Task 8. Read the text about the ban on ivory trade and do the exercises after reading
UN agrees to ban on ivory trade
(from: www. breakingnewsenglish.com)
The UN has agreed to approve a landmark nine-year ban on trading in ivory to stem a surge in poaching that is killing as many as 20,000 elephants annually. The agreement will go into effect after a one-off sale of stockpiles of ivory to Japan. Four southern African nations will sell their government-held stock of elephant tusks, although the exact amount is unknown.
Willem Wijnstekers, the Secretary General of the 171-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), reckoned as much as 200 tonnes of ivory might be heading to Japan. It will be made into personal stamps that are used in place of written signatures.
However, CITES was positive about the new deal. It said: "This African solution to an African problem marks a great step forward for wildlife conservation.… It is good news for the elephants and the people who live
alongside them."
The agreement ends an 18-year deadlock on the ivory trade and elephant poaching. The future of the world’s largest land mammal was at stake. There are only half a million of the majestic beasts left in the world and this number was falling due to sharp increases in hunting since the turn of the century.
Conservationists say elephant numbers are decreasing every year to satisfy illicit markets in China and Japan. African governments hope the one-off sale to Japan will reduce demand and the money raised will go into conservation programmes. However, China is up in arms over the agreement as it is excluded from the sale.
CITES refused a request by Beijing last week, saying: "We do not agree that they meet the criteria.” Customs officials will now be watching carefully to see if the trafficking of ivory reaches China.
1) Make sentences using the following words: landmarks / the ivory trade / elephants / tusks / stamps / signatures / solutions / agreements / deadlocks / things at stake / beasts / conservation / trafficking
2) In pairs / groups, talk about what you think of the following examples of trade in animals:
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3) In pairs / groups, talk about how far you agree with these opinions on trading in animals and animal products:
a. Trading in animals is not different from farming and killing animals.
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b. There is little difference between using leather from cows and snake skin.
c. Traditional Chinese medicine should be exempt from international
regulations.
d. Big profits and commercial demand for animals will ensure their survival.
e. People caught selling endangered species should get 30 years in prison.
f. People will never stop buying fur coats or ivory bracelets.
g. The answer is to breed the animals and legalize the sale of their products.
h. A polar bear rug looks absolutely beautiful.
4) Match the following synonyms from the article:
| a. | landmark | threatened |
| b. | stem | angry |
| c. | surge | milestone |
| d. | endangered | stalemate |
| e. | marks | increase |
| f. | deadlock | illegal |
| g. | majestic | halt |
| h. | illicit | smuggling |
| i. | up in arms | signals |
| j. | trafficking | magnificent |
Ivory trade discussion
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS
a. What did you think when you read the headline?
b. What do you think about elephant poaching?
c. Do you think it’s OK to kill animals to make products?
d. Are there differences between killing an animal for food, leather or other goods?
e. How concerned are you that poachers are killing elephants?
f. How would you feel if the world’s last elephant died?
g. Do you think the UN should allow the sale of the stockpiled ivory to Japan?
h. Do you think the Japanese should stop using ivory tusks for personal stamps and use an alternative material instead?
i. Do you prefer the idea of signatures of personal stamps?
j. Why do you think people like things made of ivory?
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS
a. Did you like reading this article?
b. Why do you think it took 18 years to reach this agreement?
c. Do you think the elephant is the most majestic land beast?
d. Do you think Japan and China should change their traditions and stop using things that require the killing of endangered species?
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e. What punishment do you think is fitting for an elephant poacher?
f. What would you say to a shopkeeper who had products made from endangered species in his/her shop?
g. Do you think China has the right to be angry at not getting any of the stockpiled ivory?
h. Would you like to have a job that is directly involved in protecting wildlife?
i. What’s the best thing you can do to help protect elephants?
j. Did you like this discussion?
A role play. This role play is to discuss whether or not animals should be commercially farmed to cut out the black markets in animals and products and thus protect animals in the wild. Team up with classmates who have been assigned the same role as you. Develop your roles and discuss ideas and “strategies” before the role play begins. Introduce yourself to the other role players before you begin.
| Role A – ELEPHANT FARMER You can breed thousands of elephants. You know you can reduce the price of ivory and other elephant products. You believe China and Japan have a right to continue their traditions. You are a conservationist and want elephants to survive in the wild. You can clone elephants for commercial purposes. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY ELEPHANT FARMING IS GOOD. |
| Role B – CONSUMER You think endangered animal farming is the best solution to animal conservation. You feel sorry for the millions of animals who die while being illegally smuggled across borders. You like animal products but have never bought any because of conservation concerns. Animal farming means you can now buy a tiger skin coat and a polar bear rug. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY ANIMAL FARMING IS GOOD. |
| Role C – CONSERVATIONIST You think animal farming is a terrible idea. It sends people the wrong message that commercialism is more important than animals’ lives and conservation. Animals have rights. You think legalizing animal farming will increase poaching. You think cloning will destroy all wildlife. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY ANIMAL FARMING IS TERRIBLE. |
| Role D – ENDANGERED ELEPHANT You have had enough of worrying about whether or not you or your family will be caught by poachers. You cannot sleep at night. Dozens of your relatives and friends have been killed. You have heard many bad things about animal farms. Animals should be left alone in the wild. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY ANY USE OF ANIMALS IS NOT FAIR. |
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