International three-venue conference to save endangered species (6)

 Finally, Charlie Mayhew thanked all the speakers and concluded the three-venue reception.
 But in Tokyo, the reception still continued. Dr.Handa, former Tennis player Ai Sugiama and former figure skater Miki Ando delivered speeches. 

Dr.Haruhisa Handa introduces Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge,
via video at the Park Hyatt, Tokyo.

ISPS

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals/

International three-venue conference to save endangered species (5)

 Prince William expressed appreciation to Tusk, the ISPS Handa Foundation and Tusk's other sponsors for the promotion of Time for Change.
 He said, "Today's event, (prior to) the CITES conference in Johannesburg, is timely and its global nature reflects the global scale of this challenge." He added that the number of elephants roaming Africa had sharply decreased for more than 30 years and had crashed to just 350,000. He also mentioned that Sept.22 is World Rhino Day and people is now struggling to correct the lies about the supposed benefits of using its horn as a traditional medicine.  Then he said, "We cannot undo the mistakes of the past. But we can and must take moral responsibility for the decisions we make today."

 (source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals

International three-venue conference to save endangered species (4)

 Then, Dr.Handa , chairman of the ISPS, expressed his commitment to wildlife conservation.
 He said, "The survival of the world's most iconic species -- such as the elephant, tiger and rhino -- is under threat. As soon as I learned of this reality, I immediately agreed to support Tusk's work. I'm delighted that the ISPS Handa is sponsoring this important global event, through our new partnership with Tusk."

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals/

International three-venue conference to save endangered species (3)

 Then, John Scanlon delivered his speech from Johannesburg venue. He stressed the significance of the forthcoming CITES conference, called COP17. He said, "The world will turn its attention to what happens right here in South Africa over the course of the next two weeks as representatives of over 180 governments, with the active involvement of observers from across every region, debate and take decisions on critical issues affecting the future of some of the planet's most precious species of wild animals and plants." 

 In cop 17, necessary changes to the trade controls of close to 500 species of flora and fauna, including elephants, lions, pangolin, rhinos, rosewood, silky and thresher sharks and devil rays will be discussed.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals/

International three-venue conference to save endangered species (2)

 The three-venue conference started with Fearnley-Whittingstall's message from London venue named 'The View from the Shard.' Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for the Environment of the UK joined together with him. Fearnley-Whittingstall said, "I'm delighted to have been invited by Tusk to kick off proceedings at this time-critical event, aptly titled 'Time for Change.'" He revealed that the illegal wildlife trade is a $20 million industry, which is exceeded only by the illegal trades in drugs, weapons and people, and that the illegal gains brought by such transactions stimulates violence, corruption and a dangerous international network of criminals. He made a video presentation to explain about ivory and rhino horn poaching and criticize China's ivory usage. Generally, ivory is used in chopsticks, billiard balls, piano keys, and China is one of the largest users in the world. In Asia, it is widely believed that rhino horn has medicinal properties, which exacerbates situations surrounding ivory poaching.   

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals/

International three-venue conference to save endangered species (1)

 On September 22, a conference to start the movement aiming to conserve wildlife and calling for a ban on the trade in ivory and rhino horn, named 'Time for Change' was held at Part Hyatt Tokyo in Shinjuku, Tokyo. This conference was featured as part of a joint reception with London and Johannesburg. 

 The reception was joined by many world-famous, world-renowned persons, including HRH Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, the Royal Patron of Tusk(an international organization to initiate and fund conservation, community development and environmental education programs across Africa), Dr.Haruhisa Handa, Chairman of Internatonal Sports Promotion Society, John Scanlon, the secretary general of CITES(the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, an award winning writer and environmental campaigner, Charlie Mayhew, Trust Chief Executive of Tusk, and others. 

 Time for Change became a historical global event to raise awareness of a dire plight of Africa's wildlife. The event was held in three venues, London, Tokyo and Johannesburg simultaneously. It delivered powerful conservation messages and calls to action ahead of the CITES conference to be held in Johannesburg from September 24 to October 5, where the attention will be focused on tackling the burgeoning illegal wildlife trade. 

International Sports Promotion Society(ISPS) Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa, center,
poses with former tennis player Ai Sugihara, left and figure skater Miki Ando at the Park Hyatt Tokyo
in Shinjuku on Sept.22.

ISPS


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, Septemner 30, 2016)
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/09/30/national/time-change-united-save-endangered-animals/