African States Seek Lifting Ban on Ivory Trade

Southern African states, that is: South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe. (Hey, I bet a lot of Mugabe-bashers don't have any problem with this. And a lot of his backers probably do. I do, and I'm a basher. I feel somehow pure.) These countries all have significant stocks of elephant tusks they'd like to sell off, but I don't think there are many elephants left in southern Africa. The big elephant homelands, India and Kenya, not only oppose the idea but want tougher standards, and I've a feeling they'll win out. It's possible the southern countries will be allowed to sell off their stocks, but I don't expect a ban on hunting or harvesting any time soon.

Oh, and Japan is back at it with the whales, again. Once again, they're going against worldwide opinion and want to be allowed to hunt whales for meat. I really have to hand it to them, it takes a lot of gumption to continually ask for the whaling ban to be lifted, knowing it won't be. Is whale meat really that good?