More bad news, predictably, about poaching, wildlife and environmental crimes
in the spotlight today ……………
IVORY TRADE: A LETHAL EXPERIMENT(blue highlights are by the author)
extract: Overseeing the elephant disaster is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the agreement between 181 governments to ensure international trade does not threaten wild species. Its elephant decisions are advised by two projects set up to answer questions regarding elephant poaching and the ivory trade. Both projects rely on data supplied mainly from national governments and both projects suffer from incomplete data because many countries don’t report.
The CITES ivory trade project is run by Traffic, WWF’s monitoring arm, from pro-trade Zimbabwe by a long time proponent of ivory trade The cause of the current elephant slaughter, perhaps the most serious conservation disaster of this decade, was a decision made in 2008 as the forces of the pro trade lobby came together to support China as a buyer of stockpiled ivory.
Tom Milliken was part of a three day CITES mission to China which declared its ivory control system could “eradicate, or at least significantly reduce, illicit trade.” In 2008 he stated that China had been aggressively cracking down on its domestic market.
http://www.davecurrey.com/#!IVORY-TRADE-A-LETHAL-EXPERIMENT/c1x7q/5638edda0cf2c322b492275e
After reading the article above, what conclusion have you come to concerning the slaughter of tens of thousands of elephants – primarily for CHINA…….the most protected (cherished?) member of CITES?
Who do you blame for the (ongoing) slaughter?
No 556 Wildlife Trade News: 5th November 2015
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Dear Future Generations, SORRY.
The entire world needs to watch this 5 minute video, listen and learn By Prince Ea.
(MANDATORY VIEWING FOR ALL CITES OFFICIALS – AND THOSE NGO’S AND SCIENTISTS FOREVER MAKING EXCUSES WHY THEY WON’T – NOT CAN’T – DO ANYTHING TO HELP.)
INDONESIA: Police investigate new hotspot at govt office in Palangkaraya as ‘important’ documents go up in smoke http://news.mongabay.com/2015/11/police-investigate-new-hotspot-at-govt-office-in-palangkaraya-as-important-documents-go-up-in-smoke/
INDONESIA/ SUMATRA: Responses to operation of new palm oil concession in
the Leuser Ecosystem
·
As an IPOP pilot area, what solutions can be
provided by IPOP management and signatories?
·
Considering that the owner of the new palm
oil concession is the honorary consul of one of the EU
countries, the EU needs to immediately intervene
to provide its perspectives and proposed solutions
http://www.greenomics.org/docs/IPOP_Implementation_Report-08_Greenomics.pdf
UPDATE ON THIS REPORT. Malaysia’s blood ivory scandal lingers onhttp://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/315288 (Update: Apparently, it has been said in the Malaysian parliament the stockpiles of ivory will be destroyed ‘next year’. No explanation as to why no independent audit of the ivory will be allowed. No explanation for the years of delays. But plenty of time to ‘massage’ the figures and/or replace ivory that, allegedly, has been given away and/or sold by government employees. The CITES secretariat seemingly is happy with Malaysia’s miss-handing of the ivory stocks and lack of arrests.)
Hong Kong customs officers seize 36kg of suspected cut ivory in pet-food parcel airmailed from Malaysia. (NA comment: Can we expect no arrests in Malaysia? You bet we can…..if the past is anything to go by. Malaysia fool’s CITES Secretariat officials yet again? http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1875634/hong-kong-customs-officers-seize-36kg-suspected-cut-ivory
Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected ivory products at airport. EXTRACT: Customs officers intercepted two suspicious male passengers at the airport this morning. The two men arrived in Hong Kong from Harare, Zimbabwe, via Dubai, United Arab Emirates. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201511/03/P201511030520.htm
Hong Kong’s ivory smuggling haven exposed
Non-profit groups WildAid and African Wildlife Foundation have released a video containing undercover footage, exposing ivory laundering in Hong Kong and the loopholes in its regulations on smuggled tusks. http://www.eco-business.com/videos/hong-kongs-ivory-smuggling-haven-exposed/
SABAH / MALAYSIA Federal minister, Sabah leaders eating turtle eggs goes viral
The environmentalists also urged the Sabah Wildlife Department to take stern action against any culprit, to send a strong message that protected species were not for sale or consumption. http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2015/11/04/federal-minister-sabah-leaders-eating-turtle-eggs-goes-viral/
INDONESIA: Endangered orangutan dies after being shot with an air rifle 22 times, including once in the eye, because it was eating crops in Indonesian national park http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3303483/Endangered-orangutan-dies-shot-air-rifle-22-times-including-eye-eating-crops-Indonesian-national-park.html
Commentary: Why Indonesia Can’t Stamp Out Fires That Have Cast a Haze Over South-East Asia http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/opinion/commentary-indonesia-cant-stamp-fires-cast-haze-south-east-asia/
How Indonesia’s Fires Made it the Biggest Climate Polluter http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-28/how-indonesia-s-fires-made-it-the-biggest-climate-polluter
Southeast Asia’s haze a ‘man-made tragedy and a crime’
Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has hit out at companies responsible for the illegal forest fires and resulting haze crisis, calling it a “classic example of privatising the gain and socialising the pain”. http://www.eco-business.com/news/southeast-asias-haze-a-man-made-tragedy-and-a-crime/
Want to Stop Fires? Protect the Peat, Academics Tell Joko http://jakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/want-stop-fires-protect-peat-academics-tell-joko/
INDIA: Taming the wild: Development chokes the jumbos
http://thenortheasttoday.com/taming-the-wild-development-chokes-the-jumbos/
South Africa: Police On Fight Against Rhino Poaching http://allafrica.com/stories/201511040297.html
Bird poaching in Chilika Lake http://www.thestatesman.com/news/odisha/bird-poaching-in-chilika-lake/101535.html
Thailand Green Awards 2015: Meet the winners
Animal Welfare
Winner: Elephant Hills, a luxury forest camp with a strong focus on offering close elephant encounters with the highest standards of animal care.
Judges’ comments: “An exemplary example of elephant care. The elephants are not ridden, are treated with respect, and there is an in-house vet. Visitors have a fantastic holiday experience yet there is a strong educational element too.”
Runner-up: Boon Lott, a sanctuary for retired elephants.
http://www.wanderlust.co.uk/magazine/news/thailand-green-awards-2015-meet-the-winners
Washington State Votes To Shut Down Ivory Trade http://www.opb.org/news/article/npr-washington-state-votes-overwhelmingly-to-shut-down-ivory-trade/
Say no to ivory, Philippine clergy told http://www.ucanews.com/news/say-no-to-ivory-philippine-clergy-told/74554
MALAYSIA: Perhilitan needs help to curb sales of Indian Star Tortoise online, says Traffic (NA Comment: PERHILITAN have known this for years, but instead have allowed the criminals to carry on importing.)
5 Wildlife poaching facts that will leave you cold http://traveller24.news24.com/Explore/Bush/5-Wildlife-poaching-facts-that-will-leave-you-cold-20151104
INDIA: Forest officials arrest 2 bird poachers http://www.prameyanews7.com/en/nov2015/odisha/5880/Forest-officials-arrest-2-bird-poachers.htm
Another One Bites the Dust: Finnish Dolphinarium Closes
https://dolphinproject.net/blog/post/another-one-bites-the-dust-finnish-dolphinarium-closes/
SOUTH AFRICA: Undercover poaching informant released http://citizen.co.za/852109/undercover-poaching-informant-released/
Chief ranger at South Africa’s biggest park faces tough task of protecting rhinos http://www.metronews.ca/news/world/2015/11/04/new-chief-ranger-at-south-africa-s-biggest-wildlife-park-faces-tough-task-of-protecting-rhinos.html
INDIA: Red sanders worth Rs 50 lakh seized http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/red-sanders-worth-rs-50-lakh-seized-115110401378_1.html
Bail for Zimbabwean journalists granted http://www.news24.com.ng/World/News/Bail-for-Zimbabwean-journalists-granted-20151105
INDIA: Rescued jumbos at mercy of buck-passing wildlife warden http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/others/Rescued-jumbos-at-mercy-of-buck-passing-wildlife-warden/articleshow/49664860.cms
Over 400 arrested for poaching in Mozambique since 2014 http://www.globalpost.com/article/6681532/2015/11/04/over-400-arrested-poaching-mozambique-2014
China donates 18 vehicles http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/china-donates-18-vehicles
PAKISTAN: Wildlife trade http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-11-349487-Wildlife-trade
PAKISTAN: Project to combat illegal wildlife trade launched http://nation.com.pk/lahore/05-Nov-2015/project-to-combat-illegal-wildlife-trade-launched
Bejing police seize ivory:
http://www.herald.co.zw/beijing-police-seizes-800kg-of-ivory/
Latin American illegal wildlife trade exploding in scope and scale http://news.mongabay.com/2015/11/latin-american-illegal-wildlife-trade-exploding-in-scope-and-scale/
PHILIPPINES: Lumads blast APEC, rap plan to convert 1 million hectares into palm oil plantations
By: Diego Mora, InterAksyon.com
November 4, 2015 1:44 PM
Much of the Indonesia haze is caused by the slash-and-burn practice for the conversion of forests into palm oil plantations. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA – Farmers and indigenous people (IP) nationwide protested in front of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday to denounce the plan to convert one million hectares of land into palm oil plantations.
The protest, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said, is a prelude to bigger actions as the Aquino government prepares to host the 15th Leaders’ Summit of the Asia Pacific Cooperation (APEC) on November 18 and 19.
More than 100 Lumad farmers from the Manilakbayan contingent trooped to the DENR to oppose the planned conversion.
In Mindanao alone, more than one million hectares of land are being eyed as potential palm oil production areas.
Bohol and Palawan are also targeted for palm oil plantations expansion.
The activity will be highlighted by the people’s critique of the government’s Philippine Roadmap on the Palm Oil Industry for 2016-2023 and testimonies of farmers, agricultural workers, and Lumad affected by land grabbing and inhuman working and living conditions in oil palm plantations.
Palm oil plantations in the Philippines cover almost 55,000 hectares.
The government wants to drastically expand oil palm plantations to one million hectares by 2030.
“Trade and investment liberalization, which is among APEC’s pillars, will severely impact the agriculture sector, especially farmers and indigenous peoples as the government authorizes massive land grabbing and auction of lands for the utilization of foreign and local investors,” said KMP chairman Rafael Mariano as he lambasted the DENR for “pimping agricultural and ancestral lands” to oil palm plantations and mills under the guise of reforestation.
“APEC and its pro-foreign policies will only worsen the economic situation of Filipinos, especially farmers and indigenous peoples due to global land grabbing and expansion of agro-corporations and plantations in the country,” Mariano said.
“This impending drastic expansion of palm oil plantations in the country in the next few years will totally displace thousands of farmers and Lumad people who are already victimized by the government’s intense militarization campaign in Mindanao, particularly in the Caraga region,” said Ariel Casilao, vice president of Anakpawis Partylist and co-convenor of the Manilakbayan 2015.
“Taking advantage of the cheap rural labor in the countryside, the government is targeting local and foreign oil palm corporations and investors to put up oil palm nurseries and breeding centers in different regions and provinces and to increase palm oil production areas to 353,000 hectares in 2023 and one million hectares possibly in 2025 or 2030,” he added.
There are eight existing palm oil mills owned by six companies: Agumil Phil. Inc. (AGPI), Palm Inc., A. Brown Energy Resources Devt. Inc. (Aberdi), Kenram Industrial and Development, Filipinas Palm Oil Plantation Inc., and Univanich Carmen Palm Oil Mill.
These oil mills, other companies, and businesses engaged in palm oil production, together with local landlords, are in control of the vast tract of lands that were converted or utilized as palm oil plantations.
To date, nine companies from Malaysia and Indonesia, the two biggest oil palm producers and exporters in the world, have signaled their intention to invest in Mindanao.
Among these companies are Felda Global Ventures, New Britain Palm Oil Ltd.-PNG, Pertamina-Indonesia, Perkebunan Nusantara-Indonesia, and Bali Palm Oil-Indonesia.
Aside from its uses in cooking, palm oil, extracted from oil palm trees, is also widely used in the food, drug, cosmetics, and agro-chemical industries, and processed into biofuel.
Palm oil is highly profitable since it needs small capital to cultivate and only take three years to bear fruit.
It can be harvested twice a month and remain productive from 22 years to 25 years.
Presently, 90 percent of all palm oil comes from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
http://www.interaksyon.com/article/119726/lumads-blast-apec-rap-plan-to-convert-1-million-hectares-into-palm-oil-plantations
