Stop the Serengeti Sell-off

Old Aug 13th, 2012, 02:08 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stop the Serengeti Sell-off

I'm sorry if this has already been posted:

At any moment, a big-game hunting corporation could sign a deal which would force up to 48,000 members of Africa's famous Maasai tribe from their land to make way for wealthy Middle Eastern kings and princes to hunt lions and leopards. Experts say the Tanzanian President's approval of the deal may be imminent, but if we act now, we can stop this sell-off of the Serengeti.
The last time this same corporation pushed the Maasai off their land to make way for rich hunters, people were beaten by the police, their homes were burnt to a cinder and their livestock died of starvation. But when a press controversy followed, Tanzanian President Kikwete reversed course and returned the Maasai to their land. This time, there hasn't been a big press controversy yet, but we can change that and force Kikwete to stop the deal if we join our voices now.
If 150,000 of us sign, media outlets in Tanzania and around the world will be blitzed so President Kikwete gets the message to rethink this deadly deal. Sign the petition now and send to everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_the_maa...EWUaab&v=17086
The full story is on their webpage, it would be great if you wouldnt mind signing the petition.
sallysaab is offline  
Old Aug 14th, 2012, 11:40 PM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I believe that will not hurt the Maasai but the whole of East Africa. One thing is for sure, Kikwete does not care about his fellow man. Why should he accent to hunting? Will there be tourism after 1 year? Does he think of how the economy will be badly affected? For sure he does not have a clue of how this can be a dead end for many. I think we should get as many signs as possible, Tanzania people do something!
TekkoTours is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2012, 01:17 PM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
TekkoTours, more people need to be made aware of how big this actually is.
If it is sold off it will be the starting point of many more areas I'm sure.
They have about 754,000 signatures and looking for more than a million, but it would be nice if the world press got hold of the story.
I imagine "Safari" tourism as whole would be affected.
sallysaab is offline  
Old Aug 15th, 2012, 07:56 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 701
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Sally, signed up.
KathBC is offline  
Old Aug 16th, 2012, 08:59 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Below response from the Ministries of Natural Resources and Tourism, re the above petition:

The Government wishes to refute the above claims as follows:

One, there hasn’t been such a move within the United Republic of Tanzania and specifically at Serengeti, which is a district within Mara Region.

Secondly, from the current population the number of Maasai in the Serengeti could not reach 48,000.

Thirdly, in Serengeti there is no any such Hunting Block allocated to Middle Eastern Kings and Princes to hunt lions and leopards.

Fourthly, from the good governance perspective in Tanzania, it is not the responsibility of the President to approve any area for the purpose of being a hunting block; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism is the one responsible.

Apart from the above clarification, we wish to inform those who have signed and planned to sign the petition that they are doing so without knowledge of what are doing. It is better for them to find the authenticity of the information provided before taking any step to sign this unfounded and baseless petition.
sandi is offline  
Old Aug 16th, 2012, 12:42 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the info Sandi. I'm now totally confused as I was sent the info from a friend in Tanzania pleading with us to sign the petition, but
time will tell!
sallysaab is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2012, 05:21 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is the Loliondo concession up for renewal, by any chance? That is the part of the Serengeti ecosystem which is leased by a middle east magnate and where princes and kings come to shoot lions and leopards. I thought the Loliondo lease was a long one and granted fairly recently. Perhaps your friend could explain the petition, Sallysaab? I would be very interested in knowing the answer to this, if possible.
sangeeta is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2012, 06:39 PM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The wording of the Avaaz petition is very vague. Here’s a background: http://termitemoundview.blogspot.se/.../corridor.html
Nyamera is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 12:00 AM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
sangeeta I'll try and find out for you.
Here's an article I just found http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012...?newsfeed=true
If you use "Google Tanzania" you might be able to find more accurate info.
I hope they are not just stirring things up.
sallysaab is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 01:43 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It’s the same hunting company that has been in Loliondo for two decades. In 2009 there were brutal evictions from the core hunting area next to Serengeti NP. Then a land use plan proposing to take a huge “wildlife corridor” away from the Maasai and create a new kind of protected area where, like in a game reserve, hunting would be permitted was presented and rejected, but is still a threat.
http://termitemoundview.blogspot.se/.../corridor.html
Nyamera is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 04:46 AM
  #11  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How come Maasai media outlets are not carrying this story?
FrankS is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 06:27 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FrankS, what Maasai media outlets are there? There were quite a few articles in Tanzanian media about the 2009 evictions – though many presenting the government view - and also some articles about the land use plan. I haven’t seen anything about the Avaaz petition, except for reproducing the press release from the ministry of natural resources and tourism that was basically having a laugh instead of addressing the issues. The poor wording of the petition left open for this response from the ministry.
Nyamera is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 06:49 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Sally and Nyamera. Those links were helpful. And yes, poor wording on the petition has not helped with anything.
sangeeta is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 08:07 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
http://www.maasai-association.org/welcome.html

http://maasaiculturalcenter.org/

http://oloorkarian.com/

http://ngorongorocrater.org/news.html

The latest news
"We regret the loss of six cows, seven goats, seven sheep, one donkey and six lions in the outskirts of Nairobi National Park."

"MSEKWA CALLS FOR YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN RESOURCES PROTECTION"


"The special training of rangers as well as other tourism personnel from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority was being undertaken by Commander Venance Bruno Tossi "
FrankS is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 08:50 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1,2 and 3- Not often updated KENYAN webites.
4. – website of the enemy (government) and about another part of Ngorongoro District.

Though, FrankS, you are right that coordination and information sharing between East African Maa organisations is abysmal, if that’s what you mean.

I think that pastoralist organisations in Tanzania, on occasion of the Avaaz petition, will have to get off their butts and again explain the threat that unfortunately was not properly explained by Avaaz.
Nyamera is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2012, 09:08 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A film about the Land Use Plan - Voices of Loliondo http://vimeo.com/35311385
Nyamera is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
smiledr
Africa & the Middle East
7
Mar 10th, 2011 06:15 PM
althom1122
Africa & the Middle East
12
Feb 15th, 2008 12:59 PM
Bill_H
Africa & the Middle East
22
Oct 11th, 2007 05:30 PM
Chiquita
Africa & the Middle East
21
Jan 23rd, 2006 01:44 PM
alzaloum
Africa & the Middle East
7
May 8th, 2005 06:31 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -