1st Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation
They must be protected.
I have a niece who is very involved in animal rights and the protection of endangered species. At the moment she works for Panthera whose mission is to ensure a future for wild cats and the vast landscapes on which they depend. Panthera is the only organization in the world that is devoted exclusively to the conservation of the world’s 38 wild cat species and their ecosystems. So when the 1st Asia Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation was announced she showed me this site which, I hope, explains my interest in preserving its information. My niece is also the reason I no longer drive (about an hour) into the town where I would get my eyeglass lenses replaced. When I complained about how difficult it was getting to have the lenses on my various eyeglasses replaced, she told me about a site that offers prescription replacement eyeglass lenses via the mail. All I would have to do is mail my glasses in, and they install the replacement lenses. "But I wear trifocals. Can they deal with that type of lense?" Apparently the site offers all kinds of replacement lenses, including single vision, progressive, bifocal, and trifocal in materials from plastic and polycarbonate, to high index, Trivex and even glass. I was impressed. I can also order replacement prescription sunglass lenses with custom tint, Transitions technology, polarized, and mirror coated lenses. My niece, she is one smart, young lady. Now, let's get back to tigers.
2010
The Asia Ministerial Conference (AMC) is a meeting of thirteen countries to discuss the plight and plans for conservation of the wild Tiger population. The conference will take place in Thailand and the countries from the region that still have tigers that roam wild are all attending.
These include:
- Thailand
- Russia
- Vietnam
- Indonesia
- China
- India
- Bhutan
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Nepal
- Russia
- Myanmar
Each and every country who is attending the conference has a huge role to play in the conservation of the wild tiger species and sub species. The goal of the conference is to get each country and partner to commit to helping the wild tiger population. We will also be seeking each country to spend resources to help this situation, both in terms of time and funds.
Tigers as a species are in grave danger of complete and utter extinction. This seemed absurd a century ago as there were over one hundred thousand tigers roaming their natural habitat. The tiger’s natural habitat has also reduced significantly and this is one of the major contributing factors in the reduction in numbers of tigers. Today there are only three thousand two hundred wild tigers. Three sub species of tigers have already been obliterated unfortunately and we need to take massive care to ensure this does not happen to more sub species or the whole wild tiger population as a whole. The three species that we have lost forever are the Javan, Caspian, and the Bali tiger.
This makes tigers one of the most endangered animals on the planet. It faces many threats and the rate of reduction in the population is alarmingly fast. At the end of the last century there were around twelve hundred wild tigers in the Greater Mekong area. The number of tigers is down around seventy percent to less than three hundred and fifty tigers for this area that includes Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. This dramatic fall in numbers is over a very short period of time a mere twelve years. I’m sure even the most statistically challenged can see that if something drastic is not done to combat this fall, in another twelve years we will have no tigers left in the region at all.
Information Regarding The 1st AMC
The 1st ASIA Ministerial Conference (AMC) is scheduled to be held at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, Thailand, from 27–30 January 2010.
Host: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand
Organizers: Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation of Thailand, Global Tiger Initiative, and Save the Tiger Fund
Supporters: Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand and the World Bank
Venue: Hyatt Regency, Hua Hin, Prachaup Khiri Khan Province, Thailand. Hua Hin is approximately 300 kilometers from Bangkok.
Dates: 27-30 January 2010
Participants:
- Ministers and senior officers from Asian tiger range states and representatives of relevant agencies
- Senior representatives of multilateral or bilateral organizations and Technical tiger experts
- International and Asia-based NGO’s working on tiger/wildlife conservation
Objectives:
- further update National Tiger Action Plans in coordination with law enforcement, financial, and land use planning agencies based on the outcomes of the Global Tiger Workshop, Kathmandu;
- identify political, management, and financial instruments, including support from the international community, needed to implement National Tiger Action Plans;
- define the key elements of a Global Tiger Stabilization and Recovery Program; and
- demonstrate leadership by launching priority actions without waiting for the Global Tiger Summit.
Expected Outputs:
- Political endorsement of the Pattaya Manifesto and a plan for its implementation
- Political endorsement of consolidated priority programs developed at Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop and plans for their implementation
- Draft outlines of national and regional implementation plans on tiger conservation to be endorsed at the 2010 Tiger Summit
- Pilot projects initiated for implementation at the regional level
- Uptake of tiger-friendly investment filters by key international financing bodies.
Registration: By Invitation only
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Useful Information about Thailand
Thailand is a constitutional monarchy with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX, the ninth king of the Chakri Dynasty, the present king. The King has reigned for more than half a century, making Him the longest reigning monarch in the world.
Bangkok (Krung Thep, meaning "city of angels") is the capital city and centre of political, commercial, industrial and cultural activities.
The Kingdom of Thailand, covering an area of 514,000 square kilometers, lies in the heart of Southeast Asia, roughly equidistant between India and China. It shares borders with Myanmar to the west and north, Lao P.D.R. to the north and northeast, Cambodia to the east and Malaysia to the south. The country comprises 76 provinces that are further divided into districts, sub–districts and villages.
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Do’s and Don’t in Thailand
hai people have a deep, traditional reverence for the Royal Family, and a visitor should be careful to show respect for the King, the Queen and the Royal Family.
Religion:
Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go topless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attirelt is acceptable to wear shoes when walking around the compound of a Buddhist temple, but not inside the chapel where the principal Buddha image is kept.
Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect. Buddhist monks are forbidden to touch or be touched by a woman, or to accept anything from the hand of one. If a woman has to give anything to a monk, she first hands it to a man, who then presents it.
Social Norms:
Thais don’t normally shake hands when they greet one another, but instead press the palms together in a prayer–like gesture called a wai. Generally a younger person wais an elder, who returns it. Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively, therefore, avoid touching people on the head and try not to point your feet at people or an object. It is considered very rude. Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home. Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon.
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Original photograph: Martin Harvey