A Global March for Elephants and Rhinos — organized by Princeton High School and Hopewell Valley Central High School — was held Oct. 4.
Over 100 people gathered in Hinds Community Plaza in Princeton to attend the rally.
People in over 130 cities worldwide marched in the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos that day. It was an "advocacy event to raise awareness of the plight of these iconic animals," said a spokesman.
"It is estimated that an elephant is killed for its ivory every 15 minutes. A rhino is slain for its horn every nine hours in Africa. There are fewer than 400,000 elephants and less than 18,000 rhinos left in the wild in Africa," the spokesman added.
The students’ rally focused on:
— A complete ban on commercial and domestic trade in ivory internationally.
— Mandatory destruction of all ivory stockpiles, including confiscated ivory.
— Investment in border force training regarding wildlife crime and increase port (sea and air) security, including investment in equipment and personnel to conduct increased inspections of goods to better identify illegal wildlife products.
— Strengthened and implemented laws associated with wildlife crime.
— Where laws are enacted, ensure the investigation and prosecution of crimes are commensurate with the criminality associated with serious wildlife crime.
— Provide resources to effectively combat wildlife crime.
— Investment into ‘boots on the ground’ and technical assistance.
— Tackle corruption and elite interests linked to the illegal and legal trades.
Rally speakers included:
— Dr. David Angwenyi, founder and CEO of Global Connections Kenya, who is a global educator and leader in educational leadership and committed to educational diplomacy as a tool to engage the world for a better world.
Global Connections Kenya organizes the "unique and incredible Kenya Experience Programs during the spring and summer months thereby providing an opportunity to students from America and Kenya to experience first-hand lessons of each other’s world unfiltered," the spokesman said.
— Ellyn Ito, of Seeds to Sew International, Inc., a New Jersey 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to developing educational and economic opportunities for women and girls in compromised areas in the developing world.
