TEAM Releases its New Endangered Species Posters to Mark the UNPO International Day of Action
Contacts:
Tsering Yangkey, Ugyen Tsephel
Mobile: 94181-27531 Phone: 0091-1892-228178
Dharamsala, 11 February, 2007: The Tesi Environmental Awareness Movement (TEAM) today releases its endangered species posters to observe the Unrepresented Nations and People's Organisation (UNPO) International Action Day on Environment. These posters are a part of TEAM's ongoing environmental education efforts directed at Tibetans in and outside Tibet on biodiversity conservation.
Tibet once a wildlife paradise has now become a biodiversity hotspot with many rare, endemic and endangered plants and animals continue on the roller coaster towards extinction. The growing loss of habitat and food due to grassland degradation, deforestation and increase population are the main reasons for the dwindling number of wildlife just in the last five decades. Unfortunately, the use of endangered species products is also becoming more common these days as Tibet has become a lucrative market of endangered species parts.
However, since His Holiness the Dalai Lama made an impassioned appeal to his people, there have been spontaneous eruptions of environmental activism among Tibetans marked by voluntary burning of thousands of animal pelts. The recent fur burning events throughout Tibet gave some hopes to the bloody and tragic plight of the endangered wildlife.
Releasing the poster, TEAM's Head, Tsering Yangkey, said "Tibet is one of the founding members of UNPO and we are delighted that environment is this year's theme. Whatever political or geographical lines we may draw on the globe, the fact is that we all share the same blue planet. The responsibility towards environmental protection lies with each of us. As a Tibetan organisation we believe that our role in biodiversity conservation is a symbol of Tibetan people' strength and commitment in protecting Mother Nature."
TEAM is a non-profit Tibetan environmental organisation established with a mission to revive the ecological consciousness of the Tibetan people. One of its core aims is to educate Tibetans about the plight of endangered species and to put an end to the Tibetan people’s use of endangered species products. Since the commencement of its endangered species endeavors in March 2005, TEAM has conducted a series of wildlife conservation campaigns including a month-long training for 30 Tibetan students and public outreach work during the 2006 Amaravati Kalachakra religious gathering. More recently, TEAM members have been engaged in wildlife awareness raising campaigns in the Tibetan settlements of Tashi Jong, Dege, Nangchen, Suja TCV School, Bir CST School and Bir Tibetan Society in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh Sonamling Settlement in Jammu and Kashmir and the Bylakuppe Settlements in Karnataka.
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