Unless you’re already tapped out from all the money you’ve been donating to save the endangered Giant Vampire Squid, I have some investment advice for you. Rather than putting your money in the mouth of the ten tentacled monster that invests your hard-earned savings and then makes money by betting against a profitable outcome, why don’t you take just a small portion of that money and invest in something positive and important, like the future of wildlife and education. I mean, even Bill Gates is thinking green these days. You don’t have to be a billionaire like Bill to make a difference though; a little can go a long way. As I’ve mentioned before, I work with a small non-profit called Amara Conservation. Amara is entering its second decade of wildlife conservation and education work in Kenya, and will be kicking off a year of special events this month, beginning with a fundraising dinner at the Earle Restaurant in Ann Arbor Michigan on May 23rd, followed by a night of music at the Savoy Club in Ypsilanti, Michigan on the 29th, featuring the bands October Babies and 16 More Miles. Can’t make it to the events or short on funds? We’re also always looking for friends on Facebook or for volunteers with a broad variety of abilities, especially creative thinkers with video editing, graphics, copywriting, or web development skills. If you want to learn more about what Amara does, visit the web site. But I’ll tell you in a few words. Amara focuses on achievable, sustainable projects that are geared towards helping Kenyans understand the intrinsic and financial value of the wildlife of Kenya, so they hopefully can end up not only protecting the imperiled wildlife of eastern Africa, but actually profit from doing so. And what’s the big deal about Kenya wildlife in particular? Well, Kenya is home to two of the most regal creatures on Earth, lions and elephants, both used as powerful symbols for millenia by cultures from ancient Egypt and Rome to later, more powerful empires, like, you know, Disney. Think about it. Without the wildlife in Kenya, Dumbo and the Lion King would be impossible. I jest of course, but it’s certainly not a laughing matter. If you keep up on these things, you know these are perilous times for african wildlife. Elephant poaching has risen seven fold since 2007 because of changes in ivory trade regulation, and Kenya’s lion population could be completely gone within 10 years if the situation is mismanaged. To me, one of the most sensible things you could do if you want to invest in your future is to support a thrifty and focused organization like Amara.