Baraza

Category: Uncategorized | Date: Jul 22 2008 | By: baraza

I am perplexed by the statements by WWF, TRAFFIC and CITES about China being in control of illegal trade in ivory, especially when the scientific head of IUCN stated that illegal trade in China was ‘out of control’. The Chinese authorities are apparently very convincing

“China’s Foreign Ministry has disputed concerns that China cannot adequately police its trade in ivory“.

The facts speak otherwise. We know that illegal killings of elephants are on the increase in Africa. Here’s  part of an article from All Africa.com

“The slaughtering of fourteen elephants in May 2008, in the Virunga National Park, smuggled through Burundi and Congo is believed to produce, ivory destined for the Chinese black -market.

According to The UK Independent, in a two-week period, four elephants were killed by the FDLR militia, comprising members of the former Rwandan Interahamwe, five by the Congolese military, three by the local Mai-Mai militia, and two by villagers.

Emmanuel de Merode, director of Wildlife Direct, said that the elephants were the victims of international pressures.

“The upsurge in elephant killings in Virunga is part of a widespread slaughter across the Congo Basin and is being driven by developments on the international scene: the liberalization of the ivory trade, being pushed by South Africa, and the increased presence of Chinese operators on the ground, who feed a massive domestic demand for ivory in their home country,” he said.

It remains to be seen whether the CITES decision on China, will worsen elephant poaching in Africa, as widely thought, but whatever the case, the division between range countries in Africa over ivory trade might turn out to be the boon for elephants, in the struggle to conserve this endangered species.”

Well,  I am at a loss about how anyone can imagine that illegal killing of elephants can be controlled in countries like  Congo, Sudan and many other African countries where there is no rule of law and no penalties, but an abundance of automatic weapons as a result of the raging conflicts. Where do these guns come from? I would’nt be surprised if countries like China, Russia, India, UK, South Africa and USA come top of the lists…..

Sometimes I feel helpless, then I think “What changes would actually make a difference?”

Well,…if you could have three wishes, what would they be?

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Tags: Africa, China, guns, Ivory, wildlifedirect