Africa Geographic April 2005 [antikvár]

editorial i ^ .y !'¦.ii' , .!. fi FH ' i ) ! I ; U Of course it rcanned hunt] is a vulgar term and it describes a vulgar practice yy A nd so, here 1 sit writing my 100th editorial. What a privilege it has been to have /\ headed up Africa Geographic for the 12 years since our inaugural issue hit the newsstands in 1993. It really has been a most amazing journey, personally and collectively for all of us involved in the magazine, and that, of course, includes you our readers, without whom we simply would not exist. You can read about some of the highlights of this journey in the review on page 8. We now reach readers in more than 70 countries around the world and with that has come an even greater responsibility to present reliable and trustworthy information, not shirking from telling the truth as we see it and trying, even-handedly, to show the great value of Africa and its people to the world. Yes, if you only watch the worid's dominant television channels, Africa is a dangerous place, a place of unremitting war, corruption, poverty, pestilence and cruel despotic rule. But there is another Africa where there is much to celebrate, an Africa that is the fountainhead of all humankind, a continent filled with fascinating age-old cultures, wonderful, warm and friendly people, leaders revered the world over, superb and creative intellects and, above all, a repository of the most magnificent wilderness in the worid. These are our continent's greatest assets that, if properly nurtured, can form part of the miracle of an Africa renascent. It is this other Africa that we present to the world, hopefully inspiring people to experience the continent for themselves and to become involved, with us, in practical responses to conservation and community needs. Among those already involved, we recognise the heroes, often unsung, who dedicate themselves selflessly to the interests of a better world (see page 22). One of the many issues we have consistentiy challenged is that of the ethics of big game hunting. While we accept, some more reluctantly than others, that hunting is a powerful industry that employs many people and brings millions of dollars into the African economy, we cannot accept the existence of 'canned' hunting and the cruel intemational trade in animals destined to be used as breeding stock, amongst other things, to populate hunting ranches elsewhere in the world. What really baffles me is the stance, or lack of it, of the hunting worid. Ask any hunter who believes in the principles of 'fair chase' and free-ranging animals and the response will be one of indignation and condemnation of those whose tactics sully the good name of hunting as a sport. Yet, this said, a staff writer for Safari Club Intemational (which has more than 200 chapters representing over 40 000 hunters around the world) was recently reported as saying 'We don't like the term "canned hunt" It's a vulgar term, and we prefer "high-fenced hunting".' Of course it is a vulgar term and it describes a vulgar practice. It is this kind of attitude that provides the worid with phrases like 'collateral damage' to describe the killing of innocents in battle and 'ethnic cleansing' to describe genocide. About our magazine Africa Ceographic is editorially and financially independent. It enjoys the support and endorsement of several non-government organisations, but it is not affiliated in any way to these bodies or lo any other publishing, environmental or political interest group. Africa Ceographic strives to foster an awareness of wildlife, consen/ation, eco-travel, indigenous cultures and the general environment, It consistently advocates the wisest use of natural resources in a manner that involves and is ol real benefit to the people of Africa. Africa Ceographic is published 11 times a year by Black Eagle Publishing, an independent organisation owned by its shareholders and directors: Peter Borchert, Simon Espley and Murray jackson. 6 AFRICA GE0GUA[>HIC • AEMtIL 200S