Stephen Williams MP backs IFAW's Think Twice campaign
September 7, 2006 9:12 AM
Liberal Democrat MP for Bristol West, Stephen Williams, has signed a pledge to fully support the Think Twice campaign by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to encourage holiday makers not to buy souvenirs made from wild animals.
The group estimates that rampant illegal poaching will contribute to the elimination of up to 20% of the world's animal and plant species by 2030. A variety of animals including elephants, zebra, porcupine and sharks are killed to produce everything from keyrings to picture frames.
Stephen Williams said "While the international community has an obligation to crack down on illegal trafficking to help save these animals, we cannot ignore the fact that they would not be produced if there was no demand for them. A significant proportion of this demand - particularly for small items like pendants and keyrings - comes from tourists who often do not realise what they are buying. This campaign will help to inform the public about what they should look out for when travelling abroad."
The campaign focuses on South Africa, which is often the destination for goods made from wildlife from across the continent. For further information, or to sign the pledge, visit www.ifaw.org/uk/thinktwice .
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