sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/201 … vory/?_r=1
The sentiment is good but, my thought is: What a waste and a boost for those that sell ivory objects. They just drove the prices up. The waste is in the lives of the animals that have now died for absolutely no reason and the labors of human artists that created objects of
beauty from an atrocity.
Another story about stupidity and destruction
pbh2.com/wtf/meet-kenny-an-i … ite-tiger/
As we try to bring the beauty of beasts to all we cause so much damage. We have technology that will allow us to see these animals in nature, small zoos are just being more destructive than helpful.
The need to possess what attracts us causes such huge problems.
It does but, I think lack of thought causes most.
China could have auctioned those pieces of ivory and given the proceeds to help the endangered animals. It would have protected human history also.
Kenny the tiger would probably not have happened in a well funded well connected zoo or refuge. The poor or private animal establishments may have started with good intentions but so many end up tragic.
Such as this:
if you do not destroy it then someone will find a way to make Money off of a poach, smuggle, confiscate - sell distribute scheme. Though I also hate that this is the result, a necessary evil. But they do have to get good at this, globally. Destroy the market completely. Force those in the business to find soemthing else, and eliminate public expectation that they can find the Products. I Think this will require destruction.
Hold up a mirror Kris, because CONGRATS! you are what is wrong with the world.
Capitalist exploitation getting you down? The market leading society in a bad direction? Well, fuck it, the market is what is right so let’s define everything in terms of it!
Congrats!
Seriously, Kris, kill yourself.
Ahh, the simple angry retort meant not to resolve, not to help but, to cause more problems for the fun of it or for mental profit somehow.
Since this is your only tactic it shows that you have the exploiting capitalism bug as bad as those you rant against or more so because you revel in it. I am a capitalist, all living creatures are, denial is for idiots. All human governing systems are capitalistic. If you do not see this you are ignorant.
Ignorance is the problem the culprit not capitalism. You really should go study and learn more about these subjects and yourself.
The quotes Moreno provided do make some good arguments within the direct context of reducing the ivory trade. And I agree with the supposed sentiment that ivory has no intrinsic value over cheap material that can be made to look like it. The problem is perhaps consistency when this issue is applied to broader matters. For those people, the ‘well respected’ members of the international community, value is largely determined by market value.
The market value of an elephant in captivity may be very high if the rich were allowed to keep them as pets - at least until they get to big.[size=85].[/size][size=50].[/size] But, the ‘market’ value of ‘allowing’ any number of elephants to live in the wild - such as in those wildlife ‘adoption’ charities doesn’t compare to that of each elephant’s ivory.
So these enthusiastic-supporters-of-capitalism-at-almost-any-price or tight-lipped-cowards may be making the right decision here, in the smaller context, but the reasons for their decision probably diverge from what they claim and are actually part of a larger context where the word “right” has no place. It seems what they’re really doing is making a fuss over an industry that they don’t have their hands in.
Man’s inhumanity to beasts–what a real and present tragedy! It will take ecological education plus sensitivity to suffering to stem this tide. The culprit? Vanity. Where capitalism owes to vanity there can be no resolving of this issue.
duplicate post
Right. Ruthless capitalist should hardly be taken seriously when using terms such as ‘ethics’ and ‘morality’, especially in regard to other ruthless capitalists. Let them be honest and say, "we’re not going to take this challenge to our power by those in the illegal ivory trade lightly anymore. We’re going to make a decapitated horse style statement with their ivory.
“Mental profit.”
I just caught that Kriswest. Yes, why must we be regulated in our ability to profit mentally through the obfuscational insinuations we make against others! Our friend Wenren is an Adam Smith mental profiteer run rampant.
Ierr, vanity was the ignition switch, ignorance is the running engine that causes the problems.
Stuart: 
I would say
can’t get their hands in because the negative publicity would be too great. Like it would be with traficking Children. Paying people shit for working in a mine where many will develop terminal diseases, some will die and most will have chronic Health problems is seen as OK. The line shifts and Changes about what is OK. How much the specific people trying to end ivory trade buy in to capitalism in general, I have no idea, but I Think you are right that the bad apple theory of capitalism (and more) is likely at work. This is bad, but the system is OK. The exception proves the rule.
I’m one who has no problem admitting that I’m a true preservationist. I’m concerned about the environment and endangered animals, but I can’t be bothered with the hopeless task of caring about the non-endangered animals. As for people, I wish to preserve that what is of quality. So as to not seem inhuman, all I can say is that I’ll try not to step on more toes than needed and would magically cure all theirs ills if I could; even those who’re one among a billion in uniqueness. But, when faced with practical decisions I want nothing to do the idea of working towards such cures.
Now I definitely am not happy about the plight of the African savanna animals; I actually will admit that any given elephant’s life is worth a million… rather than just let my pocket book make such implications. But, the world can do without their continuation in the wild. What the everyday ‘respected leader’, in almost any context of leadership, is doing is far more harmful for the goal of preserving all that is quality in the world. I’ll go into detail if asked, but for now let me just give the stereotypical one; take a look down ‘main street’ and tell me quality isn’t being culled.
So when I see those leaders acting in such a destructive fashion with ivory, even if more symbolic than anything, it only reminds me of where their true destructive tendencies lie.
And there could be an unconsious, perhaps even conscious enjoyment of the ritual on some level. I agree with most of this. And yes, main streets are becoming Little 42 streets (Manhattan) - I preferred the pimps and porn though it made the walk from the Port Authority to my train more scary.
Follow your leader!
Yes, it’s a savage ritual that there enjoying like the primal bloody feast. Hell, why can’t they just send it to the respected and unbiased Smithsonian institute? But, then why deprive these tightly wound ultra PC puppets there chance to let loose and vent?
Sorry Wenren, I run a mental non-profit organization. If I attempt any further mental profiting from you it may lose it’s mental tax exempt status.
I’m impressed you seem to know what he is on about.