ROYAL COMMUNICATIONS OPERATIONAL NOTE 15th September 2016 The Duke of Cambridge will give the keynote address at Tusk's Time For Change event, The Shard, London Thursday 22nd September 2016 Engagement (For publication or broadcast): The Duke of Cambridge is to give the keynote address at Time For Change, an important multi-city event taking place on the eve of one of the most crucial international conferences on the protection of endangered species in many years. Time For Change is being organised by the conservation charity, Tusk, of which His Royal Highness is Royal Patron. The Duke will speak at The View from The Shard in London, with other contributors taking part via satellite link-up from Tokyo and Johannesburg. The entire event will be live streamed. The aim is to draw global attention to the continuing threat to many of the world's species from the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT), and the need to maintain momentum in tackling the issue. Time For Change will take place as government delegates from all over the world gather in South Africa for the 17th meeting of parties to the Convention for International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Background (For publication or broadcast): Time For Change Time For Change seeks to ensure that the momentum gained over the last three years in tackling the Illegal Wildlife Trade (IWT) is not only maintained but stepped up. The event will urge the international community including consumers not to become complacent at such a critical moment for many of the world’s most iconic species. Page 1 of 7 From the 69th floor of London's iconic Shard building, The Duke of Cambridge will address an audience of supporters, campaigners and policymakers. The event will also hear from the Secretary-General of CITES, John Scanlon, who will speak from Johannesburg, where the international conference will take place; the Japanese philanthropist, Dr Haruhisa Handa, will address Time For Change from Tokyo and will discuss the importance of Asian leadership in conservation. The three speakers will be introduced from London by the television presenter and environmental campaigner, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. IWT is now recognised as the fourth largest transnational crime by value, after drugs, arms and human trafficking. It is estimated to be worth up to $20 billion each year and is responsible for decimating populations of elephant, rhino and many other lesser known species. The results of the Great Elephant Census, published on 2nd September 2016, revealed a decline of 30% in African savannah elephant populations in the space of just seven years to 2014. Increasingly, domestic markets are recognised as providing cover for the illegal trade in ivory, reinforcing the high value of ivory and feeding illegal markets in key consumer areas. Closing these markets is therefore seen as a critical step to address this issue. This is also a human tragedy. IWT is fuelling corruption and violence in some of the most vulnerable countries on Earth. Two park rangers are dying every day in the fight to protect endangered species from poachers. In February 2014 The UK Government with the support of The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry, took an international lead by hosting the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade. This saw the successful launch of the Elephant Protection Initiative, which is now supported by 14 African countries and has declared support of 18 others; as well as the major international NGOs, the World Bank and UN Development Programme. In September 2015, President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping agreed to end commercial ivory sales in the United States and China. The US ban came into effect on 6th July 2016. In March this year and under the leadership of The Duke of Cambridge and Lord Hague, a declaration was signed at Buckingham Palace that saw dozens of leaders in the transportation industry commit to an ambitious plan to close the trafficking routes that are used to move wildlife products from killing field to marketplace. On 10th September at the IUCN World Conservation Congress members also approved a motion calling on countries across the world to close their domestic ivory markets. Tusk Tusk was established in 1990 at the height of the last devastating poaching crisis, when both elephant and rhino were being slaughtered in their thousands to meet the demand of the wildlife trade. Now, in the face of an even greater threat, fuelled by the illegal trade in ivory, rhino horn and other wildlife parts, the charity continues to play a vital part in overcoming the huge challenges faced by Africa’s wildlife and its people. Page 2 of 7 Over 26 years, Tusk has raised more than £30m for projects across Africa. Whilst working to protect Africa’s unique natural heritage, Tusk has built a reputation for supporting and instigating projects that use conservation as a powerful tool, alleviating poverty amongst communities who live alongside wildlife through sustainable development and education. The Duke of Cambridge became Royal Patron of Tusk in December 2005, and has actively supported the charity’s work both privately and publicly on many occasions. The Duke conducted a tour of Tusk projects in Botswana in 2010 with Prince Harry and launched the Tusk Conservation Awards in 2013. In 2015 The Duke instigated a new Wildlife Ranger Award, to recognise the perilous work of those on the frontline of conservation. During a trip to Kenya in April this year, the Duke visited Tusk supported programmes in the north of the country. CITES The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is an international agreement between governments, which aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. The text of the Convention was agreed in Washington in 1973 and entered force on 1st July 1975. Offering protection to over 35,000 species of animals and plants, CITES currently has 183 parties. The Conference of the Parties (CoP) meets every two to three years to review implementation of the Convention. The seventeenth meeting of the CoP will take place in Johannesburg from 24th September to 5th October 2016. Delegates will consider proposals on as many as 500 endangered species and plants, and take decisions on the control and regulation of their trade. Social media: @kensingtonroyal / Instagram: KensingtonRoyal @tusk_org / Instagram: tusk_org / www.facebook.com/TuskTrust Timings (NOT for publication or broadcast at any time): The Duke of Cambridge will arrive at The Shard at approximately 12.10 hrs BST and depart at approximately 13.20 hrs. His speech is scheduled to begin at approximately 12.35 hrs. Media Facilities (NOT for publication or broadcast at any time): Royal Rota An extended Royal Rota will be in operation at The View From The Shard, with media covering the speech from two fixed positions as follows: Rostrum 1 – alongside the host TV camera 1 TV camera (plus reporter if required) 1 NMA photographer Page 3 of 7 1 host photographer 1 PA reporter Rostrum 2 – lateral view 2 TV cameras (plus reporters if required) 2 NMA photographers 1 Royal reporter Live Broadcast and Streaming A clean, vision-mixed live television feed of the entire event, including The Duke's speech, will be available to broadcasters via satellite and to the BT Tower. The feed, which will begin at 12.30 hrs BST and end at 12.45 hrs, can be accessed using the following co-ordinates: Satellite: Eutelsat 10A Orbital Position: 10 degrees east Transponder: D09 Channel H Downlink frequency: 11 689.8330 V Bandwidth: 9MHz Symbol Rate: 7.500 Msym/s FEC: 3/4 Modulation: DVBS2 -QPSK Roll off: 20% Pilot off MPEG 4:2:0 / MPEG 4 Video standard: HD 1080i / 50 BT local ends: HD / LOG/101 (HD/SD/ASI) The entire event will also be live-streamed on Tusk Trust’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TuskTrust. Additional Broadcast Facilities A satellite facility will be available on the 69th floor between 13.00 – 14.15 hrs for TV broadcasters wishing to do live two-ways. Please note that broadcasters will need to provide their own camera and camera operator. Tusk Trust will provide technical support. To request a slot for a live broadcast, please contact Mary-Jane Attwood (details below). Satellite frequencies and BT local end co-ordinates will be supplied upon booking. Please note, these may differ from co-ordinates for the live broadcast feed. Additionally, a clean, vision-mixed television feed of the entire event will be available to download on the following FTP facility, approximately one hour after the event. Page 4 of 7 URL: http://filetransfer.ctn.co.uk/ User ID: tusk_time_for_change_tus-003 Password: pk31s63m50 Limited Fixed Position (NOT for publication or broadcast at any time): A limited fixed-point can be provided for photographers outside The Shard. Please note, this will be for The Duke's arrival and departure only. Media should apply to Carly Reed, PR & Social Media Manager for The Shard, carly.reed@theviewfromtheshard by 12.00hrs on Monday 19th September. Successful media will be notified by noon on Wednesday 21st September. Rendezvous (NOT for publication or broadcast at any time): Members of Royal Rota are asked to meet Steve Kingstone and Connie Fisher from Royal Communications at 1100hrs outside the entrance to The View from The Shard, Railway Approach SE1 9SG. The entrance can be accessed via Joiner Street. Fixed point media are asked to meet Carly Reed, PR & Social Media Manager, The View From The Shard, at the same location as above at 1130hrs NOT FOR PUBLICATION OR BROADCAST CONTACTS Steve Kingstone, Royal Communications: 0207 024 4210 / 07912 577 653 [email protected] Connie Fisher, Royal Communications: 020 7024 4095 / 07793 850 019 [email protected] Mary-Jane Attwood, Tusk Trust 01747 831005/ 07990 558926 [email protected] Carly Reed, The View From The Shard 0203 437 3227 / 07741 262 025 [email protected] APPLICATIONS FOR PASSES AND CONDITIONS OF ACCREDITATION ROTA PASSES: Page 5 of 7 Applications for rota passes should be made as soon as possible through the appropriate media organisations as listed below.