Dear warrior friends. We are moving forward to the different towns and cities, throughout South Africa, on the ground, to get more and more signatures on this critical petition. Volunteers are beginning to come on board, and my thanks go out to each and every one of them, as we continue to believe that the only way to stop the decimation of our rhino is to get them Upgraded to Appendix 1! To those who are sharing and tweeting, and constantly showing support, you are also special, because you are supporting the most critical petition ever! There is something that I would like to present to you all, in the hopes that you will realise how dirty politics play an important role in this constant demand, and the resulting slaughter of our rhino, and soon it will also affect the elephant, and other sentient beings in our wildlife world. I have requested through an Member of Parliament, to demand a commission of enquiry, to see if the wildlife syndicates have infiltrated the judicial system in our country. I truly believe they have. I have received notification that the request has been forwarded to the Magisterial Division in Parliament. I have questions tabled for Parliament, by the the same Member of Parliament, as to what our military and rangers have cost the taxpayer in our country, (all highly trained and very effective guys on the ground, trust me on that one) over the last ten years, when all they are permitted to do, is mobilise the tracking units, ( who are very effective, because they know if they do not 'get' them', they will lose them, ) and with great urgency, track these poachers up until the border lines with Mozambique, and stop! They are not allowed to go any further. The poachers, then stand and 'laugh' at these highly trained men, and come back again, sometimes the same day, in another area. This has cost the taxpayers in South Africa millions of rands, if not billions over the last 10 years. The government is aware that there are 14 groups, of three each, that infiltrate our National parks, DAILY! Asking why, is a waste of breath, as it all boils down to corruption. Lets now get to the Swaziland 'shock'. This tiny country has put in a proposal for the international ban to be lifted, on rhino horn trade. I would like to outline the scenarios that might play out, so please take the time and read what I have to say, so that you, are aware, and realise why this petition is even more critical. We have in Africa an organisation called SADC. "SADC (Southern African Development Community) is a regional organisation consisting of 14 Member Countries (Angola, Botswana, Congo (DR), Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Seychelles is still in the process of ratifying the SADC Treaty." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_African_Development_Community. Then we have the most important key as to why Swaziland has been USED by South Africa, (this we all know, and believe as fact). This is because Swaziland belongs to an organisation called the Southern African Common Customs Union. "The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) is a customs union among five countries of Southern Africa: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Its headquarters is in the Namibian capital Windhoek." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_African_Customs_Union So here lies the reason, why Swaziland was 'bribed' into proposing the upliftment for the ban. There is free trade between these countries. No hassles, No problemos. This brings me back to John Hume who is so very confident that he is going to sell his horn. HE IS! And so are all the other private owners who de horn. As well as the South African government. Its all about these trade agreements, between Swaziland and South Africa. To the left of South Africa lies Botswana, who are wanting the upgrade to Appendix 1, or Appendix 2 with conditions and a moratorium. ( I have this confirmation) Botswana is fast becoming the 'jewel, in the African crown' and I have publically stated this. So there is no way on our planet that they will use their position as A. Part of the SADC region. The headquarters are in Gaberones, Botswana. B. Part in the SACCU. Mozambique is one of the countries at top of the agenda at CITES, for 'non compliance'. Their dismal lack of political will, and their lack of funding, to stop these poachers, infiltrating South Africa is well known. Plus the fact, that they do not have any rhino left in their country! So the only last alternative is Swaziland. For trade purposes only, lets look at this scenario. YES the Chinese, (and maybe an extremely tiny part of our population, of Vietnamese) will buy these stockpiled rhino horn. BUT, because of the international ban still in place, they cannot export these horn out of the country! They also will not agree to the high prices floating around on the media, as the horns are not 'that fresh' are they? So negotiations will begin. Settling on just above what these private owners owe Investec, probably? Maybe? Perhaps? As this is all about money, the speculators and bankers are jumping with joy, because finally, they will be able to continue with 'business as usual'. HOW will this happen? I am only speculating, but am using my knowledge of these opportunities that exist, (having utilised the same opportunities myself over the years), I do believe the following might be happening. A product manufactured in South Africa is exported to the member countries of the above organisations. Traditional Chinese Medicines can be manufactured here in South Africa, and after supplying the local markets, the excess can be exported. In this case to Swaziland? The importation costs will determine, whether the products leave as finished or not. ( ie, bottled, bagged etc). Once a product remains in a country, for longer than 48 hours ( I stand to be corrected, it might only be 24 hours) it can then be considered a product of that country. In this case, Swaziland? In Asia, traditional medicine is tied very closely to cultural values and traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the population in some Asian and African nations is dependent on traditional medicine for primary health care. Believed to be expanding at a rate of 10% per annum, the market for traditional medicine is linked to illegal wildlife trade as it involves the consumption of products from endangered animals and their parts and derivatives. Once all the final steps have been done, the Traditional Chinese Medicine is on its way. This might only be a temporary solution, for the bankers and speculators, between now and CITES. However, who is to say that the illegal consumption on rhino horn, will stop immediately, even if the international ban is not lifted? In summary, I would like to say this: It is now even more imperative that this petition breaks all boundaries, and creates the effect it so desperately needs now, to demand the upgrade to Appendix 1! This will create the massive pressure and must be felt enough by the CITES community, and all member states, to NOT LIFT THE INTERNATIONAL BAN ON RHINO HORN TRADE! Please join us on Southern African Fight For Rhino (closed fist symbol) and invite all your friends and acquaintances to join as well. Our website is going through a major overhaul, and will soon be exactly how it should be. Thank you once again for your support, and please feel free to join us on Southern African Fight For Rhino. (closed fist symbol) Please also invite all your friends to join this FB site. Our website is in the process of having a complete overhaul, but soon there will be much going on there! Love and hugs to you all, Lex.