Agenda - 05-26-1987 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• l & 6 • December 1985 TheAmerican Fur Re:- urn Institute wY Stephen s, Boynton hmgton Counsel , CITE-S, THE ANTIS-AND "US:" having •ANTI-FUR/1.KAP t t∎HA IS:Increasing .attended four of the five meetings of the 88 anti-fur and anti-trap activities have been member nations of the Ct nvention on Inter- reported in North America and Europe. national Trade-in Endangered Species of of sign activities acarrying have ranged from a group Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), I can say retailer,sign carrying ions, to front of a fur from firsthand observation that much of the Economic to petitions, to the European world protectionist movement hopes to Economic Community to ban import of world protectionist various goals movement to ban hopes in farmed furs and leg-hold trapped furs.Also, wildlife through this organization.At the last a York lawsuit has been filed in New City, New meeting in the spring of 1985 in Buenos York o to ban the use of the violation old trap on Aires,not only was every major protectionist the ground that it is in violation of anti- Aires,represented,but it was announced that cruelty statutes in New York State. The at least 24 nations had their delegates'travel plaintiffs in that action Wildlife,include, ad or and expenses paid by such organizations. It others, Defenders of Wildlife, Fund for is not a great jump in logic to see that these Animals, Humane Society of the United delegates will favor the positions of these States, ASPCA, Animal Welfare Institute organizations. Like the United Nations, all and Animal Legal Defense Fund.Although nations have an equal vote and many are it is recognized these efforts represent a vocal non-wildlife producing countries.(The U.S, minority, counter education is essential. finances 25%of the CITES budget.)CITES recently received a letter from an anti is,of course,a trade treaty not a protection husband and wife in West Virginia that treaty of fauna and flora.At every meeting, "ecently viewed the Public Service An- however,it becomes necessary for some par- nouncement we produced with Congressman ty nation to remind the delegates of that fact. Don Young (R-AI{) on hunting and trap- In an effort to orgmnlZe some of these ping and their role in wildlife management. organizations that share our side of the table, They said, in part, `•We, and many other a group was put together in Buenos Aires animal lovers and protectors, are ha who agreed to work together sharing infor- see you spend happy to Y pend your money on TV spots such mation and helping to formulate policy issues as this.It means you must feel threatened t to assist the delegates and the CITES Maybe, but we are fighting back and their Secretariat. I had the honor of chairing the letter may indicate we are making some group which met daily in Argentina. The- Progress! members also agreed to meet periodically prior to the next meeting of the parties in Canada in 1987. In addition, a- quarterly newsletter in three languages is sent to the group which is now called the CITES AD } t C mittee. A meeting has been scheduled in Toronto to be hosted by Hud- son Bay Company.Organizations from the United-States will include representatives from AFRI, Safari Club International, In- ternational Association of Fish &Wildlife Agencies, Pet Joint Advisory Council, American Fur Industry and WLFA. There will also be representatives from Canada and Europe.Obviously,it is multi-interest groups such as trappers must work with other pro- consumptive use organizations. Collective- ly,the antis can be held and defeated.They have shown what they can and will do joint- ly and we must take the time and effort to do the same.