The illegal ivory industry in Africa has seen more than 150,000 elephants slaughtered over the past five years, creating an illicit trade between Africa and China worth USD 1 billion. Now The Ivory Game, an acclaimed American documentary exposing elephant poaching and the smuggling of ivory to China, makes a welcome return to Beijing after premiering at the 2017 Beijing International Film Festival in April.
Columbia Global Centers | Beijing presents the documentary film, together with a panel discussion, in Zhongguancun in Haidian District on June 30. “[The event will look into the] impact of Chinese business and investments in Africa, the politics and economics of wildlife exploitation and conservation, and the important roles played by journalists, filmmakers, and other media-makers in shaping and understanding this new power dynamics,” Columbia said.
Leading the event is Chinese journalist and Columbia alumnus Huang Hongxiang, who is featured in the documentary as an undercover ivory buyer. Huang has conducted investigations into the environmental and social impact of Chinese investment and business in Latin America and Africa since 2011.
The discussion will feature two more speakers: Mary Peng, treasurer and member of the board of directors at the Jane Goodall Institute China, and Ying Qian, assistant professor at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, Columbia University. Moderating the discussion will be Professor Lydia H. Liu, director at the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia University. Professor Safwan Masri, who’s also executive vice president of Columbia University (Global Centers and Global Development), will deliver opening remarks before the screening.
The Ivory Game: Film Screening and Panel Discussion, Jun 30
Ages 10+. Chinese journalist and Columbia alumnus Huang Hongxiang presents The Ivory Game, an American documentary that looks at the dynamics of the ivory trade and the impact of Chinese business and investments in Africa. A panel discussion will take place after the screening. The event is conducted in English while the film will have Chinese subtitles. Free. Click/tap here to register. 6.30-9.20pm. Columbia Global Centers | Beijing. 26, 1F Core Plaza, 1 Shanyuan Street, Zhongguancun, Haidian District, 北京市海淀区中关村西区善缘街1号立方庭（西门）底商26号
How to get there?
By subway: Take Subway Line 10 and get off at Suzhoujie 苏州街 Exit B (Northeast exit). Walk straight ahead upon exiting and take the first left road (Caihefang Lu 彩和坊路). Walk for 500 meters until you reach Shanyuan Street (善缘街).
By bus:
(Option 1) Take Bus 671 and get off at Haidian Nanlu bus stop (海淀南路). Take the first right road (Caihefang Lu 彩和坊路). Walk for 500 meters until you reach Shanyuan Street (善缘街).
(Option 2) Take Bus 374 and get off at Beijing Dizhenju bus stop (北京地震局). Walk 300 meters and take the second road right (Caihefang West Alley 彩和坊西区) and turn right at Caihefang Lu 彩和坊路. Walk for 80 meters until you reach Shanyuan Street (善缘街).
Photos: courtesy of Columbia Global Centers | Beijing
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