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<DIV><STRONG><EM><FONT color=#008000>It's always good to hear the extremist
point of view and now I think we have!</FONT></EM></STRONG></DIV>
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<DIV>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From: </B>PCA's Medicinal Plant Working
Group List<BR><B>Sent: </B>1/8/2004 11:57 PM<BR><B>To:
</B>MPWG@lists.plantconservation.org<BR><B>Subject: </B>[MPWG] Wild Life
Sting.<BR><BR><BR>I still dont believe the Conservation scam ....<BR><BR>the
following is composed of two cut and paste, from the last two issues of
MPWG Digest,s.<BR><BR>"applied to a cute panda happily munching its way
through bamboo forests .... But applied to the world of herbs, the scientific
meaning is legislation, and restriction, for scientific and pharmaceutical use
only. With that also come the costly task of enforcement, abuse of human
rights and punitive penalties for the peasants. Seen in that light, the
peasants also pay for their own striped suit, and ball and chain via
taxation.<BR><BR><PRE wrap="">"Yesterday, officials with the National Park Service and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced the sting operation based at the Elkton store. It was all part of a multiyear, multi-state investigation into the illegal harvest or sale of American ginseng and
black bear organs, much of it for exportation to Asia. More than 100 people from several states could face charges resulting from the investigation, which tracked the illicit plants with a recently developed arsenal of special dyes and silicon chips. More than 40 people have been charged in sealed indictments. Two were in custody."
</PRE><PRE wrap=""><BIG><FONT face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">
The following is a cut and paste from Richters website .. <A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated href="http://www.richters.com">www.richters.com</A>
</FONT></BIG></PRE><BR>"AMERICAN GINSENG [Order Related Book]<BR>Panax
quinquefolius<BR>Perennial Uses: medicinal
Sow No:S3<BR>Native of cool hardwood forests throughout
eastern and central North America. It has become extinct in many areas and is
now cultivated to a large extent in British Columbia, Ontario and Wisconsin.
Seeds are planted in hardwood forests or in specially prepared beds anytime
from Sept. until the ground freezes. The following spring, the seedlings
appear, and in 3 to 6 years they mature. We offer high quality stratified
seeds. Detailed growing instructions included. "<BR><BR>Richters are now
quoting US$240 per Kg for stratified seed. I am sure that Richters
would confirm that they have a world wide demand for the quinquefolius seed.
<BR><BR>The post by Wayne Owen illustrates the point I have been trying to
make .... that sting cost a lot of money to plan and carry out. In fact when I
read the post, my immediate thought was of the American folk tale of Al Capone
and Elliot Ness. First came the ban .... then came the machine guns and
mobsters ... then came the FBI .... and then the ban was lifted.<BR><BR>So as
usual ... we have punitive measures from the top down. People have lost their
rights ... cui bono ? <BR><BR>The millions of dollars spent on the sting ....
and the ongoing and never ending enforcement cost. These wild life
organisations are assured of funding for many years to come .... or for as
long as they can keep the game going for their own benefit. <BR><BR>Personally
I think the money would be better spent on financing the growing of the
Ginseng by the dispossessed peasants in the affected US States .... but this
simple answer is not going to happen ... is it ? And we all know why
.... dont we ?<BR><BR>Ivor Hughes<BR><A class=moz-txt-link-abbreviated
href="http://www.herbdatanz.com">www.herbdatanz.com</A><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>