competing.

- Although it is difficult, try to build creativity into your work. This is a first attempt at development of a Why-Not so it is important to build in new ways of viewing things at the beginning. It will be refined and reworked later so try to open up and be creative now.

To give you an idea as to how a Why-Not can look I’ll show you one of mine.

Old Masters Portrait Studio Why-Not is:

Old Masters Portraits Studio desire is to create an exciting and memorable image for each and every one of our customers. The image will be technically perfect and of excellent quality, using the finest materials that we can find. It is our goal to provide service to the customer that is unsurpassed in the industry so that all of our customers will want to come back year after year.

It is imperative that we charge a price that provides value to the client and a good return on our efforts. We will be happy if our clients are happy and our clients will be happy if we are happy.

Writing your Why-Not

Start by answering the following questions.

1. What is the purpose of our organization?

2. What is our reason for being?

3. What are we going to photograph and why?

After spending some time on the first three questions, begin to filter in the following questions.

a. Who do we serve?

b. What do we do best?

c. What are some of our weaknesses?

d. What kinds of programs and services do we provide or should we provide?

e. What outcomes do we hope to achieve?

f. What do we hope to accom?plish?

g. What would happen if our organization did not exist?

h. What is special about the way we operate?

i. Where do we or should we provide our product or service?What do I or our shareholders want?

j. From the previous exercise you can now put together a Unique Selling Proposition or Mission Statement that will give you a direction and major driving force for your company.

According to a study published in the journal “BMC Evolutionary Biology”, some spiders cooperate more with relatives. German researchers divided Stegodyphus tentoriicola spiders into 2 groups - siblings and non-siblings - while studying their food collecting behavior. Siblings worked better together when looking for food and were more likely to share digestive enzymes for quicker eating of prey. Even in large groups, where fracturing interferes with productivity, sibling spiders avoided destructive patterns and were more productive. It seems cooperation among relatives is common in the animal kingdom. For humans with the ability to reason, this should be reasonable.

According to researchers at The Australian National University, male fiddler crabs defend neighboring females from invaders in return for sex. Both males and females are territorial and live in burrows; but males have a large, defensive claw and females have 2 small, feeding claws. When out-of-the-area fiddler crabs were brought in, males fought off male invaders on neighboring females’ territory 95% of the time. However, when the invaders were female, the males fought them off only 15% of the time. Sex for protection is a “defense coalition” - something wives should remember when invaded by things like leaking faucets and peeling paint.

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, the brown pelican was off the endangered list as of November 11, 2009. The brown pelican was declared an endangered species in 1970. For almost 40 years these birds had to struggle to survive being hunted for their feathers and being exposed to widespread habitat loss. However, the recovery of the species is largely due to the 1972 ban on the pesticide DDT, which devastated their population. Brown pelicans are again prevalent across Florida, the Gulf and Pacific coasts and the Caribbean due to the 1973 Endangered Species Act in action.

Animals listed as being critically endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature are presumed to be extinct. Not so, however, with the Beck’s petrel. The Beck’s petrel is a dark brown seabird with a pale belly and a tube-like nose. Although this species hadn’t been seen since the 1920’s, an Israeli ornithologist photographed 30 of them in flight over islands northeast of Papua, New Guinea in March 2008. Because the exact location of their breeding grounds isn’t known, conservationists plan to search the area. Obviously, they hope the saying “birds of a feather flock together” is scientific fact.

North East India is a paradise for adventure seekers. People who are inclined towards wildlife and wish to experience the wilderness of nature must visit the wildlife destinations of this fascinating region of India. Offering fantastic opportunities for spotting wildlife, including the endangered species, this region is a great choice as it is rich in Bio-diversity.

Located in the eastern Himalayas, this region consists of eight states namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. All these states are blessed with sheer natural beauty and abundant flora and fauna. Explore the dense forests of these destinations and you can have a remarkable experience.

The must-visit wildlife destinations in North East India are:

Kaziranga National Park

Providing shelter to the endangered One horned Rhinoceroses, this Park is a World Heritage Site. It is also a tiger reserve boasting of the highest number of tigers among the protected areas in the world. A variety of other wildlife species are also found here. The Park is also rich in flora. You will get to see a variety of vegetation here. The Park also takes pride in its avian species.

Manas National Park

It is a Project Tiger Reserve which is a World Heritage Site. Nestled in the foothills of the wonderful Himalayas, this Park is the place where you can sight amazing endangered animal species like Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog. An interesting fact about the part is that some of its portion extends to Bhutan. Here you can witness a diverse range of wildlife. The Park is a home to around 380 species of birds, 55 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles. Also enjoy the boat rides on River Manas, which flows through the Park.

Other famous wildlife destinations in North East India are Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary, Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary and Keibul Lamjao National Park.

North East India is a paradise for adventure seekers. People who are inclined towards wildlife and wish to experience the wilderness of nature must visit the wildlife destinations of this fascinating region of India. Offering fantastic opportunities for spotting wildlife, including the endangered species, this region is a great choice as it is rich in Bio-diversity.

Located in the eastern Himalayas, this region consists of eight states namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. All these states are blessed with sheer natural beauty and abundant flora and fauna. Explore the dense forests of these destinations and you can have a remarkable experience.

The must-visit wildlife destinations in North East India are:

Kaziranga National Park

Providing shelter to the endangered One horned Rhinoceroses, this Park is a World Heritage Site. It is also a tiger reserve boasting of the highest number of tigers among the protected areas in the world. A variety of other wildlife species are also found here. The Park is also rich in flora. You will get to see a variety of vegetation here. The Park also takes pride in its avian species.

Manas National Park

It is a Project Tiger Reserve which is a World Heritage Site. Nestled in the foothills of the wonderful Himalayas, this Park is the place where you can sight amazing endangered animal species like Assam Roofed Turtle, Hispid Hare, Golden Langur and Pygmy Hog. An interesting fact about the part is that some of its portion extends to Bhutan. Here you can witness a diverse range of wildlife. The Park is a home to around 380 species of birds, 55 species of mammals and 50 species of reptiles. Also enjoy the boat rides on River Manas, which flows through the Park.

Other famous wildlife destinations in North East India are Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Eagle’s Nest Sanctuary, Sessa Orchid Sanctuary, Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary and Keibul Lamjao National Park.

By: Jim Scherrer

Sea turtles are very intelligent creatures of nature; they continue coming to Puerto Vallarta regardless of the swine flu scare, the border town drug wars, or the global recession! They don’t visit Vallarta for its perfect climate, its eight beautiful golf courses, its world class deep sea fishing, its hundreds of fine restaurants, nightclubs and discotheques, its magnificent sunsets, or the colorful tropical flora and fauna in the surrounding Sierra Madre hillsides; they visit Vallarta strictly for its 35 miles of sandy beaches. However, the fact that they love the beaches around PV is only a small clue as to what makes the sea turtles so incredibly intelligent.

Sea turtles constitute a single radiation that was distinct from all other turtles during the Late Cretaceous Period, the “age of dinosaurs”, at least 100 million years ago. It’s hard to imagine that approximately 65 million years ago during the Cretaceous?Tertiary Extinction Event (KT Mass Extinction), the planet endured catastrophic events such as massive asteroid impacts and/or tremendous volcanic activity resulting in significant climate changes affecting all of the Earth’s plant and animal life. Sea turtles were among the few species to survive these traumatic events and related climate changes.

Today, there are only seven living species of sea turtles worldwide and members of five or six of these species manage to visit Vallarta annually. Six of the seven species have hard shells and only one has a soft shell; it’s the leatherback turtle, the largest of them all and a periodic visitor to Vallarta. The leatherbacks grow for 30 years, from hatchlings weighing about an ounce, to maturity weighing up to 1,300 pounds and measuring up to 7 feet long and 5 feet wide; they can live to be more than 80 years old.

Although sea turtles representing most of the species visit Vallarta, the majority of them are of the Olive Ridley species. They are much smaller than the leatherbacks, measuring less than 3 feet long and weighing just a little over 100 pounds with dark olive green heart shaped domed shells.

The Olive Ridley turtles hatch from their eggs weighing less than an ounce, crawl out of their buried nest clawing their way up to the surface of the sand, and then head directly to the water to begin life with approximately 100 siblings at their side. They are quite fortunate if they ever make it to the water; if certain predators (including thoughtless humans) don’t get them while they are still in the shell, many other predators such as crabs and birds are anxiously awaiting their journey across the beach to the water’s edge. Of course, as soon as these tiny delicious morsels hit the water, any fish in the area immediately welcome them as dinner! Consequently, a very small percentage of these infant sea turtles ever make it out to the open sea.

Of the few fortunate sea turtles that do survive their entrance into this cruel world, growing to maturity, which will take more than 15 years, is a formidable task. If certain fish do not get them during their first year of life, fishermen with long lines or nets are apt to accidentally catch them at any time during their maturing process, let alone at any time during their adult life. With the odds of survival stacked so heavily against the sea turtles, they are now considered to be either a threatened or an endangered species; the Olive Ridleys along the Mexican Pacific coastline are classified as an endangered species by the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Okay, now that we know a little about these prehistoric air breathing reptiles, what is it that makes them so incredibly intelligent? Well, first you have to give them credit for surviving throughout history while almost all other forms of life didn’t! Second, they were perhaps the first creatures to have global positioning systems (GPS)! Yes, 100 million years before we mere mortals invented the GPS, the sea turtles, with their high sensitivity to the Earth’s magnetic field, always knew where they were relative to where they were born. Just imagine, these prehistoric creatures are able to swim a couple thousand miles out to sea, enjoy life floating and swimming around in the open water for up to 80 years while never losing their bearings, and still remember exactly where they were born!

Because of their incredible ability to always know their own location, upon reaching maturity at the age of 15 years or older, the females that are ready to lay their eggs always return to the sandy beach where they were born. Consequently, for about five months every year, the beaches of Puerto Vallarta are home to hundreds of female sea turtles that come ashore to nest. These are the same females that hatched on the same beautiful beaches from 15 to 50 years ago! Thus, with a lot of luck, and today with much assistance, a new generation of sea turtles begins.

In certain areas along the Pacific coastline of Mexico, the Olive Ridley sea turtles invade the shore in “arribadas” of 100 or more at a time, however in Puerto Vallarta they are generally either alone or in very small groups scattered thinly over the beach. Because of their scarcity, their homecoming to the local beaches has become a significant tourist attraction for visitors to Vallarta. More importantly, today there is a small group of volunteer conservationists, the Western Ecological Society, in Vallarta that does everything possible to protect these endangered animals. This group was first organized in 1993 and since then has done everything possible to see that the eggs and hatchlings are protected from all predators, thus giving the next generation of sea turtles a much better chance of survival. For those of you interested in knowing more about their activities, you can visit their website at?Vallarta Nature and see a documentary video of local volunteers protecting turtles produced by Puerto Vallarta based Aviana Productions at Protecting Turtles.

In some respects, the intelligent sea turtles of Vallarta think in a manner similar to that of the smarter tourists that visit Vallarta; once they?ve been here, they continue returning! So, if you’ve never visited this magnificent Banderas Bay region of Mexico, perhaps it’s time you consider it. Not only will you see and do everything imaginable under ideal weather conditions in a region that can only be defined as Paradise, but from June through December, you’ll also be able to observe the nesting habits of these prehistoric sea turtles with their built in GPS and long distance navigation systems.

Picture yourself sitting in one of the many beachfront restaurants sipping a margarita after watching a glorious sunset as the main attraction, the highlight of the evening, begins; a handful of huge lumbering female sea turtles literally emerge from the water and crawl up the beach in front of your eyes in search for their nesting location. Although it’s usually too dark for filming, witnessing a sea turtle invasion is a sight that you’ll surely not soon forget!

Jim Scherrer has owned property in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 25 years and resided there for the past eleven years. The mission of his series of 56 articles pertaining to retirement in Puerto Vallarta is to reveal the recent changes that have occurred in Vallarta while dispelling the misconceptions about living conditions in Mexico. For the full series of articles regarding travel to and retirement in Vallarta as well as pertinent Puerto Vallarta links, please visit us at PVREBA.