[pianotech] Ivory Laws

[Mark Dierauf]

Paul -

Of course I realize that you are not advocating the slaughter of 
elephants to provide new material for covering piano keys (or any other 
reason). But we as piano techs often (virtually always, in my 
experience) praise this material for various reasons, and that is the 
problem. As long as ivory is prized for whatever reason there will be a 
market for it and these animals will be pushed ever closer to 
extinction. You say near the end of your post that we should not do 
anything that encourages the killing of elephants. I believe that 
whenever we talk about "a beautiful set of ivories" we are doing just 
that, even though that is certainly not our intention. Like it or not, 
we are part of the problem.

I used to think that confiscated poached ivory could be sold and the 
proceeds used to fund anti-poaching efforts. That was tried, and it only 
served to further increase the value of tusks in a part of the world 
where money is scarce and life is cheap. More and more I think that it 
all belongs in museums only, and that we as a society can either choose 
to be inconvenienced by regulation or watch passively as these (and 
other) animals disappear forever. Before you (not you specifically, 
Paul, but anyone reading this) take issue with my use of the word 
"inconvenienced" in speaking of regulations that can often seem 
heavy-handed, I would refer you back to my original post - "Tell that to 
the elephants".

Respectfully,

- Mark

On 5/4/2012 8:32 AM, paul bruesch wrote:
> Whoa. That photo is repulsive and uncalled for. I am absolutely NOT 
> suggesting that we should continue to "produce" new ivory. This thread 
> is about selling a piano with key covers made from animals that have 
> long since been "harvested". The gist of it is that no one who owns a 
> piano in California can sell it if it happens to have ivory key 
> covers. Instead, they need to have those ivory covers removed and 
> replaced with plastic. Do you know what plastic production looks like? 
> Ulimately, it may not be quite as hideous as your graphic photo of the 
> slaughtered elephant, but it ain't pretty either. Who gains anything 
> besides the technician recovering the keys?
>
> I completely agree with the current US ban. We absolutely should not 
> do anything that encourages further killing of these enormous, 
> beautiful beasts.
>
> I think this post should remove any doubt as to my viewpoint in this 
> matter. I will not respond to it any more.
>
> Note that the use of double-quotes in the first paragraph is to denote 
> the use of popular euphemisms typically used to soften the tone of 
> this sort of practice.
>
> Paul Bruesch
> Stillwater, MN