AS PRINCE SADRUDDIN AGA KHAN TRAVELS THE WORLD, HE LEAVES THOUSANDS OF HAPPY ANIMALS IN HIS WAKE. THROUGH HIS ORGANIZATION, BELLERIVE FOUNDATION, THE PRINCE WORKS TO BETTER THE LIVES OF THE SWIMMING, FLYING, AND FOUR-LEGGED CREATURES WHO SHARE THE EARTH WITH ALL OF US.
At Chateau Bellerive, Prince Sadruddin and Princess Catherine Aga Khan’s stately lake-side home in Geneva, a Belgian Shepherd named Playboy, one of nine dogs, casually roams from room to room amidst family portraits, exquisite etchings and a wealth of antiques.
The dog inevitably ends up beside the Prince who absently strokes it’s head while engaged in conversation on world politics and issues of import. The favored companion, with twinkling brown eyes and wagging tail, sometimes accompanies the Prince to his work at Bellerive Foundation, a non-profit organization founded nearly three decades ago. This remarkable undertaking, which has thrived due to its founder’s influence and persistence, embodies the Prince’s holistic vision and respect for all living things.
The Prince and Princess Aga Khan established Bellerive Foundation at a time when nuclear energy was a pressing topic in Geneva; through the years the organization has broadened its scope and currently addresses a host of issues both close to home and internationally. Recognizing the interdependence of nature and people, the couple through their foundation addresses concerns about the environment, animal rights, human rights and conservation, all inextricably linked.
“Respect for life,” says the Prince, who is the younger son of Sir Sultan Mohamed Shah, Aga Khan III, the Imam or leader of the Ismaili Shia Muslims, “is consistent with the tenets of the Islamic religion. Terrorism cannot be condoned.”
Bellerive becomes aware of issues that fall within its purview in many ways-through diplomatic ties, fostered by the Prince’s 40+ years serving in the United Nations, direct pleas from local organizations seeking support, or simply through the Prince’s extensive travels and firsthand observation of atrocities against people, animals and the environment. In each instance, Bellerive intervenes through letter-writing campaigns, information blitzes, forums, and many times through hands-on action.
On a trip to one of his homes on the Greek island of Patmos, the Prince was struck by the number of donkeys that were being mistreated or ignored because they were no longer ‘useful’ to their owners. Some owners would starve or cruelly dispose of these draft animals that had served them so faithfully. To remediate this situation, Bellerive made it a priority to create a safe haven for the retired donkeys and The Meloi Shelter was established on land personally set aside by the Prince and Princess.
Also in Greece, in the Northern Sporades Islands, Bellerive was alerted to the plight of the Mediterranean monk seal, a species that has been devastated by the effects of poaching and mass-tourism. With numbers fewer than 400, the monk seal is classified as one of the 12 most endangered species on the planet. Bellerive, alongside its local partners, opted to rescue, rehabilitate and re-release into the wild this creature that has been so revered in classical literature, (including Pliny who likened them to hooded humans), and Greek superstition (under which they are good omens).
Bellerive is also increasingly involved with changes in the area of animal transport, a significant health concern for humans, especially in Europe with the outbreak of mad cow and foot and mouth diseases. Bellerive has been active in the fight against unsanitary conditions, cruel treatment and long distance travel of animals destined for slaughter.
The foundation also works diligently against the fur industry, and hosts a website, www.inFURmation.com, where relevant links to the issue, for and against, are offered, so that people can make informed moral choices.
Making use of its proximity to many international organizations and schools, Bellerive also offers youth empowerment and education programs, as well as a magazine written by children called Earth Focus, which teaches students about relevant issues, stimulates discussion and solicits a fresh perspective from the next generation.
The number of issues taken up by the Bellerive Foundation is overwhelming, and its successes on so many fronts are impressive. A dynamic leader descended from the Prophet Mohammed, Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan leads his organization to work steadfastly with an eye toward brotherhood, solidarity and compassion.
For more information about the Bellerive Foundation, go to www.bellerive.org.
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