Half a million dollars is how much it cost Osama Bin Laden to perform the most deadly attack on U.S. soil. Even though Osama Bin Laden is dead there threat from Islamic extremists has never been higher. Everything they need to pull of these attacks and threats cost money. Some things they need include surveillance equipment, training, food, lodging, and travel. The most recent organazations are ISIS and the Boka Haram attack, who kidnapped hundreds of girls and sold them for $12 a piece. But there has been a new funding for terrorism, and that's poaching. The illegal wildlife trade makes 7 billion to 10 billion per year and most of the trade is located in Asia. There are many reasons why people want ivory and rhino horns. For instance, in China they believe that rhino horns and ivory have special healing powers. In Vietman they believe that having them is a status symbol and can cure a hangover. A rhino horn can sell for $65,000 a kilogram in Asia. That's more expensive than silver, gold, and diamonds. South Africa is home to 80% of the worlds rhino population. In 2007 the number of rhinos poached was only 13 and in 2013 the number rose to 746. And in Central Africa two thirds of it's elephant population has been wiped out in the last 10 years. Now terrorist are finding the killing of African animals as a way of income. In 2011 an al Qaeda associate, Al-Shabaab, made $200,000 to $600,000 a month from tusks. The article also states that poaching is not only a source of income but there is no punishment for it and people usually dont get caught for poaching.
We need to find a way to stop this from happening. Not only are terrorist groups killing innocent people now they are killing innocent animals. It's also sad that animals are being used for a way of income. I hope we can find way to stop terrorist all around.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/22/opinion/poe-poaching-terrorism-funding/
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ReplyDeleteThis is something very serious because before you know it, these precious animals could go extinct. Did the article offer any new ways to stop poaching from happening? I think there has to be a way society can come together to stop all the terrorist groups, because it seems like they are the at the root of every problem.
ReplyDeleteThe article gave a couple reason that could stop this problem. It said that, first, there needs to be a deeper understanding of the issue. Meaning we need to find out what terrorist groups are taking part in poaching animals. Next the Obama administration needs to find an anti poaching organization that will take charge. Then we would need to figure out how much money we would need and would be spending. We would need law enforcement support, military training, etc. Finally, after all these things are in place, we would need to take action. Hopefully we can find a way to stop these terrorist from killing animals and I also agree that terrorist do seem to be the root of every problem.
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