I know that the above photo is graphic and disturbing. I have been educating myself on the poaching ( "bushmeat" ) of primates over the last few months, with a strong focus on the Mountain Gorilla. I can only say, that the gentle gorillas need saving more than ever. It is bittersweet that this small population has been 'discovered'. It is great for the population #, but now the gorillas will be easier to trek by poachers & can become victim to diseases &/or sickness via human.
If anyone would like a listing of links related to Mountain Gorillas,( &other primates) anti-poaching organizations, primate groups... I will be updating my Care2 page with information in the next few days with info & links pertaining to the gorillas & the issues surronding their existance.
Protect Gorillas From Deforestation Target: Congo's Ministry of Environment Sponsored by: Care2.com
Great news for one of the world's most endangered animals: researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo Basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left. But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources, western lowland gorillas and other gorilla subspecies will remain severely endangered. Now more than ever authorities need to stem rampant deforestation, to preserve the habitats of the great apes and to support long-term sustainability of the region's natural resources. Please urge Congo's Ministry of Environment to deny all deals that were signed illegally under the country's moratorium on new logging contracts.
ACTUAL PETITION:
"We are happy about recent news that researchers have discovered some 125,000 western lowland gorillas that were previously uncounted in the Congo basin. Until now, scientists believed there were only about 50,000 of these endangered gorillas left.
But this exciting new population estimate does not mean gorilla numbers in the wild are now safe. The western lowland gorilla continues to come under threat as timber companies move into the region. Logging and land clearance for farming are eating away the Congo Basin, home to more than a quarter of the world's tropical forest. Without careful management of the forest resources and strict enforcement of protected areas, the western lowland gorillas and other subspecies of gorillas will remain severely endangered.
Now more than ever it is essential to preserve the habitats of the great apes and support reforestation.
In 2002, with the Democratic Republic of Congo partially under the control of rebels, the country issued a five-year moratorium on new logging contracts to try and stem rampant deforestation. But the measure went largely unheeded and companies continued to sign new deals.
We ask that officials review the government-sponsored working group's recommendation on August 6, 2008 to cancel more than three quarters of its logging deals for not meeting necessary standards. But we are concerned that these recommendations did not go far enough. Sixteen of the 29 titles received a favorable opinion from the working group, despite being obtained in clear violation of the five-year moratorium on new logging contracts.
We urge you to comply with the five-year moratorium, and deny all logging contracts that were signed under moratorium.
Thank you for protecting the future of endangered gorillas and the biological diversity of the Congo basin."
SPACE.com - The moon may
not be made of Swiss
cheese, but it appears to
have at least one deep
hole, a vertical skylight
that could serve as a
protective lunar base for
future astronauts.
LiveScience.com - All it
takes is a bite for a
Tasmanian devil to pass a
lethal cancer on to its
kin. Now scientists have
figured out the origin of
the transmissible facial
tumor disease that's
wiping the creatures out:
nerve cells.
AP - Fierce as they are,
Tasmanian devils can't
beat a contagious cancer
that threatens to wipe
them out. Now scientists
think they've found the
disease's origin, a step
in the race to save
Australia's snarling
marsupial.
AFP - France's President
Nicolas Sarkozy enters
the new year weakened in
the polls while looking
back at scandals,
legislative setbacks and
frustrated efforts to
lead the fight against
climate change.
Blog: Next-up News Nr 1183 by Team O.
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discussions
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— - Best of 2009 CEM
EMFhttp://www.next-up.org
/Newsoftheworld/Best_of_2
009.php#1 more
Blog: Threats to Yemen Prove America Hasn't Learned the Lesson of History by Team O.
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— By Patrick Coburn
There is ominous use by
American politicians and
commentators of the
phrase "failed state" in
relation to Yemen, as if
this some how legitimised
foreign intervention. It
is extraordinary that the
US political elite has
never taken o... more
Blog: Zen Quote by Lyn Z.
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—
After realizing the
intent of Zen, people in
ancient times used to
spend decades polishing
themselves thoroughly in
order to free themselves
from compulsions of
conditioning and habit.
This is called the work
of maturation;
The completion of matu... more
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