Category: Africa,

The Trump Administration’s Fish and Wildlife Service Reverses Ban On Endangered Game Trophies

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,, Domestic Affairs,, Environment,Leave a comment

In a formal memorandum issued on Thursday, FWS said it will withdraw its 2017 Endangered Species Act (ESA) findings for trophies of African elephants from Zimbabwe and Zambia, “effective immediately.”

…The service also announced it is withdrawing a number of previous ESA findings, which date back to 1995, related to trophies of African elephants, bontebok and lions from multiple African countries.

…Nine days before FWS added the reversal to the Federal Register, the Interior Department announced that it was establishing an International Wildlife Conservation Council to “advise the Secretary of the Interior on the benefits that international recreational hunting has on foreign wildlife and habitat conservation.”

Trump to consider elephant trophy imports on ‘case-by-case’ basis | TheHill

Because assholes.

Animated interactive of the history of the Atlantic slave trade.

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,, Europe,, Race,, The Americas,Leave a comment

From the trade’s beginning in the 16th century to its conclusion in the 19th, slave merchants brought the vast majority of enslaved Africans to two places: the Caribbean and Brazil. Of the more than 10 million enslaved Africans to eventually reach the Western Hemisphere, just 388,747—less than 4 percent of the total—came to North America. This was dwarfed by the 1.3 million brought to Spanish Central America, the 4 million brought to British, French, Dutch, and Danish holdings in the Caribbean, and the 4.8 million brought to Brazil.

…By the conclusion of the trans-Atlantic slave trade at the end of the 19th century, Europeans had enslaved and transported more than 12.5 million Africans. At least 2 million, historians estimate, didn’t survive the journey.

Animated interactive of the history of the Atlantic slave trade.

Worth the click, the visual is in-tense.

U.N. warns millions at risk in Yemen, urges Saudi coalition to open ports

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,, Middle East,Leave a comment

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Yemen’s Houthi movement said last week it had closed all air, land and seaports in Yemen to stem what it said was the flow of arms to the Houthis from Iran.

“We have some 21 million people needing assistance and seven million of those are in famine-like conditions and rely completely on food aid,” U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Jamie McGoldrick said.

“The continued closure by the Saudi-led coalition of critical seaports and airports is aggravating an already dire humanitarian situation. I think it poses a critical threat to the lives of millions who are already struggling to survive.”

U.N. warns millions at risk in Yemen, urges Saudi coalition to open ports

Zimbabwe’s Grace Mugabe Gucci has clear path to Robert Mugabe job after he fires Mnangagwa

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,Leave a comment

In one stroke, Zimbabwe’s 93 year old president Robert Mugabe has sidelined his deputy, Emmerson Mnangagwa—long touted as a successor—and created an easy path for his wife, Grace, to rise to power.

…Grace Mugabe has been rising steadily through the political ranks in Zimbabwe after being elevated to the powerful post of secretary for the Women’s League in the ruling Zanu PF party in 2014. 

…Grace, nicknamed “Gucci” for her lavish shopping lifestyle, and her husband criticized Mnangagwa for working behind Mugabe’s back to take over power and divide the party. 

…Most watchers now expect Mugabe, after being endorsed as leader of the party, will appoint Grace Mugabe as his deputy at the extraordinary congress in December. Some Zimbabweans still hope for a dramatic twist that will prevent this from happening.

…Grace will certainly welcome all the endorsements as she eyes the big throne. After all, she said on Sunday that she had asked Mugabe to reserve the top throne for her when the time comes. “So I have said the President you can also leave me in charge. You can also give me your position,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s Grace Mugabe Gucci has clear path to Robert Mugabe job after he fires Mnangagwa — Quartz

hmmmmm

Ancient Fossils Reveal the First Humans Emerged 170,000 Years Earlier than We Thought

On By peanutgallerynhIn Africa,, Science and Stuff,Leave a comment

The first modern humans may have emerged up to 350,000 years ago—170,000 years earlier than previously thought. Analysis of ancient DNA has allowed scientists to trace back the ancestry of people from South Africa to determine when our ancestors split from other hominin species. Their findings consistently point to an early date of divergence, between 350,000 and 260,000 years ago.

…Their dating estimates also fit with the fossil record. At least two or three other Homo species are known to have lived in southern Africa during this time. Furthermore, these dates with recent fossil evidence uncovered in Morocco. Scientists found remains from five Homo sapiens individuals that date back to 300,000 years, raising major questions about where the “cradle of humanity” really was. 

Study author Carina Schlebusch, also from Uppsala University, said: “Both paleo-anthropological and genetic evidence increasingly points to multi-regional origins of anatomically modern humans in Africa, i.e. Homo sapiens did not originate in one place in Africa, but might have evolved from older forms in several places on the continent with gene flow between groups from different places.”

Ancient Fossils Reveal the First Humans Emerged 170,000 Years Earlier than We Thought

hmmm