Write a polite letter to the Chinese President, President Hu Jintao, asking him to help end animal suffering in China by introducing anti-cruelty legislation: People in China are proud of the country's rich and diverse animal species, but share a growing concern with the absence of welfare regulations to protect them from harm. Please write a polite letter supporting the drafting of anti-cruelty legislation, which will reduce the suffering of wild, domestic and endangered species. (It would be useful if your letter had a reference to our Dr Dog programme encouraging the people of China to see dogs as companion animals instead of food animals). See sample letter: The Honourable Hu Jintao President, Peoples Republic of China 9 Xihuang – Chenggen, Beijie Beijing CHINA Dear President Hu Jintao, In almost every country across the globe, including China, dogs are working side by side with government departments and community personnel in programs, which help people and make our world a safer place in which to live. From police dogs who devote their boundless enthusiasm - and sometimes their lives - working tirelessly in crime prevention programs, to customs dogs that detect drugs and explosives and help in the enforcement of important regulations and legislation. Together with cats, they also help and enrich our lives as beloved companion animals and provide much needed warmth to those who are sick, elderly, - or just in need of a friend. President Hu, we respectfully ask that you and your government give these caring and courageous animals the help they deserve. Please support the Animals Asia Foundation in their efforts towards drafting comprehensive legislation which will protect all animals from cruelty and neglect - and which will see dogs and cats embraced in China as our friends......rather than food. Yours sincerely, *********************************************************** Write a polite letter to Her Excellency Madame Fu Ying, Chinese Ambassador to the UK. Politely asking her to help end animal suffering in China by contacting the Chinese government and asking them to introduce anti-cruelty legislation, as above. See sample letter: Her Exellency Madame Fu Ying Chinese Ambassador to the UK Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the UK 49-51 Portland Place London, W1N 4JL Dear Excellency, I would like to express both my concern over the deplorable practice of bear farming and my sincerest appreciation to the Government authorities in China for their admirable work towards eliminating such a practice. The agreement between the Animals Asia Foundation and the Government departments of the Beijing China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) and the Sichuan Forestry Department (SFD), to rescue 500 suffering and endangered Moon Bears, is one of the most remarkable and significant steps ever taken to address the welfare of individual animals, as well as the conservation of a species as a whole and I applaud their efforts wholeheartedly. In recent years China has experienced dramatic change and growth in all arenas, which has led to an increased interest in business investments and tourism opportunities from the international community. As the spotlight continues to shine on China in the lead up to the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, it would seem only natural that these advances should extend to ending such medieval and disgraceful practices as bear farming which have no place in our civilised world. I implore you to add your voice and encouragement to the growing call from within China and right across the world, to end bear farming. Please support the good work of Animals Asia, the CWCA and SFD and urgently help their endeavours to end this barbaric and unnecessary industry suffering once and for all Yours respectfully *********************************************************** Write a letter of thanks to the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The CWCA in Beijing has been a long time friend of the Animals Asia Foundation and instrumental in closing many bear bile farms and helping us to build rescue centers in China. Please write a letter of thanks and support to this government-related organization and encourage them to continue their good work of helping the animals in China. See sample letter: No. 18, East street, Hepingli, Beijing, 100714 P. R. China Dear Mr. Chen Run Sheng and Directors of the CWCA, I would like to express my grateful thanks and appreciation for your commitment in developing programs that are helping wild, domesticated and endangered species in China. I also understand that it is the goal of the CWCA to close all bear farms in China and support and encourage you in all your endeavours to end the trade and replace bear bile with herbs and synthetics." Yours sincerely, ************************************************************ Letter to your MP Dear I am a supporter of the Animals Asia Foundation, and I am writing to seek your support for the work they are carrying out in China. Animals Asia Foundation are undertaking the largest bear rescue project in the world, the China Bear Rescue, rescuing Asiatic Black Bears from the cruel, barbaric practice of bear bile farming. These bears are incarcerated in coffin-like cages for up to 22 years and "milked" of their bile through crudely inserted catheters, and fistula holes pierced through their abdomens for use in traditional oriental medicine. Bile is even used in shampoos, soaps, tonics, teas and wines! Their suffering is entirely needless as Chinese doctors agree that there are abundant herbal and synthetic alternatives to bile juice. British Campaigner Jill Robinson MBE exposed this cruel and barbaric practice in 1993. Jill has since worked tirelessly to forge an agreement with the Chinese authorities to end bear farming. In 1998 she set up the Animals Asia Foundation, and in July 2000 a major breakthrough was made. Animals Asia signed an historic agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan State Forestry Administration to free 500 endangered moon bears from their lives of confinement and suffering. Animals Asia currently have over 160 healthy and happy bears at their rescue centre in Chengdu, China and more will be arriving soon. But this is just the start of the story. . I would appreciate your response as to how the UK Government can encourage the Chinese government to bring this barbaric practice to an end. I look forward to hearing from you Yours sincerely, *********************************************************** Letter to a newspaper: Dear I would like to bring your attention to an issue that I feel very passionate about. At this moment in time there are over 7000 Asiatic bears imprisoned in bear-bile farms in China. These bears are incarcerated in coffin-like cages for up to 22 years and "milked" of their bile through crudely inserted catheters, for use in traditional oriental medicine. Bile is even used in shampoos, soaps, tonics, teas and wines! Their suffering is entirely needless as Chinese doctors confirm that there are abundant herbal and synthetic alternatives to bile juice. British Campaigner Jill Robinson MBE exposed this cruel and barbaric practice in 1993. Jill has since worked tirelessly to forge an agreement with the Chinese authorities to end bear farming. In 1998 she set up the Animals Asia Foundation, and in July 2000 a major breakthrough was made. Animals Asia signed an historic agreement with the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the Sichuan State Forestry Administration to free 500 endangered moon bears from their lives of confinement and suffering. Animals Asia has created a rescue centre in Chengdu, China and to date over 190 bears have been rescued. More bears are due to arrive at the rescue centre very soon. Adults and cubs arrive in a terrible condition - some missing limbs as a result of being trapped in the wild - and others with gaping holes in their abdomens, and with teeth and claws brutally cut back. The veterinary team of Animals Asia perform emergency health checks, before prioritising the bears for life saving surgery and physiotherapy, which will rebuild wasted limbs. Tender loving care helps to heal mental trauma caused by a lifetime of pain and confinement. Following this, the bears take their first cautious steps to freedom, in the grassy enclosure of the Animals Asia rescue centre in Chengdu. I was so shocked by the plight of the moon bears in China that I decided to do something about it. I am collecting letters of support for the Chinese government, encouraging them to close more farms and free the bears. I am writing to my local MP to seek support from the UK government and I am asking people to help raise funds so that a permanent sanctuary can be built in China for 500 previously farmed moon bears. I would be very grateful if you would include an article about the China Bear Rescue in your newspaper. For more information please see the website www.animalsasia.org. You can also contact the Animals Asia Foundation UK Director, David Neale, on 01579 347148. I do hope that your paper can support this worthy cause and help to progress our goal of ending bear farming by the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter Yours sincerely, *********************************************************** Every letter written really will make a difference, we must stand up and show that we will not accept animal cruelty to continue in China. Please send you letter(s) care of the Animals Asia Foundation, UK Office, 3 Ashleigh Meadow, Tregondale Farm, Menheniot, Cornwall, PL14 3RG