Role Of CITES?

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr. Wijnstekers,

 

With all due respect, I think your name got attached to these public discussions

about the shortcomings of CITES, since you work for CITES.

 

We were hoping perhaps you could help us all understand how CITES works and

what's being done to close loopholes and overt problems allowing CITES documents

to be allegedly easily " purchased " to the highest bidder....

 

Previously your colleague, John Sellar, has explained *how* CITES works, but no

one wants to discuss how or why such serious problems continue to plague a

system, intended to stem the tide of illegal transport of endangered species.

 

Instead, when it's pointed out there has been a crime (usually by animal welfare

groups and not CITES, who doesn't seem to police itself), the country where the

animals are confiscated - and often the country where the crime originated (as

is the case with the Taiping 4 gorillas), is then the country who gets to decide

the fate of those " specimen " as the terminology has been explained to me.

 

If you or someone from CITES would just please elaborate on how and why

endangered animals (dolphins, gorillas, etc) continue to be taken illegally from

the wild, given non-verified " official " CITES papers and then allowed to be put

into the captive population by the very people who most likely committed the

crimes or looked away while crimes were passing under their noses, we would be

eternally grateful.

 

I'm of the belief that part of your " work " as a public official, is answering

these kinds of questions, so I look forward to your reply. Thank you.

 

Jane Dewar

-

Willem Wijnstekers

Mark Lakomski ; Jane T. R. Dewar ; primfocus

Cc: John Sellar ; gorillakeepers ; ngandelman ;

CESD A ; Asian Animal Protection

Monday, February 09, 2004 4:02 AM

RE: primfocus: Re: CITES

 

 

I don't know who you guys are and I don't know why I am on your mailing list.

 

What I do know is that your spam keeps me from doing my work, so please stop

sending me the kind of stuff below.

 

 

 

Much obliged,

 

 

 

Willem Wijnstekers

 

 

 

Mark Lakomski [lakomski]

Friday, February 06, 2004 9:11 PM

Jane T. R. Dewar; primfocus

Cc: John Sellar; gorillakeepers ; Willem Wijnstekers;

ngandelman; CESD A; Asian Animal Protection

Re: primfocus: Re: CITES

 

 

 

Hi Jane,

 

 

 

That's pretty much it. Not that I can do much about it but I will continue to

 

demand explanations. I'm sure there are some good people at CITES but

 

until they do what appears to be a rather straight forward job I will view

them

 

as a group of self-serving spineless political dolts. Tough cookies if they

 

don't like it. If they can't do their job I believe McDonalds is hiring.

Either

 

do your damn job or leave. I have a long list of people that should have that

 

position.

 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

- Mark Lakomski

 

 

 

-

 

Jane T. R. Dewar

 

Mark Lakomski ; primfocus

 

Cc: John Sellar CITES ; gorillakeepers ;

willem.wijnstekers ; ngandelman ; CESD A ; Asian Animal

Protection

 

Friday, February 06, 2004 1:14 PM

 

Re: primfocus: Re: CITES

 

 

 

Thanks, Mark,

 

 

 

As usual, it's $$ and human ego and greed that is causing the destruction of

our world. And while the good people think they can't do anything to help, so

they remain silent, the bad guys count on that apathy to continue their evil

ways.

 

 

 

I still believe there are some good people at CITES, but sadly, too few with

the guts and commitment to stand up and DO something about it.

 

 

 

Jane