SPEAK UP!
For some people, speaking up takes a lot of courage… while for others it just comes naturally. We should never be afraid to speak up and defend those that are unable to do so for themselves.
Recently, I came across a Facebook post about the epidemic of rhino poaching in South Africa… it broke my heart to see these animals having to suffer such cruel killings all for the sake of money.
Unfortunately, although rhinos are being protected by the government and local laws, illegal poachers continue to hunt rhino’s at an alarming rate… since the beginning of this year till the end of June 2013, 394 rhinos have been killed for their horns. The killing is driven due to the high prices that it can fetch in the Asian market, which has been falsely made to believe that a rhino’s horn can cure many diseases.
On the first day of this month, the President of the United States, Barack Obama signed an executive order to combat wildlife trafficking in Africa, particularly the sale of rhinoceros horns and elephant tusks.
Please do read the information below and show your support to end this horrible trade… Just 5 minutes of your time can make a difference in these animal’s lives.
Tsem Rinpoche
News Report: Rhino Poaching: South Africa’s Deadly Dilemma
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/rhinopoaching.mp4
RHINO FRIDAY
[Extracted from Facebook: Amazing things in the world; https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=519047331482319&set=a.342434892476898.89335.338077742912613&type=1&theater]
Credits – Life Through a Lens Photography
As the number of poached rhinos are breaking records in both South Africa and Kenya, please keep up your support of the men and women who are dedicating so much of their time, money and – in some cases – putting their very lives at risk for the survival of the African rhinos.
South Africa has already lost more than 400 rhinos to poachers this year, including 265 in Kruger National Park. Many of the poachers are based across the border in Mozambique; to send a letter of protest to the Mozambique High Commission in South Africa, click on this link: http://e-activist.com/
Kenya, too, is experiencing its worst rhino poaching year in decades, with many of its dedicated rhino sanctuaries being targeted. With a much smaller rhino population than South Africa, it is critical that the country’s remaining rhinos are cared for and protected – an expensive undertaking, but one our children and grandchildren will suffer for if we do not succeed.
In this photograph, taken at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in December last year, a Samburu warrior expresses grief over the discovery of a poached black rhino. Owning a perfect track record until 2009, the conservancy has lost eleven rhinos to poachers since, despite spending millions of dollars on security every year. Now, more than ever, our support is needed.
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Why are these people doing this? They already know that rhinos are going to be extinct and the rhinos are also protected by the government but yet they still want to kill them. They say rhino horns will cure diseases but they are going to far. My science teacher said that animals are made by god for us to eat and animals doesn’t have feelings but I don’t agreed for even 1%. I hate my teacher very much for saying that.
Disgusting act of rhino poaching…..must stop!
It is so heart breaking to see these magnificent beast slaughtered for just one small part of their body. It is these times I feel ashamed to be Chinese. We as a race create so much killing due to what we perceive as beneficial for our health. When the buying stops so does the killing lets stop buying any good with rhino products in them.
Poor rhinos… they are born with their precious horns and yet the humans are so greedy to take away the only thing they have including their lives. Their do not deserve to be killed, horns do not make medicines, if this is how medicines can only be made, I don’t see how people are going to get much better… If we have to kill the animals(not only rhinos) in order to get medicines, im pretty sure that we won’t get better as we are hurting other living beings just to get ourselves healed, there are a lot of lives will be sacrificed, humans can’t be so selfish especially when we can talk.
Thank You for sharing Rinpoche.
As of 27th June 2013 the western black rhino had been declared officially extinct due to excessive poaching.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/news/western-black-rhino-officially-extinct-150259423.html
This is incredibly stupid, I cannot believe how people could be so selfish to believe that a Rhino’s horn could actually cure all diseases. Because these people one of nature great creatures of the animal kingdom is no longer in this world. For humans greed for money this is what destruction it has lead to, for a few measly hundreds of dollars which would only last them a short period of time has permanently erased a living creature off the face of this earth. Their time, money and efforts spent poaching these creatures could have been put to better use in doing other things that are more productive and long term gaininy that doesn’t have to involve killing.
What more does human kind want to destroy until there is nothing left in this world? Each other? This is a truly sad thought.
This is terrible. People are so bad and cruel to kill rhinos like this. So selfish, all they want is the money, and even to get that they lie to people about the rhinos horn and saying that it heals the human body. All for money. Very bad, i hope that the news gets around and that more and more people speak up to stop this problem.
There are two aspects to such situations of senseless animal abuse and slaughter, be it for food or “sports”. That the killing of animals is cruel and senseless is already a forgone conclusion. There is yet another aspect that is, the public must be prepared to hold the responsibility of defending those who are unable to defend themselves. That public is us. We may think the cruelty and evil of such acts take place in slaughterhouses and poaching grounds and we would be wrong. The true evil of such cruelty takes place way before even the first bullet is shot at, at the rhino.
It takes place in society where this cruelty is allowed to grow because not enough people in society are prepared to speak up and say “look, don’t even THINK about it”. People do what they feel they can get away with and so even if they can get away with it by circumventing the law, they should not be allowed to escape the opinion and judgement of society at large – their friends, parents, children, bosses, colleagues and like should make it known that such idiocy cannot be condoned.
Why just leave it to the law and legal apparatus when matters such as this affects the entire world community? So speak up against this and other cases of animal abuse.
This is so sad and disgusting! Due to human greed and enjoyment the rhinos have to suffer so much! I am glad that President Obama is taking a stand against animal cruelty and we must also play our part in supporting this cause.
Animals cannot speak and expressed their pain and sufferings and we must speak up for them!
Due to selfishness and ignorant, human often conducted some acts to satisfy their own desire. However, it usually will need to sacrifice the rights of another party. Hopefully that one day, those illegal poaches will wake up and confess about their mistake, and stop doing this unethical act anymore. May those rhinos able to take a good rebirth. R.I.P rhinos.
I think that poaching of Rhinos should stop as Rhinos are very gentle and giant creatures and they are herbivorous. I dislike it when poachers kill animals when fueled by their greed. These sorts of people are inhumane humans.
Laws against these people need to be enforced and people need to be educated!
This is so bad, these people are killing to get money and i am glad the president spoke up. I speak up for everyone, in lots of places, like school i stand up for bully victims and people that are in got in trouble accidentally and i speak up for them! Please everyone we all need to speak up for animals, they have lives too.
Animals got their right to live, human must stop killing animals. When samsara would end? If killing still going on.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing.
Best Regards : Eric kksiow
I still don’t understand why the poaches hunt for the rhino’s horns even when they know they are going to be extinct. Even if it means for a lot of money. When the are using the money earned by this cruel method they also will not feel good spending the money.
It is very heart breaking to see these poor rhinos being brutally killed by illegal poachers for their horns. We must boycott the sales of the rhino’s horns,when there is no demand in the Asian markets,their lives will be spared.Just liked if more and more people go on vegetarian diets less animals will be slaughtered for human consumption, we must not hurt any animals instead we must protect and care for them as they have feelings and wished to live long too. Hope this video will create awareness to prevent cruelty to all animals.Thank you Rinpoche for sharing.
The prime motivation of these killings and murders of the rhinos is money, pure greed and demand. If there is no demand for the rhino horns, then there won’t be a need to hunt them and kill.
We need to support the cause to stop the brutal killings for just “horns” for “profit”.
This is horrible!!! This kind of brutal trades should stop! We all should definately spread this awareness to protect these beautiful animals.
“Profits” always be the main purpose that most of human can cause harm to others sentient beings…
Its so sad when reading this article, may those Rhinos will take a good rebirth and able to meet Dharma in future and may those poachers may stop their cruel action as soon possible hence can receive Dharma teaching to make them awaken from the cruel action…
Om Mane Peme Hum…
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.Those poachers are indeed inhumane to slaughter those endangered creatures.I suppose they find joy in killing something that the poor animal that did not feel it coming,and the money was just a side reward.I could see the smile on the poacher face from the video after she shot the Rhinos,What A Great Achievement!!!!!.
It was fortunate that President Obama stand up against this unacceptable act of cruelty.But we must do our part to support against the use of Rhino parts.There is so many alternative medication to cure sickness. Why do we have to choose the poor Rhino as the elixir of life!!!!
Shelly tai on 6 July 2013 at 948pm
Is such a inhuman act ,poor animal has to be kill just for the sake of human greed. Thank you Rinpoche for posting this video.
Poor Rhinos… they are truly one of the most gentle giant creatures on Earth, yet they are brutally murdered by illegal poaches for a part of their body which they cannot live without. This is a classic case of how Elephants are also hunted for ivory.
Human laws cannot do much if people do not have a conscience… animals should never be killed or even traded for the sake of profit