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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Hanoi </span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>(March 2, 2017) - A number of major Vietnamese celebrities including diva Hong Nhung, singer Thanh Bui, MC Anh Tuan, MC Phan Anh and many others have joined with Education for Nature – Vietnam (ENV) to promote a <a href="http://bit.ly/wedontwantyourrhinohorn"><span style='color:blue'>global petition</span></a> calling on South Africa to withdraw their plan to legalize the rhino horn trade.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><a href="http://bit.ly/wedontwantyourrhinohorn"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=644 height=361 id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D29367.14CA6A10" alt="Rhino Campaign Poster (Feb 28, 2017)"></span></a><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>The “We don’t want your rhino horn!” campaign in support of Born Free’s petition aims to collect 50,000 signatures from around the country and highlight that the proposed rhino horn trade legalization will fuel renewed demand, and threatens Vietnam’s progress in combating crime involving rhino horn and reducing demand for rhino horn. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>On February 8, 2017 issue of the Government Gazette <span style='color:#1F497D'><a href="https://www.environment.gov.za/sites/default/files/gazetted_notices/nemba10of2004_draftregulationsforthedomestictradeinrhinoceroshorn.pdf">(Vol 620/Issue No. 40601)</a></span> of the Republic of South Africa published draft regulations for the domestic trade in rhinoceros horn, or a part, product or derivative of rhinoceros horn. If these new regulations are approved, rhino horns can be legally imported into Vietnam and other countries. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>In recent years, the international community has considered Vietnam as a major consumer market for rhino horns, and that the demand for rhino horn in Vietnam is pushing rhino populations in South Africa and other countries to the verge of extinction. However, Vietnam has been making great progress in addressing this problem through raising awareness, strengthening law enforcement, and improving legislation. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>ENV Director of Policy and Legislation, Ms. Bui Thi Ha said: “<i>Opening the door to legal trade undermines enforcement in consumer countries, and would likely stimulate greater demand, putting further pressure on wild rhinos everywhere. This new development is in conflict with global efforts to conserve these endangered species and will inevitably hasten the end of the rhino</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>According to Vietnam’s new penal code, expected to become effective in 2017, any crime involving a small amount of rhino horn (50gram) will be subject to prosecution. However, it will be very challenging for Vietnamese authorities to enforce the law if South Africa legalize the rhino horn trade. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Diva Hong Nhung, another ENV rhino ambassador added: “<i>As a Vietnamese citizen who has witnessed the carnage personally in South Africa, I, together with other artists and Vietnamese people, want to send a clear message to proponents of the rhino horn trade in South Africa that we, the Vietnamese people, do not want your rhino horn!”</i> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;mso-fareast-language:EN-US'>Nhung urges the South African government to reject the proposed legislation and stand with Vietnam in protecting rhinos.<br><br>The petition is here: <a href="http://bit.ly/wedontwantyourrhinohorn"><span style='color:blue'>http://bit.ly/wedontwantyourrhinohorn</span></a></span><span style='color:#1F4E79'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#1F4E79'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'>Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'>ENV Communications team<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm'>Address: Block 17T5, 17th floor, Room 1701, Hoang Dao Thuy street, Cau Giay district, Hanoi, Vietnam</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm'>Tel: (+84) 4 6281 5424 </span><span style='color:#1F4E79;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0cm'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'>Email: <a href="mailto:communication.env@gmail.com"><span style='color:blue'>communication.env@gmail.com</span></a> <br>Website: <a href="http://www.envietnam.org/"><span style='color:blue'>www.envietnam.org</span></a> </span><span style='color:#1F4E79'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1F4E79'>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EducationforNatureVietnam"><span style='color:blue'>https://www.facebook.com/EducationforNatureVietnam</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>