Wealthy Chinese drive illegal ivory trade boom

[lonestarnot]

(CBS News) CAIRO -- International gangs are making a fortune by slaughtering African elephants and selling their tusks. Tens of thousands of the majestic creatures are being killed every year. The illegal market can be tracked from Tanzania and Kenya north to Cairo, Egypt.

It's not difficult to buy ivory in Cairo. In one busy market, we found Essam, an Egyptian ivory trader.

Selling ivory is against the law in Egypt, but when we told him we were buyers, he showed us into the back room where he keeps his stock. We filmed the meeting with a hidden camera.

Essam told us his business was booming, and his best customers, he said, are from China.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57555258/wealthy-chinese-drive-illegal-ivory-trade-boom/

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a pound can fetch as much as $1,000.a pound can fetch as much as $1,000.

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[Brother Buzz]

1. I've heard it's the emerging Chinese middle class that is driving the ivory market

[lonestarnot]

2. And what is it that you heard they were doing with it?

[Brother Buzz]

5. Who knows, crap carvings they think they need for their home because rich people have them?

Status - class - tacky

[pipoman]

3. Ivory shit is so mid century

all that ridiculous intricate carving, or the stupid sight if a pair flanking a doorway..

?w=640



Really? How much money does one have to possess to desire such shit?

[lonestarnot]

6. Fucking Richie Rich!

[Honeycombe8]

4. That's disgusting. nt