DAV English majored student participated in Workshop on “Combating Wildlife Trafficking”

On October 3rd, 2019, students from the English Faculty of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) attended a workshop on “Combating Wildlife Trafficking” by the American Center (AC) - US Embassy in Hanoi. The workshop aims to raise awareness of young people about the illegal trade and transportation of wildlife into Vietnam for consumption or transshipment. Attending the workshop were the U.S Ambassador Daniel J. Kritenbrink, South African Ambassador Mpetjane Kgaogelo Lekgoro, and British Deputy Head of Mission Steph Lysaght.

The seminar took place in an exciting and open atmosphere of the speakers. Talking to reporters, and young people and students of the DAV, British Deputy Head of Mission Steph Lysaght emphasized the current situation of wildlife hunting due to speculation about their "magic" effects. He also said that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently introduced a new ecological protection fund worth more than £220 million, and he also affirmed that the British government always stood side by side with Vietnam in protecting the wildlife. Other speakers also showed data on the wildlife trafficking situation in Vietnam. Representative of the Vietnam Wildlife Conservation (WCS) Nguyen Huong and representative of Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) Nguyen Phuong Dung said that the widespread trade of wildlife products is due to people’s demand and belief in the unproven effects of these products. However, they spoke highly of the efforts to enforce laws on the prevention of Wildlife Crime and appreciated the community's joint efforts to fight wildlife trafficking in Vietnam.

The workshop was a great success for those who participated in discussions in general and for students of DAV English Faculty in particular. Thanks to the workshop, English Faculty students had a deeper insight about the trafficking of wildlife and simultaneously recognized the importance of each individual in the combat of this issue. The students also expressed their desire to participate in other discussions held by the American Center in the future.