Tanzania Yapiga Mnada Meno ya Viboko

Kiboko

 JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Authorities in Tanzania plan an auction of 3.5 tons of hippo teeth next week, drawing criticism from conservation groups who say the sale could encourage increased killing of the vulnerable species for its body parts.

   Licensed dealers on Monday can bid for the 12,500 pieces of hippo teeth at the tourism and natural resources ministry in the East African nation's commercial hub of Dar es Salaam, according to Tanzanian wildlife authorities. Buyers will receive documents confirming ownership.

   Many hippo populations across Africa face intense pressure from hunting for their ivory and meat, the WWF conservation group said.

   "Therefore, even though some countries still have healthy populations, WWF discourages the consumption of hippopotamus ivory and are disappointed to see auctions such as this taking place," said Colman O'Criodain, a WWF expert in wildlife trade.

   Another conservation group, Born Free, said it was concerned there could be more demand for hippo ivory as efforts to end the trafficking of elephant ivory intensify.

   China, long the world's largest consumer of elephant ivory, announced a ban on its trade that took effect at the beginning of this year.

   An international "red list" of endangered species classifies the hippo as vulnerable and estimates there are up to 130,000 hippos in sub-Saharan Africa. Hippo teeth are carved into ornaments for sale in parts of Asia.

   A regulated trade in hippo parts is allowed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES.

Achapwa Vibaya na Mwalimu

Sikatai kwa asilimia 100 kuchapa mtoto kiboko cha maonyo, lakini inapofikia hatua kama hii, kweli kuonya kwa kiboko ni fundisho ama ni ukatili?

Huyu ni mtoto wa kike, amechapwa na mwalimu wake wa kiume, ni katika Sekondari moja huko Iringa, imetokea jana July 22, 2009, mtoto akaogopa kwenda polisi au hospitali kwa kuhofia kwa mwalimu atamwadhibu zaidi. Aliyenitumia picha hii anasema kisa cha kuchapwa hivi ni hasira iliyojificha kwa mwalimu huyo kwa kushindwa kutimiza azma yake nyingine toka kwa binti huyu.
Nimetumiwa picha hii toka Iringa, aliyenitumia hajajua jambo muafaka la kufanya, naomba kuweka kwenu ili watu wajadili na kutoa mapendekezo kipi kifanyike kuhusiana na hali hii.
Mapendekezo yenu nitayafikisha kwa aliyenitumia picha hii kwa hatua zaidi atakazoweza kuchukula kulingana na maoni yenu.

Subi

**************************************************

Da Subi,

Nilivyokuwa nasoma Zanaki nilichapwa hivyo na Mwalimu fulani. Nilienda nyumbani na maumivu, mama kuangalia kasema hii nchi ya namna gani kuchapa watoto hivyo. Mama yangu anatoka Jamaica. Basi, kesho yake baba alinisindikiza shule. Yule mwalimu alivyomwona alianza kutetemeka na aliomba msamaha. Sikuchapwa hivyo tena!

Kisa cha kuchapwa kwangu - Mwalimu alisema eti nina kiburi cha KiMarekani! Wakati huo miaka ya sabini wengi walikuwa hawajasfiri nje ya nchi na ilikuwa enzi za Ujamaa na Mwalimu Nyerere. Kusafiri mpaka kibali cha Ikulu. Basi hizo gere! Bora siku hizi watu wamesafiri na wanaona dunia ilivyo kweli.