鳥會被政治除名

【縛雞之見】

BirdLife Partners - Asia denotes that there are 16 members in Asia, while 14 icons left on the web page. 

Notes that there is BirdLife Asia Board Member “Geh Min”（倪敏）, former President of Nature Society in Singapore, without picture, and more Chinese-like officers in The Team.

 

 

中華民國野鳥學會被國際鳥盟解除夥伴關係之聲明

中華鳥會秘書處

中華民國野鳥學會(簡稱中華鳥會)自1996年成為全球最大的鳥類保育組織--「國際鳥盟」的會員，代表全國團體會員參與國際野鳥保育事務。然而，我們必須很遺憾的宣布，根據國際鳥盟全球理事會的決議，由於本會的中文名稱--「中華民國野鳥學會」對國際鳥盟的夥伴關係造成經營上的「風險」，因此將中華鳥會自正式夥伴關係中移除。

國際鳥盟為了處理名稱的問題，自2019年底起要求中華鳥會更改合法註冊的中文名稱，而本會作為共同為保育努力的合作夥伴，願意對此議題進行討論。事實上，中華鳥會在過去的20年間已被要求更改過英文名稱三次，這是首次被提及中文名稱的問題。但是，國際鳥盟全球理事會片面要求本會簽署一份文件，承諾不促進或倡導中華民國的合法性及台灣脫離中國獨立。中華鳥會作為一個野鳥保育的非政府組織，從未就任何此類議題表達過立場，我們認為簽署這樣的文件相當不合適，因此拒絕簽署。中華鳥會不是政治推手，我們是保育組織！

除了要求中華鳥會更改名稱並簽署聲明之外，國際鳥盟也告知他們將不參與由台灣政府全額或部分資助的任何相關活動，也不允許國際鳥盟的名稱和標誌被使用或展示在有標示我國國旗、標誌、符號等相關文件、文獻、報告或任何形式的傳播媒體。國際鳥盟解釋，之所以這樣做的目的，是因為對國際鳥盟而言，一方面要與中華民國的「獨立」保持距離，另一方面又從該實體政府獲取經濟利益是「奇怪」的事情。這樣的聲明顯然是基於政治考量，而國際鳥盟這樣的全球保育組織不應該做出這樣的決定！

甚至，無論是名稱變更、簽屬文件或接受這些新的合作規則，只要國際鳥盟單方面認為中華鳥會是風險，仍會被移除會籍。

中華鳥會盡最大的努力就這些要求盡可能與國際鳥盟進行溝通。本會的常務理事會與理監事會已針對此事進行會議，也將依程序預定於今年度9月19日的會員代表大會進行討論。但在本會會員代表大會舉辦之前，國際鳥盟卻於9月7日的全球理事會投票決議，以中華鳥會尚未解決「風險」為理由，決定將其從夥伴關係中移除。

中華鳥會從不認為我們的組織對於國際鳥盟是一個風險。中華鳥會在亞洲地區長年以來是一個強而有力的合作夥伴，我們在鳥類保育上一直都有良好的紀錄，其中野鳥棲地及黑面琵鷺的保育就證明了這點。將重要的成員從夥伴關係中除名，對於保育工作，特別是亞洲地區的野鳥保育蒙上一層陰影。而這似乎也成為了政治妨礙良好保育工作的例子。

對鳥類來說世上並沒有國界的區隔，因此保育工作需要全球的網絡合作來實踐。中華鳥會在這方面至始至終都是真正的合作夥伴，儘管本會遭解除夥伴關係對於鳥類保育是一個令人傷痛的時刻，我們仍會持續努力進行鳥類與全球生物多樣性的保育工作。其中包括了黑嘴端鳳頭燕鷗的保育研究工作，以及引領亞洲推動鳥類的公民科學運動如eBird Taiwan、臺灣新年數鳥嘉年華等。

中華鳥會在此感謝我們21個團體會員及許多支持者多年來的堅定支持。這次事件雖然讓我們少了一個對外聯繫的平台，但並未削弱本會對於野鳥保育的目標與承諾，我們期待未來在促進鳥類與生物多樣性的保育上，更加倍努力與國內、外志同道合的夥伴持續合作。

 

Statement on the Removal of the Chinese Wild Bird Federation from BirdLife International

By: CWBF Secretariat

It is with great sadness that the Chinese Wild Bird Federation must announce its removal from the BirdLife International partnership.  Though a proud, faithful, and strong member of the partnership since 1996, the CWBF was told in December 2019 that it now posed a risk to BirdLife International due to its Chinese name (中華民國野鳥學會).

To rectify this, BirdLife International had required the CWBF to change its legally registered name in Chinese.  This was something that the CWBF, as a loyal partner, was willing to discuss.  In fact, the CWBF had previously changed its English name three times at the behest of BirdLife International. BirdLife's governing body, the Global Council, also required the CWBF to sign a document formally committing to not promote or advocate the legitimacy of the Republic of China or the independence of Taiwan from China.  As an apolitical organization which has never taken a stance on any such issue, we felt it was inappropriate to sign such a document and were unable to comply.  We are not political actors, we are conservationists.

Beyond requiring the CWBF to change its name and sign the declaration, BirdLife International also notified the CWBF that it would no longer participate in or allow its logo to be used in relation to any event related to or totally or partially funded by the government of Taiwan, its agencies or "provincial" authorities.  Furthermore, BirdLife International would no longer participate in or permit its name or logo to be used in relation to any event or in relation to any document, study, report or any other form of communication where the Republic of China flag, Taiwan symbols/emblems, and/or Taiwan governmental symbols/emblems were utilized or displayed.  It was explained that this was necessary since it would be "odd" for BirdLife to distance itself from the "independence agenda" of the Republic of China but to also benefit financially from the government of that entity.  Such a statement is clearly a political determination and one which should not be made by a global conservation organization such as BirdLife International.

Lastly, it was expressed to the CWBF that regardless of the name change, signed document, or acceptance of these new rules of engagement with BirdLife International, the CWBF might still be removed as a risk.

The CWBF did its best to communicate with BirdLife International regarding these demands.  The CWBF's democratically elected executive board and supervisory council also held meetings on the matter.  It was even to be discussed at the upcoming CWBF General Assembly.  However, before the matter could be taken up with the General Assembly, on September 7, 2020, the BirdLife International Global Council stated that CWBF had not addressed the "risks" and voted to remove it from the partnership.

We at the CWBF are no risk. What we are is a strong and effective partner in global conservation with a proven track-record.  This is evidenced by our leadership in regional conservation over the years as well as work in habitat and Black-faced Spoonbill conservation.  Our removal potentially casts a shadow on the good conservation work done by so many, especially here in Asia.  It also seems to be an example of politics getting in the way of good conservation.

Though a sad moment for bird conservation, the CWBF will continue to be a true partner in conserving bird species and global biodiversity.  All hands are needed to accomplish global conservation goals and we have never faltered in trying to do our part. Included in this is our important work protecting species such as the Black-faced Spoonbill and Chinese crested tern, and helping lead the way in Asia on citizen science projects such as eBird Taiwan and the Taiwan New Year Bird Count.

The CWBF would like to thank its member associations and many supporters for their steadfast backing over the years.  Our commitment to achieving regional and global conservation goals is undiminished by this needless removal.  We look forward to continuing to work with partners at home and abroad to address a real risk, the risk of extinction faced by countless species worldwide. Birds don't know borders!