The London-based World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has launched a campaign against Beijing’s 2008 Olympic bid by urging the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to award China the Games “while the country allows animal cruelty like bear farming to continue”.
The WSPA said that the IOC should consider only four of the five candidate cities competing for the 2008 Summer Games.
The group adds, “promoting themselves as the future host of the ‘Green Olympics’, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee has been portraying the capital city of China as a shining example of the country’s environmental initiative and concern. In actual fact, Beijing represents a country where thousands of endangered Asiatic black bears are being forced to live out their lives in miserable conditions on bear bile farms. WSPA is calling on the IOC to reject Beijing’s bid for the Games in light of the severe cruelty these bears must endure”.
WSPA sent letters to the president and members of the IOC, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Bid Committee and to the president of China informing them of it’s objecton to Beijing’s candidacy.
The group believes that alongside human rights issues, cruelty towards animals should be considered when assessing the merits of a host city. It says that until bear farming is banned in China, there should be no consideration given to Beijing’s 2008 bid.
It is calling on the public to protest China’s endorsement of bear bile farming by contacting the IOC and the Chinese government.
