{"id":19080,"date":"2016-01-16T23:43:18","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T07:43:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=19080"},"modified":"2016-01-16T23:43:18","modified_gmt":"2016-01-17T07:43:18","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-16012016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2016\/01\/16\/squatchs-open-thread-16012016\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch’s Open Thread 16\/01\/2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today has been a very quiet day fortunately because it has rained all day and I really didn't want to get wet.  The furbabes are snuggled together on my bed, Annie with her arms around Winnie.  I relaxed today, all day, and took time to watch part of the movie AVATAR so I could keep my knee elevated for a while.  I'll watch the rest when I retire for the night, that is I stay awake long enough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Take Part<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying announced Wednesday [13\/01\/2016] that his government will end its legal ivory trade.<\/p>\n

That market is considered a facilitator of illegal ivory transport into mainland China, the world’s largest consumer of smuggled ivory<\/a>.  …<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Hong Kong’s move comes as the price of elephant ivory plummets. In a report<\/a> by conservation group Save the Elephants, the cost of raw ivory on the black market has fallen by almost half over the past 18 months. …<\/strong><\/span>\"HK-ivory\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“If the trade closes, the value of ivory as an investment depreciates,” Knights said. “We see Hong Kong prices going down because of the public backlash against ivory, and that should have an impact on poaching. Couple that with stepped-up efforts in Africa to deter poachers, and the ivory trade ends up getting squeezed at both ends.”<\/p>\n

In a <\/span>BBC article<\/strong><\/span><\/a> almost a year ago, word came that China instituted a one year ban on the importation of ivory.  Now China is taking the next step.  This is an issue that Obama and the Chinese President, Xi Jinping, spoke about during a visit in 2015.<\/span><\/p>\n

Upworthy<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>What are the chances a 6th-grader from the biggest slum in Kenya ends up on stage in New York City, speaking to thousands of people?<\/p>\n

Not very great, but Eunice Akoth did it. She's living her dream.<\/p>\n