Monthly Archives: July 2014

31

Jul. ’14

STOP Cell Towers from being erected on Prince George’s County School property!!!!

The Prince George’s County Community says NO to CELL TOWERS.

mepgceo0714c21373546712

Dr. Maxwell and Mr. Rushern Baker -County Executive

Prince George’s County parents in collaboration with Bowie parents are concerned that the Prince George’s County Public School Board of Education is ignoring children’s health by putting kids at increased risk of cancer.

Cell towers are being erected on public school property throughout Prince George’s County, Maryland. (We previously reported this issue in our blog).  The Prince George’s County Public School Board has contracted with Milestone Communications to construct cell towers at 73 school properties.

 We believe this issue deserve proper investigation and a proper public airing in Prince George’s County. Residents and parents are concerned about safety issues, continuous corruption, property value devaluation, and long term health risks. Many community members feel they were not appropriately notified. Many parents had no idea of these plans when the previous Board led by Verjeana Jacobs and Dr. William Hite Jr conspired to make money from the cell Towers at the expense of the Prince George’s County community. Since that time, County Executive Baker, Dr. Maxwell and Dr. Segun have picked up the torch of corruption and are busy running with it. 

We are calling for cancellation of  ALL cell-tower contracts and the halting of all construction of cell-towers at all Prince Georges’ County public school properties.

 Please join us in telling the Prince George’s County Public Schools Board of Education and our elected officials that we are not willing to risk the health of our children and that we do NOT want cell towers at or near our schools and the corruption must be stopped immediately within the county. To see the the list of schools that the Board of Education has made available for cell towers, please follow this link:

Also you can see a full list of schools also by going to SafeSchoolsPG.org and sign the petition. 

Demand an end to this corruption and the madness currently in progress within the prince George’s County under Rushern Baker regime. >>>>Read more Gazzette

  21CellTower1bw-678x1024

5718124787_ec637911c9_z

cell_tower1

6173347974_d49bf5fb64_o_t580

Segun Eubanks – Laughing all the way to the Bank at the expense of the community.

imagescalhguwb

***

Posted by . Categories: STOP Cell Towers from being erected on Prince George’s County School property!!!!, Uncategorized. Tags: . 2 Comments

31

Jul. ’14

How to Choose a Lawyer.

Five Steps to Selecting and Hiring a Lawyer

TH_06_Oped_jpg_1509021f

In the last several years, we have been victims of corruption involving lawyers and to some extend (a state Judge) who was corruptly interfered with in the state court. This kind of situation happens all over the world in many countries but life does not have to be this way in a democratic society. Following these experiences, we chose to highlight a process in which to screen lawyer before hiring them and avoid a sorry situation too.

Corruption is the abuse of power by a public official for private gain or any organized, interdependent system in which part of the system is either not performing duties it was originally intended to, or performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the system’s original purpose. The abuse of public offices for private gain is paradigmatic of corruption.

A common belief is that corruption is a judge taking bribes. The definition exceeds this theory. Corruption describes any organized, interdependent system in which part of the system is either not performing duties it was originally intended to, or performing them in an improper way, to the detriment of the system’s original purpose.

Corrupt judicial systems not only violate the basic right to equality before the law but deny procedural rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution.

While corruption may facilitate criminal enterprise such as drug trafficking, money laundering, and mail fraud; it is not restricted to these activities. In Prince George’s county, corruption is so common that it is expected when ordinary businesses or citizens interact with government officials. The end-point of political corruption is a kleptocracy, literally “rule by thieves”.

On this end, How do you choose the best lawyer for your needs in a situation involving the above situation? In our considered opinion, Legal services are like any other product: the wise consumer conducts thorough research before making an informed decision. Once you secure several lawyer referrals with expertise in the appropriate practice area, you should carefully research each candidate (for tips on how to find a good lawyer, see How to Find a Lawyer).

Below are five steps to choosing the best lawyer for your legal needs.

  1. Conduct candidate interviews.

One of the best ways to assess a lawyer’s legal ability is by interviewing the lawyer. Most attorneys will provide an initial consultation (usually an hour or less) at no charge. A few important questions to ask during this meeting are:

  • What experience does the lawyer have in your type of legal matter?
  • How long has he been in practice?
  • What is his track record of success?
  • What percentage of his caseload is dedicated to handling your type of legal problem?
  • Does he have any special skills or certifications?
  • What are his fees and how are they structured?
  • Does he carry malpractice insurance? If so, how much?
  • Who else would be working on your case and what are their rates?
  • Does he outsource any key legal tasks for functions?
  • What additional costs may be involved in addition to lawyer fees (postage, filing fees, copy fees, etc.)?
  • How often will you be billed?
  • Can he provide references from other clients?
  • Does he have a written fee agreement or representation agreement?
  • How will he inform you of developments in your case?

Keep in mind that a higher fee does not necessarily equate with a more qualified attorney. Also, a rock bottom fee may signal problems, inexperience or incompetency.

After meeting with the lawyer, you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is the lawyer’s experience and background compatible with your legal needs?
  • Did he provide prompt and courteous responses to your questions?
  • Is he someone with whom you would be comfortable working?
  • Are you confident he possesses the skills and experience to handle your case?
  • Are you comfortable with the fees and how they are structured?
  • Are you comfortable with the terms of the fee agreement and/or representation agreement?
  1. Consult Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory.Found on-line at Martindale.com and at your local public and law libraries, Martindale-Hubbell is a great resource for information about a law firm and its lawyers. This guide is often used by lawyers themselves when choosing legal talent in another jurisdiction. The directory includes basic practice profile data on virtually every lawyer in the United States and Canada and detailed professional biographies of leading lawyers and firms in 160 countries. It also includes lawyer and law firm ratings based upon peer reviews which may help when choosing between two equally qualified candidates.
  2. Ask other attorneys.Lawyers know the skill and reputation of other lawyers. Attorneys may be able to provide information about a fellow lawyer that you may not find in a book or online such as information about a lawyer’s ethics, competence level, demeanor, practice habits and reputation.
  3. Conduct a background check.Before hiring any lawyer, contact the lawyer disciplinary agency in your state to confirm that the lawyer is in good standing as a member of the bar. For an online listing of each state’s lawyer disciplinary agency, review this directory of lawyer disciplinary agencies. You should always check references, especially if you located the attorney through the Internet. You can also check a lawyer’s peer review ratings online at com. Peer review ratings provide an objective indicator of a lawyer’s ethical standards and professional ability, generated from evaluations of lawyers by other members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada.
  4. Tour the lawyer’s law office.You can tell a lot about an attorney from his law office. Request a brief tour of his office, beyond the office or conference room where you met with the lawyer. Is the law office neat, orderly, efficient and well-run? What kind of support staff does the lawyer employ? Does staff appear friendly and helpful? Is the lawyer’s office local and easily accessible? Is a large portion of his office space unoccupied? Watch for red flags such as mass disarray, unhappy staff members, illicit affairs involving the lawyer, strong smell of alcohol, request of cash payments without giving receipts, No fixed address, always preferring to talk rather than return emails, empty offices and unreturned phone calls etc.

By taking these five steps, you can select a lawyer with the legal skills and personal qualities that will best serve your needs.

***

imagesCALHGUWB

Posted by . Categories: How to Choose a Lawyer.. Tags: . 1 Comment

31

Jul. ’14

Dr. Ruth Johnson Trial Scheduled for August 5th, 2014 Delayed.

 US_Courts-MD District

Dr.Ruth Johnson vs. Board of Education for Prince George’s County trial on discrimination and retaliation charges which was scheduled for next week August 5th, 2014 until August 8th, 2014, has been postponed/delayed until January 27, 2015. See our previous coverage on July 29th, 2014. 

U.S. District Judge Honorable Peter J Messitte, in a court order on Wednesday, rescheduled Dr. Ruth Johnson’s trial to around January 27th from August 5th, 2014, finding that the Board of Education for Prince George’s County violated the civil rights and denied the Motion to dismiss filed by the Board of Education. Read the opinion of the court issued on July 29th, 2014 >>> Memorandum opinion -by Honorable Peter J. Messitte on July 29 -2014 >>> and the Order of the Court.

Dr. Ruth Johnson is one of several employees whose cases are going to the jury for trial, after the Board of Education violated civil rights of employees willfully in Maryland. Many of these cases involve significant issues and  involve public corruption which has been hidden away from the Federal court in order to continue the status quo.

Rather than the Board of Education for Prince George’s County settle these kind of cases and move on, they have chosen to drag them and to be arrogant. Hence, costing the Board of Education for Prince George’s County  and the State of Maryland cherished financial resources.

pgcps_logo

***

Posted by . Categories: 2014 Delayed.. Tags: , . 2 Comments

29

Jul. ’14

A civil lawsuit filed by Dr. Ruth Johnson to start on August 5th, 2014.

image16

United States Federal court house in Greenbelt Maryland.

***********************

NOTICE: UPDATE

The above trial has been postponed or delayed until around  January 27, 2015. We will keep you updated our readers. Stay tuned. Read more >>>Trial delayed. 

***********************

A civil lawsuit filed by Dr. Ruth Johnson against the Prince George’s county public schools (Pgcps) will go to trial starting on August 5th, 2014 at 10:00 am until Friday August 8th, 2014 in GreenBelt Federal court. Jury selection will be held in the morning of August 5th, 2014 and the trial will commence that afternoon continuing until August 8th, 2014. Dr. Ruth Johnson claims she was retaliated against when she reported what she believed were inappropriate acts by the administration of former Superintendent Dr. William Hite jr. The Board of Education created a hostile work environment when Dr. Johnson mobilized her colleagues at Largo High school to oppose the illegal acts which were taking place. (Mr. James Small-Wood and Dr. William Hite Jr who covered up the crimes have since fled in different directions after exposure in this blog). Dr. Ruth Johnson, who is an African American was a guidance counselor at Largo High school. She alleges that she was racially harassed by Principal Angelique Simpson-Marcus (pictured below). On February 28, 2014, a federal jury, at the Greenbelt, MD federal courthouse, issued a verdict that means Prince George’s County Public Schools can be found liable under Title VI for race discrimination and retaliation. Specifically, the jury decided that Prince George’s County Public School received federal assistance, starting in 2009, which had the primary objective of providing employment. In 2009, PGCPS, which has a annual budget of approximately $1.7 billion, received $140 million in federal stimulus funds which it used to avert laying off hundreds of teachers and other school workers. The standard of prove under Title VI is the same as under Title VII, except Title VII has a cap on damages of $300,000 while Title VI has no cap on damages. Dr. Johnson was hired by PGCPS and assigned to Largo High School in 2003. In August 2009, Principal Simpson-Marcus transferred Dr. Johnson to another school against her will. Principal Simpson-Marcus bragged to her staff about transferring Dr. Johnson to another school. While at the new school, Dr. Johnson’s office was not close to a bathroom. Prince George’s County Public Schools has resisted Dr. Johnson’s effort to be transferred back to Largo High School.

PGCEA Breached Its Duty of Fair Representation

Following her transfer, Dr. Johnson filed a grievance with PGCEA against Principal Simpson-Marcus.  Jimelatice Gilbert-Thomas, a PGCEA Uniserv director, informed Dr. Johnson that the involuntary transfer violated the Negotiated Agreement.  However, the PGCEA refused to take Dr. Johnson’s grievance to arbitration, the next step called for in the Negotiated Agreement. On several occasions, Dr. Johnson heard Principal Simpson-Marcus brag about her good relationship with Ms. Gilbert-Thomas and challenge teachers and staff to file complaints against her with PGCEA. If Dr. Ruth Johnson wins her case, it could mean a return to Largo High school. Read more >>>> Ruth Johnson

***

images

When: On August 5th, 2014 to August 8th, 2014

Time: 10:00 AM Jury Trial

Parties: Johnson v. Prince George’s Board of Education

Federal Case #: PJM 11-1195

Venue: Courtroom: 4C

********************

NOTICE: UPDATE

The above trial has been postponed or delayed until  January 27, 2015. We will keep you updated our readers. Stay tuned.

********************

simpson-marcu

Dr. Angelique Simpson-Marcus, Ed.D. (Violated civil rights of employees willfully) angel.simpsonmarcus@pgcps.org Principal

***

Posted by . Categories: A civil lawsuit filed by Dr. Ruth Johnson starts.. Tags: . 2 Comments

28

Jul. ’14

Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco).

image

Measuring 63.5 cm (25 in.) in length, the toco toucan is the largest of all toucans. Its black body and white/yellow throat are overshadowed by its most recognizable trait: a large colorful beak.

The bright orange beak is about 19 cm (8 in.) long – one third of the bird’s total length. But despite its substantial size, the beak weighs less than you may think. Composed of the protein keratin, the structure of beak incorporates many air pockets allowing for a very low mass.

Furthermore, recent research has concluded that toucans regulate body temperature by adjusting the flow of blood to their beak. More blood flow means more heat is released. When toucans sleep, they tuck their beak under their feathers to keep them warm.

Toco toucans also use their beaks to pluck and peel fruit, their main source of food. In addition, the beak houses a flat tongue of the same length, which helps the toucan catch insects, frogs, and reptiles. Toco toucans also occasionally eat the eggs of other birds.

Although they spend a lot of time in trees, they are not very good at flying. Toucans mainly travel among trees by hopping. When they do take flight, they flap their wings vigorously and glide, traveling only short distances.

Toucans nest in the hollows of trees. They often move into cavities created and abandoned by woodpeckers.

Several toucans live together in a single hollow. It is in these hollows that they lay their eggs, generally two to four a year. Both parents incubate the eggs for 16-20 days. Once the chicks hatch, both parents continue to care for the young. Baby toucans are not born with an excessively large beak; the beak grows as the birds develop.

Native to South America, toco toucans inhabit a range of habitats including tropical forests, savannas, and shrubland.

imageimageimageimageimageimageimageimageimage

imageimageimage

Conservation Status
Because toco toucans can live in a variety of habitats, they are not as susceptible to rainforest destruction as other species. Their population has not been determined, but it is thought to be large due to the frequency of sightings within their range. As such, the toco toucan is listed by the IUCN as being of least concern, and there are no specific efforts to protect the species.

What You Can Do to Help
Although toco toucans are not considered threatened, you can still help protect their habitat. Avoid buying products made from rainforest wood and help raise funds to help protect the rainforests of South America.

Toco Toucan Distribution

image

Native to South America, toco toucans inhabit a range of habitats including tropical forests, savannas, and shrubland.
***

Posted by . Categories: Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco).. Tags: . Leave a comment

26

Jul. ’14

A federal jury awards $350,000…

…in compensatory damages to Jon Everhart plus attorney’s fees, back pay and retirement benefits.

greenbelt-federal-court

United States Court House in Greenbelt Maryland

On July 25, 2014, a federal jury, at the Greenbelt, MD federal courthouse, awarded a staggering $350,000 judgment late Friday against the county’s school system and the Board of Education.

Jon Everhart  who was maliciously terminated by Principal Dr. Angelique Simpson-Marcus, Ed.D. (pictured below) will receive $350,000 in compensatory damages against the Board of Education of Prince George’s County under Title VI for retaliation. Above all, the court awarded attorney’s fees, back pay and retirement benefits to the plaintiff. (Read more~~>>> jury verdict,  Order of the Court)

***

pgcps_logo

Simpson-Marcu

Dr. Angelique Simpson-Marcus, Ed.D. 
  angel.simpsonmarcus@pgcps.org
 Principal

***

 

 

Posted by . Categories: back pay and retirement benefits., Dr. Angelique Simpson-Marcus, Ed.D.. Tags: , , , . Leave a comment

24

Jul. ’14

Rushern Baker should pass torch to a new leader to reinvigorate Prince George’s county.

In Summary
The brand is very strong, but the message is tired political cliché.
The Prince George’s County leadership’s second biggest weakness is lack of depth in agenda.
The third weakness of the Prince George’s County leadership is its refusal to appreciate Prince George’s County ’s political realities. The political fundamentals have not shifted. In fact, it is correct to state that the majority of the county leans towards a new administration and are too willing to give it more time to deliver.
Putting its fate in Mr. Rushern Baker to finally deliver the prize is unwise. An objective analysis of the political matrix in Prince George’s County shows that Mr. Rushern Baker’s brightest political days are behind him and he is in his sunset days! By passing the torch to a younger leader, Mr. Rushern Baker will give the Prince George’s County leadership enough time to build the components of a new political machine around a new leader with no corrupt links.

rushern_baker

 Mr. Rushern Baker III

The biggest problem in Prince George’s county is our refusal to face the facts. We are forever pointing fingers, chasing shadows, creating scapegoats, burying our heads in the sand like an Ostrich and sweeping everything under the carpet.

As long as we refuse to acknowledge the real issues that confront us, we will never find the solutions especially in our schools (Prince George’s county public schools). It’s one thing to appoint leaders  at Sasscer Administration Building for the sake of it. But if there is no real meaning but cover up. It’s going to be a waste of time as we have pointed out in the past.

The two momentous events of the past two months — Primary election and the one year take over of our schools led by one County Executive Rushern Baker III  — show the promise and perils of Prince George’s county leadership. Both events portrayed the Prince George’s county leadership in flattering and deprecating circumstances.

On the one hand, the Prince George’s County leadership can huff and puff, make all kinds of change threatening those who speak out by making all kinds of noises, hold huge rallies and even create a sense of siege within government.

However, everything the Baker administration tries to do completely fizzles out in a matter of days. The roar becomes a whimper and the Prince George’s County new Board of Education becomes an irrelevant irritant. The political threat it poses and the promises of the coalition are checkmated by harsh internal and external realities that reduce it to a smouldering rubble of unfulfilled potential and promise.

Prince George’s County new Board of Education’s potential for growth is undermined by the shackling grip of these internal and external challenges. As such, it is most unlikely that it will ever realize its potential unless radically changed and a rethink in strategy undertaken. The risks of confronting the internal challenges are enormous but it is worth taking them.

The biggest asset and biggest liability of the Prince George’s County leadership is its leader, the enigmatic, irreplaceable and evergreen Rushern Baker III. Rushern Baker III is Prince George’s County ’s Yasser Arafat. Like Arafat was to the Palestine Liberation Organization, Rushern Baker III defines the coalition by promoting nepotism at every turn, shapes its looks, pulls the masses to it, personifies the threat it poses to the powers that be, but monopolizes power in a manner that cripples its full potential by promoting corruption directly and indirectly.

When the leading light of  county leadership polarizes the population, he arrests the growth of the body politik. He makes it a force to be reckoned with but fails to build it into a machine that can ultimately maintain power and move the county forward. Prince George’s County leadership must rethink the Rushern Baker III riddle in November 2014. It can’t do without him, but the Prince George’s County citizenry knows that he cannot lead it to the Promised Land. This is one reason why change in leadership this fall is an important step in helping fix the county.

Prince George’s County’s potential is further compromised by the fact that it is headed by a leader who has failed to deliver the ultimate prize on several occasions. The brand is very strong, but the message is tired political cliché. The solution is a gamble, worth all the risk in the world. It is the right time for Rushern Baker III to pass the torch to Angela D. Alsobrooks, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk,  venerable Senator C. Anthony Muse, Timothy Wilson, Ms. Aliya Mullins or Mr. Roussan Etienne Jr.

Putting the county’s fate in Rushern Baker III to finally deliver the prize is unwise. An objective analysis of the political matrix in Prince George’s County shows that Rushern Baker III ’s brightest political days are behind him and he is in his sunset days! By passing the torch to Angela D. Alsobrooks, Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, venerable Senator C. Anthony Muse, Timothy Wilson, Ms. Aliya Mullins or Mr. Roussan Etienne Jr. Rushern Baker III will give the Prince George’s County leadership  enough time to build the components of a new political machine around the new leader.

Lack of depth in agenda

The Prince George’s County’s ’s second biggest weakness is lack of depth in agenda. Prince George’s County leadership has miserably failed to convince Prince George’s County citizenry that it has a plausible agenda for the county. One will be forgiven to think that the current point agenda touted as the blueprint by the Prince George’s County leadership was drafted right at the podium during the political rally at Largo or some other place.

The song and dance acts by various Senators can win them the November 2014 election, but Prince George’s County citizenry expect the opposition in Prince George’s County to churn out solid programmes and well thought-out ideas to show that they have better policies than the current regime led by Mr. Rushern Baker’s government.

The third weakness of the Prince George’s County leadership is its refusal to appreciate the Prince George’s County ’s political realities. The political fundamentals have not shifted and the corruption continues as usual within the county. In fact, it is correct to state that the majority of the county leans towards a new administration and are too willing to give it more time to deliver.

Prince George’s County citizenry are political realists and appreciate that days of political miracles are long gone. The Rushern Baker III administration is facing huge challenges, but it is utter nonsense to think that the Prince George’s County leadership is in a position to fix the issues with corruption running the show behind the scenes.

Fourth, Prince George’s County leadership is a poor reader of the national mood. By engaging in a new round of politicking, picketing and covert corruption including manipulation of the court system, the Prince George’s County leadership is swimming against a strong national and international current that wants stability, peace and economic growth for everyone.

Prince George’s County leadership is pushing the politics and the interests of the “self” and going against the wishes of the public. Prince George’s County leadership wants power for its leaders and not bread for its followers. This must be checked.

untitled4

***

Posted by . Categories: Rushern Baker should pass torch to a new leader to reinvigorate Prince George's county.. Tags: . Leave a comment

24

Jul. ’14

County executive candidates looking to challenge Baker.

MullinsRoussan_Etiennewilson

(From left to right Ms. Aliya Mullins; Mr. Roussan Etienne Jr and  Dr. Timothy Wilson)

UPPER MARLBORO – County Executive Rushern L. Baker III seeks reelection the fall election, but he faces three candidates who say the county is in dire need for a change in leadership. As shown above, the three candidates currently running against Baker are;

  1. Timothy Wilson, a U.S. military veteran.
  2. Ms. Aliya Mullins
  3. Mr. Roussan Etienne Jr

Baker said he is proud of his accomplishments regarding public safety, economic development and education.
According to the county police, since Baker took office the county has seen a 38 percent reduction in homicides, a 30 percent reduction in violent crimes and a 27 percent reduction in total crimes.
“That is because of things like the Transforming Neighborhoods Initiative,” Baker said. “It is not just about the number of police but it is about also looking at quality of life.” >>> Read more Prince George’s County Sentinel

image

Mr. Rushern Baker –The all powerful current County Executive for Prince George’s County is known not to be a man of his word according to Prince George’s County NAACP Chapter. He makes promises he cannot keep and is deeply involved in the scandal comprising Dr. kevin Maxwell. (Read more Major scandal Developing in Upper Marlboro). On this note, Mr. Baker needs to take responsibility and resign! It’s time for a change.

***

Posted by . Categories: County executive candidates looking to challenge Baker.. Tags: . Leave a comment

24

Jul. ’14

The Tiger (Panthera tigris).

Tigress_at_Jim_Corbett_National_Park

The largest of all the Asian big cats, tigers rely primarily on sight and sound rather than smell. They typically hunt alone and stalk prey. A tiger can consume up to 88 pounds of meat at one time. On average, tigers give birth to 2-3 cubs every 2-2.5 years. If all the cubs in one litter die, a second litter may be produced within 5 months.

Tigers generally gain independence at two years of age and attain sexual maturity at 3-4 years for females and at 4-5 years for males. Juvenile mortality is high however—about half of all cubs do not survive more than two years. Tigers have been known to reach the age of 26 years in the wild.

Males of the largest subspecies, the Amur (Siberian) tiger, may weigh up to 660 pounds. For males of the smallest subspecies—the Sumatran tiger—upper range is at around 310 pounds. Within each subspecies, males are heavier than females. Tigers are mostly solitary, apart from associations between mother and offspring. Individual tigers have a large territory and the size is determined mostly by the availability of prey. Although individuals do not patrol their territories, they visit over a period of days or weeks and mark their territory with urine and feces.

Across their range, tigers face unrelenting pressure from poaching, retaliatory killings and habitat loss. They are forced to compete for space with dense and often growing human populations.

640px-Siberian_Tiger_by_Malene_Th 640px-Tigerwater_edit2 800px-Golden_tiger_1_-_Buffalo_Zoo 1280px-2012_Suedchinesischer_Tiger 1280px-Hunting_Tiger_Ranthambore 1280px-Panthera_tigris_altaica_13_-_Buffalo_Zoo 1280px-Panthera_tigris_corbetti_01 1280px-Siberian_Tiger_sf A_Bengal_Tiger_(Panthera_tigris_tigris)_with_Indian_Pangolin(Manis_crassicaudata)_Tadoba_Tiger_Reserve_Maharastra Flehmen_Response_in_a_Sub_Adult_Tiger Panthera_tigris_sumatran_subspecies Panthera_tigris_tigris_edited2

DISTRIBUTION
Less than a century ago, tigers occupied a range extending from eastern Turkey and the southern fringes of the Caspian Sea eastward across Central Asia as far as the Sea of Okhotsk, south through eastern China to the Indian sub-continent, and the whole of Southeast Asia as far as the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java and Bali. This former range has contracted and been fragmented dramatically in recent decades. Tigers now occur only in scattered populations in parts of the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Sumatra, and the Russian Far East, with a small number still surviving in China.
Range States: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Russian Federation, Thailand and Vietnam.

tiger_map

The Tiger can be found in a number of locations including: Asia, China, Himalayas, Indian subcontinent.

***

Posted by . Categories: The tiger (Panthera tigris).. Tags: . Leave a comment

22

Jul. ’14

Steep Rise in Ivory Sales and Availability in Thailand

New undercover report from TRAFFIC finds disturbing growth in the world’s largest unregulated ivory market

XL_bracelets_Thailand_market_299914

Though Thailand reveres elephants and holds the animals as an important part of national identity, the country remains one of the most problematic worldwide when it comes to the illegal ivory trade.

A new undercover survey of markets in Thailand’s capital Bangkok from January 2013 until May 2014 by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, revealed:

  • A significant increase in the availability of ivory products, from 5,865 items to 14,512 items in the past 18 months
  • A steep rise in the number of outlets selling ivory in Thailand’s capital city, from 61 to 120

The report Polishing off the ivory: Surveys of Thailand’s ivory market concludes the vast majority of ivory being sold in Thailand is illegal under international commitments the country made under the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The publication comes just days before a crucial CITES meeting where Thailand will be asked to outline how it has implemented a national plan to end the illegal ivory trade, which was submitted to the Convention last year.

“As the poaching crisis continues to decimate elephant populations across Africa, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye on Thailand’s failure to revise outdated ivory legislation and live up to its international commitments,” said Crawford Allan, senior director at TRAFFIC. “Thailand has had over two decades to do the right thing and it’s past time for them to close legal loopholes that and shut down the illegal ivory trade.”

Halted progress

Last year, WWF delivered a global petition with nearly 1.6 million signatures to the Thai government urging leaders to shut down the ivory market. But despite a public commitment to action, little progress has been made.

A 75-year-old law permits the legal trade of ivory from domesticated Asian elephants in Thailand, often from the ivory left after captive elephants’ tusks are trimmed. But with no registration system in place, the government cannot trace the ivory. This makes it easier for ivory from illegal sources to enter the market place. The report shows the amount of ivory for sale in Thailand far exceeds the amount that could possibly come from domestic elephants. And since 2008, more than 13 tons of African elephant ivory have been seized in Thailand.

Tens of thousands of African elephants are slaughtered each year for their ivory to meet the heavy demand from Asia. Transnational organized criminal gangs are believed to be behind much of the trafficking.

TRAFFIC and WWF are working closely together to stop wildlife crime. We are applying the strength of our worldwide networks, our influence with partners and governments, and the passion of our supporters to end a crisis that is threatening to undo years of conservation progress.

You can help. Sign on to stop wildlife crime. 

***

imagesCAFGZFQS

A Kenyan wildlife ranger inscribes markings on the 775 elephant tusks that was seized by the port police at the container terminal destined for Malaysia in the coastal town of Mombasa

20102265125185360_8

Boycott ivory products such as these ones pictured here and help save the Elephant and the Rhino.

ivory-carving-car_48

 A car covered with carved ivory. How many elephants died for this?

***

Posted by . Categories: Uncategorized. Tags: , , , . Leave a comment