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Old 10-11-2008, 09:29 PM   #21
Kirkie
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I've just found this
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/tur...lytotesco.html

Is this the Tesco's standard letter thats been spoken of? (Tesco paragraphs in bold, VIVA comments in plain text).

Last edited by Kirkie; 10-11-2008 at 09:32 PM.
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Old 10-11-2008, 10:16 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirkie View Post
I've just found this
http://www.viva.org.uk/campaigns/tur...lytotesco.html

Is this the Tesco's standard letter thats been spoken of? (Tesco paragraphs in bold, VIVA comments in plain text).
Yes, indeed this is one of their standard replies.
The debate continues?
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Old 10-11-2008, 10:43 PM   #23
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This is from an article in the Guardian 28th June 08. Predominantly concerning Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall highjacking the Tesco AGM to highlight issues with poultry, the article contains the following paragraph:

"Tesco's chairman, David Reid, described the company as a leader in poultry welfare and said it would be willing to take part in broader government-led discussions, something welcomed by Fearnley-Whittingstall. "There clearly is a debate and issues, and the best way of working that through is as an industry," Reid said.

As the third biggest retailer in the world, accounting for one in every seven pounds spent on the high street in Britain, Tesco has become a magnet for criticism.

Care for the Wild said Tesco was playing a role in the march towards extinction of freshwater turtles by selling them for food in China; a prickly Reid interrupted the speaker to ask: "Did you ask the people in China what they thought? It is debatable to what degree we should sit in Britain and dictate what they should eat."
A more conciliatory Sir Terry Leahy, the chief executive, said that if any scientific evidence emerged that the turtles were endangered then Tesco would act. He also agreed that the retailer perhaps could do more to ensure its standards on the treatment of the turtles, toughened up last year, were adhered to."


Chinese Soft Shelled Turtles are rated as vunerable on the IUCN Red list (funnily enough due to heavy consumer pressure) . Is that not enough given Sir Tel's comments?

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Old 10-11-2008, 11:36 PM   #24
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One would definatley of thought so!
However, at this time their argument centres on two areas.
1. The Chinese consumer demands the sale of Live Turtles- Who are we to say that they cannot have them. If we believe this argument, is the case for the sale of live dogs for Human consumption not equally applicable?
Similarly, when one day, the mighty Super market enters the Indonisian market, and opens its doors in Borneo, or PNG/Irian Jaya, then we might expect Human flesh to be served up- Farmed and suitably "trussed up" of course?
2. The Softshell Turtle (Pelodiscus sinensis), is a farmed animal and no longer threatened as a Wild species. As you correctly say, despite the massive expansion in Turtle Farms in South Asia, the species is listed currently as vunerable in the Wild. This status is likely to be elevated at the next IUCN review.
Work by the eminent Chinese Turtle Biologist, Prof Shi Haitao, et al, has concluded that the Turtle farming practice is flawed and is responsible for "Farming Endangered Turtles to Extinction in China".

Both of these points are being actively debated, and in addition, two further areas are being questioned:

3. Animal welfare; Methodology, of Husbandry, transport and Slaughter?

4. Human Health; issues relating to use of Hormones, Antibiotics, Bacterial and Virus infections.

It would be heartening to think that through reasoned debate this issue might reach a mutually acceptable conclusion. However, I remain doubtful, unless continued public pressure can focus the potential adverse consequences for a business that counts up to twenty million UK customers in its business model!
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Old 11-11-2008, 10:44 AM   #25
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That's a good link, Kirkie, I'm just about to send it to all of my friends so they can send a virtual postcard. I'd like to urge other members to take a look so that if they care to they can send an e card really quickly and easily to Tesco voicing their objection to their involvement in such cruel practices
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Old 11-11-2008, 06:50 PM   #26
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When I sent the E Card I substituted "as a Tesco Customer" to "As an Ex Customer" tho
Dunno which is better, might be better to leave it as customer.
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Old 11-11-2008, 07:43 PM   #27
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I've sent one off too.
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Old 11-11-2008, 08:39 PM   #28
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kirkie View Post
When I sent the E Card I substituted "as a Tesco Customer" to "As an Ex Customer" tho
Dunno which is better, might be better to leave it as customer.
Well, I left it as 'customer,' but I also said I would have to seriously think about whether I could continue to spend my hard earned money with a company who obviously had no regard for animal welfare.
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Old 13-11-2008, 12:44 PM   #29
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Default New report published 11/11/08

Need I say more? The date published, is also "Rememberance day"!

Read the full report: "The State of Wildlife Trade in China in 2007" [doc, 332 KB]


The majority of illegal wild animal trade in China was found to be in freshwater turtles and snakes
© WWF Cambodia / You Porny

11 Nov 2008
Beijing, China : The consumption of threatened species is on the rise in China again following a brief hiatus owing to fears surrounding the SARS virus in 2003.

A survey of five southern Chinese cities by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, found that 13 of 25 mark ets and 20 of 50 restaurants had wild animals for sale. A total of 56 species were found and, of these, eight are protected under Chinese law and 17 are protected under CITES, which prohibits or strictly controls international trade.

The majority of illegal wild animal trade was in freshwater turtles and snakes. In China , freshwater turtles and snakes are sold mostly for their meat and for medicinal purposes.

The findings are included in the TRAFFIC report entitled The State of Wildlife Trade in China in 2007, published today. Also found by the report is the fact that Chinese traditional medicine trade is growing rapidly and that China is the world’s second largest wood importer.

“The report examines the impact China ’s consumption is having on biodiversity and what emerging trends there are in wildlife trade,” said Professor Xu Hongfa, co-ordinator of TRAFFIC’s China Programme.

The report notes that that while Russia is currently the top supplier of wood to China , Africa increasingly accounts for a growing percentage which is stimulating illegal timber trade in Africa .

“Chinese companies buying African timber must ensure the benefits of the timber trade are equitably shared, right down to the African rural communities on whose land the trees are growing,” said Professor Xu.

Chinese traditional medicine trade has grown at an annual rate of 10 per cent since 2003. Most exports ($687 million-worth) go to Asia, but Europe ($162 million) and North America ($144 million) are increasingly important mark ets.

Over-harvesting and poor management of resources are looming threats, and currently there are no standards to ensure the sustainable collection of wild medicinal plants.

“The trends seen in this report that show increasing demand in wildlife products and diminishing supply should be a wake-up call for law enforcement, policy makers and consumers,” said Dr. Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF International’s Species Programme.

“We call upon Chinese authorities to enhance enforcement and public education efforts, to stop illegal trade and reduce consumption of threatened species from around the world.”

One bright spot for China is the fact that the illegal ivory trade is declining. The report found that the situation has improved since a year earlier, with surveys showing a substantial reduction in the number of outlets selling ivory illegally.

“The reduction in the illegal ivory trade is very welcome, but we urge the authorities to remain vigilant, particularly to ensure there is no laundering of illegal ivory,” said Professor Xu.

The report is the second in an annual series on emerging trends in China ’s wildlife trade, and provides up-to-date reviews of work being carried out to prevent illegal and support sustainable trade in China .

Other issues examined in the report include the illegal trade in musk, the link between the sea cucumber trade to Taiwan with marine biodiversity in the Galapagos, and links between Russian salmon fisheries and Chinese mark ets.
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Old 13-11-2008, 05:11 PM   #30
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This is the reply I had today

Thank you for your email.

We appreciate you are concerned about the animal welfare issues associated with the sale of turtles in China. So are we. That's why we commissioned independent research, considered the available academic evidence and have been in dialogue with the animal welfare charity, Care for the Wild so that we can make progress on a sound basis.

As a result, we have made several significant improvements to the way turtles are sold in our stores. We are also developing a public awareness campaign to help consumers understand animal welfare and to provide advice on the best treatment of live turtles where customers choose to take them home.

This approach to animal welfare and the sale of live turtles, commissioning research, acting on it and educating customers, is unprecedented by any retailer operating in China and we hope that these actions will help to drive up standards throughout the supply chain.

Some organisations such as Care for the Wild and VIVA are now asking us to stop selling live turtles completely and you may agree with this demand. While we are committed to upholding the very important issue of animal welfare, we also need to balance different cultural attitudes, in this case respecting the different traditions, expectations and values on this issue that exists in China.

Turtles are a popular and traditional part of the Chinese diet and having addressed some important animal welfare concerns, we currently continue to sell live turtles in our stores in China.

Thank you for your interest in this issue.


If you have any further queries please do not hesitate to contact us at customer.service@tesco.co.uk quoting TES5761112X.

Kind Regards


Lori Milne
Customer Service Manager
Tesco Customer Service
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