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Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

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Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#31

Post by masklinn »

rwallace wrote: post #10
po wrote: post #4

I've long thought that one of the highest impact things scientists and engineers could be working on is developing a form of ivory that is indistinguishable from real thing to collapse the market. It seems like it should be feasible.

People will always figure out ways to distinguish one thing from another, if that's what they choose to do. It's not just a technical problem, it's a social one. We have to make it clear it is not okay to regard ivory hacked from the face of an elephant as better than a synthetic polymer. To regard diamonds scrabbled over the blood of Africans as better than their synthetic equivalents. To regard the flesh of torture…

> We have to make it clear it is not okay to regard ivory hacked from the face of an elephant as better than a synthetic polymer.

The best thing to do would be to make natural ivory anything boorish and in bad taste.

Although there's a risk of exciting the morons: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/201...

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#32

Post by vijayr »

adamnemecek wrote: post #2

You guys should consider donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation[0][1] which fights these poachers. The founder, Damien Mander[2], is an Australian ex spec-ops sniper who is using his military experience to train the park rangers since they, unlike the poachers, tend to be poorly equipped and trained as well as understaffed. There is also the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust[3][4] which takes care of ele…

This documentary is about Aisha (tiny orphan elephant, who barely made it to 6 months) and Daphne Sheldrick

http://video.pbs.org/video/2365284372/

Daphne's efforts to save these amazing animals started with Aisha. It is a sad yet beautiful doc. Well worth the 50 mins or so.

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#34

Post by internet2pac »

crapshoot101 wrote: post #23
taksintik wrote: post #3

So happy to see Yao using his influence for good. I think Chinese consumption of shark fin and ivory are more habits than desire. Habits can change through education.

Tiger's are another issue - a big reason for the decrease in India's tiger population is that the demand from China is so overwhelming; apparently a tiger's gonads are considered a valuable aphrodisiac. This kind of insanity has to stop before the animal is extinct.

I agree it is insanity, if i was Yao Ming, my PSA would go as follows.

Gentlemen, before going to the extremes of using tiger balls to get your Girlfriend, Wife or Xiao San in the mood... First try these proven western approaches.

- Put on a Sade album

- Give her a glass of rose wine

- light a candle beside the bed

- Tell her she looks pretty in that dress

- Give her a new Coach handbag

- Slip some Molly in her drink right before desert

Why may you ask... Lets say there are 3200 tigers in the world (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger) 50% are likely to be male leaving 1600 male tigers * 2 balls. That leaves roughly 3200 balls - not counting ones lost in childhood slingshot accidents.

Sadly, there soon will be no more balls to use ;( and you do not want to be left with "No Game."

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#35

Post by mhoad »

adamnemecek wrote: post #2

You guys should consider donating to the International Anti-Poaching Foundation[0][1] which fights these poachers. The founder, Damien Mander[2], is an Australian ex spec-ops sniper who is using his military experience to train the park rangers since they, unlike the poachers, tend to be poorly equipped and trained as well as understaffed. There is also the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust[3][4] which takes care of ele…

I was actually just at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage here in Nairobi last week and was really impressed with the work that they are doing. From what I can tell, they seem to operate of some fairly thin margins, I am sure that any donations would be hugely appreciated.

For what it's worth, their option to "adopt a baby elephant" makes for a great present for a lot of people I have found.

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#36

Post by hockeybias »

Having been fortunate enough to have visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Elephant Orphanage on the outskirts of Nairobi, and to have visited with an Anne K. Taylor Trust (http://annektaylorfund.org/) anti-poaching team in the Masai Mara area, I now give annually to both.

I am an animal lover - not an expert, but I am SO IMPRESSED by the work of both outfits.

Both organizations provide regular updates on their work to donors. Anne's writing is top notch, but the detailed stories that the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust provides are nothing short of truly beautiful.

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#37

Post by ceejayoz »

internet2pac wrote: post #34
crapshoot101 wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tiger's are another issue - a big reason for the decrease in India's tiger population is that the demand from China is so overwhelming; apparently a tiger's gonads are considered a valuable aphrodisiac. This kind of insanity has to stop before the animal is extinct.

I agree it is insanity, if i was Yao Ming, my PSA would go as follows. Gentlemen, before going to the extremes of using tiger balls to get your Girlfriend, Wife or Xiao San in the mood... First try these proven western approaches. - Put on a Sade album - Give her a glass of rose wine - light a candle beside the bed - Tell her she looks pretty in that dress - Give her a new Coach handbag - Slip some Molly in her drink…

Was it really necessary to throw in a rape joke?

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#38

Post by squozzer »

I wish Yao luck. The total ban contemplated by the USA has me worried. It's an admission of defeat. Certainly something can be done to accommodate the ivory taken legally.

It also sparks memories - for instance, what happened to the "blood diamond" campaign waged by deBeers? I presume it had some success, because the US govt hasn't seen fit to ban all diamonds? They used a certification process.

Another similar situation exists with Brazilian rosewood. Gibson ran into some trouble over that. And yet nothing has been done except to ban trade. No attempt made at sustainability or habitat preservation.

Connecting the dots...deBeers making money, no ban. deBeers not making money, ban.

Re: Yao Ming aims to save Africa's elephants by persuading China to give up ivory

#39

Post by internet2pac »

ceejayoz wrote: post #37
internet2pac wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree it is insanity, if i was Yao Ming, my PSA would go as follows. Gentlemen, before going to the extremes of using tiger balls to get your Girlfriend, Wife or Xiao San in the mood... First try these proven western approaches. - Put on a Sade album - Give her a glass of rose wine - light a candle beside the bed - Tell her she looks pretty in that dress - Give her a new Coach handbag - Slip some Molly in her drink…

Was it really necessary to throw in a rape joke?

Wasn't intended to be, but i can see how it would be taken that way. If tiger's balls are as powerful as the legend has it... would it be the equivalent?
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