Singapore to Ban Domestic Sale of Ivory Starting 2021

Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

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

  1. effective / ɪˈfɛk tɪv / (adj) – operating or starting from a certain time
    Example:

    You should get an ID today because students will be strictly prohibited from entering the school without one, effective tomorrow.


  2. penalize / ˈpin lˌaɪz / (v) – to punish a person for violating a law
    Example:

    The country’s government penalized some disrespectful tourists by asking them to pay a fine.


  3. sentence / ˈsɛn tns / (n) – punishment given to a criminal
    Example:

    You can be given a 10-year prison sentence for robbery.


  4. check with / tʃɛk wɪθ / (phrasal) – to ask the opinion of someone about something, especially before a decision is made
    Example:

    Please check with your professor first before you change your thesis topic.


  5. in favor of (something/someone) / ɪn ˈfeɪ vər ʌv / (idiom) – to support something
    Example:

    Many people are in favor of removing plastic bags from stores.


Article

Read the text below.

Singapore has announced a ban on selling elephant ivory within the country, effective 2021.


The authorities will penalize violators with fines and a prison sentence of up to one year. Those who already own things made from ivory when the ban takes effect can keep their possessions, provided that those will not be sold. They may also choose to donate their ivory to institutions.


Singapore made the announcement in August, following the seizure of the largest amount of smuggled ivory in July. Officials discovered the ivory in a container passing through Singapore from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Vietnam. The seized ivory cost approximately $12.9 million and weighed almost nine tonnes. This amount of ivory was estimated to be from around 300 African elephants.


People take ivory from elephant tusks because it can be used to make expensive combs, pendants, and jewelry. African elephants were overhunted because of the demand for their ivory, causing their worldwide population to drop drastically. Their numbers decreased from millions in the mid-1900s to around only 600,000 by the end of the 1980s. To protect the elephants, an international ban on ivory trade has been implemented since 1989.


Although Singapore has supported the ban against international trade of elephant ivory since 1990, the country did not have a ban against domestic trade before now. Prior to its decision to implement the ban, the government checked with non-government groups, ivory retailers, and the public for the past two years. This was to gauge public support for the prohibition against domestic trade. Results of the consultation showed that 99% of respondents were in favor of totally banning ivory sales within Singapore.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think the punishments for violating the ban on the domestic sale of elephant ivory (i.e., fines and a one-year prison sentence) are justified? Why or why not?
• What do you think the government should do with the seized elephant ivory? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Why do you think illegal wildlife trade still occurs until now? Discuss.
• Do you think implementing bans is enough to totally end illegal wildlife trade? Why or why not?