Oct 10 2007
Fighting Stalemate in Gorilla Sector
This is Samantha. I have just spoken to Innocent and Director Mushenzi. There is no change in the security situation in the Gorilla Sector. Innocent cannot hear any more gunfire at the moment from Rumangabo, but the rebels retain control of the sector and the army has not made any advances. Stalemate…
We shall wait and see what happens today. It could all stagnate, or it could all kick off.
Thank you for all your comments. Keep up the lobbying. That is a very very valuable action right now. We need awareness and pressure.
Donations of course are still needed. They will be used by ICCN when all this is over. As has been said before, there is a project to effectively “build” the last 13km of road up to Bukima. This will help the local communities with access, provide work to the local communities (both in initial building and maintenance), and vastly improve access to the Mountain Gorilla Sector. This way ICCN hopes that if the country is more stable, international tourism will come. Virunga National Park and gorilla-watching tourism in a regulated environment have the potential to be a principal pillar of tourism and revenue for eastern DR Congo. Neighboring Uganda and Rwanda earn millions from gorilla-watching tourism - from the actual activity and the spin-offs. And it is an excellent way to protect these critically endangered animals. Do we hear of gorilla massacres in Uganda and Rwanda? No is the short answer, because they are valuable to the economy. Anyway, the road will cost about $70,000. Just before all this started I went up and down it a few times with the engineer doing an evaluation (I was the secretary). And then the fighting started so it is on hold.
And of course there are all the other projects: rations, salary supplements, medical kits, uniforms, infrastructure (toilets, water, schools)… there is everything to be done. Again, toilets and water were all ready to go at Bukima, and then the rebels took over. Medical supplies have been given and will continue to be given to Rumangabo - for the Rangers and their families. There is a lot going on and a lot being planned. Thank you very much to all of you who make this possible for the Gorilla Sector and the Rangers.
I am also posting a few pictures of Kabila, the baby orphaned in June, that Innocent took last week. Still fragile, but utterly irresistible. Of course, he would be so much more irresistible in his natural habitat.
Samantha
Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, wildlifedirect
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Very tense times….
I received this from Ian Redmond this morning (was in Virunga with Dian Fossey, asking for letters to be fired off to relevant people in your countries on behalf of all apes - the French Govt are holding a roundtable meeting of donor govts and agencies on 25th Oct to agree action & finance. I quote his email;
GRASP (Great Ape Survival Project)has organized this round-table of donor governments and agencies in an attempt to significantly increase the funding for the protection and better management of ape habitat. We are still seeing a litany of bad news about great apes in both Africa and SE Asia ; serious political resolve could alter that by – among other things - making more human and financial resources available. The Ape Alliance has a good track record of influencing governments, because the combined membership of our 77 member organizations runs into millions of people worldwide. Now is the time to fire off an email or letter or telephone call to your MP or MEP or Depute or Congressman, asking him or her to ask the relevant minister what the Government of your country is taking to the table at the GRASP Donors’ meeting. If your government has already signed the Kinshasa Declaration, please ask what MORE they have done since signing it; if they haven’t signed it – tell them they can do so in Paris.
Sam is right - this is the time to write, email, call, scream at your rep - let’s give them the opportunity to do something positive on 25th Oct in Paris….
I would like to donate money for your incredibly valuable work, but am not able to active the “one time donation” link. I cried my eyes out after having read the stories on murdered gorillas…
Thank you Linda for your informations. Here’s the link for the meeting in Paris : http://hqweb.unep.org/grasp/Meetings/Donors_meetings.asp
Good luck to Samantha, Innocent & all the team from France.
Good stuff, Linda & G4G and Laurent - thanks for passing it along. I’ll send off another round of letters and faxes later today!
Sam, thanks for posting the pictures of Kabila. He is irresistable.
s.
Samantha, can I use the picture of Kabila on my blog to illustrate the announcement of the meeting in Paris
http://blog.20minutes.fr/admin/blog/post.php
I’m a french writer and ecologist activist. Thank for answering
Sorry I made a mistake, my weblog adress is :
http://lecarnetdelaurentdingli.blog.20minutes.fr/
Laurent, of course you can use the photo of Kabila. We need all the exposure we can get. Linda, I will reply to you shortly. Just in the middle of things!
Right - am back! Linda - yes, great idea.. again, all the lobbying we can do at this point. Thanks again Sheryl… keep those letters going. And Pirjo please just try the donate button again. Remember where it says QTY you but in how many of the item, and USD is obviously the dollar amount. Sounds mad but sometimes can be confusing I think. Please give it another try - it sometimes takes a second go! Thank you!
CNN did a story on their website on Sunday…however, it was a bit hidden…we need to get this on their home page!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/10/07/congo.gorillas.ap/index.html
My Prayers are with everyone in this war torn area.
Kabila is just adorable. I love the hairdo.
thanks for all of the updates
I will make donations soon… your work is so vital, I thank you for taking on such an important and serious labor. Mankind is not very kind…many can be so cruel and unthinking. I am moved by your valor, and the courage and involvement of the men and women that devote their energy to helping animals continue to live in their God-given homelands.
bless you and good fortune to you and yours,
most sincerely, Ed Wynn, grade 8 science teacher, Thorndike, Maine, USA
Thank you Samantha for your comments and pictures of Kabila. I´m looking forward to be able to send the second funding from the American Council For Wildlife Preservation this friday, but is possible that it can´t be done until next monday or tuesday, but is sure that this will be delivered to wildlife Direct. A funding from the PIBI BIological Reaserch Foundation and a first founding from the A.C.W.P. have already been done since time ago, And of course that my personal monthly donation will always be there. But the needs surpass any amount of money, and all possible donations are still necessary. I hope that the gorillas are safe and doing well.
Everyone remember to shop through IGive.com. I just found out, and am terribly bummed because I just bought a boatload of stuff, that Ebay is part of the IGive netork…also remember, you need to go to your stores through IGive, or a donation is not generated.
Hi Samantha, Just a idea: what about a letter writing campaign to Laurent Nkunda and Kabila asking them both to withdraw from the area for the sake of the gorillas? Perhaps external pressure and appeals directly to them would help? Just an idea. We pray that you and the rangers are staying safe.
Blessings,
Catherine
Thank you to everyone for the outstanding information and contact information. I will spend the rest of my day (before I get kids from school) writing letters to all my representatives. I will ask whether or not The United States has signed the Kinshasa Declaration and if they plan on attending this GRASP roundtable meeting of donor governments and if so, what they plan on bringing to the table at that meeting. Today was a good day for me, as I am an Instructional Aide for a 5th Grade Science class and I was able to plant some seeds regarding deforestation and the loss of habitat that the mountain gorillas are facing as well as the fact that there are now ONLY less than 700 left in the world. Lisa, California
the person representing UK at the GRASP mtg in Paris is:
Trevor Salmon
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Zone 1/11 Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6EB
UK
Tel GB +44 1173728110 Call
Fax +44 (0) 117 372 8393
e-mail: trevor.salmon@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Write your own or use letter I will post on uk G4G site tomorrow evening.
http://www.g4g.co.uk
We can make a difference…
Last news from AFP at 11 pm (french time) : Laurent Nkunda is asking for a cease fire, he has already lost many positions & villages.
Hi Laurent. I just Googled and found a few stories about the possible cease fire. Nkunda is a real piece of work. He’s making it sound as if he’s concerned about the people: “Their bombs are falling on the population. If this continues there will be many losses among the population,” Nkunda said, referring to the government offensive.” He should’ve considered the Congolese people when he was kidnapping their children to be soldiers and sex slaves. GOD, I just want to hit him over the head with a Louisville Slugger. Anyway, there are at least three news agencies carrying this story. Now, for some real entertainment you can dig up Nienaber’s latest commentary, full of bad spelling and grammar, where she practically calls Nkunda a hero and refers to “The mercenary army known as Wild Life Direct (WD), which operates under the cloak of a US based charity …” If y’all got a big army at your command, then you’ve been holding out. For SHAME. You’re also being funded by U.S. tax dollars, according to the crazy lady. Did y’all have a big party and not invite Georgeanne? ‘Cause she’s really bitter about something.
s.
Sheryl, I’ve read several of Nienaber’s articles. What she wrote in the beginning of the year had a total different tone. The change seemed to come about after Nkunda denied he was responsible for the gorilla murders of last year, after she was in the area and met armed rangers who weren’t acting as saviours of the local people, scared of the rebels coming. Since then she’s been crying foul about the rangers, praising Nkunda more and more, and putting up “evidence” (that’s totally unreadable) of unused funds, and shouting we should stop conservationalism, stop worrying about the gorillas because the gorillas will survive since the people know they’re important.
After reading carefully my opinion is that she lacks understanding of humanitarian aid, about conservationalism and thinks rather paternalistically how it ought to be done. I think she was appalled by the humanitarian crises and disappointed that little can be done, and strikes out at those who did not help her to be the heroine who dragged scared civilians into the vehicle in order to save them from violence. And that has led in part to her doubting everything and therefore siding with Nkunda. The latter is not so much surprising since she seems to affiliate with Rwanda’s present governing class.
Of course the rangers are trained and carry weapons. How else would they be able to protect themselves and the gorillas in self defense against poachers? No, alas the rangers aren’t humanitarian workers who help refugees and other people. I don’t expect that was ever their task. The UN peace forces can’t even do that, let alone rangers who need to remain neutral in order to gain acces into the NP they’ve given their life for to protect and protect their families. Her accusation on that regard is comparable to people who work at animal shelters not being firefighters as well. She expected apples to act as oranges.
And even if some of the funds are unused for the moment, that would not be quite surprising when you can’t perform your job, not having a full employable team since several had to flee.
Jill, that’s a much more reasoned analysis of Nienaber’s apparent bitterness than I could manage. It’s been a long, somewhat disappointing day and I’m afraid all my brain can manage is “fire bad, tree pretty.” Thanks for taking the time, and having the stomach, to read her articles. You have more patience than I do.
s.
Sheryl, hilarious about the Louisville slugger…….thanks to the 8th grade science teacher who left a message……get the word out to those students about conserving their planet! thanks for the absolutely adorable picture of baby Kabila…I just want to squeeze and kiss him! thanks to all who care…….
Thanks for the pictures of baby Kabila. Just precious. Good luck.
Lets keep up with the donations.
Adopted a gorilla the other day. Every little bit helps.
Lisa from CA:
I was wondering if you found out any info on whether or not The United States has signed the Kinshasa Declaration and if they plan on attending GRASP.
Thanks, Pam
Samantha, Thanks for keeping us updated! I just adore baby Kabila’s photos. He is lucky to be alive, so lucky he is in safe hands. If only everyone was so kind.
I have written local newspapers, but I am truly amazed by the responses and dedication from so many people posted over the last couple days. I am still overwhelmed trying to understand the complexity of it all.
Hats off to everyone!
Yes, the U.S. signed the Kinshasa Declaration on Great Apes in September 2005. The U.S. also contributes to the Congo Basin Forest Project through the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment, which supports great ape survival. I found this information, and the info posted in my blog, using SearchKindly and Google. The contact points for the Declaration are the U.S. ambassador to DRC, Sam Brock, and the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Dr. Zalmay Khalilzad. Finding contact information for these gentlemen is rather difficult.
s.
Kabila is just the cutest!!Hopefully he gets the chance to grow big and strong x
Thanks Sheryl, I tried looking for it using SearchKindly. I found lots of information on the Kinshasa Declaration, but no information on who actually signed it. Nevertheless, I sent off a written letter to Condeleeza Rice yesterday asking that and other questions. We’ll see if I get a response. Lisa, California
Pam and Sheryl, I tried searching for the information on who signed the Declaration again this morning (just to test myself…see if I could find it) Of course, I find it on the first try. Sheryl, I laughed so hard at your comment “fire bad, tree pretty” yesterday, but apparaently that’s exactly how I was feeling too. Very interesting document. I see Dr. Richard Leaky is a GRASP patron. I wonder if he will attend the meeting and can possibly update us on the details of the meeing at some point? Lisa, California
[…] » ka mba tsy hamelana anareo amin’izany vaovao ratsy izany dia indro ny sarin’i Kabila izay zana-Gôrila mahafatifaty sady nampitain’izany blaogy izany ihany. Juliana […]
[…] of one of its rangers. Not to leave in you on a sad note, but from the same blog is a picture of a baby gorilla named Kabila. Share […]
If any UK bloggers are waiting on my letter on the G4G site to send re GRASP mtg - my apologies, but hpome PC blew up Thursday morning. Am working on getting letter up.
Fearful of what may happen Monday - 15th is day of reckoning supposedly for Nkunda. Let’s hope this all ends sooner rather than later. Stay safe all.
i have read what is happening with that so beatiful animals and it really hurts me a lot to see en pictures how rude people can be, i feel sorry and if i can do something for them , i really want to do it, i don,t have much money, but please if i really can do something ,just tell me.i hope you let me no
[…] female shot and killed in June. Kabila is one of the orphans in Goma, that you can see pictures of here and also on Dr Lucy Spelman’s […]
i would like to know what i can do to actively help keep the beautiful gorillas safe.
I would like to help, please let me know how!
omg how cute
hi
ihate you all
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