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Wow, I’m so impressed and thankful that people were so fired up about the last post. i wrestle with a lot of the same thoughts that everyone had, and by that i mean sometimes I just want to lock up all the people who are torturing and eating bonobos, and then other times I think it’s my fault for living in a country that was and still is part of the rape of the Congo’s resources. I’ve had 3 mobile phones over the past 12 months, with a coltan chip that almost certainly came from Congo. Sometimes I don’t recycle paper, which indirectly is responsible for the huge trees that are being dragged out of Congo on the back of trucks. Before I worked in Congo I never heard about, or thought to investigate the war that killed more people than any war since world war II. Or the 400,000 women (that we know about) who were raped by foreign soldiers. www.spiegel.de/fotostrecke/0,5538,13738,00.html So yes, they’re eating bonobos. But the wonderful thing about Claudine is that she doesn’t blame anyone. She’s not angry at the Congolese, and having lived in DRC for 50 years, she’s practically Congolese herself. Claudine is always looking forward, and there is an action plan for Lodja, that you guys can all help with. More on that next post.
5 Comments posted on "conservation through education…"
Dipesh Pabari on February 19th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for this. Often people who live outside of Africa don’t really realise the complexity of issues. We need to guide and help people understand that everything is at stake here - including human life.
THERESA SISKIND on February 19th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Well, we took this conversation over to the Gorilla Protection blog after it finished here. Check out our suggestions when you have a chance and tell us what you think. This action plan sounds interesting, can’t wait to hear more about it! You know, speaking just for myself, I think the stress and worry about the dangers facing all the great apes has worn me down, therefore impacting the tone of some of my comments…very sorry about that.
Sheryl, Washington, DC on February 19th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
I look forward to learning about Claudine’s plan. Recycle your damn paper, Vanessa! s.
Nancy, Tucson, AZ on February 19th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Take care of yourself, Theresa. This kind of awareness is both healing and untenable. Our deep witnessing and caring has a healing affect, in and of itself, I believe, and we also have to take care of ourselves, balancing horrific facts with evidence of good, which, if in short supply, is persistent and renewable. It’s challenging to not wear ourselves down with grief and hopelessness. I’m amazed by the work all these people I’ve encountered on WLD do, in spite of overwhelming obstacles. To remain steadfast in the midst of such dire circumstances shows the true human worth. Thanks for the post, Vanessa. I always appreciate your compassion and humor.
THERESA SISKIND on February 20th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
How true, Nancy. I realize just the things we take for granted, ie hot and cold CLEAN water, are for many, just a dream. I wanted to send a photo of myself and my pets to JACK, and Roxane had to gently remind me their was no postal service… Post a comment
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