DOGGONE CAMPAIGN

On January 27 Man About reported that Siem Reap tourism is about to go to the dogs. Nguyen Ngoc My, the man who first brought greyhound racing to Vietnam from Australia 12 years ago was according to VietnamNews, set to expand the sport to new territories, including Siem Reap.

Now a petition has been circulated online by ForceChange, targeting the governments of Vietnam and Cambodia to “Ban the brutal and inhumane practice of racing greyhounds.”

The petition says, “As the battle against greyhound racing rages on throughout the world, there comes disheartening news from Southeast Asia.  Vietnamese entrepreneur  Nguyen Ngoc My, who opened Vietnam’s first greyhound track in 2000, is now pushing to bring the sport to Cambodia.”

The petition than claims cruelty is practiced at the Vietnam greyhound track.

“Watching videos posted by a dog welfare advocate showing these poor animals in small metal cages is enough to break anyone’s heart and make them seriously question the humanity of making dogs race for entertainment.

“Tell the prime ministers to revoke My’s licenses and ban greyhound racing.”

The online campaign has elicited the usual swag of ultra-intelligent Facebook postings such as Pearl Cruz’s words of wisdom: “Evils you going to hell love this innocent animals. What your doing is evil cruel. Inhumane just stop stop stop!!!!!!”

EARTH HOUR UPDATE

ll Relais & Châteaux properties and restaurants in Asia are supporting 2012 Earth Hour again this year on March 31, and that includes Siem Reap’s Heritage Suites.

According to a press release, the hotel, “Is lightening the darkness of a poolside candlelit dinner with a fire-breathing performance by Phare Ponleu Selpak… and a traditional Khmer apsara dance show.”

Earth Hour was established to take a stand against climate change in 2007 by the WWF and launched in Sydney, Australia.

It has since become “a global sustainability movement” involving an estimated 50 million people in 35 countries annually.