From: TButynski@aol.com
Date: 2014-08-15 00:34
Subject: Re: No 200. Wildlife Trade News 14th August 2014
Some interesting information in this issue of Wildlife Trade News...particularly the first item. 
 
If elephant conservation is ignored, what hope birds?
 
I think that to subscribe to this useful, interesting, albeit depressing, newsletter, you need to contact the Editor.  Try:  sw@naturealert.org, naturealert6@gmail.com
 
Tom
 
In a message dated 8/14/2014 10:13:09 A.M. E. Africa Standard Time, sw@naturealert.org writes:

 

in the spotlight today – an example of how the Kenyan government protects ivory traders……………………..

 

OPINION: My Offer to Help Kenyan Authorities Catch an Ivory Kingpin Is Spurned  http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/08/13/opinion-my-offer-to-help-kenyan-authorities-catch-an-ivory-kingpin-is-spurned/   (This is a compelling read – be sure not to pass over it before reading the following re Kenya.)

In July of this year one media report read “Kenya's plan was audited at the recent CITES meeting in Geneva and the country awarded a certificate of commendation.”

Another report said “Kenya: UN Applauds Kenya's Role in Joint Anti-Ivory Smuggling Operation …..Some conservationists could neither believe their ears nor eyes when news from Geneva, Switzerland, started trickling in at the weekend that Kenya's law enforcement against wildlife crime had won recognition at a United Nations meeting.”

CHINA also were rewarded with the CITES Secretary-General's Certificates of Commendation for “for exemplary wildlife law enforcement efforts.” Can you believe that? Look at the article above and see the reality in Kenya that CITES is soooooooooooo out of touch with.

 

The two worst nations on the planet for complicity in the ivory trade are rewarded – instead of being punished, which is why they carry on breaking laws and the CITES convention - why would they stop the trade when CITES lavishes such praise on them for lawbreaking?

 

It wasn’t long ago the CITES Secretary-General awarded China another certificate – even though China was brazenly complicit in the illegal trade of great apes.

 

CITES ISN’T WORKING IS IT?

 

DO YOU FEEL CITES IS ANY

LONGER FIT FOR PURPOSE?

No? Then why not get it off your chest and write to

Achim Steiner at Achim.Steiner@unep.org  and c.c. oystein.rune.storkersen@miljodir.no If you don’t write and express your concerns YOU become part of the problem – the silent majority, don’t you?

 

SHOULD THE SECRETARY GENERAL CONTINUE REWARDING CHINA, KENYA AND OTHER COUNTRIES COMPLICIT IN THE ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE?  If someone stole your pet dog, cat, or child, killed it, and extracted its teeth to send to China to be made into trinkets would you expect those complicit in the crime to be caught and punished, or given a Certificate of Merit by the police?

                 

                                                                                                                                             

 

No 200. Wildlife Trade News 14th August 2014

Kenyans seek arrest of ‘ivory kingpin’ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/08/13/world/science-health-world/kenyans-seek-arrest-of-ivory-kingpin/#.U-swIGOK13E

Africa: Tens of Thousands Killed Every Year http://allafrica.com/stories/201408130463.html

Kenya: 'New Crop of Poachers On the Increase' http://allafrica.com/stories/201408130425.html

Uranium and hunting firms set up development projects for villagers in Ruvuma Region (Tanzania) http://www.ippmedia.com/frontend/index.php?l=70977

  

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