How you can help stop the Shanghai Animal Olympics

Late last month, we told you about the Shanghai Wild Animal Olympics, and we probably didn't infuse the post with the proper amount of outrage. Thankfully, some commenters picked up our slack and even directed readers to the animalsasia.org website, which includes information on how you can help put an end to such disgusting displays. We will now quote that information here:

What we are doing

AAF is writing to the Mayor of Shanghai calling for the immediate cessation of these performances and the end of this yearly event once and for all. As a gesture of our concern and in an attempt to provide a solution for at least one of the miserable animals Annie saw, we are offering a permanent home at our Moon Bear Rescue Sanctuary in Chengdu for the poor blind bear made to pose for pictures. If our offer is accepted he will live with our other blind bears, Mityan and Snoopy in our special care area known as the "Secret Garden".

What you can do

We would like to encourage you to write a polite letter voicing your concerns and calling for urgent legislation to protect all animals from cruelty and abuse. Please send your letter to your local China National Tourist Office and your local Chinese Embassy. As always, personal letters are the most effective, or you can copy and paste the sample letter at the end of this page, into an email.

Email the China National Tourist Office (CNTO) in your country

The National Tourist Office will be sensitive to the image that China is projecting overseas to potential tourists. The email addresses of the main China National Tourist Offices around the world can be found at:
www.tourismchina-ca.com/about.html
Please then cllck on the link 17 overseas tourist offices to view all of the email addresses for the main China Tourist offices worldwide.

Email the Chinese Embassy in your country

It is always a good idea to let your opinion be known to the Chinese Embassy in your country, as they tend to be sensitive to public opinion. You can locate the Chinese Embassy address in your country by visiting this website:
www.travelchinaguide.com/embassy/embassy_list.htm

Sample Letter calling for legislation
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you to express my concerns and horror at the recent "Animal Olympics" held at the Shanghai Wild Animal Park. Cruel and archaic events such as these reflect poorly upon modern China and serve only to tar your international image. The use of animals for entertainment is being phased out in many countries as more and more people recognise the suffering and misery of life in captivity for performing animals. In the light of the upcoming 2008 Beijing "Green Olympics", it is truly tragic that facilities such as these are still in existence. I urge you to do all that you can to encourage the Chinese Government to implement comprehensive legislation to protect both wild and domestic animals from all forms of abuse. I look forward to hearing of positive changes in the immediate future.

Yours truly,