> I think people on HN perceive hunting or ivory trading as something bad such as human trafficking. It isn't.
They both involve exploitation and suffering of intelligent and sentient being for selfish reasons.
> My great-grandfather was an Ivory trader
Your grandfather was a scum and no amount of mental gymnastics will change that.
> With increasing government regulation and heavy handed attitude of regulators the entire industry got pushed underground.
Illegal markets tend to be a lot smaller than legal markets (in terms of amount of goods purchased at least).
> As far as Ivory trade in Kenya is considered the people who take money from the western world to conserve are often the leaders of the cartels who smuggle ivory.
Welcome to corrupt governments? Does the fact that laws cannot be enforced 100% mean that we don't need them?
> The result of the ban would be further exploitation of the poachers and hunters
You should start a charity to support these poor souls /s.
> and yes they are going to poach elephants at faster rate.
Can you explain to me why the poaching crisis wasn't this bad until 2008 when CITES lifted restriction on ivory sales?
This whole discussion reminds me of this Onion video
I respect how passionately you feel about this topic (and share some of the same feeling), but obviously "Your grandfather was a scum" (a) is completely off limits here, and (b) helps nothing and persuades nobody. Since you care deeply about your cause, you shouldn't undermine it by venting like that. In any case, please don't do so on HN.
They both involve exploitation and suffering of intelligent and sentient being for selfish reasons.
> My great-grandfather was an Ivory trader
Your grandfather was a scum and no amount of mental gymnastics will change that.
> With increasing government regulation and heavy handed attitude of regulators the entire industry got pushed underground.
Illegal markets tend to be a lot smaller than legal markets (in terms of amount of goods purchased at least).
> As far as Ivory trade in Kenya is considered the people who take money from the western world to conserve are often the leaders of the cartels who smuggle ivory.
Welcome to corrupt governments? Does the fact that laws cannot be enforced 100% mean that we don't need them?
> The result of the ban would be further exploitation of the poachers and hunters
You should start a charity to support these poor souls /s.
> and yes they are going to poach elephants at faster rate.
Can you explain to me why the poaching crisis wasn't this bad until 2008 when CITES lifted restriction on ivory sales?
This whole discussion reminds me of this Onion video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKccr8g1xCU