francene--blog. Year 2013
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March 3rd

3/3/2013

 
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The elephant’s plight, along with wiping out of rhinos for their horns, will be a key issue this week when 177 countries meet to discuss the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) this week. Statistics on the agenda are an appalling indictment of our exploitation of wildlife.


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With a global extinction crisis facing many species, this year's meeting is being described as the most critical in its history. In immediate danger are: Elephants, rhinos, orangutans, lions, tigers, polar bears, manta rays and sharks.


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Africa’s elephants are in crisis. Tens of thousands are being poached each year for their ivory used in Chinese good luck charms. Africa’s most reviled terror gangs are funding their brutality by killing these magnificent animals. At the moment, poachers use Thailand's exemption to sell native ivory to their advantage.


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Also, 668 rhino, out of South Africa’s 20,000 rhino, were poached last year. African lion numbers have fallen by 50% to below 35,000 since 1980. 3,500 wild tigers are clinging to ­survival. At least 38 million sharks are caught annually to make fin soup. Thousands of manta rays are caught for traditional Chinese medicine, and approximately 600 polar bears are killed each year.


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At the CITES convention, statistics on the agenda are an appalling indictment of our exploitation of wildlife. A political alliance between the world's two biggest economies - the US and China are co-sponsoring proposals to restrict trade in Asian turtles and tortoises. They hope to abolish the secret vote, which allows countries to put commercial interests above conservation.


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Once again, politics play a huge part in determining how the world survives. Surely, the killers must realize that when the species is gone, they will have nothing to plunder. Can we, as a species, continue to allow greed to overcome short-term thinking? There must come a time when all countries consider the needs of Mother Earth as being more important than personal gain.


Audrey link
3/2/2013 10:34:25 pm

Such beautiful creatures, sad that there numbers keep dropping so much. Hopefully they will be able to come up with a way to help

Francene Stanley link
3/3/2013 02:08:37 am

I guess, the more the matter is brought to the public's attention, the sooner we will begin trying to change the way things are done.

Charlotte Henley Babb link
3/3/2013 01:24:26 am

None of this will stop until people stop buying them. That's where the change needs to happen.

Stella Scott link
3/3/2013 01:50:00 am

I agree with you Charlotte. It is as important to make people understand that the must let go of their desire to have any of the items created at the cost of precious animal life.

Francene Stanley link
3/3/2013 02:10:56 am

It's hard to know how to make the Chinese realize they should stop buying shark-fin soup or lucky charms. Or the Africans give up their rhino-horn potions etc. Where to start?

AMummys Life link
3/3/2013 03:33:02 am

It's so sad when humans resort to killing such beautiful creatures like these just for a few trophies.


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    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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