Yao to promote wildlife conservation at Houston Zoo
HOUSTON, Feb. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tomorrow,
February 14, former NBA Star and Chinese icon, Yao Ming, will be in
Houston with conservation organization,
WildAid,
visiting the
Houston
Zoo with local school children to educate them about the importance of
wildlife conservation. Yao will be leading a group on a special tour to meet
the elephants and other endangered species, as well as previewing his upcoming
documentary on the crisis for elephants and rhinos.
Yao has led the world's largest conservation awareness
program working with WildAid to educate the public in China on the threats to
wildlife, with the message, "when the buying stops, the killing can
too." Yao, together with dozens of Chinese and international celebrities,
has helped reached hundreds of millions of Chinese supported by hundreds of
millions of dollars of donated media placement.
WildAid's
shark
campaign has been highly successful. In July of 2012, the Chinese
government announced it would remove shark fin soup from the menus of
government banquets over the next three years. In January of 2013, The South
China Morning Post reported that the Hong Kong Shark Fin Trade Merchants
Association chairman found, "The whole industry has recorded a [sales]
decrease of 50 per cent on last year. [The decline] is mainly due to
omnipresent advocacy by green groups." This decline is backed by data from
the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, which reports that shark fin
imports have been reduced from 10,292 tonnes in 2011 to 3,087 tonnes, last
year.
The People's Daily also reported a 70% decline in shark fin
soup consumption at high-end hotels on February 1, 2013.
In August 2012, Yao Ming took his first trip to Africa with
WildAid, seeing poached elephants and rhinos first hand. He also met villagers
whose livelihoods and education depend on income from wildlife tourism.
Yao stated, "When people in China know what's happening
to these animals they want to do the right thing. By not consuming shark fin,
they have literally saved the lives of millions of sharks. We went to Africa to
tell the story of the elephants and rhinos and we hope consumers will react in
the same way."
Zoo Director, Rick Barongi said, "The Houston Zoo is
excited to team up with Yao Ming and WildAid in the fight to save Africa's
critically endangered elephants and rhinos. By inviting local school children
to join Yao on a special tour to meet our own elephant and rhino ambassadors,
we hope to educate and inspire young minds and hearts to help stop the
senseless slaughter of these incredible animals."
WildAid Executive Director, Peter Knights said "China
is crucial to the survival of many species and we believe with Yao's leadership
we can help create a sea change in attitudes around wildlife and ensure the
survival of sharks, elephants, and rhinos."
Yao's visit to Houston is set around the 2013 NBA All-Star
game. WildAid launches a campaign with NBA Cares on March 3rd. As well as
supporting conservation, the Yao Ming Foundation also focuses on helping
educate children. Yao owns and manages the Shanghai Sharks basketball team and
has developed Yao Family Wines.
About WildAid:WildAid is the only organization to focus on
reducing the demand for wildlife products with the strong and simple
message: when the buying stops, the killing can too. WildAid works
with Asian and Western celebrities and business leaders to dissuade people from
purchasing wildlife products via public service announcements and educational
initiatives, reaching up to one billion people per week in China
alone. For more information, please visit
www.wildaid.org.
Footage and stills are available. Additionally, appearances
are available for request.
About the Yao Ming Foundation:The
Yao
Ming Foundation was established in June of 2008, by international NBA
Star Yao Ming, in response to the devastating 8.0 earthquake in Sichuan
Province, China on May 12, 2008. More than 8,000 schoolrooms and 185 schools
were destroyed during the earthquake. The Yao Ming Foundation has committed to
rebuilding five schools in the earthquake region. The Yao Ming Foundation also
supports additional educational opportunities in the US and China.
Yao Ming is also currently the owner of the
Shanghai
Sharks, a professional basketball team in China.
In November 2011, Yao Ming announced the establishment of
his new Napa Valley wine company:
Yao
Family Wines. The company released its inaugural wine under the brand name
Yao Ming®. Yao Family Wines appointed Pernod Ricard (China) as its sole and exclusive
importer and distributor of the Yao Ming® wines in mainland China.
About the Houston Zoo:Founded in 1922, the
Houston
Zoo is an exciting live animal adventure that provides a unique
educational and conservation resource serving more than 1.9 million guests
annually. Set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, the Zoo is home to
more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.
Operated by the not-for-profit Houston Zoo, Inc., the Houston Zoo is dedicated
to the conservation of endangered species, the provision of engaging
educational opportunities and the creation of stimulating exhibits that broaden
the experiences of our guests and encourage their curiosity.
Editor's Notes:
Fins from up to 73 million sharks are used every year to
make shark fin soup and related food products. Shark finning is a cruel and
wasteful practice – captured at sea and hauled on deck, the sharks are often
still alive while their fins are sliced off. Because shark meat is not
considered as valuable as the fins, the maimed animals are tossed overboard to
drown or bleed to death. The International Union for Conservation of Nature
(ICUN) estimates that 1/3 of the world's pelagic shark species are threatened
with extinction, with certain species experiencing declines of over 90%.
Global trade bans enacted in 1989 (ivory ban) and 1993
(rhino sales bans) resulted in both rhino and elephant populations increasing
steadily until the dramatic resurgence of poaching in 2008. According to a 2011
survey conducted by IFAW, "Elephant poaching levels are the worst in a
decade and recorded ivory seizures are at their highest levels since
1989." In South Africa alone, two rhinos are being killed every day, as
rhino populations have declined 95% worldwide over the past 40 years.
波士頓安良工商會和華僑協會波士頓分會合作，十二日晚在波士頓龍鳳酒樓聯合主辦「迎春粵曲晚會」，邀來粵劇著名花旦李池湘與六、七名本地粵曲好手對唱，為二、三百名粵曲愛好者帶來賞心悅目更順耳的一晚。
全美安良工商會元老梅錫銳年前組團赴粵，考察飲食途中，與曾訪波士頓的李池湘相聚，也為這場「迎春粵曲晚會」牽了線。十二日晚不但安排了波士頓本地的粵曲師傅梅炳鈿和曾開個人粵劇演唱會的單鳳琴擔任司儀，風趣的為六段演出做介紹，還邀得新聲樂團的共同創辦人梁潤霖，以及陳偉正、曾浩林、陳大超、吳燦興、曾靜儀、梅超明、朱傑概、羅健成、甄雲龍等老資格琴師做音樂拍和，梁健明、李蘭詩擊樂伴奏，陣仗十足。出席觀眾聽得十分投入。
當晚共演出六段折子戲。李池湘依序和林鉅仰、梁志平、譚新順、伍國榮等人對唱了「洛水夢會」、「水漫金山」、「斷橋」、「新霸王別姬」等其中的四段。另外兩段由本地粵曲好手串場獻唱，有梅美雲和周紹球合唱「狄青闖三關」、單鳳琴和來自紐約的粵曲唱家伍國榮合唱「文成公主雪中情」。
