Kenya set to torch 5 tonnes of ivory stockpile
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki will on Wednesday burn nearly five tonnes of ivory poached in eastern and southern Africa and stockpiled for nearly a decade.
The bulk of the contraband ivory being burned on Wednesday was seized in Singapore in June 2002 and was found to have originated mainly from Malawi and Zambia. It was exported from Lilongwe in Malawi.
Lusaka Agreement Task Force and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials on Tuesday started piling up ivory weighing about 5 tonnes in readiness for historic burning on Wednesday.
An elaborate pile of the elephant tusks with kerosene jets and a grill to hasten the process of burning is being prepared at the site in Tsavo West National Park.
Ebayi said a regional platform for fighting wildlife crime was important since criminals collaborate across national borders.,MLB JERSEYS,
The task force is charged with implementing the 1992 Lusaka Agreement designed to help African law enforcement agencies tackle wildlife smuggling.
The Wednesday's burning will be the second in Kenya, which in 1989 torched 12 tonnes of ivory. Zambia also burnt smuggled tusks in 1992. Ebayi said the measure was no different from the destruction of any other contraband.
Africa is home to 472,269 elephants whose survival is threatened by poaching and illegal trade. The day has been set aside to recognize the plight of the endangered African elephant and to celebrate its importance and appreciate challenges faced in its conservation.
The celebrations focus on demonstrating solidarity with wildlife law enforcers as they strive to curtail elephant poaching and illegal ivory trade as well as other wildlife products.
Other activities to be held earlier in the week as part of the celebrations included the launch of the African Elephant Law Enforcement Special Account (AELESA), African Wildlife Enforcement Monitoring System (WEMS) and African Wildlife Law Enforcement Award.
The Lusaka Agreement is an inter-governmental Agreement on Cooperative Enforcement Operations Directed at Illegal Trade in Wild Fauna and Flora which has established a permanent body known as the Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), a Nairobi-based collaborative agency for fighting wildlife crime.
A week ago,,Prada Shoes, African diplomats based in Nairobi were asked to facilitate the enlisting of their countries to the Lusaka Agreement that brings together countries fighting illegal wildlife trade.
Earlier this week, Ebayi told the diplomats that issues such as jurisdiction restrictions hampered efforts aimed at combating cross-border /transnational environmental crime.
He noted such restrictions make crimes offer high profits and minimal risk to criminal networks. "In the current era of global free trade, the ease of communication and movement of goods and money facilitate the operations of groups involved in environmental crime," he said.,Mocler Boots,
He noted that economies in much of African countries depend largely on the use of natural resources. "Despite the major contributions of ecosystem services to national and regional economies, the ecosystems continue to experience significant threats of environmental crimes that transcend national boundaries, " he said.
Out of Africa's 54 nations, only seven including Congo (Brazzaville), Kenya, Liberia, Lesotho, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia have fully enlisted while Ethiopia, South Africa and Swaziland have signed the treaty but are yet to ratify it.
The Lusaka Agreement which is deposited with the General Secretariat of the United Nations is open for accession by all African states.
Environmental crimes have been found to be linked other serious and organized crime, especially document fraud, corruption, possession and use of illegal weapons and money laundering.
A regional platform for fighting wildlife crime is important since criminals collaborate across national borders.
Challenges facing elephant conservation in Africa included habitat loss and fragmentation, human-elephant conflict, poaching for meat and ivory, negative localized impacts of elephants on their habitats and shortage of financial resources.
The relative importance of each challenge varies considerably across countries and regions. For instance,atlanta braves jerseys the elephant populations in southern Africa are stable or on increase while those in most western Africa countries have been depleted, and are seriously threatened in Eastern and central African countries
Friday, July 22, 2011
The burning as the mode of disposal
The burning as the mode of disposal and the site of Kenya Wildlife Service Field Training School was made by the Lusaka Agreement Governing Council.
Kenya is hosting the event as a party to the regional agreement on wildlife conservation.
The setting ablaze of contraband ivory is the first regional exercise of this kind and the third in Africa after Kenya's in 1989 and Zambia in 1992.
The burning of ivory is the climax of the first-ever African Elephant Law Enforcement Day celebrations on the theme "Fostering cooperation to combat elephant poaching and ivory trafficking in Africa."
Bonaventure Ebayi, the director of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, said the burning of the ivory follows an agreement reached by the three countries in May in Nairobi. "Investigations revealed that the ivory could have originated from savanna elephant populations in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia," he said.
Having concluded the investigations, the Lusaka Agreement governing council resolved that the disposal of the ivory be undertaken in accordance with the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations.
CITES regulations don't allow commercial trade in illegally acquired ivory or any other seized wildlife contraband specimens but provide for its use for scientific, educational and law enforcement purposes. It also allows the destruction of such ivory since it has no commercial value.
Kenya is hosting the event as a party to the regional agreement on wildlife conservation.
The setting ablaze of contraband ivory is the first regional exercise of this kind and the third in Africa after Kenya's in 1989 and Zambia in 1992.
The burning of ivory is the climax of the first-ever African Elephant Law Enforcement Day celebrations on the theme "Fostering cooperation to combat elephant poaching and ivory trafficking in Africa."
Bonaventure Ebayi, the director of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force, said the burning of the ivory follows an agreement reached by the three countries in May in Nairobi. "Investigations revealed that the ivory could have originated from savanna elephant populations in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia," he said.
Having concluded the investigations, the Lusaka Agreement governing council resolved that the disposal of the ivory be undertaken in accordance with the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) regulations.
CITES regulations don't allow commercial trade in illegally acquired ivory or any other seized wildlife contraband specimens but provide for its use for scientific, educational and law enforcement purposes. It also allows the destruction of such ivory since it has no commercial value.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Good Old War has learned that its music crosses boundaries
As an opening act, Good Old War has learned that its music crosses boundaries. In addition to Guster and Ms. Krauss & Union Station, the group has opened for the indie band Dr. Dog and the pop singer Brandi Carlisle. Shortly after they came together in 2008, the three members were the openers for high-school friend Anthony Green, best known for his work with Circa Survive. At one gig, 500 people turned out to see Mr. Green; when Good Old War returned months later to the same venue, it drew 200 on its own. "They were screaming," Mr. Goodwin said of the audience.
To catch Good Old War in concert is to witness a joyful thing. At Coachella, it may have had the most unforgiving set time: Sunday at 11:30 a.m., following late-night appearances by Arcade Fire, Daedelus, DJ Markey and the Scissor Sisters. Under the desert sun, perhaps 100 people settled in the grass near the stage as Good Old War's harmonies rang out. The crowd grew and dancing ensued. At one point, the trio brought out Mr. Goodwin's father Bob to sing along. No matter that it was a new song the group hadn't practiced with him; since the band often rehearses at the senior Mr. Goodwin's home, much as it did when it was starting out, he knew the tune. Bob Goodwin, who had been in bands when he was younger, found the right spot for his voice. He beamed as he sang.
"Before we even asked him to come up, I started tearing up thinking of how he'd react," Keith Goodwin said.
Now that it's off the road for the summer, Good Old War is completing a new album it expects to release early next year. "We always get right back to work," Mr. Schwartz said.
To catch Good Old War in concert is to witness a joyful thing. At Coachella, it may have had the most unforgiving set time: Sunday at 11:30 a.m., following late-night appearances by Arcade Fire, Daedelus, DJ Markey and the Scissor Sisters. Under the desert sun, perhaps 100 people settled in the grass near the stage as Good Old War's harmonies rang out. The crowd grew and dancing ensued. At one point, the trio brought out Mr. Goodwin's father Bob to sing along. No matter that it was a new song the group hadn't practiced with him; since the band often rehearses at the senior Mr. Goodwin's home, much as it did when it was starting out, he knew the tune. Bob Goodwin, who had been in bands when he was younger, found the right spot for his voice. He beamed as he sang.
"Before we even asked him to come up, I started tearing up thinking of how he'd react," Keith Goodwin said.
Now that it's off the road for the summer, Good Old War is completing a new album it expects to release early next year. "We always get right back to work," Mr. Schwartz said.
The department identified the suspects in the California indictment
The department identified the suspects in the California indictment as Christopher Wayne Cooper, 23, aka “Anthrophobic;” Joshua John Covelli, 26, aka “Absolem” and “Toxic;” Keith Wilson Downey, 26; Mercedes Renee Haefer, 20, aka “No” and “MMMM;” Donald Husband, 29, aka “Ananon;” Vincent Charles Kershaw, 27, aka “Trivette,” “Triv” and “Reaper;” Ethan Miles, 33; James C. Murphy, 36; Drew Alan Phillips, 26, aka “Drew010;” Jeffrey Puglisi, 28, aka “Jeffer,” “Jefferp” and “Ji;” Daniel Sullivan, 22; Tracy Ann Valenzuela, 42; and Christopher Quang Vo, 22. One individual’s name has been withheld by the court.
They are charged with various counts of conspiracy and intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Also Tuesday, Scott Matthew Arciszewski, 21, was arrested in Florida on charges of intentional damage to a protected computer for allegedly accessing without authorization the Tampa Bay InfraGard website and uploaded three files.
And Lance Moore, 21, of Las Cruces, N.M., was arrested on the New Jersey indictment, which accuses him of stealing confidential business information stored on AT&T’s servers and posting it on a file-sharing site. He is charged with one count of accessing a protected computer without authorization.
They are charged with various counts of conspiracy and intentional damage to a protected computer, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Each count of conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Also Tuesday, Scott Matthew Arciszewski, 21, was arrested in Florida on charges of intentional damage to a protected computer for allegedly accessing without authorization the Tampa Bay InfraGard website and uploaded three files.
And Lance Moore, 21, of Las Cruces, N.M., was arrested on the New Jersey indictment, which accuses him of stealing confidential business information stored on AT&T’s servers and posting it on a file-sharing site. He is charged with one count of accessing a protected computer without authorization.
U.S. law enforcement officials
U.S. law enforcement officials also told FoxNews.com that the arrest of a 16-year-old hacker in London, who goes by the online user name Tflow, was related to the raids in the U.S.
Some of the arrests were out of the San Francisco field office, sources said. Earlier in the day, the FBI executed search warrants at the New York homes -- two in Long Island, N.Y., and one in Brooklyn, N.Y. -- of three suspected members of Anonymous, FoxNews.com reported.
More than 10 FBI agents arrived at the Baldwin, N.Y., home of Giordani Jordan with a search warrant for computers and computer-related accessories, removing at least one laptop from the premises.
The Anonymous group is a loose collection of cybersavvy activists inspired by WikiLeaks and its flamboyant head Julian Assange to fight for "Internet freedom" -- along the way defacing websites, shutting down servers, and scrawling messages across screens web-wide.
The Anonymous vigilante group recently turned its efforts to the Arizona police department, posting personal information of law officers and hacking and defacing websites in response, the group claims, to the state's controversial SB1070 immigration law.
While Anonymous is largely a politically motivated organization, splinter group LulzSec -- which dominated headlines in the spring for a similar streak of cyberattacks -- was largely in it for the thrills.
The metropolitan police in London arrested the first alleged member of the LulzSec group on June 20, a 19-year-old teen named Ryan Cleary. Subsequent sweeps through Italy and Switzerland in early July led to the arrests of 15 more people -- all between the ages of 15 and 28 years old.
The two groups are responsible for a broad spate of digital break-ins targeting governments and large corporations, including Japanese technology giant Sony, the U.S. Senate, telecommunications giant AT&T, Fox.com, and other government and private entities.
Some of the arrests were out of the San Francisco field office, sources said. Earlier in the day, the FBI executed search warrants at the New York homes -- two in Long Island, N.Y., and one in Brooklyn, N.Y. -- of three suspected members of Anonymous, FoxNews.com reported.
More than 10 FBI agents arrived at the Baldwin, N.Y., home of Giordani Jordan with a search warrant for computers and computer-related accessories, removing at least one laptop from the premises.
The Anonymous group is a loose collection of cybersavvy activists inspired by WikiLeaks and its flamboyant head Julian Assange to fight for "Internet freedom" -- along the way defacing websites, shutting down servers, and scrawling messages across screens web-wide.
The Anonymous vigilante group recently turned its efforts to the Arizona police department, posting personal information of law officers and hacking and defacing websites in response, the group claims, to the state's controversial SB1070 immigration law.
While Anonymous is largely a politically motivated organization, splinter group LulzSec -- which dominated headlines in the spring for a similar streak of cyberattacks -- was largely in it for the thrills.
The metropolitan police in London arrested the first alleged member of the LulzSec group on June 20, a 19-year-old teen named Ryan Cleary. Subsequent sweeps through Italy and Switzerland in early July led to the arrests of 15 more people -- all between the ages of 15 and 28 years old.
The two groups are responsible for a broad spate of digital break-ins targeting governments and large corporations, including Japanese technology giant Sony, the U.S. Senate, telecommunications giant AT&T, Fox.com, and other government and private entities.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Use of chemicals 'threatens grain output'
Use of chemicals 'threatens grain output'
The heavy use of agrochemicals has led to a severe deterioration of arable soil and poses a serious threat to domestic grain output.
The situation has led to some leading ecologists calling on authorities to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
Despite floods and droughts, China's grain production hit 546.4 million tons in 2010, the seventh consecutive year of growing output.
"But this (grain growth) will not last long if the government fails to take timely and effective measures, as the soil is already too poor to support high-yield crops," Jiang Gaoming, a leading researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.
The average level of organic matter in soil, which is crucial in determining crop output, is now 1 to 5 percent for northeast China's arable land, compared with 8 to 10 percent in the 1950s, according to figures from the academy's institute of soil sciences.
Statistics from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) also show that more than one-third of land now has harder and thinner tillage layers, which mean crops cannot be planted as deep.
Jiang said the problems have been caused by the massive overuse of chemical fertilizers over the past 30 years, following China's pledge to realize grain self-sufficiency.
Annual grain output increased from 320.56 million tons in 1980 to 546.4 million tons in 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
However, since 2007 China has been the world's largest consumer of chemical fertilizers, using more than 50 million tons every year, four times the amount in the 1980s.
"More chemical fertilizer, more grain output - that's been a common misunderstanding among government officials and farmers for dozens of years. Crops were always fertilized, regardless of cost, to guarantee high production," Jiang said.
The heavy use of agrochemicals has led to a severe deterioration of arable soil and poses a serious threat to domestic grain output.
The situation has led to some leading ecologists calling on authorities to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
Despite floods and droughts, China's grain production hit 546.4 million tons in 2010, the seventh consecutive year of growing output.
"But this (grain growth) will not last long if the government fails to take timely and effective measures, as the soil is already too poor to support high-yield crops," Jiang Gaoming, a leading researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.
The average level of organic matter in soil, which is crucial in determining crop output, is now 1 to 5 percent for northeast China's arable land, compared with 8 to 10 percent in the 1950s, according to figures from the academy's institute of soil sciences.
Statistics from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) also show that more than one-third of land now has harder and thinner tillage layers, which mean crops cannot be planted as deep.
Jiang said the problems have been caused by the massive overuse of chemical fertilizers over the past 30 years, following China's pledge to realize grain self-sufficiency.
Annual grain output increased from 320.56 million tons in 1980 to 546.4 million tons in 2010, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
However, since 2007 China has been the world's largest consumer of chemical fertilizers, using more than 50 million tons every year, four times the amount in the 1980s.
"More chemical fertilizer, more grain output - that's been a common misunderstanding among government officials and farmers for dozens of years. Crops were always fertilized, regardless of cost, to guarantee high production," Jiang said.
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