#theivoryistheirs

[positivedevelopment]

Monthly Roundup - August 2019

August 12th was both International Youth Day and World Elephant Day

Happy Youth Day from Young Peacebuilders! Download a copy of the complete YPC Peacebuilding Coloring Book (PDF) HERE Please share with your friends, classmates and community members! YP is proud to share this incredible project and our YPC members’ efforts to educate other young people about what peacebuilding looks like in their communities. 

CITES: Elephant ivory ban upheld, but legal loopholes remain

“Conservationists are celebrating a win for the African elephant after an endangered wildlife summit voted down proposals that would have loosened restrictions on the ivory trade by allowing one-off sales of stockpiles. But they warned the vulnerable animals aren't safe as long as legal loopholes exist that allow illicit ivory to enter markets.”

CLOSE YOUR IVORY MARKETS

Tens of thousands of elephants are slaughtered every year for their tusks fueled by the demand for ivory across the world. Support DSWF, FFW and the African Elephant Coalition to call for the closure of all ivory markets NOW!

Why hasn’t Canada banned the elephant ivory trade?

“In 2016, at the most recent conference hosted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the African Elephant Coalition (which comprises 29 countries representing the overwhelming majority of range states in which African elephants are found) called on countries around the world to close their markets for commercial trade in raw and worked ivory. The proposal was supported through a unanimous resolution. Canada – along with Japan, Namibia and South Africa – has refused to do so. Unlike China, once the largest single market for the buying and selling of legal and illegal ivory, Canada continues to sanction a domestic marketplace for elephant ivory.”

“As a policy, Ottawa has banned sales of ivory from elephants killed post-1990. But because ivory is extremely difficult to date, illegally harvested supplies enter the Canadian market with little or no difficulty ... Canada also permits the importation of elephant trophies.” 

“On World Elephant Day, the Ivory-Free Canada coalition, of which the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada is a member, is calling on Canada to ban the trade in elephant ivory. With its partners, – Elephanatics, Humane Society International-Canada, World Elephant Day and Global March for Elephants and Rhinos-Toronto – the coalition is asking Canada to join other responsible countries in the fight to save these iconic animals from extinction.”

I choose an Ivory-Free Canada - Jane Goodall

General Romeo Dallaire was presented with the Nelson Mandela Award for Human Rights. The General's dear friend and colleague, the incomparable Stephen Lewis, introduced him.

Roméo Dallaire presented with Unifor Nelson Mandela Award

“This award recognizes the struggle, courage and achievement of Mandela to advance human rights and social justice. Recipients are recognized for their human rights and social justice efforts.”

Roméo Dallaire named as 2019 recipient of Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship

“The international award was established in 2016 by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship to recognize a leader dedicated to establishing tolerance and inclusion.”

More than ten years later, on June 17, 2019, Uganda's Cabinet finally approved the long-awaited National Transitional Justice Policy (TJP).

Passing of the long awaited Transitional Justice Policy in Uganda is a welcome step. Now, it must be implemented quickly and effectively.

“The Policy brings victims of the conflict a step closer to receiving the much needed and long overdue reparations ... The new TJP aims to address the gaps in the formal justice system for post-conflict situations and to formalise the use of traditional justice mechanisms in post-conflict situations. It also aims to address the gaps in the current amnesty process by facilitating reparation processes and programmes and to facilitate reconciliation and Nation Building.”

Do child soldiers always want to be saved?

“Child soldiers are an object of pity in the western world, in dire need of saving. But as humanitarian actors working to reintegrate them know, it’s not always that simple.”

Programmes designed solely on the idea of victimhood are ineffective in supporting child soldiers’ return to civilian life.

'Before I was kidnapped I had friends': girl soldiers of South Sudan

“A reintegration programme has helped 360 girls leave armed groups in Yambio county but for many the trauma of sexual violence persists.”

“At least 752 former child soldiers in Yambio have received psychosocial support and case management services through World Vision. In addition, 200 have graduated from vocational skills training, 80 have been given support to start small businesses, and 60 have been given the resources they need to work in agriculture.”

“According to UN guidelines, demobbed girls should be offered vocational training “in all types of occupations, including those traditionally limited to men and boys”. Such support should be boosted with resources to help improve girls’ education.”

Injecting Humanity: Community-Focused Responses for People Exiting Violent Extremist Conflict

[REPORT] “Communities worldwide face the challenge of reintegrating people exiting violent extremist conflicts. This report draws on established programs and the recommendations of authoritative bodies to examine community-based approaches to their rehabilitation. Given that criminal justice responses may not always be possible or appropriate, recovery-focused approaches such as resocialization and reconciliation are recommended to minimize risk and foster resilience.”

[imaznowflake]

Credit to @animal_defenders_international : Tens of thousands of elephants are slaughtered every year for their tusks. From 2007 to 2014, 144,000 elephants were KILLED ACROSS AFRICA, AN ELEPHANT EVERY 15 MINUTES OF EVERY SINGLE DAY. This is fuelled by the demand for ivory across the world, including Japan, but also shockingly the EU. Against overwhelming public opinion, the European Commission still refuse to ban the ivory trade within the EU. Furthermore, they are planning to reject steps to award elephants the greatest possible protection at an upcoming wildlife trade conference (CITES) next month. HELP US call on the EU and world governments to adopt the greatest possible protection for elephants and to close all ivory markets. Call on your Minister, MPs and MEPs to act. https://davidshepherd.org/ivorymarkets #TheIvoryIsTheirs #elephants #ivory #Africa #poaching #ivorytrade #endangeredspecies #nature #animals #conservation #DSWF #FFW #saveelephants #banivory #protectelephants #savetheelephant #worthmorealive #fightextinction #saynotopoaching #elephantconservation @Europarl_EN @europeancommission @EUCouncil https://www.instagram.com/p/B0GqcKeA6P3/?igshid=1ekmitqs78z4y