Soul Essentials

Before I start my endangered animals list I though it appropriate to start the birds with our national emblem, The Bald Eagle.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, said Wednesday that number of rhinos poached this year is an "alarming figure" of 159. Wednesday was the 95th day of this year which means that we have a daily average of over 1.67 per day. By comparison last year 448 rhinos were poached which is 1.23 per day average. So it seems to be getting worse, but if you look back over the previous years the rate of increase year over year gets even more frightening. Just five years ago, and 2007, the number of rhino's poached was 13. The following year, 2008, the number jumped to 83.

Japan is receiving heavy worded criticism from several sources. With one local mayor calling it murder. This wealthy country used critical information about the radiation leaking into their atmosphere, to garner finical and other support for the country, while not informing their own citizens of eminent risk. They had the information and gave it to US military three days after the disaster, but did not pass it on to health official in effected areas. They put 1000's of their citizen at extreme health risk, with absolutely no direction from the health ministry.

The day before yesterday in Mopah Airport, Merake, and Papua Province 1,495 live Pig-nosed turtles, headed for Jakarta, Indonesia. The turtles were crammed inside two suitcases headed for the nation's capital, which is known to be a major hub for listed wildlife trade.

For the second time, Senator Jim Norman R-Fla has been unable to pass a bill aimed squarely at animal activists, who conduct important undercover investigations. SB 1184 has passed, but only after completely removing section 6 of the bill, which was the last section and contained the "ag-gag", or that documenting farm practices is a crime and the punishment.

In 2011, South Africa to have lost at least 448 rhinos, including 19 critically endangered Black Rhinos, of which fewer than 5000 remain in the wild. This number is a new record that no one wanted to see. More than half of South Africa's rhinos were poached in Kruger National Park. An additional eight rhinos, have already been poached this year, according to authorities from from South African National Parks.

The Federal Government has confirmed three Australian anti-whaling activists being held on board a Japanese whaling ship will be released.

SSCS Bridgette Bardow gets escorted to nearest safe harbor for repairs.

The use of Palm oil has almost single-handedly wiped out all the natural habitats for Orangutans, and may other animals. Please read the attached list of products and if you know of any others please let us know. Thank you for your help.