Africa Wild

MEDIA INVITATION: ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MINISTER TO RECEIVE DONATION FOR WILDLIFE PROTECTION FROM CHINESE EMBASSY AND CHINESE COMMUNITY

MEDIA INVITATION

ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS MINISTER TO RECEIVE DONATION FOR WILDLIFE PROTECTION FROM CHINESE EMBASSY AND CHINESE COMMUNITY

02 MARCH 2018

The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa will receive a R200 000.00 donation from the Chinese Embassy and Chinese Community in South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday 4 March 2018. The donation is to support wildlife protection efforts by South African government, and will be used at the Kruger National Park.

The donation forms part of Chinese Lantern Festival and the 20th anniversary of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and South Africa. The carnival is hosted by the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Community, and will consist of art performances, Chinese cuisines tasting and charity sale. The proceeds of the carnival will be donated to South Africa for wildlife protection, thereby showing China’s commitment to fighting against wildlife crimes.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the ceremony as per the details below:

Date: Sunday 4 March 2018

Time: 11:00

Venue: China Mall, Cnr Main Reef and Production Road, Johannesburg

To RSVP, contact:

Ernest Mulibana on 082 263 7273 / EMulibana@environment.gov.za

For media queries, contact Albi Modise on 083 490 2871

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS ***

https://www.environment.gov.za/…/molewa ... onationfor…

Response from Save the Beasts, Stop the Slaughter:

CHINESE PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT'S WILDLIFE PROTECTION EFFORTS, CONSIDERED AS NOTHING MORE THAN BLOOD MONEY, AND CHUMP CHANGE TO BOOT!

After more than a decade of sustained poaching, pillaging and plundering of South Africa's rhinos and its iconic natural heritage, a R200 000 donation from The Chinese Embassy and the Chinese community in South Africa to support the South African government's wildlife protection efforts, is like a serial rapist leaving his victims $5 dollar tips for stealing their virginity.

This token amount is considered by many as nothing more than blood money, and a cheap insult to the people of South Africa, and all the brave rangers fighting at the coal face to prevent rhino poaching.

At today's exchange rate, R200 000 equates to approximately US$17500 - mere chump change, compared to the price the all our rhinos have paid with their lives.

To make a point, South Africa doesn't need China's cheap charity - China has tried to buy its way out of Dodge in other African nations like Zimbabwe and Namibia before, by offering similar paltry sums.

It is high time the United Nations and world governments held all nations accountable, and penalised them for crimes against the environment.

That would force them to hunt down the traffickers, and bring to justice the transnational organised crime syndicates responsible for this massive ecoside.

Minister Molewa's presence at the "ceremony" on Sunday, and acceptance of this blood money a day after World Wildlife Day, is seen as a sellout to Chinese interests, and betrayal of our iconic wildlife heritage.

Would China sell off its panda population to a nation with a history of beastiality?

Absolutely! And there is absolutely no guarantee the money won't "disappear" anyway...

All very true, but better than nothing.