Nov 12 2007
Update on the Gorilla Sector
This is Samantha.
I thought it was about time again to provide you all with an update on what is happening in the Gorilla Sector.
As you can read in the international media the situation is still tense. Fighting continues between the rebels and government forces, with other groups also joining in, mainly the FDLR and the Mai Mai. The Gorilla Sector is still not safe and all the Rangers are evacuated from this 250km2 area. The Mountain Gorillas have now been totally unprotected for nearly 2 1/2 months - remember all this kicked off on 3rd September.
The displaced Rangers from the Gorilla Sector are still at Rumangabo. There were 34 about a month ago but that number has doubled now, plus families. Many are living under plastic sheeting which is put up as a temporary measure. Conservation organizations, including WildlifeDirect, are providing rations and other support.
I see Innocent and Diddy several times a week and we work together.
Innocent has moved into his house in Goma with his family. He was in Rumangabo and Rutshuru yesterday to evaluate the situation and reported more displaced people and more sporadic fighting. Of course the crisis with the Mountain Gorillas and the Rangers is taking place within the context of a worsening humanitarian crisis as thousands flee from the combat.
A receipt for $120 which corresponds to 4 months rent on the house that Innocent rented for his family in Goma. This is paid for from WildlifeDirect donations (including $25 from Jim).
Diddy’s wife is now back up at their home in Kiwanja, near Rutshuru, with their children. There are many displaced people up there and the situation is also fraught, but for now Diddy’s family wishes to stay at home. Justine is recovering well after her operation.
Diddy and Innocent came round to listen to a radio program on Friday on Ireland’s RTE (Worlds Apart program) about the gorillas. The journalist Rodney Rice was here in September and interviewed them.
Last week Diddy and Innocent attended a Conflict Resolution course in Goma, given by 2 professionals from the Dispute Resolution Centre in Nairobi. This was with other community conservation officers for ICCN in Virunga and other national parks in the east. It is positive that even in this time of inertia for Rangers they are able to learn new techniques that will be implementable in the field. When the population density around the edge of the park is so high, conflict resolution is an important part of a Ranger’s job.
Diddy’s certificate after the course.
Diddy was also given a copy of the latest issue of Swara, an East African publication, that also covered the gorilla crisis. I am going to try and get lots of copies as the Rangers all want one! (One of the conflict resolution teachers brought this one from Nairobi).
Director Mushenzi is in Nairobi for an operation. He should be back next week. It is not serious, but needed to be done. I also saw Paulin briefly last week and he is doing well.
And so we wait. We listen for news, we talk to people, we try and gauge what is going on. You hear one thing, and then another - and then back again. One day a solution looks relatively near, and the next it is back to chaos again.
Samantha
Technorati : congo, drc, iccn, mikeno, virunga, wildlifedirect
Daily news from the conservation frontline by Innocent and Diddy, and other Congolese rangers risking their lives to save mountain gorillas of the Virunga National Park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Thank you Samantha for the update. Its all very frustrating, and obviously even more so for yourselves. We just pray the gorillas are safe and keeping out of harms way, and that you guys take care of yourselves.
Thanks, Samantha, for the update on everyone and the situation there. The most current news I found this morning on the situation comes from the New York Times, in a story filed just a few hours ago that reports that Rwanda will now assist Congo against the rebels. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/12/world/africa/12rwanda.html?ref=world
The plan has MONUC’s support.
I’m glad you saw Paulin and that he’s well. I still miss his posts. I’m glad to hear that Diddy’s wife is recovering and that everyone is OK, at least for now.
Oh! I’m very envious of Diddy’s copy of Swara - I’ve wanted that one ever since Dr. Leakey mentioned it in one of his posts!
s.
Thanks for the update, I really hope that the gorillas stay safe….. take care you guys
Samantha,
Are there any negotiations happening? What exactly do the rebels want?
Also, with regard cooking, coal and gas are both greenhouse gases and are finite resources. Parabolic cookers as described at the following site http://home.att.net/~cleardomesolar/solareflex900parabolic.html are the only truly sustainable cookers, although they don’t work at night or on a cloudy day. The prices of these cookers is also decreasing all the time as they become easy to mass produce.
Hard to believe it has been over 2 months…just makes my heart sink knowing that the gorillas have been unprotected that long…..I really hope this mess can end soon and that by some miracle all the gorillas will be safe! Thanks Samantha!
The poll at searchkindly.org is still open. Please VOTE for Friends of Bonobos!
s.
I am gld everyone liked the poem. I am so glad Diddy’s wife is at home…There IS no place like home. Diddy I bet you have a lot of Honey-do’s going on to keep you busy at home…I wish we could all say hi to Paulin. Innocent bet you are busy trying to keep all in line..:):) I just hope and pray our Gorillas are safe and in hididng from this awful circumstance going on here. I feel stupid now Jim..I should have realized nothing can flow up an mountain so I am glad there is no fear from radiation getting to the Gorillas…Well Hope everyone has a great day….Will keep voting Bonobos…Steph
How could we all get one of these magazines????
Samantha and Tony:
I have been researching solar cookers as ONE solution to the illegal charcoal trade. I have emailed an organization called Solar Connect Association that has been doing work in Uganda. All the info that I could find on them is from 2003
http://www.solarcooking.org/newsletters/scrnov03.htm
so I don’t know if they are still active.
The costs for producing solar cookers is low as you can see from the above website. Only 60 cents. I’ve been concerned about Solar Cookers because a university professor I’ve been talking to about the problems says he knows a peace corp worker in Kenya who says the people there don’t want to use them because they prefer traditional methods of cooking. But the group above seems to be taking the approach of teaching local women and having them go out into the community to teach others. That seems like it may be an effective model.
Another email I have sent is to a group called
Project Environmentale de Virunga (Pevi) that is funded by WWF and seems to be still active, but I’n not sure if they are still active promoting solar cookers or if they’ve had success in this area.
See info on them at http://www.solarcooking.org/newsletters/suNews/SuNewsJune-Dec05.pdf
and
http://www.livingplanet.com/about_wwf/where_we_work/africa/where/drc/our_solutions/projects2/index.cfm?uProjectID=ZR0008
I’ve also contacted some micro finance institutions and Kiva.org (of which I am a lender). I’m thinking that women could be trained to create solar cooker businesses with MFI loans.
I’ve also spoken with a representative from my local Rotary Club and she said they would be willing to put money toward the solar cooker thing if it has the potential of success.
One more group I’ve emailed for info is
http://www.solarcookers.org/about/programs/multkenya.html
They have been doing work in Kenya and Zimbabwe.
So now I am waiting to hear back from/for data from the above groups.
New poll up at searchkindly.org. I’m pretty sure Friends of Bonobos had the highest number of votes.
s.
Hi Steph. You could try contacting the magazine and see if they mail any to the US. It does not have a massive distribution by US standards, but is a significant publication in East Africa. That may work for you to get a copy. Still no news on when the CBS piece will come out but i will keep you all posted.
Hey Stephanie, Samantha: The EAWLS does have U.S. and U.K. memberships and Swara magazine is part of your membership. http://www.eawildlife.org/membership.htm
I think I’ll ask my Dad for a membership as my Christmas present. Maybe when you’re a member you can buy back issues?
s.
The final result of the Searchkindly poll is …. Friends of Bonobos 36.47% … Covenant House 27.17% … Save Darfur Coalition 25.71% … Cows for Kids 4.69% … Marion Medical Mission 3.46% … Boma Fund 2.50% … Yippee … Bonobos Won!!!
Thank you Samantha for the update. I hope and prey that this deal between Congo and Rwanda works and puts an end to the fighting. The people deserve so much better and there are so many other important issues to focus on. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Lisa
Thank you Samantha for the report. I hope our gorillas are safe…
Thank you Jim for the information on Search Kindly…good news!
Yea for Bonobos!!!!!!! Terrific news…
i have read on the bbc website today, fresh violence, again! more people displaced. Hope everyone is ok! Please take care, stay safe.
What would the cost be to hire and equip 100 rangers for two months? Would this include firearms. etc etc…Perhaps we can help here in cincinnati with the funds. We need to retake the gorilla sector obviously.
Pela vida e proteção a estes maravilhosos seres que tanto tem a nos ensinar…..Se tiver algum link para alguma petição é favor me avisar.
Bjs na alma,
Thank you Samantha for the update. I have been away from home for a few days but always think of the precious gorillas, the rangers and families. Its good to know Paulin is doing well. I miss his posts very much. Let’s keep praying that there will be an end to the conflict very soon - everyone stay safe. Has your wall been rebuilt Samantha? Take care and God bless you for your dedication.
The lack of info about the gorillas is simply unbearable at this point. On a brighter note, we won the first poll on SearchKindly, but we will need to VOTE again in the second half of the month. Also, we will need to keep voting in December, when many of us will be busy, as that will determine the money that (hopefully) will go to YLB.
I desperately hope that the gorillas are managing to stay safe and that we get news of them soon. Thanks for the update and best wishes to all you wonderful Wildlifedirect people.
Hi Yvonne. Yes my wall has been rebuilt! Finally! Hi Brad - thanks for the suggestion of equiping rangers etc, unfortunately this problem is much bigger than the congolese wildlife authority. the Rangers have no option but to wait for all of this to be over before they can go back in. While fighting is still ongoing it is out of the question for the Rangers to go back into the gorilla sector else they will get hurt, or worse.