WTF? "Thousands of African Albinos Hide to Avoid Body-Parts Hunters"

[NYC_SKP]

Thousands of African Albinos Hide to Avoid Body-Parts Hunters
Monday, November 30, 2009


Tanzanian Albino and Friend (photo: Tanzania Albino Centre)

If enduring superstitions, discrimination and a high risk of skin cancer weren’t enough, albinos living in Africa have to worry about being killed for their body parts. Murders of albinos in East Africa have been on the rise since 2007, with 44 killed in Tanzania and 14 others in Burundi, largely because of the belief that people lacking skin pigmentation have magical powers. The most recent killing took place in Tanzania where a 10-year-old boy was beheaded and had his legs chopped off. Black market traders can fetch up to $75,000 for a dead albino who’s been dismembered.

According to the International Federation for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, approximately 10,000 African albinos have been displaced or gone into hiding in recent years.

In addition to being pursued for their body parts, albinos are feared by many Africans because of the superstition that they are harbingers of disaster. Local school officials have been known to discourage parents from sending their albino children to school, believing they are retarded.
-Noel Brinkerhoff

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Thousands_of_African_Albinos_Hide_to_Avoid_Body_Parts_Hunters_91130

See also International Federation for the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: http://www.ifrc.org/

:wtf:

[thereismore]

1. Superstition = stupidity. nt

[NYC_SKP]

2. I'm surprised that anyone with $75,000 for a severed head can be so ignorant.

It boggles the mind, the whole thing.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. $75K from graft and corruption requires no great intelligence.

Gun runners, diamond smugglers, slavers ... lots of money to be had for those sufficiently evil.

Sadly, this issue (albinos) has been going on for some time -- BBC has run several stories, going back a couple of years, IIRC.

[get the red out]

4. How do we even deal with so much of the world?

I think this country is barbaric enough, with guns, violence and hateful religion but how can this horror even exist? Are people who do this totally without conscious? The human race is totally screwed.

[bobbolink]

5. Its so easy to point to the ignorance of others. So difficult to see it in ourselves.

Right after 9/11, there was such a big and loud to-do about "United We Stand".

Yet, nothing stops the constant vilification of those who are "different" in some way.

Including right here in River City.

Its time to take out the log in our OWN eye.

[4_TN_TITANS]

6. I saw that in the paper yesterday

and thought - what century is this, again? Long live adequate public education...