Since 2000, Sanctuary Asia's Kids for Tigers programme has harnessed the passions of over one million Indian schoolchildren across the subcontinent in environmental education and activism on behalf of the tiger and the ecological security of India.
The letter reads as follows:
To the Rt. Honorable David Cameron MP
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
On behalf of the over one million Indian children represented by Kids for Tigers, I applaud you for hosting the forthcoming London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade on February 13, 2014.
In India, the battle for the tiger has many fronts: saving habitat, engaging local communities, and protecting tigers from poachers. Our tigers and other big cats are killed because of demand for their skin and bones elsewhere in Asia. Ending demand is essential. Now is the time for countries that consume our tigers to send a clear message of unity by destroying stockpiles of tiger parts and products from wild and captive bred tigers. Take tiger parts and products completely off the market; send an unequivocal message to consumers and tiger farmers that the tiger trade is over.
We hope, Prime Minister, that you and your fellow Heads of State will seize the opportunity presented in London to make history and call for such steps to be taken with urgency. The eyes of the world, the eyes of the next generation, are watching.
Yours sincerely,
Bittu Sahgal
Editor, Sanctuary Asia
The letter was also sent to the U.K. Foreign Secretary William Hague, and the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson.
Sanctuary Asia and Kids for Tigers supporters are asked to send emails urging action at the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade to:
Rt. Honorable Prime Minister David Cameron
Rt. Hon. William Hague, Foreign Secretary and co-chair of the London Conference
private.officegsi@fco.gsi.gov.uk
william.hague.mp@parliament.uk
Rt. Hon Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and co-chair of the London Conference illegalwildlifetrade@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Then forward email to:
Ruairi.OConnell@fco.gsi.gov.uk
Michael.Sigsworth@defra.gsi.gov.uk,
Rebecca.Frost@defra.gsi.gov.uk,
Verity.Zurita@defra.gsi.gov.uk
For more information about the illegal trade in wildlife products:
Author: Jennifer Scarlortt.
