Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Africa Online petition to save the Rhino.

Just had this link for an online petition to have all trading in rhino everywhere banned by the EU.
http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_rhinos/?sbc

The rhino is being hunted into extinction and could disappear forever unless we act now. Shocking new statistics show 440 rhinos were brutally killed last year in South Africa alone -- a massive increase on five years ago when just 13 had their horns hacked off. European nations could lead the world to a new plan to save these amazing creatures but they need to hear from us first!

Fueling this devastation is a huge spike in demand for rhino horns, used for bogus cancer cures, hangover remedies and good luck charms in China and Vietnam. Protests from South Africa have so far been ignored by the authorities, but Europe has the power to change this by calling for a ban on all rhino trade -- from anywhere, to anywhere -- when countries meet at the next crucial international wildlife trade summit in July.

The situation is so dire that the threat has even spread into British zoos who are on red-alert for rhino killing gangs! Let�s raise a giant outcry and urge Europe to push for new protections to save rhinos from extinction. When we reach 100,000 signers, our call will be delivered in Brussels, the decision-making heart of Europe, with a crash of cardboard rhinos. Every 50,000 signatures will add a rhino to the crash -- bringing the size of our movement right to the door of EU delegates as they decide their position. Sign the petition on the right then spread this campaign widely:


Anyone know anything about this Avaaz outfit.

Von Gruff.

Is now a good time to point out that there is already a blanket ban in trade of rhino derived products because of the CITES rules?

Black & white rhino fall under slightly(ish) different classifications from each other (for now) but the basic criteria is products from these animals may not usually be traded commercially under any circumstances and may only cross international borders under licence and most of the (relatively few) licences issued are for sport hunted trophies.

(IMO) The aavaz web page shows how little they know about the situation because they call on the EU to ask CITES to put a stop to (etc)........ when in fact, CITES is nothing more than a glorified licencing authority.

My guess is that white rhino will be elevated to the same CITES I classification as the black rhino at the next COP meeting.

The only way to put a stop to the poaching is to cut the head off the snake and that will NEVER happen because the guys at the top are FAR too powerful...... to say nothing of the fact that many of them hold diplomatic immunity.

I'll add that a further ban such as this petition proposes will simply cloud the waters of the real conservation effort and probably make things even more confusing for EU based hunters. The last thing anyone needs is to have the EU involved with separate rules to CITES...... I'm no fan of CITES and in fact consider them a bunch of clowns but it'd be a mistake to involve yet another bunch of clowns with their own set of rules.

At the end of the day, it isn't legal traffiking that's causing the problem, it's the illegal traffiking and new laws or rules in legal traffiking won't achieve anything. As previously stated, the only way to put a stop to the poaching is to kill not only the poachers and middlemen but far more importantly, catch and execute the guys at the very top of the trade.

All true but the best solution would be to convince all the stupid people that think rhino horn cures everything that it really ain't so. Of course, I'm a realist so don't think that will ever happen.

I actually thought Viagra would save the Rhino. Once the Asians could sport some wood with a cheap pill, I figured rhino horn would be pass�. Not so, it seems.

heard the reason was a couple ppl claimed it now cures cancer......demand had been dieing down due to the lil blue pill but once the cancer thing hit the net demand skyrocketed again....

Shakari,

Problem is politicians the world over act as if passing a new law changes realities. I would bet that their real motives have more to do with garnering a few votes. Make the fools think they are really doing something.

Maybe I should run for public office and then I can justify a trip to Africa to "study" the problem first hand. Never mind that I have problems at home that need work.

There is a cure for rhino poaching, but 1.3 billion Chinese won't be very happy about it.