ivory is not lucky

lucky red? who knows?

I listened to a young British teacher explain the red bracelet he was wearing, “My student insists I wear red every day, all this year, or I’ll have bad luck.  It’s the year of the snake.  I was born in the year of the snake.  If it’s your year, you’re supposed to wear red.”   He gave a shrug and continued with his student’s tales of misfortune for those she knew who didn’t wear red.  He doesn’t really believe the red is lucky superstition, but all of China does.  Most Chinese accept red is lucky as they accept the sky is blue, unless they live in one of the mega polluted cities and then they accept the sky is gray.

that's a long history

When I came to China, I had no idea about the breadth and depth of all their cultural superstitions; they seem to permeate everything: food, numbers, habits, clothes, babies, sleeping, colors, names, and so much more.  Every culture has superstitions, customs, believes that do not make sense to outsiders, but that’s not what’s troubling me.

This morning I’m thinking about critically endangered elephants and if it’s possible for people to change their beliefs, to change how they see and value ivory.  China is gaining negative world attention for ivory trafficking.  The Buddhist believe ivory is lucky so that believe has become part of the Chinese culture.  

glass beads and only $1

Ivory is not lucky.  If ivory actually brought luck to the owner, then elephants would not be an endangered species.

It’s disturbingly ironic that the Buddhist who believe in reincarnation and in respect for all living things are part of the problem.  According to an October 2012 National Geographic article, Buddhists believe that ivory removes bad spirits:

"Buddhist monks in China perform a ceremony called kai guang, the opening of light, to consecrate religious icons, just as some Filipino priests will bless Catholic images made of illegal ivory for their followers. "To be respectful of the Buddha," the report quotes a Chinese collector, "one should use precious material. If not ivory then gold. But ivory is more precious.""

This week, The WorldWildlife Fund reported on an amazing position change when several highly respected Thai Buddhist monks spoke out against using ivory, saying that ivory is “tainted with pain and suffering.”   

Now what can I do as just one person?  

The World Wildlife Fund suggests these actions: 

•       Push governments to protect threatened animal populations by increasing law enforcement, imposing strict deterrents, reducing demand for endangered species products and honoring international commitments made under CITES.
•       Speak up on behalf of those on the frontlines being threatened by armed poachers so they are properly equipped, trained and compensated.
•       Reduce demand for illegal wildlife parts and products by encouraging others to ask questions and get the facts before buying any wildlife or plant product.

People in the world care about elephants and they are watching China.  What, if anything, will China do?  I can ask that question.  I can bring up ivory and elephants as I talk to people at English corner for the next few weeks.  I can talk to my students.  These are very small, simple things.

Right now, I'm looking at a piece of scrap paper where my Chinese tutor and a Chinese teacher debated and finally settled on changing my Chinese name last night.  No one liked my name assigned to me by PC language tutors last summer.  I sat passively, half-listening to them, and only responded when they asked in English what my American name Ann means.  "Nothing that I know."  They were shocked; part of their debate was about meaning.  My new Chinese name: Meng JiaRui, meaning family and luck.  If only luck were that easy!