Mercy is Power

S
stenews
Fri, Jul 23, 2021 7:59 PM

Mercy is Power
TRAFFIC
July 23, 2021

See link
https://www.traffic.org/news/thais-urged-to-pledge-against-buying-and-owning-ivory-and-tiger-amulets-under-new-mercy-is-power-campaign/
for photos and pull quotes.

‘Mercy is Power’ is a joint campaign between TRAFFIC, the Department of
National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Global
Environment Facility.

The campaign challenges the widely held belief in Thailand that buying or
possessing an elephant ivory or tiger amulet can make life better. As per
Buddhist teachings, success and progress in life are from one’s own hard
work and strong will. Real power comes not from possessing products that
require the killing of animals but by showing them mercy and not buying
animal products.

People can make a pledge on mercyispower.com against buying and owning
ivory and tiger amulets and receive a personalised e-yantra11 in return.

It is illegal to possess ivory unless products were registered to the
owners in 2015 or before. Anyone in ownership of unregistered ivory and
tiger products after this period is considered illegal based on the new
Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act (WARPA) of 2019. This replaced a
former WARPA and increased penalties, both in imprisonment and fine.

The best approach to achieving long-term impact is to reduce demand for
wildlife products and do it creatively, alongside law enforcement. This
campaign incorporates social power and storytelling to question whether
buying or owning tiger parts and elephant ivory that come from killing
animals can create good luck, success and power. With the launch of the
campaign, we are thrilled with the strong support from monks, leading Thai
celebrities, social media influencers and our partners – together we can
achieve success.”

TRAFFIC's analysis of 32 countries and territories found 369 tigers were
seized from 49 incidents in Thailand between 2000 and 2018. A further 24
tigers were seized in six incidents in the country up until 2020. TRAFFIC
monitored the ivory trade online in 2019 and found that more than 1,000
ivory items were found for sale online in Thailand over just five days in
the snapshot survey.

Three videos will be distributed via YouTube and Facebook, including a
thought-provoking quote from Venerable Napan Santibhaddo, an Assistant
Abbot at Wat Saket. The videos will prompt viewers to pledge not to buy or
own tiger parts and elephant ivory and to customize and download their own
e-yantra from the campaign’s official website, along with the hashtags
#MercyisPower.

More than 20 Thai celebrities and social media influencers such as
Cherry-Khemupsorn, Patricia Good, Top-Pipat, Noon-Siraphun, Wannasingh
Prasertkul and Maria Poonlertlarp have shown their support for the
campaign, which will start ahead of World Tiger Day on 29 July 2021.

https://www.traffic.org/news/thais-urged-to-pledge-against-buying-and-owning-ivory-and-tiger-amulets-under-new-mercy-is-power-campaign/

Mercy is Power TRAFFIC July 23, 2021 See link <https://www.traffic.org/news/thais-urged-to-pledge-against-buying-and-owning-ivory-and-tiger-amulets-under-new-mercy-is-power-campaign/> for photos and pull quotes. ‘Mercy is Power’ is a joint campaign between TRAFFIC, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with support from the Global Environment Facility. The campaign challenges the widely held belief in Thailand that buying or possessing an elephant ivory or tiger amulet can make life better. As per Buddhist teachings, success and progress in life are from one’s own hard work and strong will. Real power comes not from possessing products that require the killing of animals but by showing them mercy and not buying animal products. People can make a pledge on mercyispower.com against buying and owning ivory and tiger amulets and receive a personalised e-yantra11 in return. It is illegal to possess ivory unless products were registered to the owners in 2015 or before. Anyone in ownership of unregistered ivory and tiger products after this period is considered illegal based on the new Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act (WARPA) of 2019. This replaced a former WARPA and increased penalties, both in imprisonment and fine. The best approach to achieving long-term impact is to reduce demand for wildlife products and do it creatively, alongside law enforcement. This campaign incorporates social power and storytelling to question whether buying or owning tiger parts and elephant ivory that come from killing animals can create good luck, success and power. With the launch of the campaign, we are thrilled with the strong support from monks, leading Thai celebrities, social media influencers and our partners – together we can achieve success.” TRAFFIC's analysis of 32 countries and territories found 369 tigers were seized from 49 incidents in Thailand between 2000 and 2018. A further 24 tigers were seized in six incidents in the country up until 2020. TRAFFIC monitored the ivory trade online in 2019 and found that more than 1,000 ivory items were found for sale online in Thailand over just five days in the snapshot survey. Three videos will be distributed via YouTube and Facebook, including a thought-provoking quote from Venerable Napan Santibhaddo, an Assistant Abbot at Wat Saket. The videos will prompt viewers to pledge not to buy or own tiger parts and elephant ivory and to customize and download their own e-yantra from the campaign’s official website, along with the hashtags #MercyisPower. More than 20 Thai celebrities and social media influencers such as Cherry-Khemupsorn, Patricia Good, Top-Pipat, Noon-Siraphun, Wannasingh Prasertkul and Maria Poonlertlarp have shown their support for the campaign, which will start ahead of World Tiger Day on 29 July 2021. https://www.traffic.org/news/thais-urged-to-pledge-against-buying-and-owning-ivory-and-tiger-amulets-under-new-mercy-is-power-campaign/