I've been to Ngorongoro and it is considered the cradle of human kind. Where some of the first hominids are said to have walked the earth. Wildlife such as lions, cheetahs, zebras, and the like, roam freely in the space where the Masai graze. This vast land situated near the Serengeti is the ancestral territory for all of these inhabitants. But a new breed of inhabitants threaten its safety, livelihood and even very existence. These new inhabitants... wealthy tourists.
This place has been a world destination for tourist for centuries, of course. But if the Tanzanian government has its way, it could open the reigns of the area making it available for tourists to more than just have their way. Money talks, and in this case, the money wants to hunt the very wildlife that makes this area the most precious in the world. Ain't nobody going to Europe or Dubai to see animals. Never mind the potential for extinction, we want to eat lion and leopard for dinner in Africa. That's pretty much the sentiment. Hunting. It not only places the wildlife in danger but their societal keepers, the Masai as well. Not because they'd be in the way of course, Kikwete (TZs president) isn't inhumane exactly. Troops have been dispatched in the past to keep cattle and humans out of way of the hunting. But now, a firm wants to buy the land and settle in the area for the sole purpose of tourist hunting game. The threat of relocation for the Masai would take away an already diminishing 40 per cent of ancestral land and grazing territory.
This is not a completely new threat after all. Royalties from days gone by have hunted game, placing the heads of their prey on mantles, meaty bodies on their dinner tables and skin on their boots. It is an art.. a game. But we are done with playing people's lives here.
We need them to know that they can not buy us. Africa has been raped far too long for the benefit of the money rich. And quite frankly we are tired of it. The Masai deserve their livelihood despite Kikwete's belief and despite what money can say, never mind the damage it can do.
I found this petition on Avaaz, and I hope that it encourages Kikwete to stand his ground, our ground, for his people and not for the wealthy tourists. Perhaps they can bring their monies and promote more efforts in conservation. Dig a borehole. Or do something selfless to preserve the land.
I mean, this is just all types of wrong. Read More.
And More
See the Masaai plea below! And sign the Petition! I hope its not too late.
Stand with the Masai <-------- Click here
We are elders of the Maasai from Tanzania, one of Africa’s oldest tribes. The government has just announced that it plans to kick thousands of our families off our lands so that wealthy tourists can use them to shoot lions and leopards. The evictions are to begin immediately.
Last year, when word first leaked about this plan, almost one million Avaaz members rallied to our aid. Your attention and the storm it created forced the government to deny the plan, and set them back months. But the President has waited for international attention to die down, and now he’s revived his plan to take our land. We need your help again, urgently.
President Kikwete may not care about us, but he has shown he’ll respond to global media and public pressure -- to all of you! We may only have hours. Please stand with us to protect our land, our people and our world’s most majestic animals and tell everyone, before it is too late. This is our last hope.
-- The Masai community of Ngorongoro District
This place has been a world destination for tourist for centuries, of course. But if the Tanzanian government has its way, it could open the reigns of the area making it available for tourists to more than just have their way. Money talks, and in this case, the money wants to hunt the very wildlife that makes this area the most precious in the world. Ain't nobody going to Europe or Dubai to see animals. Never mind the potential for extinction, we want to eat lion and leopard for dinner in Africa. That's pretty much the sentiment. Hunting. It not only places the wildlife in danger but their societal keepers, the Masai as well. Not because they'd be in the way of course, Kikwete (TZs president) isn't inhumane exactly. Troops have been dispatched in the past to keep cattle and humans out of way of the hunting. But now, a firm wants to buy the land and settle in the area for the sole purpose of tourist hunting game. The threat of relocation for the Masai would take away an already diminishing 40 per cent of ancestral land and grazing territory.
This is not a completely new threat after all. Royalties from days gone by have hunted game, placing the heads of their prey on mantles, meaty bodies on their dinner tables and skin on their boots. It is an art.. a game. But we are done with playing people's lives here.
We need them to know that they can not buy us. Africa has been raped far too long for the benefit of the money rich. And quite frankly we are tired of it. The Masai deserve their livelihood despite Kikwete's belief and despite what money can say, never mind the damage it can do.
I mean, this is just all types of wrong. Read More.
And More
See the Masaai plea below! And sign the Petition! I hope its not too late.
Stand with the Masai <-------- Click here
We are elders of the Maasai from Tanzania, one of Africa’s oldest tribes. The government has just announced that it plans to kick thousands of our families off our lands so that wealthy tourists can use them to shoot lions and leopards. The evictions are to begin immediately.
Last year, when word first leaked about this plan, almost one million Avaaz members rallied to our aid. Your attention and the storm it created forced the government to deny the plan, and set them back months. But the President has waited for international attention to die down, and now he’s revived his plan to take our land. We need your help again, urgently.
President Kikwete may not care about us, but he has shown he’ll respond to global media and public pressure -- to all of you! We may only have hours. Please stand with us to protect our land, our people and our world’s most majestic animals and tell everyone, before it is too late. This is our last hope.
-- The Masai community of Ngorongoro District
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