Remain Humane at the Olympics in China

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Remain Humane at the Olympics in China

Food/Merchandise Tips for Summer Games

 

(July 31, 2008) - The Humane Society of the United States and its

international arm Humane Society International has a list of do's and

don'ts for those traveling to China, where tourist souvenirs and some

meals involve cruelty to animals.

 

Teresa Telecky, Ph.D., policy director for Humane Society

International, offers the following tips to help those wishing to

make animal-friendly decisions while in China:

 

 

Don't buy ivory. During a recent trip to China, Telecky saw ivory for

sale widely, even in hotel gift shops. China is the main destination

for ivory from poached elephants. Although it is legal to sell ivory

in China, it is illegal to bring ivory back into the United States.

<http://www.hsus.org/hsi/wildlife/dont_buy_wild/>http://www.hsus.org/hsi/wildlif\

e/dont_buy_wild/

Don't buy items made of or trimmed in fur or leather. Wild animals as

well as dogs and cats are killed for their fur in China. The methods

of killing the animals include skinning the animals while they are

still alive. Telecky saw cat trinkets covered in real cat fur.

<http://www.hsus.org/furfree/dogs_cats/dog_and_cat_victims.html>http://www.hsus.\

org/furfree/dogs_cats/dog_and_cat_victims.html

Don't order shark fin soup. Sharks are in decline worldwide, largely

because of the demand for their fins. Shark fins are cut off and the

sharks are thrown back overboard to die.

<http://www.hsus.org/hsi/oceans/sharks/shark_finning/shark_finning_faq.html>http\

://www.hsus.org/hsi/oceans/sharks/shark_finning/shark_finning_faq.html

Do be mindful of what else you eat. Officials have banned dog meat

from the menus during the Olympics, but it is still a thriving trade

at other times. Other opportunities for adventurous eating abound in

China, but diners are often unaware of the impact their food choices

have. Massive numbers of snakes, turtles and small mammals are

captured in other Asian countries and transported alive under cruel

conditions to China, decimating wild populations. Bird's nest soup,

another delicacy, is made of swiftlet nests. Removing the nests from

the wild deprives birds of places to breed.

Do eat vegetables to be safe. Many restaurants in China serve

vegetarian dishes like " stir fried vegetables, " " mixed vegetables, "

" vegetables with fried tofu or regular tofu, " " pickled vegetables

with beans, " and " mushroom with vegetables, " etc.

Do learn a phrase or two. The phrase " wo chi su " (I am vegetarian)

may be interpreted as " I want to eat vegetables " rather than being

vegetarian. You will be served a plate of green vegetables and rice.

The phrase " quan su " means vegetarian in the Chinese Buddhist

tradition, which prohibits eating onions and garlic.

Do be careful about pharmacy purchases. Traditional Chinese medicines

may contain parts of endangered animals, which are believed to have

potent healing properties. Demand for these products has pushed

rhinos and tigers to the edge of extinction. In China, endangered

Asiatic black bears are trapped and kept in small cages so their bile

can be extracted.

Don't buy items made of wood. China is one of the biggest importers

of tropical timber. This timber comes from trees cut down in other

parts of Asia, such as Indonesia, which destroys orangutan habitat.

Do purchase official Olympic souvenirs or handicrafts that are not

made from animals or wild plants. Chinese merchants carry ornate,

metal objects (jewelry, vases, etc.), rock carvings of people and

animals, objects made from beautifully woven cloth (purses, scarves,

shirts, ties, etc.), tea, pottery and hand-made papers.

-30-

Media Contact: Kristen Everett, 301-721-6440,

<keverettkeverett

Humane Society International is the international arm of The Humane

Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal protection

organization - backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30.

For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the

protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on

programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty - On the web at

<http://www.humanesociety.org/>humanesociety.org.

Humane Society

International

2100 L Street,

N.W.

Washington, D.C.

20037

<http://www.humanesociety.org/>hsihsus.org

Celebrating Animals, Confronting

Cruelty

 

 

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