quote:

Originally posted by MikeBurke:
https://www.change.org/p/delta...tm_medium=facebook&u


"Last year, more than a thousand rhinos were poached in South Africa, elephant populations have plummeted 66% in just five years, and the export of lion "trophies" has increased ten-fold--hunters bringing home animals' heads and bodies to stuff and mount. In response to such threats, South African Airways has declared an immediate, worldwide ban on transporting any hunting trophies made from rhinos, lions, elephants, and tigers. Now I need your support to ask Delta Air Lines to match this policy and refuse to transport exotic animal hunting trophies!

South African Airways made it clear this ban applies to all such hunting trophies, without exception, "even if the shipper has a valid permit issued by the relevant authorities." "With the depletion to near extinction of wildlife that once roamed in prolific numbers," there is no justifying the slaughter of such incredible animals for sport and vanity.

But for South African Airways' embargo to have the most effective result in saving animals’ lives, it is imperative that the hunting trophy transport ban is honored across all air carriers.

As the world’s largest airline, and the only U.S. carrier with direct service to South Africa, Delta Air Lines is in a key position to help protect these and other vulnerable wild animal populations from further hunting and poaching pressures.

By refusing to play a role in the wildlife trafficking supply chain, Delta Air Lines can demonstrate the strong and ethical leadership that has made it such a successful and respected company. More importantly, Delta will be helping preserve a valuable natural resource that provides one of the primary reasons customers choose to fly Delta to visit Africa and other wilderness destinations. As a loyal, "Diamond Medallion" Delta customer who has logged over 650,000 miles with the company, I can attest that Ecotourism now accounts for a full 12 percent of GDP in some African countries.

As the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee, I also am acutely aware how over-hunting has devastated threatened and endangered species. It is a tragic circumstance driven almost exclusively by the $20 billion illicit trade in imperiled animal body parts.

So join me in asking CEO Richard Anderson to show the world that Delta cares by doing its part and refusing to transport exotic animal hunting trophies."

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
You have to admire their organization and persistence. With the ink barely dry on the SAA announcement, they are already using that as a springboard to attack the other airlines. And using the Internet and social media to get the message out. They really are kicking our butts gents. God hope that the NRA will choose to take on hunting issues in serious way. Short of that I feel the prognosis is bleak.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
I saw the photo.
I don't know who looks more lifeless--the lion or the hippo.
Canned SA hunt.
Yes, this makes us all look bad but it is a sad and truthful part of what we do. Fat slobs and canned hunts.
Just one more reason why Africa is no longer a priority.
We're fighting a losing battle. It would be an interesting count as to the number of antis to the number of pros.
If Delta and other airlines follow SAA, hunting is done. If airports are made a "firearm free zone" in the US, hunting is done.
It's on the way, folks. I'm on your side but logic dictates otherwise. Added to this is the escalating prices, lower trophy quality, guaranteed canned hunts, regulations for firearms import and export in the US and destinations, and "hunters" being seen by the public such as the gent in the photo, well, time is running out. To those who tell me (two just this weekend), "I'll save and go in a few years." My suggestion to them is take out a loan and go now. It may not be there in a few years.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

Time the NRA steps up for hunters - it expands it base and ties in to gun rights. I have little faith anyone else can fight as brutally as the NRA does. We need a political pit bull.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

Why cant we use social media against them? 'We' actually have the numbers to make it work.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

Why cant we use social media against them? 'We' actually have the numbers to make it work.

www.AthinaSporting.Com
Email: Info@AthinaSporting.com

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

Why cant we use social media against them? 'We' actually have the numbers to make it work.

We can, it just takes organizational commitment and wherewithal to do so. Unfortunately, rather than use the Internet and email to muster hunters to go on the offensive with anti-hunting groups, SCI would rather use the Internet and email to send out endless new sponsor announcements, special gear promos . . . and my all time favorite that I got today . . . a summer sale on grand slam and inner circle award listings . . . to "Document your Achievements, Leave your Legacy". I have defended SCI in the past but when they do crap like that in the face of everything else going on it is hard not to be a detractor. Why not instead send an email asking members to send a form note to the Delta CEO, or circulate a form letter to send to Congress on the various initiatives Mike Burke listed from the DC meeting, or do an online petition to cut USFWS funding, etc. Their priorities are completely screwed up.

quote:

"As a loyal Diamond Medallion" Delta customer who has logged over 650,000 miles with the company, I can attest that Ecotourism now accounts for a full 12 percent of GDP in some African countries.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I wonder how much of a strategy would actually entail trying to convert fence sitters. The NRA does not try to convince fence sitters that gun ownership is good, that assault rifles are important, etc. The NRA works on building and holding political clout and political capital. They rate legislators, they get involved in primaries, they mobilize members to reach out to politicians, etc. I think a good story is nice and helps the political process but you are not trying to convince people hunting is good. You are trying to bring to bear enough pressure on the political process to get things done, or keeping things from being done.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

Why cant we use social media against them? 'We' actually have the numbers to make it work.

We can, it just takes organizational commitment and wherewithal to do so. Unfortunately, rather than use the Internet and email to muster hunters to go on the offensive with anti-hunting groups, SCI would rather use the Internet and email to send out endless new sponsor announcements, special gear promos . . . and my all time favorite that I got today . . . a summer sale on grand slam and inner circle award listings . . . to "Document your Achievements, Leave your Legacy". I have defended SCI in the past but when they do crap like that in the face of everything else going on it is hard not to be a detractor. Why not instead send an email asking members to send a form note to the Delta CEO, or circulate a form letter to send to Congress on the various initiatives Mike Burke listed from the DC meeting, or do an online petition to cut USFWS funding, etc. Their priorities are completely screwed up.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

Right you are Cal. This picture points out the harm that social media can do to our cause.

Why cant we use social media against them? 'We' actually have the numbers to make it work.

We can, it just takes organizational commitment and wherewithal to do so. Unfortunately, rather than use the Internet and email to muster hunters to go on the offensive with anti-hunting groups, SCI would rather use the Internet and email to send out endless new sponsor announcements, special gear promos . . . and my all time favorite that I got today . . . a summer sale on grand slam and inner circle award listings . . . to "Document your Achievements, Leave your Legacy". I have defended SCI in the past but when they do crap like that in the face of everything else going on it is hard not to be a detractor. Why not instead send an email asking members to send a form note to the Delta CEO, or circulate a form letter to send to Congress on the various initiatives Mike Burke listed from the DC meeting, or do an online petition to cut USFWS funding, etc. Their priorities are completely screwed up.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
In my experience it is not about winning some public relations war, it is about being able to mobilize influence on politicians. The reality is that the group that can exert the greatest amount of pressure on the politicians through money, phone calls, letters, emails, meetings, getting voters out at the polls and the like is the group that in most instances is going to come out on top. Groups like the NRA are successful through political muscle in DC and in the state capitals not because of their prowess in public relations. It is raw political power. Social media is a tool to be used to build and mobilize political force, not to convince the public that hunting is good for the animals that are hunted.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
In my experience it is not about winning some public relations war, it is about being able to mobilize influence on politicians. The reality is that the group that can exert the greatest amount of pressure on the politicians through money, phone calls, letters, emails, meetings, getting voters out at the polls and the like is the group that in most instances is going to come out on top. Groups like the NRA are successful through political muscle in DC and in the state capitals not because of their prowess in public relations. It is raw political power. Social media is a tool to be used to build and mobilize political force, not to convince the public that hunting is good for the animals that are hunted.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
In my experience it is not about winning some public relations war, it is about being able to mobilize influence on politicians. The reality is that the group that can exert the greatest amount of pressure on the politicians through money, phone calls, letters, emails, meetings, getting voters out at the polls and the like is the group that in most instances is going to come out on top. Groups like the NRA are successful through political muscle in DC and in the state capitals not because of their prowess in public relations. It is raw political power. Social media is a tool to be used to build and mobilize political force, not to convince the public that hunting is good for the animals that are hunted.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
While you guys complain - young hunters like Eva Shockey are actually fighting the battle on social media (and elsewhere - see below). Not trying to convert anti-hunters either, just inform the voting public.

Eva Shock - Fox & Friends

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
In my experience it is not about winning some public relations war, it is about being able to mobilize influence on politicians. The reality is that the group that can exert the greatest amount of pressure on the politicians through money, phone calls, letters, emails, meetings, getting voters out at the polls and the like is the group that in most instances is going to come out on top. Groups like the NRA are successful through political muscle in DC and in the state capitals not because of their prowess in public relations. It is raw political power. Social media is a tool to be used to build and mobilize political force, not to convince the public that hunting is good for the animals that are hunted.

Politicians are using the social media more and more, and sadly, 99% of those on the media are as ignorant of the facts of hunting as a rock!

As if that was not enough, they use every opportunity to criticize anything to do with hunting, because it is in vogue right now.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Graham:
While you guys complain - young hunters like Eva Shockey are actually fighting the battle on social media (and elsewhere - see below). Not trying to convert anti-hunters either, just inform the voting public.

Eva Shock - Fox & Friends