CHINA VOWS TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL TRADE IN CAT & DOG FUR

[Guest guest]

Hi Mr Stevenson,

 

I am an animal welfare activist living in Hong Kong China and I am writing in

reference to your letter that appeared on the aapn (asian animals protection

network) newsgroup.

 

Firstly let me commend you on your work - I think you are doing a fantastic job.

 

Secondly I wish to respectfully share my perspective with you.

 

I think the Chinese officials are just paying you lip service, they realise

their track record is appalling and wish to keep things calm for the Olympics in

2008 - I think the way to insure they do something about it is to push for

animal welfare legislation - without that the welfare groups in China are

working in the dark. There seems to be a huge feeling of futility among many of

them regarding their struggle (highlighted by the suicide of an activist

recently) which is hardly surprising given that the official political view is

" China is too poor to pass animal welfare legislation that the people can

realistically hope to uphold " , which of course is complete hogwash - a poor

person can just as easily kill an animal before skinning it/ boiling it/

chopping it's legs off as a rich person.

Anyway I think this would be the best way to support them.I'm going to cc aapn

this letter and see if any Chinese activists wish to respond - can I suggest

that you to aapn too (if you haven't already) as possibly the best way

to keep your finger on the pulse of animal activism in asia.

 

Keep up the good work.

 

Warmest regards

Nikki Green

 

 

 

STEVENSON Struan

Wed, 24 May 2006 11:15:30 +0200

CHINA VOWS TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL TRADE IN CAT & DOG FUR

Wed, 24 May 2006 11:13:40 +0200

Release: immediate

24 May 2006

Issued by: Conservatives in the European Parliament

Struan Stevenson MEP, tel: +32 (0) 2 28 45710

 

CHINA VOWS TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL TRADE IN CAT & DOG FUR

 

Brussels, 24 May 2006 -- Senior officials in the Chinese

government yesterday vowed to stamp out the trade in cat and dog fur

which they described as " illegal and barbaric. " These were the views

expressed at a high-level meeting in Beijing, attended by Scottish

Conservative Euro MP Struan Stevenson, who has spent the past 6 years

campaigning to end the trade and has now taken his fight to the heart

of the Chinese Government. He attended a meeting at the State

Forestry Administration, where he met with Deputy Chairman - Zhao

Xuemin - and five of his senior officials, including Secretary

General of the China Wildlife Conservation Association - Chen

Runsheng.

Speaking from Beijing, Struan Stevenson said:

" The State Forestry Administration in China is the government

department responsible for all animal welfare issues. I met with the

top officials who deal with these policy areas and I gave them a copy

of a graphic DVD filmed recently at an animal market outside Beijing,

which shows dogs and cats being skinned alive. They were horrified by

this evidence and Mr Zhao said to me " Chinese law prohibits the

barbarian practice of skinning animals alive or indeed any kind of

cruelty. We have no tradition in China for wearing fur made from dogs

and cats and for centuries have regarded such animals as friends>and

pets. However, we cannot deny that incidents of cruelty do occur,

such as those you have brought to our attention. Sadly this barbaric

trade is driven by economic factors. But, these cases you have

mentioned have made a strong impression on us and we will make

renewed efforts to stamp out these barbaric practices. "

Struan Stevenson continued:

" I will now report to Commissioner Kyprianou, the European

Commissioner for Consumer Affairs, that there will be no opposition

in China to his proposed directive banning the import, export and

trade in cat and dog skins across the EU. Indeed, the senior

Government officials in Beijing made it quite clear that they would

regard an EU ban as helpful in their fight to stamp out this cruel

trade. Commissioner Kyprianou can now proceed with all possible speed

to get approval for an outright ban. "