GLOBAL HAPPINESS

"The Ministers approval to kill perhaps thousands of elephants in South African game reserves is incorrect and will be firmly rejected by the public locally and internationally," said Lawrence Anthony founder of the Earth Organization a South African based international conservation group.

 The decision is portrayed as the result of a lengthy consultation process, a process which was designed not to find solutions, but only to find the best way to sell the kill to the public. The careful positioning of anyone against the cull as emotional is all part of the spin, as evidenced by opposition to the decision from foremost scientists in the field.

 "The great Elephant herds that not so long ago roamed freely in South Africa have been conquered and overwhelmed and are no more, and all remaining elephant are locked up in game reserves which account for little more than two percent of their former ranges. And now they will start killing them there as well," said Anthony. "Those that support killing elephant would do well to remember our reserves are supposed to be sanctuaries, the definition of which is being violated by people too weak to take responsibility."

This is not only about bio diversity and carrying capacities in tiny areas, or about inflicting horrors on captive wildlife, it is about integrity. It is about the failings of those in authority to understand the greater role of the plant and animal kingdoms in our own survival, and it is symptomatic of the pressing need for new direction and new leadership in understanding and preserving our remaining Elephant populations.

The Earth Organization will continue effective opposition to this poor decision both locally and internationally, and will continue to take responsibility for Africas elephant.