HI EVERYONE

im glad i have a blog to save the black rhinos

Hi Team Rhino - Founder Group -

Here is a most excellent work by the students from Bungoma.   From their earlier artistic submissions, depicting scenes of poachers and security guards, I asked them to please put a picture book story about the situation and our work now and as it unfolds ahead.  They have taken up the task and here is their first chapter in the picture book.  It it is a most imaginative and powerful narrative, told from the perspective of the animal kingdom.   I want to put our music from our program in and around this work to complement it and to further project our program to the world out there.  Thank you students of Bungoma, Mr. Masika and all the great tech team that worked so hard in the past several weeks of our Phase I pilot!   Enjoy...

BLACK RHINO PICTURE BOOK

Chapter 1

                     

                     

From the Kids of Bungoma, Kenya

CRY:

“WHY TARGET ME?”

Jungle TV Announcement:

“Today is the day we should look for the best solution to defend our fellow Rhinoceros family.  We have heard several illicit slaughter of our beloved brothers and sisters of the jungle destiny.” said by the president of the jungle Mr. Lion and his first lady Mrs. Lioness. Thus began the start of a movement that could improve the chance for saving the black Rhino.

After the news coming up for a better idea to save the black rhino, it crossed the life of different wildlife species. Why? Poachers knew that the cry of animals was against their will of becoming rich. Most of them equipped themselves with dangerous firearms, as if they are going for a war to fight rebels within the jungle. But—but—ahhhh! They were after a polite and foreigner attractor for Mr. Rhinoceros, “Shame to you poachers. Do you think what you’re doing is good? Your days are numbered!”

Look at the poacher with a gun targeting to kill a black rhino. 

Children of the world - Is it fair to kill the black rhino?

Thank you security department for caring for the rhino, please, keep it up and save the rhinoceros species in any game reserve worldwide.

Thank you for being vigilant, we believe later on you will scare poachers from killing innocent black rhinos for the sake of its precious horn.

See how wildlife family is scared with poachers’ firearms. Children of the world, you know what they need? Ooh! Nothing but a peaceful environment to stay and enjoy Jungle freedom.

As the life the Rhino was still not protected. The jungle president Mr. Lion called Jungle stakeholders meeting where he was to chair. The agenda of the meeting was to form a jungle security task force. The meeting attracted several wildlife species, though the Rhino was much worried and was much unsettled.

In the meeting, Mr. President Lion called upon jungle members present to do free and fair security task force elections to get those who will remain alert all the time and inform others without bias. Funny enough, as the meeting was on, Mr. Bat set up an alarm that there was a poacher coming to kill them.

An alarm divided the minds of animals that forgot that they were having a security meeting, but they heard a sound of legs moving fast, and a voice saying, “Why can’t you save me?” The jungle president warned his bodyguards, Mr. Hare and Hyena, to run at their best so that they can not be found by a bullet from a silencer.

Wildlife family in a security meeting to elect security task force while other animal family standing at a distance worried of being attacked by the poachers.  

 After an alarm by wildlife jungle security guard, Mr. Bat, whose nature is not known, you can’t tell if he is an animal or a bird, every animal ran as fast as it could to save its life.

Children of the world - Do you know that life is important on the planet? See how the wildlife is struggling for their life against the poachers.

As far as the animals were running to save their life, they could not compete with bullet and arrows that ran faster than they can do. Instead they heard downfalls of innocent animals, but most of the bullets were directed to the Black Rhino. Ooh Malice poachers, are you doing the right thing to this innocent Rhino? What are your suggestions to children of the world?

See how animals are being killed

After this incident with the poachers, the jungle president asked for human intervention to save the Black Rhino. He turned to kids first saying; “You have demonstrated your love of animals through your animal dolls. Remember, a young kid who sees an animal toy will cry to carry the doll.  Even if that doll is of a lion or any other fierce or scary animal, the child will love it.  Children of the world, will you share the love of your animal dolls with our beloved wildlife brothers and sisters?  And parents, will you extend the love for your children to our animal kingdom, to help save us from the poachers?!”

How can we begin to understand? – Learn from Mkomazi.

                                              Thank you so much, from the kids from Bungoma, Kenya.

    

   

                                   

Hi Everyone,

Thank you again for an incredible effort and output for Phase I of our - Kids Worldwide Unite: Save the Rhino program series

Here are the lyrics of the beautiful songs our classes wrote & sang during this two and a half week summer education program

Looking forward to receiving the videos from your sites of their renditions they all sang on our last Phase I Skype session:

LYRICS FROM THE SONGS OF

OUR FOUNDER GROUP

KIDS WORLDWIDE UNITE TO SAVE THE RHINO

INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM – End of Phase 1

WRITTEN BY STUDENTS

FROM NAIROBI & BUNGOMA KENYA, AND NYC, USA  

AUGUST 2, 2013

Nairobi, Kenya – Lyrics of their Saving the Black Rhino Song:

On the day God created the animals and when all was done-it was beautiful, it was lovely...

I am a Rhino, black or white, I am a Rhino, cousins to the elephants, and all the other wild animals, and we are part of that beauty, without us the world is incomplete...

Save me X9 from the depths of the forest of Africa; from Kenya to Namibia, to South Africa X2 Save me for me and for you... (chorus)

Trash the crap, know the truth; neither my horns or meat can make any medicine; I am no magic wand either. That is true for me and for my cousins the elephant....

What is my worth, you dare to ask; I live in the wild, yet I am like glue connecting human hearts; people from distance a far meet and connect because of me; hospitals and schools are built because of me; lives and destinies are saved because of me and my wild brothers...the earth remains BEAUTIFUL because of me and my brothers

back to chorus...hum along...

New York City – Bronx USA - Lyrics of their Saving the Black Rhino Songs:

Song #1

We better go go go to east to west, searching the rhinos from right to left, so were running to save the rhinos alright we got 2 killers and they better stop if they don't we'll call the cops so stop killing the rhinos they are too weak to be killed because they don't have a chance to run away from the poachers from the poachers ........ from the poachers. 

Song #2

I just wanna see you stop killing those rhinos; i just wanna see you stop oh! Killing those rhinos killing, those rhinos..... Killing those rhinos.

Bungoma, Kenya – Lyrics of their Saving the Black Rhino Song:

Bungoma save the rhino song.

(Jungle boys*2 save the rhinos)*2 is a chorus for the song.
stanza 1
we need to save the rhinos ooh! ooh! ooh! jungle boys *2
stanza 2
As the Jungle we must save the black rhino*2
stanza 3
Vietnamese and south Africans let us unite and save the rhino*2

Look at how many rhino horns they cut off do u know how hurt I was when I saw this I wanted to cry  and I mean that from the bottom of my heart!!!!!!!

ONE PLANET EDUCATION NETWORK (OPEN)

WHY WE DO THIS,

 VALUE OF PROGRAMS LIKE THIS,

THE CALL TO ACTION FOR LIKE-MINDED STUDENTS OF THE WORLD

WITH THIS PROGRAM WE ARE ALL WRESTLING WITH A PLANETARY WIDE DILEMMA

AN ETHICAL AS WELL AS A LEGAL, ECONOMIC, POLITICAL AND SOCIAL DILEMMA

HUMANS VS. ANIMALS VS. FORESTS VS. FREE NATURAL LANDS AND OCEANS – FULL OF THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE THAT SUSTAINS THE FOOD WEB, WHICH IN TURN PROVIDES FOR US….

ALL THE THINGS THAT SUPPORT OUR WAY OF LIFE AND FUTURE LIFE

SUSTAINABILITY – TOP TO BOTTOM – NOT STOPPING PROGRESS,... BUT BEING SMARTER ABOUT THE WAYS WE OPERATE AND DEVELOP THE 21^ST CENTURY HUMAN MACHINERY

AS YOU KNOW, THE RHINO CRISIS, IT’S ALSO A WAR BETWEEN –

KNOWLEDGE VS. IGNORANCE

HUMANS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF UNKNOWING HUMANS FOR THEIR OWN SHORT-TERM PERSONAL PROFIT, WITH NOT A CARE FOR OTHER LIFE

WE KNOW DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IS ENOUGH OF A CHALLENGE SOMETIMES, NOT EASY IN NAIROBI, IN BUNGOMA, OR IN THE BRONX NEW YORK CITY

NOT TELLING YOU ALL SOMETHING YOU DON’T ALREADY KNOW…

BUT SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO STEP BACK AND TAKE THE WIDE ANGLE – LONGER RANGE VIEW, 

AND YOU ARE DOING JUST THAT....

AND WE DO STUFF LIKE THIS, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, THE INTELLIGENCE, THE COMMITMENT, THE CREATIVITY AND WIT…..

TO LIFT ONE ANOTHER UP, TO LEARN LIKE CRAZY WHILE WE DO SO, IN A FUN WAY ABOUT THE WORLD AND ITS FUTURE, OUR EXISTENCE AND THE EXISTENCE OF FUTURE GENERATIONS

THE CHALLENGE LIKE THE RHINO IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE ONE SMALL, BUT STILL DIFFICULT PART

BUT TODAY THIS WORLD IS HIGHLY CONNECTED, AND WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON IN DISTANT CORNERS ALMOST INSTANTLY,

AND SO NOW WE HAVE THE MEANS.

AND SO WE HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR NOT TRYING LIKE MAD TO SPREAD THE GOOD WORD

TO TELL IT LIKE IT IS – TO TELL OURSELVES AND OTHERS --  WHAT’S REAL AND WHAT’S NOT –

AND RHINO HORN AS MEDICINCE IS NOT… IT’S NOT REAL AND THE KILLING OFF OF THIS LONG-LIVED SPECIES... FOR WHAT THEY ARE DYING FOR.. IS PATENTLY INSANE

WHILE ONE CHALLENGE  –  THIS RHINO AND ELEPHANT AND TIGER AND LION AND ENDANGERED SPECIES PROBLEM,.... THIS STILL IS A HUGE CHALLENGE FOR US TO TAKE ON.

BUT IF WE FACE THESE CHALLENGES TOGETHER, AS A UNIFIED INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF KIDS WHO CARE, KIDS WHO DO…

WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD FOR EVERYONE’S BETTERMENT – THE ANIMALS AND OURSELVES

AND AS THIS SHORT PHASE I PROGRAM, BEGUN WITH OUR SMALL FOUNDER GROUP HAS CLEARLY SHOWN…. (ME AT LEAST),…..

WE CAN DO THIS!! 

WITH THESE NEW SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLS AND OUR FULL COMMITMENT TO STICK WITH IT IT’S NO LONGER A PIPE DREAM…

SO CARRY ON WITH THIS – WITH OUR WITHOUT OPEN – AND MAKE US ALL PROUD

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK EFFORT OVER THESE SHORT WEEKS…

LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO SHAKE THE TREE WITH YOU!!!

GEORGE NEWMAN

ONE PLANET EDUCATION NETWORK (OPEN)

AUGUST 2, 2013

WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE LAST DAY'S SESSION - END OF PHASE I OF OUR INTERNATIONAL DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM

KIDS WORLDWIDE UNITE - SAVE THE RHINO -

EDUCATION PUT INTO GLOBAL ACTION

HERE BELOW IS THE FIRST DRAFT REPORT - FINDINGS FROM OUR GREAT BUNGOMA KENYA TEAM - ON DEMAND FOR RHINO HORN

BUT THIS REPORT ALSO OFFERS HELPFUL IDEAS ON HOW WE CAN ACT TO HALT OR AT LEAST TRY TO MITIGATE THIS GLOBAL ILLEGAL TRADE SYSTEM

EXCELLENT IDEAS THAT WILL INFORM OUR OTHER TEAM OF STUDENTS - OUR FOUNDING GROUP - IN NYC BRONX, NAIROBI AND BUNGOMA KENYA.

BUT THIS IS NOT THE END AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED BUT A BEGINNING....THIS PROGRAM WILL CARRY FORWARD HOPEFULLY WITH SOME OUTSIDE SUPPORT TO EXPAND OUR PROGRAM TO INCLUDE YOUNG STUDENT GROUPS IN -

SOUTH AFRICA (WHERE THE MOST RHINOS EXIST AND WHERE THERE IS A HUGE INCREASE IN THE KILLINGS)
TANZANIA

AND THE DEMAND AND MAIN INTERMEDIARY COUNTRIES:
VIETNAM
YEMEN
CHINA
THAILAND
KOREA
SINGAPORE
INDIA

AND POSSIBLY OTHERS

SO HERE FOR YOUR REVIEW AND CONTEMPLATION IS THE A+ REPORT FROM BUNGOMA (WITH MINOR EDITS BY OPEN FOR EXPEDIENCY IN POSTING FOR THIS BLOG)

THANK YOU ALL


                                                BUNGOMA, KENYA TEAM

OPEN RHINO EDUCATION GAME SERIES & PROGRAMS

BUNGOMA FIRST DRAFT REPORT – END OF PHASE I

KIDS WORLDWIDE UNITE – SAVE THE RHINO

MAIN DEMAND COUNTRIES FOR RHINO HORNS

Vietnam is the major recipient of rhino horn from South Africa. Other countries are; Yemen, Thailand, China, Malaysia and South Korea and India among others.

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS ALREADY IN PLACE

Around 177 government and agencies have been trying to halt the trade of rhino horn in an international agreement known as CITES- (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) of wild and flora and fauna.

TRADE NETWORK

As a blatant example – those horns sold in Vietnam pass through, retail outlets, such as traditional medicine stores.  It is also fairly easy to locate rhino horn for sale online in Vietnam.

END USERS

Vietnam- they believe that rhino horn is a cure for cancer as per traditional myth.  Other supposed remedies from rhino horn – used as a cure for headaches, joint pain, rheumatism and more.

Eastern country of Yemen- since rhino horn are distinctive, beautiful and translucent when curved had led to human appetite whose luster increases with age is used for the handles of curved daggers called ‘Jambiya’ which are presented to Yemen boys at age of 12 yrs as a sign of manhood and devotion to the Muslim religion and used as personal defense.

There is another belief, and there may be some truth behind it, that rhino horn has an ability to detect poisons, which is linked to the composition of the horn.

WHY?

Rhino horns are composed largely of the protein keratin, also the chief component in hair, finger nails and animal hooves. Other users believe that rhino horn cures variety of ailments and in China they use it to lower fever in rats.

MIDDLE MEN AND THEIR MARK UP ON PRICE

In South Africa where the black rhino had been brought to the edge of extinction because of high demand in Vietnam where they network very well, they use Quasi–legal ways.  Rhino horn finds its way to the Vietnamese market via trophy hunts in the above named country of Africa.

In general in Africa big businessmen on minimal level/ average they are behind the black market of endangered black rhino horn.

PRICE MARK UP DRIVING THE DEMAND

Vietnam market, ‘freshly cut rhino horn commands a retail price of USD $25,000 - 40,000 per kg. This price motivates poachers to advance their poaching mechanism and create more networks in different countries with endangered black rhino.

POLITICIAN WHO BENEFIT

If in most of African countries and even outside Africa, most of lawmakers are politicians, therefore, they should be answerable to the rhinoceros species killings and black market for black rhino products horn at most.

HOW RAMPART IS BRIBERY

Not very known, but through observations most of the countries have wildlife security services, how to poachers enter game reserves? Do they stay in game reserves? Do security agencies do patrol? Do they have signals for security purposes? Therefore, if this is well done how comes killings of the endangered black rhino continues? 

Ok blame finger should pinpoint security agency bosses.  But we also acknowledge that there are severe resource issues at this time to cover the huge areas.

LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT I EACH COUNTRY

Every country globally should come up with laws that will govern all wildlife species to fully inspect transportation system, to stop illegal hunting of wildlife, to create a United Nation’s body to guard the endangered black rhino.

Not only should they create laws but they should advocate for the by-laws and educate the entire society so that they can observe the law.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MITIGATION:

Education for End users

Capacity building should be facilitated and mobilization of other resources apart from Rhino horns and advocacy against myths and traditional beliefs.

How realistically?

By mobilizing the appropriate resources to the end user countries, what do they have? How can it generate income? Be informed on the importance of the available resources.

How long will it take?

Not many years, but it will depend on approach and implementation of what is said by rule of law and enforcement against wildlife abuse.

Strict punishment for middlemen and top dogs

The affected countries to enforce law that will punish or sentence middlemen when found co-ordinating illegal black market for Rhino horns. And top security officers to be interviewed when any cases of rhino slaughter is reported.

Countries to enforce that immediately in order to reduce black rhino slaughter. Why should we wait and the life of black rhino is endangered.

How enforceable?

Affected countries to make sure that every person locally understands the rule of law protecting the rhinoceros species extinct

Re - education of poachers

On BCC (behavior change and communication) by targeting poachers’ teams and giving them an alternatives for income generating activity

Alternate equal paying job offer, enticements

How?

It will be great if poachers will be given other opportunities to earn income.

If import of goods will to be tax free in relation with alternative bread winner

How realistic?                                                         

Poachers to implement what they are taught as other alternative of income generating activity instead of poaching                                     

Amnesty

When information is well delivered and poachers change their attitudes, and realize alternate means, much safer means of income generation are available to them, then life of black rhino will be in safe hands of the law of the jungle

How?

Creating links with other business partners and businesses that are legally accepted for the poaching community

How could laws in both demand and supply countries and middle passage countries be strengthened?

1. Legalize trade –not optimal in South Africa recommendations 

Not real since it will promote the killings

2. Likely outcome? Will it come to this in the end?

Of-course if the law will be enforced by all parties affected

Predictions for the future given their research

Lawmakers to pass bills that will be laws

Inspection- deployment inspection officers in transportation systems 

Final Skype Session

I feel so happy that News12 is going to come over.This is our last Skype Session but everyone is still on the blog posting things on the rhino.I am not going to be there  because I will not go on the trip.So if you go to the rhino section at the Bronx Zoo you will see facts on rhino.Have fun.Don't be afraid because we are the only ones doing this so feel grateful of yourself that you have a oppurtunity to be on the blog.