EJIAO, MANUFACTURED BY BOILING DONKEY HIDES, IS SOLD WORLDWIDE ON AMAZON!
HELP STOP THE SALE OF EJIAO.
A dramatic increase in recent years of trade in donkey hides is driving demand for the widespread slaughter of these animals across Africa (with Kenya as the epicenter), Asia, and Latin America. As prices are driven upwards, black-market activities are also increasing, supplied by theft and illegal slaughter.
The treatment of donkeys in this process is often gruesome and has a huge impact on the livelihoods of people. Donkeys are being stolen, horrifically mistreated and cruelly slaughtered—sometimes in the bush or street just outside their owners’ property.
Not only are donkeys suffering and being killed at an unprecedented rate, but the loss of a donkey is crushing for the people who depend on these animals to survive. Families that lose a donkey can suffer colossal harm. The loss of a donkey for a family in an impoverished community can have devastating consequences on their ability to earn money, grow food, access water, and send children to school. Indeed, these setbacks can plunge an already poor family even deeper into poverty.
MAKE AN IMPACT NOW
OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) Official Statement: “Considering the impact and consequences of the increased global demand and trade of donkeys and their products, the OIE encourages its members to implement international standards, not only to protect donkey health and welfare, but also to safeguard the livelihoods that depend on them.”
The Slaughter Is Reality.
OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL
We need stop the sale of ejiao on the world’s largest purchasing online platform. If we help curtail product availability, we can have an impact on the economic gain of those involved in the manufacture of ejiao – both legal and illegal suppliers.
Many organizations, including Brooke USA’s sister organization Brooke: Action for Working Horses & Donkeys, are advocating for bans on the legal slaughter of donkeys, securing support from international organization such as the UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization, educating communities on safeguarding their donkeys, fighting the illegal trade with local governments’ support and more.
Together we can make a difference. Please join us and write or email Andy Jassy, newly appointed CEO of Amazon, email or send to:
Amazon Corporate Headquarters
410 Terry Ave N.
Seattle, WA 98170
Be sure to copy Amazon’s Office of Public Policy, ATTN: Robert Diznof at RDDiznof@amazon.com or via mail at:
Amazon Office of Public Policy
1800 S Bell Street
Arlington, VA 22202
We have included the suggested body in the email when you click the button above. Please note that there are items you can use to customize the letter, and you should also sign your name.
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We ask that you remain courteous and polite throughout all communications. The tone of our dealings with Amazon need to remain professional at all times.
BACKGROUND: Brooke USA approached Amazon last October to share the cruelty of the donkey hide trade and its dire implications on human livelihoods. The team was very receptive and agreed to move the request up the corporate ladder. We followed up on several occasions and the Amazon executives were professional yet did not provide the Brooke USA representatives with any feedback. In April, during a very cordial telephone conversation, Amazon noted its decision to deny our request.
Letter in hand, Amazon has not yet responded to our plea.
WE NEED YOU.
Meet Joseph - Nakuru, Kenya
Joseph lives in Bobung, near Nakuru, Kenya. He works as a water vendor, delivering water to homes and businesses, using his donkeys. He has a wife and six children. “My entire family’s needs and my needs depend on my donkey. From my donkey I am able to get a salary, I pay rent and even school fees.”
When Joseph’s four donkeys were stolen from him, he was devastated. “I used to love them so much…the only person I depend on is my donkey and I trust him as my boss. He has brought me this far.”
It is likely that Joseph’s donkeys were stolen and slaughtered for their hide.
Not only was Joseph concerned about the welfare of his donkeys after they were stolen, but he found his livelihood to be in real jeopardy also. He has only ever delivered water, and had no other skills to find alternative employment. “This is the only job that I know.” Sadly, the theft of his donkeys was the beginning of a downward spiral for Joseph.
“Ever since my donkeys were stolen, my business came down drastically… this led to one of my children having to stop school because they were stolen at the time when he was returning to school and he needed the school fees… The landlord locked me out so I had to plead with him…my kids couldn’t sleep outside. I had so many problems during that time.”
INTERESTING READING
The Brooke: Disease outbreak linked to donkey skin trade | Brooke (thebrooke.org)
The Brooke: The Donkey Skin Trade | Brooke (thebrooke.org)
The Brooke: Seven facts about the donkey skin trade | Brooke (thebrooke.org)
Devex International Development: Opinion: Support animal health systems to prevent the next pandemic | Devex
Devex International Development: Donkey skin ruling a 'massive blow' for Kenya's smallholder farmers | Devex
Donkey Sanctuary: under-the-skin-report-english-revised-2019.pdf (thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk)
Humane Society International: 8570 HSI DHG Investigation, Donkeys in China.qxp_Layout 1
The donkey hide trade in East Africa has reached unprecedented levels. If we don’t move fast, hundreds of thousands of donkeys will die.
KEEP IN TOUCH
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