Nuclear Code of Silence

Thirty-seven years ago, the Russian nuclear powered satellite Cosmos 954 returned to Earth during its 2060th revolution. Its debris crashed on the Canadian Far North close to the Arctic. It was the 24th of January 1978, 11h53 Universal Time, 5h53 at Yellowknife on the banks of Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories Canada.

The decade 1970-1980 is marked by the worldwide launch of nuclear-based electricity. It is the height of the Atoms for Peace campaign launched in the 1950s to erase the horrors of the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. Nuclear for all is on the way.

Following Robin des Bois’ invitation, 37 NGOs around the world addressed a letter the 20 January 2015 to Madam Royal, Minister of Ecology, requesting a ban on trade in raw and cut ivory and on exports from France.

Madam Royal answered positively to this request in saying to the French Press Agency that “France first will align its legislation with the most advanced rules in this domain.”

In Germany, since last September, a decree bans exports of tusks and raw ivory bigger than 20 cm long. In the United Kingdom and Sweden, trade and export of raw ivory is no longer authorized.

In a joint letter, 37 Non-Governmental Organizations from Europe, Africa, America and Asia are asking the Minister of Ecology to stop the sale and exports in and from France of raw and cut ivory (letter available online). If France decides to take these two measures, this will participate in stopping elephant poaching, contraband and speculation on ivory.

The quantity of smuggled ivory is 3 time higher than in 1998. In Asia and particularly in China, demand from middle and upper classes is increasing. An endless demand.

The worse has happened. The smugglers used a livestock carrier to transport men, women and children. The Ezadeen was expected at the port of Sète (France), the leading European port for the export of livestock. Sète came near to import surviving human beings. Like the Blue Sky M and the East Sea, the Ezadeen is an old hull, she is 49 years of age and maritime inspectors in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea have pointed out 204 deficiencies from 2007 to 2014. Initially built as a general cargo carrier, she was converted to livestock carrier in 2010. Her call papers show she is a regular visitor to the port of Beirut and to the Syrian port of Tartous.

Quarterly information and analysis bulletin
on animal poaching and smuggling

On the TRAIL n°40 (pdf 8.2 Mo, 261 pages) – March 1 – May 31, 2023. Published on May 6, 2024

On the TRAIL n°39 (pdf 6.7 Mo, 192 pages) – January 1 – February 28, 2023. Published on December 28, 2023

On the TRAIL n°38 (pdf 8.9 Mo, 256 pages) – October 1 – December 31, 2022

On the TRAIL n°37 (pdf 8.3 Mo, 236 pages) – July 1 – September 30, 2022

On the TRAIL n°36 (pdf 7.5 Mo, 238 pages) – April 1 – June 30, 2022