petition to protect elephants from ivory poachers

Dear friends,



The worldwide UN ban on ivory trading could soon be lifted -- a decision that could wipe out Africa's vulnerable elephants. But a number of a African nations are pushing to uphold the ban. Let's send them a stampede of support to save the elephants. Sign the skyrocketing petition below, and forward this email widely:

Sign the petition!
Wow -- the petition to protect endangered elephants from ivory poachers is exploding -- in just over 72 hours, more than 300,000 of us have signed the call to the UN to uphold the ban on ivory trading and save whole populations of these magnificent animals. The crucial UN vote is expected this week.

Tanzania and Zambia are lobbying the UN for special exemptions from the ban, but this would send a clear signal to the ivory crime syndicates that international protection is weakening and it's open-season on elephants. Another group of African states have countered by calling to extend the trade ban for 20 years.

Our best chance to save the continent's remaining elephants is to support African conservationists. We only have days left and the UN Endangered Species body only meets every 3 years. Click below to sign our urgent petition to protect elephants, and forward this email widely -- the petition will be delivered to the UN meeting in Doha:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/protect_the_elephants/?vl



Over 20 years ago, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) passed a worldwide ban on ivory trading. Poaching fell, and ivory prices slumped. But poor enforcement coupled with'experimental one-off sales', like the one Tanzania and Zambia are seeking, drove poaching up and turned illegal trade into a lucrative business -- poachers can launder their illegal ivory with the legal stockpiles.



Now, despite the worldwide ban, each year over 30,000 elephants are gunned down and their tusks hacked off by poachers with axes and chainsaws. If Tanzania and Zambia are successful in exploiting the loophole, this awful trade could get much worse.



We have a one-off chance this week to extend the worldwide ban and repress poaching and trade prices before we lose even more elephant populations -- sign the petition now and then forward it widely:

Across the world's cultures and throughout our history elephants have been revered in religions and have captured our imagination -- Babar, Dumbo, Ganesh, Airavata, Erawan. But today these beautiful and highly intelligent creatures are being annihilated.

As long as there is demand for ivory, elephants are at risk from poaching and smuggling -- but this week we have a chance to protect them and crush the ivory criminals' profits -- sign the petition now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/protect_the_elephants/?


With hope,



Paul, Alice, Iain, Ricken, Graziela, Raluca, Luis, Paula Benjamin, David, Ben and the rest of the Avaaz team



More information:



Partners at Bloody Ivory and Born Free:

http://www.bloodyivory.org/

http://www.bornfree.org.uk/




The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species: http://www.cites.org



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WOW!!! Amazing!!! Ryana · 2010-03-20: 14:01

pictures are brilliant, but i have ixed feelings watching them.I don't like when elephants or other animals do what man forced it to do.people earn money owing to them, but they are not happy drawing.....People are really crazy!more than other animals.did you ride elephant Maxi? gonia · 2010-03-20: 14:19

Very interesting. This is a long battle started many years ago. I remember the ban of ivory sales in 1989 and the demonstration by the Italian Kuki Galmann in Kenya (she's living in Africa and I've read all her books). Nowadays the battle is done by her daughter Sveva. I've always signed for the ban of ivory sales and never bought ivory ;-) Well done,Tomie. Do you think elephants like to play the clown like that? I have no idea, honestly ;-) Good post. ????? · 2010-03-20: 14:24

firehorsecri, thanks for your informations.. i don't think they like to play the clown...i saw how they tame elephants, it'scruel ..! they abuse them, though i understand it's the only way to earn their life. .. tomie · 2010-03-20: 14:35

Hmmm... as I imagined. I love freedom for wild animals. I'm also against the use of animals in circus. After so many years I entered a zoo at the beginning of this month (La Barben, in Provence) and I felt quite sad... I noticed the elephant Tania had a maniac movement like a dance... She was stressed and sad, she suffered from solitude... and the mistral is unbearable for African animals! ppfff... My heart was so little in seeing those wild animals there. ????? · 2010-03-20: 14:39

Great post with very important issue. Beautiful photos, Tomie! JumiElla · 2010-03-20: 15:54

Very interesting post. I think we are all in agreement about confining wild animals for our amusement is sad. I would hate to see the ban on ivory lifted, I'll take a look at your link. DancingDolphin · 2010-03-20: 16:04

Thanks so much for posting this and this information, Tomie. Absolutely we need to support the protection of these beautiful creatures. smbunation · 2010-03-20: 16:11

Beautiful photos, Tomie!nice and sad! Davorka · 2010-03-20: 16:26

Nicely done Tomie SunFlower1990 · 2010-03-20: 16:58

Incredible pictures and words photopoet · 2010-03-20: 18:08

Je viens de voter et je vais passer le site à mes amis. Tes photos sont fantastiques, de plus comme toutes les autres de ton voyage passionnant, mais pour être honnête, je préfère voir les animaux dans leurs habitats naturels, particulièrement des animaux si nobles comme les éléphants. J'aimais monter un chameau pendent mes vacances, mais j'ai aussi eu pitié d'eux en voyant comme ils étaient traités avec peu de respect. Unchained · 2010-03-20: 19:01

As entertaining as these poor animals are, you're right, it is cruel. But we accept this type of entertainment because it does feed mouths. I am in shock that they are thinking of lifting the ban. I will go to the website. Thanks. livelovelaugh · 2010-03-20: 22:42

Ces images sont très belles et j'ai adoré Dumbo comme l' enfant! Ce que tu a présenté sur le blog est cruelle et triste, nous devons absolument protéger les animaux nobles et bien-aimé. Tomy, j'ai signé la pétition, je te remercie pour ta gentillesse et d'informations! ????? · 2010-03-21: 02:23

beau reportage, merci ! domelia · 2010-03-21: 08:42

fantastic post!! jennye · 2010-03-21: 10:32

wow! all are excellent, they are such bright animals, thanks for sharing! ????? · 2010-03-21: 11:32

This elephant show is magnificent !!!!!!!!!! curlyq60 · 2010-03-21: 12:55

Wonderful shots! These magnificent animals should be protected!! ????? · 2010-03-21: 13:50

Nicely done my friend. boszorka65 · 2010-03-21: 13:58

Woooow!! Magnificent and very interesting! This post is fantastic! Great job Tomie! DAMihaela · 2010-03-21: 14:16

Excellent report on these beautiful animals agandia · 2010-03-21: 19:42

Excellent post, Tomie! Contesina · 2010-03-22: 03:26

Great idea! Last shot I like the best, as it is the most natural... pandka · 2010-03-22: 04:27

What a great set, Tomie!! I enjoyed the pictures very much! Yokai · 2010-03-22: 04:31

Excellent photos with great color and composition....these are beautiful animals and you captured them very well in this situation. My first impression is sadness, especially when I read how they are abused. They seem like intelligent creatures - so unfair and unkind for them to be subdued in this way. Thanks for sharing this and also the information about the ivory ban possibly being lifted.... lookagain · 2010-03-22: 08:52

Very interesting post! and sad... Eiram · 2010-03-22: 16:14

Great set :) jevsnw · 2010-03-22: 18:52

Some amazing captures here. It makes you wonder how their lives truly are and what they must go through to learn these tricks. dontblink · 2010-03-22: 22:01

:DLovely, Wonderful captures! :) ????? · 2010-03-23: 03:54

exceptional post. thanks for the information attached with miltonjacob · 2010-03-23: 13:33

I admired the elephants always! somogyvari · 2010-03-23: 15:12

Great post...beautiful animals and this gives you a lot to think about!!! lynnsgallery2 · 2010-03-25: 08:12

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