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Channel 8 Interview

Catch Jin Pyn on Good Morning Singapore / 早安您好 on Channel 8 on Tuesday 9 Sep on winning the Best Animation award in Japan

Best Animation award in Japan!

The Japanese version of The Elephant and the Tree won the best animation award in Japan Wildlife Film Festival!


Despite being just 3 minutes long, it won the votes of the judges out of 334 films submitted from all over the world.


Held in Toyama, Japan, with film screenings across Asia, the festival organisers also used the character from The Elephant and the Tree in the tee shirt design for its staff.


In one of the sessions Jin Pyn had with the audience, she had the honour of the Chief of Education for Kurobe making the introduction.


Jin Pyn feels it's one of the best festivals she has attended, with the focus on giving a platform for independent filmmakers. There was even a tour to a UNESCO World Heritage site for delegates.


And the hospitality she and other delegates received is second to none.

Response on ground to the illustrations? "Kawaii!"

Japan Wildlife Film Festival Nomination

The Japanese version of The Elephant and the Tree animation has been nominated for Japan Wildlife Film Festival!

One of the biggest of its kind in Asia, the festival, which started in 1993, draws around 40000 participants.

Tampines Reading Club

Jin Pyn had a wonderful time reading at Tampines Library.

The secret life of Jin Pyn

Jin Pyn's other passion revealed in the Chinese evening papers:

US Edition's OUT!

The Elephant and the Tree has been launched on Earth Day in the States. It's now available in all English speaking countries in major bookstores, and online too on Amazon.

Sunday Times!

Jin Pyn Lee's photo courtesy of Vincent Lee, Vapourtrail Design

New Paper mention

Travelling to more places

The Elephant and the Tree is travelling to more places ... this time in style in the Silkwinds magazine, both in English and Chinese.

The Secret Affair of the Asian Elephant

How are elephants trained in Asia? What is a true elephant sanctuary? Which one has been visited by members of the British royalty? And what has a facial got to do with elephants?

Join us in a free film screening and photography exhibition by Time magazine's named Asian Hero.

Meet elephant conservationists in Asia as they are represented together for the first time.

And learn many secrets about Asia’s endangered iconic giants and their captive trade.

There's also a bazaar and auction. What better way to celebrate Christmas than with meaningful gifts? There’s also an organic facial to be won!

When: 13 December 2008, 1030am – 1pm and 2pm – 430pm
Where: Singapore Botanic Gardens Botany Centre



Presented by Wildlife Asia, Singapore Botanic Gardens and National Parks Board, 2902 Gallery, Earth Sanctuary, Elephant Nature Park and Elemantree Media.

Some pictures from the event:






We would like to thank all our sponsors: Earth Sanctuary for their generosity, 2902 Gallery for their kind advice and generosity, The Sukha House for their kind help and generosity, Expressprint and Printpal for their patience and generosity, Grant Periera 7 Grace Ang for their help, the team at Singapore Botanic Gardens for their kind help and professionalism, Yvonne and her team of filmmakers from Temasek Polytechnic for rushing down to share their filming experiences at the event and the graciousness of the faculty Director Moses to allow the flms to be screened, conservationist Roger Mann from Wildlife S.O.S. and Elephant Nature Foundation who willingly paid his own way to present at the event, and ungrudgingly duped to help set up the exhibition till the wee hours of the morning, plus, instead of being driven around, did the driving, and last but not least, for all those who made the event happen through your attendance and for those who lent their support through the purchase of items.

Over S$600 was raised that day, S$200 going to Wildlife S.O.S. and the rest to Elephant Nature Foundation. Photographs are still available for sale. Will soon put the pictures up. Feel free to contact me for more details.

Here's a summary of checklist against the welfare standards of an elephant tourism offering, in case you are planning for a visit:
1. Are the elephants free from open wounds or deformities from injuries?

2. Are commands given verbally and with nudges rather than by hitting the elephant with the bullhook?

3. Are the elephants resting under shade?

4. Is there ample food and clean water where the elephant is resting?

5. Is the elephant enclosure clean?

6. Is there ample slack in the chain enough for the elephant to move around?

7. Are the elephants allowed to forage during the trek?

8. Does the elephant look bigger than the weight it’s carrying?

9. Is there sufficient padding beneath the elephant seats (6-7 layers)?

10. Is a lightwieght material like bamboo used for the seats?

11. Are rubber hoses used to line the ropes that bind the seats to the elephants?

12. Is the elephant allowed to rest after a trek and how long are its working hours?

13. Does the elephant look well fed - no exposed ribs, exposed spinal column, sunken face and diameter of feet the same as legs.

14. Does the elephant look stressed - its trunk on the ground and rocking from side to side?

15. For lone calves, can the mahouts answer confidently the origin of the calf and where its mother is?

16. Are nursing mothers resting with their young calves or are the calves trailing, trying to keep up with their working mothers?

Here's some establishments that are not mere tourist traps but genuinely care for their elephants:
www.elephantnaturefoundation.org
www.blesele.com
www.bring-the-elephant-home.nl/en/
www.wildlifesos.org

Gone overseas

The Elephant and the Tree was featured along with Eric Khoo's My Magic and other media content as made-in-Singapore content gone beyond the country's shores in a Strait's Times' report.

Asia's Big 5

Jin Pyn spearheaded an article on Asia's Big 5 for Asian Geographic. Asia has her own flagship species but never branded as such. This is the first time Asia's natural heritage is given its due honor.

The final published article has been heavily edited, to Jin Pyn's knowledge and is not representational of her writing.

She is very honoured to have met many dedicated conservationists in her research, many of whom are Asians and pioneers in their field. Many apologies for not doing their work and contributions justice in the article.

Some short notes were also written for Asia's critically endangered:
http://www.asiangeo.com/news_poster.html

Launch in Japan today!

The Elephant and the Tree will be launched in Japan today! The translation is done by a famous Japanese singer UA.

http://www.mediafactory.co.jp/zoutoki/

Her World & Cleo

Full spread SKII ad in Her World and Cleo

Great way to reach out to readers who are otherwise not concerned about conservation issues.



Lee Jin Pyn. Author/ Conservationist
Jin Pyn has always loved nature. As a child, she saw beauty in wild and unpoiled places. When these places became rarer as she grew up, she realised something had to be done. At 14, she volunteered for her first environmental organisation. Today she is comitted to several in the region, and has even written a book on the impact of deforestation and animal rights. Called 'The Elephant and the Tree', its message, much like Jin Pyn, is earnest and heartfelt.

Committed to Pitera
With her writing and conservation work keeping her busy, Jin Pyn regularly keeps late nights, making her skin fatigued and dul.. She turned to SK-II after discoverng the main ingredients in its products were natural, and was surprised at how much difference it made to her skin.

"Within weeks, people asked me if I was using new make-up products. They were surprised when I told them I wasn't wearing make-up at all. My face glows and doesn't appear weary anymore, as if I just woke up in the morning!"
"I am Lee Jin Pyn, and I am committed to SK-II."

Fun with Asian Elephants 27 Sep

Saturday 27 September
NSS Kids’ Fun with Asian Elephants @ Orchidville
What is the difference between Asian and African elephants? How do these friendly
giants play a role in man’s activities? Meet Jin Pyn, author of the award-winning
children’s book “The Elephant and The Tree” as she reads aloud this heart-warming
story. She will also screen a short movie and share with Kids fun facts about
jungle-dwelling Asian Elephants. Suitable for kids 4 – 12 years old. Email Gloria at
gloria_seow@yahoo.com with your kids’ names and ages, and your mobile number. Please
state if you are a NSS member or not. Cost: $5 per child (member) or $10 per child
(non-member). Parents can attend for free. Kindly sponsored by Nature’s Niche (the
bookstore formerly at the Singapore Botanical Gardens), this session will be held at
the charming Orchidville in Mandai (Nature’s Niche new home) from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
More details will be sent to those who sign up.

Going to Japan!

The Elephant and the Tree is going to Japan! Japanese translation rights have been bought by Media Factory Inc., one of the biggest media content providers in Japan.

Set to be launched in October 2008, The Elephant and the Tree will lead the way to a carbon offset print for the publishing industry in Japan!

SKII Inspirational Women

Jin Pyn's named 1 of 6 inspirational women in Singapore and Malaysia by international beauty brand SKII.

SKII Commitment

Jin Pyn's work and commitment to conservation has been validated in being chosen as 1 of the inspiring women to front SKII's new campaign.

This one in the Straits Times on 28 June kicks it off:

Asian Children's Writers and Illustrators Conference 2008

Jin Pyn shared her experience on working with an agent and selling her rights internationally at 2008's Asian Children's Writers & Illustrators Festival.