40 Reasons to Vote Labour
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
REASON 24<br />
IVORY<br />
Ivory might seem an odd reason <strong>to</strong> vote labour but the attitude of the parties<br />
<strong>to</strong> the ivory trade speaks volumes about the kind of people we are being<br />
asked <strong>to</strong> vote for. There has been an international ban on the sale of new<br />
ivory for a long time - clearly this is an attempt <strong>to</strong> reduce the decimation of<br />
populations of elephants caused by poaching for ivory.<br />
The biggest chink in the armour of that ban is that some countries still allow<br />
the trading of old/antique ivory. Those wishing <strong>to</strong> cash in have found that<br />
they can disguise new ivory as old, create false documentation and get away<br />
with trading the new ivory. This sustains the poaching business. It is pretty<br />
simple.<br />
This could be s<strong>to</strong>pped by banning trade in all ivory domestically as well as<br />
internationally. Even China banned the trade in all ivory earlier this year and<br />
the USA already has a ban in place. Even Prince William supports the ending<br />
of this evil trade.<br />
David Cameron included a <strong>to</strong>tal ban on ivory sales in his last manifes<strong>to</strong> but<br />
didn't get round <strong>to</strong> implementing that promise. Theresa May, along with her<br />
colleagues and civil servants have been heavily lobbied by the British<br />
antiques trade, especially The British Antique Dealers Association who's<br />
president is <strong>to</strong>ry MP, Lady Vic<strong>to</strong>ria Borwick, a friend of Theresa May.<br />
Theresa May has dropped the commitment quietly from the manifest<br />
launched this week.<br />
This is about more than just ivory and elephants. It gives a measure of the<br />
kind of people we are dealing with and it is clear that the <strong>to</strong>ry leader is not<br />
bothered about our wildlife and environment and is more interested in<br />
making sure her friends make money regardless of the cost <strong>to</strong> the world.<br />
<strong>Labour</strong> have committed <strong>to</strong> end this trade.<br />
VOTE LABOUR TO END THE TRADE IN IVORY WITHIN AND<br />
WITH THE UK