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.
華埠社區聯盟(TCC)昨(十四)日一早，在波士頓國際青年旅舍(Hostelling
International Boston)慶祝廿週年，介紹新一屆七名執委會成員，感謝當年創辦、經營聯盟的歷屆委員，歡送聯盟協調員梁志生離任，並聲言將繼續做為平台，促進華埠內社團之間的資訊交流，在有需要時攜手合作。
華埠社區聯盟(TCC)主席，也是波士頓華人佈道會牧師廖永誠，昨日感性十分的介紹了華埠社區聯盟的源起，邀請早年的聯盟共同主席，現為Hyams基金會項目主管梅大衛，波士頓華人佈道會牛頓堂牧師李蔭棠回憶舊時，展望未來，還特地安排一段「開放麥克風」時間，讓願意說幾句的聯盟新舊成員，抒發感想，會場不時爆出笑聲，溫馨非常。
梅大衛指出，當年他們會組成華埠社區聯盟，全因為發現社區內許多組織成立的目的，都是要為華埠服務，但平日各自埋首工作，彼此缺乏溝通，常不知道其他機構或組織正在做那些事，從而失去協調、互補，或合作機會。自組成華埠社區聯盟後，各機構之間建立起關係，也和政府有了更多良性互動。
