Demand the Government of Argentina Protect, Preserve, and Defend the National Parks & Wildlife of Argentina

Given the many difficulties encountered in CARE2, in which every day this petition has fewer signatories than the previous day. And when I am unable to sign other petitions, I have decided to dismiss this very important petition. Thank you all the signatories for your support.

PROFILE:  http://www.care2.com/c2c/people/profile.html?pid=576135147

The national and provincial parks in Argentina have laws in place protecting them from hunting, land development, tree harvesting, and other natural resource depletion. Laws of Argentina specify National Reserves, National Parks, and National Monuments all with varying levels of protection. However, these legally protected areas - owned by the Argentinian people - are being auctioned off to the highest bidder by the government of Argentina. The perpetrators include foreign corporations, political interests, wealthy individuals, organized hunting clubs, black market fur and animal traders, and others.

The old-growth trees on protected lands are being clear-cut and sold for timber to the highest bidder by corrupt government officials taking bribes and kick-backs. Private cultivation of cash crops replaces the native trees. This deforestation results in barren areas of the legally preserved regions, which then become susceptible to flooding, fires, migration of wildlife, and poverty of the local people.  This upsets the whole ecosystem and biodiversity of the legally protected areas. 

If that were not bad enough for the wildlife, organized hunting parties or wealthy individual hunters pay kickbacks and give bribes to receive a green light to hunt endangered species within the protected areas. At the top of the hunters list is the critically endangered jaguar. The jaguar has been given legal status as a National Natural Monument in Argentina, so they are legally not supposed to be hunted ANYWHERE within the country of Argentina. Less than 250 jaguars are left in all of Argentina. Despite this legally protected classification and the severity of their dwindling numbers, the jaguars are still hunted not only for their beautiful, luxurious coats, but also for their heads so trophy hunters can mount them on their walls. In fact, the Safari Club International members have hunted and killed jaguars in Argentina knowing full well their legally protected status, yet the hunters brag of their jaguar kills in Argentina. Argentinian government authorities do nothing to crack down on these hunters. No attempt is made to enforce the laws on the books.

Other threatened or endangered wildlife that are being hunted or sold to wildlife traffickers include unique species of pumas, armadillos, jaguars, monkeys, anteaters, the maned wolf, birds, alligators, and more. The organized hunting groups come mainly from the United States and Europe. The government of Argentina makes no effort to protect their own wildlife despite some well defined laws on the books.

The land of Argentina is being destroyed. The natural resources are being depleted. The flora, fauna, and natural beauty that was once Argentina is disappearing at an alarming rate. The indigenous people are living in extreme poverty and illiteracy. Pollution, disease, neglect, hunger, malnutrition, and crime are unfortunately, in abundance. People who speak out or protest against the government are often violently punished or even killed.

Argentina has some good laws in place on the books. However, those laws are not enforced or followed in practice.  This disregard for the laws is not new to the present government elected officials, as it has been going on for many decades. It is true that  Argentina may need some new laws to further protect the environment and wildlife. However, the government of Argentina needs to start with enforcing the current laws on the books.

The current government administration ends its term on December 10, 2015. This request is really to the next government administration - including all the respective governors, mayors and legislators - who take office on December 11, 2015.

We demand that we get our country of Argentina back!   We need to protect our native lands, our environment, protect our people from pollution, protect and preserve our wildlife for future generations! We demand our existing laws be followed by the next government administration to ensure the sustainability, success, and protection of Argentina! 

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO ME IN THIS CAUSE, BECAUSE WE ARE NEED FOR ALL AND NO THERE BORDERS.