The Times Online have just published a frightening article about the evidence of human destruction of Africa. According to the article, Achim Steiner the Secretary General of UNEP (which is based in Nairobi!), said there were many examples of how action has been taken to restore the environment and he said those projects should act as beacons. But he said the outlook for many areas and the people who live there remain poor unless remedial work is undertaken.
In a related article Reuters reports that WWF is also raising an alarm that Africa is running out of resources. This is all very worrying since the bulk of funds for conservation are spent in the northern hemisphere and developed countries.
Meanwhile in South Africa sweeping changes have been proposed in their legislation will allow prosecutors to charge directors and managers of companies for environmental impacts like pollution. South Africa often seems to lead the way on such developments but the new legislation is rather confusing because the government will apparently also claim legal ownership of all wild animals in state parks and nature reserves, and tighten up measures to recapture animals which escape on to private land.
It also intends to scrap the National Environment Advisory Forum and the Committee for Environmental Co-ordination. These public public participation committees will be replaced by appointed boards. Smells like a rat to me. How much do you want to bet that this new legislation will not be adopted?
Also in South Africa is one of the most brutal attacks on wildlife that I’ve ever heard of. According to Pretoria News, teenagers set their dogs on wildlife in a zoo killing 38 birds. This is the second time in two weeks that this has happened. The authorities have not caught the culprits of this brutality.
“Some of the birds had been completely ripped apart. Others had been bitten badly but were still alive, so we had to put them down to spare them the pain.”
Crookes Brothers, the owners of Crocworld, are offering a reward to any person who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.
Anyone with information on the incident can telephone Umkomaas police Detective Inspector Maya Chetty at 039 973 1011.
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Feb 28th Liza H USD 11.00
4 Comments
I honestly do not understand this brutality…so now animals at the zoos are not even safe? What is the point of this senseless violence against wildlife?? it makes me extrordinarily fearful for the future of Africa…its people, its animals, its land as a whole.
I PRAY AFRICA WILL NOT LET ITS WILDLIFE AND ANIMALS AND ITS PEOPLE NOT MATTER AS CHINA ALWAYS HAS –
I HOPE THEY WATCH AND THEY LEARN SOMETHING -
I WANT TO SEE HOPE FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE WILDLIFE -
REAL HOPE!
The UN needs to get its own house in order first and strart to implement internal policies that sets the example to the rest of the world. For example, UNEP’s Kick the Habit Campaign which in essence is a wonderful idea with practical advice to all of us on how we can reduce our carbon emissions such as stop using an alarm clock are welcome. However, they could have been a lot more effective if they launched the campaign with public announcing their own efforts to reduce carbon emissions. A drive in Nairobi from point A to point B is enough to illustrate this: have a look at how many UN plated 4wd cars there are on the road. Most of them are only used in town – diesel guzzling monsters used to go from one mall to the other or to drive to work. No wonder most African governments don’t function – this is what they aspire to be. Environments are being destroyed and the very self-appointed custodians are equally to blame.
I am tired of all these over-paid instititutions churning out report after report about the world dying. Tell us what you are personally doing about it. This is why I love WildlifeDirect – I want to read stories from real people on the ground and their efforts – not what people in offices are doing.
There are just too many people talking and not enough people working … a few minutes of American TV should convince you of that! WildlifeDirect seems to be full of workers!