[BERG] FW: Time to choose: Elephants or Ivory

[Peter Hancock]

I figure quite a few might wish to sign this.

Peter

From: Paul Hilder - Avaaz [mailto:avaaz at avaaz.org]
Sent: 09 March 2010 22:37
To: Peter Hancock
Subject: Time to choose: Elephants or Ivory

Dear friends,
In 5 days, the worldwide UN ban on ivory trading could be lifted -- a decision that could wipe out Africa's vulnerable elephants. But a number of a African nations are pushing to uphold the ban. Let's send them a stampede of support to save the elephants. Sign the petition below, and forward this email widely:
[http://avaazimages.s3.amazonaws.com/sign_english_blue.png]
Sign the petition!<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?cl=500191182&v=5563>

In 5 days, 2 African governments will try to pry open the worldwide ban on ivory trading -- a decision that could wipe out whole elephant populations and bring these magnificent animals closer to extinction.

Tanzania and Zambia are lobbying the UN for special exemptions from the ban, but this would send a clear signal to the ivory crime syndicates that international protection is weakening and it's open-season on elephants. Another group of African states have countered by calling to extend the trade ban for 20 years.

Our best chance to save the continent's remaining elephants is to support African conservationists. We only have 5 days left and the UN Endangered Species body only meets every 3 years. Click below to sign our urgent petition to protect elephants, and forward this email widely -- the petition will be delivered to the UN meeting in Doha:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?vl<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?cl=500191182&v=5563>

Over 20 years ago, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) passed a worldwide ban on ivory trading. Poaching fell, and ivory prices slumped. But poor enforcement coupled with'experimental one-off sales', like the one Tanzania and Zambia are seeking, drove poaching up and turned illegal trade into a lucrative business -- poachers can launder their illegal ivory with the legal stockpiles.

Now, despite the worldwide ban, each year over 30,000 elephants are gunned down and their tusks hacked off by poachers with axes and chainsaws. If Tanzania and Zambia are successful in exploiting the loophole, this awful trade could get much worse.

We have a one off chance this week to extend the worldwide ban and repress poaching and trade prices before we lose even more elephant populations -- sign the petition now and then forward it widely:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?vl<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?cl=500191182&v=5563>

Across the world's cultures and throughout our history elephants have been revered in religions and have captured our imagination -- Babar, Dumbo, Ganesh, Airavata, Erawan. But today these beautiful and highly intelligent creatures are being annihilated. As long as there is demand for ivory, poaching and smuggling will happen, but this week we have a chance to protect them and crush the ivory criminals' profits -- sign the petition now:

As long as there is demand for ivory, elephants are at risk from poaching and smuggling -- but this week we have a chance to protect them and crush the ivory criminals' profits -- sign the petition now:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?vl<https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_bloody_ivory/?cl=500191182&v=5563>

With hope,

Paul, Alice, Iain, Ricken, Graziela, Raluca, Luis, Paula Benjamin, David, Ben and the rest of the Avaaz team

More information:

Partners at Bloody Ivory and Born Free:
http://www.bloodyivory.org/
http://www.bornfree.org.uk/

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species: http://www.cites.org<http://www.cites.org/>

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