Elephant polo Update.

[Guest guest]

I am told the security has been tightened outside the venue of that 'Cruel

Cartier Elephant Polo Cup` 2006'.

 

Fear is high amongst the organisers considering the fact that several

demos have been planned by many organsations in Jaipur today.

Photo identity cards have been issued to 'Help in Suffering' people and all

those who feel this to be a red letter day.

 

Much care is being taken to patch up the head injuries, the abcess and

other form of injuries on the 'Gentle Giants' with ornamental cloths and

other local jewellery ( not funded by Cartier though ), which shall be put to

use for that wretched sport.

There was a rehearsal yesterday without ankushes but then mahouts were

clearly seen poking and hitting the elephants with sticks ( should have

seemed humane ofcourse in the eyes of the animal welfare observers

present ).

 

The Campaign update:

 

17747 emails were sent to Cartier from the PETA action alert.

http://getactive.peta.org/campaign/elephant_polo?

qp_source=petaelephantpologen

 

Also many many more were sent from our US Youth site www.peta2.com.

 

339 hard hitting messages have been sent through the photo petition site :

Urge ' CARTIER Inc ' to withdraw sponsorship from 'Elephant Polo' in India.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/857409235

 

'The Elephant Commentator'

http://groups.msn.com/TheElephantCommentator

a popular group on elephant welfare and rights moderated by Edward

Berry, has also had elephant experts submitting messages condemning this

elephant polo event. In fact it was Edward who in the initial stages of this

campaign expresses the need of having some write ups on the internet

specifically focusing on the negative aspects of elephant polo. This idea

was developed into reality through the wesbite: http://www.stopelephant

polo.com , formerly http://www.freewebs.com/elephantpolo

 

The website www.stopelephantpolo.com which was an amateur attempt of

just have a compilation of the ever increasing mails from eminent experts

worldwide specifically on this 'Cartier Elephant Polo Cup` 2006, has turned

out to be quite popular amongst the media/press who have been able to

educate themselves as far as reporting for this issue is concerned.

Many media reports have mentioned about the website, which goes to

show what a wonderful team we have to combat the abusers.

Simply would not have been possible without each and every person who

felt this issue worth of criticising.

 

 

Dr. John would be able to exactly say how many letters of protest AAPN

has seen so far.

It was on AAPN that posted that Financial Express news link

which was the advertisement to this circus like polo event.

What followed we all know.

 

I would like to take this opportunity and call on our friends in Thailand, Sri

Lanka and Nepal.

It is extremly sad that there have been almost no condemnation of this

event from organisations or individuals working for animal rights in those

countries.

I am sure 'elephant polo' is nothing different in those places.

Foreign fundings are essential but should never be compromised at the

cost of these 'Gentle Giants'.

Such a thing may have been happening in India for generations and so

what if it was a tradition, now that we have all come out to bring an end to

this, we have to carry this forward.

 

I do not know if, or when we can end this in future, but this is just the

begining, we have everyone with us....and together we hope to end this

someday soon if this pressure continues in not only India, but in THAILAND,

NEPAL and BANGLADESH too.

 

Once this ends the so called citizens and multinationals of " DEVELOPED

NATIONS " who simply enjoy " playing frivolous games on elephants " as

quoted on a website of Elephant Polo playing gang in the USA and

elsewhere can ask Cartier to fund them a trip to MARS and remain there

forever, there shall not be any room permitted for them on this planet.

 

Thank you everyone.

 

Rergards,

 

 

Azam Siddiqui