Date: Wed, 19 Jul 2000 10:33:44 +1200 From: "Bruce Salmon" <brucesal@xtra.co.nz> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2160$foo@default> Subject: CITES
Sean Samia wrote....
I agree 100 % with you about the cites problems. The
idiots that run it don't understand simple, normal
thinking. They think that just because they have
college degrees that they can't be told how to run
things, even when the problems are slapping them in
the face. They need to get their college degree, throw
it on the ground and go to school and learn common
sense! And when you try to give them friendly advice,
they get very offended. To people who are replying to
this article, don't get emotional, get logical.
To which I might add....
CITES was never devised to deal with plants in the first place - only things
like Rhino horn et al.
The powers that be are not very interested in what collecters have to say
even though we are the very people they are supposed to be protecting the
plant populations against.
Hence there is a huge black market out there where you can get whatever you
want if you so desire.
The severely underfunded authorities also seem hell bent on prosecution
rather than prevention.
I have perconally come across many Plant officials (with degrees) who
couldnt tell a stolon from a stigma. They have no "real world" experience.
And - if you know how the system works - even if you do get caught smuggling
(so long as you don't incriminate yourself) then there is little they can do
to stop you.
It's just a sad, sad joke!
An excellent and recent book on this subject is...
Orchid Fever (a horticultural tale of love. lust and lunacy)
by Eric Hansen
Panthenon
ISBN 0-679-45141-2
Some of you may remember the author from another of his books...
Stranger in the Forest
about his solo trek across the interior of Borneo.
Bruce
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