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America's intelligence community was ordered to track poachers in Africa and Asia on Thursday as part of a new global drive against the illegal trade in elephant tusks and rhino horn.
Conservationists said it was the first time trafficking in wildlife, an underground trade in animal parts thought to generate $15bn a year for sophisticated smuggling networks, was elevated to the status of a security threat, rather than sidelined as primarily an environmental concern.
Originally posted by Silcone Synapse
I would actually support poachers being fired on by drones if that would mean we could protect our biodiversity for the future.
Originally posted by Signals
Originally posted by Silcone Synapse
I would actually support poachers being fired on by drones if that would mean we could protect our biodiversity for the future.
I'm guessing you welcome them flying over your house too...
NWO here we come!
America is also assembling a global anti-trafficking alliance with Interpol and customs agencies.
The security steps were part of a broader State Department initiative aimed at assembling a global alliance to end wildlife trafficking.
Clinton, in remarks delivered before a crowd of about 200 including members of Congress, ambassadors, and State Department officials, said the effort could not be one-sided.
America is the second largest market for trafficked goods. Unless you cut off demand, poaching in Asia and Africa won't stop.
"We want to make buying goods, products from trafficked wildlife, endangered species unacceptable, socially unacceptable. We want friends to tell friends they don't want friends who ingest, display, or otherwise use products that come from endangered species anywhere in the world," Clinton said.
Over the last few years, heavily armed trafficking gangs were overwhelming local authorities, terrorising village communities and increasingly posed a security threat, Clinton said.
"It is one thing to be worried about the traditional poachers who come in and kill and take a few animals, a few tusks, a few horns, or other animal parts," Clinton told conservationists. "It's something else when you've got helicopters, night vision goggles, automatic weapons, which pose a threat to human life as well as wildlife."
Poachers were crossing national borders at will, stoking concerns among US security officials that the conduits used by the traffickers in Asia and Africa to get their goods to market could also be used to smuggle drugs or arms for terrorist organisations. There is already some evidence to support that connection, conservationists said.
Originally posted by moderateAmerican
Africa and Asia... hmmm... sure their tracking poachers. Nice cover though.
Originally posted by wildtimes
In my opinion, this is a very important, and absolutely fabulous initiative. Too bad some here think it's frivolous. I'll make note of where not to expect support for the environment and everyone (human or animal) who lives on it....Yay for global efforts to protect them and undo the global savagery. Wake up world, we don't "OWN" this planet. We are stewards of it.
Originally posted by moderateAmerican
Africa and Asia... hmmm... sure their tracking poachers. Nice cover though.