Earlier this week the United States government destroyed its national ivory stockpile, nearly six tons of elephant ivory, representing the majority of ivory seized from American tourists and traffickers since the late 1980s. My take, pre- and post-event for National … [Read more...]
Philippines Ivory Crush: Call to the United States
Friday, June 21, the Philippines became the first country outside of Africa to destroy ivory seized by its law enforcement. I wrote about it for National Geographic here: In Global First, Philippines to Destroy its Ivory Stock and here: Pulling Teeth. The United States … [Read more...]
‘Persona Non Grata’ Can Be Gratifying
After two weeks of my being savaged by the Archdiocese of Cebu for Blood Ivory: Ivory Worship, culminating (so far) in a suggestion by the country's Cardinal Ricardo Vidal that I be deemed "persona non grata" and permanently expelled from the Philippines (a designation normally … [Read more...]
Philippines Continues Pressure on ‘Blood Ivory’
Bryan Christy Called the Devil
Multiple stories running today out of the Philippines on the country's ivory trade, the role of certain priests in the trade, ivory dealers in Manila's religious district, Tayuman, and commitments to prosecute "Blood Ivory" traders. Amazingly, one priest is saying that … [Read more...]