June 3, 2013 – Urban Hermits

In the most recent installment of Urban Hermits’ tar sand coverage, we have heard some interesting news coming from the government of British Columbia. They have officially announced their opposition to the Northern Gateway Project, a pipeline plan very similar to the XL Pipeline here in the states. This is not to say the project was completely canned, but it puts a burden on Enbridge and other oil companies, as well as the government of Alberta, who has overwhelmingly supported the project. Questions regarding how environmental disasters will need to be addressed, as well as a blueprint as to how British Columbia will benefit fairly from the investment. If things remain anything like how they are in Alberta, all I have to say is good luck. Get the detailed response here from CBC News.

I believe this is an important case study because it displays public concern and increasing skepticism about the project. Whether we will see this sort of mobilization or not here in the U.S. remains to be seen.

The Douglas Channel, a proposed termination point for an oil pipeline in the Enbridge Northern Gateway project, near Kitimat, B.C.

Image Source: Darryl Dyck. The Vancouver Sun. 31 May 2013.

Source: “B.C. officially opposes Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline”. CBC News. 31 May 2013.

Good news for some of the world’s largest endangered land mammals: The Kenyan parliament has approved emergency measures to counter the poaching crisis that should lead to higher penalties for poachers.

“The passing of this bill is a huge victory, it is the strongest message from the Government of Kenya on the commitment to preserve our national heritage. MPs today voted for Kenya to restore her position as a global leader in wildlife conservation,” said Paula Kahumbu, the Executive Director of Kenya-based NGO, WildlifeDirect.

However, Cachu Ganya, made a statement to fellow legislators, “Kenya’s elephants declined from 160,000 in 1960s to 16,000 in 1989 due to poaching. Today Kenya is home to only 38,500 elephants and 1,025 rhinos. These animals are a major tourism attraction and anyone who threatens them is committing economic sabotage and should be treated as such.” This obvious monetary value placed on the animals is one motivator for the increased fines and jail time. Regardless, it is a celebratory event for conservationists. Ganya advocated for fines to raise to $120,000 and up to 15 years in jail, a respective raise by 25 and 7 to the current law.

An elephant or rhino can survive the removal of a tusk or horn, yet most poachers decapitate their victims or chainsaw too close to the skin. Some conservation programs are carefully removing these to eliminating the appeal for poaching.

If you are interested in supporting orphaned elephants and rhinos, please view my previous post about fostering.

Photo by Brent Stirton – “Dehorned to deter poachers, a tame northern white rhino, one of only seven of the subspecies known to survive, grazes under the watch of rangers from Kenya’s Ol Pejeta Conservancy.”

Image Source: “Rhino Wars”, National Geographic, March 2013

Source: Jeremy Hance, Mongabay, May 29 2013; Save the Rhino, 2013