The largest ivory market in the world just banned its trade and Avaaz was right at the very heart of the fight. The ivory market in Hong Kong is simply enormous and was responsible for the deaths of thousands of elephants. With this amazing species heading towards extinction Avaaz launched a massive petition that was sent to legislators in Hong Kong. Many legislators engaged with Avaaz and a media storm emerged prior to the vote with legislators actually holding up Avaaz campaign ads during the debate.
A million people signed the Avaaz petition
More than a million people signed Avaaz’s petition calling for an ivory ban. Almost immediately after the campaign was launched a key legislator from Hong Kong contacted Avaaz to talk about the campaign which shows it definitely got their attention. Avaaz then got an email from a campaigner saying that a vote to ban ivory would take place within five days so the group immediately swung into action. Social media in Hong Kong was plastered by a video made by WildAid Hong Kong featuring Chinese superstar Li Bing Bing depicting the devastating effects of the ivory trade.
Running ads and joining protests
Avaaz also created a wonderful advertisement to run in Hong Kong’s biggest newspapers on the day the vote was meant to take place telling lawmakers that the elephant’s future lay in their hands. Thousands of Avaaz supporters sent messages to legislators urging them to support the ban and as they were voting Avaaz members participated in a colourful protect organised by a wide variety of campaigners.
Historic victory
Finally, during the debate, just prior to the vote taking place an influential lawmaker who supported the ban held up a giant printed version of the Avaaz advertisement for everything to see, letting his colleagues know the whole world was watching. In the end it was a landslide and the global media has hailed it as a historic victory because the largest ivory market in the world will start to shut down.
Many people participated
Like so many campaigns Avaaz runs, this outcome was not achieved alone. The incredible result was made possible following years of campaigning by WildAid and other organisations. Thanks to a dedicated group of lawmakers, a vote was made to happen. As a result of all that effort, poachers and traders will be deeply angry and the majestic elephant has been handed an important lifeline.
