I think wanting to help the rhino avoid extinction is a very noble cause. In exactly the same way as I think wanting to help the Ethiopian wolf (<500 left) Sumatran tiger (<400 left) Cape Leopard toad, African wild dog and every other threatened species is a very good idea.
What is the primary reason for most of these species threatened status? Habitat destruction. And by habitat, I mean the web of life and ecosystems they and all species depend on, not just the geographic area the species inhabit. Oh, and incidentally I include humans in that "all species". The dominant way of life of most of humanity is destroying that habitat - in short, civilisation. The idea that the soon-to-be-majority of us can live completely disconnected from our land base and off the work (and what corporate environmentalists like to call "eco-system services") of others.
Of course poaching plays a part, but this is a part of the cause, not the cause itself. Let's be clear - our use of electricity and the pollution and very real habitat destruction it causes is MUCH more of a threat than poaching. That is just one example. Our increasing reliance on plastic is another. Look at the pacific garbage patch and the amount of sea birds (and countless fish that are never found) that it kills.
So while I love the idea that many people are concerned for the fate of the rhino, strapping a purpose built plastic rhino horn to their car (and in many cases their 4x4) is part of the problem. It is however indicative of our separation from nature. We are so far divorced from that which we love and which we rely on that we are killing it to try and save it.
I know I know, there is no pleasing some people.
Cut plastic out of your life. Reconnect with your land base. Reconnect with your community. Those are some places to start.
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Agreed. Although, this will require institutional support, because we are all so locked into frigid structures and systems. We don't even know that our lifestyles are destructive, let alone the detail of how it cripples our life-systems. Yet, the chance of sufficient support - if any all - from government and business is a long-shot.
It depends on who the institution is. I can't see any "big" institution today that is capable of this. In fact nearly all the "institutions" I know of are part of the problem. Aren't institutions "frigid structures and systems"? Similarly, government and business are part of the problem, it's like asking an orange tree to grow apples.
I think the solution is in community, getting together in small groups, with people who do understand parts of this problem and can explain to each other and share how we break free of it.
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