From: Louis Ng (ACRES) Sent: Friday, 23 September, 2011 9:54 AM To: 'chris_monteiro@mastercard.com'; 'sharon_hamilton@mastercard.com'; 'michael_robichaud@mastercard.com' Subject: Appeal to Mastercard to reconsider your RWS promotion Dear Chris, I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to you from ACRES, a Singapore-based non-profit dedicated to promoting animal welfare. We understand that Mastercard is currrently offering discounted tickets to the Universal Studios at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) and we hope you will reconsider this promotion. In May 2011, ACRES launched the "Save the World's Saddest Dolphins" campaign which aims to secure the freedom of the remaining 25 wild-caught dolphins bought by RWS for their attraction in Singapore. Two of the dolphins died whilst undergoing training in 2010. Local and international outrage has been growing. Over 670,000 people worldwide have joined ACRES in our call for RWS to let the dolphins go. United Parcel Service (UPS), which transported the first shipment of RWS dolphins from the Solomon Islands to The Philippines, said it would stop moving this kind of cargo, as the practice violated its environmental principles. Chris Porter, who sold the wild-caught dolphins to RWS, called for RWS to “review its motivation for using these animals as a tourist draw”. He was concerned that “RWS is using the animals primarily to make money while telling the public that its aim is to educate the public on marine conservation.” Mexican Senator Jorge Legorreta Ordorica (Chairman, Committee of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries) was so dismayed at the plans of RWS that he wrote to Singapore’s National Development Minister about it. Senator Jorge wrote that Mexico's international reputation was dented as a result of its importing 28 Solomon Islands dolphins in 2003. At least 12 of the dolphins have since died. “Mexico’s experience with this single import led to our government imposing an outright ban on importation and exportation of live cetaceans for entertainment purposes and this ban is still in place,” the Mexican senator said. He urged Singapore to consider Mexico's experience and 'the disturbing mortality' of the animals when evaluating applications for the permits to import such dolphins. ACRES sincerely hopes that Mastercard will join us in sending a strong message that the capture of dolphins from the wild and their confinement is morally unacceptable. The dolphins have endured being removed from their homes in the Solomon Islands and stressful transportations. Some of the dolphins watched their family members die, were subjected to living in small, rusty enclosures and endured a year of training sessions. The only thing in store for all of them now is the final stressful transportation to Singapore to entertain RWS guests. Richard O’Barry of the Earth Island Institute and star of the Oscar Award-winning documentary “The Cove” is offering the possibility of setting up a rehabilitation and release project for these dolphins in conjunction with RWS. With Mastercard's support, this can become a reality. Please let me know if you need any further information and I look forward to your favourable reply. Yours sincerely, Louis Ng (MSc) Executive Director ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society) www.acres.org.sg 91 Jalan Lekar Singapore 698917 (O): +65 6892 9821 (F): +65 6892 9721 
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