Vets and volunteers around Kunming and with the supports from all over the China, are taking care of the dogs. Up to date, more than 100 health dogs have been moved into the shelter of Yixin Stray Animal Rescue Group and more than 200 dogs are in the Veterinary College of Kunming under the medical treatment.
Photos: courtesy of 4.20 Kunming Dog Rescue
A group photo of the participants to the e-permitting meeting
The development and use of CITES e-permitting systems, and their role in ensuring legal, sustainable and traceable international trade in CITES-listed species, was discussed by countries in Asia at a meeting in Guangzhou, China on 9 to 11 May 2012.
The rapid advances by some countries in the Asian Region on use of new electronic trade standards, including the establishment of ‘Single Windows’1, assisted participants in discussing joint projects on the establishment of secure-permitting systems to: reduce fraud; improve on meeting reporting obligations; enhance permit issuance and administration; and provide up-to-the-minute data to assist with CITES scientific assessments (non-detriment findings and significant trade reviews).
The meeting was jointly organized by the CITES Secretariat and the Government of China and made possible through the generous financial support of China and the European Commission.
The Asian Region also benefits from the framework provided by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) whose member countries have agreed to implement an ASEAN Single Window, which will create a simplified, standardized and integrated environment for cargo clearance in line with international best practices and norms2.
Participation in the meeting by representatives from: Brazil and Namibia; the UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre; the World Customs Organization (WCO), and the Chair of the CITES e-permitting working group, offered participants the opportunity to plan innovative projects. This included making use of South-South collaboration, as well as the unique expertise available in the participating countries and international organizations. Brazil, for example, has offered to make its know-how freely available to countries in the Latin American Region and in other regions that are planning to implement CITES e-permitting systems.
Ms Yin Hong, Vice Administrator of State Forestry Administration and Director General of the Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office of China stated, “China is pleased to work together with Parties to CITES, international organizations and the CITES Secretariat to push forward the development of technologies to strengthen the protection of CITES species and to better regulate trade, enhance law enforcement and make greater contributions to sustainable social and economic development. ”
In his opening remarks, Secretary-General, Mr. John E. Scanlon, noted that, “A sustainable future is being discussed in the context of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, to be held in Rio de Janeiro in June of this year, often known as Rio+20. Sustainability is not achieved through one action but through the accumulation of multiple actions. Actions such as those being taken today – namely to put into place e-permitting systems for legal, sustainable and traceable trade in CITES listed species – help build the essential foundations for environmental sustainability and sustainable development. E-permitting systems offer us one of the tools we need to reach the future we want.”
During the meeting, a representative of the WCO announced the successful conclusion of an initiative to include standards of the CITES e-permitting toolkit with the new version of the WCO Data Model, scheduled for release in October 2012. In his announcement, Mr Sybrand Bootsma, WCO Technical Officer, declared, “The joint achievement by the CITES Secretariat and the WCO will make it easier for CITES Parties to develop e-permitting systems that are fully harmonized with international standards and to Single Windows. It also paves the way for other multilateral environmental agreements to make use of the framework provided by the WCO data model.”
Participants in the meeting also focused on the positive impacts of CITES e-permitting systems on the provision of up-to-the-minute data for scientific findings and reviewing levels of trade. During these discussions, Mr Mathias Löertscher, Chair of the Working Group on CITES E-permitting and Head of the CITES Management Authority of Switzerland, stated, “CITES e-permitting systems will strengthen the science base of the Convention by providing the scientific community with data that can be used to better monitor CITES-listed species in the wild and can be combined with other datasets for the development of more relevant biodiversity indicators.”
The meeting concluded by recommending a number of bilateral and regional projects, which will assist Parties to plan and develop e-permitting systems, benefiting from lessons learned. Recommendations were also made to begin discussions on a project between Brazil, Namibia and China on using new e-permitting technologies to ensure legal, sustainable and traceable trade.
1. A Single Window is defined as a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements. If information is electronic, then individual data elements should only be submitted once (Recommendation and Guidelines on establishing a Single Window to enhance the efficient exchange of information between trade and government (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitationand Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), Recommendation No. 33).
2. Agreement to Establish and Implement the ASEAN Single Window, Kuala Lumpur, 9 December 2005 (http://www.aseansec.org/18005.htm)
PETITION
with Love,
Care for Chinese Animals
Council resolution calls for end to cruel and unsustainable shark fin trade.
Oceana, WildAid, NRDC, Defenders of Wildlife, Shark Savers, Born Free USA, COARE, Shark Research Institute
Photo credit: Humane Society of the United States
A coalition of animal welfare, environmental and conservation organizations joined City Council Member Margaret Chin, D-Lower Manhattan and other city and state legislators for a rally on City Hall steps to announce her resolution in support of the state legislation to end New York’s contribution to the dire collapse of shark populations worldwide.
Resolution 1311 calls upon the New York legislature to enact and the Governor to sign A.7707a/S.6431, which would prohibit the possession, sale, offer for sale, trade, or distribution of shark fins. If enacted, New York will join four Pacific states – California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington – and the U.S. territories of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands in similar actions to provide critical protection to sharks and preserve the health of the world’s ocean ecosystems. The bipartisan state legislation has the broad sponsorship support of 58 legislators and is championed by Assembly Members Alan Maisel, D-Brooklyn, Grace Meng, D-Flushing, and Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan and Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo.
“I am proud to sponsor this resolution in support of a ban on the sale and distribution of shark fins,” said Council Member Margaret Chin, D- Lower Manhattan. “As we all know, in our country the main consumers of shark fin are Asian American communities. Shark fin soup may be a time honored tradition for a small group of people but it has no place in today’s society. Let’s call this trade what it is: illicit, inhumane and unnecessary. I stand here today to say that I will not support an industry that thrives off cruelty.”
“We must to put an end to the shark fin trade before it is too late,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm, D-Queens. “The practice is both cruel and reckless, and the effects on our ecosystem have been devastating. We cannot continue to allow people to make large profits at the expense of endangering our marine life. I commend Council Member Margaret Chin for her leadership in drawing attention to this pressing issue and I urge my colleagues in government to support this resolution.”
“It is my great pleasure to join with Councilwoman Chin at today’s rally to announce her resolution supporting the legislation that Senator Mark Grisanti and I have introduced,” said Assemblymember Alan Maisel, D-Brooklyn. “We must once and for all stop all activities associated with the barbaric practice of shark finning and make New York State a leader in the protection of threatened species that are an important element of our marine ecosystem.”
“Shark finning’ is an irresponsible practice that kills millions of sharks every year. Unless we act now, global shark populations will be greatly affected for many years to come, said Assemblywoman Grace Meng, D-Flushing. “As a legislator I will continue to support legislation and efforts that will protect sharks and the overall health of oceanic ecosystems.”
“New York must not be complicit in the practice of shark finning, which has led to the extinction of shark populations around the world and wreaks havoc on our entire oceanic system,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan. “By adopting this bill, which I am proud to co-sponsor, New York will join other states, including the entire West Coast, in banning the possession and sale of shark fins. New York will no longer be a refuge for those looking to make a profit from the illicit trade of shark fins.”
Petition Sponsored by: Hong Kong Dog Rescue
Hong Kong journalists have recently exposed a large-scale dog slaughterhouse in JiLin, China. More than 10,000 dogs are slaughtered every year in this single facility for the production of “dog meat instant noodles”, which are sold all around China and also exported to South Korea.
According to the reports, the dogs are obtained through trading, hunting, breeding or even stealing, while they all end up being killed in the same extremely inhumane way.
Each enclosure at the slaughterhouse keeps around 40 dogs, with a total of more than 100 enclosures in the place. The bloody dog massacre takes place every night. Their slaughter process is violent and cruel: The worker goes into an enclosure with a metal stick in his hand, repeatedly hit it on any dogs in sight until all dogs in that enclosure are abused to death. Some dogs are lucky enough to die after a few heavy hits, while the others are injured and covered in blood, not letting out a moan but silently waiting for their next hit and watching their friends being killed. As observed, the dogs hardly try to run away from the worker as if they have already accepted their sad fate, or maybe because they are simply too frightened to resist. More than 300 dogs are slaughtered this way every night at the dog slaughterhouse. Nothing seems to touch the workers, not the despair in their eyes, not the groan of pain and fear.
25 years-old worker Ah-Keung, who has been working for the slaughterhouse for two years, told the reporter that his salary has been raised from RMB$900 to RMB$1,100 since he joined the company for six month and become an “experienced butcher”.
“Not a single dog can get out of this place alive,”said Ah-Keung. “Not even if they are intelligent enough to speak human language”.
The above case shows a decline in humanity in China followed by its economic prosperity. We are very lucky to live in somewhere where lives are far more respected. As China is growing bigger and stronger, it must be reminded the importance of humanity and morality. The world must show awareness to this problem in China now before it is too late to be altered.
The dog bleeds in China The human nature in the world is in the loss .
Read more and Sign the Petition:
New national CITES enforcement coordinating body shows positive results
Mr John E. Scanlon, CITES Secretary-General, presenting a Certificate of
Cmmendation to Ms Yin Hong, Vice Aministrator of State Forestry
Administration
The Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), Mr John E. Scanlon, has today awarded a Certificate of Commendation to the National Inter-Agency CITES Enforcement Collaboration Group (NICECG) of China in recognition of two nationwide wildlife law enforcement operations carried out earlier this year. Over 100,000 enforcement officers were mobilised in this effective offensive against wildlife crime.
During the Forest Police Operation, organized by the State Forestry Administration, more than 700 cases of illegal wildlife trade were uncovered; 7,155 illegal wildlife stalls and shops as well as 628 illegal online wildlife shops were shut down; 520 websites believed to offer for sale illegal wildlife were closely monitored; enforcement action was taken against 1,031 wildlife dealers involved in illegal activities; 13 wildlife-related criminal networks were dismantled and approximately 130,000 wild animals; 2,000 wildlife products and 147 wild animal skins were conficated.
During the Customs Authorities Operation, organized by the General Administration of Customs, 13 suspects were arrested; 1,366.3 kg of ivory, 337,400 kg of red sandal wood; and approximately 30,000 kg of yew timber and 876 horns of saiga antelope were seized.
These two major operations were carried out under the auspices of NICECG, which was established in December 2011 in order to facilitate the collection and exchange of intelligence, enhance capacity building, and coordinate joint enforcement activities. NICECG comprises the State Forestry Administration, the Ministry of Public Security, the General Administration of Customs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Administration of Industry and Commerce. The CITES Management Authority of China, hosted by the State Forestry Administration, is the coordinating body of NICECG.
The CITES Secretary-General, Mr John E Scanlon, presented the Certficate of Commendation to the Chair of NICECG and Vice Minister of the State Forestry Administration, Ms Yin Hong, at the opening ceremony of a meeting hosted by China on the Development of CITES E-Permitting Systems, which is being held in Guangzhou and attended by participants from 14 CITES member States. Mr Scanlon declared: “The sheer scale, extent of coordination, and level of success of these intelligence-driven operations exemplify the coordinated enforcement effort that is required at the national and sub-national levels to combat wildlife crime successfully. We commend the Chinese Government for this excellent initiative, which echoes the coordinated enforcement approach that we are promoting through the International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC).”
At the acceptance of the Certificate of Commendation, Ms Yin Hong, stated: “The Government of China attaches great importance to the protection of the ecological system, and has always given high priority to the protection of biological diversity and wildlife law enforcement. China is committed to work with the international community to enhance the implementation and enforcement of CITES.”
Although China has been conducting nationwide wildlife enforcement actions for many years, the new operations coordinated by NICECG, have clearly given new impetus to CITES implementation. NICECG is also serving as a model at the provincial level, with five CITES enforcement inter-agency groups being set up.
Dr Meng Xianlin, Executive Director-General of the CITES Management Authority of China, said: “We see the Certificate of Commendation from the CITES Secretary-General as a very positive recognition of the law enforcement efforts made by China in the implementation of CITES, one for which we are extremely grateful. This is an invaluable encouragement to all the wildlife law enforcement officers across China. NICECG will spare no efforts to bring its power into full play in order to gather concerted efforts of all relevant authorities in combating illegal activities in wildlife and to curb illegal wildlife trade effectively. ”
CITES implementation has also recently been brought to the fore at the highest political level. In the joint statement issued after the fourth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue held from 3 to 4 May in Beijing, article 47 states that: “We decide to jointly support the wildlife law enforcement efforts and to combat the smuggling of endangered and protected species. China and the United States will attend the Special Investigation Group Meeting held from 20 to 21 June 2012 in Nanning, China, led by ASEAN-WEN. At the meeting, wildlife investigators and forensic experts will identify and recommend improved enforcement and inspection efforts.”
News to share:
After national and international protests, the Directors of Creek Project Investments have announced a suspension of the development of their intended biggest Foie Gras plant in Mainland China, until the completion of a full review with input from animal welfare and environmental experts to address any issues.
Please see the good news below, and great appreciation for all of your support to stop this cruel Foie Gras business in China! Please keep giving pressures to The Government of UK and Greek Project Investments for giving up this cruel investment completely to avoiding not only the suffering of animals but also the damage of human’s heath and food wasting.
Thank you !
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3 April, 2012, London, UK The Directors of Creek Project Investments PLC, responding to concerns from the public about the development of an extensive Foie Gras operation in Mainland China, today announced a suspension of the present ‘Foie Gras’ operations, until the completion of a full review. The Directors have called for the review to include input from animal welfare and environmental experts to address any issues which may or may not exist. The results of the review will be published on the Company’s web site when completed, which is expected to be within the next two months. |
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