Traders join cruelty-free campaign
TRADITIONAL Chinese medicine traders joined forces with animal welfare campaigners yesterday to stamp out the use of endangered species and substitute herbal alternatives for animals parts.
The International Fund for Animal Welfare and EarthCare launched the 'Cruelty Doesn't Cure' campaign to urge Chinese medicine practitioners to stop using and prescribing animal parts.
The National Association of Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Association of Medicine and Philosophy in Hong Kong have thrown their support behind the initiative.
The fund's China director, Jill Robinson, said the campaign encouraged doctors to 'think twice and save a life' and use plant derivatives instead of animal parts.
One of the first to pledge his support was Dr Fong Bong Chor of the Tung Chai Chinese Medicine Clinic, who said there was no need to use any animal parts.
Practitioners taking part in the initiative will receive campaign stickers reading: 'Cruelty-free traditional Chinese medicine sold here. This store has pledged not to sell products which use endangered species or unnecessary animal derivatives in their preparation.' While the campaign focuses on practitioners, an initiative to raise awareness among consumers of Chinese medicine will be launched by EarthCare and British-based conservationists, the Global Survival Network next year.
