Good idea about Wal-Mart. I'll be contacting them shortly in protest. I've gotten back about 15-20 undeliverable emails from that provided list of Chinese contacts, and I've seen even more addresses since, but many of them are apparently either blocked by the government itself (controlling the internet in China) OR they get shut down from the amount of letters coming in. One even thanked me for my "interest in becoming a volunteer for the Olympics"!!! So obviously some of them can't even read english....or make it look like they can't. They don't WANT to hear global protest, as Jon said. I'm not sure that should stop us from trying, though. Silence = complacence = no change. So, here's a link to some more "official" email addresses in China (better bets at upper portion of page):
Chinese govt., tourism, ministries, embassiesIt's really our
own fault that most things in N. Amer. now come from China. The way I see it, we're not w/o blame for this as everything affects everything, everywhere. WE didn't think ahead about how what WE do affects global conditions. Both of our countries' (Canada and U.S.) consumers insisted on cheaper versus higher quality from made-at-home products, which forced manufacturers to outsource to slave-labor, poor countries. It's even harder in Canada to buy locally, as we barely have any Cdn. manufacturing LEFT here. We've sold out to U.S.or other foreign interests, for the most part. Most things now come from U.S firms who sell products .....which now come from China. If we want to affect the balance, we have to be vigilant in our buying practices. Most people won't abide by this now, though, I'll bet, as everyone wants cheap prices and we're basically a selfish species. So...will it be morals and ethics that rule the day, or economy? It's a truism that "you get what you pay for." And this is what our shallow values 'bought.'
It might also be a good idea to write some Olympic officials. The IOC doesn't seem to have a contact email, so next in line is the NOC, their related regional partnerships and the athletes themselves who've so far decided they're not going to let a few lousy animals or poor ethics stop them from their chosen career plans or attendance at the games. Here's a link to two of those three:
Association of National Olympic Committees and,
National Olympic CommitteesSo far, I haven't had time to track down ways to contact athletes themselves, but hope to find time next week....if it's even possible. If anyone else does, please let us all know.
I saw pictures of dogs hanging up after being skinned alive (apparently some still live for a few minutes even after this horrendous live skinning), with the rest in crates, watching their companions and knowing they're next. I saw pictures of cats begging to be saved....after the dog pics, I couldn't even bring myself to look at most of the cat pics or footage, I was so traumatized. And even though N. Amer. is really no better (think battery chickens who are often still alive whilst being slaughtered just as inhumanely, or cattle, or horses, or many other animals tortured by various savage means), we still OWE these Chinese animals our outrage and protest, too.
It's world community and we're part of it, like it or not.
And Eva, I'm more than disgusted and ashamed to say that in Canada (even though we're linked to British rule/law as yet), there is NO legislation so far against the import or sale of cat or dog fur products, which is also NOT required to be named per our ridiculously-insufficient labeling laws. (not that I think ANY fur products are okay) The public can be outraged, but our governments never listen to us....but I still keep trying....