StartMotions has very many plans for the future, and we're working hard to get to them as soon as we can. Right now however, we're focusing on animation and greeting cards. If you see a project that interests the financial side of you, please feel free to approach us with a proposal. If you like the idea, but would like to use it on your own, please do so, the sooner projects like this happen, the better off we all are.
If your going to use these ideas to make profit, and that is the only reason, please do not read further.
If you're going to use these ideas as in a truly good way, please have as many as you like.
Migratory Refuge Project - Imagine flying over the same land every year, and each year, there's a lot less trees and a lot more pavement, or less water and more buildings. To make things worse, you're really tired and all you want to do is rest, but there is no where to land. StartMotions is located in a city next to a small river...this river gets a large amount of migrating birds, all of which are looking for a quiet, safe place to rest. When they're unable to rest properly (disturbances from people, dogs, cats, cars, etc.) they have less of a chance surviving their long journey. Our Solution: Rooftop migratory havens, complete with proper vegetation, food, and water. These new "landscapes" are placed on rooftops of large buildings, and provide enough space for larger birds to "lift off". We'd also like to see observation rooms available to the buildings' tenants and/or the public, so people can see the animals they're helping without disturbing them. Now imagine flying over a city who's started this project (or a similar project). You'd be so happy to see safe, reliable, and quiet resting areas instead of the evergrowing inhabitable, hard, and noisy "land". Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $150,000.00
Riverside Reclaim - On May 15, 2006, StartMotions' Founder, was walking her dog, and heard the familiar sound of Mallard Ducklings (she used to raise them when she was younger). Due to the recent heavy rains, the river they were walking alongside was unusually high, and the two ducklings had lost their mother somehow. The ducklings were fighting against the current to the best of their abililty, and when the Emily started quacking like their mom, they tried to come to her. Unfortunately, the two ducklings were moving so fast in the water, which is channeled by two concrete slabs, soon lost their fight against the current and continued down the river, peeping helplessly. The saddest part about this story is the person(s) who designed the man-made aspect of the river, without taking into account any animal whatsoever, they have made it almost impossible for any bird or fish to reproduce (the fish usually lay eggs in still water, so the eggs can grow without being swept into the ocean, and birds sometimes lay their eggs on natural slopes or shores). Riverside Reclaim is a project proposed to change this, without changing too much, Riverside Reclaim will bring back natural aspects of rivers that have been "personalized". In areas where there is only concrete walls, we'll build natural slopes (with materials native to the area), in areas where there is no exit or entry, we'll create an opening (by moving garbage cans, by making a "bird only" bridge/path, etc.), in areas that have the space, we'll make it back into a normal, natural area where water can settle and create mini-marshes. This project is not only important for the animals, it's important for preventing floods (if the water had a chance to do what it does normally, get absorbed into the soil, go into esutaries, etc.) then flooding would be a minimal problem, but since more and more land is taken up with pavement, buildings, trash, and man-made structures, flooding will only become more and more of a problem for both animals and people. This project will make a difference in many lives. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $20,000.00
Creative Land Bridge Project - This project's goal is to elieviate the problem of animal deaths resulting from vehicle traffic and habitat fragmentation. This project uses local recycled/ reused materials and volunteers to create overhead and/or underground bridges that animals can use instead of the road or other unnatural obstructions (including agriculture, townships, etc.). The innovative bridge design is dependant upon the surrounding lanscape, and be as non-intrusive as possible, often using biomimicry as a main design solution. Specific animals that will be targeted are migrating crabs, moose, otters, ducks (especially around breeding areas, where there's ducklings), and elephants. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $60,000.00.
Turning Hunters into Photographers - Many people continue to hunt because of the money it can bring them. This project would pay hunters a larger amount for photographs than they would get for the animal in the pet trade or on the black market. It will mark the begining a series of photgraphic journals kept by the hunters and made into books that fund the perpetual growth of similar missioned projects. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $30,000.00
Re-release Educational Centers - Located in various, threatened locations throughout the world, these centers will be similar in design to eco-tourism. These centers contain facilities for rehabilitating animals brought to us who have human-caused injuries (birds who run into wires, animals who've been struck by cars, etc.), in their rehabilitation period, they will serve as an ambassador for their species until they are well enough to be re-released. In the cases where the animal cannot be returned to the wild, they will be given a life that resembles their previous one in the most accurate way(s) possible. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $125,000.00.
Organic On-going Farmers Market powered by Fitness Center - This project involves a green building powered renewable energy and by the efforts of bikers, runners, and other excerizers. The people recieve credits for the power they produce, which they can use in the adjacent shopping center and healthy food restaurant. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $500,000.00.
EcoFilms - An environmentally friendly film and video festival that promotes, supports, and sometimes funds projects about the environment that use earth-friendly methods of production. Minimum amount needed to begin project through StartMotions (approximate): $10,000.00
How to Fund: Please email Emily, the Founder of StartMotions at Emily@StartMotions.comto figure out the exciting details of the project and/or propose a funding venue. To reach us by mail, please write to StartMotions, P.O. Box 603035, Providence, RI 02906.
