Comments on: Gorillas: Kings Of Congo

CNN's Anderson Cooper Visits Endangered Mountain Gorillas

[d2or3]

Yes, let''s do what Bill Gates is doing to fight AIDS in Africa, and let''s get out the word on solutions, such as solar stoves, that will abate the slaughtering of the most majestic animals on the face of the earth...gorillas. I can''t get my mind around the cullings and the type of people who''d rather murder than to come up with alternatives solutions to their problems. PLEASE SAVE THE GORILLAS!

[funkiemunkee]

Thank you very much for your coverage on the the killing of mountain gorillas on 12/9/07. I am working on my undergraduate degree in primatology. I hope to someday conduct field research on free-living primates, if they still exist when I am finished with my studies. I have volunteered my time giving educational tours to the public at local sanctuaries. Responsible, animal-friendly television coverage can reach as many people in one short segment as I can educate in one year. Thank you again for making a difference.

Cooper''s story was heavy on "problem" and light on "solution". Similar experiences during three development assignments in Ethiopia and South Africa compel my comment.

Only one solution was offered: "alternative fuel, butane for example. "But butane requires special stoves"

First world solutions like non-renewable-fueled HIGH-TECHNOLOGY stoves won''t work --donor and government resources are simply inadequate. Education and APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY may work.

Three viewer comments mentioned an appropriate technology - solar ovens. Rocket stoves are another effective alternative for the Central African cultures. Constructed from local materials (firebricks from clay, cement, broken pottery, sawdust), rocket stoves efficiently burn abundant, renewable small sticks, not large firewood or wastefully-produced charcoal, with up to 90 percent fuel savings. Many adaptable ''rocket stove'' designs are on Google.

Coordinated grass-roots education and technical assistance combined with highly-visible, visionary leadership would overcome the cultural inertia that creates charcoal demand. Substitute new local woodlot/ceramic/firebrick/rocket stove businesses to meet the needs of people now dependent on charcoal made from gorilla habitat.

Mr. Cooper should broadcast a charcoal solutions segment next month to inspire donors and governments to fund appropriate technology education and assistance.

[sambo1047]

I saw a piece on the Documentary channel, which profiled a wonderful African woman who has introduced solar cooking to areas of Africa. The stove is simple, comprised of cardboard and reflective panels, which can be used over and over. The women simply mix their food in a dish, cover, and put outside in the cooker. The food is safely cooked within hours, thereby eliminating the need for charcoal, which saves the people lots of money to spend for other things, which they like. In the program I saw, the people had used up every available twig, so were forced to come up with an alternative method, which the solar cooker provided.
I thought the gorilla segment was execellent. Thank you, Mr. Cooper.
I hope the beautiful gorrilas can be saved.

[gizami]

I have been a fan of AC for some time..his in depth studies and his wealth of compassion with his reports. Keep it up!! This was very disturbing and needs more press. AC you are wonderful!, bf

[eeepluke]

Thank you so much for airing this segment! It was very thought-provoking and informative. I hope that a solution to the problematic reliance on charcoal will be funded so that there is a better chance of peace in that area. This is such a great topic because there is a convergence of so many issues here, all of utmost importance. I look forward to more great episodes of 60 Minutes. Great job!

[Jalust--2008]

This is another reason for the UN or someone to move in and move the gorillas to Rwanda. Then they must be declared "World Treasures". Rwanda has made money by allowing people to see the gorillas. This kind of thing could be done all over the world with various plants and animals. Thanks to CBS for another eye-opener.

[aubreyhackma]

thank you for your coverage on the the gorillas- the more people know the more they will do to stop this horrific problem

[aubreyhackma]

thank you for your coverage on the the gorillas- the more people know the more they will do to stop this horrific problem

[cu_rpcv]

This stuff is absolutely heart rending.

You know, it wouldn''t be too hard to get charcoal shipped into the area. Charcoal is readily available in the West. Charcoal is available without ravaging forests.

And the East Africans are already USED to charcoal. Even if Africans are to be shifted over to butane (and I TRUST that that is the preferred course), there is no reason that we could not get underway with technology that is already comfortable to the people. Transitions can come later, but let''s protect the gorillas first.

In FACT, the people who NEED charcoal probably know who was involved in the slaughter. If handled adroitly, it should be possible to discover who participated and round them all up.

But identifying criminals, rounding them up, and bringing them to justice, can only be carried out by members of the community--respected authorities. These abuses cannot be settled apart from cultural traditions in the region. I wish we had all learned that lesson much earlier--long before there was any blood on the floor, anywhere around the world, on account of our involvement.

Still and all, there is a lot of organization and funding that could be carried out over the Internet--just like this Web posting.

Any takers?

Thank you for your attention. And my commendations for Anderson Cooper for his outstanding journalism. By the way, Mr. Cooper, if any of my suggestions take root, there may well be a follow-up story somewhere down the road.

Thanks again.

CU_RPCV

[travelina-2009]

@oleanderb: Sorry! I didn''t know my comments were going to be posted multiple times!

[bsb2007-2009]

Having visited Virunga Park in 1987, I had the opportunity to experience these extraordinary gentle creatures in-person. The execution of these gorillas is a sad, sad by-product of the neglected and ongoing tragedy in eastern DRC. I commend 60 Minutes and Anderson Cooper for bringing the plight of the gorillas - true global treasures - to light. Now we must act. (Whether moderating a Presidential candidate debate, reporting from a war zone, or raising awareness about an environmental crisis, Anderson adds a professionalism and credibility to television reporting that few others are able to do.)

[triselina]

Anderson, Thank you so much for doing this show. You did an outstanding job of shedding some much needed light on the plight of the Mountain Gorilla in DRC. As an dedicated blogger at Wildlife Direct, I am so proud of Innocent, Diddy and Augustine. They are my heros and I want nothing more than for them to be able to get back out there and protect these beautiful gorilla families. Thanks to you more people now know what is going on and maybe more help will come to the DRC and to the Rangers. Sincerely, Lisa, California

[oleander8]

Travelina: your repetitious posts are very annoying and defeat the purpose of your message.

[jlittlefield]

It is criminal what humans have done to all animals. It is particulary repulsive how we treat the great apes who are undeniably much like us. Yet better as they lack the ability to kill without conscious as humans can. We are the true terrorists and we need to end this carnage. I applaud Anderson Cooper and 60 Minutes for bringing this heartwarming yet disturbing story to the public.

[eeepluke]

Thank you so much for airing this segment! It was very thought-provoking and informative. I hope that a solution to the problematic reliance on charcoal will be funded so that there is a better chance of peace in that area. This is such a great topic because there is a convergence of so many issues here, all of utmost importance. I look forward to more great episodes of 60 Minutes. Great job!

[travelina-2009]

@amahora: 60 Minutes did mention that the rangers as well as gorillas have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Perhaps this gorilla story will help focus more attention on conditions in the DRC, which are, as you say, especially horrific for women:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html

[travelina-2009]

@amahora: 60 Minutes did mention that the rangers as well as gorillas have been killed in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Perhaps this gorilla story will help focus more attention on conditions in the DRC, which are, as you say, especially horrific for women:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/the-world-continues-to-look-away-dont/2007/11/23/1195753310737.html

[carmen52-2009]

help the gorillas and your also helping the people of the congo. the point is the fighting has got to stop. it''s killing both the gorillas and the people near the gorillas. the same atrocities that occur in darfur occur elsewhere in africa. like the congo. we should be concerned about it all. including the remaining 700 gorillas. when 10 peace loving gorillas are killed it is a big deal. just like when 10 people are killed. or when thousand are killed. or when children are taken from their parents and trained to kill. the "rebels" take them and train them to be killers. the "rebels" rape the women from the villages. their offensives displace all the people. they also kill the gorillas. if calm should ever return to the area tourism can greatly benefit a very poor people like it has around the parks in rawanda.

[nathan8804-2009]

Just clone them!