Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08AMMAN1752
2008-06-12 05:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:
Media Supports Launch of Harrison Ford Public Service
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UNCLAS AMMAN 001752
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, OES, and IIP/NEA-SCA
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
DOI FOR INTERNATIONAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV ETRD PREL KPAO JO
SUBJECT: Media Supports Launch of Harrison Ford Public Service
Announcements on Wildlife Trafficking
REF: STATE 50722
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
UNCLAS AMMAN 001752
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, OES, and IIP/NEA-SCA
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
DOI FOR INTERNATIONAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV ETRD PREL KPAO JO
SUBJECT: Media Supports Launch of Harrison Ford Public Service
Announcements on Wildlife Trafficking
REF: STATE 50722
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) In celebration of World Environment Day, Embassy Amman, in
cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
(RSCN),organized the launch of Harrison Ford's Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) on wildlife trafficking at the Wild Jordan
Nature Center on June 5. Forty individuals representing the NGO
community, academia, students, government, and the media attended
the event funded by State/OES. ESTH Officer introduced the
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) and a visiting team
from the Department of Interior (DOI) gave a presentation on USG
efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking and issues related to the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
2. (U) The CAWT launch in Amman received extensive media coverage
by many local and international media networks. The pan-Arab
satellite channel Al-Jazeera began on June 5 to repeat airings of a
three-minute report about the worldwide effort to combat wildlife
trafficking. The report covered the launch ceremony in Jordan and
Harrison Ford's PSAs on the need to end the demand for illegal
wildlife products. Jazeera's report focused on Jordan's efforts to
protect wildlife, and showed archival footage of endangered species
in Jordan, such as the oryx and the falcon. It also featured
on-camera remarks by ESTH Officer and the RSCN spokesman, who spoke
about the importance of protecting wildlife and the challenges
involved.
3. (U) All Arabic daily newspapers in Jordan, except Al-Arab
Al-Yawm, featured reports on June 6 about the Embassy launch event.
The reports relied extensively on the Embassy press release and
quoted remarks by ESTH Officer, as well as officials from RSCN and
the Department of Interior on the importance of wildlife
conservation.
4. (SBU) Al-Arab Al-Yawm instead published on June 4 an article
entitled "Harrison Ford's Anti-Arab Statements Precede Him to the
Region." The article asserted that Ford's movies are anti-Arab and
portray Muslims and Arabs as "terrorists." The reporter believed
that Ford would be in Amman and concluded the article with "We
demand Harrison Ford to provide clarifications about his anti-Arab
and anti-Muslim statements...or else it would be a shame for the
media outlets to attend his news conference." Note: Embassy Public
Affairs contacted the author and clarified the purpose and context
of the launch event. The journalist was invited to attend the June
5 event but did not show up. End Note.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman
HALE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, OES, and IIP/NEA-SCA
STATE PASS TO USAID
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL
DOI FOR INTERNATIONAL
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV PGOV ETRD PREL KPAO JO
SUBJECT: Media Supports Launch of Harrison Ford Public Service
Announcements on Wildlife Trafficking
REF: STATE 50722
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.
1. (U) In celebration of World Environment Day, Embassy Amman, in
cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature
(RSCN),organized the launch of Harrison Ford's Public Service
Announcements (PSAs) on wildlife trafficking at the Wild Jordan
Nature Center on June 5. Forty individuals representing the NGO
community, academia, students, government, and the media attended
the event funded by State/OES. ESTH Officer introduced the
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) and a visiting team
from the Department of Interior (DOI) gave a presentation on USG
efforts to prevent wildlife trafficking and issues related to the
Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
2. (U) The CAWT launch in Amman received extensive media coverage
by many local and international media networks. The pan-Arab
satellite channel Al-Jazeera began on June 5 to repeat airings of a
three-minute report about the worldwide effort to combat wildlife
trafficking. The report covered the launch ceremony in Jordan and
Harrison Ford's PSAs on the need to end the demand for illegal
wildlife products. Jazeera's report focused on Jordan's efforts to
protect wildlife, and showed archival footage of endangered species
in Jordan, such as the oryx and the falcon. It also featured
on-camera remarks by ESTH Officer and the RSCN spokesman, who spoke
about the importance of protecting wildlife and the challenges
involved.
3. (U) All Arabic daily newspapers in Jordan, except Al-Arab
Al-Yawm, featured reports on June 6 about the Embassy launch event.
The reports relied extensively on the Embassy press release and
quoted remarks by ESTH Officer, as well as officials from RSCN and
the Department of Interior on the importance of wildlife
conservation.
4. (SBU) Al-Arab Al-Yawm instead published on June 4 an article
entitled "Harrison Ford's Anti-Arab Statements Precede Him to the
Region." The article asserted that Ford's movies are anti-Arab and
portray Muslims and Arabs as "terrorists." The reporter believed
that Ford would be in Amman and concluded the article with "We
demand Harrison Ford to provide clarifications about his anti-Arab
and anti-Muslim statements...or else it would be a shame for the
media outlets to attend his news conference." Note: Embassy Public
Affairs contacted the author and clarified the purpose and context
of the launch event. The journalist was invited to attend the June
5 event but did not show up. End Note.
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman
HALE