Something fun and then a little more serious.

Walking around on campus, barefoot, as I frequently do I often find people that I know commenting on the fact that I’m not wearing any shoes. In response to this I always feel like saying “You’re wearing a T-shirt” or “Your face has a nose on it”. I mean seriously. Are they trying to make me aware of the fact that I’m not wearing shoes, as if I don’t know that already. I never comment on the fact that they are wearing shoes. It’s something that I don’t even register. I just leave my room in the morning and happen not to have put on a pair of shoes.

People read into this way too much, getting comments like “Are you a hippie?”. I mean damn people I don’t ask whether you prefer you’re your steak rare or well done. I prefer mine rare, just in case you were wondering.

I also just like the way that it feels, the texture beneath my feet. You guys are missing out on so much everyday by putting shoes on your feet. The softness of a plush patch of grass or the warmth of stretch of road is something that often puts a smile on my face. Just try it. Don’t worry about what people will think of you, what does that matter in any case? That applies to everything. If it’s something that makes you happy, just do it. There is far too much negativity in this world. A smile from something so simple as splashing in a puddle of water can change your whole day.

Now for the more serious stuff.

Rhino poaching. A topic that has been simmering in the South African media as of late. In the last five years nearly 1000 rhino have been poached in South Africa. It is disgusting. There are various strategies being implemented in order to quell this trend however. Training of dogs to identify the smell of poachers in order to track them and a high tech system where the horns are being micro-chipped in order to survey and deplete the trade of illegal rhino horns. The best strategy yet, in my opinion, which is now being considered is legalizing the trade of the horns.

South Africa are sitting on an estimated stockpile of around 20 tons of rhino horn. Not including the unregistered horns. Strict protocol on the trade must however first be discussed before any move is made to legalise it. With the estimated price of a kg of rhino horn at R500, 000 should the trade be legalized, our country is sitting on a gold mine.

In my opinion this would be an excellent initiative. It takes away the incentive for people to trade rhino horn on the black market, effectively eliminating poachers. It will boost our countries economy and preserve the dwindling rhino population. My concern however lies with the implementation of such a market. What happens when we run out of the stockpile that we currently posses? Do we then turn to hunting the animals ourselves? Will there be a policy implemented that only the horns of rhino that have died of natural causes be traded after the stockpile is depleted? More so than anything else is my concern of where the money made from this new market will end up. More likely than not, although I hope this is not the case, in our politicians corrupt pockets.

I think that the money that will potentially be made from this trade should be invested in the preservation of the rhino and other wildlife in South Africa. It is a good initiative but needs to be implemented in an appropriate manner in order for it to be successful.