You can sign the petition herePetition: Pope Benedict XVI: Stop Blood Ivory!
Why this is important
Last week news broke that a prominent Catholic leader advised an undercover journalist how to smuggle elephant ivory! The story lifted the veil on the powerful role of religion in fueling the slaughter of elephants to make ornaments. But we can push the Vatican to drop the demand and help stop blood ivory.
Thousands of elephants are killed each year so that their tusks can be carved into religious objects. In the Philippines ivory figurines of Catholic saints are so popular that the word for ivory also means ‘religious statue’. The Vatican has so far refused to take firm action, but if the Pope calls on all Catholics to stop buying and selling ivory figurines -- he could help stop the slaughter.
Let’s call on the Pope to follow the legacy of St. Francis, the Catholic patron saint of animals, and lead his congregation to stop fueling the cruel blood ivory trade. Click on the right to add your name to the petition -- if we reach 100,000 names, Avaaz will light one candle for every elephant murdered last year in front of St. Peter’s cathedral in the Vatican
SIGN THIS PETITION
As concerned citizens from around the world, we call on you to immediately denounce the murder of elephants and the use of religious ivory ornements. We further urge you to sign onto the CITES treaty for animal protection, sending a strong message to Catholics everywhere that elephant murder is wrong.