1 million to ban the lion trade -- all over the news!

Amazing win! A South African court just ruled that the government violated our right to free speech when they tore down ads calling for the protection of South Africa’s lions -- and we’re all over the news. Let’s use this momentum to get our petition to 1 million and save the lions:

Dear friends,

South African lions are being slaughtered for their bones, just to make bogus sex potions for men. But if we show President Zuma that this hurts South Africa’s image as a tourist destination, he could stop this cruelty by banning the trade in lion bones and organs. Sign the petition below -- we’ll take out ads in major tourism magazines and websites:

Hundreds of South African lions are being slaughtered to make bogus sex potions for men. But we can stop this cruel trade by hitting the government where it hurts -- the tourism industry.

A global ban on tiger bone sales has traders hunting a new prize -- the majestic lions. Lions are farmed under appalling conditions in South Africa for "canned hunting", where rich tourists pay thousands to shoot them through fences. Now experts say lion bones from these killing farms are being exported to phony 'medicine' makers in Asia for record profits. Trade is exploding and experts fear that as prices rise, even wild lions -- with only 20,000 left in Africa -- will come under poaching attack.

If we can show President Zuma that this brutal trade is hurting South Africa's image as a tourist destination, he could ban the trade in lion bones. Avaaz is taking out strong ads in airports, tourism websites and magazines, but we urgently need 1 million petition signers to give the ads their force. Sign below and forward this email to build our numbers fast:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_lion_slaughter_for_sex_aides_rb_en/?bIiqNab&v=30925

'Tiger bone wine' and other tiger-part medicines were banned after massive international outrage -- now traders have shifted their attention to lions' bones to make all kinds of bogus remedies. Experts say unless governments act now, lions could be the next in line -- after tigers and rhinos -- to face extinction.

There is a solution: banning and punishing the trade of lion bones and organs. South Africa is currently the largest exporter of lion trophies, bones and organs -- it is also the only African country actively breeding lions in large numbers to supply trophy hunting. But if we can show that allowing this senseless trade can hurt South Africa’s booming tourism industry and make visitors flee, president Zuma could be forced to act.

Let’s build a thunderous global roar for the lions. Avaaz will show the cruelty of the lion bone trade with stinging ads -- sign now and tell everyone about it:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_lion_slaughter_for_sex_aides_rb_en/?bIiqNab&v=30925

Avaaz members across the world have come together to demand strong protection for rhinos, save the world’s bees from poisonous pesticides and achieve huge marine reserves in Chagos and Australia to safeguard vulnerable marine species. Lets come together once again and stand up for Africa’s lions.

With hope, and determination,

Jamie, Alex, Antonia, Mia, Alice, Ricken, Luca, Emily and the entire Avaaz team

More information:

Avaaz lion bones adverts were censored, finds Constitutional Court (Mail & Guardian)
http://mg.co.za/article/2013-10-25-lion-bones-adverts-censored

Court orders Zuma lion advert to be displayed again at OR Tambo airport (BDlive)
http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/media/2013/10/25/court-orders-zuma-lion-advert-to-be-displayed-again-at-or-tambo-airport

Born to be killed (Carte Blanche)
http://beta.mnet.co.za/carteblanche/Article.aspx?ID=4226

The Lion Bone’s Connected to the … Rhino Horn? (Rhinoconservation.org)
http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2012/05/12/the-lion-bones-connected-to-the-rhino-horn/

Wildlife trafficking trail leads to SA safari man (News 24)
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Bloody-rhino-poaching-trail-leads-to-SA-safari-operator-20110721

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