Wildlife in War Zones gains international support

The Earth Organization has started gathering a ground swell support for the “Wildlife in War Zones”, draft resolution. The draft resolution was met with very favorable support from the United Nations which led to the next step of gaining international support.

The Executive Director of The Earth Organization, Yvette Taylor, and The Earth Organization's International President, Barbara Wiseman, flew to Pretoria, South Africa in June to meet with the Ambassadors from Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso.  At each embassy they were warmly welcomed and each Ambassador spoke about their interest in and understanding of the importance of environmental and conservation issues.

In separate meetings the Ambassadors Hungary, Zambia and Cameroon have also given their support to The Earth Organization and our efforts to get the “wildlife in War Zones” passed into law.

Each was briefed on the background of this initiative - that wars inevitably have disastrous consequences on the environment and wildlife in an area (for example, burning oil fields in Kuwait, jungles and important eco systems annihilated by bombs and napalm, and abandoned, starving caged wildlife in zoos). We live in a time when zoos, wildlife reserves, veterinary clinics and other repositories of wildlife are often engaged in breeding activities for endangered species. Thus, the wanton disregard and destruction of them can mean the end of entire species, and, as such, should be considered a war crime. This was personally witnessed by Lawrence Anthony and staff when we went into the Congo to try to save the last of the 4 Northern White Rhinos. Annihilated by an invading rebel army, it appears that there are now no more of the species left in the wild. With only 12 left in zoos around the world, their fate is hanging by a thread.

Each Ambassador agreed to play a part in this important initiative and to help us push the United Nations to formally adopt our resolution.

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