Jawbreakers for Jaws

There are many ways to get involved and turn the tides for sharks. We love the inspiring stories of passion and creative inspiration that we receive from people around the world. It inspires us too. After all, Shark Angels is all about taking your talents, using the support of the Shark Angel network and making a difference for sharks. In Southgate Michigan, a club of Shark Cherubs is doing just that...

From Shark Angel Jeanine Landau Stright:
It may seem odd that a group of students in Southgate Michigan, far away from any ocean, would be concerned about sharks, but after watching the documentary Sharkwater, starring Rob Stewart and Paul Watson, the distress in my Environmental Science classes became apparent.  After watching the film; many of the students confided with me and stated that they felt helpless and powerless against such a massive issue.  I suggested, “If you want to change people, you must educate them.”  

That is when the students started to take action.  They began collecting more information on the terrible effects of shark finning and sharks’ role in the ecosystem.  I’ve never seen such distress with my high school students; they are usually worried about their weekend plans or video games.  They showed so much compassion for these magnificent creatures, and they seemed to realize that Hollywood’s image of these apex predators is greatly exaggerated.  They decided these animals needed a voice.

Students spoke for the sharks.  A few decided to do their English senior project on shark finning, so they could educate the rest of the school on this terrible practice.  Others picked the topic of shark protection for their final Environmental Science project and created letters, as well as, educational pamphlets on shark conservation and sent the information to restaurants and state congressmen.  Some created websites to educate people outside of Southgate Anderson High School on the shark’s plight.  One student found restaurants in Michigan that serves shark fin soup and started an online petition against the practice.  The compassion these students felt towards an animal they were taught their whole lives to fear, really took me by surprise.  

Then I began to research organizations in which my Ecology Club could fundraise for and help the cause.  This is where I came across the Shark Angels Organization.  I told my students about the website, and we all began making the pledge to be Shark Cherubs and Angels.  They didn’t feel helpless anymore, but more a part of a bigger force; an organization that could help make a difference.  

We have been brainstorming ideas to make money for shark conservation and came up with the idea “Jawbreakers for Jaws.”  We just started the fundraiser and hope to make a difference for sharks.  This is just the start for our small Michigan group, and we have only just begun our fight for sharks.

Here is My Environmental Class website.  A whole page on this site is dedicated to Shark Angels and Shark Cherubs.
   
Environmental Science Home Page (My class) Part of the fall curriculum is to watch Sharkwater.  I also have a lot of reflective environmental pieces on shark finning, when we discuss International Policy Weeks 3-4

Shark Cherub and Angel Page Southgate Michigan