Antique Piano’s Ivory Keys Stripped off Due to Ivory Ban

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. heirloom / ˈeɚˌluːm / (n) – an object with high value and has been owned by a family for several years
    Example:

    The ring that my mom gave me is an heirloom that originally belonged to my great-grandmother.


  2. confiscate / ˈkɑːnfəˌskeɪt / (v) – to take away a person’s possession by force
    Example:

    The teacher confiscated my phone because I used it during class hours.


  3. exemption / ɪgˈzɛmpʃən / (n) – the state of being free from a responsibility or a requirement
    Example:

    I got an exemption from the exams because I did well on my assignments.


  4. sympathize / ˈsɪmpəˌθaɪz / (v) – to feel sorry and show understanding to others
    Example:

    The government official sympathized with the citizens who lost their homes after the disaster.


  5. steadfast / ˈstɛdˌfæst / (adj) – unlikely to change
    Example:

    The judge remained steadfast in his ruling that the accused is guilty.


Article

Read the text below.

Authorities in New Zealand have ordered the removal of the ivory key tops of a 123-year-old piano because of the country’s ivory trade ban.


The piano belonged to Julian Paton, a British professor from the University of Auckland. Paton brought the piano with him during his family’s migration to New Zealand from England last November. The professor purchased the heirloom as a birthday present for his wife over 30 years ago.


Upon the family’s arrival in New Zealand, the piano was confiscated because Paton had no export permit for it, thus violating the ivory trade ban. The antique piano should have qualified for an exemption from the ban as it was created before 1914 when ivory trade laws did not exist. Unfortunately, Paton was not aware that a permit is needed to bring his piano to another country.


While he supports the ban, the professor was disheartened when New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DoC) decided to remove the ivory key tops of his piano.


Paton appealed to save the piano but to no avail. Although the DoC and its minister Eugenie Sage sympathized with Paton, they remained steadfast with their decision and still proceeded with the ruling last July. The DoC even mandated the professor to shoulder the costs of the removal of the key tops.


On a different note, New Zealand has become active in the cause against the ivory trade. In 2014, the New Zealand-based auction site Trade Me prohibited ivory sale. The environmental organization Jane Goodall Institute is also encouraging people to support a petition to completely ban the trade of ivory in the country.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you support the DoC’s decision to remove the piano’s ivory key tops? Explain.
• If you were Paton, how would you feel about the DoC’s decision? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Why is it important to be informed about the rules in other countries?
• What rules in your country do you think foreigners should know about? Why?