Help us bring Trade Secret to the world - polar bears need your support

Trade Secret is now part of a growing international effort to end the commercial trade in polar bears.

A recent targeted impact campaign in Norway brought the film directly to policymakers, researchers and the public in one of the countries central to polar bear trade dynamics. More than 1,000 people attended screenings across Oslo, Svalbard, Tromsø and Bergen, generating strong discussion around Norway’s role in imports of polar bear skins and the need for stronger protections. Norwegian organisations have since begun outreach to political leaders on this issue.

The Norway campaign was made possible by our global partner SeaLegacy and by you - our amazing supporters - enabling targeted screenings and engagement with policymakers in a country central to polar bear trade.

Why we need your help now

Ending the international commercial trade in polar bears will require sustained engagement with policymakers in key regions. Our focus is on bringing Trade Secret directly to decision-makers in Norway, across the European Union, and in China - currently the world’s largest importer of polar bear skins.

Strategic screenings in these regions can help build the political momentum required for stronger protections. In Norway and the EU, the goal is to encourage leadership in supporting an Appendix I listing under CITES. In China, the objective is to help policymakers understand that this activity is carried out by a very small fraction of the Chinese population, yet is having a disproportionate and damaging effect on polar bears.

The work now is not about traditional festival exposure. It is about carefully targeted screenings and discussions with policymakers, scientists, NGOs and media in countries that can directly influence outcomes.

To continue this work, we urgently need support for:

Strategic screenings for policymakers and decision-makers

Engagement events with researchers, NGOs and advocacy groups

Travel for targeted outreach in Norway, the EU and China

Specific edits and cutdowns of the film tailored for each audience

Ongoing outreach building toward the next CITES decision cycle

The climate crisis is already threatening polar bears. The continued international commercial trade in their skins adds a second, preventable pressure. Ending this trade is one of the most immediate actions the international community can take.

With your support, we can bring Trade Secret to the people who have the power to act - and build the international momentum needed to end international commercial trade in polar bears once and for all.

Polar bears need your help.

Thank you,

Abraham

Director/Producer of Trade Secret