Save elephants, stop European Union ivory, petition

This video says about itself:

21 August 2016

France this week has taken a giant leap in becoming the first European country to ban all ivory trade. The move is being hailed by animal welfare groups. The new ban will focus mainly on sales at auction, including antiques. European Union member states are the largest exporters of legal ivory. They are being urged to back growing demands for a total ban on the trade. CCTV’s Kate Parkinson has more.

From Avaaz.org today:

Elephants are being born without tusks — an extraordinary last bid to survive human cruelty and greed. We’re slaughtering these majestic beasts for ivory trinkets! But for the first time ever China just announced it’s shutting down its market. Now if we push Europe to follow suit we could end ivory forever.

Dear friends,

We’re about to wipe elephants from the face of the Earth. It’s so bad, some are now being born without tusks — an astonishing last throw of the evolutionary dice to survive human cruelty.

But for the first time ever China, the world’s biggest ivory importer, has announced it’s banning ivory. Now, if enough of us demand it, we can get Europe, the world’s biggest ivory exporter, to follow suit!

Last year we shone a light on Europe’s thriving ivory markets and stirred up a storm. Now momentum is building to shut them down. This is our moment! Join the urgent call with one click, and share this everywhere — let’s make our call so massive, we help end ivory forever:

Add your name to end the ivory trade

To European Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella, and all European governments:

As citizens from across Europe and the world we call on you to close Europe’s domestic trade in ivory, end all ivory exports, and support efforts to ban the global ivory trade. Europe has led the fight against illegal poaching, but these efforts are being undermined by the continued legal trade in ivory in EU countries. In the context of China announcing its ban on ivory, Europe must now do all it can to prevent elephants being driven to extinction.

Add your name to end the ivory trade

Elephants are incredible — they help each other in distress, can recognise death, and mourn over the bodies of their lost ones. Now it’s becoming unnatural selection by poaching! New research says in some African regions 98% of female elephants now have no tusks at all!

It’s clear the legal ivory market provides cover for the sale of illegal ivory and perpetuates elephant massacres. That’s why China shutting down their vast market is a stunning ray of hope for the future of this species. And Europe’s ivory exports make no sense. The EU has played a leading role in fighting poaching, and now China is moving, there are simply no excuses for Europe allowing ivory to be sold!

It’s time to demand Europe close its markets, and end all ivory trading. Europe is discussing this right now. Unless we speak out the ivory profiteers could have their way and keep this bloody trade open:

Add your name to end the ivory trade

Last year more than 1.5 million of us called on the world’s largest conservation congress to pass a total ivory trade ban — and they did it. Now it’s up to us to make sure our governments follow through, and give future generations a chance to experience the wonder of elephants.

With hope,

Marigona, Danny, Spyro, Alice, Bert and the rest of the Avaaz team

MORE INFORMATION:

China Bans Its Ivory Trade, Moving Against Elephant Poaching (NY Times)

EU set to ban raw ivory exports from July (Guardian)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/22/eu-set-to-ban-raw-ivory-exports-from-july-elephants-poaching

African elephants are being born without tusks due to poaching, researchers say (The Independent)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/elephants-africa-tusks-ivory-poaching-born-without-a7440706.html

Poaching behind worst African elephant losses in 25 years – IUCN report (IUCN)
https://www.iucn.org/news/poaching-behind-worst-african-elephant-losses-25-years-%E2%80%93-iucn-report

How World’s Largest Legal Ivory Market Fuels Demand for Illegal Ivory (National Geographic)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/10/legal-loopholes-fuel-ivory-smuggling-in-hong-kong/