august 26TH 2013
http://forcechange.com/71785/commend-chinese-pharmacies-for-refusing-to-use-bear-bile/
Commend Chinese Pharmacies for Refusing to use Bear Bile
BY JOYCE JAMES
Target: Zhong Yuanwei, Vice General Manager of Chengdu Dahua Pharmaceuticals.
Goal: Applaud Chengdu Dahua and other Chinese drug companies for refusing to stock drugs using bear bile as a primary or secondary ingredient
BBC News reports that more than one hundred and fifty drug stores in The People’s Republic of China have made the decision to stop carrying products made from bear bile. The process of extracting bear bile is “painful to the animals and often results in fatal illnesses.”
Although bear bile is considered by some to be a traditional form of Chinese medicine, many Chinese doctors have recently expressed doubt about its safety and efficacy. Drug companies in China decided to act once a video was released showing the brutal nature of bear bile extraction. After a mass outcry from consumers, animal activists, and the medical community, these drug companies decided to abandon the practice of selling medicinal bear bile.
As more stores follow Chenga Dahua’s lead, the demand for products containing bear bile will decrease; this will hopefully put an end to the barbaric practice of ursine bile extraction. Commend the decision of Chenga Dahua and other drug companies in the People’s Republic of China for standing up for the health of both bears and their own citizens.
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PETITION LETTER:
Dear Zhong Yuanwei,
Thank you for your decision to stop carrying products containing bear bile. As you are no doubt aware, the extraction methods are extremely painful for bears, and often lead to illness and death in the ursine population. Furthermore, many medical practitioners are casting doubt on the safety and efficacy of bear bile in the treatment of illnesses; indeed, many doctors have pointed out that bear bile is by no means a “classic” form of Chinese medicine. By deciding not to supply bear bile products, Chenga Dahua and other companies are setting important precedents.
Your decision calls attention to the brutal nature of bear bile extraction and the questionable safety of bear bile medicines, and it hopefully will result in the abandonment of the bear bile extraction process. Humans must learn to live in harmony with nature, and drug companies must learn to respect the health of the animal kingdom. As the Chinese pharmaceutical industry continues to expand, it is important to make sure that no humans or animals suffers as a result of this expansion. By making positive changes to your product rotation, you are inspiring further trust in your company and in the pharmaceutical industry in the People’s Republic of China. Thank you for refusing to stock bear bile on your store’s shelves.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Madeline_H via Flickr
Dim 4 Nov - 10:49