License to kill

[caddyman]

TIGER, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?


I am an armchair conservationist at best. No point pretending otherwise. I see the reports in the news and I read other people’s comments about this and that and I think to myself that something should perhaps be done. By someone.

I don’t doubt, for example, that climate change is happening and that the consequences for humanity and the world humanity has created look as though they might be quite severe. I remain unconvinced that the statistical sample is big enough to suggest that all climatic changes and/or events are down to human action or inaction. I wouldn’t rule it out, though and I think there is probably enough evidence to suggest that humanity has at least helped accelerate a natural process possibly beyond the ability of the planet to compensate in the short term. And before he gets the wrong end of the stick, I wouldn’t like hekai to think that I am in anyway undervaluing or otherwise dismissing his concerns on climate change. Something should, perhaps, be done. Quite what, I’m not sure, though I realise that Pete will furnish me with long and well-argued lists of options, if I let him!

Anyway, despite the pros and cons of various arguments and the validity of this research over that and the likely consequences of action over inaction, even I can see the blindingly obvious – and here I move away from climate change and onto what I perceive to be firmer ground.

The Tiger: In 1900 there were thought to be around 40,000 tigers in India. That’s probably only a fraction of what there would have been had they not been hunted. Nonetheless, it was a viable population. Today, India has 1,411 tigers in the wild. That is half what it was in 2002. In China, there are thought to be between 30 and 40 tigers left – though tiger farms have another 5,000 in captivity. Note that these are tiger farms, not zoos. Ostensibly these are tourist attractions, but the potential income from tiger bone wine dwarfs what the owners can make from tourism. Can anyone say with a straight face that they are not farmed for tonics, ointments, unguents and all manner of quack medicines, quite apart from the value of their pelts.

The dwindling world stock of tigers is likely to be pushed that much closer to extinction after China quietly approved the sale of products extracted from them. These products already fetch a high price on the black market and now the trade, in China at least, is legal.

I doubt there will be any tigers left in the wild in ten years.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6819403.ece

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/leading_article/article6819264.ece

So what does China produce that we simply must buy? Something should perhaps be done. By someone.

Comments

[littleonionz.livejournal.com]

There was a lot I loved about living in asia. The bear bile farming the tiger farming, snake torturing and murderizing all for 'man tonics' were however a part of the 'mystery of the orient'that I find sickening as all vaguely right headed peoples aught to. Its not cultural its just sick,but then being born a girl in most parts of China can be a death sentence, what chance do 'mere' animals have?

[mr-h-r-hughes.livejournal.com]

*does best cheerleader impression from the sidelines*

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Regret an extra pint?

What nonsense is this? ;-)

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

I can't help but think your earlier post as a possible contributory factor.

On a less flippant note, those are some seriously stunning and depressing stats you quoted - I wonder how much of that is due to deliberate elimination vs. impacts of deforestation and the rest.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

It did occur to me there was an ironic link, yes.

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

I was wondering if thinking of one led to the other?