Good News, Everyone!!

3 min read

Deviation Actions

SavingMotherNature's avatar
Published:
4K Views
This week an overwhelming majority of voters in Washington stepped up to pass a measure that will help stop the slaughter of nearly a dozen imperiled species threatened by the illegal wildlife trade.

Thanks to a ballot initiative kickstarted by Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen over the summer, residents in the state got the chance to weigh in on the issue. Despite opposition, the Seattle Times reports the measure passed in every single county and led statewide 71 to 29 percent.

“Today’s victory is a step forward in the race against extinction. Thanks to the wisdom, compassion and determination of Washington voters, state authorities now have stronger tools to crack down on the illegal trade in endangered animal parts, which will help us save some of Earth’s most iconic creatures,” said Allen in a statement.

The measure, I-1401 , which is now being applauded as the toughest state law passed yet, will increase penalties for buying and selling products made from 10 species on the brink including elephants, rhinos , tigers, lions, leopards, cheetahs, marine turtles, sharks, rays and pangolins.

Passage of I-1401 also makes Washington the first state to have a voter approved law like this go into effect.

Similar laws have been passed in New York, New Jersey and California and now another ballot initiative is underway in Oregon, which will bring the issue to voters next year. If Oregon’s measure passes, the entire west coast will be a closed market for the wildlife trade.

As more states continue to move to protect wildlife, this week even more progress was made on the federal level. The House of Representatives voted to pass the Global Anti-Poaching Act, which addresses several areas intended to crack down on poaching and the illegal wildlife trade.

This legislation will put wildlife trafficking in the same category as drug and weapon trafficking, requiring the U.S. to identify the countries with the highest level of transit and consumption and expand international partnerships and enforcement efforts where they’re needed most.

“Time isn’t on our side. Each day of inaction means more animals poached and more cash for terrorists.  This vital legislation holds foreign governments accountable by ‘naming and shaming’ the worst violators and adds greater consequences for traffickers in this illicit trade. And it presses the Administration to continue to provide important security assistance to African park rangers,” said Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who authored the bill.

Read more: www.care2.com/causes/victory-w…
© 2015 - 2024 SavingMotherNature
Comments3
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
jennystokes's avatar
Thank goodness.