Archive for ‘“numerous”’

02/05/2020

Chinese religious circles denounce U.S. smear of China’s freedom of religious belief

BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) — Chinese religious circles have slammed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for smearing China’s freedom of religious belief in the commission’s recent report.

The annual report, which groundlessly blamed the freedom of religious belief in China and viciously slandered China’s religious policies, was met with general revulsion and indignation among Chinese religious circles and numerous religious believers, said a statement issued by the secretariat of the joint conference of China’s national religious groups.

“We express our strong condemnation,” the statement said.

It is obvious to all that the Chinese government protects citizens’ basic rights in accordance with the law, and religious believers enjoy full freedom of religious belief, the statement noted.

Chinese religious circles have made remarkable achievements in the development of theological theories, the construction of religious venues and the cultivation of talents, it said.

However, the United States has ignored the facts and piled unwarranted criticism on China’s religious situation, exposing its arrogance and prejudice, the statement said, adding that the acts have interfered in China’s internal affairs, smeared China’s freedom of religious belief and hurt the feelings of Chinese religious believers.

“We urge the United States to stop using religious matters to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs and stir up troubles,” it said.

Source: Xinhua

03/11/2019

Machynlleth crocodile skull raid prompts trade warning

Seized crocodile skullImage copyright DYFED-POWYS POLICE
Image caption Trade in some species, including some types of crocodiles, is banned outright

People buying animal “souvenirs” have been warned they must check they are legal after police seized a number of crocodile skulls imported from China.

Police are investigating the finds after searching two properties in Machynlleth, Powys, on Wednesday.

Dyfed-Powys Police and North Wales Police said they had found “numerous” skulls across the searches.

Animal trade charity Traffic said importers and buyers must make sure they had the correct permits.

Richard Thomas, from Traffic, said some people would buy things such as skulls as a “talking point”.

Trade in some species, including some types of crocodiles, is banned outright, but others can be bought and sold as long as the exporting country issues permits.

Earlier this month, police seized a skull of a critically endangered Siamese crocodile from a man in Chippenham, Wiltshire, after he paid about £30 to a buyer in China.

Wiltshire Police said the man bought it as an “unusual” house ornament and had no idea that it was protected.

No further action was taken against him when police decided he had made an honest mistake.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is the main worldwide agreement controlling trade in wild animals and plants, and is signed by more than 180 countries.

In 2016, the UN estimated that the annual value of illegal wildlife trade was between $7bn-$23bn (£5.4bn-£17.8bn).

Traffic said demand for such items as horns, ivory, bones and skins was “driving unprecedented wildlife population declines”.

Source: The BBC

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