Well it's been a few months since my last post. I haven't been painting much since February. I've been kind of taking a break. But I've started needle felting. It's a process of repeatedly poking a barbed needle into wool roving to make sculptures. Above is one of my creations. It is of Ndeze, the little gorilla whose mother and other family members were murdered last year on July 22. You can read my post about it earlier in this blog. My little feltie of Ndeze is up for auction on eBay now. I plan to give 20% from the sale to the Mountain Gorilla Veterinary Project. They have taken on the responsibility of raising her and hopefully releasing her back to her home.
I've also started a painting of Senkwekwe, the murdered silver back leader of the Rugendo family. Diddy recently posted a video of the Rugendo family in the Gorilla Protection blog. It was taken just a few days before the attack. Senkwekwe was watching over his family. That careful concern is the inspiration for this painting. I can imagine his spirit still looking after and protecting the remaing members of his band. I'm titling the painting "Watchful Eyes". Here's my initial sketch:
Although the situation around the park has calmed somewhat, one has to wonder whether L. Nkunda is just waiting to gather forces as he has done in the past. The rebels are now very near Rumangabo, the main ranger station and may take it soon. Many of the rangers have evacuated and some are still trying to move valuable equipment so it it will not be looted or destroyed as has happened at the other stations. Meanwhile, the London Zoological Society and WildlifeDirect are paying the rangers' salaries and providing them and their families with rations. They all need our support. No one knows how the gorillas are fairing at this point. It is too dangerous for the rangers to check.
In other news, two of Mufabure's murders go on trial this week. They are being held in Goma.
Close-up detail of "Mufabure-Killied without Reason"
(c) Robin J. Andreae 2007
It is now one week since I posted this painting and the war in the gorilla sector of Virunga Park still rages on. As promised, I will continue posting Mufabure's portrait until the rangers are allowed to go back into the park to protect and care for the gorillas.
In a recent Oxfam report the cost of the wars in Africa from 1990 on could have topped $300 billion dollars. That's approximately $18 billion dollars a year. These figures do not consider the uncalcuable damage to the environment and the wildlife. Animals are often caught in the crossfire. The park rangers are no longer able to do their jobs and poachers once again have free-reign of protected areas. Those figures also do not include the loss of income from the eco-tourism industry that could proliferate. In Rwanda and Uganda, tourists regularly pay $500.00 per person per day for a chance to view Mountain Gorillas. Even when war rages in the neighboring country, tourists leave.
The most commmon weapon, the AK-47, used in the wars that rage in Africa does not originate from there. The Oxfam report suggests this to help stem the flow of arms into Africa:
"Africa, as elsewhere, needs new international standards on arms transfers – a strong and effective Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Such a treaty would not prevent the responsible transfer of weapons for defence, policing, peacekeeping, and other legitimate purposes, but it must prohibit arms transfers if they are likely to be used to: - Commit serious violations of international humanitarian law; - Commit serious violations of international human rights law; - Undermine sustainable development. Although the causes of armed violence are many and highly complex, and require a variety of actions to be taken, we believe that an ATT based on these principles would be one important tool in reducing armed violence in Africa. "
Please write your congresspeople, senators and presidential canidates. Please help spread the word.
Here are a couple of suggested letters from Christine C. , a regular poster on the gorilla protection blog. Please feel free to use them:
NOTE TO MEDIA OUTLETS:
I am not sure how much coverage XXX has previously devoted to the plight of the mountain gorillas in the DR Congo’s Virunga National Park, however, even if there has been some, it is a story that bears much repeating. Although I am sure you are no strangers to the problems in the DR Congo, you may be less familiar with its national treasure, Virunga National Park. Currently, there are a number of rangers (paid for by charitable donations through an organization called Wildlife Direct)that protect the mountain gorilla sectors — however, they have not been able to do their jobs because both rebels (General Nkunda) and the Congolese army have taken over those sectors. At this time we know they (army and rebels) are destroying the current ranger stations, ripping out their crops and have taken their supplies (weapons, radios, cell phones, etc…). We also know that they will not let the rangers in to check on the safety and welfare of the habituated gorilla families. Given that, over the past decade, 150 rangers have literally sacrificed their lives for the care of the park and its inhabitants; the ongoing strife in this corner of the world; and the very significant humanitarian issues involved here, I hope that much more attention will be brought to these issues in the near future. Thank you for considering this story. More information about this situation can be found at http://www.wildlifedirect.org./
NOTE TO POLITICAL CANDIDATES/LEADERS (NEEDS EDITING FOR PEOPLE ALREADY IN OFFICE):
Issues surrounding the instability and violence in the DR Congo seem to be non-existent in all of the current presidential campaigns. If elected, would XXX encourage the US to take a greater role in securing peace in that nation? It is clear that DR Congo represents a variety of important interests, everything from stopping genocide and encouraging true democracy, to protecting the environment, halting the extinction of a variety of animals (including mountain gorillas) and securing the safety of the people indigenous to that region. The US has been too quiet for too long about the human and environmental problems in Africa and the surrounding areas — it is time to take a stand and show the world what it really means to be a global leader.
There is now intense fighting in the Gorilla Sector of Virunga Park. Director Norbert Mushenzi has asked for our help by lobbying our government. I have prepared a template for a letter that you could send.
"Mufabure-Killed without Reason” 10” x 10” x .75" Acrylics on Stretched Canvas
10/06/2007
This painting is a tribute to Mufabure. Her name in Swahili means killed without reason. She was named after her badly decomposed body was found by the rangers of Virunga Park. The rangers had arrested two men who were reported trying to sell two baby gorillas for $8,000.00 a piece. She was an infant, probably 3 to 4 years old. Her face was so badly decomposed that I had to paint this portrait from a composite of photos of young mountain gorillas and by looking at her bone structure.
It is unknown whether she was from one of the habituated families or if she was from a wild family. The rangers have not been able to go into the park to check. There is now fighting between the Rwandan rebels and the Congolese army. The only thing the rangers can do is wait. Meanwhile the poachers have free reign of the park. Just yesterday, 7 of the rangers who were able to track two of the families had to flee for their lives across the Ugandan border. There are now no rangers in the gorilla sector.
Director Norbert Mushenzi asked today in the Gorilla Protection blog for everyone to lobby their government to help end this horrible situation. I will be posting more on how you can do this tomorrow.
Just this year 10 mountain gorillas have been murdered. That's 10 out of a meager 700 mountain gorillas left worldwide. I will be posting this picture on this blog once a week until the rangers are allowed into the park to protect these majestic giants of the forests.
Please put this auction on your watch list so we can create a buzz and gain more attention about this crisis.
Thank You!
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Dear Supporters,
You could give WildlifeDirect up to 26% or more of each everyday purchase you make at no extra cost to you. That’s exactly what happens when you join the online community called iGive.com It does not cost a cent to join and once you are a member, every time you shop the Mall at iGive.com we can get a percentage of each purchase you make. Free money for WildlifeDirect, your choice of over 600 known online merchants, your privacy guaranteed, plus money-saving deals and specials every day.
I've just listed this unique item on Art By Us. It's a real ostrich egg on which I've drawn a graceful flamingo in pen & ink. I'll donate 50% of the final sale price to Wildlife Direct.
Click on the image to view the auction.
I've been drawing critters on ostrich eggs for many, many years. It all started when I worked at the Sacramento Zoo. Although it's been a long time since I worked there, I'm fortunate to continue to receive at least 10 egg commissions from the Zoo each year. They give the eggs to special donors and as prizes for events (such as their annual Zoo Zoom run).
I rarely have any illustrated eggs available for sale, since most of them are created for the Zoo or are commissioned by individuals. Now's your chance to own a really special and unique piece of art, and help the gorillas at the same time!
We are a group of 32 artists and growing who have responded to the brutal slaying of 4 of the Rugendo family of Mountain Gorillas. We are donating a percentage from the sale of our artwork to Wildlife Direct. 100% of our donation minus the 2.5% for the credit card fee will go to help the rangers. In the last ten years over 150 Congo rangers have been killed. Many of them have not seen a paycheck in months. They are willing to lay down their lives for the gorillas. With our art we want to help these brave men.
