To all conscious people concerned with the well-being of our Earth, I would like to bring your attention to an atrocity being committed in my country South Africa, almost unnoticed.  The consequences are severe, we must address this issue.

TRADE IN LION BONES

I hear the argument that it is better to allow the breeding of lions to "flood the market and stop the incentive for poaching".

I disagree with the intentions and motivations of those involved in the practice of canned hunting and trade in lion bones in South Africa.  That includes the breeders, hunters, and authorities in a position to stop this practice but prefer not to. They are not coming from a point of respect and love for our planet.

I take personal responsibility for my relationship with our Earth.  Like all personal responsibilities I am not prepared to leave this in the hands of anyone else.  Subsequently I will not buy into any quasi conservation arguments, nor economic reasoning to validate canned hunting and the trade in lion bones.  

What about respecting traditional beliefs? I feel WE ALL need to re-evaluate our traditional beliefs in our relationship with our planet, looking at its manifestations in our actions.  Whether our traditions are twenty, two hundred or two thousand years old, it shouldn't matter.   We should keep what truthfully serves us, celebrate our diversities and allow the rest to go.  And that should be easy for us, as intelligent beings.  Our cultural development and survival as a species have depended on this always. 

I've included Wildlife Filmmaker Dereck Joubert's response to my question whether he's supporting the ban.  Dereck and his wife Beverly have committed their lives to the well being and survival of free living lions.  Thank you Dereck for writing this and thank you Jamie and the AVAAZ team for your commitment! 

"The Lion Bone trade, almost exclusively out of South Africa, sanctioned by the government is potentially one of the biggest more imminent threats to lions, leopards and even tigers right now. The Asian market for tiger bones is in a frenzy because the resource (wild tigers) is in a free fall. Tigers are at an all time low, with now fewer than 3,000 in the world. Lion bone and tiger bone are indistinguishable so lions are being fed into the market in skeletal form to substitute for tiger bone. The increase has been substantial over just three years. I have intercepted calls from Thailand to hunters and canned lion farmers, (a second atrocity and also uniquely South African activity) to supply as many lion skeletons as they can. It is a flood of legal and illegal movement of bones starting."

"In just 50 years we have seen wild lion populations decline by 95%. Any increased pressure now, in particular a legal one like the issuing of permits from South Africa will stimulate a poaching wave that will tip the scale against the remaining 20,000 lions in the world. An appeal at all levels of government in the country should be lodged by as many concerned citizens as possible. A lot depends on this moment. For lions, and also for the reputation of South Africa. If we cannot protect the rhinos of this country and now actually stimulate the previously non existent trade in dead lions I would foresee a tourism boycott on South Africa until the global community has confidence in South Africa doing the things it claims on its brochures."

Dereck Joubert -Explorer in Residence, Chairman Big Cat Initiative  

We need your support, please sign the petition below.  If you need more information, please contact me.

Herbert Brauer
FFC Member

Dear friends across South Africa,

South African lions are being slaughtered for their bones, just to make bogus sex potions for men. But if we show President Zuma that this hurts South Africa's image as a tourist destination, he could stop this cruelty by banning the trade in lion bones and organs. Sign the petition below -- we'll take out ads in major tourism magazines and websites: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/1_million_to_ban_the_lion_trade_sa/?bRJgScb&v=15611  

Hundreds of South African lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for men in Asia. But a global public campaign can stop this cruel trade by hitting the government where it hurts -- the tourism industry.

A ban on tiger bone sales has traders hunting a new prize -- the majestic lions. Lions are farmed under appalling conditions for "canned hunting", where rich tourists pay thousands to shoot them through fences. Now experts say lion bones from these killing farms are being exported to phony 'medicine' makers in Asia for record profits. Trade is exploding and experts fear that as prices rise, even wild lions -- with only 20,000 left in Africa -- will come under poaching attack.

If we join with people across the world and show President Zuma that this brutal trade is hurting South Africa's image as a tourist destination, he could ban and punish the trade in lion bones. Avaaz is taking out strong ads in airports, tourism websites and magazines, but we urgently need 1 million petition signers to give the ads their force. Sign below and forward this email to build our numbers fast:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/1_million_to_ban_the_lion_trade_sa/?bRJgScb&v=15611

'Tiger bone wine' and other tiger-part medicines were banned after massive international outrage -- now traders have shifted their attention to lions' bones to make all kinds of bogus remedies. Experts say unless governments act now, lions could be the next in line -- after tigers and rhinos -- to face extinction.

There is a solution: banning and punishing the trade of lion bones and organs. South Africa is currently the largest exporter of lion trophies, bones and organs -- it is also the only African country actively breeding lions in large numbers to supply trophy hunting. But if we can show that allowing this senseless trade can hurt South Africa's booming tourism industry and make visitors flee, President Zuma could be forced to act.

Let's build a thunderous global roar for the lions. Avaaz will show the cruelty of the lion bone trade with stinging ads -- sign now and tell everyone about it:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/1_million_to_ban_the_lion_trade_sa/?bRJgScb&v=15611

Avaaz members across the world have come together to demand strong protection for elephants and rhinos, save the world's bees from poisonous pesticides and achieve huge marine reserves in Chagos and Australia to safeguard vulnerable marine species. Lets come together once again and stand up for Africa's lions.

With hope, and determination,

Jamie, Alex, Antonia, Mia, Alice, Ricken, Luca, Emily and the entire Avaaz team

More information:

Lion Bone Trade Fuels Breeding Business in Africa (Al Jazeera)http://allafrica.com/view/resource/main/main/id/00040108.html 

South Africa continues to support the lion bone trade (LionAid) http://www.lionaid.org/blog/2012/06/south-africa-continues-to-support-the-lion-bone-trade.htm

Quenching a thirst for lion bones (Mail & Guardian) http://mg.co.za/article/2012-04-20-quenching-a-thirst-for-lion-bones/

Born to be killed (Carte Blanche) http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?ID=4226

The Lion Bone's Connected to the ... Rhino Horn? (Rhinoconservation.org) http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2012/05/12/the-lion-bones-connected-to-the-rhino-horn/

Wildlife trafficking trail leads to SA safari man (News 24 http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Bloody-rhino-poaching-trail-leads-to-SA-safari-operator-20110721  

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