Killing of endangered Rhinos in Africa

I am spitting angry.
In 1995 a conference was held and attended by TCM delegates from the Far East, as well as academics, government officials, and conservationists. The meeting indicated that there are strong cultural attachments to the merits of TCM(traditional chinese medicine). Some practitioners felt that the West maligns TCM and should not seek to legislate moral or health-care choices in the East.
Its the last part that makes me angry.Really?when one of the beliefs of TCM is the use of rhino horn to treat life-threatening fevers. And also as an aphrodisiac apparently.The amount of stuff in the world that is apparently an aphrodisiac.Why the need for so much aphrodisiac?Why not start looking internally for the cause of this problem.Yes the answer to the world's problem is definitely educating people.But if some nations are proud of their link and hold on traditional beliefs how do you do it?
So in answer to the West should not seek to legislate moral or health care choices in the East let me give you an answer from Africa.We will interfere in your outdated health care choices if it means you come to destroy our continent in order to fulfil your traditions and beliefs.Try and get your health care beliefs based on ingredients from your own continent.

See below for news reels on today January 15 2009.

Another two rhino deaths in Mpumalanga have been reported but not confirmed - some game reserves are reluctant to comment on such killings. If the figure is correct it would put the unofficial death toll of rhinos poached in South Africa since January last year at 96. The dead animals include critically endangered black rhinos.
In many cases Mozambicans, allegedly employed by Vietnamese syndicates operating out of South Africa, are the prime suspects. The syndicates are said to provide their local recruits with high-calibre weapons. Crossbows are also used because they are silent.

Three men were arrested on Wednesday for possession of four rhino horns, Mpumalanga police said.
"The men, aged 33, 43 and 46, were being monitored by police for a while," said spokesperson Malcolm Mokomeni.
They were arrested at Bruma Lake in Gauteng, near Cyrildene during a joint operation by Mpumalanga police, the Gauteng provincial task team and the SA National Parks Unit.
The men are thought to be Chinese nationals.
"Besides the four horns, they were also found with R16 000 cash. We are not sure if they live in South Africa, or if they are from another country...they are being very stubborn and just wont talk to police when they are asked these kind of questions."
He said police believe the horns were to be smuggled into China for certain business deals.
"There is a lot of money to be made from rhino horns," he said.
More arrests were to be made.
The men were being held and would appear in court soon.
The name of the court could not be disclosed in case investigations were jeopardised, Mokomeni said. - Sapa

Good or bad news for Africa??

Obviously coming from Africa I believe there should be no trade on ivory at all.The fact that there is trade creates an opening for poachers who do not follow guidelines on culling and related issues.It is difficult to ascertain which of the ivory was legally obtained and which not.Until Africa can get out of this poverty the world should not tempt poverty ridden Africans into destroying our heritage so they can have money to buy food.Why not help Africa to grow our own food which we can then export?Ivory sales should be banned completely.See article below for China's "contribution" to ivory sales

China strengthens regulation on ivory consumption
BEIJING, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- China is trying to keep its ivory carving industry alive by banning any new companies from entering the market. The move, announced Friday by the State Forestry Administration (SFA), will help extend existing supplies of ivory for another 15 to 20 years.
Because there are limited amounts of the raw material, the SFA said Chinese companies can now only use no more than five tonnes of it every year.
Also included in the new regulations, is a guideline stating all ivory products must obtain official labels for trade, exhibition or export.
The SFA placed the African elephant under first-class state protection which means they can't be killed, captured or traded. The SFA also vowed to execute a national audit regarding material sand products involving the endangered species.
Ivory carving has taken place for more than 1,800 years in China. The cultural art craft faced severe material shortages after China joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1990, which banned global commercial trade of ivory.
In July 2008, China became the second approved trade partner of African ivory by CITES after Japan. China was allowed a one-time purchase of ivory from South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, which helped to increase material supply for the ivory carving industry.