21 April 2006
Earth Day Starts as Actress Named U.S. Special Wildlife Envoy
Bo Derek spearheads effort against illegal trafficking of animals
Washington -- Actress Bo Derek officially was named U.S. special envoy of the secretary of state for wildlife trafficking in an April 21 ceremony at the State Department on the eve of Earth Day 2006.
Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick made the announcement the day before the annual observance of Earth Day in the United States and around the world. Since Earth Day was first established in 1970, the spring season has been set aside by governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to assess the fragile state of earth's environment and wildlife.
Zoellick, an environmentalist himself who was awarded the "Song of the World Award" in 2005 for his work to eliminate the use of unnecessary driftnets in fishing, introduced Derek to the State Department audience saying her main job would be to bring awareness of the growing menace of wildlife trafficking.
The illegal trade in exotic pets, rare foods, trophies and traditional medicines is now worth $10 billion a year -- second only to the trafficking of arms and drugs. It threatens to drive elephants, tigers, tropical birds and other species to near extinction if left unchecked.
Derek will spearhead an alliance of global partners called the Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) established by the State Department in September 2005. Included in the CAWT coalition are international NGOs like WildAid, World Wildlife Fund and Save the Tiger Fund, as well as the governments of the United Kingdom and India. (See related article.)
Derek said she felt honored to be named a U.S. special envoy.
An active member of the NGO WildAid for five years, Derek said she recently went on an environmental cruise sponsored by the organization and was shocked to learn how sharks were slaughtered for their fins and "how this was such a global problem."
But things "are not hopeless," Derek said. It is a challenge "to enable people and wildlife to live together" but coalitions like CAWT can make a difference and makes "me want to be a part of this cause."
Derek said it was easy to contribute inadvertently to illegal trafficking -- "I'm guilty as well." In the past she said she bought ivory, coral and tortoise shell products without realizing they were smuggled or represented endangered species. "So much of this is public awareness."
That is why the CAWT coalition is important, the actress said. "It brings public and political awareness" to the trafficking problem and highlights measures to remedy the growing threat to all of earth's citizens.
CAWT is focusing its initial efforts on Asia where trafficking in wildlife is a major problem. After the Association of South East Asian (ASEAN) nations agreed in 2004 to a regional plan of action to combat the trade, the State Department on July 2005 said it would help train ASEAN law enforcement and other wildlife officials to counter poaching, especially of tigers. (See related fact sheet.)
Following Derek, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky hosted a discussion on trade and environment, wildlife and forest conservation and water issues.
A transcript of the remarks at the ceremony is available on the State Department Web site.
For more information on U.S. policies, see Environment.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
