Large Criticism of Guizhentang's Extraction of Bear Bile

Follow us on TWITTER: http://twitter.com/cnforbiddennews Like us on FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/chinaforbiddennews Fujian Guizhentang Pharmaceuticals have been planning a stock market listing. However, animal protection groups exposed that the company extracts bear bile to make traditional Chinese medicines. This has been condemned by media and the public. The founder of Guizhentang claimed, "If you are against us, it is against the country. This company recently opened an official microblog, provoking hundreds of thousands of netizen's criticism. On Feb. 1, the Department of Public Offering Supervision of China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), published business listings for initial public offering (IPO). Guizhentang Pharmaceuticals is on the list. Animals Asia Foundation (AAF) handed a statement to CSRC, It is against putting this company on the stock markets. The reason is that a business relying on extraction of bear bile should not be listed on the stock market. Meanwhile, a video entitled Moon Bear spreads on internet. It is a documentary recording the process of harvesting bile from live bears in Jinlin, Liaoning and Sichuan provinces. In the video, black bears are roaring, and the images of wounded animals are very touching. In China, media are exposing this cruel extractions of bear bile. According to research, the Black Bear's IQ and emotion is similar to a three-year-old child. They are mischievous and like freedom. However, some farms lock bears in small cages at age of 3. This forces them to bend over. Bears spend all their lives in the cages, unable to move or turn around. A hole is cut in the bears belly, and a tube is inserted, to extract bile twice a day. This is repeatedly done until the bile runs out, causing the bears to almost die. Qiu Shuhua, founder of Guizhentang and a representative of National People's Congress in Quanzhou city, responded. Qiu claimed that they had official certification to raise Black Bears and produce bear bile powder. Thus, anyone against them is against the country. Ye Du, an independent writer in Guanzhou, said that for interests, many immoral things in China are legal. Ye Du: "In China, during 30 years of development, in order to become rich, a person can take anything to achieve the goal, not to mention the animals' life. Our next generation's living environment has been plundered. That is the important reason why Guizhentang can legally exist, but it should not exist reasonably." On Feb. 23, Guizhentang opened an account on Sina Weibo microblog, trying to respond netizens' criticisms. However, netizens are condemning Guizhentang, shouting, "out!" One netizen post wrote, "Take the country as a shield, evil trader tortures animals to make dirty money." Guizhentang is exposed deceiving public by hiring people to send posts on internet. According to reports, Guizhentang hired people. They used former Google Vice-President Kai-Fu Lee's name, publishing an article on the microblog. The article was called "requesting AAF to publicise accounts." Lee responded, suggesting Guizhentang doesn't spread fake posts to distract attention, attacking others. Fraud microblog behaviour would be counterproductive. Ye Du believes that many netizens spoke out to rescue bears, reflecting Chinese people's consciousness of humanity. He is grateful. Ye Du: "In 30 years of reform and opening up policy, the biggest loss is people's ethical and moral principles. However, in recent years, people's civic quality has improved. People realize more and more, that the loss of social morality is unforgiving. Because this challenges human's bottom line of morality, in such a circumstance, it forces people to respond. They protect the bottom line of morality." Last week, there were 72 celebrities in China who signed a protest letter submitted to CSRC. The letter opposed the approval of Guizhentang's plan of selling shares on the stock market. NTD Reporters Qin Xue and Bo Ni 《神韵》2011世界巡演新亮点 http://www.ShenYunPerformingArts.org/