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Letter to President Xi (Mandarin)

Letter to President Xi (Mandarin)

习近平主席的呼吁书希望中国终止象牙贸易、帮助遏制对大象的屠杀

 

尊敬的习主席

们是来自世界各地的公民,今向您致函请求您出手帮助拯救非洲大象

首先我们祝贺您成为全球最有影响力和最强大国家之一的国家元首, 这位置赋予您与中国能够在未来世界的构筑之中发挥别的国家所不能企及的作用。也因这一具有全球性的影响力的地位,国际社会日益期待中国在打击野生动物贩卖的诸多领域扮演领导的角色

如您所知,非洲的野生动物正面对巨大的威胁。非洲象因被盗猎而空前大量消失。其他多种野生动物受到持续升级的、不可持续的大规模捕猎与贩卖。最近的科考报告表明,在2010年到2012年的三年间,有10头大象被盗猎。存活在非洲的大象少于40头。这是个十足的灾难

很多国家对这一悲剧负责任。然而,根据联合国濒危物种贸易公约,大部分的盗运象牙被运往了象牙需求近年猛增的中国内地。中国不断扩大的中产阶级日渐富裕起来,他们寻求获得高档的物品是个诱因之一。除非国际社会尤其是中国采取紧急的行动终止这一需求,否则对大象的屠杀将会继续不减并将导致大象短至10年内在非洲一些地区的灭绝

因此,留给这一非凡的动物的时间已少之又少了。你知道,大象与我们人类有那么多共同的特质:高度的智商;深厚的情感能力;有很长的培育幼儿时期;晚辈天生地晓得尊重长辈;当失去家庭或者族群里的成员时,会强烈悲伤。更甚者,它们是其他很多动植物赖以生存的关键物种,它们在其生存的环境里起着生态平衡的关键作用

主席先生,此刻全世界都仰望您,期望您伟大的国家行动起来终止中国国内所有的象牙贸易,停止雕刻厂商使用象牙(改为使用替代制品,例如石头或者环境与伦理上可接受的合成材料)。取缔象牙买卖,教育贵国公民知晓象牙的真正致命的成本终止中国内地象牙贸易的决定权在您的手里, 这个权利是不需要联合国濒危动植物贸易公约认可的主权行为。 该公约有关管辖权的章节规定,每个成员国可以时不时在它认为必要的时候对国内野生动物产品贸易实行更为严格的管制措施

您在我们眼里是一位卓越且具有前瞻思维的领导人。在您领导下迈向中国梦的中国,过去的30发展惊人,这是贵国人民欢迎新思想及新行为,修正及有必要时去除守旧的、过时的思想的结果

象牙制品是奢侈商品。允许它的买卖只会鼓励奢侈消费与毫无社会责任心的挥霍,甚至鼓励违法行为,与您提倡节俭打击奢侈浪费政策相违背的。象牙贸易无疑是过时的买卖,而不属于现代和进步中的中国。 

当前中国站在人类进入21纪的行军中的最前面,倘若中国能制止这一立足于每年野蛮屠杀数以万计非洲象和可能灭绝其他物种的陋习,将会赢得世界更多的尊重。 

中国有着由来已久的慈悲、尊重自然界各种形态生命的传承。(这一传承体现于最近对于中国1989年的野生动物保护法修订时对动物福利概念的采纳,这将对世界野生动物保护产生重大意义)

象牙如何取得,其残忍杀戮过程,以及象牙贸易带来的苦难、犯罪与暴力,都是天下人人皆知的。非法象牙贸易,也加剧了非洲的腐败及政府权威的受损,剥夺了非洲社群的自然遗产及他们赖以发展的经济条件。假如中国人民知道被屠杀取牙的大象所遭受的可怕的痛苦通常是活取,以及象牙买卖给非洲人民带来社会与经济上的破坏性影响,他们一定会感到愤概的、会对大象充满怜悯并要求终止这一野蛮杀戮

们相信贵国人民,会像国际社会一样,拥护您决定禁止这一带来诸多残酷行为、也不幸地为中国带来负面国际形象的贸易

主席先生,在这一历史上的关键时刻,您被召唤带领您的国家进入新的繁荣与民族复兴的新时代,展示中国的真正强大与潜力。这种强大不仅体现于中国在如此短时间内获得显著的经济增长,更体现在中国人民的人文精神,以及对于自然界的同情心

主席先生,我们敦促与恳请您采取决定性的行动,以终结中国国内的象牙贸易(包括合法与非法),并考虑这一决定会从多方面带给中国长远的政治、经济利益。我们请您这一历史性决定当着紧急的事务来处理,为历史上留下坚实的一笔遗产,作为我们这一时代真正开明的领导人将来世世代代谈及您时都报以尊敬、仰慕与感激

为了满足中国以及亚洲其他地方不了解情况的消费者,目前每年有数以万计的非洲象被杀死。没有您的相助,大象整体的末日即将到来

全世界正仰望您、并期待您做出历史性的决定!
Denise Dresner
Action for Elephants UK
www.actionforelephantsuk.org 

 

联署各方如下

Sir David Attenborough
Naturalist and broadcaster

Dr. Richard Leakey
Founder, Kenya Wildlife Service

Former Head of Kenya’s Civil Service and
Secretary to Cabinet in Kenya

Will Travers OBE
President, Born Free Foundation

Virginia McKenna OBE Hon Dr Science
Founder, Born Free Foundation

Adam Roberts
CEO Born Free USA

David Shepherd CBE
Founder and President of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation

Rob Brandford
Director, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust iworry Campaign

Charlie Mayhew MBE
Chief Executive, Tusk Trust

Richard Bonham
Director of Operations, Big Life Foundation

Ian Redmond OBE Hon Dr Science
Ambassador, UNEP Convention on Migratory Species

Co-founder ELEFRIENDS with the Born Free Foundation
Simon Jones

Founder and Chairman, Helping Rhinos
Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Petter Granli and Dr Joyce Poole
Co-Founders, ElephantVoices

Yvette Taylor
International Executive Director, Lawrence Anthony Earth Organization

Sport Beattie
Founder and CEO, Game Rangers International

Dr Trevor Jones
Southern Tanzania Elephant Project (STEP)

Stephanie Vergniault
Founder & Executive Director, SOS Elephants

Elizabeth Chitwood
President and Founder, Elephantopia

Andrea Crosta
Executive Director & Co-Founder, Elephant Action League (EAL)

Philip Mansbridge
UK Director, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Dominic Dyer
CEO, Badger Trust
Policy Advisor, Care for the Wild

Ingrid E. Newkirk
Founder, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Claire Bass
Executive Director, Humane Society International – UK

Jan Creamer
President, Animal Defenders International (ADI)

Allan Thornton OBE
President, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)

Paula Kahumbu
Executive Director, Wildlife Direct

Brian Davies
CEO and Founder, Network For Animals

Alan Knight OBE
CEO, International Animal Rescue

Joe Duckworth
Chief Executive, League Against Cruel Sports

Reute Butler
President, Friends of Conservation

Laurene K. Knowles
Founder and President, Elemotion Foundation

Elaine Toland
Director, Animal Protection Agency

Dr Mark Pilgrim
Director General, The North of England Zoological Society

Stephanie Hilborne OBE
Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts

Sundari SitaRam
Executive Director, Heart of Ganesh

Noor Santosian
Founder, Africa Nomads Conservation

Salisha Chandra
Founding member, KUAPO (Kenyans United Against Poaching)

Riccardo Garbaccio
Chairman, Conservation Lower Zambezi

Jonathan Vaughan
General Manager, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust

Edwin Wiek
Founder and Director, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Dr Dan Lyons
CEO, Centre for Animals and Social Justice

Janet Thomas
Founder and Chairperson, Animal Aid Abroad Inc.

Geert Drieman
Wildlife Friends International, The Netherlands

Gary Hills
Director, Fox in Parliament

Carla Geyser
Founder, Blue Sky Society Trust

Max and Josh Kauderer
Founders, Elephant Highway

Ciaran Mundy and Dominic Neate
Trustees, One World Wildlife

Raabia Hawa
Founder, Walk With Rangers

Joanna Lumley OBE

Ricky Gervais
Writer and comedian

Bill Bailey
Comedian, actor, author

James Littlewood
Director, Natural History Society of Northumbria

Stanley Johnson
Former MEP, author and conservationist

Nicky Campbell
TV and radio presenter

Bill Oddie
Broadcaster and conservationist

Steve Leonard
Veterinary surgeon and TV Presenter

Steve Backshall
Naturalist and writer

Bishop of St Albans

Members of UK Parliament

Sir David Amess (Con)
Southend West

Norman Baker (LibDem)
Lewes

Richard Benyon (Con)
Newbury
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at DEFRA 2010-2013

Clive Betts (Lab)
Sheffield South East

Ben Bradshaw (Lab)
Exeter

Russell Brown (Lab)
Dumfries and Galloway

Fiona Bruce (Con)
Congleton

Alan Campbell (Lab)
Tynemouth

Ronnie Campbell (Lab)
Blyth Valley

Geraint Davies (Lab Co-op)
Swansea West

Mark Durkan (SDLP)
Foyle

Roger Godsiff (Lab)
Birmingham Hall Green

Zac Goldsmith (Con)
Richmond Park

Mike Hancock (Ind)
Portsmouth South

Martin Horwood (LibDem)
Cheltenham

Glenda Jackson (Lab)
Hampstead and Kilburn

Dame Tessa Jowell (Lab)
Dulwich & West Norwood

Jeremy Lefroy (Con)
Stafford
Chairman of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Tanzania

Naomi Long (Alliance)
Belfast East

Tim Loughton (Con)
East Worthing and Shoreham

Anne Main (Con)
St Albans

John Mann (Lab)
Bassetlaw

John McDonnell (Lab)
Hayes and Harlington

Graeme Morrice (Lab)
Livingston

Greg Mulholland (LibDem)
Leeds North West

Neil Parish (Con)
Tiverton and Honiton

John Pugh (LibDem)
Southport

John Randall (Con)
Uxbridge and South Ruislip

Andrew Rosindell (Con)
Romford

Dame Joan Ruddock (Lab)
Lewisham Deptford

Adrian Sanders (LibDem)
Torbay

Virendra Sharma (Lab)
Ealing and Southall

Henry Smith (Con)
Crawley

John Spellar (Lab)
Warley

Justin Tomlinson (Con)
North Swindon

Mike Wood (Lab)
Batley and Spen