A major poster campaign
aimed at sensitising the public to the declining wildlife and its deleterious impact
has been started by Shanghai metro. The emphasis is on illegal wildlife
products such as ivory and rhino horn, which has many dubious customers in
China. The programmes are run with the assistance of UN Environment Programme
(UNEP). The message on the pic shown above says 'Buying Illegal Ivory is
Killing Me':
Elephant poaching in Africa is
threatening the future of elephant populations and the livelihoods of millions
of people linked to tourism.
Nick Nuttall, Director of
UNEP's Division of Communications and Public Information says "Public awareness was a key factor behind
the reduction in the demand for ivory in North America and Europe in the 20th
century, and it can play its part in reducing the illegal wildlife trade today
as demand moves to emerging markets."
Actress Li Bingbing, one of
China's most-popular celebrity stars, is a major advocate of the UNEP led
initiative.
We need more initiatives
like the one initiated by Shanghai metro to secure the future of elephants and
rhinos of Africa which is reeling under severe poaching threat. Many consumers
in China are unaware that products like illegal ivory and rhino horn come at a
terrible price to the species and communities concerned. Education is the key
we must harp on.
No comments:
Post a Comment