elephants on the brink of extinction – and the EU is partly to blame

There is so so so much that's brutal and painful in our world, and I almost never use this blog to post about specific campaigns. There are so many, and I am not in any way pretending this is more significant than others.

It's just that this one was one too many in my email feed today, and it really broke my heart – I could say it's the last straw on the camel's back.

One move to eliminate human or (in this case) animal suffering is better than nothing, and in a symbolic way stands in for all the others, though of course doesn't reduce the others or the need to address them.

What arrived was a picture of an elephant with its face hacked away. Worse is that it seemed to be still alive. I will spare you the picture, though I am aware that it's often the sight of such atrocities that triggers action. Elephants are on the brink of extinction, with one being slaughtered for its tusks EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES.

I feel devastated this morning, and of course that's on behalf of ALL the human and animal suffering.

I'm not using the word 'devastated' lightly. The levels of others' suffering that we become aware of through the media nearly take me to the edge.

Sometimes I am ashamed to be human. Where on earth to start to change all this?

Perhaps right here. Please please would you take a moment to sign this petition, and share it with friends?

Here's what campaigning group Avaaz has to say:

'Every 15 minutes an elephant is brutally slaughtered for its tusks, and at this rate they will be gone forever in just a few years. Momentum is growing for a complete global ban on ivory – but the European Commission has just come out against it!

'The elephant crisis is heartbreaking. In some areas these magnificent, sensitive creatures are so terrified of people they only come out at night, and mourning baby elephants refuse to leave the butchered corpses of their mothers. Now 29 African governments have said if Europe gets its way, it will spell extinction for our elephants, and they need our help.

'A key global summit is just around the corner where we could win the total ban we need, and there are signs powerful countries like France and Germany could lead a rebellion against the EU’s elephant death sentence. African governments will deliver our giant call straight into key meetings to build support for the ban – sign now to keep our elephants safe, and share with everyone you know.'

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/global_ivory_ban_loc/?pv=93
(Be aware you'll see the photo)