|
|
| UK street poet Benjamin Zephaniah visits China moon bear sanctuary |
The moon bears rescued by Animals Asia from cruel bile farms in China had a special visitor last week – Birmingham-born Jamaican British poet Benjamin Zephaniah, whose poems for the people have won him acclaim the world over for decades.
Benjamin, a long-time voice for animals, accepted Animals Asia’s invitation to visit our Chengdu sanctuary after two of his UK fans and loyal supporters of ours, Lee Gibbins in Somerset and Heidi Stephenson in South Devon, told him about our Moon Bear Rescue.
Animals Asia Founder and CEO, Jill Robinson said: “Benjamin’s poetry comes straight from the heart and that’s just how he was with us on site – open and friendly and genuinely caring. He has 15 honorary doctorates to his name, but – much, much more importantly – he is simply a lovely, self-effacing guy who has lived and loved to the full.
“There he was, breezing his way around the bear enclosures, stopping to feed Rupert our brain-damaged bear some treats, saying hi to staff and all the resident bears, and talking affably to the local media, who followed him around with cameras pressed close to his face.
“Well how could you blame them? He’s tall and majestic with dreadlocks down to his hips – and has a kindness that comes from living life in the raw and being a vegan to boot. He shed tears when one of our beautiful bears Simba was put to sleep,” Ms Robinson said.
Benjamin also spoke and recited poems at The Bookworm pub in Chengdu – an event packed to the rafters – and there was a rousing cheer when he told the crowd: “Yesterday, I fell in love with a moon bear”. He continued on the animal-welfare theme with his much-loved:
“Be nice to yu turkeys dis Christmas
Cos’ turkeys jus wanna hav fun.”
Benjamin was included in “The Times” list of Britain’s top 50 post-war writers in 2008.
Described as a British Jamaican Rastafarian writer and poet, Benjamin is a well-known figure in contemporary English literature.
Bear farming is still legal in China, however no new licences are issued when farms close. In 2000, Animals Asia signed an agreement with the CWCA and Sichuan Forestry to rescue 500 bears from the worst farms and to work towards ending the industry. To date, Animals Asia has rescued 266 bears from farms in China and 52 bears in Vietnam. Those that survive, live out their lives at our sanctuaries. |
|
|
