Fw: Early Day Motion Press Release

[Guest guest]

Press release from Bob Marshall-Andrews MP. Stephen Hubbard, Researcher

to RM-A.

News from Bob Marshall-Andrews QC MP

 

24 June 2004

 

UK MP and Chinese Bears

 

UK MP Bob Marshall-Andrews is spearheading a parliamentary campaign

to stop the horrific practice of bear farming in China.

 

He has laid down an Early Day Motion - a parliamentary petition -

calling upon the British Government to support a Chinese initiative to

outlaw the farms which has been signed by more than 100 MPs from all

parties.

 

The motion congratulates the Chinese Government on its progress towards

ending the cruel practice which involves caging bears for many years

with crude metal catheters sewn into their abdomens for 'milking' bile

juice for use in so-called Chinese medicine. It also urges the British

Government to take measures to support Chinese efforts to end bear

farming.

 

Mr Marshall-Andrews, who is a trustee of the George Adamson Wildlife

Trust, is working alongside campaigner Jill Robinson MBE, founder and

CEO of the Animals Asia organisation based in Hong Kong.

 

" Jill has done tremendous work on this campaign and hopefully this

parliamentary motion will assist both Governments to end this truly

dreadful misuse of wild animals, " he said.

 

" We are extremely grateful for this endorsement from British MPs and we do

have the ongoing help and support of the Chinese Government. However, there

is a long way to go and we implore China to urgently end this disgraceful,

unnecessary industry and give all farmed bears their freedom. " added Jill.

 

Text of EDM 1308 - BEAR FARMS IN CHINA

That this House congratulates the Chinese Government and the Central

Government Administration for Wildlife Protection on their progress

towards ending the terrible practice of bile extraction from captive

bears; notes that this practice involves the regular infliction of

excruciating pain on bears kept permanently restricted in tiny cages

which deny any movement and which result in crippling deformity and

dementia; further notes that the medicinal properties of bear bile may

now be replicated and improved by modern medicines; and urges Her

Majesty's Government to take whatever measures it can to support the

enlightened work of the Chinese authorities and charity associations

such as Animals Asia Foundation who work for the end of this cruel

farming practice and have, to date, succeeded in the rescuing and

rehabilitation of 137 bears that have been released.