The poaching of rhinos has reached a crisis point, and sisters Vanessa (30) and Vicky (35) from South Africa have set out on a monumental 6,000-kilometer bike ride from China to Singapore to do something about it. Designed to raise awareness on the plight of the rhino, the ‘Buy No Rhino’ Bike Tour, has the sisters setting-out from South Africa, and journeying through China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and, finally, Singapore urging consumers to stop buying rhino horn.
In Vietnam, the sisters have teamed-up with Operation Game Change – a joint alliance between the Governments of the United States and Vietnam aimed at ending wildlife crime, especially rhino horn – and were joined in Hanoi today by U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius for a special event bike ride tour around Hoan Kiem Lake and through the Old Quarter. Involving local bicycle enthusiasts, and supported by Freeland, Fusion Body Works and Weekend City View (WCV), the aim of the event was to bring much needed public attention to the rhino poaching crisis in Africa and to help a initiate a groundswell of support and a growing voice to bring an end to the illegal trade and consumption of rhino horn and other endangered animals species that is putting many species on the brink of extinction. Participating riders were asked to make a pledge not to 1) use, 2) gift or 3) accept rhino horn and were reminded that healthy lifestyles do not include using rhino horn.
Vanessa and Vicky are committed in the belief that the war against rhino poaching will be won in Asia, where Vietnam, China, and Thailand are the main consumer markets of rhino horns and other endangered species and their products.
The ‘Buy No Rhino’ Bike Tour is one of a number of activities that Operation Game Change is supporting in the lead-up to Wildfest, a high-profile event to take place at the Imperial Citadel, Hanoi on November 1, 2015.Using this spectacular cultural heritage site as a backdrop, WildFest will feature the screening of unique short films focused on wildlife trafficking, and will feature music and cultural entertainment designed to engage, entertain, educate, and encourage public debate around the illegal wildlife trade through targeted prevention messages.
For more information, please contact
Ms. Hoang Le Thuy
Project Assistant
Email: thuy@freeland.org
Operation Game Change (OGC)
Operation Game Changewas established to form an alliance aimed at ending wildlife crime, especially rhino horn trafficking. OGC will raise public awareness and is expected to spark a reduction in demand for illegal wildlife, while simultaneously improving bilateral and global ties in environmental security. Together with OGC’s partners, OGC will work to reach and positively influence millions of people in Vietnam to help stop wildlife crime, uphold the law, and safeguard animals on the brink of extinction. Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/operationgamechange
Freeland
Freeland is a frontline counter-trafficking organization working for a world that is free of wildlife trafficking and human slavery. Our team of law enforcement, development and communications specialists work alongside partners in Asia, Africa and the Americas to build capacity, raise awareness, and promote good governance to protect critical ecosystems and vulnerable people. Freeland coordinates 2 international counter-trafficking alliances: ARREST (Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking); and Liberty Alliance (a counter human trafficking partnership with Liberty Asia and Exodus Road). For more info, visit www.freeland.org also; follow Freeland on twitter @FREELANDpeople orhttp://www.facebook.com/freelandfoundation
Weekend City View (WCV)
WCV is one of Hanoi’s bicycle clubs that actively joins social activities, for instance Earth Hour events organized by Vietnam Electricity in 2013-2014-2015. WCV joined the “Ride and run for Bear” hosted by the Tam Dao Bear Rescue Center in May, 2015.
Fusion Body Works
For people who want to Live Life Now, FUSION BODYWORKS creates a community around our promise to help us make each member stronger: socially, personally, and spiritually, after every visit.Our goal is to share our passion and experience with anyone willing to enter a new world of care, physical and spiritual strength, self-confidence, and where trust, community spirit and excellent services through highly professional Personal Trainers, GroupX and Yoga instructors are keys pillars.
